Chapter 420: Ninetieth Floor, Rest Area (3)

[All aggressive actions are strictly prohibited within the rest area. Rest at your leisure. Time remaining: 47 hours 46 minutes.]

Even after pressing her several more times, Ha Hee-Jeong refused to spill the beans. That only stoked my curiosity further.

Hmm.

She was definitely hiding something, but I couldn’t tell what.

At first, I wondered if it was about the ninety-first floor or if she planned to reveal her regression. On second thought, however, confessing her regression wasn’t realistic, and judging from the fact that she was keeping it from me, it didn’t seem to be about the ninety-first floor either. Nothing more came to mind. Besides, I trusted her.

Putting those thoughts aside, I noticed that Purlin had returned.

That was quick.

The combined rest area wasn’t that large, but thanks to magic, each building was larger than it appeared.

Even though I had said twenty minutes, I had thought it would take about thirty. Purlin had worked hard, though, tirelessly running around and gathering everyone in less than fifteen minutes. Hundreds of individuals from countless species were now looking at me.

Good thing Ha Hee-Jeong’s here.

Curious climbers would naturally poke their heads out at the sight of so many people moving. Thankfully, Ha Hee-Jeong had taken care of sending them away, sparing me the trouble.

The explanation didn’t take long. All I really had to do was tell them that they could return home.

Of course, I didn’t claim all the credit. I told them the truth, that it wouldn’t be possible without my sponsor’s assistance.

If I had kept quiet, perhaps I could have gained a bit more divinity. That wasn’t the type of person I was or wanted to be, though.

Also, if Thunder Axe’s contribution became apparent during the transfer, it could diminish their faith in me instead.

Either way, it was a scene of joy and elation. Cries of “liberator” and my name followed me.

I made a show of waving them off, but naturally, the cheers didn’t stop. Nor had I expected them to. The atmosphere was infectiously joyous, so I simply let them enjoy it.

Whether or not they would truly find peace once they returned home, this marked the end of the long persecution and suffering they had endured.

Of course, I still had more floors to go.

It does make me feel good, though.

Watching people rejoice, free and overflowing with delight, was heartening.

After some time, when the crowd calmed a little, I addressed them, “As I said before, you will be teleported tomorrow morning. For today, please relax and enjoy yourselves with the companions you’ve grown close to. Don’t worry about the cost.”

As I smiled, words of thanks came pouring in. Their voices blurred in the roar of cheers, but their sincerity reached me clearly.

I had explained the matter of costs to them once before. It first came up when I sent them to a rest area.

After all, the rest area exists for climbers.

Providing free board and lodging for hundreds of individuals had been awkward for the rest area's residents. Therefore, I stepped in.

Normally, everything in the top-ranked rest area was free for climbers. However, if the people I had saved needed anything, I told them it could be deducted from my achievement points.

It doesn’t even cost that much.

Even so, they rarely used it, perhaps out of consideration for me. Instead, they began to work of their own accord. Helping out, and in return, receiving food and lodging.

Well, it was more symbolic than anything.

There were already enough other residents in the rest area, and when we weren’t here, the world was practically theirs. Anyway, I had mentioned it again to simply tell them to enjoy themselves freely, just for today. After asking for their understanding, I turned away.

Ha Hee-Jeong was smiling faintly. “Very impressive.”

“Impressive,

huh?

Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

I fell into step beside her. She looked oddly buoyant.

It was strange. Earlier, a few climbers had been walking around, but now, they were oddly absent. Usually, couples went straight to their lodgings or a restaurant once they arrived at the rest area.

Regardless, at least a couple stayed in the plaza.

Yet no one is here.

This had to do with the festival.

But what exactly are they preparing?

Before teleporting, I had briefly checked the community, but nobody had mentioned a thing.

Hmm.

Given that Ha Hee-Jeong had lingered at my side, the party clearly involved me in some way. I couldn’t guess what, though.

Surely it isn’t a surprise birthday party.

I nudged her shoulder. “What is this, really?”

“We’re here already. You’ll see for yourself.” Ha Hee-Jeong chuckled softly and quickened her pace.

The distance between us grew, but I didn’t bother to keep up.

She stopped at the entrance of the dining hall, turned to me, and cleared her throat. “Now then, shall we?”

“What’s with that tone?”

She jerked her chin toward the door, signaling me to go in first.

Okay?

As I approached doubtfully, Ha Hee-Jeong flung the door wide open.

At that very moment, Seo Ho-Su, standing by the door, roughly bellowed, “Attention! The Lord of the Party enters!”

The Lord of the Party?

Before I could even come up with an answer, the climbers seated within the vast dining hall rose almost in unison.

“

Waaahhh—!

”

“Kwon Su-Hyeok! Light Su-Hyeok!”

“

Wooooooohhhh!

”

The thunder of applause and shouts rang so loudly it felt like my eardrums would burst. Every climber in the hall was standing, eyes fixed on me.

What the fuck?

To be honest, it completely threw me off.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time the climbers had cheered me on. Even if there were only six thousand here now, in the past, hundreds of thousands had roared for me. Despite that, I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening.

Scratching my neck, I glanced at Ha Hee-Jeong. “Wh-what is going on?”

Though I couldn’t see my own face, I was sure I looked dumbfounded.

Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t answer. Instead, she smiled as she placed both hands on my back and pushed me forward into the dining hall. I could have resisted, but the situation didn’t allow for it. I was too unsettled.

As I stepped forward, the applause and cheering swelled even louder.

Did I do something?

No matter how hard I tried to recall my recent accomplishments, I couldn’t think of anything that deserved this kind of reception.

Is it because we flawlessly completed that last floor, along with clearing the hidden mission, making the climb smoother?

I turned back toward Ha Hee-Jeong once more, but she only gave my shoulder a light tap, urging me to face forward.

From the front of the roaring crowd, Hendrick slowly walked out. There was a mischievous grin playing about his lips, a look utterly unlike his usual reserved self.

With a mana-enhanced shout, he cleared his throat, “

Ahem, ahem!

”

Normally, doing that was forbidden in the dining hall, as it was considered a form of noise pollution. As if on cue, however, the climbers instantly fell silent.

Hendrick stepped forward to stand before the climbers gathered behind him. “Judging from Su-Hyeok’s bewilderment, it seems our plan has been quite the success.”

He then smiled faintly. “To be honest, I was a little worried because of the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club, but thank you all for keeping the secret.”

Laughter rippled among the climbers. Even so, I still couldn’t make sense of the situation.

Why did they keep it a secret from me?

Since Ha Hee-Jeong didn’t seem like she would explain, I turned my gaze to the party members standing at the front of the formation.

What is this about?

I asked with my eyes, and they answered with bright smiles. Seo Ho-Su grinned the widest. Doppy, Ryun, and Yoonie, standing and hovering beside him, acted the same.

When did they even find out?

There hadn’t been much time. The others had likely filled them in during my conversation with the survivors of the factory.

Hendrick looked back at me. “I am Hendrick, tasked with delivering words of gratitude to Su-Hyeok on behalf of all climbers. To be honest, I had hoped Ho-Su would do it, but he said he’s too shy.”

Those who knew Seo Ho-Su booed him playfully.

Hendrick smiled and clapped his hands, causing the climbers to fall silent again. “Do you all remember when we were first dragged into the Tower of Ordeal?”

“Yes!”

“Then you also remember when we all finished the tutorial.”

“

Wow!

”

“Kwon Su-Hyeok!”

Hearing their cheers, Hendrick smiled more broadly. “That’s right. Because of this guy, Kwon Su-Hyeok, who secured first place on the Leaderboard, we spent quite a while waiting in the waiting room. I’m sure many among you cursed him at the time.”

Laughter broke out among the crowd.

I reminisced about that moment. That had been after the fifth floor. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if over half of them had cursed me. Back then, the majority of climbers felt some resentment toward me.

“And yet, the one who bore our resentment went on to the fourteenth floor, and every all-climer floor after, to achieve unrivaled feats. You all know it well. Without Su-Hyeok, perhaps not even a tenth of us would be here now.”

The mood grew a little solemn. Everyone seemed to be recalling the companions they had lost.

Not long after, someone shouted and turned the atmosphere around, “That’s true!”

The cheers resumed, and as Hendrick paused to catch his breath, Ha Hee-Jeong leaned close to my ear and whispered, “They don’t even know. It’s more like a twentieth.”

I stood there awkwardly while she stifled her laughter.

“Of course, our survival wasn’t thanks to Su-Hyeok alone. From the top climbers who shared their strategies to every climber who gave their all in their personal challenge floors and the all-climber floors. This is the combined result of everyone’s efforts. Still, no one can deny that Su-Hyeok has contributed the most.”

Once again, cheers erupted. Hendrick waited until the uproar subsided before continuing, “Su-Hyeok may feel embarrassed now, but we prepared this gathering because we don’t know if we’ll get another chance.”

Silence hung in the air, and Hendrick met my eyes. “The trials are only growing harder. Thanks to Su-Hyeok, we conquered the last set of all-climber floors without losing anyone. But, again, the last ten floors will be even more difficult.”

As the atmosphere sank, Hendrick held my gaze. “And so, before our numbers dwindle further, we wished to express our gratitude to Su-Hyeok.”

Only then did I understand why the climbers had done this.

Even as they cheered, I had worried that they would let their guard down before the climb was even over. That wasn’t it, though. They had gathered simply to thank me, knowing the trials ahead would only grow harsher.

Of course, they probably didn’t want to do it now.

Offering their thanks and farewells after conquering the tower would have been ideal. Doing it here meant that some climbers already knew they would not survive to see the end.

I didn’t blame them. We would be lying if we told them they were guaranteed to survive. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t save everyone.

Personal challenge floors still existed, and every climber here was skilled enough to know their own limits.

My thoughts had wandered, but at the end of the day, this rest area felt final for some climbers in a different way. They didn’t know that they wouldn’t truly die in the tower.

In any case.

The scene moved me—more than a little. Memories of all the time that had passed came rushing back. I had worked hard for myself, Ha Hee-Jeong, the climbers, Earth, and the conviction I had gained along the way. All of it hadn’t been in vain.

Hendrick bowed to me. “On behalf of all climbers, I sincerely thank you.”

Cheers and applause thundered again.

“

Waaaahhhh─!

”

“Thank you!”

“Kwon Su-Hyeok! Light Su-Hyeok!”

Seo Ho-Su snuck in to the noise with a mana-infused shout, “Su-Hyeok! Say a word!”

“

Waaaahhh─!

”

Hendrick, as if waiting for it, seized upon Seo Ho-Su’s cry. “Then... though he may dislike it, shall we hear from Su-Hyeok as well?”

“Yes!” The climbers answered in unison as if it had been rehearsed.

Judging from their playful expressions, I wondered if they had slightly staged this.

Once again, silence fell over the hall.

I sighed faintly, “

Haaaaa...

”

To be thanked was gratifying, moving, and truly rewarding. Honestly, though, I never liked standing in front of others like this. Especially not so suddenly and without warning.

Still, I couldn’t drag it out for long. Experience had taught me that much.

I stepped forward and imbued my throat with mana.