New Update (3): Tower Frenzy
Buzzing, murmuring.
Even though it was sudden new content that had just opened up, the first floor of the Labyrinth Tower was packed with players.
They didn't even know what kind of place the Labyrinth Tower was, and they hadn't made any preparations, yet the sheer number of people gathering here was enough to gauge the influence of Luddera—or perhaps more accurately, the influence of Luddera's items and classes.
The first floor of the labyrinth was a safe zone.
It was a safe area equipped with shops and rest spaces.
In contrast, the next floor—the second floor—was not.
In the most remote corner of the Labyrinth Tower's first floor sat a gate leading to the second floor.
Fearsome warning signs were plastered all over it, proclaiming the grave dangers lurking beyond.
Because of that, the players who had entered the first floor weren't venturing any further.
Luddera's world was a virtual one, so even if you lost your life, it wasn't truly the end—you could come back. But penalties existed for death, so the players had halted upon seeing the warnings.
Adventurers who had entered Luddera's world to enjoy adventure and romance while avoiding real-world dangers.
But after ten years in this world, having gained so much, they now feared and hesitated at the very act of pushing forward.
Most players were those who had followed the paths paved by the early pioneers, after all.
As a result, an enormous crowd of players was densely packed in front of the gate, staring intently at what lay beyond.
Parting through that massive throng was a group clad in resplendent shining armor.
"Look over there! It's the Empire's elite guild, Royal Knights Guild!"
"Royal Knights!?"
"The Royal Knights, who are waging full-scale war against the Republic on Luddera's central continent, showing up here! Does that mean the Labyrinth Tower is that big a deal?!"
All eyes focused on the top-tier guild members, who were currently riding the highest wave of popularity in Luddera's world.
"And over there—it's the Revolutionary Warriors Guild!"
"Even the Republic's top forces are here!"
"They won't yield to the Empire, huh!"
The group in sharp, well-tailored uniforms also drew gazes from all around as they advanced.
The two groups came face-to-face in front of the gate to the second floor of the labyrinth.
"Hah. You cowards tucked tail and ran from the battlefield, huh? Hiding out in this labyrinth?"
Schmidt, the bald count leading the group called the Royal Knights Guild, scanned his opponents and spoke up.
"Tucked tail? Looks like you've got some misunderstanding there."
From the opposite side, Leighton—a man in a neat uniform adorned with flashy medals—pushed up his glasses with a finger and snorted.
"Outdated Empire dogs like you wouldn't understand, but we're here to spread the spirit of freedom. Beyond this tower lie countless worlds. Our spirit will spread far and wide to those places too."
"...Hah. No wonder your excuses are so pathetic—you rootless lot."
"Say whatever you want. The lead in this Labyrinth Tower is going to the Republic."
As Leighton moved first toward the gate,
"Who said so?!"
Schmidt blocked him with his body.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"The Empire arrived here first. Which means everything beyond is Empire territory."
"All that mindless sword-swinging must've turned your brain to muscle too? I've never heard such absurd nonsense in my life."
"You wanna go?!"
"Here in this safe zone? Why not."
The two sides were on the verge of clashing in a powder-keg situation,
"Crusader Guild's here too!"
"That crazy berserker guild made of the Holy Kingdom's paladins and holy knights?"
"Even the Holy Kingdom's throwing in their full forces! The Labyrinth Tower really is that huge!"
Holy knights in pristine white armor suddenly appeared.
The area grew even more chaotic at the sight of the Holy Kingdom's secretive holy knight order, rarely seen in public.
"Holy Kingdom?"
"Holy knights who never show up on the central continent, here?"
Schmidt and Leighton tensed, sensing the aura of these new powerhouses.
"Brothers. A pleasure. I am Kenion, a paladin who humbly serves the Great One."
"...A paladin?"
"Didn't expect someone of paladin rank to show up."
The pinnacle of the Holy Kingdom's holy knights—of whom there were only twelve.
It was one of the Holy Kingdom's ultimate forces making an appearance.
"I've come to find hidden items to offer to the Lord. Looks like we'll have to clash with you brothers inside the labyrinth."
"Haha. Now we've got to contend with God's army too! My faith is starting to waver!"
"A paladin on top of everything. This is getting tricky."
"Make way, humans."
At that moment, someone with a massive build shoved through the gathered crowd.
"Beastman?"
"It's a tiger beastman!"
"The tiger beastmen, famed for their overwhelming combat prowess among beastmen? ...Wait a sec! That beastman!"
A muscular giant with yellow-and-black fur strode forward to the gate where the three powerhouses were facing off.
"...Brigand."
"Why are you here?"
"It's been a while, human."
Schmidt and Leighton seemed to recognize the beastman, showing more shock than even when facing the paladin.
"Today's full of surprises, but I never thought I'd see the Beast King challenging the Labyrinth Tower solo."
"Not bringing a single subordinate. That confident in his skills?"
"Dragging lackeys around clanking behind you just shows your weakness. Didn't Luddera's God open this Labyrinth Tower as a field of challenges?! Then I'll clash with all my power! Kra ha ha ha ha!"
With that, Beast King Brigand vanished beyond the gate.
"Filthy, as expected from a race without God's blessing."
Paladin Kenion grimaced at the sight.
"Well, they're the only race among all that never received God's blessing—no god at all."
"To be precise, they had one, but it's been forgotten. There are records of a god the beastmen worshipped since ancient times. Seems that god vanished."
Leighton adjusted his glasses and pointed out, responding to Schmidt's mutter.
"Anyway, this isn't the time! Those hidden items belong to the Empire!"
Suddenly remembering something, Schmidt leaped forward and threw himself through the gate.
"A sneak attack here?!"
Leighton followed right after into the gate.
Flash.
Beast King Brigand, enveloped in light as he passed through the gate.
Once the blinding white light blocking his vision faded, he found himself in a vast expanse of sand.
"A desert, huh."
Under the intensely beating sun, there was nothing but sand as far as the eye could see.
"Trials and tribulations through extreme conditions! This'll be fun!"
The beastmen's propensity for enjoying hardship stemmed from the belief that any adversity that didn't kill you only made you stronger.
And among them, the mightiest beastman, Brigand, relished such trials the most.
He pressed on for a long while under the scorching sun that seemed ready to sear his flesh.
"Come to think of it, our beastmen ancestors came from a desert."
Due to a long history of turmoil and discrimination from other races, the beastmen had lost much of their history.
They had even lost the one god they worshipped and knew little of their origins.
After Beast King Brigand unified the scattered beastmen and founded a nation, treatment improved somewhat, but discrimination lingered.
Especially since the two great religions dividing the continent openly shunned beastmen as ominous folk, leaving them without even a faith to cling to.
"If only we could learn our origins... My people might find some solace, something to pray for salvation."
Brigand shook his head, lost in thought for a moment.
"No. No time to mope like this. I need to grow stronger through these trials, fast!"
Hardship, trials, growth.
Stack achievements, surpass mortal limits, transcend.
Achieve godhood and become the god of the beastmen.
That was Brigand's goal—to save his current beastmen kin.
"First, conquer this Labyrinth Tower... Hm?"
As he picked up speed, Brigand spotted a massive structure far ahead.
It was a gigantic pyramid, as if dozens of human castles had been stitched together.
"What... is that?"
A structure of a shape he'd never seen before.
Yet he felt a strange familiarity from it.
"And as the future leaders of this continent, you must straighten your resolve..."
This is boring as hell. Why won't it end?
Can I just bail midway?
I glanced around, but the academy students were all staring at the podium with eager, expectant faces as the headmaster droned on.
Was entering the academy such an honorable thing for nobles?
As a reincarnator, I couldn't really relate.
The entrance ceremony at Lichten Academy.
I hadn't expected some novel-like fun event, but this was way too dull.
The headmaster, who looked like a little girl, apparently loved to talk despite her appearance.
She reminded me of my past life's granny principal—cute looks, but not the voice.
I, the creator of Luddera, couldn't endure this boredom.
Ugh. No way I can take this.
Hologram Activated
I summoned a small hologram in front of me.
The community function branched off from Luddera.
A supplementary spell I'd created because I missed my past life's communities.
I'd wondered if they wouldn't catch on in this backward fantasy world, but the people here used it well enough.
Guess I'll scroll the forum till the headmaster's speech ends.
With that, I secretly started scrolling through the community.
Praise GM, Luddera's one true and omnipotent god!
By His mercy and blessing, we beastmen have reclaimed our god, Duamutef!
GM! Be eternal!
We beastmen shall follow You until the end of the world!
...Huh?
Duamutef?
That's the one I placed on the second floor of the Labyrinth Tower...
No, wait a minute.
I sensed something had gone wrong.