Chapter 42 - Floor 2 Is Too Suspicious (3)

Five candles stood in a long, straight line.

"Hup!"

I swung my sword hard, extinguishing all five flames at once.

Having already reached a somewhat superhuman level, I could pull off little tricks like this with my eyes closed.

"Well done."

The resident who had introduced himself as a blacksmith handed me a Silver token, looking satisfied.

As I tucked it inside my clothes, a silver symbol appeared above my head.

Just as I thought, Silver was far too easy to get.

No wonder the guys blocking the way to the square let Silver holders through. The tasks were so simple that literally anyone could do them.

"Here's your sword and scabbard."

"Oh, you can keep those. I've got plenty anyway."

"..."

He'd given me the sword specifically to try slicing at the candles... and now the blacksmith was telling me to keep it. Never one to turn down a freebie, I simply nodded.

"By the way, if I collect a whole bunch of Silver tokens, can I get multiple rewards?"

"Probably not. I heard the reward is determined by your highest-grade token."

"I see. Thank you."

Apparently, grinding like crazy to collect a thousand Silver tokens wasn't an option.

Fair enough. With tasks this easy, being able to claim the reward over and over wouldn't make sense.

Ultimately, getting a decent reward meant earning one at Gold grade or higher...

But as I'd thought earlier, the possibility of a hidden reward kept nagging at me. I couldn't just move on.

What struck me as most suspicious was the Bronze token.

Even Silver tokens were incredibly easy to get. All you needed was a little knowledge and skill.

So why did Bronze tokens even exist? Well, fine, they could exist.

But why were there beggars inside the tower?

My damned imagination kept getting stirred up.

I couldn't help thinking that someone who looked like an ordinary beggar might actually be a master concealing tremendous power.

That the commoner walking past, vigorously scratching his ass with a filthy hand, might actually be an archmage.

"... Guess I'll have to grind?"

I had a strong feeling that if I thoroughly checked everyone who handed out Bronze tokens, something would turn up.

When I finished thinking and looked up, the Players hurrying along the street looked a little different to me.

Silver tokens were ridiculously easy to earn.

Yet there wasn't a single symbol floating above their heads.

If they were still busily combing these streets... they were looking for clues.

"Are there any legends about this city? Some tragic story, maybe...?"

"Nothing like that."

"Oh, come on... Here, take this."

"Hey, what's gotten into you? I'm telling you, there really aren't any!"

Some were hunting for useful rumors, slipping residents food they'd found somewhere.

"Please accept me as your disciple!"

"...?"

"Just give me one chance! I'll work hard!"

"What? Why are you doing this...?"

"I know I don't meet your standards! But if you'd just give me a chance...!"

"Um... I think you've got the wrong person. I'm just a beggar..."

"... Tch. Another dead end."

Others were bowing their heads to any beggar they could find, begging to be taken on as a disciple.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought there were too many Bronze-grade tasks.

"... Searching for it myself might actually be less efficient."

After all, acquiring a token made a symbol appear overhead.

Once that happened, the guys guarding the city's central square would block the holder's path and kick up a fuss all on their own.

If there really was something hidden here, something would happen even if I simply waited.

All right, let's get this straight.

First, put the hidden reward hunt on the back burner. I wasn't even sure it existed, so blindly sinking time into it was a bad idea.

Second, determine exactly what counted as violence. Even if I earned a good reward, it would all be for nothing if I couldn't get past the thugs camped out in the square. But exploring those limits would inevitably involve Regression. Better to experiment after I'd been forced to regress anyway.

Third and last, find out what tasks I had to complete for a Gold or Platinum reward.

Which meant my next step was...

"A Gold token, huh..."

To visit a self-proclaimed noble.

I headed toward the lavish mansion at the far end of the street.

Getting inside the mansion was surprisingly easy.

Whether someone had spotted my leather armor or some kind of magic was at work, the enormous front gate simply swung open.

"Hello. I'm Kim Junho."

"A pleasure. I am Baron Licht."

The man who introduced himself as Baron Licht had a distinctly old-world air about him.

A neatly groomed mustache. Formal attire that looked freshly pressed. Even a monocle over his left eye.

He fit perfectly with the mansion's predominantly dark-red interior.

Like a man out of an old masterpiece, perhaps. He truly looked the part of a noble.

"Now, what brings you here...? I'd like to ask, but I imagine the reason is obvious."

Baron Licht gave me a playful smile.

"You want a gold token—or perhaps a platinum token, yes?"

He reached inside his clothes and produced a token that shone a brilliant gold.

"I'd gladly hand this over, but... I do have my dignity as a noble to consider. And gold tokens must retain their rarity, wouldn't you agree?"

"That's fair."

"So... I believe I can only give you this token once you've passed a suitable test."

Tucking the token away again, Baron Licht walked over to a teapot on one side of the drawing room.

"Coffee or tea? Which would you prefer?"

"... Tea, please."

"An excellent choice. Our coffee doesn't seem to suit climbers' tastes."

Baron Licht took out some tea leaves and deftly began brewing them. Their gently spreading scent was quite fragrant.

Contrary to what the resident on the street had told me, Baron Licht seemed perfectly normal.

I felt that he might be willing to answer my questions.

"... How did you end up in the tower? The people here, I mean."

"... A simple question."

Baron Licht answered without turning around.

"Faith. We came here because of our faith."

"... Faith?"

"Yes, faith. God asked whether we would enter the tower... and the city's deeply devout ruler nodded..."

"The city's ruler...?"

"A promising knight from the surrounding area. Now the city's sentinel. Watching from above to see who breaks the rules."

"..."

"Oh, don't go doing anything foolish just to meet her. She has received God's grace and transcended humanity, you see."

Watching from above to see who broke the rules, huh.

Apparently, if someone committed violence... the city's ruler would appear.

Could I hold my own against her if I built up an enormous number of Hero stacks? No idea. Given that she'd transcended humanity, probably not.

"There, it's ready."

The tea apparently finished, Baron Licht returned to his seat and handed me a cup.

I took a drink. Its aroma had a slightly sharp, tingling edge. I'd never had tea like this before.

"... It has a unique flavor."

"That's its charm."

Baron Licht grinned, and I smiled back.

"Then... what do I need to do to earn a Gold token?"

"Prove yourself."

Baron Licht took out the golden token once more.

"You may not know this... but it's been quite a long time since we came here. You people cannot leave the city... but outside is nothing short of paradise. Fruit, animals, fish, vegetables... There is a literally endless supply of food. No one ever worries about starving to death."

"..."

"And so life inside the tower is secure... but unbearably dull. Repetition, repetition, and more repetition. There is no danger. We desperately need something new to stimulate us. I don't know what tasks the other old fellows give out... but I enjoy tasks with a little bite. Like the tea you just drank."

"... What are you getting at?"

"Kidnap someone for me. A young woman who sells fish on the street. Her name is Emily. You may injure her body, but you mustn't touch her face."

"..."

"Oh, don't worry about the tower's rules. Violence between climbers is forbidden, as is violence between residents... but violence between a climber and a resident is not. Preventing that is my role... but naturally, I have no intention of doing so."

Baron Licht casually stroked his mustache.

Was this really the same man who'd been going on about a noble's dignity just moments ago?

"..."

The resident I'd met earlier had been right.

This man... looked like a noble, but his conduct was anything but noble.

"... Something's off."

And it struck me as so suspicious that I couldn't stand it.

Because I had the feeling this tower was steering my thoughts.