Chapter 18
Chapter 18
I looked around.
It looked like a waiting area in front of a dungeon entrance. Yellow walls were visible.
The scenery reminded me of a Stage 1.
The theme for this exchange event was dungeons.
There were three themes for the exchange event in total.
Dungeons, Missions, and Sparring, they said.
Dungeons and Missions, excluding 'Sparring', allowed player-killing.
In other words, the list of people I needed to be wary of included not only the monsters appearing in the dungeon but also the six other players besides myself.
The Chinese player on Floor 7, Sun Haoran.
The next person who approached me, stating their name, was Korean.
"I'm Baek Jinyeong."
The number above his head was 8. Baek Jinyeong spoke softly and smiled.
I uttered the name I had decided to use as a pseudonym.
"I'm Jeong Woohyeon."
After all, if we talked, there was no way I could hide the fact that I was from South Korea.
Using a complete pseudonym was the best way to prepare for any variables that might arise.
Besides, unlike the modern world I lived in, there were no CCTV cameras here.
Only people from Floor 10 and below were gathered, so there was no one who would take photos with a terminal.
Even if they saw my face, I didn't think they could spread it clearly.
'If a variable arises, handle it as thoroughly as possible.'
Next, a man with brown hair approached, smiling brightly.
"My name is Jake. Nice to meet you!"
Jake immediately offered a handshake and introduced himself as American.
I shook his hand.
The number floating above Jake's head was 6.
Just then, Baek Jinyeong, who had been standing back, scratched the back of his head and approached.
"It's great to have another Korean here. Last exchange event, it was all Chinese and Japanese, so I was taken aback."
Baek Jinyeong tried to keep talking to me, using our shared nationality as a common ground.
This didn't feel strange.
It was a very natural thing to be happy upon seeing someone from the same region.
This was a behavior pattern that was perfectly understandable, even without any ulterior motives.
"This is your first exchange event, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"The Tower might seem like it's trying to kill all the players at first glance, but that's not always the case. If players can cooperate well, exchange events are often resolved more easily than regular Tower floors."
These were words spoken by a Pioneer senior.
Unless my luck was pushed to the absolute extreme into the sewers, the difficulty itself would be easier than Pandemonium.
"May I ask what difficulty Tower you came from?"
He seems to be thoroughly investigating me.
Along with my pseudonym, I spoke the difficulty I had already decided on.
"Normal difficulty."
Baek Jinyeong's eyes widened.
"Oh, me too. I'm from Normal Tower Number 121."
According to the notification that appeared when I entered Floor 2, the Pandemonium Tower I reside in is Numbering 01.
According to the Transcendental Gallery seniors, the number of Towers is speculated to be created as people are needed.
Compared to Normal Towers, which needed to be created up to 121 because the number of summoned individuals was so high and saturated, Pandemonium only needed one.
Indeed, how arduous will my path ahead be?
It felt utterly bleak.
I saw Baek Jinyeong purse his lips as if he was about to say something more.
A window popped up in front of the dungeon waiting room.
[10 minutes of preparation time will be given.]
[Please enter the dungeon after preparation.]
[10 : 00]
Beep.
[09 : 59]
Why is there a time limit for entry?
I fiddled with the hilt of the straight sword at my waist.
It wasn't an action born of nervousness.
"Are you okay…?"
However, the Japanese woman seemed to think I was nervous.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"My name is Misaki."
Misaki, Floor 8.
I organized the people.
Baek Jinyeong and I. Two Koreans.
And Jake, the American from Floor 6 who greeted me.
Misaki, one Japanese person.
The Chinese woman on Floor 8 next to Misaki, and Sun Haoran from Floor 7 who first greeted me.
That makes two Chinese people.
Lastly, a woman with blonde hair, yawning in the corner, spoke.
"Germany, Laura."
One German.
That made a total of seven people.
The number above Laura's head was '9'.
Laura stretched and then stood up.
"Is there anything to prepare? Whoever has a shield should take the front, and the rest should support well and do their part. It's not difficult, is it?"
Is that slightly arrogant attitude stemming from confidence in her power, or confidence from being on Floor 9? I couldn't tell.
I would find out soon enough when the dungeon raid began. I intended to thoroughly aim for a one-person role this time.
No more, no less. Just act like a human.
And my main objective was to observe the combat of others.
"I have the shield."
Jake said, raising his shield.
Laura gestured with her chin. Her target was Sun Haoran.
"You take the front line with Jake. I'll be in the center. The rest, figure it out."
"Alright."
Sun Haoran accepted without much resistance.
It seemed clear that Misaki and the Chinese woman next to her were a party.
As for the rest, I didn't know.
Laura, clad in leather armor, grinned at me.
"You'll have to protect your own life. This is not a place where anyone will look out for you."
Ah, yes.
I quietly nodded.
The weakling position.
It wasn't bad. Rather, it was a position where I could leisurely observe their movements.
Grind-grind-
Jake pushed open the massive door in front of the notification window.
[You have entered the dungeon - 'Cradle of Kobolds'.]
…Kobolds?
I recalled the Gallery browsing I did before sleeping last night.
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Archmage) Kobolds are stronger than Goblins, but weaker than Orcs.
The Archmage senior's prediction of 'what kind of monsters would appear if a dungeon was chosen for the exchange event' had come true.
Therefore, I would be fighting enemies of a lower level than the ones I fought on Floor 2.
Jake's voice could be heard.
"Hmph, Kobolds aren't easy opponents…!"
?
Is that so?
Kobolds are not easy opponents?
I couldn't gauge what kind of benefits the friends confidently leading the way had reaped.
The seniors had mentioned a few points to be aware of.
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Dragon King) Beltui-, like all species, the kings are exceptionally strong within their race.
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Was it strong even by ??'s standards?
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Dragon King) I'm providing an educational experience at eye level for the Climber. Beltui- has high empathy.
This meant I only needed to be wary of the Kobold King.
A faint light seeped in from the darkness. Torches were hung on the walls.
As soon as we stepped into the dungeon, I felt dampness and humidity.
Swish!
Chains flew from between two giant rocks.
I watched Jake's movements.
Jake powerfully raised his round shield.
Clang!
The chains were blocked by the shield and lost their direction.
Screech!
Laura, standing behind, drew her longsword and stepped forward.
Laura's figure moved like flowing water towards the Kobold behind the rocks. The longsword was thrust into the Kobold's shoulder.
KRAAAAK!
A scream erupted from the Kobold's mouth.
Laura couldn't kill it with a single blow. She landed exactly three sword strikes before ending its life.
Although they were just slashes and thrusts without any particular form.
Still, her combat sense seemed decent.
Thud-thud-!
Stones suddenly fell from the right. The wall, which I had thought was just narrower than the front, was a trap.
Spears rained down from the collapsed stones.
The target of the spearheads was my neck.
Kagak!
With the straight sword I drew, I deflected the spear's trajectory.
Thwack!
And I thrust my sword into the heart of the Kobold, the owner of the spear.
I felt eyes staring intently at me.
It was the gaze of the Japanese woman, Misaki.
Her gaze held a question of how I, a mere Floor 3, could react like this.
I gestured with my chin and said.
"It's coming at you too. Be careful."
"H, Hai?"
Why isn't that automatically translated?
From the direction the spear had come, a mace was now flying.
It was coming with the intent to crush Misaki's head.
I grabbed Misaki's shoulder and pulled her back. Then, I thrust my straight sword into the jaw of the Kobold wielding the mace.
And pulled it out.
"I told you to be careful."
"S-Sorry…."
Misaki, who was sticking close to the Chinese woman in the party, nodded awkwardly.
"…You're quite skilled in combat. Floor 3."
The Chinese woman's voice could be heard.
Yes, that level of perception is enough. I intend to maintain an observer's perspective for this exchange event.
<Transcendental Gallery>.
Although Han Yoo-seong was not present, the topic of conversation still centered on him, the sole Climber of the Chogyeol.
Title: Nothing unusual, right?
Author: Archmage
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The monsters' level should be lower than Pandemonium Floor 2, but ultimately, the same human is always the variable.
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What could happen? - There's no way someone at the Floor 10 exchange event would be over level 20 and use Sword Qi.
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Jjuhdak) The Climber we've seen so far isn't the type to easily believe someone they haven't seen in a while, saying hello.
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Ice Queen) Brrr! I agree!
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Sword of Light) I've given enough advice, so they'll listen.
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Dragon King) Give me some late-night snack advice too, Beltui-!
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Sword of Light) Die.
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Isn't it more fun when variables arise?
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Pioneer) That's true.
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Secret Room Theorist) So true about life ㅇㅇ
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Archmage) These dopamine-addicted fools…