Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Goal (2)
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What the hell?
He frowned at the unexpected comments.
He'd anticipated mockery or disbelief, but the vibe was strangely off.
"……"
He blinked at the realization that he'd opened Pandora's box.
He'd assumed it was mostly guys, of course.
Galleries were typically male-dominated communities, but on second thought, that wasn't necessarily true here.
They just kidnap anyone from anywhere, right?
The transient was spot on. No reason to only grab guys.
They pulled people randomly from all sorts of worlds, and for folks with all kinds of powers, gender didn't mean much.
He hadn't meant a guy's chest specifically, but with a 50/50 split, it was pointless anyway.
A guy's pic might even have its audience here.
...Yeah, like that naked dogeza post before—over 90% dudes.
His phone buzzed nonstop, so he refreshed the comments.
Grinning wide at the links they were adding one by one, he closed the gallery.
Okay.
One more day of ghosting it is.
The manager had cleaned up the gallery mess in no time.
It was par for the course for her, so no need to thank her, but since it got messy because of him, he figured an apology was in order.
He chuckled at her using "half of it" herself.
Look at her, knowing she can't write for shit.
She's cute.
Another unprompted bishoujo filter.
One exclamation point, one quirk of speech, and he was imagining things again.
He still didn't know her gender, and they'd probably never meet anyway...
Swipe.
Future's uncertain.
His phone held infinite possibilities.
The gallery was one thing, but Star Wiki with all its knowledge, Star Bang delivering Earth goods that didn't exist here.
Honestly, at this point, nothing would surprise him. A Star Time Machine? Sure, why not.
Unlike clearing Tower of Trials floor 10, no [???] had popped up, though.
Won't it show eventually?
At 50 or 100 floors.
Or maybe grinding regressions would unlock something. He hoped.
If I meet someone here where no one ever meets and post proof...
The reactions would be epic.
A bit weird meeting gallery folks, but it wasn't a normal gallery anyway.
Wonder what stories they'd share—
—Seol-ah, come here?
"……"
A chill ran down his spine at the sudden memory.
Forgotten for years lately, yet the voice echoed in his ear like yesterday.
"Ha."
Was it because he'd pictured the manager as a girl?
For a split second, he saw an illusion of her beckoning.
Probably.
He feared meeting women directly, but... he'd grab the chance if it came.
Her posts showed she was a good person, regardless of gender.
"Not everyone's a psycho out there~."
Like always, talking to himself.
Just keep it light. Light.
—Death ends it anyway.
In the end, to stick around here, I need this.
Lying in the hideout center, he checked remaining TP after buying meds.
Luxury meals, emergency potions.
Weapons, armor, skillbooks like Parrying.
To spread items in the gallery, or even snag an Irregular, he needed TP.
Just climbing racks it up, sure...
Last week's experience taught him tower order mattered.
Higher floors got tougher, but more TP per clear.
Star Bang's got tons I haven't seen.
Swipe.
Searching "medicine" again, he eyed that last item.
[Dew of the World Tree] - 100,000,000 TP
100 million TP.
Factoring exchange rate? A cool 10 billion.
Panacea at 4.5 mil TP.
What miracle does this cost 100 mil for?
Even hoarding 1k, 2k TP—could he ever afford it?
Assume TP gain caps at 1k per floor up to 100, all four towers...
That's 220k TP max.
Bonuses might push 250k, tops.
So how many regressions to buy it?
Some special farming method?
Dew at 100 mil, but weapons/armor might top it.
Skillbooks—not true books, but plenty in millions, tens of millions.
Crackle.
[???] - ??? TP
How pricey are Irregulars?
Question marks scream "dream on after a regression or two," but seeing 100 mil stuff made it daunting.
One potion at 100 mil? Irregulars pricier, no doubt.
Or since it's a wish-granting star, makes sense.
Pay and get your wish—world's billionaires would lose it.
If TP were just money.
"Haa..."
Sighing, he stared blankly at the sky.
Unlike Tower of Trials floor 20, endless darkness up there.
How many regressions to reach the end?
No wonder they called Irregular holders "Ascendants."
They said it was joy at ascending, but newbie eyes doubted it.
Well, don't have to leave, really.
Living here was fun. All that attention.
Still hated dying. Stuck here, death comes eventually.
When it hit, he'd smile and take it—but after struggling to survive, it'd suck to go easy.
"So, what's the plan."
Tower of Trials on hold awhile.
New gear, new skills first.
[Practice Steel Sword] - 3,000 TP
[Leather Shield] - 3,000 TP
[Royal Knights Basic Swordsmanship Form 1] - 1,000 TP
Grab these and go.
Which tower to farm TP smartest?
Tower of Wisdom?
Not sure where to head.
Pure difficulty floors 1-9? Tower of Fate easiest.
Just wander aimlessly.
Tower of Mind similar, but instinctive dread lingered.
Tower of Wisdom felt easy early on—no real "wisdom" vibe.
Even judging by floor 10...
Seemed easiest now, but no way it stayed that way.
Only tower he'd "failed."
Lucky penalty reset to start, but couldn't bank on forever.
Just push 10 floors each?
Higher = more TP, higher difficulty.
Better rotate like before than main one tower?
Author: Wiki Dayo
Tower of Trials off-limits for a bit dayo
Hate pain dayo, scared to fight dayo
───
1. Wisdom Tower
2. Mind Tower
3. Fate Tower
───
Where do noobs usually climb first dayo
Need to climb for treats dayo
Just poll for recs.
Eventually climb 'em all—nothing uses the body like Trials, right?
Try to 20 wherever, bail if no good, push if yes.
Compare to floor 10 difficulty.
"......Dayo is cute dayo."
The newbie's post brought an unwitting smile.
Dayo dayo... so polite yet childish, adorable.
Probably not a kid, though.
Kids did slip in sometimes. Once every few years, but never ended well.
Even gallery carebears couldn't keep 'em alive past a year.
God knows why kids got dragged to this hellhole... hoped newbie wasn't one.
...Wanna watch longer.
First person besides ex-manager to tug at his heart.
Why? No clue.
Super weird dude, far from his type.
Forgave his huge screw-up?
Insane skills?
Cola was nice too...
Above all, eyes drawn to him. Like a kid by the water, or a hero fixing shit in a flash.
───
1. Wisdom Tower 32 votes
2. Mind Tower 66 votes
3. Fate Tower 327 votes
───
Going Wisdom lol
You think I'd follow you fucks? Thbbt
...Not quite a hero.
Swipe.
One floor at a time's fine, yet he'd probably smash 10-20 in hours again.
Won't shock anymore, but worried about injury or trauma.
Pfft.
What kinda newbie is this.
Always brimming confidence, ignores advice, handles everything solo—
"...Ah."
He got it.
Why this newbie stuck with him.
Reminds me of my little bro.
That always-bright kid, the idiotically bold cool one.
No face, no name—just posts and short chats—yet it felt that way.
In this hell, brings laughs; sometimes baffling or annoying, but ultimately grins.
...So don't die, Wiki-nim.
Please don't end like my brother.
Don't vanish from my screw-up either.
Suddenly?
Tilted head at newbie's random comment.
From tower-climbing hype to cola outta nowhere.
...Come to think.
—Need to climb for treats dayo
Previous post said that.
Unsure of newbie's power, but maybe tower-related.
Blazing speed and outside food linked somehow.
Pfft at the new replies.
Really willful guy. Laughing more since he showed.
Others feel it too, bet.
Endless boredom, constant life-risk stress.
Most forgot escape hope. Then this half-mad weirdo barges in—prime entertainment.
"Ahaha!"
This one's gotta escape.
Especially since my fault kept him in—I'll stay trapped if he gets out.
Swipe.
Such thoughts brewing, time to wash and climb himself.
"Ah..."
There, in the mirror—his face.
First beaming smile in centuries.
Others probably grinning too.
At newbie—exasperated, jealous, pissed.
But smiling like him.
Hoped so, till all escaped.
Thanks, Wiki-nim.
For letting me smile here.
[Tower of Wisdom]
"What the fuck."
Standing before Tower of Wisdom, checking gallery—hollow laugh.
After this run... push to 20, farm TP, what to buy? Then this?
ID Blocked by Infinite Regression Manager
Ban Duration: 1 Hour / Reason: No Chitchat in Petition Desk Dayo!
Handled by: Eraser Not Me
She actually banned me.