Bae Hu-ryeong muttered. But he didn't say anything more. He just looked at the old man who was once his disciple with eyes mixed with regret.
Was he trying to say he would leave it up to me whether or not I should forgive Sword Saint?
"Mm."
After hearing his silence, I decided.
"Sword Saint-nim."
"Go ahead."
"Teach me the sword."
"······."
Sword Saint lifted his bent head to look at me.
"Teach…please accept my sparring request if I ever ask. I did get a teacher, but I don't have a sparring partner. If you do it, that would be nice.'
And I had promised Bae Hu-ryeong on the 11th floor as well.
That before I cleared the 20th floor, I would officially start to train.
It would be appropriate if I had Sword Saint as my sparring partner.
I would gain growth and benefits for myself…
"······."
No.
That wasn't it.
That wasn't how I wanted that to come out.
I shook my head.
"Sorry. Allow me to rephrase."
"······?"
"To be honest, I can just forgive you. But."
I opened my mouth.
"It's a bit embarrassing. I seem like a nicer person than you. I'm not that amazing a person. I'm just happy that I won't be an enemy to a strong hunter like you."
"······."
"But it seems a bit embarrassing to forgive you like nothing happened when we all lifted our blades. And it's embarrassing to pretend to be nice as well. I just don't like it. So teach me something that's most useful out of what you have. A sword technique."
For some reason, I was embarrassed.
No, my cheek was twitching.
"Then I won't be embarrassed…and your reputation won't be hurt."
"······."
"······."
Shit!
To think that it was this embarrassing to speak your mind!
Gosh. Sword Saint had asked to forgive him since his life was special to him, right? He looked pretty prideful. He was amazing. Dope. Could you really ask someone sincerely to forgive you? Beg? I could never. Ever. I'd rather die.
"…Goodness."
Crusader muttered.
"Surprisingly…it's all true."
Silence descended on the reception room again.
It was heavy.
It was the same silence as before, but it felt completely different.
"Uh."
The Venomous Snake spoke first.
"Really? You can ask anything of Sword Saint but it's embarrassing to act arrogant…? So you want him to be just your sparring partner?"
"It's hard to believe but it's true according to my skill at least."
"What the heck. Is that newbie some kind of gift set?"
Shut up before I cook you into snake soup.
"…how fresh."
The Witch spoke incredulously.
"How should I say this. After seeing children who do anything to get more…it's been a while since I saw a hunter like Kim Gong-ja. I guess they were still living.
They were dead. Very.
Specifically, over 4000 times. Good?
"Awwww."
For some reason, Heretic Questioner was tearing up.
"Someone who sincerely forgives and someone who is sincerely apologizing! How beautiful. Indeed. Humans endlessly fight. However, that is the reason why they can endlessly forgive! What a holy miracle this is! Ah, everyone. I-"
"Shut the fuck up."
"Yes, sir."
At a word from the Venemous Snake, the Heretic Questioner really shut up.
It was a surprising miracle.
"Excuse me. It's nice to see that it ended nicely. Does this mean that my 10,000 Gold was wasted?"
No one listened to her.
I sighed. I was craving some soju right now.
"Anyways. Sword Saint-nim. I don't need to train sword techniques now. You can help me when I ask. Please be my sparring partner."
"······."
Sword Saint was quiet for a moment. He just stared at my face. Then, he slowly opened his mouth.
"I."
His mustache and his lips were shaking.
"I can't believe I misunderstood such a kind youngster!"
"Uh…"
"Oh! You wanted me to teach you the sword. You said you wanted me to be your sparring partner? Of course, of course! I'll be your sparring partner!"
He grasped my hand.
"Uh, excuse me. Sword Saint-nim?"
"Call me grandpa Marcus!"
"Sorry?"
"How old is our Gong-ja? Hm. I think you're not over 30 yet. In the outside world, I left a very kind granddaughter outside. She's extremely kind. If she enters the Tower as well, I'll appeal for your charm!"
"No. It's really okay…"
I wasn't interested in dating. My hand hurt more than anything. My hand.
His power was extremely powerful, as fitting of Rank 1.
"What? You're not interested in my granddaughter?"
"Uh. Yes. Sorry, it's not just your granddaughter but I don't have interest in dating itse…"
"Oho! That's not good!"
His grip on my hand leveled up.
"Youngsters should feel the love. You don't have to marry. But dating is necessary! If you start dating, you see things that you didn't before, and you learn new things! Yup. And you learn how pathetic you can become!"
"Oh. I see…"
"How important is it to know how pathetic you can become? I'll tell you my case. When I was 16, I used to laugh at the world. But I met her, who was the same age as me…"
Huh?
This old man suddenly became extremely annoying.
His face was too close as well. I could see the pores on his nose, and even the blackheads.
It was honestly burdensome.
I hoped he would get off of me quickly.
-I said he was a boomer.
Bae Hu-ryeong clicked his tongue.
-Whether you say it nicely or rudely, he's a boomer. Do you know what a boomer is? Someone who doesn't listen to others. Grandpops Marcus doesn't listen to others. Nicely said, it means he's got a backbone. Or it means that he's backbone is so stuck up that he's got a stick up his you know what.
I didn't know.
I didn't even want to know.
"Anyways, don't worry. Youngster Gong-ja! From now on, I'll take care of you well. Ah, do you want an allowance? I stacked up so much money in Sangryun's safe that I don't even know where to use it."
"Uh. I can earn my own money. And an allowance? I'm an adult now too…"
"Looking at your clothes, it's too casual! Ahem. A person's outfit should be neat for their mind to be clear. I know a good tailor. How about a suit!"
What.
I should've been happy to be liked by the Rank 1. But I wasn't. Rather, I was extremely embarrassed. It felt like I was listening to my actual grandfather brag about me.
Why was I feeling embarrassed?
'What should I do? Should I just kill myself and start the day over?'
-Crazy bastard…
It was then.
[Welcome, hunter Kim Gong-ja.]
[You have cleared the 11th floor as the Rank 1.]
A voice rang in my head.
Like it had been waiting for the fight to end.
3.
'Ah.'
I automatically looked around me.
Most people were sighting in relief. They looked relieved that the Sword Saint had stopped fighting. It seemed like no one had heard the voice.
'I'm first!'
I smiled.
'I don't know why but the information about the subjugation on the 12th floor to the 20th floor was extremely limited.'
Was it because the media was blocked? There wasn't any information about the specifics. Before I regressed 4000 times, unlike the other floors, information of the 12th to the 20th floor wasn't that well-known.
Like the large guilds had tried to hide the information on purpose.
[The 11th floor clear reward is being given.]
I was able to see the reason why soon enough.
[The Goddess of Protection is suggesting a reward to you.]
[The Devil King of Fall Rain is suggesting a reward to you.]
[Choose between the two rewards.]
'Huh?'
I blinked my eyes.
'Pick a reward?'
I heard a voice that I hadn't heard on the stage before.
As if responding to my surprised reaction, a selection window popped up in front of me.
+
[Goddess of Protection]
Summary: The goddess who protects the Aegim Empire is touched at your dedication! The goddess has decided to appoint you to an important position.
You can be the chancellor, supreme general, or the grand master.
If you choose a position, you will also receive the powers that come along with it.
Warrior of the goddess! Work with your fellow warriors!
And destroy the core of the Devil King on the 20th floor!
※ However, if you choose the Devil King's reward, you cannot choose the goddess's reward.
+
I slowly read the reward, nodding my head.
'It's the same as I know already.'
Role playing!
Hunters would become members of the Aegim empire. Some could be the chancellor, and others could be the grand masters.
It wasn't just a position. You would receive the authority and abilities that came with it.
[The special classes you can choose on the 12th floor are being marked.'
And rewards were given to the hunters that were ranked higher.
The authority to choose before others first!
+
[Chancellor of Aegim Empire]
[Supreme General of Aegim Empire]
[Director of Financial Affairs of Aegim Empire]
[Director of Foregin Affairs of Aegim Empire]
[Grand Master of Aegim Empire]
[Head Bodyguard of Aegim Empire]
ㆍ
ㆍ
ㆍ
+
Fancy positions were lined up.
'Dang.'
I exclaimed to myself.
'I was only able to choose a role like bodyguard A before…'
Even before I regressed, I climbed to the 12th floor. But in completely different circumstances. The higher rankers had taken all the good positions for themselves.
But how was the situation now?
'The stage rewards are really good I guess.'
I was able to pick from the chancellor and the supreme general.
'…but what's the reward of the Devil King?'
I lifted my head.
Information that I was seeing for the first time was on there.
+
[Devil King of Fall Rain]
Summary: The Devil King is impressed by you. The Devil King suggests a secret alliance. The same things that the goddess offered, along with another present.
Kill the other top ten rankers!
If you do, you will be able to use the authority of the Devil King and go straight to the 99th floor.
※However, only 1 from the top 10 can receive this reward.
※. If the majority do not choose this reward, it is chosen randomly.
※ If no one chooses, the offer disappears.
+
"······."
I was left speechless.
When I reacted a moment later, two voices overlapped in my head.
'What?'
-Huh?
It was Bae Hu-ryeong and me.
We blinked and read the reward of the devil king again.
But it was still the same.
[Kill the other top ten rankers!]
[If you do, you will be able to use the authority of the Devil King and go straight to the 99th floor.]
It definitely said that.
I looked around. Sword Saint. Witch. Heretic Questioner. Count. Venomous Snake. And Crusader. They were all accomplished rankers.
'If I…"
Kill all these people.
'I can go straight to the 99th floor?'
I swallowed.
For the last time, a voice rang in my head.
[Hunter Kim Gong-ja.]
[Choose from the two rewards.]
We were silent.
It was a silence between just Bae Hu-ryeong and me. The reward of the Devil King. The 99th floor. I read the rewards of the Devil King again and again. The words that I could be sent straight to the 99th floor spun around my head.
-It's a trap.
Bae Hu-ryeong cut my thoughts off like he read my thoughts.
-It's definitely a trap. Zombie. Don't fall for it.
'I…know. Of course it's a trap. Of co…'
I murmured inside my head.
It was obvious the reward was a trap.
Because.
'There's no way the Flame Plague wouldn't have chosen the Devil King's reward otherwise.
Since he was the psychopath of the century.
'He would've definitely chosen the Devil King's reward. Since he doesn't care about whether another player dies or not. But…he was on the 40th floor and not the 99th floor. So that means…'
I tried to calmly think things through.
'The reward of the Devil King is a trap. The Flame Plague probably chose the Devil King's reward and regressed after figuring out it was a trap. I don't know exactly what trap it is but…;
But.
'…To be honest, I want it.'
My heart pumped.
'This is a chance to get a skill of the 99th floor boss monster.'
I was different from Yoo Soo-ha. I didn't have to defeat the boss monster.
I would benefit if I was just killed by it.
'He'll be the strongest boss monster other than the 100th floor…'
It would be a lie if I wasn't tempted.
'The 99th floor.;
How long would it take for me to get to the 99th floor using normal means?
1 year? 5? 10?
It might even take longer. Since even the psychopath Flame Emperor was only on the 40th floor after 10 years.
But all of that. At once.
-Gong-ja.
Bae Hu-ryeong stared at me.
-Don't.
It was a voice I had never heard before.
He was seriously looking at my face.
-Look at me. I'm the Sword Emperor. I went to the 99th floor by myself and failed. I'm telling you, this is a trap. A horrible trap.
"······."
-It's too hard for you to kill the Top 10 Rank players with your skills. Even if you kill them all, you can't climb over the wall of the 99th floor. Give up.
I was silent.
Was it because he was the only person to reach the 99th floor in this tower? He seemed credible.
'Is the 99th floor boss monster that strong?'
Bae Hu-ryeong frowned.
-There's none.
'What?'
-There's no boss monster on the 99th floor. There's something that's worse…bleh. I suddenly thought of the past. Anyways, this is a trap!
He sat with his back to me. He was like a little kid didn't get his candy. I was a bit flustered.
'Wait, just what's on the 99th floor? You're scaring me. I've never seen you like this before. Is it something like a Devil God if it's not a monster?'
-Humph. I'm not telling you!
I said that wrong.
He wasn't like a kid, he was a kid.
-I don't want to acknowledge it, but you're doing pretty well, Kim Zombie. Just keep on doing as you are. Then you can clear the 99th floor.
"Mm."
I was deep in thought. I rubbed my sword that was in its sheath. It was the sword that killed me over 4000 times. It was the sword that I used to kill Yoo Soo-ha. It was nothing more that a cheap sword, but touching it comforted me.
'Alright.'
I came to my decision.
'I'll throw away this regression.'
His ears twitched.
-Throw it away?
'Yes. I'm going to pick the most safe route for me. Ignoring all things like rewards and benefits. I'm going to see how everything turns out first.'
-Ignoring rewards and benefits…huh. Are you going to reject the [Reward of the Goddess] too? Why? You don't have to go that far.
'It's okay. I'm taking a step back so I can run forward.'
You had to take the longer route the most rushed you were.
I slowly opened my mouth.
"Everyone."
All the hunters in the reception room looked at me.
"The rewards of the 11th floor just popped up for me."
"Really? That's nice."
The Witch reacted first. Was it because she hadn't seen the reward of the goddess and the reward of the Devil King yet? Her face was as indifferent as ever.
"I was starting to get bored wondering how long we would have to wait for the quest. If you pick the reward first, we can pick according to our ranks after. Choose slowly."
"Yes, ma'am. I've already decided."
I announced in front of all the high rankings rankers.
"I didn't choose any reward."
The reception room was silent. Heretic Questioner and Venomous Snake, who were playing cards off to the side, turned to look at me as well. 3 seconds. 2 seconds. 1 second. After a silence, the Witch wrinkled her forehead.
"What?"
But it was too late.
[You have not chosen a stage reward.]
[You cannot choose the special class.]
[If you give up the reward, you can only choose the roles after the 13th floor.]
[Are you really choosing this?]
I answered firmly.
"Yes, I, Kim Gong-ja, will not choose any reward."
The selection window in front of me crumbled to pieces. It wasn't just that. A holy voice and a dark voice rang in my head.
[The Goddess of Protection is questioning your decision.]
[The Devil King of Fall Rain laughs darkly.]
The hunters all looked disbelieving.
"Kim Gong-ja? What did you just…?"
"Hmm."
Then, Sword Saint wrinkled his forehead. His old eyes scanned midair. After me, Rank 1, Sword Saint was Rank 2. He was looking at the rewards now.
"…Hm. I understand. You chose the safest option."
Sword Saint looked at me.
"But isn't there no need to give up the reward? Youngster. This may be an old man's foolish concern, but I don't think you need to give up like that for your safety."
"Thank you for your concern. However, I don't regret it."
"Mmmm. It's a relief if you don't regret it but…"
He trailed off. The other hunters looked at us confusedly. They looked like they didn't understand what we were talking about.
"…No."
He shook his head.
"Just giving up the reward is too mild. Sorry, youngster. I'll choose the goddess's reward. And choose the [Grand Master of Aegim Empire]."
Creak!
It was the moment Sword Saint made his decision. The reception room door opened. A bunch of knights walked out. They were wearing fancy shining armor, and they kneeled in front of the old man.
"Pledging allegiance to the highest sword of the empire!"
"Oho."
Sword Saint looked amusedly down at the knights.
"So this is how the roles are decided."
"Mm? Aha? So?"
Next was Heretic Questioner. Rank 3 of the stage. He tilted his head, and exclaimed with an "Aha!
He seemed to have understood the situation now.
"I see. I understand now! Haha. It's similar to the mafia game."
Other than us, the other hunters still looked confused. The Witch narrowed her yes.
"…I have no idea what you people are saying."
"Don't worry! I'll tell you right away!"
The Heretic Questioner raised his hands. Words started to be written on the ground. He had used Aura to carve letters in the marble.
"Look, everyone!"
Hunters crowded around to look at the ground.
+
[Goddess of Protection]
Summary: The goddess who protects the Aegim Empire is touched at your dedication! The goddess has decided to appoint you to an important position.
ㆍ
ㆍ
ㆍ
+
The hunters started to murmur amongst themselves.
"What?"
"The 99th floor? Legit…?"
They didn't have much of a reaction when they read the goddess's reward. But their eyes changed remarkably at the Devil King's reward.
The Witch's gaze especially turned darker.
"This…"
"Yup! It's similar to the mafia game! For convenience's sake, I'll call those who chose the goddess's reward [Warrior]s and those who choose the other option [Betrayer]s."
He smiled warmly.
"But there's a big difference. The [Betrayer] is at more of a disadvantage than a mafia! Because there are 9 warriors, but only 1 betrayer. And we have the Vice Guild Master of the Civil Militia!"
The Heretic Questioner pointed at the Crusader.
The Crusader was looking at the marble floor with an apathetic face.
"Think of it! The Vice Guild Master has a Lie Detection skill. Haha. Compared to the mafia game, she's like the police. So even if someone chooses the Devil King's Reward, it's okay! Because the [Betrayer] will be reported right away!"
"Mm…you're right."
Crusader slowly lifted her head.
"If you believe me."
"Anyways, this game is advantageous to the warriors! Hunter Kim Gong-ja. Giving up the reward was an extreme solution!"
Heretic Questioner fixed his hat.
"You didn't accept any reward even though you defeated the 11th floor as Rank 1. Mm! It's a very hard thing for me to imagine. With respect towards your decision, I'll choose the [Supreme General of Aegim Empire]!"
Creaaak.
The reception door opened again. General NPCs entered with their flowing red capes. The generals stood in front of the Heretic Questioner and saluted.
"Allegiance towards the highest flag of the empire!"
"Ah, amazing. I leave it in your hands as well!"
The general NPCs lined up behind the Heretic Questioner.
This was the deciding factor.
"Tsk. I hate using my head. So you're saying it's better to choose a reward, right? Then I'll choose the [Head Bodyguard of Aegim Empire]."
Venomous Snake.
"Then me, the [Director of Foregin Affairs of Aegim Empire]. It looks the most normal."
Crusader.
"…I'll choose the [Chancellor]. Please, don't choose the reward of the Devil King. It'll disappear if no one chooses it. That's the most wise decision. Everyone be careful."
The Witch.
"Don't worry. Hm. Well, of course it's [Director of Financial Affairs]."
The Count.
The rest of the hunters had chosen their rewards.
The reception room was filled with NPCs. The amount of knightages behind Sword Saint increased, and behind the Witch, there were countless emissaries.
-Wow.
Only one place in the reception place was empty. Behind me.
-You were really the only person not to get a reward. Are you going to be okay, Zombie? I know you're throwing this regression away, but isn't this too bad?
'It's fine.'
I was sure.
It might've been my instinct as a hunter.
'This is the answer.'
When you had to attack the target. When you had to step back.
I-
[The calculation of the rewards is finished.]
Felt that this was the time to step back.
[The highest rankers have completed their choices.]
[Kim Gong-ja, Sword Saint, Heretic Questioner, Venomous Snake, Crusader, Witch, Count…]
A voice rang in the reception room.
The hunters quietly exchanged glances when their names were announced.
[Disclaimer of the Reward, 1 person.]
Everyone turned to look at me. Of them, I was the only person to announce that I gave up the reward.
The hunters made expressions like they couldn't believe I did that.
[Receivers of the goddess's reward, 8 people.]
And soon, their faces hardened.
[Receiver of the Devil King's reward, 1 person.]
The hunters all looked at each other.
[Total 10 people.]
[All the highest rankers have finished making their decisions.]
[Letting everyone know again.]
There was silence.
[Disclaimer of the Reward, 1 person.]
[Receivers of the goddess's reward, 8 people.]
[Receiver of the Devil King's reward, 1 person.]
[All the highest rankers have finished making their decisions.]
It was a long silence.
[May luck be with everyone.]