It was a silence between just Bae Hu-ryeong and me. The reward of the Devil King. The 99th floor. I read the rewards of the Devil King again and again. The words that I could be sent straight to the 99th floor spun around my head.
Bae Hu-ryeong cut my thoughts off like he read my thoughts.
-It’s definitely a trap. Zombie. Don’t fall for it.
‘I…know. Of course it’s a trap. Of co…’
I murmured inside my head.
It was obvious the reward was a trap.
‘There’s no way the Flame Plague wouldn’t have chosen the Devil King’s reward otherwise.
Since he was the psychopath of the century.
‘He would’ve definitely chosen the Devil King’s reward. Since he doesn’t care about whether another player dies or not. But…he was on the 40th floor and not the 99th floor. So that means…’
I tried to calmly think things through.
‘The reward of the Devil King is a trap. The Flame Plague probably chose the Devil King’s reward and regressed after figuring out it was a trap. I don’t know exactly what trap it is but…;
‘…To be honest, I want it.’
‘This is a chance to get a skill of the 99th floor boss monster.’
I was different from Yoo Soo-ha. I didn’t have to defeat the boss monster.
I would benefit if I was just killed by it.
‘He’ll be the strongest boss monster other than the 100th floor…’
It would be a lie if I wasn’t tempted.
How long would it take for me to get to the 99th floor using normal means?
It might even take longer. Since even the psychopath Flame Emperor was only on the 40th floor after 10 years.
But all of that. At once.
Bae Hu-ryeong stared at me.
It was a voice I had never heard before.
He was seriously looking at my face.
-Look at me. I’m the Sword Emperor. I went to the 99th floor by myself and failed. I’m telling you, this is a trap. A horrible trap.
-It’s too hard for you to kill the Top 10 Rank players with your skills. Even if you kill them all, you can’t climb over the wall of the 99th floor. Give up.
Was it because he was the only person to reach the 99th floor in this tower? He seemed credible.
‘Is the 99th floor boss monster that strong?’
Bae Hu-ryeong frowned.
-There’s no boss monster on the 99th floor. There’s something that’s worse…bleh. I suddenly thought of the past. Anyways, this is a trap!
He sat with his back to me. He was like a little kid didn’t get his candy. I was a bit flustered.
‘Wait, just what’s on the 99th floor? You’re scaring me. I’ve never seen you before. Is it something like a Devil God if it’s not a monster?’
-Humph. I’m not telling you!
He wasn’t like a kid, he was a kid.
-I don’t want to acknowledge it, but you’re doing pretty well, Kim Zombie. Just keep on doing as you are. Then you can clear the 99th floor.
I was deep in thought. I rubbed my sword that was in its sheath. It was the sword that killed me over 4000 times. It was the sword that I used to kill Yoo Soo-ha. It was nothing more that a cheap sword, but touching it comforted me.
I came to my decision.
‘I’ll throw away this regression.’
‘Yes. I’m going to pick the most safe route for me. Ignoring all things like rewards and benefits. I’m going to see how everything turns out first.’
-Ignoring rewards and benefits…huh. Are you going to reject the [Reward of the Goddess] too? Why? You don’t have to go that far.
‘It’s okay. I’m taking a step back so I can run forward.’
You had to take the longer route the most rushed you were.
I slowly opened my mouth.
All the hunters in the reception room looked at me.
“The rewards of the 11th floor just popped up for me.”
“Really? That’s nice.”
The Witch reacted first. Was it because she hadn’t seen the reward of the goddess and the reward of the Devil King yet? Her face was as indifferent as ever.
“I was starting to get bored wondering how long we would have to wait for the quest. If you pick the reward first, we can pick according to our ranks after. Choose slowly.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve already decided.”
I announced in front of all the high rankings rankers.
“I didn’t choose any reward.”
The reception room was silent. Heretic Questioner and Venomous Snake, who were playing cards off to the side, turned to look at me as well. 3 seconds. 2 seconds. 1 second. After a silence, the Witch wrinkled her forehead.
[You have not chosen a stage reward.]
[You cannot choose the special class.]
[If you give up the reward, you can only choose the roles after the 13th floor.]
[Are you really choosing this?]
“Yes, I, Kim Gong-ja, will not choose any reward.”
The selection window in front of me crumbled to pieces. It wasn’t just that. A holy voice and a dark voice rang in my head.
[The Goddess of Protection is questioning your decision.]
[The Devil King of Fall Rain laughs darkly.]
The hunters all looked disbelieving.
“Kim Gong-ja? What did you just…?”
Then, Sword Saint wrinkled his forehead. His old eyes scanned midair. After me, Rank 1, Sword Saint was Rank 2. He was looking at the rewards now.
“…Hm. I understand. You chose the safest option.”
Sword Saint looked at me.
“But isn’t there no need to give up the reward? Youngster. This may be an old man’s foolish concern, but I don’t think you need to give up like that for your safety.”
“Thank you for your concern. However, I don’t regret it.”
“Mmmm. It’s a relief if you don’t regret it but…”
He trailed off. The other hunters looked at us confusedly. They looked like they didn’t understand what we were talking about.
“Just giving up the reward is too mild. Sorry, youngster. I’ll choose the goddess’s reward. And choose the [Grand Master of Aegim Empire].”
It was the moment Sword Saint made his decision. The reception room door opened. A bunch of knights walked out. They were wearing fancy shining armor, and they kneeled in front of the old man.
“Pledging allegiance to the highest sword of the empire!”
Sword Saint looked amusedly down at the knights.
“So this is how the roles are decided.”
Next was Heretic Questioner. Rank 3 of the stage. He tilted his head, and exclaimed with an “Aha!
He seemed to have understood the situation now.
“I see. I understand now! Haha. It’s similar to the mafia game.”
Other than us, the other hunters still looked confused. The Witch narrowed her yes.
“…I have no idea what you people are saying.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll tell you right away!”
The Heretic Questioner raised his hands. Words started to be written on the ground. He had used Aura to carve letters in the marble.
Hunters crowded around to look at the ground.
[Goddess of Protection]
Summary: The goddess who protects the Aegim Empire is touched at your dedication! The goddess has decided to appoint you to an important position.
The hunters started to murmur amongst themselves.
“The 99th floor? Legit…?”
They didn’t have much of a reaction when they read the goddess’s reward. But their eyes changed remarkably at the Devil King’s reward.
The Witch’s gaze especially turned darker.
“Yup! It’s similar to the mafia game! For convenience’s sake, I’ll call those who chose the goddess’s reward [Warrior]s and those who choose the other option [Betrayer]s.”
“But there’s a big difference. The [Betrayer] is at more of a disadvantage than a mafia! Because there are 9 warriors, but only 1 betrayer. And we have the Vice Guild Master of the Civil Militia!”
The Heretic Questioner pointed at the Crusader.
The Crusader was looking at the marble floor with an apathetic face.
“Think of it! The Vice Guild Master has a Lie Detection skill. Haha. Compared to the mafia game, she’s like the police. So even if someone chooses the Devil King’s Reward, it’s okay! Because the [Betrayer] will be reported right away!”
Crusader slowly lifted her head.
“Anyways, this game is advantageous to the warriors! Hunter Kim Gong-ja. Giving up the reward was an extreme solution!”
Heretic Questioner fixed his hat.
“You didn’t accept any reward even though you defeated the 11th floor as Rank 1. Mm! It’s a very hard thing for me to imagine. With respect towards your decision, I’ll choose the [Supreme General of Aegim Empire]!”
The reception door opened again. General NPCs entered with their flowing red capes. The generals stood in front of the Heretic Questioner and saluted.
“Allegiance towards the highest flag of the empire!”
“Ah, amazing. I leave it in your hands as well!”
The general NPCs lined up behind the Heretic Questioner.
This was the deciding factor.
“Tsk. I hate using my head. So you’re saying it’s better to choose a reward, right? Then I’ll choose the [Head Bodyguard of Aegim Empire].”
“Then me, the [Director of Foregin Affairs of Aegim Empire]. It looks the most normal.”
“…I’ll choose the [Chancellor]. Please, don’t choose the reward of the Devil King. It’ll disappear if no one chooses it. That’s the most wise decision. Everyone be careful.”
“Don’t worry. Hm. Well, of course it’s [Director of Financial Affairs].”
The rest of the hunters had chosen their rewards.
The reception room was filled with NPCs. The amount of knightages behind Sword Saint increased, and behind the Witch, there were countless emissaries.
Only one place in the reception place was empty. Behind me.
-You were really the only person not to get a reward. Are you going to be okay, Zombie? I know you’re throwing this regression away, but isn’t this too bad?
It might’ve been my instinct as a hunter.
‘This is the answer.’
When you had to attack the target. When you had to step back.
[The calculation of the rewards is finished.]
Felt that this was the time to step back.
[The highest rankers have completed their choices.]
[Kim Gong-ja, Sword Saint, Heretic Questioner, Venomous Snake, Crusader, Witch, Count…]
A voice rang in the reception room.
The hunters quietly exchanged glances when their names were announced.
[Disclaimer of the Reward, 1 person.]
Everyone turned to look at me. Of them, I was the only person to announce that I gave up the reward.
The hunters made expressions like they couldn’t believe I did that.
[Receivers of the goddess’s reward, 8 people.]
And soon, their faces hardened.
[Receiver of the Devil King’s reward, 1 person.]
The hunters all looked at each other.
[All the highest rankers have finished making their decisions.]
[Letting everyone know again.]
[Disclaimer of the Reward, 1 person.]
[Receivers of the goddess’s reward, 8 people.]
[Receiver of the Devil King’s reward, 1 person.]
[All the highest rankers have finished making their decisions.]
It was a long silence.
[May luck be with everyone.]