Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Chapter 167
"Hmm."
A beautiful young man with sculpted features gazed at the people before him with a contemplative sound.
Arms crossed with an enigmatic expression, he was Nimrod, administrator of the Tower.
After long deliberation, he opened his lips toward Seo-jin and the Reverse Heaven Society members, as well as the strategy team members.
"Certainly an unexpected result, but at this point, it's not even surprising."
Though the 38th floor trial had ended with only one totem remaining, the result was completely different from Nimrod's intentions.
He had wanted the Reverse Heaven Society and the strategy team to clash dramatically in this trial, with a clear victor and loser.
That would have been far more entertaining to watch.
But the actual trial result could, in a way, be considered a draw.
They had certainly met the condition by leaving only one totem as Nimrod specified.
However, the last remaining totem was a fusion of the original sixteen totems combined into one.
So it was difficult to determine which team it belonged to.
Perhaps Nova had asked about the victory criteria in case of a draw before the trial for this very reason.
And this meant.
'It could be seen that he intended this result from before the trial even began.'
It was a moment when his certainty about Seo-jin's identity became even more solid.
Lost in deep thought, Nimrod shrugged his shoulders.
'Well, the current result isn't so bad either.'
Regardless of Nimrod's intentions, Nova had resolved the 38th floor's problem at a fundamental level.
This was an interesting result in its own right.
'In a way, this is similar to what happened in Atlantis.'
The method of forcibly reconciling conflicts between natives and solving problems by encouraging expansion outward.
Because they couldn't solve the natives' internal problems from within.
'The solution is always on the outside.'
Whether it was creating new wealth through Neptune mining development in Atlantis, or the 38th floor natives going to the surface to create new wealth.
The forms were different, but the principle was the same.
The only way to solve internal problems that had festered beyond repair was expansion outward and the opening of new horizons that came with it.
This was proven by the history of countless empires that had risen and fallen throughout human history.
Territorial expansion, opening of trade routes, industrial revolutions.
Whether conquering wider lands to collect taxes, finding new goods to trade and expanding colonies, or pioneering markets through revolutions in production and technology.
The forms were different, but the principle was identical.
'Expansion outward and pioneering new horizons.'
As long as human behavior was based on "the expansion of self-interest," solving problems through distribution and mediation was impossible anyway.
'A tomorrow better than yesterday, a life for future generations better than one's current self.'
This was another desire called hope.
Only the satisfaction of that endless desire could solve problems.
Well, to be precise, it was more like postponement than resolution.
'Continuously developing and postponing problems at hand might be the ideal that human history should pursue.'
And in that sense, the "Tower" was already a new horizon for expansion for humanity, which had consumed all of Earth's resources.
Nimrod stopped thinking at that point and opened his mouth.
"It's difficult to determine victory or defeat by existing standards, so I intend to leave the judgment to the will of the Tower. Any objections?"
At his question, Ju Won-jae answered instead.
"No need. We lost."
As Ju Won-jae readily admitted defeat, Nimrod smiled.
"If you admit it yourself, nothing could be cleaner. Then I shall grant privileges to the victorious Reverse Heaven Society."
Fwaaah-.
As Nimrod extended his hand, brilliant beams of light shone down on Seo-jin and the Reverse Heaven Society members.
Along with that, notification windows appeared before everyone in the Reverse Heaven Society.
[You have acquired the trait 'Homeostasis (恒常性)'.]
"What kind of trait is this?"
At Nam-gung Cheon's question, Nimrod spoke.
"The effect is exactly as the name suggests. Though climbers are beings who ascend the Tower, from each floor's perspective, you're no different from external invaders. Thus, just as the body blocks invading germs, they have been rejecting you, and you must have experienced various difficulties."
"Well, that's true."
The forms of that rejection were varied.
First, the different mana concentrations on each floor.
A climber's body received heavy loads while adapting to different mana concentrations on each floor. That process had considerable impact on skills and mana operation effects.
The effect was even greater for mages who were sensitive to surrounding mana concentrations.
Additionally, the hostility of natives, difficulties in language communication, and the hostile actions of demons governing each floor were also types of rejection shown to outsiders.
"This new trait will greatly help your adaptation. You'd better experience and understand the details directly."
"Mm."
Even Seo-jin, who was encountering this type of trait for the first time, didn't know the details, but it seemed to be a trait that greatly increased adaptability to each floor.
Ting-.
Along with that, notification windows appeared one after another.
[Tower climbing quest has been completed.]
[You have cleared an achievement.]
[You have acquired the right to climb to the 39th floor.]
[You have opened the 39th floor for the first time.]
[Achievement accomplished: 'Frontier']
[Achievement accomplished: 'New Humanity']
These were achievements and rewards earned by clearing the 38th floor quest.
Clap-.
As Seo-jin was checking the notification window, Nimrod's applause suddenly rang out.
"Good. Then I shall open the path to the 39th floor. Will you ascend immediately?"
Seo-jin slowly shook his head.
"No, I'll postpone it for a moment."
Because time was needed until the 38th floor matters were settled. Delaying the climb by a few days wouldn't be a major problem.
Until the Reverse Heaven Society, which had obtained the first opening rights, went up, no one else could ascend, so there was no risk of others claiming items or dungeons first.
Nimrod greeted them with a smile.
"Well, do as you wish. Then I shall take my leave. May you have a pleasant climb."
***
"We shall conduct the final revival ritual."
The Great Cavity.
Under Seo-jin's attendance and Remus's guidance, the final revival ritual of the underground world began.
This was the revival ritual for those who had died in this war between the Reverse Heaven Society and the strategy team.
Even if they prohibited revival rituals from now on, properly settling the affairs caused by climbers was the right course of action.
Shwaaaa-.
Mana gathered in the Primordial Totem.
Replicated consciousnesses were granted to Clay Dolls molded from Magical Clay, and those who had died began to regain consciousness and rise one by one.
"Th-they're waking up!"
"Waaah!"
Natives who rushed over in a single step and embraced their revived family members, crying at the revival of those who had died.
"......"
Seo-jin watched them embracing each other with complicated feelings.
'Even if replicated and false, if only they are satisfied, doesn't that not matter?'
Both for the families and for the individuals themselves.
As long as they didn't realize it themselves, perhaps there was no need to care whether it was fake or real.
What was important to them was simply that their loved ones had returned, and that they could see their precious people again.
Various thoughts arose, but Seo-jin slowly shook his head.
'...However, they cannot live forever trapped in the past.'
If he allowed the revival ritual to continue existing, even those living on the surface might turn their eyes back to the underground.
Dying during a hunt, having an accident, getting caught up in some conflict, and so on. Death was inevitable.
And then, someone would wish for the revival of a beloved person, even if it meant abandoning all the abundance of the surface and returning underground.
'This would lead to restarting the vicious cycle that was barely broken.'
Then, pitiful replicated Clay Dolls trapped underground would just continue to be mass-produced.
When the Clay Dolls underground increased beyond what surface dwellers could support, a hellscape no different from before Seo-jin's arrival would unfold once again.
A hellscape of not moving forward but being trapped in the past and endlessly repeating combat.
Of course, such a thing wouldn't happen while the brothers Romulus and Remus remained, but there was no guarantee future generations would remain so resolute.
So after this revival, he would destroy the Primordial Totem.
And this underground world would disappear forever once all the natives currently living died natural deaths.
That was the only way to break this land's vicious cycle.
"The repetition of a vicious cycle."
Seo-jin murmured thus and fell into thought again.
He had no intention or qualification to blame them for touching the revival ritual knowing it was a vicious cycle.
Eternal life was the most primal yet most intense desire.
It wasn't only the natives who wished for the revival of loved ones even at the cost of abandoning everything.
'I'm no different from them.'
Perhaps Seo-jin's regression miracle was also no different from the natives' revival ritual.
Regression too was a ritual of reversing heaven, born from the desire to change the existing history met with death and reverse everything.
Because in terms of rejecting proper providence to fulfill personal desires, they were identical.
Moreover,
'The natives' revival isn't true revival but replication.'
Similarly, there was no guarantee the current Seo-jin was the same as the Seo-jin before regression.
Only Seo-jin's continuous memories proved this.
Seo-jin quietly left after watching the final revival ritual with various thoughts.
***
The Reverse Heaven Society remained on the 38th floor for several more days, helping the natives settle on the surface and stabilizing the chaos.
They transmitted basic knowledge like farming methods, reading the stars, and making cement, and organized systematic structures so disorder wouldn't easily arise.
Right now, control was smooth since they were drunk with joy at coming to the surface, but since the natives had been divided and fighting for such a long time, it wouldn't be strange if they split apart and caused disorder among themselves at any time.
As mentioned before, Romulus and Remus's role was heavy.
Because they had to maintain and mediate exchanges between the surface and underground worlds while preventing disorder in each world.
***
At dawn. The landing of the cave connecting the surface and underground.
Before departing for the next floor, Seo-jin called the two brothers and asked as if cautioning them.
"Your shoulders are heavy. Can you do it?"
At that question, Remus answered with a smile.
"It's not that we can do it so we do it. We do it because we must."
Seo-jin nodded as if praising them.
"That's a good mindset."
Who would take on work overflowing with confidence they could do it? Everyone just did their best in their assigned place.
Romulus asked Seo-jin.
"A-are you leaving?"
"Yes, but I'll drop by often. If you're not doing your work properly, I'll let you taste lightning in heaven's place."
Crackle-.
Lightning sparking from Seo-jin's fingertips.
Having already experienced Seo-jin's Heaven's Thunder, Romulus swallowed and backed away.
"I-I'll pass on that."
"Heh. Then I'll be going."
Seo-jin chuckled at that sight and headed toward the waiting party.
The friendly So-yul waved her hand, offering a final greeting to the brothers.
"I'll come back soon! Take care until then!"
The two brothers bowed their heads toward the departing Seo-jin and Reverse Heaven Society party.
Fwaaah-.
Soon, brilliant light enveloped them along with the teleportation stone.
The saviors had disappeared from where the light vanished.
They vanished like phantoms, just as they had come.
Truly saviors from beyond the heavens (天外).
The two brothers tightened their clasped hands as they looked at their empty space.
"From now on, we must do it, Romulus."
"Yeah, brother."
They had ended the long war with their help, but from now on, it was up to those who remained.
The brothers who had become a bridge connecting two worlds steeled their resolve as they gazed at the brightening sky.