Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Dawn Forest
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The dim sky just before dawn broke.
Beneath it, in the vast forest sprawling below, Regin and Manannan were moving swiftly.
‘To think I’d actually be walking through here.’
Regin’s gaze swept over the surroundings. The landscape was so familiar it almost drew a hollow laugh from him.
He had never actually walked through it before. Yet it was more familiar than any other place.
Gazing at the forest stretching out before him, Regin thought.
‘Dawn Forest. The first floor of the First Tower, and the very first sight that greets you upon entering.’
The monsters here weren’t particularly high-level.
It was filled with low-level mobs like goblins, the kind you’d see in any other game.
In game terms, it was a typical low-level hunting ground. But there was one peculiarity.
“Haven’t we been walking for about an hour or two?”
“Yeah, about that.”
“But the sky’s still at dawn. Ha. When my master mentioned it, I didn’t quite get it... so this is what it feels like.”
After about two hours of walking, Manannan looked up at the sky.
The same dark scene from when they first entered filled his view.
“They said time doesn’t flow up to the fourth floor.”
Manannan was right.
From the first floor to the fourth.
The section commonly called the lower floors had no passage of time.
‘And each floor from one to four is fixed at a different time of day.’
The first floor was dawn.
The second, morning.
The third and fourth were locked at noon and night, respectively.
“It’s not that time actually stops flowing; the environment is just frozen at that specific time. Remember when I told you to check the time with magic earlier?”
“I do... Hmm. Yeah. The time measured by magic is still flowing.”
“Right. Keep a good eye on that.”
Because the environment was fixed, you had to measure time yourself or you’d be in trouble.
Lose track, and you could wander here for hours without realizing how much time had passed.
...In fact, at first, he’d struggled because he didn’t know how to get a clock.
Regin let out a hollow laugh as he recalled his days playing DAT.
‘Such an unfriendly game in every way. Even the in-game time flows in a way you have to track yourself, and you need special items just for that.’
Regin and Manannan checked the pocket watches hanging around their necks. The magically measured time still matched.
They were clocks bought in advance before entering the tower.
‘Right now, they’re just ordinary clocks.’
Click.
The pocket watch snapped shut with a crisp sound.
Regin hung it back around his neck and thought.
‘Later on, I’d bless these and carry them around. Or swap them for other artifacts instead of clocks... It was a game with so much to do, I remember struggling to acquire every little thing.’
At first, he’d cursed how complicated it all was.
But eventually, he’d gotten so immersed in setting it all up.
A game where levels didn’t matter as much as item setups and build optimization.
The reason Regin had been hooked on DAT for so long was that he’d gotten lost in the countless combinations and possibilities.
...Once he started experimenting with them one by one, he couldn’t stop.
‘Wondering how other combos worked, figuring out the best farming routes for setups... Time flew by without me noticing.’
And the culmination of that was the spellcrafter build Regin had created.
Memories of his old progression and playstyle flashed through his mind.
The character capable of clearing the game, built over four years of obsession.
To reach that state, first...
‘I need to complete the scroll build.’
The way to boost survival in this tower: kill enemies more effectively.
For that, he had to focus on scrolls, the spellcrafter’s main weapon.
With a goal set, the tasks ahead started lining up in his head.
Just like in the game.
The most efficient and reliable methods organized themselves in sequence.
‘The easiest way to improve survival odds.’
Get stronger, fast.
Faster than the time racing toward the story’s fated end.
He was lost in such thoughts when—
“Still, it’s pretty amazing.”
“Hm?”
“Why, we didn’t even cast a companion spell on our clocks or necklaces. How did we end up starting in the exact same spot as you?”
Regin nodded at Manannan’s words. Honestly, even he had been a bit surprised.
How they’d started right together like this.
‘Normally, without a companion spell, you spawn separated. Random positions are standard.’
That’s why the usual strategy was to recruit party members on the fifth floor.
Or cast companion spells and enter together, but that cost a fortune.
And swapping out buffs on gear or accessories for something this niche felt wasteful.
‘In our case, no money, so we skipped the companion spell and planned to meet up on the fifth.’
In short, they’d gotten lucky.
Starting in the same zone, Regin and Manannan.
“Good luck on your side too, Regin.”
“Hm?”
“Heh heh. First expedition, and you’re stuck with me. You know no one’s better for preview and review than yours truly?”
“...”
Thump thump!
Manannan pounded his chest and continued.
“I’ll get you to the fifth floor, no sweat.”
“...”
A chuckle escaped Regin.
Lucky, yeah.
‘Not me. You.’
Manannan, teamed up with Regin, who’d experienced everything DAT had to offer, right from the first expedition.
Judging by NPC dialogue, even the lower floors had plenty of deaths... so the guy’s luck wasn’t bad.
“So, what’s the plan? I’m following since you said head to a safe spot first.”
“Gotta find a campsite.”
“Campsite? Why camp? Why not head straight to the second floor?”
Of course, with luck like that came things to endure.
“Yeah. I plan to stay on the first floor as long as possible before going up.”
If they were traveling together, Regin would set the expedition’s direction.
He’d lead directly in most cases.
And when needed, guide subtly without tipping his hand.
* * *
“But Regin, I heard rumors the first floor’s nothing special. Wouldn’t it be better to rush to the next?”
“...”
“I mean, if you insist on staying, I’ll stay too. But is there a real reason to stick around?”
“...”
“...Regin?”
While walking a path suitable for a campsite.
Manannan glanced at Regin and asked.
He’d seemed to agree earlier about staying, but now he was probing if it was really necessary.
“What, after a few fights, you’re changing your mind?”
Fair enough. Experiencing it firsthand would make the tower’s reality sink in.
They’d battled goblins several times while moving.
Manannan would’ve realized combat was more exhausting than theory suggested.
“But, Manannan.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re not saying...”
Regin chuckled as he looked at Manannan.
One of the NPCs he’d talked to a lot in DAT, so he knew the guy’s personality well.
Guiding him seemed pretty straightforward.
“You’re not telling me the mighty Manannan can’t handle first-floor goblins and wants to bail?”
Manannan’s eyes wavered. Regin’s lips curved up.
‘Rival consciousness. He’s got a bit of that toward me.’
In a way, a classic rival character.
Obsessed with the player’s choices, picking his path accordingly, always showing up to brag about his achievements.
“...Hmm.”
Sure enough, Manannan pondered deeply.
As he’d said, rushing past the fourth floor was the meta.
‘Like any tower climber, skipping low-efficiency spots is best.’
Unless you needed something specific.
“I won’t force you to stay. But whatever you decide, I’m sticking to the first floor before heading up.”
Regin said lightly, looking at him. The choice was his.
Truth be told, Manannan wasn’t strictly necessary for Regin.
In pure combat, a first-stage guy like him wouldn’t help much.
‘Hell, protecting him mid-fight could put me at more risk.’
But there was always the what-if.
Regin decided to judge coldly.
...What if, just maybe, this tower differed from the one he knew?
If it had elements beyond what the game showed?
Even Regin might struggle to adapt on the fly.
“Hmm.”
“...Regin. What’s with that dubious look? I’m not tired from goblins, seriously.”
Not dubious—pitying.
He’d wondered if traveling with that dwarf from the portal would’ve been better.
Could’ve gleaned unknown info quicker.
‘Still, better than solo. Comparing notes with Manannan’s knowledge helps.’
Regin sorted his thoughts and quickened his pace.
Concluding it was better with than without.
“Hey! Regin, check this out!”
A bit further along.
Had he found a good campsite? Manannan called out, spotting something.
“Campsites should be flat but with plenty of cover... Huh?”
“What do you think? Pretty weird, right?”
Regin followed Manannan’s pointing finger to fruit on a tree.
Apples dangling heavily from branches, gleaming golden.
“...Weird, yeah.”
Regin nodded, staring at Manannan.
What was with this guy?
‘...Is he really that lucky?’
Earlier, he’d thought Manannan was lucky—half-joking.
‘Golden apple... finding one on day one?’
A hollow laugh escaped.
‘How does he spot [Dawn’s Apple], one of the first floor’s hidden pieces, right away?’
* * *
“You know how to use this? Just pick it?”
“Eat it.”
“...E-eat it? You know what it does?”
“Pick the apple first. Hit the branch with a mana shot.”
“...Like this?”
Plop.
He caught the falling apple by hand. Up close, its golden glow shone even brighter.
“Eat it.”
“...”
“I read about it in a book. Should be fine—probably beneficial.”
“...You sure?”
Crunch!
Manannan took a bite, his expression shifting from suspicion to wonder.
“How is it?”
“Huh? Feels like my body’s lighter? Fatigue’s fading a bit... that’s about it?”
“Good.”
“...?”
Seemed to match the game’s effects.
‘Recovers poison below stage three. Boosts poison resistance. Top-tier among detox items.’
Kept poison headaches away at least to the tenth floor.
And he’d found it instantly.
“You didn’t... have me test it first to confirm it’s safe?”
“Eh.”
Just a little uneasy.
What if it differed from the game?
“No way. I was sure. Anyway, Manannan.”
“Yeah?”
“Of those forks ahead, which way feels best? Or...”
Plop—like tossing it out—Regin asked Manannan.
‘Maybe his luck’s exceptional for real.’
Could score more apples.
“Go with your gut.”
“...Me leading?”
“Yeah. Got something to check.”
Even heaven-sent luck shouldn’t be ignored if it repeats.
Regin’s lips curved slightly.
‘If it’s not just chance, and Manannan’s innately lucky... plenty of uses.’
Had to verify.
Time to gather data. Watching a bit longer would tell.
The obsession from endlessly analyzing DAT reignited.
‘If Manannan really has some luck-based trait.’
That alone justified traveling together.
There were such NPCs. Ones where hidden pieces popped more often around them.
Recalling those so-called totem NPCs, Regin’s lips curved again.
‘Sorry, but you might have to stick with me on the first floor.’