Chapter 102: Twenty-Fifth Floor, Papal Defense (3)

[Locate the pope and survive until reinforcements arrive. Time remaining: 20 minutes 31 seconds]

The flames raging across the land had turned the sky a somber shade, a dark red that hovered ominously above all. Amid the fiery red sky, a colossal blue orb shot upward, filling the air with an intense and piercing whistle.

Screeeeech—

The orb burst like a vibrant firework, scattering fragments in every direction. This marked the thirtieth signal flare we had launched.

It looks like most of the climbers have gathered now.

The central plaza was filled with a vast crowd, overflowing and forcing those on the outskirts to spill into several major thoroughfares. Despite our mass gathering, the enemy’s response had left us surprised. They had withdrawn once they realized that further assaults would prove futile. The only individuals remaining within the fortress walls were the climbers and the pope’s forces.

Now, our final goal was to rally the climbers, prepare their ranks, and charge from the fortress at the proper time.

Hmm, they have withdrawn, but why aren't they retreating completely?

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Even though the circumstances favored us, a lingering doubt gnawed at me. Once our reinforcements arrived, the enemy would find themselves trapped, encircled from both sides. Yet still, they remained in formation on the plains outside.

Don’t they know reinforcements will arrive to aid us?

Such a lack of information seemed unlikely, even in a medieval context.

Wait. Do they somehow know we will vanish in twenty minutes?

Questions continued to rise, prompting me to consult Ha Hee-Jeong directly.

Yet, she appeared hesitant, her words trailing off as if uncertain. “Well, originally, the inside of the fortress was pure chaos and we hadn’t established a solid defensive position... You may be right, I think they don’t know about the reinforcements."

“Really?"

If Ha Hee-Jeong thought so, there was no reason to doubt her. Perhaps I was overthinking things.

The climbers’ ranks seemed organized enough. Focusing on something productive rather than simply waiting around for reinforcements seemed to be the wisest thing to do.

Locking gazes with Ha Hee-Jeong’s, I detected a flash of something sharp in her calm expression. Even without saying anything, we were clearly both contemplating the same thing.

I carefully broke the silence. “Considering what’s ahead, wouldn’t it be better to reduce the enemy’s numbers a little?"

Ha Hee-Jeong responded in a light, almost playful tone, “Exactly. It’s been ages since everyone has gathered in one place. What do you think? Up for a charge, just like on the sixteenth floor?"

Hearing her confidence brought a grin to my face. “I’m all for it. We should at least inform everyone first, though."

“Let me handle the charge. You organize everyone."

“

Huh?

You want to do it?"

She smiled mischievously before referencing my actions on the sixteenth floor. “I want to shout ‘Charge!’ at least once, just like you did."

“Didn’t you also order the climbers to charge back then?"

Switching to a teasing smile, she then pouted slightly in mock annoyance. “Come on, the second charge was nothing special. You stole the spotlight with the first one."

As we laughed together, Ha Hee-Jeong stepped forward and gave me a light push on the back. “I’ll take care of the boring explanations, so hurry up and get to the front."

“Yes, ma’am! Awaiting your command to charge!"

When I responded with unexpected earnestness, a faint blush crept over Ha Hee-Jeong’s cheeks.

“Get moving!"

Handing Doppy over to Seo Ha-Rin, I went to find Seo Ho-Su. “Hey, let’s move to the front."

“

Huh?

Why?"

“We’re about to charge."

“What? A charge? Can’t we just hold our ground?"

“Judging from the circumstances, those guys will probably appear on the next floor as well, so we’re aiming to thin them out a bit. Plus, we’ll earn some achievement points. Ha Hee-Jeong will fill you in on the rest."

Seo Ho-Su chuckled and lifted his shield. “Works for me. I haven’t had much to do on this floor anyway."

As we advanced toward the vanguard, Ha Hee-Jeong’s magically amplified voice resonated across the ranks, “I believe that reducing the enemy forces on this floor will be advantageous for the next. Therefore, we will...”

Of course, I wasn’t sure every climber would be eager to engage.

Regardless of my assumptions, most of them wore eager expressions, hands already reaching for their weapons. Few had managed to satisfy their itch for achievement, much like Seo Ho-Su.

Medieval soldiers weren’t formidable foes, after all. For most of us, this would be a simple, straightforward task. Feeling ready, I tuned back into Ha Hee-Jeong’s orders.

“Ten minutes before the reinforcements arrive, we will begin our advance. Please assume your positions. Warriors, take the lead...”

***

[Locate the pope and survive until reinforcements arrive. Time remaining: 10 minutes 3 seconds]

Ha Hee-Jeong’s voice echoed clearly throughout the fortress, “Prepare to charge!"

I steadied my breath, gazing beyond the fortress gates. Seemingly sensing danger in our movements, the enemy began to hastily form a defensive formation. I laughed, thinking that a defensive formation wouldn’t hold much significance against magic.

Finally, Ha Hee-Jeong gave the command. “Charge!"

“

Raaaah!

" The climbers’ roar rippled outward, sounding like a gathering storm.

I led the charge from the head of the formation, setting the pace to a manageable speed. The combined force of our footsteps caused the ground to tremble.

As we leaped over the broken fortress gate’s rubble, thousands of magical spells whizzed past us, barely missing our heads.

Boom! Boom!

Amidst the thunderous, earth-quaking explosions, a deep horn sounded from the western sky—our reinforcements had arrived.

Ha Hee-Jeong timed the charge well, I am sure it will take them some time to retrieve the pope from our care.

Apparently, giving the order to charge ten minutes before the timer ran out had been no coincidence. Although I couldn’t see her, I was confident she was leading the pope directly toward the reinforcements while we caught the enemy’s attention.

I quickened my pace. The more we could distract the enemy, the smoother Ha Hee-Jeong’s task would be, and it would also allow us to match the reinforcement’s cavalry’s speed.

A horn’s resonant blare reverberated across the battlefield, grand and unyielding.

“Drive out the heretics!"

“Hold the line! Stand your ground!"

“Break their line!"

“Anyone who retreats will die by my hand!"

Expanding my senses across the plains, I could hear the shouts from both sides. As our reinforcement’s cavalry closed in from the west, I veered to the right, meeting the enemy head-on.

I fired a chain of spear-like lightning bolts into the heretics’ front line, tearing through it and breaking their formation. With that, the climbers surged forward like a fierce gale.

“Argh!"

“Ugh!"

Though I pitied the misinformed soldiers falling pointlessly, I didn’t loosen my grip on my axe. Granting them a swift and painless death was the greatest mercy I could offer.

Just then, I heard Seo Ho-Su shout clearly from right beside me, “Dance of the Void! Azure Dragon Slash!"

Gosh, how long has it been since I last heard this?

Even amidst the chaos, I couldn’t help but smile. Glancing his way, I contentedly noticed that Seo Ho-Su was grinning at me.

As always, he could accurately perceive my mood. Seeing my expression, which likely wasn’t the most cheerful, he had intentionally shouted his skill’s name loudly. I reciprocated his gesture with my own smile, feeling how deeply he cared for me.

***

[Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the twenty-fifth floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Papal Defense. Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok located the pope and delivered him safely to the reinforcements, completing the hidden mission ‘How Did You Find Me?’]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been awarded 6,324 achievement points. Total achievement points: 46,283. He will now enter the waiting room.]

***

[The twenty-sixth floor requires all climbers to participate simultaneously. Please prepare accordingly.]

[11 hours 59 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

***

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Wait, you found him, not Alexei?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Yeah, it was a close call.

There hadn’t been much of an opportunity to talk during the chaos that appeared after I found the pope. Now that I was back in the waiting room, I explained what had happened.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Why on earth did Alexei end up at the plaza?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): No idea. She said she heard my plan and was already bored from searching for the pope. She assumed some climber would find him eventually.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Wow, we seriously dodged a bullet. So how did you find him?

Even without sound, I could almost hear Ha Hee-Jeong’s voice through the messages. Smiling, I told her that Comet’s ring had guided me.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Really? You thought of that? Impressive!

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Hey! I made it up to the twenty-fifth floor. I’ve got some experience now, okay?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Yeah, you’ve grown a lot. Even setting aside finding the secret passage, remembering the ring in that situation isn’t something anyone could do.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Well, it’s all thanks to you. I appreciate what you’ve done.

Since the tutorial, Ha Hee-Jeong had drilled the habit of thinking independently into me. If I had depended fully on her knowledge of the future, I probably wouldn’t have developed to this point.

Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t respond immediately to my gratitude.

Is she embarrassed? Or maybe she is overwhelmed.

Finally, a message from Ha Hee-Jeong came through.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor):

Ugh

, fine. As long as you know. Just be a little nicer to me, okay?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Nicer? What do you mean? Have I ever treated you badly?

Honestly, I couldn’t recall a single instance—since entering the tower—where I had mistreated her. The only time we had spent together was during trials, meaning that our lives were on the line almost every second. Teasing or ignoring her wasn’t an option.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): I’m just saying the truth as it is. You still talk back to me as much as ever.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): What? I can’t talk back to you? Are you my mom or something?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Gosh, I’ve been guiding you for how long now? Raising sons is pointless. I should’ve taken better care of myself instead.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor):

Haha

, stop copying my mom. Besides, I climbed from the first to the fifth floor all by myself, remember? Almost died doing it, too... because nobody gave me a heads-up!

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Hey! I already apologized for that, didn’t I?

From her instantaneous reaction, I could tell she still felt guilty for that. I didn’t hold it against her, but maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Relax, I’m kidding. Really, it’s fine.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Geez, don’t joke about that. You know how worried I was back then.

She had a point. After all, she had tearfully apologized on the tenth floor, feeling deeply guilty for pushing the responsibility of saving Earth—and the danger that accompanied it—on me. Even though it had been necessary, that didn’t change how she felt.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Sorry, my bad. I really didn’t mean it.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Fine.

After that short reply, Ha Hee-Jeong went silent.

Is she genuinely upset? Uh-oh.

I hadn’t thought my comment would overstep that much. Clearly, her guilt ran deeper than I realized. At least I knew a tried-and-true way to soothe her in situations like this: admit I was wrong and keep the conversation going until she responded.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Hey, Hee-Jeong. Seriously, I messed up. It won’t happen again, I swear.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Anyway, what’s on the twenty-sixth floor?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): I’m sorry, but we’ve got to focus on clearing the next floor, right? Are you really not going to answer?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Hello? What are you up to? Are you asleep?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Twenty-sixth Floor): Ah, I see. You’re asleep. Okay, sleep tight!

After receiving what could only be described as a barrage of messages, she finally responded.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Twenty-sixth Floor): Geez! That’s enough. I’m taking a shower, so I’ll talk to you later.

A quiet smile spread across my face.

Mission accomplished.