CH 60

To the tower of light

After parting with Emperor Georg and the others, I returned to my room in Sagami Co.

I wanted to think a bit about my future plans.

The condition of the brainwashed children protected here had been solved at Munch’s death, and they had successfully regained their consciousness. However, they were too frail right now, so they would need several weeks of treatment. Therefore, they would be protected in our company.

Due to this incident, it was necessary to revise some of our perceptions of the organization [Laguna].

There was no doubt that [Laguna] had a commander from Earth. And what had happened so far was an appetizer, so to speak. They would surely deepen their aggression even more from now on. If I didn’t want to lose any more people, I had to build up my strength as soon as possible. Not only the power of the organization itself, but my own power as well!

My memory of what had happened before my death was now completely gone

I didn’t have a shred of memories before my death, but still, I could still assure this. The current me was not even ten percent of my peak strength. It meant that I had no choice but to throw myself against that mastermind as an opponent in an all or nothing battle. Such irrationality was unacceptable to me.

I believed that the game was the process leading up to the struggle plus an additional factor. Basically, victory or defeat depended on the conditions for victory secured during the process before the struggle. The additional factor was nothing more than luck in the battle of closed strength.

If I was defeated just like this, my comrades and I would depart from this world. At best, they would become the guinea pigs of that mastermind. I had to absolutely prevent that future from happening.

In other words, my first priority was to increase my own ability.

One was to develop magic. Right now, I had several S-Rank magic stones, but even if I forced myself to create new magic with the materials I’d already have, it wouldn’t be of much use. It would be more efficient to acquire high-ranking magic stones and materials in dungeons, search for and find more powerful magic, and aim to create the magic.

The next was to understand the abilities of [Eternal Workshop]. If [Magic Blueprint] was the development ability of magic, [Eternal Workshop] was the development ability of items. Their orientation was on the opposite side. It should be my immediate goal to be able to use it well.

Now then, the restriction on the usage of [Liberation] had already been cut off. Let’s take the best course of action to improve my abilities.

I headed for the high glittering tower in the south of Straheim.

“There’s no entrance, after all……”

I took a look around, but just as it was rumoured, there was no entrance. If you couldn’t get inside, then this structure was just an annoying objet d’art.

However, judging from the past trends, I didn’t think this thing appeared for nothing. If that was the case, the answer must lie in that place.

I teleported to the 50th floor of Kurikala. I passed through the door and headed to the trial room. I still hadn’t checked this room for a reward, but if it was just as I was thinking, there must be a way to get to the tower in this place.

To conclude, there was no door of any kind in the trial room.

The only thing that caught my eyes was—

“Is this a magic circle?”

A bright red circular pattern was drawn on the ground in the corner of the room. Within the circle were a number of geometric characters drawn according to certain rules.

“It should be a gate, I think.”

From the appearance of that tower of light and the announcement of the next stage, it must be a place I could reach. If so, this was the only answer.

I took out the silver watch from my pocket and threw it into the bright magic circle. Just as the watch reached the top space of the magic circle, it disappeared like smoke.

Just as expected. Now, let’s get in.

I stepped into the magic circle.

◇◆◇◆◇◆

There was a private room, just like in the trial room earlier. The only definite difference was, everything from the floor, walls, and even ceiling was golden.

It was so gilded that it made my eyes sting. I had to say that this dungeon was in very bad taste.

In the centre of the room was something like a stone monument, so I approached to check it.

“English?”

On the tablet, the following was written in English.

[Welcome to Kurikala Hard Mode: Tower of Deception.

You will not be able to advance with just strength alone, while intelligence alone will defeat you.

The only thing that awaits you is the choice between glory and death.

The wise or cowardly, leave. Only the reckless and foolish brave can move forward with weapons in hand.

I pray for your good luck.]

(T/N : Btw, although the author said English, the text was still Japanese in the novel. xD)

This was a very unpleasant sentence.

For the creator of this place, human’s life and death might look like a game.

Well, fine. Whatever the road, I couldn’t go back, and it was true that I was interested in this place. I would try to use it to the best of my abilities.

“The exit is………”

Looking around, I noticed that a part of the wall at the back of the room was discolored. The gate was most likely there, though it was more like the entrance to the dungeon called [Tower of Deception].

I picked up the pocket watch from the floor, and put my right palm on the stone wall that was partially discolored red to investigate, and the scenery distorted.

“Whoa……….!”

I couldn’t help but shake my head at the ridiculous phenomenon.

Of course. It was a space with myriads of stairs leading above. The stairs were carefully dyed gold and they were about seven to eight meter wide. At the end of the stairs, there was a space that looked like a public square, where a goat monster was sitting in meditation.

That boss was just a small fish in this space.

[Hey, master, I’m really against exploring such an absurd place. Let’s hurry up and return to having a good time with Ojou-chan.] (T/N : Ojou-chan: Princess)

After seeing this insane scene, Mura desperately tried to persuade me.

“Rejected.”

A monster of that level was just a small fry. Fighting while putting your life on the line was the best way to increase one’s abilities. My instinct understood that. This place would be just the right means of rehabilitation.

“Let’s go.”

[……….Yes, sir.]

I grabbed Mura’s hilt and unsheathed the red blade from the scabbard, as he was spinning words of agreement in resignation, just like a cornered mouse that had accepted its death.

Then, I set out to the nearest goat monster.

T/N : Monday and today’s update. sorry for the delay as i forget to inform other to update in my place due to my headache