Chapter 118: Qualification Proof (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118: Qualification Proof (1)
I told my family everything.
About becoming a Nightmare Climber, about climbing the Tower, about the various things I'd done as Saram123, and about the thoughts and feelings that drove me to do them…
I explained in my own words everything they must have been wondering about.
And I told them why clearing the 8th Floor had taken me so long.
“...So that's why it took so long to reach the oasis. Nothing dangerous happened at all.”
My father, who had been listening in silence, nodded.
“I see. You’ve been through a lot, really.”
It was a secret I’d been so desperate to keep…
Telling them everything felt strange.
My family’s reaction was, if anything, surprising.
They all seemed calmer than I had expected.
I looked around at them and continued.
“I have to keep climbing the Tower from now on.”
“...”
“It’s… unavoidable. I hope you can understand. Because no one can do this but me.”
In any case, now that everything was out in the open, my family would have to watch me risk my life to clear the Nightmare floors.
It was a terrible thing to put them through, the very reason I never wanted to reveal it, but it couldn't be helped.
A brief silence followed.
“Yes, I know.”
My father was the first to speak.
“How can a parent stand in their child's way? Especially when my son says he's going to save the world.”
“...”
“Seo-hyun, you don't need to worry about us. Your father is just so proud of you. So… do what you have to do.”
My father spoke calmly.
My mother nodded beside him.
“It's the same for me. How could I not be proud? Your father and I are fine.”
But as I studied their expressions, I soon realized something.
There was no way they were fine.
Perhaps while I was clearing the 8th Floor, they had already come to terms with it all, deciding amongst themselves how to handle it.
“...Thank you. For understanding.”
That was all I could say.
My mother turned her head for a moment and wiped the corners of her eyes.
I spoke in a cheerful voice, as if to lighten the mood.
“Don't worry too much. My life has never really been in danger while clearing the floors. I'm serious. Not since the 4th Floor, anyway.”
I added, remembering the guide I wrote for the 4th Floor.
“And I know I'm saying this myself, but… I'm pretty damn strong. You know how the first clear rewards are incomparably better than the normal ones, right? Plus, the Nightmare first clear rewards even raise my level, so I'm over level 100 now.
I also have a ton of good skills and items. This time, after clearing the 8th Floor, I even got a Legendary grade skill. That's a grade that hasn't even appeared in the world yet.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. So you really don't have to worry. I'm not just saying this to reassure you; it's the truth. The Nightmare Difficulty is vicious, but I'm on a completely different level from other climbers.”
I smiled and spoke with confidence.
“And honestly… if I really thought I couldn't handle it, I would have given up long ago. You know what I'm like, right? I absolutely hate doing dangerous things. I'm only doing this because it's manageable and I want to live, too. If the world ends, I die with it, right?”
My mother and father both nodded.
My mother stood up.
“Aren't you hungry? You haven't eaten yet, have you?”
After our talk, we had a meal.
As if by an unspoken agreement, my family didn't bring up the Nightmare clear again.
We would have to talk more later, but for now, I could feel their consideration in not wanting to make me uncomfortable.
“Hoo…”
Back in my room, I threw myself onto the bed.
My heart felt heavy.
I still hadn't told them everything.
...I can't tell my family about the lifespan issue.
They must already be a wreck inside as it is.
How could I possibly tell them I've become terminally ill with less than a year to live?
“This is a problem.”
My family probably thinks I'll keep climbing the Tower once a year.
The problem was, I could no longer afford to climb at such a leisurely pace.
Of course, I could tell them that after the 8th Floor, I had no choice but to leave a generous amount of time for future Nightmare clears…
But even considering that, I was in a position where I had to climb much, much faster.
Because I only have 300 days left.
I’ll probably have to challenge a floor at least once a week.
It would be better if I at least knew how many floors the Tower has.
But since I didn't even know that, my destination was as hazy as if it were shrouded in fog.
“Demon King, is there any way to extend my lifespan?”
I asked the Demon King.
He looked at me like I was spouting nonsense, so I added.
“I mean, if I keep climbing the Tower, an item that extends lifespan could show up, right? There are items that shorten it.”
– How should I know?
“You said you climbed past the 20th Floor. Have you never seen an item or skill like that?”
The Demon King replied mockingly.
– If you had the spirit to burn away your own lifespan, then keep that spirit going. Do you think you can climb the Nightmare while worrying about trivial things like family?
So he didn't know.
– If you intend to stand against the Tower, you must become a monster yourself. You'd do well to remember that.
“Hmm… So, did you fail because you weren't a monster, Demon King?”
– This little shit.
Stand against the Tower, whatever. I'd be content as long as the world is safe.
Well… I guess that's the same thing.
Because there's probably no way for this world to be safe other than climbing the Tower to the very end.
No, even if I do climb to the end, there's no guarantee it'll be safe.
“Ugh.”
I groaned and put a hand to my forehead.
Lifespan, climbing, 300 days…
And what the hell is this ‘Qualification Proof’ that's about to start?
My head was a mess, and my heart was in turmoil.
Click.
The door opened.
My younger sister peeked her head in.
“You asleep?”
“...No.”
I sat up.
She came into the room, closed the door, and fidgeted awkwardly.
It looked like she had something to say.
“What is it?”
“...Oh, it’s nothing.”
My sister sat down on my desk chair and spoke.
“Is there anything else you wanted to say?”
“...Like what?”
“I know what you’re like. I figured you might have held something back so Mom and Dad wouldn't worry.”
...What? Was she always this perceptive?
From her expression, it seemed like she was just taking a guess.
“If there is, just tell me. It's not like I worry about you as much as Mom and Dad, so you can talk to me comfortably.”
I let out a small laugh.
“Says the one who was bawling her eyes out earlier.”
“...When did I do that?”
“There's nothing. What would I have to hide at this point?”
I found my sister's gesture to be quite endearing.
She stared at me for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay, then… But can I ask just one thing?”
“What is it?”
“I actually wondered before if you might be Saram123, you know? It makes sense. You were always away on a ‘trip’ whenever a Nightmare floor was cleared. Plus, Saram123 is Korean.”
So she had been suspicious.
“That's why I followed you that time you went to sell Mana Stones. But if you're a Nightmare Climber, where did you get Lowest-Grade and Lower-Grade Mana Stones? Don't those only drop in Easy Difficulty?”
It was a fair question.
“There are ways. I have helpers, you know.”
“...Really? I thought you were hiding your identity?”
“There are people I've revealed my identity to and am receiving help from.”
“Who are they?”
“Villon Must.”
There was no reason to hide this, so I told her.
My sister’s face was a mask of stunned disbelief.
“Anyway, some incredible people are helping me out. I'm getting support on top of the Nightmare clear rewards, so I'm practically invincible. You don't need to worry needlessly either. You could say I'm the one and only under the heavens.”
“Whatever…”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“I'm tired, so get out. I'm going to rest.”
“T-Tired? Okay.”
My sister got up from the chair.
A moment too late, I thought of something to tease her with.
“Oh, right. And that thing from before.”
“Huh? What.”
“You know how you had something you wanted to say to Saram123? Well, I heard it loud and cl—”
“Aaaah! I can't hear you! I can't hear you!”
My sister clapped her hands over her ears and scrambled out of the room.
I chuckled and lay back down.
Right, I have to do it.
Even if it feels hopeless, I have to keep moving forward.
That was all I could do.
[Would you like to enter the 5th Floor?]
Steeling my resolve, I immediately entered the 5th Floor.
There wasn't a moment to waste.
I should at least do some hunting before this ‘Qualification Proof’ or whatever begins.
I'll organize the 8th-floor guide after that.
* * *
After Saram123 miraculously cleared the 8th Floor, the entire world was in a festive mood.
The greater the despair, the greater the joy—it was a natural phenomenon of action and reaction.
“Here, drink up, drink up!”
In a bar in Seoul, a cheerful drinking party was underway.
“Saram123 is Saram123, after all. A god doesn't know failure!”
“Right? He's a god, a god! A toast to our savior!”
Everyone got drunk, celebrating the fact that humanity had been granted another year of life.
“Hey, speaking of which… isn't it almost time? The Qualification Proof, was it?”
“But they said that's for the highest-floor climbers, right?”
A new rule had appeared after the 8th Floor was cleared.
Since it was said to be something for the highest-floor climbers, people assumed it wouldn't be a major event for the rest of the world.
Besides, it wasn't like worrying would do any good.
“If it's the highest-floor climbers, that includes Saram123.”
“Saram123 will pull through, obviously! Shouldn't we be more worried about the climbers from the other difficulties?”
“Come on, let's just drink for now.”
And so, time passed.
[Time Remaining: 1 second]
A man who had been drinking suddenly looked up, his eyes widening.
“...Hey.”
“Huh?”
“What is that… Am I drunk?”
The people around him began to murmur amongst themselves.
Something bluish was covering the sky.
[‘Qualification Proof’ has begun.]
[The highest-floor climbers of each difficulty have been selected.]
[A total of nine ‘Quarantine Zones’ with a radius of 50 kilometers have been established.]
[The Quarantine Zones completely block all entry and exit.]
Republic of Korea, China, Russia, Canada, Turkey, Brazil, Poland, Uzbekistan, Somalia.
A total of nine translucent, massive, dome-shaped barriers appeared over the urban centers of each country.
[The highest-floor climbers must move to the ‘Chamber of Proof’ and fight a boss monster of the same level as themselves.]
[The order will begin with the highest-floor climber of the Easy Difficulty.]
[Before moving to the Chamber of Proof, the highest-floor climbers may select a Quarantine Zone.]
[Penalties will be imposed according to the number of Quarantine Zones selected.]
[The penalties will be in effect while inside the Chamber of Proof.]
[The penalties are as follows:]
[If 0 zones are selected]
- No Penalty
[If 1 zone is selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 30% Reduction
[If 2 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 30% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (3)
[If 3 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 30% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (3)
- Random Item Ban (3)
[If 4 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 60% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (3)
- Random Item Ban (3)
[If 5 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 60% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (6)
- Random Item Ban (3)
[If 6 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 60% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (6)
- Random Item Ban (6)
[If 7 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 90% Reduction
- Random Skill Ban (6)
- Random Item Ban (6)
[If 8 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 90% Reduction
- All Skill Ban
- Random Item Ban (6)
[If 9 zones are selected]
- Physical Ability and Willpower 90% Reduction
- All Skill Ban
- All Item Ban
[You cannot exit the Chamber of Proof until the boss monster is defeated.]
[Upon successfully defeating the boss monster, the selected Quarantine Zones will be deactivated, and the turn will pass to the next climber.]
[If the climber fails to defeat the boss monster, a new highest-floor climber from that difficulty will be chosen by lottery, and the process will repeat until successful.]
[After the battles for all difficulties have concluded, the Tower's Curse will descend upon any remaining Quarantine Zones, and all humans within them will die.]
[The remaining Quarantine Zones will be maintained forever.]
[A special reward will be given if all Quarantine Zones are deactivated.]
[We hope the highest-floor climbers of each difficulty will prove their qualification as the Vanguard of Humanity.]