Shattering the Wall of Impossibility (2)

One of my mythic-grade traits, Seed of Transcendence.

It had never activated before.

Even after reaching the thirtieth floor of the tower, it stayed dormant.

So I simply figured it was the kind of trait that only kicked in during the extreme endgame…

Strength and Agility points have each increased by 1.

"...Huh?"

The cascade of notification windows that suddenly filled my vision left me frozen in shock.

This was impossible.

This isn't even inside the tower.

Levels only rose while climbing the tower. That was common sense even a seven-year-old would know.

Gaining combat experience and improving technique was one thing, but actual specs could only increase by ascending the tower.

It was an absolute, unchanging truth.

...Until now. For me, that truth had just been shattered.

I muttered before I could stop myself.

"No way."

The newly awakened trait. What exactly did it do?

I already had a hazy inkling.

It lets me raise my stats even outside the tower?

To put it in a single line: solo level-up.

Unlike everyone else, I could grow infinitely stronger even beyond the tower's confines.

What are the conditions?

Of course it wasn't a guaranteed activation. It hadn't triggered during the Arirang Guild theft incident, after all. Maybe it had a probability chance during raids. Or perhaps it only worked when I soloed. There had to be some restriction.

The stat gains were modest too, so I wouldn't be exploding in power like during tower climbs, but...

I wasn't the slightest bit disappointed.

If I can see the hard tower with this kind of advantage!?

The Tower of Pilgrims—the tower among towers. They said the difficulty there scaled up exponentially. The rewards couldn't keep pace with the spike in challenge, or so the rumors went.

Because of that, I'd planned to climb only as far as the seventy-fifth floor of the normal tower where the honey was still worth it. For the raw hard tower, I'd take one look, decide it wasn't for me, and bail.

That had been my thinking.

But now I could grind stats outside the tower?

I swallowed hard.

I can completely overwhelm it.

Climb the tower first. The moment it starts feeling too difficult, step outside, grind stats until my specs skyrocketed, then return. In theory, this strategy could get me all the way to the hundredth floor.

Of course it would mean running gate after gate.

But grinding was my specialty.

There was nothing to fear.

They say clearing it all lets you grant any wish. I don't know if it's true, but I have to find out.

"Guess I'll have to hit the gates again from time to time."

Once my thoughts were in order, I scanned my surroundings.

The Awakeners were searching for me.

"Is CheolGangMin here?!"

"For the reward..."

I kicked off the ground and leaped away from them.

I landed atop the mascot statue from earlier, looking down at the crowd below.

Then I typed out a post on my phone. The onion-shaped VPN icon glowing in the status bar meant I had nothing to worry about tracking.

"Hmm."

Attention poured in instantly. Even foreign guilds were dropping comments.

Most Korean guilds were concentrated here, so their confirmation would be a little slow, but if I checked again tonight the trap would be overflowing with catches.

I smiled and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

This is what they mean by a win-win situation.

They get to hire me as a mercenary. I get to level up. We both pick up some modest compensation on the side.

Look at that. The perfect world where everyone comes out ahead.

I'll have to insist on physical goods only if I want to avoid tracking, but that's plenty.

Serin, just tell me anything you want. I'll pluck the stars from the sky if you ask.

Other guilds will do all the hard work, so you really don't have to hold back.

Shall we head out, then?

Whoosh—

My body soared through the air.

The Boar Labyrinth would have claimed countless lives and possibly grown into a seven-major-gate level disaster if not for me.

I sprinted across its wreckage, heading home.

My steps had never felt lighter.

Serin, oppa's coming!!

* * *

...But unfortunately for my little sister, I didn't head straight to the hospital.

There were two reasons.

This guy's about wrapped up.

First was the third-generation chaebol currently trapped inside the Tower of Pilgrims. I'd struck a deal with him.

It was to sell the hidden piece I'd obtained by laying the vengeful spirit to rest—Baekri-hyang's Soul.

And more than anything, I need to stop by there.

"Return!"

Even after leaving the tower, there was still one place I had to visit before the hospital.

The bathhouse.

Scrub, scrub.

Washing up thoroughly!!

It had been years since she'd last seen me. I didn't want to greet her with a body that felt gross after spending a week inside the tower.

If she said something like "Oppa, you smell~" or "You look so scruffy~", I was fully prepared to shed big, fat tears like drops of rice cake.

Maybe I should dress up a little too?

A wave of sudden anxiety hit me, so even after leaving the bath my feet still refused to point toward the hospital.

"Excuse me, could you recommend some men's clothing? Something that would make a woman fall head over heels."

"Oh my~ Is it a date?"

"No, I'm going to see my little sister."

"......?"

I bought and changed into new clothes at an expensive boutique. The clerk's gaze was a little strange for some reason, but her taste was flawless. Even I had to admit the outfit looked good on me.

I should buy flowers while I'm at it.

"Excuse me, I'd like a bouquet. The most expensive one you have, please."

I even purchased a massive bouquet to celebrate her full recovery. Spending money like this usually felt wasteful, but today was a day that deserved commemoration.

"Proposal? Or a confession?"

"No, it's for my little sister."

"......?"

The employee gave me another odd look, but when I added, "My sister has been hospitalized for a long time, and we're expecting a lot of good news today," her expression brightened.

"Ah, I see! Congratulations!!"

"...Whew."

I have no idea why everyone keeps misunderstanding.

Is it really that unusual?

Can't be helped. They don't understand what Serin means to me.

She was my parents' biological daughter. Having received such a great debt from them, I had an absolute duty to make sure she lived happily.

On top of that, she followed me so well. How could I not cherish her?

Though things will be different now.

She had fallen ill before reaching puberty and remained in a vegetative state ever since. Even after waking up, she probably wouldn't follow me like before. For a while it would feel awkward, like wondering if this girl was really my sister.

Dohwa, if the mood gets too heavy, I'll need you to brighten things up.

If it came down to it, I'd even borrow Dohwa's paw. Thinking that eased my mind a little.

Right. Time to go for real.

I paced outside the hospital for a moment before finally stepping inside.

The rustle of the bouquet's plastic wrapping. The murmurs of patients wondering what it was. All of it was swallowed by the thunderous beating of my heart.

I'm sorry, Serin. You've waited so long, haven't you?

It really took far too long.

On the day you closed your eyes, I swore I'd wake you as quickly as possible. I don't even know how many years have passed since then.

If I hadn't awakened, it might have taken far longer—perhaps forever. Still.

Even after awakening I wasted about a week, but please forgive at least that much.

"I'll wake you up now."

Creak—

The hospital room door opened.

I stepped inside carefully.

My sister lay there. I stared at her in silence, then immediately began preparing.

"...Trait Enhancement Swap, Inventory."

After setting the bouquet down, I first pulled out a potion bottle.

An intermediate healing potion created by combining no fewer than a hundred lowest-grade potions. Each individual one cost at least a hundred million won, and given how scarce they were these days—priced at whatever the seller demanded—this single bottle was easily worth ten billion.

I didn't hesitate for a second.

Pop.

Even if it cost a trillion won, it wouldn't be a waste.

The moment I opened the bottle, an indescribably rich and profound fragrance filled the room.

Then, glug glug.

The liquid moistened Serin's parched lips and flowed inside. It seeped in while radiating a soft green light. It felt less like drinking and more like absorbing through the tongue.

Please, just wake up without any complications...!

I prayed to every god I could think of, desperately hoping nothing would go wrong, and then—

"...Serin?"

I whispered softly.

For the past several years, I had called her name thousands of times without ever receiving an answer.

This time was different.

"Mmm...?"

My sister's eyelashes fluttered.

Her eyelids slowly lifted. Blue eyes turned toward me.

"Oppa?"

"Ah, you recognize me? You remember oppa?"

"Yeah. But... your muscles..."

She scanned me from the feet up—rare-grade shoes, the new clothes I'd bought on the clerk's recommendation, the muscles forged through endless grinding, and finally my face.

"Oppa...? Are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you crying...?"

"......"

My vision blurred. Something hot slid down my cheek.

"Heheung, really..."

Maybe my crying face looked funny to her. Serin slowly sat up. Her clothes shifted with the movement, but neither of us cared.

"If you're going to cry, tsk. You always told me that, oppa."

"Yeah... I did, didn't I?"

"Then the tears should stop, right? Come here~."

She reached out her arms toward me. It was exactly what I used to do when she cried after getting scolded by our parents. She was returning the same gesture.

The sight was so dearly missed that I approached with utmost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠care, as if she might shatter, and hugged her with the lightest touch.

The warmth of family wrapped around me.

Squeeze.

"There, there~ Our oppa is such a good boy~."

"Yeah..."

It would be fine if time stopped right here. I genuinely thought so.

"...Ah."

Another notification floated before my eyes.

Before the tears could even dry, that was what I had thought.