Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn’t

During Ha Hee-Jeong’s first life, on the seventh floor.

[Eerie Forest]

“Go ahead and run your mouth one more time."

“Ho-Su! We don't even know what's going to happen! What if the weretigers keep coming after us even after we've offered sacrifices!? How will we be able to escape with the priest?"

Seo Ho-Su clenched his teeth while shielding Seo Ha-Rin. He felt a volcanic rage brewing deep inside. Seo Ho-Su's hand trembled palpably as he tightly gripped his shield.

“Damn it! How are we supposed to fight that thing?! Hurry up and make the sacrifice! He's already exhausted! How long can the king last... Ugh!"

“Dad!"

They had been attacked numerous times during their ascent of the tower, but none had been as swift or as disastrous as this one. Thinking to himself, Seo-Ho stood still and watched as a party member collapsed with a long gash in his throat.

Sacrifice this bastard first.

The others followed quickly after. Two, three, four. Seo Ho-Su believed each subsequent attack was just as deserved.

Idiots.

He spat on the ground.

They considered fighting me but not the king? Morons, if they had fought earlier, perhaps we could have stabbed the king at least once.

Seo Ho-Su cursed under his breath and turned his gaze back to the king.

“... Human. … Human."

The king was still not satisfied. Gathering his resolve, Seo Ho-Su looked back at Seo Ha-Rin, who seemed to realize what was about to happen. Tears streamed down her face.

“Ha-Rin, remember the shield spell Dad bought you?"

“Dad, no. Please, no..."

“Just activate it, and close your eyes for a moment. You know how much Dad loves you, right?"

Seo Ha-Rin nodded repeatedly, her eyes brimming with tears. Sobs escaped her lips.

“Don't cry." Seo Ho-Su whispered and wiped her tears with his bloodied hand, staining her cheeks crimson.

“Go up, Ha-Rin..."

With those final words, Seo Ho-Su charged at the king. Moments later, the tower’s emotionless voice startled her while she kept her eyes desperately shut.

[The sacrifices have appeased the Weretiger King. The weretigers will no longer attack.]

***

[This is Kwon Su-Hyeok…]

- Writer: Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor)

Hello, this is Kwon Su-Hyeok. For those who've just cleared the sixth floor, I'm here to share my insights from the seventh floor. The seventh floor’s challenge begins right away… (omitted)... I hope you conquer the seventh floor safely. I'll continue to share strategies for every floor I clear ahead of the pack.

However, don't rely solely on my strategies. If you're capable, try to take advantage of every battle and grow on your own as you ascend.

P.S. I travel with a golden goblin named Doppy, so please don't attack it! I cannot be held responsible for the consequences if you ignore my warning.

- Kim Seon-Hu (Seventh Floor): The first-ranked climber is here. Troops, attention.

- Ernest Morgan (Seventh Floor): Thank you for your kindness. That's why you're number one.

- Braha Akif (Seventh Floor): What happens if we can't defeat the Weretiger King? How do we find the cave?

- Christina Megan (Seventh Floor): Is that even a question, Braha? lol. Just be thankful he's sharing these insights with us. Don’t get greedy.

- Lee Joon-Young (Seventh Floor): Kiyaaaa! Bartender! Bring down the Tower of Ordeal! It will be so easy to conquer it with number one’s info~

…

The Community buzzed with activity as climbers who had conquered the sixth floor discussed strategies and shared advice. Ha Hee-Jeong had encouraged me to post about the seventh floor, emphasizing the importance of managing one's image while ascending.

Writing kindly and informatively was crucial, as interactions with other climbers would become increasingly frequent. Being the top-ranked climber gave me some leverage, but I knew I couldn't always rely on my strength alone. People voluntarily heeding my advice would be ideal.

The responses in the Community had been overwhelmingly positive. My inbox was flooded with messages, and although I wanted to reply to them, responding to thousands of individuals was unfeasible.

As I lay quietly in bed, I thought about the share percentage system.

Upon entering the waiting room, a notification had alerted me that I could now receive sponsorship from the god I was contracted with. This was followed by a series of lengthy, detailed, and technical notifications. Deciding it would be best to share this knowledge with the other climbers, I summarized the information into nine statements, which I later posted.

1. Sponsorship from a god increases their share percentage.

2. The increase varies depending on the god's class; higher-ranked gods offer more favorable terms for climbers.

3. Any increase to the share percentage stat becomes fixed after a brief grace period.

4. Before fixation, the share percentage stat can be voluntarily reduced by limiting one's stats proportionately.

5. Reduced stats aren't permanent; they restore gradually as one ascends the floors.

6. Stats can be limited in increments of five percent.

7. Gods can use their shares that are fixed to wield the Dice of Fate, compelling actions from climbers.

8. When this occurs, the likelihood that a god’s will controls the climber's actions is equivalent to the percentage of fixed shares that the god holds. Immediately afterward, the god’s share percentage returns to zero.

9. If the god’s share percentage is insufficient for the action imposed, the god incurs a disadvantage, and vice versa.

After I had read through all the notification windows, I grasped why Ha Hee-Jeong was confident about my chances. Even if I were to limit my stats by twenty percent, my abilities would be more than adequate.

Likely, my strength would still be top-ranked after taking such a penalty, and even so, any reduction would recover naturally as I ascended. This issue was trivial for me, but other climbers faced a daunting choice.

If a climber was already struggling to ascend the tower, limiting one’s stats was tantamount to sabotage. Given no other option, they would have to allow the god’s share percentage to become fixed.

However, once a climber’s fixed share percentage stat increased, their sponsor could roll the Dice of Fate, controlling their actions.

Ha Hee-Jeong had mentioned that if the climber’s sponsor got along with them well, they could reduce the share percentage on their behalf, though most wouldn't.

Alarmingly, the notifications had omitted a critical detail. They hadn’t explained the consequences of the sponsor’s share percentage reaching one hundred.

While I could speculate right now, the exact outcomes were uncertain. Nonetheless, if my share percentage increased, I could simply limit my stats to reduce it. Even with reduced stats, I would be strong enough to navigate the floors effortlessly, and my stats would eventually return.

“Kriee! Su-Yeok! Su-Yeok!”

“Uh… What!?”

Doppy’s voice jolted me from my reverie. I had responded absentmindedly at first but then turned to Doppy in surprise once I realized what had happened.

“Doppy! Did you just call me by my name?”

“Krriieee! Yes! Su-Yeok!”

“Doppy! I’m overwhelmed. You're calling me by my name...”

Doppy had always referred to everyone as “human.” Whether it was directed at Seo Ho-Su, Ha Hee-Jeong, or me, it refused to call us anything else. Though it kept pronouncing my name as Su-Yeok instead of Su-Hyeok, I felt a parent’s pride as if I had raised it myself.

Wait, I had, hadn’t I? I had saved its life, fed it, and sheltered it. It seemed Doppy had grown, a realization that filled me with nostalgia.

“Hey, you seem a bit bigger, don’t you? Ho-Su was right in the forest.”

Doppy puffed out its chest and proclaimed proudly.

“Krieee! Goblin! Grown!”

It was pleased at the notion of having grown.

“Haha, yes, you’ve grown a lot.”

Doppy’s child-like glee made me laugh. Children relished being told they had grown, and Doppy was no exception. Yet, it still referred to itself as “Goblin.” Perhaps that would change over time.

“Your clothes look a bit small, should I get you new ones?”

“Kriee! Not yet! It’s okay!”

“By the way, why did you call me?”

“Bread! Tired of it! Goblin! Hungry!”

I had thought the food would improve as we climbed up the tower, but it hadn’t. It seemed like we would need to rely on the shop instead, which sold all varieties of food. Thankfully, the cost of food was just one achievement point.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Kriee! Meat! Meat!”

“Alright, let’s have some meat for a change.”

Although Ha Hee-Jeong had advised us to conserve points, spending a couple of points seemed inconsequential.

I bought two steaks with two achievement points.

“Kriee! Meat!”

“Doppy. Don’t be rude. You should say thank you before eating.”

“Kriee! Su-Yeok! Thanks!”

“Yes, good job.”

The steak was delicious, reminiscent of Earth’s cuisine. The shop offered many foods you would find on Earth such as soda, hamburgers, pork ribs...

Are they airlifting these items from Earth?Do Earth’s people know of our struggles, then?

As I lay pondering, my thoughts drifted unexpectedly. A moment from the start of the seventh floor surfaced in my mind. Seo Ho-Su had been deeply hurt because of Doppy’s words back then.

“Hey, Doppy."

“Kriee! Su-Yeok!"

“From now on, avoid calling anyone bald. Understood?"

“Kriee! Why not?"

How do I explain this delicately?

Goblins couldn’t appreciate the sentiment since they were born bald.

“Umm..."

I wondered what Doppy possessed now that he might lose in the future. That’s when a brilliant idea struck me.

“Doppy, how would you feel if Fenrike were to disappear like he did before?"

“Kriee! Fenrike? A god!"

“No, imagine if Fenrike vanished suddenly, like when he was trapped in the necklace."

Doppy pondered for a moment and furrowed his brows slightly. Then his eyes began to brim with tears.

“Kriee! Goblin! Sad!"

“Exactly, it’s sad, right? That’s what it feels like to lose one's hair suddenly..."

“Kriee! Human! Hair is a god?"

“Not exactly, but it’s a similar loss."

“Goblin! Understood! No more again!"

Doppy seemed to grasp the concept as it nodded vigorously. I may have created a bit of a misunderstanding, but at least it wouldn’t call Seo Ho-Su bald anymore.

Isn't that a victory in itself?

The meal that followed was brief. After finishing the steak, I was left with nothing else to do.

[Other climbers have not yet conquered the seventh floor. Climbers are not yet allowed to advance to the eighth floor.]

[All climbers must participate on the eighth floor of the Tower of Ordeal. Please rest.]

The eighth floor required participation from all climbers. I became curious about the potential difficulties we could face, so I messaged Ha Hee-Jeong.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Is there anything I should be wary of on the eighth floor? Not looking for specific floor details, just general precautions.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): The eighth floor... No. You don’t need any of my advice. You'll manage just fine on your own.

Manage just fine on my own?

The phrasing struck me as odd.

Aren’t all the climbers participating on the eighth floor?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth floor): Manage on my own? Am I not going there with you?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): It's a floor that requires every climber’s participation, but it’s more of an individual competition. I can’t give you much more advice than that.

An individual contest that requires every climber... Could it be an individual survival challenge? Something like a battle royale?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): You likely won’t need to fight. Also, burn your share percentage now. This floor will basically be a free pass for clearing your share percentage stat.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Hmm, gotcha.

There was likely no combat, yet it was an individual contest that needed every climber.

What could that mean?

Mildly curious, I considered various scenarios, but I couldn’t settle on anything concrete. Ha Hee-Jeong reassured me not to worry about it too much. And speaking of getting a free pass...

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): How much of the limited stats penalty is recovered per floor?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): Roughly five percent of your total stats? Depending on your performance, it could be more or less.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Really? Then I should be back to normal by around the tenth floor.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): Yeah, wait no…If I take into account the eighth and tenth floors... It could take until the eleventh floor.

Eighth and tenth floors?

Her comments suggested they were similar, perhaps there was no combat on the tenth floor either.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): Actually, this scenario will benefit you. The higher your stats, the less they tend to increase. Because of that, the stat reduction from the penalty will allow you to gain stats faster, so once the penalty is lifted, you’ll be stronger than if you hadn’t limited your stats.

That made sense. I felt reassured knowing I didn’t need to fret about a stat reduction. Perhaps I should follow Ha Hee-Jeong’s advice and reduce my sponsor’s share percentage.

[Would you like to reduce your sponsor’s share percentage by twenty percent to limit twenty percent of your stats?]

[Limited stats will gradually recover as the climber ascends floors.]

“Yes.”

Immediately after I responded, a sudden feeling of weakness washed over me. I felt slightly heavier, akin to the sluggishness that follows a strenuous workout.

[Kwon Su-Hyeok has chosen to limit his abilities by twenty percent, reducing his sponsor’s share percentage by twenty percent. Current share percentage: 1.09%]

Just as I was about to stretch and adjust to my weakened state, Ha Hee-Jeong sent another message.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): How’s the axe?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Not sure yet. I’ll probably need to test it in battle before I figure out if I like it.

I had swung it a few times in the forest before arriving at the waiting room. The initial feeling was positive, and it even felt better than my mace. Yet, I wanted a real battle to get a good feel for it.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): You probably won’t have a chance to use it until the ninth floor. Also, you haven’t eaten the gallbladder yet, have you?

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): No, I saved it for dessert. I'll have it after chatting with you, Hee-Jeong. Wait, this won’t make me turn slightly bearish like Ho-Su, right?

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): Don’t worry. Seo Ho-Su reacted that way because he consumed the blood raw. Yours is refined.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Phew, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that.

- Ha Hee-Jeong (Eighth Floor): Okay, any more questions? If not, enjoy the gallbladder and tell me how it affects you later.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Eighth Floor): Yeah, sure. I’ll talk to you later.

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has consumed the Bear King’s Gallbladder. The power of the Bear King imbues his body.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has gained the skill Bear’s Blood lvl 4.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su Hyeok’s status as a ‘Challenger’ has been confirmed. The restrictions on the Bear King’s Gallbladder have been lifted, increasing the absorption rate and enhancing his Strength, Agility, and Stamina.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Bear’s Blood is now lvl 7.」

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