Chapter 120
Translator: uly
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: The Gallery's Only Reptile
-Alright, time to head back.
The moment I finished completing the gift, the Tower's will appeared as if it had been waiting.
Its timing was so impeccable that I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
-Nowhere escapes my gaze.
I didn't bother asking since when.
What mattered was that while it was peeping on me, I hadn't even noticed.
I'm still far from where I need to be.
Even here, I'd steadily refined my power and grown stronger, but I still felt inadequate.
If anything, the longer time passed, the more acutely I sensed my shortcomings—leaving me with this inexplicable impatience despite my growth.
-Don't worry. Unlike some hag, I place great importance on credibility.
But I didn't see that impatience as a major obstacle to eliminate.
On the contrary, it fueled my drive to grow even stronger.
-Planning to leave right now?
-Hmm, now who could that be?
Cheeky bastard.
-More importantly, did you time this on purpose?
-Tomorrow... no, it's past midnight, so today. Today is that singularity's birthday.
Birthday... Today is Yi So-ha's birthday?
No, how does it even know that?
-All information on those living in the Tower falls under my jurisdiction. You know Manseonseo? That's just outputting the constellation data I input.
Ah, so that's how it works.
The item with info on every constellation Yi So-ha wants to read.
So the Tower has been supplying that item with the data.
Can't miss out on double the感动 event.
-What? Weren't you leaving now?
True to my word, the work wrapped up in no time.
About five minutes, tops.
-That was quick.
Listen to me, you... person. No, Imoogi.
-Cross this portal, and you'll exit the Tower.
I turned my gaze from the swirling black portal before me, taking one last look at Yi So-ha and leaving a message of farewell and celebration.
Of course, my final words wouldn't reach her!
Well then... take care, everyone.
Welcoming me back after completing the trials was the same unchanging white space as before.
The only color besides white was still those snack bags piled in one spot, and nothing else existed—just as it was before I left the Tower.
Trial (Collab) List
The trials were safely completed.
Yeah, considering everything I sponsored, this was only natural.
Especially factoring in the final birthday gift's function... do I even need to say more?
That said, my body feels way too big now.
In the Tower, I was always in the same space, and it adjusted with my growth, so I hadn't noticed. But back here in the white space, the difference was stark.
Even roughly estimating by eye level or body length, I was at least five times larger than before leaving the Tower.
A more precise calculation might show even more.
And didn't it say before that while my mind or whatever might change, my body wouldn't?
Thinking of Kishine—who I'd classified as a walking disaster in my book—made me wonder if this was some new feature she'd forgotten to mention.
What the hell is this?
Trial rewards giving me EXP for a level-up or something?
...But I don't even have a Status Window anymore.
With this much power now, maybe it's possible?
I naturally turned my gaze to the only key out of this place.
The hourglass with all the sand at the bottom.
Turn that, and I could return to my original space, it said.
To do so, I needed to complete quests or trials to build power.
And right now, I'd finished one quest and two trials.
Considering what remained, flipping the hourglass should be impossible... but for some reason.
Gulp.
I had this feeling that with my current self, I could not only touch it but flip it completely upside down.
Of course, it might just be overconfidence.
But even so... I could at least try, right?
If I couldn't flip it contrary to my hopes, I'd just do more quests and trials to gain power.
Yeah, this is just a midpoint check.
If it works, great. If not, no big deal.
Thud.
First off, no resistance even up to grabbing and lifting it.
If anything, the issue was the greater focus drain from my larger body.
Now, just lift and flip it the other way for success.
Flick.
...First step.
Hourglass lifted.
Success, way too easily.
But don't let your guard down.
Flipping it will surely require immense power.
I regulated my breathing seriously, tensed my muscles, and steeled my mind.
So that even if sudden gravity crushed down or a soul-strike from a higher realm hit, I wouldn't lose consciousness.
One. Two.
Three!
Spin.
......
...Nothing happened.
Feels kinda embarrassing now, like I made a fuss for nothing.
No, wait—is it really okay for it to flip this easily?
I knew trials grant more power than quests, but this big a gap?
Considering the list I haven't done, it's hard not to doubt if this is right.
Just one quest and two trials letting me escape this place?
More importantly, that mysterious door that appeared naturally in front as I flipped the hourglass.
Judging by the vibe, I just need to open it and go in, right?
Creeeak.
No reason to hesitate.
I boldly opened the door and shoved my body inside.
The door was a tad smaller than my head, making entry a struggle, but by twisting around, I managed to squeeze just my head through.
What entered my eyes as I poked my head in and scanned the interior was an utterly ordinary living room.
Two computers that looked far more futuristic than I remembered were running without an owner, which was a bit odd, but overall, the atmosphere closely resembled the modern living rooms I recalled.
Of course, it felt somewhat empty in places.
For instance, the sparse furniture made it feel cavernous, and there was an unnatural lack of dust or trash.
Still, I could feel the nostalgia of Earth here.
To the point where I inwardly wondered if "returning to the original place" meant Jijiyong's world or actually Earth.
But I couldn't be fully certain yet, because my body was still that of an Imoogi—El Grace.
If the goddesses had any sense, they'd return me to Earth in my original human body, not this one.
What if this really is Earth, and I have to live here as an Imoogi?
My photo or video would probably hit the internet in days.
With a headline like: Shocker! Mythical Imoogi Exists in Modern Times?!
It's not your average snake—huge size, breathes fire from its mouth, flies around controlling the weather!
...Wait, isn't this just a dragon?
Creeeak.
Someone's here!
Wasn't I supposed to be alone here?!
Why am I sensing another presence?
Thud.
Emergency.
An unknown presence was drawing closer to this spot.
If my calculations were right, it'd take about... 10 seconds to open the living room door from inside.
If this is a real modern house, the owner inside is likely an ordinary human. Running into me would spell trouble.
It sucked to have to turn back now, but for safety's sake, no choice.
Good thing only my head was in—I could just pull back...
Clunk.
No way.