Chapter 281: Seventy-Fourth Floor, Waiting Room (1)

[23 hours 57 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

We stood there for a moment, quietly watching one another. Its tiny, bead-like eyes held a trace of fear.

Doping my best to seem unthreatening, I calmly addressed the small flame that hovered before me, “What are you?”

Rather than reply, the flame shrank even further. It curled in on itself, peering up at me with cautious curiosity. I couldn’t tell whether it was unable to speak or simply unwilling.

I narrowed one eye. It contained a faint trace of Endless Furnace’s divine power, but even that was steadily fading.

Besides, the tower had clearly stated that the mechanical fortress was the apostle.

More likely, this flame served as the core, the power source that fueled the massive furnace within the fortress. The fact that it had followed me all the way into the waiting room, while still being alive, supported that idea.

Just like Ryun or Yoonie.

Chances were high that this was a hidden reward for clearing the seventy-third floor.

Now I had to figure out how it worked.

As I studied the flame more closely, trying to figure out whatever I could, a system window shimmered into view.

[San-Kriate]

- A young flame sprite born of the Flame of Life, which is the first fire and mother of all flames.

- Abducted and forced to breathe life into a colossal machine, it is now in an extremely weakened state.

- Desperately wishes to return to its homeland.

I let out a low murmur. “

Hmm.

”

Now that I had seen the message, I felt a twinge of guilt for immediately trying to think of how to use it.

San-Kriate was a far more tragic existence than I had realized.

It finally made sense why the mechanical fortress had felt faintly alive. The Endless Furnace had abducted San-Kriate and used it to turn the mechanical fortress into an apostle.

I cleared my throat and turned back toward the flame.

It wants to go home. How can I help it return?

If I could, I wanted to. Partly because it was undeniably endearing, and partly because it had been made to suffer at the whim of a god. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

If sending it home wasn’t possible, I would have it join me alongside Yoonie, Doppy, and Ryun. However, I wasn’t eager to take care of any more climbing partners. I already had enough responsibilities.

Trying to put it at ease, I gently called its name, “San-Kriate.”

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Its tiny eyes widened just slightly when it heard its name. For a moment, it looked even more adorable.

“——!” it babbled in a whisper-soft voice, too quiet for me to make out.

Is it just a child?

I gently addressed it, trying to utilize only simple terms, “I want to help you return home, but I don’t know how. Do you?”

“——!” it squeaked, pulsing as it expanded and contracted in quick succession. I couldn’t understand what it was saying, but it seemed pleased.

Still, the communication problem remained.

Hmm, is it trying to explain how? Or asking whether I am serious?

If it was trying to share a method, I needed to understand it. Otherwise, I would never be able to help. If the tower’s translation system couldn’t decipher its language, I had no idea what to do.

“Ryun, can you understand it?”

“I... don’t. I’ve never... heard... this language... before...”

“What about you, Yoonie?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t understand it either!”

“It’s fine. Nothing to be sorry for.”

Will I have to carry it around like I have been doing with Ryun? Wait, maybe it is tied to the next floor.

Either that or it could be part of its own hidden mission. Maybe returning it home was a reward path in itself.

“——!”

That was when San-Kriate suddenly sprang off my hand and leapt straight into my chest. It didn’t seem hostile, so I didn’t stop it. Still, just in case, I shielded my chest with a thin veil of mana, protecting my skin and clothes from the heat.

Somehow, San-Kriate slipped right through the mana like it wasn’t even there and vanished into my chest.

“

Huh?

”

Where did it go?

There hadn’t been even the faintest reaction from my mana.

Eyes wide in surprise, I suddenly felt a surge of heat radiating from my chest. Strangely enough, it was the same spot that Paraktus’s necklace had been absorbed into. Immediately, the divine energy still lingering inside me rushed outward, and the heat in my chest spread like a wildfire through me.

None of it was under my control.

Panic built within me, and during that storm of confusion, I failed to grasp what was actually happening.

Ah, I am getting tired.

The thought lingered faintly as strength drained from my limbs. For some reason, the training room began to tilt. Then I realized I was leaning to the side and slowly tipping over.

I managed to lift an arm and press it against the floor. I tried to hold myself up, but it only delayed the fall as my elbow soon gave out. With effort, I twisted and lowered myself onto my back, leaning against the floor.

The heat in my chest still burned, fierce and unrelenting.

I closed my eyes. That was the last thing I remembered.

***

「Invisible message: The divine energy of the fifth-class god ‘Endless Furnace,’ which remained within the flame sprite San-Kriate, has been absorbed by Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok.」

「Invisible message: San-Kriate has utilized Kwon Su-Hyeok’s divine energy to locate its homeland, and is now returning.」

「Invisible message: Kwon Su-Hyeok has linked with the Flame of Life.」

「Invisible message: The Flame of Life has displayed a strong affinity for Kwon Su-Hyeok. It has purified his body.」

「Invisible message: Due to Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s divinity blooming prematurely, the remnants of other deities’ traces within him have been erased.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s divinity has reverted to its original, primordial form. Its connection with him has deepened.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skill has leveled up. Divine Power is now lvl 7. He may now begin constructing his own ‘world.’」

***

[18 hours 57 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

When I opened my eyes, the training room’s recognizable ceiling greeted me. I didn’t bother checking the time, so I simply closed my eyes again.

I dreamed.

In my dream, I was standing in an unfamiliar world. Half of it glowed a pale blue along with a white aura, while the other half was covered in dark-green grass interwoven with blackish-red flames.

As I stood there, dazed and still, a flame I had never seen before emerged and burned away both the grass and the fire.

Moments later, the world shifted again. Now, it was a radiant void filled with a brilliant, luminous light. It was the same brilliance I had seen in Princess Natalie’s castle.

At the center of that world, I stood.

Within that pale blue space, lightning flashed, a shadow stirred, and a tiny flame flickered to life. That was the final scene before I awoke.

I don’t know exactly what it means, but it is clearly tied to my divinity and why San-Kriate entered my chest.

I opened my eyes again and looked around, but didn’t see any sign of the little flame, neither outside of me nor within me. Even the heat I had felt earlier had vanished, like it had never been there.

Considering how divine energy had surged within me and the flame had enveloped me right before I lost consciousness, it seemed like San-Kriate had used my power to return home.

Also, with the changes I noticed, it probably did something for me in return.

That little flame had left behind a gift. Letting it go had been the right call.

Something about my chest still felt warm and soft, somehow. I had already intended to send it home, but now I felt a strange mix of gratitude and lingering fondness. To be honest, it would have been nice if it had said goodbye.

Sitting up, I finally checked the time.

Six hours? That is longer than I expected.

Although more time had passed than I wanted, it didn’t feel wasted. My reward more than made up for any missed training.

I felt light, as if I could lift off the ground.

The divine energy still within me had grown clearer, more refined. Moreover, my resistance to heat had definitely increased. It felt like something fundamental inside me had changed.

I thought about opening my status window, then shook my head.

No need.

I had shattered my limits on the last floor. Even though I had only managed it by awakening my divinity, under normal conditions, defeating the mechanical fortress with my base stats would have been almost impossible.

That was why I didn’t want to see some number define where I stood now. It was enough to know that I had awakened something and that I had grown stronger.

Only then did I turn to the pile of gifts Tunyak had left me.

The bow and arrows.

They were probably not something I would ever use. They boosted strength and agility, and allowed the user to manipulate the arrows with mana, but they were better suited for Cole than for me.

I shifted my attention to the necklace and elixirs. The necklace was silver and matte, with a refined red gemstone shaped like a carriage wheel hanging at the center.

[Necklace of Accord]

- Can be split into two pieces.

- A wielder can summon or teleport to the other wielder regardless of distance.

- Enhances mana flow within the body, improving all mana-based abilities.

- Mana +7

“Wow,” I exclaimed unconsciously.

This thing was ridiculously good. It would easily go for 150,000 points in the current shop. The buff applied to everything I did with mana, including lightning and shadow.

The fact that it can split in two is kind of crazy, though.

It didn’t mention any penalties or restrictions, so it probably retained its effects even when separated. Even if it didn’t or if the ability was halved, that would still be more than enough.

Giving the other half to Ha Hee-Jeong would be perfect. It seemed designed for mages anyway, and in an emergency, I could teleport to her. No matter the trial, that kind of functionality was invaluable.

I could be by her side in an instant if she needed help.

I usually avoided stat-boosting gear, but I would have to wear this one since it would connect me to Ha Hee-Jeong. I had a feeling she would appreciate it too.

A small smile tugged at my lips, and I turned to the elixirs.

They don’t seem particularly special.

Opening the two wooden boxes, I found two similar-looking potions inside. One boosted strength and stamina, while the other enhanced agility and mana.

One thing stood out, however. Inside one of the boxes, I found a note with a warning that consuming both at once would place a dangerous strain on me.

Weird.

The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

The bow was one thing, but the necklace and elixirs felt deliberate.

A necklace that splits into two. Two elixirs that can’t be drunk together.

The more I mulled it over, the more it felt like Master of the Five Carriage Wheels had set this up purposely, so that I would pass one on to Ha Hee-Jeong.

By rewarding Ha Hee-Jeong through me, it wouldn’t consume her shares. Her sponsor was basically taking care of both of us in one go.

There was a reason she had chosen Ha Hee-Jeong as her champion.

Apparently, she had looked after her like a parent in her previous life, always handling the small things, and now, here she was again.

The bow was probably Tunyak’s gift, and the necklace and elixirs were likely from the goddess.

I laughed quietly.

Makes me feel a little envious, honestly.

My sponsor, Omniscient Thunder Axe, didn’t seem interested in sending me any gifts. Sure, they had helped me by sending Angelina to train me—which was a huge deal—but still.

There is a kind of happiness that comes from small, thoughtful gestures. Ah, whatever.

I shook the thought away.

I considered drinking one of the potions, but decided to hold off on that. Giving Ha Hee-Jeong her gifts after she finished her current floor made more sense. She would need to drink it and rest, too.

When I stepped out of the training room, Doppy greeted me with a grin, teeth sunk into a steak. “Su-Yeok! You’re up!”

“Yeah.”

“I was gonna tuck you in, but you were hot to the touch, so I left you alone! I just brought Ryun back.”

Ah. That explains why I haven’t seen Ryun.

“Good job. Food is from the mimic?”

Doppy nodded.

Makes sense. We haven’t eaten since the seventy-third floor, so he had to have been starving.

I nodded. “Enjoy your meal. I’ll be back.”

“Okay!”

I headed to the shower, and after washing up, I returned, ready to sit down and eat. Then, a message popped up from Ha Hee-Jeong.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventy-fifth Floor): Hey! I’m back! What are you up to?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Eating. How was it?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventy-fifth Floor): Great. Smashed through everything. How was the seventy-third? All good? Did you take care of Endless Furnace?

Right, she had told me to crush them in the last waiting room.

I smirked as I replied.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Obviously. I took out one of their apostles, and not only that. Endless Furnace partially manifested in that apostle.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventy-fifth Floor): Wait, what?? You destroyed an apostle who had become a divine incarnate??

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Yep.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventy-fifth Floor): How??

Wait. Is that not normal?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): I awakened my divinity. Why?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Seventy-fifth Floor): What?? You awakened divinity!?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Yeah. Isn’t that the point? We climb the tower to become gods, don’t we?