Chapter 15

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: Inflation

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The moment I grabbed the rewards, I urgently called out to Little One.

"Little One, Stealth!"

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Little One grabbed the hem of my clothes.

At the same time, my vision flashed white.

The sensation of being ejected from the tower swept through my entire body.

As soon as my vision cleared, my breath caught in my throat.

Right in front of me. Less than a meter away.

A man in black clothes was staring straight at the tower entrance. It was the watcher I'd spotted earlier as a butterfly.

"...!"

I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream and dropped straight down to the ground.

My heart pounded wildly.

But thanks to Little One's Stealth, the man showed no sign of noticing me sitting right in front of him.

'Lucky.'

I crawled backward on all fours, inching away slowly. Every nerve in my body was on edge, terrified I'd snap even a single dry twig.

Then, the man reached into his pocket.

'Did he spot me?'

My heart plummeted. I reflexively covered my mouth again.

Fortunately, it wasn't a weapon. It was a phone.

"Yes, it's me."

I finally exhaled just a little and strained to listen.

"Cheonan Tower, no issues yet. No visitors at all."

I couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but the man fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"Yes. Looks that way... Then we'll withdraw."

The man signaled to his comrades hidden in the bushes.

Black shadows slipped silently out of the plaza.

I didn't breathe until the distant sounds of car doors slamming and engines fading away were gone.

"...Achoo!"

The held-back cough burst out. My nose stung.

Only then, as the tension eased, did I feel the chill of the dawn air.

I hurried away from the spot.

The second I got home and locked the front door, I flung myself onto the bed.

"Hoo..."

I face-planted into the mattress. Seeing the familiar ceiling made me feel alive again.

The watchers had withdrawn, and the ominous timer had stopped.

On top of that, I'd confirmed the performance of a Legend skill. I'd passed the biggest hurdle.

"Alright, then..."

I calmed my still-thumping heart and turned on my phone.

I logged into Hunter Gallery.

"...Good."

No one knowing meant I was safe.

The watchers reported 'no one there,' so eyes wouldn't turn this way for a while.

But I couldn't relax completely. The whole world was still fixated on those two words: 'Blanc.'

"Ugh, why is everyone so obsessed with other people?"

Irritation surged up.

Glancing aside, Little One had snatched my phone at some point and was lost in short-form videos.

"Hey, Little One. Why's everyone so interested in me?"

Little One turned at my question, staring me up and down from toes to head.

Then, without a word, it turned back to the phone.

"Wh-what was that look?"

Feeling awkward, I poked its cheek, but it ignored me.

Whatever.

I sprawled out on the bed. My hand drifted into view as I lifted it absentmindedly.

Pale, small, pretty hand.

'This could model...'

The thought flashed by.

"...!"

I bolted upright, mind snapping alert.

Model? Me?

I'd always hated standing in front of people pathologically. The guy who broke into cold sweats at presentations.

Where did that thought even come from?

Chills ran down my spine.

It felt like my own thought, but not mine. Like someone else's idea planted in my head.

Was my soul being eroded to fit this unfamiliar body?

"...Dunno."

I ruffled my hair and flopped back onto the bed. The ceiling felt farther away than usual.

I hadn't meant to sleep.

I'd just closed my eyes, but the mana inside me pulsed in time with my heartbeat.

Following that flow, my consciousness sank deep.

When I opened my eyes, an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠endless blue void stretched out.

I tried not to panic, exhaling slowly.

I knew instinctively: any excitement or loss of calm here, and this space would shatter like a mirage, flinging me out.

I looked around calmly.

Underfoot lay clouds like cotton candy. The soft, fluffy texture between my toes felt vividly real.

Though my real body was on the bed.

I looked up.

It was space.

A vast Milky Way, like viewing from beyond the atmosphere. Stars embedded like jewels.

Overwhelming compared to monitor photos. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Lost in it for a while, I felt eyes on my back.

I whipped around reflexively.

"...!"

There stood a girl.

Same face, same build as me. My reflection.

But the vibe was different. Calm, somehow sad eyes.

She smiled faintly and waved.

"Wait...!"

As I tried to speak, the blue sky shattered like glass.

A strong pull yanked me back to reality.

"Gasp!"

I shot up with a scream-like breath. My whole body was soaked in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sweat.

Little One startled, tossed the phone, and rushed over. It fetched a towel with telekinesis and wiped my forehead.

"Hah, huff... Th-thanks, Little One."

Panting raggedly, I checked the clock. Three hours had passed.

A dream? Who was that girl?

The sensations had been so vivid, but back in reality, the cosmic scene faded like a mirage.

Yet my condition was odd.

Unlike after grinding the tower, I felt peak. Head clear, body light as a feather.

Still 5 a.m.

"Should I push one more floor today...?"

A mutter, but Little One caught it.

It grabbed my arm, shoved my bag at me. Eyes sparkling, urging me to go.

"You up for one more?"

Little One nodded vigorously. It had been more hyper than me, yet showed no fatigue.

"Yeah. Surveillance might ramp up tomorrow. Let's climb one more while we can."

I grabbed my bag and headed out.

The dawn air was cold, but the boiling mana inside made it feel nothing.

Dawn was approaching. So I planned to blitz this floor as fast as possible.

"Summon, Knight Commander!"

Instantly, mana surged out of me like a waterfall through my veins.

"Ugh..."

I hadn't noticed when summoning it first amid the chaos, but the mana drain was insane.

My lips trembled slightly.

Little One was already charging ahead, blasting magic wildly.

"Take out those monsters!"

The Knight Commander nodded heavily.

His jet-black lance sliced through the air.

Boom—!

One single strike.

A wind hole punched through the monsters' chests along the lance's path.

The shockwave nearly bowled Little One over. Overwhelming destructive power.

Little One, who'd fallen on its butt, huffed indignantly at the Knight Commander, but he vanished like smoke, job done. Cool guy.

"Huh, but... isn't this too easy?"

Why had I been so scared all this time?

With summons handling everything, it felt like I was just chilling on a bus ride.

Rewards were getting routine now.

"Oh, already? Level 5 now?"

Then, the long-forgotten system window filled my vision.

Right, Augmentation.

No word since the tutorial, but it popped up right at Level 5.

But.

"...Huh?"

I was baffled. Last time there were three; why only one now?

Penalty? Cold sweat trickled down my back.

I didn't want to gamble. I was plenty satisfied now.

But no other options. No cancel button. Forced event.

"Ha... No choice."

I swallowed hard.

Very powerful reward? Worst case, break even. With trembling hand, I selected the only option.

The moment my shaky finger touched it, my vision blinked pure white.

"...Huh?"

I rubbed my eyes. Permanent summon? Goddess?

This was jackpot...

My lips twitched upward—then my vision drowned in blood-red.

"Inflation? Like rising prices..."

Before I could finish.

A eardrum-shattering alarm blared in my brain.

Beeeeep—!

Red warning windows poured down like screams.

The system flickered frantically, spewing never-before-seen vicious messages.

"...What?"

My thoughts froze.

Difficulty up one stage?

Normal to Hard, Hard to Nightmare?

Easy Mode, the newbies' lifeline, gone entirely?

"Th-then what about me...?"

What was my next difficulty?

Was there something above Nightmare?