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— SwaggeringAwesomeGuy: Nonsense, there was no passage when I passed through the hallway earlier.
ㄴ I thought so too, but after cleaning, it seemed like the floor had split like stairs.
ㄴ It seems like it opens at certain designated times. I’ll go check again tomorrow.
ㄴ Looks like you’re also in on this. But why does it feel like I’m seeing you for the first time? Don’t you usually manage the forum?
ㄴ SwaggeringAwesomeGuy: When the next point shop opens, I’ll give out concert tickets.
ㄴ What’s that? I don’t attend concerts.
ㄴ SwaggeringAwesomeGuy: It’s already decided. Thanks for the valuable information.
====
After promising to give him a front-row ticket to the ‘SuperconductorSilverHairedGirl’s Exclusive Concert (no specific date)’ in exchange for the good information, he closed the location note.
As it didn’t belong to a specific School, the castle was left open with minimal security measures such as alarm magic at night.
Arriving on the cold floor where I had been sitting all day, I examined a stone chair and its surroundings.
I could definitely feel the air flowing from the small gap in the floor.
Although it was a simple stone, it couldn’t be broken with ordinary force.
This was when the unique techniques of an adventurer’s Intuition came into play.
I aimed the spear tip at the floor’s crack while standing on the stone chair. It was an uncomfortable position, but I wasn’t worried about missing.
The first technique, “Must-Hit”, ensured that once the spear left my hand, it never missed its target within my Intuition.
Standing on a stone chair, I aimed the tip of my spear at the gap in the floor.
It was an uncomfortable position, but I didn’t have to worry about getting a hit.
Regardless of the stance, distance, or visibility, it relentlessly pursued until it reached its end.
When Mariel found herself in the Great Labyrinth, lightly poking her head was to adhere to this minor rule.
As the dark spear accurately penetrated the crack, I executed the second technique.
Kagag!
The “Must-Pierce” technique penetrated any defense or obstacle.
The spear, lodged in the crevice, cut through the floor like tofu.
These were the two techniques that broke the Gate of the Underworld.
A slightly different sensation from mana expenditure—a dull headache—occurred in my head. I got down from the chair, raising the spear as if it were a magnificent object.
If I used the remaining two techniques, I wouldn’t even need this effort, but I didn’t have the confidence to use them quietly.
Fortunately, after changing positions several times, I discovered a hidden passage before the spear broke.
‘Surely they won’t be coming to find me already?’
I repaired the damaged spear and checked the Witch Note.
I was worried that someone might have swapped the recent data fragments with their findings and might be running towards me with malicious intent.
Fortunately, I was the only one around, but a strange signal had been detected from afar, beyond the winding underground passage.
*
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, what an amazing coincidence to meet you on the first floor, Prina. Who did you come to meet?”
“Don’t dodge the question. This is the platform where the express arrives. Are you looking to hire graduate students?”
“That’s right. We need people who can contribute to the research in the Aitar School. They are talented individuals who can work diligently at a low cost. We can’t miss this opportunity!”
Rupert, from the Aitar School, surveyed the faces of those thrown from the 44th floor as he spoke.
Most of them had committed crimes or had been implicated in scandals within their schools, requiring dreadful punishments to ascend the tower again.
Working as a day laborer until they paid off their sins with indefinite, unpaid, and endless labor.
If they didn’t like that, they would be confined to memorizing all the documents in the library on the first underground floor without light or food.
“Do you see any useful individuals? I heard there are a few from the White Families this time.”
“Hmph, I don’t need help from these kids to climb up alone. Besides, there are more people who won’t come out of the first underground floor than those who enter the Aitar School.”
“That’s why we need to hire those in dire situations who might be persuaded. How about that one?”
Rupert pointed to Toby, who had just disembarked from the train, wearing shackles far heavier than the others.
No matter how talented a magician was, if they had a bad criminal record, most schools wouldn’t accept them as graduate students.
“He’s from the Franz family line. He’s one of the main culprits in the train bombing incident that occurred on the express.”
“Is there still a reward left? I’d love to see Clark’s hard-earned money turn into a bounty!”
“He doesn’t seem like such a bad guy to me. I heard he participated in this incident to find his missing younger sister.”
“There’s always a story behind every tomb. Why did you come to the Tower?”
“Well, don’t be like that. Why don’t you make your case? Prina here is the ace of our Aitar School.”
Toby remained silent, bowing his head quietly.
Even if they sympathized with him and he managed to work at the Aitar School, nothing would change.
He didn’t have the skills to climb up to the 44th floor on his own, and it had been over five years since his sister went missing.
Nonetheless, following the order to attack the Glesia School was simply because he didn’t want to give up hope.
“No need for long explanations. If you’re Franz, then count me in.”
“Oh, really?”
“I was once ranked 3rd in the White Families, Herzhe Solon. It’s been quite a while since she went missing, hasn’t it? It’s sad that both siblings suffered the same fate in quick succession.”
“We are…! W-what did you just say?”
Toby, who had been staring at the ground, looked up at Prina’s words.
Curse or not, the scholars of the Tower were masters at deciphering the grudges and resentment entwined with a person. T
he woman, clutching the voodoo doll as if it were a precious treasure, was the same.
The figure with black hair and a needle in her hand reminded him of someone faded from memory.
“Is this a very famous method? Inviting the children of a rival family into the Void, then lying about the conditions for obtaining ownership of the area and submerging them without even finding their bodies.”
“B-But the test is for the spirits …!”
“Look, you’re already showing signs of hesitation. If you’re not a summoner, you can’t even hear the spirits, and even summoners often get deceived if they can’t control the spirits.”
“…”
“Usually, for climbing, people only go to places with reliable information or places validated by the schools. The mid-levels are dangerous for this reason. Even wizards who led their families by the collar get taken advantage of if they get greedy.”
So who could the culprit be?
With a trembling voice, Prina shrugged in response to the question she received.
If you want to hear more, it was an unspoken pressure to come to the Haeju School.
As Toby nodded slowly, she shared her thoughts as if it weren’t a big deal.
“High chances are, they were ranked lower than you, probably around the top 10. Herhe Solon’s reputation was as the ‘Summoner of the Waves’, so it must be related to summoning or the Water element. If their ranking rose rapidly recently… isn’t it them?”
*
“What’s this?”
Following the signal from the note, I arrived at the end of the passage and discovered a treasure room piled with so much rubble that my eyes widened.
If I were an ordinary person, I wouldn’t hesitate to open my pockets right away.
However, I had a psychological barrier against piles of gold and goods like this.
Whenever I dealt with dragons and plundered their lairs, adventurers’ ugly faces always appeared.
Even inside nests with precious items, there were hidden dangers, and they often argued loudly and split up among themselves.
Especially certain types of artifacts could mesmerize human minds, causing even high-level adventurers to succumb easily.
So, at some point, people began referring to me and my colleagues who paid no attention to glittering things as the “Great Three Adventurers”.
This judgment was once again correct, as I examined the interior of the vault and soon discovered a body… something similar.
She was frozen as if time had stopped. From the thin nose bridge and elegant eyebrows thick with dust, it seemed she had been neglected here for quite some time.
In her arms were ten gold coins from the treasure room, a torn Witch Note, and strangely, a single sword.
Examining the robe closely with the familiar number ’38’ written on it, I lifted the robe and checked the Witch Note that caught the signal.
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ID: TrappedOnThe44thFloor
Post: 67414
Comments: 0
List of posts written:
[Trapped on the 44th floor, please help]
[Trapped on the 44th floor, please help]
[Trapped on the 44th floor, please help]
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.
.
.
“What is this?”
It was a sight quite familiar with the plaster and concept art.
It seemed that she had tried to obtain ownership of this treasure room but failed, turning into stone.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out the conditions to become the owner of this place.
Using interference, I checked the state, and a chilling number ’95’ came to mind.
I’m sorry, but I can’t solve this.
Maybe it would be different if I had the skills to climb up to the 44th floor by myself, but for now, it was beyond my capabilities.
Feeling somewhat melancholic, I wished her peace.
Still, there was an internal intimacy as fellow forum users, so I decided not to ban without reason for a while.
I thought I would just let it scream, considering the broken Witch Note as the deceased’s final words.
Just as I was about to turn away with little gain.
Clang!
“Huh?”
The sword that Gonick had been holding in her arms until a moment ago fell to the ground.
At the same time, my account began to receive loud messages.
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TrappedOnThe44thFloor: Aaah!
TrappedOnThe44thFloor: I’m trapped! I’m trapped! I’m trapped!
TrappedOnThe44thFloor: Help me, please.
TrappedOnThe44thFloor: Admi-!
TrappedOnThe44thFloor: Admin-!!!
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Prina
