What the Hell is "Cute Girl Getting Pampered!"?
The barren tower interior...
The anxiety of being dragged into another world...
The sense of duty to climb the tower...
The fear of dying at any moment...
Climbers have no choice but to carry a ton of stress
So! The tower's climber stress-relief system!
Cute is always truth! When you see something cute, what comes out of your brain? Serotonin! Happiness bursts out!
You must lower the climbers' stress!
With your cuteness!
If you fail to reduce climbers' stress...
The system will deem you useless and delete you.
So~ Let's work hard to get pampered~~
-That was the definition of Cute Girl Getting Pampered!, as per the system's response to NPC Reina's request.
"...What the fuck is this."
Cute Girl Getting Pampered! cannot use profanity~ Ppoo poo!
"No, what the hell is this."
My mouth automatically softened the words as they came out.
The feeling that my mouth wasn't my own was unpleasant, but what was even more revolting was the content about Cute Girl Getting Pampered!.
And what the hell did this system bastard eat? Its tone had gone weird.
It should normally speak in a dry, mechanical way, but now it sounded disgustingly cutesy, like it'd eaten something rotten.
The system window felt even more repulsive in this situation.
I looked up at the text floating above my head.
Cute Girl Getting Pampered! Reina
"...My name changed."
Not to NPC, but to the role assigned to me.
I stammered out my understanding of the current situation.
My heart refused to accept it, but my head had already pieced it together.
I didn't want to, but...
"So you're telling me to go get pampered now? Act cute for climbers and hand out gifts or something?"
As a reward, here's today's task for Cute Girl Getting Pampered! Reina~!
"...Ah."
Looks like what I said was spot on.
The system arbitrarily assigned me a task.
Cute Girl Getting Pampered! Reina gifts something to a climber!
📍 Overview: First impressions matter! No cold-blooded person could resist pampering a girl holding a gift! Buy their favor with a present and lower the climber's stress!
The task was neatly summarized at a glance.
To sum it up:
Lower the climber's stress.
So, give them any gift.
I scratched my head.
"...A gift's no big deal."
I knew that once climbers arrived, I had to do something as an NPC.
Cook like other NPCs, or prepare a shop.
Or set up a quest.
I knew my freeloading days would end when climbers came, so I'd prayed every day they wouldn't.
But that's not how it works.
Climbers climb the tower, and the tower wants them to, so I knew this situation would come eventually.
"Still, it's nothing much."
Thinking about it, yeah.
In stories, when a hero enters a city, there's always that one shy girl handing them flowers. A cliché national rule.
She appears once and vanishes.
There were tons of other NPCs in the city besides me anyway.
Potbellied uncles, seductive aunties with killer figures.
Some tied to quests, but I took comfort in not being linked to any layer quests.
If I got tangled in a quest...
"That'd be doom."
My instincts screamed: never get involved in quests.
Tower Gallery made it clear.
How many NPCs die during quests?
If a monster subjugation involves an NPC, assume they're dead. Even sub-quests weren't safe.
Climbers accidentally kill them all the time.
...They wouldn't kill me just for a gift, right?
"Nah, no trash that bad would show up."
If so, nothing I could do.
Blame my bad luck and go quietly.
It was a bonus life anyway—no need to overthink.
I dumped the ten empty skewers in the trash and stood from the bench.
Not a main quest, not even a sub-quest.
Just deliver a gift. Simple task.
Lying down and eating rice cake was harder.
"...But do I have to do it right now?"
It was so easy, I didn't feel the urgency.
"Maybe finish reading that post first."
Climbers were probably busy with quests.
Interrupting could get me beaten.
Obviously.
So, wait a day till they're quest-weary, then give it.
First, deep-dive Tower Gallery concept posts.
"Access Tower Gallery."
NPCs on tasks cannot access Tower Gallery. Finish your work first, then play~? Don't tell me you're slacking?
"Ah."
I gaped.
This damn system??
Daring to take Tower Gallery from me?
You don't touch a dog's food while it's eating—that's a national rule! And you break it?!
"Eeeeek!!"
I trembled, pointing at the system window, fingers shaking.
You dare!!
Me?!
"Eeee...!"
But what could I do?
The system could delete me.
What could I do to it?
"Eeee... Guess I should get moving."
I naturally lowered my hand.
Absolutely not backing down from the system. Just stretching. Obviously.
I made excuses in my head and thought about the task.
A gift...
What to give?
I looked around.
"Hm."
Perfect, materials nearby.
I grabbed the skewer wrappers and headed to the nearby flower bed.
A neatly tended flower bed.
Some other NPC must've cared for it lovingly.
I yanked a flower without hesitation.
Roughly, no care taken.
Materials confirmed. Proceed with synthesis?
[Confirm]
I hit confirm right away.
◈ A flower bouquet that somehow smells like chicken skewers. Slapped together by Cute Girl Getting Pampered! Reina. Wonder if it's okay to give this to a climber... Hope she doesn't get slapped.
"Now even descriptions?"
And pretty cheeky ones too.
So what if it smells like chicken skewers?
Better than flowers—more fragrant, even.
I snorted at the clueless system window.
"Just gotta hand it over quick and get back to the gallery."
Like, what if I accidentally shit in the bushes and lock eyes with an NPC? What's that post about?
I wanted to check now, but you know the saying.
Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
I wanted to open the gallery right now.
"Time to find that climber."
I strolled out of the park.
To find the climber guy.
Surprisingly easy.
All the NPCs were staring intently at one spot.
Stopping work to gawk in one direction was creepy and scary at first, but I'd gotten used to it.
These damn NPCs pulling weird stunts wasn't new.
And unlike those NPCs, a real human was there—no more fear.
"...There he is."
I eyed the climber from afar.
Black suit, weary eyes.
Black hair, black eyes.
Handsome face, tall stature.
"...Ah."
Undeniably Korean face too.
"Of all people, that bas... that guy."
1st-gen climber.
The first to enter the tower, legendary generation where all survivors became S-rank. The ill-fated batch.
Among S-rank climbers, only one had those weary eyes and annoyingly handsome face.
Choi Kang-hyuk.
The man literally called the strongest among S-ranks.
"...Rumors about that guy's nasty."
S-rank climbers attracted plenty of flies.
People always scavenging crumbs, some S-ranks enjoyed it or dodged, but Choi Kang-hyuk was different.
A guy who could swat those flies dead.
Personality wrecker who turned people into bloody pulp for accidentally crossing lines.
Nickname from smashing everything to climb layers: Tower Breaker.
Tower Gallery rumors even said he enjoyed massacring NPCs.
No one knew if true—no one climbed with him.
Rumors thrive in ignorance.
Bottom line: bad matchup for me.
"...Why'd a guy like that come here?"
Tower break imminent?
But it was too peaceful for that.
Who knows.
Year in the tower, but I knew jack shit.
Didn't even try, so my knowledge was shallower than a puddle.
Whatever.
He gonna kill me?
If rumors true, this place'd be a bloodbath or rubble already.
I'll just give flowers and browse gallery.
While other NPCs watched meekly, I walked toward Choi Kang-hyuk.
"Um."
As I spoke, he turned his gaze to me.
Colorless, odorless eyes looking down from over 190cm.
No emotion.
Like I was a roadside pebble.
Rumors real?
A chill ran down my spine.
"H-here... flowers for you."
A bit spooked, but I managed to hold out my bouquet.
Choi Kang-hyuk eyed it.
Damn.
Knew it was him, should've made it look decent.
Chicken-skewer-smelling wrapper with haphazard flowers.
Deserved a slap.
I quietly watched his reaction.
"..."
Choi Kang-hyuk said nothing.
Just stared.
Gift not to his taste?
Duh, who'd like this trash?
Bad rumors about Choi Kang-hyuk flashed in my mind.
Tower Breaker.
Unwitnessed NPC massacres, those blank eyes.
Wait... does he wanna kill me now?
No.
I wanna live and browse Tower Gallery!
This way, I'm dead.
I racked my brain fast.
Gift climbers like...
Gift...
Potion?
Gallery always whined about potions running out and dying.
S-rank short on potions too?
Dunno, don't think.
Give first, think later.
"Ahaha... Oh, forgot to mention, I have this too..."
I fumbled in my inventory for a potion.
Trembling hands pulled out not one, but several.
These were my precious backups for if I got hurt.
(Multiple vials)
Effect:Instantly restores a large amount of stamina. High purity, no side effects.
Couldn't make these just buying from Hans—had to scour the city.
Normally I'd hate to give them away, but now? Who knows.
Shabby bouquet and several red vials.
I shoved them at Choi Kang-hyuk.
Thankfully, he didn't refuse.
"Then, I'm off."
Hearing completion, I spun around.
Before Choi Kang-hyuk could speak, I bolted.
Absolutely couldn't get caught.
I didn't stop till my lungs burned.
Safely made it home.
Dove under the covers, deep breaths.
Pounding heart.
A touch of embarrassment.
Calmed, I peeked out.
"Damn. Choi Kang-hyuk."
Why him of all people?
Could've been pretty Choi Mi-na or another S-rank.
Choi Kang-hyuk did nothing wrong, but I grumbled at him anyway.
Whatever.
Alive's a win.
NPCs are ants before S-ranks.
Crushable with a finger...
"Sigh."
I erased Choi Kang-hyuk from my mind.
"Oh. Now I can do Tower Gallery."
Task done—forced it on him, but success.
Free now.
"Let's access Tower Gallery."
Hehehe.
Excited how backed up the concept posts were.
"Access Tower Gallery."
Pop.
Gallery window opened.
"Huh."
Gallery was half-insane daily, but didn't expect full crazy today.
"...What'd Choi Kang-hyuk do?"
Only clue was his name.
Made sense, but also suspicious.
What makes 10 tabs explode?
Couldn't resist—clicked the top concept post.
Title: Tower Exploration Report
Author: Choi Kang-hyuk
Just entered the tower. Quest is simple: Prep defenses for upcoming monster wave by repairing walls. Carry stone or fix walls. Sub-quests suggest can't solo. Officially requesting Climber Association support.
One oddity: NPC suddenly gave me potions. Anyone know about this? Attaching photo.
Choi Kang-hyuk wrote a stiff, stuffy report.
Content was basic.
But...
My photo was attached.
"Choi Kang-hyuk you fu... jerk!"
Couldn't swear.
Damn system blocked it.