Chapter 93: Before the 7th Floor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93: Before the 7th Floor
“Yeah, that’s a relief, Joo-won. Give Ji-woo my best.”
I hung up the phone.
Thankfully, it seemed Ji-woo had made it home safely and finally come to her senses.
—Assemblyman Baek Gyu-ho has announced his voluntary resignation from the National Assembly. Assemblyman Baek is currently facing multiple charges, including bribery and aiding and abetting in connection with the Cheonin Cult. The prosecution has stated that an investigation is underway, based on the judgment that he has severely undermined national security…
When I walked into the living room, the news was playing on the TV.
Ever since I’d posted the call-out on the communication channel, the country had been in a constant uproar over the Cheonin Cult scandal. Judging by the recent reports, it seemed that everyone involved was being investigated and punished without exception.
“It’s the end of the world, I tell you,” my younger sibling muttered while sprawled on the sofa, eyes glued to the screen.
I said, “Hey.”
“…Yeah?”
“You’d better watch out for those cults, too.”
After seeing what had happened to Ji-woo, I couldn’t help but feel a little worried about this one.
My sibling glared at me and retorted, “What, you think I’m an idiot? You think I’d fall for something like that?”
“Well, you are an idiot.”
“Jeez, why are you picking a fight again?”
—In an unprecedented move, Saram123 personally stepped forward to disband the Cheonin Cult and author the communication channel post. Analysts interpret this as him expressing great regret over the incident.
—The South Korean government has stated its position to actively investigate the reality of religious groups related to Saram123 and to prepare measures to prevent a second Cheonin Cult incident from occurring…
My sibling gestured toward the TV screen with the remote.
“See? Saram123 himself posted about it. Who’s going to fall for that stuff now?”
I wasn’t so sure.
Things might be quiet for a while, but wouldn’t the effect wear off over time? It wasn’t like I could go around hunting down and beating the crap out of every cult leader like I did with the Cheonin Cult.
Not that I had the time to worry about such things, anyway. In any case, I felt I’d done all I could regarding this particular matter.
“Just be careful, that’s all. I’m only saying this because a senior I know from college fell for the Cheonin Cult, too.”
“…Really? Did that senior get to see Saram123 in person?”
“I have no idea.”
*
There were currently several dozen Nightmare Clearers worldwide.
However, only two countries were ever hot on Saram123’s heels: the United States and China. Both nations had put everything on the line for the 6th Floor climb.
The 6th Floor was bound to be far more important than any of the previous floors. Clearing it would raise a Climber’s level by twenty, not just ten. That would put them at level 60. Setting aside the special status of being a Nightmare Clearer, they would become Climbers of the highest level across all difficulties.
This time, the US challenged it first.
It was a much earlier attempt than for any other floor. Although they had thoroughly prepared their strategy by consulting with Saram123, they normally wouldn’t have attempted it so quickly.
But Taylor’s will had been the deciding factor. She had wanted to challenge it as soon as possible, and in the end, she had succeeded safely once again.
Not long after, China also challenged the 6th Floor. The result was the same. The two nations now possessed the highest-ranking Nightmare Climbers aside from Saram123, both at level 60.
Shhhk!
Taylor swung her sword.
The leg of a Giant Walking Stick that had ambushed her from a tree, piercing through the fog, was severed by her blade, now wreathed in Sword Aura.
Screeeech—!
The Giant Walking Stick thrashed, swinging its remaining legs. Taylor calmly lopped them all off as if pruning branches, then finally sliced its torso in half. Spilling green bodily fluids, the Giant Walking Stick died instantly.
Taylor wiped the blood from her blade with a cloth and tied it to a nearby tree branch as a marker. She then moved forward through the fog again in search of her next prey.
Zone 5 was a dangerous area—so dangerous that even Saram123 had issued a warning.
Of course, Saram123 had provided all the monster information: the highly durable Bone Dinosaurs, the Giant Walking Sticks that camouflaged themselves as trees, the Mist Ghosts that created fake clones, and so on.
But the fog-filled field made it difficult to sense the monsters’ presence. And although she was leaving cloth markers as she moved, a moment’s carelessness could lead to her getting lost and wandering the forest forever.
The reason Taylor was hunting in Zone 5 despite all this was not for monster materials, but to fill the gauge.
The Zone 5 boss would be at least level 100. So why was she filling the gauge for a boss she couldn’t even defeat?
It was for Saram123.
Naturally, the US Climbing Management Bureau had vehemently opposed Taylor’s hunting in Zone 5. It was too dangerous. What she was doing now was an unauthorized action.
But Taylor had already firmly decided on her role. If all she was going to do was clear Nightmare floors with the information Saram123 provided, then what was the point of her existence? To be the next in line in case he failed?
Taylor knew better. There was no one, including herself, who could replace him. If he failed, no one would be able to climb the Nightmare Difficulty anyway.
So, the only thing to do was to be helpful in any way she could. To shy away from danger would be putting the cart before the horse.
Besides, no one else was hunting in Zone 5 at the moment. The number of Climbers with a high enough level to hunt these monsters was minuscule to begin with, and they had no reason to take the risk.
To be of even a speck of help to Saram123, who would otherwise have to fill the Zone 5 gauge all by himself, Taylor was fighting hard again today.
As she pushed forward through the fog—
“…!”
Taylor sensed a presence behind her and spun around.
But what she saw wasn’t a monster. A man smiled, raising both hands to show he had no hostile intent.
“I’m human.”
An Asian man with black hair. Taylor lowered the sword she had been aiming.
‘Ye Chenwei…?’
China’s top-ranked Nightmare Climber. It was her first time seeing him in person, but she recognized him immediately. He was a person of great interest in the US, so she had memorized his face from photos.
“I never expected to run into you in a place like this. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Taylor.”
Of course, Ye Chenwei also recognized Taylor at once.
“…A pleasure.”
Taylor lowered her sword but didn’t let down her guard. After the Wang Kai Incident, China and the Black Star Society had been keeping a lower profile than before, and there had been no particular conflicts between them on the 5th Floor so far.
But the US and China were still rivals. And this was Zone 5. No one would know what happened here, even if one of them were to die right now.
Besides, why on earth was Ye Chenwei here?
“I don’t think you need to be so on guard.”
Taylor replied, still staring intently at him. “I’m sorry. My nerves are on edge.”
“I understand. Given the place, it’s only natural.” Ye Chenwei’s gaze swept over the monster blood splattered on her clothes. “But hunting monsters alone in Zone 5… that’s unexpected. I doubt this is what the US Climbing Management Bureau would want, is it?”
“Perhaps not. And you?”
Ye Chenwei had no reason to be wandering around alone in the dangerous Zone 5 either. Meeting Taylor’s gaze, Ye Chenwei finally broke into a faint smile.
“I’ve been curious about you for a while now…”
“…”
“It seems we are the same kind, after all.”
Taylor’s brow furrowed slightly. What is he talking about?
Just then, a monster burst out from the side, tearing through the fog. Taylor reacted, about to raise her sword, but Ye Chenwei’s hand moved faster.
Boom!
Something flew at high speed and shattered the Bone Dinosaur’s head. Taylor froze and stared at Ye Chenwei.
…What skill was that just now?
She thought it might be a Common+ grade throwing skill, but it was far too fast for that. Ye Chenwei dusted off his hands and gave her a nod.
“It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“…You too.”
“Let’s both hunt hard for his sake.”
With a smile, Ye Chenwei disappeared back into the fog. Taylor watched the spot where he had vanished before she could finally relax.
‘…For his sake?’
What did he mean by that last remark? Could it be that Ye Chenwei was also hunting in Zone 5 for Saram123?
Taylor found Ye Chenwei impossible to read.
*
My daily life followed the same monotonous pattern as always: frequenting the 6th Floor to advise the Nightmare Clearers on their climbs and hunting in Zone 5.
The US and China had challenged the floor quite early this time, and both had succeeded.
And for some reason, lately, the Zone 5 boss gauge had been filling up little by little, even when I wasn’t hunting monsters. Was someone else hunting in Zone 5? Even though I’d warned them it was dangerous?
In any case, thanks to them, the gauge was filling up a tiny bit faster. Still, it was a long shot to think I could spawn the Zone 5 boss before challenging the 7th Floor.
—News has just come in that US-based UniverseZ’s second manned exploration vessel will soon arrive on Mars. This mission notably includes a Climber, and CEO Villon Must has revealed that he will be experimenting with the scope of the Tower’s influence…
Another piece of recent news was that Villon’s UniverseZ had sent a second probe to Mars after the first manned exploration. They said the technology had been improved, making it much faster.
More importantly, this time, there was a Climber among the explorers. Villon planned to use this opportunity to conduct a simple experiment on the range of the Tower’s power, just as he had declared.
[ChickenSandwich: If the Tower’s abilities function normally on Mars, then we must assume there’s a very high probability that the curse will also apply.]
[Saram123: Then what will you do next?]
[ChickenSandwich: We will continue to venture further into space. The solar system, our galaxy, and beyond the galaxy…]
I didn’t know if humanity would last that long, but Villon’s dream was certainly a grand one. Of course, I was rooting for him.
But honestly, it was hard to have much hope anymore. Because I had learned from the Demon King that other worlds existed. The Tower was destroying other worlds as well. No matter how far we got from Earth, could we really escape the Tower’s clutches?
—…The explorers are now disembarking. They will soon attempt to enter the Tower.
It was being broadcast live. The second probe had landed safely on Mars. The camera also showed Villon’s face as he watched the situation from the control center on Earth.
They said the Climber would attempt two things in order: posting on the communication channel and entering the Tower. I was alternating between watching the news and the Easy Difficulty communication channel, where they had announced the post would be made.
[Waffle: The first post from Mars.]
Soon, a post from the Mars Climber appeared.
[PalmTree: It transmits just fine, damn.]
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[Pepper: Got my hopes up for nothing… Is the Humanity Mars Escape Plan scrapped now?]
[Caladbolg: Still have to see if they can enter the Tower.]
Disappointment followed from the crowd. Next was entering the Tower. The screen showed the Climber inside the spaceship, smiling and waving.
—Will it be possible to enter the Tower from Mars? Right now… Ah! They’ve entered.
The Climber vanished into thin air. The news anchor who was broadcasting live let out a heavy sigh. The camera zoomed in on Villon’s face; his expression was hardened as he stroked his chin amidst the sighs of the control center staff.
…Of course it would work.
I sighed and put down my phone. Even if we left Earth, the Tower would never let humanity go.
In the end, there was only one thing to do.
Climb the Tower.