In Metro City 3193, the sun never rises. It was an unbelievable phenomenon which happened thanks to the Sci-Fi setting of the 60th floor which begins with the phrase [The day the sun burned its last flame and the moon fell, eternal night arrived.]
I know basic common sense that without the sun, all planets would be freezing cold. However, the setting of Metro City couldn’t be bothered to tackle such matters at all since it directly utilized ‘science’ to replace common sense. I also wouldn’t go out of my way to think about what kind of theory was used behind such science. In the first place, this world is a fantasy world which exists within the Tutorial Tower.
In this place, artificially created starlight hangs in the night sky above, illuminating every corner of the world. And, on the ground, machines roam freely in the streets, while [today’s weather] and [today’s news] was broadcasted by a hologram android and was highlighted with a blue neon sign. However, hidden away by those bright fronts, the phrase [Freedom for humanity!] written in bright red could be found on the walls of the dark alleyway.
It was truly a city devoid of any organic lives.
At the very end of that world, I was standing before the door of the boss room [Last Cradle Song].
– Ah~! Challenger Yoo~Seodam! Are you finally going to challenge the last stage on the 60th floor~?! I’ve been waiting for you!
Behind me, a translucent woman whispered into my ear. She was the tutorial fairy who oversaw the 60th floor. Even though she had a pretty smile plastered on her face right now, I didn’t get deceived by it. I know just how vicious her personality could be once I actually start challenging the stage.
“Unfortunately, I came here because I have other business to do.”
– Oh, why~! Do you know just how much the ‘Administrators’ are looking forward to your move, challenger Yoo Seodam?!
“Are you that happy because the Administrators were interested in the 60th floor?”
-Of course~ So, can’t you just give it a try?
I was well aware that the ‘Administrators’ who built this Tutorial Tower were interested in me. After all, there’s nothing more fun for them than seeing humans struggle for their dear lives.
The ‘Administrators’ were somewhat similar to the ‘constellations’ I met in one of my missions. But they were more desperate than the constellations as they had to raise their ‘class’ in order to prolong their lifespan. The only way to do it was to give an outstanding challenger their ‘skill’ and ‘protection’.
-By the way, challenger Yoo Seodam, why don’t you choose a ‘sponsor’~? You don’t have any protection yet, do you? I’m sure you will receive a lot of love from the Administrators!
I climbed through the tower at a fairly high speed — only behind Wigen in terms of speed — and had received numerous contacts from the Administrators. However, I turned every single one of their offers down. The reason was simple. I don’t want to be their puppet. If I become an Administrator’s contractor, my action would be severely restricted and I would have to say goodbye to hunting Wigen.
Besides, the blessings don’t mean much to me since it will disappear once I return to Earth.
“Well, I don’t really feel the need to have one! I’ll take care of myself, so, just shut up.”
-Hey, hey! Watch your tongue when you talk about the Administrators! Do you want to die?!
“They are welcome to try if they want!”
Every time I uttered such rude remarks towards the Administrators who were no different from the god of this world, the fairy would always get scared and disappear. However, no matter how rude I am, the Administrators never tried to kill me. Even now, I believe there were several Administrators who were heartbroken because I once again refused their protection.
“Ugh…”
Thinking about it, it’s been half a year since I entered the tutorial tower. Since time in this world flows 15 times faster, only about 12 days have passed on Earth.
‘I need to slowly proceed with the mission…’
In the process of going up to the 60th floor, I had interacted with Aracelli and had successfully produced a magic textbook, my original purpose of coming here. However, as of now, it was still impossible for me to hunt Wigen, the protagonist. So, it was inevitable to get a little nervous.
<Do you perhaps have any other plans?>
It has been six months since I came here, it was no wonder that the system asked me with a worried tone. In the first place, hunting Wigen, who was loved by a fairy of the tutorial rather than simply being loved by the ‘world’, should be difficult even in her eyes.
“Well, I have some…”
Suddenly, I remembered the time when I first encountered the tutorial stage.
– The way to clear the stage is simple! You just have to go through that maze that unfolds behind you! How about it, it’s easy isn’t it?
It was really easy for me. Because in ‘Malea’s Diary’, the necessary trick to pass the maze as well as the placement of the traps which the fairy did not tell us were written in detail. However, there was still a man who arrived earlier than me.
It was the protagonist, Wigen. The man who was protected by a tutorial fairy.
I had acted according to the record left by the future Malea. However, was the path she took 100% correct? In the diary, the phrase [I failed. It has become irreversible.] appeared quite frequently, and in most cases the correct answer did not appear.
Also, the path she had taken was only a conclusion she barely reached after wandering around the stage. It means that I wouldn’t be able to follow Wigen, who under the guidance of the fairy, moves faster and more efficiently than anyone else.
But still, even with those handicaps, I have to climb the tower. Afterall, the only way to kill Wigen, who had made a contract with a fairy in the tutorial, was to climb the tower.
Did the fairy really sign a contract with a challenger like Wigen who didn’t know anything? Of course not. Using <Story>, one of the skills of [Protagonist Hunter], I found out the reason why the fairy made a contract with Wigen.
All fairies in the Tutorial Tower want to look good in the Administrators’ eyes. And, since Administrators were on a constant lookout for an outstanding challenger, the fairies hoped they could present one to them and could share the same ‘class’ as the Administrators once it happened.
Wigen noticed the circumstances of the fairies, and asked one of them for a ‘contract’.
‘If it’s a fairy who created a great challenger, maybe you can become an Administrator like them?’
It was a tempting offer, but for those cheap fairies, empty words aren’t powerful enough. And so, the fairy put up one condition to the contract.
[You must go up to the highest floor. If you are overtaken by anyone, you will immediately die.]
Perhaps it was a condition created to give [crisis] to the protagonist, but, the information the fairy gave him was nothing short of a cheat, allowing Wigen to comfortably breeze through the Tutorial Tower without any worries of getting overtaken by anyone.
But it will be different from now on.
‘I have finally found Malea.’
From the last contact I had with Aracelli, I heard that she had found Malea on the 10th floor. Things would certainly become better for me once she starts climbing the tower. She would bring numerous hidden pieces and items which had not yet been touched by me because of the law of ‘future knowledge’.
“Yoo Seodam… What are you doing here?”
“Oh! You’re here? Do you want to challenge the boss?”
Wigen nodded with a firm expression on his face to answer my question.
I liked the reaction, so I said with a smirk.
“Challenge the stage!”
[You have challenged the final gateway on the 60th!]
[For the span of one-week, other challengers will not be able to challenge the same stage.]
– Ah~! Contestant Yoo Seodam~!! Are you finally ready to take on the challenge?
“Forfeit.”
[You have forfeited. The stage would be reset.]
-Ch… Challenger, Yoo Seodam~?
So, until Malea comes, I will try to troll as much as possible and prevent Wigen from going up.
“Come here after a week or so, Wigen.”
* * *
Malea looked at the back of the little girl in front of her with a confused expression. She looks like she was in her late teens or so, but for some reason, her blue eyes seem to be filled with wisdom.
The girl was currently trudging forward leisurely because she was familiar with the structure of this dungeon. Every time Malea asked her how she knew about it, the reply she got was always, ‘The Professor told me.’
Just who the hell is this ‘Professor’? And, why is he helping her?
She had thought about it, but to no avail. She just could not come up with any answer.
“Here it is.”
“….”
They finally reached their destination. It was an ordinary-looking door which was no different from any other doors at the first glance. But, on this particular door, the phrase [Way to Yoo Seodam] was written crookedly.
Malea gulped her dry saliva before looking into Aracelli’s eyes. Thanks to her guidance, her travel until this point was way easier than any challenges she had taken on the Tutorial Tower. But, could she really trust her when she would certainly lose her life if things went south?
If Malea was an ordinary person, by this point she would surely voice an ungrateful remark such as ‘You led me here, so you open it.’ But Malea firmly grasped the doorknob before telling Aracelli.
“I will believe in your words.”
“The one you need to believe is the Professor’s words, not mine.”
Saying so, Aracelli took a step back. Then, Malea closed her eyes tightly before snapping the door open.
Creaaak~!!
After the creaking sound, the sound of falling golden coins resounded and a fanfare exploded.
– Bababam~~!! Congratulations! You have succeeded in finding the ‘Door of Truth’!
[All ‘Doors of Lies’ will be destroyed, and the Door to the Truth will be opened!]
“Oh!!!” Malea exclaimed. Happiness and relief were apparent on her face as she had truly found the real door.
Just how much time she had been wasting on the 10th floor? It will be different from now on. Once she obtained a level 1 equipment or perhaps higher from this dungeon, she would be able to go up to the 11th floor. Once she did that, she would also be able to hit the upper floors all the way up!
‘I, I, I too, can finally climb up…!’
The happiness she felt was really overflowing, making it difficult to keep her expression in check. As she sat down on the floor and smirked, Aracelli came up to her with a smile.
“Good for you.”
“Yes, yes, thank…”
Before she could even finish expressing her gratitude, she heard footsteps echoing in the distance. More than a hundred challengers who were able to survive thanks to her swift discovery of the door were approaching the place she was currently at together with the members of the Wings of Heaven Guild.
The leader of the expedition looked at the wide-open door and nodded his head without even sporting any particular expression.
“Good find.”
No one pointed it out even though it was a very rude act. No, all the independent challengers in this place would rather consider him a big brother rather than defending Malea. Anyway, they had survived, and they would be able to receive level 1 equipment for free.
However, the Fairy suddenly poured cold water on their heads.
– Too bad! Didn’t you know that only 40 people can enter the Gate of Truth?
“What, what?”
“Wait a minute! Only 40 people? What the hell is that……”
Malea thought, If it was 40, it exactly matches the number of Wings of Heaven Guild members who were present here. In other words, they must have already heard this condition from the Fairy and had come accordingly.
“Now that it has come to this, you must all die here.”
The story goes according to this obvious scenario.
Malea bit her lips tightly while colour started to leave her face. After all, it was absolutely impossible to either run away or fight against those who at least had level 3 or level 4 equipment.
‘I’ve come all the way here, yet, you want me to die in such a vain way?’
Without realizing it, she took a step backwards. Other independent challengers were also doing the same as her, slowly taking a step back. no matter what kind of tricks they might try, it was impossible for them to get out of this closed dungeon alive. The members of Wings of Heaven Guild would surely kill all the challengers here for the sole reason of ‘destroying evidence’.
“Those who are dissatisfied with this decision, come forward now.”
However, no one said anything as they all either bowed their heads or turned away. If they were bound to die, they thought it would be better to die a little later than anybody else. There is no reason to accuse each other of being a coward. anyone would naturally do that
“Get out of my way!”
When there was no one in the way, the expedition leader drew his sword and approached Malea and Aracelli. A level 4 sword on his hand flashed brilliantly. Malea was sure, as soon as it touched a level 0 insignificant robe, the robe would be mercilessly torn apart.
Nevertheless, Malea forced her heavy feet to take a step forward. Although she had only met Aracelli for a short while, she must try to protect her who had worked hard for her.
“I’m going to stop him, so go inside. With your knowledge, you can clear the dungeon in an instant, right?”
“Yes?”
Then Aracelli looked at Malea and then at the door with a perplexed expression.
“Hurry up! They have exactly 40 people, they will not let anyone else in!”
“Yes. I know that.”
“Ugh…!”
When the expedition leader came closer, Malea hastily unleashed her magic.
“Magic Shield!”
Woooong!!
When the blue wall was created, the expedition leader’s expression changed. It seems like he was slightly interested in Malea’s magic.
“Magic? You are an ‘irregular’, huh?”
This giant tower was mostly made up of only ordinary humans. When it comes to the difference in specifications, there’s only a difference in the degree of how much one exercised. However, as humans from many dimensions gathered in this place, very rarely, people called ‘irregulars’ appeared.
Irregulars were those humans who had mastered magic, martial arts, or superpowers, just like Malea.
The best example of irregularity was a ranker called ‘Yoo Seodam’. He was able to use a powerful power without receiving the system, skills and protection of the tower.
Although Malea had only studied a little bit of high school and didn’t get good grades, she had honed her magic and was able to use it in case of need.
“Hurry! Enter the…!”
Crack!!
Malea’s word was cut off as her hastily constructed magic shield shattered by the sword of the expedition leader.
“But you are weak. It’s so pathetic to call something like that magic. You’re just trying to get into a fight like this…”
“Ah, ah…”
Due to her inexperienced magic skills, the shield broke and her magic heart was overloaded, so it would be unreasonable to use her magic once more.
‘It’s impossible for me to stop a 40th floor ranker even for a moment…’
Malea felt miserable, but that didn’t mean she would give in. Even when she knew her death was approaching, Malea still gave him a viciously glare.
Then, the expedition leader raised his sword with an indifferent eye.
Clank~!!
Malea felt some pure white light had passed by her side. Then, moments later, the level 4 sword fell to the floor in two.
“Uh?”
Eventually, Malea came to her senses. She saw that the expedition leader was lying on the floor with both his arms and legs cut off.
“What…”
Before Malea and the expedition leader could fully grasp the situation, Aracelli took two steps forward. With a smile on her face, she opened her mouth.
“You are a brave one, aren’t you? But, you don’t have to overdo it.”
“Y…you…you were also an irregular…?”
“Probably? So, can we enter the door now? Though, I don’t even know what was waiting for us there.”
After saying that, Aracelli reached out to the rest of the guild members.
Meanwhile, Malea hesitated for a moment with a stiff expression on her face before nodding her head as if she had decided on something and headed towards the door of truth.
“Yes, let’s go.”
At this moment, Malea began climbing the tower.