episode_0035

“The sun sets.”

As the real sun was setting, my tier measurement came to an end.

Outside the measurement space, the instructor I had met when entering was waiting for me.

“The tier measurement schedule was delayed because of you. One person spending the whole day on it.”

“Well, I apologize.”

“It’s not a mistake. It’s impressive.”

I felt a bit embarrassed for causing trouble unintentionally, but I was also proud that I had done my best.

He took out a cigarette and offered it to me.

“Go smoke outside.”

“Yes, sir.”

Giving me the strength to endure until I returned to the dorm without cigarettes left. I should refrain from smoking here, even out of gratitude.

“I’ve never seen someone come out looking like they’re dead before.”

“I heard people are prepared to die, but it seems no one actually goes that far, huh?”

Since the tier measurement space is a virtual reality created with mana, even if limbs are severed or heads fly off, one only experiences similar pain without actually dying. If judged to have died, they are ejected outside.

However, the shock of dying is similar to actual pain.

Despite the disadvantage of giving up during tier assessment, most participants complete the measurement at a reasonable level or express their intention to give up during battle.

Seeing arms torn off and legs broken in front of them, and still deciding to continue until death is not easy.

“Honestly, I never imagined challenging the next tier even after my left arm was twisted.”

“To be honest, I hesitated at that time.”

Being bitten and twisted by creatures that were both fast and sturdy, I wanted to give up immediately when my left arm was twisted.

“My friend’s arm was actually twisted, not during the measurement.”

So I couldn’t make a fuss.

Pretending to be weak in the face of pain that was real but not real was too much for Lager to bear.

When the instructor reached out to me, I took off the tier band around my neck and handed it to him. The yellow tier band was damp with sweat.

He separated it and put it in his pocket.

Taking out a golden tier band from his pocket, he connected it to my tier band and handed it to me.

“Congratulations. Ale Cloi. From today, you’re Tier Brown.”

Skipping Tier Green, Blue, and Purple, advancing four levels in one go.

One level higher than Lager and Lina, two levels lower than Tier Red Dakota.

It was worth the lightning-fast cramming with a determination to die.

I held the tier band tightly in my hand. It was the same item I had been wearing until now, but it felt somehow more meaningful.

“Are there any other survivors who have jumped four levels at once besides me?”

“Not yet.”

“Oh, the first. Feels good.”

The title of the first always excites people. Pride in setting records and leaving a name behind. The sense of accomplishment of establishing my honor in front of many others.

These things could be described positively as being passionate in everything.

“Oh, the first. After the measurement, have you ever seen a survivor smoke in front of the instructor at the gym?”

“Don’t do it.”

Tick, tock.

“Oh well.”

Leaving behind another first title while smoking a cigarette, I leisurely made my way back to the dorm.

Today, the cigarette tasted particularly sweet.

Meanwhile, in an empty hospital room, Lager Godin frowned as he scrolled down the phone screen.

“71st place, huh.”

Grimacing, he threw the phone on the bedside table and lay down.

Beep, beep, beep.

The machine that was treating his broken arm detected an anomaly and made a noise. It was a warning that the wound had exceeded the treatment range.

“Ugh. Why is this so uncomfortable?”

Blaming the faulty medical device he had designed, Lager got up again.

Suddenly, he looked at his mangled arm. Thanks to the anesthesia effect accompanying the healing magic, he felt no pain, just a sensation as if his arm had swollen up like when pulling out a tooth.

It seemed quite a trial to spend a month like this, even though it didn’t hurt.

“What the hell are those guys.”

Humanoid monsters.

They were beings not present in Lager’s setting. Like his childhood friend Ael Cloie, they existed in this world but were not part of the original creator’s imagination.

He had not expected them to be so strong when he first encountered them on the subway, and getting fatally injured was not part of the plan.

Could he, or rather she, protect her in this situation?

His emotions were complicated due to the variables that intruded into the prepared scenario.

“No. No.”

He shook his head quickly.

It was a decision made considering the worst-case scenario. It was a plan he had pushed forward after much deliberation.

There was no regret.

Even if he regretted it, it was already too late.

“…Yujin.”

Lager quietly mouthed that name. Occasionally, when he recalled the memories before coming to this world, the name from that time naturally came to mind.

Had she done well in today’s tier measurement?

He thought about calling her, but decided against it. If the results were good, she would contact him on her own, and if they were not, it would only make things worse by unnecessarily scratching at the scab.

But he couldn’t help himself and ended up dialing the phone after thinking about it for ten seconds.

Ring, ring.

The sound of the signal felt unusually anxious today.

At the moment when he felt impatient, thinking she might have been injured.

“Hello?”

Her voice, still unfamiliar, came through the receiver.

Lager cleared his throat and straightened his neck before getting to the point.

“How did it go?”

“Guess.”

“Come on, just tell me.”

“Guess, damn it.”

Judging by her tic-tac response, it seemed like the results were good. Somehow, he felt relieved and his mind was at ease.

“Jump?”

“I jumped.”

“Oh, that’s impressive.”

“You’re trying to pass it off as ‘impressive’ by saying ‘jumped’ without knowing how many levels I jumped?”

Lager chuckled for a moment at her words. What did she mean by ‘levels’? So…

“Three levels of jumping? Really?”

“No. Four levels.”

“What nonsense. That’s not possible.”

“It is!”

Lager, thinking she was lying too confidently, sarcastically jabbed at her.

“Hey, I created this world, I have to deceive those who can be deceived.”

“Because it’s true. Are you the one who created this world?”

“Yes, that’s why you’re not fooled!”

“This guy is really something. Call me back later.”

Doubting her assertion, Lager reluctantly made a video call.

She, who answered the call in the dormitory, looked surprisingly confident, as if showing off her golden-colored life ring.

“See that?”

Facing her curiosity, Lager was dumbfounded and repeatedly doubted his own eyes. Jumping four steps at once. At this rate, it was almost confusing who the protagonist was.

His lower lip quivered. Apart from asking about mana recovery concepts the day after being admitted, he had been completely out of touch. Unless she had trained without a break for a day.

It was truly harsh. He had felt it since he was young, but she really deserved recognition for her perseverance.

“If I had even half of the perseverance you possess, would the future of this world have been different?”

Lager let out a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.

As a result, the angle of the camera momentarily shifted, capturing Lager’s recovering arm on screen.

“Hey. How’s your arm?”

She asked nonchalantly after seeing it. Even though her attitude seemed indifferent, Lager was quite pleased to hear her ask.

“If you’re curious, come and see for yourself.”

“I was actually planning to come today. But I couldn’t apply for a visitation, so I’ll go tomorrow.”

“If you want to come tomorrow, you have to apply today.”

“Oh, right. …Hey. Can you come down to the first floor if you go to the medical department?”

“No. I have to stay on the 7th floor until my arm heals. It’s a bit creepy.”

“Damn. I thought of trying to sneak a peek.”

“Still, by next weekend, after the intensive therapy is over, I can go to the first floor.”

“Thank goodness. But shouldn’t they make visitation requests available on the phone?”

Lager couldn’t be bothered to leave the dormitory again and jokingly laughed at her grumbling.

“Yeah. I forgot about that part again.”

“What? Why are you so easily admitting it? It’s unsettling.”

Seeing her frown, Lager couldn’t help but grumble according to her wishes.

“Even when I explain nicely, you’re still a pain. Do you only sleep well after being scolded?”

“I didn’t mean to scold you like that. Why are you so extreme?”

“Anyway, congratulations. I’m a bit tired. Let’s stop talking on the phone.”

“Fine, go away.”

She hung up with an annoyed tone, leaving Lager feeling frustrated.

The phone screen displayed only a blank wallpaper.

Staring at the empty wallpaper with hollow eyes, Lager muttered in a weak voice.

“Ayle. Ayle Chloe….”

He repeated her name once more. It had already been almost a week since he last saw her.

Lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, Lager suddenly thought.

It would be nice if I could just go down to the first floor for a moment.

“…Sigh.”

He sighed and closed his eyes for no reason.