Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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"Kahahaha! Drink up, drink! It's on me today!"
"Whew~! As expected of big bro!"
"Three more beers here!"
Rowdy cheers filled the air.
The restaurant, packed with customers, buzzed with climbers' chatter just like always.
"Hmhm~."
And Yi So-ha, who had just cleared the 1st floor today, sat quietly in a secluded corner. Unlike the boisterous atmosphere, she enjoyed her meal alone in peaceful bliss.
Meanwhile, the Earth climbers over in the Hongyeom district grimaced at the free food handed out by Hongyeom—its flavors so different from the spicy stuff back home—struggling to adjust.
Clink.
A warm soup packed with veggies and fish, plus a massive, perfectly roasted chicken leg.
Her Hongyeom guild pass would've gotten her cheaper grub for free, but she splurged a bit extra today.
'Well, it's my tower-climbing milestone, after all.'
Customarily, clearing the tower meant treating yourself to pricey eats and a celebration.
Sure, no comrades meant celebrating solo, but the lively vibes wafting from nearby tables more than made up for it.
"Alright, everyone! Let's cheers! Cheers!"
"Ahem. This humble one abstains from alcohol."
"Aw, then fill up with water or juice!"
"Man, you're no fun!"
Truly, no quiet moments here.
But that was part of these joints' charm.
Creak.
"Hoo...."
The restaurant door swung open, welcoming a new patron amid the nonstop din.
Like Yi So-ha, the newcomer wore a robe pulled low over her face, hiding it completely. Yet feminine curves shone through unmistakably, her breaths ragged from a frantic rush. A few drunk climbers' gazes locked onto her with blatant lust.
Step. Step.
But the woman strode past the stares unfazed, heading straight for the staff. The employee greeted her with the usual bright smile.
"Welcome! Anything specific on the menu?"
"Oh, I'm here to meet someone."
Her words came clear despite breaths still uneven from the sprint.
"So, could you wait outside for a bit?"
"Pardon? Ma'am, what do you...?"
"Please."
The employee's eyes lost focus, glazing over at her plea.
Then, puppet-like and stone-faced, the staffer shuffled out. Watching her go, the woman raised her voice for all to hear.
"Everyone else, would you mind stepping out too?"
Scrape. Shuffle.
No objections.
As if compelled, patrons filed out with vacant stares.
Not one questioned or resisted.
"Phew, finally just us two."
"......"
'Why's she here?'
Yi So-ha, the sole holdout, panicked inwardly. This was someone she'd never expect at a spot like this.
Doubt flickered at first, but that hypnotic voice and its effects erased it.
Swish.
She flung back her hood, lustrous golden locks cascading like falling sand.
Pointed ears poking through confirmed she was no human—an elf.
"Yi So-ha, right?"
"...Who might you be."
Of course, Yi So-ha already knew.
At this point, a 6th-floor climber, wasn't she?
'Why's Aphrodite's golden girl here?'
Aphrodite's most favored and prized contractor.
Heck, even battle-averse Aphrodite had borrowed combat gear from other constellations to support her.
'She's supposed to be swamped prepping for the 7th floor. What's she doing here?'
Most likely theory: down here on Aphrodite's behalf for a contract, like last regression.
Memories of that timeline—her flaunting interest by sending her fave contractor—soured Yi So-ha's post-meal high.
'Hope she doesn't get annoying like before.'
Recalling entourages of hotties constantly throwing temptations her way made her shiver already.
"I'm Laverin, contractor to the 'Most Beautiful Goddess'."
"Yi So-ha here. But how'd you know my name?"
"My constellation told me."
"Ah."
Makes sense.
Unlike before, her quick moves had caught the goddess's eye already?
Even if Aphrodite's gaze reached the 1st floor freely, sending Laverin after just 10 days was bold.
"I came at my constellation's request to ask Yi So-ha for one favor."
"A favor, not an offer?"
Yi So-ha tilted her head at Laverin's words.
She'd assumed a contract pitch. What favor from a fresh 1st-floor climber, and from a constellation no less?
"Mind sharing what it is?"
"Oh, sure."
Squeeze.
...Huh? She's embarrassed?
Mana detection caught Laverin's fluster, relaying it fully to Yi So-ha.
She was mortified just to voice the request.
Come to think of it, why clear the whole place for this?
"Please calm your constellation's wrath."
"...Pardon?"
What the heck.
"Your constellation's trying to kill ours! Please, make her stop!"
"Huh???"
"Please! She'll really die at this rate! She's begging me desperately for help right now!"
No, what on earth.
Yi So-ha mulled Laverin's plea.
"So... your goddess is about to get offed by mine, and you want me to call her off?"
"Yes! Exactly! We'll reward you, anything!"
"Wait, I'm not even contracted yet, how could I... Ah...?"
Then it hit her—one being.
No contract, yet showered more support than others. A total softie constellation.
'No way, for real?'
She knew that one outpowered all others.
Intervening on 0th and flexing on 1st floor said it all.
But why suddenly try offing Aphrodite out of nowhere?
'What the hell's that constellation doing?!'
All those spirit elixirs sent as support—hope she didn't beat them out of other gods?
If so, Yi So-ha might end up public enemy #1 too.
Bam!
"Is there a climber named Yi So-ha here?!"
And who's you?
Another stunner rivaling Laverin burst in, face slick with sweat, urgency etched deep.
"Valkyrie? What're you doing here."
She was Valkyrie Jessica, 6th-floor climber and contractor to Freya—Aphrodite's rival duo.
"Beauty? Then you must be Yi So-ha!"
Thud!
One leap, and Jessica soared to them.
She seized Yi So-ha's arms, bellowing loud enough to shake the place.
"Yi So-ha! Save the 'Goddess of Beauty and Bounty'!"
"......"
Uncannily similar vibe.
Yi So-ha glanced at Laverin, then at Jessica gripping her hands, back and forth.
'Seriously, what the hell's that constellation up to?'
Against two famed beauty goddesses, no less.
6th-floor elites begging a 1st-floor newbie? Unbelievable.
Yi So-ha marveled at the culprit constellation, curiosity burning.
Kaboom!
"Argh, seriously! You ruined everything! Why'd you Breath of Garment right off the bat?!"
"Shut it! Like you're one to talk—suddenly using Cestus Hymas when you hate it normally!"
Crack. Craaack.
Space shattered.
The massive energy surge split it wide open.
But no big worry.
Cracks sealed instantly.
Repair matched destruction—no full collapse.
"Oh, right side! Right!"
"Kyaaah!"
Worry for the duo dodging nonstop disasters instead.
Two women hurled themselves from crashing fire pillars.
They wore oddly familiar forms: wind spirit and tiger girl.
Flash.
"Up! Up!"
"What's that oneeee!!"
Unlike the originals, they flailed girlishly, shrieking nonstop. Irked, the primed lightning spears swelled huge, sealing escape.
"Can't dodge that!"
"Knew I shouldn't have come! Damn Odin!"
What now against rage-fueled spears?
The sharp bolts evoked heavenly lord or supreme warrior to someone.
"F-Falling!"
"Ugh, seriously! Resources can't handle this!"
Stay and die.
Even constellations would perish.
Feeling death's breath, the wind spirit-clad one quit skimping and thrust her hand skyward.
"Mjolnir!"
Rumble.
Thunder god's hammer blocked the spears.
The tiger girl-clad one gaped at it.
"Why the hell do you have that?!"
"Replica, dummy! Now you pull yours out too! This won't hold 'em all!"
True enough—Mjölnir replica couldn't fully block.
Cracks spiderwebbed like collapsing space; it'd shatter soon.
"Grr, Aegis!"
"And why do you have that?!"
"Replica, obviously!"
Kaboom!
Aegis replica caught what Mjölnir missed.
Drip.
Endless spears halted.
The two goddesses collapsed on cue.
"S-Stop! We'll actually die like this!"
"I just got here! This is bullshit!!"
At their cries, the despair streaking skies—not ground—peered down coldly.
"Ticktock."
"Hic."
They painfully grasped why "black despair" fit their foe to a T.