◈ Tower – 49th floor (3)
I took a quick look at the system.
I could understand why the butterfly effect happened. At this point, Ellen Aiden has turned into an enemy with Rein Castell. She then becomes one of the bosses where she fights against Noah Park and her colleagues and eventually dies.
But now, Ellen is still a member of the academy and is our ally. Unlike the original, she is in a hostile situation with the manager.
‘It’s surprising.’
He didn’t seem to even care about Ellen, but was he aware of that? It seems that Ellen’s death also had an influence on the manager’s motivation to become the 103rd owner.
“…for me, I have no choice but to think that way.”
I opened my mouth, pretending not to know what the manager meant.
“Then why did you do these things?”
“I don’t think it would make any sense to explain each one. If you think about what you have said, there is no such thing as trust anymore, can you believe what they say?”
“Warrior. If you are Ahat’s successor, then you are not a stranger to magic. Do you know what would happen to a wizard if he was accepting erosion on his own?”
The manager naturally told me that I was Ahat’s successor. It seems the information came from somewhere.
“Your lifespan will decrease rapidly. Erosion is not mana after all. Why are you committing suicide-like behavior?”
“To deal with the top owner.”
The manager said firmly.
I could see what the ‘slight change’ the system described was. Unlike the manager who tried to become the top owner by sacrificing others, this time he tried to kill the top owner by sacrificing himself.
“I am curious. Hero, I only ask one question. How were you going to fight the 103rd Topju?”
“Build a coalition for that…”
“Ts. That’s a young idea. Did you ever think that you could deal with such a hasty alliance?”
I did not answer the manager’s question.
‘I can’t deal with it.’
That part I know best.
The alliance was formed to attack and climb up to the 100th floor, not to deal with the top masters.
The number is meaningless in relativism with the 103rd top stock, the final boss of the game. This is because if you do not satisfy the conditions, you are in the position of an absolute that even your opponent cannot do.
That’s why we had to take Top’s child, Noah Park, safely.
“I plan to go up to the 100th floor by absorbing all the erosion from the 49th floor. Then, at least, it will be able to inflict a fatal blow to the top master.”
I couldn’t say it was impossible. In the first place, the 103rd Top Joo knows that the managers are gathering power like this.
“What’s your plan?”
Drakhan asked, glaring at the manager. The manager snorted at the question.
“I know how you feel for me. It must be a mixture of loss and anger.”
The old man created black salt on his hands. A sticky flame with an unpleasant feeling flew out.
“I have someone to protect me.”
Seo Ji-han and Drakhan, who entered the 49th floor, returned in less than an hour. When they came down the stairs and returned to the base, the priests who were waiting in front gave them a blessing. With the sound of burning, the erosion remaining on the body was purified and disappeared.
“How is the situation on the 49th floor?”
A middle-aged paladin who temporarily leads the temple forces here has asked. Seo Ji-han shook her head and answered.
“It’s serious. It was so full of erosion that I couldn’t even see an inch ahead.”
“…do you think the entrance has already been encroached on?”
“yes. The manager was using his hands to keep it from overflowing to the 48th floor.”
As soon as the paladin heard the word manager, his eyes widened.
“Have you met the manager?”
“yes. It’s an important story, so I think it would be right for me to tell other people.”
“sure. That would be more accurate. Okay. We will also prepare more holy water and blessings in preparation for going up to the 49th floor.”
Soon the paladin returned. Drakhan, who was next to him, whispered in a quiet voice.
“Jihan. How far are you going to talk?”
“Aren’t we supposed to tell you everything?”
“Are you talking about the purpose of what the manager told you earlier? I’m afraid I’ll get confused for nothing.”
“Ugh. I don’t think the manager would try to hide the purpose. It would be better to talk about it now than to hear it later.”
As a result, a battle with the manager did not take place even if he faced the black flame. If it had been, he might not have been able to return to the 48th floor like this.
‘It seems that there were subordinates around.’
When he showed black flame, there was no way that Drakhan could have known the danger of reflexively attacking the manager. Nevertheless, he acted confidently and came to meet Seo Ji-han and Drakhan after preparing in advance.
Broadly speaking, it is safe to say that the 49th floor’s response in case an enemy such as a coalition force enters is already over.
Seo Ji-han and Drakhan entered the base established by Yoosung Academy. Inside the tent, some instructors were busy talking. His eyes moved as he heard the rustling of the cloth.
“Ah, you are back. How about on the 49th floor?”
Beatrice, who was just standing near the entrance, asked Seo Ji-han. Seo Ji-han looked around at the people in the tent. In addition to the instructors including Layette, there were also Ellen and Noah Park.
Without wasting time, he spoke directly to the main point.
“As the owners said, things are not going well. The 49th floor is full of erosion all the way to the entrance, so it will be difficult to enter without blessings. It is true that we could not climb because we needed help from the temple.”
“Ugh. Then the remnants of the temple should hurry to join.”
“yes. I’ll contact you and explain the situation. There is something more important than that…”
Seo Ji-han sighed and said.
“Meet the manager on the 50th floor.”
“Wait, with your grandfather?”
At that, Ellen reacted enough to leave her seat and stand up. It was the expected reaction.
“There are a lot of things I need to say, so I will explain them step by step. Ask your question later.”
Seo Ji-han confronted the manager and explained what had happened.
In particular, when explaining the black salt, which did not work with Drakhan’s personality, everyone murmured when they heard that the manager was absorbing the erosion.
“…Aiden. I’m probably going to have to make a decision, can I join you?”
Ellen’s expression was visibly agitated. Layette noticed it and she asked cautiously.
It was too direct, but it wasn’t a problem that could be solved by turning it around. Ellen quickly controlled her expression at her gaze on her and nodded her head.
“I came here thinking that I could already face it. I even talked to her mother, so she won’t be missing out now.”
“Yes, thank you. We need your strength because we lack the number of wizards.”
While the two of them had such a conversation, Seo Ji-han glanced at Park No-ah. Noah Park did not change her expression even after listening to her manager.
He just didn’t show it outwardly, but it was clear that he was holding on to it. The part about Noah Park will be handled by her mentor, Drakhan.
“Jihan. I do the rest of the story. It will take a long time to explain the manager’s purpose, so go ahead and tell the other factions.”
“yes. Please.”
Seo Ji-han, who reported the results of the reconnaissance to some extent, came out of the tent first. Now he had to contact the imperial family and the shrine as well.
It seemed as if he had passed the hurdle once, and he sighed. The foreknowledge that Seo Ji-han saw in advance is cut off when he fights with the manager. That meant he was going to die. As Desaruuk did, a foresight dream can see a better future only after overcoming that crisis.
There were still a lot of things to be careful about until he faced Top-ju.
– The manager is blocking the 49th floor.
Other coalition members who received this contact arrived earlier than expected. The remaining temple forces arrived at the base on the 48th floor, and the imperial family arrived at intervals of several days.
The union was seen greeting the last imperial faction to join. Of course, they only greeted each other, and there was no further conversation. Because they only know each other, there is no friendship.
The situation was explained in advance, so there was no need to make plans late.
“It looks like you had a good conversation with the heads of state.”
Yurian, who passed the village protected by the heads of state, said. Yurian was also armed with Black Hawk’s equipment.
For reference, the remaining Yooseong Academy was uploaded with the Imperial Family. It was inevitable because the number of people in the academy was less than half that of the other forces in the alliance.
“Fortunately, it worked out well. How about the floor below that?”
“The cleanup is ongoing. However, there hasn’t been much battle since the 44th floor. Anyway, if what you said is true.”
Yuri An pointed to the stairs leading to the 49th floor.
“If you go up, there will be a battle right away.”
“yes. The manager is blocking it.”
“Jihan. So, if we don’t hold hands, we become enemies, right?”
Astiel, who was nearby, came to see if he had heard the story. I nodded.
“I had no intention of sending us to the 50th floor.”
“…it’s weird. After all, if that person’s purpose is to kill the master, then there’s no reason to fight the Union even if you don’t cooperate, right?”
“It means that you know very well that you won’t get along like that. Maybe that’s what it means to hold her hand, because it means to come under your control.”
“Ehh. Since we have mutually agreed upon each other, we can’t even ask the landlords to manage us now, so it’s difficult. So what will Aiden do?”
Astiel seems to have a problem with the fact that the manager on the 50th floor is Ellen’s grandfather. Ellen is a wizard who can handle blue flames, so it was certain that he would become dangerous if he changed.
“it’s okay. I said there would be no problem.”
I looked towards the village where the heads of state were staying.
“I think I talked about it with my mother too.”
“is it···. Aiden has also made up his mind, so he must be here.”
“Anyway, I will leave tomorrow as planned. No problem, right?”
“uh. We too.”
I went back to my seat after seeing that they were starting to establish a base.
The next day, as scheduled, the pre-selected advance team gathered.
After emphasizing the precautions given in advance, I climbed the stairs to the 49th floor. As soon as we entered the 49th floor, a landscape full of erosion appeared. The Paladins and Priests lit up the light, making the erosion that seemed to have thickened in the meantime retreat back.
“Ugh… what is it? This?”
“It’s definitely serious.”
Although they had prepared their hearts for it, they were all astonished that they did not know it would be this much.
“Will you come in a little while?”
“yes. Everyone is ready.”
Every time we scouted, the manager came out to meet us around this point. As I prepared for battle, I heard the voice I was waiting for.
“Nice to meet you.”
Aiden, the manager who was in charge of the final boss for most of the scenario.
At his appearance, the Union was filled with wretchedness.
