Chapter 87

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 87

Chapter Title: Tower of Struggle 20th Floor

Right after we all finished our bentos.

Everyone except the fairy who ate the salad bento and the weapon appraiser Lavris got the same notification window.

'All stats and resistance to status ailments slightly increased. "Rapid Growth" buff applied.'

That was it.

In my case, even after eating the bento, nothing much changed.

Probably because I'd recently synthesized all my B-grade skills and traits, so the enlightenment status didn't apply.

But it was different for Lulu and Arin.

Arin’s innate trait from birth, 'Shark Spirit', had evolved to 'Sea Spirit'.

And her existing grade got a + , becoming B+.

This had a pretty significant impact.

"Whoa! Daddy!"

[Shaa-!]

[Shaark-!]

"Sharky got one more!"

That’s right.

Arin, who could only summon one shark before, could now summon two.

Simply put, her maximum summon count went from 1 → 2, so she was roughly twice as strong by basic math.

And in actual combat, she’d probably show more than double the efficiency.

This was a major spec boost.

But the real surprise was just beginning.

"Growth Mission...?"

A growth mission created under the influence of Lulu's trait [Growth (S)].

It specifically targeted Lulu, stating she had to clear the 20th floor.

The condition was to defeat the boss alone, without anyone else's help.

"...Won't that be dangerous?"

"Master. Even tall kids get growing pains. You can't grow for the rest of your life if you fear failure before even trying."

"Well, that's true, but..."

...Why does Lavris have to be so sharp only at times like this?

"Does Master not trust Lulu?"

"Of course I trust you."

Honestly, Lulu losing? I couldn't even imagine it.

Unless it was something with extreme defense like the 15th floor, I didn't think there was any enemy Lulu couldn't beat.

So I asked Lulu.

"What do you want to do, Lulu?"

Whether to accept this mission or not.

Like last time, there might be special conditions making it risky, so I told her to think carefully and decide.

"Lulu wants to fight-nyang! Win and get even stronger than now-nyang!"

...Yeah, figured as much.

Lulu accepted the mission without a hint of hesitation.

Given her nature, it was almost expected.

Even when she first entered the tower, she'd turned goblins into kebabs like it was a casual hunt.

"Lulu's a million times more warrior-like than Master. I must have picked the wrong master."

"Shut your trap."

Anyway.

Ignoring Lavris's grumbling.

"Hunting time after so long-nyang-! My blood's boiling-nyang-!!!"

"I'm jealous, sis!"

Since Lulu gave the OK, I couldn't say anything more.

Here, the right thing was to trust her and watch from a step back.

Of course, as her daddy and protector.

If a dangerous situation arose, I'd intervene regardless of the mission...

"Daddy-nyang! Trust Lulu-nyang! Lulu's Daddy-nyang's firstborn daughter-nyang!"

"...Yeah."

...Especially since she said it like that.

I'd watch without interfering unless it got seriously dangerous.

As Lavris said, growth comes with growing pains.

"Alright then, after so long."

"Entering the tower-nyang-!"

And so we entered the Tower of Struggle's 20th floor.

The 20th floor's environment was a vast grassland stretching open all the way to the distant horizon.

[Floors 16~20 mostly feature herbivore animal monsters like cows, horses, deer, and sheep. The difficulty isn't that high!]

[The main farming resource is the rare grass that only grows here. The most valuable is the 'Golden Four-Leaf Clover', which acts as a catalyst for equipment enhancement!]

"A floor with herbivore animal monsters, huh..."

That meant the monster appearing on the hidden 20th floor was likely one of those herbivores too.

Probably a troublemaker who crossed over because it loved fighting, like Lavris.

"Lavris. Know anything about the hidden 20th floor?"

"No. I don't know everything about the tower."

"Any advice for this floor?"

"Not every floor has warriors deployed. Some floors just have filler beast-type monsters."

"Oh?"

From what she said next.

They'd gathered troublemakers from various worlds who were decent fighters.

But they hadn't filled the tower completely, so empty slots were usually filled with beast-type monsters.

"So this floor's easier then?"

"For normal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠climbers, yes. But not for you, Master. On floors like this, you have to be more careful of the hidden floor's guys since they get more investment."

Hmm... So they poured more resources meant for normal floors into the hidden ones?

If so, it was definitely disadvantageous for me, skipping floors on the climb.

"Still, I don't think you'll lose, Master."

"Me neither. Anyway, let's head to the hidden floor soon."

"Same as always?"

"Yeah, same as always."

I blinked once, and we arrived in a space thick with the smell of damp earth and blood.

Wooden stakes and low fences encircled it like an arena.

And in the center of that arena, a single red rooster glared at us.

"...A challenger after so long."

The red rooster spoke to Lulu in a deep, resonant voice.

"I can feel it. You're my fated rival."

"That's right-nyang! Lulu's your opponent-nyang!"

"I'm not 'cocky-nyang'!"

"Then what-nyang?"

"I am the ruler of the 20th floor, king of all fighting cocks, the Battlecock King! From now on, the one who will kill you with full power-!"

There was no more talk after that.

The Battlecock King judged that when fated rivals meet, one must die.

He concentrated red energy into his legs, finishing his battle prep.

As if there was no need for a drawn-out fight.

Like he planned to settle it with the first strike.

And right after.

"Fated rival-! Today I kill you-!! And reach a new realm-!!!"

Kwang-!

The Battlecock King erupted with red energy and shot toward Lulu like a cannonball.

The propulsion from exploding energy cratered the ground; it was immense.

In the blink of an eye, the Battlecock King from the arena's center closed in on Lulu.

Yet up to this point.

"Nyang..."

Lulu just stood there calmly.

Her pupils narrowed to slits as she watched the Battlecock King's movements.

Even as it flew right up to her.

Even as its beak was about to pierce her heart.

And at that moment.

"It's over."

The moment Lavris quietly muttered "It's over."

"Don't get cocky, you cock-nyang-!!!"

Bam-!

"Cawk-?!"

Lulu casually swatted the incoming cannonball-like Battlecock King.

And with that, the fight ended, the rooster smashed into the ground.

"...What just happened?"

"Can't you see? Lulu won. Master."

"No, that's not what I'm asking. I don't get why Lulu won so easily."

It's not like I was upset she won or anything.

It was pure curiosity.

This chicken called the Battlecock King used skills, even its unique skill 'Super Swiftness'.

Yet Lulu, just standing there, smacked it once and it ended up embedded in the floor like modern art.

How was that possible?

"Just a difference in class. It was good that it went all-out against Lulu from the start, but speed, durability, strength, explosiveness, total mana. Plus equipment. Lulu doesn't fall short in any category."

"Didn't you say this floor's boss is stronger?"

"How strong can a 20th floor boss get? With your and the girls' power now, floors like the 15th that require conditions are harder."

Well... yeah, she said.

Lulu had already far surpassed the 20th floor's level; there was no way she'd lose in raw power here.

"Cock-nyang. Dead-nyang?"

"Cawk... cawk-cawk..."

"If you're alive, be Lulu's subordinate-nyang. I'll make you my first minion-nyang."

"Don't... insult me...!!! I am the Battlecock King...! A king rules...!! Even if I die... I won't be ruled...!!!"

"What're you yapping about-nyang. Don't make me get mean; be my subordinate while I'm asking nicely-nyang."

"No...!!!"

"Sigh, fine-nyang."

Rummage-! Rummage-!

"Introducing-nyang. This is Lulu's friend, Sizzle-nyang."

"This is Arin's friend, Bubble~!"

"Sizzle...? Bubble...? What're..."

Fwoosh-!

"Now Sizzle-nyang and Bubble-nyang will get the answer out-nyang. FYI, the answer is 'I'll be your subordinate.' -nyang."

"...!!! W-Wait...!!!"

"Patient~ Raise your hand if it hurts?"

"I-I don't have hands!"

"Then just suffer~!"

"St-Stop! Fine! Fine-cawk! I'll be the fated rival's subordinate-cawk-!!!"