Chapter 31
Tier Four of Egen Tower is themed around a knight's heroic tale.
The latter half of that story is driven by quests involving a political marriage.
'A common story.'
The empire wants the princess as both a hostage and a means of strengthening relations with the kingdom.
The kingdom has no choice but to agree.
Of course, this is a fact that will be revealed on Floor 36.
On Floor 33, the story is only just beginning to touch on it.
In other words, at the current point in time, I was bringing up something that hadn't even been confirmed yet, but
"Is that really true? Has it already been decided in the empire?"
The princess took the bait beautifully.
Just as I'd expected.
'Of course it would go like this.'
Was that something a mere newly knighted nobody would say?
Those were the words of someone with imperial blood.
It would have been strange not to take them seriously.
-Mutter.
"No, I've never met someone like you…."
Of course, the princess quickly realized the contradiction—that someone like me didn't currently exist in the empire—but…
'It doesn't matter.'
A tier's story always proceeds as predetermined.
Because the Tower's coercive force guides the NPCs.
Luca, the sacrificial offering on Tier Two, was a good example.
I'd even been assigned the backstory of a bastard, hadn't I?
If I gave her a plausible explanation, the princess would come to the wrong conclusion on her own.
'Well then, let's see if she'll bite.'
"Because there are circumstances I can't discuss."
After a brief moment of thought.
I tossed out a vaguely meaningful remark.
"I'd appreciate your understanding."
I wore a slightly bitter smile.
It was the smile I often wore back in the orphanage.
It was the method acting of a former orphan with no family.
Would it work?
"Pardon? What does that… Ah."
"Please don't ask for more details. It's not a pleasant story."
"…I understand, for now."
Deception successful.
Now I just had to keep talking.
"Let's establish one thing first. This won't cause any trouble for the kingdom."
"What do you mean?"
"Even if I interfere with the political marriage, neither you nor the Babel Kingdom will suffer any repercussions."
I reassured her for the moment.
Perhaps she didn't believe me, because the female knight cut in.
"New recruit… Ahem, Sir Ryu Hwi-min. Forgive my bluntness, but I believe that's impossible."
"Why?"
"If the empire really wants the princess to marry into it, the moment you forcibly break that arrangement…."
"Normally, that would be the case."
I moistened my lips.
I chose my words carefully, too.
The result of trying not to misspeak was a fairly convincing line.
"I know the future."
"…The future?"
"The empire plans to marry the princess off to its finest swordsman. Though in reality, it'll be the Third Prince."
A bluff that wasn't quite a bluff.
On top of that, a spoiler for the Tier-Four story.
The princess's eyes widened.
"The Third Prince!? He's a sword-crazed lunatic—Gah!!"
"It's all right. He is a sword pervert, after all."
I chuckled too.
Third Prince Berse.
The mid-boss of Egen Tower's Tier Four.
A sexual deviant aroused by swords.
From the empire's perspective, he'd be a headache, so they'd use him for a political marriage, but…
From the princess's perspective?
My husband: a sword pervert.
Weren't those six words enough to show how bleak her married life would be?
"Prince Berse is certainly…."
"Well, um."
"He's undoubtedly a man of great dignity, but I'm not sure whether he has any interest in women… or living beings, for that matter."
The princess, the female knight, and even the maid agreed.
The Third Prince struck out three times.
And that gave me the opening to step in.
"I'm going to stop that."
"You, Sir Ryu Hwi-min?"
"Yes. That's all I want."
I held up the imperial ring.
The princess's gaze lingered on it for a moment before shifting to my eyes.
Our eyes met, each reflecting the other.
"You can send one knight to participate in the contest, too. Send me."
"Isn't the outcome practically predetermined? Reversing it would cause serious trouble."
"Don't worry. The Third Prince is actually…."
"…You sound remarkably confident. Almost as though you've 'seen the future and returned.'"
"Would I be doing this without confidence?"
-Swoosh—
I held out my hand.
After a moment's hesitation, the princess accepted my handshake.
-Squeeze.
"I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise. Truly… my knight from far away."
The princess's fingers briefly brushed the imperial ring on my finger, but…
With my Dragon Eyes, I could tell she hadn't played any tricks.
It should be fine.
* * *
After gaining the princess's backing.
My Tower climb proceeded at breakneck speed.
"What do you mean!? How dare you induct someone of such lowly status into the Minette Knights!!"
"He should at least serve in another knight order and prove his loyalty to the kingdom first…."
"Her Highness the Princess has ordered that Sir Ryu Hwi-min be inducted into the Minette Knights!"
"……Ah."
Floor 33. Joining the royal knights.
Cleared with a single click of the princess's order.
"Sir Ryu Hwi-min has been chosen as deputy commander of the knights."
"Even if it's the princess, she can't do this! The Minette have traditions! How can he join without crossing swords even once…."
"Do you have the confidence to defeat him in a spar?"
"……."
Floor 34. Becoming deputy commander.
Cleared with one click as well.
"The princess's guard detail will consist of Sir Ryu Hwi-min and me. Any objections?"
"…Even so, he's a man, so…."
"Are there any female knights who could defeat Sir Ryu Hwi-min—let alone me?"
"……."
"Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am."
Floor 35. Being selected as the princess's guard knight.
Cleared comfortably by parachuting in.
It was like climbing three floors in a row without drawing my sword even once.
Of course, the princess's influence wouldn't work after this…
'It doesn't really matter.'
Why else would I have planned to climb Egen Tower again starting from Floor 36?
It was because this way was much faster.
I didn't even need to cheese my way through.
Egen Tower itself was a freebie.
-Ding.
[You have entered Beginner's Tower, Floor 36.]
On the way to the empire…
"Spatial Slash!!!"
"Gyaaaah!!!!"
Take Floor 36, for example.
The monsters attacking the carriage bound for the empire were wiped out with a single click of my Stigma.
"So you're Ryu Hwi-min. Jenny of the Chain Sword will determine whether you qualify to participate in the honorable duel…."
-Slice.
"Are you going to keep fighting?"
"…No, sir!! Safe travels!!"
Floor 37.
The imperial knights who picked fights with me along the way were disarmed with Myriad Daggers.
"Change into the prescribed attire and learn the etiquette. You'll pass once you've mastered all the basic etiquette."
"……."
'How is this the hardest one?'
Floor 38.
At the imperial palace I'd finally reached, I studied etiquette to catch my breath before the final battle.
It had taken me a little less than a day to get this far.
The bus driver's estimate was ten days, and even I had expected five.
In other words, I'd cleared most of Tier Four in just 20 percent of the expected time.
But what had I accomplished in a single day?
-Ding.
[You have obtained the reward for climbing Floor 38.]
- Stat Points +20
- Lowest-grade Healing Potion x1
- Weapon/Armor Summon Ticket x1
[The trait 'Golden Rule+' activates.]
You obtain the following additional reward.
- Stat Points +1
[Ryu Hwi-min]
Level: 887 (+127)
Title: Beyond the Impossible
Strength: 280+50 (+40)
Agility: 265+50 (+40)
Vitality: 235+50 (+30)
Mana: 113+50 (+17)
Luck: 53+50
"Sweet, so sweet~."
I'd become the strongest person in the world, not just Korea.
A person who cleared Tier Four of the Hard Tower was level 801.
Meanwhile, I had achievement rewards, Golden Rule's bonus rewards, and even a higher-tier title.
Confidence surged through me.
'With this, I should really be able to challenge the Tier-Four boss in the Hard Tower….'
"…Right?"
Even that confidence ebbed a little when I thought about fighting the Hard Tower boss, but regardless.
'I should climb the Tower itself first, then think about it.'
-Clomp—
My footsteps echoed through the safe zone.
I was headed for the portal to Floor 39.
Since I'd switched the Tower's difficulty as soon as I received the reward, Egen Tower's white light enveloped me…
-Ding.
[You have entered Beginner's Tower, Floor 39.]
For you, acknowledged as the kingdom's strongest,
only one task remains: stopping the princess's political marriage.
Resist the predetermined fate.
Open up a new future.
Everything is in your hands.
[Objective]
- Win the duel's final round (If you fail, you will restart from Floor 31; climbing rewards cannot be obtained again)
- Reach the next portal
[Reward]
- Stat Points +3
"Then, from this moment on!! We shall determine the strongest sword worthy of the flower of the Minette Kingdom!!!"
"Waaaaaah!!!!"
A deafening roar.
My gaze swept over my surroundings.
A colosseum similar to the one on Tier 31, but far more splendid, came into view.
'This is what they call bringing things full circle, isn't it?'
Both the beginning and the end were tournament matches.
What had changed was the opponents' level and the expression of the princess watching.
I briefly swept my gaze over the highest seat.
I met eyes with the princess, dressed in a beautiful gown.
The immature figure I'd first seen had matured, now proudly exuding an air of adulthood.
'Has about three years passed?'
For me, it had been only a day.
But in terms of the story, three years had passed.
She'd had quite the glow-up in the meantime.
It made me a little happy, like seeing my little sister grow up.
'Serin's problem is that she changed too drastically.'
As a bonus, I suddenly thought of my little sister, whose hair and eye colors had both changed completely.
That immediately banished the stray thought.
'Anyway, it's almost over.'
I need to finish this Egen Tower nonsense quickly and get back.
My little sister is waiting for me, after all.
-Squeeze.
'Hurry up and finish, you guys.'
I sat quietly in the waiting area.
If I caused a scene like I had on the first day, I might lose by forfeit, so I behaved and waited for my turn while watching quietly.
Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long.
-Clang.
"I surrender."
"That was an excellent sword."
First came the ordinary knights.
They exchanged a few blows and stopped.
They knew it was only a formality, since the actual winner had already been decided.
-Clack-clack-clack-clack.
"Ahh, I love swords so much♡"
"……."
But, um. How does an imperial prince get excited just from drawing and sheathing his sword?
And he's subtly twisting his thighs too, so, um.
He's seriously creepy.
-Mutter.
"Even in the finals…."
"And next! The Minette Kingdom's princess knight, Ryu Hwi-min!!"
"Oh."
As I was thinking that, I heard a voice.
My face lit up and I rose.
As I stepped into the center of the colosseum, countless gazes turned toward me.
"…Do your best, my knight."
"Yes, ma'am."
I gave a slight bow in response to the princess's encouragement carried on the wind.
Tap—!
I summoned my sword and took hold of it.
The knight before me let out an exclamation.
"A magic sword? Incredible."
"I'm pretty good. Ah, I'm Ryu Hwi-min. I look forward to working with you."
"I'm Clark, deputy commander of the Crow Knights. I look forward to working with you."
After a brief exchange of formalities.
"Now, face me!!!"
-Whoosh—!!
He charged rapidly toward me.
As an outsider, he seemed intent on putting me down from the outset.
-Murmur, murmur.
"Sir Clark is going all out from the start…!!"
Judging by the spectators' shock, he was probably quite strong too, but…
-Hup.
"……Huh?"
A single casual gesture from me.
The Moonlight Sword carved a silver arc through the air.
Just like on Floor 31, the weapon caught in its path was cleanly severed.
"W-what is this…?"
"That can't be!! Sir Clark's sword is a famed blade passed down through his family for generations!!"
"What on earth just happened!?"
The knight was flustered.
The spectators and surrounding knights were aghast.
I alone remained calm.
-Glance.
"Third Prince. I'm sorry, but I'll be taking the princess back."
'Not that you care.'