Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Tower Climbing? I'll Give It a Try
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"Whew."
I'd posted it without much thought, but it hit the hot posts again.
Even after changing my nickname, they still recognized me, which gave me this weird sense of pride.
I hadn't said exactly how many minutes it took, but if I revealed the truth, the fallout would be even bigger.
I toyed with the idea of admitting it took less than a minute, but right now, I wanted info more than gallery drama.
'Mage, Ain, other lifeforms...'
From the nicknames in the comments alone, my gut feeling was that this place definitely wasn't normal Earth.
Phones with galleries and wikis. It felt like a slightly futuristic setting, but then again, not quite.
SF worlds don't have actual mages, after all.
Just because you could pull off magic-like feats didn't make you a fantasy mage.
[No one from around here?] (12)
[Finding people from the same place is so hard] (5)
[Found someone from my world on the gallery lol] (32)
'Kinda vague.'
Searching 'origin' in the gallery brought up a few posts looking for hometown folks.
I skimmed the content and comments, but no real info.
Just them confirming each other as from the same region with their insider talk?
What search terms would pull up solid info? While trying a bunch,
I spotted the post the Manager had just edited and bumped.
'Pervert.'
Manager, you freak.
'Got it, perfect understanding.'
Searching 'origin' and 'gallery' on Star Wiki gave a clean, perfect explanation.
To sum it up:
This place gathered people from countless dimensions and timelines.
From ancient eras to the future, sword-and-magic worlds to full SF.
'So all those 9-circle mage and elf nicknames were real.'
Some from further futures, some from deeper pasts.
Couldn't tell exactly which worlds, but...
'The Earth I lived on... around modern times?'
Literally, a place that dragged everyone in.
Purpose unknown, reasons restricted.
'Figured out how a gallery works for all these people too.'
Wiki said the gallery was made from someone's 'Irregular'.
Long ago, someone lonely wished, and the star created it.
'That person probably didn't know the star would kick them out too.'
If they did, they'd have wished to go home instead.
"Feels hopeless."
Tower by unknown maker. No clue how to escape.
Keep regressing until Irregular shows up, climb endlessly...
'Huh, not much different from my old life.'
Actually, thinking about it, not that different.
Still solo hunting in a dark, dingy place.
Room's a bit bigger, got gallery, home, guides. That's it.
'With this, I won't die, right?'
I had faith the wiki would handle things somehow.
Honestly, not scared? Nah, I am.
Apocalypse, death—scary shit. But what can ya do? It's happened.
Better to climb the tower than sit denying reality.
'Wiki! Help me out!!'
FYI, I skimmed the Manager's post—three lines and done.
She edited it, but... yeah.
Wiki was way better no matter how I sliced it.
King God Wiki: Guess you don't have brains...
"Kieeeek!!!"
Damn, damn, damn, damn!!
A massive wild boar was chasing me from behind. I was running for my life from this beast five times my size.
"It's way too fast—!!"
Tower of Trials 10th floor. The condition above the door: hunt the boar.
Boom!!
'Wiki!! This isn't a strat!!!'
I got the idea. Dodge the boar, slam it into the wall. Simple strat.
Problem: for a shut-in like me, impossible repeatedly.
"Kuuweeeek!!"
Hearing the boar's deranged squeals, I sprinted toward the wall.
Space wasn't huge—good or bad? Short to wall, but little room to dodge.
Boooom—!!
"N-Now!!"
Finally dodged three attacks.
As the boar smashed its head and flopped sideways, I rushed and swung my fist.
Splat!
"Daaaamn!!!"
No effect. Full-power punch, yet the boar didn't twitch. Laughable.
Of course—five times my size, my puny fist?
Don't wanna die. Breezed 1-9, knew 10 had a 'floor boss,' got cocky.
Wiki too OP, thought 10 would be cake.
"Kuhuuuk...!"
"Eek!"
Boar standing again—I readied to flee.
Third grog, damage near zero.
HP bar? Full for sure.
"Wiki please!! Anything else?!"
Screamed at charging boar—no response.
Ding ding and save me? Useless app, stone cold.
Boooom!!
"Huff... huff!"
At least boar tiring too?
Slower now. Me slowing more, but not just me.
Boom!!
Booom!!
Dodged three more barely, boar collapsed—
"...!"
Beside boar, sharp rock from broken wall caught my eye.
This. Only way.
Rushed, grabbed sharpest rock, smashed boar's face.
Thud!! Thud!!
Grim sensation wrinkled my nose after two smashes—boar twitched.
"Dead?"
Cliché'd it for luck.
"Kuuweeeek—!!!"
"Fuuuuck—!!"
Instead, enraged boar fiercer—I bolted opposite way.
"Huff...! Huff...!"
Two more grogs later, barely felled the boar.
"...Dead?"
Approached cautiously—yep, gone.
Killing felt alien.
Games: thousands slain. This? Different.
Warmth cooling. Sticky blood on hands.
'...Or I'd be dead.'
Consoled myself, wiped hands on fur.
"Haa...."
More concussion than me, really.
Wiki said 5-sec grog—last was 20.
Head to wall dozens times? Yeah.
Rumble...
Sealed door opened.
Saw '10th floor' beyond, chuckled dryly, hauled myself up.
Click!
Snapped proof pic, dragged numb legs into darkness.
About an hour and a half to 10th?
Saw floating numbers, faint smile.
Pride... yeah.
Shut-in hunter now real hunter—heart pounding.
Wanna peek other towers, but...
'Nah, rest time.'
Too much today. One floor a day fine—10's plenty.
Phone hand shaking, legs numb.
1-9 easy, but I risked life.
'Shower, gallery, more info, stale bread.'
Headed to hideout, then—
Ding-!
"?"
Sudden alert—looked down.
'Wiki update?'
Excited, tapped net.
'...What's this?'
Beside familiar icons, mysterious new one.
Grayed-out question marks.
'From clearing 10th?'
Squish.
Stared blankly at text post-tap.
Restricted function, unlock on condition.
'Rewards accumulate?'
Gazed at screen moment.
"...Okay."
Screen popping up—chuckled.
'Tower climbing? I'll give it a try.'
Unlock by climbing? Then climb.