… Finally Outside.
"…Finally outside."
It was the third day since we'd entered the mine. As we escaped the gas-filled depths, fresh air greeted us both.
"I'm beat… I just wanna wash up and crash."
That was the only thought in my head after emerging from the sweltering humidity. …Especially for Isana, whose whole body felt sticky because of someone. Her inner thighs burned like they'd been rubbed raw by a firebrand, and even now, something sticky still oozed between her legs with every step… Midway through, her hips had hurt so bad she'd even let me piggyback her—something totally out of character for her.
"Want me to carry you home if you're that wiped?"
"Ugh… Didn't you say you had business here? I'll head back first."
Isana waved me off and climbed up to the surface ahead of me. I headed into the nearest public bathhouse, the kind that catered to miners coming and going from the tunnels.
'Stepping into this steamy heat makes my eyes heavy…' I dozed off mid-soak, then finished up with a cool, sweet lemonade.
…It made me think of sauna heated stones or a glass of milk. Coincidentally, in the Tower World, there was no custom of dipping sauna stones in flavored salt after a bath or chasing it with milk.
'I miss it.'
The reason residents of the Tower World risked their lives diving into that deadly tower wasn't just money—it was mostly homesickness. Me, Isana, Karia, even Estelle Argent, who became the Star Bishop… we'd all lost our minds listening to the stars' whispers because of it. At some point, the longing for home swells up, and you start dreaming of chasing those unfinished goals back there. Now I could do it.
I compared it to army life… You get out into society thinking you can conquer the world. I'll crush that gaming challenge, do miracle mornings and retake the college entrance exam, land a grade 9 job? Hell, I could build a hot rod right now—dreams of reinvention bubble up.
…But once you're in the Tower World, those chances don't come easy. Challenge the tower, and you might snag a "Temporary Return" reward to chase that dream—but that's it. Want more? Conquer the damn thing.
'Why won't it give me a Temporary Return, though?'
During our underground chats, Isana mentioned she'd just had one recently. She didn't have the guts to regress like me and restart everything in the Tower World, nor did she want to "waste" such a precious chance pointlessly, so she'd gone back to Earth. Sipped real Kenyan coffee with a triple shot, scarfed down spring onion bibimbap, devoured Kai Mack with walnut carrot cake… She hit all the Earth-only treats and even took a filial trip to Jeju Island.
'…Jealous. Probably won't give me one since I'm already "returned."'
I was drooling just thinking about it. Post-meal sweet mix coffee, ice-cold makgeolli floating with rice lees after a sweaty grind under the summer sun, with tofu kimchi as a side… And those endless sushi all-you-can-eat buffets laughing with family and friends.
'Gotta climb the tower to taste that again.'
For now, tangy lemonade would have to do.
@ I headed to the blacksmith where I'd left the Last Wish for mods. Quiet vibe—not much work on the docket. The dwarf smith, puffing a smoke outside, spotted me from afar and gave a casual wave.
"Just wrapped up. Perfect timing."
"Lucky me… Here, a gift."
I knew what this dwarf liked. Beer nuts… and.
"Whoa, what now? Wait, meds?"
"Gout medicine. Saw you limping last time—figured it was acting up."
"…You check me out or something? How'd you know?"
…Future knowledge.
I played it like a master diagnostician who could read a patient's state at a glance. "Your gait tells the tale… Cut back on booze if you can. Skip these nuts too."
"Tch, gifting me this and preaching? But hey, you're Evelyn's disciple. Guess I can trust it."
Paid up, took delivery of the dwarf's handiwork. I inspected the finished pieces with a critical eye.
'Not quite up to my old standards.'
Still usable. Commission him often, and his skills'll sharpen. I handed over reference blueprints.
"Pass these to the maker… Oh, and tell 'em the flatness and concentricity are off on this batch."
The dwarf, grinning at the beer ahead, gaped. "…How the hell'd you spot that?"
"I know my stuff."
"Even Evelyn missed it."
"Teacher's better at alchemy, but I've got the sharper eye for craftsmanship."
I glanced inside the forge. Felt eyes on me.
"Post-plating could've been thinner too… Thanks for the work."
Left the smithy, straight to the tower. Arrived at my Safe House workshop. Lush garden plot and pond, where a turtle and a golem lounged belly-up, living the dream.
"…All tasks done, now slacking?"
Alchemy knowledge of workshop resident spirits has increased.
All workshop tools' levels, efficiency, and material level limits have risen.
Spirits have gained inspiration from your work.
-Turtle, turtle?
-Teshaaaat!
-Splash!
The two spirits scrambled from the pond to their posts. Same story in the tool shed: sylph sprawled by the window, belly out, drooling in a sunbath. I carefully drew a transmutation circle… trapping her in a cage around it. She slept through the whole thing.
-Te, teshaaat.
The golem eyed me warily, puffing out cotton-candy fists to craft mana bullets.
"How many done?"
-Teshaaaat….
"Hm, 5000 rounds… Too easy? You're cranking 'em out fast. My teaching shines… Nah, too basic. Perfect timing. New bullet type starting today."
-Tesh?
As I taught the golem the new recipe, the sylph finally stirred at the whispers and shrieked.
-Kyaaaaak!
Wh-what's this… Ju-just a sec, y-you're here? Was nap time.
"Never cleared nap time."
-Break time, only 10 mins….
"10 minutes? Feels like I've been here 30."
-Teshaaat!
Golem ratted her out—over an hour, down to the second.
-Golem! Shut it!
"Golem, keep at it… You remember that test I mentioned? Ready now?"
-Eek! Gimme time!
"Test in 10."
-Debook!
10 minutes later. She'd studied some—signs of effort.
'If not for the laziness, she'd be useful.'
-P-pass?
"…One more shot. Book open… Next time, up to here. Study proper."
-B-best effort!
Tasks assigned, I recalled my real goal: mod the Last Wish with the smithy parts.
'Done it before… No sweat.'
I held Evelyn Howard in such high regard not just as my alchemy foundation—her recipes underpinned everything I did. The Last Wish mods, exoskeleton, stuff up to floor 99? She'd designed them pre-disappearance; I lacked the tech or mats back then. I just tweaked or finished 'em.
'Every time I crack open the Last Wish, it's a marvel… Not even from Earth, yet she dreamed up guns and fused 'em with magic?'
Carefully etched transmutation circles on new parts, fitted to the Last Wish… The smith had tuned it—drive train consumables refreshed, smoother motion, gear mesh, spring tension.
-Click, clack, whirrr….
Work done, spirits had gathered, eyes glued to my hands.
"What?"
-So cool….
-Deshaat.
-Turtle.
'Material cap punched to floor 30. Mana bullets hit 29 power now… Can load 4-circle spells.'
Not just that. Added a mana scope to the Last Wish. Mid-range shots viable.
'Max 200 meters… Gotta focus.'
Skilled mages didn't need scopes—Eagle Eye spells zoomed like high-power optics. I could do it too, hence the mana scope. Problem: my control sucked for scaling. Hence, alchemist. Can't memorize calculus and instantly solve chains.
'Trans Form should work smooth too?'
Focused on the grip circle… then paused.
'Pretty late… Not my first mod—no need to test.'
Dove straight in post-mine; focus frayed, tired… Head home today.
"I'm out… Golem, max new bullets. Recycle old ones—easier. Turtleman's good… Bulk orders soon, keep steady. Sylph… Figure it out."
@ Next day. Up on schedule despite fatigue, routine kicked off.
'Last Wish modded, mine cleared… Time for floor 20.'
Gulped Evelyn's bread and coffee, stepped out… Floor 20 wasn't a half-day jaunt like before. Minimum three days surviving danger.
'Knowing the future's gold. Prep's never enough, but intel lets you optimize.'
Camping gear, rations, meds… Essentials packed, hit the tavern where I'd recruited last party. Numbers mattered for 20—more the better.
'Join a random group this time? Not into syncing with strangers….'
Parties aren't easy to snag. Could be tons or zilch challenging 20. None? Wait days for low-floor climbers. That's how I ended up with Isana, Karia, and crew around 50—no one else climbing.
Half-excited, half-worried, I entered the tavern. A familiar woman huddled, drawing stares from residents.
Karia Redheart.
'…Why's she here?'
Escaped Heavenly Sword? Nah—hair red again.
