Chapter 41
Four days had passed since Suhyeok reached the 20th Floor.
He was currently hiding in an old inn located in the slums outside the capital.
Sitting in a chair, he stared at the mark engraved on the back of his hand.
[Trait - Will of the World Tree (S)]
·
Receives boundless goodwill from every elf race existing within the Tower.
·
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Can accelerate the growth of the World Tree.
·
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Once per day, can infuse a designated target with life force.
·
The Trait had evolved from Cult Leader.
It served in place of the World Tree’s Token while also removing all the unpleasant restrictions that came with the Cult Leader Trait.
On top of that, the elves’ goodwill would be a major help while climbing the Tower.
It was an unexpected windfall.
[Tch. What are you staring at so hard, nya?]
Leon slowly flew toward Suhyeok after spending a long time playing with Seong-a and finally putting her to sleep.
He seemed to have grown used to her by now and no longer complained much.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
[Ugh... I can finally rest, nya.]
Leon sprawled across the table and yawned.
Then he curled into a ball and began grooming his rough fur.
“By the way, what happened to Uji? I haven’t seen him much lately.”
[Hm? Oh, that guy?]
Leon flicked his tail.
[Managing both the 10th and 20th Floors is way too much work, nya. So I dumped it on him.]
He grinned.
[He’s only an Assistant Administrator now, so he can’t do anything without my permission anyway, nya.]
Apparently, Leon had already learned how to make full use of him.
Suhyeok quietly pulled a ticket from his inventory.
“The Constellations’ Banquet...”
A place where he could meet Constellations directly.
Perhaps...
He might even encounter the highest-floor Administrator there.
The date written on the ticket was two weeks away.
“......?”
Leon suddenly shot upright.
[Y-You! Where did you get that, nya?!]
He stared at the ticket in Suhyeok’s hand.
His mouth hung open in shock, and his tail stood straight up.
“It was a Hidden Dungeon reward.”
Suhyeok looked at him.
“Come to think of it, you might know.”
“What do you know about the Constellations’ Banquet?”
[O-Of course I know, nya!]
Leon nearly shouted.
[Whoa... E-Even I’ve never seen one in person before, nya...]
He looked at Suhyeok.
[Do you even know what kind of place that is, nya?!]
The Constellations’ Banquet was not simply a party.
It was a gathering where Constellations exchanged information among themselves.
Leon carefully touched the ticket.
[Listen carefully, nya.]
[Lower Administrators like me can’t go there.]
He paused.
[Even Intermediate Administrators can’t.]
Then Leon looked at Suhyeok seriously.
[You should realize how great an honor this is, nya.]
Just then...
Someone knocked on the door.
“Hyung, may I come in?”
It was Taesu.
He entered with a gloomy expression.
Then he sat across from Suhyeok.
“...Hyung, I have something important to tell you.”
He hesitated.
“It’s about Miss Yumi.”
Taesu’s face became more worried.
“Ever since what happened before, she hasn’t come out of her room.”
He sighed.
“It must’ve hit her harder than we thought.”
When they first arrived here...
Everyone except Suhyeok had been horrified.
That reaction was natural.
The scenery was completely different from the 10th Floor.
Dark.
Cruel.
Hopeless.
Slash!
“Move! That’s mine!”
“H-Hahaha...!”
An execution had taken place in the middle of the street.
Right in front of ordinary citizens.
Some people dipped bread into the blood flowing from a severed neck before eating it.
Everyone in Suhyeok’s group had looked shocked.
Taesu had tried to reassure them.
W-Well, at least this cloak was worth buying.
He forced a laugh.
Without it, we probably would’ve caused a huge scene.
The only reason the residents did not notice them as Players...
Was because of the Perception-Blocking Cloaks they had purchased from the Hidden Shop.
Taesu had looked around uneasily.
Let’s hurry.
He swallowed.
If we stay here any longer, I think I’m going to throw up... Miss Yumi?
Yumi had stopped walking.
Her gaze was fixed elsewhere.
SMACK! SMACK!
“Urgh! Ugh!”
A massive man who reminded them of Taesu was being whipped.
A barbarian.
A noble sat on the barbarian’s back.
He pulled hard on the leash around his neck like he was riding a horse.
“Why aren’t you moving faster?!”
The noble whipped him again.
“I have an important banquet today!”
He shouted furiously.
“You’re as slow as a slug!”
Behind the barbarian...
Several elves walked with heavy steps.
Their necks were connected with iron chains.
The noble shouted at them too.
“And why are you women walking so slowly?!”
He yanked the barbarian’s leash again.
“You uncivilized races are all the same!”
Then he struck the barbarian again.
“Move! Hyah!”
The people around them acted as though it were perfectly normal.
Almost everyone had at least one slave following them.
It was a horrifying sight.
Taesu remembered Yumi’s expression that day.
His fists tightened.
Then he looked at Suhyeok seriously.
“I don’t know exactly what happened to her in the past...”
His voice lowered.
“But the expression she had back then looked dangerous.”
Yumi had stayed inside for more than four days.
It might have been shock.
But there was probably also some pain she could not tell anyone about.
Taesu continued.
“Little sister Hyuna and I are both really worried.”
Then he gave an awkward laugh.
“So... I wanted to ask you for a favor, hyung.”
He scratched his cheek.
“Could you talk to her personally?”
Taesu smiled weakly.
“It’d be a bit awkward if I tried comforting her.”
Even now...
He worried about other people first.
He had always been like that.
Even in situations where he himself might die.
A memory suddenly crossed Suhyeok’s mind.
The 99th Floor.
Taesu’s final moments.
He had taken a dragon’s breath in Suhyeok’s place.
Even though...
He could have dodged it himself.
You’re still as foolish as ever.
Suhyeok stood.
“...Fine.”
He looked toward the door.
“There’s somewhere I need to visit first.”
Then he told Taesu,
“Wait here.”
After preparing to leave...
Suhyeok walked through the shabby alleys.
Kim Hyuna was beside him.
She looked around.
“Old man, where are we going?”
“Information Guild.”
Hyuna blinked.
“H-Here?”
Her reaction was understandable.
Who would imagine...
That the Information Guild manipulating the entire Aen Empire was hidden deep inside these filthy slums?
To handle the events ahead smoothly...
Suhyeok absolutely needed their cooperation.
Leon pinched his nose.
[Ugh. Every building here looks terrible, nya.]
He grimaced.
[Low quality, nya.]
Unlike Leon...
The Constellations were fascinated.
[Where’s he going now?]
[Is there actually anything useful in a place like this? I don’t remember anything.]
[Whatever it is, this should be entertaining lol.]
[Agreed.]
[This stream never disappoints.]
[I seriously wait for this broadcast to turn on every day now.]
Eventually...
They reached a secluded building.
The old sign looked like it might fall off at any moment.
It read:
[Tavern]
Hyuna looked troubled.
She glanced between Suhyeok and the sign.
“Um... This is a bar.”
Then her expression became awkward.
“And... I’ve never actually had alcohol before...”
Suhyeok opened the door.
“Let’s go in.”
“Oh. Okay...!”
Creak.
The moment they entered...
Sharp gazes fell on them.
The customers quickly returned to drinking as though nothing had happened...
But their eyes continued following Suhyeok and Hyuna.
A young man who looked like a bartender approached.
“Haha.”
He smiled politely.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before.”
He bowed.
“My name is Gordon. I work as the bartender here.”
Then he gestured toward the shelves.
“What would you like to drink?”
“If it’s your first time here, I can recommend something.”
Unlike the other customers...
He seemed genuinely friendly.
Suhyeok sat down.
Then he met Gordon’s eyes.
“I’d like a bottle of wine from Northweller.”
