That Actually Worked, You Crazy Bastard
I actually went through with it. My steps felt light. In fact, these were the lightest steps I'd taken in the past several days.
Watching Kim Soyeon's face shift from pure shock to utter indignation was surprisingly satisfying. No, it was the kind of memory that would stay with me for the rest of my life. Especially because I was the one who caused it with my own words.
With my hands in my pockets, I couldn't stop humming as I walked. On my finger sat the compensation I'd squeezed out of Kim Soyeon—a ring worth seventy million won.
I pulled my hand out and held it up to the sky, turning it this way and that. Just looking at it made me understand what people meant by feeling full without even eating. It was almost a shame to enjoy this all by myself.
So, naturally, I opened the gallery and spoke.
“Bullying people is only truly satisfying when you do it in the gallery.”
With a light smile, I pressed the post button without hesitation.
She had the audacity to suspect me of being a stalker so I gave her a proper education
The moment I whispered it her face looked like it was about to explode lololol
For real tho?? ]
The moment I posted it, a storm of comments—not applause—poured in like crazy.
I cackled while reading through the comments. Then I suddenly stopped as I realized something.
Out of all the reactions in the gallery, one person’s response was conspicuously missing.
The first-playthrough Kim Soyeon. Since I’d taken the weakness she’d told me about and used it in reality, she should’ve had some kind of reaction. It was only natural.
“What the… did she die of embarrassment?”
I tilted my head, about to scroll past, when a new post caught my eye.
I’m so embarrassed on her behalf I could die lololol ]
…Huh? Why is she reacting like that?
…Yeah. I have no idea.
I stopped walking and stood there thinking. But no matter how much I thought about it, I still didn’t get it. I rubbed my eyes in confusion and looked again, but instead of getting angry, she was happily laughing at the current Kim Soyeon along with everyone else.
Completely lost, I left a reply.
In a way… this was very on-brand for the gallery.
This was the true essence of the gallery. A community built purely for chaos. Pure, unfiltered trolling.
Kim Soyeon was watching her first-playthrough self get absolutely wrecked by her second-playthrough self.
“I’m genuinely impressed.”
To think she could be this cruel to herself. Well, whatever. She basically gave herself permission.
I’m just taking advantage of it.
When I got back to the officetel, I closed the gallery, fed Neukgu, and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Time had flown by. It was now 11:50 PM.
“Alright, time to see what this gear can really do…!”
The moment I focused, the mana core in my heart began to circulate naturally. The runes engraved on the ring immediately glowed with a blue light in response.
At the same time, I could feel the amount of mana flowing inside me rapidly increasing. It felt about… 1.3 times heavier than usual?
The fullness made me want to smash something right away.
From the 11th floor onward, proper humanoid monsters started appearing. That meant my options would change from here.
If I was lucky, I’d get skeleton-type monsters. If I was unlucky… orcs would show up.
Orcs were monsters that boasted ridiculous brute strength unlike goblins or kobolds. Even one-on-one was tough for beginners.
11:59 PM.
Bursting with anticipation, I walked toward the tower entrance. The moment the clock hit 00:00:00, I pressed accept entry.
My vision shifted instantly, and a new landscape filled my eyes. I’d hoped for a cave, but unfortunately it was a grassland terrain.
Which meant…
“…Fuck. It’s orcs.”
Exactly what I didn’t want. Bad luck.
“Whatever.”
Thinking about it, stronger monsters would let me feel the power of my new gear more clearly.
You have entered the 11th floor of the Tower.
Remaining attempts: 5 / 5
Would you like to begin?
[ YES / NO ]
Feeling rather good about it, I pressed YES without hesitation.
A massive orc appeared in the middle of the grassland. The creature twisted its muscular, hideous body and glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
The rusty axe in its hand was the kind of weapon that would make any beginner’s legs shake just by looking at it.
“Grrrrk…! Shiiiiik!”
The orc let out its signature disgusting snort and prepared to charge.
But like always, I simply extended my right hand forward.
One shot.
“Lightning Bolt.”
With the short incantation, lightning twice as thick as usual shot from my fingertips.
Crackle—!
The moment the distinctive sound tore through the air—
“…Huh?”
I couldn’t even pull my hand back as a dumbfounded sound escaped me.
The massive orc’s body evaporated without the slightest resistance the instant the lightning touched it. It literally vanished.
The monster known as the symbol of duels had been one-shot, just like the goblins and kobolds.
You have successfully cleared the 11th floor!
Clear time: 00 hours 00 minutes 03 seconds
An incredible achievement! You have set a new world record for the fastest clear of this floor!
As a reward for the new record, all stats permanently increase by +1.
The cheerful system alert rang out, but my face was completely sour.
“Are you kidding me?”
A wave of emptiness washed over me.
I’d spent a fortune on this gear. I wanted to savor its efficiency, to really feel it stick to my bones. At the very least, I’d expected to feel its power even a little.
“…Tsk.”
11th floor clear reward has been distributed. Acquired 30g of magic stone.
The only moment my happiness level rose was when I picked up the magic stone, but even that was short-lived.
“…Tomorrow for sure.”
The next day at midnight, I stood at the tower entrance again, biting my lip with determination.
“Today, I will definitely, absolutely feel the full power of this gear.”
The tower’s difficulty increased with every floor. On the 12th floor, two orcs would appear at once, so I figured it would be different from before.
Fighting multiple enemies at once should at least give me the satisfaction of dodging and strategizing.
Would you like to enter the Tower?
[ YES / NO ]
YES.
Once again, a grassland stage appeared before me.
You have entered the 12th floor of the Tower.
Remaining attempts: 5 / 5
Time limit: 00 hours 30 minutes 00 seconds
Would you like to begin?
[ YES / NO ]
The moment I pressed YES, two orcs came charging with monstrous roars, kicking up clouds of dust.
I fiddled with the ring and tracked their movements with my eyes. Since there were two, I assumed they would split left and right. I raised my tension to the max.
But.
“Shiiiiik!” “Shrik!”
These stupid bastards didn’t split at all. They just charged straight at me in a line like idiots. Charge, charge, charge.
The one in front completely blocked the one behind, making them overlap perfectly. It was almost impressive how dumb they were.
“No, no…! You stupid pigs! You’re supposed to spread out!!”
I yelled in disbelief, but of course they didn’t understand me.
“…Sigh.”
I let out a long breath, extended my right hand, and aimed.
“Lightning Bolt.”
The lightning shot forward.
It pierced straight through the first orc’s chest and kept going, skewering the second one behind it as well.
Watching both orcs collapse at the same time, I clutched my forehead.
You have successfully cleared the 12th floor!
Clear time: 00 hours 00 minutes 04 seconds
An incredible achievement! You have set a new world record for the fastest clear of this floor!
As a reward for the new record, all stats permanently increase by +1.
12th floor clear reward has been distributed. Acquired 40g of magic stone.
“…Ah.”
Once again filled with emptiness, I picked up the magic stone that had fallen to the ground and put it in my bag.
Another day passed.
“This time there’ll be three. That should be enough to put up a fight, right?”
I started the stage with high expectations. But.
“…Oh for fuck’s sake.”
It was even worse than yesterday.
The three orcs were running in a perfect, friendly little line.
“Why the hell!!! Lightning Bolt!!!!!!”
I screamed as I fired the spell.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!!
The lightning skewered all three orcs like meat on a stick and exploded.
You have successfully cleared the 13th floor!
Clear time: 00 hours 00 minutes 04 seconds
An incredible achievement! You have set a new world record for the fastest clear of this floor!
As a reward for the new record, all stats permanently increase by +1.
13th floor clear reward has been distributed. Acquired 40g of magic stone.
“No… No way…! This can’t be happening!”
I dropped to my knees and covered my face with both hands.
I felt empty. Angry. Annoyed.
It was like buying an expensive sports car only to be stuck driving 30 km/h in the city.
The next day was the same. These stupid pigs lined up like they’d rehearsed it and got wiped out by a single Lightning Bolt.
And then finally, the 15th floor.
The semi-boss stage. The fifth floor of the five-floor cycle.
I entered the tower and let out a long breath as I looked at the 15th floor’s arena.
I wanted to make up for all the mental damage I’d suffered from those single-file orcs over the past few days.
The semi-boss on this floor was an Orc Warrior.
Since it was a warrior, it should be more intelligent and far more ferocious.
At the very least, this one wouldn’t disappoint me. I was sure of it.
You have entered the 15th floor of the Tower.
Remaining attempts: 5 / 5
Time limit: 01 hour 00 minutes 00 seconds
Would you like to begin?
[ YES / NO ]
As I circulated my mana core, the mana amplification ring hummed in resonance.
Blue sparks began dancing across both of my hands.
Staring at the empty arena, I clenched my fists and muttered.
“This time…”