Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Tower Lord's Ordeal #7
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"...Insolent."
A towering, weathered old tower.
Atop the ruins where every tale had reached its end, a single being muttered in disdain.
Lately, there was one existence that had been greatly unsettling her composure.
The newbie.
A presumptuous man who dared to toy with the tower's master while bearing the lowly status of a human.
"...You're really climbing your way up, aren't you."
Thanks to him, she had no idea how many times her thick mask had cracked.
A mask so thick under the name of "concept" that no one could remind her of her true self.
She had immersed herself so deeply in the gallery's internal dynamics that even she herself was fooled.
💬 Comments — Anonymous So, are you actually doing Wine Lord's job? — Anonymous If you'd done your teacher job, the Wine Lord's tower image wouldn't have gone to shit like this. — Anonymous Aha! — Aged Wine is... Hoeoe...! You naughty bastards! I won't forgive you...! — Anonymous A person, a person died!! Sealed away in every way, trapped by the loathsome transcendent being known as the "Tower Stick."
The true self believed she could erase her cursed existence with such a mask at any time.
"How dare you, how dare you betray the grace I bestowed upon you in this manner?"
Despite the transcendent's checks, she had willingly taken on the risks.
She had warned of the dangers from hunters descending from the upper floors with penalties and even taught how to handle the disgraceful black history called "Grape Juice Lord."
Compared to before, it must have been a huge help in terms of mana utilization.
However, the response she got was—
— Anonymous Give me more. UwU. A nonchalant attitude demanding she hand over her own with greedy eyes.
Though she vowed to one day restore the tower's order, she always lost the initiative to him and floundered about.
The mask peeled away, forcing her to bare her raw true self before everyone.
'I.'
Am a being trapped in the tower, no different from a puppet.
Thus, I must not hold any meaning.
She had to be ready at any moment to accept hunters and kill them.
But lately, a tiny presence seeping into her daily life had shaken her true heart countless times.
— Paper Enthusiast So you're not gonna do it? You know leaving it alone just makes the situation worse, right? — Short-Eared Goblin If the hunters rampage too much, the price will come back to us~ It's definitely breaking the tower's rules, after all~ "...These guys think it's not about them."
The true self glared at the various nicknames scratching at her insides with thick killing intent.
Bag, hurry up and unpack your bag!
Unpack it and prove your shame.
— [Private] Title: Newbies Only Read In the midst of it all, a private post was thrown into the gallery.
The post's owner was Wine Lord.
In the end, unable to withstand everyone's urging, she decided to release the information.
— Anonymous What the fuck, why private? — Anonymous Tell us too!!!!!!! — Anonymous We want to see fresh Wine Lord too. — Anonymous Ask the newbie, right? The entire gallery rebelled fiercely, but there was nothing they could do against Wine Lord, who held all the authority.
"These things."
The true self looked back at the gallery masses rioting with thick contempt.
Beings who couldn't even meet her eyes usually were now rebelling under the pretext of the newbie.
Title: Oh, I can see it lol
Nickname: Paper Enthusiast*
— Paper Enthusiast Jealous? Then get the armband lolololol — Anonymous Ah. — Anonymous Tell us too!!!!!!!!!!!! — Anonymous The armband is malfunctioning waaaaah!!! — (Frog monster wailing gif) — Anonymous Tactical nuke incoming gtfo — Paper Enthusiast Launch it and get perma-banned gtfo — Anonymous Ah. "Kukuku."
And the protagonist of all this commotion.
The culprit and mastermind of the incident, Do-yoon, let out a laugh at the gallery's reactions.
It was hearty yet tinged with pathos.
After fully savoring their intense reactions, he entered the private post he'd noted earlier to properly indulge in the information.
— Insolent newbie! Eat shit! (Hideously grotesque boss mob photo)
— The post I made Ah fuck "Kuhk."
A sudden ambush attack hit him, bringing on a deep headache and dizziness.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Mana Resistance has increased. As if mocking Do-yoon, who had writhed for a while from the aftereffects of the tactical nuke(?), the status window notified him of the ordeal he'd suffered.
— [Private] Title: This time it's real...! Nickname: Aged Wine is...* This is my own petty revenge, so please look at it cutely...! I really hate the newbie who took the Hidden Piece ticket and is being petty, but I want our newbie to conquer the tower smoothly without getting stuck...! With that in mind, I'll pull out the story I've been saving. "Oh."
Wine Lord decided to willingly share the story about the 15th floor theme stage.
#
"...Whoa."
— Anonymous What? Found the black history? — Anonymous Newbie, if you heard it, share it quick like a good boy. Exiting the private post, reactions urging answers popped up everywhere as if they'd been waiting.
— The post I made Can't say or I'll get banned; — Aged Wine is... Hmph hmph, good newbies who listen well are good newbies. — Anonymous Just tell us!! — Anonymous She said she'll ban lol crazy bastards — Anonymous These guys are happy as long as it's fun lol The conversation started in a somewhat light atmosphere, but naturally, the content wasn't light.
It was information about the tower.
Information about the floor where the process of the tower's master becoming a monster was gruesomely reconstructed.
It was the same on the 5th floor, but other hunters would know about this general story too.
The reason Do-yoon wanted this exclusive meeting with Wine Lord was for more detailed and intimate interactions beyond that information.
"Do-yoon, what the hell have you been doing since earlier..."
Rakiya Bells, observing Do-yoon's reactions, asked with a heavy expression matching his serious look.
"Those guys from earlier, we'll meet them on the 15th floor too, right?"
"Probably. Theme stages are one of the few floors where hunters must unite to pass the ordeal. And..."
"And?"
"The key point is how much you contributed to the results. You know that well, Do-yoon."
"Yeah."
The 5th floor reward was, of course, Aira's power.
A reward solely for Do-yoon, who could be said to have cleared it alone, beyond the reach of other hunters.
'This time.'
Rakiya Bells couldn't help but cautiously anticipate what feats he would show on this 15th floor.
"But."
"...Yeah?"
"We're only on the 9th floor now, isn't it a bit early?"
There were still floors left until reaching the 15th.
"We should focus on getting there first."
"That's true too. Failing before then makes it all meaningless."
Do-yoon gazed at the peaceful scenery of the non-combat zone, lost in thought for a moment.
'Ah, how do I mess with these guys so it doesn't spread rumors that I did a good job?'
As someone in sync with the gallery, he couldn't just watch them judge value through tower information.
This was directly related to Do-yoon's path ahead.
'Gotta give credit where it's due.'
His origin was Earth, a place said to lag far behind other worlds in progress.
Thus, he couldn't adapt well to the board made by gathering only good origins among themselves.
Interference was obviously coming no matter what.
"Your big sis."
"Uh, yeah?"
At those words, Rakiya Bells turned to Do-yoon with a very guilty expression.
A heavyweight hunter holding a seat in the upper council.
Not just her, but powerhouses from each world controlled the tower conquest progress and cycles.
'Got lucky.'
No matter the penalties, if they'd seriously tried to sabotage Do-yoon.
The situation would have gone weird for sure.
"No word from her since then?"
"Th-there was."
"...There was?"
"Just some light questions... Like if I'm doing well, if I'm getting along with you, that sort of thing..."
Interest from a powerhouse.
Not exactly welcome news at this point.
'Gotta pick up the tempo.'
Do-yoon recalled the Hidden Piece reward peacefully sleeping in his inventory.
A ticket infused with a great opportunity for Wine Lord's growth support.
Yeah, it was right to use it now.
"It's about time to use it anyway."
"Use what..."
"Got something like that."
Do-yoon brushed it off vaguely and spent time on the 9th floor.
"Bro! If you got time, check out some gear before you go! You know?! In the tower, gear is life!"
"This is a traditional dish from our tribe! Try a taste before you leave!"
The streets still bustled with hunters from other worlds.
"But if they buy and sell like that, what do they exchange for currency?"
Do-yoon, who hadn't done any proper trading yet, asked Rakiya Bells.
"Barter, obviously. Directly trading what each needs from the other. Whether it's info or other consumables."
"Figures."
"And there are other ways too."
"...?"
"Uh, that person..."
As Rakiya Bells was about to say more, gazes locked onto Do-yoon from all around again.
"Isn't that the guy? The one who used the object's power on 5th floor..."
"Sh-should we talk to him now...!"
Time on the 9th floor wasn't infinite.
The end was approaching as time passed.
They had no time.
Thus, they had to somehow prepare to move to the next floor right here, right now.
-Thud thud thud!
"Yes?"
And their top priority.
Forming some connection with the most capable hunter, no matter what.
"Bro, try this one!"
"Get that filthy thing away?!"
"Aaaah, who stepped on my tail!"
"Don't talk then scram! I got here first!"
Centered on Do-yoon, massive chaos erupted once more.
"No schedule? How about hanging with us?! Best treatment guaranteed!"
"Party up party up!"
"Crazy."
Do-yoon endured it for quite a while longer before finally slipping away.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Time usable in the 9th floor demilitarized zone: 24 hours remaining. Confirming the remaining time, Do-yoon sensed the moment had come.
"Gotta do it when it's time."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Consume the ticket to receive the tower's ordeal? Experience that would help in the 15th floor and beyond.
As Do-yoon accepted in his mind, he pushed his body through the rift where Wine Lord awaited.