Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Chapter 175
The giant tightening his grip on the hammer as if about to charge at any moment.
Just as Nam-gung Cheon said, the aura felt from him was extraordinary.
Tremble-
Even the supreme-grade spirits guarding Austin trembled, overwhelmed by that momentum.
Austin hastily raised both hands to express he had no hostility.
"Please calm down. We didn't come to fight you."
However, the giant was obstinate.
"I don't care about your objectives. What's important is that one of you trespassed into my workshop without permission, and because of that, my crafting was interrupted."
He had deployed appropriate barriers and spells near the workshop, taking measures so animals or monsters couldn't lose their way and approach even by chance.
He had also kindly written words prohibiting entry in the Tower's common language so intelligent beings would understand and turn back.
But that trespasser deliberately broke through all those obstacles to come near the cave and provoked him.
This was intentional, not a mistake, so he couldn't let it slide.
Austin bowed his head as if understanding that sentiment.
"Yes, we came to apologize for that regrettable incident. And also to make your acquaintance while we're at it."
"Acquaintance, for what business?"
"If it's business worth making acquaintance with and asking a blacksmith, there's only one thing. Namely, crafting Excalibur."
The goal of visiting the 50th floor, and crafting Excalibur, the most important item in this World Quest.
However, hearing those words, the giant only tilted his head.
"You all?"
"Yes."
The giant swept his gaze over the Reverse Heaven Society members one by one, then frowned sharply.
"There's no one among you capable of wielding that sword?"
"How could that be? Zieg here is a paladin born with aptitude for holy swords."
Austin pointed to Zieg standing beside him and explained, but the giant shook his head.
"I don't care about aptitude or whatever, you're all pathetically weak. You don't have the qualifications to hold that sword."
"But Lady Vivian certainly......"
When So-yul mentioned Vivian, the giant picked his ear with his finger and acted knowing.
"Vivian? Ah, you mean that immature child? Though I cherish and respect that child, no one in the world can force me to do anything. I won't make it unless they have strength befitting the weapon."
The giant remained unmoved even when selling Vivian's name, who has the most famous and powerful authority on this 50th floor.
So-yul tried to persuade him once more.
"If you're impressive enough to take Queen Vivian's words lightly, you naturally know the current situation here, right?"
"Of course I do. I hear the circulation of spirit power has stopped and many spirits and creatures are suffering."
"Then why!"
Even at So-yul's plaintive cry, the giant only answered indifferently.
"Why indeed. All these phenomena are a kind of test overseen by the Tower. Would it be right for me, who's not even an administrator, to interfere arbitrarily in that test?"
His words were correct.
"But still."
She heard from Seo-jin that Circe secretly helped.
The matter from when So-yul and Seo-jin first met, when they caught the Thousand-Eyed Demon Tree.
However.
'No. Now that I think about it carefully......'
Whether because of Circe's help, a demon's fragment was discovered under the demon tree's roots, and perhaps because of that, Seo-jin was also seriously injured.
This time would probably be the same.
If they receive the blacksmith's help, there's a possibility this World Quest will become much more difficult.
Then Austin asked the giant a question.
"Then I have one question. I understand that only you can craft Excalibur, the core item of this quest. Is that correct?"
"That's right."
At least on this 50th floor.
Originally, this lake's holy sword is a divine object that should have appeared on much higher floors if judged by rank alone.
The only one here with the ability to forge this sword is him.
Austin continued questioning.
"Then isn't your interference in the World Quest definite? In this situation, talking about interference in the test seems inconsistent."
"Not necessarily. If it's someone with strength the Tower can accept, there'd be no problem even if I give a little help. So I'll only make the sword for a powerhouse I can acknowledge."
The giant confidently crossed his arms, telling them to gain his acknowledgment.
......What kind of sophistry is this?
Austin gave up on further persuasion and raised his magic power.
"In the end...... you're telling us to defeat you and prove ourselves."
Shing-
At the same time, other members took out their weapons one by one.
Everyone except Nam-gung Cheon, who was half a corpse, took combat stances.
Feeling their momentum, the giant smiled with satisfaction and opened his mouth.
"Kukuk, I won't tell you to defeat me. Because no one can beat me. Just meeting my standards is enough."
"Then that's even better. I'll step forward first."
Austin took one step forward.
***
[Haa. Haa.]
The endlessly spread snowfield also disappeared, and the fiercely blowing blizzard ceased.
Glize, who had poured out attacks ceaselessly for days, had exhausted all her magic power.
Her contract with Seo-jin, who supplied magic power, was severed, and due to the barrier, she couldn't draw in external spirit power either.
This was all a predetermined future.
Seo-jin looked at Glize, who had collapsed on the floor with her strength drained, and asked.
"So, has your anger subsided somewhat?"
Since she poured out attacks indiscriminately for days, he hoped her anger had cooled.
Seo-jin also couldn't endure any more than this.
The cold was one thing, but he was hungry.
Glize looked at Seo-jin and asked in a powerless voice.
[......What do you want? Do you want me to continue being your slave?]
"If I wanted that, I wouldn't have severed the necromancy contract with you. I could just keep using you as is."
[.......]
"Then let me ask you in return. While climbing the tower with me, did you see no hope at all from us humans?"
[Hope, what I saw were only other results of destruction born from each one's selfishness. No different from the Land of Ice.]
Each floor of the Tower has its own problems.
Though there are disasters originating from each floor's unique natural environment or administrators, there were also countless disasters originating from the selfishness of the human species.
This wasn't much different from the reason Primgard turned into a Land of Ice.
Their selfishness gives birth to violence and war, and eventually destroys even the ground they stand on, leading everyone to the path of destruction.
That is the predetermined ending for humans and their subspecies.
To this answer from Glize, Seo-jin asked once more.
"I won't deny that fact. But did you only see human selfishness there?"
Seo-jin's eyes coldly sunken.
Glize silently met his gaze, then slightly averted her eyes.
[.......]
"That can't be true. You must have seen it too. That there are also many humans striving for a better future, like the young leader of the Citadel."
Unlike Glize who averted her gaze, Seo-jin looked at her with endlessly upright eyes.
"I won't say you must cooperate. Just continuing to watch is enough. Not as the previous slave contract, but in the relationship between spirit and spiritualist."
[Fine...... But if I wish it, that contract will be terminated anytime.]
"Do as you wish."
***
"What's this now?"
It was when Seo-jin newly contracted with Glize and returned to the lodgings.
He definitely felt signs of people, but everyone was still.
"Ugh......"
"It hurts......"
All the members were lying in their respective beds, groaning.
He ordered them to clear some quests while he was away—did they all go on strike together?
It was when Seo-jin was looking at his whimpering teammates with questioning eyes.
"Ah, you're out?"
"What on earth happened?"
So-yul, who at least had her wits about her, staggered and crawled outside.
After hearing the full story, Seo-jin looked toward the room where Nam-gung Cheon was sprawled and chuckled.
"So you all got dragged into that bastard's foolishness together."
"Yes, we all attacked together but stood no chance."
"Of course."
The name of the Great Being that So-yul and the members faced was Thormund.
He was a powerful warrior who originated as a supreme-grade spirit of earth and inscribed his name in [Valhalla].
Spirits should originally belong to Avalon, but Thormund inscribed his name in Valhalla due to his passion for martial arts.
A being on par with Talis, who taught Se-yeon on the 12th floor.
Unlike Talis, he doesn't possess an administrator's authority, but even so, being called a Great Being is no empty title.
He's not an opponent that members who are merely around level 500 could defeat even if they joined forces.
So-yul said while collapsed powerlessly on the table.
"I'm sorry. For ruining things......"
"Not particularly. We would have had to face him at least once anyway."
"......Wouldn't we not need to if Lady Vivian introduced us?"
She thought Vivian's introduction fell through because of the members' hasty judgment.
To this, Seo-jin shook his head.
"Just because we receive an introduction doesn't mean he'll immediately make Excalibur. It gives us the 'opportunity' to face him."
Thormund gives a test, and only makes weapons for those who possess strength that meets his eyes.
But those with wicked hearts don't even gain the right to take his test.
He just beats them to near-death on sight.
Francesca not even being able to moan, having become virtually a corpse, is probably because she has the highest wickedness among the members.
From that perspective, Seo-jin commanding Glize through a necromancy contract could be seen as a wicked act that irritates Thormund, who is also of spirit origin, in his eyes.
So Vivian had advised him to resolve that problem first.
Even if Seo-jin isn't someone with a wicked heart, it could become troublesome if he falls out of favor with that fastidious fellow.
Seo-jin smiled looking at the drooping So-yul.
"Just think of it as a good experience. Didn't your spirit affinity increase a bit from being beaten?"
"Ah, Austin said something like that too. Though I don't really feel it."
Thormund's test.
Instead of the extreme pain he grants by pounding people with his hammer, he bestows the blessing of increased spirit affinity.
Actually, rather than a blessing, it's closer to forcibly awakening them by stimulating the nervous system under the skin with spirit power.
The nervous system that received a heavy load while being beaten absorbs surrounding magic power and strength for recovery.
This interacts with the spirit power abundant on this 50th floor, resulting in increased spirit affinity.
A primitive but certain method.
Moreover, beating them so bones don't break while stimulating the nervous system, and ensuring good recovery, requires tremendous skill.
He's not a warrior of Valhalla for nothing.
It was when Seo-jin and So-yul were having a brief conversation.
Pop-
With bright light, a fairy appeared in midair.
The queen's messenger, Pickle.
He came after hearing news that Seo-jin had emerged from the training ground.
[You're out! Her Majesty said to hurry and go see that person.]
Seeing how he sent Pickle as soon as he learned Seo-jin came out, she seemed to want Seo-jin to immediately go to Thormund and settle matters.
She must be quite nervous.
Then Pickle took out a letter from his chest and handed it to Seo-jin.
[And this is a letter of recommendation. It'll prove that you all worked hard clearing quests for us spirits. Her Majesty said it'll be better if you show this to that person. Then I'll be going......]
"Hmm."
Pickle trying to run away after handing over the letter of recommendation.
Having received the letter, Seo-jin caught the fleeing Pickle.
Grab-
[Wh-what? Why!]
"You're trying to send only me? You need to guide the way."
[Just ask your companions! Let go!]
Pickle struggled in resistance, but Seo-jin didn't easily let him go.
"Can't you see all my companions are half-corpse? Guide me."
***
Seo-jin safely arrived at Thormund's cave with Pickle's guidance.
Pickle ran away as if approaching closer to the cave was dangerous.
[I, I can't approach any further!]
"This is enough. Good work."
Only then did Seo-jin release Pickle and stand alone before the cave entrance.
Soon.
Thoom-
A spirit of tremendous size came out of the cave, looked down at Seo-jin, and his eyes gleamed.
"Hoho, so it's you. The leader of those fools."