Chapter 440
“This can’t be…”
Kenneth stammered.
Even for the divine entities of the Tower, it required a considerable amount of effort to send messages to the lower floors.
And if the boundary extended outside the Tower itself…
The cost must have been unimaginable.
‘Did he truly receive the blessing of an archangel?’
Kenneth didn’t know what this “book” was, but it was undoubtedly of unfathomable value.
And as he observed Kenneth’s confusion…
…Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a subtle smirk.
Exactly as he expected.
No matter how reckless the angels might be, they wouldn’t divulge Eden’s internal affairs to their followers.
Revealing the discord among the archangels would tarnish their divinity.
In other words, only high-ranking angels knew about the divisions within Eden.
For someone like Kenneth, a Nephilim who primarily operated outside Eden’s domain, Jinhyuk’s words were practically irresistible bait.
[Divinity ‘Harbinger of Victory’ is urging you to share the information.]
[They are pleading with you not to ignore their request.]
[…Stop ignoring them!]
The status windows flooded the air, almost as if in a frenzy, but Jinhyuk casually dismissed Gabriel’s desperate pleas.
There was no reason to reveal anything right now.
“Oh, right. The book. Hmm… I thought it was somewhere on the 40th floor just a moment ago, but it seems it’s disappeared. Maybe it grew legs? Really hard to find, you know?”
[Divinity ‘Harbinger of Victory’ demands to know how that makes any sense.]
[They insist you fulfill your promise sincerely, as it concerns their honor.]
“I know, I know. But what can I do if it’s not there?”
Jinhyuk maintained his composure, completely unbothered.
To be frank, the one desperate and in need was Gabriel, not him.
Especially now, with the radical angels like Raphael and Uriel holding the upper hand.
Gabriel had no choice but to rely on the Necronomicon as their sole hope.
Of course, it wouldn’t do to only use the stick—sometimes the carrot was necessary.
“You don’t have to be so pushy. I’ve already found a solid lead. That insect-like sound? Turns out it comes from flies living in the ‘Invisible Lake.’”
[Divinity ‘Harbinger of Victory’ urgently requests the location of the lake…]
[The status window forcibly closes.]
And with that, the conversation was over.
Jinhyuk closed the status window and turned to Kenneth.
“Well, how’s that for proof?”
“You being an apostle of an archangel… I still find it hard to believe, but the evidence seems undeniable.”
Reluctantly, Kenneth lowered his sword.
With this, there was no longer any justification for taking Teresa away.
Even the Vatican would likely understand the failure of this mission.
“We’re retreating.”
“But…!”
“If word spreads that we submitted to heretics…”
“I said I’ll take responsibility. Didn’t I?”
Kenneth’s sharp glare silenced the Inquisitors.
“Understood.”
“We’ll withdraw.”
“Well then, we’ll be taking our leave.”
“Leaving? Who said you could just walk away?”
Jinhyuk opened his subspace inventory.
“What?”
“You interrupted our nice time, threatened Teresa, and now you want to leave as if nothing happened? That’s not how it works.”
Veteran Corporation might let many things slide, but grudges weren’t one of them.
From the inventory, Jinhyuk pulled out a wooden club made of birch.
That familiar, solid heft—he’d missed it.
“Th-then what do you want us to…”
‘Whack!’
The club struck Kenneth’s thigh with a resounding thud.
The immense pain forced Kenneth to suck in a sharp breath.
“First, let’s fix the way you talk to an archangel’s apostle. Your tone is really unpleasant.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… Gah!”
“Still too short. Is it your mouth that’s the problem?”
‘Thud! Thud! Thud!’
The club moved mercilessly.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t recognize the prophet chosen by divine revelation. Please forgive me!”
“Too late. Let’s just continue for a while. We’ll talk after.”
The rhythm of the blows, hitting his back, shoulders, and arms, almost felt musical in its cruelty.
Even the Inquisitors, who were accustomed to harsh interrogation methods, felt terror watching the scene.
“-As expected of that demon. He must still hold a grudge over what happened on Paradise Island.”
-Jinhyuk seems worse than the Vatican sometimes…
-Hmph. Even the way the contractor beats people looks stylish. That smile, that movement… How is he so infuriatingly skilled at everything?
Who knew how much time passed, but the relentless beating finally ceased.
“Ugh…”
Kenneth, once pristine in his black suit, now lay covered in dust, his sunglasses shattered and discarded on the ground.
The proud Nephilim had been reduced to a patient bound for the ICU.
Good.
This should suffice.
No matter how resilient Kenneth was, the psychological and physical damage would prevent him from staying composed.
“You two, get lost. You have three seconds.”
The two remaining Inquisitors, having witnessed Kenneth being beaten like a dog on a hot day, didn’t dare protest or display misguided loyalty.
Now, Jinhyuk could have a quiet conversation.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions now. Keep in mind, I like agreeable people. Unless Eden wants to send a new Nephilim to the Vatican, you better answer well.”
“Y-yes, whatever you wish to know…”
“What theme has the Vatican chosen for the 30th floor?”
The 30th floor of the Tower of Trials.
Here, players and residents formed teams to challenge various tasks.
Typically, these challenges involved recreating and clearing scenes from mythology or history.
The problem was that once a theme was chosen, it couldn’t be selected by anyone else.
The difficulty would vary greatly depending on which resident and theme were chosen.
‘Securing information is key. Each theme offers different rewards.’
For seasoned players, it was fundamental to track who obtained which items and rewards while climbing the Tower.
“And that is…”
“Oh, is it a bit hard to say? That’s fine. I understand.”
‘Woosh!’
Jinhyuk swung the wooden club lightly.
“I’ll help ease your guilt, so don’t worry too much.”
“No, no! [The Hundred Years’ War]! That’s the theme we’ve chosen!”
“…!”
So, summoning Teresa wasn’t just to hold her accountable—it was to prepare for the 30th floor challenge.
Recreating the history of Joan of Arc required the involvement of a saint. That much was a prerequisite.
Just knowing this was already a significant gain.
“Prophet, now that your curiosity is satisfied… can I leave now?”
“Actually, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
Jinhyuk needed someone who could provide insight into everything happening within the Vatican, as well as a collaborator capable of moving freely between floors and sharing Eden’s internal secrets.
A Nephilim fit perfectly—someone who wouldn’t draw attention and could also serve as a powerful ally.
“What do you think about becoming an intern for a promising corporation?”
Flames flickered at Jinhyuk’s fingertips as he spoke.
—
Over the next two weeks, all the guilds prepared extensively for the 30th floor challenge.
Thanks to Jinhyuk’s success on the 29th floor, every player was now able to advance to the 30th.
Currently—
The first-floor plaza of the Tower of Trials was teeming with people.
“It’s finally starting.”
“I wonder what everyone will choose.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Journalists swallowed nervously.
The events of the 29th floor had left the major guilds reeling.
Disappointment was at an all-time high after they had failed to stand against the Apocalypse and instead retreated.
The deaths of high-ranking players and elite members further tarnished the reputation of the major guilds.
“The Gandhara Guild is done for. They’ve been completely wrecked since they lost Nirasha.”
“The gods of a thousand generations will be searching for new apostles now.”
“On the other hand, the Red Fang Guild is thriving. Their collaboration with Veteran Corporation made a big difference. To see a latecomer rise in prominence like that is incredible.”
“The reputation of Player Maria skyrocketed, too. The Japanese side that assisted her at the last minute gained recognition as well.”
The murmurs grew louder.
In the midst of this mix of triumph and despair—
‘Vwoom!’
Several spatial teleportation spells activated simultaneously.
The guilds that intended to participate on the 30th floor were gathering.
Titan, Saulabi, Samurai.
Familiar faces appeared.
‘Click, click, click!’
Cameras flashed furiously.
“Get a clear shot there!”
“Focus on the top-tier members of each guild. Start with the masters, of course.”
Journalists were straining to capture every moment.
One by one, unfamiliar figures also began to emerge.
They were the successors who had taken the place of those who perished or stepped down after suffering great losses in the major guilds.
In addition, mid-sized guilds had turned out en masse for the 30th floor challenge.
‘Most of them are fodder… but there are a few promising ones here.’
Jinhyuk scanned the area.
Even in a crowd of hundreds, exceptional individuals always stood out.
Three people in particular caught his eye—two men and one woman.
‘Those three won’t lose out to even the top-tier rankers.’
Among them, one man especially stood out.
His slicked-back black hair and tall stature were noticeable, but what truly caught Jinhyuk’s attention was his unique mana.
‘Hmm. Interesting.’
A subtle smile crept across Jinhyuk’s face.
Until now, many divine entities had intervened for their apostles, but this was the first time he’d seen a player connected to the Spirit Realm.
The Spirit Realm was notoriously reclusive, so this development was undoubtedly intriguing.
Just then—
‘Step.’
The man in question began approaching.
“Look! Over there!”
“That’s Lucius!”
“The ranker who cleared two undiscovered ruins on the 24th floor—alone!”
“The Solo Breaker! Yeah, that’s the title he earned back then.”
“And over there, too! That’s Player Kang Jinhyuk!”
“Veteran Corporation is already here? I thought they hadn’t arrived yet.”
“Point the cameras that way! Get a shot of him!”
Jinhyuk had been too preoccupied with climbing the Tower to notice, but judging by the journalists’ reactions, he seemed to be quite famous.
The meeting of a new rookie and a top-tier ranker.
All eyes were fixed on them.
Greatness recognizes greatness.
‘Looks like that guy’s interested in me, too.’
Jinhyuk casually ran his fingers through his hair.
Being a veteran certainly had its own set of challenges.
‘Step.’
Lucius stopped in front of Jinhyuk.
“From the moment I first saw you, I’ve wanted to meet you,” Lucius said, his voice filled with awe.
The emotion in his face and tone was unmistakable, like someone realizing a long-cherished dream.
“I’ve run tirelessly with only one goal: to stand here in your presence.”
‘Thud.’
Lucius dropped to one knee, his gesture overly dramatic.
“Is that… really necessary?”
Jinhyuk scratched his head, looking awkward.
Being popular wasn’t just exhausting—it could be downright annoying.
However—
Lucius’s next words took everyone by surprise.
“Lady Alice, would you grant me the honor of speaking with you?” (T/N: Woot Woot! Simp Alert! Simp Alert!!)
“Uh… What?”
Alice, standing next to Jinhyuk, froze as her pupils seemed to quake.