Unwanted Proof (2)
“I want to... join you on the dungeon exploration.”
The words didn't come easily. It was just that shocking.
Speculating whether something like this had happened in the original story was pretty pointless anyway. After all, I—a person who hadn't existed in the original—changed everything just by being here.
“We can't stop training to boost our skills right before discussing the 151st floor conquest. I figured you'd understand that, since you make trips to the lower floors for the same reason.”
Unlike me, whose mind was a whirlwind of complications, Diana seemed perfectly composed. True to her rank as No. 7, she was deadly serious about training and achievements. Challenging the sub-dungeons on the 151st floor in her spare time to sharpen her edge was the most natural thing in the world for her.
I can't exactly talk her out of this one.
If I could, I'd peek at the community right now. I wondered what the users there were saying. Diana's past getting exposed from that unicorn encounter had been a headache outside the story, not inside—but who knew? Among the constellations supporting her, some might despise that history.
But that incident hadn't been pure poison for Diana, which was why I was agonizing over it. The secret burden she'd kept locked in her chest had been a massive obstacle blocking her path, like shackles around her ankles. Now that it was out and she'd tasted true liberation, she might awaken even greater power and contribute more to the tower climb. In that light, it might not be all bad.
“Did your leader approve this?”
“Of course.”
I'd asked just in case, but as expected, Jeong Chan-su knew. With Diana's unwavering response, I let out a small sigh and nodded.
I caught a quick nap whenever I could and logged straight into Fate Road. As expected, the gallery was buzzing over today's events.
But there was no fierce opposition or outrage. Rivals first, we were still the rare few comrades gunning for the tower's summit together. They couldn't deny that reality, so they accepted I'd keep crossing paths with Jeong Chan-su's crew.
Public opinion on Diana was lukewarm at best. If it had been Lee Se-jin, whose rep suffered from her rabid fandom, or Sylvia, marked as unlikable for her aggressive frontline role, things might've heated up. But Diana had low visibility in our gallery compared to them.
That's how she always was.
A wry smile tugged at my lips as I recalled the Diana from the story and the real one I'd observed and judged. She showed slight differences in reality, but her core traits matched the character perfectly: quiet and taciturn. Faithful to her duties, never stepping forward—a calm, cool beauty big-sis heroine type. She felt the most distant from Jeong Chan-su, too.
Of course, knowing the reason behind that personality kept me from seeing it in a purely positive light.
I should check her gallery's vibe.
The original story's episode on Diana's past hadn't shown Fate Road reactions, naturally. I needed to gauge how her fandom viewed that history. The plot hadn't suggested major backlash among constellations if it came out, but better safe than sorry.
I posted the question as casually as possible. Replies trickled in soon enough.
“This is pretty much your first time talking to Reina-unnie, right, unnie?”
“...Yeah. We never really had reason to cross paths before.”
This 151st floor sub-dungeon party formation wasn't just a surprise for Reina. It was a novel move for Diana herself.
She'd stuck to Jeong Chan-su's group until now. Teaming up with outsiders was a first since joining them.
No wonder he was paying attention. A warrior with eyes full of life.
Diana could still vividly picture the Reina she'd just met. Even when Lee Se-jin and the others went sightseeing on the 40th floor, Diana had stayed at base training alone—so she hadn't known much about Reina.
But after their first direct conversation today, Diana sensed something uncanny: a resemblance to herself.
No known past.
Unlike her dazzling record since entering the tower, info on Reina's pre-tower life was scarce—easy to confirm with a quick search. Communication with the outside wasn't impossible. Famous climbers inevitably had their backgrounds dug up: hometowns, acquaintances, family—all doxxed.
Jeong Chan-su, Lee Se-jin, Kim Ji-eun—they were all ordinary folk with nothing to hide. Concealing a past wasn't easy.
So those who did were desperately guarding dark secrets.
Are you hiding something too? Something that can never see the light?
Diana's lips curved faintly. Carrying a story you couldn't even share with close allies—like Lee Se-jin, whom she treated like a little sister—was no easy burden. Feeling kinship with someone in the same boat stirred her.
“Good call. Thanks to Se-jin convincing you.”
“I didn't do much...”
Now curious about the Reina she'd ignored before, Diana smiled at Lee Se-jin, who scratched her head sheepishly.
In truth, Lee Se-jin had spearheaded this after hearing Kim Ji-eun recruiting for the 151st sub-dungeon. Her ties to both sides made it smooth.
But the hidden truth differed slightly from what Lee Se-jin knew. The constellation Eyes of Burning Denial, Adrabal, who recommended teaming with Reina for growth, had rallied his old anti-Reina crew on his private channel.
Kaldevan made no secret of his raw hatred for Reina.
It started as petty resentment—barely worth calling hate, more like a sneer.
Zero talent, yet rubbing elbows? Tower 3445 female challenger looks poll? Stirring drama over nothing.
A minor grudge against those comparing her to his beloved, supported Lee Se-jin.
But as Reina built skills and fandom, it festered into visceral rejection.
Trash fandom, climbing where they don't belong!
Reina—outside Jeong Chan-su's harem yet carving her own influence—was prime debate fodder for competitive Fate Road users. Trolls loved prodding fights, using her to bait Chan-su fans, solidifying the rivalry.
As she truly rivaled him, Adrabal's hatred swelled against her joyful fans.
Arrogant wench, your trash fandom's just like their owner.
When she broke through the smears and his point-heavy sabotage, his loathing shifted fully to her—like a declaration of war. And since she'd played it that way, his feelings weren't wrong.
They weren't infinite-point fountains, so some balked at new schemes. Kaldevan smirked at the pushback.
Kaldevan introduced Kedus, a former Shadys constellation turned sidelined rice. He grinned.
This small group was evolving into a true anti-Reina fandom. The brighter the light, the deeper the shadows it casts. Reina's renewed ascent on Fate Road—undeniable brilliance—naturally empowered the darkness lurking opposite.