Chapter 4
Chapter 4:
The outskirts of the Tower, commonly known as the ‘Sewers’.
This was truly the bottom of the Tower, and it was where I, Jincheol, the War God, had started.
Facing this place again after 30 long years, my thoughts were simple.
‘As wretched as ever.’
The nose-stinging stench hit me from the moment I stepped onto the stairs leading underground.
The air grew more nauseating with every step down.
It was still a disgusting place.
The other newcomers seemed to feel the same, their faces universally grim.
“Ugh…”
“Why the hell is this place…”
Why would anyone live in a place like this?
Why, with a perfectly fine Tower right next door, did we have to come here?
Their reactions screamed confusion.
Of course, having lived as a Sewer Rat for five years in my past life, I knew why.
‘To prepare for climbing the Tower again.’
More precisely, it was to gain the strength needed to ascend the Tower.
Kidnapping and exploiting newcomers was just a way to make that process a bit easier and more comfortable.
‘Well, even dropouts can’t stay in the Sewers forever.’
On average, a Sewer Rat finished preparations and left the Sewers in three years, five at most.
The spots vacated by veterans were filled by the next in line.
Those who took over followed the same path, living in the Sewers and preparing for the Tower.
In short, the essence of this place was a cycle of exploitation.
It was a truly miserable place, but the Sewer Rat leading us introduced it with pride.
“This is the Sewers, your new home! Khehe!”
He shouted, pointing to the scene at the end of the underground stairs.
A curved underground waterway stretched out to the right.
Burrow-like holes lined both sides of the waterway, filled with all sorts of people.
The newcomers realized it the moment they saw it.
This was the reality of the life they’d have to live from now on.
As groans escaped their lips in unison.
“…Huh? Something popped up?”
“A title? Acquired?”
“What’s a derogatory title?”
Suddenly, the newcomers burst into exclamations.
I was experiencing the same thing.
You have acquired the title [Sewer Rat]!
A title no Player entering the Sewers could avoid: ‘Sewer Rat’.
As the name implied, it wasn’t exactly a flattering title.
The newcomers’ faces darkened quickly.
I, on the other hand, checked the title casually.
[Title]
Sewer Rat (Derogatory Title)
One who lingers in the outskirts, the underground waterways, without entering the Tower.
Cannot receive proper treatment from NPCs.
All results come from choices, so one must bear the humiliation.
“Like parasites who can’t even grasp the will of the great Tower!”
Shailuji, Underground Waterway Manager.
Derogatory, notorious, ordinary, prestigious.
Of the four types, the worst was the derogatory title.
It came with penalties.
For ‘Sewer Rat’, it caused issues in dealings with NPCs.
Considering items, skills, and even food came from NPCs, this was a significant drawback.
Still, I wasn’t bothered.
‘This title disappears once you leave the Sewers.’
I was more curious about the mysterious title I’d gained in the Waiting Room.
Taking the chance, I decided to check it.
[Title]
Noble One (Prestigious Title)
A noble being finally selected as a candidate to challenge.
As a noble, they shall receive from those who serve the will of the great Tower.
Access restricted due to insufficient qualifications.
Effects restricted.
“…!”
My eyes widened.
Prestigious Title.
The rarest type, with unparalleled effects, was the prestigious title.
In my past life, ‘War God’, which defined my identity, was also a prestigious title.
To think this was on par with ‘War God’, a title that exerted real influence and physical force on enemies.
‘…This is something.’
Truly astonishing.
Maybe that’s why a new question about ‘regression’ came to mind.
‘Is it more than just turning back time?’
As I started to dwell on this unexpected question.
The lead Sewer Rat shouted again.
“Now that you’re true comrades, let’s get along, Sewer Rats! Dismissed!”
At his shout, the Sewer Rats began scattering, taking the newcomers with them.
Two burly men, Josh and Johnson, approached me.
‘Well, there’s plenty of time ahead.’
Deciding to shelve my questions for now.
The brothers grinned and said.
“We’ll show you to your quarters! Follow us!”
“We’ll introduce you to the other brothers in our crew, so look forward to it!”
* * *
In the Sewers, your quarters reflected your status.
The spots near the entrance were mostly for veterans.
This was to stop newcomers from escaping or to monopolize the ‘Underground Waterway NPCs’ near the entrance.
It was all about hogging the benefits.
So, I had to follow the brothers deep into the Sewers.
When a massive drainpipe, marking the end of the waterway, came into view.
The brothers stopped in front of a burrow.
Sensing their presence, a young East Asian man stepped out.
“You’re here, big brothers!”
Short hair, rough appearance.
Despite his looks, he bowed politely.
“Choi Taesik! Take the newbie! This guy’s a real piece of work!”
“Escaping the rookie role this fast? You’re lucky!”
The young man, Choi Taesik, widened his eyes.
His gaze sharply scanned me.
As if sensing his intent, the brothers chuckled.
“Take it easy, alright?”
“Don’t want to deal with a corpse on the first day, haha.”
Choi Taesik thumped his chest, as if saying, leave it to him.
“Don’t worry! Oh, and here’s today’s tribute!”
He manipulated the air.
The brothers followed, doing the same.
They seemed to be using the ‘Trade’ function, one of the Convenience Functions.
The item was likely ‘Points’, the Tower’s currency.
“60% for both of you, right?”
A whopping 60% of the day’s earnings.
Even while giving up over half, Choi Taesik smiled subserviently.
The brothers took it as a matter of course.
I watched without much concern.
‘In my past life, that scrawny bastard took 80% alone.’
By comparison, 60% was relatively mild exploitation.
“Done already? This guy! Your hunting skills have improved!”
“Train the newbie today and rest! We’ll check later.”
As if finished, the brothers turned to leave.
Choi Taesik bowed deeply.
“Leave it to me! See you tomorrow!”
As the comical exchange ended.
Choi Taesik finally looked up at me.
His earlier sharp gaze returned.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“Jincheol.”
“…Talking short, huh?”
My curt reply made his face crumple.
It was a complete shift from his earlier politeness.
He tried to act tough, but it just seemed laughable to me.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Naturally, veins bulged on his forehead.
“Laughing? You little—still not getting the situation…!”
“Didn’t you hear the crew leader?”
I cut him off, smirking as I added.
“He said he doesn’t want to deal with a corpse.”
“…Tch!”
Choi Taesik glared, fuming, but that was it.
The reason was obvious.
‘If he’s got any sense, he knows the crew leader took a liking to me.’
In the Sewers, survival was all about reading the room.
He wouldn’t ignore the crew leader’s warning.
Without a good excuse, he wouldn’t touch me.
Of course, he wouldn’t even get the chance.
I had five years of Sewer Rat experience, after all.
“Let’s not waste time and get moving.”
At my sly demand, Choi Taesik’s face twisted again.
* * *
Choi Taesik, 28 years old.
A Sewer Rat for one and a half years.
He was in a great mood today.
‘Finally escaping the rookie role!’
Most Sewer Rats spent about two years as the crew’s rookie.
But Choi Taesik got a successor in just one and a half years.
He’d escaped the rookie role half a year early.
‘Tributes kept me from saving points, but now it’s not impossible!’
He hadn’t saved a single point so far.
The first year was spent adjusting or scraping together tributes.
The next six months went to acquiring skills.
But those tough days were over.
As a proper senior, he could now collect tributes from his juniors.
‘If I save up hard for half a year, I could buy one or two more skills.’
Then, he might break away from the crew and lead a new one.
Or, if things went well, he might escape the Sewers and challenge the Tower.
Those happy thoughts shattered the moment he exchanged words with the new rookie, ‘Jincheol’.
“Come on, let’s move quickly.”
For a moment, he doubted his ears.
The rookie’s attitude was unbelievably brazen.
‘To a senior like me…!’
He seethed but held back.
For some reason, the crew leader seemed to favor the guy.
With no choice, he gritted his teeth and started the training.
“…This place runs on a crew system. Usually, three to five people form a crew.”
“Got it.”
“We’re the JJ Crew, and the leaders are Josh and Johnson. You’d better memorize the other crew leaders’ faces and names too.”
“Sure, I’ll do that.”
The height of half-hearted responses!
The guy’s annoyed expression made my head throb.
With superhuman patience, he suppressed his anger.
“…Follow me! This is the important part!”
As they left the burrow, the cocky rookie trudged along.
They headed toward the inner waterway, toward the drainpipe.
Upon arriving, Choi Taesik spoke sternly.
“I’m going to show you how to hunt now. I’ll demonstrate once, so watch closely!”
‘Hunting’ was the most critical task in the Sewers.
It was directly tied to tributes.
Of course, Choi Taesik had no intention of just teaching.
‘Since hunting is so important, they won’t mind if I establish discipline.’
He’d use this to set the hierarchy straight!
With a sly grin, he descended toward the waterway.
Something dark and writhing moved near the drainpipe.
A shapeless monster, the ‘Sewage Slime’, filled the waterway.
The moment he drew his dagger, a Sewage Slime latched onto him.
“Urk!”
An unpleasant sensation sapped his strength.
Energy Drain.
One reason hunting Sewage Slimes was grueling.
“Hah!”
Stab-!
The dagger pierced the slime like tofu.
Its defense was nonexistent.
But it moved as if unfazed.
“Tch! Not there!?”
Slimes wouldn’t die unless their ‘core’ was destroyed.
In other words, you had to break the core somewhere in their body.
This was another reason slime hunting was tough.
But Choi Taesik, a seasoned one-year Sewer Rat, gritted his teeth and stabbed repeatedly.
Stab! Stab-!
Finally, he pierced the core.
You have acquired 20 points!
A message signaled the hunt’s end.
Ignoring it, he turned to the rookie triumphantly.
“Now, your turn!”
Without explanation, he ordered the hunt.
He’d fail, obviously.
Choi Taesik planned to use this to discipline him.
‘The pretext is perfect!’
He was certain…
…Slash! Sss-!
The guy succeeded.
In just two strikes.
With his Golden Eye gleaming, he said calmly.
“Is that the end of the training?”
Choi Taesik’s jaw dropped.