Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Tower's Trial #2
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Do-yoon was an utterly ordinary person.
If only, back in his childhood on that fateful day, the Gate Break hadn't completely incinerated his past.
He might have lived his life just like everyone else, drifting along with the flow.
That's why he hated injustice.
Because he'd lived through days where losing everything in an instant was no different from death—
He could never stand situations spiraling out of his control, running wild on their own.
Maybe that's why, on the day he first acquired his skill, he had the guts to barge into the gallery and demand solutions from its users.
"..."
His mind sank deep into the abyssal ocean due to mana exhaustion.
Even as he kept plummeting endlessly amid bubbling bubbles, Do-yoon felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
A feeling of not being alone, even in solitude.
Like drifting off to sleep in his mother's womb, a thick blanket of comfort enveloped him.
"Isn't this fair?"
'Who are you?'
"Since you've been peeking at me nonstop using all sorts of cheats, I have to look at you like this to feel at ease."
A voice so alluring it could hypnotize the moment you heard it.
Do-yoon tried to snap to attention and find its owner, but there was nothing he could do.
"You resemble us."
The presence continued.
"Empty, swept up in compulsion. We are unstable, puppets of something else."
-Crunch.
In the darkness.
The sound of something grinding its molars echoed.
The presence seethed in quiet rage.
Yet its gaze upon Do-yoon remained gentle.
He was certain that if that chilling killing intent were ever directed at him, he wouldn't survive.
That's how he realized the fury wasn't aimed at him.
"But since meeting you, I've felt many things beginning to change lately."
'Me?'
Who the hell was this? Why was someone of such stature speaking so highly of him?
"At first, it was curiosity. The second time... hmm. I don't want to believe it was just curiosity."
Heh heh heh.
The voice's owner let out a playful chuckle.
"Do you know what it means to reach me?"
"..."
"No, you wouldn't. You mustn't know. If you did, you would..."
Within the sinking mindscape.
The darkness thickened.
Signaling that Do-yoon's consciousness was rapidly fading.
In the end, he learned nothing.
It was a pointless sequence—just the kind of thing he despised.
"Don't get too upset. I'll be waiting for you here, patiently."
'What the...'
"So for now, just enjoy yourself with that monkey-like fool as much as you want."
Finally.
Do-yoon's consciousness vanished entirely from the space.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hunters who set their minds to it hardly ever leave anyway."
Rakiya Bells offered consolation that was anything but.
Having never given advice to another rational being in her life, she could only spout brutally realistic truths.
"They don't go out?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Don't you need maintenance or something?"
"Most gear and artifacts can only be used inside the Tower anyway, and essentials are fully stocked."
"No... you gotta take breaks sometimes. This place is just too..."
Even Do-yoon, who had a surprisingly positive view of the Tower compared to other veteran hunters back on Earth, had to tuck tail in the face of the true madness Rakiya described.
"If you've got the qualifications, you can just keep pushing through the climbs—that's a strategy too."
"Ah."
What they called the ultra-high-speed talent training route.
Not all hunters at the same level were equal in rank.
Rakiya Bells herself outperformed peers at her level, after all.
"Then why are you—"
"I-I had something more important than climbing."
"Hanging with me?"
"Urgh...!"
Rakiya Bells frustratingly smacked her lips open and shut several times but ultimately said nothing.
'What?'
Puzzled by her reaction, Do-yoon wandered the 7th floor stage in a daze for now.
Leveling up was great.
Meeting Eira sooner than expected—when he'd thought it'd take ages—was great too.
But the situation veering off into unexpected territory? Not so welcome.
"Tower."
"...?"
"The Tower screwed me over."
"What do you...?"
"Hold on."
Unable to endure it any longer, Do-yoon stopped in place and immediately opened his skill window.
💬 Boss Mob Gallery 📌 Title: What? The Newbie Went Straight to the Next Floor? Bopkiyahou lololol Keep climbing the Tower nonstop and graduate me too pls lolololol — Anonymous What...? One more time...? I love it...♥ What...? One more time...? I love it...♥ What...? One more time...? I love it...♥ — Anonymous Flirting again, come here — Anonymous Fast floor clears are good for newbies too, right? — Anonymous Just keep pushing without ever leaving the Tower — Anonymous Kyaa~ 'No way, insane.'
He'd been thinking wrong.
The gallery dwellers who lived and died by the Tower.
For them, the top priority was reclaiming their lost identities and memories to escape the Tower.
Thus, as long as Do-yoon stayed active inside, plenty would flip for joy.
📌 (My Post) Title: But Isn't This Dangerous? Staying on a floor too long drives you mad So don't you need to periodically head out for some fresh air or whatever? — Anonymous Believe what those 'normies' do? — (My Post) ??? ??? — Paper Enthusiast* Anyway, how'd this happen? Do-yoon explained the situation.
Cleared the 6th floor and leveled up simultaneously.
Gained an ominous special reward, lost consciousness, and was semi-forced to the next floor.
— Anonymous What's your level now? — (My Post) 10. — Anonymous 10? 10?! Isn't that super high? — Anonymous Level 10 after clearing floor 6 is rare — Aged Wine is... Hoe~...! Growing like a weed all the way to where I am~! — Short-Eared Goblin Thanks to all those Hidden Pieces along the way~ Anyway, it's good~ 'That's true, but...'
📌 Title: And You Don't Need to Worry Too Much Because Nickname: Paper Enthusiast* Leveling up should clear most of the mental strain buildup Heard it from other bosses a few times — Anonymous Yeah, true — Anonymous Some hunters even hunt for levels on one floor to trigger it — Anonymous Pls leave my floor ffs — Anonymous Fact is, if you fail the climb due to condition issues, we get Ejected — Anonymous Oh 'Dizzying.'
It lined up with what Rakiya Bells had just said.
In conclusion, they seemed to think his situation wasn't that hopeless.
"Phew."
"Do-yoon?"
He spoke to Rakiya Bells, who was looking at him curiously.
"Guess we gotta go."
"If we're going..."
"Gotta clear the floor first to decide on leaving or not."
"...! Good thinking!"
Rakiya gave an honest reply.
"But are you okay?"
"I leveled up recently too, so yeah. And."
She explained that mana strain was weaker on floors you'd already cleared.
Her bolstered Mana Resistance made it possible.
'She's the real deal.'
Unpredictable thoughts aside, her core abilities were undeniable.
-Kyrk!
Passing the non-combat zone and advancing further.
Lizardmen clad in green scales appeared.
Bipedal monsters armed to the teeth, unlike the quadrupeds from the previous floor.
"They're aggressive and pretty smart."
"Yeah."
"Always watch out for getting surrounded."
Familiar advice.
Hunters climbing the Tower were always outnumbered.
The floor guardians always held numerical superiority.
'Eira.'
Before diving into battle, Do-yoon cast his skill and activated Ancestor's Memory.
-Whoosh...!
A gust of wind swept his bangs.
Defying providence through mana to manifest a miracle.
The miracle mimicked the Tower lord's vassal.
Fearsome chains embodying a powerful curse and bloodlust.
'Here it comes.'
Along with the familiar aura, the sense of weakness...
'Is gone?'
His heart raced at the change in his body.
-Clang!
Two chains surged forward with mighty force, targeting the foes.
"Hee hee hee!"
The skill worked perfectly.
The difference was in Do-yoon's own growth.
'Then.'
Does that mean unleashing his full power wasn't far off?
Truly welcome news.
"Incoming!"
Rakiya shouted from the side, hefting her massive axe.
'Why so serious.'
Do-yoon couldn't know Rakiya's hidden resolve.
'Even better.'
A dubious ally he had to keep close.
'I'll surpass you for sure.'
And prove to her sister.
That she wasn't some shoddy warrior to be saved in a place like this.
And that she could claim the next chieftain's seat too.
'I can do it.'
Forgetting entirely her sister's savage words about apologies and such—
"Haaah!"
Rakiya charged at the Lizardman with a mighty kiai.
"..."
Watching her, Do-yoon soon joined the Lizardman slaughter alongside Eira's chains.
-Kweeek!
Floor 7.
Even before entering the boss room.
The Lizardmen's mournful cries filled the stage for quite some time.