episode_0055

Soon after Su disappeared, our shy one returned, looking around nervously.

A warm flush spread through her body, revealing that she had been exercising for a while.

“It must be Su-nim’s skill,” she said as soon as she returned, answering my question about what I had just witnessed without hesitation.

“She was disappearing into the wall?”

“It’s a powerful and sinister transition skill that moves the user regardless of their will when they are attacked, startled, or feel threatened.”

Sinister.

She explained the full story when I looked puzzled by her ominous tone.

“If you intend to, you can designate a specific location, but if you are caught off guard, you will randomly fly away and may be tormented for the rest of your life.”

Tormented for life.

…Flying away because of your own skill in the first place?

“If someone startles Su-nim as a joke, she will fly away somewhere in the world. It doesn’t matter where, she will end up in a place she doesn’t even know. What may seem like a joke to others can turn into a life-ending event for her.”

She picked up the sauna clothes she had dropped and neatly folded them.

“She once woke up on a lava field after having a nightmare and being startled-”

Even her dreams fall within the skill’s range.

“She cried, not knowing where the nightmare ended and reality began.”

I seriously imagined it.

It is the worst skill that should not be taken lightly.

“When did this start?”

“During elementary school. The moment they conducted a group examination at school to see if there were any potential hunters.”

-That’s when the skill came down.

“Didn’t she look creepy at first glance?”

She did.

Messy hair, creepy eyes, but a bright child.

A unique personality that was the opposite of appearance and behavior.

“She finally stabilized, but until she got used to the skill, she was tormented to the point of becoming what she is now. It’s a miracle that she grew up so brightly, and her sanity, which has not turned into madness, is worthy of admiration.”

She swallowed the sikhye and calmed her mind.

I remembered.

“Enjoying work with my cool friends who were 【Cartographers】, and to reclaim my life stolen by the Tower~♪”

“I hate the Tower!”

The oath declared at the Tower and the hidden sincerity mixed in the self-introduction.

This side also has a fucking shitty past.

A big scar that won’t heal.

It hurts.

“How have you been living until now?”

“Well, I don’t know in detail. All I know is that she became a hunter.”

I asked.

“She said that she ended up in a tower overseas after a prank by mischievous classmates triggered the transition. She met them when she was prepared for death, not knowing that she would be transferred to a tower in another world rather than a country.”

“Who?”

“The roots of the current Cartographer Guild. The former guild master, Don Quixote, and the early executives. She joined the Cartographer Guild under their influence, became a hunter, and grew in courage and skill.”

“She said she was transferred because of a friend from the same class. So-”

“She was swept away by the peculiar gimmick of the upper floors, spent several years in a tower overseas, and finally returned home. The troublemaker got away without any punishment.”

“What a fucking shitty story. He’s a fucking bastard who can’t be satisfied no matter how much you beat him. And you just forgave him like that?”

“No. Because the little culprit was keeping their mouth shut, I couldn’t tell when Suni had disappeared. By the time Suni returned to Korea, that little troublemaker had moved far away, and the incident itself became a mess…”

Seress knew only that much, but he keenly felt how difficult Suni’s life had been.

“And yet, your hobby is hiking and map-making. You should at least make a dark joke about it.”

“Yes. So even though I’m wary, I can’t hate you. Because you’re serious about conquering the Tower.”

“With your physique, map-making, even in the Tower?”

“Actually, because of that skill, survival is guaranteed. If it’s dangerous, I automatically transfer, so I use it effectively in my own way.”

But the transfer location is random.

If you harm yourself at the transferred location, you can come back, but the conditions are unpleasant.

“Why are your clothes off? Could it be-”

“They were taken off because they were borrowed here.”

It wasn’t like being transferred naked, like a troublemaker.

It’s really fortunate.

“Did she say anything else?”

“She was getting ready to leave as soon as you arrived. She even gave you a map.”

“It seems we’re heading to the 20th floor.”

“This way has changed slightly. She asked if you were planning to conquer the 20th floor.”

“Hmm.”

Seress’s expression as he received the map was incredibly serious.

When we first entered here, there was a scent of a woman, but now it’s a serious guild master mode.

“The coordinates for the transfer to the upper floors have changed.”

“Where did they go?”

“They changed to the opposite side of where they originally were. It was a good decision to precede the System Guild.”

Thanks to that, we can climb the levels without any victims, so I took back the map.

With Suni’s story and the atmosphere calming down, I took the opportunity to suggest again.

“I don’t feel like having sex today. Let’s buff up and go back right away. We’ll probably be back around 1 to 2 in the morning. Seongyeon probably won’t be asleep yet, so let’s meet, explain the situation, settle the bet, and end it cleanly.”

“……”

Seress briefly looked at me and then bowed his head.

“Don’t you like it?”

“You won’t hate me even after it’s over, right?”

“Just act as usual.”

“How so?”

“Blame me for taking you and stealing the woman you love. Blame me for everything. After all, you came here on your own, so act like a man until the end.”

“Have you gotten used to being called ‘oppa’ by me?”

She awkwardly sipped her sikhye.

Would she answer such a question?

When I didn’t answer, she stuck close to me and playfully pinched my toes.

“Either way, you have to meet Seongyeon. You can’t just ignore it, so be prepared.”

“I’ll cover for you.”

“It’s not about that.”

She sat next to me, relying on me.

“Seongyeon warned me before the bet. She said I would fall for you, beg Changgi to make me her lover, and beg you for your affection while clinging to your legs.”

“She said that to you?”

“I think she would know now.”

I have no idea.

What is she talking about?

“She’s overestimating me too much, even if we’re friends. If she’s trying to scare me to make me serious, what should I do?”

“That might happen. But right now, there’s no chance of that happening.”

She subtly expressed her favor without any ticks.

Whether she feels something other than love, or she’s showing an attitude suitable for a strange relationship like friends with benefits.

“It’s embarrassing. Let’s stop here.”

This is the end of the sauna. If the wound stings later, we’ll come back.

I tried to push her aside and move, but she stopped me.

“Just a moment. I have no objection to returning, but there’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

“About the bet? Or about women? You’re not suggesting we have another round of gambling before we go, are you?”

“Neither. I have something to say about what Suni mentioned.”

What Suni said…

“The 20th floor?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly?

“I’ve made it to the 19th floor and luckily obtained a new map, so I think it’s a good idea to stop by on the way back.”

What is this person saying now?

“Are you crazy? Even the people who knew how to conquer the 10th floor were blocked, and now they’re trying to break through the 20th floor? And just because they happened to stop by the 19th floor, they think they can just break through and go?”

“That’s right.”

Huh, look at this audacious girl.

I sat back down, wondering what on earth she was talking about.

Seress was definitely not the type to talk nonsense, so my expectations were raised.

“The 20th floor is unique, but not as difficult as the 10th floor. When there was no strategy, it was a terrifying place, but if you know, you can deal with it.”

“So you can break through head-on, not bypassing?”

“Yes. And now is the best timing, so if you’re with me, we can easily break through.”

“Huh? Timing? Is there some gimmick that involves timing?”

“It’s similar.”

I leaned forward.

As if plotting something wicked.

“What kind of concept does the 20th floor have that makes it easy to break through?”

“First of all, it’s impossible to do it alone. You need a partner, but there are conditions for that too.”

She placed her palm on her chest and smiled lewdly.

“It will definitely be helpful. Please break through the 20th floor using my heart.”

She was appealing.

She hoped that by sincerely offering herself, unlike when she persuaded in the cafe, she would be used.

“I’ll decide after hearing it. If it’s something dangerous, I’ll refuse, so keep that in mind.”

“That’s fine. First, listen to my… ”

“-Hmm.”

She murmured.

She seemed to be enjoying the conversation, as if there was nothing scary about sharing a secret.

After hearing the conditions for the gate, learning the clearing method, and pondering the gimmick she explained, I slapped my knees.

“Oh. So if you make a mistake, your parents will be dragged in too?”

“Like a devil, right?”

“Are these people really insane? How could they do such crazy things?”

“What do you think would happen to someone who stuck their head into the 20th floor without knowing anything?”

“I don’t even want to imagine.”

I shuddered.

How is this a gimmick? It’s a demonic act that ruins human relationships.

“That’s why it’s possible with you and me. Even now, as we discuss, my emotions are starting to settle. We need to go right now before my emotions fade.”

“You’re a damn genius.”

I exclaimed.

This is the perfect timing given by the heavens.

“But what if the gimmick of the 20th floor is the same? The entrance might have changed, and the content might be different, right?”

“Let’s ask directly. The gatekeeper at the entrance isn’t on good terms with you, right?”

Well, the eccentric but kind gatekeeper.

Asking about the test content should be something he would readily allow.

I changed my mind after listening.

“Buff up and let’s go. If the test content is different, we’ll retreat.”

“By the time we clear it, it will be dawn, so everyone will probably wake up.”

The alerts for conquering the tower were really annoying.

If we can really break through, all the hunters who were sleeping will definitely be forced to wake up.

“Hehehe.”

Thinking like that, a wicked laugh escaped involuntarily.

“If we succeed in conquering, can I ask for one favor?”

“I want to praise you so much that I feel like I’m going to die, so please wait a bit. I’ll cover you even if you go crazy with passion.”

“I’ll take care of that myself, so please promise me something else.”

“What is it?”

“As a commemoration of clearing the 20th floor, please let me watch you two have sex. Since I lost, I won’t interfere. Please let me masturbate in a corner.”

“How can someone say such pathetic things?”

“It may be pathetic, but it suits the occasion.”

I imagined Seress masturbating while my girlfriend and I had sex.

…Is it different because she’s a woman?

“If I can watch two people I care about copulating, it would be a happy life just to watch.”

“Your preferences are really twisted.”

“It’s the result of my brother’s work.”

With that said, there was nothing more to add.

We exchanged such trivial conversations until the buff came in, then we geared up and set off towards the gate.