More Guests Than Expected?
Entry of 37 climbers into [Naejibtap] confirmed.
You have entered Floor 1 - Lobby.
As thirty-seven climbers entered almost simultaneously, the first-floor lobby instantly became as crowded as a bustling marketplace.
Huddled together, the climbers bumped and jostled into one another before gradually finding their footing and scanning their surroundings.
"Bwahahaha! I have arrived to conquer the tower!!!"
"...What's up with that attention seeker?"
"By the way, is this really the lobby? Where are the monsters?"
The chaotic mixture of the climbers' footsteps and chatter filled the air.
Right then, a system window popped up before their eyes.
Clear Condition: Breathe
You have cleared Floor 1!
As a clear reward, the buff [Grace of the Angel (Minor)] has been granted.
A portal to Floor 2 has been generated!
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Wait, what...?"
A tower that handed out buffs the moment you arrived.
After checking the buff's effects, the climbers instantly erupted into cheers.
"Whoa, awesome!! It really gives a resurrection buff!!!"
"How is this actually real???"
"Real resurrection? It gives a resurrection buff starting from the very first floor?!"
The climbers were ecstatic over the overpowered buff.
Amidst the commotion, someone pointed toward the front of the lobby.
"Huh? There's someone over there."
At that, every climber's gaze locked forward.
Standing right in the center was a single individual.
A woman in a maid outfit stood straight upon a red carpet.
"Welcome to Naejibtap. You are currently in the 'Lobby,' where you can receive various explanations and guidance."
Her voice was clear and crisp.
Her movements were mechanically refined, and her expression held not a single trace of hesitation.
"Whoa, she's a beauty."
A young man in a leather jacket, belonging to the [Berserker] class, muttered quietly as he eyed the maid.
His gaze made it clear he was already sizing her up as a target to hit on.
"...I can't read her presence at all?"
In a corner, a man wearing the long robes of the [Shaman] class quietly observed the maid.
His gaze was sharp, as if analyzing an enemy right before a battle.
"Everyone, quiet down. Let's hear what she has to say."
A middle-aged woman of the [Sweeper] class, who appeared to be the eldest, began to control the crowd while holding a broom(?).
Perhaps due to an occupational hazard, she kept checking the cleanliness of the lobby in between her movements.
"Subsequent guidance will be divided based on your individual choices."
The maid calmly continued.
"If you wish, you may first listen to an explanation of the overall structure and functions of the tower here in the lobby. If you do not wish to, you may proceed directly to the trials on the second floor. However—"
The air grew chilly for a brief moment.
"—that choice cannot be undone."
A brief silence ensued.
The first to move was the young man in the leather jacket.
"I don't care about some explanation!"
He stepped forward with a frivolous stride, shifting his massive greatsword.
"You're supposed to learn these things with your body! We even got a resurrection buff, so what is there to fear!"
As he headed straight toward the portal, a few others quietly followed behind him.
"Yeah, we'll just resurrect even if we die anyway, right?"
"Let's climb quickly and get that Holy Water."
On the other hand, those remaining in the lobby were still hesitant.
"Still, isn't it better to hear something before we go?"
"They said they'd explain things..."
"Hey, won't we fall behind if we waste time listening to explanations?"
"Then go climb up with them if you want."
The maid still stood silently in the center of the lobby.
Yet she was clearly watching everyone, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
Only then did one of the climbers approach the maid and ask a question.
"May I ask a question?"
"Yes, you may."
"What changes if we listen to the explanation?"
"Various information will be provided."
"What kind of information?"
"If you wait just a moment, I will explain everything, including that."
"...?"
What on earth were they supposed to wait for?
At her words, the surrounding atmosphere grew heavy once more.
"Uh, her tone itself smells like a trap."
"Did we wait for nothing...?"
Just as order began to crumble and confusion set in, the maid pulled a crystal ball from her bosom and activated it—
Ding!
Breaking the silence, a video began to play in the air above the lobby.
"...Huh?"
"What is that...?"
The video playing from the crystal ball was, by all accounts, a cheap-looking promotional ad!
However, the content that followed was anything but cheap.
The video's perspective smoothly transitioned away from the first floor, sweeping deep into the tower's interior and showcasing fantastic spaces one by one.
"...We need Tower Coins to buy those?"
"Damn it! I didn't bring any Tower Coins!"
While some climbers cried out in despair, the video's perspective shifted to another location.
"Ooooohhhhh!!!"
The male climbers cheered in unison.
"Oh my goodness!!"
This time, some of the female climbers shyly covered their mouths.
"Oh, so if we pay 5 Tower Coins, we can bathe with elves?"
"You idiot! That's obviously the women's bath!"
"Actually, mixed baths are also available."
"...What????"
At the maid's sudden mention of mixed baths, the male climbers' eyes began to sparkle.
"Wow... that juice is insane..."
Gulp...
The temptation of the rich juices was so intense that the climbers' stomachs actually growled.
"I... I'm hungry now..."
"So, how much is that...?"
"25 Tower Coins...? That's actually reasonable?"
For reference, 1 Tower Coin was valued at around 5,000 to 5,500 Korean Won. At the same time, 1 Tower Coin was also the price of a single 'lowest-grade health potion.'
In other words, the steak was worth roughly 130,000 Won!
While 130,000 Won might sound a bit burdensome at first...
"A dragon steak for 130,000 Won? That's cheaper than a Tomahawk steak at a family restaurant!"
"Wow, I absolutely have to try that."
"Man, that makes my mouth water..."
While the juice-entranced climbers drooled, the screen transitioned once more.
"...A hotel stay and two meals for just 9 Tower Coins? That's not bad at all."
"Man... the scenery is gorgeous."
"More than that, she's sleeping so well... it's making me sleepy too..."
As the screen changed yet again, accompanied by the words "Floor 39 - Succubus Garden"...
In a dimly lit room, a succubus, visible only as a silhouette, curled her lips into a slight smile.
"What kind of stories... shall we share today... ♥"
"Hey, bro... lend me 50 Tower Coins."
"Who are you?"
"Treating me like a stranger right away is too harsh!!"
Just when it seemed the screen was fading out with the starlight, Tricia suddenly appeared, her voice echoing throughout the lobby.
The moment the video turned off—
"Waaaaahhhhh!!!!!"
The lobby was engulfed in cheers.
Meanwhile, Tricia was watching the entire scene through her crystal ball.
"Wow, the response is great."
Tricia had completely reorganized the tower's structure in just three days, and her direction was simple: do business with the climbers in exchange for Tower Coins!
To achieve this goal, she had blatantly created a promotional video to show the climbers!
For the record, that video was actually a slightly edited version of a promotional video she had made back in Eriel.
The introductory explanation, the introduction of Tower Coins, and even the battle scenes that played during Tricia's narration—all of it was edited!
In particular, using Crow's battle scenes for the fight against the unknown, powerful enemy made the immersion skyrocket.
"It's all thanks to Crow that we got such an awesome video!"
For reference, Crow himself had no idea he was starring in a tower advertisement. (?)
But then again, since Crow had received so much from her, he would probably turn a blind eye to something like this!
A new system message popped up before Tricia's eyes.
Three climbers have died on Floor 2.
[ Calculating Settlement... ]
• [Berserker] Kang Geun-yuk — 128 Tower Coins
• [Lightning Mage] Geon Jeon-ji — 71 Tower Coins
• [Archer] Na Han-jo — 30 Tower Coins
A total of 229 Tower Coins has been settled and added.
The three climbers who met a miserable end on the second floor after rashly provoking the bomb rabbits.
The 'strength' and 'value' they possessed were absorbed by the tower and converted into Tower Coins.
"...What's up with those names? Are they aliases?"
Confirmed to be their real names.
"Gasp..."
Tricia was dumbfounded by the fact that those were actually their real names.
After the promotional video ended, the climbers listened to additional explanations from the maid and approached the warp portal.
Soon, the climbers' migration began in earnest.
• 6 climbers have entered Floor 2 - Rabbit's Garden.
• 13 climbers have entered Floor 12 - Gwangmyeong Market.
• 4 climbers have entered Floor 19 - Tasty Restaurant.
• 3 climbers have entered Floor 32 - Milky Way Hotel.
• 6 climbers have entered Floor 37 - Carbonated Water Hot Spring.
• 2 climbers have entered Floor 39 - Succubus Garden.
"Including the three who died, nine went toward the trials, and the remaining twenty-eight all went to the resting facilities?"
It was all according to plan.
Enticing more than half of the climbers to find the tower's culture and relaxation more appealing than its trials.
And as for those who chose the trials...
At first, they were easy enough for even novice climbers to clear as long as they knew the strategy.
It was designed so that they could clear up to at least Floor 8 relatively easily.
However, from Floor 9 onward, the story changed.
And Floor 10 was where monsters Tricia herself had sealed in the past appeared as boss monsters.
It was still possible to keep climbing higher.
Since most of those floors were inhabited by the residents of Eriel, they only required solving simple quests.
But—
Floor 20, Floor 30, Floor 40...
Extremely powerful boss monsters resided on every floor that was a multiple of ten.
No matter how strong a climber was, a moment would inevitably come when they would be stopped in their tracks.
That would be the moment they faced the true 'essence' of this tower.
A deep smile spread across Tricia's lips.
"From the moment you choose the trials—you are no longer 'climbers,' but 'intruders.'"
"If you want a fight that badly... I will carve the 'terror' of the beasts I sealed myself deep into your minds."
She laughed wickedly, stroking the crystal ball.
...Of course, even if they were intruders.
Tower Coins would be settled without fail whether they cleared the trials or died.
It would be troublesome if the influx of challengers stopped!
"...Because I'll make sure you get your rewards."
...Probably.