Chapter 501: For the Sake of Proof
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 501: For the Sake of Proof
Thud—
As the giant beast lost its head and collapsed, a thick cloud of dust rose into the air.
It was the Strag Tiger, the target of this test.
The terrible stench emanating from its corpse stung my nose, but the expressions of the party members surrounding the carcass were brighter than usual.
“That was a magnificent finish. We were almost in big trouble, but thanks to you, Ah-rin, we were able to take it down safely.”
“...You all worked hard.”
At Wi Ryeong-ah’s praise, Yoo Ah-rin seemed to grow shy, wiping away her sweat with a towel and averting her gaze.
The back of her neck, flushed bright red, gave away her expression.
“We finally got it...!”
Plop—
Lee Serin, who had been handling healing and support from the rear, collapsed to the ground, clutching her staff tightly.
Cold sweat was pouring down her face like rain.
“Good work.”
Just as I approached to hand her a potion, Lee Serin firmly pushed me away.
“D-don’t come any closer!”
“?”
As I stared at her with a question mark on my face, Lee Serin blushed in embarrassment and muttered softly.
“I-I smell like sweat...”
“I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do...!”
I didn’t get why she was making such a big deal about the smell of sweat when we’d already seen everything there was to see.
With no other choice, I tossed her the potion.
Pop!
Snatching the bottle out of the air, Lee Serin immediately pulled out the cork and began to guzzle the potion.
“Gulp, gulp... Phew...!”
Only after a few mouthfuls did Lee Serin’s expression relax as she caught her breath.
Because of Lucifer’s condition, the three of them had to face the Strag Tiger, which naturally placed a heavy burden on Lee Serin, the healer.
It was only natural that she was exhausted.
‘By the way, has her skill proficiency gone up again? Her healing output seemed higher than usual.’
Ting—
「Activating exclusive skill, ‘Incomplete Moon's Eye (B-)’.」
「Name: Lee Serin
Age: 25
Contracted Constellation: -
Affiliation: -
Authority: -
Exclusive Trait: Heavenly Tone (S)
Exclusive Skills: Harmony of Life (C+), Composition (C), Echo of Purification (C-), Echo of Confusion (C-), Mental Resistance (D+)
Traits: Composure (C), Performer (C-)
Skills: -」
‘...?’
The moment I checked Lee Serin’s status window, I couldn’t help but doubt my eyes.
With the exception of ‘Composition (C)’, all of her exclusive skills had risen by half a rank.
I was sure it hadn’t been like this when I checked right before the 6th floor test.
It was a rate of growth that was hard to believe could happen in just a few days.
‘And a new trait, too...’
The most common way to acquire traits and skills was to use the shop.
Of course, not a shop run by residents or players. It was a shop managed directly by the Administrator, where one could buy traits and skills using WP.
However, the prices were such a rip-off that it was rare for anyone to use it unless they had plenty of funds to spare.
For reference, that shop was located on the 10th floor, which was our destination. And that was why I had been saving up WP all this time.
I had planned to buy some useful traits and skills for myself and my party members there...
‘To think she gained a trait on her own...’
Of course, it was possible.
Just as one could gain a swordsmanship trait by training with a sword, most players actually acquired traits and skills that way.
But that method had the disadvantage of taking a long time. It was safe to assume that didn't apply to Lee Serin, who hadn’t been in the Tower for long.
‘...I guess having an S-rank exclusive trait isn’t just for show, huh?’
I swallowed a dry laugh and reached into my Storage Bag, pulling out a dagger.
“Shall we play a round of rock-paper-scissors, you three?”
“Rock-paper-scissors...? All of a sudden?”
I shot a smile at Wi Ryeong-ah, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression, and pointed my thumb at the Strag Tiger’s corpse.
Unlike an ordinary tiger, its green stripes were quite impressive.
Though, of course, it had become a rather hideous sight after Yoo Ah-rin lopped its head off.
“Because we need to decide who’s going to butcher it for byproducts.”
It went without saying, but I didn’t have the slightest intention of raising these three like delicate flowers in a greenhouse.
In the Tower, that was a perfect way to die a screaming death.
““...””
At the grotesque sight of its innards spilling from the clean-cut stump of its neck, none of the three could bring themselves to speak.
According to the test requirements, just taking its fang was enough, but the Strag Tiger’s heart was a high-priced alchemy ingredient.
Leaving it behind was no different from throwing money on the ground.
“A-are we really doing it...?”
“Of course. I’ll be right here to show you how to harvest the byproducts, so you don’t have to worry.”
“...”
Hearing my words, Lee Serin’s face turned deathly pale.
Of course, there was the option of putting the whole thing in the Storage Bag, transporting it to the city, and leaving it to a professional magical beast butchering service.
But this was all part of the experience, wasn't it?
A short while later, Wi Ryeong-ah’s scream echoed through the forest.
*
That evening, we safely arrived in Sanctelium and headed straight for the Celis Cathedral.
We could have rested at a hotel for the night and visited in the morning, but I wanted to get out of this suffocating city as quickly as possible.
“I can still smell the blood on my hands...”
Wi Ryeong-ah, sitting in the corner of the carriage, muttered as she stared into space with half-dead eyes.
Worried about her, Lee Serin cautiously approached.
“...Ryeong-ah, are you okay?”
“Serin-unni...!”
Flump—
Wi Ryeong-ah, in a rare moment, called Lee Serin ‘unni’ and buried her face in her embrace, whimpering.
Lee Serin patted her on the back, comforting her.
Watching them, I let out a small laugh.
I was remembering the sight of Wi Ryeong-ah screaming as she plunged her hand into the Strag Tiger’s chest and ripped out its heart.
In truth, with her Ghost Cultivation Method, Wi Ryeong-ah didn't need to butcher the beast herself. That's what she had ghosts for, after all.
But then it wouldn't have been a proper punishment... no, a proper experience.
Besides, the first time is always the hardest. It would get easier from the second time on.
“...Hand.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
At the icy voice in my ear, I resumed stroking Lucifer’s head.
It seemed my efforts to appease her on the way here had paid off, as I had thankfully succeeded in making up with her.
The only slight problem was that she wasn't completely over it yet.
Lucifer leaned against my shoulder and closed her eyes.
Just as I was thinking, ‘We have to get out of the carriage soon, what should I do...?’
“...?”
My eyes met with Yoo Ah-rin, who was sitting across from me.
An awkward silence fell.
Should I call this guilt?
Ever since I found out that Yoo Ah-rin’s weakness was her ass, dealing with her had become a bit awkward. It felt like I’d swallowed a huge dose of the red pill.
But I wasn't the only one whose attitude had changed.
“What’s wrong?”
“...It’s nothing.”
It was obvious she had something to say, but Yoo Ah-rin eventually just turned her head away quietly.
She had been like this for the past two days we spent in the Białowieża Forest, so I wasn't particularly surprised or anything.
At this point, I just let it be.
More importantly, when I tried to talk to her during my night watch yesterday, she had avoided me by going straight into her tent.
By now, even the most clueless person would have realized that Yoo Ah-rin was intentionally avoiding me.
But I felt it was unfair.
I hadn't done anything to deserve being disliked...
‘...Ah.’
At that moment, I remembered touching Yoo Ah-rin’s chest in the dungeon.
At the time, I thought she didn't seem to mind, but the thought began to creep in that maybe I had been mistaken.
I sighed inwardly.
‘...I should probably apologize.’
My head suddenly a mess, I lightly stroked Lucifer’s hair and turned my gaze out the window.
Despite the tightness in my chest, the carriage sped coolly through the dark city.
Before long, it came to a stop in front of the cathedral.
*
A young nun on duty smiled gently.
“The Strag Tiger’s fang has been confirmed.”
Ting—
「You have passed the 8th floor test.」
「You have acquired the right to enter the 9th floor.」
「Rewards will be distributed according to contribution.」
「Contribution Ranking」
「1. Yoo Ah-rin」
「2. Lee Serin」
「3. Wi Ryeong-ah」
「4. Kang Hyun-woo」
「4. Lucy」
「Kang Hyun-woo has forfeited his reward. The reward will be distributed equally among the party members.」
「Lucy has forfeited her reward. The reward will be distributed equally among the party members.」
“Congratulations on passing the 8th floor test. Would you like to use the portal right away?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Having safely passed the 8th floor test, we followed the nun’s guidance deeper into the cathedral.
Lee Serin’s joyful voice didn’t reach my ears.
It was because I had just discovered a truth far more shocking.
‘...The weakness of this innocent-looking nun is her ass?’
I rubbed my eyes and looked again at the back of the nun walking ahead of us.
Her swaying hips were enveloped in a powerful pink aura.
It was on par with, if not greater than, Yoo Ah-rin’s.
What was more serious was that she wasn't the only one.
Celis Cathedral was large, and there were many clerics on duty. About half of the nuns I made eye contact with as we walked down the corridor had their anus as an erogenous zone.
‘...Does this even make sense?’
Even seeing it with my own two eyes, I couldn't easily believe it.
Unless they were all getting together for some anal training instead of praying, this was an impossible situation.
Just as I was dumbfounded by the shock that struck my head...
“You may all enter together.”
The nun smiled kindly and bowed politely.
But my mind was filled with the urge to strip her clothes off right then and there and check if she had a dildo in her ass.
Crunch—
Succeeding in suppressing my desire by biting my tongue, I gave a short nod and stepped onto the portal.
Whaaaaaam—
The portal activated, emitting a pure white light, and my vision began to blur.
But until the very last moment, I watched the nun with a look of lingering regret.
For a mage, resisting intellectual curiosity wasn't just an ordeal; it was tantamount to going against instinct.
It was like a pine processionary caterpillar refusing to eat pine needles and forcing itself to eat malatang instead.
“May blessings be upon your future.”
Fwoosh—
˙
˙
˙
Ting—
「Welcome to the City of Proof, ‘Tescarr’.」
As I opened my eyes amidst the familiar sensation of floating, an unfamiliar landscape unfolded before me.
It was the central plaza of Tescarr, where players gathered to head to the 10th floor.
Unlike Sanctelium, the plaza was bustling with people even though night was falling.
They seemed to be visitors to the night market that filled the plaza's outer edges.
“You all worked hard. Should we find a place to stay first? Or get dinner?”
“Let’s get a room first. Last time we took our time and almost got into trouble because there were no rooms left.”
“I agree.”
“I’m fine with whatever.”
Excluding the silent Yoo Ah-rin, it was unanimous.
We immediately left the plaza and headed for the main street.
I had no intention of staying in a cheap inn at this point, so I planned to check out the biggest hotel in Tescarr first.
Just as we were crossing through the bustling night market...
“Wow... Hyun-woo, look at that...!”
“What is it?”
“It’s a lizard with wings!”
I looked where Lee Serin was pointing and saw a street vendor with a winged lizard in a cage.
“You find that amazing?”
“In a way, a dragon is just a lizard with wings, right? Think of it as a baby dragon.”
“...”
Hmm, thinking of it that way, it did seem a little amazing.
As expected, everything feels different depending on how you look at the world.
“Then is that a grilled baby dragon skewer?”
“...”
Right next to the stall, a friendly-looking man was grilling a winged lizard until it was golden brown.
It seemed quite popular, as there was a decent line of people.
“Should we get one?”
“N-no, I’m good...”
Lee Serin shook her head vehemently, a look of lost appetite on her face.
This moment of relative peace was short-lived.
Murmur, murmur—
—Wow, what’s with them? Are they celebrities?
—Idiot. There are no celebrities in the Tower.
—No, fuck, I mean from the world they came from.
—Damn... she’s gorgeous.
—...The guy’s handsome too. You think he’s a noble?
—Ha, I’m so fucking jealous.
—Hey, owner, five glasses of bleach over here.
Perhaps because our party’s average appearance was excessively high, people’s gazes poured down on us like a rain of arrows.
Normally, I wouldn’t have paid it any mind, but...
“...Hyun-woo.”
Grip—
Lee Serin clutched my sleeve.
Her small hand was trembling slightly.
As if her past had left her with trauma, she was afraid of excessive attention and stares from people.
“It’s okay, noona.”
Saaaa—
I smiled faintly and scattered my killing intent in all directions.
It was a warning.
Even if they didn’t understand its meaning, any player who had reached the 9th floor would instinctively want to get away.
—...Why is it so cold all of a sudden?
—I feel weird too... Let’s just go.
—Hey, hey, stop staring and hurry up.
—Why? When else are we gonna get a chance to—
—Just shut up and come on!!
Before long, the gazes directed at us vanished one by one, and the path ahead of us cleared.
Swoosh—
I covered Lee Serin’s eyes with one hand.
“Hold onto my clothes and follow me. I’ll catch you if you feel like you’re going to fall, so don’t worry.”
“...Okay.”
Tsk.
Lucifer clicked her tongue briefly.
But regardless, Lee Serin’s cheeks were flushed bright red.
While escorting her, I simultaneously extended my right arm to the side.
Smack!!
In that instant, I caught a needle flying toward my temple between my fingers.
A dark green liquid was smeared on its tip.
“...Hyun-woo? What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
When I paused for a moment, Lee Serin tilted her head.
Crack—
“Just that the welcoming party seems a bit rough.”