Chapter 111 52. The Last Loyalty Between Friends
The Last Act of Loyalty Between Friends
Chapter 112
A total of 1,557 guilds had descended to the First Floor.
Whether that number was accurate or not was beside the point—later, even if only a third of them survived, it would be considered fortunate.
Countless different races roamed the plaza of the First Floor.
"Hmph. Nothing but scrawny humans."
Dwarves—short in stature but stout in build.
The males looked like grumpy old men, but thanks to the game's generous design, the females were, thankfully, cute. If the women had beards and rough faces too, it would've shattered my sanity.
"Kekeke. We don't discriminate against humans either."
Goblins—small as children, with green skin.
And then there were others.
"Humans are weak, but some seem useful enough. Oink!"
Orcs, pig-like giants with rough snorts.
"We seek humans beloved by nature."
Even elves, who typically despised humans, occasionally appeared. Apparently, elves from various dimensions had been summoned, and some among them harbored only mild disdain for humans.
All of them were members of the Guild Alliance.
Perhaps due to the heightened sense of crisis from Heaven Mode, the Guild Alliance had taken to aggressive recruitment.
"Blacksmiths wanted! We provide not only proven methods to rapidly grow your skills but also equipment support!"
Guilds that adhered to traditional magic rather than magitech were desperate for blacksmiths.
"Those interested in machinery are welcome!"
Engineers were primarily sought after by magitech guilds.
"Alchemists wanted! We'll supply reagents, necessary materials, and skill mastery techniques!"
Alchemists were highly valued not just in magitech but across many fields.
"Scouts needed!"
"Shield warriors, join us!"
"Mages wanted! We'll teach you beginner spells for free!"
"Necromancers... specialized guild... gravediggers welcome..."
Necromancers carried shovels...
"The Seamstress Guild is recruiting novice tailors!"
A far more luxurious start than in the original.
Never before had First Floor newcomers received such grand support.
Which only meant one thing—the Sixth Floor was in dire need of being conquered.
I silently passed through the plaza, bustling like a marketplace.
Suddenly, memories of the original story flashed through my mind.
Back then, every Earthling who entered the Tower had panicked, unsure of what to do. They wandered the city aimlessly, unable to even figure out their own path.
At that time, the protagonist hadn't been as strong as I was now, so he couldn't lead or act as a proper leader.
But things were different now.
Thanks to the Sixth-Floor Guilds stepping in, the Earthlings could find their way.
Amidst the crowd, I turned my gaze and spotted one particular area—where guild receptionists were guiding First Floor newcomers.
"Ugh, my chest..."
"..."
The line was long, but since I wasn't alone, I didn't feel lonely waiting.
Finally, it was my turn.
"How may I hel— Oh my..."
Behind the makeshift wooden counter, the female receptionist froze upon seeing me.
The other receptionists reacted the same way.
I could understand their reaction, but I was in a hurry.
"Is the Apostles of Justice guild here, by any chance?"
At my deep voice, the receptionist's face flushed red as she stammered.
"Y-You mean the Apostles of Justice?"
"Yes."
The Apostles of Justice were famous for being an elite guild.
They were practically legendary—heroes known to all.
"The Apostles of Justice... didn't come down to the First Floor."
The female knight, Gleis, who had inherited the Conquer ability after me, belonged to the Apostles of Justice.
"I see. Thank you."
If they weren't here, then I had no further business.
Gleis was probably still on the Sixth Floor.
But then—
"W-Wait!"
The receptionist hurriedly rushed after me.
Curious, I turned around—only to see Kim Seon-hwa's expression twist in irritation.
"C-Could you give me your Address, perhaps?"
Address—the personal contact system provided alongside the Status Window in the Tower.
The receptionist, utterly enchanted by me, was trying to get my number.
Her face was flushed with anticipation, like a flower in full bloom.
But—
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?"
Beside me, Kim Seon-hwa unleashed a sharp killing intent toward the receptionist.
Only then did the receptionist notice Kim Seon-hwa and Yu Yeon, her face stiffening in realization.
Too focused on me, she hadn't even registered their presence.
"H-Huh?"
"Haha. If fate allows, we'll meet again. Later."
I quickly pulled Kim Seon-hwa and Yu Yeon by their shoulders and left.
True to the guild's reputation, she was an elf—and beautiful—but blatantly flirting with me in front of my women? Unacceptable. Next time, she should be more discreet.
I noticed the receptionist's panties had already grown damp with heat, but I pretended not to see it and walked away.
Tears nearly welled up. An elf... and a virgin, at that.
A moment later, Kim Seon-hwa, still fuming, started huffing.
"She seriously tried to get your number right in front of me? Is she out of her damn mind?"
"......."
Yu Yeon also seemed displeased but stayed quiet. Since we hadn't been together for long, she probably didn't want to overstep.
"This is so fucking infuriating. She completely ignored me! Should I go back and confront her?"
Kim Seon-hwa was furious that, despite being my lover, she had been treated like she didn't exist.
But what could I do?
That woman had been so entranced by me that she saw nothing else.
"Noona, drop it. She didn't mean any harm. It's not a big deal..."
"...Not a big deal? She completely disrespected me! I don't get pushed around like this!"
"...O-Okay, okay. Let's just go somewhere else first."
"...Where?"
"The Obelisk of Wishes."
I needed to confirm whether the Apostles of Justice were truly absent from the First Floor.
#
Weaving through the mixed crowd of Earthlings and other races, we arrived at the central area of the First Floor.
A pristine white obelisk towered into the sky.
Surrounding it, small altars resembling the Obelisk of Origin from the Outer Dimension were embedded in the ground.
Stepping across the smooth, patternless stonework, I reached the Obelisk of Wishes and placed my hand upon it.
『Searching for the location of "Gleis."』
『"Gleis" is currently in "6th Floor - Forest of Illusion."』
『"Park Si-hyun" has 24 hours remaining until next search.』
The information I recalled about Gleis appeared in the system output.
The obelisk allowed climbers to search for others' locations once per day—which was why it remained a constant gathering point for survivors.
But then—
"Park Si-hyun...? ...Seon-hwa sunbae and Yu Yeon sunbae?"
Why was she here?
Yu Hye-na.
The girlfriend of Kang Yu-seong—the man I had killed.
"...."
She must have rushed here first, searching for Yu-seong.
When she spotted us, she hastily wiped her tears and tried to mask her darkened expression.
"...."
I, on the other hand, couldn't bring myself to say a word to her. I couldn't tell her about Yu-seong's grotesque nature, nor whether he was alive or dead.
—...Yu-seong-ah...
She had finally accepted the death she had refused to believe—and now she was drowning in grief.
"What... brings you here...?"
Yu Hye-na forced the words out, pretending to be fine.
Seeing her like that made my eyes sting.
The guilt of having killed her lover.
"......."
It carved deep into my chest.
『Status Window』
Name: Yu Hye-na
Level: 22
Height: 161.2 cm, 52.3 kg
Titles:
Occupation: Tailor
Gender: Female (20)
Origin: Earth
Sexual Experience: 139 (1 male)
<Currently pregnant with Kang Yu-seong's daughter. Day 9.>
Measurements: 84 - 53 - 82
Condition: Depressed, Despairing
+Stats
[Strength 62][Agility 48][Stamina 55][Mana 36]
+Abilities
「Crisis Sense」
+Skills
[Dagger Proficiency (Normal<4%>)]
I had been avoiding Yu Hye-na deliberately.
Though I had only killed someone who deserved it, a faint guilt lingered—if only for the past we once shared.
"...."
Now I saw that Yu Hye-na was carrying Yu-seong's child.
She must have realized she was pregnant when her period stopped.
But if she ever learned that I was the one who killed Yu-seong—could she really face me so calmly?
'No.'
She could become a liability. At any moment, she might turn vengeful and try to drag me down. To prevent future trouble, it would be better to eliminate her now.
『「Circuit of Reckless Uncertainty」 activated.』
I concentrated mana into my fingertips. A single stab to the throat would kill her instantly.
But then—I saw her belly.
The memory of Yu-seong dying wretchedly before me flashed by.
—You fucking... bastard!! How could you—how could you do this to me?! How could you kill a person like this... a friend like this...
A piece of trash, yes—but seeing Hye-na still searching for him, unable to forget...
I clenched my fist until my knuckles whitened, then extended my hand.
My breathing was ragged.
"Take it."
Hye-na blinked in confusion.
"Just hold my hand for a second."
She hesitated, staring at my outstretched palm before reluctantly taking it.
『「Park Si-hyun」 offers 「10,000,000 Points」 to 「Yu Hye-na」.』
The message that appeared startled her.
"This should be enough to set up a decent shop on the First Floor. Live off that. Don't... risk your life fighting monsters. Go."
"......Why are you giving me this?"
I struggled to speak but managed a faint smile.
"You're... my friend's lover, aren't you?"
This was nothing but hypocrisy—a way to ease my own conscience. In a way, it was despicable.
I was the one who killed Yu-seong, yet here I was, handing money to his lover—making her miserable.
In the grand scheme of the Tower's future, this might be for the best—but on a personal level, Hye-na and her daughter were suffering because of me.
I could have ignored her, buried this guilt, and moved on.
But I didn't want to.
Even if it meant pointlessly throwing away 10 million points, I wanted to at least show Hye-na this final act of remorse and respect.
Even if it was nothing more than a coward's atonement.
"You and your daughter... have to live happily."
So this truly was the end.
I would never waver over Yu-seong's death again.
"You have to."
A hollow, self-serving consolation that meant nothing to Hye-na.
But right now, I spoke with genuine regret.
"Yu-seong... was a good friend, right?"
I froze for a moment before answering.
Then, lifting my gaze, I replied.
"...Yeah. He was a good friend."
A single phrase, heavy with conflicting emotions.
Hye-na sniffled, as if satisfied.
"...I see. So he... didn't live a lonely life. That's a relief..."
Her shoulders trembled slightly. Saliva dripped from her tightly bitten lips, and tears mixed with snot streamed down her face.
"...I'll... live well... I'll live for his sake too..."
『「10,000,000 Points」 have been transferred to 「Yu Hye-na」.』
"Thank you, Si-hyun."
With that, we parted ways—Hye-na having finally stopped crying.
My atonement for her and her daughter ended here.
I didn't look back.
We turned our steps toward the northern part of the First Floor.
In front of the Dusty Foundry—the inn where I had told the Earth group to gather.
A massive establishment, mostly frequented by humans, with few other races in sight.
"Yu Yeon sunbae. Go inside and get us a room to rest in."
"Eh, eh?"
"Seon-hwa sunbae and I have somewhere else to go."
Of course, that "somewhere else" was the Abundant Golden Luck—a luxury hotel.
Kim Seon-hwa's face flushed red as her "battle lingerie" grew damp with lewd arousal.
I was planning to spend some quality time with Kim Seon-hwa there, working through our lingering emotions while thoroughly enjoying several rounds of passionate sex.