Chapter 57: The Mirror Tower
'Succubus.'
In folklore and legends, it's a type of demon that slips into human men's dreams, disguises itself as a beautiful woman to seduce them, and drains their vital essence.
So what does it mean when one of those is hooked arm-in-arm with me, grinning from ear to ear?
I politely made my refusal clear right away.
"I wanna go alone."
"No way! You have to go with me. If not..."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief for a split second before overflowing with overwhelming malice.
"I'll gobble you up."
"..."
"Aw~"
Unlike her cute attempt at mimicking a kitten—or maybe a tiger?—the pressure radiating from her defied all reason.
I could probably shake her off with a big fuss if I tried. But if it escalated into a fight, it might ruin the grand Demon King coronation ceremony.
Not to mention exposing my identity as a hero.
"Fine. If you insist that badly, I'll go with you."
"Really? No backsies!"
I headed to the Mirror Tower with the succubus practically bouncing in delight, smug as could be.
The Mirror Tower, built to train demon realm soldiers, stood tall and unbroken, exuding its mighty presence.
A tower where you fought projections of your own various forms—totaling 100 floors.
We blasted through the low-difficulty floors 1 through 5 in seconds and headed straight up to floor 6.
What greeted us was a vast space that shouldn't have fit inside the tower's exterior size.
The monsters on floor 6 were around level 50 to 60.
"Huh?"
But when they appeared, the succubus and I both let out dry chuckles.
The reason? The floor was swarming with giggling succubi just like the one smirking beside me.
"Floors up to 6 aren't too tough."
The succubus cast her Charm Surge skill on me.
Charm Surge
All stats +30%
The Charm Surge skill boosted all my stats by 30%.
I drew the Demon King's Treasured Sword from my waist inventory—the one I'd grabbed on a whim.
"You... isn't that the one the Demon King used?"
"...Nah. This is a fake. A Demon King's Treasured Sword replica."
"Yeah, figured. No way a low-rank demon like you would have something like that."
Her giggling was seriously getting on my nerves.
Kieeeek!
Kahak!
Kruuuuaaaak!
I plunged into the horde of succubi baring their fangs and roaring threats.
With those sharp eyes watching me from point-blank range, I had to suppress them using pure stats—no holy power skills or Demon King skills allowed.
Luckily, my stats alone still let me move beyond what low demons could handle.
They all flinched as I closed in way too close—like burrowing into their midst—and swung their razor claws.
Each claw pulsed with red demonic energy.
Like most demon realm monsters, the Mirror Tower's enemies were projections that wielded mana just like their originals.
Even so, I sliced through the succubi with pure swordsmanship, no skills.
Kyaaak!
Slash!
Kek! Keeek!
Slaaash!
It felt a bit eerie cutting down succubi that looked exactly like my ally behind me, but that's just how this place worked.
"Training your swordsmanship without relying on skills? So stubbornly foolish."
"..."
She'd cheer one second, then mock me the next.
Her demonic nature shone through as I kept attacking.
I ignored her, swung casually, and took down six in as many strikes.
I could feel my level-up progress ticking up with each kill.
This place was perfect for rapid leveling in a short time—a true growth tower.
'The previous Demon King built this one too.'
The more I learned, the more that previous Demon King seemed like a capable leader.
As my level progress built, my endurance felt sturdier too.
Thankfully, my polymorph and high stats made hunting easy, but against succubi, it felt less like slicing flesh and more like chipping rock.
Meaning I was approaching the point where I couldn't keep going without holy power or dark energy skills.
'Trouble.'
Should've never let that barnacle tag along.
'Barnacle.'
"Hey, why aren't you fighting? Don't you wanna get stronger?"
I grumbled, and she replied.
"You can handle these low-level floors where loot doesn't even drop."
"What? You're slacking just 'cause there's no reward?"
"Gotta have incentives to fight, y'know."
"Hah! Shut it—you fight on the next floor. I'm sitting this one out."
"Tch! So stingy."
We bickered all the way to the door for the next floor.
The Mirror Tower interior offered no rewards except for first clears.
Clear a floor, though, and you got massive experience points. Exactly what I needed most right now.
For her, apparently, junk loot mattered more than levels.
'Kinda makes her seem like any ordinary demon realm monster.'
She was leagues stronger than a normal succubus, which made me suspicious deep down. But these unexpected sides made her seem like just another demon realm denizen.
Fun fact: experience from the Mirror Tower could be transferred or sold to others.
I could push mine onto someone or pull it from them if I wanted.
That's why commanders usually dragged hordes of minions in here to farm levels via transfers.
'Gonna have to sell some exp later.'
"No treasure chests or individual rewards, but perfect for training and grinding exp."
"Hmph! Should have rewards too. The previous Demon King was stingy. Tsk."
"So you'd take rewards over exp?"
"Duh! Even monsters gotta eat!"
"Fine, give me your exp and you can have my rewards."
"Hm?"
She narrowed her eyes at me.
"Don't eye my exp."
"You said you didn't need it. So share."
"I said rewards are better—not that I don't need exp!"
"Sigh. Fine, take it all then."
I smacked my lips, brushed past her, and hurried ahead. Then a faint voice drifted from behind.
[I've already shared plenty. Sheesh.]
"What was that?!"
I whipped around, baffled, but she just blinked innocently back at me.
"What? Why? What's up?"
"Didn't you just say something?"
"Nope. Didn't say a word."
I eyed her suspiciously for a moment, then turned and climbed to the next floor.
Either way, this dungeon was the absolute best leveling spot for me.
Massive exp and all sorts of rewards to boot.
That's when incubi—projections of my current appearance—charged from the distance.
"Yes! Perfect. I'll carve 'em up good this time!"
The succubus suddenly perked up and drew a red magic sword from her left hip.
"You greedy, stingy, rotten incubi! Taste my blade!"
"..."
She gleefully swung at the monsters wearing my face.
The succubus danced with her sword in focus, and soon it was soaring through the air on its own like a guided missile, twisting mid-flight toward the enemy.
It pounced, brimming with mana.
Clang! Clang! Chaaang!
Whirrrl—
Kruak!
Kyahahaak!
Kuruk!
The incubi's necks threaded like dried squid on a skewer, pierced one after another.
They dropped dead to her magic sword skill.
"Yippee! Awesome!"
I watched my incubi selves get butchered miserably and felt an inexplicable bitterness rise in my chest.
"You're way too hyped. Those monsters look like me."
"You slaughtered a bunch of my lookalikes earlier."
"..."
I had nothing to say to her pouty comeback.
It was a feast fit for royalty.
Tables groaned under demon realm delicacies, and colorful mana lights fluttered everywhere, adding to the splendor.
Balpador, perched high on the stairs, was getting fed up just sitting there watching.
"Hey, Baldr."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Won't you bring me some food? How can you let only me starve at my coronation?"
"That won't do, Your Majesty."
"Won't do? Why not?"
He shot Baldr a look of utter grievance. Baldr shook his head solemnly.
"It's tradition for a new Demon King to fast an entire day atop the throne, overlooking the masses right after coronation—to display dignity and resolve, Your Majesty!"
"I-is that so... Another tradition, huh."
"Please uphold decorum and majesty, proving your unbreakable fortitude to all the demon realm!"
"R-right... I must show my strength to the world."
Balpador nodded reluctantly.
'But why am I so hungry all of a sudden...'
He'd fasted for days during martial training before.
Yet right after claiming the throne, ravenous hunger hit like never before.
And his body felt like it was shrinking.
In truth, Balpador was shrinking in real time.
His massive frame, which had filled the grand hall, was steadily dwindling—now the throne almost looked oversized for him.
Baldr watched Balpador's pallid face with a satisfied smile that wouldn't fade.
'Soon the Corrupted Demonic World Tree will reach final growth.'
Baldr beamed nonstop, thinking of his praiseworthy Demon King Majesty.
Thanks to the succubus's performance, we cleared floor 7 and moved to 8.
Loosened up from her earlier showing, she was fighting properly now.
Though I was still on the front lines.
Kuueeek!
Kyaaak!
I swept away the floor 8 werewolf zombies swarming like a pack.
Then approached the succubus, who was panting, looking a bit worn.
"Tired already? Head back then."
"Hmph! Tired? I was just hyperventilating from excitement."
She tied back her loose hair, face set with determination.
"I'm fine! I'll climb this tower to the top with you, no matter what!"
"No need to push that hard..."
For me, her leaving now would let me unleash skills freely—and that'd be perfect.
I pondered how to send her packing first while swinging my sword.
She noticed my glance, mumbled something, and gazed at me with wide, sparkling eyes.
Like she was begging me not to abandon her.