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Chapter 60: Another Administrator (1)
「 Congratulations. You have overcome the Tower of Trials floor 9. 」
The message cemented what had just happened.
‘I did it…’
I finally killed this damned intruder.
But instead of letting out a sigh of relief, I stuck my hand out on top of his corpse.
This was very different from what I did the first time I killed an intruder.
「 You have absorbed the soul of the challenger ‘Baek Sunhak.’ 」
「 Proficiency increased by 27% 」
The corpse disappeared as soon as I finished absorbing the soul.
The same thing happened the last time I killed an intruder so…
As not much of a surprise, the same thing happened.
But…
“This worked…?”
I was still able to absorb his soul before his body disappeared.
I thought it wouldn't be possible because the black fog disappeared with the body but…
That was not the case.
「 Adjusted for the current floor, the restriction placed on necromancy has been lifted. 」
「 Upon killing challengers from another world, you are able to absorb their souls. 」
It looked like the tower had just placed a restriction on me the last time.
‘I guess I can absorb the soul of whatever I kill…’
On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to absorb anything that I didn't kill myself.
Just seeing the piles of orc corpses on the outskirts of the colosseum proved that.
I tried sticking my hand out and activating necromancy but nothing happened.
‘But I ended up getting 27% in proficiency… Not bad.’
He must have been absurdly strong because that was a very satisfactory amount.
It was getting harder to gain proficiency after it reached C-rank.
「 The difficulty and rewards are not proportional. 」
「 Recalibrating the rewards. 」
“...I forgot that was a thing.”
My expectations were high after remembering what had happened on the 5th floor.
‘I wonder what I’ll get now…’
I didn't think it’d be as good as the 5th floor because I didn’t have to struggle as much.
「 Recalibration complete. 」
“…”
I shut my mouth and focused on the following messages.
And…
「 As a reward, you have received ‘Sixth Sense (C+).’ 」
「 As a reward, you have received ‘35,000 points.’ 」
「 As a bonus reward, you have received ‘1,000 SP.’ 」
「 Please move to the waiting area. 」
“‘Sixth Sense.’”
It fell a little short of my expectations…
There didn't seem to be that big of a difference between this and the original reward, ‘Animal Instincts.’
‘Well, I guess it doesn't matter too much… It’s probably better.’
Vooom…!
I walked over to the blue portal that appeared at the center of the stadium.
“…”
The high I got from my victory had already worn off and I was back to my usual self.
Maybe it was because the challenger I had just fought didn't live up to the expectations of being an ‘elder.’
But I kept calm throughout the battle and made smart decisions.
If I had lost my cool, I might have been the one on the floor.
The aura around his blade was pretty formidable.
‘And there was the lighting thing before that too…’
But it disappeared like it was blocked by something.
‘Probably a penalty for intruding on a lower floor.’
There was no way that the tower would let intruders enter lower level floors with no restrictions.
The knight I met on the 5th floor was talking about something like that.
‘I’ll look into it more once I get back to the waiting room.’
***
Reaper Scans
***
It was then—
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ has been inspired by your fight. 」
“…?”
A couple of messages popped up out of the blue.
「 Administrator ‘Monster of the North’ is thrilled by your combat. 」
「 Administrator ‘Tyrant of the Night’ is amused by your achievement. 」
「 Administrator ‘Hero of the Black Archipelago’ applauds your battle sense. 」
“What the…”
This was different from any of the other messages that I had seen before.
Actually, the ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ had sent something like this before.
But that was when I was invited to her area.
Then I remembered….
‘That message that popped up.’
「 System expansion is starting. 」
「 Administrators can now spectate your trials. 」
‘I guess they can send me messages since they can now spectate me.’
The Iron-Blooded Monarch did say that it wasn't possible for administrators to spectate anything that happened below the 8th floor.
‘It’s strange but… that’s the only reasonable explanation.’
It felt a little unreal that someone was watching me fight, but it didn't matter that much.
No matter what it was, they were impressed with what I had just done.
I actually felt kind of proud that I was finally being given recognition.
But…
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ scowls at the excessive attention you are receiving. 」
‘I guess she was looking as well…?’
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ instructs you to not be enticed. 」
I guess it felt like being scolded by a girlfriend for eyeing another girl?
“Ah, yes…”
Slightly intimidated, all I could say was yes.
‘Well, it’s not like they’re giving me anything by watching me…’
Then—
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ wants to add powers into your exclusive marketplace. 」
「 Do you accept? 」
“…?”
‘What…’
I didn't expect this, but I knew exactly what this was referencing.
「 (!) You may fill the power listings with an administrator’s sponsorship or other deals. 」
That was under the listing on my current exclusive store.
‘Is this what they meant by sponsorship or other deals?’
This Sword Saint administrator wanted to sponsor me with his powers.
‘Why?’
It wasn’t a deal or anything.
What did he have to gain from this?
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ reluctantly allows you to accept the powers. 」
“…I can just take this?”
She was wary of other administrators just before but…
I wonder why she suddenly changed her mind.
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ says that administrators sometimes sponsor challengers to gain their favor. 」
‘Favor?’
I didn't understand.
What good was gaining favor from a challenger that had already completed their contract?
“Will there be more encounters with administrators like this?”
But it wasn't the Iron-Blooded Monarch that responded this time.
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ smiles shyly and says yes. 」
“…”
Well, I guess I could see why he wanted to sponsor me.
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ says the SP spent on buying powers goes back to the sponsor of that power. 」
I guess that made sense.
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ tells you to not feel pressured because his powers wouldn't even be that good anyway. 」
Although it was clear that he wasn't doing this from the goodness of his heart…
‘I guess I wouldn't lose anything from having more options.’
「 You’ve accepted administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’s power listings. 」
「 ‘Sword Ki Master’ has been added to ‘Category: Power’ in your exclusive marketplace. 」
‘Sword ki master?’
I didn't understand exactly what that would be but I’ll look into it in the waiting area.
“Well, thanks.”
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ smiles and tells you to remember this generosity. 」
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ tells you that it’s quite useful and to make good use of it. 」
“Okay. I will.”
Of course, I’ll be the one to decide if it’s useful or not…
I wanted to be respectful to the administrator.
I waited to see if any of the administrators wanted to join in, but it didn't happen.
‘There aren’t any messages from them besides the compliments…’
I should be good to go back to the waiting area now.
“Well, I’m headed back now.”
And as soon as I said that—
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ urges you to check the newly unlocked powers as well. 」
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ assures you that they will be useful. 」
“I will. Don't worry.”
No matter what happened, she was the administrator that I had formed my contract with.
I was going to make use of everything she had to offer.
I walked into the blue portal after my short goodbye.
And…
「 You have entered the 10th floor waiting room. 」
「 System expansion is starting. 」
「 You can now enter the public area. 」
“…”
‘I wonder if the administrators can see me from here…’
Just to make sure.
“Are you still looking by any chance?”
But…
“…”
No response.
“Ehem.”
A little embarrassed, I turned on my exclusive marketplace.
「 Category: Powers 」
「 Listing (1/3) 」
「 Power: Serenity (C-) [Purchased] 」
「 Power: Iron Soul (A+) 」
「 Power: Winter King (D+) 」
「 Power: Sword Ki Master (C+) 」
“Ooh…?”
「 Power: Sword Ki Master (C+) 」
「 Price: 1,500 SP 」
「 Explanation: Sword ki that only top tier masters can use embodied as a power. Stronger than normal sword ki and allows you to strengthen bladed weapons with mana, ki, or other energies. 」
“…”
A power that lets me strengthen my weapons by inserting mana into them?
‘It’s better than I thought…?’
The fact that I had enough points to buy it made it even more enticing.
But it was a little too early to make a decision.
Unlike last time, the next page was just a click away.
And…
“What the hell is this…”
I couldn't help but be shaken by what I was looking at.
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