Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Black Despair's Overture
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"Th-that can't be..."
Lee So-ha simply couldn't believe this situation.
Her common sense, her knowledge of the Tower, outright rejected what was happening right now.
"How? Constellations clearly can't intervene on the 0th Floor...?"
With her vision obscured, her senses—sharper than others'—detected the constellation's gaze, that overwhelming pressure.
And so, her senses told her.
The mysterious constellation was directly defying the Tower's common sense.
'Who the hell is it?!'
No matter how hard she racked her brain, nothing came to mind.
Constellations were beings bound to the Tower in the first place.
Even the true body of the last constellation she'd faced couldn't have done something like this.
So what exactly was the identity of this constellation?
A monster bound to the Tower yet capable of ignoring its rules.
And that monster—none other than her—wanted to talk right now.
Gulp.
'This constellation probably knows I regressed.'
Otherwise, there'd be no reason to single her out for this private time.
The flow of the story was clearly different from before her regression.
And to avoid getting swept up in this flow and sinking, she needed to stay sharp.
'Yeah... Even if that constellation knows about the regression, it probably has no intention of harming me right away.'
'The reason it's approaching me personally like this must be because of a contract.'
Lee So-ha was convinced her thinking was spot on.
Considering the advantages a regressor offered, it made sense they'd intervene on the 0th Floor just to claim her.
It was only natural.
'But I can't make a contract with a constellation.'
It had been the same before her regression too—she hadn't contracted with any constellation while climbing the Tower.
No, more accurately, she couldn't contract. That was the better way to put it.
Just look at how she couldn't even notice the constellation's messages popping up before her eyes right now. She was in a state where she couldn't see constellation speech, Tower notifications, or anything like that.
So she couldn't hear them calling out, couldn't receive their sponsorships, couldn't even see their contract offers.
'Should I even tell them that...?'
And Lee So-ha, who knew this fact better than anyone, worried whether she should reveal the truth to that constellation.
'If it's a "good" alignment constellation, they'd probably leave me alone as long as I don't harm them...'
But what if it was an "evil" alignment constellation?
Then, if they couldn't have her, they'd likely stop at nothing to kill her just to eliminate the possibility.
Being targeted by an off-the-charts existence that ignored Tower rules to intervene on the 0th Floor?
That was basically begging them to kill her.
Meanwhile, messages from the constellation kept appearing before Lee So-ha.
Its unusually servile attitude almost made it feel like the positions of constellation and climber had swapped.
How shocked would other climbers and constellations be if they saw this?
On the other side, to start a conversation, it decided to send a small gift first.
Thud. Roll roll.
It was an imitation Amrita version—lacking the effects and taste of the real thing, but still remarkable enough to be called impressive—that had been sponsored to Lee So-ha.
"Huh? Did you just sponsor something?"
Lee So-ha tilted her head at the sudden sound of it falling and rolling on the ground.
Intervening on the 0th Floor was one thing, but sending sponsorships too?
Just how high up the hierarchy was this constellation?
"Thank you for now."
Lee So-ha slowly reached out toward where the sound had last come from.
She didn't know what had been sponsored, but she couldn't just leave it on the ground.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Grab.
After a few misses, she grasped the imitation Amrita.
It wasn't something that might explode if handled wrong, was it?
Lee So-ha touched the imitation Amrita as carefully as possible, gathering tactile information to figure out what it was.
'The surface is surprisingly smooth, and I could crush it with my strength. Just a light press, and juice sticks to my fingers with a fresh scent.'
Gathering all that info, she concluded it was a familiar fruit she'd eaten on Earth.
"Some kind of orange-like fruit...?"
Lick.
She cautiously licked the juice from her finger.
A natural sweetness invaded the tip of her tongue, instantly melting away her pent-up fatigue.
'What is this...? What the hell did they send me?'
Lee So-ha, her mind clearing even from that tiny taste, bowed her head toward the imitation Amrita in bewilderment.
Just an hour ago, she'd been fighting for her life.
And not just that—at the end of the fight, she'd been on the brink of death. No, she'd practically died.
She hadn't shown it outwardly, but her mind was pushed right to the limit.
Yet a bit of juice had eased that fatigue, even if just a little.
Gulp.
'And that's not all.'
It was only for a split second, but she'd felt it.
As her mind healed, a trace of mana had swept through her body.
'A fruit containing mana. This is an elixir?!'
And it didn't just contain mana—it restored the mind too?
It was too generous a gift to call simple goodwill.
'Ugh, no matter how I look at it, they have no intention of letting me go.'
But the problem was, she couldn't contract.
Drip drip.
She was screwed.
Cold sweat beaded automatically at the grim future filling her head.
Lee So-ha's regression story. The end?
'No. Think calmly. Don't be so negative, Lee So-ha!'
So, think calmly.
About how to keep that off-spec constellation's anger from turning on her.
[I'm pretty lucky myself.]
Who would've thought the first 0th Floor channel I picked would have a regressor.
Finding a regressor is great, but the problem is how to approach her. I have no idea.
As expected of a regressor, she's apathetic to my words. I even sent imitation Amrita to break the ice, but still apathetic.
'Even if it's imitation and inferior in effect and taste, it should still help plenty.'
Her body right after regression was a frail ordinary human one.
Bathed in the Tower's blessing, she should absorb Amrita's power fully without side effects.
It'd definitely be a huge early-game boost, so why was she just staring at it instead of eating?
[Could she have noticed it's imitation?]
Usually, regressors have special abilities to view others' info, right?
She probably has something similar.
And she saw it's imitation Amrita, got offended that it wasn't the real thing!
[Oh, big trouble.]
So how do I fix her mood?
Give her other elixirs?
But those are all imitations too, with reduced effects just like the Amrita.
[Ugh, with food somehow...?]
A sudden idea flashed: sponsor Earth food.
Yeah, Lee So-ha's a regressor.
Regressors definitely feel strong nostalgia for Earth food.
I give her that, lighten the mood naturally, and start talking.
[Perfect.]
So, what food?
That's the issue.
'Korean food, maybe?'
Chicken or pizza I could imitate decently.
But kimchi, doenjang, gochujang—could the Tower make those?
Probably possible, but would it taste like Earth's?
Ding.
What's the point of agonizing alone?
There's an expert on Tower info right here.
Just ask him.
"Kee-heh-heh-heh. You called?"
[I called because I have a question.]
Ringing the bell the goblin left, he appeared before me in under 10 seconds, sweating on his forehead.
His suit was a bit disheveled from rushing, making me feel unnecessarily guilty.
But since I'd called, I had to ask.
[Is there Earth food here?]
"Earth...? Ah, right, the climbers summoned this time are from Earth."
The goblin nodded at Lee So-ha on the screen, crossing his arms.
"Sorry, but since Earthlings are invited for the first time, there's no Earth food in the Tower. Well, you might find a few similar things if you look. Kee-heh-heh-heh."
[I see. Thanks for letting me know.]
"No problem. Looks like that climber caught your eye."
[Well... she's interesting.]
At my words, the goblin stroked his chin and eyed Lee So-ha on the screen.
"Pretty face, but such a frail, problematic human is your type? Ah, are you planning to raise her from scratch? You know, like how constellations these days play 'daddy'..."
[No.]
Well, I did plan to help from the start, but not like that.
At my firm denial, the goblin gave a look like Then why eye that one?, stared a moment, then bowed, saying he'd return if no more questions.
"Oh, before I go, there's one piece of info I should share."
[What?]
This goblin.
He'd said he was leaving, but suddenly offered some info.
"It's a rumor just starting to circulate among the constellations, but apparently there's a singularity among this batch of 0th Floor climbers."
[...Singularity?]
"Kee-heh-heh-heh. They always bring chaos to the Tower when they appear, and in the worst cases, can collapse it entirely. They're execution targets to be killed on sight."
[Are singularities that dangerous?]
"Kee-heh-heh-heh. There've even been cases where constellations died because of them."
I see. Singularity, huh.
Something nagged at me. Maybe ask about traits, just in case.
[Any traits for singularities?]
"No idea. But past ones lived second lives or possessed others' bodies—unique stuff like that. Curious what wild trait this one's got. Kee-heh-heh-heh."
Second lives, body possession?
That's straight-up reincarnation or possession.
And if reincarnation and possession are out, the next one's probably the set trio: regression...
[......]
My gaze naturally turned to the incredibly beautiful girl with her eyes closed.
If my thinking was right, the singularity the goblin mentioned was likely the regressor we were watching: Lee So-ha.