Chapter 37
Chapter 37
The Archmage Senior's words held no small amount of anger.
Unlike usual.
Although it seemed there was more to the reason for despising the Constellations than just their submission to the Tower, I didn't ask about it now.
From the 5th floor stage onwards, I asked if the Constellations would keep watching me.
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Sword of Light) Constellations can perceive and see players after the 5th floor stage. It's impossible in the waiting room.
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Sword of Light) This is also from the previous cycle. Pandemonium might be different, though.
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Sword of Light) And if players find it bothersome that Constellations are watching them, they can use 'Constellation Block'.
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Yeah) Constellation Block? Is that possible?
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Sword of Light) Anyway, you don't directly feel their gaze, but when you look at the notification window, you sometimes get that feeling.
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Spear King) They probably haven't even seen Pandemonium before. It would be funny to entertain them a bit and then immediately block them.
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Hahahaha, yeah, that's great. If they don't seem helpful, just block them right away.
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Absolute Monarch) If you do that after attracting the Constellations' curiosity, they'll likely display quest windows with rewards to watch your climb.
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It's like they're saying, "If you want to watch, 'pay up'~~" Hahahaha.
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Sword of Light) I blocked them after the 30th floor because they just bothered me.
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Archmage) Me too.
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Ice Queen) Brrr!! Blocked at floor 32!
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Shrine Maiden) Hawaawa, I left them be out of boredom and blocked them around floor 50.
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Sage) Pilgrim, everything depends on perception. Whether it's the two great figures above, or this humble one. I was able to block them because I perceived they didn't know much.
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Hard difficulty players really have a different mindset, damn. On Easy and Normal, I used to excitedly post on the gallery when Constellations paid attention.
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Constellations didn't have much interest in Easy or Normal players.
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Elf) Hard difficulty climbers also usually rejoiced when Constellations showed interest. The survivors who reached the end just have an overly keen sense.
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As expected, the commoner-friendly Hard climber, God Elf, who is half-way to being a commoner, damn.
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Elf) I also had an overly keen sense, you know? Who are you calling a commoner?
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This clueless pointy-eared one is taking it seriously...!
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Elf) Aaaargh!!
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Archmage) Regardless, fundamentally, Constellations are not on the player's side. They are enemies we will have to fight someday.
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Archmage) Just remember that.
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Yeah) Oh, so I just need to extract the rewards.
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Yeah) Unless they're throwing quests because they believe I won't succeed. I just need to succeed, right?
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Sword of Light) Yes, that's right.
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Archmage) Smart, climber.
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Ice Queen) Brrr! Smart!
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Yeah) Are there any rewards I shouldn't accept?
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Archmage) Authority.
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Sage) The Authority bestowed by Constellations is quite useful when facing Monsters, but later, when you face the Constellations as enemies, you become a worthless insect that can do nothing.
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Absolute Monarch) Most of the Authority they offer can be created by us, the Hard difficulty finishers, if we help. It can be made more reliably through Interdimensional Trade.
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Wow, Monarch-hyung. You're writing such long advice when the climber needs it. So kind~
I had no choice but to trust my Transcendent Gallery seniors.
It was the Transcendental seniors who saved my life time and again.
Just a few days ago, when dealing with Golems, if the advice hadn't streamed in, it would have been a very high probability of death.
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Yeah) But wouldn't the Hard difficulty players from the previous cycle have a chance to recognize things like Senior Light Sword's Dragon Slayer Sword or Senior Heavenly Demon's Flowing Scale Air Breaking Art?
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Heavenly Demon) Oho, that's a very interesting thought.
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Sword of Light) It doesn't matter if they recognize it. Constellations can only directly intervene with force after floor 70.
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Sword of Light) I am reasonably confident.
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Sword of Light) I am confident that by floor 70, Han Yoo-seong, you will be able to devour them instead.
What?
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Yeah) Me?
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Archmage) It's possible, if you're a climber.
Don't be so confident.
What is the basis for that faith?
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Shrine Maiden) Hawaawaawa!!!!!! This girl is ready to be praised.
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? Praised for what?
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Shrine Maiden, suddenly lost her mind...! Laughing so frivolously...!
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Shrine Maiden) Climber-nim, the Holy Seal from Interdimensional Trade. If you inject Mana into the back, you can unfold the 'Veil of Secrecy'. Since Constellations pop out from the 5th floor stage, it would be awkward to see them with the gallery open on the terminal, so it's for hiding them.
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Heavenly Demon) Can't you just block them at those moments?
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That's the correct answer. The greatest under heaven.
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Shrine Maiden) Hmm. You only ever used your fists, so you're clueless... Hawaawa, it wasn't actually made targeting Constellations, but it will be useful during missions too.
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Jjuhdak) Mhmm, yes, yes. Anything will be helpful.
Understood.
I understood it very well.
My Transcendent Gallery seniors did not consider the 'Constellations' threatening at all.
Rather, they were just a bit angry with them.
The notification that the Constellations who had just perceived me were watching me filled my vision.
I established my own rules while reading the posts from my Transcendent Gallery seniors.
For quest-type stages where I need to talk a lot, I'll use Constellation Block.
And for dungeon-type stages where conversation isn't necessary, I'll disable the block to gently extract rewards.
When there's nothing left to extract, I'll implement a complete block like the Transcendent Gallery seniors.
The 5th floor stage this time is a quest-type, but I wasn't planning to use Constellation Block from the start.
If I'm too meticulous from the beginning, they might become suspicious.
I plan to block them without hesitation only when using the gallery.
Floor 5.
If I draw enough aggro this time and then use Constellation Block for about three consecutive floors, they'll surely come with rewards to see.
『Quest! - Find and rescue the escort target, then escort them to the designated location.』
They should at least tell me who the escort target is.
As I thought that, another notification appeared before my eyes.
『A golden line will fall above the escort target's head.』
This is just like a game.
The alley I'm currently in was narrow.
Pat-
Following the faintly glowing golden light from the sky, I moved my steps.
I passed through a crowd of people.
Fortunately, Phaethon's Obsidian Armor I was wearing didn't look flashy like plate armor, but more like a neat black leather armor, so it didn't draw attention.
I found the target of the golden light descending from above.
At the end of the alley.
A dead end where no one should be walking.
I saw a woman with red hair leaning against the wall, standing awkwardly.
[NPC - Carmine, Second Daughter of Baron Everhart]
I recognized Carmine. As soon as I looked at her, I could tell who was targeting her from the surroundings.
The gaze was too clear.
I felt a killing intent precisely directed at Carmine.
The enemies I had faced before also exuded killing intent, but they usually attacked immediately.
This was the first time they had continuously leaked killing intent just to intimidate.
Three figures in black robes.
I ignored their killing intent and stood beside Carmine.
[Skill 'Mental Barrier' level has increased. Lv.5]
"You're in a difficult situation, aren't you?"
Carmine looked at me with wide eyes.
"...Yes?"
"Do you know why those gloomy fellows approached you?"
Carmine, while looking flustered by my words, slowly opened her mouth.
"...They definitely intend to kill me."
"Is that so?"
The mission name was escort.
That means, as long as 'Carmine' in front of me is safe for now, the quest can proceed somehow.
Killing Intent.
Was it because, as I entered this corner, I was continuously exposed to the killing intent pouring from the three surrounding Carmine?
Or was it because I recalled Senior Sword of Light's words that aura moves according to my will?
"That."
Intuitively.
[Killing Intent Lv.1 - Skill acquired.]
And analytically, I drew out the killing intent.
"Is this how you do it?"
[Skill 'Killing Intent' level has increased. Lv.3]
Does it depend on Mana quantity or Rank?
The level is rising quickly.
['The Sword Demon of the Black Typhoon' becomes curious about your killing intent.]
['The Saintess Who Chases the Light' is concerned about the large number of enemies and the fact that the enemy's Ranks are higher than the player's. She advises a swift escape.]
['The Giant Who Swallowed the Moon' states that fighting multiple opponents in this alley is folly.]
['Judge with a Thousand Eyes' advises to quickly leave the area with only the escort target.]
There was more advice after that.
Though I found it bothersome and put away the window.
It was certainly different.
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Absolute Monarch) Now you'll be able to gauge your limits.
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Sword of Light) Rank is just an objective indicator to some extent. Objective, but ultimately, individual capabilities can overturn it at any time.
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Spear King) The important thing is your judgment. Can you now distinguish between when to kill and when to run?
Unlike the advice from my Transcendent Gallery seniors I checked while eating a sandwich last night.
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Sword of Light) If you can kill them, kill them. As you felt, the behavior patterns of NPCs are no different from humans. They are living, breathing people within that stage.
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Sword of Light) They feel surprised by unexpected variables. They feel fear.
[Organization Umbra Rank 4 Combat Member Leon]
[Organization Umbra Rank 4 Combat Member Wolf]
[Organization Umbra Rank 3 Combat Member Nick]
The three were not moving, perhaps because of my killing intent.
Wolf's mouth opened.
"If you have no relation to that woman, go your way. I don't want to cause unnecessary bloodshed."
I knew from that.
He was the leader.
A sword must be swung when unexpected.
Dragon Slayer Sword Footwork Style 3.
Micatus.
It's a blink-type footwork that instantly closes the distance to the opponent.
Swish-
And I cleanly severed Wolf's head.
['Judge with a Thousand Eyes' doubts its own eyes.]
['The Saintess Who Chases the Light' is aghast.]
['The Warrior Burdened by Rage' praises your strike.]
['The Giant Who Swallowed the Moon' gazes at you intently.]
"And you two?"
Leon and Nick hesitated with their swords drawn.
That's not how it should be.
Hesitating for even a moment becomes the reason for death.
"Stay still."
Passing Carmine, I deployed Micatus once more.