Walls of Resolve
Each village had its own vigilante group, formed to protect both residents and Conquerors. True to their purpose, they ventured out to rescue those trapped by the Red Moon. Jin-ho Lee couldn't help but be astonished by their combat prowess as they crushed approaching monsters. These were people who had lived peaceful, sheltered lives in the village—he'd assumed they knew nothing of battle. But that was his mistake.
They wouldn't be Tower residents for nothing.
Each one was a hardened warrior, radiating the heavy killing intent of someone who had survived hellish battlefields. Any one of them could have slaughtered the monster pack alone, yet they always fought together. Their wheel formation was particularly striking. Ji-sung chuckled at the sight of Jin-ho staring at them even as he climbed into the carriage.
Surprised? Those guys are veterans who've been through far worse than you. They lost in the end, but their experience and specs are on another level.
Even high-level Conquerors couldn't defeat the villagers of the 11th floor—excluding children. Ji-sung urged Jin-ho, who still couldn't tear his eyes away, to hurry into the carriage. Only after climbing aboard did Jin-ho finally catch his breath.
"Phew… Thanks to you, Mr. Ji-sung, I survived. I appreciate it."
"Nah, don't mention it. I just happened to be nearby and noticed you were in trouble. We're all Conquerors, aren't we? We should help each other out. Whew… If I'd stayed there even a minute longer, I'd have run out of mana. That was way too close."
Ji-sung replied with his usual casual tone, though he lightly shook his body as if truly shaken by the danger.
"Comrades, huh…"
Yeah, comrades. We really were in danger, you know?
"It was definitely easier fighting together than alone. I realized how much strength having comrades gives you."
Right?
"Though I doubt it'll help much with training."
What the hell, you bastard?
Ji-sung nearly scowled on the spot. But Jin-ho, lost in his own thoughts, didn't notice. His only interests were growing stronger and gaining new experiences.
"That was quite an impressive skill. Did you obtain a magic-related class?"
"Yeah. It's a class that manipulates the surrounding environment and objects. Hard to explain… but this is how I use the magic."
When Ji-sung waved his hand, the carriage floor rippled. A small, cute spike rose from it. Jin-ho let out an admiring gasp.
"I can't show you much more since my mana is depleted. My proficiency is still low, so I can only make simple shapes. And with limited mana, I can't affect a wide area."
"This alone is impressive enough. You entered the Tower around the same time as me, yet your mana control is already this refined. I heard that without exceptional mana control, even activating basic skills is difficult."
"I haven't compared myself to other magic-class Conquerors, so I don't know if I'm actually that good. Since this is my only skill, I wouldn't even know what to compare it to."
"You only have one skill?"
Jin-ho's face showed clear confusion. Creating spikes and rippling the ground while claiming to have only one skill made no sense. Ji-sung shrugged at his bewilderment.
"Spreading mana in all directions to expand my perception range, then infusing mana and will into whatever I want to control—that's my only skill. I don't know about others, but it gives me a hell of a headache. I'll get used to it eventually. I have to, if I want to climb the Tower. I'm still far from good enough. Really."
Jin-ho was genuinely impressed. Every time he looked at Ji-sung, an inexplicable hostility would flare up, but right now even that was forgotten. Ji-sung possessed the same relentless drive for improvement, the same inability to settle for less. His expression and words were filled with sincerity. Jin-ho couldn't help but see him as someone extraordinary. At the same time, he began to regard Ji-sung as a rival with the same goal.
I need to push myself harder. I can't bring shame to the family name.
Jin-ho clenched his fist. Skilled swordsmen in the Tower could manifest sword aura. Knowing this, he'd tried, but all he could feel was the existence of his mana core. Even now, the core's mana remained completely still. It only functioned properly when activating skills—after that, nothing.
Because of his class, Mr. Ji-sung will naturally be better at mana control than me. But I can't use that as an excuse. I have to become the best. I can't lose to anyone—especially not to Mr. Ji-sung. My entire family decided to sacrifice everything to stop the calamity, and many ancestors died preparing for it. I don't know what the calamity is, but I must be the one to stop it. To do that, I have to be the strongest.
Jin-ho's fighting spirit burned within him. Just then, Ji-sung handed him a small container.
"It's an ointment I had. Looks like you need it. Apply it to your wounds and they'll heal quickly. Put it on before they get infected."
"Ah… Thank you. I'll use the ointment later."
Bastard. I don't want to see your naked body either. And I already showed you all my skills and weaknesses. What about you? Are you gonna keep acting all high and mighty?
Despite his inner thoughts, Ji-sung wore a concerned expression. At the same time, he was taken aback by Jin-ho's stubbornness. The man never showed a single moment of vulnerability, as if constantly on guard against him. Ji-sung couldn't tell why, but it almost felt like hostility.
Did we become enemies or something? The guy's all prickly…
Ji-sung sighed and looked out of the carriage. They would reach Marin soon. During that time, he planned to talk with Jin-ho and try to lower the walls the man had built.
"This is driving me crazy."
Ji-sung woke up with a scowl. The moment they arrived in Marin, Jin-ho had gotten off the carriage and left after saying he'd repay the debt later. Ji-sung could only laugh at how impenetrable that wall was. Not only had he failed to form a party—he couldn't even build basic rapport. Frustrated, he opened the window and looked outside. The view helped ease his irritation a little.
"You guys… Seeing you makes me feel a bit better."
The streets were bustling because of the Red Moon. Even Conquerors who had wandered the Tower alone now felt the urgency and were actively seeking parties. Watching people who were the complete opposite of Jin-ho, Ji-sung let out a hollow laugh.
"Yeah. That's normal. That's the ideal attitude for a Conqueror."
He spotted several Conquerors who looked like thieves struggling to find parties. As he chuckled at them, his teeth ground together.
Still haven't hit your limit? You said you didn't want to join a party until you felt you couldn't handle things alone. Who the hell do you think you are, some super saiyan? Getting stronger every fight?
"Roa."
You called?
"Wait a moment."
Ji-sung examined the map of the entire 1st floor. Even with the sun up, the monsters' aggression hadn't decreased. The frenzied creatures were actively hunting Conquerors and villagers.
"From now on, lure the factions I designate toward Marin. I don't particularly like that guy, but I still need to help him grow."
Understood.
Part of him wanted to tie Jin-ho up and torture him until he begged to join the party. But Ji-sung's thoughts remained unchanged. Jin-ho was a talent worth nurturing—and the strongest spear and sword he could use to strike at Markrun. That was why Ji-sung was willing to sacrifice other Conquerors in Marin if it meant feeding monsters to Jin-ho for growth. He had no concerns about the villagers. To the resistance, the 11th floor's disaster was nothing more than a gentle breeze.
This will be good experience for the Conquerors in Marin too—except for Jin-ho.
Reduce the number of weaklings who tried to climb to the 12th floor unprepared on the 11th floor. That was why Ji-sung had orchestrated the Red Moon. The Conquerors had already been given plenty of time and had grown. Even if some died, he had plenty to say to Kairas about it.
"Inform the villagers. If they can't hold out with just the Conquerors' strength, tell them to evacuate to another safe village. Make them completely protected. Kairas, give the Conquerors in those villages a quest to protect the residents. The reward… contribution points should be enough."
I am not your servant.
"Then just leave them wandering without purpose until they all die."
Ji-sung snorted and ignored Kairas. Afterward, he continued studying monster distributions and issuing orders to Roa. Having lived on the 11th floor and observed the villages, he knew there were model students focused on hunting and self-improvement—and underachievers who had neglected their growth. Those who had been lazy about their own development were now due for judgment.
Ji-sung vented his stress by hunting monsters, all while grinding his teeth at how drastically weakened his stats had become.
"That damn Kairas. She really went all out just because she got a chance to screw with me."
He had disguised himself as a fresh newcomer who had just cleared the tutorial, all to build rapport with Jin-ho. At first, it had felt strangely novel to enter the Tower again, but not anymore. His mana was practically nonexistent compared to his original specs. His body, which once took no damage from ordinary blades, now felt as fragile as paper. Even his stamina, which had let him work for days without rest, was scraping the bottom.
Ji-sung let out a deep sigh and waved his hand. The spike that pierced into a monster's body produced a gruesome sound of tearing flesh.
"Tsk… That bastard Jin-ho's already become a celebrity. At this rate, I can't even keep up."
His attack power was unmatched, but everything else was below average. Once his mana ran out, he had no means of attacking, so he had no choice but to prioritize safety.
"Kairas. Can't you raise my stats even a little more?"
You agreed to this and chose it yourself, didn't you?
"Still, isn't this too much? If I want to party with Jin-ho, I at least need the same specs, right? Right now, I can't even keep up. Forget forming a party—I might just be seen as dead weight."
Ji-sung raised his trembling arms, trying to appeal to Kairas's sympathy. But such cheap tactics wouldn't work on her.
I gave you the same stat values as Jin-ho, who just cleared the tutorial. Your specs were identical. The difference only started appearing due to a simple software issue. If you want the seal lifted further, hunt monsters. I'll observe and judge.
"…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
It does seem that way when I see you suffering. It pained me to watch other children struggle and suffer, but with you, it's different. Quite enjoyable, actually.
"Damn it."
Keep trying. Jin-ho said he would continue solo until he hits a limit he can't overcome alone. You still have a chance, don't you? Don't give up.
"I knew you'd say that. How long am I supposed to wait for that monster to feel his limit… Damn it."
Ji-sung scowled. Whether because she was mocking him or not, Kairas's words were oddly gentle. Her obviously intentional phrasing irritated him even more.
Once I return to my office, the seal will lift and I'll regain my full power. Managing the Tower won't be a problem. But walking around with all these restraints on my body feels suffocating.
It was frustrating, but he doubted Kairas would remove the seal just because he persuaded her. Ji-sung sighed and waved his hand.
"Fine, I'll hunt since it's so disgusting."
He forced his exhausted body up and searched for monsters. After slaughtering another wave, Ji-sung collapsed onto his back.
"I'm gonna die from exhaustion."
His breath was caught in his throat and his head was spinning. Then, a small sound came from among the monster corpses.
Huh? Did I miss one?
Ji-sung sat up and looked toward the noise. One of the dead monsters had turned undead and was approaching. He sighed deeply at the sight.
My concentration must've slipped. I didn't pierce its head properly. Did the angle get messed up?
"Grr…"
"Shut up, you bastard."
Ji-sung frowned and scolded himself. Aside from the adjustment period after becoming Tower administrator, this was his first mistake of this kind. Mistakes meant death.
As the creature with its broken body lumbered toward him, Ji-sung extended his hand. Just as he was about to finish it off, heavy footsteps approached.
"Watch out!"
"Huh? Who—"
Ji-sung turned with a confused expression. A large man with a massive shield and hammer came into view, already right in front of him. Ji-sung knew he wasn't an enemy, yet his body still trembled slightly. The man brushed past him, blocked the undead with his shield, and swung his hammer.
Thud!
The hammer crushed the undead's head. After confirming it no longer moved, the man snorted with satisfaction.
"See? Holy power is the best! One hit and undead or whatever are done for!"
You don't need holy power. If the head's smashed, it's dead, you lump.
"Hey! Are you okay, brother?! If it weren't for me, Ma Dong-cheol, you'd have been in real danger!"
"Oppa! Did you get it?!"
"Thanks to A-reum's holy power, it was easy!"
What the hell are these people?
Ji-sung stared at the two in front of him with a bewildered expression. Then the man with the bow who appeared last began scanning the surroundings.
"Judging by the monster's condition, you were hunting alone."
"What?! Magic-user hyung! Our leader's telling the truth! Why would you do something so dangerous?!"
"Exactly! If you're a mage, it's easy to find a party!"
So noisy…
Ji-sung wore a fed-up expression at the two who wouldn't stop chattering. But even faced with his clear displeasure, the man and woman kept talking.