one night of peace

Chapter 12: One Night of Peace

The small rooftop restaurant in Seoul was bathed in soft neon lights. The city lights glittered below, casting reflections on the windows. Laughter echoed above the busy streets—rare, genuine laughter.

Lee Hwan sat at the table with Minjae, his childhood friend, and two others from their old school days—Soojin and Dongha.

"So let me get this straight," Minjae said, holding his drink. "You disappeared for two weeks, went into the Tower without a license, and came out as a high-level Player?"

Lee Hwan gave a slight shrug. "I didn't plan it. I slipped into the Tower… and well, things happened."

"Things happened?" Soojin scoffed. "You cleared three floors in under 15 days! That's unheard of!"

Dongha leaned forward, eyes wide. "People are calling you the 'Rogue Vessel'. You know that, right? Some think you're backed by a secret guild or even the government."

Lee Hwan chuckled quietly. "I'm not with anyone. I'm just… me."

Minjae grinned and slapped him on the back. "You've always been a monster, bro. I knew it. Now drink before I finish the whole bottle myself."

They laughed again. The tension slowly melted.

For the first time in weeks, Lee Hwan felt… human.

No system messages. No bosses. No pressure.

Just friends. A sky full of stars. And a moment to breathe.

—

As the night deepened, they sat together watching the city.

Soojin looked at him thoughtfully. "Are you going back?"

"I have to," Lee Hwan replied. "There's more waiting for me in the Tower. The power I gained… it's not ordinary. I can't ignore it."

Minjae looked at him seriously for a moment, then raised his glass.

"Then here's to the craziest guy I know. Lee Hwan—the guy who'll climb the Tower, floor by floor, until the world knows his name."

They all clinked glasses.

For one night, the world was still.

But far above… the Tower trembled.

And in the deepest floor yet unreached, a sleeping Monarch opened his eyes.

End of Volume 1

[To Be Continued in Volume 2: Rise of the Vessel