Chapter 263: Seventy-First Floor, The Crimson Wilderness (1)

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest and relax at your leisure. Time remaining: 57 hours 17 minutes.]

“Get something for Alexei, too.”

Ha Hee-Jeong’s remark came out of nowhere, catching me off guard. I paused, my spoon hovering just before my lips, and lifted my head to look at her.

Seriously? After all their squabbles, now she wants me to get Alexei a gift?

I furrowed my brow and shot her a questioning look, but Ha Hee-Jeong simply jutted her chin out, casually mouthing,

“What?”

She then continued with, “She’s not a bad person. She’d appreciate it if you got her something.”

“Do I really have to?”

Sure, Alexei seemed a little let down earlier.

That aside, she had loved the sparring session.

Since training under Angelina, I had improved significantly, and that meant I could push Alexei harder, spot her weaknesses better, and keep her on edge throughout the fight.

By the time we finished, she was utterly drained, barely able to lift a finger. Despite her exhaustion, she had smiled. She was definitely pleased with the progress she had made during training.

“She really enjoys training, though.”

“Even so, giving her something wouldn’t hurt. If anything, think of it as an investment rather than just a gift. Things are only going to get tougher from here on out, and Alexei plays an important role for the climbers overall.”

“

Hmm.

”

I considered pointing out how much they had used to bicker, but I swallowed the thought. That would only earn me an earful.

Instead, I nodded. “Fine. In that case, should we hit the store after we eat?”

“Sounds good. I noticed earlier that her boots were looking a bit worn. They’re decent, but there are better options out there.”

“Then help me pick something out. You know I suck at this stuff.”

Slurping up the last of her ramen, Ha Hee-Jeong nodded. “Sure. She may be up by then, too, so let’s hurry up and finish eating.”

“Got it. By the way, how’s the legacy treating you?”

At my offhanded question, Ha Hee-Jeong shot me a lazy, half-lidded stare. “How many times are you going to ask? I told you already. It’s incredible.”

“When you give someone a gift, it’s normal to keep asking if they like it. Makes the giver feel even better about it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get that. But you are overdoing it.”

“I just really like the Lightning Stone, that’s all. Thanks.”

Ha Hee-Jeong momentarily paused upon hearing my unexpected gratitude, and her chopsticks halted mid-air. She cast a sidelong glance at me, something unreadable flickering in her gaze.

Then, she let out a quiet chuckle. “You idiot, it was a Thunderstone, not a Lightning Stone.”

“Same thing.”

“The hell it is. They’re completely different.”

Just like that, we easily slipped into an exchange of playful banter.

After a few more spoonfuls of broth, Ha Hee-Jeong finally set her spoon down.

“You done?” she asked.

I glanced at my bowl. The beef brisket soybean stew was nearly gone, with only a few solid bits floating in the remaining broth. I had always preferred drinking the broth over eating the toppings.

Lowering my spoon onto the table, I signaled my agreement with a nod. “Yeah.”

“Alright, let’s go then.”

We rose from our seats and headed toward the store.

The aftermath of last night’s wild celebrations was still evident as the store was quieter than usual, and the usual lively atmosphere had dimmed slightly.

Not a bad time for a bit of browsing.

As we wandered through the store, we eventually found a solid pair of boots that were perfect for future, more challenging floors.

52,000 points.

They enhanced strength and stamina while allowing for temporary bursts of explosive power.

A little pricey, but spending that amount isn’t a big deal.

Of course, if I were just throwing them away into my mimic, that would be a different story. As both a gift and an investment, however, it felt worth it.

Besides, I hadn’t really had much use for achievement points lately, so naturally, they had been piling up.

Even if I eventually hit a plateau in my growth, boosting top climbers like Alexei would strengthen our entire force. With Alexei ranked third, strengthening her would improve everyone’s odds of survival, which perfectly aligned with Ha Hee-Jeong’s and my goal.

With that in mind, I bought the boots and stowed them away in the mimic.

***

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest and relax at your leisure. Time remaining: 56 hours 42 minutes.]

Finding Alexei wasn’t difficult.

After her grueling training in the morning, she had barely managed to grab a quick meal before dragging herself back to her quarters. By now, she should have rested enough to be awake.

Knowing her, she would be hungry again, so I naturally assumed she would be at the dining hall.

There she is.

As expected, I spotted her sitting alone in the now-quiet dining hall. Her party members seemed to have eaten already, leaving her by herself.

Ha Hee-Jeong had gone ahead to the dorms, leaving just me.

Keeping my steps light, I walked over and pulled out a chair across from Alexei.

She blinked up at me in surprise, her fatigue still evident. “

Oh?

What’s up?”

“Just checking in. How’re you holding up? Sore?”

“

Ugh

, lifting my arms is a struggle. I don’t even feel like talking.”

She sighed, then gave me a curious look. “Wait, how’d you know I’d be here?”

“It wasn’t hard to guess. Figured you’d be up by now.”

With a groan, Alexei leaned back and stretched her arms over her head. Every motion looked stiff, the soreness weighing down her limbs.

“

Ugh

, I feel like I got hit by a truck. You really didn’t hold back,

huh?

”

“You asked me to go all out.”

“Yeah, but still! It was a great session, though. Not sure if I’ll survive another round tomorrow.”

“You’ll be fine. You recover faster in the waiting room anyway.”

“

Heh

, yeah, you’re right. I was just whining for no reason.”

She finished stretching by rolling her shoulders and cracking her neck, then tilted her head at me. “But seriously, why’d you come to find me?”

“Got bored.”

“Yeah, right. You? Bored? That doesn’t sound like you at all.” She narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced.

I simply shrugged and leaned back in my chair, casually resting a hand on the mimic.

Her sharp gaze instantly locked onto the movement. Elbows on the table, she leaned forward slightly, curiosity evident in her eyes. She was expecting something.

For a brief moment, I considered messing with her a little longer. Letting go of that thought, I shook my head.

If I drag this out any further, I may actually get hit.

Therefore, I reached into the mimic and pulled out the boots, setting them on the table.

“What are these?”

She had spoken flatly, but I could hear the underlying excitement she was trying to suppress—she knew what it was. That forced indifference was honestly kind of funny.

“What do you think? It’s a gift.”

“Seriously? How’d you know I needed new boots?”

“I noticed earlier. They were getting worn out.”

“You actually noticed?” A wide, delighted grin spread across her face. “Can I touch them?”

“Obviously. They’re yours now.”

She carefully picked up the boots, her gaze shifting slightly as she focused on the air in front of her. She was checking their description.

Alexei’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “W-wait. Isn’t this way too expensive?”

She had probably guessed the price range just from reading the description. After all, they were a 52,000-point pair of boots.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Does the price really matter? What’s important is that you need them.”

“Wow. I’m actually touched.” She gazed at the boots with slightly misty eyes before turning back to me.

Her lips moved hesitantly, as if searching for the right words.

Then, a moment later, her lips curled into a bright smile that revealed her teeth. “Thank you!”

Alexei beamed at me, her face radiating pure joy.

The sight made my own lips quirk up involuntarily. A pleasant warmth settled in my chest.

Maybe Ha Hee-Jeong is right. Giving gifts isn’t such a bad idea at all.

“Now that you’ve accepted it, that means we’re training again tomorrow.”

“Of course! Actually, want to go for another round right now?”

“

Ah

, no thanks.”

“Just kidding.” She laughed brightly, her earlier exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

***

[Welcome to the seventy-first floor of the Tower of Ordeal: The Crimson Wilderness.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been assigned the role of a wandering mercenary and troubleshooter.]

[Complete a contract. Time remaining: 95 hours 59 minutes.]

Before I even opened my eyes, I felt a mild but persistent heat along with a dry breeze that grazed my cheek. The wind wasn’t particularly strong, but I could feel fine particles of grit settling on my face, especially between my eyebrows.

A sandstorm.

Raising a hand to shield my eyes, I opened them.

A vast, crimson-hued desert stretched out before me, the horizon similarly tinged red. Under the scorching sun, gusts of wind whipped up dust, rustling the sparse tufts of grass dotting the barren land.

Directly in front of me sat a small rock. A revolver and small pouch were resting on top of it, while a horse stood tethered nearby. These seemed to be basic supplies provided by the tower for my survival in this unfamiliar land.

Whether it was fortunate or not, Doppy and Yoonie had been summoned here with me.

I reached into the mimic and pulled out a robe, handing it to Doppy. “Doppy, the sandstorm’s strong. Wear this.”

“Thanks!”

While he slipped on the robe, I expanded my senses, scanning the area.

Not a single soul in sight.

At least within a one-kilometer radius, we were alone.

I turned my focus back to the tower’s message and the situation at hand, piecing together what kind of trial awaited us.

The Crimson Wilderness. A wandering mercenary and troubleshooter. A lone horse, a small coin pouch, and a revolver.

Everything about it screamed Wild West. I had never actually sat through a full Western film, but I had seen enough glimpses to get the gist.

That was when I noticed something odd about the horse standing before me.

I didn’t pay much attention since horses vary across different worlds, but...

The joints in the middle of its legs were metallic. A closer look revealed they weren’t just wasn’t just plated with metal, but were entirely an intricate mechanical structure.

I narrowed my eyes and extended my senses toward the horse. It was definitely alive. I could feel its heartbeat, steady and strong. However, within its bones, I detected metallic components seamlessly integrated into its organic structure.

As if sensing my scrutiny, the horse turned its head toward me. Its left eye was completely artificial.

A cyborg? A biomechanical construct? It is a literal iron horse. Is that just how things work in this world?

The fact that it wasn’t fully mechanical made it even more intriguing.

I had grown somewhat accustomed to medieval fantasy settings, but this was different. It wasn’t just a hybrid of magic and technology, but was a fully realized Western steampunk world.

The intelligence missions on the sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth floors were fun, but the seventy-first floor may be even more interesting.

I stepped closer to the horse, expecting some resistance. Whether due to the tower’s mechanics or something else, however, the horse didn’t display any hostility. It simply let out a soft whinny while shifting its stance slightly.

There was no need to break it in.

Seems like it won’t be a problem.

I had ridden a horse back on the fifty-seventh floor—after I had lied to Kyuntriachae that I had done so before—and though the experience had been brief, it had been long enough for me to get the hang of it.

I reached for the revolver and pouch resting on the rock. After stowing the pouch in Mung-chi, I examined the gun more closely.

It was less of a modern firearm and more akin to an old-school revolver.

It looks different.

Naturally, it wasn’t identical to anything from Earth. The metal that composed it seemed designed to channel mana, almost like a conductive alloy.

I flicked open the cylinder, revealing six bullets. At a glance, I could tell that each round was infused with mana.

This thing isn’t ordinary.

For a moment, I considered firing a round to gauge its power.

No, that would be a waste.

I only had six bullets, and there wasn’t a reason to waste any of them on a test shot.

Having taken stock of the starting items, I turned my attention back to the objective.

Complete a contract before the floor ends.

In Western stories, the classic protagonist was a lone gunslinger who roamed from town to town, dueling outlaws. Their usual targets were wanted criminals.

The message hadn’t specified which contract to take on. If that aforementioned pattern held, hunting a wanted outlaw should qualify.

Given this world’s setting, though, I couldn’t assume that gunfights were the standard. For all I knew, the revolver could be ceremonial, with the true battles being fought using magic or martial skills.

First, I need to find someone to talk to.

The question was which direction led to a settlement. The horizon stretched endlessly, revealing nothing but more barren wasteland.

Not that I was worried. I had my walking GPS right here.

“Doppy, which way should we go?”

“

Hmm.

”

After a brief pause, he pointed toward the rising sun. Thankfully, the saddle on the mechanical horse was designed for two riders.

I hoisted Doppy up first before climbing onto the saddle myself. Handing him Ryun, I gave the horse a light nudge.

“Let’s go.”

The instant I spoke, the horse took off like a bullet. My torso was yanked backward from the sheer acceleration.

“

Gah!

” Doppy, caught off guard, nearly slipped off the side.

I snatched him by the collar, keeping him steady. Even after correcting my posture, the scenery around us blurred as the horse raced past it.

What the hell?!

This speed was insane.

Even considering its mechanical limbs, this was far beyond what a normal horse should be capable of.

If even the animals here are built like this, then what about the people? Would they be as enhanced as well?

Instead of concern, excitement bubbled up inside me.

What kind of powerhouses exist in this world?

Adjusting my posture, I leaned slightly forward and let the wind whip past me.

Beneath us, the mechanical beast galloped toward the rising sun, kicking up a fierce, red dust cloud in its wake.