Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Black Sparrow
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"Finally made it."
The first floor resembled a massive plaza in the game, bustling with noise and excitement.
This marked the true start of the tower, a place called the Starting Floor or Primordial Shelter by climbers. Yi So-ha had finally set foot here.
'Good. As expected, I'm dead last.'
All climbers were summoned to the same spot, so there should have been other Earthlings besides her. But no matter how she looked around, Yi So-ha was the only one from Earth.
The reason no other Earthlings were around Yi So-ha was that she'd spent time hunting monsters on Floor 0.
But that wasn't bad news for her.
On the contrary, she'd wanted to arrive alone like this.
The reason was...
"Hey, you're saying there really was a light?"
"Yeah, I saw it clear as day with these two eyes."
"...!"
Two men in clanking plate armor came rushing toward Yi So-ha's position.
Yi So-ha scanned their outfits with mana detection, then suppressed her presence and hid.
Thud.
"...What the? You said there was a light. But there's no one here."
"Tch. Did they move while we were coming?"
"My presence detection isn't picking up anything anyway. You sure you really saw it?"
"I'm telling you, I did. Why would I lie about something like this?"
As their conversation revealed, they were searching for Yi So-ha.
And since she already knew who they were, she hid from them while suppressing her aura.
Why hide like this?
Were they the type to kidnap new climbers and enslave them?
'If they catch me, I'll have to endure nearly three months of those boring classes again. No way I can handle that!'
But no need to worry.
Actually, they were very helpful people who assisted climbers.
"Anyway, focus over here. The new climbers who came up this time are all powerless civilians. If the other guys pick a fight with them, they could die for real, so we need to escort them properly."
"That's why we left Marco behind."
"I'm worried his scary face might frighten people, though."
Step. Step.
'Sorry, but I don't need Hongyeom's help. So please leave quickly.'
A few more minutes of searching turned up nothing, and the two knights finally departed.
But these guys—they were serious about helping. Even as they left, they placed a plaque and note emblazoned with Hongyeom's emblem of a sun with a sword inside, in case new climbers returned.
"Phew... They're finally gone."
Only after the Hongyeom knights left did Yi So-ha pat her chest in relief and stand up.
"I really want to join them, but the old man's being super strict right now. Even for me, meeting him at this point would be a bit awkward."
She shook her head, thinking of Hongyeom's guild master at this time—the old man called the Sword Saint.
"Still, they prepared this plaque for me. Ignoring it and leaving would be rude, right?"
She picked up the Hongyeom plaque the knights had left.
Feeling the wooden texture, she confirmed it was a basic plaque that only covered simple lodging and meals.
'With a basic plaque, you could use same-rank establishments for free, I think?'
Mid-grade plaques for silver-rank shops.
High-grade for gold-rank.
And the ultra-rare holy-grade plaques—only ten in existence—granted free access to all first-floor shops.
'Ah, but holy-grade plaques don't exist yet, do they?'
Holy-grade plaques were created after Hongyeom took control of the entire first floor.
Made for the ten who helped the Sword Saint back then.
To Yi So-ha, who was climbing the third floor at the time, it was just a distant rumor.
Suddenly, she paused.
"...So, how long are you going to keep peeking from hiding?"
Yi So-ha tucked the basic Hongyeom plaque into her bosom and turned toward the trees on the right.
Then, as if waiting, a woman in a mask covering her mouth and nose slowly stepped out from behind.
She was wrapped in black clothes that screamed "I'm an assassin~" and stared at Yi So-ha with wide red eyes, looking surprised.
"You noticed me. I thought all the newly summoned ones were idiots, but that's not the case."
"Kyaa?! She really came out!"
"......"
Of course, that reaction above was an act.
She'd faked it just to see the woman's stunned face.
Yi So-ha had sensed her presence from the start.
'Didn't expect to meet her here like this.'
This faint-to-the-extreme presence.
Footsteps that made no sound even as she walked out.
And those eyes—bewildered on the surface, but harboring the cold killing machine of an assassin ready to lunge and slit throats at any moment.
'Long time no see, sis.'
A rare titled climber, born and raised as her family's shadow.
'Black Sparrow' Namgoong Young.
"Um, staring like that scares me, you know. Hehe."
"...That act doesn't work on me."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"If you don't answer my questions honestly, I'll cut your throat."
S-spooky.
Did a little prank warrant this much anger?
Yi So-ha swallowed dryly at Namgoong Young's words, which held no hint of jest, and compared their combat powers.
'Mana... so her internal energy is about the same level as mine. My techniques have a slight edge. But her physical body is way superior.'
She could win a fight, but it'd come at a huge cost.
'Even knowing her techniques, my body can't keep up.'
So, avoid fighting if possible.
Having decided, Yi So-ha raised both hands and nodded.
Indicating she'd comply with Namgoong Young's words.
"...Unexpected."
"What is?"
"That you'd give up so easily."
"I don't want to fight you, sis. Ah, can I call you sis? Tell me how old you are!"
"Enough. I ask the questions."
Yi So-ha nodded with a bitter inward smile at Namgoong Young's icy tone.
Right, this is the burden of a regressor.
I remember her, but she doesn't remember me.
'It hurts more than I thought.'
Still, seeing a living person who doesn't remember you is better than seeing the dead.
Yi So-ha forced herself to think that way and focused on Namgoong Young's questions.
Though she knew exactly what she'd ask.
"The technique you used to hide. Where did you learn it?"
'Knew it'd be this.'
She'd expected it.
Because the technique she'd used to hide from the knights was one taught by the woman before her—which meant it was a Namgoong family technique.
"Don't even think of lying. I can detect it from your breathing, subtle muscle movements, and heartbeat."
"If I tell the truth, will you let me live?"
"Depends on your answer."
Gulp.
Her answer was set.
All that mattered was whether she still saw herself as the Namgoong family's shadow—or if she'd escaped it.
"Stop scheming and answer."
"I learned it from a woman. She had black hair and red eyes, like you."
"...No lie."
Of course not.
Because Yi So-ha was speaking while thinking of the Namgoong Young she'd met before regressing.
"Any other features?"
"Hmm~ She's super pretty?"
"......"
Clang.
Not pleased with the answer?
Namgoong Young's dagger shot toward Yi So-ha's throat.
But Yi So-ha had already read the motion with mana detection and formed a clump of mana as a barrier in front.
Namgoong Young retracted the blocked dagger, widened the distance, and assumed a full combat stance.
"An alien energy similar to internal energy but different. A mana user, huh."
"Why'd you suddenly swing a knife at me?"
Yi So-ha rubbed her neck where Namgoong Young had aimed and spoke.
Almost killed by someone she'd been close to—not anyone else, but her "sis."
How ridiculous and bleak was this?
"Sis. Honestly, I don't want to fight you."
"Sorry, but I can't leave a potential threat alone."
"Th-threat... huh......"
Click.
That was Namgoong Young's stance for killing enemies outright.
Seeing herself as the enemy made Yi So-ha's chest ache strangely, suffocatingly.
-Yi So-ha. What's with that head of yours? I'll sort it out, so come here and turn around.
-Are you seriously eating something this messy?
-I'm going to destroy the Namgoong family. So, So-ha, will you help me? Your talent would be a huge asset.
-Not that. Move your mana around by syncing it with your toes like this. Yeah, you're getting it.
"Bi-cheon Young-mu, Namgoong Young. I will eliminate this potential threat to the Namgoong family."
"Killing me? That won't be easy."
Scraaape.
-The moon is beautiful tonight.
-Hoo... Yi So-ha. Do you remember what I said before? About joining my revenge against the Namgoong family in exchange for teaching you.
-But the more I think, the more I feel my revenge must be done by these hands alone.
-So, Yi So-ha. Drop your revenge against the Namgoongs here. This path is mine alone.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
"Your breathing's getting ragged. Running low on mana?"
"Your movements have slowed a lot too."
"Then let's see whose legs give out first—or whose mana hits zero."
-Sorry. My time ends here.
-Yi So-ha, you're different from the others. You're the only one who kept your purity while climbing the tower.
-Maybe that's why you reached the ninth floor, unlike them.
Scraaape. Slash.
"Finally broke through."
"......"
"But you. Why just block since earlier? You planning to wear me down or something?"
-Climb the tower. And above all, survive.
Blood flowed.
Namgoong Young's dagger was coated in blood from Yi So-ha's arm.
What had Namgoong Young just said?
Ah, right—why aren't you attacking?
-Yi So-ha. Thanks for being my little sister.
"How could a little sister try to kill her big sis?"
"...Who said I'm your big sis?"
Why was this?
Her arm was wounded.
Yet strangely, it wasn't the arm that hurt—it was her dull, heavy chest.
Even when those bastards attacked her, it hadn't hurt like this. Why did it hurt so much...?
Drip drip.
Something trailed down her cheek.
She wiped it with her hand, but unlike last time, there was no salty smell.
"Why are you crying?"
Why crying?
Because of you, sis.
But Yi So-ha swallowed that thought and forced a smile.
"Because I'm sad. That I have to fight the Namgoong family's shadow with my own hands."
"...One more reason to kill you. Don't worry—I'll end it cleanly, no torture."
"Scary. Really, so... scary."
Completely burning bridges with Namgoong Young terrified her.
But she couldn't die here.
Yi So-ha couldn't waste this second chance.
The approaching dagger showed no hesitation, unlike her.
Aimed at the heart.
Knowing this clean kill was Namgoong Young's consideration, Yi So-ha gave a wry smile and moved her chains.
Rustle.
"...!!"
The chains twisted at an eerie angle, wrapping around the hand holding the dagger.
This threw off the attack's trajectory—it would now pierce below the heart.
'Pour all mana into suppression.'
Even with the altered path, Yi So-ha didn't want to kill Namgoong Young herself.
So she chose a restraint spell.
Raw power alone wouldn't faze someone raised enduring torture, but abandoning defense mana should suffice to subdue her.
'Give flesh to take bone.'
The current trajectory wouldn't threaten her life with proper first aid.
So, subdue her like this...!
Thump.
"...?"
"...?"
Yi So-ha's plan would have worked perfectly if things continued.
Yes, if they had.
Thump. Thump.
Yi So-ha had forgotten for a moment.
That someone else was watching her.
She didn't know.
That to another, her actions looked like guilt toward a pre-regression comrade—or surrendering to old emotions and accepting death.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Yi So-ha and Namgoong Young felt it.
Their hearts pounding harder than usual.
And the reason was none other than natural fear.
Ding.
The entity that instilled fear in them displayed a single message before them.
Yi So-ha couldn't see it, but Namgoong Young clearly read it with her own eyes.
A constellation that had silently watched their exchange until now revealed its discomfort.