Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Book 1 - 2 (1)
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Under the night sky of Dimension 34, Oh Hyun stood alone.
The traces of the massacre he had committed had been thoroughly erased by the system, but the faint metallic tang of blood lingering in the air seemed untouched.
I scanned the empty village, rethinking any potential variables that might still be lurking in this dimension.
Blood Kin Ghosts and zombies. And the people who had tried to stop them.
Even before I arrived, this place had already been festering from internal problems.
By my guess, it must have been no different from hell.
There were probably people hiding from the zombies even before I showed up, and some of them might still be in hiding.
Was my assumption that I'd thoroughly killed everyone just an illusion?
There could be survivors I hadn't discovered.
If even one had made it out alive...
They could pose a threat to me. Maybe by leaking information through the community.
I glanced at the large clock in the village to check the time.
2 a.m.
There was still plenty of time before I had to return to Dimension 64 anyway. It was worth checking.
I headed straight out of the village toward the hunting grounds.
My destination was the forest in Zone 2.
It was the best place for people to hide and the hardest to search for traces of human activity.
If any survivors were hiding in the village...
There were very few places inside where they could even enter, and they couldn't escape immediately if spotted.
I could scour the village thoroughly after checking the hunting grounds. The hiding spots were limited.
Zone 1, the Slime Meadow, was empty as expected. Someone had already cleared all the slimes.
And slimes were so weak that anyone could wipe them out quickly. Even in chaotic times, slime hunting was feasible.
I quickly moved on to Zone 2, Wolves' Paradise.
As soon as I entered the forest, a familiar yet unfamiliar air seeped into my lungs.
With my high agility granting a wide field of view, I immediately spotted a wolf prowling around.
A Compound-Eyed Wolf left? Interference from the Blood Kin Ghosts, maybe?
My brief joy at the unexpected experience points gain faded quickly.
I didn't forget my original goal. I counted the wolves while searching for any signs of human presence.
After counting them all...
Their numbers were noticeably lower than before. Not all 200 were gone, but a significant portion had already been dealt with.
The people of Dimension 34 had done some hunting, it seemed.
And naturally, I had no intention of seeking the path to Zone 3.
Zone 3 was still an unknown territory, inaccessible to people from other dimensions.
This was the same for all dimensions except Dimension 64.
Before hunting the wolves, thoughts of tomorrow's hunt in Dimension 64 crossed my mind.
Calculating the time I'd arrived here, it would be around 9 p.m. tomorrow when I returned to Dimension 64.
That meant a nine-hour gap from noon until my return.
...Would Siron touch my share of the monsters in the meantime?
If it was just to complete the quest, he'd follow my orders as given.
But what if he aimed for more?
I recalled Siron's actions so far.
Hmm, probably not.
Siron was clever. He wouldn't risk his life on something so foolish.
He knew better than anyone that even if he monopolized all the monsters and leveled up, he could never close the gap with me.
The chance of betrayal was extremely low. With him as the only administrator left, I had no reason to kill him until I found a replacement.
I set aside my worries about Dimension 64 and focused on the forest before me.
The experience from wolves now felt too meager.
After swiftly finishing the hunt in Dimension 34, I sensed something off.
This was definitely Zone 2, but it felt subtly different from the forest I knew in Dimension 64.
The arrangement of trees, the shape of the paths, even the positions of small rocks.
Not a huge difference, but everything was slightly off.
What allowed me to notice these subtle discrepancies...
Was largely because this was Zone 2.
If it were Zone 3, I'd only been there twice, so I couldn't have memorized it perfectly.
Zone 1 was just an open meadow, impossible to distinguish.
But Zone 2 was different.
I'd roamed Zone 2 many times, so I remembered the terrain in detail.
As a result, I could clearly tell this place was different.
Zone 2 in Dimension 64 and Zone 2 in Dimension 34...
The monster count was the same, but each dimension had slight variations in terrain and environment.
'Differences between dimensions.'
It might not be just terrain and environment. Maybe hidden elements too.
I decided to return to the village and test this hypothesis.
Thrilled at uncovering important information, I hurried back to the village.
Special locations or NPCs unique to certain dimensions?
That could be a massive variable.
With the intent to uncover dimensional differences—and not forgetting to search for hidden survivors—I combed through the village.
That search didn't last long.
Some buildings' positions and appearances were subtly different.
The most noticeable was the sign of the lowest inn I frequented in Dimension 64—it had a different name here.
I couldn't read the letters, but I remembered the shape.
Convinced my hypothesis was correct, I began approaching the NPCs.
They looked the same on the outside, but who knew about the inside.
First, I headed to the general store I visited most often.
The items for sale and prices were identical to Dimension 64.
I spoke to the familiar general store NPC.
"What can I help you with, traveler?"
Hearing that, I left the store with a twinge of disappointment.
Exactly the same.
I chatted with a few more NPCs afterward, but they all reacted identically to those in Dimension 64.
The other NPCs too?
Then it hit me—NPCs I couldn't interact with yet.
In my home dimension, Dimension 64, there were three inaccessible NPCs.
Conversation was impossible due to level restrictions.
Their level requirements in Dimension 64 were 37, 40, and 50.
I'd found various differences wandering the village, but no direct ones yet.
If there were no systemic differences, these were essentially meaningless.
Hoping for a real difference this time,
I made my way to them.
I found the first NPC.
This Lv. 40 restricted one was a middle-aged man adorned with jewelry.
No reaction at all. Complete ignore.
'No difference here.'
I remembered where another NPC was and headed there.
The Lv. 50 restricted NPC. Top floor of the tallest building.
The well-dressed sturdy old man glanced at me but showed no other response.
'Last one...'
The Lv. 37 restricted NPC. Its odd non-multiple-of-5 level made it the most promising.
The final NPC lived in a mansion that felt like a fortune-teller's house.
Full of expectations, I went to it.
As I opened the door, I immediately noticed.
The interior was completely different from Dimension 64's fortune-teller shop.
Hot liquid flowed as decoration, and the inside looked like a volcanic zone interior.
The sweltering air inside was stifling even for me.
I tapped the shoulder of the figure in red robes to try talking.
Lv. 42.
Only this one's level requirement was different.
Unable to do anything else, I quickly left that peculiar house.
In the end, the Lv. 40 and 50 restrictions were the same, but the one that was Lv. 37 had become Lv. 42.
Clear proof that systems differed directly between dimensions.
Not just environmental differences—the rules of the system itself varied.
I couldn't hide my surprise and pondered further.
That Lv. 42 NPC might have a special role unique to this dimension, or perhaps every dimension had slight random elements mixed in.
Either way, it meant every dimension had its own unique traits.
Now, every time I moved dimensions, I'd have one more thing to check.
More work, but uncovering secrets about dimensions made me feel like I'd grown a bit more.
As I organized the intel, the Soul Shop suddenly came to mind.
Today, I'd killed every survivor in Dimension 34.
Over twenty, at least.
That meant I'd gathered a lot of Soul Origins.
Thinking more about Soul Origins, I recalled something important.
When I killed Dwin,
Two Soul Origins had dropped.
He was around Lv. 10 then, or maybe higher.
Higher levels yield more Soul Origins, it seems.
A great system for those walking the path of the murderer.
I immediately opened the Soul Shop to check my current Soul Origins.
38.
A decent amount, but not satisfying.
I'd need far more in the future.
Still, this was enough for most of the Soul Shop items I'd been eyeing.
I scanned the shop list again.
With 38, I could even check items up to 380.
But no need to buy rashly.
The limited skills [Grasp Complete] and [Forager's Instinct] were already sold out.
The only cost-effective limited skill left was [Voice of Mimicry].
Not something I needed right now.
I'd check the rest quickly first, then browse properly.
I closed the Soul Shop window and returned to the inn, sitting on the bed.
Time to review the spoils from the tower again.
First up was the Saga-grade item, [Giant King's Crown].
+2 Strength. Body size increase, attribute resistance, and a skill.
Four powerful effects in one item.
Performance worthy of the Saga grade.
Granting a new skill—practically acts like a title too.
I equipped the crown without hesitation. Of course, I made it transparent right away.
I didn't mind the size increase. In combat, the advantages far outweighed the drawbacks.
That giant was originally human, huh. No wonder he was only about twice an orc's size—not quite king of the giants.
Giant King.
Not king of giants.
Whatever the saga, as long as the item was good.
Satisfied, I smiled and examined the next items.
[Red Crystal Ring], [Orc's Belt], [Bracelet of Abstinence].
All excellent Rare-grade items.
Especially the ring's ranged attack power and the belt's regeneration would greatly boost my combat prowess and endurance.
The bracelet had some risk, but used well, it could maximize defense in critical moments.
The titles were unmissable gains too.
[Great First Step], [Crystal's Trial], [Combat Adept], [Monetary Murder].
They granted abilities like sky-walking, sturdy crystal creation, heightened combat sense, and amplified gold value.
And my level had jumped from 24 to a whopping 29. Gold was a bonus.
All this in just one day.
The tower event was an incredible growth opportunity,
And I'd made good use of it. Even if I had to flee from the 5th floor.
Then, a system message appeared before my eyes.
...Finally gone.
The -3 stat debuff from potion overuse had lifted at last.
Just one debuff gone, and power surged back through my body.
I opened my status window to check my current abilities.
The status window was a bit more filled out than before.
But not all with good news.
A small red warning at the bottom caught my eye.
Permanent aftereffect...
During my fierce battle with the Giant King, I'd used the key for a special awakening despite the permanent aftereffect warning.
If I'd given up on the 5th floor early, maybe no aftereffect.
But such what-ifs were pointless. I tapped for details on the aftereffect.
Mid-grade or higher effect.
Meaning low-grade potions from the shop wouldn't cut it.
I closed the status window. Complex emotions welled up.
Aftereffect.
A problem to solve someday, but not now. No way to fix it yet.
If someone with recovery or purification unique ability entered Dimension 64, it could be quick—but that relied on luck.
Depending on others and luck?
Both ran counter to my path.
I set aside thoughts of the losses and focused on the gains.
First event.
The tower.
Undeniably massive growth.
But I'd used all my trump cards and brushed death's door.
The tower shattered my misconception.
That my power wasn't absolute yet.
And beings stronger or equal to me could appear anytime.
Even if a monster, not a person, taught me that lesson.
Beyond the misconception,
Surviving meant real growth value.
If hordes allied against me later, I might need to go all-out.
Not sure if it'd happen, but encounters with other dimensions' people were inevitable.
As preparation, the experience of a true life-or-death battle was invaluable. Like a preemptive shot.
Beyond myself, the tower gave various intel.
Hadn't clashed directly with other rankers yet, but could vaguely gauge their strength.
Especially No. 2, 'Eok'. Couldn't ignore him. Or the new title competitors.
Maintaining No. 1 was an arduous path.
This event revealed my weaknesses and strengths.
Lying on the bed to rest, a thought struck me.
What did people think of this first event?
The community I entered while pondering was flooded with tower talk, as expected.
Reactions were on another level entirely.
Cheers from tower survivors, despair from failures, mourning for the dead—all mixed.
The 12-hour event had ended, and now in the early morning,
The top post was already the event wrap-up notice.
I went to click it but spotted a familiar nickname just below.
Sword King.
But the number next to his nickname had changed.
Sword King [3].
3rd place?
Last I checked, he was 5th.
What happened during the event?