Chapter 5 - The Big Shot (2)
I can't check the atmosphere on the boards right now, not when I've finally committed to descending back to the 30th floor to find a new path. There's still plenty of time before I sleep, but I have no intention of skipping a nap just to browse the community.
The air already feels heavy. It's because of the penalty for descending to the lower layers—my stats have been slashed by a whopping 80%.
Floors 1 through 29 are like a newbie protection zone; even with the debuff, you physically can't go there. So the 30th floor is essentially the lowest I can drop to.
Of course, my traits and titles are intact, and all my stats are still in the triple digits. Compared to the locals, I'm still way stronger.
"Long time no see around here."
Beyond my sunglasses, a familiar yet long-forgotten landscape unfolded—one I'd pushed from my mind for quite a while.
Floors 30 to 60 of the tower featured towering reinforced concrete buildings, asphalt roads, and more—astonishingly reminiscent of modern Earth. It was designed that way, modeling after Earth, which had been selected as one of the tower's participants.
That's why Earth climbers often came down here when they missed home. It wasn't perfect, but it evoked a similar vibe.
I was the same back when I was just an ordinary Earthling at heart—though not anymore. Even now, folks from other worlds head to spots that remind them of their homelands to soothe their nostalgia or bond with their own kind. It's common.
'Crowded as ever.'
The central plaza where I'd landed was far larger than Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, a place I'd visited plenty in my previous life. With the population several times denser than up top, the bustling, teeming energy filled every corner—a vibe unique to this floor.
The modern cityscape mixed with all sorts of otherworldly races created a bizarre sight.
"Heard a few rankers died failing the 150th floor?"
"150th the problem? The 100th is completely jammed up too. Nothing but bad news lately."
On top of the guild electronic billboards, massive screens here broadcasted nonstop news and info.
Journalists roaming around spread the latest in real time.
'Gotta hurry.'
Even on the 30th floor, you could grasp what was happening higher up. Staring blankly at the screens, I suddenly recalled my press conference with Edmond and the upper-floor media. I quickly pulled on my cap and slipped away.
The moment my face hit those boards, I'd be swarmed by unbearable stares. Luckily, no one recognized me yet—the news hadn't spread this far.
'Ha... spot on.'
I couldn't deny the analysis. From the moment I possessed this body, I'd decided to follow Jeong Chan-su. Almost everything I knew was tied to the protagonist, so it was inevitable.
But I couldn't mimic him exactly. Snatching gear he needed might've gotten me killed by him. So my path paralleled his but diverged—claiming rewards mentioned in the story that he didn't need, avoiding overlapping roles. Unintentionally, I'd carved out an odd niche.
The problem? That strategy, which worked fine early on, started faltering as both he and I grew. When I lacked skill, I'd follow strategy blindly. But as my head swelled, greed crept in.
Could I do a bit more? Patch those gaps and make it work?
Forgetting my place, chasing ego-driven whims, I'd veered off course against my original intent.
"L-Leina-nim. Confirmed."
"Just in case—don't go blabbing."
Checking into a luxury hotel in the bustling district for the night, a female clerk recognized me, hands trembling over her mouth. I lowered my sunglasses, flashed a wry smile, and warned her. Not that I expected much.
'Alright, let's see.'
Normally, I'd indulge in the Earth-style hotel vibes—massage, bubbly bath to unwind, fine booze. But tonight, I hit the bed fast.
Those were fun, but browsing the community was way more entertaining and useful. Especially curious about the mood now that I'm on 30.
'Whoa.'
I'd guessed it'd blow up, but this was beyond—explosive. Swallowing dryly, no surprise. Even while I lay in the hospital, they'd chatter at every move of mine. These folks thrive on bait; if none, they make it. To them, this was a massive bomb.
Posts flew up fast, heated—seemed chaotic at a glance. Everyone dumping opinions on my actions, future, next steps. Some threads devolved into mad fights in replies; others clashed post-for-post.
Me, the subject? Just blankly watching. Too much info flooding in—overwhelming to parse.
Even the first guy urging restart from 30 jumped back in amid the frenzy. Watching felt like peeking at countless brain cells crunching hard for me—stuff I'd never manage solo. They drew from experience and vast data, unraveling it smoothly. Hell, they were even running simulations among themselves, brawling over it.
Debates spewed terms I barely grasped. Core fight: presumed swordsmen duking it out over Gale Blade vs. Shatter Blade. Some explanatory posts for non-sword users existed, but geared toward constellation-level knowledge—still over my head. Felt like a student fumbling prof's papers. Ego-shattering for a possessor who thought she knew it all.
Finally, admin Serpina dropped a notice post, herding the arguing sword nerds into its replies. They kept inflating comment counts there too.
'Curious. Driving me nuts.'
Fingers twitching at the replies. Lurking sufficed till now—but no more. For precise, tailored info, I had to ask directly.
·ReverseStone - Explaining would be great. Keeping it natural, like it's no big deal. Posts overflowing now—worry mine'll get buried.
"Right."
Forgot the no-formality rule in the tension. Heart sinking, I edited to casual quick—brainwashing myself these were just randos, not constellations.
'This jerk...'
Next reply no kinder—raw internet slang, head heating up, but I held. When in Rome. Gallery's theirs, their culture... can't defy.
'What can I offer them?'
Snapping back to reality, I sat dazed on the bed, staring at the full-length mirror. A silver-haired beauty with crimson eyes gazed back, troubled—lustrous locks always perfect thanks to innate looks and Radiance trait. No need to wash; filth never sticks. Huge perk.
Fate Road member confirmed. Function activated.
Photo shoot possible in current state.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, something like the community interface from my dream hovered before my eyes.