Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Worm
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Arrogance.
It means haughty and presumptuous.
Just like its name, this tower was truly arrogant.
For starters, it didn't focus on the challengers climbing it.
The only way to ascend was through Kankun and Adora.
Procuring sacred relics, raising those two, and hunting floor guardians—that was the sole path to the next level.
The problem was that as you climbed higher, even acquiring those relics became a grueling task.
'That's why you have to become their closest confidants.'
Only by becoming their inner circle and overcoming trials together could you obtain higher-grade relics.
And even that required them to 'yield' them to you.
Everyone else was just an extra.
In short...
'If you don't win over Kankun and Adora, you can't climb the tower.'
Displaying relics?
No matter how many you showed off, becoming a confidant was still a long shot.
It was just one of many ways, but the real key was 'how' you won their favor.
Kankun valued bravery.
He tended to reward the hardy warriors who followed him.
But their numbers were extremely limited.
And even those few were ruthlessly discarded if they became a hindrance or a burden on higher floors.
The real issue was Adora.
Unlike Kankun, she'd never kept even a single person by her side.
She climbed the tower in stoic solitude.
No matter the achievements or powerful relics displayed, she never allowed anyone to stand beside her.
That was why...
...Park Chan-woo's current situation felt nothing short of miraculous.
"Is this enough?"
Adora asked, gripping a single spear.
A bluish glow emanated from the divine relic embedded in the spear's tip.
It was obtained by slaying the mountain-sized 'Muscle Spider King.'
"More than enough."
As Park Chan-woo nodded, Adora placed the spear in his hands.
In that instant.
A barrage of messages flooded in.
Park Chan-woo smiled inwardly.
'The Tower of Arrogance isn't a place for challengers to hunt.'
The real hunting was done by Kankun and Adora.
Especially Adora—she was quite proactive about acquiring relics.
She thought Park Chan-woo was sacrificing himself to help her.
'There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.'
Of course, Park Chan-woo had no intention of refusing the relics Adora handed him on a silver platter.
He opened his mouth wide like a baby bird and eagerly devoured them.
This was the true way to conquer the 'Tower of Arrogance.'
Here, challengers had to abandon any notion of forcing their way through.
They needed to thoroughly embrace being mere sidekicks.
Trust that Kankun and Adora would handle everything!
That very 'arrogance' was the secret to monopolizing the rewards.
Park Chan-woo had resolved to be a perfect supporting character.
All he did was entrust everything to Adora, clasp her hand occasionally, and help her dominate death.
"...I'm starting to understand now. That I haven't truly dominated 'death' yet."
Adora was changing too.
Each time she held Park Chan-woo's hand, she gained new insights into the 'mechanics of death.'
'I knew nothing at all.'
Adora had no choice but to admit it.
She'd been utterly ignorant about herself.
To her, death was as natural as breathing. She'd never bothered to learn how to breathe.
But it wasn't complete yet.
Only when she could do it without making Park Chan-woo faint could she claim to truly dominate 'death.'
"You can do it."
Simple words, almost curt.
But Park Chan-woo meant them from the heart.
In truth, it was all he could do.
Yet sometimes, such encouragement became immense strength for someone.
'I can do it...'
Was it really possible?
Could she truly dominate 'death' completely?
Doubts crept in, but strangely, she felt empowered.
It was a peculiar sensation.
Adora had never received encouragement from anyone before.
'Even the Black Witch never taught me about death.'
The mother of all witches, the Black Witch, was the same.
She was strict.
She taught black magic, instilled what witches must never do, and pushed Adora to her limits.
The other witches and grand witches?
They just watched from afar and sneered.
To witches, 'death' was the ultimate curse.
Even the sovereigns of powerful black magic couldn't escape it.
So, naturally, it was their greatest fear.
That was why.
No one approached Adora.
No encouragement, no comfort, no cheers.
Someone sacrificing for her?
She'd never experienced that.
Just possessing emotions would have gotten her exiled forever.
Witch society was that unforgiving.
'I will dominate death.'
Adora thought.
She would no longer be swayed by it.
She would conquer it completely and subjugate it beneath her!
...Then she'd never regret again.
"...This is ridiculous."
And from afar, 'Han Shin' watched the scene.
It was truly absurd.
He'd never felt this level of disbelief in his life.
A man in bizarre mage robes suddenly appeared beside Adora, monopolizing the relics.
Even when Han Shin had displayed five relics, Adora hadn't spared him a word.
He had no idea why she'd suddenly let this guy stick around, but what was even stranger was Adora personally hunting relics and handing them over.
Like a mother bird feeding her chick.
The guy just thoroughly gobbled them up.
This wasn't even a free ride—it transcended that.
It was like a jet, no, a rocket.
And with those devoured relics, he'd replaced every single one Han Shin had displayed.
It was better when his arrangements in the 'Audience Dungeon' got stolen.
That had just piqued his curiosity.
How they'd stolen it. Who the culprit was.
But this... this defied Han Shin's comprehension entirely.
"What the hell is that bastard?"
"He's not doing jack and hogging everything?"
"Someone explain!"
The onlookers vented their frustrations one after another.
From the relic swaps, it was clear he was a fellow challenger, yet he contributed nothing while claiming all the rewards.
Then Han Shin spotted the man suddenly grasping Adora's hand.
'Why's he holding her hand?'
He clasped it occasionally, closed his eyes...
And collapsed onto the massive muscle spider's corpse like he was napping.
That was the extent of his "actions."
Han Shin couldn't fathom why he did it, or why Adora tolerated the handshake.
His abilities didn't work within Adora's radius, so he was clueless.
'A fellow black mage?'
Still, Adora's 'death' was immensely threatening.
This guy withstood it point-blank.
So he must possess a class in the black magic lineage.
"If you have a class related to darkness or death, you can approach Adora."
Han Shin declared firmly.
He was the one who'd secured five relics solo.
His words sparked agreement among the crowd.
"So you're immune to Adora's 'curse'?"
"Exactly. Like that guy. That's probably how you become Adora's confidant."
"Like that guy..."
All eyes turned to the man—Park Chan-woo—lying there, protected by Adora, living the high life.
Monopolizing every relic solo—it was insanely enviable.
On higher floors, he'd hog even more coins and rewards, no doubt.
Soon, one man stepped forward.
"I'll give it a shot."
He was bald with impressive muscles.
Dressed in black martial robes, he wielded the 'Demonkin' class.
If Adora's curse spared those with darkness or death classes, he could get close and become a confidant.
"I'll join you."
"Three's better than two."
A party formed in an instant.
All with dark-affinity classes.
Greed burned in their eyes.
If Han Shin was right, boldly approaching Adora would bring overwhelming wealth.
Success in the Tower of Arrogance meant triumph upon returning to Korea.
The fortune and power they'd wield was beyond imagination.
'One coin's worth at least ten billion.'
'Stick by Adora, and you're set for life.'
'Worth risking it all!'
Just standing nearby granted coins.
Snuggle up and share relics, and you'd rake in a fortune.
In Korea, coins traded for at least 10 billion each—and supply couldn't meet demand.
'Hogging it all solo?'
'No way we're letting that slide.'
'That guy glued to Adora? He does nothing—must be a nobody.'
So how infuriating must that man's freeloading be?
He really looked like a pushover.
All he did beside Adora was sleep.
First-mover advantage.
A nobody hiding the strategy, claiming every benefit solo.
Finally, the three men stepped into Adora's domain.
"Oh...!"
"No curse!"
The crowd's eyes widened.
Entering Adora's 'curse domain' caused instant skin necrosis.
Yet all three were unscathed.
Ecstatic grins spread across their faces.
Just as Han Shin said—Adora checked class affinities.
She spared those like her.
They strode boldly toward Adora.
Once close, they alternated glances between Park Chan-woo and Adora, dropped to one knee, and pleaded with formal bows.
"Great Witch of Death, Adora! Accept us as your confidants!"
"We're far more useful than that guy!"
"We're certain we're much more capable than that worthless worm who does nothing!"