Chapter 288 : Advanced Manager
###
“A bet? Are you saying we should wager the commission fee?”
“Betting just the commission would be dull. How about we make it more interesting? If I lose, I’ll pay double the commission and answer one of your questions.”
“Oh, that sounds quite intriguing.”
Rick’s lips curled into a smile. For a seasoned middle manager, irregularities were always enjoyable, especially when it involved a player he was keenly observing. The commission was secondary to the myriad of questions swirling in his mind. For instance, how did this player defeat one of the strongest mid-tier boss monsters, the Yaksha, and convert the set item he obtained into an unfamiliar weapon? How did he possess more information than the residents despite being a newcomer to the tower? And most curiously, how would he overcome the imminent crisis?
Rick’s hesitation was brief.
“What kind of bet are we talking about?”
Rick accepted the proposal.
“I will open a gate, and all you have to do is guess where it leads. If you lose, you’ll waive my commission fee for life.”
“Haha, you must be joking. Do you really think there’s a gate I don’t know about?”
“That’s why it’s a bet.”
Jinhyuk smiled slyly, the subtle provocation adding to Rick’s curiosity.
“…Alright. If you’re willing to donate your assets to me, I’ll gladly accept the double commission.”
Rick nodded, and at that moment, a gate with a bluish-green glow opened before them.
“This… this is…?”
Rick’s pupils quaked. It was natural that he wouldn’t recognize it; he had never seen such a gate, not even during his past ascents to the top of the tower. A border of black runes indicated its nature—the gate leading to the rooms of the Advanced Managers, the ‘Shadow Gate.’
Wooom!
Only after the gate was fully opened did Rick realize its destination.
“Thank you for waiving the commission fee.”
“Jinhyuk… who exactly are you?”
Rick stammered before letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
“It seems I’ve underestimated you. Betting against you was a mistake.”
Indeed, this player was fascinating. Perhaps, he might not even cower before the upper managers. Instead, the upper managers might find themselves pressured.
“Please have a successful conversation. Ascender of the tower.”
Rick removed his hat and bowed deeply.
“I’ll be back.”
Jinhyuk walked towards the gate.
＊＊＊
Step…
The scenery completely changed upon passing through the shimmering surface. Before him lay bare branches, snow-covered grounds, and a small cabin in the middle of a forest, reminiscent of Northern Europe.
[You have entered the domain of Advanced Manager ‘Bendibia.’]
‘I thought there might be dragons flying around, but the exterior is surprisingly normal.’
Jinhyuk surveyed the area carefully. It was his first time here. Frankly, he never imagined he would visit an Advanced Manager’s abode. His heart pounded rapidly. The closer he got to the door, the more tense his body became, ready to spring into action at any moment.
‘An Advanced Manager, yet I can’t feel any magic at all.’
Of course, it wasn’t that there was no magic. Just like humans can’t hear ultrasound, the immense magic here was beyond his perception.
“Come in, the door’s open.”
A thin voice echoed from inside the cabin. It was a good start. At least he wasn’t being attacked for intruding.
Creak!
Jinhyuk opened the door and stepped inside.
Warm air greeted him. A dark-skinned female elf sat by a lit fireplace inside the cabin—a Dark Elf, one of the originators of their kind.
“Well, I got lost and was wandering around. Thanks to you, I can warm myself by the fire. I almost froze to death out there.”
“Heh… quite cheeky. Why not ask for some hot soup and a blanket too?”
“Hmm? I didn’t expect that, but if you insist. A cream soup with sliced sausages and peas, and a blanket made of doe fur would be nice. My skin is sensitive, so please, no buck fur.”
“….”
The manager’s face twisted in annoyance but quickly returned to normal.
“The middle managers said an interesting player had come along. I guess it was you. Damn, what a character.”
Bendibia clicked her tongue and poured wine into a glass on the table.
“Enough nonsense. Tell me why you chose me among the Advanced Managers. I hate wasting time.”
The Shadow Gate required a specific selection. Jinhyuk had chosen Bendibia from among the seven Advanced Managers presented to him when the gate was activated. He needed to navigate this first question well; Advanced Managers were notoriously capricious.
“No particular reason. The only information given was your names and races. So, I judged that speaking with a Dark Elf, known for their rationality, was the best choice. I assumed Bendibia wouldn’t cover for her kind.”
“Cover for her kind? What do you mean by that?”
“You know what I mean. One of your kind has crossed the line, severely.”
“….”
The wine glass paused mid-air, a sign that Bendibia hadn’t expected him to know such details.
“The managers I know uphold the tower’s rules. But if one colludes with a specific faction, they’re no longer worthy of being called a manager, are they?”
“What do you want? Stop beating around the bush.”
“I want to ensure that managers fulfill their roles properly. So, I need your help.”
Ensuring managers fulfill their roles… Those words stung. It implied that if she didn’t help, she too wasn’t qualified as a manager.
“How arrogant. For a player to discuss our roles so carelessly.”
Bendibia’s sharp fangs were visible as she spoke. The cabin’s warmth seemed to vanish momentarily, the killing intent of an Advanced Manager chilling him to the bone. However, the pressure didn’t last long.
“But I like your audacity.”
Bendibia stood up.
“Usually, we don’t interfere with the events in the tower, as long as things flow naturally.”
“Are you saying you’ll help?”
“Help… You overestimate me. The entity emerging from the rift is beyond what even Advanced Managers can handle. We’re barely able to contain it within a floor. If it breaks out, all we can do is let it rampage until the allotted time passes.”
That made sense. That’s why the system’s quest was simply to ‘survive.’ However…
“There is a way. If certain conditions are met, we might buy the ‘time’ you mentioned.”
He had faced a similar situation before. Despite the immense struggle, he had survived and continued to the next stage.
“You’re confident because you haven’t experienced it. But more importantly, how can you stay so calm? Humans usually get frustrated or despair when faced with such impossible odds.”
“The Tower of Trials is capricious and unkind, but it doesn’t assign impossible tasks.”
“You’re truly a peculiar human. Even among those who’ve climbed the tower before, none have thought that way. So, why do you think that?”
The final question. Jinhyuk spoke slowly.
“Because the tower desires someone to reach the top, to reach the end of this world more than anyone else.”
Whether this was the right answer, he didn’t know. Whether it satisfied Bendibia, he didn’t know either. He simply spoke his sincere thoughts.
“Clear the 16th floor in one day.”
“…!”
“Why the surprised look? If you’re confident, clear the 16th floor boss in one day. Do that, and I’ll give you this.”
From Bendibia’s hand emerged a gem emitting a mysterious light.
‘The Soul Stone of Yearning.’
A special item capable of inflicting damage to the soul. Judging by its size, it was about medium-sized, enough to sustain hours of intense combat.
“This is what you need, isn’t it? For that weapon you’re carrying.”
[Advanced Manager ‘Bendibia’s Qualification Test]
Objective: Defeat the boss monster on the 16th floor and unlock the path to the 17th floor.
Conditions: Solo play (limited to boss fight) / 23h:59m:59s
Reward: Soul Stone of Yearning (4h)
The status window popped up before him.
The first hurdle to surviving against the Calamity’s Left Hand had begun.
“One day. Understood.”
Jinhyuk accepted the quest.
Before leaving the cabin, Bendibia added one more thing.
“I’ve seen countless climbers. Empires, martial artists, deities from various mythologies, spirits, demons, and angels—all believed they could reach the top of the tower. I had high hopes, thinking someone would finally reach the summit.”
Her voice turned bitter.
“But as you can see, all those factions and rankers failed. Now, they’re just busy guarding and expanding their territories, playing a never-ending game of land grab.”
Therefore, even the managers had compromised between ideals and reality. They had given up their expectations and merely repeated the same life daily according to the system’s contract.
“But… maybe… you might be different.”
With that, the conversation ended.
＊＊＊
The 16th floor of the Tower of Trials was a vast tropical rainforest. Though it was one of the smaller floors, the numerous carnivorous plants, insect monsters, and the hot, humid environment all threatened the players’ survival.
Thus, it was nearly impossible to reach the boss monster’s lair, even after days of wandering. However…
‘A challenger?’
Jinhyuk observed the entrance of the ruins. Traces indicated that a group of about twenty had entered the ruins where the boss resided. A flag with the Titan Guild’s emblem—a large stone giant—
was planted outside, indicating that they had claimed the area and barred entry to other guilds until their raid was complete.
After clearing the 15th floor, Jinhyuk had been focused on the Empire and Martial Arts Union in the mid-levels, unaware of these developments.
‘They weren’t just idle.’
Reaching this point suggested they had assembled a formidable raid team. Yet, even a solid team couldn’t guarantee reaching the boss.
‘Since I need to defeat the boss solo, I must hurry.’
Just then, he heard a hissing sound.
“Kirik!”
“Sss, sss!”
A giant snake and a spider appeared.
‘Patrolling creatures near the ruins?’
Their drooling approach indicated they had no intention of letting him pass. This was timely; he needed a warm-up anyway.
Jinhyuk activated his ‘Subspace Inventory.’
“It’s been a while since I used this. I might not be able to finish cleanly. Control might be tricky.”
From the shimmering space, an unusual weapon emerged, replacing his usual gear.
Click!
Click!
Two uniquely designed pistols were loaded.