Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Humans are Animals of Adaptation - 3
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A rest stop built before the Light of India.
Climbers who had passed through the grueling section were wolfing down pork and stew from their plates, while some had spread out blankets in the open field and fallen into deep sleep.
Even late at night,
the place was filled with all sorts of noise.
-One more bowl... just one more bowl!
-Out of the way! I'm getting mine first—!
-There's plenty of food, so calm down!
In such a chaotic spot, they decided to meet the other races first.
"…."
'According to Dinara, the Catkin live near their village. And since they eat monster meat well, their physical condition is relatively good.'
On the other hand, the Holy Knight Order had arrived exhausted from rescuing other climbers and other races along the way. So, meeting the other races took priority over the fatigued climbers.
'I should just quietly talk with the Catkin.'
I first pulled back the Lord's Guard and approached quietly with Niva. Then I witnessed an unbelievable sight.
"!"
The group of Catkin was selling drugs. Not in a figurative sense of scamming, but literally shaking vials in one hand and peddling them to climbers.
'These damn quack peddlers?'
It seemed like the time had come to wield public authority.
Ah,
this chilling sensation.
'It reminds me of my past life's on-site busts.'
I sighed and watched.
'For an on-site bust, it's better to wait a bit and catch them in the act. If I grab them before the sale, they'll deny it.'
Twitch
Twitch
A Catkin girl with cat ears, a sleek tail, and striking orange bobbed hair spoke up.
"Hee hee hee. Sir Climber. Interested in a stamina booster? Or maybe something for digestion?"
"Stamina? That actually works?"
"Yes, of course. Just drink one bottle, and you'll be a roaring tiger all night long—!"
"A tiger...!"
I froze at their conversation.
"…."
Tiger.
Tigers are legit.
'Any guy wants to be a tiger at least once.'
I nodded.
"…Tiger."
"!"
At my mutter,
Niva elbowed me from the side, whispering 'Idiot...'
But I ignored her. I focused on the Catkin girl's words. The surrounding climbers and NPCs did the same.
They muttered just like me.
-Tiger...
-Tiger!
-Can't resist a tiger.
The chatter around gradually faded.
Everyone was zeroed in on the conversation.
"!"
Customer spotted.
The Catkin girl sensed the gathering stares and rubbed her hands eagerly. In the dark night, her blue pupils dilated, creating a mystical aura.
"Nyahaha...! Thanks to this secret potion, our Catkin population has boomed even in the misty forests. Look at the villagers behind me! All paired up! There's even a saying: Catkin die to monsters, but none die alone from lack of strength!"
"Hmm, I've heard those rumors."
A pondering climber.
Then his companion, who was eating nearby, scolded him. She didn't like the attention. In a low voice, she said,
"Hey, how long are you gonna ask? Buy it quietly if you want it."
"Ugh..."
The climber glanced awkwardly at his embarrassed girlfriend, then handed mana stones to the Catkin girl. He snatched the potion bottle, grabbed her hand, and hurried to a secluded corner of the field.
"…Follow me."
"Eek!? Y-you're crazy—!?"
But she didn't resist and stumbled after him. Her face was oddly flushed.
The Catkin girl shouted cheerfully after them.
"Nyahaha! Good luck!"
At that sight,
all the men, including me, were stunned.
"!"
"!"
"!"
'Already!?'
Crazy bastard.
But a real man.
Nothing else mattered,
that guy was a true man.
Did the potion give him courage?
"…."
'Or maybe—after all the hardships getting here, his pent-up desires exploded in this extreme situation. Once you adapt to the environment, those urges hit first.'
While I was stunned by his sudden burst,
climbers who recognized my face late apologized profusely on his behalf.
"S-sorry, Lord. Right in front of you like this."
"He's a friend; should I call him back?"
"…."
I shook my head.
"Right now, it's just something to check for the future."
"!"
"!"
Honestly,
everyone's curious about the results.
I signaled with my eyes.
-Right?
-Yeah, thanks for allowing it!
Silent agreement among us guys.
The men all looked moved. Niva sighed again. Another climber, seeing my reaction, asked the Catkin girl,
"Any side effects?"
"A very minor one. Nyahat, but negligible compared to the effects."
"What kind?"
"Four out of five times."
"?"
The Catkin girl held out one hand, spreading four fingers.
"Nyahat, that chance. Instead of stamina, a big sticky mushroom grows on your back. If it does, that day's a bust."
"…."
"Of course, it's not poison—just a light curse! Get it lifted by a shrine maiden or shaman guarding a sanctuary! No threat to life, nyahaha!"
"…."
'A curse that grows a mushroom on your back?'
20% success rate.
Gacha, not guaranteed.
"!"
"!"
"!"
By the time the shocking truth sank in, it was too late. A sharp scream echoed from the distant field, heralding tragedy.
-Kyaaak! Mushroom on my back—!
"…."
"…."
"…."
"Nyahat."
In the chilled air,
the Catkin girl shook her head ruefully. Then flashed a shameless grin.
"Nyahaha, tough luck. But buy three more bottles, and the odds hit the ceiling—!"
"…."
'Illegal drugs confirmed.'
With that,
I ordered the Lord's Guard.
"Confiscate the drugs. Escort all Catkin to Guard HQ for investigation."
"Yes, Lord!"
"Nyaaang—!?"
The cat cried out.
And public authority was cold.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Nyaaang, nyaaaang—!
-Tch, never trust cats.
As climbers clicked their tongues,
the Catkin were transported to Guard HQ for detailed questioning on the dubious drugs. We'd hear their full story later.
'Can't let illegal drugs spread in the territory.'
And the man cursed with the back mushroom recovered quickly. A companion climber priest lifted it right away.
-Th-thanks.
-No problem. Helping each other is what matters!
'They came with the Holy Knight Order guild.'
That thought crossed my mind when
someone approached from the side.
"Glad our Holy Knight Order has a priest. We were eating and missed what happened."
"!"
The voice.
I looked at the approaching young man. He wore shining armor and a wry smile. Meanwhile, Niva subtly placed a hand on my back, staying alert.
'Ready for emergency warp even if there's no hostility.'
Grateful, I turned back to the armored youth.
'Damn handsome.'
Blond hair, blue eyes.
Sharp features...
Like a romance fantasy cover model.
But his standout trait was elsewhere.
Twitch
Twitch
Long ears.
"Elf...?"
"!"
At my absentminded mutter,
he corrected with an awkward smile.
"Half-elf. Father was a human climber, mother an elf priestess."
"Ah...!"
News to me.
'Climbers marrying NPCs and having kids.'
Amazing.
'Elves are in the 20th floor section, so early encounters. Some built deep bonds.'
"…."
I glanced at Niva still wary behind me. Meanwhile, the second-gen climber resembling the Sword Empress, the half-elf holy knight, saluted crisply.
"Formal introduction to the lord of these lands. I'm Aslan, vice-leader of the guild—Holy Knight Order—and raid leader."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lucius Baran, lord of Walled City Baran. Welcome to the Holy Knight Order on your second visit."
Hearing my welcome, Aslan spoke with a choked voice. His eyes seemed misty.
"Heard the stories, but being welcomed right upon reaching a new floor is a first. Father would be thrilled. He always taught us hope."
"…."
I felt embarrassed.
'Hundred Swords Society too—just feeding and welcoming, but they overreact. How brutal is this tower to make these brutes tear up?'
To shake off the awkwardness, I said cheerfully,
"Haha, I hope the food suited your tastes."
"Delicious. My siblings emptied whole pots each! Truly grateful for the hospitality!"
Glancing aside,
I saw the armored giants setting down heavy weapons, grinning as they ate. Grains stuck to their mouths, of course.
-Tasty!
-Happy!
-Blessing!
"…."
'Yeah, eat up, big babies.'
I told Aslan,
"Glad to hear. Food's plentiful—no worries. Rest here without fretting over complications."
"Ah, Lord! No complicated thoughts needed—that's a true blessing!"
Twinkle twinkle
The handsome giant clasping hands up front was somehow scary.
'No hostility. Why scarier than enemies?'
I stepped back slightly.
"A-anyway. Day after tomorrow, if no issues, you'll enter the city. Need separate quarters? Like near Hundred Swords Society..."
"Hmm."
Aslan scratched his cheek thoughtfully, then said,
"Anywhere's fine for living. We siblings just avoid rain. But one question."
"What...?"
"Is there a place to worship gods?"
"!"
I tensed.
'Celestial Star Church is there. Hope they don't riot over different gods.'
Guild name 'Holy Knight Order' screamed intolerant zealots.
'Mass climber expulsions over religion would be a headache.'
Cautiously,
"Yes, there's a church."
"Great. We'd like to pray there with my siblings first."
"?"
I tilted my head.
"Not asking which god?"
Aslan tilted his too.
"Huh? Not really important. As long as there's a holy relic or sanctuary, it's the same."
"?"
What the hell is this guy saying.
'Exhausted and delirious?'
I asked back.
"Holy Knight Order?"
"Ah."
He laughed.
"Haha! Just the guild name. We don't take faith too seriously. But to use holy skills properly on a new floor, we pray at the local sanctuary."
"So you don't seriously believe in gods?"
"Yes."
The Holy Knight Order's vice-leader,
Holy Knight Aslan declared proudly.
"Most of our guild are atheists. Few siblings like complex religion! Helping each other matters! Hahaha!"
"…."
This was
somewhat...
refreshing.
'Not sure about dragging them before the Morningstar Goddess.'
Precisely,
their religion might be 'humanism.'
Atheist Holy Knight Order.
A wild bunch, but their innocent smiles stirred a different fondness from the orderly Hundred Swords Society.
'No complicated thoughts, so they help naturally.'
I chuckled.
"Welcome to Walled City Baran. Rest easy, climbers."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Come what may,
humans seem to be creatures of adaptation.
After handling the Catkin and Holy Knight Order's entry procedures, the city buzzed for a bit but quickly returned to normal.
-Hey, you. No producing illegal drugs.
-Nyaaaang...
-Uncle doesn't believe in gods but prays?
-Yeah, atheist priest.
And above all,
a special event started, calming the mood fast.
The city's kids and youth shouted,
"To the square!"
"Harvest Festival finale again?"
"Let's go."
"Bonfire's already lit—!"
Crackle crackle
Gazing at the massive bonfire,
the gathered crowd ate delicious food or danced with instruments, unable to contain their excitement.
Climbers, NPCs, other races...
Diverse folks smiled by the fire.
-Today, songs of heroes who slew the lake monster!
-Skip that, sing a love song.
-You! No illegal drugs!
-Nyaaaang...!
Niva and I watched from the Lord's Manor office window. As the tallest building, the square's assembling crowd was clear.
"…."
"…."
Niva smirked behind sunglasses, fingers tapping her crossed arms.
"Hmph, you listened to me then?"
"Yes."
"Weird. You always seem so indifferent."
"Never indifferent. I always listen to the city's voices."
"Hmph, full of yourself."
She turned away sharply. Then eyed the flames. Firelight sparkled in her lowered shades.
No aesthetic of destruction,
no battlefield solemnity—just fire.
Its warmth drew people.
We watched them.
Quietly.
"…."
"…."
Niva blurted,
"Hey, Lucius."
"Yes."
"Why treat us so well?"
"Who?"
"…."
A brief silence. She fiddled with her bunny ears, then said primly after a pause,
"…Me."
"…."
I nodded. Thought a moment, then confessed honestly.
"You're special."
"!"
Niva said,
"What is."
"Just... everything."
"Tch."
"Really."
I replied,
"You showed up one day in that ridiculous middle-aged bunny outfit."
"Middle-aged bunny again...!"
"And helped me tons while I was swamped running the city. After you came, climbers flocked like divine revelation."
"…."
"Honestly, you're quite special to me. A life turning point."
"…."
"Just that."
Niva said,
"Weird."
"How?"
"What you say sounds like my lifesaver."
"Lifesaver?"
"Yeah."
Her eyes grew distant.
"When the massive tower Yggdrasil suddenly rose and the outside world ended. Someone saved me and died."
"…."
The outside world perished.
First I'd heard.
'Climbers fled the apocalypse...?'
Niva continued blankly,
"From our first meeting, your words kept feeling similar. Maybe 'cause I feel guilty toward him."
"…I see."
I said,
"But such a great person wouldn't want you guilty."
"Why?"
"…."
He saved someone,
and hoped they'd live happily.
Because—
'That's how I died in my past life.'
I was the 'cop' who died saving people from the apartment collapse.
"…."
'Don't know the feeling of the world ending with a tower rising.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Niva smiled. He suddenly clamped his mouth shut, looking oddly cute.
'Just an NPC.'
"…."
And somehow.
The day the tower rose in apocalypse.
Reminded of the 'cop' who saved her in the outside world.
「Good thing...」
「...That's enough.」
-Good thing. That's enough.
"…."
Niva muttered,
"…Silly. Still thinking weird stuff."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Not you.
Me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The boy ran through the forest. Blood taste in his throat, legs numb from running.
"Hah...! Hah...!"
-Shiiik! Shiiiik!
-Shiiiik—!
"Uwaaaak—!"
Everything felt like a nightmare.
The grotesque pursuers behind, the fog in the withered forest. Even his parents turning into monsters moments ago.
Heads gone,
snakes writhing atop necks.
They chased to devour the boy.
-Shiiik!
-Shiiiik—!
'How did it come to this...?'
"Aaaak—!"
The boy ran frantically.
And after days of flight,
he collapsed far enough the snake sounds faded.
He lifted his head from the damp mud.
"Ah."
A beautiful sight unfolded.
Mana stones floating like islands on a serene lake. Seeing it, tears streamed down as he fainted.
"Please..."
If this is
heaven...
Never wake again.
For this world was hell.