Chapter 191

Back when Seojin played Asgard, the players who took on the roles of gods needed a passage to communicate with humans.

It was then that the World Quest was given: the construction of the Tower of Babel. A structure built 100 floors high, allowing humans to hear the gods’ voices from a closer distance. The quest was completed successfully, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the end.

“My lord, please ensure this transaction is completed perfectly...”

“I earnestly beg you! Please have mercy! Cure my son’s illness!”

“Far too many humans have died. Please stop our corrupt emperor from further tyranny. The continent is filled with death!”

“...I’m so hungry. My sibling too. We were caught stealing bread yesterday. Please help us.”

There was a side effect. Players involved in the quest were overwhelmed by the endless influx of prayers. Human prayers filled the speakers with vivid voices, eventually making normal gameplay impossible. The players finally made a decision.

“Let’s just close off the 100th floor. We can’t play the game like this. Also, prevent other constructions from exceeding 99 floors.”

“I can’t even turn on my speaker because of all that noise. Let’s keep it to 99 floors and set some kind of access criteria so only permitted ones can enter.”

“Let’s do that. The original quest was just about communicating with humans anyway.”

The number 100 symbolized completion, and thus humans could convey their will to the gods. But the players blocked that channel.

The situation settled down only after the number of humans who could ascend to the 100th floor and communicate with the gods was extremely limited. No players were interested in that tower after that and soon, the tower was completely forgotten by the players.

However, Seojin did not forget the restrictions that were set at that time.

“...You mean it’s possible to ascend to the 100th floor?”

“Not for everyone. But there is a 100th floor.”

“I’m hearing this for the first time myself.”

“If there are no humans who can ascend, it might as well not exist. You were just one of them, Harry.”

Harry unwittingly smiled bitterly. He knew in his head and always tried to think that way. That the Staff of Faith was nothing but a vain title. That he was just another one of the fragile humans, unable to comprehend the will of the gods.

“It seems my pride filled my heart without me realizing. Funnily enough, I feel slighted that they didn’t tell me.”

“That’s human nature, I suppose.”

“Adventurer, how...” Harry took a moment to catch his breath. “How do you know this fact?”

“Because I’m an adventurer.”

“If that were the only reason, then all should logically be aware of it. But all the adventurers on this land are bound by the will of the emperor.”

“Let’s just say that I’m just an adventurer interested in the past, just like you are. But undoubtedly, it’s something that only an adventurer could discover.”

“And humble too.”

“I’m far from humble.”

“...What can I do to help you?”

Harry questioned, even though he was unsure if he could help.

As the Staff of Faith, he prided himself on being closer to divinity than anyone else on this land, but that belief had been shattered long ago.

‘What can I even help with?’

Harry was unaware of the existence of the 100th floor and didn’t even know which god was granting him power.

“I don’t really need your help.”

As expected, the adventurer Seojin pushed away Harry’s offer to help.

“I’d appreciate it if you think of what you can give me. It might take a while to come down once I go up. I don’t want to lose time even in a transaction.”

“I can give you whatever you ask.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.”

“Then start with that. Think about whether the anything you just mentioned is truly anything.”

“That is...”

Harry reflexively repeated Seojin’s question. The answer came quickly. He couldn’t respond to that question and covered his mouth in embarrassment.

“I’ll be back.”

Seojin turned to leave. Harry, instead of seeing him off, began to ponder deeply. That’s exactly what Seojin wanted.

* * *

“He’s a strange man.”

“Indeed...”

“I’m an adventurer too, but I’m not like him. That man is different from us.”

“...I see.”

“Aikora, you haven’t seen an adventurer like him either, right?”

“He’s the first adventurer I’ve ever met.”

“Then let me assure you. I believe I stand out even among adventurers, but that man is truly different. Just the fact that he hasn’t been caught by the Empire shows that.”

Montblanc.

A former ranker and a hidden class Elementalist who held a high position, even here in Midgard, confidently stated that Seojin’s presence was unlike anything she had ever encountered.

She had met countless renowned players in her time as a ranker, and with any game she played, was always among the first to dive into the endgame content.

But in Midgard, her confidence was shattered.

The Camilton Empire was the strongest nation on the continent of Salevania, where major figures were entirely composed of NPCs. Entering this place was a testament to being among the leading players of each country.

But how did she, and everyone else, end up? Whether hidden class, regular occupation, with or without legendary gear, every single player had become a slave status to the NPC known as Grand Emperor Kalus.

“That man broke that rule. He wasn’t captured. Who would have thought such a route existed...”

“A route, you say...?”

“He joined hands with the thieves. I don’t know how he knows them. But since they’re connected to the Empire, they wouldn’t be just any clumsy thieves. Even adventurers with the thief class don’t know their main base!”

Aikora found herself nodding involuntarily. Even though she might be oblivious to the ways of the world, she wasn’t born and raised here.

Before entering this tower, she saw thieves as vile, backstabbing at every turn, directly harming the powerless civilians.

“He’s not afraid of the darkness, I see.”

“I agree. But more than that...” Montblanc paused, raising her eyebrows. “Excuse me for a moment.”

Something was off. Focused on the conversation, she hadn’t realized, but her elemental spirit wasn’t usually this docile.

Normally, it would be flying around in frustration, but now it floated still, like a new recruit drilled into discipline.

“Merry?”

She called its name. But the elemental spirit, Merry, only glanced at her owner before looking away.

“Merry? Is something wrong?”

Shake, shake.

Merry shook its head awkwardly. Despite the vigorous head shaking, it remained motionless, its red cap not even twitching!

Clearly, something was amiss.

“Aikora, is there something here that could scare an elemental spirit?”

“Elemental spirits... no, there isn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, there is something, but it shouldn’t affect you, adventurer. It doesn’t apply to anyone who has visited this place even once.”

“But this is my first time here.”

“But not Seojin. Since you’re accompanying him, you’ll be fine.”

“...Can you check on it right now?”

“As soon as you mentioned it, I checked. There’s nothing in this tower that could scare an elemental spirit. At least, not within the limits we’ve set up.”

Then what on earth could it be?

Even when Montblanc leaned in closer, Merry showed no reaction, merely looking down as if scolded.

“Merry, why are you acting like this...”

“Seojin is coming out!”

“I need to check this out.”

Why was it such a big deal that Seojin was coming out?

He must be returning after finishing his task, soon to relay what he had obtained from Harry.

But Aikora was alarmed for another reason.

“He’s going up!”

“Of course, he’s going up... Wait, up? As in, higher?”

Only then did Montblanc understand Aikora’s reaction.

She knew what the Pantheon was, and that the highest floor was the 99th.

But going up, where was he climbing to....

“...It’s true.”

Aikora hadn’t seen it wrong. Montblanc watched the impenetrable ceiling, and the staircase that led up to the 99th floor. There, which she thought to be the end, Seojin was confidently stepping into thin air, going up to a higher place.

“...Magic?”

“Impossible! No mage can use their powers here!”

It wasn’t magic, nor divine power, even less likely, a hidden ability. Pantheon wasn’t a structure built so carelessly.

“What in the world is happening?”

That was all Aikora could say. Montblanc was the same. Still tense, they could only stare blankly as Seojin continued to ascend, the nervous mushroom elemental spirit forgotten from their minds.

* * *

First Discovery: Hidden Area — Babel

Acquired: Achievement — The Harmonizer

*At last! You have uncovered it. A place erased from all records, yet always existing. The Tower of Babel, untouched by humans for centuries, has finally welcomed a visitor known as an adventurer.

*You can now fulfill the duties and exercise the rights of The Harmonizer. The effect is applied only once and takes immediate effect upon use.

*The duty of The Harmonizer is to mediate between gods and humans, and the right of The Harmonizer is to decide the direction of this mediation.

*You can expend Dharma Points to enhance the effect.

*Remaining uses: 1

The message filled Seojin’s vision.

Throughout his gameplay, achievements had been awarded frequently, but it had been a while since a truly ‘useful’ type of achievement popped up.

‘I knew it would be the Tower of Babel.’

It was just a change in name.

The structure built by the Asgard players for communication with humans, the Tower of Babel, had simply been renamed to the Temple of All Gods-Pantheon in Midgard.

It was a fact anyone could have guessed, but since no one was interested, it remained unknown.

Of course.

It wasn’t without cost for Seojin to access the 100th floor.

Entry Requirements: Possession of at least three Leagues

An extremely challenging requirement demanding the possession of three Qualifications. In simple level terms, it meant only users above level 300 could enter, but

League of Deception

League of Intimidation

Equipped: Red Lion Mask

League of Valor

Entry Requirements Met

Seojin had long been prepared.

Entering: Hidden Area — Babel.

A new episode has been added!