Chapter 142: 30th Floor. Desert of Death (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: 30th Floor. Desert of Death (1)
[Title: ...This is a first for me. I couldn't even start the quest.]
[No matter how I try to talk to them, they just reject and push me away. I even got attacked. Did anyone else succeed in progressing through the 30th Floor?]
[Pham Minh Duc (36th Floor): No. The vast majority of players were forced to end their attempts without even starting. They do not trust others. They reject and exclude. Failure is only natural.]
* * *
A vast, unending desert.
The sun scorched the earth beneath a cloudless sky, and a thick heat haze shimmered over the dunes. It was an environment at the absolute edge of extremity—a planet where finding even a single sprout was a struggle.
Yet, even in such a wasteland, people found a way to survive.
I moved my feet, following the path of my memories. After walking for what felt like hours, flashes of green and blue appeared in the distance. Vegetation flourished around a small oasis.
Near that oasis, a cluster of tents huddled together.
Kang Jun-hyeok headed toward the settlement. He saw camels tied up inside a fence and people moving between the tents.
One of them spotted him. The man’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in shock.
“An outsider! An outsider has come!”
“What?”
“An outsider?”
People emerged from their tents at the shout. They looked at Kang Jun-hyeok with surprise that instantly curdled into hostility. They reached for their weapons.
“Begone!”
“If you don’t turn back right now, I’ll kill you!”
Vicious bloodlust radiated from the group. There was no hospitality or greeting for the traveler.
‘This is the problem.’
Various tribes lived in this desert. The quest for the 30th Floor was to lead and save them.
However, these desert tribes did not trust anyone. Perhaps it was the result of living in such a barren environment, or perhaps it was due to long-standing feuds between the clans. Regardless of the reason, they showed extreme exclusivity toward anyone outside their own group.
In this state, simple persuasion wouldn't work.
The reason I was able to progress through the 29th Floor was largely because the people there were capable of logical conversation. More importantly, I had been assigned the role of a servant, which meant I was already part of their group.
But to these people, I was nothing more than a stranger.
Because their rejection was so absolute, the Persuasion skill failed to trigger. Trust could not be built through normal means.
Therefore, there was only one solution.
Kang Jun-hyeok allowed a thin smile to cross his face. It was a gentle, benevolent smile, like that of a saint. His calm voice rang out across the sands.
“I have come here to bestow mercy and grace upon you.”
“What?”
The tribesmen frowned. Kang Jun-hyeok continued languidly.
“I have been watching you. The way you do your best to survive in this barren land is truly beautiful. I have decided to grant you my grace in recognition of your struggle.”
“Shut up!”
“What kind of bullshit is this?!”
A violent backlash erupted. The men holding spears and scimitars twisted their faces in anger.
“You look like a priest, but do you think we believe in gods? We live here by our own strength! Where does this son of a bitch get off spouting such nonsense!”
These people believed only in themselves. They denied the gods and refused to follow them, holding a deep-seated aversion toward any believers.
That was why even the Saintess of the Past Life had failed to lead them.
One couldn't simply suppress them with force, either. They were the type who would rather drive a blade into their own throats than submit to a conqueror.
So, Kang Jun-hyeok made a decision.
He didn't have to be a mere believer. He just had to become something higher.
A being that even they wouldn't dare treat lightly. An overwhelming presence that crushed doubt through faith.
That was how he would solve this.
“O foolish and ignorant children. Children who have settled in this land according to the will of your ancestors. Do you distrust me? For what purpose? Your distrust is merely a blind emotion without reason. Do you not think that, in itself, is a form of faith?”
“...It seems words won't work on you. This is your last warning. If you utter one more word, I’ll kill—”
“I have come here to save you.”
“—you.”
The faces of those who had been violently rejecting him slowly froze. They realized something was wrong.
Something was strange. Kang Jun-hyeok’s words were not those of a believer. They sounded like the words of the very being the believers served.
Vrrr.
Divine power began to emanate from Kang Jun-hyeok’s body. He didn't stop there.
[Shining]
His body began to glow with a brilliant, celestial light.
The tribesmen’s eyes widened at the miraculous sight. Kang Jun-hyeok smirked inwardly.
‘Everything has a use.’
“I am Lucator, the god of this land. I am his incarnation.”
“Wh-what?”
“Huh?”
“I have come here to show you mercy.”
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke with a terrifying gentleness.
* * *
“...Uh?”
“Uhhh?”
Confusion was written all over the tribesmen’s faces. They could feel the divine power radiating from Kang Jun-hyeok.
Of course, it wasn't Kang Jun-hyeok’s own divine power. It was the power he had obtained through his contract with the Lost God.
But ultimately, it wasn't the kind of power one could get just by believing in someone. It was an infinitely pure majesty. On top of that, Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was glowing brightly—a power separate from magic, Aura, or standard divine power. It was a sight their minds couldn't comprehend.
Eventually, they reached a single conclusion: there was a possibility that Kang Jun-hyeok truly was the incarnation of a god.
“Uh, um.”
No matter how much they claimed not to believe in gods, they weren't stupid enough to act aggressively toward a living incarnation. They were flustered. And being flustered meant there was room for doubt. Kang Jun-hyeok smiled thinly.
“It seems your leader is away at the moment. I am patient. If it is difficult for you to choose for yourselves, I can wait for his return.”
Kang Jun-hyeok walked forward leisurely. The tribesmen reflexively moved aside to make a path. He succeeded in entering the cluster of tents without any interference. Under their bewildered gazes, he sat down composedly.
The Master of All Weapons let out a short laugh.
[Lucator? What kind of name is that?]
“I just made it up on the spot. How is it?”
[Do you intend to gain their faith by claiming to be a god yourself?]
Kang Jun-hyeok gave a small nod.
Countless players had tried various methods, but they had all failed. If so, the correct answer was to do something they hadn't tried. And that was to present himself as a god.
[If the other gods find out, they will strike you down for blasphemy.]
“I became his agent through the contract with the Lost God. It’s not exactly impersonation.”
[It’s sophistry, but plausible. However, it won't be that easy. Their distrust runs deep.]
“It doesn't matter.”
There were plenty of ways to deal with that distrust. Kang Jun-hyeok smiled.
* * *
This was the desert. The most difficult thing to obtain was, without a doubt, water. That was why they had settled right next to the oasis.
However, the water in the oasis wasn't exactly safe. All sorts of insects swarmed around it, and the carcasses of dead animals floated on the surface. It was in a filthy state, enough to make anyone sick just by drinking it.
But since they had no choice, the people lived in resignation.
That was when Kang Jun-hyeok approached the oasis. The tribesmen were startled and grabbed their weapons.
“What are you trying to do?!”
“It is filthy,” Kang Jun-hyeok said softly. “Utterly filthy. While this is the providence of nature, it is a very pitiful thing for you children.”
“So what are you...?”
“Therefore, I shall purify it for you.”
[Water Walking]
Kang Jun-hyeok walked toward the oasis. His body did not submerge beneath the surface. The eyes of those watching widened.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s steps as he walked across the water were no different from when he was on land, as if he were completely unaffected by the liquid beneath him. It was a truly bizarre sight that defied the laws of nature.
‘It’s a shame I can’t actually walk on top of the water.’
But this would serve as a good performance in its own right. Kang Jun-hyeok raised his hand. One of the effects of divine power was the purification of filth.
Vrrr!
A bright divine power erupted. People’s mouths hung open. The oasis, which had been incredibly stagnant and foul, was purified in an instant.
“This is the first mercy I grant you. Do not reject it.”
Returning to the village, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke gently.
“Do you still distrust me?”
“...Don't make me laugh! Anyone who is a priest can do something like that!”
Kang Jun-hyeok asked without a change in expression, “Then, what do you desire from me?”
The man who had shouted flinched, then fell into thought. Then, as if he had a great idea, he smirked.
“If you are truly a god, give us fruit that we can all eat!”
Demanding fruit in the desert—it was an absolute impossibility. Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head.
“I will not directly bestow food upon you.”
“Haha! I knew it! You’re not a god!” the man shouted triumphantly.
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly. “Instead, I shall give you seeds that you can grow and harvest yourselves.”
Kang Jun-hyeok headed toward an empty lot on the outskirts of the tents. The people followed him hesitantly.
‘I’d like to recreate the miracles from the scriptures...’
But those were real miracles. It was impossible with Pixie’s Faint Miracle. He raised his hand in the empty lot.
‘I wish.’
For seeds that were perfectly suited for them to eat, and that could grow even in the harsh environment of the desert.
[Pixie’s Faint Miracle]
As the miracle was activated, several seeds fell into his hand. Kang Jun-hyeok planted the seeds in the sand.
Nothing can grow in sand. Bewilderment filled the air at his action, which defied common sense. Kang Jun-hyeok lightly placed his palm down.
[Plant Growth]
“...Uh?”
“Uhh, uhhh?!”
The people’s eyes turned into saucers.
Sprouts emerged from the sand. They didn't stop growing. Leaves unfurled, and fruit resembling watermelons appeared in an instant. It was clearly a miracle.
Their mouths hung open. Kang Jun-hyeok picked up one of the watermelons and handed it to the man who had shouted.
“Take it. This is a gift I give to you.”
“...Y-yes.”
The man reflexively held out both hands to receive it. His attitude became polite in an instant.
* * *
A Player’s skills and their abilities did not follow the laws of the universe. They were a power of a different order—like a miracle. In the sense that mortal beings could not understand them, they were not much different from a god’s miracle.
The Master of All Weapons muttered as if intrigued.
[At first, I wondered what you were going to do with a miracle, but you had this kind of possibility in mind? You certainly know how to use it.]
“In my judgment, there’s no better skill for climbing the Tower.”
The Tower required a vast array of abilities. As such, one had to gather as many versatile powers as possible, and Pixie’s Faint Miracle was a skill that perfectly fit that description. Even outside the 30th Floor, there were plenty of places to use it.
After that, Kang Jun-hyeok continued to fulfill the people’s wishes using various skills, items he had prepared in his inventory, and Pixie’s miracle.
As a few days passed, the air of distrust began to fade. The way people looked at Kang Jun-hyeok began to carry a strange, reverent emotion.
And Kang Jun-hyeok realized something.
“What’s this?”
The Scripture of the Lost God. It was being written at a rapid pace.
[The Agent of the Lost God visited the abandoned tribe of the desert. Introducing himself to the unbelievers, he resolved to lead them. He purified the filthy water and made fruit bloom in the parched desert. The hearts of the unbelievers began to melt away.]
What he had done on the 30th Floor wasn't that grand yet. However, three sentences had already been written in the scripture. The speed at which it was being filled was on a different level than before.
‘Agent of the God.’
Perhaps it was being filled faster because he was doing work befitting that title. It was something he hadn't known in his past life, as he hadn't exactly claimed to be a god back then.
‘This is pretty good.’
Kang Jun-hyeok became even more proactive in acting as a god. The energy in people’s gazes changed, and the contents of the scripture grew longer. And that wasn't all.
[Divine Power +1]
[The proficiency of Glory of the Lost God has increased slightly.]