The Earth Is Changing Fast (1)
The Earth Is Changing Fast (1)
"..."
A bed. A computer. A mini-fridge in the kitchen. Even a wardrobe.
No matter how I looked at it, from any angle, no matter how many times I checked—it was exactly like my studio apartment.
But I'd definitely seen a message saying I'd entered Floor 1.
Was Earth itself Floor 1 of the Tower? My mind started racing, thoughts piling up—
<Notice. Announcing the rules of Floor 1.>
A familiar message window appeared before my eyes.
"...Hm."
I tensed my muscles and raised my guard.
Nothing would surprise me at this point.
But the message's contents were... completely unexpected.
<Floor 1>
-There is no separate Clear Condition. Please rest comfortably. Refer to the guidebook for details.
"...What?"
Just moments ago I'd been in a brutal life-or-death fight against goblins...
Now I was supposed to rest comfortably? No Clear Condition? And a guidebook? What was this, a vacation resort?
The sudden shift in tone left me completely baffled.
While I stayed on guard, suspecting a trap, a small box popped into existence before me.
The design was similar to the box that had held the Golden Orb on Floor 0.
"...It's real."
I took the floating box and opened it. Inside was an actual guidebook.
I pulled it out and checked the title immediately.
<Guidebook for Climbers Chosen by God>
The cover showed an Angel holding a placard that read 'Welcome' with a bright smile.
"..."
The moment I saw the booklet's cheerful overall design, my face reflexively twisted into a scowl.
They threw people onto an island with insane conditions forcing them to kill each other.
And now what? Welcome?
It felt like some sick joke. Irritation boiled up inside me.
Still, I could guess their intent.
From their perspective, everything so far was just a 'test,' and now that we'd passed it, they were going to treat us somewhat decently. This was probably their idea of goodwill.
But for me, who'd regressed over and over desperately trying to save people, that goodwill was revolting beyond words.
This wasn't some game. Was I supposed to be grateful they were being nice now?
My feelings aside, the guidebook was the guidebook.
I gritted my teeth and opened it to check the contents.
1. Why was this Tower created?
2. How to make proper use of Floor 1?
3. Basic Tower rules—curious?
4. Why must you climb the Tower?
The table of contents was written in the soft, gentle tone you'd use explaining something to a child.
When I turned to the first page, it contained what the fairy had explained in the Tutorial, but with a bit more detail.
You know—God was disappointed in humanity's behavior, the time of judgment finally arrived, merciful God decided to give humans a chance to survive, and that chance was the Tower...
I'll admit humanity's behavior is a shitshow. Lately, there's been a rising trend of bastards who don't act human at all.
But what's God so disappointed about? He made us this way, so why is He the one who's disappointed?
If He's going to be disappointed, He should be disappointed in Himself for creating humans like this.
I skimmed through, but it was all useless rambling, so I flipped past the pages to the next section.
<How to use Floor 1.>
God wishes for climbers to demonstrate the full potential of humanity. You are, after all, nothing less than representatives of the current human race. To do so, managing your condition is not optional—it's essential!
To ensure climbers can enjoy complete rest, Floor 1 is equipped with various features.
First, the form of Floor 1 can be transformed at any time, as much as you like. Decorate your very own Floor 1!
Second, on Floor 1, you can be provided with any item you desire, in any quantity! However, you cannot take them outside Floor 1!
Third, do you miss your family? We'll open a portal to your hometown whenever you wish! Likewise, we'll open a portal to Floor 2 anytime.
Once you've rested your body and mind and finished your preparations, how about challenging Floor 2?
"..."
I lifted my eyes from the booklet and looked around my ordinary studio apartment.
To be honest, I'd always wanted to live in a nice, spacious apartment instead of a tiny studio like this.
"...Oh."
The instant I had that thought, my surroundings transformed and became the interior of a regular apartment.
Outside the window, the Han River flowed, and people were walking along.
Slide.
I opened the window, and cool air blew in.
"...Can't do this, though."
I tried to reach my hand out the window, but it wouldn't go through—blocked as if by an invisible barrier.
Next, I imagined a luxurious mansion.
My surroundings melted and reshaped again, turning into the interior of an opulent mansion fit for Dubai royalty.
I walked up the stairs and entered the room at the center of the second floor. A massive bed big enough for ten people and a dazzling chandelier greeted me.
When I imagined a delicious pizza, a pizza from my favorite brand materialized on the nearby table. When I imagined a cold drink, a bottle with a straw was suddenly in my hand.
I took a sip through the straw and threw myself onto the plush bed.
I pulled out my phone to check. The signal worked, too.
"...I want to go back to Earth."
The moment I said it, a blue portal appeared right next to the bed.
I rolled my body into the portal... and found myself standing inside my familiar studio apartment again.
"...Cola."
I imagined a cold cola, but nothing happened.
I opened the window and reached my hand out. It passed through without any resistance.
"...Ha."
I let out a hollow laugh and threw myself onto the musty bed.
It was uncomfortable. I already missed the plush softness of that other bed.
"...I want to go back to Floor 1."
Before the words even finished, a blue portal formed.
Instead of stepping through, I waved my hand and closed the portal.
"..."
If other people were given the exact same Floor 1 as me...
"This is fucked."
Humanity is on the brink of extinction right now.
Let me be clear—the Tutorial I experienced and the Tutorial other people experienced feel significantly different.
For one thing, I went through most of the Tutorial already highly familiar with the situation, having repeated it through regression after regression.
Thanks to the swordsmanship Choi Ji-won taught me and my Achievement Level, I'd gained considerable combat power, and aside from the Minotaur, I'd never felt my life was in danger.
Even so, the moment I lay down on a bed, drowsiness washed over me.
After spending all that time curled up on dirt floors to sleep, lying on a soft, plush bed made it impossible not to fall asleep.
But what about the people who didn't go through the Tutorial with me?
For them, the Tutorial would've been nothing but endless stress.
Food was scarce, so they would've been constantly starving.
Even when they slept, they would've barely managed light dozes while feeling their lives were at risk.
They might've stabbed someone they loved to get an orb, just like the Angel said.
They barely survived the Tutorial, and then an Angel suddenly appeared, threatening that entering the Tower required paying a fitting price.
Stress. More stress. Most of them were probably pushed to the very brink of losing their minds.
And if people like that... face the same Floor 1 I just experienced?
They'll probably think:
'Do I really need to go up to Floor 2?'
On Floor 1, you can obtain anything you materially desire.
Sure, they say humanity will be destroyed if we don't reach Floor 66... but it's likely people will hope someone else handles it rather than suffering through it themselves.
On top of that, the Tutorial Fairy only said humanity would be destroyed—it never said by when we had to climb the Tower.
There's no motivation.
No reason to risk their lives climbing this Tower.
If God intended this... it's probably meant to test human willpower, or the spirit of sacrifice, or some bullshit like that.
As a method of wiping out humanity without killing a single person, I have to admit it's remarkably elegant.
"First... what's the date today?"
I checked my phone. Fortunately, the date hadn't changed.
Probably thanks to me clearing the Tutorial at lightning speed.
The moment I unlocked my phone, a flood of KakaoTalk messages came pouring in.
The vast majority of them told me to go to a portal site right now and check the news.
"...What the hell is this?"
I opened a portal site as my friends had said and checked the news section. It was a spectacle, to say the least.
『Footage of a superhuman uploaded to YouTube then immediately deleted—confirmed not to be fabricated!』
『[Breaking] United States acknowledges the Tower's existence! Official term for returnees decided as 'Players'!』
『South Korean government officially admits to information suppression. States that it was concealed because it 'could cause social unrest.'』
『Players hiding information about the 'Tutorial'... selfishness, or something supernatural?』
"..."
Every tower-climbing story I'd read took place after the Tower appeared, set in a society where the changes had already settled.
Maybe that's why I'd never seen a scene like this before.
The Tower... was changing the world.