Chapter 122 - Warm-up (1)
The Third Ordeal had a slightly different nature from the previous two ordeals.
While the previous two ordeals accepted participants as soon as they began and proceeded imdiately, the third ordeal tended to scatter various ons before it actually started.
The second ordeal sent out invitations, but this ti.
[ All designated Conquerors are requested to attend the eting hosted by the ‘Round Table’ by the limited ti. ]
[ A ‘Disaster Stage’ will be assigned for each person selected as a participant who fails to attend. ]
[ If the ordeal is failed, the intensity of the punishnt will increase according to the Disaster Stage. ]
Just by looking at these words floating above the Tower, one could tell the difference.
This one outright ‘forced’ an event to make people gather beforehand.
Well, it was malicious in the sense that instead of giving a disadvantage to the one who didn't attend, it was designed to make those around them force them to go.
However, Evangeline, knowing all this, told not to attend. That’s how much it was a section that boasted one of the highest despair levels, even among the Conqueror events that were littered with trashy death traps.
“So. What’s the reason for taking to such a terrifying place?”
Ironclad, who had decided to accompany to this eting, grumbled.
“Why. Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“You always surround yourself with a bunch of won.”
“...”
Please don’t describe like so kind of playboy.
The trap was that if I thought about it carefully, it was strangely close to the facts, making it difficult to refute.
“It’s not for any other reason. It’s because you’re not entirely unrelated to this event.”
“What?”
“Do you rember what we talked about when we first t?”
Ironclad’s expression instantly turned serious.
Right.
I had promised him that his ‘family’ was still alive and that I would rescue them.
And this ordeal would probably be directly related to that promise.
“...Huh. That person has such a great reason. What’s my reason for coming along here?”
To Seo Ah-in, who was tilting her head with a puzzled expression, I explained simply.
“Where the needle goes, the thread follows, of course.”
“...I'm asking just in case. That doesn't have so profound aning, does it? It just ans you're going to use as a gofer, right?”
“And a bodyguard, while we’re at it.”
“...Yeah, Ah-in. What on earth were you expecting...”
I chuckled at the girl who was clutching her forehead and muttering sothing.
“By the way... it seems the Tower is also changing little by little.”
Ironclad said so and looked up at the Tower.
Certainly, if before it had the feeling of just a ‘giant structure,’ these days it was getting darker and darker and exuding a threatening aura, giving the feeling that sothing big was coming.
‘...Well.’
[ Current Alteration Points: 2 ]
That’s why I was saving these up.
Perhaps after going through this ordeal, a clear use for them would materialize.
“Let’s go for now. That’s not sothing to worry about right now.”
So, for now, I should first think about successfully overcoming the ordeal before my eyes.
Thinking so, I stepped into the portal that opened in front of , and the surrounding scenery changed in an instant.
A marble floor, chandeliers. And several huge circular tables designed for many people to sit around.
It was a scene that could be seen as a re social venue, but unfitting for such an atmosphere, the surroundings were lined with a multitude of guys dressed in colorful full-body armor.
“...Hic.”
I heard Seo Ah-in, her face pale, gasp beside .
Befitting a girl with the Mind’s Eye, it must have been a reaction born from instantly grasping the level of military power each of those guys possessed.
Well, they were none other than the Knights of the Round Table. The ones who act as the administrators and guardians of the Tower.
It would be stranger if they were weak.
“...”
And quickly, I scanned not the Round Table, but the ‘participants’ one by one.
Just as the previous ordeals had been, this one also had a structure where the final winner took all the rewards.
The process of checking who the competitors were was essential.
However, the difference from the previous ordeals was that this ti, the number of gazes flying in my direction was quite large.
No, let correct that.
It wasn't just quite large; it was to the extent that as soon as I appeared, everyone in this place was looking at .
I could even hear their murmuring from here.
“That guy is the one who’s been the hottest topic recently-”
“The one called Asia’s Cot-”
“The greatest genius in history who blasphes even the gods-”
“...”
Misters.
The further it went, the more serious words I heard.
No joke, I was confident I could die of embarrassnt in three seconds if I went around with sothing like that attached to my na. Seriously.
“Why is everyone making such a fuss?”
“...It's not a fuss. Isn't this a natural reaction?”
“What?”
“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, I don't know what level you think your own recognition is at, but you've beco a complete celebrity while you were scurrying around.”
Right. But what’s so special about that?
I even got a B-rank through the rating test a while ago. At that level, it wouldn't be strange for my face to be known anywhere...
“First, would you like to see this?”
Seo Ah-in said so and searched for sothing on her phone to show .
“What’s this?”
“These are rough summaries of ntions of you on the internet. From the top, the fan club list, the frequency of ntions in news articles, and the statistics of being on the top search keyword rankings of major portal sites-”
“...Why the hell is sothing like that summarized?”
“I didn't do it. The governnt did. You're being openly used as a signboard, the pride of the nation, you know?”
“...”
Sorry. Let correct myself.
For a B-rank Climber to be this well-known, it was true that an exceptionally crazy amount of attention was being focused on .
What on earth was there about to pay so much attention to, for everyone to be making such a fuss?
“...Mr. Kim Gyu-sik.”
“What.”
“Smug people all have short lifespans.”
“...”
What nonsense is this.
As I narrowed my eyes and glared at Seo Ah-in, I felt soone from the nearby people, who had been glancing at until now, striding this way.
Looking closely, it was a middle-aged female Climber who seed to be wearing a strict atmosphere all over her body.
‘I'm sure...’
I racked my brain and recalled information about the opponent.
A Western A-rank Climber. A vanguard. Her na was Catherine Stegor. The nickna users called her by was ‘Rational Bulldozer’.
As for why she was called that, one could tell just by looking at the proposal coming my way.
“Are you Climber Kim Gyu-sik?”
“I am?”
“I am Catherine Stegor, leader of the Solstia Guild. I would like to propose an alliance with you in this ordeal.”
With that one sentence.
An atmosphere of shock rippled and spread through the surroundings.
It was because it was the first ti in history that a Western guild had ‘first’ proposed an alliance to an Eastern Climber.
Even in the West, an A-rank Climber was given considerable respect. For such a person to approach first and extend a hand like this, how could people not be surprised?
“...An alliance. The reason?”
“The skills you have shown were impressive. You are likely far superior to most of the people here. There is no other reason.”
“...”
And even the explanation that bluntly pierced through, rather than an excuse to save face.
As expected, she was a person of action who didn't care about the gazes of others if she thought she was right. She wasn't called a bulldozer for nothing.
“We will et any conditions you demand. Are you interested?”
Even the subsequent proposal made it feel like she wanted quite badly.
This blatant act of ‘I will bow my head, so please work with ’ was, naturally, the attitude a lower-tier guild takes toward a higher-tier one.
No matter how much I had proven myself, considering her position and mine, it would not be a problem at all to call it an exceptional offer.
Of course, even so.
“I appreciate the offer, but I think it will be a little difficult.”
When I replied so, Catherine closed her eyes for a long mont and then opened them.
It seed she was organizing her thoughts.
“Is that so.”
“...You’re not very surprised?”
Indeed, looking around, the majority of gazes perceived as almost a crazy person for kicking away the proposal in this situation.
But this person looked as if she had expected this.
“Haven't you always stood out on your own until now? I rather expected it would turn out this way.”
And yet, she ca over to make the proposal. Did she co with the feeling of poking at a fruit she couldn't eat?
She must have really coveted .
“...What great insight. I know there are still many who subtly look down on you. To take the initiative and co forward like that.”
Ironclad muttered in admiration as he watched Catherine disappear without any lingering attachnt as soon as the proposal was rejected.
“You rate her that highly just because she ca to first?”
“It would be more accurate to say that you are being underestimated compared to what you have proven so far.”
“Yes. They’re all just a bunch of idiots, you know? He’s a person who will once again showcase his perverted exploits without a second thought.”
“...”
Ah-in.
Is that a complint, or an insult?
Well, apart from that, Catherine was certainly a sharp person.
She would probably stand out quite a bit in this ordeal as well. The structure was such that smart people had a considerable advantage.
[ It has been confird that all subjects are present. ]
[ Knights of the Round Table, please proceed with the eting. ]
And that, the guys who just appeared would explain well.
***
-Greetings, Conquerors. I am the ‘Guardian of the Tower’ who will be presiding over this ordeal. This is our first ti eting directly, isn't it?
A blue image of a woman wearing a robe rose up in the center of the hall.
The eyes of everyone in this place sharpened.
In fact, except for , everyone here was probably eting the existence of the Round Table for the first ti, so they tensed up when the Guardian, who clearly seed to be its leader, revealed herself.
However, apart from that, I was just waiting for the words that would follow from her mouth.
‘...I’ve been through a lot until now.’
Most of the people here probably thought this ordeal would be conducted in ‘small groups’ like before and had likely only prepared for that.
However, I had been throwing myself into all sorts of places to solidify relationships between ‘groups’ and ‘groups’.
Cornelius’s Mangrave, the Magic Tower, the Hunting Alliance, the Martial Arts Alliance, and even the other miscellaneous guilds I t during the promotion test.
Now, hurry up and say it.
Say directly the reason why I went through all that trouble, struggling to form connections with all sorts of groups.
-The genre of this ordeal is... to put it simply.
And as if she had sowhat noticed my thoughts, the Guardian’s gaze lingered on for a mont before moving away.
-’War’.
That's right.
A broad smile spread across my face.
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