Chapter 179
Chapter 179
Chapter 179
Flash—.
With Zieg's shout, a golden flash burst from the tip of his sword.
This was a strike that carried out the will of the star to destroy all evil threatening humanity.
It was also the will of rectification, formed by the gathered rage of the spirits that had slumbered at the shores of providence.
Instinctively sensing the threat, Nessie spewed out a red destructive beam to counter the light of the holy sword.
Kwa-gwaa—!
However,
[!]
The red beam Nessie spewed was swept away by the golden wave and vanished helplessly.
Like a small current swept up and mixed into a massive tidal wave.
Hwa-aak—.
The purifying light that swallowed the red beam evaporated the lake's water as it extended relentlessly.
[Kwo-ooo-ooo—!]
It engulfed Nessie's massive body completely.
The creature's body swept up in the brilliant golden wave, only a black silhouette visible.
Kwa-gwaa—!
The holy sword's light grew progressively brighter, and the body swept up in that light shrank away like melting snow.
And at the end.
Hwa-aak—.
When the holy sword's light completely disappeared, the creature had evaporated without leaving even a small piece of flesh.
Go-ooo—.
The lake's tranquility returned after the sun-like brilliant light disappeared.
The lake that had been boiling from the brilliant rays calmed down, and in the place where the roaring Water Dragon had disappeared, a strange silence remained.
Swa-aaa—.
Only the vortex existing at the bottom of the lake remained, quietly sucking in water and mana.
With Nessie blocking the entrance gone, the mana and spirit power naturally flowed into the vortex.
The spirit power and mana that had been deposited at the lake's bottom began circulating again.
With this, Vivian, who had been struggling to circulate the 50th floor's spirit power, could finally catch her breath.
Ting—.
[You have achieved the first clear of the 50th floor's boss monster, Lake Monster Nessie.]
[You have achieved the 'Guardian of Providence' achievement.]
[You have achieved the 'Guidance of the Holy Sword' achievement.]
[You have achieved the 'Demon Slayer' achievement.]
[You have achieved the 'Fate/Origin' achievement.]
Notification windows appeared before Zieg's eyes.
However, Zieg didn't have the leisure to check them one by one.
"Heo-eok, heo-eok."
Having poured tremendous power into that strike just now, he could only gasp roughly for breath with the holy sword planted in the ground.
His eyelids closed on their own, strength left his entire body, and a languid feeling came over him.
Just as Zieg was about to collapse along with the holy sword.
Cheok—.
Seo-jin approached and supported him.
"You did well. Rest comfortably."
Following that, his companions gathered around him.
Relieved, Zieg nodded slightly and closed his eyes.
***
"It seems they succeeded."
The audience chamber of the Crystal Palace.
Thormund, sitting with his buttocks on the carpet, smiled as he felt the spirit power beginning to circulate again.
With that demon creature occupying the lake's bottom dealt with, the 50th floor's spirit power would circulate normally again.
The clusters of thought-light that had fled near the Crystal Palace to avoid Nessie would soon move according to their original order.
Thormund recalled Seo-jin and the members of Reverse Heaven Society who had succeeded in this task.
'I knew they were extraordinary from the moment I saw them.'
To think they'd defeat that demon's incarnation on the first attempt. Truly befitting those who passed his test.
Regarding this result, Vivian also inserted herself as if she'd expected it.
[I told you they seemed like they would from when I first saw them. Right, Pickle?]
[O-of course, Your Majesty. Hehe.]
However, Thormund bluntly interjected.
"What do you mean 'now.' I know all about how you threw a tantrum trying to drive them out at first."
[Th-that was because I was worried those outsiders might die unable to adapt to this environment's conditions... and incidentally steal spirits to add to my power.]
"Sure, sure, I'm sure that's what it was."
Thormund didn't press further. Instead, he asked about Vivian's condition.
"How is your body?"
She must have exhausted much mana maintaining the 50th floor's environment for the past few months.
If it wasn't good, he thought he should share some of his spirit power.
[I'm fine. The abnormal phenomenon didn't last that long. It's fortunate that the outsiders resolved the problem quickly.]
"......"
At Vivian's answer, Thormund closed his mouth.
Listening to her speak, it seemed Vivian didn't know this incident was caused by the tower's will—that is, by the appearance of the climbers.
Instead of revealing the truth, Thormund held his tongue.
He didn't want to mention an uncomfortable truth and subtly change the favorable relationship between Vivian and those climbers.
Sometimes there are truths better left unknown.
Eup-cha—.
Thormund stood up and patted his buttocks.
"I'll be going now. When they return, give them a warm welcome."
[Y-you're leaving? Won't you enjoy the banquet together?]
When Vivian invited him to the banquet, Thormund recoiled and waved his hand.
"What banquet? You want me to eat those terrible foods?"
When he was diligently training his martial arts, Thormund gained a new element called taste in the process of training his body to resemble a human's.
After that, he learned how terrible the food spirits make is, so there was no need to join a banquet to eat that.
He didn't want to intrude on young people having fun and ruin the atmosphere either.
Before Thormund, who had stood up, left the Crystal Palace and returned to nature.
He removed the playfulness from his face and asked Vivian in a firm voice.
"Vivian, many more climbers will visit this place from now on. Are you prepared?"
This matter was only the beginning.
Many more climbers would ascend the tower and visit the 50th floor after this.
Among them would be friendly and righteous humans like those who came this time, but conversely, there would also be those who would exploit and abuse this land.
Humans were a species with as diverse personalities and characters as their numbers.
There was no guarantee that the incidents triggered by them and various World Quests would end as well as this one.
In that process, Vivian would cry and laugh, and would be hurt.
He was asking if she was mentally prepared to face that predetermined future.
At Thormund's question, Vivian readily nodded.
[Of course. Since I inherited this position from you, I've always been prepared.]
Vivian confidently puffed out her chest, expressing confidence.
At that cute—if one could call it cute—action, Thormund turned around and waved his hand as he disappeared, as if he'd worried needlessly.
"Hoot. It's good to see you so energetic."
Sa-reu-reu—.
"I'll be going now."
Thormund disappeared, becoming particles of light. He left refreshingly without a trace of anxiety in his heart.
After he disappeared.
Vivian lowered her hands from her waist and leaned back against the throne.
Then she looked at the empty spot where Thormund left and gave a bitter smile.
'My goodness. Does he still think of me as a child?'
Queen Vivian had ruled this lake and the 50th floor for several hundred years now.
The only one who still treated her like a child was that person.
And
[......]
Although Thormund had held his tongue, Vivian also knew.
This disaster was not a natural disaster but one caused by the tower's will.
An artificial disaster that occurred as the climbers ascended to the 50th floor.
Even so, she had no intention of blaming those who came to the 50th floor.
'No, rather I'm grateful to them.'
Because the first humans to set foot on this land were good people like them.
Having finished her thoughts, Vivian sprang up from her seat and ordered Pickle.
[Pickle, prepare a banquet. Did you study human cooking?]
[Y-yes, Your Majesty!]
The commemorative climbers who first set foot on the 50th floor. She couldn't send those with good intentions away empty-handed.
[Good. I'll personally prepare dishes for them. Pickle must help me. Follow me to the kitchen.]
***
The day after the joyful banquet commemorating Reverse Heaven Society's achievements and the normalization of the 50th floor's circulation ended.
"Eu-eup."
Perhaps from eating Vivian's homemade cooking, their stomach conditions weren't good.
Nevertheless, the members overcame their hangovers and bloating and packed their belongings.
And before leaving the Crystal Palace, they greeted Vivian and Pickle.
At the location where they saw off Reverse Heaven Society, not only Vivian and Pickle but also the spirits who had received help from Reverse Heaven Society came out to meet them.
Vivian looked at Seo-jin's party and spoke in a bittersweet voice.
[Won't you stay a bit longer? My cooking skills are getting better and better.]
Vivian expressed regret, wiggling her fingers as if confident in her cooking.
However, Seo-jin hardened his face and declined.
"......Feed Thormund a few more times while you devote yourself to training."
Because Vivian's homemade cooking was still too early for humans.
To reach an edible level, she would need to use Thormund, who had taste, as a test subject a few more times.
Vivian swallowed her regret and spoke cheerfully.
[Still, since you're all climbers, you can come back to the 50th floor anytime, right? I'll treat you as state guests every time you visit, so don't feel burdened and come visit. You're all friends of the spirits.]
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"I will obey your command, Your Majesty. I will come every single day to pay my respects."
So-yul restrained Austin, who was making a fuss, and smiled.
"Only this person will come every day, we'll stop by occasionally."
After that, Vivian shook hands with each person one by one and exchanged well-wishes.
[Good. Then I'll pray for a pleasant journey.]
[Make sure to come back! Don't get hurt climbing the tower!]
Spirits waving their hands at Seo-jin's party along with Vivian.
"I'll try."
Pa-aat—.
Seo-jin smiled slightly toward them and used the teleportation stone to ascend to the 51st floor.
***
A VVIP hospital room in a Korean hospital.
A figure wearing training clothes with a cap pulled low was striding through the corridor.
Barely suppressing the desire to run while hastening her steps—she was Saintess Kwon Ha-yeon.
Having received urgent news through her terminal device, Ha-yeon paused her tower climbing and came outside, heading straight to this hospital.
Her gaze, as she walked quickly through the corridor, reached the nameplate hanging on the hospital room door.
[Kwon Ji-hye]
The bloodline left by her departed older brother and her beloved niece.
Ha-yeon stood before the door for a moment, hesitating with trembling hands about whether to open it or not, then made up her mind and turned the doorknob.
Beol-keok—.
Opening the door and entering, there were people gathered who weren't very welcome.
"You've arrived."
Hanseong's Chairman Kwon Do-il.
He swept over his daughter Ha-yeon with cold eyes and dismissed the other people around him.
"Step out for a moment."
People in black suits who bowed to Chairman Kwon and left the room.
Only Chairman Kwon, Ha-yeon, and the young girl lying unconscious in the hospital bed remained in the room.
Chairman Kwon looked at Ha-yeon's outfit and asked in a dry voice.
"Why is your outfit like that? Don't you know how much each of your actions affects Hanseong's reputation?"
"Be quiet. Is that what's important right now? What about Ji-hye?"
At Ha-yeon's question, Chairman Kwon looked at the heart monitor next to the bed and said.
"She's stabilized for now. She's passed the crisis but could become critical again at any time, they say."
"......"
Instead of answering, Ha-yeon approached the bed and silently gazed at Ji-hye's pale face.
Then she closed her eyes and briefly recalled past events.