Chapter 121: 27th Floor: End of the Commoner Experience
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: 27th Floor: End of the Commoner Experience
And so, the frenzied night of the fourth day ended, and the fifth day began.
And they noticed something was off.
"What's this? Why do I feel stronger than usual?"
"I've gotten incredibly strong."
They hadn't noticed it with just the tavern guests, but with their fellow hole-sharers nearby, their stats shot up by an additional 300%.
With an additional 300% increase, they were nearly four times stronger.
They might not have noticed yesterday since they were drunk and groggy, but when they woke up this morning, they had become superhumans. It was impossible not to notice.
Strength and defense were one thing, but once agility passed a certain threshold, the world itself looked different, so it was bound to be obvious.
'Shit.'
If I didn't do something about this, someone was going to come investigating. I couldn't reveal it was the "hole-sharing" ability, so I told them a slightly embellished story.
"What? The princess had such an ability?"
I made up a lie about receiving the "blessing" of a life goddess in some ancient ruins as a child.
The proof?
"This is the proof."
The indelible womb tattoo was the proof.
"Ooh!!"
Max's Inn was open for business.
[Purchase a cream pie and receive the goddess's blessing.]
Might as well use it now that the cat's out of the bag!
*
Day 5.
The cream pies had now become a city-wide sensation, with people lining up to eat them.
Rumors even spread that it made your body stronger, to the point that even the lord's knights and some nobles stopped by. A few of them seemed to recognize my face, tilting their heads as they looked at me.
'Is this really okay...?'
I was nervous about getting caught, but maybe because of the thrill, my pussy was more sensitive than usual and felt everything more intensely.
Day 5, Max's cream pies broke the sales record again!
*
Day 6.
The day before the last.
The city was in an uproar after it was proven that eating the cream pies really did grant a goddess's blessing, but surprisingly, my identity was never discovered.
What? The whore at Max's Inn looks similar to the princess competing to be the Crown Princess?
Even if one or two people recognized me, they'd be met with,
'Why the hell would a princess be whoring herself out here? Are you an idiot? You'll get dragged away if you keep spouting that nonsense, you bastard!'
'Why would a princess be here...'
'Sigh, does that even make sense?'
The rumor was so sensational that no one believed it!
No matter how crazy the world got, with all its baseless rumors and scandals, a preposterous story like 'A princess is working as a whore!' was hard to swallow.
Even if you asked the people who bought the cream pies out of suspicion, they'd say,
'A whore at Max's Inn? There's no one there but the best chef I've ever seen. She's beautiful, too. Some brothel or bakery must be spreading false rumors because their sales are down!'
They were desperately trying to pass it off as a false rumor to avoid getting caught for their adulterous sex, so of course, no real investigation could take place.
And even if someone went to see for themselves, it would end with them thinking,
'Hmm... there's no way a sow-like whore like that is the villainess Kalisha Crawford. She must just be a look-alike.'
Even the intelligence division of the 'Ruler of the Back Alleys,' Elina's backer who fabricated these kinds of scandals, thought the same.
'Haa... you're bringing me this crap as a report? Is this insubordination? You want me to die by reporting this to my superiors, huh?'
The report was shot down at the lower levels long before it could reach the Ruler.
Besides, spreading false rumors about a noble was a serious crime.
Few were willing to risk their lives for a momentary dopamine rush.
'Haha, what were you just saying? I'll pretend I heard nothing.'
'Is this bastard trying to get someone assassinated?!'
'Hmph! The chef at Max's is no such villainess!'
Just as the rumor seemed about to spread, people shut their own mouths.
And in the meantime, Max's Inn broke its cream pie sales record yet again.
*
And so, Day 7.
Unfortunately... no, not at all! Finally, it was time to go home.
The cream pie sales ended yesterday, and now everyone, including me, was packing their things.
How was I getting back?
The method was in the necklace I received when I arrived.
They said the necklace, which had a shield spell embedded in it, would resonate with a warp gate when the time came.
I was told that the necklace would start blinking slowly, then faster and faster, and then I'd be transported. I just needed to be anywhere outdoors with a clear view of the sky.
Right now, it was blinking about once every 20 seconds, and the interval was gradually getting shorter.
The time to return was drawing near.
"My wife has made a full recovery, thanks to you. Looking back, I don't think those guys would have ever paid up. I'm sorry for being so stubborn."
"I'm grateful, too. I've sent enough money to cover my daughter's academy tuition and living expenses for all four years. Even if I die, she'll be able to graduate safely and live a good life."
"Hey, who's talking about dying? As long as you all keep your mouths shut, you'll be fine. So, what are your plans now?"
Come to think of it, how was their evaluation of me going to be scored?
"Ah, we're..."
Just then,
Dong...!!!!
A great bell toll echoed through the city.
And everyone who heard it froze, as if time had stopped.
'What's going on? This is creepy.'
Dong!!!
The bell tolled once more.
'What is it?'
Even without spreading my senses, I could feel something.
The dishes vibrated from the sound of giant, thudding footsteps.
Something was coming this way!
Dong!!!!
Three times.
Hearing that, a few people slowly began to move and were about to say something, when—
Dong!!!!!!
Four times.
The bell had tolled a total of four times.
"......"
Everyone's eyes widened in alarm.
"What in the world is that bell for?"
I asked, frustrated.
It was Max who answered.
"Two tolls means everyone prepare for battle. Three tolls means we need support for a fight to the death."
"But didn't it just ring four times?"
"Four tolls means it's something we can't possibly handle, so..."
"So...?"
"Run, right now—"
Just then,
Thud, thud, thudthudthud!!!
KRA-BOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion shattered the building's windows.
“What in the world is happen—”
I looked out the broken window to see the once-vibrant city in utter chaos.
The towering city walls were crumbling, sending house-sized fragments flying, crushing buildings and the people inside.
'The city wall is broken?'
Embers, the city of adventurers. I knew its walls were 20 meters high and reinforced with all sorts of magic, yet they'd been smashed to pieces.
And through the breach, a colossal figure appeared.
"What in the world is that..."
KUUUWOOOOAAAAAR!!!
I stared at the source of the eardrum-shattering roar.
It was a massive, muscular monster.
It was as tall as the 20-meter walls, and people nearby burst like slimes just from it passing by.
Twenty meters might not sound like much, but seeing it in person was different. It was a horrifying beast, almost on the level of cosmic horror. No, this wasn't just a beast.
A calamity.
A calamitous being had suddenly descended upon the city.
‘This is an event.’
Anyone who's been through enough trials would know what this was.
An event that wasn't related to the ending, but offered rewards you could take back to the real world.
There was no need to participate.
Of course, it might have a small effect on the ending, but it was just one of many factors, not something that would completely change the outcome.
I could survive even if I ran away without fighting.
‘Still, I can't pass up an extra reward.’
I summoned my spear and dashed out.
“Lady Kalisha…!!”
“Ah, Lady Kalisha, where are you going!”
Behind me, Max and the other inn guests watched in shock as I ran off.
“Just wait here. I'll take care of it and be back.”
Combat maid, deploying!
“What?”
“No, what will we do if the princess goes!”
“Please, get to safety!”
Leaving them behind, I headed toward the broken city wall.
‘What a mess.’
The city streets were a scene of pandemonium, filled with fleeing people, the dead, and collapsed buildings.
I moved forward by running across the rooftops, avoiding the people below.
KUUUAAAAAR!!!
I spotted my target, which was committing a massacre rather than fighting a battle.
‘A Giant Ogre? Looks like something of that sort.’
They did say this place bordered the Great Forest, so I guess monsters like that were a relatively common(?) sight here.
The reason I thought it was an ogre was because it had brought dozens of smaller, cute(?) 4-to-5-meter-tall ogres with it, probably its tribe.
They were quickly entering the city and devouring people.
"Kyaaaaaaah!!!"
"H-Help me!!"
Crunch!
‘Seriously, what are these things, giants...’
I was planning a surprise attack, but first, I'd save the people nearby.
“Help!!”
‘Ah…’
I remembered him.
It was a little embarrassing, but he was definitely the one who was pounding my pussy while talking about kneading dough.
Is this what they call post-coital affection?
Strangely, I don't feel any animosity toward people after I've had sex with them.
Whether it started as rape or prostitution, was it because we ultimately became one and reached climax together?
A sense of familiarity?
Most people might see my sex as just physical pleasure, but I don't think so.
My sex is less a physical act and more a spiritual communion.
It's about two people pressing their bodies together and feeling ecstasy.
An act of achieving spiritual elation regardless of appearance, an act of reaching the pinnacle of joy.
The body moves, but what is gained is a spiritual, ecstatic catharsis.
Anyway, what I mean is, I think I'd be a little sad if someone I've been with just up and died.
Tat!
I closed the distance in an instant and leaped toward the ogre's head.
My vision closed in.
I thrust my spear into the head of the ogre, which hadn't even noticed me.
Squelch!!
The ogre's head was pierced, and it died instantly.
“Huk…! Th-Thank... huh? The... waitress from Max's?”
“Aah… ahem, evacuate quickly!”
Embarrassed that he recognized me, I quickly sent him on his way.
After saving a few more people along the way, I finally came face-to-face with the beast.
KUUUAAAAAR!!!
It seemed to have noticed that I killed one of its tribe, and it looked slightly enraged.
‘Wait, this thing is huge.’
An event… this didn't seem like an event boss that should appear on the 27th floor. Is this what an ant feels like in front of a human?
‘Is this… not an event?’
I didn't know. For now,
Fwoooosh!!!
I dodged!
KRA-BOOM!!!
Its fist smashed into the ground, carving a crater where I just stood. A powerful gust of wind and stone fragments blasted toward me, strong enough to send me flying.
An attack using its immense mass.
As I've said before, you should never underestimate foes with massive bodies.
The very fact that they've survived with such a large frame means they've reached a level where they can handle their own weight with complete freedom.
“Kuh… this won't be easy.”
If I took a direct hit from that, even I would be flattened into a pulp.
I tried to put some distance between us, but it covered the space of my dozens of steps in a single stride and stomped down.
KUUUNG!!!
I predicted the location of its foot by its shadow and evaded.
KUUUAAAANG!!!
The massive vibration sent my body flying into the air before I landed.
‘Dammit.’
It wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. However, it was strong enough that I'd have to put my life on the line if I let my guard down.
‘Hoo… right, this is a Tower's Trial. I need to focus.’
I ducked under its feet and ran toward the city wall.
If I fought it here, the whole city would be destroyed.
Nearby, the smaller ogres were fighting with the even smaller humans.
Thanks to the hole-sharer effect, I could see some familiar faces fighting with great success.
I ignored everything else and focused on dodging, trying to grasp its movements.
Can't I just go straight for its head?
‘That would be a little difficult.’
There was no guarantee it was using 100% of its strength yet.
If I charged in recklessly and it suddenly swung its arm, that would be the end. There were no second chances, so I had to be careful.
KWOOOOAAAAR!!
Enraged at the sight of me scurrying away, it started throwing nearby chunks of rock.
SHWUUUUUNG...!!PABABABANG!!!
It sounded like artillery shells were landing all around me.
‘A little more. Get a little angrier.’
To provoke it, I picked up a piece of rock and threw it at its head.
Tuk!
“……”
KWAAAAAAAANG!!!!
Yeah, I'd probably be pretty pissed too if an ant threw something at me.
I could see its face turning bright red.
Like an angry bull, it charged toward me, leveling every building in its path.
Even for me, it was difficult to leap 20 meters in a single bound and attack. I could make the jump, but the problem was I couldn't generate enough meaningful velocity to actually harm it.
And there was one more problem.
Time.
The blinking of my necklace was getting faster and faster, meaning the warp gate was slowly opening.
That's why I lured it here.
Near the city wall it had broken through.
Tadadadat!
I quickly ran straight up the wall.
The moment the Giant Ogre's attack came flying, I kicked off the wall, leaned my upper body back, and jumped.
KWAAANG!!
Using the shockwave from the destroyed wall as propulsion, I twisted my body and flew toward the beast.
And in the brief moment the Giant Ogre's hand was stuck in the wall,
I sprinted up its massive forearm with all my might.
I activated all my buffs to the fourth stage and reinforced my body with divine power.
The single strike I'd been waiting for!
“Haaaaaaaap!!!”
As if I expected it, I dodged its other incoming hand with a light jump,
and thrust my spear toward its eye, which was as large as my torso.
Its eye slammed shut in a panic, but my accelerated spear had already pierced through the thick eyelid.
CRUNCH!