CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the next floor.
"You're done as well?" Rose asked when she saw me preparing to leave.
"Yes, I passed!" I showed her the congratulatory message on my phone.
"Same!" She cheerfully said, "I got lucky this time though," like a child who was given her favorite treat. "Because of my name's insecurities, I went out and studied every type and variety of rose that existed on the planet. So whenever someone teases me about my name, I recite random facts about Rose. It automatically shuts them up. Besides, that was an easy one, since it was one of a kind. It would have been a bit more difficult if they had chosen a different variety with a similar appearance, like the Pink Parfeit and pink-colored Floribunda Roses. "
"That's what I thought too," I agreed. "Maybe they deliberately made it easier. Besides, the Halfeti Rose was one that existed at the end of spring, nearing summer, when the roses turned completely black. If they had chosen to show a hologram of a Halfeti in early spring or any other season besides summer, it would have been a different case as its flower would look similar to other red roses. "
I didn't tell her that even if they used a Halfeti flower from a different season, I would still be able to guess it. After all, I'm more familiar with the Halfeti rose than any other variety.
"You're right about that."
Rose and I cheerfully chatted as we made our way to the second floor. We were one of the first few people who made it to the second stage.
This time, the hologram projected a common forest tree fern indigenous to South Africa. It has a thick, black, fibrous trunk.
Its compact crown has a darker shade of green at the top and a paler shade below. Its leaflets are thick, with entire toothed margins. There are only two indigenous forest tree ferns in that part of the continent, so determining which one it was was simple.
Not even a minute had passed, and I was already punching in my answer.
Alsophila dregei (Grassland Tree Fern)
[Enter]
I did not wait for Rose and hurriedly ran towards the third floor instead. Based on my calculation, it will take me about an entire day to climb this tower if I climb in the same fashion we did earlier. But I have a class tomorrow! I can't be stuck all night in this place!
The fourth floor...
The fifth floor...
The sixth floor...
….…
The Tenth Floor ...
The twentieth floor ...
The thirty-first floor ...
….…
My breathing kept getting heavier and heavier. The more stairs I climbed, the more sweat I accumulated on my back. I also noticed that as the floor got higher, the students also got smaller in proportion. Such a scene isn't really surprising. Most of those botany students got lucked out as they encountered plants they didn't know early on.
"Fuck!" I cursed, while typing the word "Abies Koreana" (Korean Fir) with trembling hands.
I'm so exhausted that my hands can't even function properly. I really underestimated this tower—no, more like I underestimated my own capabilities. But I have already come too far to give up.
I began to regulate my breathing. The handkerchief I brought this morning was so soaked in sweat that I could only use my hands to wipe my forehead.
Thankfully, I brought my water bottle, and the people working in the tower were nice enough to provide me with refills for free. One of the workers, named John, even gave me some snacks. So, getting dehydrated from losing so much water is no longer a problem.
The 50th Floor...
The 60th Floor...
The 70th Floor...
The 80th Floor...
I stopped counting floors after the 80th floor. Knowing I'm still a long way from the finish line will only make me more frustrated and tired. That Professor Palmer is just pure evil! If I ever pass this trial, I'll be sure to give him a peace of my mind!
I sat at the top of the stairs, leaning my head against the wall, extremely exhausted after typing my answer. My vertigo was already acting up, so I had to close my eyes.
The cold temperature of the wall exacerbated some of my fatigue.I decided to continue climbing.
"Shit! Fjrjlrjgkkfwludhkvhkgh!!! " A number of incoherent curses flowed out of my mouth when I realized I couldn't stand.
What kind of dumb spirit came over me that I decided to sit down, knowing I'm extremely fatigued anyway? Now that my muscles are relaxed, the adrenaline has gone away, and I'm left with extremely exhausted knees and legs!
Now what am I going to do?
"So it's you." I looked up and saw Rebecca elegantly walking towards me.
She has already changed from her corporate attire into house clothes.
"I was really surprised when I checked the system app and saw someone actually reaching the 173rd floor. I thought it was one of those seniors who have been ceaselessly challenging the tower. But to think that it would be someone I've never seen before... Do you mind me asking your year level? "
"First year."
Rebecca fell silent. There was an inexplicable emotion playing in her eyes while she was staring at me. I awkwardly looked everywhere but at her, feeling her stare to be very uncomfortable.
"Can you stand?"
I shook my head. My face is already burning from the climb, but I can feel it heating up even more.
"I thought so." She dialed something on her phone before placing it in her ear. "Can you come out for a minute, I need help."
We fell into an awkward silence after she ended the call. She remained standing by the hallway while I sat on the cold floor because, obviously, I couldn't stand.
A few moments later, an Adonis with knitted brows and disapproving eyes appeared. I thought no one could compete against the school president's handsomeness, but a great competitor just happened to appear before my eyes.
Even though he was wearing matching cotton pajamas, instead of looking like he was about to sleep, he looked runway-show ready. Like, what the fuck?!
He had really long legs, a small waist, and a broad chest. If my guess is right, he's probably six feet tall.
Surprisingly, though, Rebecca didn't appear small beside him. Instead, the duo looked equally beautiful together. Furthermote, I could feel their auras clashing like two dominant energies, with neither unwilling to be subdued.
Ugh! Their beauty is blinding me!
"What is it now?" He sounded annoyed. The handsome guy had a very deep, husky voice that fit his well-chiseled features.
"Can you help carry her to my room?"
The scowl on the guy's handsome face deepened when he looked at me. I wanted to scream at Rebecca at that very moment. How can she let such an ethereal creature carry me when I look like a beggar that hasn't taken a bath for a year!
"Can you not stare at her like that? You're scaring her! " Rebecca reprimanded.
"Why don't you just carry her on your own?"
"Ha?! Do you want to die? "
"It's okay!" I interjected before they started screaming at each other. "I think I can still walk. I just need some help standing up. "
I started playing with my fingers when their eyes fell on me. This is awkward.
"You cold-blooded excuse of a person! Can't you see how pitiful her situation is? She just climbed 173 floors' worth of flights of stairs, so she's extremely exhausted! If she ends up failing the trial because you won't carry her in my room, I'm going to rub hogweed sap all over your face! " Rebecca threatened with a look that said, "Don't you fucking test me. I will really do it. "
I, myself, panicked. Hogweed is an invasive and poisonous exotic plant. Skin contact with Giant Hogweed sap, especially when exposed to light, can cause skin lesions similar to burns. Hopefully he'll get hurriedly treated if Rebecca does what she threatened to do; who knows what will happen to his handsome face.
The handsome guy groaned. "Fine!" he agreed, defeated.
I panicked when I saw him walking in my direction. "No, no, no! Hogweed burns aren't really that dangerous! If you quickly wash your face with soap and water and do not let your skin get exposed to UV rays, both natural and artificial, for 48 hours, then your face won't really be ruined. " I spouted.
I just can't let him get close to me right now. I am literally bathed in my own sweat, and I'm pretty sure I smell.
"What?" I look at Mr. Handsome Guy, who seems to have frozen. He had an incredulous look on his face, which had me confused.
"Well, you can also go to the doctor. I'm sure that with how advanced the technology of this place is, the doctors will surely have medicines that can help cure it faster, " I added, my eyes blinking rapidly.
"Pfft, hahahha!" Our gaze turned towards Rebecca when she suddenly burst out laughing.
She was laughing so hard, a tear rolled from her eyes. I don't understand what's so funny, though.
It took her a few minutes to calm down.
"Oh God, that was funny. Dear girl, you really have a beautiful speaking voice. It's so soothing to hear. "
"Uh, thank you, I guess." I often hear such a compliment. It's nothing new. But what I'm curious about is, how is my voice connected to her laughter?
"Do you even realize the contrast between your voice and your words?"
It took me a few moments to process her question. Then, it dawned on me. I mentally slapped my forehead. What did I just say?! In my panic, I spouted a bunch of nonsense—it sounded like I really wanted him to get hogweed sap on his face and get a skin lesion!
I was about to apologize to Mr. Handsome Guy when I was suddenly lifted off the ground. I panicked, but a handsome face glared at me as if telling me to behave.
Well, the closeness of his face itself made me freeze, so the glare was unnecessary.