Chapter 146: Forty-First Floor, Swordmaster Ryun (2)

Ryun's dilemma had a surprisingly straightforward solution. All I needed to do was ensure that Ryun could enter the Omniscient Thunder axe’s garden. Considering that the Omniscient Thunder Axe was my sponsor, this idea seemed feasible.

Two potential paths lay before me. I could either appeal directly to my sponsor once I conquered the tower or offer my shares as collateral.

Mmm, but the tower hasn’t offered me a sponsorship offer. That means I only have one option.

I would have to approach my patron deity after conquering the one-hundredth floor and plead my case. Sending a single ent to their domain shouldn’t be an unreasonable request.

“Ryun, I’ll make sure you can enter the garden.”

Ryun’s wooden lips trembled as his small, round eyes widened in disbelief. “What... do you mean... by that...?”

“Exactly what I said. If you entrust me with the World Tree's Essence, I’ll find a way to ensure you reach the garden.”

Ryun’s small eyes widened even further, and his lips moved soundlessly, unable to speak.

I nodded with conviction. “To be honest, you’re god isn’t exactly the one who sent me.”

Following that admission, I began to explain the situation in more detail. As this was my first time communicating the tower’s nature to an inhabitant of the tower, a twinge of worry crept in. However, I finished my explanation without incident, managing to pique Ryun’s interest successfully.

Despite his initial skepticism and surprise at the notion that someone weaker than himself could ascend to godhood, his curiosity about reaching the garden far outweighed his doubts.

Looking up at the endless sky, Ryun spoke softly, “Why... was such an opportunity... never given... to me...?”

His regretful words and sorrowful tone were a window into his thoughts. If only he had been granted such a chance, perhaps he could have protected Sorien.

I didn’t have a definitive answer for him, but I wanted to provide some clarity—at least to the extent of my knowledge.

“Perhaps the opportunity had already passed in your world.”

“Already...?”

“Your world has a god, doesn’t it?”

“Ah...” Ryun nodded faintly.

The first-class god Omniscient Thunder Axe likely governed other worlds as well. From what I had gathered so far, Ryun’s world had likely been selected by the Tower of Ordeal at some point in the past.

After a moment of reflection, Ryun nodded once more, seemingly coming to terms with the possibility.

“Very well. Let us proceed... as you suggest. But you... have to... promise... to send me... to the garden.”

“I promise.”

“Good...”

Relief washed over me. Whether sparing Ryun would complete a hidden mission or not, everything had gone far better than I could have anticipated.

The swordmaster Ryun—an enemy I couldn’t hope to defeat in direct combat—had willingly stepped aside. Now, stealing the World Tree's Essence or betraying anyone wouldn’t be necessary.

“Then wait for me in the rest area.”

“No...”

Ryun’s unexpected refusal startled me, causing me to fumble as I prepared to activate a portal.

“What? Why not? We agreed on this.”

Ryun raised a long arm and pointed directly at me. “I will... remain... by your side... and move... with you.”

“Ryun, I told you. That’s not possible.”

The tower had recognized Doppy as my climbing companion, which is why it could tag along with me. On the other hand, I had just met Ryun, and the tower hadn’t said anything about traveling together—I couldn’t bring him into my waiting room.

“I have... heard your reasoning... but it will... be possible...”

Before I could respond again, his long arm reached out and grasped my axe. Branches sprouted from his hand, wrapping tightly around the weapon. Then, without warning, Ryun began to glow, the heat radiating upward from his feet as if he were igniting.

Igniting?

“Ryun!” I shouted urgently at him, but he didn’t respond.

The fiery glow spread quickly, reaching the axe in an instant. The weapon grew so hot that, despite my Flame Resistance, I instinctively let go. Ryun still held it firmly, so it remained suspended.

Within moments, Ryun had transformed into a crimson silhouette, seemingly consumed by flames.

A familiar breeze swept through the plain—the same gentle wind that had accompanied Ryun’s flute-like melody before.

“Ryun!” I called again.

His transformation was unstoppable. He began to dissolve, from his feet to his torso, scattering into ash carried away by the wind.

As his torso faded, Ryun’s eyes locked onto mine. Those expressive eyes filled with resolution and enigmatic sadness lingered for a brief moment before vanishing entirely.

When Ryun was gone, my axe clattered to the ground, still faintly radiating heat. The breeze continued to swirl, as if mourning his passing.

I stared blankly at the World Tree, struggling to process what had just occurred.

Then, from the ground below, I heard a familiar voice.

“Well... what are you... waiting for...?”

Startled, I took a step back and almost stumbled. “What... Ryun?”

Looking down, I saw that my axe had stopped glowing, but something was distinctly off. The metallic haft of my double-headed axe, Wrath of Yagmur, had been replaced with a beautiful piece of wood. Between the twin blades, a single eye stared back at me, which I recognized as Ryun’s.

“Ryun?” I asked hesitantly.

Further down, near the base of the handle, a small mouth moved slowly. “Pick me up... hurry...”

In disbelief, I lifted the weapon and examined it closely. The wooden haft was smooth and polished, and the eye between the blades blinked at me.

“Wh-what just happened?”

“What you see. It is simply... my current form. I have become... part of your weapon... temporarily.”

“You wanted to go to the garden! How does this help?”

Ryun chuckled softly. “

Keuk

... Do not... worry. I will return... to my former self... in due time.”

“Really? Because this feels... excessive,” I muttered while holding the axe awkwardly.

“Well... it will... be difficult... for a while... but over time... I will return... to my original form.”

“If you say so, Ryun, I guess that’s how it will be.”

I held the axe somewhat off to the side, an inexplicable feeling settling over me.

Does this count as holding him? Also, where was I holding him?

Thinking of it that way left me feeling uneasy, regardless of whether he was human or not.

Ryun smiled faintly.

“And... you’ll find... that you need me.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You still... haven’t reached... enlightenment... have you? I’ll... stay by your side... and guide you.”

Huh.

When framed like that, it didn’t sound so bad. Originally, I had planned to send him to the rest area, allowing me to either visit him there or teleport him to the training room.

Having him close by—incredibly close in this case—for immediate advice seemed far more practical, however.

Perhaps he could even point out bad habits I wasn’t aware of and help me correct them.

As I pondered, Doppy came sprinting across the plain, his stubby legs moving as fast as they could manage. Judging by his wide-eyed expression, he had likely witnessed Ryun’s abrupt disappearance.

“Su-Yeok! Are you alright?”

“Hmm? Yeah, I’m fine.”

“That’s incredible, Su-Yeok! How did you do it? The ent just burst into flames out of nowhere!”

“Are... you... referring... to me?”

“Eek!”

Doppy yelped and stumbled backward before landing flat on its back.

I found this strangely endearing, and Ryun seemed to agree, as he let out a hearty chuckle. Hearing laughter emanating from the axe, Doppy scrambled back in fear, still on the ground.

“A-a monster!”

“No, Doppy. He’s not a monster. This is Ryun.”

I quickly filled him in on what had happened, explaining that Ryun would be accompanying us moving forward. Doppy’s demeanor shifted almost instantly. The idea of gaining a new friend brought a cheerful smile to its face.

“Nice to meet you, Ryun! I’m Doppy!”

“

Ha... ha

... what... a delightful... little companion.”

“Right?”

Though the two had exchanged only a few words, I figured they would have plenty of time to bond once we returned to the waiting room. For now, retrieving the World Tree's Essence took top priority.

Things had taken an unexpected turn, but at least I had resolved the interference issue and no further obstacles stood in my way. Realizing the faster I completed the trial, the more achievement points I would rack up, I refocused on the greater task at hand.

“Ryun, how do I locate the World Tree's Essence?”

“Approach... it... and it... will reveal... itself.”

“Approach it?” I repeated, unsure of his meaning, but Ryun offered no elaboration.

When I approached it earlier, nothing unusual happened...

Never mind. I decided to trust his words and moved toward the World Tree. The gentle breeze continued to caress my skin as I advanced. Even upon reaching the base of the colossal tree, however, nothing seemed to occur.

“Ryun, what exactly am I supposed to do here?”

“Place... your hand... on Sorien’s... form.”

“Excuse me? Oh, right.”

Although I knew he had referred to the World Tree’s trunk, the way he described it left me feeling oddly self-conscious. His somber tone didn’t help; it almost felt as though I were violating someone else’s personal space.

Still, I didn’t see a reason to refuse his advice. The trial had to be completed.

I pressed my palm against the tree’s sturdy base. Immediately, the massive World Tree shuddered gently.

Swaaahhhh—

A cascade of rustling leaves swayed in rhythm with the breeze and created a mesmerizing symphony.

Under my hand, something firm began to swell and take shape. A moment later, I felt a smooth, solid object in my grasp. When I pulled my hand back, I saw a luminous seed, about the size of my fist, resting in my palm.

“That... is Sorien’s... essence.”

Only now realizing the implications, I paused before asking, “Does this mean Sorien will die now?”

“She will... soon return... to nature... and eventually... bloom again... in the Omniscient Thunder Axe’s... garden.”

I nodded solemnly and turned away. It was time to meet the other ents.

***

[Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the forty-first floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Relocate the World Tree. Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has delivered the World Tree’s Essence after persuading Ryun, the ent swordmaster, to allow the plan to continue, completing the hidden mission “Non-Lethal.”]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been awarded 6,132 achievement points. Total achievement points: 67,463. He will now enter the waiting room.]

***

[6 hours 32 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

An hour and a half had passed since our return to the waiting room. Doppy, Ryun, and I were in the training room, although I was the most miserable of the three, panting heavily as I gasped raggedly for air.

Frustration bubbling within me, a curse escaped my lips. “Fuck!”

At first, everything had seemed promising. Immediately after entering the waiting room, I ignored all other tasks, heading straight to the training room with Ryun in tow.

“

My movements are rigid and straightforward due to my physical nature, but you are different. Don’t limit yourself by mimicking me too closely.”

“

Your strength lies in instinct. It is good to observe and learn from others, but don’t let yourself be bound by a rigid path.”

Ryun’s advice had struck me like a lightning bolt. Although I had learned and grown from my countless opponents’ combat styles, adhering too strictly to them had inadvertently stifled my natural talents.

This realization aligned with the insights I had gained during my battle with Ryun. My movements and thoughts were overcomplicated, undermining my own instincts.

However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that Ryun’s loquacious nature far exceeded my expectations.

“That’s... not quite... right. Be gentler... here. This... reminds me... of my... younger... days...”

Even during post-combat reviews, Ryun’s slow, deliberate commentary continued incessantly. He didn’t just provide advice; he talked about any random thing excessively, to the point of being stifling.

Sure, I appreciated his helpful feedback, but Ryun verged on insufferable. He was, quite frankly, talkative.

It began to dawn on me why he had fallen for the World Tree. It was likely the only one, ent or otherwise, that would listen to him without interruption.

No, I shouldn’t judge him too harshly.

“You’re putting... too much force... into your left... hand. Back when... I trained... near the river—”

“Ryun. Please. Stop!”

“You were the one... who asked... for guidance.”

I let out a deep, resigned sigh,

“Haaaaaaa.”