The Hunters watched the Sword Star. For a long, tense moment, the Sword Star’s mouth remained shut.
“I-I... Mr. Kim...” he finally croaked.
The Sword Star had many choices right now. First of all, he didn’t have to trust the Paladin because he had no reason to. Although the Paladin was known for her upright character, she was also a high-ranking figure in one of the Five Guilds, so he could get angry and shout, “All of you are in this together!”
Or...the Sword Star could reveal his Detective Eyes, which was the Skill that showed him someone’s kill count. And then he could say, “I didn’t doubt Mr. Kim because I’m a geezer. It’s because of my Skill! It’s what my Skill told me, so what am I supposed to do? It’s only natural to trust my Skill over someone else.” Revealing his Skill wasn’t the wisest choice, but it would make for a decent excuse.
When people were at fault, they tended to become distrustful or make excuses to justify their actions to other people.
Then there are psychopaths like the Fire Emperor who would just kill other people.
Distrust, excuses, or a cover-up. The Fire Emperor had proved himself to be a psychopath by covering up his crime...and just like him, the Sword Star would decide what kind of person he was by the choice he made next. It was as simple as that.
The Sword Star’s lips moved without a sound until he came to a decision.
“...Your name is Kim Gong-Ja, yes?”
“If you truly didn’t kill anyone innocent... No, no. That isn’t what I’m trying to say.” The Sword Star sheathed his sword, shaking his head.
Sighs of relief wafted through the audience chamber as the Hunters surrounding Sword Star let down their guards a little.
The Sword Star adjusted his necktie. “Let me say it again. I’m truly sorry.” The Sword Star bowed deeply. “I’m in the wrong here. I reached a hasty conclusion which turned out to be a misunderstanding. A person’s life should not be decided so hastily, but that is what I have done until now. I decided who should die and killed them as soon as possible because that is what I believed.”
The Sword Star bowed a little lower.
“But it won’t happen again from now on.”
His voice was low, barely audible across the audience chamber, and thick with self-loathing.
“Since words are cheap, I would like to say that I would do anything you want... but please don’t take my life. I still want to live so that I can reach the top of this Tower. ...I made a grave mistake and it almost got you killed. But can you forgive this ugly old man so he can continue on with his life?”
The audience chamber was utterly silent.
The senior gentleman had many choices. He could have chosen not to trust the Paladin or used his Skill to excuse himself. However, he didn’t; instead, he admitted that he may be wrong.
My eyes met those of the Paladin, who was stealing glances at me. She nodded without saying anything. It was only a nod, but I could tell the Paladin was saying that everything the Sword Star had said was true. He was genuinely sorry and wasn’t going to kill someone based on his Detective Eyes. And he didn’t want to die yet, so he wanted my forgiveness.
—You’re really a geezer, Gramps, the Guardian mumbled. He didn’t say anything else, he just looked at the old man with a little regret.
It seemed to say that he was going to let me decide if I was going to forgive the Sword Star. His silence helped me make a decision.
“Teach me about the sword.”
The Sword Star stood up straight and looked at me inquisitively.
“It’s more...please accept my request whenever I ask you to spar. I have a swordsmanship teacher, but I don’t have a sparring partner, which is also important. I’m hoping you could be the one.”
I had promised the Guardian on the eleventh floor that I was going to start honing my sword skills. Making the Sword Star my sparring partner would be a good way to keep that promise. It would benefit me and grow my sword skills...
No, that wasn’t what I was trying to say. I shook my head. “I’m sorry. Let me say that again. Frankly, I can forgive you without any payback. But that would be embarrassing. I feel like I’m pretending to be more generous than you are, Mr. Sword Star. I’m not that remarkable. I’m just happy that a strong Hunter like you doesn’t consider me an enemy anymore.
“Still, blood was almost shed because of me. It’s just as embarrassing to say ‘Okay!’ and forgive you. I just don’t want to do that, so I’m going to ask you to teach me your sword since that’s what’s most valuable to you, Sword Star.”
I still felt so embarrassed that I was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
“Then I won’t be embarrassed...and you can save face, Sword Star.”
Fuck! I couldn’t believe how embarrassing it was to speak from my heart! Oh my god. I really had to believe that the reason why the Sword Star could have candidly asked for forgiveness was because he wanted to live. He seemed like a prideful person, so it was an amazing sight. I never knew that someone could genuinely apologize and beg for forgiveness to someone’s face. I would never be able to do it. I would rather kill myself instead.
“...Oh, my god,” the Paladin mumbled. “It’s...all true, surprisingly.”
The audience chamber fell into a heavy silence again. Silence was silence, but the air felt totally different from earlier.
“Uhh... For real?” the Viper blurted, breaking the silence. “He can forgive the Sword Star unconditionally, but he’s too embarrassed to act kind...? So he just wants the Sword Star to be his sparring partner?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true, at least according to my Skill.”
“What? Is that rookie from a land of unicorns or something? How can he be that pure?” the Viper murmured.
He’d better shut up before I turned him into snake soup.
“...This is new,” the Black Witch said reluctantly. “How should I put it—I’ve only met people who clawed to get as much benefit as possible... It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone like Hunter Kim Gong-Ja. It’s a miracle that you’re still alive.”
I wanted to scream that I’d died. I died a lot. I died over four thousand times, to be specific.
For some reason, the Inquisitor’s eyes were teary. “Ahhh... How beautiful this is! One side gives a most sincere apology, and the other side accepts it wholeheartedly! Yes, people fight without end, but that is also why we can endlessly forgive each other! This is indeed a holy miracle! Ahhh, everyone, I...”
“Shut up. You talk too much.”
The Viper actually made the Inquisitor shut up with one sentence. That was a real miracle.
“Umm, it looks like everything is sorted out and everyone seems happy. But doesn’t this mean my ten thousand gold was wasted for no good reason?” the Countess whined. No one listened.
I sighed. I had a strong urge to drink soju.
“Anyhow, that’s how I feel, Mr. Sword Star. Please become my sparring partner. We don’t need to do it right away, but please hang out with me when I ask.”
The Sword Star spent a quiet moment observing me.
“I...” His mustache trembled. “I can’t believe I’ve misunderstood such a good young man like you!”
“You say you want me to teach you my sword and become your sparring partner? Of course! I would love to be your sparring partner whenever you need me!” The Sword Star grabbed my hand with both of his.
“Please call me Grandpa Marcus!”
“How old are you, young man? It looks like you’re less than thirty. I have a very kind granddaughter whom I left in the outside world. She has a heart of gold. If she also enters the Tower, I’ll tell her all about your charms!” The Sword Star’s eyes sparkled.
“No, it’s really fine...”
I wasn’t interested in dating. I cared more about how much my hand hurt now. The Sword Star’s grip strength was amazing—concrete proof that he didn’t win the seat of Rank 1 Hunter in a poker game.
“What? Are you telling me you aren’t interested in my granddaughter?”
“Umm, yes. I’m sorry, but I’m just not interested in dating at all...”
“No! That’s terrible!” His grip tightened like a vice. “The young should enjoy the warm breeze of love. You don’t have to marry, but dating is an essential part of life! It gives you a new perspective. You can learn so many new things! Yes—above all, you can learn how ugly you can get!”
“Do you know how important it is to know your ugliness? Let me tell you my experience. When I was sixteen years old, I belittled everything in life, but after I met her, my other half...”
Huh? All of a sudden, I found this old man extremely tiresome. He was also too close—close enough that I could see his blackheads. It was honestly too much. I was already hoping he would get away from me as soon as possible.
—I told you he’s old both in good and bad ways. Do you know what makes a geezer? It’s when a man doesn’t listen. That’s what Gramps Marcus does. Put nicely, the man’s principles are unshakable. The downside is that it’ll be harder to gain enlightenment. The Guardian clicked his tongue.
I didn’t know and never wanted to find out in the first place.
“Anyhow, don’t worry, young man! I’ll take good care of you. Oh, do you need pocket money by any chance? I just left my money piled up in my vault at the MA, and it’s getting uncontrollable now.” The Sword Star was practically glowing.
“Umm. Pocket money? I’m a grown-up, sir. I can earn my own money...”
“It just hit me that your clothes are too old! No, this isn’t good. A man’s clothing is a reflection of his mind. I know a good tailor. Why don’t you have a suit custom-made!”
What? Was this part of “Let me shake your hand, Mr. Famous Hunter?” I was a fan of the current Rank 1 Hunter, so I should be happy. But I really wasn’t. I felt terribly embarrassed, honestly; it was like I was listening to my grandfather bragging about me—if I’d ever had one. It wasn’t even me who was bragging, so why was I embarrassed?
What should I do? Shall I just kill myself and restart the day? I quickly asked the Guardian.
[Welcome, Hunter Kim Gong-Ja.]
[You are the Rank 1 champion of the eleventh floor.]
The voice from the Tower began speaking as if it had been waiting for my fight to end.
Ah. I instinctively looked around.
Most of the Hunters sighed in relief that the Sword Star had stopped fighting without any bloodshed. It looked like no one else had heard the voice yet.
I’m the first! I smiled. I don’t know why, but little is known about the twelfth to twentieth floors.
Perhaps there had been media control. I had no way to learn about the truth now; however, before I had regressed to the past through over four thousand deaths, the information about the twelfth to twentieth floors was almost nonexistent compared to the other floors. It was as if the major guilds united to hide the truth.
I soon found out the reason behind the secrecy.
[The reward for clearing the eleventh floor will be given.]
[The Goddess of Protection offers you a reward.]
[The Demon King of Autumn Rain offers you a reward.]
[Choose between the two rewards.]
I blinked. Huh? I have to choose one? I hadn’t heard anything about this in the last stage.
As if responding to my shock, two system windows appeared in front of me so I could choose.
Goddess of Protection
Description: The guardian goddess of the Aegim Empire is moved by your devotion and has decided to appoint you to an important position in the empire. You can be the empire’s prime minister, grand general, or imperial knight commander. Once you choose a position, you will receive the abilities and fame that come with it!
Hero of the goddess! Unite with your fellow heroes, and destroy the Demon King’s core on the twentieth floor!
※However, you cannot choose the goddess’s reward if you pick the Demon King’s.
I nodded as I slowly read through the description. This part is the same as what I already know. It was role-playing! After choosing a role, Hunters would act as people of the Aegim Empire. They could be the empire’s prime minister or commander of the imperial knights. It wasn’t just a title—the Hunter who acted as the commander received the knight commander’s abilities and reputation.
Hunters that had cleared the previous stage with high ranks were given a reward. They could choose a special role before other people!
[Listing the twelfth floor’s special classes.]
[Prime Minister of the Aegim Empire]
[Grand General of the Aegim Empire]
[Finance Minister of the Aegim Empire]
[Foreign Minister of the Aegim Empire]
[Imperial Knight Commander of the Aegim Empire]
[Imperial Guard Captain of the Aegim Empire.]
It was a long list of glamorous titles.
Man. I was impressed. I only got to choose a role like Guard A...
Before the regression, I had been on the twelfth floor, too. However, it was completely different back then. High Rankers had already taken roles like the imperial knight commander. Rankers also chose less important positions like a chief guard. How about now?
The stage reward is fabulous.
I could choose to be the empire’s prime minister and grand general. I was astonished by how different it was. I couldn’t agree more with the saying about striking while the iron was hot.
...What is the Demon King’s reward though? I turned to the second window, which had a description I had never heard of.
Demon King of Autumn Rain
Description: The Demon King is impressed with your performance and offers you the opportunity to work with it in secret. The Demon King promises you the exact same gifts as the goddess, plus one additional reward.
Kill the rest of the top ten champions! Once you succeed, the Demon King will use its ability to teleport you straight to the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower.
※Only one of the top ten champions can receive the Demon King’s reward.
※If more than one person chooses the reward, one of them will be selected at random.
※If no one chooses the reward, the Demon King’s reward will vanish.
I was at a loss for words. When I responded a little later, I heard two voices in my head.
It was the Guardian and me. We blinked and reread the description of the Demon King’s reward. However, it remained the same.
[Kill the rest of the top ten champions!]
[Once you succeed, the Demon King will use its ability to teleport you straight to the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower.]
That was what was written on the window.
I looked around. The Sword Star, the Black Witch, the Inquisitor, the Countess, the Viper, and the Paladin.
I...can get to the ninety-ninth floor right away if I kill all of these people? I held my breath.
The voice spoke once again.
[Hunter Kim Gong-Ja.]
[Choose between the two rewards.]