Chapter 44
When I opened my eyes amidst the radiant light, it was not to a vast meadow.
Previously, it had been a wide, open plain, but now something seemed off.
It was as if the scene were corrupted by a virus, with noise everywhere and a pitch-black view that made it hard to see even a step ahead. What is this…?
“This is because we didn’t enter through proper means. In simple terms, the tower is treating us as viruses.”
So, it really is a virus?
“Then how are we supposed to find the treasure here?”
“Won’t the treasure map guide us?”
“That’s true.”
When I pulled out the treasure map from my inventory and used it, a familiar voice echoed alongside a radiant light.
【Starting route guidance.】
Ugh, the familiarity is eerie enough to give me goosebumps.
As we followed the arrows pointing the way, we noticed the ground was riddled with gaping holes, making it dangerous.
“Stick close to me.”
“Am I a kid?!”
“You look like one to me.”
“Tch.”
Even as she grumbled, my admirable little sister stuck closely to me, along with Lillian, the Heavenly Demon, and Darami. Meanwhile, Nika, as usual, nestled in my arms, poking her face out to look around.
“Are we supposed to go through there?”
Through the cracks in the dimension-like rift, something small was visible, and the arrow pointed right at it.
As we approached the trembling space, the small object disappeared with a pop.
【Recalculating the route!】
Hearing that always gives me PTSD.
There was a time I missed an exit on the highway and ended up driving all the way to Busan. The navigation kept saying, “Recalculating the route,” until it either got annoyed or glitched and turned off completely. I barely made it to a rest stop to restart it—ah, those were the days.
“Sigh, so where do we go now?”
【Starting guidance to the shortest route!】
【Turn right 100 meters ahead.】
“Alright, let’s go.”
As we followed the navigation again, we spotted the same kind of radiant light we saw earlier in the distance.
“Nika!”
The moment I called Nika’s name, she leapt out from my arms, grabbed the object with her enormous hand, and handed it to me. What is this?
“A fragment?”
“That’s what I mentioned earlier—the treasure fragments.”
“So, the treasure is divided into multiple pieces?”
“Yes, and the more pieces you gather, the more powerful the treasure becomes.”
Apparently, the strength increases proportionally to the number of fragments collected.
Then, the familiar voice rang out again.
【Recalculating the route!】
“Alright, let’s go treasure hunting today.”
“Yay!”
My little sister cheered excitedly.
That’s right. This is for you, after all.
***
“How many is this now?”
“This is the 77th fragment.”
“So, the next is the 78th?”
“Yes!”
Lillian cheerfully collected the fragment and handed it to my jubilant sister.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon observed the surroundings curiously, and Darami dozed off lazily on my shoulder.
Of course, I barely managed to stop Nika from growling and trying to eat Darami.
【Can’t I eat her?】
“No! Absolutely not! Darami is family, too!”
【Fine.】
Thankfully, she relented.
Darami, blissfully unaware, continued to nap. Maybe ignorance really is bliss—knowing would only make her tremble in fear.
And that would make this chaotic situation even worse.
The thought alone was terrifying.
“Master! Where to next?!”
“Over there.”
As we followed the navigation, something faintly glimmered deeper inside. What is that?
Curious, I reached out my finger, only for Lillian to grab my hand urgently.
“Don’t touch that!”
When I asked why, she explained that it was the world of another climber currently clearing the 20th floor.
So that’s how the anomaly reached me.
You know, like that mysterious, nameless thing from before.
The poor thing that stormed into the 21st floor only to get devoured by Nika.
As we retrieved the 78th fragment and moved toward the 79th, another radiant light surrounded us, and I felt something approaching.
Lillian and the Heavenly Demon immediately stepped in front of me, their stances tense. What now?
“Leave.”
With that single word, a message appeared.
【You will be transported outside the tower in 60 seconds.】
“Wait, what?! What’s going on?!”
I reflexively shouted, but no answer came.
“This is bad! We don’t have much time!”
“Let’s grab as much as we can!”
The moment we retrieved the 80th, 81st, and 82nd fragments, a message appeared.
【You will be transported out of the tower.】
We were ejected.
The treasure map disappeared, and a message informed us that we could only enter the tower once per day. This meant we couldn’t challenge the 22nd floor today.
This was unexpected. I had planned to gather the treasure from the 20th floor and then challenge the 22nd floor, but an unforeseen variable had thrown a wrench in my plans.
Does this mean I’ll have to clear both the 22nd and 23rd floors tomorrow?
Before that, there was something else to handle.
I took out the numerous fragments my sister had gathered. As they came together, they formed a small orb.
“Take out the Holy Sword.”
“Got it!”
Following Lillian’s instructions, my sister drew the Holy Sword. The orb reacted, merging with the sword.
“How is it?”
“Wait a second.”
She checked her status window, her expression quickly turning to one of surprise.
She shared the information with me, and it was astounding.
───────────────
Name: Han Min-ah
Age: 22
Gender: Female
【Unique Ability】
Hero’s Power (SSS Rank)
───────────────
[[ Hero’s Power (SSS Rank)
The one and only Hero of this world.
Capable of using the Holy Sword to vanquish monsters, and through ‘Self-Sacrifice,’ she can channel a noble power to defeat any monster at the cost of herself.]]
“…”
Self-Sacrifice.
That ability was the reason my sister had been crippled before, and now it had returned.
“You must never, ever use that ability again. Understand?”
“Of course. Once was enough—I’m not using it twice.”
“Promise me.”
I extended my finger, and though she hesitated, she finally linked hers with mine, sealing the promise with an exaggerated flourish.
“Was all that really necessary?”
“Absolutely.”
With this matter resolved, it was time to tackle the tasks I’d been putting off.
“So, I have a suggestion. We’ve been clearing one floor per day, but how about we start clearing two, or even three, floors a day?”
The Heavenly Demon and Darami quickly voiced their agreement.
“I agree. There’s no need to waste time on the lower floors.”
“I think the same.”
But Lillian and my sister objected.
“I’m against it. Underestimating the tower could lead to disaster.”
“She’s right. Even one misstep could be catastrophic—aren’t you rushing too much?”
The group was split 2:2, leaving the decision to me and Nika.
I glanced at Nika, who enthusiastically cheered, “Whatever Master likes!” Why is she so cute?
“Ahem. What do you think, Nika?”
【Do whatever Master wants!】
In that case, my decision is…
“Enter.”
【Entering the tower.】
We arrived at the grand entrance of the tower. As I opened the door and stepped inside, a message appeared.
【Would you like to enter the 22nd floor?】
Accept / Decline
“Accept!”
【Entering the 22nd floor.】
───────────────
【22nd Floor Mission: Defeat 30 Whip Willows!】
【Time Limit: Within 24 hours.】
【Restrictions: Magic, elemental abilities, and martial arts are prohibited.】
【Allowed Equipment: Swords, staves, gauntlets, and gunblades.】
【Restricted Codes: Mage’s Pact, Murim Code.】
───────────────
The restrictions and equipment limitations piled on. Was the tower trying to discourage climbers altogether?
How are climbers relying on just one attribute supposed to even progress?
As we were transported to the center of a dense forest, the presence of nearby entities immediately became apparent.
“They’re approaching us,” Lillian reported as she scanned the surroundings.
My sister attempted to draw the Holy Sword, but a restriction message popped up, stating that the sword could not be used due to its classification as a “Holy Sword” rather than just a “sword.”
“What the heck?! The Holy Sword isn’t a sword?”
“Just accept it, sis. Arguing won’t help.”
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon, unable to use her martial arts, stood by with her hands behind her back, observing the situation.
“Do your best.”
In the end, it seemed the only ones I could rely on were Nika and Darami.
“Haaah, hurry and finish this. I’d like to go back and take a nap.”
“…”
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