Chapter 88

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: Leak of Heavenly Secrets

Ruled it thanks to Lulu and Arini's sincere persuasion (elemental)?

The master of the 20th floor, the Battlecock King, had become Lulu's loyal subordinate.

"You're Cock-Nyang starting today. From now on, call Lulu 'big sis'-nyang."

"Call me and the little one 'little sis'!"

"...Yes, big sisters."

Right after he agreed to become a subordinate, the tower clear alert popped up.

Just as Lavris said, the monsters in the Tower of Struggle could apparently be turned into subordinates if persuaded properly.

Acquiring this unexpected new force was pretty good news.

"There'll be some weird ones mixed in. We need to filter those out."

"Obviously."

It went without saying.

For example, that grotesquely shaped monster from the red lake on the 10th floor climb last time.

The lake's ruler that had its body taken over was clearly no ordinary monster at a glance.

Taking in guys like that would just create more problems instead of help.

"Come to think of it, the reward from back then was weird too."

??'s flesh, was it?

It was definitely some kind of red, wriggling chunk of meat that moved in an unsettling way.

Since it was me, I turned it into a potion to mitigate penalties.

Thinking back now, maybe that red ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flesh was a parasite that infested the lake's master and turned it into that.

"Do you know what that was?"

"Probably the work of a demon hiding in the tower. It might have schemed in other floors too, so be careful."

...Demons actually exist, huh?

Well, with gods and transcendents out there, demons aren't that surprising.

I've got fairies and a world tree (now an assistant) on the 10th floor of my building already. Demons are downright ordinary by comparison.

Anyway.

"Demons aren't fundamentally different from gods or transcendents. They're just dangerous types more faithful to their instincts, operating across multiple worlds at once— that's what we call demons."

I filed away the info that demons were instinct-driven threats.

"Cock-Nyang. Anything worth grabbing here-nyang?"

"Well... I don't crave wealth..."

"What a talentless subordinate."

"...Sorry."

Having confirmed there was nothing worth taking in this rooster arena lookalike,

we left the tower and returned to our original spot.

"Let's go, Cock-Nyang."

"Cluck-cluck...? Am I coming along too?"

Back on the 10th floor of the building with our new subordinate Cock-Nyang in tow.

"This place is the best-nyang..."

"Feels nice..."

Unlike the stuffy air of the rooster arena, this place was filled with refreshing air.

Just breathing here seemed to melt away fatigue and restore health.

Cock-Nyang felt the same, it seemed.

"Cluck-cluck...? B-big sisters! How on earth did you acquire such an amazing nest?!"

"Heh-nyang. Jealous-nyang?"

"Insanely jealous! Just breathing here would make you stronger!"

"Is that so? Then as a special treat, you can live here-nyang!"

"...!!! This Cock-Nyang will follow you sisters for life-cluck-!!!"

From what I overheard,

the mana around the fairy tree—born from massively modding that world tree—was incredibly dense and pure.

Apparently, beings with mana like monsters or spirits could grow tremendously just by staying nearby.

"Does that mean I can get stronger here too?"

"You're way past the point where that affects you, Master."

"What about other people?"

"Weak humans would die the instant they're exposed to the mana. Mid-tier strong ones would get mana poisoning and die slowly. You'd need at least that Park Hyun-su guy's level to make use of it."

No, what is this, some radioactive tree?

Kills anyone who gets close?

"It's because this world's humans are too weak."

"..."

...Still, it feels like it could be useful if used right.

Beyond a nest for future monster subordinates,

there had to be some way to put it to work...

That's when.

"Benefactor! You're back!"

"You cleared the tower already? Amazing!"

"Right! Benefactor is super amazing!"

The fairies spotted us returning from the tower and flew over excitedly.

...Am I imagining this?

No, not imagining it—their numbers seemed higher than before...

"First time meeting you, Benefactor! I'm the Vermilion Fairy, bestowed with orange!"

"We needed help building the fairy garden, so we summoned new ones!"

"Orange fairies are the best with plants!"

...Not imagining it.

A new fairy matching the others in form but fully orange had indeed joined them.

She said they'd summoned her to help make the fairy garden.

The fairy tree's alert window listed 'Plant Cultivation' as the Vermilion Fairy's specialty, so it checked out.

"We'll make a perfect fairy garden for you, Benefactor!"

"Sure. Looking forward to it."

As I exchanged simple greetings with the Vermilion Fairy, who would oversee the fairy garden,

she approached my shoulder and spoke.

"Benefactor. I overheard you saying you need a way to raise human levels—is that right?"

"Yeah, but why?"

"Leave it to me?"

"...You?"

"Yes! No worker in Her Majesty's garden outshines me. I'll make plants to help those frail humans grow!"

After that, the Vermilion Fairy said she'd show rather than tell,

flew to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fairy tree, used fairy magic to craft a small pot,

scooped some nearby soil, snapped off a twig, planted it in the pot, and handed it to me.

"All done!"

"...What is?"

"Huh? Didn't you say you need plants suited to this place's human levels?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

...Is this some fairy-style joke?

"Hee hee hee."

Gasp...?

She was grinning innocently, so probably not.

She must really think this slapdash pot would help humans.

But that thought didn't last.

"This should be enough, right?"

"Obviously not—"

"...?"

Taking the pot from the fairy brought up an unbelievable alert in front of my eyes.

What? Why is this an item?

This thing she whipped up like child's play...

Really C+ grade?

"Why so surprised, Master? Your alchemy does way more impressive stuff."

"..."

...Can't argue when you put it like that.

After getting a taste of how others feel seeing my alchemy,

I asked the fairy to make a few more of these pots.

"Staying near the pots will gradually increase humans' mana capacity!"

Placing these around the building would hugely boost climbers' averages.

Less aggro than me handing out nutrients one by one.

And gifting pots to key climbers would help plenty on its own.

"Need proper pots anytime, just say the word!"

"Got it. Thanks."

She could even customize them if needed.

I was a bit uneasy at first,

but handing the world tree to the fairies was a godsend now.

And that's when.

"Nyaaawn... Sleepy-nyang..."

"Arin sleepy too..."

"Alright, Daddy's heading downstairs quick. Nap till then?"

"Sounds good-nyang..."

"Goodnight..."

Having woken early to prep, the kids were drowsy, so I tucked them in.

"Take good care of the kids."

"Leave it to the fairies, Benefactor!"

"Cluck-cluck-! I'll protect the sisters!"

Leaving the kids with the fairies and Cock-Nyang,

I headed downstairs to meet Park Hyun-su, who should be arriving soon.

On the way, I decided to check my unclaimed rewards.

Tabula had already collected and sorted them for me, so it didn't take long.

[Dad's sorted the rewards you got for the 20th floor!]

The starters were farmable materials from the floors.

True to the herbivore monster floors, their corpses came as rewards.

Great for meat and hides, but the standout was

the golden four-leaf clover, a reinforcement catalyst unique to this floor.

"Think this'll reinforce you too, Lavris?"

"Possible, but not with trash like that."

"Well, it's only floor 20."

I'd look into other uses for the clovers later.

Next up: 20th floor ranking rewards for Alchemist.

"Exclusive gear?"

First time gear came as a reward.

And it was Unique grade, no less.

[Showing you the item info!]

A simple ring with just one ability.

But the effect was anything but simple.

"...Sees the future?"

Really possible?

I was skeptical, but this was a Unique gear effect—not some junk.

High chance it was legit.

Curiosity piqued, I claimed the ring from storage right away.

The ring was a thick, crude iron band.

Anyone seeing it would ask why I'm wearing a nut on my finger.

"Eh... Looks aren't everything."

The design was meh, but

a ring that lets you see the future? Tolerable.

I slipped it on my index finger.

And in that instant, I glimpsed the future.

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The absolute worst future, too.