Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Chapter 64 Just One Day
For over 50 years, I had truly run without resting even a single day.
At first, I was behind others, so I absolutely couldn't rest, and even after gaining talent, since my starting line was late, I only thought I had to run faster.
As things I wanted to take responsibility for appeared one by one, I couldn't stop even more.
I had to become someone reliable enough to embrace them all.
After the 2nd round, with the thought that I could save one more person with each step I took forward, I seemed to have run even more earnestly than in the 1st round.
I moved without rest even in the tutorial, and spent more time training even in the waiting room meant for rest.
I wanted to become stronger, to be able to do more, to prevent that terrible future that was approaching.
So I tried to show a more cheerful appearance instead.
If I didn't do at least that, it was hard to endure.
I wasn't a machine after all.
This life of repeating only training and struggle was somewhat burdensome.
My shoulders were heavy with the fact that countless people's expectations and lives depended on my hands.
I thought I was even enjoying that weight, but staying here made me realize what I had been longing for.
'Now I finally understand what kind of trial this is.'
A trial that materializes what the climber unconsciously desires.
What I desired was nothing other than peaceful daily life, and the Tower simply fulfilled that.
Thanks to that, today was truly happy.
I don't know how long it's been since I purely enjoyed something without any worries, without any expectations and burdens.
I realized for the first time that I was someone who could enjoy such things.
I wasn't a killing machine. I was a person who could cry and laugh at ordinary things.
[If you do not extend, the trial will end in 10 minutes.]
[Remaining time: 0 hours 9 minutes]
Since I didn't choose anything, they gave a 10-minute grace period.
Does the Tower want me to press yes that much?
'Actually, my unconscious might be doing the same.'
Wouldn't one day be okay? Couldn't I rest just one more day and work hard starting tomorrow?
The thought that since I've run so earnestly until now, don't I have the right to receive some reward, begins to flow from my unconscious.
I desperately wanted to go on at least the trip I so wanted to take.
A trip with Estelle would surely be enjoyable and happy.
She would do everything I wanted, and this trip could become an opportunity for us to grow closer.
'...That's exactly why I can't go.'
Because I have people waiting for me.
Because there are people waiting only for me.
"Sorry, Estelle. I don't think I can go on the trip."
So I couldn't go on the trip.
If I had to go, it would have to be after everything was over, together with the people who truly waited for me.
Not with the fake Estelle created by the Tower's power, made in the image I desired.
"Why suddenly...? Do you dislike me now?"
Even knowing she was fake, her sad expression was devastatingly heartbreaking.
"If I did something wrong, please tell me. I can fix anything. For you, I can do anything..."
It hurt my heart even more that she sought the reason for the incident from herself rather than from others, and said she could change for me, just like the real Estelle.
"It's not that. It's just that this place isn't where I should be. If you're a being created by my desires... you understand what I'm saying, right?"
I spoke as if I already knew everything about the trial. So she could no longer hold me back.
Then the other party changed strategy.
"Can't you not go...? Or what about resting just one more day before going? You've lived so hard, so why are you trying to return there on your own feet again?"
She didn't hide the fact that she was a being of the trial either. While doing so, she stimulated my heart.
As if she could see right through me.
"Because I can't commit any more sins. Whether I'm looking at this place or not, staying here any longer would be a deception toward those who think only of me."
I didn't want to make everyone except me wait just so I could be comfortable alone, just so I could be happy alone.
Not even for a single day.
If I truly think of them, I shouldn't do that.
"What have those people done for you...? They only gave you expectations and burdens, and only received from you, didn't they? Just how long will you keep sacrificing only for them?"
'Sacrifice...? Is that sacrifice?'
I didn't think so.
Compared to what I received, what I gave them was a drop in the bucket.
"I've never sacrificed. Rather, I received hearts from them. Even when I wanted to give up and throw everything away, I didn't give up because those people were there."
Yoo So-eun's heart that left for my sake, Baek Ran's heart that tried not to burden me, Baek Ryeon's heart full of devotion toward me, Estelle's heart that was always by my side - they continuously lifted me up.
Daily life is good, but that daily life has more value when there are people to share it with.
For daily life with them, I had to become stronger than now.
Strong enough to protect everyone by my side.
"If you say it like that... I can't hold you back at all. The fake will disappear now, so please... treat the real Estelle better."
Eventually even the being of the trial gave up on me completely.
And thinking that this was what my unconscious desire was saying made me feel strangely embarrassed.
'She's not watching, is she...?'
I just hope Estelle isn't watching this scene.
"I should. Thanks to you, it was enjoyable even if just for one day."
The moment I pressed no, the fake Estelle disappeared and messages appeared before my eyes.
[You have cleared the trial of Testing Floor Hell Difficulty 8th Floor for the first time.]
[Rewards are enhanced.]
[You never extended time even once.]
[Rewards are greatly enhanced.]
[You are receiving penalties.]
[Rewards are very greatly enhanced.]
[Rewards have become the highest level.]
[Rewards from floors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are overlapped.]
[Will you receive rewards?]
[Yes / No.]
The enhancement condition for rewards was indeed not extending time even once. I expected it, but it wasn't an action I aimed for.
If there weren't people waiting, I might have really spent a few more days.
[Some of the gods of Pantheon feel sorry for you.]
[Those who govern love among the gods of Pantheon cheer for your love.]
[One of the Demon Kings of Pandemonium says well done.]
After the trial ended, in that short time before going to the waiting room, three messages from transcendents arrived.
Among the 8th floor trials, messages probably weren't visible for immersion.
Looking up, there were really countless messages.
[One of the gods of Pantheon is displeased.]
There was also one message like this, and I just hope this isn't Estelle.
[Rewards were skipped.]
[The value of rewards overlaps with the next floor's rewards.]
When I finished checking all the messages, space began to collapse, so I immediately pressed reward skip and threw my body into the portal.
I wondered whether to summon Eve or not, but this time I decided to give more time to train martial arts.
She would be experiencing many trials and errors as she's mixing new principles into the martial arts she was using.
'I also want to be alone this time.'
In my current state, Eve's bright energy seemed completely unbearable.
I spoke confidently in front of the unconscious created by the Tower, but my heart was still in turmoil.
I decided to move my body slowly and discipline my heart.
Nothing was better than martial arts training for disciplining the heart.
Especially Wudang's martial arts and Shaolin's martial arts often greatly helped with heart studies.
As I ate, trained martial arts while summoning spirits, and checked things I had obtained before, my immovable heart was returning to its original state.
Rather, after shaking once, it felt like it became even more solid.
A person's heart is also like iron - the more you hammer it, the more solid it becomes. I learned this fact in the tutorial too.
A heart tempered through hundreds of deaths had even undergone reforging.
'Actually, I didn't know there would be a trial that touched the heart like this.'
If what they showed me were negative fantasies or terrible things, I wouldn't have been affected at all.
Since I already knew they were fake, they would just end naturally when time passed.
But showing what the opponent desires like this made it difficult to refuse even knowing they were fake.
Rather, I even had the crafty thought of not wanting time to pass.
It left greater wounds in my heart.
When using illusion magic on opponents with black magic, it seemed necessary to consider using it this way.
Time passed quickly.
A portal appeared before my eyes.
[Remaining time until next floor opens: 0 hours 0 minutes]
Already the 9th red portal.
After entering here, only one red portal would remain.
The end was approaching for the Testing Floors too.
'I hope this time it's not something that touches the mind.'
With the thought that I might get a bit angry if it was, I stepped into the portal.
The place I arrived at beyond the portal was where a huge castle existed on a blackened wasteland, and I was sitting on a throne in the center.
And before me, countless people with horns were kneeling on one knee with their heads bowed.
"Demon King! We have completed preparations for the expedition!"
'What..? Me?'
As I heard the ridiculous words calling me Demon King, a message appeared before my eyes.
[Testing Floor Hell Difficulty 9th Floor Trial.]
[You are a Demon King who has descended to the middle world. Take the world into your hands.]
[During the Testing Floor progression, the use of Limit-Breaking stats, authority, and manifestation is restricted.]
[Trial rewards are further enhanced due to penalties.]
[Current world erosion rate 5%]
The 9th floor trial had the concept of becoming a Demon King who invaded the middle world and taking the world into your hands.
'This really doesn't suit me at all.'
For someone like me, a hero who saved the world would be fitting, not a Demon King who invaded the world.
But since the Tower gave this trial, I had no choice but to do it even if I didn't like it.
I really had no choice but to become a Demon King just this once.
'Mom, please allow me to become a righteous Demon King today too.'
I offered a light prayer to the greatest Demon King I knew and shouted to the demons.
"Right! Let's go! Let's kill all those humans!"
""WAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!""
Ah, I'm really bad at this kind of thing.
I'm only doing this reluctantly because the Tower is making me do it. Really.