Chapter 136: Thirty-Sixth Floor, Preliminary Work (2)

“H-hold on, I surrender!”

The pilot didn’t let his pride complicate matters. Once he felt the blade against his neck, he simply raised both hands in a gesture of submission.

Thankfully, he acted quickly and wisely. Seeing that he wouldn’t resist any further, I removed the dagger from his throat.

“From this point forward, this airship will be heading to Delrayle. Bring me a map.”

Even though he seemed docile, I ordered him to fetch me a map to ensure he didn’t entertain any ideas of betraying us en route. Plus, I needed to double-check the flight path. If he didn’t have one, we would have to figure something else out.

The pilot nodded so vigorously that it almost looked like his head would fall off. “Y-yes, a map! I’ll fetch it immediately!”

“Cecilia?”

“Yes, I’ll accompany him.”

The pilot made his way below deck, with Cecilia following closely behind.

Watching her go, I felt a small sense of relief. Bringing the other climbers along had been the right call. With the pilot so easily intimidated, having someone reliable like Cecilia by his side ensured things wouldn’t go sideways.

Now that we were heading in the right direction, I could open a portal.

Positioning myself in the middle of the deck, I activated the skill, tearing open a shimmering, golden rift in space and allowing the other climbers on the plains to board the ship.

Moments later, climbers poured through, stepping onto the deck wide-eyed and amazed. They looked around in awe before breaking into excited chatter.

“Wow, so this is the airship Su-Hyeok mentioned!”

“This is amazing!”

Watching the over fifty climbers’ reactions brought a smile to my face. It reminded me of my first time boarding an airship on the thirty-first floor. I had been just as awestruck back then.

If they were this impressed by an airship, I could only imagine how they would react to a sky whale.

As I mused, one of the climbers approached me. “Su-Hyeok, three more climbers joined us on the plains.”

“Hmm, not as many as I would have hoped.”

“Well, most of the nearby climbers had already gathered.”

“That makes sense, I guess. Regardless, good job.”

Though I acted calmly, inwardly, I heaved a sigh of relief. A larger group would have been harder to manage, and I wouldn’t be able to drag everyone around with me indefinitely.

While I spoke with the climber, Cecilia and the pilot returned.

“I-I’ve brought the map!”

***

I unfolded the map on the deck and had the pilot explain our route.

He explained that, for an airship of this size, it would take two days to reach Delrayle. I had anticipated the trip taking at least three days, perhaps longer, so I welcomed the good news.

The map seemed legitimate, as it described the surrounding terrain in remarkable detail. Besides, given how frightened the pilot was, I doubted he would dare lie to us.

After committing the map to memory, I stored it in Mung-chi for later reference, just in case.

Now that I had settled that matter, I turned to the pilot. “Also, I wish to learn how to operate the airship.”

“You want to pilot the airship?”

“Yes.”

“Uh...”

The pilot paled visibly. His eyes darted nervously, unable to focus.

Wait. He isn’t nervous. He is terrified.

I furrowed my brow, pondering his reaction, causing him to stammer out a reply, “Yes! O-of course! I’ll teach you everything you need to know!”

He continued trembling, and I quickly realized why.

“You’re worried we’ll kill you once we learn how to fly this thing, aren’t you? Don’t worry. We won’t kill anyone here.”

“T-thank you for sparing us!”

His overreaction confirmed my suspicion. He and the crew feared they would become expendable once we no longer needed their expertise.

I didn’t know how captured airship pilots were treated in this world, but I hadn’t ever planned to harm them. Flying should be left to the professionals. I only wanted to learn the basics for future use.

While I considered this, Cecilia leaned as she whispered, “Su-Hyeok, there’s something that’s been on my mind.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s about our destination... Are you sure Delrayle is the right choice?”

She raised a valid concern. While Ha Hee-Jeong had explained that Delrayle would host a meeting between the lords, the other climbers didn’t have that knowledge.

I stepped away from the pilot for a bit more privacy.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“I understand your concern but don’t worry too much. From what I heard during my individual challenge floors, Delrayle is the main capital and the strongest city. Isn’t that right?”

I raised my voice at the end to include the pilot, who quickly nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s correct!”

Turning back to Cecilia, I gave her a meaningful look.

“You heard him. Delrayle’s location makes it the ideal spot for the human faction to rally. If the lords are going to convene anywhere, it’ll be there.”

“Well... but what if the city has already been attacked? If it’s as important as we think, the elves may have targeted it already. There’s also the possibility the kings are meeting elsewhere.”

“Cecilia.”

Her reasoning wasn’t entirely off, but overanalyzing everything like that would leave us paralyzed.

I held back a sigh, forcing myself to remain patient. “I get it, but isn’t it better to head for the most likely location first? If it’s not Delrayle, we’ll have nowhere else to go.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry for doubting you.” Cecilia nodded, acknowledging her mistake.

The slight awkwardness that followed gave me an idea. Given that she was a mage and not too low-ranked, she was more than capable enough to learn piloting with me.

“Oh, by the way, I was thinking of learning how to pilot the airship. Want to join me?”

“Learn how to fly one of these things? Sure! You think I should?”

“Why not? It could come in handy later.”

“That’ll be great!”

Her eyes sparkled at the suggestion. Perhaps she saw it as an opportunity to prove herself. Together, we approached the pilot to begin our lessons.

Thinking forward a bit, I anticipated that the thirty-sixth floor would have ended by the time we reached Delrayle.

Although two floors had already passed, we still had ample time before the thirty-ninth began. For now, mastering the intricacies of airship piloting took priority.

***

The two days passed in a blur.

The thirty-sixth floor concluded, ushering in the thirty-seventh. During this interval, we managed to approach Delrayle’s outskirts.

Although we crossed paths with several other airships, Master of Shadows enabled us to evade them safely.

Piloting the airship had become almost second nature to me. It was more demanding than driving a car, though not overwhelmingly so. I hadn’t attempted to take off or land yet, but the pilot had drilled the theoretical knowledge into us. Therefore, I doubted it would present me with any significant issues.

Regardless, I allowed the pilot to take over navigation once we spotted the city.

“We’re approaching Delrayle. What are your instructions?"

“Find a concealed spot to park the airship, even if it’s a bit farther out."

“As you command..."

Even though the neutral faction hadn’t committed any acts of terror, the human faction was still openly hostile to them. Entering Delrayle openly was out of the question. Landing nearby and proceeding solo from there would be the wisest course of action.

Not long after giving the order, the pilot skillfully maneuvered the airship into a canyon before setting it down in a basin.

The location was suitably discreet, unlikely to draw unwanted attention. Besides, I intended to shroud the area with Shadow Veil, so it shouldn’t cause any unwanted complications.

As I inspected my equipment and prepared for my journey to Delrayle, a few climbers approached me.

“Are you certain it’s safe to go alone?"

“Yes. Since I’m heading to the central keep, it’ll be more efficient if I travel on my own."

“But still..."

Despite my earlier explanation, they appeared hesitant to let the matter rest. I understood their reluctance as any contribution, no matter how small, could increase their final rewards.

However, time was of the essence. I couldn’t afford to bring them along.

Although Shadow Veil was a powerful skill, it wasn’t infallible—the Overseer and Stagnant Terror had proven that to me already. If the skill failed while we were surrounded, I wouldn’t be able to protect them.

“You would be putting yourselves at risk. Stay here and ensure Doppy remains safe."

My resolute tone left no room for argument. The climbers refrained from pressing further, though their eyes betrayed lingering greed.

“Very well. Please take care."

Their attitude grated on me. I had rescued them during their moment of distress, but they expected even more. Without my intervention, they would have been powerless, reduced to watching helplessly from the sidelines.

I deliberately averted my gaze, choosing to ignore their expressions. This was one of the many inconveniences that traveling alongside climbers brought. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be helped.

After exchanging cursory farewells, I leaped from the airship.

My next objective was straightforward. Reach the royal keep at the city’s center, then leave immediately.

Two-Way Portal only allowed me to open a portal to a location I had previously visited. If I wanted to abduct the head of the elven council and force them into a negotiation with the lords, I needed to familiarize myself with the castle’s layout first.

I increased my pace, focusing on the task ahead. The sooner I quelled the conflict between the elves and humans, the greater the rewards I would reap.

***

Delrayle stood as this world’s most vibrant metropolis. Its distinct atmosphere set it apart from any city I had encountered before—the streets were impeccably organized.

Despite the recent terror attack, its citizens moved about freely, while uniquely designed vehicles traversed the thoroughfares.

At the city’s heart, a massive furnace radiated an intense crimson glow.

With Shadow Veil cloaking my presence, I navigated the streets unhindered. Once again, I marveled at how well it paired with Master of Shadows.

If I hadn’t secured them on the twelfth and fifteenth floors...

Without the two skills, half of my accomplishments would have been unattainable. The combination of stealth and combat was extraordinarily versatile, granting me countless advantages.

All of this was thanks to Ha Hee-Jeong. Though she wasn’t present, my gratitude toward her remained unwavering.

Huh? Who are those people?

As I moved through the city, I noticed a group of climbers mingling with haggard individuals, likely refugees from a terror-stricken city.

Their plight wasn’t my concern. Without sparing them another glance, I pressed on toward the royal keep.

I am almost there.

Before long, the central keep loomed ahead, its massive form situated beside the enormous furnace. Although I had heard and read descriptions of it, those all paled in comparison to its awe-inspiring sight, something an individual would only be able to appreciate first-hand.

The keep wasn’t anchored to the ground. Despite its immense size, it rested atop colossal wheels, a fortress designed for mobility.

It was said that when all-out war erupted, the central keep itself served as a weapon.

Surprisingly, security doesn’t seem that tight.

Perhaps the heavy pedestrian traffic created a more relaxed atmosphere among the guards—or they were simply confident in their strength.

Although I was tempted to stop there, doing a bit of reconnaissance within the castle first seemed smarter. Ideally, I would locate the conference room before leaving.

It’s best to be cautious, just in case.

According to Ha Hee-Jeong, the human faction boasted individuals referred to as "masters." These existences rivaled the elves that commanded Spirit Kings, such as Roxanne.

Although not as powerful as Spirit Kings, they didn’t need to sacrifice their life force to summon their strength.

Even if they are weaker than a Spirit King, I still don’t want to encounter them.

More powerful individuals could still perceive me even through Shadow Veil. While it obscured my form, it didn’t completely erase my presence.

Clashing with a master would only get in the way at this stage of my plan. If necessary, I could face them at a more opportune time.

I need to figure out where I am first, though.

The keep’s sheer size was disorienting. Unlike buildings back on Earth, no signs indicated where rooms or points of interest were located.

Even searching for an important location, like a conference room, could take an entire day.

Despite not being directionally challenged, I couldn’t make sense of the layout.

As I wandered through the corridors, the number of people around me began to dwindle.

I think I took a wrong turn.

The path seemed to lead somewhere significant, possibly the king’s chambers. If so, it likely didn’t contain a conference room.

Just as I considered turning back, a voice called out from the far end of the hallway, “Hey, you little rat. Freeze."