Chapter 82 : Chapter 82

Chapter 82 - Precept

[ The final stage will now end. ]

[ We pay our respects to all surviving Climbers. ]

As the Water Dragon fell, the rain stopped, and the quaking ground stabilized, simultaneously.

The electronic display in the sky spewed out such sentences consecutively.

Well, that's right.

Now that even the Floor Master was taken care of, there was nothing more to proceed with.

And there was always something that followed this.

[ Main Quest: Survival of the Fittest ]

[ Detailed info?rmation cannot be viewed? yet? ]

[...]

[ Quest Cleared. ]

What the.

Why are you broken?

‘I can guess the reason, though.’

Originally, this Water Dragon boss fight was an event where the player was guaranteed to lose the first round, and the standard for evaluation was ‘how long you can survive’.

In that process, the quest clear criteria were graded based on ‘the maximum number of people you can save’.

So.

To shatter the boss's head in 15 seconds like I did, even before the progress information for such a main quest could be updated, meant that even by the original game's standards, a judgment like ‘What is this? Is it a bug?’ would come out.

Then, there should be something else that gets unlocked here.

[ Unbelievable achievement! An achievement is unlocked. ]

[ Achievement: Survival of the Fittest - Perfectionist ]

[ You have perfectly conquered a formidable ordeal without a single flaw. Everyone looks up to you! ]

[ Persuasiveness increases during the ‘Negotiation’ process. ]

And the phrase I had been waiting for additionally appeared with a clatter.

Honestly, there was a pretty big difference between having this and not having it.

As for what this ‘Negotiation’ written here was.

-...

It meant there were things to extort from the guy who would pop out of the portal opening before my eyes.

Seeing the knight clad in armor mixed with red and green, a triumphant smile formed on my lips.

***

The Knight of Red and Green.

A member of the Round Table, which meant he was one of the administrators who could exercise absolute rights within the Tower.

Of course, even setting that aside, his own combat power was terrifying.

Most of the knights of the Round Table were like that. It was to the point that the official tips advised against antagonizing them unless absolutely necessary.

Among them, this guy had a particularly strong tendency to look down on ‘humans’, and he was also a guy who would try to exercise his authority at the slightest displeasure.

In other words.

He was one of the most small-minded guys within the Conqueror.

“...Are you the one who defeated the Water Dragon.”

The knight spoke to me in a stiff voice.

Look at that. He reeked of displeasure that a mere human had smoothly overcome the obstacles he had arranged.

Still, the intimidation was less than the Guardian, whose voice echoed as if it had an echo effect every time he spoke.

“Hey.”

If that's the case.

From my perspective, who had struck a deal with the Guardian without batting an eye, he just looked ridiculous.

“Your words are a bit short, don't you think?”

“...What?”

“The Round Table isn't a group for looking down on Climbers like you. If I've overcome the ordeal through legitimate means, you should treat me accordingly, right?”

“...”

Though I couldn't see through his visor, the Knight of Red and Green, whose expression had surely crumpled, stared at me silently.

The purpose of the Round Table's existence was to ‘manage’ and ‘assist’ the conquest activities of the Climbers ascending the Tower.

And this guy was probably in the midst of swelling suspicion in his head, wondering how a mere human could know such a thing.

Whatever. I crossed my arms and waited. What I had just said was one of the ‘precepts’ that these guys had to abide by.

Indeed, the Knight of Red and Green, who was exuding reluctance with his entire body, began to speak haltingly, which proved my point.

His demeanor was much more polite than before.

“...Congratulations on passing all the gates. The Round Table is truly amazed by your conquest activities, and therefore, regarding the accounting of this ordeal's activities-”

“-Why are you doing that?”

“...”

As I cut him off mid-sentence, the Knight of Red and Green's expression began to grow increasingly grim. Though he didn't show it in his words or actions, a hostile mana was embroidering the entire air.

Ah~ he's mad~ he's got a straight face~

“Zero casualties, not even any injuries. The kill count of Demonic Beasts is definitely top-tier. The time taken to kill the Floor Master is less than a minute. By any standard, isn't that an S-class clear rank?”

“...”

But whether he was angry or not, this guy couldn't deny that everything I was spouting was a fact.

Moreover, the Water Dragon was a creature that should normally be encountered two floors higher, so the fact that he had even placed such a creature here made his counterarguments even more lame.

“...You are correct.”

“Right. Then you should be giving me the rewards, not talking about accounting or whatever. Isn't that right?”

Now, it wasn't just hostile mana, but a murderous intent that felt like it would tear my skin began to pour down on me.

So much so that the gallery behind me began to urgently send glances telling me to cut it out.

Well, don't worry too much.

Whether this guy personally disliked me or not, he couldn't attack me when his speech was being forcibly corrected to be polite.

“...”

But you know.

I would actually prefer it if this guy got a little angry at me.

Seeing the Knight of Red and Green's hands starting to tremble, it didn't seem like an impossible thing.

“...Th-then, about, the reward, let's, talk-”

“It's fine. I've already decided.”

As I said that with a grin, I could feel the gallery behind me slowly moving away.

It seemed they had instinctively realized that something was about to happen, having gotten to know me to some extent by now.

From my perspective, well.

I should praise them for learning well.

“You don't need to give me anything in particular. I'd be grateful if you could just pass on a message.”

“...Yes?”

“To your Guardian. Tell him he lost the bet, so he should keep his promise. That it was so easy it was absurd. That his standards are that low-”

Before the words could finish.

A surging flame engulfed my entire vision.

***

‘...I almost died.’

Looking at the Cloak of Darkness in front of me, which was cracked all over, such a thought naturally came to mind.

Since it was a fire-attribute attack, the damage was reduced thanks to the heaps of water-attribute buffs I had applied, and I had even activated the Observation skill and Bullet Time to deploy the cloak at the perfect moment, yet I was almost pierced through.

Messing with the Round Table inside the Tower usually leads to this kind of result. It meant that even a top-tier veteran who could one-shot a Water Dragon in 15 seconds could have his head blown off if he didn't deal with it with his utmost effort.

If someone hadn't helped, that's probably what would have happened.

-Jeokrok. What is the meaning of this?

“...Guardian.”

The Knight of Red and Green turned to look at the Guardian, who was peeking his head out of a portal, with a gloomy voice.

His entire body, which was still trembling as if from a vibration, seemed to eloquently express just how much his anger had risen.

“...This person insulted you, Guardian. I, I, I...”

-Yes. I know that too. But that's that, and the precept is the precept, isn't it?

“...”

Jeokrok fell silent, still trembling.

As I said before, the role of the Round Table was to assist and manage the activities of Climbers in the Tower. In principle, they were not supposed to attack for personal reasons unless a ‘Disciplinary Action’ verdict was issued.

Because the ‘system’ had decided it so.

-I'm sorry. To have you go through such a rough experience after overcoming the ordeal so well.

And at the Guardian's calm apology, Jeokrok's body stiffened this time.

He seemed quite shocked to see the Guardian apologize because of him.

-...Still, isn't that a bit too malicious?

“What do you mean?”

-You knew that if you clung to me, that child would get angry, and if he attacked you as a result, I would step in to mediate. So you deliberately crushed me as part of your plan?

“Yeah.”

As I calmly affirmed, I heard murmurs from behind me.

“He’s not even trying to hide it now...”

“I knew he was that kind of person from the start, but...”

“...”

Be quiet.

My opponent was the Guardian of the Tower, after all. He wasn't someone you could fool by pulling the wool over his eyes.

“You, you, you, you damn, insect-like human-!”

-Jeokrok. Stop.

And as soon as those words were heard, the Guardian's frosty voice fell upon the Knight of Red and Green, who was about to spew flames again like an erupting volcano.

-You've already broken the precept. You've also involved an excessive amount of personal emotion in the ordeal. I'm sure I told you before that you'd have to take responsibility?

“G-Guardian...”

-I'd appreciate it if you didn't become any more unsightly. You look quite pathetic right now.

“...”

Leaving the completely frozen Knight of Red and Green, the Guardian turned his head back to me.

Unlike his previous stern demeanor, the corners of his mouth were faintly raised.

Well. This was a bit unexpected.

No matter what, I thought he would at least feel some displeasure since I had used him as a means to provoke Jeokrok.

But right now, I could even feel a slight sense of favor from him.

-Alright. Then since I lost the bet. I must keep my promise. You said you'd get one thing from me, right? What do you want?

“You said you'd give me anything.”

-That's right. I'll give you anything I can.

Don't worry about that.

You can definitely give it.

Grinning, I pointed my finger at the Knight of Red and Green, who looked like his soul had left his body.

“Give me that.”

-...Huh?

It seemed this guy didn't expect this either.

Seeing the Guardian with a dazed expression was a surprisingly funny scene.

No, but if you think about it, it was a pretty reasonable proposal.

“He has to be punished for breaking two precepts anyway. Let me command him. You said you were sorry to me earlier, didn't you? As a token of your apology.”

-...

The Guardian, realizing what he had been caught in, gripped his temples as if his head was throbbing.

And at that sight, I also tensed my nerves.

This was the crucial point.

No matter how many promises I had bound this guy with, taking a member of the Round Table was no ordinary matter.

I would have to mobilize every card I could think of-

-Fine. Take him.

No need.

He's just giving him to me.

“Guardian?!”

-But you have to return him properly, okay? That child is high-quality personnel, you know.

Leaving the Knight of Red and Green, who was screaming in horror, the guy let out a faint smile and turned his head towards me.

-You're grateful, right?

“...I'm grateful.”

I truly was.

I didn't expect him to hand him over so easily.

Of course, I did need that guy later and was planning to get him out somehow, but the Guardian agreeing to my words so readily was definitely unexpected.

-Right. Then if you're grateful...

Next, the guy floated buoyantly towards me.

His body was translucent, and his face, deeply buried in a robe, was still not visible.

But he came so close that I could even feel his breath.

-From now on, you have to keep me entertained, okay? Promise.

Next, he poked my nose and giggled.

“...Wait a minute. He reeled that one in too? Is this for real?”

Seo Ah-in, who saw that, muttered some incomprehensible words.

What is she talking about?

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