The Free Pass

"Siyeon. Close the curtain again."

Now that I’d already checked the item’s performance, it was time to change back into my clothes.

Taking the dress off was every bit as difficult as putting it on.

After a long struggle, I finally got out of it in the bathroom and changed back into the shorts and T-shirt I’d been wearing before.

Phew. I can breathe again.

Then a thought struck me.

Should I just have her make one more outfit that feels like normal clothes?

I briefly considered making something like a blood tracksuit, but quickly gave up on the idea.

For one thing, I’d have to spend several more days gathering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠low-grade blood.

And more importantly, it felt a little wrong to tell Riri I didn’t want to wear the very first thing she’d worked so hard to make for me and wanted something else instead.

If it was something I’d have to wear all the time, maybe it’d be different.

But since it was only for the occasional outing or tower climb, it was fine.

...This is definitely not because I got showered with compliments earlier about how well it suited me.

Anyway.

After changing and stretching out comfortably on my bed, I checked the time on my phone.

There was less than a day left until the fifth floor opened.

It bothered me a little that I wouldn’t be at level 30 when I went in.

But I’d prepared sun-blocking gear, and I had three familiars. There shouldn’t be any problem.

I’d also read every guide post from Solo Warrior as best I could, and it seemed like I had more than enough of a shot at clearing it.

However cowardly I was, this wasn’t the kind of situation where I’d hesitate.

Of course, if I had to clear it all by myself without my familiars doing the work for me, that probably would’ve been a different story... but whatever!

So once the cooldown’s over, I’ll go straight into Floor 5. And since I’ve got nothing else to do, maybe I’ll browse the Hunter Gallery for a bit?

...Huh. We really did make a contract, though.

Obviously, that person probably wasn’t actually in the know.

The chances of the truth the Association was classifying so tightly somehow leaking to a place like the Mystery board were slim to none.

Still, it was oddly ironic that the conclusion itself wasn’t wrong.

Aside from the contract rumors, there were posts like this too.

Posts calling True Ancestor a has-been, saying she was all hype.

They were getting downvoted into oblivion and cursed out in the comments, but they still kept popping up.

Honestly.

Just two weeks ago, everyone had been worshipping me, and now that things had gone quiet for a bit, suspicion was starting to creep back in.

Well, that’s the fate of a superstar, I guess.

I’d spent enough time on the board to be used to this sort of behavior, but it was still a little unfair.

I mean, you don’t even know anything...!

From Nightmare Floor 4 onward, the cooldown is two weeks. It’s not that I ran away with my tail between my legs. I just couldn’t go up yet.

You clueless idiots.

I’m not a has-been, so just wait a little longer.

I’ll turn that mockery into cheers.

As I kept scrolling, something else caught my eye.

Wait a second. Isn’t this about me...?

That was the incident where Katarina had snapped the arms of two thugs at the mountain entrance.

Apparently, the story had slipped its way into the Gallery before I knew it.

Well, there was a bit of misunderstanding in that story, sure.

But it did seem like there were other vampires out there for real.

I’d even seen a pureblood vampire named Rak... something-or-other at the gate last time.

The fact that vampires existed was clearly true.

But as I kept reading the comments, one question came to mind.

Right. If they made an announcement about demons, then why are they keeping vampires secret?

Normally there’d be no way to figure something like that out, but I was different now.

Now I had the Climber Community!

I immediately logged in and searched for vampire as a keyword.

Just in time, a popular summary post appeared.

Chills.

So the Association had been moving this carefully all along.

Maybe I really was some incredible big shot if even a nervous, polite Association president treated me with such caution?

Come to think of it, that made me sound kind of amazing.

I puffed up a little with pride.

As I kept skimming posts, another one caught my eye.

The amount of talk about me here was about the same as on the Hunter Gallery, but the vibe was different.

Probably because these were higher-ranked awakeners and they knew more about the system.

Still, they’re all looking forward to it.

That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made me feel a little better.

I figured I’d seen enough, so I put my phone down.

That said.

I lifted my head and looked around the studio apartment.

Siyeon was standing neatly beside my bed, waiting.

Katarina was at attention near the wall.

And Riri was sitting on the floor, drawing something in the air with blood.

Looking closer, it seemed to be a picture of me and her, and there were hearts everywhere.

...It’s cramped.

Come to think of it, the place really had gotten a lot smaller.

It was only natural for it to feel cramped with four people packed into a studio apartment that had originally only been meant for one.

I guess I really do need to move now.

The reason I hadn’t done it until now was simple.

I couldn’t buy real estate because of my identity issues.

And I couldn’t move during the day because of the sunlight problem.

But things were different now.

I had an ID, and I could block out sunlight with Blood Thread Clothing and Ink Shadow Parasol.

There was no reason not to get a new place.

"It’s a little cramped, isn’t it? I’m thinking of changing residences soon. What do you all think?"

"...!"

At once, Katarina’s eyes widened slightly.

Then she hurried over and dropped to one knee.

"I had long wished to speak of it, but I was too ashamed to presume upon my lord’s chambers, and so I dared not bring it up."

"I think moving would be a good idea as well."

Siyeon agreed calmly.

"It is a little tight! Riri likes being close to Master, though!"

Riri looked up and chimed in too.

As expected.

My familiars had all known it too.

They’d simply been waiting for their master’s decision.

I said with dignity, "Ahem. Once I return from the first expedition to Floor 5, I shall see to our residence issue."

"...My lord!"

Katarina’s eyes trembled with emotion.

"I am truly ashamed by my lord’s deep consideration."

"Wow! So we’re moving?"

As for the details of where and how I’d move, I could sort those out slowly after I was done climbing.

For now, the first order of business was clearing the Floor 5 that was right in front of me.

And finally, the next day arrived.

The Floor 5 entry cooldown was over.

I dressed in a black dress and took up my parasol.

“Let us go.”

And so, together with my three familiars, I entered Nightmare Floor 5.

The moment we stepped inside, what spread out before my eyes was...

A clear blue sky and a wide-open field.

And far in the distance, a massive castle wall.

Flags fluttered atop the sturdy stone battlements, and guards in iron armor stood stiffly on either side of the main gate.

The classic scenery of a medieval fortified town.

Just like Solo Warrior’s guide said.

I immediately organized the strategy in my head.

Floor 5 was supposed to be like an RPG game.

Chapters progressed through quests, and the system scored how well you solved them.

And the first task of Chapter 1 was to pass through this gate and go inside.