Chapter 97

‘These guys again…’

Professor Lapit’s brow furrowed slightly.

In front of him was the submitted list for the Infinite Tower climb.

His gaze focused on one particular entry.

– Max Celtrine, Allen Benesse, Riera

A completely mismatched trio.

‘What are they thinking?’

He knew that Riviera had been bullied by Max since the start of the semester.

The perception-reducing spell strangely didn’t work on her, and her cover identity was unfortunately tied to a merchant family under the influence of the Celtrine family, leading to this absurd situation.

So Riviera had been extorted for money, forced into magical tutoring, and subjected to all sorts of ordeals…

But he didn’t think it was a big problem.

Such bullying couldn’t scratch Riviera’s 4D mentality.

Moreover, it seemed that Max had grown tired of bullying her, as he no longer extorted money or forced tutoring sessions.

He thought that was the end of it.

“What are they really up to?”

Lapit asked the empty air.

Strangely, a human figure slowly appeared there.

“What is it?”

The figure was Riviera.

She lightly plopped down on the opposite sofa like a cat.

“What do you mean, ‘what’? I told you not to stand out!”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Then why are you forming a party with those weirdos again? You could just join solo since you’re an outcast anyway.”

“I’m not an outcast!”

Riviera unexpectedly retorted strongly.

Her usually pale face turned slightly red with anger.

“Uh… huh?”

Lapit blinked in confusion at the rare display of strong emotion.

“I have a party! I’m not an outcast!”

“…”

Her logic made sense, but something felt off.

Still, it seemed wise to back down here.

“Okay, okay.”

Lapit finally conceded.

Only then did Riviera’s expression soften.

“I’m not an outcast.”

“Uh… okay, got it.”

Lapit agreed, trying to calm the situation while thinking about how to continue the conversation.

Meanwhile, Riviera casually grabbed some chocolate from the shelf and started munching on it.

Damn, I was saving that for when my blood sugar dropped.

Normally, he would have said something, but he held back this time.

Still, it was clear that the sweets had improved Riviera’s mood.

It was the right moment to continue the conversation.

“Sorry for the misunderstanding earlier.”

“Hmph.”

“But why are you still hanging out with those thugs? Are they bullying you again?”

Here, “thugs” referred to Max and his gang.

However.

“They’re not thugs. It’s Max.”

“Huh?”

Lapit was stunned by Riviera’s words.

The way she referred to him had changed…?

He knew this was significant.

It indicated a change in their relationship.

Lapit adjusted his posture and asked urgently.

“You used to hate… I mean, you disliked Max, right?”

Riviera might seem like an airhead, and she certainly had her moments, but she wasn’t a pushover.

She remembered grudges and paid them back double.

So why this change?

“Yeah.”

Riviera nodded.

“You still do, right?”

Lapit asked immediately.

“Hmm.”

“…”

“He’s annoying, but I don’t hate him.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

How can someone be annoying but not hated?

…What is this change?

‘Could it be?’

Lapit suddenly recalled Hiresia, who had tried to protect Max like a mother bird.

He had found their odd relationship strange but had dismissed it.

Maybe Hiresia’s tastes were different from humans.

But now…

…Even Riviera had changed.

‘Damn. Is he some kind of irresistible guy?’

From a man’s perspective, Max’s personality was awful.

If any of his family wanted to date someone like him, Lapit would lie down and stop them.

But…

As much as he hated to admit it, women seemed to see something different in him.

‘This guy is dangerous.’

Regardless, as a man, he couldn’t accept it.

A guy like Max winning over women was unacceptable.

For the sake of men’s peace, someone like Max needed to be buried.

“What are you thinking?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing…”

“Hmm. I’m done eating, so I’ll go.”

“Wait, wait. You haven’t answered my question. Why are you still hanging out with him?”

“Humans are interesting.”

“What?”

“Really interesting.”

Riviera vanished like the wind.

Lapit was left standing alone.

“Damn it. I’ll remember this.”

It was the first day Max Celtrine’s name was meaningfully etched into Lapit’s mind.

* * *

The Infinite Tower was located a bit away from the academy.

About a 30-minute walk from the main building.

All the second-year classes were heading there.

The fourth and third years had already finished their climbs in the morning.

To ensure efficiency, the event was packed into a single day.

The first slot in the afternoon was for the second years.

Even though it was their second time, everyone seemed tense.

It was one of the most definitive evaluations of their growth.

Those who didn’t surpass their first-year achievements would painfully realize they had stagnated.

Moreover.

‘This evaluation inevitably results in injuries.’

Constant battles with monsters.

Plus, a time attack.

It would be more surprising if there were no injuries.

The only saving grace for the students was that the monsters had no intent to kill.

The Infinite Tower had been designed that way from the start.

It was a necessary design.

No sane person would build a tower where students could die, no matter how strong they were being trained to be.

Especially in an academy directly related to the Saint.

‘The Saint and the Great Sage must have arranged it that way from the beginning.’

I was convinced that the legend of the Saint and the Great Sage being involved in its construction was true.

Such a mysterious building couldn’t be built by ordinary humans.

Only legendary figures like them could manage it.

Anyway.

‘Injuries still hurt just the same.’

That was another reason for the students’ tension.

The academy had prepared sufficient doctors and priests, so there wouldn’t be any major issues, but pain was still pain, and it wasn’t entirely reassuring.

“If things look bad, we should just run.”

“Isn’t that too cowardly?”

“Hey, you don’t know because you haven’t been properly beaten up, huh? I’m not kidding; I was groaning in pain for three days and nights last time. If you don’t want that, just be smart and run.”

I overheard the murmuring.

That person was right.

There’s nothing more precious than your body.

That’s why I advised Camian and Annette to run if things looked bad.

“Everyone, stop.”

We had arrived.

The Infinite Tower stood before us.

From the outside, it looked like a ten-story tower.

“Enter one by one in order.”

Following Professor Lawrence’s instructions, the second-year students began to enter.

The interval was exactly one minute.

Each group entered the tower’s entrance one minute apart.

There was no risk of overlapping.

Upon entering, it felt like each group was transported to a different space, revealing their own unique interior of the tower.

It’s called a mystery for a reason.

The students who entered wouldn’t exit through a door.

The Infinite Tower had no exit.

After 100 minutes or upon using the teleportation magic circle, they would be summoned to a clearing marked with another magic circle.

That’s where the doctors and priests waited.

Oh, and the supervising professors too.

When summoned by the magic circle, the number of floors cleared would be clearly displayed.

An undeniable proof of their performance.

“Ugh… I’m starting to get nervous, Leader.”

As our turn approached, Allen spoke with a tense expression.

But his nervousness was expected and within my calculations.

“Relax. You’re the guy who did well against those resurrected orcs, right?”

“Huh? Yeah, that’s right.”

“And you have me and your rival here.”

“Not a rival. Absolutely not.”

Riviera interjected from beside us.

“If you prove yourself this time, I’ll cancel that statement.”

“Tch.”

I turned back to Allen .

“How about it? Feeling better?”

“Hmm… Hearing that from you, Leader, gives me some strength.”

That response wasn’t enough.

I added a decisive remark.

“The Spear of Benesse. I trust you.”

“Oh… Oh? Yes, please trust me!”

Allen ‘s voice filled with determination.

He was easy to read.

I chuckled and patted his shoulder.

“Next.”

Professor Lawrence’s voice.

“Alright, let’s go!”

I shouted energetically.

* * *

First Floor.

“Kiieek!”

“Kikik!”

The goblins’ noisy cries.

I assessed the situation in an instant.

And there was the boss monster.

Its color and size made it obvious.

A large goblin with a blue hue.

“Hey, send us over.”

As soon as I said that, the goblins noticed our presence.

“Kiek!”

“Kiieek!”

They raised their weapons, sounding the alarm.

“What are you doing?”

I urged Riviera, who seemed lost in thought.

She seemed to have made up her mind.

“Hmm… I’ll send you over.”

Riviera muttered something under her breath and waved her hand forward.

Then.

“Oh?”

“Wha… Whoa?!”

Allen and I floated in the air and started flying forward at a considerable speed.

“Great idea!”

“Aaah!”

I gave a thumbs-up while Allen screamed.

Before we knew it, we had flown past the lesser goblins and reached the boss goblin.

“Descend.”

At Riviera’s command, we plummeted downward.

Prepared for it, I maintained my balance and drew my sword.

A strike with the full weight of the fall.

“Kiek?!”

The boss goblin noticed but was too late.

Thud!

The boss goblin’s skull split in half, spilling a torrent of blood as its body collapsed.

I quickly checked my pocket watch.

“14 seconds.”

Even for the easiest first floor, this was fast.

If Riviera hadn’t hesitated, it would have been even faster.

‘We might go beyond the 50th floor at this rate.’

Riviera’s assistance was more than I had hoped for.

To others, it might seem almost like cheating.

We were saving so much time.

But.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

I called out to Allen , who had landed clumsily and hadn’t recovered.

“Sorry! It was so sudden, I panicked!”

Allen apologized.

I understood.

He was clumsy.

But he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Alright. We don’t have time to waste. Let’s go.”

I urged Allen as we ran towards the stairs.

“Coming with you.”

Vwoom.

Riviera flew over.

At that moment.

An idea struck me.

“Hey, let’s just fly together.”

“Hmm, should we?”

“Yeah.”

“Got it.”

Allen and I floated into the air again.

We headed straight for the stairs.

The sound of saving time was music to my ears.

‘Hehe, this is it.’

I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

We quickly reached the second floor.