I opened the door to leave.

“Ah, geez.”

And flinched at Boss standing in front of the door. She simply glanced at me.

“Did you also come to speak with the Ironblood Duchess?”

Boss only glared in silence. She was quite tall for a woman and felt daunting today.

Why is she so upset? Did Jain tell her I would withdraw from the martial tournament?

Boss stood for a while before stretching her arm past me. I felt startled, but didn’t mind. Then she grabbed the doorknob behind me. KOONG— And completely shut the half-opened door.

“Boss? Aren’t you coming in?”

“Just now.”

Boss’ lips slightly quivered and she mumbled a question as if speaking to herself.

“Just now. What did you do inside?”

“Huh?” I tilted my head.

“You did something inside.”

Boss repeated. I quickly realized what she meant. She probably witnessed the strange scene just a moment ago.

“Ah, that was nothing. Wait, were you peeking on us?”

Boss’s shoulders slightly trembled as she frowned.

“Peeking? That’s no way to speak to your boss.”

I simply smiled. “Then why did you come here?”

“What you did just now—“

“She’s my centurion.”

Tomer interrupted Boss and opened the door. Then she softly smiled at Boss.

“Welcome.”

“… Yes.”

Boss greeted her in an unusually brusque manner.

“I’ll have to listen to your report later. I have something else to do.”

Tomer simply walked past us. Boss felt slightly disgruntled as she watched her disappear.

“…”

“Hmm… Boss, how's your sparring with Tomer going?”

I tried asking. Some time had passed since we arrived on the 8th floor, but their relationship remained the same. Things would be different if she won at least once.

“We’re now evenly matched, on-par, equal.”

She said several phrases that meant the same thing.

“It won’t be long before I win.”

Seeing Boss like that aroused my curiosity. “Have you been reading a wuxia novel?”

“Mm? What are you suddenly talking about? I did find an interesting wuxia novel. Should I tell you the title?”

Boss grinned like anyone else recommending their favorite novel and opened her system window.

“No, that’s okay.”

I declined with a smile, but grew curious about something else.

What did her stats look like now?

I took out the directory.

▷Stats: Variable stats [Strength 10.1] [Stamina 10.5] [Speed ???] [Perception ???] [Magic Power ???] [Vitality 11]

Question marks indicated that her stats surpassed what the directory could accurately estimate. Seeing this great progress only deepened my curiosity. What kind of environment did Tomer experience and what skills did she learn to win against Boss in this state? I closed the directory.

“Hmm.”

Then I opened it again. This time, I infused it with 0.5 streaks of stigma. Perhaps the stat limit would increase. Contrary to my expectations, the question marks didn’t change. However, additional sentences and details appeared as if they had been burned onto the page.

[Current Emotion – Slightly Annoyed, Curious] [Slightly irritated by the hug and the word, regressor. Also hungry.] [Wants to read the next chapter of the webnovel, New Martial World.]

“Oh, by the way, Hajin.” Boss put on a cold expression as I read the directory.

“Kaita was killed.”

“Ah.”

We went silent for a moment. Kaita was killed. Boss repeated solemnly. It didn’t surprise me. I knew exactly who would’ve defeated him. 

Kyaaaak! A shriek suddenly came from downstairs. It sounded like Tomer and we hurried towards the sound. Tadadada…

“Duchess!”

We quickly arrived and Boss immediately checked for Tomer. It seemed Boss took a liking to her, but Tomer simply slumped on the floor without any injuries.

“Hey, y-you… This person.” Tomer shuddered as she pointed at the bed where I placed the assassin.

“What’s wrong… Huh?”

I took a closer look at the person in bed. Her plain appearance had been a disguise and completely wore off by now. The bare face revealed a person I had seen before.

Araha Von Atalos Diana.

I mumbled with a sigh. “Why is Princess Araha here?”

“Where, where did you meet her?” Tomer asked in a flurry.

“The eastern mountain.”

I opened the directory and examined Araha’s status.

[Current State – Asleep] [I have to catch the thief who stole the Crane Feather Fan… So sleepy.]

“…”

It looked like she came for the Crane Feather Fan, but how? I glanced at the item in my pocket and scratched my neck. I had no clue why the princess foolishly came here alone, but she couldn’t just be brushed off. Maybe she planned to be captured like this. She was quite smart and ambitious for a 17 year old.

“Will people suspect that we abducted her? She looked different when I placed her there,” I explained to Tomer.

“Don’t worry. I have an excuse in my mind. She disguised herself, which means she ran away from home. Everyone knows about the fifth princess’ eccentric behavior.”

Tomer stood up and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

“First, tell me what happened.”

I nodded and recounted the events.

***

[3F Prestige, Lv.8 Essence of the Strait’s Hideout]

Kim Youngjin, the tower subjugation team’s chief officer, received a report at their hideout which could accommodate over 100 people now.

[I would like to inform Chief Officer Kim Youngjin that the mission succeeded.]

The report came over the infinitely multiplying letter. It informed him that Black Lotus had been defeated, Aileen’s team successfully entered the 9th floor, and the door to the 9th floor wouldn’t open for a while.

“So?”

Yoo Yeonha silently listened and asked him. Technically, Kim Youngjin was in charge inside the tower. Yoo Yeonha didn’t want to take that away from him. She held a superior rank outside the tower, but Kim Youngjin possessed better insight concerning tower matters.

“Haa.” Kim Yougjin sighed.

“Fenrir succeeded.”

Yoo Yeonha nodded at the solemn declaration. Her thoughts jumbled together and she felt a headache coming on. However, she didn’t express any of her mixed emotions.

Chae Nayun stood in the same room and clenched her teeth. Kim Hajin had defeated the man considered the strongest in the tower. That cruel fact definitely provoked her.

“…”

Yoo Yeonha continued to quietly think. Things had gotten serious now. Kim Hajin knew Black Lotus belonged to the Chameleon Troupe and killed him. He meant it as a declaration of war and would continue to hunt the Chameleon Troupe members. Perhaps more thoroughly and brutally than she could ever imagine.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now.”

Chae Nayun suddenly stood up and rushed out of the hideout.

“Ah, Nayun. Again…” Yi Jiyoon mumbled words of concern as she watched Chae Nayun leave. Yoo Yeonha didn't miss her knowing attitude.

“Again, what?”

“Oh, um. She’s been smoking again lately… Boss.” Yi Jiyoon carefully added the honorific at the end.

“Smoking? They sell cigarettes here?”

“Yes. People with strange skills began making and selling them.”

“I didn’t see any on the 3rd floor.”

“They're only on the 8th floor. They don’t sell any luxury items on the 3rd floor since they can sell for a higher price on the 8th.”

“I see.”

Yoo Yeonha scratched her head and stood up with a sigh. Then she chased after Chae Nayun.

As Yi Jiyoon said, Chae Nayun went for a smoke on the 3rd floor balcony.

"Nayun?"

Yoo Yeonha softly called out. Chae Nayun turned around to face her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, this?"

Chae Nayun shook the cigarette between her fingers and threw it in the portable ashtray.

"It's nothing. I only smoke 3 a day. I earned a good trait from it too."

Chae Nayun smiled, but didn't look happy at all.

"What kind of traitRelated how?"

Yoo Yeonha leaned against the wall and stared at her. The smile on Chae Nayun’s lips glowed under the pale moonlight.

"I'm not supposed to tell others, but I'll make an exception for you. I can convert toxins into magic power."

"Hm? Really?"

"Yep. I got this trait from the curse a while ago. Cigarettes provide a decent source of magic power. Three a day can easily restore my magic power."

"I see. That's a good trait."

Yoo Yeonha gently looked at her. She felt various emotions as they made eye contact.

"W-What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

Honestly, Yoo Yeonha still hoped. Her wish may never come true, but she didn't think it was impossible. Suddenly, she thought about what her father once asked her. Is it weak to lean on hope or is it weak to not believe in hope? She didn't answer at the time because she didn't think one could judge a person's weakness based on their belief in hope.

"Oh, I heard you became chief strategic officer."

"Yeah."

"Congrats. You're the youngest chief officer in history. That's pretty cool."

Yoo Yeonha still hoped that Kim Hajin and Chae Nayun could smile at each other one day. That they would end all their misunderstandings, resentment, and hatred. That all their wounds would heal and they could smile truthfully again. Even if that dream would never come true…

"Thanks."

Yoo Yeonha thought about her wish under Prestige’s beautiful moonlight.

***

[7F, Game Center]

Tomer asked me to hide while she spoke to the princess, so I went down to the 7th floor.

"Hmm…"

I took out the directory.

[Directory] 

Jin Sahyuk – Current Location: 7F 

Aileen – Current Location: 9F

Chae Nayun – Current Location: 8-2F

Kim Suho – Current Location: 8-3F…

Jin Sahyuk also came to the 7th floor, but I couldn’t do anything. No one could kill on the 7th floor and AlphaGo would warn me as soon as I took out my weapon. I would turn into ashes before I could even lift a finger.

Tiriring — 

Ppororong —

— How does ace-high win in a 4 way pot? Haha, sorry boys… Aces full.

I slowly walked past all the gambling, games, regrets, and happiness. Then I arrived at the [Upgrade Center]. The most important facility on the 7th floor looked almost empty, probably because it cost too much and everyone else focused on gambling. Only one other customer visited and I carefully walked towards her.

"So you're saying each stat boost costs 15,000 TP?"

— That is correct.

The familiar voice spoke to AlphaGo.

"That's way more than what I expected. Here, what’s this individual boost?"

— I will strengthen your intrinsic trait, which is connected to your neurotech chip.

"Mine is way too expensive. Where do I even find 150,000 TP?"

— It is because your trait is perfect.

"Really? Hmm… Fine. You're just a robot, but I like you."

I stood beside the grinning woman.

"You better not think of doing anything stupid to make money."

Jin Sahyuk widened her eyes and turned to face me.

"…!"

She jumped to the side the moment our eyes met. I could tell she had completely recovered from her quick response.

"Y-You…!" Jin Sahyuk moved her lips as if to say something.

"We'll probably run into each other more often."

However, I spoke first.

"Wherever you are…"

If it's a place where you can die…

"I'll come and find you, so behave properly."

Jin Sahyuk gave me a sharp glance. She mumbled inaudible words and pointed at me before running away. I took over her spot.

— Welcome, VIP.

"Yeah, good to see you. It's been a while."

— How may I help you today?

"I'm here for the prizes."

I came in first in all but 3 games. The system had sent me a message to retrieve the prizes.

— Understood. I shall convert your score and show you the list of prizes. Your prize score is 150 PT.

The robot displayed the list of prizes.

[Prosthetic Limb (Effective Good) — 25 PT] [VIP Room Pass — 25 PT] [Machine Enhancement Service — 100 PT] [Lucky Macaron]…

Only the machine enhancement service caught my eye.

— You have selected the Machine Enhancement Service for 100 PT. Please submit what you would like to enhance.

"How about my neurotech chip?"

— It is the latest technology, thus further enhancement is not possible.

"Really? Well then."

I handed the Desert Eagle over. AlphaGo grabbed my gun and examined it in detail. It showed rare curiosity for a robot.

— What a mysterious machine.

"Can you do it?"

— Yes, but the process will take around half a day.

The situation in Crevon wouldn’t change for now. Monsters still rampaged, but the 9th floor’s calamities had yet to descend, probably because Aileen's team on the 9th floor somehow held on. I wasn't sure how helpful this gun would be, but I had already made hundreds of bullets after pushing the Prestige blacksmiths to their limits.

— I have received the Desert Eagle.

The calamities destroyed 1/3 of Crevon in the original story. I believed I could change this fate.

"You're the one doing the enhancement, right?"

— That is correct.

"Show me your hand."

I planned on doing my best as I grabbed AlphaGo's wrist and muttered, Scan.

***

[9F, Inside the Door of Calamity]

The sun that lit up the world fell to the west. Aileen’s party stood in the middle of the 9th floor where not a single blade of grass grew.

"I give up. I give up."

Aileen wanted to give up. Jin Seyeon, Yi Yongha, and Shin Jonghak accompanied her on the 9th floor. Indeed, challenging this floor with a party of four could only be called a calamity. Every monster felt like a dungeon boss. Furthermore, the entire system disappeared and they lost their source of recovering energy and health in this living hell. Aileen and the others had endured for 18 hours.

"Give up… I really want to give up…"

"Lady Aileen, the calamities will invade the 8th floor if we back down here."

Jin Seyeon comforted her, who drooped like a wet sponge. The reward they received for being first was [the right to eliminate the 9th floor’s calamities first]. They could monopolize the 9th floor as long as they wanted. However, they couldn’t leave the 9th floor either. No one else could enter as long as they remained. This right could be given up at any time, but the 9th floor calamities would escape through the opened door.

"I know, but…"

Aileen felt somewhat responsible. After all, she had opened the door.

"I can't die here."

"That's true. Well, let’s rest for now. We don't know when the enemy will strike again."

They silently lay on the ground after all the fighting. The atmosphere calmed after a long time. Shin Jonghak prepared to sleep and Jin Seyeon took out some beef jerky along with other food from her inventory. They focused on recovering their stamina when Jin Seyeon suddenly spoke as she chewed on jerky.

"Perhaps Black Lotus already knew about this situation."

Jin Seyeon proposed an interesting hypothesis.

"No way." Aileen looked a bit afraid.

"No, there's a good chance. Honestly, I've been thinking about it the entire time,” Jin Seyeon said with a grim expression. "Black Lotus somehow found out about the 9th floor’s calamities and deliberately blocked the World’s End Bridge.”

Everybody went silent, but Aileen soon disagreed.

"That doesn't make sense. How could he have known? We were the first to enter."

"I don't know, but hasn't Black Lotus been acting strange this entire time?"

Jin Seyeon recited her doubts one by one.

"Black Lotus didn't have to fire warning shots. He should be aware of the risks in doing so, but he fired them anyways and overlooked those who retreated. That means…"

Jin Seyeon stopped.

"He didn’t want to kill. He could’ve easily opened the door. It only took us a few monsters and some traps to get here, so he didn’t block the bridge out of selfishness.”

What Jin Seyeon said made sense and a heavy silence descended. Yi Yongha spoke a few moments later.

“It’s true that words wouldn't have been enough to stop anyone. Both heroes and djinns were eager to climb the tower. It does feel like Black Lotus calmed the madness a bit."

Honestly, Black Lotus helped everyone appreciate and enjoy the tower.

Aileen ruffled her hair.

"So what? We go outside and say sorry, we messed up. Tell everyone that Black Lotus is actually a cool guy?"

"He does seem kind of cool if what Divine Archer Jin Seyeon said is correct."

"Hey!"

KOONG— KOONG—

The four heard loud footsteps and tensed up. Another monster had emerged from the distance. It looked like a man with the head of a bull. They all recognized this mythical monster, a minotaur. Jin Seyeon grabbed her bow.

"For now, let's buy as much time as we can. They’re hard to kill, but they do drop great items.”

Fighting against strong opponents always improved one's skills. The four reluctantly moved their tired bodies.

"Sheesh. Okay, okay."

Aileen mumbled and glared at the minotaur.

"Listen, cow."

They had achieved their goal a long time ago. Each player had to defeat at least 2 monsters, so they could go to the 10th floor at any time.

"This spear…"

Only their sense of duty as heroes held them back. Aileen formed a sharp spear out of magic power. The sparks shook the atmosphere and gathered at its tip.

“Will pierce your heart!"

She shouted as the magic spear wailed. It soared at the speed of light and appeared moments later through the minotaur's heart as if it had been there from the start.

"Become lightning."

The spear that pierced the monster’s heart grew hot and an electrical current burned the minotaur's insides. However, it still stood tall and hadn’t died yet.