Party Climbing

I was planning to solo climb.

I need to clear the 30th floor.

I need to get stronger quickly.

While falling asleep, a jumble of thoughts filled my head.

But I could organize the conclusion to those thoughts into one.

In the end, the problem is getting stronger, so if I get stronger, my worries will be neatly resolved.

Awakened Ability.

Let’s handle that well.

I Awakened and got an Awakened Ability after all this time, but I haven’t been using it properly and have been letting it sit.

It’s only been a month since I Awakened.

Awakened consider their Awakened Abilities as their own hands and feet, but Americano still couldn’t consider her Awakened Ability as her own.

The sensation of using it is definitely as real as using her hands and feet, but it felt more like an accessory.

Building up her skills was important, but her Awakened Ability was also clearly her talent.

It needs to be incorporated into her skills.

Until now, it felt like she had only incorporated it as a helper character.

‘Awakened Ability.’

Yes, Awakened Ability.

This is important.

An formidable enemy has appeared, so I can’t just dismiss it as strong but the game will be boring.

If I were to choose the easiest way for me to get stronger right now, Awakened Ability would definitely be the top priority. Now, let’s handle not only the sword but also the Awakened Ability well.

The next morning.

We gathered in the first floor restaurant.

Tang So-hye and Skilla.

I formed a party with the two of them.

I was reminded of the days when I was an Unawakened Hunter, when the proportion of female Hunters was high, and I often became the only man in the group.

It’s not that I dislike party play.

It’s just that I remember being used for errands for trivial reasons, which makes me uncomfortable.

Matching people’s moods consumes more mental energy than you might think.

Especially in a profession like a Hunter, where you risk your life, there are many sensitive people due to high stress. I had to pay attention to all of that during my Unawakened Hunter days.

After experiencing those things, I considered forming a party more of an ordeal than a pleasure.

I had enough of it during my Unawakened Hunter days, so why should I team up with others even in the game? Even if there is a reason, is it worth covering up the discomfort?

That’s what I thought, and I turned away from party play.

But still…

‘Maybe the problem was the people after all.’

Since the partners were Tang So-hye and Skilla, the mental hurdle to forming a party was lowered.

They said they would protect me.

They said they would help me grow.

I was swayed by those sweet words.

‘They’ll protect me.’

It’s just those words, but my heart is pounding.

Even though they are weaker than me.

But those words were for me.

Americano, who had never had anyone say kind words to her, had almost no immunity to such words.

That’s right.

Americano was easily swayed.

But it couldn’t be helped.

Even though I like being alone, I can’t be alone forever.

Even an Outsider who likes being alone sometimes longs for people.

As someone who didn’t have friends to keep in touch with, she had a long-accumulated loneliness. She did have some close friends, but they were all busy.

It would have been different if she had even one friend to lean on,

But in reality, there was no one who thought well of Americano and cared for her.

Why not?

Because she was an Unawakened Hunter?

Because she ruined the atmosphere?

Because the world was ending?

Because she was a man?

Because she was an Outsider?

Because she was comfortable being alone and not actively seeking out relationships?

Come to think of it, whenever I attended raid dinners, the atmosphere somehow turned strange. Like hunters hiding as if they had found prey.

I wondered if I was such an atmosphere-ruining presence, and if it was wrong that I liked being alone and tried not to meet people as much as possible?

‘Ah… why are my thoughts so long.’

Lonely memories creep up.

What will change even if I think about these things?

The things that she had unknowingly accumulated poured out like a flood.

This party invitation was like that.

When she received the warm gazes and the consideration in the hands reaching out to her, a subtle attraction arose in her heart.

Without realizing it, she didn’t want to find fault with their feelings, thoughts, and opinions, so she would shut her mouth, agree, or unconditionally want to participate.

Like a treasure.

The two people who thought well of her.

How could she treat these precious people carelessly?

It would be better to push them away and be alone.

But before she could push them away, they had invited her to a party, and she couldn’t refuse.

Even if [Outsider] interfered, she could refuse if she was determined to refuse.

Americano had thought.

I want to try partying with these two people.

Since she wasn’t stubbornly attached to solo play anyway, it would be fun to play a round once in a while, right?

[Party Climb]

[1st Floor]

We entered the Tower.

We passed through the Trial Square and entered the Tower entrance together, and one more person was added.

Nabi.

‘I am the young lady’s attendant. If it’s a solo climb, it can’t be helped, but if it’s a party climb, I will follow.’

She accompanied us on the party climb.

She is not a Hero, but she can participate in the party climb as a mercenary system concept.

Of course, you can’t take her on a solo climb. That’s where only the Hero can climb with their own strength. At least you can take a pet.

Party Climb 1st Floor.

“Both of you, relax.”

“It’s my first time in the Tower.”

“….”

It was Nabi’s first time in the Tower.

And Americano was an [Outsider].

Tang So-hye and Skilla, who were in the lead, were relaxed without any tension.

1st Floor Stage.

Monsters were waiting.

[Orc]

Gray letters.

There were 3 [Orc]s.

Weak.

Americano thought so without looking at the color of the letters.

Having seen many familiar [Goblin Warrior]s and [Orc Elite Warrior]s, the pot-bellied Orc looked very weak.

As expected, the 1st floor is anticlimactic.

That’s what I was thinking when.

“Orcs?”

“Orcs from the 1st floor… and three of them?”

The two people who had been without tension shouted in surprise.

The battle had already begun.

Skilla alone sliced through the three Orcs with a single swing of her greatsword.

But her serious expression did not change.

Nabi asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“….”

Skilla’s face was deep in thought.

“First, before going up to the next floor, I want to confirm one thing. What difficulty did you two set when you were chosen as Heroes?”

Skilla answered first.

“I’m Grand Master.”

“Me too, Grand Master.”

They both looked back with eyes that said, “What about you?”

“Grand, Master.”

“All three of us are Grand Master.”

“But.”

Americano was sweating profusely.

Did I do something wrong?

The difficulty was messed up because of me.

“I’m, currently, Challenger.”

“Challenger? There was such a thing?”

Tang So-hye asked with a question mark.

Of course, there wouldn’t be.

Should I tell the truth?

That I deliberately got cursed by the nun when I received the main Quest.

Even though I don’t know if I can explain it properly, I diligently explained the journey of becoming a [Challenger].

“I see.”

Skilla nodded.

Did it get across well?

“I commend you for your passion.”

It got across well!

Haa… I was scared for nothing.

“But an Ancient Great Devil. There was such a main Quest? I’ve never heard of a main Quest that raises the difficulty when you receive it.”

It doesn’t seem like everything got across.

‘Who cares!’

It’s embarrassing to correct them and say that I deliberately Sylphed to raise the difficulty.

“So there was such a Quest?”

Skilla showed interest.

“Shall I teach you how to receive it?”

“I’d appreciate it. Should I pay you?”

“No. I’ll just teach you.”

“Thank you.”

Nabi said in bewilderment.

“You’re going to receive it?”

“Grand Master is already known to be difficult.”

Tang So-hye chimed in, looking dumbfounded.

Skilla’s will was firm.

“My father said that the harder the adversity, the brighter it shines. Heroes can be resurrected even if they die. Challenger? How can you overcome the end if you can’t overcome that level of adversity? I’ll do it!”

Americano applauded inwardly.

That’s the gamer spirit.

Since we’re forced to enjoy it for a long time, if we set the difficulty too easy, we won’t be able to enjoy it for long.

Welcoming Skilla’s will, I shared the source of the main Quest.

“I don’t know how to report this.”

Nabi, Skilla’s attendant, rubbed her forehead and looked troubled.

Party climbs repeat the floors as many times as there are members.

Three times for three people.

Four times for four people.

Since there are three Heroes excluding Nabi, we proceeded through the 1st floor three more times.

I asked Tang So-hye.

“Then, is the 81st floor like that too?”

“I’ve heard that it is. There are over 100 participants, so you have to win 100 times. And it’s a headache because the same or different boss monsters appear all 100 times.”

If the compatibility is bad, you have to massively replace party members.

“You can’t change a boss monster once it appears, so you challenge it dozens or hundreds of times and win only once.”

“Wow…”

Amazing perseverance.

Hundreds of times to win once.

Since you have to win 81 times, it’s thousands of times.

It could easily exceed ten thousand times.

Just imagining it makes me sick of it.

Americano hated repetition.

‘At least the boss monsters remember the previous battle, so they might not be completely the same.’

“Can’t you change it at all?”

“That’s not true. You know the Wish Stone you get as a reward for clearing the solo climb, right?”

“Yes.”

“You can change it by making a Wish with that.”

“How much do I have to use?”

“Hmm… as far as I know, as much as the floor. 1 for the 1st floor. 81 for the 81st floor.”

“And, if I challenge it hundreds of times and get stuck, it’s 81, right?”

“They try to clear it as much as possible.”

So Wish Stones also have that kind of role?

Americano had no idea.

She had never even thought of changing the boss monster, so she didn’t know.

But online games are a kind of competitive game, and not all clans have the means to deal with all boss monsters.

To run as a frontrunner, you avoid unfavorable opponents.

That’s when you need a Wish Stone.

Is the Wish Stone a pass ticket?

“Hmm.”

“You seem to have used it from the way you’re talking?”

“Yes…”

“What did you Wish for?”

“Huh? Uh…”

I Enhanced [Outsider].

And other things as well.

I said something ordinary.

“A Holy Skill, a little.”

“Holy Skill?”

Tang So-hye asked with sparkling eyes.

While Tang So-hye was asking, “What did you learn?”,

Skilla answered.

“Come to think of it, the one that Healed me last time was Heal, right? Is that it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh?”

Tang So-hye reacted favorably.

And realized.

“Ah, I forgot, when you receive the main Quest, learn a Holy Skill and go.”

“Why?”

“You need it when you take the test. You have to catch monsters like the Ancient Devil’s creations, and only Holy Skills can deal damage.”

“So you left out something important.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It happens.”

Skilla continued.

“But if it’s necessary for battle, shouldn’t you have received Bless?”

“It deals damage to Ancient Devils instead of healing.”

“So the power of God is like poison to Ancient Devils? That’s good information?”

Is it just Tang So-hye who thinks so? She tilted her head.

It’s a common sense compatibility relationship in reality, but it seems it wasn’t for Skilla and Nabi.

Skilla grinned.

“Firepower, support, recovery. Even support abilities that can rival level 50. Americano, you.”

“…Yes.”

“Aren’t you too capable?”

“Is that so?”

I’m embarrassed when you praise me so suddenly.

I couldn’t hide my smile.

Skilla looked at me.

“There are more things I want to ask, but let’s clear the 2nd floor first.”

I agreed with the party leader Skilla’s opinion.

We went up to the 2nd floor stairs.

“But.”

[2nd Floor]

Cleared.

All three times.

We can only exert as much strength as 1 level on the 1st floor and 2 levels on the 2nd floor, but they already had more than 2 levels of proficiency.

[2-1st Floor Goblin Warrior Unit] [Clear (1/3)]

[2-2nd Floor Orc Warrior] [Clear (2/3)]

[2-3rd Floor Kobold Group] [Clear (3/3)]

Tang So-hye said.

“The difficulty is hopeless?”

“Is it?”

“No, think about it. Orc Warriors on the 2nd floor. You usually meet them on the 20th floor. But you’re meeting them on the 2nd floor? The difficulty is crazy. It’s almost dark red based on level 1.”

Grand Master and Challenger.

The difference was bigger than I thought.

“Well, if you have the skills, you can beat a 20 level difference when you’re level 1. But what if this goes up to the 20th or 30th floor?”

A terrifying monster that you can’t cover with skills will come out.

“Americano, you managed to think of doing this terrifying thing? And you’re not even using your Awakened Ability? I understand why you’re still level 3.”

Tang So-hye stroked Americano’s head with a complicated face.

“So you were actually doing well?”

“….”

Actually, I’m level 30.

Should I clear up the misunderstanding?

I’ve gotten used to the pronunciation now.

At first, I was flustered by their reactions and my pronunciation leaked and stuttered,

But I fixed it now.

I can still speak clearly, even if there are some gaps in between.

My pronunciation leaks and stutters when I say long sentences like when I was talking about the main Quest acquisition conditions, but clearing up the misunderstanding of being level 30 only takes a short sentence.

But do I really have to clear it up?

Pat pat.

My head was stroked.

“….”

‘Do I really have to clear it up?’

I wondered.

‘It’s a bit much to reveal that I’m level 30 now.’

Efforts to clear up a misunderstanding at the point where the misunderstanding has been established are very annoying and troublesome.

I can feel that everyone is being considerate because they see me as a low level.

Even now, as Tang So-hye is lightly stroking my head without thinking, it’s because she thinks of Americano as a weaker being than herself.

‘But what would they react if I revealed that I was level 30?’

Wouldn’t it be awkward?

I didn’t know that being cared for was so pleasant.

If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t even be thinking about it.

I would have rejected the party invitation in the first place.

I’m thinking too much.

My head hurt because of the thoughts.

Pat pat.

Haa…

“? What’s wrong?”

“Just a little…”

I decided to be level 3 for a while.

It’s not really a bad thing, is it?

It’s not reality.

It’s just a misunderstanding in the game.

Let’s just quietly have my head stroked for now.