Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Havel's Return
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Three months had passed since Havel left the Tower.
The Tower had truly entered a new era.
It had always revolved around the Five Great Families.
But when Havel unlocked the 6th tier,
people flooded into the 7th tier in droves, kicking off serious challenges there.
And that wasn't all.
The Five Great Families could no longer sit idly by.
To keep the Tower from slipping away, they launched full-scale climbs of their own.
As proof, the direct descendants who had guarded their families stepped up.
Previously, only the youngest or third sons had climbed the Tower.
But with the higher direct descendants now ascending, the situation flipped in an instant.
Even those who had sneered that it wasn't the era of the Five Great Families anymore
soon realized the truth once they started climbing in earnest.
They understood why they were called the Five Great Families.
Their true power was on another level entirely.
The era was one of utter chaos.
Perhaps that's why.
Havel's name had gone silent for three full months.
People began to gradually forget it.
The times were shaking too violently.
New names kept bubbling up to the surface.
Naturally, a name that fell silent faded from memory.
"Did that Havel guy croak somewhere?"
"Nah, the folks who saw him said he was a real monster."
"That was before the Five Great Families got serious."
"Maybe he wasn't all that once you peel back the hype."
"Shame. Climbing the Tower solo had a romantic vibe."
Mentions of Havel were mostly mocking these days.
He was the one who ushered in the Tower's new era, sure.
But once the Five Great Families and their ilk got involved, he got buried.
Then one day,
"Havel's back, they say?"
Someone suddenly brought news of him.
"For real?"
"Yeah, knocking back drinks at the Moonlight Inn. Gathering folks, chatting about this and that."
Word from an informant sent people swarming to the Moonlight Inn.
The place was packed inside.
At the center was a man with long white hair and a sturdy build.
His face was scarred all over, radiating the aura of a powerhouse no matter who looked.
"For real? You smashed August in the 6th tier?"
"Yeah. Wasn't a big deal."
When someone beside him asked, he wiped beer foam from his mouth and replied.
His rough manner somehow made him seem like a seasoned veteran.
"Then why no sign of you for three months?"
Another question came.
Hearing that, he clicked his tongue and slammed his mug down in anger.
"Had a spat with my Banpellyon family over a contract. Had to sort that out, so I paused the Tower climb."
He scowled, face full of irritation.
"Wasted time getting out of it. So now I'm on my own."
"Planning to join up somewhere again?"
"Could see it that way. Climbing with a group is easier, after all."
He glanced around subtly as he spoke.
Eyes meeting his sparkled.
Havel: the powerhouse who broke through the 6th tier.
Sure, he was being downplayed for pausing his climb,
but he was still the pioneer of the new era.
Families and groups naturally coveted him.
His reputation alone made scouting him worthwhile.
"No place to go? How about Solidus?"
"Jerayd family offers too. Join us, we'll back you fully."
"Come to Pelnis, we'll shower you in wealth like never before!"
One shout sparked a frenzy of offers.
The self-proclaimed Havel smiled leisurely.
"Let's talk it over slow. Night's young."
That was the moment.
The inn door opened, and a figure stepped in slowly.
Hooded in a robe, he ordered a beer and took a seat.
Then, shaking off travel fatigue, he swung his arm lightly.
"Innkeep, got any 7th tier info?"
He seemed like a climber.
Innkeeps hear all sorts.
The man asked, and the innkeep chuckled.
"Afraid not. 7th tier intel's secret even among top climbers. Astella's general store doesn't know either."
"Got it. Guess I gotta hit up those guys."
The man downed his beer with a disappointed shrug.
The self-proclaimed Havel perked up his ears.
He stood, drawing all eyes.
Over 2 meters tall, his steps shook the inn.
Even the innkeep shrank back warily.
No good tangling with famous climbers.
Thud!
The self-proclaimed Havel slammed the table.
The robed man, beer in hand, glanced from under his hood.
Locking eyes, the fake flashed a sneering grin.
"Those guys you mentioned? They're right here. Want 7th tier info?"
The crowd's eyes lit up at his words.
7th tier info was priceless.
Of course they'd react.
The robed man was no exception.
"What? You know 7th tier?"
"Looks like you don't know who I am."
The fake snorted.
"I'm Havel. The climber who opened the 7th tier's gate and started a new era. That's me."
The man blinked.
Then his face went blank.
"Oh. Okay."
He turned away, interest gone.
"Never mind."
"Hm?"
The fake's thick brows twitched.
"Didn't you want 7th tier info?"
"I do. Just don't think you have it."
That scraped the fake's nerves raw.
"Was gonna give a greenhorn some advice."
He drew his sword from his waist.
"Looks like you need a lesson."
That was the moment.
The sword he'd drawn snapped back into its sheath with a click.
Not his doing.
His body reacted on reflex.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
White liquid dripped from his hair.
The sweat had melted his dye job.
"Whoa, what's with his hair?"
Someone shouted as it turned brown.
The crowd's eyes shifted.
They'd caught on: dyed hair.
Havel's was natural white.
Meaning: impostor.
Meanwhile, the man the fake had tried to intimidate stood.
"Innkeep, beer money's on the table."
He left coins and strolled out.
No one paid him mind.
His presence was too faint; he didn't feel strong at all.
"Hey, faker, got anything to say?"
As he left, the crowd pressed the fake.
But soon they sensed something off.
The fake's eyes were rolled back.
Drool from his open mouth showed he was out cold.
Confusion spread.
They'd only seen the exchange.
Why this?
"It's real."
Someone spoke.
"Real what?"
"That guy was the real Havel! Saw white hair under the hood!"
The one who'd watched him cried out.
Faces paled.
Someone who could drop a burly man like this in a blink.
Only the rumored Havel fit.
They rushed outside.
The scout hopefuls' spot.
Had to chase Havel.
But the street was empty.
They stared blankly.
One fact etched in their minds:
The Tower's era-opening hero had returned.
Leaving the inn, Havel headed straight for the Tower.
7th tier info was top climbers only.
No reason to linger in Babel.
"Changed a bit."
He muttered, scanning the Tower area.
Commerce boomed more than before.
Three months of new era drew crowds.
Rookies everywhere.
All dreaming of Tower climbs.
Havel spared them no glance, cracking his neck.
These three months, he'd left Babel.
Visited various Calamities.
Time well spent.
He learned a few things.
'Not quite on par with the Primordial Three Calamities, as expected.'
Compared to Tower gains, the Calamity pickings were meager.
Not the famous ones, but nearby ones all paled.
Still, clearing them shared a pattern.
The Demonic Palace devours Calamities.
Each time, Havel felt it grow within him.
'Snakes like Baomet must've claimed these kinds of Calamities.'
That explained his edge over the Whisperer's serpents.
Their owned Calamities weren't on the Primordial Three's level.
Just as clearing the Demonic Palace kept strengthening him.
The Tower surely held something comparable.
'Maybe the Five Great Families knew and deliberately held back.'
Better to block it than let rivals claim it.
That might be their real aim.
No wonder the Whisperer sent Moebius after it.
'So what Calamities do the Whisperer, God's Venom, and God's Duality own?'
Havel figured they were Calamity lords too.
Piqued his curiosity more.
'Can't squeeze much more from Moebius or Edler.'
Had to hunt them down himself.
The ones lurking in shadows.
He knew one thing:
If he cleared the Tower, they'd reveal themselves.
They desperately wanted its lordship.
No holds barred.
'Then my task stays the same.'
Havel entered the Tower.
Climb the Tower.
That was it.
He threw back his hood; white hair fluttered in sunlight.
Raising his head, it gleamed white.
7th tier conquest.
Starting again.