Chapter 23
______
[Title : Check this out if you're done looting. This is kind of an emergency.]
Author: ㅇㅇ(574F)
Something's gone seriously wrong.
If you hadn't slept for three days on Floor 25, we might never have found out. I'm not sure whether to call that lucky…
Anyway, listen.
First, here's the problem: the hero arrived way too soon.
It's been exactly four days since you got trapped in the Demon King's Tower. If the hero got here this quickly, common sense says he must have followed right after you started climbing.
We have to assume he's been climbing alongside you all this time, only a few floors behind.
Because you one-shot every mob.
Right?
That's the only possibility, right?
You think so?
No, wait. That's not it.
That can't be.
There's a contradiction.
Because you spent three whole days sleeping on Floor 25.
If the intruders had followed right behind you—or even arrived just two days later at the latest—you should have run into them on Floor 25 for sure.
Whether they stabbed you while you slept and took you down.
Whether you both woke up peacefully, wiping sleep from your eyes as you made eye contact.
Or whether they woke up first, found you sleeping, and brought their scythes down on you.
You should have encountered them on Floor 25 somehow.
But you didn't, right?
Then, since you slept for three of the four days, it's certain those intruders climbed from Floor 1 to Floor 60 ‘in a single day.’
But here's where people can object.
??? : The intruders knew fatigue existed, so couldn't they have climbed slowly while managing their fatigue before Floor 25? That's why they didn't meet you on Floor 25.
That's stupid.
The newbie covered Floors 25 to 60 in just one day by taking fatigue recovery potions.
If the intruders knew about fatigue and managed it, taking three days to come ‘slowly’ up to Floor 25, then it makes even less sense that they reached Floor 60 in a single day.
??? : There were three intruders, so the fatigue effect was diluted to one-third.
Same thing: then they should have met you on Floor 25.
In other words.
The intruders really did come from Floor 1 to Floor 60 in a single day.
But isn't that strange?
Are you saying the Demon King's Tower's fatigue doesn't apply to the intruders, but only to the newbie, a demon soldier?
That the fatigue system was nothing more than a hurdle to stop soldiers from ranking up too quickly?
That conclusion feels too awkward.
So for now, we have to assume fatigue applies to everyone.
Two possibilities follow from that.
1. The intruders had some special ‘means’ of ignoring fatigue. EX) Fatigue recovery potions
2. They were in a ‘situation’ where they could ignore fatigue.
If it's number 1, that's relatively good news. If you run above Floor 100 from now on, you can put a strong monster in charge as a gatekeeper.
But if it's number 2…
We're screwed.
A situation where fatigue could be ignored. < What that means is…
The monsters you'd defeated on your way up might not have respawned.
Then we're truly fucked.
Because no matter how many strong monsters you defeat and rank up from now on, you won't be able to dump gatekeeper duty on anyone.
Unfortunately, I think number 2 is more likely.
Those pictures of the loot you uploaded earlier.
See how the consumables completely fill their inventory? It's packed with no scraps from used consumables at all. Judging by the volume, it doesn't look like they threw away the bottles, either.
The fact that they consumed nothing despite coming this quickly proves they never fought.
The conclusion is pretty bleak…
It may be easier on your mind to assume they'll respawn soon.
The Demon King might refill them if you wait a little.
A mobile Floor 1 gatekeeper would be ridiculous.
[Comments]
ㅇㅇ(245F) : Huh? They don't respawn? Then what's the point of ranking up?
ㅇㅇ(312F) : That's so fucking unfair…
ㅇㅇ(753F) : A mobile gatekeeper LOL
ㅇㅇ(412F) : Then Floor 60 and Floor 1 are no different at all ;;;;;;;;
ㅇㅇ(150F) : What are you talking about?
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : Two-line summary:
The intruders seem to have gotten a free pass all the way to Floor 60.
There's no guarantee the next intruders won't do the same.
______
I stared blankly at the holographic panel.
“…I did have that thought when I was rummaging through their bags.”
It was a conclusion I had desperately pushed aside to protect my sanity.
I had fled all the way to Floor 60 to escape being used as cannon fodder on Floor 1, and thinking that all of it had been pointless…
It was not a conclusion I could easily accept, given everything I had worked for.
And also.
If I thought I would have to kill everyone who came up from now on with my own hands… that was too unsettling.
ㅇㅇ(505F) : I had been thinking the same thing too, lol.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(277F) : If you knew, write the post yourself, dumbass LOL
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(505F) : No, it was in my head, but I couldn't organize it into a post, lol.
ㅇㅇ(279F) : What do we do what do we do what do we do what do we do
ㅇㅇ(148F) : I was just happily watching the newbie make money without a care in the world, but damn, that deduction is insane;;;
ㅇㅇ(431F) : Brain Emperor sure knows how to rain on everyone's parade.
ㅇㅇ(261F) : Couldn't he have just teleported to Floor 60?
ㄴㅇㅇ(341F) : What?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(312F) : You should just log off the gallery…
ㅇㅇ(248F) : Wow, so we'll keep seeing the hero, then. D-d
ㅇㅇ(154F) : No, holy shit, then is there no point even if he breaks through Floor 100 now?
ㄴㅇㅇ(284F) : We don't know yet. They might respawn. Though it'll take at least three days.
ㄴㅇㅇ(431F) : It still matters because the newbie will get stronger.
Right.
Just as the last comment said.
I calmly tapped at the keyboard.
ㅇㅇ(60F) : I understand. But it's okay. Either way, what I have to do is the same. I just need to climb the tower and get stronger, right?
ㄴㅇㅇ(319F) : Look at that mental fortitude. D-d
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : Even if the monsters on the lower floors never respawn…that just means I'm the only one getting stronger, so it might actually be better.
ㄴㅇㅇ(145F) : That is true.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : And when people come, I'll get a ton of gold and a vacation again, so I'll take that as a win and keep my spirits up.
ㄴㅇㅇ(276F) : Damn, that's some next-level mental fortitude.
ㄴㅇㅇ(541F) : No, now that you put it that way, I can't tell which is better, respawning or not respawning LOL
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(355F) : For real LOL. Isn't this actually a blessing in disguise?
ㄴㅇㅇ(274F) : Monopolizing the tower could be fucking sweet.
“… ”
I forcibly swallowed the festering feeling in my gut.
Because there was no other way.
The comments were also agreeing with me and telling me the situation was a positive one.
But then.
Floor 574 posted this reply.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : Don't pretend to be tough. You don't want to kill people.
“……”
It made me uncomfortable.
Because it felt like he had seen straight through my thoughts.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(421F) : ?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(168F) : There he goes again, making up other people's thoughts LOL
ㄴ Fenrir : What the fuck, why are you pissing on his parade when he's trying to keep his spirits up??
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : For real, why are you doing this when the newbie is trying to stay positive LOL? You don't even have a solution yourself.
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : I have a solution.
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : If I didn't have a solution, I wouldn't have written this post in the first place.
ㄴFenrir : ?
“Huh?”
He had a solution?
Everyone, myself included, was left dumbfounded.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : No, why are you only saying that now?????
ㄴFenrir : No, what the hell is this.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(513F) : If you have something like that, please tell us already ㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴㅇㅇ(432F) : ????????????
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(461F) : You were deliberately baiting everyone to focus on what you were saying? LOL
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : What is the solution?
I asked, and an answer soon came back.
But it wasn't an answer.
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : For details, contact Knows the Leisure of a Cup of Black Tea < this person. My part ends here.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(621F) : As expected, Brain Emperor's pacifist playbook is fucking varied.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(324F) : What the fuck are you doing LOL
ㄴㅇㅇ(269F) : Seriously, what is this? Is he just an attention whore?;;;;;;
The gallery was turning upside down once again, but.
“Ah…”
In my head, the puzzle pieces were falling into place.
The moment the picture was complete, it felt like lightning had struck my head.
Knows the Leisure of a Cup of Black Tea.
This registered user was the person who had promised to tell me how to use corpses.
“Huh…”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
I wrote a comment first.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : Are you telling me to station soldiers in the Demon King's Tower?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(574F)(Author) : LOL, exactly. You're as smart as I expected.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ (351F) : What the hell are you two talking about?
ㄴFenrir : Is that actually possible;;;;;;????
ㄴㅇㅇ(461F) : You're telling the newbie to make demonfolk with necromancy and station them? LOL
ㄴㅇㅇ(541F) : I seriously never would have imagined that.
ㄴㅇㅇ(351F) : So saying he'd tell him after the looting was all part of the plan. Holy shit.
ㄴㅇㅇ(248F) : No, I'm asking if that's actually possible, you lunatics.
“He wouldn't have said it if it weren't possible…”
But Floor 574 hadn't told me from the beginning.
“…”
I realized the reason just now.
He had seen from the start that I would be reluctant to use the corpses myself.
So first, he made me aware of the bleak situation through this post, then made me realize that in the end, I had only one option.
So rather than baiting me, he had been considering my feelings.
It was a method chillingly effective.
I had been manipulated.
In other words, he had spared me the trouble of agonizing over it.
I suppose I should take it as his own way of showing consideration.
“…Even so, I did manage to figure out what he was thinking…”
Soon afterward, I checked the post by the registered user Floor 574 had pointed me toward.
_____
Title: Newbie, could you please check my post? ^^
Author: Knows the Leisure of a Cup of Black Tea
I just read Floor 574's analysis post.
Having to guard an empty tower all by yourself… From your perspective, Newbie, that must be a distressing and frightening situation~
But if you learn my necromancy, things will be different. ^^
You can use the humans who come charging in as your troops…!
[Comments]
ㅇㅇ(248F) : Is that really possible?
ㄴKnows the Leisure of a Cup of Black Tea (Author) : Yes ^^
ㄴㅇㅇ(248F) : Weren't we absolutely unable to go down to the lower floors??
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(574F) : We're not going down. We're not sending them down, either. We're leaving them behind and climbing.
ㄴㅇㅇ(424F) : Oh, huh? Right. That should work.
ㄴㅇㅇ(651F) : Abandoning them, yikes.
_____
Yeah.
If it's something I can do, I'll do anything.
And this was also a chance to learn something new.
‘Now's the time, while Captain Death Note isn't here.’
Captain Death Note disliked me getting distracted by other things.
But while he was away, I could learn a new skill without any interference.
And if I was going to do it…
“I had to do it right.”
Once I'd made up my mind, there was no room for half measures.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : I've stored all the corpses in my inventory! What should I do first?!
ㄴ KnowsTheLeisureOfATeacup(Author) : My, how enthusiastic you are… ^^ All right. Then I'll tell you about Spiritblood Tea Ceremony, the pinnacle of necromancy and my secret technique, starting now. ^^
It was just as I was about to open my eyes to a new world.
A comment appeared.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(702F) : The Spiritblood Tea Ceremony isn't exactly the way to go… Wouldn't it be better to learn basic necromancy first?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(60F) : Is it not good?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(702F) : No, no. It's a top-tier branch of necromancy, but… It's too difficult. There's no way you'll be able to do it.