Chapter 26
“Katarina. Offer the blood.”
The first thing to do was to Consume blood.
I now knew that drinking Monster Blood could level me up.
So I had already instructed them to offer blood as spoils whenever we hunt monsters from now on.
“I shall offer tribute to my Liege Lord.”
At my command, Katarina raised her hand, and the blood of the fallen ghouls floated up.
Katarina took out the cup she had brought and poured a little blood into it.
[Since there are a lot of them, they should give quite a bit of experience.]
At this rate, just drinking it all would be a chore.
I accepted the cup with a pleased expression and took a sip.
But at that moment.
[Ugh…?!]
Ptooey!
I spat it right out onto the ground before I even realized it.
I had no choice but to do so.
[It tastes awful!!!]
The taste of this blood was truly terrible.
It was a completely different taste from the Pure-blood Vampire’s blood I drank last time, or Si-Yeon’s blood.
How should I put it? Like gutter water?
I had never actually drunk gutter water, but it felt exactly like that.
It’s incredibly fishy and disgusting…!
It was something a human, no, a Vampire absolutely could not drink.
[Ugh… I think I’m going to throw up.]
If not for [Exalted Dignity], I would have vomited on the floor right then and there.
And then
Ding!
[You have consumed Low-grade Blood.]
[You cannot acquire experience points.]
[Ehh? It doesn’t even give experience?!]
My tongue already instinctively felt that it was undrinkable, but did it even count as experience?
In other words, Low-grade Blood tasted like garbage and was of absolutely no help to my growth.
[…Ah.]
I felt a sense of disappointment.
It would be difficult to grow just by hunting Low-grade Monsters.
As I wore a deeply disappointed expression.
“L-Liege Lord…!”
Katarina immediately prostrated herself with a pale face.
“I apologize. To dare let such filth touch my Liege Lord’s noble tongue…!”
She bowed deeply, looking as if her forehead would touch the Cemetery floor.
But it wasn’t really her fault.
I was the one who asked for it in the first place…
“Raise your head. It is merely that the blood of these things was far lower than I thought, making it utterly undrinkable.”
I said to soothe Katarina.
“…Yes.”
She still looked sullen, but seemed a little better.
But then, a thought suddenly came to mind.
[Wait. I might be able to drink the Ghoul Lord’s blood?]
Wouldn’t the blood of a normal ghoul and the blood of a higher entity like a Ghoul Lord be different?
“Katarina.”
“Yes, Liege Lord.”
“This time, bring me the blood of the Ghoul Lord over there.”
“I shall follow your command.”
Katarina moved immediately, collecting and bringing back blood from the two fallen Ghoul Lords.
A much darker and murkier red than the blood of normal ghouls.
Honestly, the visuals for this weren’t great either.
But I had to taste it first.
I braced myself and carefully took a sip.
[…Huh?]
This time, it was more drinkable than I thought.
That didn’t mean it was delicious.
How should I put it?
[It tastes like flat cola, doesn’t it?]
It was like the taste of cola that had been forgotten at room temperature, losing all its carbonation and getting warm.
It was just sweet and bland, so it didn’t taste good, but it was at a level where I could manage to drink it.
And.
Ding!
[You have consumed Mid-grade Blood.]
[You acquire experience points.]
[Level Up!]
[Oh!]
I went up 1 level.
It wasn’t a lot, but it still went up.
Low-grade gave absolutely 0, but it seemed Mid-grade had a structure where it trickled in like this.
[But that Pure-blood Vampire was an S-rank Monster, and this is just a 4th Floor monster; yet, the level difference isn’t that huge?]
3 levels up versus 1 Level Up.
Of course, there was quite a big difference, but compared to the difference in their weight classes, it wasn’t that much.
I should think more about this issue later.
Anyway, I nodded and opened my mouth.
“Hmm. Still, this is quite drinkable. Well done, Katarina. Si-Yeon.”
“Ah…!”
Katarina’s face instantly brightened.
“It is an honor!”
“Thank you, Master.”
Si-Yeon also quietly bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
After praising my Retainers like that.
I turned my gaze back to the System Window.
This time as well, experience points, gold, various items…
It was a sweet reward.
And.
[An Additional Reward is provided for clearing the Nightmare Grade 4th Floor.]
[Oh?]
There was an Additional Reward.
[You have acquired Access Rights to the “Climber Community”.]
[…Climber Community?]
As I tilted my head
[Would you like to access the Climber Community?]
This option popped up.
[There was something like this? Well, it’s a reward, so of course I should check it out.]
I selected access without hesitation.
* * *
[Entering the Climber Community in Visitor Mode.]
[What kind of place is this?]
The Community Window popped up before my eyes.
Its basic format was literally a typical Community.
A structure where you could write posts, upvote or downvote, and leave comments.
[It’s similar to Heon-gael?]
It was a familiar design, so it felt welcoming.
However,
The content of the posts coming up was different - very different.
[Title: Normal Difficulty 87th Floor Clear Verification
[It’s similar to Heon-gael?]
It was a familiar design, so it felt welcoming.
However,
The content of the posts coming up was different - very different.
[Title: Normal Difficulty 87th Floor Clear Verification]
Poster: Sol-Peul-Jeon-Sa
(Screenshot of clearing the 87th Floor of the Tower)
Finally hit the 87th Floor this time lol
The 86th floor boss was a real bitch, but the 87th Floor was surprisingly doable
Poster: Sol-Peul-Jeon-Sa
(Screenshot of clearing the 87th Floor of the Tower)
I finally hit the 87th Floor this time lol
The 86th floor boss was a real bitch, but the 87th Floor was surprisingly doable
- Wow fuck lmaooo how did you do it
- This guy never runs gates and just climbs the Tower like crazy
- Hardcore, so hardcore lol
- Can you write a guide for the 70th floor? Pls T_T Context: It’s surprisingly doable
- Wow fuck lmaooo how did you do it
- This guy never runs gates and just climbs the Tower like crazy
- Hardcore, so hardcore lol
- Can you write a guide for the 70th floor? Pls T_T L Sol-Peul-Jeon-Sa) Yeah I’ll post one later when I have time
L Wow thx thx thx!!!!
[…87th Floor?]
I stared blankly at that number for a moment.
87th Floor.
Wasn’t the one the current World Record?
L Sol-Peul-Jeon-Sa) Yeah I’ll post one later when I have time
L Wow thx thx thx!!!!
[…87th Floor?]
I stared blankly at that number for a moment.
87th Floor.
Wasn’t the current World Record the 86th floor…?
Then, a New World Record?!
On Heon-gael, it seemed like you got treated like a big deal just for clearing the 30th floor of the Normal Tower.
The people here were talking about the 70th and 80th floors like it was nothing.
As if possessed, I clicked on the next post.
[Title: Bulk Disposal of 50 A-Class Magic Stones]
Poster: 24-Hour Inquiries Welcome Selling 50 A-Class Magic Stones~ haha
Price is negotiable, and I prefer direct transactions~
Location doesn’t matter.
If you’re interested, feel free to send me a message~
✿
- How much is the price?
24-Hour Inquiries Welcome. Please send a message.
- 50 A-Class? Do I have to buy them all at once?
24-Hour Inquiries Welcome. Yes. I’ll give them to you cheap instead. Haha.
- You’re not releasing S-Class Magic Stones?
L 24-Hour Inquiries Welcome) Ah, there are no plans for S-Class today T.T
[…50 A-Class Magic Stones?]
I got treated like a scammer in the Black Market just for putting up one B-grade Magic Stone.
Here, disposing of 50 A-Class stones in bulk seemed to be an everyday occurrence.
Someone in the comments was even asking 'You’re not releasing S-Class Magic Stones?' as if it was a given.
It was a place where the scale was just completely different.
I clicked on the next post.
[Title: Anyone going to the American Conference next month?]
Poster: GodChris
Hey friends!!!
Is anyone attending the American Hunter Conference this time?
- I’m going, yeah. It’s my first time attending, so I’m super excited.
L GodChris) Wow! Great, friend. See you there!
- Ugh, this punk Chris is just calling out to brag again. The newbie above got totally baited.
L For real, it’s the same pattern every time lol
L GodChris) …I’m not Chris though?
- Is Cheonma really coming this time too? They were promoting it like that
L You believe that lol
L Why would that guy go there lol. Relations between America and China aren’t even good lately
[…Wait.]
I slowly read down the comments once again.
Chris? Cheonma?
Are they talking about those people?
Chris Edwards is a World Top 10 American Ranker.
Cheonma is the Leader of China’s famous Guild, Cheonma Sin-Gyo.
[…Whoa. The people here are all really big shots.]
I swallowed dryly.
It didn’t seem like simple mythomania or roleplaying either, considering that people who cleared the Nightmare 4th Floor were incredibly rare.
A Climber of the 87th Floor of the Tower, a Tycoon who rolls 50 A-Class Magic Stones at once, and an American Ranker.
It wouldn’t be strange if such people actually existed here.
[I’m feeling the wall.]
The atmosphere was similar to that of Heon-gael, but the things they dealt with were on such a different level that I felt a strange sense of incongruity.
Of course, in a way, my reputation as Jinjo didn’t fall behind that of these people.
Still, actually being in a place like this made me feel intimidated for no reason.
[Visitor Mode has ended.]
[You must set a nickname to continue using the service!]
That was when this System Window popped up.
Alright. Since I received it as a reward, I should at least actively lurk.
If I somehow get involved with the people here, I’ll naturally be able to hear things like information on the 5th Floor.
[Please set a nickname.]
Just as I was about to choose a relatively inoffensive nickname…
“This body’s name is 'Jinjo'.”
[…]
Ah.
Right.
[Nickname has been set to “Jinjo (True Ancestor)”.]
Once again, my nickname had been set entirely on its own.
[I forgot…!]
Ugh, this damn trait, seriously!
The back of my neck stiffened.
But the real headache was only just beginning.
[Jinjo (True Ancestor) has newly joined the Community. Everyone, please welcome them!]
[What?!]
An Automatic Welcome Post had been registered at the very top of the bulletin board.
In seconds, comments started running wild on the post like it was on fire.
- Whoa
- Jinjo???
- Is it really that Jinjo?
- Oh, looks like Jinjo-jwa cleared the 4th Floor lmaooo
- Apostle of Light) Are you truly Jinjo?
- Meow Meow Punch) (cat face emoticon)
- GodChris) Hey!! Jinjo! I’m Chris! Did you happen to read my DM? I’m telling you, let’s meet face to face!
- Sol-Peul-Jeon-Sa) Oh. A celebrity is here.
- 24-Hour Inquiries Welcome) Oh my~ Hello Jinjo-nim haha. If you ever need to trade Magic Stones or various items, please message me anytime~
✿
- Corpse Lover) Nice to meet yaa~?
- Geom-Ui-Gil-Eun Kkeut-I-Eop-Go) Hoho,,, Well,, a fun person has entered,,,
- Cheonma) Jinjo. Why do you not answer This Seat’s messages?
…
[W-Wait a minute…!]
I broke out in a cold sweat looking at the screen.
Comment Notifications were pouring in to an unmanageable degree.
Every single one of them is an S-Class Big Shot - these people…!
It was incredibly overwhelming.
[Everyone, just stay still for a second!]
That was the moment I thought about how I wished everyone would just be quiet.
My mouth moved on its own, speaking my thoughts completely unfiltered.
In an overly arrogant tone corrected by [Exalted Dignity].
And.
Immediately, that statement - - .
[Voice Comment Function activated!]
- Jinjo) Foolish Mortals. Shut your noisy mouths before I sweep you all away.
It ended up being uploaded to a Community where all the S-Classes in the World were gathered.
Even with my voice attached.
[Ah.]
Massive Aggro was generated.