Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Thrill of Thumbs-Ups
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‘Temporary map activation?’
I blinked dumbly at the walkthrough method displayed on the wiki.
No matter where I looked, there was no app called Map. What the hell did this mean? When I finally tapped [Map], a new window popped up on the screen.
‘My position and the maze map...?’
Most of the map was painted pitch black.
Only the passage right in front of my eyes lit up brightly on the screen.
As I’d experienced in the Tower of Trials, the wiki didn’t hand out straight answers.
It only gave tips and walkthrough methods, but it always felt like I had to draw the final line myself.
“So it doesn’t show until I get close...”
Step.
I tested it by taking a step around the corner, and the passage ahead appeared freshly on the screen.
While others might get lost without even recording their paths, at least I’d never mix up a place I’d been to before.
My position blinked as a red dot, so even if it took time, I wouldn’t fail to find the exit.
‘But why is this Wisdom?’
If it meant memorizing every path... well, maybe that made sense?
If that time limit ran out and I had to start over from scratch, I’d definitely need to memorize the path.
‘The 10th floor isn’t a freebie after all.’
Compared to the Trial Tower, it was still a cakewalk, but I’d have to walk quite a bit.
This felt more like a trial, but whatever. I wasn’t about to complain while holding a cheat key.
‘I need to knock out the Mind Tower today too, so let’s wrap this up quick.’
To unlock [???], I had to move as fast as possible.
‘Wait for me, dopamine...!!’
I firmly believed it would deliver satisfaction on the wiki’s level.
“...”
I plopped down in a daze, staring at the timer floating in the air.
No fucking way, this couldn’t be happening.
It was disgustingly huge. Absurdly, unbelievably vast.
Of course, part of it was my fault for checking every passage to light up the map, but after 30 minutes, I’d barely uncovered 50%.
I switched tactics midway when I realized I was running late, but it still ended like this. How the hell do other people clear this?
Even with the map, it’s this bad. Seriously, how?
‘...No way I die, right?’
I trusted they wouldn’t kill someone just for failing a maze.
“Please.”
Thump! Thump!
My heart pounded like mad.
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them, but nothing changed.
As the timer hit zero, I gulped hard─
“I’m alive...”
Back at the maze entrance, I collapsed as the timer reset.
Yeah, that’s more like it.
Legs giving out, I let out a hollow laugh and gazed up at the floating timer.
Back to square one. It felt like it was saying, If you can’t remember the path you took, you’ll repeat this forever.
‘So there are spaces designed purely to waste time...’
This maze was tough even with an hour, let alone 30 minutes.
If you stuck to the right path from start to finish, maybe you could escape with some margin.
‘That’s why the Section Timer exists, huh?’
Even bare-handed─well, not really bare-handed.
Without the wiki, I couldn’t even guess how many retries it’d take to escape this maze.
Memorize it and pass even if picking only right paths feels tight at 30 minutes?
Squeeze.
Grinning at the map from the last 30 minutes still intact, I smirked.
Wiki handles the brain work. I’ll just handle the legs.
“I love you, Wiki!!!”
‘That was closer than I thought.’
The forks increased toward the end, dragging it out longer than expected.
The moment I escaped the maze, a massive door loomed ahead, grinding open with a rumble. I turned off the map, raised my phone, and snapped a pic.
『Tower of Wisdom』
-10-
Click!
I snapped the clear proof hovering over the dark passage, then headed straight back to the Hideout.
Apocalypse Timer 364:01:00:32
Section Timer 6:01:00:32
[ 20 / 7 ]
Nearly a full day, and I’d cleared 20 floors.
One per day, but difficulty ramps up, so keeping this early pace is smart.
‘That’s why blatantly exceeding the 7-floor limit is allowed.’
Last two weeks demand 50 floors.
350 over 50 weeks, rest in the final two.
‘Push on?’
I could rest more, but the Wisdom Tower 10th didn’t take long.
A bit tired from maze-wandering, but not in the mood to rest.
[???]
Functionality restricted. Satisfy conditions to unlock [???].
Rewards accumulate even in restricted state.
‘Not sure if I can clear all today...’
But I wanted to uncover its identity by tomorrow at least.
‘...Post the proof first!’
Hadn’t checked the gallery since before bed last night.
Better to lurk and drop needed posts than spam useless crap and make enemies.
Aim for likability nickname. Flood the gallery with anonymous worshippers.
Swipe.
The moment I posted, I turned off notifications and closed the gallery.
I’d use this anticipation, this dopamine hit, as fuel for the next tower.
‘Wanna see the reactions so bad.’
So, walkthrough the next tower fast.
┗ Concept: The tower that erodes your deepest inner self.
┗ Features: Your mind becomes the enemy, your spirit the weapon. Emotions and memories you’ve ignored take form, forcing you to face shadows like fear, confusion, self-loathing endlessly. Requires unbreakable mental fortitude.
“...”
I squeezed my eyes shut at the wiki’s description, then opened them.
‘Fuck...’
Long story short, the tower in front of me was─
“A goddamn massive haunted house.”
Like a horror maze or something. Honestly, didn’t want to enter more than the Trial Tower.
Whether jump scares, eerie vibes, or trauma triggers as described─hated it all.
Glance.
‘Yeah... figures...’
Shoulders slumped as I glanced at the exit behind me, long gone.
Crisis Escape No. 1: Death by heart attack from fright! Just not that.
Wiki would find the walkthrough anyway.
Gulp.
‘...Should’ve hit the bathroom first.’
Haven’t even entered, and my hands and feet are shaking.
Tears pricking from fear, but only one path forward.
“Hoo... Let’s go, Han Seol, you bastard.”
Where’d that Trial Tower mindset go?
Nothing left but to die. Original life’s gone; cowering changes zilch.
Rumble...!
“...”
Door opened to black void; I squeezed my eyes shut.
Oh shit, this is scary as hell.
.
.
.
‘Oh please, God, Jesus, Buddha...’
Step...
Step...
Going insane. Something─person or not─kept following behind me.
Dark night, moon veiled by clouds.
Forest path, no streetlights, no signs. Endless trudging between dense trees.
Rustle.
‘How long do I have to walk...!!’
Losing it. Felt like 30 minutes straight, no end in sight.
Terror crept that I’d walk this infinite path till death.
Tap tap.
‘Fuck...’
How many times now? Cold, sticky hand─something─lightly tapped my back.
Wiki said maintain distance, but couldn’t look back to check.
Every time it closed in, it tapped my back like this.
Telling me to stop?
Or something to say?
Drag...
‘Please no...!!’
Something touched my head.
Liquid trickled down my hair to my nape.
Indescribable disgust filled me, but couldn’t check or look back.
‘Wanna scream and bolt...’
No rule against yelling, but scared to provoke it.
Tried speeding up a bit, but unsure of ‘certain distance,’ slowed right back.
Really, truly wanna die.
No, don’t wanna die.
Tap.
Cold sweat poured.
Floors 1-9 all sucked.
Unlike others, no clear problems or walkthrough for Mind Tower.
Wiki gave tip-like walkthrough, but no freebies.
Thrown into situations, had to navigate.
Hard? Not really. Some cleared by running or faking bravery. Even 1-min clears.
But world has tons beyond easy/hard.
Alone in theater watching horror? Not ‘hard,’ but...
“No... don’t...”
“...”
Voice from behind froze me.
First words. Raspy, husky, like hours of screaming. Sticky, viscous; man or woman unclear.
“Don’t... go...”
Too far? Or almost there?
Mouth dry. Teeth chattering, hand clutching phone trembling.
Wanna sprint, but couldn’t defy wiki.
Restart? No confidence.
“Hup... Hoo...”
Might’ve strayed distance; slowed further, barely stepped─
Tap tap.
‘Not getting farther at all...!!!’
Eyes squeezed at the quick back-tap, then opened.
“...!!”
After repeats, after nearly an hour, a sign appeared at path’s end.
Unchanged dark forest.
Finally, end sign! Smiled faintly, walked toward it.
“Told you... not to go...?”
‘Fuck fuck fuck...!!!’
Too fast?
Or end nearing?
Thought of mom, slowed.
Tap tap.
Nearing sign, back tapped again─
I squeezed my eyes shut at the words on the wooden sign rising mid-path.