Chapter 62

All smiles.

Turk’s lips couldn’t seem to part with the smile.

It made sense.

I had resolved Turk’s earnest wish and immediately found him a proper student.

Everything was for my sake, but seeing my first mentor, who I owed much to, happy, filled me with joy.

‘Live well.’

There would be no more reason to come here.

To advance my swordsmanship to the next level, I needed to find a second master as soon as possible.

“You were here.”

A voice came from behind.

Elaine approached slowly.

“I came out for some fresh air because of the alcohol.”

“Did you drink a lot?”

“A bit more than usual.”

Elaine, standing beside me, had the same complexion as always.

Because she doesn’t drink.

‘It was quite exceptional when she got drunk on the Tears of Frost.’

“Were you avoiding me?”

“A-avoiding, who’s avoiding…”

Elaine, denying it, had her cheeks flushed.

I chuckled at her cute appearance.

“Why, why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s cute.”

“What, what, what did you say?”

Elaine was extremely flustered.

Which made me want to tease her even more.

“You seem not to realize it, but you’re cuter than you think.”

“Are, are you saying this because you’re drunk?”

“Just being honest.”

“Ugh.”

Elaine stepped back twice.

Her face was completely red.

She seemed to have little immunity to such situations, a model student.

Capable, kind, diligent, and responsible.

Honestly, Elaine’s style is much more comfortable to date than someone like Regina.

Regina has an openly cold personality and an aura so strong that in the game, one couldn’t dare approach her carelessly.

It’s somewhat funny that I’m engaged to such a character.

“Why, really, why are you doing this?”

Elaine looked at me with eyes full of reproach.

It’s time to stop.

As I always say, one should not cross the line.

“Sorry, sorry. But it’s not a joke.”

“Ha?”

Elaine stood with an awfully awkward expression, not knowing how to respond.

I decided to help her out.

I changed the subject.

“The dungeon practice is not far off.”

“…Yeah.”

Elaine seemed relieved that I had changed the topic.

She wouldn’t have been able to endure it otherwise, due to her lack of immunity.

“It’s important.”

“Yes.”

Dungeon practice.

It was an event that happened only once a year, climbing a massive artificial dungeon known as the ‘Infinite Tower.’

It’s called the Infinite Tower, but the actual height of the tower is not that tall.

Just ten floors high.

The reason it’s called infinite is that even after reaching the tenth floor, if you conquer it, it keeps going up endlessly.

Of course, there is a real end.

The hundredth floor.

That was the confirmed end of the Infinite Tower.

And the students who succeeded in conquering that hundredth floor became legends of the academy.

The most recent legendary student would probably be my fiancée Regina Erenbert.

At this point, it’s certain.

‘I couldn’t see the end either.’

Unlike other games where the protagonist is overpowered or extremely talented, conquering the hundredth floor was a mission nearly impossible.

Especially for someone like Max.

‘How many floors can I clear?’

The difficulty of the Infinite Tower increased with each floor.

Whether the number of monsters increased or the monsters themselves became stronger, the difficulty of conquering it definitely increased.

What’s more fascinating is that even on the same floor, which monsters appear is random.

In other words, even though it’s an artificial dungeon, it’s not something humans can control at will.

The Infinite Tower is not considered one of the mysteries of Lepheria Academy for nothing.

There are many strange points.

First, the monsters respawn infinitely, and nobody knows where they emerge from.

Second, the actual height is only ten floors, but if you conquer it, you can keep going up to a hundred floors.

Third, as mentioned before, even the same floor is random each time you enter.

Fourth, each floor has a transfer magic circle drawn, so if you want to give up and leave, you can do so at any time.

Therefore, there’s a legend that says it was created a thousand years ago by the combined powers of a holy woman and a great sage.

‘Whatever it is, it’s the best for practical experience.’

If only one could climb higher.

“Are you going to climb up alone?”

Even though there’s a transfer magic circle on each floor, facing monsters and conquering the dungeon is dangerous.

It’s customary to form a party due to potential risks.

However, students recognized as qualified by a professor could solo play.

That qualification was, of course, strength.

Elaine, naturally, had that qualification as one of the top genius mages in the academy.

“Hmm… No, I’ll go up with a friend.”

“Oh? Really?”

I didn’t know much about it since it was about a grade above the protagonist, but it seemed Elaine liked to party play.

“Yes. How about you?”

“I’ll definitely go with a party. A three-person party.”

The common class miracle trio.

The eldest son of the Celtrine family, a mischievous one, the eldest son of the Benesse family, a simpleton, and a fourth-dimensional antisocial girl.

One of them wouldn’t be much help, and another would probably just want to play around, but it couldn’t be helped.

・This is the best party I can form with my current connections(?).

“Ah, those from that time..”

“Yeah, the ones you’re thinking of.”

“That’s a good party.”

It would have been a good party with you in it.

Ah, but then I wouldn’t get enough experience, would I?

Sorry, timid guy and fourth-dimensional girl.

You are good party members.

“Well, yes.”

I smirked and nodded slightly.

Elaine glanced at me and then asked.

“But you seem to get along well with the juniors, right?”

She looked curious.

It seemed that she thought my connections were unsuitable for me.

After all, considering my past behavior and personality, that was a natural reaction.

“Not really, but I just happened to become a bit close with those two.”

“They both seem like good talents.”

Typical Elaine.

She has a discerning eye.

“Not bad. I think they’re good connections.”

“Good connections.”

“Of course, you’re a given.”

“Ugh, you’re really something today.”

“Ha-ha, does it make you cringe? When else could I say such things if not when I’m slightly tipsy?”

“It’s getting chilly. Let’s go inside.”

I moved first.

Elaine hesitated for a moment then followed my steps.

The second swordsmanship master.

He was not a nice person like Turk.

Rather, he was closer to being fearsome.

And he was a man of lower status than Turk, who was a commoner from a mercenary background.

I had to move as quickly as possible to find that man.

Because I needed to master the second swordsmanship before the dungeon practice to conquer higher floors.

That was necessary to score well.

————————————————-

“Hmm, this place.”

The place I am at now is an intermediate area.

It’s where the middle class resides.

Compared to the lower areas, the streets are immaculately clean.

The houses are respectable as well.

It’s that much of a good place to live.

And right here lived my second mentor.

Though of low status, he had made a considerable amount of money.

But.

The house in front of me was a bit different.

No, it was very different.

Because the walls were full of creepy graffiti written in red paint.

– A bastard lives here.

– Die!

– Garbage beyond redemption.

– Just disappear to hell.

Graffiti that made one frown just by looking at them.

Most people would hesitate even to approach.

But I.

I smiled.

A treasure in the mud, known only to a very few users.

How could I not smile when such a treasure was in front of me?

Thump thump!

I knocked on the door without hesitation.

There was no response from inside.

Thump thump thump!

I knocked on the door again, harder this time.

Finally, the door creaked open slightly.

“Who the hell are you?”

A rough voice burst out.

One could tell it was not a person who had lived an easy life just by that.

A burly bald man.

He had a ferocious look.

One to instinctively be on guard against.

And another thing.

His forearms were incredibly thick.

Huge muscles were attached.

Intimidating enough to make one feel overpowered.

‘Seeing it in person, it’s even more brutal.’

I sneered inwardly.

The bald man’s name was Godwin.

Originally from the Parene Kingdom, he was an executioner who had allegedly killed a thousand people.

But in truth, I knew that the official number of executions was just that, and if one were to include the secret executions carried out in the shadows, the number was nearly double.

And now he was here in the holy city.

Why?

Because he had developed a severe mental illness and was seeking treatment.

It was impossible to cure with medicine, so he was pinning his hopes on the divine power of the church.

However, I knew that too was ineffective.

The method was right there.

‘I should target that.’

The treatment of mental illness.

That was the only way to learn swordsmanship from this man.

“What do you want, you bastard?”

Godwin shouted aggressively.

But I didn’t even blink.

“Max Celtrine.”

“What do you do?”

“Academy student.”

Hearing my answer, Godwin’s face turned incredulous.

“If you’re a student, you should be studying, why are you here?”

“Everything has a reason.”

“What is it?”

“To cure you.”

That moment.

Crash!

Godwin grabbed my collar with great force.

He was so strong that my feet lifted off the ground.

“I don’t care what kind of bullshit you’ve heard, but get lost right now.”

Godwin growled, with a fierce momentum as if I should just scram.

But I laughed.

“Kekeke, I’m disappointed. I thought you were a man of great courage, but you’re just a small fry.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

An enraged Godwin was about to throw me out forcefully.

But right at that moment.

I blurted out.

“You’re seeing hallucinations even now, right? Looks like about three of them.”

Thud.

Godwin’s actions stopped dramatically.

For the first time, a disturbed expression appeared.

It couldn’t be helped.

I had not only guessed his symptoms but had also accurately mentioned the number of hallucinations he was seeing.

I had treated him countless times in the game, so I could not be wrong.

“Who are you?”

“You probably can’t sleep well at night, right? You must have countless nightmares. The same nightmares over and over.”

This time, I mentioned another symptom.

“Damn it, what are you?”

Godwin shouted.

But he released his grip.

My feet touched the ground again.

I pointed my finger to the sky.

“I received a revelation.”

“What?”

“A divine revelation to cure you. That’s how I know your symptoms so well. Of course, I know the cure too.”

“Revelation? A revelation, you say?”

“Yes. Perhaps your prayers have been heard by God. That’s why he sent me this revelation.”

Godwin looked lost in thought.

Torn between believing this absurd story or not.

But he had heard it clearly.

That I had precisely mentioned his symptoms.

And.

Desperate to cling to any straw, this had to be it for him.

“Damn it, I can’t believe it, but come in. Let’s at least talk.”

Eventually, Godwin opened the door wide.

“You should have done that earlier.”

I smirked and entered.

Walking confidently ahead into the house, Godwin looked dumbfounded.

Inside, it was somewhat better compared to the graffiti-ridden outside.

A messy place to live for a sick person, but unavoidable.

I sat down comfortably in the living room as if it were my own house.

Then I said.

“Let’s talk.”