Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Floor 34 (1)
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Refrigerator: The second thing is that there's been a change in the tower. Specifically, elves showed up in the 10s floors and dwarves in the 20s.
└Anon(7F7.7Y7): Was that because of me, by any chance?
Refrigerator: Obviously.
Refrigerator: People are freaking out right now. They have no idea why.
Refrigerator: Of course, I have zero intention of spilling the real reason. That would mean talking about your existence too.
Reading the comments, others started chiming in.
Magic is Firepower: Smart move. The last thing we need is more competitors beyond these four of us.
└Beetle: Competitors?
Magic is Firepower: Obviously, the newbie scramble.
“…Only one person here seems to be thinking about some kind of scramble.”
Man, this guy was still kinda scary.
He gave off vibes that didn't mesh with a total loner like me.
Refrigerator: First day of the conference was fun thanks to you. Had to hold back laughs watching them fight over wild theories.
Refrigerator: Saw some guy crying because all his research up to now was trashed. If he could just redo it on the same topic, he'd profit—why cry?
└Anon(7F7.7Y7): Ah, academia...
“Ah, should I have tagged along to watch?”
What a shame. Such a huge shame.
Might've been my chance to spectate world-class scholars obsessing over me and falling apart.
“Maybe I'll end up becoming a professor or something later?”
Come to think of it, professor seemed like my type.
I was smart, after all. I'd crush it.
Whenever I got bored, I could just pull one line from stuff I'd seen in the tower and spin a lecture out of it.
“Maybe even a Nobel Prize?”
Nobel Prize, huh.
Just thinking about it made me grin.
At first, I'd have to turn it down or ignore the award call.
That'd look way cooler.
Alright, decided.
Once I reveal myself, I'll use this body to chase the dream of youngest professor ever.
My post-hunter retirement Act 2 dream.
“Oh yeah. Gotta ask about those magic spells too.”
└Anon(7F7.7Y7): Oh yeah, what were the spells inside it?
Refrigerator: Magic Cancel. A spell that stops other magic from working. Simple, right? Caster's unaffected, naturally.
Refrigerator: Suits the magic-weak dwarves, I guess?
“Magic Cancel, huh... Hope it works on that guy too.”
I glanced down at the belt-like battery.
For a one-use spell against a tough foe, there was only one obvious pick.
Just worried if it'd actually land.
Since it came from inside the tower too, maybe it'd work?
No harm wearing it anyway.
I buckled on the belt like it was second nature, then draped the robe over it.
Time to climb the tower.
***
[Entering Tower Floor 34 (EXTREME).]
Starting point was the fortress war room again.
Grave-faced officers surrounded a massive map table.
“The enemy's main force is massing in the eastern gorge. At this rate, full-scale war starts by tomorrow at the latest.”
“We need to pull the defensive line back further! We can't clash head-on with our current troops!”
“Nonsense! Where else is there to fall back to?”
They hadn't even noticed me appear.
The heated debate raged on.
I watched for a moment.
A familiar face.
“...”
Knight Commander Seymour, seated at the head of the table with eyes closed.
He looked several years older than on Floor 33.
Beside him stood a woman who was both familiar and strange.
“Pulling back the line is a last resort. We need to strike the enemy's weak point instead.”
No hint of intimidation before generals far her senior.
The youthful innocence was gone, but those eyes remained the same.
Five years on, Sharon had matured into a full woman.
“Their strength ultimately comes from the shamans in the rear. If our ranger unit hits them from behind...”
Right then, her eyes met mine, and Sharon's shoulders stiffened slightly.
“...!”
Her eyes went wide.
The voices carrying on the meeting cut off in an instant.
Everyone's heads snapped toward me, following her gaze.
Shock etched every face.
Silence blanketed the war room.
“S-Sage...!”
Sharon broke it.
Her voice mixed astonishment and joy.
Ignoring all the stares, she rushed straight to me.
“It really is you, Sage! I knew you'd come back!”
Sharon stopped right in front of me.
Her face beamed with delight.
As Sharon spread her arms to embrace me,
I reflexively stepped back one pace.
“Uh...”
“Um......”
Sharon's arms hung awkwardly in the air.
I looked at her, feeling awkward.
Was she always this outgoing?
I'd never seen this side before.
But one thing was clear.
‘She's alive.’
I sighed inwardly with relief.
I'd worried she might already be dead by this point.
Luckily, she was fine.
“Ah.... S-Sorry. I got carried away in the moment and was rude...”
Sharon finally blushed and lowered her arms.
I nodded and headed to the meeting table.
Had to change the subject before the awkwardness got worse.
“It's fine. More importantly, what's the current situation?”
At my question, Seymour rose and approached.
He bowed deeply with proper respect.
“Thank you for returning to our kingdom once more, Sage. But... things look grim this time.”
‘Feels like they've never had good times, though...’
I couldn't quite voice that.
“The orcs' massive offensive is nearly upon us. Total assault incoming soon.”
The map was covered in countless red markers.
They were on the verge of swallowing the entire territory.
Defeat seemed inevitable at this rate.
I nodded.
Business as usual.
My role was set too.
“Got it. So I just go out and wipe them all out?”
[The Sandworm says even it couldn't handle the whole army.]
‘...Is that so?’
Yeah, soloing that many troops might stretch my mana thin.
Still, I could shred a good chunk of them.
Even matching last floor's performance would help big time.
Meanwhile, the younger officers gawked at me in disbelief.
Wondering what gave me that confidence, no doubt.
But Seymour knew my power.
Even so, he gave an unexpected reply.
“No. Please leave this to us.”
“Huh?”
I narrowed my eyes at the surprising answer.
Seymour spoke firmly.
“Your power is our kingdom's final bastion—it mustn't be our first resort.”
No hesitation in his voice.
“If you resolved every crisis alone, our soldiers would forget how to fight.”
“...I see.”
“Yes. They'd become frail things waiting only for your miracles, praying in the face of danger... without even thinking to fight.”
From his explanation, it sounded like this had already happened multiple times.
Crisis hits? No worries, the legendary Sage will show up.
I let out a hollow laugh.
Just helped three times, and already Messiah treatment?
Seymour thumped his chest lightly with his fist.
“If so, we'd lose our independence. We must seize victory with our own blood.”
The other officers nodded solemnly in agreement.
I regarded them for a moment.
Pretty convincing reason.
‘This floor's quest is that kind of concept, huh.’
I muttered to myself.
Probably the tower's intended design.
No need to force a deviation from the flow, then.
Besides, the real goal for this floor was something else.
Save Sharon.
‘If I were a bit more psychopathic, I might've let Sharon die once just to observe...’
But I had multiple chances.
Opportunities to try other choices and alter outcomes.
Let Sharon die, then save her next try and compare the changes.
Might even be the most efficient way to clear the tower.
But nah, I didn't want to go that far.
I resolved myself inwardly.
‘No retries. End it in one go this time.’
The meeting resumed.
This time, I took a seat at the table and listened to their strategy.
“With the shamans' aid right now, no chance head-on.”
The plan was straightforward.
Orcs' destructive power stemmed from rear shamans right now.
Seymour's main force buys time.
Meanwhile, Sharon's detachment raids the enemy rear.
Assassinate the shamans—that's the goal.
“The detachment will consist of the kingdom's elite rangers.”
Sharon spoke with confidence.
I thought for a moment, then spoke up.
“I'll join that detachment.”
Seymour and Sharon's faces lit up.
But I added a condition.
“However, no other soldiers. Just Sharon and me, the two of us.”
“Huh? But that's way too dangerous!”
Sharon objected in alarm, but I was firm.
“This is the most concession I can make. Don't think I can protect extra baggage.”
Seymour pondered my stubbornness.
But he ultimately accepted.
In the end, the plan was revised per my proposal.
Seymour leads the main force to the battlefield.
And Sharon and I head alone to the heart of the enemy lines.