Stepping Stone (3)
Considering that challengers actually grow stronger, the objective difficulty of the 151st floor is actually lower than the 150th. The only caveats are recovering the resources and manpower depleted in surpassing the 150th, and having to gather information and devise strategies from scratch. But those strategies are meaningless now. Jeong Chan-su and I already know them all.
Others could just bash their heads together and find the safest, most efficient path on their own.
"Kuh, but the danger hasn't changed. We could tackle it more safely with just a little more time—why rush like this?"
"Because the defense battles are getting harder by the day. As time passes, failure rates climb, and far more monsters will spill back into our worlds. You want to just sit and watch?"
I shook my head firmly at Dyke's words.
Tower climbs aren't just about challengers pushing through trials on each floor—defense battles exist too. Massive assaults that recur on a set cycle, where everyone in the tower must unite their strength. Fail, and the escaped monsters flow back to Earth and other worlds, wreaking havoc and causing untold casualties. That's no empty claim about countless worlds' fates hanging on our tower's endgame.
That's what Jeong Chan-su's trying to stop, too.
I glanced at Jeong Chan-su, who stood silently watching us after I'd finished speaking.
The monsters in defense battles aren't mere system-spawned copies. They're the real apocalyptic forces devouring worlds alongside the tower itself. It might even be more crucial than climbing for challengers, but the tower can't hold them off forever.
"Moonlight Sword Radiance isn't wrong."
"I think rushing too much isn't ideal. But dragging it out is just as bad. We absolutely can't take more than half a year."
And surprisingly, people started agreeing with me one by one.
Not everyone here represented their factions, but it was still striking to see nods to my view.
"I've definitely felt it this time. If it's your word, I can trust it."
The orc shaman Karom's words, delivered with a smirk, gave me the hint. Those who'd watched me follow the gallery users' strategies to the letter now seemed to view me more favorably.
Not bad. Things worked out pretty well.
Not everything was settled here, but at least we'd fostered a mood to seriously discuss speeding through as Jeong Chan-su urged. For me, that was a satisfying outcome.
This would alter the future I knew again, but I'd long since let go of attachment to the original story's knowledge. I had real-time aides tailoring strategies and builds to my situation now.
"Thanks, Reina."
As the meeting wrapped up and the Advance Party dispersed to rest at their posts amid the bustle, someone approached while I was removing my Hermetica and stowing it in my inventory.
"What're you thanking me for, Se-jin?"
"You backed up Oppa—us—when things got tense."
It was Lee Se-jin. I couldn't ignore her, so I paused and forced a wry smile to hear her out. The girl, usually all innocent smiles, now looked cowed, her expression dim.
"I've believed from the start you're on our side."
"Watch your words. I didn't take Jeong Chan-su's side. I just did what I thought was right."
I corrected her misconception. We might walk the same path, but I wasn't fully his ally. I respected his original fate, but it wasn't the best outcome in my eyes. I had no intention of sharing it.
"...That's why Oppa pays you extra attention."
But at my words, Lee Se-jin gave a weary smile, as if she knew something, and bowed her head.
Cool big sis.
Lee Se-jin's thought since first laying eyes on Reina. Even now, when her own strength ranking surpassed Reina's.
Her stunning looks, tall and slender frame included—but above all, Reina acted without hesitation. She'd outright challenge Jeong Chan-su, who moved like he knew the entire tower? Impossible for Lee Se-jin or anyone around him.
Without his help, none of them could've survived to this point.
But Reina was different. The sole ranker from a new faction who'd reached here alone, leading her comrades without Jeong Chan-su's aid.
Female Jeong Chan-su.
Lee Se-jin often thought that. Tease her about it, and both would scowl or grimace in perfect sync, reacting fiercely.
"I don't know much, have little experience—can't help much. I just follow Oppa's orders."
"And that's landed you at 6th. Don't underrate yourself. That's impressive enough."
Reina let out a hollow chuckle at Lee Se-jin's words. She knew what worried the girl, but to Reina, who knew so much already, it just seemed endearing.
"You've got plenty already. Don't get greedy—you might lose what you have."
Talent to grasp ten from one hint. Self-critical lack of experience, yet fearless courage to charge into battle. Charm to win people's support. To Reina, Lee Se-jin already held everything the novel showed.
Just keep growing, and she'd manifest that finale's power in reality.
To me, strutting around carefree in armor like that is impressive enough.
Reina inwardly whistled at Lee Se-jin's flashy plate mail, exposing chest, midriff, thighs like game cosplay. Seemingly impractical, but her fanatic fans had obsessed over every plate, color, combo, reinforcement—top-tier gear in the tower now.
She was toning it down lately, but that exposure level was a distant barrier to Reina, whose tastes differed.
"People say you've changed lately—it shows."
"I've changed?"
"You seem more relaxed."
Lee Se-jin smiled faintly at Reina's words, glanced around slyly, then ventured:
"Can I call you unnie now?"
That day, following Kim Ji-eun, Lee Se-jin changed how she addressed Reina too.
"Reina unnie's cool and great. Even gave me sincere advice."
"But she's your rival. Cool, righteous warrior. Your roles overlap. As her position rises, yours weakens—haven't you considered that?"
After Reina left, Lee Se-jin murmured blankly to herself.
Then, a familiar yet solemn voice—her contract constellation's—whispered in her ear.
"It's good to get close to her. But you must shine brighter by her side. You can do it."
The constellation demanded little. She was a good girl who always listened, never once rejecting their advice.
Only Jeong Chan-su, her savior before the constellations, outranked them. They never mentioned him, knowing her heart.
"She may have cowardly used a blessing to surpass you this 150th clear, but it won't happen again. You can do it, right? You're righteous and kind."
"..."
But with other challengers like Reina, it differed. "Surpass them, outshine them"—unabashed expectations.
I've received too much to refuse.
Biting her lip, Lee Se-jin couldn't betray that faith. Too many gifts already.
Above all, her top goal: help Jeong Chan-su fulfill his wish. Save the world, save people. That was her justice too.
But this tower dismissed the weak's words as worthless. She needed supreme strength—and the constellations' aid was essential.
"Don't worry. We're always watching. We'll help you 'as we have until now.'"
The constellation's follow-up soothed her burdened heart like a lullaby—but those knowing the truth wouldn't take it so lightly.
Even Lee Se-jin herself didn't fully grasp their words.
··· In another world she couldn't see, the Lee Se-jin Fan Gallery was already buzzing with lively discussion.