Chapter 141: Fortieth Floor, Waiting Room

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): Huh? You got a lie detector?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): Yeah. But seriously, what am I supposed to do with this? I mean, come on...

I stopped typing mid-message, as my initial irritation had faded. A wave of cool detachment settled over me, allowing me to look at the situation more logically. It had to be the effect of the Scientist Do’s Composure skill I had acquired earlier.

The tower wouldn’t give me something pointless. The Lie Detector has to have some meaningful use.

This was the top reward for conquering multiple floors at once—a whopping five in total. Not only that, but I had succeeded in completing the most difficult mission. That had to mean something, right?

The tower had never been misleading or arbitrary in its rewards. If it had deemed the Lie Detector to be a fitting reward, then the item was undoubtedly valuable.

Judging by how things have gone before...

It was likely connected to a hidden mission on an upcoming floor.

The Black Dragon Herkest’s Scale Token and Ring of the Dawn Breeze had served similarly critical purposes before. That much should have been obvious from the get-go, but my initial expectation—and subsequent frustration—had clouded my ability to think it through.

Deleting my half-typed message, I wrote anew.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): I think it will be essential for one of the next floors.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): Oh, you’re spot on. It’s going to be

super

useful for the group trial floor. You seemed pretty annoyed earlier, but you figured it out quickly.

It was as I suspected. Yet, judging by Ha Hee-Jeong’s initial surprise, this reward differed from the one in her previous life.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): So, this wasn’t the reward last time you cleared these floors?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): Nope. Back then, it was some spirit-related skill. I think the top contributor’s reward changes depending on their faction.

Ah, that makes sense. Elves are known for their spirit-related abilities.

I couldn’t help but wonder what the human faction’s top reward would have been. Something furnace-related related probably. Or maybe a blacksmithing skill.

The importance of the Lie Detector left me pondering what problem it would solve. Though the next all-climber floor seemed distant, the way personal and group challenge floors were intertwined suggested it would be needed sooner than I expected.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): What trial is the detector going to be helpful for?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): It’s too complicated to explain over messages. Let’s talk about it at the rest area.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): Got it. See you there, then.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): Rest up. You deserve it.

Although my curiosity still lingered, I decided to heed her advice. Discussing the matter face-to-face would be far more effective.

Just as I was about to close the messaging interface, Ha Hee-Jeong sent another note.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Fortieth Floor): Oh, and don’t use it carelessly. It’s important.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Fortieth Floor): Got it. But c’mon, what do you take me for?

Despite my confident reply, her warning sparked a mischievous urge to test it out.

No, I can’t waste it. Looking at it a bit more won’t hurt, though...

Turning my attention to the purple die on the table, I scrutinized it.

This is the Lie Detector? How does it even work?

As I picked it up, the numbers engraved on its faces began shifting. The top and bottom faces displayed 10 and 0, while the remaining four alternated between "Truth" and "Lie." I assumed the 10 and 0 represented the remaining and used charges, respectively.

While I examined the object, Doppy, who had been reading nearby, looked up with childlike curiosity.

“Su-Yeok! What’s that? Is it some kind of game piece?"

“No, it detects lies."

“A lie detector? That’s amazing!"

The moment Doppy finished speaking, I instinctively understood how it worked. The die seemed to resonate with my mana, as if urging me to activate it. If I infused it with mana, it would reveal whether his statement was true or false.

Rather than experimenting, I stored the Lie Detector inside the mimic.

We would be heading to the rest area soon, and having it out during conversations seemed like an annoyance. Plus, I could accidentally trigger it.

I shifted my gaze to Doppy. “You’ve rested enough, haven’t you?"

Perhaps sensing my intent, Doppy quickly buried his face in his book, grumbling reluctantly. “I haven’t rested enough yet!"

“Come on. You haven’t done anything all day. Let’s head to the training room."

I thought of the masters I had encountered in Delrayle. Since they used spears, axes, swords, and firearms, I would have plenty of options to practice against.

As I made my way to the training room, I heard the faint creak of Doppy enthusiastically climbing down from his bed.

***

[9 hours 46 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

After nearly three hours of grueling training, Doppy and I soaked in our hot spring.

It had been ages since my last long training session. Combat training alone had burned through 6,000 achievement points, but not a single point felt wasted. In fact, I felt invigorated. The battles had flushed out my lingering tension, and although my muscles felt exhausted, it was the kind of exhaustion that brought a sense of accomplishment.

Excitingly, during training, I had felt moments of clarity, as though something had clicked.

Curious to see if it had been just my imagination, I opened my status window.

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

Title: Seeker of Crossroads

Affiliation: None

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

Strength: 161.7

Agility: 156.6

Stamina: 162.3

Mana: 148.9

Skills: Lightning Essence lvl 11, ... Sixth Sense lvl 12, Axemanship lvl 7, Master of Shadows lvl 9, ... Dragon’s Blood lvl 4, Wind’s Route lvl 5, Scientist Do’s Composure lvl 1.

Sure enough, Axemanship had finally leveled despite its long period of stagnation.

A surge of pride coursed through me. Unlike my other skills, which typically leveled up with repeated use, Axemanship required fleeting moments of insight during battle. It felt like a validation of my growth, not just physically, but also mentally.

Today had been filled with triumphs, from leading the neutral faction to victory to the multitude of skills that had leveled up. I was determined to celebrate with a drink later.

Fortieth floor. So far, so good.

As the thought crossed my mind, unease crept in. Complacency often invited danger, a cliche I had seen play out countless times in movies.

Come to think of it, compared to the eleventh through sixteenth floors or the mid-twentieth floors, the floors in the thirties hadn’t threatened me much. Instead, they had required me to strategize more rather than brute force my way through them. Even the monster extermination trial on the thirty-fourth floor hadn’t been overly challenging.

I wonder what the forty-first floor has in store for me.

The eleventh floor had forced me to battle without vision, and the twenty-first floor had stranded me in a dangerous factory outside the tower’s main sphere of influence. With the thirty-first floor being a relative piece of cake, something tougher had to be on the horizon.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that my next individual challenge wouldn’t intertwine with the following all-climber ones. It was just a hunch, but one that felt impossible to ignore.

My attitude had been positive, but the unexpected wave of unease washed over me again. It felt eerily similar to the time I entered the factory. Back then, I had been confident in my strength, only to be caught off guard by the Overseer.

Damn, I think I need to train more.

The thought continued to nag at me, and I couldn’t shake it off. Feeling anxious, I abruptly stood up.

Doppy—lounging with a towel draped over its face—nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Su-Yeok! What’s gotten into you?”

“I need more training. You’re coming with me, Doppy.”

He stared at me, confused and annoyed.

Yes, our previous training session had been longer than usual, but that didn’t mean I was going to let him slide. There was more work to be done.

“No!”

“No excuses. I’m not letting you off the hook. Get up.”

“It’s not because I don’t want to train!”

“Then what is it?”

“It hasn’t been thirty minutes yet!”

“Oh...”

Doppy’s words hit me like a brick.

He was right. To maximize the effects of the training hot spring, you needed to soak for at least thirty minutes—it hadn’t even been twenty yet.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I sat back down and submerged myself in the water. Doppy gave me a look of pure exasperation before pulling the towel back over his face.

I wanted to say something, but what could I say? Doppy had a point.

Fine. Just wait until the next training session, Doppy. You are in for hell. Mark my words.

***

[Welcome to the fortieth floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Rest Zone 1.]

[All aggressive actions are prohibited within the rest area. Climbers are invited to rest and relax as much as they would like. Time remaining: 71 hours 59 minutes.]

The familiar breeze grazed my cheek, welcoming me to my fourth stay at the rest area as I stepped onto the open field. I was the first to arrive, as per usual, but climbers began materializing around me soon after.

I scanned the area and looked for my old party. Spotting Ha Hee-Jeong about seventy meters away, I waved to her. She noticed me instantly and waved back enthusiastically.

“Su-Hyeok oppa! Doppy! Over here!”

Hearing Seo Ha-Rin’s cheerful voice after so long felt like reconnecting with an old friend. My former party and I hadn’t crossed paths during the group floor, and I couldn’t wait to catch up with them.

Well, I guess I did see Ha Hee-Jeong briefly.

After Seo Ha-Rin called out to me and Doppy, I stood still, gesturing them over instead. “Come here! I’ve got something to show you!”

“

Huh?

”

Seo Ha-Rin looked puzzled, but Seo Ho-Su nudged her forward. “Su-Hyeok’s calling us! Let’s go!”

While they made their way over, I retrieved my combat airship from the mimic. The enormous vessel materialized with a resounding thud, catching everyone off guard. Seo Ho-Su froze mid-step, his initial excitement replaced by shock.

“Su-Hyeok... what the fuck is that? Is that... an airship?”

He wasn’t the only one stunned. Aside from Ha Hee-Jeong, every climber nearby gawked in wide-eyed disbelief.

“Wow, I can’t believe Su-Hyeok brought an airship...”

“O-oppa, how did you manage this? They didn’t let anyone near their airships!”

“Whoa...”

Seo Ha-Rin and Hakin’s amazement was downright adorable, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“You heard about how I mediated between the elven council leader and the human lords?”

“Yes!”

“Well, I also convinced them to throw in an airship.”

Enraptured by the airship, Hakin placed a hand on its hull. “This is insane! You can fly this thing, right?”

“Of course. I learned how to pilot it during the last set of floors. Want to go for a ride?”

“Really? Absolutely!”

“Then let’s get on.”

I smiled and nodded, watching Seo Ha-Rin and Hakin clamber aboard with uncontained excitement. Before long, other climbers began gathering around, drawn by the sight of the massive airship in the middle of the field.

If even Seo Ha-Rin had never ridden one, it was safe to assume no one else had either. Their wide-eyed wonder spoke volumes.

It seems like nearly all the climbers in Zone 1 have arrived.

It felt like I would have to give everyone a turn on the airship.

As the crowd thickened, Alexei’s familiar voice rang out, “Su-Hyeok! Mind if I try it too?”

“Sure, of course.”

Knowing most of the climbers in Zone 1, I could already predict what was about to happen.

And, as expected...

“Su-Hyeok! Let me ride it too!”

“Me too!”

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Hundreds of climbers began clamoring for a turn on the airship.

Well, I guess there’s no way around this.

With three days to spend, I decided to start it off by teaching the climbers in Zone 1 how to operate an airship.

“All right, everyone! Let’s start with the mages. Gather around!”

***

[All aggressive actions are prohibited within the rest area. Climbers are invited to rest and relax as much as they would like. Time remaining: 67 hours 18 minutes.]

For the next few hours, I taught the approximately two hundred climbers the basics of piloting an airship. Most of them took the opportunity to fly it around the rest area.

Of course, I made sure to warn them not to stray beyond the designated boundaries. Crashing into the rest area’s protective barrier would probably destroy the airship.

As the day progressed into a lively evening, the airship rides had clearly boosted my popularity. Climbers passing by stopped to thank me.

“Su-Hyeok, that was incredible! Thanks for letting us fly!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Can we take another turn tomorrow?”

“Sure...

Haha

.”

As the climber walked off, I let out a quiet sigh.

Maybe I should just leave the airship out tomorrow. They can figure it out themselves.

Later, while I chatted with my party members, Alexei approached with her own group in tow. This had become such a frequent occurrence that her presence now felt almost expected.

Alexei, grinning broadly, asked, “Su-Hyeok, mind if we join you?”