The Rusty Lance's Glory
“How about it? No need for more explanation, right?”
“Yeah. Very simple.”
Climb the tower and defeat the boss monster on the 10th floor.
A straightforward subjugation quest—nothing to get or not get.
It was right up Carpe's alley, the field he was most confident in.
“Haha, cocky, huh? Great attitude. I like it.”
Dretsch, floating in midair, pointed toward the back of the room.
“Head out that door, and you'll be transported to the tower's original 1st floor. Oh, hold on a sec.”
This time, Dretsch floated over to Tina and Mirage.
“Yeah, you two look better than I expected. Found a decent master, I see?”
“Yes. A truly excellent one.”
“Yeah! Way better than Dretsch. Way better. Waaay better!”
“Haha, that's a bit hurtful. Anyway, must've been confusing as hell, but glad you look happy.”
“Magic King, may I ask one question?”
“Call me casually. Casually. Like when you were kids, Dad... Nah, too far? Fine, put the sword away.”
“My apologies.”
Tina sheathed the sword she'd half-drawn.
He'd felt it back in the elf forest too, but the Magic King didn't seem to be all that revered by his dolls.
“Alright, what's on your mind?”
“It seems like Tina and Mirage have some gaps in our memories. Not severe, but sometimes it feels foggy. Do you know anything about this?”
“Oh, that? Of course. I did it. Implanted restrictions in you two and most of the other dolls.”
“......Why?”
“No clue on that part.”
“Huh?”
Carpe, who'd been listening quietly from the side, let out a reflexive sound.
He'd put the restrictions in himself but didn't know why?
As Carpe tilted his head in disbelief, Dretsch gave a wry smile and tapped his own head.
“Same for me. I'm just a construct set up to hand over tower authority to your new master. Anything deemed unnecessary got wiped by the main body.”
“Ah......”
So that's why Dretsch called himself a 'fragment' of memory.
“Looks like the main body left some contingency... but I can't access it now. Don't worry, though. Keep getting stronger like you are, and it'll recover eventually.”
“Understood. Thank you for the answer.”
Not entirely satisfying, judging by the slight furrow in Tina's brow, but what could she do if even he didn't know?
“Alright, no more questions? Time to head out. Clear the 10th floor and come back—I'll fill you in on more then.”
“We'll be right back.”
“Won't be that easy. I put real effort into designing this place. Lots of mazes too.”
“Well, yeah, but......”
Carpe grinned and continued.
“We've got our aces up our sleeves.”
Leaving the room where Dretsch waited, a staircase appeared behind.
Climbing it to the top revealed a sign reading '1F'. Looked like Dretsch's space was B1.
-Hmm. Been a while here too. Old memories flooding back—not a bad feeling.
“What's the level of monsters in here?”
-1st floor's probably around level 40 to 45. Naturally, they get tougher each floor up.
“Piece of cake.”
Carpe's current level was 57.
Not just any 57—it was a 57 stuffed with every hidden piece in sight!
Level 40s mobs? No matter how many, zero issue.
“Fireball!”
The 1st floor was slime-heavy, but none survived a single hit from Carpe.
And Dretsch's claim about mazes making it tough?
-See that slightly reddish brick on the left? Nah, not that—third one to the right. Yeah, press it, and all the arrow traps ahead deactivate. Easy street.
Cheonma's strategy guide was way too helpful.
Overwhelming freebies! Game too easy.
Carpe swept the 1st-floor labyrinth like it was a casual stroll.
-Oh, that wall there? Breakable. Hit it hard, secret passage opens—treasure chest at the end, grab it.
“Kuuh. As expected of the master. This Fist Demon, Carpe! I swear once more to give my all for the revival of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult... Wait, hold up. Treasure chest?”
-Yeah, your favorite boxes. Low floors' are junk, skippable.
“No, not that—feels like I forgot something... What's this disconnect?”
Carpe halted, lost in thought.
Then he remembered and freaked.
“Holy crap. Forgot to open the box.”
He'd planned to crack boxes first thing upon entering the tower, but the hidden stage and Magic King encounter made him blank completely.
And that realization hit Carpe hard.
“Me... forgetting to gacha?”
Unthinkable.
Dazzled by the sweet freebie of 'landlording,' he'd missed the core.
Lost his beginner's mind. Couldn't let this slide.
With bitter self-reflection, Carpe pulled a random box from inventory.
Gacha first!
“Right. All this is for gacha and living off it. Landlording matter? Open first.”
-......What, possessed by a gacha ghost from a past life?
“Ghost? Oh yeah, seeing Dretsch is a good omen. Ancestors gotta bless this stuff. Like dreaming lotto numbers from gramps.”
As Magic King's heir, Dretsch was his ancestor. Perfect logic.
-......Teacher. Every time you gacha, my brain and common sense shatter. It's torture.
“Heh. For gacha, I am the teacher.”
-That's sarcasm, you lunatic!
Cheonma exploded in rage, but Carpe stood firm.
Just stared blankly at the random box.
“Whew. Here goes.”
Click.
Carpe carefully opened the box.
Slowly. Slowly. Halfway open—no effects.
“......No way.”
Dud? Sweat beaded, breath quickened, but Carpe denied reality.
Not over till it's over!
Flipping the lid fully—pop! Item burst out.
It was...
“A spear? Wait, spear, but......”
Unfortunately, a single, utterly rusted, colorless old spear.
Confirming the rust on the blade, Carpe dropped his head.
“Rusty spear. Old spear. Dud!”
-What? Appraise it first.
“Huh? Appraise what?”
-Tsk tsk. Lost your touch after so long. Remember day one? Tutorial clear reward box—got a rusty sword.
“......Ah!”
Carpe got it.
His first day in RaSe, tutorial speed-clear random box yielded a rusty sword.
But not just any rusty sword.
Unappraised item.
Needed skills or scrolls to reveal power.
Too long since last unappraised—forgot he even forgot.
“Whoa, right! 3,200-point box spitting a rusty spear? Ridiculous!”
Carpe snatched the rusty spear and activated the skill.
Unlock
Unsealing unappraised item.
◈ Equip Req: Mount skill
◈ The lance of an old knight who bravely charged vast foes long ago. Imbued with unyielding spirit. Specialized for lance charging.
◈ Phys Atk: 50~500 | Str +7 | Vit +5 | Dex +3
◈ Mount active: +20% damage
◈ Damage scales with mount speed
◈ Lance charge: Chance to destroy target armor
“Kuuh. Nice! Unique+! Solid hit!”
-Tch. Luck strikes again. Damn gacha demon needs a real whack to sober up.
“Ooh. Oooh!”
-Got it, it's good—stop oohing. You're great, yeah.
“That last one wasn't me?”
-Huh?
The faint admiration turned both Carpe and Cheonma's heads.
And there...
“Ooh. What a magnificent lance.”
Was Tina, eyes sparkling with odd anticipation.
“Charge!”
Hero of Light Tistania uses Radiant Command.
All allies' Atk/Def up.
“Keeeng!”
Tina and Mukhyang's lance charges impaled a kobold clean through.
Mukhyang's speed + Unique lance + Tina's skill = low-floor mobs swept aside.
“My liege! Splendid weapon. I shall repay with loyalty.”
Tina, thrilled with her new gear, rampaged through the tower.
2nd floor. 3rd. 4th.
Overwhelming force plus a perfect strategy.
The combo propelled Carpe up at terrifying speed.
“Hyang-ah! Gotta loot junk? It's all money, more money means more acorns!”
“Kyu kyu kyuu!”
5th. 6th. 7th.
Snort snort! Reminds me of my youth! Next foes where?!
-Uh, pond around that corner. Rare ring at bottom—pick it up and...
8th. Then 9th.
Carpe hit free zone 9 in a flash.
“Whew. First rest spot? Whoa, tons of people. Thousands easy.”
9th floor: Vast clearing packed with users unseen before.
“Need a melee DPS! No thieves!”
“Mages! Boss raid! Tank ready!”
Players recruiting to replace retirees from the climb.
Irrelevant to Carpe, so after a quick look, he headed to the 10th-floor entrance.
“Huh?”
A familiar sight awaited.
Huge stele by the entrance.
Just like in beginner city Leisin for Hell Beast.
Carpe touched it—a window popped up.
Historical Records
“Aha. Figures.”
-Hey, memories. Oh, I'm #1 here too. This run only to 20, but all mine up to there.
“Guess I'll smash 'em again.”
Carpe skimmed the records and touched the 10th-floor entrance.
10th floor is a boss stage. Enter?
“Enter.”