Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Hyung's Here
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hyung's here.
In the waiting room, I sprawled halfway across a beanbag in one corner and pulled up the Tower Gallery first thing.
The hunters who got the press conference news late were mostly anti-government in their reactions, though a few voiced friendly opinions. Yeah, they should've taken better care of their own rice bowls. They didn't eat properly when it was offered and now they're throwing a fit because it's being snatched away.
You dare provoke me?
Stress was piling up anyway, and you just picked the wrong fight.
Lately, people around me kept giving me those weird looks calling me the Saintess, which was getting suffocating, and I was itching because I couldn't just do whatever I wanted.
I'd been meaning to test out what I'd gained so far and try a speed climb anyway. Perfect excuse handed right to me.
Even One-Second Sword Saint, who I suspected was Choi Kang-in, tried to warn me off, but that worry was totally unfounded.
Ah, I can't die in the lower floors now even if I tried.
That horned boss from the S-Rank gate was huge, sure, but its defense was especially insane.
And the auto-defense item Orb it dropped.
S-Rank performance? Of course it's top-tier.
Let's see, orcs start from the 6th floor, right?
Orcs are one of the lowest monsters in fantasy, so I headed into the 6th without a worry.
With the quest, a squelchy swamp appeared before me, complete with a massive pig rolling around in the middle.
True to a mutant pig, the orc was enjoying a leisurely mud bath afternoon. I snapped a quick proof shot first—
I posted the proof to the gallery, sketched a light Flame, and flung it. The orc took a direct hit and collapsed with a squeal like a butchered pig.
“⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝”
Dali flew over the mud-roasted orc pig, dug a magic stone out of the muck, and summoned water to rinse it.
That magic stone became an instant meal.
Dali, you're a water spirit, but you keep using water weirdly—I've never seen you use it properly except for water barriers.
Do I need to teach you?
“( ｡ •` ⤙´• ｡)”
“...Eh, whatever. You're cute, so it's fine.”
She's a baby like me, so if I keep feeding her magic stones diligently, she'll come around. She's plenty helpful already.
“To the waiting room.”
+ All Stats increased.
Straight to the 7th.
This time, two orcs.
Dali was fidgeting like she wanted to move, so I used Decalcomania to duplicate her.
The two Dal-i's each targeted an orc, deflected its axe with a rock, burrowed into its chest, and landed an uppercut—!
I clapped at the perfect infighting form, and she responded by holding up her victory magic stone.
Yes, yes. Eat up and grow big and strong.
+ All Stats increased.
8th and 9th floors. I torched the entire forest where the orcs were hiding with Flame Decalcomania and cleaned up.
+ All Stats increased.
I blasted through four floors in a flash and took a breather on the waiting room beanbag. I checked my mana as I tossed Dali the five magic stones I'd brought, one by one.
Hmm, this should be enough for about four skill casts. Levels pumping up my stats meant my mana pool was getting decently big too.
Just you wait.
I'll wrap this up quick and make you post some praise.
The 10th floor revealed itself with the quest: dozens of stone pillars jutting high over a boiling swamp.
A massive orc covered head to toe in tattoos stood in a small nook on one wall, just like me.
Gripped in its hand... a tomahawk axe?
It stared me down without moving a muscle. Probably a trial that starts when I step onto one of those front pillars...
“Let's end this quick.”
So what if there are tons of pillars.
Just roast it before it gets close.
I hopped lightly onto the nearest pillar and sketched Flame.
The Orc Great Warrior charged with its axe raised at the same time.
“Krroooaaargh!”
“Eat this!”
I fired Flame straight at it, but before it connected, the thing suddenly dropped out of sight like it sank into the ground.
The Flame smashed into the empty pillar, spreading a ring of fire into the void before fizzling out pathetically.
“Krrrluk—”
Through the scattering sparks, the Orc Great Warrior dangled from the pillar's side, baring yellow fangs. Looking closer, each pillar had rod-like handholds embedded here and there.
“What, it's not a monkey?”
Horned freak followed by pig freak?
The orc leaped to the next pillar over and spun its axe in a circle.
I sketched a light flame to test it, but it deflected without twitching an eyebrow.
'Dodges big attacks by hiding, bats away small ones... Annoying.'
While I pondered, it strode over by leaping pillars.
I considered Crimson Flame Jewel but figured it'd just dodge, so I hatched a plan.
“Dali. I'll make a clone, so both of you rough it up. When I yell, trap it with a water barrier.”
“(•'ٮ'•)৴”
Decalcomania isn't unlimited; once used on a target, it doesn't apply again until the effect wears off.
Max duration it is. Meanwhile, it closed in steadily but didn't rush.
Seems like a test of skill proficiency and usage up to the 10th. Not great matchup for me since I'd free-passed everything but the 5th.
I sent Dali out before it got closer. It calmly blocked the pincer attack from both Dal-i's with its axe.
True to its title, normal attacks wouldn't cut it in close quarters. But that wasn't what I was counting on—I slowly sketched Crimson Flame Jewel and gripped it.
That's when it, having parried Dali's attack, hurled its raised axe at me.
Whoosh—the axe whistled fiercely through the air.
'Guh?!'
I tried to dodge on instinct, but it's tough even on flat ground, let alone pillar tops. Dali was stuck on it, couldn't raise a barrier.
The spinning axe blade zeroed in on my center...
Clang! A clear ring, and the axe bounced off.
'Orb!'
A shard of the Orb hovered before my chest in small hexagonal silver plate form, glowing white.
Forgot about it in the surprise attack.
I calmed my pounding heart, trusted the sturdy Orb, and glared back. The bounced axe traced a weird curve back to it.
Boomerang feature too, huh.
Anyway, thanks to confirming the Orb's performance on its attack, I yelled to Dali and fired the Crimson Flame Jewel.
“Now! Grab it!”
A water barrier shot up from below in an instant, caging the Orc Great Warrior before it could react.
The Crimson Flame Jewel hit the round water droplet prison next.
The veil forming its surface merged with the barrier, opening an exit for the crimson blaze to pour inside.
Gurgle—the orc melted away amid boiling sounds.
Whew, nothing special dares test me.
Dali waved at her fading clone and returned clutching a black, plump magic stone.
“Good girl. Eat that on the way back.”
This stone looked hefty too—probably pricey—but I looked away without regret. My filial Dali pulled through again. Gotta stuff her full of stones.
I petted Dali once and snapped the now-ownerless 10th floor scenery for the Tower Gallery.
Cleared the 10th, but it was a breeze?
Aww yeah, what should hyung do now?
Ah, just bails. Think running fixes it? I can access Tower Gal anywhere.
Can't dodge me in the Tower.
Here's to a good relationship from now on, little bro?
I grinned in victory, left the Tower lighthearted, and teleported home. Let's see, 10th floor has special rewards—
+ All Stats increased.
+ All Stats doubled.
+ 10th Floor Bonus! Acquired class skill [Ruff].