Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Habitual Slander
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Upon inspection, it didn't seem that bad.
Most of them were books that allowed me to start building proficiency, so their ranks weren't particularly high, and the rest were honestly closer to junk.
Of course, from the constellations' perspective, this was still an enormous sponsorship on the level of massive blood loss.
"Thank you. I'll make good use of them."
I bowed my head in gratitude, and the constellations nodded in satisfaction.
Confirming the flood of new messages, I organized the items.
Most were books and clothes, while the junk items were essentially materials I had no idea how to use right away.
Normally, no one would sponsor junk like that, but since I had the Combination ability, they must have sent them on purpose.
Among them...
"Why are there so many clothes?"
There were modern outfits like blouses, shirts, knits, cardigans, jeans, skirts, and leggings, alongside flashy dresses and ornate attire that looked like something out of an old nobility fashion.
And then some drab robes, too.
This last one was obviously from Hobby Magic User.
I didn't have any aversion to women's clothing.
Pretty is pretty.
No reason not to wear good clothes when the original body suited them.
It was a shame the tower environment didn't lend itself to wearing them easily.
Even if I did, one tower climb would turn them into rags.
But who the hell sent the maid outfit?
Checking the gallery, there was a new constellation who'd grabbed a high nick.
What the hell clothes did they send anyway.
I organized the luggage in disbelief.
What a parade of all sorts of constellations.
No wardrobe, so I folded and stacked the clothes as neatly as possible, and piled the proficiency books nearby.
For real, my house cat acts just like that.
But isn't that bad? Where'd the constellations' dignity go?
Looking at the gallery, I thought to myself.
Yujin-nyang? What kind of dogshit nickname is that?
Anyway, satisfied with the rough organization, I checked the remaining time—about 35 days—and pondered.
30 days from clearing the 2nd floor, and 5 days carried over from unused time.
I suspected a carryover function existed, and sure enough, it did.
Two choices here.
"Rush straight to the 3rd floor to stack as much spare time as possible, or do all the prep I can."
The former had clear merits.
Climbing fast meant pulling tower rewards early for ample growth time.
The latter meant more prep for safer climbs.
Constellations leaned toward the former.
But don't know standard D-rank promo method. Sure resources for forced rank-up will pile, but breaking that way clears 10th but not Hell diff.
"...".
No, no need to go that far.
I'd already acquired all the info on standard D-rank promotion.
Thanks to constellation debates on the best simple, intuitive delivery, I knew the method from start to finish.
Even if Chaos Incarnate died a few more times, it wouldn't matter, but still, a constellation reincarnating again just for me felt burdensome.
Later, I'd pretend to figure it out solo and break through.
Anyway, decided to prep for the next floor.
Before building climbing proficiencies.
"Rest a day first."
No matter how precious each Hell day was, nonstop in a life-risking environment would shatter my sanity.
Need to rest.
How to rest?
Gallery surfing, obviously.
Then run Hell diff yourself.
Everything's compiled in gal, yet stubbornly asking.
[Title: Buying D-Rank Breakthrough Items SSSSS Highest Price.]
[Title: Buying Items.]
[Title: Potion Crafting Service.]
[Title: No Events Besides Topking Lately?]
[Title: Witnessed Something Terrifying While Tower Climbing.]
[Title: Recruiting for Normal 25th Floor Party.]
"Trading too?"
Reading a few posts, I spotted clear signs of trades via the boards.
But on closer look, not direct via gallery.
Instead, direct trades at major floors like 10th or 20th—save points and climber hubs.
Party raids too, apparently.
Obviously, I couldn't do that.
Hell was solo.
Sighing lightly, since I was gallery-ing anyway, I decided to post one.
About to write, a thought hit.
"Should I be more polite?"
Worried no one would believe Topking was a girl named Seo Yujin at this rate.
Seriously considered dropping past-life gallery habits.
"Nah, whatever."
Whatever happens, happens.
This let me gallery carefree, right?
If revealed as 14yo girl, couldn't post freely.
Perfect grilled fish pic ready as opener.
Nothing like rice meme for ambiguity.
Snap of golden, oily grilled fish.
Topking bro, not even 10th floor, fish on 2nd from where?
"...".
Obviously made a rod and fished.
Glaring fish to death? How?
Of course, no one believed.
They babbled nonsense among themselves.
Famous name pulled tons of aggro.
Gym? Past life I went sometimes, not now.
Girls go too.
But 14yo bulking? Ruins body.
Never even been to a gym?
"...?"
NK assassin? What bullshit.
Overtrolling, yet gallery took it seriously.
Tongue out at their vile personalities turning people into killers, I opted for magic book instead.
Constellations gave tons, but I was personally into magic.
Started with Magic Emperor's recommended elemental magic.
Immersed page by page.
Flipping with hands, suddenly cover in hand— all done.
Always felt my focus was abnormal.
Couldn't study like this in school.
Elemental Magic - Rank F (Lv. 1)
▶ Use basic elemental magic related to fire, water, wind, earth.
Knowledge in head: truly basic spells.
Flick finger, tiny spark.
"Still weak."
Max proficiency might scale up, but nothing impressive.
True to late-bloomer magic, F peak was meh.
Lost interest quick.
Almost heard Magic Emperor crying, but not my thing. Brushed hands, rose from sprawl.
Meant to head out soon, but books ate time.
Fixed spiky stray hairs, donned comfy tower clothes.
For next floor.
"Mission: Escort."
Grip sword.
Time to use potential properly.
Activate ability: Challenger's Double-Edged Sword splits from one sword into three items.
No boss event, so useless as is.
Shift focus.
"This'll do."
Brilliant light bursts in hand.
Sword of Will advances to mid D-rank.
Can't raise body rank, but forces up swordsmanship rank.
Grab floating sword— all experienced swordplay leaps a tier instantly.
Intermediate Swordsmanship - Rank D (Lv. 1)
▶ Breaks rigid forms; sword and body move as one.
▶ Understands flow for max efficiency with minimal motion.
Experienced before, so mid swordsmanship ingrained sans process.
Sheathe raised sword at waist, gaze ahead.
Challenge next floor.
With will, all-white lounge flips to dim darkness enveloping surroundings.
Torch flames make shadows dance wildly.
Sharp blood scent stings nose.
3rd floor begins with booming shout.
"Assault!!!"
Beginning Conquest of Tower's 3rd Floor.
Difficulty: Hell
Objective: Escort
▶ Protect Lady Bell Rabins.
▶ Escort to safety (see map)