Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Setting Sail
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Everyone couldn't believe the sight unfolding before them. How could there be a place like this inside the tower?
They knew the tower grew wider as it ascended.
"A sea?"
Cynthia couldn't close her gaping mouth. Her party member, Alfredo, was equally dumbfounded as he walked to the edge of the beach, scooped up some water with his hand, and tasted it.
Slurp.
"...It's real seawater?"
He turned his gaze toward me and asked.
"Don't tell me we have to take a boat?"
I shrugged innocently, pretending not to know. If they found out I had information here, they'd want me to share it, and it could spread to others.
In this continent—no, in the entire world—only two people knew how to get past the 50th floor of the tower.
'And one of them is me.'
The other one was...
"Oh, could this be the tower's trial to lock young men and women on an island and see what happens in such a confined situation?!"
Maria Theresia.
One of the few 'chosen ones' who could read the records left by the gods in the tower.
Her power to see the future surpassed even the Pope's. The Papal Court entrusted her with major oracles.
"No, I heard from adventurers that the path from the 40th to the 50th floor branches into dozens, hundreds, thousands of free paths."
Teresia drooped her head in disappointment.
"Really?"
"It's just freedom of choice, but the paths come with trials too tough to endure. Every floor we've climbed so far was like that."
Cynthia nodded in agreement, sharing her own experiences.
"I was stuck on the 10th floor for months, lost over ten companions, and nearly died several times myself."
Alfredo, who had been with her, pointed to the scar on his neck and continued.
"Can you see this? A little deeper, and I wouldn't be here now. It was from a goblin's dagger when I first entered the tower."
Having heard their stories, Teresia smiled, crossing her legs elegantly.
"Sounds too dangerous. Good thing I came along."
Cynthia and Alfredo probably took her words differently from me—as if she was here to protect them.
'Think whatever makes you happy.'
Either way, having her move with us would be helpful.
"Then let's all split up and check out this island. You can see the other side through the trees, so a quick walk should cover it all."
From the 41st floor, each party's starting island was different, and as they progressed, the islands grew larger, the floors changed, and the monsters that appeared varied.
The difficulty was incomparable to previous floors, stalling even the continent's top experts.
'Even my father.'
Not only were there swarms of top-tier monsters, but the apostles here couldn't be overcome by brute force.
"Gather all the info you can and return here."
Rox stroked the larva on his shoulder and asked.
"What kind of info?"
"Just remember the location and what it is if you find anything special, then report to me."
"What about you?"
"I'll protect Lady Teresia and stay alert for enemy attacks."
"Ah... right, she can't fight."
Cynthia punched Rox on the head.
Thwack.
"Ow!"
"I told you to watch your mouth around Lady Teresia."
"Y-You bitch... Keep laying hands on me, and you'll regret it one day."
"Try it if you can."
"Damn woman!"
Whoosh!
I sent aura between them as a warning.
"Cynthia, you said it yourself: On the battlefield, party members must stay in sync."
"...Sorry."
"Rox, watch your words too. Keep useless thoughts in your head."
Rox huffed and looked away.
"Got it."
"Why do you have that larva on your shoulder anyway?"
"You carry your cat on yours, so I thought this might make me stronger."
"...I see."
Brunhilt licked her paw and snickered.
"Alright—let's scatter. We need to hurry to reach my father as soon as possible."
Cynthia, Alfredo, and Rox replied in unison.
"Yes!"
"Sure."
"Got it."
The era's strongest swordsman, Roys de Strange.
No matter how aged and ill he was, he was undeniably the strongest being on earth.
"Foolish fools."
Without even rising from his throne, he swung his sword.
Whoosh—
The aura cloaking his blade was so intense that even those not directly hit were sliced by the scattering golden streaks, collapsing everywhere.
Dozens of beast knights fell in a single strike. The black-haired old man commanding them kept swinging his brush in the air and shouted.
"Don't stop—advance! He won't be able to move soon!"
He was certain.
Roys would fall tonight.
No matter how insurmountable the wall seemed now, steadily draining his stamina would bring him down.
His body bore a massive constraint.
Invisible, but tiny larvae made of aura crawling inside Roys's body.
'Death Worms.'
Created by Katarina's Guardian Spirit, they were nearly undetectable once inside and resisted all medicines—earning them the title of the ultimate ability in some ways.
'Of course.'
If Katarina had been at odds with Roys, planning this would have been nearly impossible.
Their harmony allowed the backstab.
Over time, she created openings and eased suspicions, letting her mix Death Worms into his potion.
"Success."
As the battle dragged past half a day, the effects showed. Not from enemy attacks succeeding against Roys.
An unforeseen gap before it happened.
Splat!
His closest guard, the captain who had stood by him until now, stabbed his side.
"...Y-You..."
It struck during the chaos as enemies surged. Normally impossible, but his waning stamina shattered his focus.
Moreover, the captain had guarded him for half a day, so betrayal never crossed Roys's mind.
How many years together? Over 20 since before climbing the tower.
"Forgive me."
The captain twisted the sword in his side, widening the wound.
Crunch.
"Arrrgh!"
Not just the captain—his loyal knights piled on, stabbing Roys.
Splat, splat-splat!
Roys's forehead bulged with veins as he scanned their faces.
"Whose orders...?"
The captain coldly showed a pendant.
Engraved was a lion with two horns roaring.
"I trust you'll understand."
"N-No way—"
"Even your father walked our path."
Roys closed his eyes, bit his lip, then erupted his full aura.
Boom!
The guards who couldn't withstand the shock flew back. Even the 7-star knight captain dropped his sword hilt and tumbled.
Thud.
Roys rose, swords embedded in him, unflinching in crisis. He yanked one out and severed the captain's head.
Slash—
One strike.
The number needed to behead a 7-star knight who could swallow a nation alone.
Thump.
Roys glared around in fury. None dared approach under his pressure.
"Cough!"
Blood gushed from his mouth. Fighting all before him was impossible now.
'No choice.'
If victory was impossible, he'd take them all with him.
"Come."
Roys beckoned his Guardian Spirit behind him.
The one called Dark King shook his head.
"Using me now will kill you. Your body can't take it."
"I'll die anyway. This is the only way to break through."
All around were enemies.
No allies here.
All who climbed the tower with him now sought his neck. In that brief moment, Roys identified them.
The horned lion was the imperial emblem of 'Rothschild,' the strongest influence. Backed by them was Marquis 'Pierre' of the Bourbon family.
"Hoo—"
And the one with power to turn even his half-lifetime guard was one person.
"Even in death, I won't forgive you, Katarina."
His wife, Katarina.
Something existed between them—or not—this was her doing.
Pierre's death gave pretext to rebel against the imperial family.
Roys's Guardian Spirit sighed deeply, entered his body, and warned.
"Dying in the tower means no Guardian Spirit."
"I know. Don't worry—come."
"...If I lose you, I'll find your blood kin later and avenge you."
Roys smiled faintly, absorbing the spirit into his palm.
Shooo—
"Do as you like."
Flash!
Golden light burst from him.
Aura gathered at his trapezius and wing edges, forming six arms.
Each moved by his will alone.
Six swords cleaved the air simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Fierce sword ki shot forward, slicing through the forest, smashing a large warship anchored at the coast.
Boom!
"...If this is the fate the gods decreed, I'll face it without fleeing."
Roys glared at the black-haired elder and his comrades with bloodshot eyes, swords aimed.
Step, step, step.
"Come, Matteo Lich. My old friend."
Rox scratched his nose bridge proudly.
"How's this? Looks like I found the biggest info."
A small ship moored at one end of the island. Big enough for all five of us, with room for sleepers to lie down.
'Good.'
In my past life, the boat was too small, crises hitting with every big wave.
'This'll let us take the shortcut.'
We could reach my father on the 49th floor by today.
I turned to the cat on my shoulder, Brunhilt, and whispered.
"I need your help with this sea, Master."
You created it, after all.