Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 423: Ninetieth Floor, Together, Alone (1)

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest and relax at your leisure. Time remaining: 37 hours 21 minutes.]

Following Kwon Su-Hyeok’s advice, Alexei swung her axe and then froze in that very stance. She didn’t want to forget this sensation.

At the same time, her ears were pricked open, focused on what was behind her—toward Kwon Su-Hyeok.

“Well?”

Alexei expected praise. To her, she had just displayed the technique with a degree of mastery. Of course, that was only by Alexei’s standards. By an absolute measure, it was nothing of the sort; it only mimicked Kwon Su-Hyeok’s swing in form alone. She had failed to capture even a fraction of the intent contained in the technique he had shown her.

Even so, she was satisfied. After all, she had only taken two hours just to reach this point.

This is the best I can manage at my level.

As Alexei briefly replayed the movement in her mind, the rest area’s lodging came into view ahead.

Pathetic.

She grumbled inwardly at the climbers who were surely sprawled out, fast asleep by now. The plains that had once bustled with climbers held only Alexei and Kwon Su-Hyeok.

I know their trial ended, but still, this is ridiculous.

Alexei couldn’t understand it. Even if Earth had Kwon Su-Hyeok, abandoning everything so carelessly was nothing short of irresponsible.

No one could predict what lay ahead. Day after day, as they ascended the tower, climbers had witnessed wars between worlds. If a war were to break out immediately after conquering the tower, they too would have to be ready.

If Kwon Su-Hyeok were to fight a rival god, then the climbers would have to handle the underlings.

Well...

They had suffered enough, so perhaps they deserved a day of rest, Alexei consoled herself. In truth, she also wanted to rest, so she could understand to a degree. Even so, Alexei resolved that after consulting with Ha Hee-Jeong, she would begin training the climbers tomorrow.

Shaking herself free of those thoughts, Alexei suddenly realized something odd. The praise she had been waiting for still hadn’t come.

“Kwon Su-Hyeok? I asked you, how was it?”

Even after asking again, no reply came.

Is he messing with me?

Alexei turned her head. He was standing in the same spot, but he wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were vacant, fixed on empty space. She felt a twinge of disappointment. If he told her to repeat the strike just now, she doubted she could reproduce it.

Irritation colored her voice. “Hey! What are you doing?”

Only then did Kwon Su-Hyeok’s eyes regain focus. For a few seconds, he seemed unable to grasp the situation.

“Hmm? Oh?”

“You didn’t see it just now? I did pretty well.”

“Ah, sorry. Can you do it again?”

Alexei narrowed her eyes. For some reason, Kwon Su-Hyeok seemed unusually distracted today, as if his mind were adrift.

“What’s with you today?”

“Sorry. I’m just a little tired.”

His strangeness had actually begun the night before.

Kwon Su-Hyeok and Ha Hee-Jeong had both declared they would be back after a short talk, but they had only returned much later. Since then, he had looked absentminded. Ha Hee-Jeong had seemed relatively normal, but Alexei knew her well and could tell something was off.

Drunk after a day full of drinking, Alexei had returned to the lodge early, but she could tell.

“You two... something happened yesterday, didn’t it?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I mean you and Ha Hee-Jeong,” Alexei teased like a mischievous child.

Kwon Su-Hyeok shook his head before she had even finished. “No. Nothing happened.”

“Hmm.”

Alexei’s lips curved upward, her eyes narrowing further. “Something definitely happened.”

Kwon Su-Hyeok was quick to shake his head and step forward. “Enough with the jokes. Try again. This time I’ll really watch.”

“Fine, alright.” Alexei whistled lowly, shot him a sidelong glance, and reset her stance.

Pivoting on her right foot, she spun sharply, powerfully swinging her axe through the air. Though it looked like she had turned away from her opponent, her momentum brought her quickly back around. Alexei clicked her tongue inwardly.

Tch.

She had performed the technique worse this time.

However, to her surprise, Kwon Su-Hyeok praised her, “Not bad.”

Alexei puffed her cheeks. “You’re just saying that, aren’t you?”

“No. It really wasn’t bad.”

Contrary to her suspicions, his response had seemed entirely sincere. Alexei relaxed her expression. Still, the sense of disappointment didn’t vanish.

“It was better earlier...”

Kwon Su-Hyeok gave her an apologetic look and patted her shoulder. “I took that into account. I think it’d be good if you practiced right now before you forget the feeling from before.”

He wasn’t wrong. Just because she had overcome a wall or reached a new realm didn’t mean it could be sustained without effort. It required practice to master it. Alexei nodded, then tilted her head back. Since her notification window lacked a timer, she looked up at the sky instead. The sun was rising past dawn.

She felt a lingering sense of regret, but her allotted training time had run out. Kwon Su-Hyeok had other tasks and couldn’t watch her any longer.

“Let’s stop here for today. You still need to prepare for the teleportation. Doppy and Ryun are leaving too, right?”

“Yeah.”

Kwon Su-Hyeok’s plan to return the non-humans to their homes—which he had told her yesterday—had already spread among the climbers. Every last climber was set to gather on the plains. Many had grown acquainted with the refugees while staying in the rest area, but the overwhelming majority would be there to farewell Doppy.

Throughout the trials, he had often helped the climbers, and in the process, had become quite close to them.

Alexei hefted her axe again. “I’ll practice a little more before heading back. You go on ahead and wash up.”

“Alright. See you later.”

Kwon Su-Hyeok turned and drifted back into thought. Alexei watched his back for a moment.

They are doing well.

The thought drew a smile to her lips, though it carried a trace of jealousy. The heart never moved quite the way one wanted.

Ugh.

She no longer pursued Kwon Su-Hyeok as she once had, and that was because of her conversations with Ha Hee-Jeong. After saving each other’s lives, the two had quickly grown close, and Alexei had learned much from her.

Ha Hee-Jeong hadn’t told Kwon Su-Hyeok, but Alexei was the only other climber who knew of Ha Hee-Jeong’s regression. She had already suspected the two had a secret connection, but now she understood that it was an uncrossable wall.

That didn’t mean she had completely given up. Perhaps someday, an opportunity would arise. Time could dull her feelings, but for now, she simply accepted that Ha Hee-Jeong came before her. For that reason, she supported their relationship while waiting for her chance.

Putting her thoughts aside, Alexei swung her axe once more.

***

Kwon Su-Hyeok had just finished showering and was on his way to the dining hall when he ran into Seo Ha-Rin. Before he could even raise his hand in greeting, she came hurrying over.

“Oppa!”

“Hmm?”

She was looking at Kwon Su-Hyeok like she had something urgent to say, leaving him slightly taken aback.

“I heard everything.”

His heart dropped. “What?”

What does she mean she heard everything?

Seo Ha-Rin grinned mischievously like a child up to no good. Her expression looked much like Alexei’s from earlier.

“About what happened yesterday with Hee-Jeong unnie.”

“Th-that... what do you mean by that?”

Seo Ha-Rin’s grin only deepened, the corners of her lips stretching so far they nearly reached her cheeks. “Do I really have to say it out loud?”

“No, Ha-Rin. What is it? What exactly did you hear?”

“Ah! I don’t know. But the rumors are already spreading everywhere! I’m heading off now!” Seo Ha-Rin scampered off toward the dining hall.

Kwon Su-Hyeok could only stare blankly at her retreating figure, clutching his forehead as a dull ache throbbed at his temples.

Should I even head to the dining hall right now?

He shook his head at the thought and quickly turned back the way he came. He had food in Mung-chi anyway.

As he hurried up to his quarters, Kwon Su-Hyeok’s mind inevitably returned to what had happened the night before. He was used to extending his senses to know everything happening in his surroundings, but yesterday had been different—it had thrown him completely off balance.

Everything had started after he spoke those words.

“Don’t worry. Just wait here for me. I’ll finish quickly and come back.”

Ha Hee-Jeong’s face had receded slightly from his view. Her brown pupils, surrounded by her tear-brimmed eyes, still held his reflection. Kwon Su-Hyeok realized he needed to move. Until then, he had held back with superhuman restraint.

Of course, they had always known about each other’s feelings—it would have been stranger if they hadn’t. Regardless, neither of them had taken that extra step forward because the tower’s trials still lay ahead.

Kwon Su-Hyeok’s biggest concern was that once he opened up, he wouldn’t be able to rein himself in.

Once I lay my heart bare, I am afraid I won’t be able to stop.

In every sense of the word.

Whenever something happened, Ha Hee-Jeong was the first to come to his mind. Even when nothing happened, the same occurred. If things went further, he wasn’t sure what would become of him. He feared he wouldn’t even be able to focus during training.

It sounded foolish, but in the tower, he already found it exhausting to concentrate solely on strengthening his power; it was reasonable to fear that emotional entanglement could hinder his growth.

However, last night, Kwon Su-Hyeok hadn’t wanted to think that way anymore.

He would be climbing alone anyway. With no telling what awaited him, shouldn’t he be honest with his feelings? He felt that if he kept holding back, only to realize later how precious these fleeting moments were, he would regret it.

Yes. What does any of that matter now?

His hesitation was born from needless overthinking. The moment he steeled himself, Ha Hee-Jeong suddenly leaned in close.

Their lips met.

The warmth of her breath brushed against his cheek, and soon that warmth filled his mouth.

Kwon Su-Hyeok’s mind went blank. He simply followed instinct.

Their first kiss was cautious. Both Ha Hee-Jeong, who had closed the distance, and Kwon Su-Hyeok, who had received it, held back.

After that sudden but restrained kiss, Ha Hee-Jeong slowly drew back. “That should have been your move.”

“Sorry...”

Ha Hee-Jeong fixed him with a slightly pouty gaze.

A few seconds of silence passed. Kwon Su-Hyeok realized she didn’t want him to respond. The space between them closed again. The second kiss was nothing like the first. This time, the emotions they had long suppressed and endured erupted without restraint, fervent and unrestrained.

By then, Kwon Su-Hyeok had long since lost sense of his surroundings. He didn’t even realize that passing climbers had seen them. When those onlookers quickly moved aside, he didn’t register their presence at all.

When at last their lips parted, Ha Hee-Jeong gave a shy, glowing smile. “It’s too late.”

Her words carried layered meaning. They had opened their hearts to each other only now, on the ninetieth floor. Not to mention, Kwon Su-Hyeok had only finally come to her for their second kiss.

However, Kwon Su-Hyeok failed to grasp any of those nuances.

“You’re right,” he simply agreed in a daze.

“Do you know how hard it’s been for me all this time?”

“No.”

She let out a small laugh, but it was the truth. Kwon Su-Hyeok didn’t have the room in his head for thoughts at the moment.

His heart was pounding harder than it ever had, even more than in battle. Even when fighting against Endless Furnace, he hadn’t felt this way. The blood rushing through him made his head burn hot.

His mind felt weightless. He couldn’t get drunk, but it certainly felt like it.

Through the dizzying haze, Ha Hee-Jeong reached for his hand. Kwon Su-Hyeok’s thoughts sharpened slightly.

Her pale hand glowed with a reddish tint, matching the sky’s pastel hues.