Chapter 42: The First Test (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42: The First Test (1)
Kang Jun-hyeok pressed the call button for Kim Tae-yeon. It rang only a few times before she picked up.
"It’s been a while."
"Did you think I was dead? It’s nothing like that. I was climbing the Tower."
A deep sense of relief was evident in Kim Tae-yeon’s voice.
He didn't even need to think about what the problem was. It was likely the Test. Jun-hyeok spoke calmly.
"It doesn't matter. It’s not that urgent."
"You sound exhausted."
Kim Tae-yeon’s voice sounded incredibly haggard, as if she hadn't slept for days.
The Tower Administrator had informed everyone that the first Test would take place in two weeks. That Test was meant to evaluate their value as Players. If they failed to meet the criteria, there would be a penalty.
This completely contradicted what Kim Tae-yeon had been advocating—that people didn't necessarily have to climb the Tower.
The Verdant Guild must be in total chaos. People were likely screaming, demanding to know what was happening. They had stayed on Earth to work only because they trusted her word, and now they were demanding she take responsibility.
He could see it clearly without even looking. In his past life, he had stood by her side and heard those same outcries.
After a moment of silence, Kim Tae-yeon asked in a weak voice.
"It wasn't exactly a difficult thing to predict."
The Master of the Universe had given them the right to challenge the Tower. He told them he was giving them another chance and commanded them to prove their worth by climbing. There was no way he would refrain from evaluating those who had received that right.
Jun-hyeok wasn't saying this just because he knew the future. It was a matter of rational judgment. Even in his past life, he had made a similar deduction. He had simply tried to ignore it out of a desperate desire to save people.
And he wasn't the only one.
"You had a rough idea too, didn't you, Ms. Kim Tae-yeon? You were just avoiding the thought."
Kim Tae-yeon remained silent. That silence was an answer in itself.
Her question sounded like a child seeking an answer from an adult. Jun-hyeok gave her the only answer that mattered.
"Just let them handle it themselves."
"You have no reason to take responsibility for them. Nor can you. What you were doing was no different from promising to pluck the stars from the sky for them."
It had been a delusional, impossible task from the start.
"Of course, it’s not that you’re entirely without blame. In the end, you went around spreading false information as if it were the truth."
"So, take responsibility for that, and then end it. Don't try to shoulder a burden you can't carry."
Kim Tae-yeon replied in a faint, dying voice. After hanging up, Jun-hyeok stared at his phone.
In his past life, she had tried to shoulder it all. She tried to look after everyone and protect them at all costs. As a result, despite her extraordinary talent, she was crushed to death by the weight of that burden.
After a moment's thought, Jun-hyeok picked up his phone again and called Baekdusan. He was in a better position than Kim Tae-yeon. The Baekdusan Guild was one that climbed the Tower enthusiastically.
However, for him as an individual, things weren't great.
"Is your secretary climbing the Tower?"
"I see. There’s one week left, so support her as much as you can during the remaining time. But make sure she doesn't climb half-heartedly."
Baekdusan expressed his gratitude, his voice stiff with tension.
Jun-hyeok ended the call.
The first Test.
It was the first event to sweep across the universe, a massive incident that signaled to everyone that the world had changed. In his past life, both Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan had been broken by this event.
I hope things are a bit different this time.
He had gone out of his way to teach them how to fish; it would be disappointing if they couldn't make use of it. After staring at his phone for a moment, Jun-hyeok turned off the screen.
They would do what they had to do. And he had to do what he had to do.
"Open Shop."
* * *
Sshhh.
Space split open, and a fairy with a cigar in her mouth appeared. Pixie, the shopkeeper, glanced at Jun-hyeok.
[What? You didn't call, so I thought you were dead, but you're still alive...]
Jun-hyeok hadn't opened the shop after clearing the 6th Floor. Since he had opened it after every floor until then, it was an anomaly from Pixie's perspective.
"There wasn't anything in particular I needed to buy from the shop," Jun-hyeok replied.
[Right. I see...]
Pixie spoke softly. Jun-hyeok smirked at her strange behavior.
"What? Were you worried I might have died?"
[It’s nothing like that, so shut up...] Pixie grumbled. [So, the fact that you called means you have something to buy... right?]
"Yeah. I'll buy one Low-Rank Active Skill."
Low-Rank Active Skills were incredibly powerful in specific situations. If he hadn't had Spear Throw, he would have struggled quite a bit against the Servant of Hunger. However, the situations where they could be used were as limited as their power. He needed to buy a mix of Low-Rank and Mid-Rank skills.
Pixie handed Jun-hyeok a Low-Rank Active Skill Box.
[Active Skill: Block]
Rank: Low-Rank
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Effect: Defends against an opponent's attack. However, attacks that cannot be blocked by the Player's current abilities cannot be defended against.
Block. Based on the name alone, it seemed like a very basic skill. However, the effect was quite useful. Even if it was an unfamiliar, alien attack, he could block anything as long as his physical abilities allowed for it. Jun-hyeok was satisfied.
"Thanks. That’s all I needed."
[Is that so? Fine...]
Normally, a shopkeeper would leave once business was concluded. But Pixie hesitated. Jun-hyeok chuckled at the sight.
"Ah, right. I cleared the 6th and 7th Floors this time."
[I'm not interested. I...]
"I know you've given up on everything. So, this is just me venting. It was actually quite tough this time."
Jun-hyeok said it was tough. At those words, emotion flickered in Pixie's eyes. She kept her mouth shut and waited for him to continue. Jun-hyeok went on with a smile.
"The 6th Floor was nothing special. It was just clearing out Goblin Dens; I finished it without much trouble. But the 7th Floor was the problem."
[The 7th Floor... the floor where Yulsir resides...]
"Exactly. For starters, I proceeded with the quest according to the Law."
[You followed the Law...?]
Pixie let out a hollow laugh. She knew how insane Yulsir's Law was. She found it absurd that Jun-hyeok spoke as if it hadn't been that difficult.
"And then, Yulsir personally invited me to his Domain."
[...What?]
Pixie's eyes widened. A god invited a mortal to their Domain? But it didn't end there.
"And he offered me an Apostle's Contract."
[An A-Apostle's Contract? To you? Someone who isn't even a believer and whom he just met?]
Pixie couldn't hide her astonishment. Even for her, who had lived for an immeasurable amount of time—as old as the universe itself—this was something she had almost never heard of.
[S-so, what did you do?] she couldn't help but ask.
Jun-hyeok replied playfully. "I refused."
[You... refused? No, wait. There's no way that persistent bastard would just accept a refusal.]
"You're right. No matter how many times I said no, he kept making the offer."
[So what did you do?]
Pixie was incredibly excited. She looked like a village child listening to a mercenary's adventure story. Jun-hyeok continued leisurely.
"I figured it would never end at that rate, so I made a proposal."
[A proposal... to a god? What kind of proposal?]
"Do you want to know?" Jun-hyeok asked in a whisper.
At that question, Pixie suddenly snapped back to her senses. She looked horrified. Without realizing it, she had been leaning closer to Jun-hyeok.
[No. No, I don't. I... I've given up now.]
"Really?"
[...]
She couldn't bring herself to answer. She simply vanished without a word. But even as she disappeared, a deep sense of lingering regret remained in her eyes. Looking at the space where Pixie had been, Jun-hyeok muttered.
"She still won't cave. She's more stubborn than I thought."
[It seems she's reaching her limit. Regret was overflowing from her eyes.]
"It should happen the next time we meet."
Jun-hyeok leaned back against the bed.
There was one week left until the first Test. Since the entry cooldown was three days, it was an awkward amount of time to try and climb the Tower. Although the Tower's time would stop and he would be pulled out once the Test began, it would break his momentum.
Jun-hyeok decided to wait for the Test. Of course, he wasn't just sitting around doing nothing. He organized the powers he had gained and refined his future plans.
Time passed, and finally, the moment arrived.
[Hello, everyone!]
[You've waited a long time! Have you been climbing the Tower diligently in the meantime?]
"Here it comes."
Jun-hyeok looked at the system window leisurely.
[Now then, everyone! The Test begins!]
With those words, Jun-hyeok's body was transported. The world distorted, and his physical form moved to a separate space.
It was a white void, about the size of a park. In that empty white space, only Jun-hyeok and the system window existed. He wasn't alone; every Player in the universe was likely in a similar situation.
[The content of the Test is simple. You are all Players who have earned the right to challenge the Tower. Naturally, you should have been climbing the Tower and building your strength. We will now conduct a Test regarding that!]
The Test was exactly what it sounded like. What level of Player are you right now? How far have you climbed, what kind of power have you accumulated, and how outstanding are your abilities? Evaluating that was precisely what the first Test was for.
[Excellent rewards will be given to those who pass the Test with high marks. Now, let us begin!]
[Achievement Test starting. Verifying your achievements.]
Several tests were conducted. Among them, the very first was the Achievement Test. It evaluated the results the Player had achieved, calculating the average floor reached based on the time they first entered the Tower.
[1. What floor have you currently reached?]
[2. What level are your current stats?]
[3. How many skills do you currently possess?]
Numerous questions were presented. Jun-hyeok waited with a perfectly composed expression. Finally, the last question appeared.
[10. What is your Tower completion rate?]
[Calculating...]
[Calculation complete.]
[Rank: EX-Rank]
[Congratulations! You have passed the Achievement Test perfectly! This is a unique and unparalleled feat! An extraordinary reward will be granted in the future!]