Chapter 63: 5th Floor (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: 5th Floor (1)
Wang Kai clicked his tongue in irritation as he stepped out of his meeting with Secretary Zhao Degang, the Chairman’s closest aide, regarding the 5th Floor.
“Acting like he knows everything, prattling on and on... That old fogey looks like he’d drop dead if you so much as poked him.”
In truth, the conversation hadn't been much different from their usual talks, but Wang Kai was still on edge because of the Branch Tower incident. Everything grated on his nerves.
It wasn't as if anyone within the Party was explicitly blaming him. Saram123, the freak who managed to clear Branch Towers within minutes no matter where they appeared in the world, was the anomaly. How was anyone supposed to beat him to the punch?
If one had to nitpick, Mongolia had provided a slim chance, but from the third Branch Tower onward, it had been an act of God regardless of what they did.
If we had just entered at the same time, I would have cleared it faster than him, no matter what... That was the only thought occupying Wang Kai’s mind.
He didn't know if the guy was using long-range teleportation or some other trick, but the thought that he’d lost everything to some cheap gimmick made his blood boil.
‘The 5th Floor...’
So far, there had been no news or rumors of Saram123 appearing on the 5th Floor.
That made sense. The guy had been hiding his identity like a rat this whole time; why would the 5th Floor be any different? Wang Kai vowed that if they ever crossed paths, he would crush the man under his heel.
He couldn't kill him, so he’d just rough him up enough to leave him on the brink of death. He would make the man realize the absolute difference in their levels.
As he walked down the hallway lost in these thoughts, he saw a group approaching from the opposite direction. Wang Kai scowled.
It was a man with a clean-cut look and slicked-back hair. Walking beside him was Xiao Lin, a member of the Party’s Central Committee. The man gave a slight smile and a polite nod. Wang Kai pointedly ignored the greeting and brushed past them.
The man watched Wang Kai’s retreating figure before speaking.
“He doesn't seem to be in a very good mood.”
The man was none other than Ye Chenwei, a climber of the Nightmare 4th Floor and China’s representative Nightmare Clearer.
Xiao Lin replied, “His pride is wounded over the Branch Tower incident. Saram123 really made a fool out of him.”
Ye Chenwei chuckled. “It’s quite amusing.”
“Pardon? What is...?”
“The way Wang Kai is so conscious of that person. It’s entertaining to watch.”
Especially since he didn't know his place. It was utterly ridiculous that Wang Kai genuinely believed he was in the same league as that man.
On the other hand, it couldn't be helped. No matter how kindly Saram123 posted his strategy guides, no one could truly understand them. What Nightmare Difficulty really was, the kind of hell it entailed, and just how impossible the feats he was performing were—unless one had experienced the Nightmare firsthand in an attempt to follow in his footsteps, it was a realm that could not be understood through mere words.
At best, perhaps only he and the 4th-floor climber from the US could grasp even a fraction of it.
If Saram123 hadn't cleared the fifth Branch Tower first, Wang Kai would likely be dead by now. He was a very lucky man. Though, with his arrogance piercing the heavens like that, there was no telling how long that luck would last.
“It’s a shame, really. It was a good opportunity to clear a nuisance out of the picture,” Ye Chenwei said casually.
Xiao Lin responded just as nonchalantly. “It won't affect the grand scheme of things. The dragon is complete; we only need to wait for the right moment to dot the eyes.”
With that cryptic exchange, the two departed down the hallway.
* * *
The 5th Floor Common Area.
As the name suggested, it was a shared space where climbers of all difficulties gathered. Climbers on the 5th Floor often said it was no different from another world entirely, separate from Earth.
I already had some basic knowledge of it. The 5th Floor was a daily topic on the Communication Window and various forums, and it was a frequent fixture on the news—usually regarding which country’s climbers had clashed with whom.
Entering the 5th Floor made me feel a bit uneasy. But it was likely a needless worry.
According to statistics, the total number of climbers on the 5th Floor and above was around 7,000. While that was less than one percent of the total climber population, it was still a significant number. With thousands of people coming and going, who would bother paying attention to me?
And even if my identity were somehow compromised... well, I could just use Stealth and bolt, couldn't I? It wasn't as if anyone could take a photo or video of my face. Electronic devices or any complex machinery couldn't be brought into the Tower. That rule applied to the 5th Floor as well.
There was no need to worry so much. Regardless, I had to enter the 5th Floor at least once. It wasn't a floor that required a "clear" per se, and I could have moved straight to the 6th Floor, but there were rewards to be gained on the 5th. I couldn't very well challenge the 6th Floor without picking those up.
[Would you like to enter the 5th Floor?]
“Enter.”
I entered the 5th Floor directly from my room.
[You have entered the 5th Floor.]
The scenery shifted. I was standing on a floor that emitted a faint, soft glow. I looked around.
A vast meadow stretched out in all directions. I could see people and scattered buildings. I was currently standing on a portal. I’d heard that all entries and exits in the 5th Floor Common Area happened through this portal. Unlike other floors, exiting the Tower was only possible within the range of this portal.
In short, it was no different from a portal in a video game. From what people said, the 5th Floor Common Area really did feel like the open field of an MMORPG.
After watching people appear and disappear on the portal for a moment, I stepped outside its bounds.
‘Let’s see...’
Now that I was in, I just needed to go about my business quietly. But maybe I should look around a bit first? Since I’d heard so much about this place before coming, I started walking toward the area where the people and buildings were.
[Drake Restaurant]
It was a large, two-story wooden building. After checking the sign, I stepped inside. The interior felt like a medieval inn. It was quite crowded and bustling with noise.
“The Zone 1 boss expedition is starting soon.”
“Hah, I hope the rewards are good this time.”
“Huh? When did the Zone 3 boss gauge fill up this much? It’s over 90%.”
I walked further into the hall, glancing at the food people were eating. There was one thing everyone agreed you had to do first when entering the 5th Floor: visit Drake Restaurant.
Only climbers of the 5th Floor and above could enter this floor. Since there were no native inhabitants in this world, everyone here was naturally a high-level climber. So, who was the owner of this restaurant?
A climber, of course. Mr. Drake, a British climber, was said to have been serving free food to people here since the early days. Why would a high-level climber bother with such a thing? Apparently, he just really loved cooking. Because of that, Drake Restaurant had become a famous landmark of the 5th Floor and a primary gathering spot for climbers.
As I approached the kitchen, I saw a burly, bearded Caucasian man vigorously tossing a frying pan over a hearth. That must be Mr. Drake. I walked closer and spoke up.
“Excuse me...”
Drake glanced at me and shouted, “The Horned Deer Steak is sold out!”
“Pardon?”
“You were about to order the Horned Deer Steak, weren't you? Am I right?”
I was. As I stood there slightly stunned, Drake let out a booming laugh.
“I can tell just by looking. This is your first time on the 5th Floor, isn't it?”
“...Yes.”
“Everyone tries to order that the moment they arrive. Rumors about it being a 'heavenly taste' have spread everywhere.”
Drake Restaurant used ingredients brought from the outside, but they also made dishes using monsters that lived on the 5th Floor. The most famous among them was the Horned Deer Steak. Some said its savory, nutty aroma was on a level incomparable to Earth’s beef. I’d come to try it myself, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. What a shame.
“Try the Horned Deer Steak later. How about the Grilled Goblin Thigh? Don't be prejudiced just because it’s a goblin; the taste is guaranteed.”
“Ah, no. I’ll pass on that.”
“Tsk, it’s really delicious though...”
I’d heard the rumors, but they really did sell goblin meat. Drake set down his pan and poured me a glass of something. It was a dark red liquid that smelled of sweet fruit.
“It’s wine made from wild berries found on the 5th Floor. Have a drink to celebrate your first visit.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“The menu is over there, so take a seat and pick something. I’m not joking, goblin meat is actually great. You’ll be surprised once you try it.”
It’s such good meat... Drake muttered as he went back to his frying pan.
I took a seat at the bar-style table right in front of the kitchen. I opened the menu and saw it was in English. It wasn't difficult to translate.
‘But man, communication really is seamless.’
I’d heard that real-time interpretation happened when people spoke on the 5th Floor, similar to the translation function of the Communication Window. Drake’s words had sounded like perfectly natural Korean to my ears. It seemed the effect didn't extend to written text, though.
As a side note, the Communication Window was disabled on the 5th Floor, just like on the other floors. It seemed the window was blocked whenever one was inside the Tower.
“Drake, wine and Horned Deer Steak for me, please.”
As I was picking a menu item (excluding the goblin meat), someone sat in the seat next to me. It was a massive Western man. Drake barked at him.
“Out of ingredients! Eat something else.”
“What? Then just give me whatever.”
“How about goblin meat?”
“If you serve me that, I’ll take it as a challenge to a duel.”
The man, who seemed close with Drake given their banter, glanced my way. When I gave him a slight nod, the man smiled and asked, “First time on the 5th Floor? I don't think I’ve seen your face before.”
“Yes. It’s my first time.”
“Welcome! I’m Alex, the Chief of the Security Force here on the 5th Floor.”
Uh... this guy?
I was inwardly surprised. Alex, the record holder for the US Hard Difficulty. And the man who served as the Chief of the Security Force for the 5th Floor Common Area.
The 5th Floor had a Security Force, which was an organization dedicated to maintaining order. I’d heard they only did the bare minimum to keep the peace. After all, this was a place where climbers from all over the world gathered. I’d also heard that the Chinese faction of climbers tended to keep to themselves entirely.
“You don't look surprised?” Alex looked at me, seeming a bit caught off guard. “Usually, climbers who meet me for the first time are shocked when they hear my name. Not to brag, but I’m quite a celebrity.”
“...No, I am surprised.”
“You don't look like it.”
“I just don't show much expression.”
Alex laughed heartily. “So, are you going to tell me your name?”
Just in case, I gave him a slightly altered version of my name. “I’m Hyun.”
After we shook hands, Alex continued his questioning. “Hyun, are you Korean? Your name sounds like it.”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha! I knew it. My daughter loves Korea. She’s been begging me to take her on a trip there this year... Ah, you’re not from the North, are you?”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, don't take it the wrong way. It’s just that we actually have North Koreans wandering around here too. Based on your reaction, I guess not. My apologies.”
I suppose that made sense. Anyway, Alex kept talking to me in a way that felt a bit overwhelming. Please stop acting so friendly, mister... it’s a bit much...
“...By the way, you’re not Saram123, are you?”
I nearly spat out the wine I was drinking. When I looked at Alex in disbelief, Drake, who happened to be bringing over some food, clicked his tongue.
“Do you have to do that to every newcomer you catch?”
“What? It’s fun!”
Alex burst into laughter, revealing it was just a joke. I followed suit with an awkward laugh.
“It’s a joke, a joke. There’s no way Saram123 is a young fellow like you. Ah, speaking of which, what difficulty are you on?”
“...Easy Difficulty.”
Despite his massive build, Alex was quite the chatterbox.
“...So, any interest in joining the Security Force? There are plenty of perks. And the work isn't even really work—”
“Chief!”
Just then, someone called his name and rushed over urgently. It seemed he had urgent business; Alex scowled and downed his wine in one go.
“Ugh, I didn't even get to eat... Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Hyun! See you around!”
Alex departed like a whirlwind. I felt exhausted even though I hadn't actually done anything.
“Here, your Kangaroo-Rabbit Sandwich. Enjoy.”
My food arrived shortly after. Wanting to eat quickly and leave, I took a large bite of the sandwich.
...It wasn't really my thing. I forced it all down and rinsed my mouth with the wine.
* * *
If I had to compare the 5th Floor Common Area to a game, it was an MMORPG. There were monsters in the fields that respawned after being hunted, and there were boss monsters as well. Hunting monsters didn't necessarily yield mana stones, but there were several reasons why climbers stayed active on the 5th Floor.
First, there were the monster byproducts. Unlike other floors where only rewards from the Reward Room could be taken out of the Tower, on the 5th Floor, you could take monster byproducts outside. These byproducts were traded at prices comparable to, or even higher than, mana stones. After all, they were materials that didn't exist on Earth.
For the record, the shoes I’d recently purchased were made from the hide of a lizard monster that lived in Zone 2 of the 5th Floor. They were developed by a foreign company for high-level climbers; though they cost tens of millions of won, they were incredibly durable. Since I could no longer wear ordinary shoes, I was quite satisfied with them.
Next, there were national interests. In a way, the 5th Floor was like a remote planet. Since no country wanted to let unclaimed land fall into the hands of others, climbers remained active there to keep each other in check. Currently, it was essentially a standoff between the US and Chinese factions.
Finally, there were the rewards for defeating bosses. This was the reason I had come to the 5th Floor.
The zones on the 5th Floor were shaped like a bullseye, with circles getting larger as they moved outward. I was currently in the innermost circle, Zone 0. Zone 0 was a sort of safe zone where no monsters appeared. In the center of Zone 0 was the portal I’d entered through, and the total range of Zone 0 was said to be about a one-kilometer radius.
Monsters began to appear starting from the next circle, Zone 1. Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3... the further out you went, the stronger the monsters became. And each zone had a boss monster. A boss monster would appear once a certain number of regular monsters in that zone had been hunted.
[Zone 1 (99.8%)]
[Zone 2 (10.3%)]
[Zone 3 (90.7%)]
This was the boss appearance gauge that had been visible in my sight since the moment I entered the 5th Floor. The Zone 1 boss was on the verge of appearing. In fact, I’d entered the 5th Floor today specifically after confirming on the Communication Window that the Zone 1 boss was about to spawn. If I missed this chance, I’d have to wait at least another month.
The reward for defeating a boss was also a one-time reward, similar to clearing a floor. The reward for the Zone 1 boss was usually a Common+ grade Skill Stone at best. But hey, a reward was a reward. You could never have too many skills, so I naturally intended to claim it.
I went to the weapon rental shop in Zone 0 and borrowed a sword and shield. On the 5th Floor, weapons supposedly spawned randomly all over the place, and the rental shop was where they were collected. The building was managed by the Security Force, and rentals were, of course, free.
[Zone 1 (100%)]
As I waited with my borrowed weapons, the Zone 1 boss gauge finally filled up.
[The Zone 1 Boss is appearing.]
A message popped up.
“Alright, everyone gather here! We’re moving out to take down the Zone 1 boss!”
I saw people starting to gather on one side of Zone 0. I’d heard that once the gauge was full, people would immediately form an expedition to hunt the boss. I naturally walked over and joined the group.
I’d heard the Zone 1 boss was roughly around Level 20 in terms of strength... There was a reason I was joining the group instead of just going to kill the boss alone. To receive the reward, you had to contribute a certain amount to the boss’s defeat. If I just hogged the kill, the others wouldn't get any rewards and would have to wait until the gauge filled up again. It would make me a total jerk and a nuisance.
Well, I could just blend in with the crowd and fight just enough to secure my reward.
“Are you nervous?”
As I was spacing out, someone spoke to me from beside me. It was a Western woman with brown hair. She spoke with a smile.
“I’m nervous too. It’s my first time fighting alongside other people, so my heart is racing a bit.”
“Ah... yes.”
“Let’s do our best together! Good luck!”
“Good luck.”
Thinking she was quite energetic, I gave her a polite response.