120 – Returner’s Surprise (2)
[Entered the 5th floor.]
As an inorganic message comes to mind, my body tenses slightly. I was fiddling with the transparent gloves I got as a reward for the 4th floor.
“… “
There was no immediate threat. No, there is nothing to see at all. My entire field of vision was completely black.
In a pitch-black space, the only thing that exists is my body. Even though there is no light source anywhere, I can see my body clearly.
What is this situation? What about Choi Ji-won? Is the 5th floor a solo floor? You don’t even give me a weapon?
Stay alert and be fully alert to your surroundings. Because it was my first time experiencing this situation, I didn’t know what would happen.
“… “
As time passed and nothing happened, I cautiously stretched my hand forward. What I touch feels like a hard piece of wood.
After groping around like a blind person, I was finally able to recognize what state I was in. I was trapped in something shaped like a cube.
“… “
Since nothing changes right now, the muscles in battle stance gradually relax. It would be wise to take a wait-and-see approach until the situation changes dramatically.
“Baron Jorge will be well…” ?”
As the tension eases, the random thoughts that I had been suppressing come to mind. 4Th floor. Did the aliens return to their own world safely? Joonghyeon Yoon. William Smith. Glasses man. Baron Jorge. Otherworldly people.
I confirmed through a message that I survived, but I could not confirm exactly what happened. How are you doing?
And Choi Ji-won. When I think about last night, my face gets hot again. Wow, that’s a shame.
Just before my mind was buried in the stream of consciousness.
Hwaaah!
A bright light covers the field of vision, and the darkness surrounding all directions slowly disappears.
“Ugh… “
I instinctively closed my eyes, but consciously opened them.
“… ?”
What was revealed was a pure white structure.
A temple that is close to the style of ancient Greece, but slightly different, with pure white pillars supporting all sides. Yes, this was a temple. It’s also very sacred.
“… “
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
I frown and look around. The first thing I noticed were baby angels scattering flowers and blowing trumpets. The outside of the temple in the distance is covered with clouds instead of dirt.
In summary, the appearance of a ‘sacred temple’ that would appear in a creative work was copied and pasted. When I realized it, I felt very uncomfortable.
In the past, on the second floor, Archangel Raphael said, ‘I took on a form that would win the favor of humans.’ I thought this was also an extension of that. It was an appearance that would make an ordinary person want to kneel down and seek God.
“Hmm.”
I tried to grab the foot of one of the baby angels flying around, but my hand ended up passing right through the angel’s foot. Perhaps angels are illusions without substance.
“Okay, let’s see how far we can go.”
There are no other players in this temple other than me. It remains to be seen whether this is what the 5th floor is like or whether I am receiving special treatment. In short, there was nothing to do but wait.
Bambam bam! Bbabam! Bababam!
“Thank you!”
“I wish you endless glory in your future!”
-Wow.
As the baby angels, who were excitedly blowing their trumpets, finish playing, a large pillar of light falls in the center of the temple.
“Hello. Nice to see you. “My name is Archangel Raphael, and I am in charge of the 1st to 5th floors.”
A beautiful woman with an androgynous appearance slowly walks out of the pillar of light. The angel wearing a white toga and flowing red-brown curly hair matched the Archangel Raphael in my memories.
“… “
I reached out my hand and tried to shake it, but I couldn’t touch Raphael. Like baby angels, it seems to be an illusion.
Moreover, considering that he said, ‘Nice to meet you,’ it didn’t seem like I was receiving special treatment. Raphael and I have already met before, so he wouldn’t have said something like that.
＜5Th floor＞
-Clear conditions: Listen to everything Raphael says, and finally solve a simple task. You did a really good job.
A message window suddenly appears before my eyes. Speaking of congratulations, the 5th floor seemed to have a very different atmosphere from the previous floor. The overall atmosphere is bright, sacred, and joyful.
“… “What are we going to do?”
Of course, after seeing the devastation on the 4th floor, I could not accept this festival as is. I tilted my head crookedly and listened to what the archangel vision said.
“To all the climbers who have worked tirelessly without losing their will in the face of the ordeal of climbing the top. I, Raphael, dare to speak. Thank you so much for your hard work.”
Archangel Raphael begins his story with a gentle smile.
“Of course, I fully understand that saying something like this in a situation where the destruction of a civilization has been announced may seem heinous. But I want to tell you that we have designed the tower as favorably as possible for you.”
Raphael flicked his right hand, and a sphere in the shape of the Earth began to spin in his palm.
“Dear climbers. What do you think are the ‘uniquely human strengths’? Of course, there may be several answers. But I think there is only one answer.”
Chak. When Raphael puts both palms together, the image of the Earth disappears and the illusion of countless people appears behind him.
“I… I love humans. To be precise, I love the ‘will to live a better life’ that humans possess.”
A will that only humans have. You could call it greed. You could also call it a feeling of improvement. Or it is also called self-development.
Archangel Raphael loved everything humans did to become better humans. Because I thought that was the most ‘humane’ action.
“Barbaric methods like tutorials are not my way. Every floor I design is designed so that you can get as much as you put in.”
First of all, the first floor has endless uses depending on how it is used. Although there were some who were defeated by their animalistic desires and fell into luxury and pleasure, there were also many who actively used the first floor for training.
2Nd floor. You can become complacent and get a bronze or silver token, but if you put your body and mind into it and aim for a gold token or a higher token, you will be rewarded appropriately.
3Rd floor. The third floor was divided into different levels of difficulty, and the more difficult the level was, the better the reward was.
Lastly, the 4th floor. On the 4th floor, the more you try to protect the aliens without harm, the more difficult it becomes. If the climbers come up with a solution and the difficulty becomes too easy, the angel in charge observing the 4th floor creates an appropriate monster to always maintain a uniform difficulty level.
The theme that runs through all these layers is simple. Try hard. You will get what you put in.
“I wanted you to face your trials and overcome them, no matter how great your qualities may be. If you do that, you will be given reasonable compensation. Of course, sacrifices are inevitable in this process. “Some people may hate me because of this.”
Raphael’s smile disappears, and a slightly sad expression appears on her face.
“But the easiest thing to change a person is usually negative emotions.”
Jealousy. Complex. Anger.
People do not change overnight.
It is usually the intense feeling of wealth that completely distorts the human personality.
“Even if you guys hate me, I’m okay with it. If climbers just want to get stronger, I’m satisfied with that. “It means you guys have moved forward.”
Nod. Raphael bowed his head slightly and smiled softly again.
“Now, the task on the 5th floor is really simple. You can feel how much stronger you have become. “That’s it.”
With those words, the illusion of Raphael taking a step back.
“Well, I hope you continue to work hard. “I’ll just go.”
Raphael’s illusion gradually became blurred and soon completely disappeared. I am the only one in the vast temple.
“… “
It’s about improvement. Tell them not to talk bullsh*t. Of course, the desire to improve is a good thing. But what’s the point if people die because of it?
Moreover, it was said that when the number of players and the number of aliens on the 4th floor were equal, a terrifying ‘something’ appeared and caused serious trauma to the players.
It was probably a measure taken to ensure that people who were considered ‘unwilling to improve’ by his standards would never be able to climb the tower again. This guy pretends to be for humanity and is considerate, but behind the scenes he is insidiously leading us to do what he wants.
If you’re a bit stupid, you might think, ‘I have to work hard!’ You may be able to burn your will by saying,
“f*ck.”
The discomfort has subsided, but when I realize that this is just what he intended, I become more and more annoyed.
Of course, I wasn’t completely confident either.
Is what I did in the tutorial and on floor 4 really correct? No one died, but as Raphael said, the opportunity to grow was taken away. The opportunity to fight monsters was taken away.
Will they be able to be competitive in the floor where I am not? Even with great overall rewards, can the experience gap be overcome?
“… “
I don’t know. What is the correct answer? However, like Choi Ji-won, I decided not to worry about problems for which I could not find an answer. What I have to worry about now is that man trotting from the other side of the temple.
＜5Th floor＞
-Clear conditions: Defeat the enemy in front of you.
Jeopuk. Jerk.
A man holding a sword and staggering towards me.
“… Who is this?”
What does feeling how strong you have become have anything to do with the man walking over there? Does this mean that we should just set up a scarecrow and show off our strength to our heart’s content? Who is he?
But once the man walked close enough so I could distinguish his face, I was able to understand what Raphael was saying.
“… Huh, indeed. “It’s a cliché.”
What I walked for was… Junho Kim. It was me. Judging by the clothes I wore, it was me during the tutorial days. However, he may not have succeeded in copying it perfectly, as his eyes are blurry and his mouth keeps muttering something.
Seung.
“hehehe… “
At some point, a sword was held in my hand. I burst out laughing without realizing it. Is this what you meant by feeling that you have become stronger?
“I can definitely feel it.”
If me at the time of the tutorial were to compete with me now, who would win? Of course, 100 is 100. Not only has swordsmanship improved, but the stats themselves have grown tremendously. Being able to manipulate mana is a bonus.
Raphael would have wanted to say something. You guys have become so strong. The struggle to survive was not meaningless. Feel it with your own body.
It was very unpleasant because it seemed like he was acting as he intended, but since I was in the tower, I had no choice.
“Whoa… “
Take a breath.
Taaat!
I launch my body towards my alter ego. The guy seemed to be trying to respond in his own way, but his movements were extremely slow.
Shuhuaak!
A sword swing aimed at the clone’s neck. But there was no taste.
“… “
The clone took just one step back and avoided my sword attack by just a piece of paper. Due to the large difference in basic physical abilities, the movements were slow, but technically they were excellent.
“Oh my.”
At the time of the tutorial, I was okay with it. As I raise the corners of my mouth, I awaken my sleeping mana and focus on prayer.
My mental state, which had become dull after spending time with Choi Ji-won, is slowly returning to that of the 4th floor. Identify your opponent and begin calculating how to kill them efficiently.
Next blow. With the next strike, I take him down in one fell swoop. Maybe he won’t even react…
“… Uh?”
Without realizing it, my concentration was broken. A very slight pain felt on the back of the hand. A tingling sensation.
Before I could even figure out what this was, I felt the sensation of being sucked into somewhere.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 5th floor.]
***
“… ?”
I was back at the starting point on the 5th floor.