Chapter 188: Fiftieth Floor, Rest Area (3)

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Climbers are invited to rest and relax as much as they would like. Time remaining: 58 hours 27 minutes.]

The rest area was quiet in the early morning.

As usual, I was sparring with Alexei, and we maintained a steady rhythm of battle and reflection.

She swung her axe through the air with an ominous whistle; however, with how far apart we were, the strike lost most of its threat.

This was our first training session since I had become a master. Because of that, I found myself catching details I would have previously missed, giving me the opportunity to offer more pointed advice.

“That last move was too hasty.”

“Really?”

“You swung with the intent to maintain some distance between us after struggling to evade my strikes. Because of that, it couldn’t seriously threaten me and I could still press forward.”

Alexei chewed her bottom lip in contemplation before nodding slowly. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking it through.”

“If you want to improve from here on out, every move needs to have purpose. A meaningless action is worse than doing nothing at all.”

“So, that’s the secret to becoming a master like you? Man, this is tough.”

“Don’t make it harder than it is.” I paused deliberately, staring at her to underscore my point.

Alexei locked eyes with me, steadying her breathing as she concentrated.

“Your combat style works best when you act boldly and decisively. No matter how strong the opponent or how dire the situation seems, don’t give up on that approach.”

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t lose my nerve?”

“Not exactly. Every move should start aggressively and remain aggressive. Even if you’re cornered, you should fight as though you’re determined to take at least one of their arms with you.”

“Got it. Let’s try again.” With renewed resolve, Alexei lifted her axe.

She absorbed lessons best through action rather than words.

Setting aside my axe, I unsheathed my sword. “This time, I’ll use a sword.”

“Okay. Show me what I’m missing.” Alexei exhaled sharply as she reset her stance.

While I had benefited greatly from our previous training sessions, this one was entirely for Alexei’s growth. Of course, helping her improve would ultimately aid me in the future as well.

I stepped forward and began my first attack in a deliberate manner, twisting my wrist. The tip of my sword arced through the air before swinging toward the ground, doing a full rotation as I built momentum.

Sharply contrasting the seemingly slow build-up, my slash tore through the air like a bolt of lightning as I executed my strike.

“Ugh!”

Alexei grunted, barely managing to lift her arms in time to block.

Clang!

The sharp ring of steel meeting steel reverberated as I quickly adjusted my aim, lowering my blade to target her legs.

Alexei retreated half a step but didn’t stop her counter-attack, as if declaring that even if I struck her legs, she would still bury her axe in my chest. With that half-step, she had maintained just the right amount of distance to threaten me without remaining fully vulnerable.

As expected, Alexei rightfully deserved her position as one of the top climbers. Even though I had only given a single piece of guidance, she had adapted it impressively.

Sure, I could have hit her if I wanted to, but that would have left me in a bad position also. This isn’t an actual fight, anyway.

I swiftly retracted my sword, and the blade sliced cleanly through the air just mere inches from Alexei. A bead of sweat slid down Alexei’s jawline and landed on the edge of my weapon before bouncing off.

With a sharp upward motion, I deflected Alexei’s axe and sent it flying harmlessly away. For a moment, everything fell silent.

Alexei looked at me expectantly, her eyes expressing her eagerness. “How was that?”

“Good. Really good. That was decisive, aggressive, and a real threat, exactly what I was talking about. You’re picking this up quickly.”

Hearing my praise, Alexei’s lips curled into a wide grin. Moments like this reminded me of her pure, unadulterated passion for combat.

A commotion from behind us drew my attention. Glancing over Alexei’s shoulder, I saw climbers beginning to emerge from their suites, their faces pale and weary. Many of them had celebrated through the night, only stopping once dawn broke, leaving them looking thoroughly disheveled.

Gradually, more and more eyes turned toward us.

I looked back at Alexei and then at the growing crowd. “Let’s wrap it up for today.”

Alexei followed my gaze and nodded.“Yeah, I guess. A bit of a shame, but fair enough.”

We could have continued, but the session had already proven productive. Neither of us was keen on continuing under such scrutiny, however.

Running a hand through her sweat-soaked hair, Alexei asked, “How about breakfast? Want to grab something to eat together?”

“I’d love to, but I’ve already made plans to hit the shop with my party.”

“Already? Isn’t it still closed?”

“It’ll be open soon, and we’re planning to wait in line. Once breakfast ends, the place is going to get mobbed.”

Alexei scratched her slender neck, looking thoughtful. “Mind if I come with you?”

“

Huh?

What about your party?”

“They spent the night drinking and are probably still knocked out. Plus, honestly, I’m not in the mood to eat alone.”

I nodded. “Sure, why not? Come along.”

There didn’t seem to be any reason to stop her if she wanted to join. Besides, Alexei got along well with my party, so there wouldn’t be any issues.

“Cole’s already saving us a spot at the shop. Once you finish cleaning up, you can meet us there.”

“Got it. I’ll see you soon.”

***

“

Ugh

, when is this place going to open?” Seo Ho-Su grumbled, stretching his arms in complaint.

“About ten more minutes,” replied Ha Hee-Jeong.

A loud growl came from Seo Ho-Su’s stomach, and he chuckled awkwardly. “Man, I should’ve eaten breakfast first.”

Cole grinned. “Looking at the line behind us, it’s good we came early.”

The queue stretched endlessly, resembling the chaos of Black Friday in the United States.

Clearly, we weren’t the only ones who had thought of this.

Although the shop had expanded to the size of a massive department store, it definitely hadn’t grown proportionally to the number of climbers.

Noticing just how large the crowd had become, Seo Ho-Su scratched his neck, visibly embarrassed by his earlier complaints. “Yeah, you’re right. By the way, thanks for getting us the spot, Cole. You probably went through a lot of trouble to get one this good.”

“Absolutely. Thanks to you, we’re right at the front,” Ha Hee-Jeong added.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was meditating anyway, so it worked out,” Cole remarked, brushing off their gratitude.

Even so, I was equally grateful. Thanks to Cole’s efforts, we had secured one of the best positions in line.

Still slightly damp from my rushed shower, I shook out my hair and glanced toward the lodgings.

Where is Alexei? Shouldn’t she be here by now?

I had told her to hurry, but maybe she was still drying her hair or something.

Perceptive as ever, Cole noticed my strange behavior. “Something wrong, Su-Hyeok? You keep looking over there.”

“Oh, right. I didn’t mention it earlier, but Alexei’s joining us.”

“What? Why is she coming here?” Ha Hee-Jeong remarked, the surprise and annoyance clear as day in her tone.

“We were training earlier, and she suggested that we should get breakfast. I told her we were heading to the shop instead, and she decided to tag along.”

“Wait, seriously? She left her own party behind to tag along with us?”

“I heard they were partying until morning, so they’re still knocked out.”

Ha Hee-Jeong narrowed her eyes toward the back of the line. “Oh, please. That’s clearly just an excuse. Look, there she is.”

In the distance, Alexei was sprinting toward us, her damp hair glistening as if she had rushed out in a hurry.

Waving cheerfully, she called out, “Sorry! I’m late, aren’t I? I thought you were at the back of the line, so I was looking there first.”

“It’s fine. The shop isn’t open yet.”

Smiling, Alexei scanned the group and waved. “Hey, everyone!”

“Hello!”

“Well, at least you made it just in time.”

The party members welcomed Alexei warmly, having built a friendly rapport with her over time.

However, Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t seem as thrilled. “But really, why are you coming to the shop with us instead of your own group?”

“Well, they’re probably still out cold. I heard they were drinking until dawn.”

“Fine, whatever. Do what you want.”

“That’s the plan,” Alexei quipped with a grin.

Ha Hee-Jeong exhaled a soft sigh, clearly unimpressed by Alexei’s nonchalant demeanor.

Breaking the awkward silence, Seo Ho-Su chuckled and steered the conversation elsewhere.

“

Haha

, so how did your training go this morning?”

“It was great! Su-Hyeok’s an excellent teacher. I learned a lot.”

“I’ve got a session with him this afternoon. How about we have a match then, too? Su-Hyeok?”

“Oh, I’m all for it. I’ll beat you cleanly again, just like last time,” I teased with a playful smirk.

“

Heh

, don’t count on it. This time will be different,” Seo Ho-Su shot back confidently.

Our lighthearted exchange eased the lingering tension, though I couldn’t help but feel a little awkward watching Seo Ho-Su’s eager anticipation.

With the competition against other species happening later, there wouldn’t be time for any sparring in the afternoon. I would have to find a way to reschedule the session for early the next morning.

Lost in thought, I was brought back to reality by the creak of opening doors.

“Alright, let’s head inside.”

Guarding the entrance, twenty non-humans stood at attention and shouted directions to manage the incoming flood of climbers.

“Prices vary by floor! Items on the first and second will cost up to 5,000 points. The third to fifth floor items will be between 5,000 and 15,000 points. The sixth and seventh have items from 15,000 to 30,000 points. The eighth and ninth have items costing 30,000 to 45,000 points. And finally, the tenth floor contains items costing over 45,000 points!”

Interesting. Previously, everything had been crammed onto one or two floors, but with the expanded space, the shop seemed to have become far more organized.

Turning to the party, I asked, “I’m planning to head straight to the tenth floor. Should we split up and explore separately?”

The group nodded in agreement.

“

Hmm

, the best items are probably on the tenth floor. Maybe we should all start there together.”

“Good idea!”

As the doors fully opened, climbers nearest to them surged forward, practically sprinting into the shop.

“Let’s move quickly.”

While I didn’t want to run, we didn’t have much of a choice. Lagging behind could mean missing out on valuable items.

Leading the way, I climbed the stairs with the party close behind.

Phew, I was worried they would continue being chaotic.

Noticing us, some climbers had slowed their pace, and others stepped aside to let us pass. It seemed like having a high rank had its advantages in moments like these.

After climbing for a while, we reached the entrance to the tenth floor, where four towering stone-like non-humans stood blocking the way.

“Welcome, climbers. Access to the tenth floor is restricted, and only climbers with more than 45,000 points may enter.”

“What? Since when was that a thing?” Seo Ha-Rin exclaimed indignantly.

The staff member dipped their head slightly.

“This rule was set by the tower. It is beyond my authority, so I ask for your understanding.”

“What about non-humans? Can they enter?”

“If you mean goblins and ents, they are permitted.”

Hmm, it feels like the equivalent of a VIP area.

Although our party wasn’t affected, I could already imagine climbers arguing over the restriction.

Silently sympathizing with the workers, I turned to the group. “Does anyone here have less than 45,000 points?”

“Me,” Hakin said, raising his hand.

“Same here,” Seo Ha-Rin added.

“I’m a bit short too,” Cole admitted.

About half the party didn’t meet the requirement.

Seo Ho-Su frowned slightly, a thoughtful look on his face. “

Hmm

, this is a bit tricky. Su-Hyeok, maybe I should stick with the others on the lower floors?”

Startled, Seo Ha-Rin rushed to advocate for herself. “Why? There could be something good for you up here. Just stay.”

“I’m just worried that you could get hurt in the crowd.”

“Oh, come on. What’s there to worry about in the rest area? Cole and Hakin will be with me. Focus on getting what you need.”

He shuffled reluctantly for a moment before finally replying. “Alright. Let’s meet at the entrance when we’re done shopping, then.”

“Deal!” Seo Ha-Rin nodded and then turned to me. “Oppa, I want to look for priest equipment. Can I take Doppy with me?”

“Sure. That’s fine, right, Doppy?”

“Sounds good!”

As usual, Doppy accompanied Seo Ha-Rin in the shop.

Walking beside her, Doppy asked, “Ha-Rin, if there’s something I really want, would you cover it for me? I’ll pay you back right away.”

“Of course! If it’s too expensive, I’ll let you know.”

With that, Cole and the others headed to the lower floors, leaving the rest of us to enter the tenth floor.

Almost immediately, Seo Ho-Su turned to me. “Su-Hyeok, I’m going to browse on my own.”

“

Huh?

Why not stick with us?”

“Nah, I’ll be fine.”

Waving off my concern, he wandered off. That left just me, Ha Hee-Jeong, and Alexei.

“That side... looks... to have... some decent... stuff...” Ryun murmured.

The air grew noticeably heavier, the tension between Ha Hee-Jeong and Alexei palpable. I had hoped Seo Ho-Su would help diffuse the awkwardness, but perhaps sensing the situation, he had deliberately left us.

As I wrestled with a faint sense of betrayal, Alexei asked Ryun, “Where are you pointing?”

“Over there...”

“This way?”

“Yes...”

“Alright, let’s check it out.”

I nodded silently, trailing only a step behind Alexei with Ha Hee-Jeong. The uncomfortable atmosphere lingered between us.