01. An Unfamiliar World
01. An Unfamiliar World
+++
"News just came in."
"...How is it?"
"All... deceased."
"Total annihilation...."
The short-haired woman sank into the sofa with a dismayed expression.
She wiggled the cigarette in her mouth up and down. Was it a sign of nervousness?
"Hoo...."
Cigarette smoke billowed out far.
"Definitely... the Instructors went with them too, but contact was lost and then total annihilation... I thought it was a stabilized floor already, but apparently not."
The Reporting Man bowed his waist deeply.
"I'm sorry. It's my oversight."
"No. You didn't do anything wrong. None of us expected it. For something like that to happen in a place we occupied over 10 years ago."
"I'll prepare a detailed damage report soon."
"Yes."
As the woman nodded, the man bowed even deeper and left the room.
"Hoo... total annihilation...."
She held the cigarette holder in her right hand and tapped the desk thoughtfully, lost in thought.
A month ago, for the Academy graduation exam, trainees and several Instructors had gone up to the 11th Floor.
That floor was used exclusively for graduation exams, utilizing an entire vast territory the size of a single nation for the test.
"An Instructor died...."
Trainees could die.
Even after learning about The Tower and training at this Academy, they were still greenhorns.
But Instructors were different.
To become an Instructor, one naturally had to be a 'Tower Warrior'. The Instructors leading the trainees this time were 10 Solferino-rank and 3 Fratelli-rank.
They might fall short for frontline combat, but being officially appointed as 'Tower Warriors' in the first place marked them as exceptional talents, and those with Solferino or higher titles were absolutely no pushovers.
And yet, they had been totally annihilated on the mere 11th Floor.
What on earth had happened?
Knock knock.
Someone's knocking snapped her out of her reverie.
-Chief Instructor-nim, all the examinees have gathered in the plaza.
It wasn't that man's voice from earlier.
A woman's voice.
"Yes. Got it. I'll head out soon."
+++
"What is that?"
"It's a Human?"
"Why is a Human here?"
"Did they bring a slave?"
He'd only opened the door and stepped out, but instantly all eyes were on him.
Hmm... let's see. They all look Human-like? Though some have ears on their heads here and there.
"Sihwan-nim, they are not Humans."
"Yeah?"
"They are Demi-humans. Like Elves or Dwarves, for example."
"Oh."
Beings straight out of fantasy were really right in front of his eyes? Amazing.
"Their stats are judged to far exceed the Human average."
"How do they compare to me?"
"Naturally, Sihwan-nim is at a massive disadvantage. A huge one. Overwhelmingly."
"Hmm... really?"
She was emphasizing it hard...
Well, whatever. Humans having below-average abilities was sort of par for the course. He hadn't even gotten any enhancement procedures.
Still, he wasn't worried. He had Bari.
Thud thud.
Suddenly, some ugly bastard approached him.
"A Human... Seed tests are in the building across the way, but. Lost your way?"
"Seed?"
"All the likes of Humans can do is serve at best. Or...."
The guy scowled viciously.
Now that he looked, the guy was handsome.
Even to another guy like him, and despite the scrunched face, it was enough to draw admiration. Pointed ears meant Elf, huh? Yeah, it suited him.
"Acting big, thinking you can become a 'Tower Warrior' without knowing your place?"
He growled like a beast, twisting that pretty face.
Why the fuck was he bitching right off the bat?
"What're you saying? Move."
He shoved the guy aside and walked past.
No time to waste on weirdos, even a second was too much.
Bari followed him.
"Y-You crazy bastard!!!"
A shout erupted from behind.
"Daring to... d-daring a mere Human... a mere Human to touch an Elf from the Advanced Races???"
Advanced what?
The Elf rushed up and spun him around, grabbing his collar.
Instantly, all eyes on them.
"Fine. You're begging to die, huh. I'll—"
"You're spitting, so slow down. No manners? And your breath stinks. How about some care?"
"W-What...?"
"Your breath stinks. What do you even eat? Makes me wanna pour deodorant in your mouth."
Half of that was bullshit...
Breath stinks? More like fruit-scented...
What kind of race was this where even bad breath smelled refreshing? Should he ask for an upgrade like that? Bari could probably do it.
Grab.
"That's enough. If you don't let go, I'll use force."
"What...? H-Ha... what's this now...."
Bari grabbed the arm clutching his collar, and the guy's face was priceless. Like he'd seen maggots crawling on his skin?
Fine for him, but Bari looked like a pretty girl—still reacting like it was filthy.
How much did they hate Humans?
"No abilities detected, so you're Human too... shut up—"
"Commencing use of force."
Crunch.
Bari squeezed her hand ever so lightly.
But the result was anything but light.
"Gaaaaaaah!!!!"
The guy collapsed screaming loud enough to shake the plaza.
Bari dusted off her hand lightly.
"Sturdy body. As expected, can't compare to Sihwan-nim. Needs an upgrade."
She looked at him impassively, demanding he upgrade her body ASAP.
But he wasn't in the mood yet. He wanted to feel a more natural body a bit longer. That's why he'd only taken the minimum Nano-robots.
Hmm... but thinking about it, this place seemed kinda dangerous?
Maybe he should upgrade after all.
"Later for now."
"With apologies, considering the average abilities here, Sihwan-nim's physical capabilities are at a critical level."
"...Can't do it here anyway. No, more like no facilities."
"True."
"But what..."
"But if Sihwan-nim decides on an upgrade, I'll prioritize that direction in development."
"Yeah... got it, so let's think about it later."
That guy was glaring at them murderously right now.
"You dog—"
Snap.
"Approach further and I'll deem you hostile and eliminate you."
As the guy lunged in a frenzy,
Bari stepped in front, extending her arm.
Not a sleek woman's arm, but a weapon optimized solely for elimination.
If she wanted, she could blow his head off right now.
Not just his head—she could erase his entire existence.
Whirr.
Vrrrrm.
The disc-like thing at the end of Bari's weaponized arm began spinning intensely.
At the same time, blue energy surged nonstop from the elbow area, still somewhat human-like, glowing brightly.
"W-Wha...."
Did he sense it wasn't normal?
The Elf flinched in fear.
The onlookers around stared in shock, murmuring.
"What's the commotion?"
A voice sliced through the tension instantly.
Someone appeared on the platform at one side of the plaza.
"Huh?"
Cold,
Sharp.
Yet an inexplicable elegance emanated.
"...."
It felt like time had slowed.
Bobbed short hair swaying, eyes coldly narrowed.
Bari was designed to his ideal type, but she transcended that—something beyond ideals.
"Wow. She's pretty."
The words slipped out unconsciously.
Whoosh.
Women attending her suddenly appeared before him.
"Human...?"
Shocked to see him, as expected.
Was being Human that shocking, Humans?
"Report what happened."
Another woman looked at them without surprise and spoke.
"Greenhorns who haven't even passed the exam yet causing trouble already."
Her tongue stayed still, but her face screamed disdain.
"The guy sprawled there picked a needless fight, so we punished him, that's all."
"...."
The woman glanced at the bleeding Elf.
She was about to say something when,
"Enough. Come back. No need to make a fuss over something that minor."
The woman on the platform said that, surveying the crowd.
Still pretty up close.
Neat jet-black bob.
One side covering her ear, the other tucked neatly behind.
And on the exposed ear dangled something blue about half a pinky length.
What the hell was that? Not any gem he knew.
Oddly eye-catching.
Her gaze over the plaza showed no emotion.
Finally, when it passed over him and Bari, a slight change appeared.
Shocked it's a Human?
"Talk later."
"Wow... a Human. Live long and prosper."
The two women tossed barbs and returned to the woman on the platform.
Insanely fast. He couldn't even track it.
"Anyway,"
The plaza was dead silent.
The commotion around him and Bari vanished the moment she appeared.
"Elf and Human clash... but the injured one's the Elf...."
Her gaze flicked back their way, lips quirking up slightly.
One side only... smirking?
"You there, Elf?"
"...Y-Yes..?"
In agony, but the Elf answered tense and straight.
That woman must be high up. The vibe screamed it.
"You're not needed in The Tower."
"...Why...?"
"Do I really have to spell it out?"
"Elf, disqualified."
The woman who'd come before him earlier declared it firmly, channeling her vibe.
'Why the hell do I need to explain long-windedly to the likes of you?'
Something like that...
Basically, an Elf who loses to a 'Human' like him and gets injured ain't needed in The Tower...
Were the Humans here that pathetic?
Satisfying, though.
"Wh-What do you mean!!"
Suppressing pain, the guy protested flushed.
Far more polite than with him.
Hmph.
But all he got was a sneer.
"If you're injured by mere Human rabble, no need for a test. Get lost."
"Th-That's...."
"And Human."
Now her gaze on him... no, Bari.
"Better not use power recklessly. The Tower's different from the outside world. Humans are utterly insignificant."
What the.
"With respect, I'm not Human, nor weaker than you all. Keep your worries to yourselves."
O. Bari's cool!
"Hoh?"
The woman's eyes narrowed.
She scanned Bari like appraising.
"Not Human? No presence... Ah. I see."
Her puzzled face suddenly nodded in understanding.
Then she looked at him.
"So you're the owner?"
"...."
"Must've scored a high-performance Artifact somewhere, but barely that much—"
"Ah~ why beat around the bush? You gonna make me wait?"
The impending lecture cut off at the platform woman's voice.
"...My apologies."
The sharp woman immediately schooled her face and retreated.
With a glare at him thrown in.
At her gesture, guards? dragged the Elf away.
"W-Wait! How long I've waited for this day...! How long!!! Nooooo!!!"
Bye.
Go die for real.
"Looks mostly sorted. This is such a hassle."
The platform woman sighed.
The atmosphere felt like the real thing was about to start, making the plaza heavier.
What was starting?
Beats him. How should he know.
"There was a little commotion, but this is nothing in The Tower. Just got word—the graduation class that left a month ago got massacred with their Instructors."
"...."
Starting off brutal.
"So mind your own business and take care of yourselves. Though some of you here might struggle even to become trainees."
Her speech sounded cultured like those chaebol madams in dramas, but dig deeper and contempt seeped through.
Shitty personality, huh.
"Hey, Bari."
"Yes."
"What about that woman?"
"The one on the platform?"
"Yeah."
He asked casually, and Bari 'scanned' the platform.
Well, she'd analyzed it already, just pretending.
"She's fine. Suitable as Sihwan-nim's partner. Good chemistry too—"
"No, dude. Not that. Like personality. Temperament. Feels like it'll suck."
"...."
Bari stared blankly at him.
What. What.
"For Sihwan-nim to comment on others' personalities..."
"Hey now, you impure Android."
"Human personalities can't be judged by appearances alone."
"No; you can tell."
"Well, Humans and data don't always match, so more intel gathering needed for certainty."
"Rough estimate then."
"Definitely not that great."
"Right? But you've been saying 'seems' a lot since we got here. Performance dropping?"
"......Still nothing compared to Sihwan-nim."
What. Joke, and she's sulking? Cute.
"Joking, why so serious."
"...."
Unhappy face.
Bari could make that expression too?
He'd joked a lot before.
"Everyone, focus. Important stuff coming up."
Chatting with Bari, he snapped back at the short-haired woman's voice.
"I'll explain simply. You all know what this place is, but how the exams work... how many stages... what happens if you pass... survival odds... you wanna know, right."