Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Chapter 176
At Thormund's question, Seo-jin let out an awkward laugh.
"Idiots... Setting aside that evaluation, it's true that I'm their leader."
"Then you're the Grand Idiot. Still, as the boss, you do seem definitely stronger than those lacking fools."
Thormund looked Seo-jin up and down, gauging his caliber.
In the process, Thormund noticed something peculiar.
"The flow of mana you're holding is quite strange?"
Though he was concealing and hiding his energy well, he couldn't fool Thormund's eyes.
The evil energy invading his entire body through his upper energy center, and the pure energy flowing from his lower energy center, protecting his whole body.
Holding two kinds of energy together in a human body must be quite dangerous.
When Thormund pointed this out, Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
"Is that particularly relevant right now?"
"Of course it is. I'm merciless to those who harbor evil power."
"That's fortunate. I'm not just harboring evil power."
"..."
It was as he said.
Originally, those who touch the power of darkness are bound to be consumed by that power and have even their souls corrupted.
But this human's soul and spirit were infinitely clear, so he was certainly looking in the right direction.
That evil power was probably something he touched to overcome physical limitations, and he must be mixing various powers to endure it.
Though he didn't quite like that he handled Black Magic.
"Good."
If he possessed such an upright soul, it would be worth dealing with him.
Thormund put down the hammer he was holding and clenched his fists.
'Properly, that is.'
Crack-.
"I went easy on your four idiot companions so they wouldn't get seriously hurt. I even personally raised their spirit affinity. But I'll face you seriously. Consider it the price for touching the power of darkness."
Though he was pointing out the dark power Seo-jin harbored, Thormund's eyes were sparkling differently than before.
It felt like finding the perfect sandbag when his body was already itching for action.
Seo-jin scratched his cheek while watching Thormund loosening his joints in various ways, preparing for battle.
"...I'd prefer if you didn't get too serious."
Even for Seo-jin, facing a Great Being coming at him seriously would be difficult.
Far from calculating odds of victory, at best he could only endure or flee.
First, he needed to calm him down.
"Read this."
Before the fight, Seo-jin handed Vivian's letter to Thormund.
It was a letter listing the quests Seo-jin and the Reverse Heaven Society members had cleared on the 50th floor and their accomplishments.
However, Thormund received the letter, read it roughly, then tossed it away.
Then he opened his mouth as if it didn't matter anyway.
"I know you're doing good work. But if you think about it, the disasters of this land could be seen as caused by your tower climbing. Your accomplishments are closer to duty than good deeds. Can you call it a good deed to break a swallow's leg and then fix it again?"
"The disasters here weren't our will."
"I know that much. The tower is that kind of world to begin with. I have no intention of blaming you. But that can't be a reason I should go easy on you."
"..."
Seo-jin inwardly sighed while looking at the stubborn Thormund.
'Can't be helped.'
That muscle brain hadn't changed much from before the regression.
Since he had climbed the tower through the quest Thormund gave when clearing the 50th floor before regression, he knew a bit about him.
Including that he was an unreasonable, obstinate opponent impossible to reason with.
Having organized his thoughts, Seo-jin drew up his power and took a battle stance.
"Then there's nothing more to say. I'll just prove my strength."
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture] [Reverse Root Flood]
Kwaaa-.
Explosive energy bursting from Seo-jin simultaneously with activating Reverse Root Flood.
Feeling that powerful energy, Thormund laughed heartily and spread both arms wide.
"Kahaha! Refreshingly good. Come, let's see what you've got."
***
Some time later.
Thud-. Thud-.
The rainbow bridge leading down to the Crystal Palace under the lake.
[Kiiiek!]
[Run away! It's a ghost, a ghost!]
The clusters of light that had been swimming around the Crystal Palace like schools of fish, chattering away, scattered in all directions in an instant.
A giant earth golem was walking steadily toward the Crystal Palace.
Thormund, warrior of Valhalla.
Having asked guards for directions and reached the lodging where the foreigners resided, he tossed down Seo-jin who had been slung over his shoulder.
"Take him."
"Whoa...!"
So-yul, who happened to be nearby, caught Seo-jin reflexively and looked up at Thormund in a daze.
The Great Being Thormund.
His body, which hadn't shed a single drop of sweat even when all members attacked him simultaneously, was covered in pitch-black scars.
Evidence suggesting the confrontation with Seo-jin had been a tremendous bloody battle.
Other members who noticed the commotion also came outside to check the situation.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"Did the Leader come back?"
Having put Seo-jin down, Thormund shouted in a resonant voice.
To the other members of the Reverse Heaven Society. And boldly to Vivian, who would be watching this scene from the main palace in the distance.
"This human has passed my test. He has splendidly proven his own strength!"
"I-is that true?"
"Of course. His manner of speech was rude, but his actions were manly. He was much stronger than I expected."
Thormund smiled while looking at the pitch-black wounds on his body.
Originally, for spirits, the physical body doesn't have much meaning.
If there's a problem, they can disperse their mana and reconstruct it anytime.
But Thormund, who had walked the path of martial arts and accumulated rank directly in his own body, was different from other spirits.
This wound wasn't a meaningless mark but a real wound.
Of course, it was a shallow wound that would heal before long.
But for someone who had only reached the 50th floor to inflict such scars.
If someone like this would use it, making a sword wouldn't be a waste.
"I got excited and beat him up thoroughly, but there should be no threat to his life."
Then Thormund rummaged through the air and pulled something out to throw.
Clang-.
An object that looked like a blunt iron ingot.
The eyes of members who knew what that object was widened.
"Th-this is...!"
"Sword's Original?"
"Since you gave me an enjoyable battle, consider it a token of gratitude. If you find the blueprint for Excalibur in the future, come find me. Then."
With those final words, Thormund disappeared like the wind.
"..."
Thormund, who came without warning, left only his words and disappeared.
The members alternately looked at his back disappearing in the distance and the unconscious Seo-jin, then suddenly came to their senses and moved Seo-jin to a bed.
***
Several days later.
Awakening from deep sleep, Seo-jin lay in bed and heard the full story from Zieg.
"He carried you here and walked all the way."
"That's right."
It was exactly the kind of handling befitting that muscle brain.
Anyway.
'I don't even have the strength to move a finger.'
Seo-jin looked at his trembling fingers and gave a bitter smile.
After fighting Glize for three days and nights in a barrier filled with nothing but ice, then immediately fighting a monster like Thormund after coming out.
It seemed his body wasn't holding up.
Still, thinking he had achieved his intended purpose, he felt quite satisfied. He had also obtained another Sword's Original.
With this, he should be able to make weapons for Nam-gung Cheon and Zieg.
Just then, Zieg opened his mouth as if something had occurred to him.
"Oh, and Queen Vivian came by yesterday. She also said to come to the audience chamber when you're feeling a bit better."
"Really? Then since I'm awake, I'll go right now."
"Can you walk? It might be better to recuperate a bit more..."
Since Zieg had also been thoroughly beaten by Thormund, he could tell Seo-jin's physical condition.
He wouldn't even have the strength to move a finger.
But Seo-jin only smiled faintly.
"It's fine. Glize will move me."
***
Shortly after, in the audience chamber.
At Seo-jin's bizarre appearance, Vivian and Pickle gaped.
Seo-jin looked at them and asked for understanding.
"Sorry for coming in this state. My physical condition is terrible. Please understand."
Seo-jin, who had come to the audience chamber, was lying on something like a palanquin made by Glize's ice soldiers.
Coming to an audience with the queen in such an arrogant appearance.
If it were anyone else, it wouldn't be strange if their head flew off immediately, but...
[...Well, fine. Just this once, I'll specially overlook it.]
Vivian nodded as if she had no choice.
This person was a benefactor helping the people and a man recognized even by Thormund.
[...]
Even Pickle, who would normally have squeaked about it being impudent, said nothing.
Pickle was an eyewitness who had watched the battle between Seo-jin and Thormund from the side.
Pickle swallowed hard, recalling Seo-jin fighting like a demon.
'If I cross that human wrong, I might be annihilated...'
He knew from the first time he saw him that he was a dangerous human, but he didn't know he'd be that strong.
After seeing that day's battle, Pickle decided not to fool around in front of Seo-jin.
Meanwhile, Vivian smiled faintly while looking at the ice soldiers holding the palanquin Seo-jin was lying on.
[It seems you've gotten quite close with the spirit you command. Making something like that for you.]
"She was grumbling about whether I made a contract with her just to make her do things like this."
Afterward, Vivian, who had been continuing casual conversation about physical condition and quest progress, mentioned Thormund's matter.
[Even I cannot help but acknowledge that you earned that blacksmith's recognition. You've truly accomplished something great.]
"That aside, what exactly is your relationship with him?"
What Seo-jin knew about Thormund was only his aspect as a warrior of Valhalla.
He didn't know why he was on the 50th floor or what relationship he had with Vivian.
At Seo-jin's question, Vivian, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened her lips.
[...If I had to say, you could consider him my predecessor.]
Vivian recalled events from the distant past.
Thormund was a primordial spirit who had existed since this 50th floor came into being.
He could be said to be an existence who had ruled this floor since before Vivian, the spirit governing the lake, was born.
But as the lake's territory expanded and gradually exceeded the land's territory, from that point onward he passed his responsibilities to Vivian.
Since then, he's been leisurely training in martial arts or making weapons.
So strictly speaking, Thormund could be seen as the former king of this 50th floor.
Even for Vivian, he was a difficult existence to deal with.
Also, it could be seen as a complicated relationship where he dumped all responsibilities and ran away, which wasn't very welcome, but on the other hand, he was someone to rely on.
[Anyway, if he's promised to help, there's nothing more to hesitate about. Continue proceeding with the World Quest just like now and find the whereabouts of the blueprint. Pickle.]
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
Having finished speaking, Vivian had Pickle hand several potions contained in crystal bottles to Seo-jin.
[This is my personal gift. I'd appreciate it if you'd definitely accept it.]
Seo-jin looked at the crystal bottles and recited calmly.
"This is Fairy's Essence."
[Yes. It will be useful to tower climbers in various ways. You can also use it to recover your body.]
As Vivian said, this was a material item used in manufacturing various elixirs, an extremely hard-to-obtain rare item.
Moreover, if it was an item originating from Vivian, who possessed power close to a Spirit Queen, it was an item worth whatever price was named.
He had received a tremendous gift.
"I'll use it gratefully."
***
Several days later. The lakeshore.
"Ah, it's moving."
A mass created by combining miscellaneous items collected from residents through World Quest and commission completions.
The mass, which had been the size of a fist, had become markedly different in appearance in just a few weeks.
When he floated the mass, which had already grown to the size of a small sculpted boat, on the lake.
Splash-.
The mass began moving on its own, chasing something.
What had only pointed in a direction like a compass until now began moving on its own following gravitational pull.
If they followed the direction this led, they would surely be able to find Excalibur's blueprint.
"Take these."
Having confirmed the mass's operation, Seo-jin distributed Aquamarine Stones to the members, which would allow them to breathe comfortably and move freely even underwater.
"Then everyone, dive in."
Splash-.
Afterward, the Reverse Heaven Society members dove under the lake, chasing after the mass.