Ecstasy of the First Floor Conquest
I knew clearing the first floor wouldn't be a problem. My current body just wasn't suited for combat anymore. No proper muscles at all—just the frame of an ordinary little girl in her early teens. If I fought the old way, I'd be the first to die.
Which made it all the better. A real fight only begins when death's grip tightens around your throat. Bullying the weak unilaterally? That's not a fight at all.
Of course, I wasn't talking about the goblins. No matter how weak I'd become, I was once an S-rank top-tier hunter. I wasn't about to struggle against mere goblins.
By the time I reached the end of the cave—the boss room—hundreds of goblin corpses littered the ground behind me.
Yes... this is it...!! The opponent I could truly enjoy a proper fight against... was none other than you! Goblin Lord!!
"Kuwaaak—!!"
"Yeah!! Good to see you too!!!"
A goblin far larger than any normal one. The hulking green monster roared at me, and I charged back with a roar of my own.
"Rejoice!! Goblin Lord!! Consider it an honor that you get to kill this weakened version of me!!"
My current physical strength was ridiculously low. I was forcibly enhancing it with mana, but there were clear limits. The accumulated fatigue and injuries from getting here made even the sword feel heavy.
In contrast, the Goblin Lord was in perfect condition. And its physical specs dwarfed mine by an enormous margin. Just one hit from it, and I'd be dead for sure.
From here on, I had to overcome that overwhelming physical disparity using nothing but skill, in my absolute worst condition. Some might call it hopeless.
But not me. This extreme situation was exactly the kind of fight I truly craved.
Yes... perfect...! Death is crystal clear right before my eyes...! The damned souls in distant hell are reaching out for me...!
And that's why I'm thrilled! It's been so long since I could enjoy a real fight like this—I'm over the moon!!
"Haha!! Hahaha!!! Come at me!! Let's die together!!"
The fight ended quickly. The Goblin Lord died with its body slashed to ribbons. I caught my ragged breath atop its corpse.
"Haa... haa..."
I'd slain hordes of enemies and enjoyed a satisfying battle. Yet the afterglow lingered. Right after pulling off that technique, my soul thirsted for even more combat.
First Floor Cleared
The exit opens.
An exit door to leave the Tower appeared before me. But I didn't go.
If I left the Tower in this hyped-up state, even I wouldn't know what I'd do.
"Haa... haa... I see... Only now, in this body, do I notice... There's someone else beyond this wall...?"
I'm no fool. When my body changed, I'd already checked my new class. Something invisible back when I was a swordsman. But now, as a mage, I could clearly see the flow.
Beyond the boss room wall lurked a powerful presence. Too vivid a mana reaction to be the Tower's system.
I get it. That must be the rumored manager.
"Perfect... yes...! Tower manager...! You can satisfy me completely right now...!! I have high expectations for you!!"
In response to my shout, one wall section faded away. A woman in luxurious robes approached—she was the Tower's manager.
"Heh heh heh... Your strength is impressive enough, but what's truly astonishing is your mana sight. You... have innate talent?"
Dozens of spells deployed behind her. She was ready for battle. Trembling, I gripped my sword tightly, finishing my own preparations.
"Yes...! This is it...! I would've been disappointed without you!!"
"It's not just good eyes. You have the qualities of a war god too? Heh heh... What a bizarre little girl."
Before her spells completed, I kicked off the ground and charged. My sword would reach her before she killed me.
"Heh heh. Not so fast."
The manager woman pulled a scroll from her robes. Ice pillars flew from an unavoidable direction.
Instinct told me: This will definitely kill me.
"Heh heh... Don't worry. You won't die. A child with your talent is precious. You'll live out your days as my research assistant."
She spoke of researching magic with me for eternity. Her eyes gleamed with chilling thirst for knowledge.
......
......
Becoming a woman had definitely weakened me. My class shifted to the unfamiliar mage, stripping my old combat style.
But I'd gained something too. I'd lost the swordsman's body.
And gained... the talent of a mage.
"I see it... and I understand!!"
I swung my sword. But it wasn't just swinging a blade.
What I truly wielded was mana. I swung the mana.
Ting—
I swung mana. And cleaved mana.
Every bit of mana in the room shattered under my sword strike. The scroll's spell, her deployed magic—all scattered as particles.
"?! No!!! This is!!"
Her gaze held shock beyond mere surprise—pure horror.
Too late to cast now. Before she could gather mana, my sword moved first.
Not a mere slash, but pure energy condensed from mana.
Her body split in two.
The Tower system's reaction confirmed her body's annihilation. I'd successfully killed the Tower's manager.
"...Haha. Hahaha."
I love fighting. Blood spraying, flesh tearing—it's fun.
But nothing beats the joy of winning.
"Hahaha!!! Hahahaha!!!!"
Putting your life on the line, betting everything, defeating an unbeatable foe.
It's the ultimate thrill that electrifies the soul.
Ah... exquisite...! This ecstasy... I can never give it up...!!
"Hahahaha!!! Hahahaha!!!"
It was truly satisfying. The battle's heat finally subsided, leaving only sweet afterglow.
But I couldn't savor it just yet. My body had hit its absolute limit.
"Ha...! Ha...! Haha..."
Having poured out all my mana, I couldn't even reinforce my body anymore. Exhaustion crashed over me, and I lost consciousness, collapsing.
I closed my eyes.
'Ah...'
Before blacking out, I glimpsed a peculiar crystal orb.
It seemed to roll toward me... Hope it was nothing serious.
Sometimes in the morning, you wake up feeling so listless you don't want to get up. That was me right now.
Having pushed my body and mana to the brink, I just wanted to stay asleep forever if possible.
You! Get up now! Do you plan to keep me waiting?!
Slap— slap—
But that voice—and squid-leg-like tentacles slapping my cheeks—made it impossible to ignore.
I finally propped up my upper body and opened my eyes.
There was a crystal orb with two wriggling tentacles.
Hmm... what the heck is that?
You! You're finally awake! Do you know how long this body has waited?!
Now I recognized the voice. It was the Tower manager I'd killed.
I thought I'd definitely killed her, but she'd survived somehow? Figures a Tower manager would have contingencies for death.
Hmm... Should I kill her again? Slicing that crystal orb neatly might be fun.
?! You!! Don't spew such casual killing intent! Show this body respect!!
Frightened by death, the woman fled, flapping her thin tentacles. Kinda cute up close.
Hmm... More importantly, my body's recovered... Did she heal me?
I picked up the rolling crystal orb and asked directly.
"Hey. Did you heal me?"
Scary killing intent a moment ago, yet you know manners? Heh heh... You're not hopeless after all.
"Hmm. Should I just kill you?"
Sorry! My fault! Don't kill me! Dying now would be permanent!
Her reaction was hilarious. Fun to tease.
"Pfft. Kidding. I'm not the type to kill just anyone."
No... even if you say that, it's not believable... Never mind. Anyway, yes! I healed you!
"Thanks."
Huh. Got it. Curiosity satisfied, no more business here.
I set the orb down and headed for the exit.
With my battle lust sated, time to ponder my future. Dying once and reviving as a kid meant lots to sort out.
Hmm... Head to Mina first? I could trust her with this.
? What?! You're just leaving me?! Abandoning me here?! Doesn't it scream 'take me with you'?!
Roll roll. The orb rolled frantically, tentacles grabbing my ankle.
She had business with me, apparently.
"What? Got something to say?"
Of course! You did this to me, so take responsibility! I even healed you!
"Responsibility... Eh. I think sparing your life was plenty generous. And I thanked you for the healing."
Ugh... So heartless. Fine! Let me make a proposal. You! Learn magic from me! I'll teach you the truth of magic.
"Pass. Don't need it."
Yeah yeah, it's an honor to learn from me... What?! What did you say?!
"Don't need it. No plans to learn magic. Class got forced to mage, but I'm a swordsman at heart. I like fighting with a sword."
No! You must be a mage!! You have the greatest mage talent!!
Flap flap. The orb's tentacles climbed my leg.
Ugh... feels so weird.
I peeled it off and held it. It latched onto my wrist with a click!—better than crawling up my leg.
I saw it clearly! You have the talent to face the world's true truths! You must become a mage!!
"Hmm... Don't need world truths."
No... Then how about immense power?! Learn from me, and you'll grow far stronger!! You can enjoy even more of your beloved fights!
"Eh... Fighting with magic isn't my thing... I prefer smashing them directly with my sword..."
...Wait. On second thought, learning magic sounds pretty good.
I enjoy sword fighting, sure. But if it makes me stronger, I'm open to other means.
Because I lost.
I cleared Tower floor 91 somehow, but only by pouring everything in—even burning my life force. Sticking to sword alone, I couldn't go further no matter what.
Magic changes that. Sword and magic... Maybe I could push beyond.
This kid's body was way weaker than my prime anyway. Learning magic to grow stronger? Wise choice.
Or even obvious.
I don't know much about mages, but she used powerful spells. Direct lessons from one this strong? Rare opportunity.
Yeah. Good chance. Better accept her offer.
"Alright. I'll learn magic from you."
Yes! Smart choice! I'll impart all my knowledge!! Ahem... Not 'in exchange,' but... could you grant me one request?
"Depends. What is it?"
I have some magic concepts I theorized but couldn't realize... Could you implement them? My talent fell short, but yours...
"Sure... I'll do it."
Really?! Heh heh heh... Thank you! I'll teach you magic with all I have!
Deal sealed. Time to leave the Tower.
Gripping the tentacled crystal orb in one hand, I walked out the exit.
[Tower 1st Floor Ascent Complete]
[Score Settlement in Progress...]
[First Floor Manager Absence Confirmed]
[Per Tower Internal System Protocol, First Floor Manager is Changed.]
Modification Complete. Vgbh appointed as new First Floor Manager of the Tower.