Modern Luxuries Trump Medieval Kings

Modern people live more lavishly than medieval kings.

That saying rang true.

The tower blended countless worlds together. There were vague medieval-like settings you could barely call fantasy, full-blown sci-fi realms, and even barren deserts. Genre, place, and era hopped freely, but one unchanging truth held: modern goods worked anywhere.

Especially in medieval worlds.

Munch munch.

"Slow down a bit."

Choi Mi-na, unable to watch any longer, cracked open a cola and handed it to Reina.

Reina snatched it up and chugged it straight down her throat.

"Ahhh..."

She drained the entire can in one go, letting out a satisfied groan. Choi Mi-na couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

Typical medieval NPCs eyed modern stuff warily at first, then after one taste...

Ooh! What's this?!

Yeah, they didn't know—those were potato chips. That was the standard template reaction. But Reina was the total opposite. She tore into them like she'd known all along, stuffing them in without a second thought.

Even Choi Mi-na, who'd climbed countless towers, had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never seen anything like it.

"Glad you like it."

"Crunch crunch. So... freaking delicious. Not just good—insanely good."

Reina replied without even wiping the crumbs off her face. It was a huge pile of snacks, but they vanished before any real talk could start.

Choi Mi-na glanced at Reina. She was sucking on her fingers naturally. Despite inhaling all that food, her belly didn't even poke out.

Does she just have a bottomless stomach?

Choi Mi-na handed over some wet wipes, thinking that might explain it.

"Oh. Thanks."

Reina wiped her mouth and hands vigorously, then brushed the crumbs off her clothes. Up close like this, she really was a cute, pretty little girl.

Choi Mi-na stared for a moment before shaking her head. No time for admiration now. She'd bought goodwill with modern snacks—this was the moment to bring up the real topic.

"Thanks so much for the potions. They saved a ton of climbers' lives."

The gallery was flooded with posts about surviving thanks to the potions. They'd probably only been used in dire straits, but climbing threw you into those often enough that supplies were already running low. Especially the ones distributed to small guilds—every member counted.

"Seriously... thank you."

New generations kept coming, but climber numbers barely grew. No potions. No way to endure back-to-back crises.

Choi Mi-na figured a thank-you came before prying for info. Even if it was just a tower-spawned illusion—an NPC.

"Ahem. Choi Mi-na, you're a climber who knows manners. Others... especially Choi Kang-hyuk... gulped down those potions without half this gratitude."

Reina crossed her arms, her discomfort plain as day. Looked like Choi Kang-hyuk had earned some real dislike.

"Haha... Kang-hyuk's a bit stoic."

Choi Mi-na made a mental note to chew him out later and cut to the chase before her climber goodwill tanked.

"This might be rude or a huge hassle, but... could you tell me where you get the potions?"

She already knew, but played dumb.

"Huh?"

"Climbers protect the world. Willing or not... for all sorts of reasons."

Choi Mi-na gave a wry smile. Some climbers didn't even climb despite awakening. They just enjoyed their enhanced bodies. But if no one climbed, it meant the world's end.

So climbers had to climb. Potions would get more people up there.

"We need potions. A lot of them. Not just for climbers... for the world."

Mix some emotion and truth to tug at the heartstrings. NPCs were vulnerable to climber feelings. To clear quests, climbers exploited everything—even emotions.

"Hmm... I see..."

Reina tilted her head side to side, deep in thought.

"One question."

"Sure."

"What if word got out that I can mass-produce potions unlimited? What happens then?"

"...Huh?"

Choi Mi-na's mind blanked for a second. Unlimited potions? Dream scenario...

But if this NPC said it? Big problems.

"It'd be... a huge mess?"

Things were precarious now. Association President Park Jung-chan was barely holding balance with every connection and muscle he had. Flood the market more? Unmanageable.

"Right? So we'll keep it like this for now."

Reina dropped a profoundly meaningful line. Cold sweat trickled down Choi Mi-na's back. She'd thought nothing could faze an S-rank like her. But this NPC? Maybe beyond her.

"Anyway. Got any other requests for me?"

"Huh?"

"Anything. No requests?"

Requests? Beyond potions?

"...Dunno?"

Asked outright, nothing came to mind. Something besides potions...

"Weapon?"

"Weapon?"

"Yeah. I use a bow, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠good ones don't drop much in the tower."

Choi Mi-na voiced a recent worry.

"My old one's busted, no way to fix it."

Half a year ago, it snapped mid-climb. She'd hunted S-rank bows since, but listings were rare—basically unarmed now.

"Really? Mind showing me?"

"No problem."

Choi Mi-na pulled the broken bow from her inventory. Cleanly snapped in two. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No fancy decorations, just plain wood—but no ordinary bow. Legend said it was crafted from a World Tree branch. Wind spirits guided arrows on release.

Should've ditched it long ago, but sentiment kept it lingering.

"Hmm... You'd want this fixed if possible?"

"Obviously."

"Then ask me to fix it."

"...Uh. Please fix it?"

Choi Mi-na forced the request. Why bother asking for the impossible? Then...

"...What."

"Ah."

Choi Mi-na's jaw dropped. Reina yelped too.

Hidden quest? 100% success?

"Hmmm..."

Reina eyed the bow with an inscrutable expression. The mood turned awkward just as...

"Anyway, let's set this aside for now..."

The broken bow vanished.

"Got any more snacks left?"

Reina eyed Choi Mi-na greedily. Choi Mi-na rolled her eyes, checked the gallery. None now, but guildmates could supply unlimited.

She nodded silently.

Reina spread her arms happily.

"Haha..."

Fix a bow for mere snacks? Profitable deal. Choi Mi-na messaged her guild. For two full hours, Reina devoured snacks and left.

Piles of trash. And leftover Choi Mi-na.

"...Where do I even start reporting?"

Choi Kang-hyuk wanted intel. She got it, but her head spun.

Choi Mi-na jotted her thousandth note:

1. Reina loves snacks.

...

"Killed it."

"Dodged the tiger, met the fox."

Choi Mi-na's first request was basically spilling my livelihood—where I got the potions. No "decline" option in my book.

So I deflected. Truthfully, but doubtfully. Then flipped to demanding a request.

Didn't expect a weapon repair, but my safety came first.

Potions were climber catnip. Unlimited supply? I'd end up locked and exploited.

"Pass."

Induced another request, got snacks, stuffed myself silent for two hours straight.

But the system called bullshit.

"...Tch."

System's a pro at nuisances.

Rewards bumped up, but now it's a pain. "Rough fix" became "perfectly repair."

"Ugh, such a hassle."

I scratched my head. Unlimited potions to Mi-na vs. fix her bow? Bow wins. But perfectly? Not easy.

I'd already wasted two hours with her—no gallery time.

Extra work? No thanks. But...

"Rewards like this... can't say no."

Extra posting permission. Post-ing! Crucial reward.

Skill level up? Whatever...

Never leveled before anyway. Ignore for now.

Point was, perfect bow fix meant annoying work.

"Gotta visit that old man again."

Hate meeting him, but he enabled my gallery addiction.

I scanned stealthily. NPC-free back alley. Set passphrase.

Couldn't let anyone catch me—especially the system.

Sneak undetected? Needed special item: my hair + Reina lookalike doll.

Both in inventory.

Pulled them out, synthesized immediately.

"Ugh, really don't wanna."

Mess this up, system deletes me.

But perfect bow fix? Only way.

"Why perfectly?"

Anything less, I could've half-assed it.

Sigh.

Tower quests gonna tower.

I sighed. One task now: fool the system, exit the tower.

Today, I leave the tower.