Chapter 229: The Tutorial Floor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 229: The Tutorial Floor
While waiting for Lucifer to wake up, I asked the System a few questions.
About what the Tower was, what Players were, and other general knowledge, including WP.
Surprisingly, the System answered kindly.
“The Tower is the final destination of all things, a place where all myths converge. One hundred worlds gather to form the Tower, and countless beings enter it to seize their own desires.”
Of course, I didn't think it was telling me this for free.
It was probably trying to get information to deduce my identity.
Well, if I thought of it as a give-and-take, it wasn't a bad deal.
“They 'enter'? You're not kidnapping them?”
“Negative. The Tower only accepts those with the will to conquer it. Those who could not let go of their regrets and attachments in the final moments between life and death, those who desire a new opportunity amid a difficult life, and those with a wish they would do anything to fulfill.”
So it doesn't just bring anyone, but selects at least useful people?
I didn't know if it sought their consent in the process, but I wasn't curious enough to ask.
“What's so great about clearing the Tower? Does it grant a wish or something?”
It was a common cliché in tower-climbing stories.
“Affirmative.”
“Anything?”
“It is possible within the bounds permitted by causality. A universal wish, such as the collapse of the entire universe, is not possible.”
That was the answer I expected.
After all, a 'wish right' in the real world can only be fulfilled within the limits of the granter's abilities.
'A wish...'
If it had been me a few months ago, I would have asked to become rich. I was living in poverty back then.
But since then, the situation has done a complete 180.
Gold and jewels are piled up at home, and the bank manager comes running whenever I visit.
On top of that, just for being a mage, I get tax benefits from the government and financial support from the Magic Tower.
If I really set my mind to making money, I could probably make the list of the world's top ten richest people within a few years. I have the dating app, after all.
For now, increasing my personal strength is more important, so I've put it on the back burner.
'I can't really think of anything.'
The only thing that comes to mind is maybe solving a problem for one of my women if something happened.
Of course, I could ask to become a god or gain power comparable to one, but seeing as the System brought up causality, it seems that even gods aren't exactly omnipotent.
If anything, I got the strong impression that they were bound by something.
“Then...”
After that, I continued to ask various questions, gradually learning about this world.
*
The Tower consists of 100 floors in total.
Each floor is a world of its own, and it has a simple structure: clear the 100th and final floor, and your wish will be granted.
The inhabitants of the Tower are broadly divided into residents and Players.
Residents are those born in the Tower, while Players are outsiders who have entered it.
It's not as if residents can't climb the Tower or make contracts with Constellations.
Nevertheless, on average, Players are stronger.
The reason is simple.
“Wh-where is this...? I was just in my room a second ago...?”
“J-Jihyun! Jihyun! Has anyone seen my daughter?!”
“A hidden camera...? Doesn't seem like it...”
“No service? Does anyone's phone work?”
It's because Players are selected.
About a hundred men and women were gathered in a clearing surrounded by a dense forest. Some wore business suits, some school uniforms, and others casual clothes.
Most were Asian, but there were a few who looked Caucasian. Or maybe they were mixed-race?
Everyone was busy looking around. Their eyes, filled with negative emotions like confusion, anxiety, and impatience, trembled faintly.
They were probably raising their voices out of anxiety.
“How are you feeling?”
“...I feel like I have sandbags tied all over my body.”
The feeling of being depowered seemed intense, as Lucifer grimaced.
“Want some holy water?”
The frown lines on her forehead deepened.
In truth, being a fallen angel doesn't mean drinking holy water will cause any problems. It's purely a matter of feeling.
'So this is the Tutorial Floor.'
After Lucifer woke up, we arrived at the Tutorial Floor with the Administrator's help.
It wasn't like we climbed the Tower to get here. I just closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them, we were in the middle of the clearing.
Like everyone else, I spent my time observing our surroundings. There didn't seem to be anything noteworthy.
The only thing was the presence of monsters I could feel in the forest.
“Whoever's in charge, get out here! I have a meeting in two hours!”
“Do you want to get sued?! Just because you're a NewTuber, you think you can pull a prank like this?!”
Shouts erupted from the crowd. It seemed some people's anxiety had reached its peak.
Others seemed to agree with them.
Crackle-
At that moment, a spark flew in mid-air.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it. Immediately after, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Pieces of bright red flesh gathered together and began to take shape.
It was a rather grotesque sight, and a few women looked away. The thing that finally formed was a doll.
A small, cute rabbit doll, at that.
“Ah, you're all so noisy.”
A voice flowed from the mouth of the doll, which was dressed in clothes straight out of a fairy tale.
“A-a doll is talking...?”
The man who had been shouting at the front took a stunned step back. The others did the same.
The doll glanced around and scowled.
“Tsk, it's nothing but duds this time. Sigh, at this rate, I can forget about my year-end bonus...”
“Hey!”
“Hm?”
It was the man who had just stepped back in surprise at the rabbit.
I was a little surprised. He was stepping forward when others couldn't even speak.
Should I call that brave, or just clueless?
With his glasses, slicked-back hair, and suit, he looked like a pretty successful salesman.
“What is it?”
“What is it? Just send us back already! I don't know if this is CG or VR, but doing this without consent is illegal! You want to go to jail?!”
“Th-that's right!”
“I have to get to my cram school! Please send me back!”
“I'm calling the police!”
“If I'm late for my meeting because of this, will you take responsibility?!”
With one person taking the lead, others began to speak up one by one.
Of course, there were also some who quietly stepped back to watch the situation unfold. They were probably the perceptive ones, or the type who enjoyed comics and novels.
“Hah... This is ridiculous.”
At that moment, the rabbit's face twisted, and a powerful killing intent spread out in all directions.
I was used to killing intent, so it didn't affect me, but the others weren't.
Most of them collapsed to the ground, and quite a few wet their pants. In the heavy silence that fell, people broke out in a cold sweat.
“You have all already agreed to come to the Tower. Well, you probably don't remember. But that's none of my business. The important thing is that everyone here came of their own free will.”
Tap-
With a cute little sound, a model of a building in the shape of a tower appeared before them.
“This is the Tower. And you are Player candidates. It's a one-in-a-million chance, but if you manage to conquer the top floor of the Tower, we will grant you any wish. Well, with your level of talent, you'll probably all die before you even reach the 10th floor.”
“D-don't bullshit me!”
At the man's words, the smile that had bloomed on the rabbit's face vanished.
“I never agreed to something like that! I'm about to be promoted to deputy manager, why would I—”
“Name: Lee Gyuho. Age: 36. Employed at A-Electronics' Global Sales Team. Became a manager at a young age and was widely expected to be promoted to deputy manager soon, but failed to get the promotion due to office politics. Despairing over his situation, he attempted suicide on the roof of his company building.”
“...What?”
“Sigh, I'd love to just kill you, but I'm letting you live because you show a tiny bit of promise, you know?”
Splat-
At that moment, the head of the middle-aged woman who had collapsed next to the man exploded.
Blood, brain matter, and fragments of skull scattered everywhere. Those nearby were splattered with the remains.
“...Kyaaaaaah!!”
“U-uaaaagh!!”
The hot, sticky sensation brought them back to reality.
This wasn't a hidden camera prank or a movie shoot.
The clearing instantly descended into pandemonium. People scrambled in terror, desperate to escape into the woods.
The rabbit bastard seemed to find the situation amusing, a wide smile spreading across its face.
“By the way, if you say 'status window' in your mind, you can see your abilities. Not that you'll have anything but trashy skills. But try to make good use of them and survive here for a week. That is the trial the Tower has given you.”
Ting-
「Tutorial - Survival
You are a Player candidate.
You must survive for one week to earn the qualification of a Player.
Success: Acquire Player qualification
Failure: Death」
“I wish you the best of luck.”
With a bizarre laugh, the trial of the Tutorial Floor began.
*
“Hee hee hee.”
Repupu, the Administrator of the Tutorial Floor, was in a good mood.
The sight of humans fleeing in terror was always a thrill.
Although he was displeased that the new Player candidates were all trash-tier, he consoled himself with the thought that you can't win the lottery every time.
“...Come to think of it, there was one human who seemed particularly unfazed.”
There was a man and a woman who hadn't questioned their situation, hadn't panicked, and hadn't even been surprised by the sight of a brain splattering everywhere.
The woman had a faint presence, so he didn't remember her well, but the man stood out in his memory.
“Hmm... It's unlikely, but shall I take a look?”
Ting-
「Name: Kang Hyun-woo
Age: 21
Contracted Constellation: -
Affiliation: -
Exclusive Trait: Blessing of Mana (D)
Exclusive Skills: Fire Magic (D), Lightning Magic (D)
Traits: -
Skills: -」
After checking the man's status window, Repupu was once again certain his judgment was correct.
It was true that unique traits related to magic were rare, but a D-rank was practically useless.
“Hah, if only the rank was a B, I might have hoped for a bonus...”
Repupu let out a heavy sigh.
But he soon shook off the lingering thought.
The human would be killed by a monster soon enough anyway.
“Worrying about it will only be a loss for me.”
With that thought, Repupu quietly tilted his teacup. A pleasant aroma, mixed with the metallic scent of human blood, tickled his nose.
*
“Uooargh...”
The massive green body fell forward.
Thud!
「You have defeated a Green Orc.」
「+10 WP」
Watching it fall, I turned my head and looked around.
Goblins, kobolds, orcs, Roar Bears, and more. The corpses of various monsters formed a small mountain.
“Is that most of them?”
「Name: Kang Hyun-woo
Age: 21
Contracted Constellation: Fallen Star
Affiliation: -
Authority: Black Flame (C)
Exclusive Traits: Path of Magic (S), Formless Vajra Art (A-)
Exclusive Skills: Fire Magic (B), Lightning Magic (B), Crimson Cloud Thunder Art (C), Close Quarters Combat (C), Killing Intent (C)...
Traits: -
Skills: -」