Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Spam likes if you think KimHunter is getting nervous about being exposed
[Hidden condition achieved!]
[Upper layers of the Tower of Trials are being reconfigured!]
[Time remaining until reset complete: 3 days. You cannot enter the tower during this period.]
“…What is this?”
It was a type of message I had never seen before while climbing.
A hidden condition—
and now I couldn’t enter the tower for three days?
“…That means I won’t be able to climb until I reach the capital.”
The carriage ride to the capital would take exactly three days.
So I’d only be able to climb again once the founding festival began.
I had wondered whether to climb during the journey—
but now that option was gone entirely.
“…Whatever. Let’s check the rewards.”
I had hoped for equipment.
Something like a combat vest to carry ammunition more efficiently.
The Gunman trait was great—
but managing bullets was inconvenient.
Carrying everything in my pockets was getting ridiculous.
[Floor 5 (Hell) rewards granted!]
[First clear bonus applied!]
[High score bonus applied!]
[Highest rank bonus applied!]
[S++ bonus applied!]
[Rewards]
[Magic Stones 5kg]
[Standard Revolver Ammunition x30]
[Enhanced Revolver Ammunition x3]
[S++ Key]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
“…Nothing new.”
The rewards were similar.
Even for a mid-boss floor.
Though the experience gain was clearly higher.
Then—
[Additional reward granted for hidden condition!]
“…There it is.”
As expected—
it didn’t end there.
[Subspace Climber Backpack]
“…A bag?”
It looked like a hiking pack.
Compact, practical—
full of compartments.
I checked the description.
[Subspace Climber Backpack]
A high-spec subspace bag designed for climbers
Supports visible / invisible mode
“…Subspace.”
Like the magical storage bags used by mages.
Rare.
Expensive.
Difficult to obtain.
I opened every pocket.
“…Every compartment is subspace.”
Each pocket—
limitless storage.
Even large enough to hold absurd amounts.
I stuffed all my bullets inside.
Click. Slide.
Then pulled them out again instantly.
“…This is incredible.”
Reloading became smoother.
No weight.
Perfect accessibility.
Then—
“Invisible mode.”
The bag disappeared from sight.
But I could still access everything.
“…Better than a combat vest.”
Satisfied, I stored all my belongings inside.
Then—
“…Ah.”
I heard voices behind me.
The people I had rescued.
“…A miracle…!”
“KimHunter-nim…!”
They watched in awe as I pulled items from thin air.
“…This is awkward.”
[Exit the tower? (O/X)]
I left immediately.
“Son, are you sure that’s enough luggage?”
“It’s more than enough.”
Morning.
I boarded the carriage.
My family saw me off.
Everything—
was inside the subspace bag.
Money included.
“Take care!”
The carriage departed.
Three days to the capital.
I leaned back and closed my eyes.
“…Nothing should go wrong.”
But—
something did.
“…This isn’t it!”
I muttered in frustration.
“Is something wrong?”
A guard outside asked.
“No—just talking to myself.”
What I was really looking at—
was the Climbers’ Plaza.
And right now—
it was chaos.
[Is KimHunter really a noble of the Empire?]
[He stopped climbing yesterday—must be traveling to the capital]
[Evidence KimHunter is an eastern noble]
[Spam likes if KimHunter is panicking about being exposed]
[We might see his identity revealed at the festival]
[Was there ever a noble stronger than the Hero?]
“…This is getting bad.”
Because I hadn’t climbed.
Normally, I cleared one floor per day.
Now I stopped.
At the same time—
the Empire summoned all nobles.
The conclusion people reached was obvious.
“KimHunter is attending the festival.”
“…Not entirely wrong.”
But not for that reason.
It was because of the reset.
[Time remaining: 12 hours 11 minutes]
“…They’re jumping to conclusions.”
Some doubted it.
“Maybe he’s just busy.”
“He could still climb during travel.”
But most—
ignored that.
The timing was too perfect.
“…This is how rumors grow.”
The more people talked—
the more certain they became.
“Should I explain?”
Two options.
Stay silent—
or explain the reset.
But explaining meant—
proving it.
And then—
expectations.
“They’ll watch me.”
If I say I’ll climb after reset—
they’ll look for anyone sneaking off during the festival.
“…Too risky.”
I thought deeply.
Then—
stopped.
“…Why am I taking this so seriously?”
This felt familiar.
From my past life.
Overthinking online reactions—
always made things worse.
“…Right.”
In reality—
no one knows me.
As long as I say nothing—
I’m safe.
Trying to explain—
only fuels suspicion.
“…Then the answer is simple.”
Don’t clarify.
Confuse them.
I started typing.
[Title: I’ll be attending the founding festival ^^]
Author: KimHunter
A deception.
Simple—
effective.