Ch. 12 Named (3)
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 12 – Named (3)
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「Ability, Oath of Nature (D) has been removed, and Echo Instinct (D) has been added.」
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「Echo Instinct (D) resonates with Absolute Sense (S).」
Once again, I achieved what I wanted.
I’ve already laid the groundwork for evolving further by completing two foundational steps toward a new path.
“This ability…”
“It helps with faster, more instinctive movements, and most importantly, it can synergize with some higher-tier abilities.”
It wasn’t just me who received this reward. Shadis, who overcame the trial with me, also received her reward.
While I’ve already reached my limit and have been discarding existing abilities to make room for new ones, a D-grade ability is still precious for a 30th-floor challenger like Shadis.
She probably feels like her combat power has significantly increased.
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‘What about Shadis?’
Suddenly, I became curious about the fan gallery users.
Even I had to descend to the lower floors to utilize the knowledge of the constellations and go through this hardship.
But what if someone grew efficiently from the start, guided by their knowledge and advice? While many of them don’t seem like it, they’re the ones who could potentially surpass everyone above me, including the 1st-ranked Jung Chan-soo. They even mock powerful spirit mages as mere supporters and strong warriors as mere tanks.
Unless the existence of the fan gallery, where such individuals gather, is revealed, it’s too complicated and exhausting to bring down high-ranking challengers like Kim Ji-eun under various pretexts to train them.
It would be better if I grew stronger and helped them instead.
But Shadis is someone who still has a path ahead of her.
She can set her course more comfortably and follow it.
“Do you still not want to climb the Tower again?”
“You’ve helped me so much today, but honestly, I’m not sure. If you leave, I’ll be alone again.”
At my words, Shadis flinched, but I noticed a new emotion in her awkwardly smiling eyes.
Hope.
“W-why aren’t you taking this?”
“It’s your reward for helping me enthusiastically in the final fight.”
After exiting the dungeon, I retrieved the equipment I’d lent Shadis but left her the dagger.
When she asked why, looking bewildered, I smirked.
“But I’m repaying my debt…”
“Consider it settled for trusting me earlier.”
I decided to count it as payment since she’d given me satisfaction.
To me, it’s worth little, and it would just take up inventory space.
“I’m planning to head to the 35th floor next. If you decide to try again, make your way to the 35th floor and wait for me. Then, we might be able to team up again.”
I hinted at my next destination, which only the fan gallery constellations knew about.
I’ve done all I can for her; now it’s up to her to choose.
‘I should rest now and return to the upper floors.’
My steps felt light as I walked back to the hotel under the crimson sunset.
Realizing that I can move forward like this is both a blessing and a stroke of luck, which I consider a personal benchmark.
‘What an amazing person…’
A considerable amount of time had passed since Reina, wearing her hood, waved and left, but Shadis continued to stare at the spot, clutching the dagger in both hands.
In just two days since meeting Reina, Shadis had completely revised all her thoughts and prejudices about her.
‘It was all lies. She’s more incredible and warmer than people say.’
To Shadis, Reina’s reputation and status were undervalued, while her personality and demeanor were exaggerated and inflated.
Regardless of her intentions, her unique personality and abilities were admired by many challengers in the upper floors and constellations in Fate Road.
Having witnessed it firsthand, it was only natural for Shadis to be drawn to her.
Especially since Shadis had received direct help and gifts from Reina.
“Should I try…?”
Shadis’s voice trembled as she looked down at the dagger in her hand.
The sensation of killing a monster with her own hands still lingered.
If the past events had plunged her into despair, Reina had shown her a glimmer of hope.
She had shown Shadis a glimpse of what a challenger could achieve and let her experience the possibility herself.
‘The 35th floor!’
Just five more floors, and she could meet Reina again.
Her heart began to race at the thought.
Though fear still lingered, the desire to meet Reina again and fight alongside her overshadowed it.
There was no time to waste.
Since Shadis had been stuck on the 30th floor, she needed to quickly gather equipment and allies to clear the main dungeons of each floor to advance.
“Well, well, look who it is. The dark elf thief. Long time no see.”
“Y-you…”
But at that moment, as Shadis hurriedly moved, someone recognized her and blocked her path.
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[Is Reina heading to the 35th floor right now inefficient?]
ㄴ“Of course it is. The event cycles in the upper floors are all active right now.”
ㄴ“Are you a bus rider?”
ㄴ“She should go up and come back first. It’ll take Reina a few weeks to get used to the new ability and its synergy.”
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‘A few weeks.’
That evening, after resting and taking a hot bath as usual, Reina lay down early and checked the community as she always did.
As expected, they were actively discussing her next steps.
She had been following their discussions and strategies and planned to adhere to them.
After all, the “reset” she was undergoing was entirely based on trusting them and aiming to surpass her limits.
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[No selfie today… I was looking forward to it.]
[Mods, when’s the next donation cooldown? Is the funding enough?]
[Can Reina break into the top 10 in the upcoming consecutive battles?]
[Meanwhile, a large raid team on the 114th floor got wiped out lol, what idiots.]
[Breaking) Kim Ji-eun acquired another A-grade ability.]
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Various topics were being posted on the board.
Even without any major controversies, the number of posts and comments was significant. The number of users browsing the gallery was equally high.
「Reina Frontier Fan Gallery (▲12)」
The reason was displayed next to the gallery name.
The number changing in real time indicated the gallery’s ranking.
It was a leaderboard based on how many users were active and how actively they participated.
Reina’s fan gallery was relatively high-ranked among the countless fan galleries dedicated to Tower challengers.
While fan gallery rankings and actual rankings were hardly related, Reina’s fan gallery ranking was similar to her own rank.
‘Disgusting.’
Reina looked at the leaderboard with displeasure.
It wasn’t just a simple ranking.
The ranking only reflected registered users of the gallery, so temporary visitors from other galleries didn’t affect it.
In other words, the sole purpose of the ranking was to fuel competition among gallery users.
‘It’s not just competition. For us, it’s a matter of life—no, something even bigger.’
Reina bit her lip and clenched her fist.
It wasn’t a pleasant feeling to know that her life-and-death struggles were being consumed as entertainment.
Of course, the constellations also invested points, which they could use for promotions, and immersed themselves in the battles, but unlike challengers, they had a choice.
And the burden was also an issue.
If she fell behind in the competition due to her shortcomings or mistakes, even pure supporters like Serpina, her manager and contracted constellation, would suffer losses and disappointment.
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[If Reina breaks into the top 10 this time, I’m going after the Jung Chan-soo fans first.]
ㄴ“Please, just stay quiet, okay?”
ㄴ“So you want me to get hit first and then stay quiet?”
ㄴ“If you mess with Jung Chan-soo, his entire crew will come after you. Just drop it.”
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However, contrary to Reina’s thoughts, the gallery culture had long been deeply rooted.
The large community of constellations in Fate Road, the system itself, encouraged competition, so users had no choice but to go along with it.
Each fandom operated on the premise of competing with others unless they were closely cooperating like guild members, and heated competition often escalated into fierce fights, which some even enjoyed.
She had no choice.
For herself and her fan gallery, she had to ensure her fandom won the competition, and the best way to do that was to keep “proving” herself.
“Sigh…”
At least their goals aligned.
Even now, as a ranker, Reina aimed to become the strongest, and that in itself was proof that boosted the gallery users’ morale.
‘More people are recognizing me and seeking me out. Posting only question threads might seem suspicious, so should I post some random stuff too?’
After dismissing her complicated thoughts, Reina browsed the board, reading random posts instead of the serious strategy discussions she’d already gone through.
She also had to consider the issue of becoming slightly known after accidentally posting her photo and asking questions.
Of course, she absolutely didn’t want to attract too much attention.
If her identity were exposed, the consequences were unimaginable. Too much attention would inevitably increase the risk of being caught.
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[Hey, that dark elf Reina helped seems to be in big trouble now.]
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But at that moment, the title of a newly posted thread caught her eye as she mindlessly scrolled.
Author Note
A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading.
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
That’s one way to gain surveillance.
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