Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Awakening
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2:30 a.m.
"Thank you. Come again."
Leaving the clerk's dry tone behind, I stepped out of the convenience store. In my hand, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
Ding-a-ling.
As the bell fell silent, the pre-dawn street went dead quiet once more.
A few streetlights flickered precariously. Everywhere the light didn't reach was pitch black.
But far off, one massive pillar piercing the city's skyline stood out sharp and clear.
The Tower.
Even in the darkness, its presence was oppressively vivid.
Ten years ago, the world's order collapsed, and 'Awakeners' appeared.
Monsters swarmed inside the Tower, but those who returned alive received immense rewards.
Even knowing failure meant death, people swarmed in like moths to a flame. It wasn't just for the money.
If left alone, the Tower would overflow, unleashing monsters. Someone had to risk death and keep climbing higher.
Of course, that was the story for the chosen 'Awakeners'.
A congenital qualification decided not by effort, but by luck. The fortunate became heroes, while guys like me could only watch.
The lucky ones seized wealth and fame in an instant, but the unlucky stayed stuck in place.
No, truthfully, the world had grown far harsher since the Tower appeared.
I was, naturally, a non-Awakener. One of the 95% extras making up most of the population.
For someone like me, who'd always scraped by below average, this unfair reality felt more natural, if anything.
"Hoo..."
I lit a fresh cigarette in front of the store.
Exhaling the acrid smoke, I idly unlocked my phone screen.
My balance was still pathetic, and another payment notification had piled up.
"Life... if only one big break would hit."
A hollow laugh escaped after I said it. As if something like that would ever happen to me.
Still, like a lingering obsession, I looked up at the night sky. It felt unusually dark tonight, right as—
Flash.
"...?"
A pair of enormous hands made of light appeared before me.
They were too vivid to dismiss as a hallucination. The hands engulfed my vision.
"Hey, what the—!"
I pounded and thrashed, but it was useless, like punching a wall of air.
My vision went blindingly white, and then—
Thud.
Consciousness snapped off.
[Death threshold reached.]
A damp chill. My back ached.
When I opened my eyes, it wasn't the familiar street in front of the convenience store.
A strange ceiling came into view. No, not a ceiling—jagged rock walls.
The musty smell of mold. In the darkness, the rhythmic drip of water droplets struck my eardrums.
"No way..."
A cold sensation crawled up my nape.
"This place... isn't the Tower?"
It matched the 1st floor from guide videos I'd seen before, down to the eerie details.
It made no sense. Why would a non-Awakener like me be here?
I swallowed dryly and pushed myself up. Then, something lunged from the darkness.
Green skin. Yellowed fangs. Two goblins.
"...!"
My breath caught.
Two...'
'Normal mode? That's what the guide said...'
I instinctively staggered back. My foot snagged on a rock, and I stumbled.
In that gap, two more burst out.
'...Four.'
'Hard...?'
My mind went blank.
I rolled my eyes searching for an escape, but sheer rock walls boxed me in on all sides.
"Ha, haha..."
Laughter and trembling leaked out together.
I snatched up a wooden stick at my feet, but my shaking hands could barely grip it.
The goblins strode toward me purposefully.
I took one more step back. Then another.
My back hit the cold rock wall.
"Wait, hold on just...!"
Rumble.
The darkness rippled.
Six more crawled out. Crude but sharp spears in their hands.
'Ten.'
Insane.
My feet felt nailed to the floor. I couldn't move.
No time to flee. They all kicked off the ground at once.
"No, no!"
Before I could even swing the stick, cold metal pierced my chest.
Stab.
The sensation of my chest being torn open was far colder—and hotter—than I'd imagined.
My vision lurched. A metallic tang of blood flooded my mouth.
The spear tip lodged deep in my lungs strangled my breath. My legs buckled first as strength drained away.
Through my fading vision, I heard the goblins' vile snickers.
That was when it happened.
[The 'Unknown Goddess' watches over you with pity.]
[Intervention conditions met.]
[A contract is proposed.]
My vision flashed.
Not light, but my entire gaze yanked away.
[Do you wish to survive?]
No need to think.
'I want to live!'
No words came out.
But my will must have gotten through.
[Approved.]
[System: Augmentation unlocked.]
[3 Augmentation options available.]
The options appeared.
[Rainbow Augmentation] ??? Contract Summon (Permanent)
[Silver Augmentation] A 'Warning' appears when death is imminent.
[Platinum Augmentation] Gain useful buffs per floor.
I blankly read the text.
Rainbow. Silver. Platinum.
Why so flashy? No, the ranking felt off. Platinum's better than Silver, right? And what's this 'Rainbow' tier above it I've never heard of?
[Silver Augmentation] A 'Warning' appears when death is imminent.
...You're kidding, right?
Warning? I'm dying right now—what good is a warning? Pass.
[Platinum Augmentation] Gain useful buffs per floor.
Buffs? I'm suffocating here—fat lot of good buffs do.
Only one left.
[Rainbow Augmentation] ??? Contract Summon (Permanent)
Summon...
The question marks made it suspicious, but 'summon' stuck in my eye.
No clue what it'd be. Could be weaker than a goblin.
But picking either of the others was suicide. Had to gamble.
Besides, that rainbow color. Instinct screamed it was the best.
'Number 1.'
'Rainbow.'
'Contract Summon.'
[Augmentation applied: ??? Contract Summon (Permanent)]
[Price (required): Body readjustment.]
[Beginning fatal wound recovery and readjustment.]
Instantly, the pain ripping my chest evaporated.
Sensation cut off, then reconnected.
[Fatal wound recovery in progress.]
[Vital signs restoring.]
I'm alive. Reborn... I sensed it instinctively.
The moment I drew a shuddering breath, the final line burned into my mind.
[Goal: Reach the 101st floor]
Flash!
The world lit up again.
I shoved air into my bursting lungs and sat up.
"Kuhk...!"
No wound. My pierced chest was whole.
But something felt off.
My viewpoint had dropped sharply. The fingers propping me up were impossibly slender and pale.
"Wha... what...?"
What spilled from my mouth wasn't my voice. An unfamiliar high pitch.
That instant, the status window popped up again.
[Fatal wound recovery complete.]
[Body readjustment applied.]
"...M-Me, right now... what am I?"
My brain felt overloaded, numb.
The dancing goblins froze too. They stared down at me blankly.
The bleeding man was gone, replaced by some tiny girl. No wonder they were stunned.
"Kii?"
But monsters showed no mercy.
Their eyes gleamed again. They gripped their spears tighter and advanced.
"No...!"
I reflexively stumbled back. My shortened legs made balance even worse.
The goblins took another step. Spear tips glinted. Breath choked off.
'Summon!!'
I flung up my hand and screamed inwardly.
...Nothing. My fingertips swished empty air.
"Wh-What...?"
The spear blade closed in on my nose.
I tried to inhale, but my throat clamped shut. My back grew slick with sweat.
Instinctively, I scraped deep inside for power.
"Summon! Come out!!"
Hummm.
A circular magic circle bloomed at my feet.
Light spread, and the air tore open.
Thud.
Something landed before me.
Small... and cute. Cat-sized.
Silver hair fluttered around its round head.
It glanced up at me, then silently turned to the goblins.
One goblin cackled and thrust its spear.
Stab!
Just before the tip hit.
Flash.
A transparent barrier formed. The spear bounced off.
Clang. Metal rang through the cave.
The goblin's face stiffened. My jaw dropped.
"Huh...?"
The little one tilted its head.
'You struggled this much over something so weak?' it seemed to ask.
Then, it flicked a finger lightly.
Pop.
Whoosh!
Flames bloomed on the goblin's face. It collapsed as a charred lump without even screaming.
"Kieeek!"
The rest charged all at once.
They swarmed in together. I staggered back and yelled.
"Block them! The front!"
My summon moved at my shout.
Ice chunks bound goblin ankles. Razor winds slashed their napes.
A one-sided slaughter of searing, burning, freezing.
Crack.
A lightning bolt struck the last goblin.
Silence returned to the cave.
My legs gave out.
"...Hah, hah..."
I collapsed, gasping for breath.
The summon turned to me. Its blue eyes were serene. It padded naturally toward me.
I looked down at that tiny head with trembling hands.
"...Good job."
My voice quivered unfamiliarly. Still not used to the thin tone.
"You did... really good."
The summon gave a tiny nod.
[Floor 1 - Tutorial Clear]
[Difficulty: Nightmare]
I stared blankly at the text.
"...Nightmare?"