Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: New Skill
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After reading the aggro post from that Patriot Warrior...
I figured it was better to ask the PhD rather than do anything rash.
I took a nap with Lulu, then woke up and explained the whole situation to him.
Something like that happened.
Good job. Reacting there would've made things messy.
Why's that?
He's a Management Bureau employee, infamous for all the wrong reasons.
The guy's a lunatic who sees Climbers as tools to sacrifice for the nation. Pretty well-known among us Climbers.
If you'd reacted, he might've tracked you down somehow. Heard he has a skill for that.
The other Climbers just let a guy like that slide?
It's complicated. He's government-backed, for one.
He never touches Climbers with guilds or corporations behind them. Only goes after solo free agents.
Talk about impressive... or pathetic...
He's the poster boy for picking on the weak and bowing to the strong. Gets a ton of hate.
Plenty of Climbers are probably gunning for him.
"Hah, what a guy."
Utterly ridiculous on every level.
Good thing I didn't impulsively comment.
A skill that could dig up my location just from reacting to his aggro bait? Never even imagined something like that existed.
Anyway, he'll probably keep posting that crap consistently. Don't react, no matter what. It'll just bring headaches.
Obviously. Won't even click on them.
Cool. Anyway, what's next? Gonna keep solo climbing the Tower?
Honestly seems risky. How about recruiting a party?
"Hm... A party, huh."
I get what the PhD's saying.
But honestly, the Tower doesn't feel that dangerous to me right now.
On Floor 1, I was super tense sweating bullets at my first goblin.
But Muscle Memory (from the Orc Great Warrior) let me clear it way easier than expected.
Floor 2, Lulu was so OP the monsters dropped in one hit—no tension at all.
Of course, that was all thanks to prepping based on the PhD's advice.
But I overprepared so much I haven't felt the need for more yet.
Probably gonna keep repeating this pattern for a while.
Forming a party in this situation just feels like it'd be more trouble than it's worth.
"Solo's more comfortable anyway."
Solo's comfy right now, so party later.
I've already got this cute, powerful daughter-like homunculus named Lulu.
That C+ homunculus who set the new record?
Yep.
That should carry you to Floor 20 at least, but stay cautious. Combat power and protection are different things.
Before Floor 10, grab some gear or another homunculus—something to protect yourself.
Hm... My defense is already plenty thanks to Marrow Cleansing (S).
But mentioning that would make the PhD foam at the mouth, so I just agreed.
Good point. I'll let you know if I find something.
Do that. So, plans for today?
Already did today's Tower climb... Gonna hang with Lulu, sleep, and hit the Tower again tomorrow?
Wait... Aren't you an Alchemist? No alchemy practice?
I'm already a master, so probably no need? Maybe?
No;;; I'm the one asking, why answer with a question mark ;;;
Whatever, if you say so. Heading off to my stuff. Ping me if something comes up.
(Thanks! Thumbs up and heart)
"Alright... Gonna goof off with Lulu all day and crash hard."
"Nya...?"
"Lulu, you up? Want some meat?"
"...Meat nya! Lulu eat nya!"
After a blissful day messing around with Lulu, the next day.
"Lulu. Wanna go hunt in the Tower?"
"Yes nya! Lulu loves hunting nya!"
We had a quick breakfast, then entered the Tower for our post-meal stroll—and today's climb.
Entering the Tower.
〖Tower of Struggle Floor 3〗
Goal: Defeat Sneaky Goblin Captain of Hundred
Spawn in: 4 minutes 49 seconds
"Alright, same as before?"
"Scout around first nya!"
We stepped into Floor 3.
No special prep needed, so we wandered around checking things out.
Like Floor 2, it was a lush forest with a small lake.
But no hidden monsters lurking in the ground.
"Daddy nya... No hidden prey this time nya..."
"Could happen. Don't sweat it."
Hmm... Probably each floor has different hidden clear conditions.
Or maybe this one has none to begin with.
No hidden monsters, so focus on clearing the Tower spawn.
A bit later.
Spawn in: 0 minutes 08 seconds
"Lulu. It's coming soon."
"Got it nya!"
Watching the timer in the corner of my vision.
Lulu scanned the surroundings with a predator's glare, ready for the spawn.
Monster spawned on this floor.
"Grrrooo... Grokrah!!"
The Goblin Captain of Hundred I'd only glimpsed on Floor 2 emerged from the distant bushes with a sinister chuckle.
And the result...
'Lulu' uses skill 'Swift Movement (C)'
"Take this nya! Nya-nya Punch barrage nya!"
Thwack-!
"Guh-?!"
Crack-!
"G-Guhpuk-!!!"
Krunch-!
"Greeee-!!!"
Squelch-!
"Grooo...!! Ugh...!"
Crunch crunch-!
"......"
"...Nya? Already broken nya? No fun nya..."
Lulu toyed with the Goblin Captain of Hundred like a mouse, batting it with her paws.
But those sounds were way too brutal for mere play.
Soon enough, it became "what was once a Goblin Captain of Hundred."
Previous ranking registration detected.
Automatically registering ranking.
Time until Tower exit: 59 minutes 59 seconds
Notifications flooded in confirming the clear and the goblin's death.
"Oh...! So when Lulu plays with me normally, she's really holding back, huh?"
"Nya?"
That Toughness (C) in Lulu's status window made sense now.
Not there for show.
Realizing Lulu was a natural-born powerhouse cat...
I decided to check the ranking reward first.
[Random Skill Draw Card (Alchemist)]
A card that grants a random skill related to the Alchemist job.
[Effect]: Grants a random skill upon opening.
"Huh? Different reward this floor?"
Unlike previous floors' stat boosts for Alchemists,
this was a silver card in vinyl wrapping for a random Alchemist skill.
"Whoa... They have these?"
Opening it grants a random skill, apparently.
Curious what it'd be, I peeled off the vinyl...
Acquired skill 'Auto Harvest (C)'
C Rank Skill
"Auto Harvest?"
C-rank, so not top-tier,
but it looks super convenient. Seems useful in tons of ways.
Something to test it on...
"Daddy nya! Look at this nya! Glowing mushrooms nya!"
"Huh? Glowing mushrooms?"
[Glowing Mushroom]
"Whoa, they actually glow?"
Poison shrooms? What kind of mushrooms are these?
"Tons under that rock over there nya!"
"Tons, you say?"
Following Lulu to a big rock,
a cluster of yellow-glowing mushrooms surrounded it.
Perfect chance to test the new skill—I activated it on them.
"Auto Harvest"
Mana drained from me and spread wide,
engulfing the mushroom cluster.
Then a familiar notification popped up, surprising me.
"Nya! Amazing nya! Mushrooms vanished in a flash nya!"
"......Insane."
All those mushrooms harvested instantly?
I figured maybe 10 at best.
AOE harvesting like this is just C-rank?
Must be a display error, right?