070. Trials on the 10th floor (1)
“Start the 10th floor trials.”
“Remaining time – 3 hours”
“Conditions to break through the trials – Cooperate and defeat the boss monster within the remaining time
” The end of the remaining time”
「Trial Breakthrough Reward – Skill Proficiency Up Potion (B+)」
「Trial Failure Penalty – Death」
Seeing the messages embroidering the air, I immediately began to look around.
The moonlight was shining brightly on a field reminiscent of an empty field with nothing.
Seeing that there were no enemies even though it was a subjugation ordeal, I immediately noticed that the enemies only appeared after my teammates appeared.
And…
「Team members are assigned according to the final ranking.」
「After team members are assigned, you can get a 30-minute grace period.
」 You can do it.”
“In the meantime, prepare as much cooperation
as possible to defeat the boss monster.”
As if what I thought was the correct answer, a system message popped up.
It was then. 「
Allocating team members
has been completed.
」
Three portals were created at a slight distance, and challengers appeared from there.
「First place in the settlement rankings, Kim Seung-hun.」
The first to appear was a challenger wearing a black mask and holding an Ohama on his shoulder.
“Another unification ordeal…. You’re acting annoyingly.”
「No. 2 in the settlement rankings, Chun-seok Oh.」
The second one to appear was a contender with an impressively skinny physique and servile face.
“uh? What is it, Seunghoon-hyung was also climbing the tower?”
「Hyedi Gongdu ranked 6th in the settlement of accounts」
The third and last one to appear was a bizarre challenger wearing a red suit.
“Oh… haha, everyone is a ranker. Nice to meet you.”
All the team members appeared, and no more portals appeared after that, and the final rankings were not listed.
“…”
I stared blankly at them and narrowed my eyes as if I was dumbfounded.
‘I heard that team members are assigned according to the settlement ranking…’
I never thought that all the challengers at the top of the Korean server’s settlement ranking would appear.
While I was surprised by him, Kim Seung-hun opened his mouth while fiddling with the black mask.
“I don’t think I have anything else to say during the 30-minute grace period.”
It was a little arrogant, but I noticed at once that there were several meanings in his words.
As long as they had come this far, there would not be much that everyone should know about each other, and it was no different than trying to clear the ordeal properly.
I was quick to judge the situation and knew how to properly draw the line to see if being number one in the settlement rankings was just wearing it.
Wearing a black mask and holding an ohama… Needless to
say, I got the impression that he would be at the top of the current tower’s challengers.
‘Well, even though he’s number one, he’ll proudly give out his real name.’
It was then.
“Uh… I also agree with what Seunghun hyung said. I don’t think there’s much to talk about.”
Belatedly, Oh Chun-seok agreed with Kim Seung-hun’s words and quietly stepped back.
‘It doesn’t look like second place in the settlement rankings.’
It’s different from what I thought, should I say it’s a little naive?
Looking like he couldn’t assert himself at all, he gave off a more timid impression, not befitting the final ranking.
Sometimes in the chat window, I saw people talking about being the only ranker among ordinary people, so I thought that maybe that was the reason.
And…
“Well, since everyone is a ranker, they can act on their own. There is no disagreement.”
Lastly, the challenger with the nickname Hyedi Gongdu also accepted the words meekly.
‘There are many people with common sense, probably because the settlement ranking is unexpectedly high.’ I
wondered if there would be some people who would fight like crazy like during the 6th floor integration ordeal or in the common area
.
「The manager, ‘Iron-blooded Lord’, tilts his head at the unexpectedly safe situation.』
「The manager, ‘White Crane Swordsman’, pouting his lips at useless peace.
』 The two administrators who popped up a message immediately seemed to have started, but it didn’t seem like it.
“Agree…”
Feeling so relieved, it was the moment I was about to say that I agreed with that statement.
“By the way… aside from having no disagreements, there’s something I want to ask you guys.”
Suddenly, Hyedi Gongdu cut off what I was saying and started talking about something else.
“Could everyone just keep quiet because the ordeal theme is [cooperation]?”
The first to respond to those words was Kim Seung-hoon, wearing a black mask.
“…what do you mean by that?”
Hyedi Gongdu grinned at him, who looked at him as if to explain.
“It is literally. The ordeal theme is definitely [cooperation]. All you have to do is team up with each other and defeat the boss monster… Yes, it’s a non-competitive theme. But do you think the next ordeal will be the same?”
Oh Chun-seok touched his chin, then shook his head and replied.
“Um… I don’t think so. The Tower of Trials changes its theme every time.”
“Exactly. Did you see the message that just popped up?”
“…?”
“Didn’t you say that team members are assigned according to the final ranking? That means that from now on, the level of the integrated ordeal will change according to the settlement ranking. Don’t you know? It means that everyone is a potential competitor.”
“What is that…”
Oh Chun-seok frowned at the same time Hye-di Gong-du said as if to be relieved.
“Oh, of course, that doesn’t apply to Oh Chun-seok. The same goes for Seunghoon Kim. It’s even more so because the two seem to be friends with each other. The two of you don’t have to fight, as they will cooperate to some extent in other trials. By the way.”
Hyedi Gongdu said that and then continued with a fishy smile.
And…
“Wouldn’t it be a bit different for ‘Hunter’, which is ranked 3rd in the settlement rankings?”
After his words, I couldn’t help but straighten my face.
***
For Seungjun Kim, deceiving others was a daily routine.
It was the best way to survive for him to provoke a fight with others with facts that he was not deceiving.
From when he was young to when he was active as a C-class hunter, his way of life did not change.
He faked splitting the team so that no one else would get the pay they should have shared, so he got a bigger share.
When there was a way to join a good guild, he drove his colleagues to another place and went in alone.
Isn’t it said that people by nature are more easily seduced by lies heard from others than by the truth right in front of them?
What others fight has always benefited him.
And it was also used in a foreign place called the Tower of Trials.
Having used the nickname Hyedi Gongdu, he prevented information sharing by making discord between challengers as much as possible through the community function.
Thanks to that, Kim Seung-jun took advantage of the lack of exchange between challengers for a long time and benefited greatly from the combined trials and individual trials.
And it was the same in the integration ordeal on the 10th floor.
「The manager ‘false clown’ laughs at the contractor’s deceit, tearing the corners of her mouth
.
‘As expected, I can’t stop doing this because of this.’
As if everyone hadn’t even thought of it, I felt a sense of pleasure when I saw her hardened appearance.
「Admin ‘Dueling Master’ frowns at your speech skills
. 』
It’s called survival.”
Even the managers who were watching him started to take an interest in him.
Of course, there was one manager who was interested in the not-so-good side…
Anyway, it wasn’t too bad to see that the ‘false clown’, the manager Kim Seung-jun contracted with, was happy.
‘If I make the situation more interesting, I might receive the power.’
Not only was he excited to have such a thought, but Kim Seung-jun’s mouth instantly became lighter.
He glanced at the messages floating in the air, then turned his head and looked at ‘Hunter Han Seong-yoon’ on the other side.
‘Looking at his stiff face, he must have been taken aback.’
Kim Seung-jun knew him well, as he had recently learned his skills through all sorts of duels, even revealing his name in public areas.
He was a person who first released his authority in the common area and used it as bait to acquire numerous skills through all sorts of duels.
I felt more hostility because he had not only seen him in the chat room, but also watched the scene in real time in the common area.
‘This bastard will become insanely strong if left alone…’
If he climbed the tower a little longer, Han Seong-yoon would become stronger and later become a threat to Kim Seung-jun in the unification ordeal.
As much as possible, Kim Seung-jun thought that Han Seong-yoon should be excluded from this 10th floor integration ordeal.
Of course, if he were alone, he would have paid attention to Han Seong-yoon as much as possible, rather than arguing with him
. Not only did he acquire quite a few skills by dueling with authority in the arena, but he was always at the top of the ordeal rankings, so I always watched him with interest.”
Currently, in this integrated ordeal, in addition to ‘Kim Seung-hun’, who is ranked first in the settlement ranking, even ‘Oh Chun-seok’, who is second place, was in a situation.
so what?
It means that he can kill Han Seong-yoon according to the board Kim Seung-joon makes.
“It seems like you’ve acquired quite a few skills sooner or later…. I don’t know about cooperative-themed trials, but what about other trials? Can you say for sure that you won’t be a threat to Mr. Seung-hoon or Mr. Chun-seok? Isn’t it?”
Kim Seung-jun acted as if he had to get rid of it quickly, even using exaggerated gestures as much as possible.
But…
“You were the one who broke out in the 4th floor integration ordeal.”
Kim Seung-hoon, who had been listening to the words quietly, said so as if he was rather full of energy.
“Was the integration ordeal on the 4th floor a brat or something like Kim Seung-jun, who said competition was essential?”
“….”
“If you like moving your mouth like that, I recommend looking in the mirror and flirting.”
“Haha, what are you talking about…”
“It doesn’t matter whether you kill the other challengers or not, but it’s better not to think about dragging me into it.”
When Kim Seung-hun finished talking to that point, Oh Chun-seok added as well.
“Uh um… I agree with Seunghun hyung. I don’t really want to fight that much.”
“What do you mean? If we can definitely rule out hunters from here…!”
“But in the end, I think it has nothing to do with me.”
“…yes? What is it?”
“In the end, if you can’t be sure of that, I think it’s okay if you don’t climb the tower.”
“….”
Seungjun Kim felt that something was wrong and began to break out in a cold sweat.
「The manager ‘false clown’ clicks his tongue at the contractor’s clumsiness.]
Most of the negative messages continued, as if the managers also sensed it.
「Admin ‘Master of Duels’ laughs at your speech skills
. 』
He snorts.」
‘Fuck… This feels fucked up.’
But he struggled to keep his composure and continued.
“I have a special skill. I’m sure you can easily kill him. If you kill him, I’ll give you all the rest of my equipment. How is it? In addition, I will tell you all the information I learned through the questioning area.”
It was to somehow make them agree to kill Han Seong-yoon together.
However, everyone did not move at those words and looked at Kim Seung-jun in silence.
And…
“So, are we done talking?”
In such a desolate field, a man who had been silent until now opened his mouth.
“They said something quite interesting… How should I take responsibility for what they said?”
It was Han Seong-yoon.
