Chapter 29 - Retribution (2)

As they climbed higher, the dungeons grew tougher and larger in scale, but the one on the 35th floor was still at a cute level. For seasoned climbers who had memorized every path and gimmick, it was a one-day clear—hell, they could run two or three rounds in a single day. Repeating that over and over was the main lifeline for most challengers.

I'd done the same back when I was grinding up the tower, hitting what people called "honey dungeons" on repeat to rake in funds.

"I figured it might be like this, but... to blast straight through the dungeon like that..."

The party I'd joined, led by Shadis, reached the boss room in under an hour since entering. Grol, the orc warrior, muttered it with a face that said he couldn't believe his eyes.

I wasn't here to train them, even if I was tagging along. So I'd taken the lead without holding back, clearing the way myself. Thanks to that, Shadis's crew had basically strolled through without breaking a sweat, staring around in stunned silence.

"You're truly amazing. It's my first time seeing a legend in action like this."

"I'm rushing because I'm in a hurry, but you get it by now—don't rely on luck like this."

I chuckled at Wayne the mage's words, then gave them a heads-up just in case. I warned them not to take easy clears like this for granted now that they'd seen it with me.

One of the endless forum debates in the gallery was the backlash against "bus" users—people carried by stronger teammates—and the counterarguments from the one-shot wonders defending them. Pointless noise, sure, but not entirely wrong. There was a world of difference between climbing under your own steam, plotting your own path, and just following a powerhouse around from start to finish.

"Once you pass the 100th floor, almost every dungeon demands teamwork with guildmates or party members—massive ones that need raid parties of 100-plus from allied factions. But don't go thinking that means you should settle for being a foot soldier."

I'd planned to shadow Jeong Chan-su's route from the story I'd read ahead, but I had zero intention of becoming just another tool in his kit. Back then, it was about survival and pride, but looking back now, it was the right call. Without that choice, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I wanted them to grasp what I'd learned from experience ahead of time. It was up to them to make it their own, of course.

"...Shadis was right after all. You're nothing like the rumors."

"What the hell's my image supposed to be?"

I clicked my tongue at Grol, his eyes sparkling with awe. I'd ignored the gossip till now, but maybe I needed to manage my rep after all?

The boss fight was a breeze. I cleaved the enemy in half with one stroke, Finishing it and claiming the rewards—just like in the gallery guide.

Synergistic abilities resonated, fusing into a new one: a short-range spatial dash that swapped positions in a blink.

Step by step like this, I'll get there eventually.

Even this Phantom Shift, born from combining materials, was just another ingredient. The realm I aimed for was still distant and lofty.

But I had confidence. The gallery users' collective wisdom had compiled the perfect strategy guide for me.

"Did you get what you wanted?"

"Of course. Ended quicker than I thought. Lunchtime hasn't even hit yet."

I smirked at Shadis's approach. We'd started early morning, but it wrapped before noon.

Heading straight to a second dungeon was pushing it, though. I was fine, but the others weren't. The next one split into two routes—without peak condition, they couldn't handle emergencies.

"The worst accidents I've seen all happened from overconfidence and pushing too hard. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Stick to the plan—tomorrow. Rest up and come in top shape."

"We'll do that."

I ordered Shadis and his team to hit the next dungeon tomorrow as scheduled and recover fully. That left me with free time, floating loose.

Time to hit the gallery?

I couldn't risk training and draining myself with unknown threats lurking. Lounging in my hotel room, scrolling the gallery all day sounded perfect.

The constellations there might mock users like me as "community ghosts," but I was pulling vital intel from it.

"Lady Reina, if it's alright... could I escort you for the day?"

But Shadis beat me to it, smiling awkwardly.

***

The gallery knew exactly why Shadis approached Reina first, so they chuckled at the scene. No one in the fan gallery saw his play for her favor in a bad light. The weak scrambling to survive was natural—and Shadis was so much weaker than her that it all came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off as endearing.

Everyone's so at ease.

Manager Serpina, watching it all, just stared at the screen with a stiff expression. One major issue was grinding her nerves.

"Checked the assassin gallery—they're gearing up. Even if we ID their hitman, can we warn Reina? The sanctuary cooldown..."

"We have to try something."

She bit her lip at Perbas's words. On screen, Reina was strolling the 35th-floor city with Shadis, savoring a rare vacation vibe. Serpina grew uneasy watching Reina smile—did she really get the warning she'd just given?

Her mind raced, but her fingers moved on instinct.

Why'd Shadis drag Reina to a place like that? She couldn't care less about this stuff.

Serpina finally snorted. Shadis had brought her to a massive department store smack in the middle of the bustling district.

"Earth culture is just incredible, right? I'd only heard stories, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hitting the 30th floor and seeing it for myself? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Total shock. A civilization like this—no magic needed, life's gotta be comfy."

"...Yeah?"

Her inner self was more plugged into modern Earth than anyone, but officially, Reina hailed from another world called Plua. So she played along with Shadis's wide-eyed wonder at the flashy store interior.

Reina was infamous as an Earth-culture zealot, anyway. People chalked it up to Kim Ji-eun's influence, always glued to her side.

Ugh... I hate places like this...

And the secret went deeper than just Earth origins. Unlike the buzzing Shadis, the VIP lounge on the top floor—accessed via her status—felt suffocating to the once-ordinary guy inside her.

The staff wouldn't dare ignore or snub her, even in baggy sweats. They just kept their heads down, desperately gauging if she'd approach first.

"I knew you weren't into places like this."

"Then why bring me here?"

"Truth is, whenever I had time, I dug into your life—how you've been living."

Shadis gave a wry smile at Reina's paling face, like she'd eaten something bad.

Reina Frontier. Famous since day one in the tower. A true warrior who'd lived solely to climb, never pausing.

When I first learned, I thought—how does a person even do that?

Her saga only grew more shocking the deeper you dug. No one knew it all traced back to chasing the regressor Jeong Chan-su, but Shadis realized after meeting her: this wasn't her innate drive. She'd just endured, holding it all in.

Until she reached the heights she'd set for herself.

"Sometimes you gotta let go—or vent—what you've been bottling up."

"That obvious, huh..."

Reina didn't argue, just smiled bitterly. Not perfectly right, but not wrong either.

Then or now, she'd only ever charged ahead without rest.

"Doesn't mean I've got a hobby for clothes shopping, though. I'm not holding back—I've always just liked comfy stuff."

"But hiding a perfect body like yours under frumpy sweats? Such a waste."

Shadis gestured at her figure with mock pity. Strip away the name value, and she looked like a basement-dwelling slob.

Part of dragging her here was his own whim—to spruce up her usual look.

"Still, at least a little..."

But his pitch cut short. A clear commotion echoed from afar—someone barking and causing a scene.