Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn’t

During Ha Hee-Jeong’s current life, on the sixth floor.

“What brought you… Kkuk?”

Before Jo Hyun-Su could finish his sentence, a fireball appeared out of nowhere, silently striking him down. He didn’t even have time to react. Flames clung to his unmoving body, burning it away.

“Oh my gosh!”

The people standing in the apartment behind Jo Hyun-Su gasped in shock. They froze in place gasping for air, so stunned they couldn’t even scream.

A moment later, Chloe Vincent managed to speak, her voice trembling with fear.

“Are you... are you crazy? What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? I’m eliminating trash who betrayed his teammates for a hidden mission. A traitor.”

“D-don’t come any closer!”

As Ha Hee-Jeong took a step forward, Chloe Vincent stumbled and fell back, desperately trying to crawl away, her hands and feet shaking. But soon, her back hit the solid wall behind her.

“Chloe Vincent, the xenophobe[1] who poisoned an ally from another race on the sixteenth floor. You miserable bitch, because of you...”

“What... what are you talking about?”

“... Forget about it.”

Ha Hee-Jeong sighed and then turned her gaze to the two men who had just drawn their weapons. Although Ha Hee-Jeong had a clear view of them, they were hidden from Kwon Su-Hyeok’s view by a set of pillars.

“And you two? You’re the cowards who shoved your teammates aside while trying to escape.”

“What? Do you have any proof?”

“I wouldn’t be able to leave with peace of mind knowing trash like you are still around.”

Ha Hee-Jeong smiled, an unsettling grin that didn’t reach her eyes.

***

[As a reward for clearing the sixth floor, the party system has been unlocked.]

[If you wish to leave the party, simply say ‘Leave party.’ Leaving the party cannot be reversed.]

[No party members have left. The party remains intact. Please vote for the party leader. You have three seconds to vote.]

[Three]

[Two]

[One]

[Vote complete. Results: three votes for Kwon Su-Hyeok, two votes for Ha Hee-Jeong.]

[Climber Kwon Su-Hyeok has been elected as the party leader.]

[The party leader has the authority to kick and invite members. The party has a maximum size of six members. Current party size: five.]

After entering the waiting room, a series of notifications flooded in, and I had become the party leader before I knew it. Although I was hesitant to become the party's leader, Ha Hee-Jeong said it was a good thing since the party leader earned slightly more achievement points. ꞦΑℕŎΒĚṦ

Plus, the leader can invite or kick members. Being the party leader is basically like being the boss!

Truth be told, I had voted for Ha Hee-Jeong, leaving me wondering who had voted for me. It was likely that Ha Hee-Jeong and Seo Ho-Su voted for me, but I wasn’t sure about the others. Maybe they thought that Ha Hee-Jeong’s foresight wasn’t as impressive as my strength.

The system didn’t count Doppy as a party member, which didn’t surprise me, so we still had an empty spot in our party.

What should we do about the empty slot?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Hey, Hee-Jeong. We’ve got one open spot in the party. What should we do?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): We can just leave it open for now. With fewer members, we’ll earn more achievement points.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): But isn’t it better to have a full party?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Not really. And we’re fine as is. Doppy’s with us, too. If we want to recruit someone later, I’ll let you know.

That was true. With Doppy in the mix, we basically had six members. Everyone else was pulling their weight just fine, too.

***

Now that everyone had settled in the waiting room, I decided it was a good time to check the Community. I wanted to see how the other climbers were reacting to what had happened on the sixth floor.

[Climber Community]

[Kwon. Su. Hyeok. Praise. The. Light. Su. Hyeok.]

[I’m telling you, it’s true! Kwon Su-Hyeok took down the Queen, and that’s why we finished the sixth floor so fast.]

[For real? I was about to get swarmed by the zombies, so thank you, thank you so much. I love you, Kwon Su-Hyeok.]

[If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it either. It was like something out of a movie. The way he controlled lightning was so badass.]

[The Secret Truth: Here’s why the sixth floor ended with twenty-three hours left on the timer.]

[What? Why did it end early? I was in the middle of fighting zombies, but then a notification popped up and the challenge ended.]

[??? Why did it end???]

Browsing the Community, I noticed more and more posts praising me. I hazarded a guess that they were written by the three people I saved at Chungmuro Station.

Well, I can’t really tell them to stop.

My face flushed from embarrassment, but I couldn’t deny that receiving the praise felt good. I hadn’t been admired like this once in the twenty-four years of my life. I wondered if this was how stars felt when they read comments from their fans.

Thanks to clearing the hidden mission on the sixth floor, our entire group had secured five of the top six spots on the leaderboard.

[Climber Leaderboard]

[1. Kwon Su-Hyeok, Seventh Floor. Total achievement points: 91,048 (hidden)]

[2. Ha Hee-Jeong, Seventh Floor. Total achievement points: (hidden)]

[3. Alexei Braham, Sixth Floor. Total achievement points: (hidden)]

[4. Seo Ho-Su, Seventh Floor. Total achievement points: (hidden)]

[5. Cole Grouse, Seventh Floor. Total achievement points: (hidden)]

[6. Seo Ha-Rin, Seventh Floor. Total achievement points: (hidden)]

[…]

Each of our teammates had real potential, and now that we had earned so many points, I wanted to help them grow fully into it.

- Seo Ha-Rin (Seventh Floor): Unnie, I bought the Physical Enhancement Potion like you recommended. Do I just drink it?

- Cole Grouse (Seventh Floor): I got one too.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Ho-Su, you bought yours too, right?

- Seo Ho-Su (Seventh Floor): Uh, yeah. Just got it.

I was glad to see the newly added Party Chat buzzing with activity. Despite it potentially being a hassle, Ha Hee-Jeong was kindly explaining things to them while also talking to me. Even though I felt like the leader should be the one taking the lead in answering these questions, Ha Hee-Jeong was far more qualified to teach our teammates.

Seeing everyone else get a Physical Enhancement Potion, I decided that it would be worth it to invest in Doppy, as it would be climbing the tower with us. Of course, I asked Ha-Hee Jeong first before buying anything.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): By the way, is there anything we should buy on this floor? I was thinking about getting some gear and a Physical Enhancement Potion for Doppy.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): How many achievement points do you have right now?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Hold on. Uh, 42,048 points.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Wow, that’s a lot. Well, you did pretty much clear everything yourself.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): How many do you have?

Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t respond.

Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have asked.Well, she’s in second place on the leaderboard, so she must have a good amount. Wait… thinking about it now, she didn’t look too happy back at the apartment.

I wondered if it was due to her pride. After all, Ha Hee-Jeong was a regressor.

I knew she meant it when she said I was Earth’s hope. She had been giving me nothing but support until now. However, that didn’t mean it wouldn’t sting for her to be in second place behind me, especially after she had regressed in time.

Ha Hee-Jeong had always been a competitive person.

Yeah, I should avoid bringing this up again.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): I‘m not gonna tell you.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Alright.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor):... Don’t take it the wrong way. It’s not that I’m jealous or envious. I’m probably the person who wants to see you succeed the most.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): I know that. Don’t sweat it.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): I’m just frustrated with myself. Even after going through all this, I still can’t surpass you.

In the brief silence between Ha Hee-Jeong’s messages, I could sense a hint of what she was feeling. It felt like a mixture of trust, admiration, respect, and even a touch of jealousy. I wasn’t sure how to fully describe it.

One thing was clear: Ha Hee-Jeong’s feelings toward me were complicated.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): You don’t need to buy anything right now. I was going to get you a potion or something, but then I remembered you already have one. You haven’t used the Seraphim Elixir yet, have you?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): The Seraphim Elixir? No, I haven’t. You told me not to.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): And the thunder mace and leather armor should last you a while. The shield could use an upgrade, but it’s not urgent.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh floor): Hmm, okay.

Ha Hee-Jeong knew what the following floors would be like, so I decided to follow her advice, just like I had been doing so far. I was about to ask what the next floors had in store for us when she sent another message.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Let’s save up a bit more and get you some better gear. The mace is decent, but I think there’s a weapon that would suit you better.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Really? But I like it better than a sword.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): A sword isn’t your only other option. When we have time, let’s test out some other equipment. Most people end up switching their main weapon as they climb and get a better sense of what fits them.

The mace definitely felt better in my hand than the swords I had wielded, but Ha Hee-Jeong had two lives' worth of experience climbing the tower with me. There was no harm in trying something new, and if I found something that suited me better, all the better.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Oh, and don’t worry about getting anything for yourself now. I can buy whatever items you want to get for Doppy, and I’ve already been buying what we need for the climb, so just focus on saving your points. Don’t waste them on unnecessary stuff.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Huh? No, I can buy things too. I’ve got plenty of points.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): It’s fine, really. You need to save your points. I’m counting on you. If something really important comes up and we’re short on points, I’ll ask you. Also, I just ordered the Physical Enhancement Potion and some items for Doppy.

She’s already been buying what we need for the climb?

It was touching, but I felt a bit of pressure now that I was aware of it. Ha Hee-Jeong had been looking out for me so much, from the big things like guiding me through the tutorial, and now to the small things too. I needed to get stronger to repay her. Not wanting her efforts to go to waste, I made sure that Doppy drank the Physical Enhancement Potion.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): What’s on the seventh floor?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): That’s a secret. From now on, I won’t tell you much about the tower unless it’s really important. The same goes for the floors, except when it is about hidden missions.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Huh? Why?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): If you go in knowing everything, you stop using your head. You need to use your brain and follow your intuition. That’s what got you through the tutorial, right? Conquering the tower isn’t just about strength, you need to develop decision-making skills too. It’s good to get used to handling things on your own on the lower floors.

... She had a point, and I couldn’t argue with it.

I had been relying on Ha Hee-Jeong whenever I had a question. The only reason I hadn’t done that while conquering the floors in the tutorial was that it wasn’t an option.

The only time I hadn’t followed her instructions was when my intuition screamed at me.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor):... What if, just what if, I suddenly died? You’d have to climb the tower on your own.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): You’re not going to die.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Haha, of course not. But just think about it a bit, okay? Anyway, take the Seraphim Elixir and get some rest. We need to start the seventh floor.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Okay. Rest well too.

I closed the chat window and sighed. Her death wasn’t something I wanted to consider for even a moment, but Ha Hee-Jeong’s words lingered in my mind.

What if, by some chance, Ha Hee-Jeong really did die? What would I have felt when I saw her dying during her first life?

… Wait, Ha Hee-Jeong said she died on the ninety-first floor. So how did she know I made it to the ninety-fourth?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventh Floor): Hey, Hee-Jeong. You mentioned you made it to the ninety-first floor. So how did you know I got to the ninety-fourth?

I waited, but there was no response. Whether she was ignoring me or had fallen asleep, I couldn’t tell.

Is this another thing she wants me to figure out on my own? I don’t know if this is something I can make assumptions about...

“Kriee...”

Doppy was already fast asleep and snoring softly, having just taken the Physical Enhancement Potion. Ha Hee-Jeong had gotten it some decent clothes, a new wand, and the Physical Enhancement Potion. I felt a little guilty for not taking better care of it earlier, but seeing it sleep peacefully with a content expression filled me with a warm sense of pride.

Whatever. I’ll take the Seraphim Elixir and get some rest.

I was sure Ha Hee-Jeong would have shared more details if it was really important.

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has consumed the Seraphim Elixir. The power of a seraph now resides within his body.」

「Invisible Message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has gained the skill Iron Skin lvl 1. 」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s identity as a ‘Challenger’ has been confirmed. His absorption rate has increased. His strength, agility, and stamina have been enhanced.」

「Invisible Message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Iron Skin is now lvl 2. 」

***

[Kwon Su-Hyeok (Earthling, C-66432)]

Title: Seeker of the Crossroads

Affiliation: None

Patron Deity: First class, Omniscient Thunder Axe (Share percentage: 0.00%(-?.??%) / 100.00%)

Strength: 87.1

Agility: 82.2

Stamina: 81.4

Mana: 49.1

Skills: Lightning Essence lvl 4, Sixth Sense lvl 8, Iron Skin lvl 2…

After getting up and checking my status window, I noticed that all my stats had taken a slight bump upward. I had gained the skill Iron Skin as well. It seemed that the Seraphim Elixir had not only boosted my physical abilities but also imbued me with a seraph’s unique, scale-like resilience.

But it wasn’t the growth that caught my attention the most—it was the new, mysterious stat next to the share percentage.

0.00% (-?.??%). What on earth is that supposed to mean? When did the question marks even show up?

I racked my brain trying to figure it out, but the answer eluded me, no matter how hard I thought about it.

When I cautiously asked Ha Hee-Jeong about it, her response wasn’t the clear explanation I had hoped for.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventh Floor): Don’t worry. It’s a good thing. You’ll understand it later, so just try to piece it together slowly.

It was frustrating, but I decided to trust that she was holding back for a reason and let it slide. I figured I would understand it in time.

Now, it was time to start the seventh floor.

[Not all climbers have conquered the sixth floor. Climbers are not yet required to advance to the seventh floor.]

[The seventh floor of the Tower of Ordeal is open for early access. Would you like to enter?]

“Yes.”

[Kwon Su-Hyeok’s party is moving to the seventh floor of the Tower of Ordeal.]

1. A xenophobe is someone who has an irrational fear or hatred of people from other countries, cultures, or ethnicities. ☜

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