Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Road to the Tower
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Arena staff member Lily handed over the gold class badge with a bright smile.
"Congratulations on your promotion to gold class!"
In the final match to reach gold class, the Bourbon Knights ultimately didn't show up.
Duff and his knights had been completely wiped out, but the Bourbon side could have swapped party members and sent others.
In the end, it seemed my warning, delivered through the arena manager, had worked.
Otherwise, they would have sent their full strongest force to kill me.
Bichon and his subordinates, receiving the badges from her, let out cheers with ecstatic expressions.
"Woooow!"
"I-It can't be. Captain Bichon, a gold class badge already!"
Bichon rubbed the tip of his nose with an embarrassed look and replied.
"Well, with our level of skill, gold class is fitting. Though those guys deserve more credit."
I pocketed the gold class badge and answered him.
"We'll stop here. Form a new party and continue from the next matches."
"What? You guys aren't going for diamond class?"
"No, we have no plans to. As I mentioned before, our goal is the gold class badge that allows entry to the tower. We don't need anything beyond that."
"You have no ambition for honor. Gold class is great, but reaching diamond would earn you recognition anywhere on the continent."
As if I need that.
Just mentioning the Strange name would make anyone assess my position accordingly. No need to grind to diamond in the arena.
'Well...'
If reaching higher levels granted something worthwhile, that would be another story.
"Then I'll be off."
"Wait a moment. If you're planning to climb the tower, could you tell me roughly when you'll depart?"
"Why?"
"Ah, of course, I'm not suggesting we climb together. Just... I'm grateful you helped us get the gold badges. If it's okay, I'd like to treat you to a meal before you head up."
"...No, our goals aligned, so no need to thank us. We're leaving today. We have a lot to prepare, so a meal isn't feasible."
"Today? Right after getting the badges?"
"Yes."
How long have I waited to climb the tower? Now that preparations are done, no more delays.
"In that case, I won't hold you. Haha, thanks for everything. See you at the tower someday."
This guy plans to climb the tower too.
With his current skill, challenging the tower seems tough, but who knows what the future holds.
"Sure, see you at the tower."
"Take care."
Bichon gave a faint smile and walked away.
I turned and headed out of the arena.
'Finally, time to climb the tower.'
Only those permitted may enter the tower.
I'd heard anyone could enter in ancient times, but now, in this era, you need to prove a certain level of strength to get a pass.
"Knight Berddin, Knight Rox. Your entry is permitted."
The middle-aged guard captain at the tower entrance checked the passes expressionlessly and granted permission.
As an Imperial Army member, he couldn't be treated lightly by any visiting adventurer.
Irritating him could not only block entry but make proper adventures impossible anywhere on the continent.
'Moreover...'
Even if you took him down and passed, you'd likely be caught and killed by the pursuing Imperial forces.
No matter how skilled the adventurer, reaching the mid-layers without Imperial aid was impossible. To climb officially, you needed their passes.
'There are dark paths up, but...'
Even with ten lives, those are no easy feat.
"Stand by."
With that, the guard captain stepped back, and a bowl-cut young man in oversized glasses suddenly appeared from empty space.
Pshh!
"New adventurers, I see."
Rox tilted his head in bewilderment at the sight.
"Wh-what the hell? Where'd this guy pop out from?"
"My name is Amon. I'm the scribe of this tower. Your names?"
"R-Rox."
"Berddin."
"Understood. Recorded."
"...What a weird guy."
Unlike the flustered Rox, I knew the scribe's true nature.
He appeared human but was actually a homunculus—a type of apostle created by a 'god's' will.
He 'records' the actions of all who enter the tower.
Harmless, but unsettling in many ways, so I quickly got to the point.
"Scribe Amon, we want to enter the tower."
"Understood. One moment..."
The scribe adjusted his glasses and continued.
"No criminal records confirmed. Entry permitted."
Separate from Imperial permission, the scribe could occasionally deny entry, so I was a bit tense, but no issue arose.
"Thanks. Which floor do we start on? We want to go right in."
"Understood. One moment..."
Amon looked Rox up and down slowly before replying.
"Lord Rox may challenge from floor 1."
Then he scanned me slowly, tilting his head in puzzlement.
"Lord Berddin, Lord Berddin, Lord Berddin, lord, uh, uh-"
"...?"
"Please stand by."
"What?"
Amon, glitching like a broken machine, vanished with a whoosh of air.
Pshh!
The guard captain, momentarily flustered, quickly composed himself and spoke.
"Looks like there's a problem."
He then ordered a subordinate to close the tower doors.
Thud.
"Adventurers, by order of the Imperial Army, remain in place and do not move."
The adventurers grew rowdy.
Everyone who'd visited so far had entered smoothly, so why close the doors now? A few in line raised their voices.
"What's going on?"
"Tch, obvious. Those kids must've forged their passes!"
"Ah... this sucks. If we don't enter now, the tower's difficulty will ramp up."
Their reactions were all the same.
Fail to climb quickly, and the tower's difficulty increases.
They figured monsters strengthen from day to night.
'Not true.'
The tower isn't connected to the outside like that.
These folks are probably first-timers or rookies who'd bought info from the black market.
'Worst case, just deal with the Imperials.'
Talk of forged passes was flying, but no veteran adventurers meant it was actually fortunate.
Even if things went south when the scribe returned, escaping wouldn't be hard.
'Maybe my past life's climb left a record?'
As I mulled over plans alone, the adventurers' complaints grew louder.
Finally, fed-up Rox grabbed the collar of the nearest young adventurer.
"Shut up, you bastards. The entrance is blocked not because of us, but because that Amon guy just vanished!"
As he released mana, everyone fell silent.
Those without unlocked aura or mana instinctively lowered their eyes under the unknown pressure.
A few seemed to have unlocked qi, but improperly awakened, they just watched without rebelling.
I lightly patted Rox's shoulder and whispered.
"Enough."
"But."
"Enough."
Rox snorted, nostrils flaring in lingering anger, then released the adventurer with a pout.
Thump.
At the same time, Amon reappeared with a whoosh.
Pshh!
"Thank you for waiting. Records confirmed."
The scribe held nothing in his hands.
No hostility, at least.
I deliberately sighed long, feigning discomfort.
"So, which floor do I start on?"
Amon, somehow smiling faintly, announced loudly for all to hear.
"You receive the gods' blessing and may specially start from floor 81."
"What?"
My eyes widened. I'd suspected as much.
My past life's records remained intact.
The most shocked by Amon's words weren't me or Rox.
It was the swordsman behind us, dancing madly with heavy breaths like a lunatic, going "Ha-ho-ha-ho!"
"Kuhahaha! Gods' blessing? No, disciple! What fortune is this! Floor 81 of the tower! That's past mid-layers into upper floors already! My disciple is the best! My eyes never lie—you're the one who'll conquer this tower!"
It was Siegfried.
Of course. With high-floor records, we could skip hidden paths or unbeatable sections, reaching heights faster than anyone.
"Nyaang nyang nyang!"
Great mage Brunhilt also beamed wider than ever, raising her front paws to dance alongside Siegfried.
All eyes turned to me.
I grabbed Brunhilt by the scruff and met her gaze.
'Calm down.'
Understanding, she stopped dancing.
Siegfried, seeing my action, cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Even as Sword God, I got too excited and showed you an unsightly side."
Too many people to reply aloud.
I mouthed silently to him.
'Talk inside.'
"...Got it."
Amon glanced at Siegfried, then whispered softly to me alone.
"...Long time no see. Didn't recognize you shorter."
I answered with silence.
'Amon remembers me?'
Not just records lingering, but recognizing me and saying this.
That means Amon can move from future to past.
'Complicated.'
As I paused in thought, Amon spoke again.
"Shall we proceed to entry?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Sending Lord Rox to floor 1, Lord Berddin to floor 81."
"No, send me to floor 1 too."
"Floor 1?"
"Yes."
"...Understood."
What would I do alone on a high floor?
Already proven I can't beat dragons without allies.
Climbing fast matters, but gathering comrades to fight strong foes with me is crucial.
"Ah, one question."
"Yes?"
"If I wanted to go straight to 81 now, could I bring someone who hasn't reached it yet?"
"Impossible."
Of course. Otherwise, who'd bother climbing the hard way?
"However, up to floor 41 is possible. Limited numbers, though."
"How many?"
"Five."
Floor 41—the section where my father Roys stalled.
"Got it. We'll start at floor 1 for now."