Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Translator: Penny
Chapter 54
[10th Floor Coin Shop]
1.Food 2. Beverages 3. Potions 4. Other
I checked to see if the variety of items in the Other category had increased, but it was still just paper and a fountain pen.
Well then, I should eat something.
<Dishes>
1.Ramen, small amount of kimchi - 10 Coins
2.Pork Rice Soup - 10 Coins
3.Chao Fan - 10 Coins
4.Cream Bacon Pasta - 10 Coins
5.Sandwich - 8 Coins
6.Nuts (peanuts, walnuts) - 6 Coins
7.Jerky - 6 Coins
8.Spicy Pork Over Rice - 13 Coins
9.Roskats - 13 Coins
10.Butter Chicken Curry - 12 Coins
11.Pan-fried Dumplings, Soy Sauce - 8 Coins
"Oh."
Butter Chicken Curry and Pan-fried Dumplings were the new dishes that appeared on the 10th floor.
Since it needed to be a meal that would fill my stomach, I chose Butter Chicken Curry instead of the dumplings.
When I opened the storage compartment, I saw orange-colored curry.
Hmm, is this supposed to be the authentic Indian taste?
It feels much creamier than I expected.
The tandoori chicken on the side was also decent.
Today is April 2nd.
I checked the 10th-floor mailbox.
Since I was on the 9th-floor stage on the 1st when mail functions, I couldn't check it then.
As expected, the mailbox was empty.
Would another newbie on Pandemonium difficulty actually appear?
Frankly, I didn't have much expectation.
Whether others knew I was on the 10th floor or not wasn't really an important issue.
Any Climber who entered Pandemonium and reached the 5th floor where mailboxes start appearing would have sent mail to all nearby floors out of a desire to survive.
I also planned to send mail to the 1st floor whenever I remembered.
It's not like the 3 Coins for paper was a waste.
The next morning.
I purchased 50 high-grade healing potions costing 10 Coins each.
Since I still had about 20 mana recovery potions left from previous purchases, which also cost 10 Coins each, I only bought 30 more.
Remaining Coins: 5,290
Even after spending generously, this amount was left.
Title: Entering the 10th Floor Stage. Author: ㅇㅇ*
-This time too, I should turn on Constellation Block before entering.
-Are there any rules? Like when to turn it on and off.
-ㅇㅇ*) First, if you enter with it off, there's a chance you might receive decent items like Breath of the Extreme I got a while ago or Gehenna from before.
-Yeah*) And for quest types that emphasize narrative, if I don't want to show it, I just won't.
-Jjuhdak) What do you mean by quest types?
-Yes*) Like NPCs I've met before appearing again. If it's a quest situation where emotional exchange seems likely, no matter what reward they offer, I plan to reject it.
-Hmm... But what if a Constellation comes holding a reward of Gehenna level or higher to entice you?
-Yes, that is certainly tempting. But I still won't accept it. I don't want anything bothersome.
-Archmage) Those dogs, if you refuse all that, will think you're aiming for 'Authority' and try to offer it. We said we shouldn't accept such things, right?
-Eww~ That stuff is filthy~
-Yes*) 'Authority' can be retrieved anytime the Constellation who granted it wants?
-Sword of Light) Good review.
-Jjuhdak) 10th floor... The 'Reward for Hardship' special benefit, which can be considered an adaptation period applied even to Hard difficulty Climbers and also to you as a Pandemonium difficulty Climber, has probably ended now. You'll start feeling like your level really isn't going up much. Starting from the 10th floor.
-Scum Sword Saint) If only the experience gain speed slows down, that's fortunate. There's a high probability that the stats gained upon leveling up could be halved.
-Pioneer) It's even more disheartening to have something given and then taken away, and these bastards actually do that. I also enjoyed the honey from the Reward for Hardship and then got hit with a reduction.
-What should I do to prevent it from being reduced? Pioneer senior kindly explained.
-Pioneer) Like you've done so far, you should choose the highest difficulty options as much as possible. Then, since it's Pandemonium difficulty anyway, it might cover it to some extent.
-Pioneer) And you've experienced stats increasing when you surpass physical limits, right? Use that as much as possible. The conclusion was to keep grinding as before. It means I have to push my body even harder.
-Ah lol, this is truly advice that becomes blood and flesh. It was a comment that felt slightly sarcastic.
-Pioneer) Even I think it's useless advice, but what can I do? That's really the only method. Pioneer senior also seemed to already know that well.
-Okay, thanks. Sometimes just becoming aware of something can be helpful. I had already anticipated that things would get more complicated from the 10th floor onwards.
Click-
I interlocked my fingers, raised my arms high, and stretched.
I opened the 10th-floor stage door and hurried my steps forward.
Thud, thud
A pure white light enveloped my vision.
After the light faded, a somewhat familiar landscape came into view.
『Pandemonium Difficulty 10th Floor is Quest Type.』
Dampness rising from the tips of my toes. A dark, gloomy sky. "...Forest of Bewitching Beasts?"
Without a doubt.
But it didn't seem to be deep inside the Forest of Bewitching Beasts. Right in front. It seemed to be the forest area in front of the Forest of Bewitching Beasts.
In front of me, huge tents were gathered. I awakened my Energy Sense and approached the front of the tents. Since there was only a cloth separating us, I could hear the voices beyond it.
"If we don't finish it here, that thing will completely invade the territory again." After a heavy male voice, a woman's voice was heard. "That's right. We must end it here to prevent further damage."
It wasn't like I had only met one or two NPCs, but there weren't many I could say I had interacted with. The voice I heard now belonged to one of them. Riselinn.
As the voices continued from the tent, I became more certain it was her. "It's been a month and a half since we posted the notice, and still less than fifty mercenaries have gathered... Even though we raised the pay well above the base rate." The man's voice was heard again. "That must mean they know well who the opponent is." "Sigh... Damn Skaldmagra."
Skaldmagra. It seemed that was the main Monster we had to face on this floor.
"It's obvious no one else will come, but I'll go check and come back." Thud, thud
As Riselinn finished speaking, the sound of footsteps started and grew closer.
Swish-
The tent flap was pulled aside, and a woman walked out. A woman with navy blue hair and golden eyes. Indeed, it was definitely Riselinn.
[NPC - 'Lucerna' Mercenary Captain Riselinn]
Riselinn saw me and her eyes widened round. "……Yuseong?"
As expected, even meeting after ascending floors, memories continue. This Riselinn was indeed the same Riselinn who defended Kyclev Castle walls against the Orcs with me. "Long time no see, Riselinn."
At my words, Riselinn nodded her head vigorously. "Of course! It's been a very long time! Almost a year and a half has passed!"
Huh? A year and a half? Only about a month and a half had passed for me.
Riselinn puffed out both her cheeks and continued. "After you suddenly vanished right before my eyes like that. I spent a whole month doubting whether I had seen a soul or a mirage, you know? It was only fortunate that my subordinates also remembered you, and Yunes remembers you too."
As I kept my mouth shut, she went on. "Did you come after seeing the notice recruiting people to kill that Demonic Beast Skaldmagra? Perhaps?"
As soon as Riselinn finished speaking, a notification window appeared.
『Quest! - Defeat the 'Great Demonic Beast Skaldmagra'.』
This time it was a very simple and clear quest. This way, saying I saw the notice is more convenient in many ways. "Yes."
Riselinn's cheeks were still puffed out. "This time, you absolutely must not vanish like last time! If you're going to do that, explain how you do it before disappearing!"
I chuckled. "I finished all my work back then before disappearing. I'll do the same this time."
Riselinn blinked her eyes. "This time, after defeating the target Skaldmagra, you'll disappear...?" "Yes, that's right."
Perhaps my answer sounded too nonchalant, Riselinn gritted her teeth. "Are you really a ghost? This person? I'm definitely going to find out how you disappear. I'll make you confess."
The problem is, I don't know the principle either. Even if there is a principle, it's probably just the process of moving to the next floor after finishing my work as a Climber.
"How much have you grown! I reached Rank 3 in a year and a half. I feel like I'm on the verge of Rank 4, but it's like something's missing, one step short...! Anyway, I heard you have talent."
Seeing her speak proudly with her hands on her hips, she seemed quite proud of herself. "Rank 4." Since it would be found out anyway, I told her honestly.
Riselinn scratched her head and opened her mouth. "...Ah, you managed to take that one step I'm still lacking ahead of me." "It seems so."
I heard Riselinn muttering. "He was Rank 2 back then, but he raised it by two ranks in a year and a half...? How?"
Quite surprisingly, it wasn't a year and a half, but I raised my rank in two months. I pretended not to hear anything, took out the Transcendent Gallery terminal, and calmly stood next to her, taking a picture of Riselinn.
"Wasn't suddenly raising that thing next to me something you did when we first met a year and a half ago?" "That's correct." "You're really a strange person! This one."
Even as she said that, Riselinn politely pointed with both hands to a small tent at the very back. "Stay there for now. You should be able to use it alone today. It seems a few more people will join tomorrow, though." "Understood."
The sound of a tent flap opening was heard.
[NPC - Centurion Crevan]
It was a man with a stern face and a mustache. Probably the man who was talking with Riselinn inside the tent.
"Are you a volunteer?"
At Crevan's words, Riselinn nodded. "Yes, he's a mercenary I worked with on a mission long ago. Rank 4. Even back then, he showed performance far exceeding his rank at the time... He's definitely a skilled person. He'll be a great asset."
Fortunately, even if she thought I was strange, it seemed her trust in my abilities was strong. I could see Crevan's pupils widen slightly as he looked at me upon Riselinn's words.
"You must be quite a skilled individual. Thank you for coming." "Please take care of me."
I nodded and then left the spot for now. I moved my steps towards the tent at the very back that Riselinn assigned.