The rescue team was taking even longer to arrive than I had anticipated.
Night turned into dawn, and still, they hadn’t come.
Only after subduing four demon beasts of equal strength to the one-eyed demon beast we first encountered, did I finally spot someone resembling a rescue team in the distance, appearing with the sunrise.
Large Miao Beastmen were now heading towards me.
Seeing their fierce gazes, it was clear what kind of misunderstanding had occurred.
Standing alone with ten Miao children didn’t paint a very positive picture.
And sure enough, from a distance, the voices of the approaching Miao warriors could be heard.
“There he is, the one who kidnapped our children!”
“He must be killed without fail!”
[NPC – Miao Beastman Vril Level 2 Warrior Kentra]
[NPC – Miao Beastman Vril Level 3 Warrior Jete]
[NPC – Miao Beastman Vril Level 4 Warrior Vithus]
They’ve already completely misunderstood the situation.
Aurora began to rise from the swords and spears of the three large Miao warriors.
Eleven Miao warriors, both male and female, surrounded me, drawing closer.
“Are you part of the slave caravan?”
Given the nature of their misunderstanding, I couldn’t possibly remove my weapon.
Holding the counter-sword Carnavalet in hand, I racked my brain.
How could I resolve this situation without conflict?
Just as I was about to speak, ten Miao boys and girls rushed to my side in unison, speaking all at once.
“Mr. Yusung saved us from the slave traders!”
The first to step forward was Mika, the Miao we first met.
“Over there, those corpses? They were the slave traders.”
Each child stepped forward to vouch for my innocence on my behalf.
Their testimonies undeniably had a greater effect than if I had tried to explain myself.
The Miao warriors fully retracted their doubts in light of the Miao children’s testimonies and believed in my innocence.
“I apologize.”
Vithus, the Level 4 Miao warrior, bowed his head to me.
“We almost committed a great insult to our savior.”
Following Vithus’s gesture, the other surrounding Miao warriors also lowered their heads.
Mika, who had been standing off to the side, approached Vithus in quick steps, whispering something into his ear.
Mika handed me an object retrieved from Vithus’s bag.
It was a crimson bracelet with intricate patterns etched into it. Most strikingly, it had a strand of yellow fur dangling naturally from its end.
“A symbol of friendship with the Miao’s Youyet Tribe.”
I accepted the bracelet Mika offered.
[Trust Bond]
Classification: Accessory
Effect: Slightly increases mental strength in forest environments.
Description: A bracelet symbolizing friendship with the Miao Youyet tribe.
Grade: C
Although its grade and effect were lower than the bracelet of the beast’s fangs I currently wore, this bracelet seemed to be of a different importance.
“Not only the Youyet tribe, but other Miao tribes will recognize this bracelet and be less wary when dealing with its owner compared to other humans.”
It was always welcome to receive gifts.
“Thank you.”
Alert windows began to flash before my eyes in rapid succession.
“Quest – ‘Rescue of the Miao’ successfully completed.”
[3rd Floor Stage cleared.]
[‘Player – Han Yuseong’ 3rd Floor Stage score being tallied.]
[Chose the higher difficulty option and succeeded. Additional points awarded.]
[Exceeded the required minimum number of rescued individuals (8). Additional points awarded.]
[Met additional point condition ‘Strong Foe Elimination’. Additional points awarded.]
[Strong Foe Elimination: Removal of an entity with a rank one or higher difference during stage progression.]
[Strong Foe Elimination – ‘Slave Caravan Level 4 Combatant Rainer’]
Before my score was reflected, I noticed the current scores of those climbing the tower.
1st – Guild Leader: 674 points
2nd – Singhclair: 412 points
3rd – Blackhand: 383 points
4th – Tracked: 378 points
5th – Argul: 374 points
[Score tally completed.]
[Han Yuseong: 1,682 points]
Another four-digit score.
[Automatic transfer to ‘4th Floor Waiting Room’ in 3 minutes.]
Time passed quickly.
Just as it was time to leave, I affectionately patted the heads of the Miao children who had come to bid me farewell.
As the children gradually dispersed, Mika approached me.
I handed over the last remaining sandwich, still in its container, to Mika.
“Eat this later alone. You should consume it today to avoid spoilage.”
With a big smile, Mika accepted the sandwich with both hands.
“Thank you very much!”
Mika looked up at me with green eyes.
“Where do you plan to go now?”
Hmm.
I don’t know what to expect on the 4th floor stage, so…
I patted Mika’s head. Her yellow cat-like tail swayed gently.
“See you next time.”
I offered the same parting words I had shared with Risclein and Yunes on the 2nd floor.
“Mr. Yuseong…?”
Mika’s eyes widened.
Moments later, I felt my body lift as if I were floating.
The scene before me filled with light.
When clarity returned, the landscape had changed. From the vast expanse of the Hellish Forest, the surroundings transformed back into the high school gymnasium setting.
Hmm.
Does the size of the waiting room expand?
Alert windows appeared before my eyes once more.
[Welcome to the 4th Floor.]
[As a 3rd Floor breaking reward, 800 coins have been granted.]
[3rd Floor ranking scores have been registered.]
*
<Gallery for the Climbers>.
Title: Wow, again in 1st place but remains anonymous.
Author: Anonymous
– Someone’s alone on a spree, already breaking four-digit scores. What the heck does one have to do to achieve this?
Attachment: 6523183.jpg
(3rd Floor ranking window photo taken with a climber’s terminal)
<3rd Floor - Score Rankings>
1st – Anonymous: 1,682 points NEW!
2nd – Guild Leader: 674 points
3rd – Singhclair: 412 points
4th – Blackhand: 383 points
5th – Tracked: 378 points
6th – Argul: 374 points
– Just good luck?
– BS luck? Two in a row means it’s not. It’s the real deal.
– This is getting interesting. If this guy climbs all 30 floors and makes it back with a climber’s terminal, that’ll be the first post on the gallery, right?
– Sharp Blade User) Are they not ordinary normal fellows? They’re raising such a fuss. Don’t waste time on the 3rd floor; go train.
– They’re irritated, aren’t they? Their so-called hard difficulty 1st just got outdone by a newbie. They must be nervous, huh?
– If they climb quickly, we’ll see them soon. Considering the exchange period, it looks like it took less than 3 days to clear the 3rd floor?
– Now these are what real superstars look like.
– These guys have nothing to ground their egos, so they’re just picking on a 3rd-floor newbie…
– Except that it’s an extraordinary 3rd-floor newbie who scored two consecutive first places with four-digit numbers. Otherwise, he’s doing good, aside from choosing a lame nickname. Hurry up and ascend.
– Career Analyst) If he keeps this up on the 4th floor as well?
– He very likely might.
– Finally, the obnoxious ones ranking below are moving down one spot. It’s refreshing! Anonymous in the spotlight!
“Didn’t expect the 3rd floor to be cleared faster than the 2nd.”
A black-haired woman mumbled while looking at the gallery screen on her terminal, then glanced at one of the talismans hanging in her room.
“I poured all my essence into this single talisman, knowing well that multiple trades across dimensions aren’t possible. And it still hasn’t been delivered… tsk.”
The woman, Soiohwa, was waiting for the interdimensional trade cooldown of Han Yuseong, the sole top climber of the Elysian Gallery, to end. It was a very tedious and utterly exhausting existence.
What made Han Yuseong her only source of amusement.
Fffrrrrt!
Soiohwa stared as the talismans hanging on the string suddenly fluttered wildly. Clasping her long hair into a tight ponytail, she stood up and walked toward the window of the Taeheogung palace.
The martial arts world of China.
Yoga demons began appearing 40 years ago.
The most infamous great yoga demons in martial arts history, Mujon and Hyukmuk, tore through the atmosphere and descended.
Upon landing on earth, they immediately wiped out 590,000 martial artists.
The appearance of yoga demons who were impervious to martial power almost brought the martial world to the brink of destruction.
The situation was later resolved by those who returned after having “ended” the tower, including herself.
Mujon perished alongside her master.
Hyukmuk, she killed at the cost of her own life.
Since then, no great yoga demons had descended, but upper-mid level demons still targeted the Central Plains.
Like the one now before Soiohwa’s eyes.
A snake yoga demon with a hundred heads, all completely white.
Soiohwa lightly tossed a talisman into the air.
Soiohwa spoke softly.
“To d*ath.”
Aaaaak!
The talisman tore apart in the air.
And.
Eek-eek-eek!
The snake demon’s massive body was shredded into pieces. bl**d and flesh rained down like a heavy storm.
Soiohwa stood at the railing of the window, pulling out her terminal.
This time, she entered the closed <Elysian Gallery>, not the <Gallery for Climbers> where she could only be a passive observer.
Title: In the 4th Floor Waiting Room
Author: Anonymous Star
– Training my sword qi now; thinking of heading into the 4th floor stage. Practical combat really helps the most.
Encountered a 4th level swordsman who almost killed me. But thanks to that, I seem to have awakened some senses.
– ??? Why meet a 4th rank on the 3rd floor?
– Lmao, that’s why the score is ridiculous.
– Absolute Monarch) Accomplished ‘Strong Foe Elimination’, I see.
– Anonymous Star) Correct.
– Sword of Light) What technique almost killed you?
– Anonymous Star) When they struck the ground with their sword, some kind of shockwave swept over me. The instinct hit me that if it touched me, I’d d*e. Got grazed by it, twisted my right arm.
– Sword of Light) That’s the Sword Qi Explosion. You’d undoubtedly d*e if it fully hit you.
– Anonymous Star) Thanks to your footwork, I managed to find a gap amidst the shockwave.
– Sword of Light) Recognizing and executing that in the moment was solely your ability.
– d*mn talent overload lmao.
– Pioneer) Meeting someone in 3rd floor who used the Sword Qi Explosion technique is surprising indeed.
Tick. Splutter.
Soiohwa left a comment.
Shaman) Hahaha, you’ve worked hard. Climber respect.
