Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 424: Ninetieth Floor, Together, Alone (2)

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest and relax at your leisure. Time remaining: 33 hours 58 minutes.]

By the time I arrived, thousands of individuals had already gathered upon the plains. Even the rest area’s permanent residents came out to see the returners off, so the place was full of commotion.

The appointed departure time had already passed, but some people were still exchanging their final farewells. Therefore, we chose to wait a little longer.

Instead, I turned my eyes to the climbers.

They look utterly drained.

It was only to be expected. They had drunk themselves into oblivion, intoxicated by the joy and release of completing their portion of the tower. Some hadn’t returned to their lodgings until it was nearly time for Alexei’s training.

Although climbers who had reached the ninetieth floor were superhuman, even they couldn’t drink alcohol like it was water. Truth be told, the very fact that they had managed to drag themselves out in the morning after such revelry was impressive.

At least it turned out better than I feared.

After Seo Ha-Rin mentioned that rumors had begun to spread among the climbers, I felt a twinge of unease. My party members seemed aware of something, but the others weren’t casting me any strange looks.

Perhaps someone close to Seo Ha-Rin had only shared it with her, then kept silent. Alternatively, the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club could have stepped in to suppress the rumors before they spread too far.

Or did Ha Hee-Jeong do something?

Even now, Ha Hee-Jeong stood just behind Seo Ha-Rin, who seemed increasingly cautious.

Hmm. Hard to say.

We hadn’t done anything shameful, so there was no need to dwell on it. I shifted my gaze back to the people I would be sending home.

They had nearly finished their farewells. The chatter subsided, and everyone’s eyes gradually turned toward me. Their expressions reflected a mixture of regret, delight, and anticipation. I didn’t feel the need to add to their stress. Long and dreary speeches were among the things I disliked most.

The climbers lined up on either side of the portal, with the non-humans gathered at the center.

“Thank you all for waiting. Now, it’s time to send you home.”

I gathered my mana to open a portal to the place Thunder Axe had once invited me to, shaping it large for ease of passage. A vast gateway of golden-blue light, six meters across, unfolded before the plains.

“Once you pass through, Omniscient Thunder Axe will return you to your worlds. Travel safely. I wish you well.”

No sooner had I spoken the formal words than climbers close to the returners began calling out their blessings.

“Take care!”

“Let’s meet again if the chance comes!”

“Good luck!”

Even as they walked forward, the non-humans bowed their heads in every direction.

“Thank you! We hope you will endure your own trials as well!”

The display of deep affection between them carried a certain beauty.

Well, only I had to deal with the tower’s ordeals still, but I saw no reason to quibble. As I pondered, their leader approached me. He was middle-aged, with wrinkled crimson skin and sharp, deep-set eyes.

“Liberator, I offer you my sincerest thanks. May fortune guide you on the path ahead.”

His words were brief and measured, but far from insincere. He seemed to have wrestled with what to say at this final moment.

I had once asked them to call me by name rather than “Liberator,” but now wasn’t the time to correct him.

“Thank you.”

The man touched the back of his right hand to his forehead and inclined his head lightly. It was a gesture unique to their people. I bowed slightly in return. After meeting my gaze for a fleeting moment, he stepped into the portal.

So it went, and the other non-humans followed, offering words of gratitude. The phrases were much the same, but the depth of the emotions they carried was not easily measured.

I did what I could to see them off with the sincerity they deserved.

Most smiled, but many shed tears.

They all appeared fine when I saw them yesterday.

Perhaps the emotions they had been holding back simply spilled over at this final moment. When they clutched my hands and thanked me despite their tears, I patted their shoulders. Emotion welled up in me as well.

Countless times during the tower, I had doubted my actions, questioning whether my choices had truly been the best.

Is this really the right path? Am I doing it all wrong?

Such thoughts had haunted me both in the midst of trials and after they had ended. At times, I had confronted contradictions that seemed impossible to resolve.

The sight before me comforted those lingering doubts. Much like I had realized before, I had done the best I could, and that was enough.

Also, my best went just a step further than what the climbers alone could have achieved.

While I was lost in thought, the last of the returners crossed through the portal to the quiet applause of the climbers.

Only Ryun and Doppy remained. Just like the others, they walked forward amid cheers.

“Doppy! Live well! Thank you for saving me!”

“Ryun! Thank you!”

“Take care!”

Since Ryun had been bound to my weapon for so long, most climbers were naturally calling out Doppy’s name. Given how well Ryun had taught the climbers, though, plenty cheered for him, too.

Ryun walked steadily, while Doppy looked slightly abashed and waved toward the climbers.

Before stepping into the portal, the two stopped before my party and me. Ryun wore a faint smile, but Doppy’s eyes were red and swollen.

His tear-brimmed gaze fixed on me. “Su-Yeok! And Hee-Jeong!”

After calling out to the two of us, he slowly named the rest of my party, then even Alexei’s companions. Those he called smiled warmly, and at last, Doppy’s tears spilled over.

It was a rather endearing sight.

It reminds me of the past.

During our meeting on the first floor, Doppy had abandoned his weapon and sniffled through reddened eyes. At that time, he had been a pitiful little goblin in shabby clothes.

Now he stood nearly one and a half times taller, clad in splendid plate armor with a sharp blade at his side. He still looked somewhat youthful, but his transformation was remarkable.

“Thank you, everyone! Especially you, Su-Yeok! Thank you for saving me!” Doppy wiped his eyes with his hand.

I smiled and pulled him into a hug. When I patted his back, his sobs eased.

“Do well with Fenrike. We’ll see each other again. I’ll come visit soon.”

Choking back his tears, he responded, “All right!”

My party members saw him off, and I stepped closer to Ryun.

“Ryun, thank you for everything. I’ve learned so much from you.”

“Nonsense... I didn’t... really do... much... in the end. You... would have... realized it... yourself...”

“Still.”

Though he had spoken gruffly, his voice carried a tinge of regret. Of course, despite that regret, he anticipated reuniting with his love more—that was only natural. After a brief silence, we embraced. His body was hard and cold wood, but strangely, it held a certain warmth.

“Together with Sorien... I will bless you... and wait for you...”

“And I’ll bless the days ahead of you both.”

Ryun grinned broadly, then exchanged farewells with my companions.

What are these emotions?

Though our parting was bittersweet, I felt relieved, sorrowful, and joyous all at once. In the end, it was time to part.

“Goodbye.”

“Take... care...”

“Get home safe.”

Doppy hugged me once more before the two finally stepped through the portal.

Surprisingly, the climbers seemed subdued. Their expressions betrayed a trace of envy—others had completely escaped the tower. Although the climbers’ trials had ended, they had to stay until I completed mine.

Slowly, their gazes began to converge upon me. At that moment, I felt as if I finally understood why the tower had forced me to ascend alone.

The reason behind the Community of the Dead and forcing the other climbers to remain on the ninetieth floor... perhaps it is all for the sake of establishing faith.

It was one thing for the dead climbers to linger, but I didn’t see another reason why the living had to watch another’s exploits.

The dead were granted a chance at rebirth only if someone conquered the tower. Combined with their ability to watch the survivors, the Community of the Dead allowed them to place their trust in and depend upon the climber at the forefront.

The climbers in this rest area also said they could see me.

Though the selection process had shifted because I was a challenger, the principle remained the same.

Maximizing the generation of divinity.

If I added the people of Earth—who could also witness our feats—this was clearly the tower’s intention all along.

Just then, Ha Hee-Jeong approached me and cautiously asked, “How are you? Feeling any better?”

I smiled faintly. “Meh. Good in some ways, bad in others.”

Wordlessly, Ha Hee-Jeong patted my shoulder. Somehow, that alone felt comforting, so I placed my hand over hers.

She responded with a soft, fleeting laugh, “Let’s go.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“To Natalie. You need to prepare as well. I won’t be able to help you anymore, but Gehenna is another matter.”

I nodded. She was right. It was time to ready myself for the next ordeal.

***

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest and relax at your leisure. Time remaining: 5 minutes 14 seconds.]

Time passed quickly.

I visited Natalie, though regrettably, I didn’t glean any information about future trials from our conversation.

Natalie told me that from then on, the trials were the domain of the challenger alone, and she wasn’t allowed to reveal anything. Repeating the tower’s message, she said the trials would only grow harder, and overcoming them would be my responsibility alone.

Though she looked apologetic, it was unavoidable.

I suspected as much.

Even Thunder Axe had been unable to tell me anything about my uniqueness or the nature of a challenger.

Afterward, I spoke with Gehenna, and that was the end of my visit.

Originally, I had planned to leave Yoonie in Natalie’s world, but Yoonie insisted on staying by Ha Hee-Jeong’s side, so I agreed. It was likely because she was at least somewhat familiar with her.

After all, Ha Hee-Jeong did... “educate” Yoonie.

Bringing Yoonie along wouldn’t help me. With how powerful my senses had become, anything Yoonie could discover, I would recognize at once. Moreover, since she couldn’t enter Mung-chi, there was no need to expose her to needless danger.

“Phew.”

I steadied my breath and looked over the climbers gathered on the plains. Their eyes brimmed with anticipation.

All of them had entrusted me with their achievement points. I wasn’t certain if they would be needed, but I had gained nearly ten million points. Surely they would serve a purpose someday. Perhaps after conquering the tower.

“Su-Hyeok! Please return safely!”

“We believe in you!”

“You can do it!”

Even though the cheers from the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club had already subsided, the crowd’s roar rose again.

Smiling faintly, I waved to them. “Rest well. I’ll be back before long.”

Since I had already farewelled my party members, I didn’t have more to say. Once I finished waving, I lifted my head to check the time. Sixteen seconds remained, and the ascent would soon resume. I calmed my breathing.

In that instant, Ha Hee-Jeong ran up and wrapped me in an embrace. I felt her breathing rapidly against my neck, and the gaze of thousands pressed upon us.

Given that we were in front of everyone, I didn’t want to display more affection than this. Instead of smiling awkwardly beneath their watch, I raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder.

“Come back safe.”

“Okay, I will. Rest well.”

“Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

“I won’t. I’ll be back soon.”

As if signaling the end of our conversation, a notification window appeared. My vision darkened, and a sense of weightlessness enveloped me.

It was time to leave the rest area.

***

[59 minutes 59 seconds until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

Once I returned to the waiting room, I immediately checked the shop. I wanted to see if anything had changed, but unfortunately, not much had changed. Just to be safe, I stocked up generously on necessities like food and water.

That still left me with fifty minutes to kill. Too short to do anything meaningful, and I had already trained to my satisfaction in the rest area.

“Send me to the trial.”

The tower didn’t reply and simply started the summoning process, causing me to feel like I was floating once again. Darkness closed in.

Now, I was alone. No Ha Hee-Jeong, no Doppy, no Ryun, no Yoonie, no climbers. Only me.

For some reason, it reminded me of the first floor. Back then, I had also been utterly ignorant and entirely on my own. Of course, this time was different. Countless people stood behind and depended on me, Ha Hee-Jeong among them. Although I was currently alone, I wasn’t truly solitary.

The feeling of floating faded. I was ready to continue conquering the tower.