Chapter 57: Internal Energy (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: Internal Energy (3)
“Aaaaah!”
Kim Tae-yeon’s fate was no different from Baekdusan’s. Though she had braced herself after witnessing his miserable state and managed to hold out a few moments longer, that was the extent of it. She was utterly overwhelmed in an instant.
Sprawled on the ground and barely clinging to consciousness, Kim Tae-yeon gasped out a question with her dying breath. “Just… what… did you obtain…?”
“The 9th Floor. The reward for a Perfect Clear there was Internal Energy and a sword technique.”
In reality, those rewards had been transformed by the Master of All Weapons, so there was a fundamental difference, but to the two who hadn't obtained them, it amounted to the same thing. Kim Tae-yeon let out a pained groan.
“…I only got a single worn-out sword from the 9th Floor.”
“Same here,” Baekdusan added, his voice heavy with envy.
In contrast, Kang Jun-hyeok had gained both Internal Energy and a high-level sword technique. He had also obtained a weapon glowing with a white light that anyone could see was a masterpiece.
The gap created by a Perfect Clear was felt more keenly now than ever before.
Having finished the duel, Kang Jun-hyeok took a moment to rest and asked the two of them, “How is the world doing right now?”
“Well… it’s chaotic,” Baekdusan said, scratching his head. “The world is currently divided into two groups. Those who feel a sense of crisis and are willing to risk their lives to climb the Tower, and those who refuse to climb because they think the penalties aren't that big of a deal.”
The penalty for the first test hadn't been that severe—at least, not in the eyes of the general public. Many couldn't find a compelling reason to risk their lives in the Tower.
Baekdusan spoke dismissively. “They’re fools. No different from frogs sitting in a pot of water that’s just starting to boil.”
“…It is a tragic situation,” Kim Tae-yeon agreed. The fact that it was called the 'first' test implied there would be a second. Those who gave up the struggle because they had secured immediate safety were indeed frogs slowly being cooked alive.
Baekdusan glanced at Kim Tae-yeon. “People like this lady or Olivia Turner are working hard to lead them, but those people aren't the type to listen. Still, those who are determined to move forward are steadily climbing the Tower.”
“Come to think of it,” Kim Tae-yeon murmured as if remembering something. “Yoo Jin-ha is climbing the Tower at a remarkably fast pace.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He’s stepped down from all his frequent TV appearances and lectures to focus entirely on the climb. I heard he’s already reached beyond the 40th Floor.”
“Beyond the 40th Floor?”
Kang Jun-hyeok was slightly surprised. In his past life, Yoo Jin-ha had only just begun attacking the 40th Floor at this point. His pace was significantly faster now.
“He was always faster than anyone else could hope to be, but now… it feels like there’s a powerful will driving his speed. I wonder what changed his mind?”
“He probably thinks he has to do his best because the world is in this state.”
“I suppose so. He truly is a man worthy of respect.”
The expressions on their faces as they spoke of Yoo Jin-ha were filled with pure admiration. They looked as though they sincerely considered him a saint-like figure.
Instead of contradicting them, Kang Jun-hyeok simply smiled in silence.
After sharing some small talk, they parted ways. Returning home, Kang Jun-hyeok checked his Gold.
His current balance was 7,987 Gold. He had gained roughly 2,000 Gold from the duels with the two of them. Kang Jun-hyeok called for Pixie.
[What is it now…?]
“I want to buy one Low-Rank Skill and two Lowest-Grade Skills. And use all the remaining Gold to buy spears.”
[Where on earth do you keep getting all this Gold…?]
Pixie spoke as if she found it absurd, waving her cigar. Space opened up, and boxes dropped in front of Kang Jun-hyeok.
[Active Skill: Shock]
Rank: Low-Rank
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 30 minutes
Description: Delivers a powerful shock to anything in contact with the weapon.
It was a skill that applied a strong, instantaneous vibration. If used against a body, it could shake the internal organs to cause internal injuries; if used while weapons were locked, it could cause the opponent to drop their weapon instantly.
It was a highly versatile skill that could be used for both support and offense. It was practically a jackpot.
In contrast, the two Lowest-Grade Skills were essentially duds.
[Active Skill: Auto-Cooking]
Rank: Lowest-Grade
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 60 minutes
Description: Uses available ingredients to prepare a decent meal.
The Lowest-Grade Skill, Auto-Cooking. It was a skill where the body moved automatically to create a dish based on the ingredients on hand.
For Kang Jun-hyeok, who possessed Hunger Management, it was meaningless. It might have been different if he had a desire for gourmet food, but he had no such interest.
[Active Skill: Digging]
Rank: Lowest-Grade
Proficiency: F
Cooldown: 60 minutes
Description: Digs into the ground to create a tunnel of appropriate size.
The second Lowest-Grade Skill wasn't much different. It was a skill for creating a simple shelter, but Players didn't really need rest. In extreme cases, they could keep moving for days without sleep.
To him, these two Lowest-Grade Skills were useless. However, that didn't mean they were useless for climbing the Tower.
I can find a use for these.
He could use them right away on the next floor—the 10th Floor. Kang Jun-hyeok finished his inspection with a satisfied look. Pixie watched him quietly.
[…Are you done? Then I’ll—]
“Ah. Before that, there’s something I want to show you.”
[What now…?]
Pixie muttered as if she weren't interested, but her eyes betrayed an irrepressible curiosity.
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled and caught his breath.
His breathing was fast yet deep. Quiet yet intense.
His Internal Energy began to move. Pixie, who had been watching with expectant eyes, saw her pupils nearly double in size.
[…That is.]
“This guy’s martial arts,” Kang Jun-hyeok said, shaking the Master of All Weapons. Pixie stared at the weapon in disbelief.
[You… you gave your martial arts to this guy…?]
[That is how it turned out,] the Master of All Weapons replied.
[…You, you—]
She stammered before finally managing to speak. [You gave up on everything… wasn't that why you entered the Tower and became the Master of All Weapons…? So why…?]
[As you said, I had given up on everything,] the Master of All Weapons answered calmly. [I judged it to be impossible, that there was no one capable of achieving it, and thus it was all meaningless. But this fellow is special.]
Special enough that the Master of All Weapons, who had long since surrendered to despair, would pass on his martial arts with the faint thought of 'what if.'
Pixie let out a groan. […Do you think that with him, you might see a different ending…?]
[I do not necessarily think so. But don't you think it makes for a decent way to kill time?]
[…]
[You, too, have likely been unable to truly let go of everything. That is why you show interest and curiosity in his results, is it not? You are merely forcing yourself to deny it.]
[I suppose so…]
Pixie tried to say it wasn't true, but she couldn't finish the sentence. It was a lie she couldn't even tell herself.
Pixie fell silent. The silence was not brief; it lasted for several hours. Kang Jun-hyeok waited. Like a fisherman waiting for a fish to take the bait.
And finally.
[…It just so happens the next floor is the 10th. Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm.]
Pixie spoke. She looked at Kang Jun-hyeok, a different light shining in her eyes than before.
[I have one condition.]
* * *
Finally.
Finally, the shopkeeper Pixie—who had ignored him with such haughty arrogance in his past life—had finally shown a reaction. Kang Jun-hyeok asked, suppressing his excitement.
“A condition?”
[I gave up on everything. I let it all go. But… I haven't been able to suppress my instincts as a fairy. This is the last spark I cannot extinguish.]
Pixie’s voice no longer trailed off. She spoke her mind with clear intent.
[I cannot endure curiosity. I want to know the unknown, the new, and the hidden. That is the instinct of the Fairy race. So… if you can perfectly satisfy my instinct, I might change my mind.]
Pixie tossed her cigar aside.
[The next floor. No, the next quest. Achieve a Perfect Clear. And show me everything that happens there. If you do… I will show you what I am hiding.]
[Hidden Quest: Pixie’s Curiosity]
Objective: Achieve a Perfect Clear on the next Tower quest and deliver those memories to Pixie.
Reward: What Pixie is hiding.
[Will you accept?]
“Of course.”
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded. Since a Perfect Clear was his goal anyway, there was no reason to refuse. Pixie wore a strange expression.
[Decisive. Good. I’ll be waiting.]
Pixie vanished. Kang Jun-hyeok muttered with satisfaction.
“Finally. That took a long time.”
[She is even more stubborn than I am. It was not easy. Hmm. But the next quest, is it? How curious. The floor you are about to climb is the 10th. What was there?]
After searching his memories for a moment, the Master of All Weapons made a sound of realization.
[Ah. So that was it. That would certainly be enough to satisfy her.]
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
[It is nothing. You will find out if you successfully clear her quest.]
The Master of All Weapons dodged the question, acting as if no further information was permitted.
But Kang Jun-hyeok knew. He knew that in the next quest, there was something that would make Pixie change her tune.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen that face.
Kang Jun-hyeok thought to himself.
Time passed, and finally, three days had gone by.
[Will you challenge the Tower?]
[Floor to challenge: 10th Floor.]
[10th Floor Quest starting.]
[Prove your qualifications.]
And then, the world flipped.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body crossed over into a separate world.
At the end of that transition, Kang Jun-hyeok arrived.
He stood in a vast forest where exotic plants bloomed, trees towered toward the sky, and the chirping of insects filled the air.
The starting point of the 10th Floor was a forest. However, it wasn't a bizarre forest filled with monsters like the 5th Floor. Rather, it was remarkably ordinary. The sounds of insects were peaceful, and the only animal noises were those of small creatures like squirrels. It looked like a very normal forest that could exist on Earth.
It was only natural. The 10th Floor Quest wasn't about conquering something as simple as a forest.
It was something much larger.
It was an entire world.
She should be coming soon.
No sooner had Kang Jun-hyeok thought this than a rough sound erupted from the other side of the forest. Someone was moving through the woods at high speed, heading straight toward him. Before long, the brush was pushed aside, and a figure appeared.
“…What are you?”
The figure was a woman.
She had long silver hair and crimson eyes. Her skin was so white it was almost translucent, revealing the faint lines of her veins. Her wary eyes were fixed on Kang Jun-hyeok.
As soon as the woman appeared, the System announced his objective.
[10th Floor Quest]
Objective: Protect and escort the Vampire Princess, Eldiria, to her destination with all your might.