Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Escaping the Life of a Fallen Noble
“Ooh?”
As the notifications kept pouring down, I couldn’t help but admire them.
A new highest score and highest rank for Floor 1.
It seemed clearing it on Hell difficulty gave me a much higher score.
[Floor 1 (Hell) clear rewards granted!]
[Reward List]
[Magic Stones 100g]
[Standard Revolver Ammunition x30]
The rewards began to appear.
The base rewards were magic stones and revolver ammunition.
Magic stones are the standard reward from the tower.
Usually, 1 gram of magic stone is worth about 10,000 gel.
Gel is the currency of this world, similar to won.
That means—
I just earned one million.
Climbers on hard difficulty usually earn a few dozen grams per floor.
But 100 grams at once?
Hell difficulty rewards were definitely on another level.
It seemed bullets were also replenished every floor.
But it didn’t stop there.
[First to clear Floor 1 (Hell)!]
[First-clear bonus applied!]
The rewards began glowing.
So I was the first in the world to clear Hell difficulty.
That meant—
unless someone else appears, I’ll keep getting first-clear bonuses.
[Reward List]
[Magic Stones 200g]
[Standard Revolver Ammunition x50]
Even more rewards.
A few shots of a gun—
and I earn two million?
This was beyond profitable.
And still—
not the end.
[High score bonus applied!]
[Highest rank bonus applied!]
The rewards shone again, accompanied by a celebratory sound.
Fwoosh—
[Reward List]
[Magic Stones 1kg]
[Standard Revolver Ammunition x30]
[Enhanced Revolver Ammunition x3]
“Ooh?!”
I couldn’t hold back my excitement.
The original 100g had turned into 1kg.
That’s ten million.
“Our family is saved!”
One floor—
ten million.
This wasn’t just profit—
it was absurd.
If this continues, restoring the family is possible.
I could finally escape being a fallen noble.
“And enhanced bullets?”
But what excited me most—
was that.
[Enhanced Revolver Ammunition]
Earlier, I used standard bullets.
Enhanced bullets had to be better.
And despite all the bonuses—
I only got three.
I checked the description.
[Enhanced Revolver Ammunition]
Revolver ammo that deals 10× the damage of standard bullets.
“Ooh!”
Simple and clear.
The hobgoblin took six normal bullets.
That means—
one enhanced bullet could kill it instantly.
The tower worked like a game.
In reality, one bullet doesn’t always kill instantly.
But here—
monsters die once damage passes a threshold.
A goblin needs one bullet.
A hobgoblin needs six.
The tower imposes its own system.
“Anyway, whatever.”
What matters—
is that enhanced bullets are insanely strong.
But with only three, I’d save them.
“So… I can leave now?”
I had ten million.
I wanted meat.
But—
more notifications appeared.
[S++ clear bonus granted!]
Even more rewards.
Apparently, S was the highest before.
S++ was two levels above.
[S++ Key]
A simple-looking key appeared.
But its color—
was a strange iridescent metal.
[S++ Key]
A radiant key. Might be useful somewhere.
A vague description.
Maybe just a commemorative item.
Still—
I kept it safely.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
Two level-ups in a row.
I felt stronger.
Sharper.
[Exit the Tower? (O/X)]
I selected O.
Light enveloped me again.
“Ahh… ahh…”
The Haiger family—
filled with constant sighs.
Just like before I entered the tower.
But—
that ends today.
No more fallen noble life.
Today marks our comeback.
Bang!
“Father! Mother! I did it!”
I burst into the room—
breaking the door off its hinges.
“My door!”
Father cried over it.
“It’s fine, Father! I did it!”
“What do you mean, Ian?”
Even now—
he didn’t get angry.
Still kind.
“What do you mean? You’re screwed?”
Mother spoke elegantly—
with crude words.
Still a good person.
“I did it! I became a climber!”
“What?!”
“My son is a climber?!”
“Yes! And I earned magic stones! One kilogram!”
“Woooo!”
“Aaaah!”
They jumped in joy.
Father sat down soon after, holding his back—
but smiling.
“…Ian, I feel ashamed relying on you.”
“Don’t. You protected the family.”
He lacked ability—
but not kindness.
And that was enough.
“I’m not complaining.”
We survived.
That’s enough.
“Keep it down!”
My little sister ran in.
Ireni.
Sixteen.
Irritable.
Poor.
“But that ends today.”
“Ireni, I’m sorry. No jewelry, no academy, no tutor…”
“What are you saying?! I’m fine!”
“Then what about this?”
“…Magic stones?”
“Yes. Your brother awakened.”
“Ahhh! You’re the best!”
The whole family laughed.
It had been so long.
After calming down—
we talked.
“This is about ten million gel.”
“…Can we use it?”
“Of course. For the family.”
Tears filled their eyes.
We needed money everywhere.
Taxes went to the Empire.
We needed new income.
But first—
something more important.
“Ireni. You’re going to the academy.”
“…What? No!”
“Some nobles start late. You’ll do fine.”
“Do you know the tuition?! Ten million isn’t enough!”
“I’ll earn more.”
“I said no!”
“Ireni!”
I raised my voice.
Because I knew—
she was lying.
“You’ve been secretly studying.”
“…H-how did you—”
“You locked your door every day.”
“…!”
She trembled.
“You love economics. You wanted to be a researcher.”
“…Why do you remember that…”
She turned away—
shaking.
The Empire allows women in academia.
She had a chance.
“Go.”
“…Then you go too! You never went either!”
Ah.
That bothered her.
“I’m fine. I’ve already studied in my past life.”
“…Still…”
“Your dream is mine too.”
“Brother!”
She hugged me—
crying.
Our parents joined.
We held each other—
for a long time.
For the first time—
we felt like a real family again.