The End of the Tutorial
Two days after the great Jajangmyeon incident, the tutorial was finally coming to an end. The government was scrambling in all directions, desperate to establish negotiations with the Tower. Endless debates raged over who would enter the Tower to negotiate directly with the Administrator, with every department fiercely vetting candidates to send their absolute best.
Meanwhile, the situation for the Climbers had also shifted dramatically. A Climber-exclusive Personal Holy Water had gone on sale at Naejibtap (My House Tower), managed by Tricia. Now, Climbers could freely use the Holy Water for themselves or their families, and thanks to its usage conditions, they were under no obligation to sell it to the government. Since reselling or smuggling it abroad was magically blocked, the administrative burden on the government was also greatly reduced.
However... no matter how many warnings you give, there will always be those who refuse to listen.
A Climber who ignored the warnings listed their "Personal Holy Water" on Cucumber Market, only to have a brand seared into their neck on the spot. And from that moment on... a cascade of endless misfortunes began to strike him in rapid succession.
His smartphone suddenly went bang and exploded. His computer sparked, and the internal cooling fan flew out, grazing his neck. Attempting to stop the bleeding, he reached for a towel, only to step on a thermos rolling on the floor and slip. As he fell, he tried to grab onto something for support, but his hand caught the knife block instead—sending a dozen kitchen knives falling straight toward his torso.
He barely survived by avoiding any vital organs, but he was left in a truly wretched state, hovering between life and death. Writhing in agonizing pain, he managed to gather enough strength to drink the Holy Water himself. The moment he did, the Divine Punishment deemed that he had used the Holy Water for its proper purpose, and the brand on his neck vanished instantly.
The Climber who survived this ordeal immediately posted his story on an online community.
The post was pinned as an announcement in the blink of an eye. Countless YouTube drama channels turned it into videos, and mainstream media outlets began reporting on it as well.
Meanwhile, the movements of the Black Obsidian Guild were also unusual. Their contact with the government was surging, and news broke that Crow, whose Climber ranking had recently shot up, had returned to the country. The domestic situation was moving faster and more urgently than ever before.
And... the catalyst and center of all these events. What on earth was Tricia doing right now?
The Meeting Room on the 99th floor of Naejibtap (My House Tower).
⊳ Have 100+ Climbers enter the Tower:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Have 30+ Climbers clear the Trial of the 5th Floor:[COMPLETED]
🎁 Reward: 20,000 Tower Coins will be paid to the Administrator!
✨ Tower Administrator Authority Rank will increase!
"I did it!!!"
Tricia threw her arms up in the air, tears of deep emotion streaming down her face! All the long hours of humiliation and oppression she had endured... she was finally, truly free from the dreadful swamp of the tutorial!
"It's really over now, right?! Right?!"
The third tutorial will now begin! Please complete the following quest—
"Hey!!!!!!!!"
Tricia let out a roar of pure rage! But the system ignored her completely, displaying the next quest.
⊳ Modify the floor layout at least once:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Set at least one Tower-wide rule:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Create a monster or object using Tower Coins at least once:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Create an auxiliary NPC at least once:[INCOMPLETE]
🎁 Reward: 30,000 Tower Coins + Additional increase in Tower Administrator Authority Rank
"...Huh? I'm almost done with it?" Tricia muttered, scanning the quest list.
"Modifying the layout and setting rules were done early on. And creating a monster or object... I spent Tower Coins repairing the 99th floor last time, so I guess that counted as creating an object?"
Without her even realizing it, most of the quest had already been completed. However, one final requirement stood in her way.
Create an auxiliary NPC at least once: INCOMPLETE
"Oh right, there was something like that..." Tricia opened the Tower Administrator Menu for the first time in a while to check.
▶ Configure Floor Layout
▶ Configure Trials & Rewards
▶ Configure Tower-Wide Rules
▶ Create Monsters/Objects
▶ Create Auxiliary NPC ← (NEW)
"Oh, this unlocked because my authority level went up? But what's an NPC?"
An Auxiliary NPC is an assistant persona capable of performing various roles within the Tower.
"Hmm... So it's just like an NPC in a game. Let's make one!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Tricia pressed the [Create Auxiliary NPC] button. Immediately, a new window popped up before her eyes.
Initiating Auxiliary NPC creation.
Please select a base appearance template.
▶ Humanoid
▶ Monster
▶ Amorphous
▶ Object
"Hmm... Humanoid?"
Please select a secondary appearance template.
▶ Human
▶ Elf
▶ Dwarf
▶ Beastkin
▶ Demon
▶ Angel
▶ Insectoid
"Why are there so many options..."
Since clearing the tutorial was her top priority, Tricia quickly skipped all the way to the 10th appearance setting. She hastily put together a generic cute maid character and slammed the [Complete] button.
Leaving the newly created maid NPC standing awkwardly to the side, she focused back on the system window.
⊳ Modify the floor layout at least once:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Set at least one Tower-wide rule:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Create a monster or object using Tower Coins at least once:[COMPLETED]
⊳ Create an auxiliary NPC at least once:[COMPLETED]
🎁 Reward: 30,000 Tower Coins will be paid to the Administrator!
✨ Tower Administrator Authority Rank will increase further!
⚙ Authority Rank has been upgraded from [Novice Administrator] to [D-Rank Administrator]!
"...Please tell me there isn't a Phase 4 tutorial."
Since Phase 3 had ended smoothly, Tricia prayed with all her heart that a Phase 4 wouldn't pop up.
"Hooray!!!"
To her absolute delight, the tutorial was finally over! The end of the tutorial meant she could finally wield her true power as the Administrator of the Tower...!
Now, it was time to ask the question Tricia had been dying to ask ever since she first arrived here!
"...Can I go outside the Tower now?"
Notice: Insufficient authority level.
"You piece of shit—!!!!!!!!"
An enraged Tricia slammed her hand down in a devastating knife-hand strike, cleanly splitting the grand conference table in half!
"Why!!! Why can't I go out-!!!!!!"
This action will become available once you increase your authority rank further.
"And you're not even going to tell me how to raise it anyway!"
You can further increase your authority rank by paying Tower Coins.
"...Huh?"
To her surprise, the system was actually being helpful and explaining how to raise her rank this time. However, the amount of Tower Coins required for the upgrade was anything but helpful.
Cost required to increase Administrator Rank: 3,000,000 Tower Coins
"Wait, three million..?"
With trembling hands, Tricia checked her current Tower Coin balance.
Held Tower Coins: 679,451
"......"
It was nowhere near enough. Of course, with the newly revamped Holy Water sales, various item shops, and the steady influx of Climbers entering the trials, her coin revenue was growing day by day...
"But three million just to go up one rank is ridiculous!!!"
The required amount was truly absurd. Granted, with the current earning rate of My House Tower, she could easily gather that much in about a month. And once she finalized the bulk Holy Water deal with the government, she would rake in an astronomical amount of Tower Coins...
But was there really a reason to raise her rank that badly? Tricia wondered.
"...Anyway, what benefits do I even get if I upgrade to the next rank?"
Upgrading from [D-Rank Administrator] will promote you to [C-Rank Administrator].
Upon becoming a C-Rank Administrator, you will unlock the following benefits:
• Expanded access to Tower information due to increased authority level.
• 70% reduction in Tower Coins required for Tower maintenance.
• 15% reduction in Tower Coins required for layout modifications, monster creation, and object creation.
• 5% increase in Tower Coin revenue rate.
• Unlock various customization menus.
"...Is that seriously it?"
It was... underwhelming, to say the least. To Tricia, it was just a bunch of completely useless features. A 70% reduction in maintenance costs wasn't bad in the long run, but considering the upfront cost was a whopping three million coins... it didn't seem particularly worth it.
Tricia let out a deep sigh, her head slumping forward. Her face was a picture of profound disappointment.
"Sigh... If only I could at least use electronic devices..."
Notice: By utilizing the [Unlock Electronic Devices] feature within the [C-Rank Administrator] customization menu, you will be able to use electronic devices inside the Tower.
"?"
Wait, what?
Notice: Additionally, an [Internet Connection] can also be established.
"???"
That evening. In the first-floor lobby where the Climbers gathered, a brand-new advertisement was being displayed.
We cordially invite you to the newly established 《Tower Coin Casino》 on the 91st Floor!!!
The 91st floor, managed directly by Tricia, was a place of ethereal beauty, featuring a glowing crystal castle nestled beneath a soft lavender night sky. And right there... the 《Tower Coin Casino》, a place overflowing with dreams and hope (?), had just opened its doors!