Chapter 123
Translator: uly
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
Dragon scales have long been renowned for their exceptional durability and their ability to amplify the mana scattered throughout nature, making them one of the dream materials sought after by countless blacksmiths, alongside bones and hearts.
So, what about the scales of a dragon-like but distinct imoogi?
While their hardness is said to be comparable to or slightly inferior to a dragon's, their elasticity and flexibility are incomparable, allowing them to deflect attacks below a certain level.
And thanks to the trials of the white space, my scales—which still belong to an imoogi—have faintly taken on draconic properties.
Wooduk.
Compared to true dragon scales, they're definitely inferior in performance... but I'm confident they're not so fragile as to shatter easily.
"Gonna yap some more?"
Then what the hell is this?
My scales, harder than steel, are being dug into like putty, molding to the shape of Kishine's hand.
Who would've thought I'd experience such monstrous grip strength from those delicate hands.
Was the status window really that precious to you?
"Answer me quick."
"Oh? Not gonna answer?"
Kishine's tone was as light as ever, but her eyes and actions were anything but.
Whenever I tried to stay silent or dodge the question, she'd ghost-like tighten her grip, and each time, black fragments matching my scales would flake off.
"I gave it to you because you said you needed it, and in that short time, you sold it off?"
"Light my ass! Are you Raine or something?! Huh?!"
"Isn't this the hero signaling he wants to become your apostle?"
"Hey, hey. Use some tact and stay quiet."
Part of me wanted to call in reinforcements from Raine and Irine, but they had already backed off to a distance, feigning innocence as they watched our confrontation like spectators.
"Understand? Of course you should. I wanted the status window. Wanted it bad. You sang about it, so I hooked you up, and the moment I step out and come back, you sell it off."
Wooduk.
"First off, why'd you give it away?"
I say this like you might've forgotten.
You know I can't use the status window, right?
What's the point of a cheat ability if I can't even use it right now?
It might be a life-changing treasure for someone else, but to me, it's just scrap metal rolling around everywhere.
So I handed it over.
Unlike me, the guy could actually make proper use of it.
And in the process, I cleared the trials properly and flipped the hourglass... isn't that killing two birds with one stone?!
"Killing two birds my ass! Tell me, who'd you sell it to!"
"This guy's been playing word games this whole time!"
After that, I endured Kishine's torment, and for the first time that day, I learned the color of the flesh beneath my black scales.
'Phew. At least she didn't figure it out.'
It's a relief I managed to hide the fact that the status window was just a simple freebie, a bonus service attached to the gift I sponsored.
If Kishine found out...
Yeah. Gotta keep being careful so it doesn't slip.
"Have you finished preparing yourself mentally?"
At the end of a pristine white corridor lined with marble, two women were conversing in front of a door firmly sealed by magical wards.
"I've been mentally prepared for a while now."
"You sure? You seem pretty tense."
"I can prepare my mind, but tension's another story."
"Hehe, most climbers who reach this point react the same way as Sohayang."
The one who had led her companion this far was Labyrin, contracted with Aphrodite, and the one who had followed her here was the tower's current hottest topic: the third singularity.
The regressor, Isoha.
"Still, I was really shocked. I didn't expect you'd actually reach the 4th floor in just half a year."
"I told you, didn't I? Half a year is more than enough."
"Yeah... you're showing results way beyond what I imagined."
Who would take Isoha's words at face value?
Most would dismiss it as a mere joke or the reckless bravado typical of climbers.
"There've been all sorts of rumors about Sohayang lately, right? Word is you'll get a title soon."
"Ugh! Don't tease me."
Well, it's not really teasing.
Though she might not realize it, Isoha was currently the tower's hottest commodity, drawing attention from climbers and constellations alike.
There were several reasons for this.
First and foremost was her astonishing climbing speed, far beyond the average climber.
Even if it was the lower floors, breaking through to the 4th in half a year wasn't something just anyone could do.
And then there was her stunning beauty.
Her looks held their own even next to Labyrin, one of the tower's recognized beauties, without dimming in the slightest.
If not for that string of incidents, Aphrodite—Labyrin's constellation—would've sunk her teeth in long ago.
'And after today, Sohayang will soar even higher.'
Labyrin knew.
About the colossal being backing Isoha.
The very reason Isoha had climbed to the 4th floor in half a year and come here was to uncover info on that constellation, wasn't it?
'If she contracts with it.'
How far would she grow?
Wuuuuung.
While Labyrin was lost in thought, a massive vibration began lightly shaking the corridor.
This vibration signaled that the item beyond the door was ready for use.
In response, the magical seals preventing the door from opening crumbled into dust and scattered away.
"All preparations are finally complete."
"Then."
"Yes, the Maninsir is now available for use. I hope you get good info."
"......"
Nod.
Isoha nodded in response and headed toward the waiting door.
With each step she took, the door naturally welcomed her, swinging open.
A wave of light poured from the widening gap.
Having been briefed beforehand, Isoha closed her eyes and quietly surrendered to the wave.
Paaat!
A warm, cozy mana enveloped her.
She couldn't tell if her feet were on the ground or if she was floating in the sky, but she felt no worry.
An absolute sense of security washed over her—no one could harm her now.
'Maninsir.'
A grand voice echoed directly into her soul.
Realizing this was the Maninsir's voice, Isoha calmly listened to the rules.
All information she already knew.
Still, just in case, Isoha reviewed it once more, finishing her mental recap before diving into the Maninsir proper.
"I want information on the constellation [Black Despair]."
The reason she had come this far.
The mysterious constellation that, after her regression, was the first to approach her with goodwill.
Its moniker was a bit off-putting, but that was about to end.
Paat.
Thus, Isoha finally obtained information on the constellation that had helped her.
"W-Wait! Returned to its original dimension? You mean it's not here anymore?"
Isoha's face went pale.
The revelation of its external origin was shocking enough, but the final bombshell—that it had left the tower—was even more so.
'Is that why the sponsorships stopped recently? Because it left the tower entirely?'
She had been flustered when the silent benefactor suddenly went quiet, but to think it had left the tower altogether...
"...At least load the data."
If it had already departed, she at least wanted to express her gratitude to whatever data remained.
To thank it for quietly supporting her.
To say she'd adapted to the tower faster thanks to it.
Constellations could be searched up to three times, but data manifestation only once.
With no interest in other constellations, Isoha decided without hesitation to manifest [Black Despair]'s data.
No visible form appeared.
Contrary to the Maninsir's description, the manifested data offered no way to confirm it visually.
But even if she couldn't see it, she could hear it, so Isoha bowed toward the presence and shouted.
"Thank you for everything up until now!"
"No! Even if it's just data, to me..."
"...Huh?"
To the momentarily dumbfounded Isoha, the being donning an imoogi guise grinned and spoke.
The being that had suffered harshly from singularities twice before.
That being had now come for a new singularity.
And for the contract, he pulled out a pre-received pair of eyes and said,