episode_0106

[Tower of Lust 29th Floor]

Before the sun rose, we moved stealthily like a group of thieves.

Despite it being nighttime, the last detention center on the 29th floor was lit up, with guards searching the area meticulously, aware that the lower floors had been attacked.

-Everyone, stay alert! Stay alert!

-They said they started withdrawing from the 28th floor!

-They must be nearby! Find them before daybreak!

-What are you waiting for, hurry up!

-We’re all humans! Use your noses to track them down!

-Squeak, squeak~!

The sight of the incubi, armed with rifles and cursed bitches, on high alert, was oddly amusing.

Dressed in cosplay, they were taking the search for us seriously, even going as far as releasing humans to find us.

“I’ll set up a serious barrier. Activating [Dark and Twisted Sunday]…!”

As if mocking the incubi, a thin, black barrier materialized around Nayami’s body.

The beautifully shimmering barrier enveloped us, making our presence, voices, and footsteps completely silent to the outside world.

-Is there anything around here?

-They always said they found traces near the detention center. It should be around this area, right?

-It’s all nonsense. There’s no trace of anything.

-Tsk. What kind of trickery did they use?

Despite lingering close by, the incubi failed to notice our whereabouts.

“A stealth skill this wide? And at this size, I wonder what rank they are?”

As I marveled at the large-scale skill, Natalia, despite not contributing, chuckled to herself.

“How’s our partner skill? It’s really killer~!”

“Both the link skill and this one are specialized for support, right?”

“Right? It’s useful, isn’t it? Hahaha~!”

“The link skill and all, that’s why they kidnapped us.”

She happily slapped my back, pleased.

Through hunters specializing in constructing barriers, we had prepared to build a wall in front of the detention center.

However, instead of immediately installing it, we observed the situation from a distance.

“Nayami, what’s the plan now?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“I’m in the middle of work. Over there is the guild leader, and here are the guild members. We need to distinguish between work areas.”

“Uh, sorry….”

The boy, awkwardly smiling at my words, was clearly popular among men like Seongyeon.

He was pleased but quickly composed himself and gave orders.

“Ahem. We won’t be building the barrier right away. Even if we erase the traces with our skills, if something is erected, they’ll notice right away. So, once [Plan A] succeeds, we’ll build the wall and transfer the hunters from the 28th floor to push into the detention center.”

-What is Plan A?

“We’ll infiltrate directly underground. We’ve dug a tunnel in the bushes over there. Plan A is to follow the map brought by Changgi and reach [Special Quarantine Zone] directly to rescue the ranker.”

-Why are we doing this?

“The incubi know the value of the ranker, so they’ve hidden them in a place like that. We don’t know what will happen to the captured person once the real battle begins, so we’re rescuing them in advance.”

There was nothing to criticize separately.

Both I and Natalia agreed and headed towards the bushy pit.

“It’s too neat for just a hole.”

The response to my comment came from Yeongyeong.

“The mechanics guild provided manpower for us~! From item production to barrier construction, they’re professionals, so they’re the best at related tasks! Yoo-hoo, they look so cool~!”

She boasted, and the bearded men around her raised their thumbs in agreement.

There was even a person who played cards with me last time.

“They’ve dug a cave instead of just a hole.”

Perhaps someone with skills related to earth was involved.

At the end of the tunnel, there was a thick, man-made wall, indicating that the detention center was right above.

“I will break through here. Once I break through, they will notice, so the three of you should run straight ahead. The path should be memorized by Yeonyeong, so let her lead the way.”

“Just trust me~! I may not be as good as the guild master, but I’m a pro too! I may not have a title, but!”

Yeonyeong, with her eyes sparkling, shook her black robe.

Despite the unnecessary remarks, she was reliable.

“Hey, Pillar Master. Are you ready to break through?”

“Who’s the Pillar Master? I don’t like being called that.”

“If I call myself the Pillar Master, then I am the Pillar Master~! I don’t listen to the words of those weaker than me~!”

It was a challenging tone.

I had no intention of falling for such provocation.

Nayami’s situation was pitiful, but no matter how you looked at it, she was a troublesome opponent.

“Tsk. Give me a little reaction. It’s lonely these days without someone arguing with me.”

“Enjoy yourself alone.”

“Hmph, what are you saying to a woman~!”

“Not just any woman, but someone who enjoys pleasure with others and only talks big.”

“Ugh. There’s no point in arguing like this.”

As I spoke as if I knew everything, she pursed her lips and stepped back.

As Natalia gripped the greatsword and I clenched my gauntlet, the mechanic guild’s old man smiled against the wall.

“Hey, cool kids. Are you ready?”

-Okay~!

-Of course!

-Yes.

We each answered.

Then the mechanic old man placed his hand on the wall and gradually exerted more force.

“Activate [Sun’s Hand].”

The wall began to melt.

A crimson light spread across the entire wall from his hand, revealing the inside.

“I’m not sure who’s being held captive, but isn’t Changgi-hyung the one who saved our guild princess? I believe he will do well this time too.”

With those words, light illuminated the dark cave.

Unable to wait any longer for the wall to melt, the lion and the veiled figure leaped towards the melting wall.

“I’ll go first!”

“I’m coming too! Bye~!”

Look at those troublemakers.

Natalia may be one thing, but Yeonyeong was just as mischievous.

Of course, I followed behind.

“-Cheer up!”

Ignoring Nayami’s encouragement, I detonated the ore I had placed on the wall, clearing a path through the remaining wall and following them.

-Enemies! Enemies!

-What!?

-Why are hunters underground!

-What are the outer boundary Southern guys doing!!

-Woahhh!!

“Hahaha! [Heavenly Sword]-!”

Just like in the morning, the long greatsword scraped against the wall like a child running their hand along a metal grate on a moonlit alley.

“Yah! Yah! Hahaha!! Breaking buildings is fun~!”

Even though we were probably running towards our destination in the shortest route, all the noise was because of this woman.

The lion’s claws swept away all the iron bars, forcing the hunters inside to wake up, and turning everything that attacked her into dust.

“What are you doing! Dive in!”

“The back is empty, you fool!”

Behind Natalia, there were brave souls flying towards her.

Despite aiming her whip precisely at the back, she laughed fiercely.

“Where is it empty~!?”

-This is the cat’s meow!

Enhancing her entire body with ore, she spoke so fast that it was almost inaudible.

Then fur and sharp claws sprouted on Natalia’s arms and legs, like a beast.

“Yaaooong~~!!”

-Gyahh!

-It’s not a lioness, it’s a lynx!?

-Uwah! My body, my energy, is being torn apart!!

A kind of service, perhaps.

With a cute cry, the incubus turned to dust.

The swordsmanship was incredible, but as it delved inside, it tore through with sharp claws much sharper than an unmanaged greatsword.

“Hehehe! Cute, aren’t I?! Want to pounce on me! But this body isn’t interested in weak males~!”

Meow!

Leaping around with one arm holding the sword and three limbs transformed into beastly forms.

Slashing, clawing, and swinging the sword like a club, bang bang bang!

And then, seizing the opportunity, the incubus lunged forward.

– Be treated like a beast!

– We’ll keep you locked up for life and only let you breed!

“If you can, then try it!”

The whip flew as Natalia, consumed by a competitive spirit, extended her front paw.

Forgetting to dodge, ready to take a hit in exchange for a direct kill.

While Natalia was unscathed, I felt sorry for Nayami and reached out with my fist.

“Once a day! Shout of gratitude-!”

“Huh!?”

My bunched fist flew like a rocket punch, grazing Natalia’s nose.

For a moment, there was a look that said, ‘This guy!?’ filled with meaning.

– Ugh! Damn, male!

– What is he spewing from his hands…!

“A man’s romance.”

Ignoring it, I danced to the lively gunshot rhythm and smashed the jaw.

Turning the input port of the revolver gauntlet, I advanced with the recoil and propulsion of the bullet where I couldn’t have stepped with one foot.

“Hyaaa~! Ora Bungwon!!”

Boom!

– Bughoho!?

– My, my, aah~!

With a short step forward, I sneakily pierced the abdomen of the incubus ten steps ahead.

Flying to pierce the abdomen in a stiff pose, it was a strange movement even in my thoughts.

– That guy just teleported!

– Is he playing a different game alone!?

– All the hunters these days are weird!

– Reinforcements! Requesting reinforcements!

– Hiyaaaah!

“Where are you running! If you attacked, fight to the end, you bastards!!”

『『『Gyaaaah!!!』』』

Those who hastily turned their backs, but Natalia’s greatsword did not miss.

Using the stretched sword as a whip, Natalia instantly created an incubus tanghuru.

“A cat, a sword, and even a staff. Why do you have such miscellaneous skills?”

“Hah, I don’t want to hear from a guy who shows off tricks with his aura! Just asking out of curiosity, are you by any chance related to this body!?”

“What do you mean by related?”

“Because you’re doing what our master does! Are you some kind of disciple of that human!?”

“No. Even though I look like this, my parents are openly present.”

“…Is that so?”

A master, huh.

Seems like there’s another human like me.

The world is vast, and with free aura, nothing is strange.

“Two of you! Over here~!”

We discovered a corridor stained red with blood that the incubi had been chased away from.

Clearly leading deep into the inner part of the underground prison.

It was the [Special Isolation Zone] where a Ranker would be held.