I lifted the terminal of the [Elysian Gallery].
In the extremely dire current situation, what should I do?
First, I should take a selfie here in front of this unprecedented difficulty called ‘Pandemonium.’
Damn, I intended to just take a picture of the inscription, but nothing beats a selfie to convey my current situation.
Of course, there’s a selfie function. I adjusted the angle to clearly capture both my face and the word ‘Pandemonium.’
The screen flashed.
Kimchi.
Well, that’s a pretty refreshing selfie.
Ah, thinking about it, will I never get to eat kimchi again?
…More importantly, I may not even have a ‘lifetime’ left.
I should take a photo with Queen Ansranf and then head up to the second floor.
When I climbed the stairs, I found a massive door. Opening it revealed a space that wasn’t particularly large—about the size of a high school auditorium.
This seems to be the waiting room. As soon as my foot touched the white line on the floor, notifications flooded the screen.
[Pandemonium Tower #01]
[Welcome to the 2nd Floor.]
[Status – ‘Mana’ has been added.]
[‘Mana’ stat has been granted at 10 points.]
[System – You have gained access to the ‘Coin Shop’.]
[As a reward for clearing the 1st floor, you have been granted 300 coins.]
[System – ‘Inventory’ has been activated.]
[As a reward for clearing the 1st floor of Pandemonium, you have been granted a weapon. Check ‘Inventory’.]
[As a reward for clearing the 1st floor of Pandemonium, you have been granted armor. Check ‘Inventory’.]
There were no chairs or desks, but at least there was one sleeping bag.
On the central wall was a clock. Next to the round analog clock was a rectangular display panel.
February 4th.
Time remaining until the Tower Exchange: 21 days.
Tower Exchange Date: February 25th, 12:00.
I’ll just ask the friends from our gallery about what this exchange meeting is all about.
“Status window.”
[Player Status]
Name: Han Yuseong
Race: Human
Level 3
Strength: 20
Agility: 21
Health: 18
Mana: 10
Skills: Pain Suppression Lv.2, Calmness Lv.2, Concealment Lv.1, Danger Sense Lv.1, Vision Expansion Lv.1, Enhanced Focus Lv.1
If the stat numbers are this high because I’m a Pandemonium climber, I wonder how quickly the people from Earth in the Easy, Normal, and Hard settings increase their stats.
I wonder if just saying ‘coin shop’ will make it pop up.
“Coin shop.”
It showed up.
[2nd Floor Coin Shop]
1. Food 2. Beverages
“…What kind of shop only sells food?”
Despite my complaints, my stomach was honest—it growled immediately.
Pressing [Cooking] brought up a list.
1. Ramen, small amount of kimchi – 10 coins
2. Pig bone soup – 10 coins
3. Chao Fan – 10 coins
4. Cream Bacon Pasta – 10 coins
5. Sandwich – 8 coins
6. Nuts (peanuts, walnuts) – 6 coins
7. Beef Jerky – 6 coins
There’s kimchi.
This feels strangely weird.
I currently have 300 coins.
If I only eat one meal a day, that gives me about 30 days.
Who sets these coin prices?
Pressing [Drinks] showed:
1. Water (1l) – 5 coins
2. Black Coffee – 8 coins
3. Soda – 9 coins
Soda is the most expensive.
Anyway, I was never planning to buy anything other than water.
I seem to have read somewhere that a person in normal condition can survive up to 8 weeks with water alone.
“Thinking about surviving will make you fail anyway.”
Considering the difficulty of Pandemonium, it’s impossible not to feel fear. But just surviving on minimum food and staying in the waiting room forever would be the worst strategy.
In the end, I need to advance after preparing as much as possible, no matter how hard Pandemonium is.
The last thing to check is the weapon and armor granted in my [Inventory].
“Inventory.”
[Inventory]
A translucent window appeared.
There were two slots filled with items.
I pressed the slot in front.
[Unnamed Knight’s Straight Sword]
Category – Weapon (Sword)
Attack Power +30
Usable Level: Level 3 and above
Rank: C+
[Unnamed Knight’s Armor Set]
Category – Armor
Defense +35
Usable Level: Level 3 and above
Rank: C+
It definitely looks better than the sword I used on the first floor.
Now that everything is checked, it’s time to inform the Elysian Gallery about the harsh reality I face.
I pulled out the terminal and accessed the Elysian Gallery.
Most of the posts were asking about my survival status.
– Anonymous) If you’re alive, pop out already. Hurry ㅠㅠㅠ
– Sorceress) Hahaha, they say those given the role of a climber have a long lifeline. Their limbs will surely be intact.
– Pioneer) Hmm, if you’re crying because it’s on Hard difficulty, you can still come out. There’s still a chance to clear it, right?
– Locked Room Theorist) Maybe you’re just hiding because you’re embarrassed after passing the Easy difficulty.
– Absolute Monarch) I’m praying. May the climber not lose their way.
Absolute Monarch.
Even someone I haven’t seen before is here.
– Anonymous) There’s no way the climber could be on Easy difficulty. Look at the monsters.
– Heaven’s Devil) I’m writing a beginner’s martial arts manual for someone new. Hurry up and post.
Alright.
Let me write.
After writing the post, I published it.
Title: hahahahahaha
Author: Anonymous*
– I feel like I’m losing my mind. Take a look.
Attachment: 238409122.jpg
[Han Yuseong standing beside a massive door with “Pandemonium” written on it.]
Silence.
A longer silence than expected.
n ?
Comments are finally being added now.
That single question mark seems to represent everyone’s thoughts. I felt the same when I saw it for the first time.
Then, the floodgates opened, endless comments followed.
n n e?
n ???
n Seriously, what the hell.
n Archmage) What is this? It’s not fake, is it? Pandemonium???
n Locked Room Theorist) Hmm… This world is a giant locked room.
n hahahahahahahahahahahaha Is that a posthumous selfie?
n Ice Queen) …Shiver. Stay strong.
n How could you have strength? hahahahahahahahaha
n Pan-demoni-um…demoni-um…demoni-um…u-m.
n Alright, I’ve read your farewell. Your handwriting’s good.
n Seriously, even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it’s the same. hahahahahahaha Why does this exist?
n Wow, our climber brother is incredible. Congratulations on surviving the first floor of Pandemonium. Sorry for not recognizing you.
n Wow, you’re quite tall?? Why does it look like the background is in black and white? Uh…uh? Breathe, climber! Brother, are you there?? Doctor, call a doctor!!!
I expected this level of mockery.
Just a day before this. Just yesterday, my life was mostly occupied by online community activity. I’ve already turned this type of mockery into self-deprecating humor.
It was amusing.
n Main Dude) …What is this? Did your obtaining the Elysian Gallery have anything to do with this? Unclear…
n Big! Chaotic! Disorder!!!
Hmm.
Even though Main Dude’s comment was incoherent, I understand what he’s trying to say.
Survival rate 0%.
Me caught in the No-Answer Difficulty Pandemonium.
And I, just happen to have found a terminal on the first floor that connects to the [Elysian Gallery].
Is this intentional setup by the tower? What he’s talking about, I don’t know either.
n Archmage) Hmm, I don’t know. I’m a bit skeptical. Even if the Elysian Gallery community helps, it’s still the Pandemonium difficulty. An experience none of us have ever had. No matter what help is given, he still has to always risk his life. The possibility of ending…honestly, I don’t know.
n Absolute Monarch) Archmage, didn’t you say recently that those summoned to Pandemonium must hold some possibility of ending Pandemonium, even if it’s a speck of dust? If so, are you retracting your previous statement?
n Archmage) Retract? Of course, since the climber has been summoned to Pandemonium, I believe he holds that possibility. Just that it’s ridiculously hard.
n ㄹㅇ hahaha Archmage always vaguely belittled the climber, but now that the climber is in Pandemonium, he’s speechless hahaha
n Archmage) What do you mean by that?
n Scratch?
n Archmage) Fine. No point arguing with someone so low-level. I’m done with my gallery session today.
n Scratch?
n hahaha Wow, really Pandemonium?
n R.I.P
n Absolute Monarch) This is not Easy, Normal, nor Hard—it’s Pandemonium… It’s indeed rare. I will pray.
n Don’t do something extreme, climber.
n Anonymous) Don’t worry, I won’t. Trust me.
Why would I die?
In such an unimpressive way.
n Heaven’s Devil) Good spirit! The master supports you too. Wait, aren’t you supposed to say nothing, Master Devil?
n Anyone) Check your terminal of the Elysian Gallery. See if there’s a new app.
App?
I moved the [Elysian Gallery] window aside for a moment.
As soon as I returned to the terminal’s home page…
I see something new?
Below the camera app, there’s something else. I pressed the blue star-shaped logo.
“The ‘Dimensional Exchange’ under the Elysian Gallery has been activated!”
“Welcome, new customer!”
n Anonymous) Ah, there is. ‘Dimensional Exchange’?
n Main Dude) Looks like it activates on the second floor.
n Light Sword) Have a hearty meal and come back.
n Anonymous) Huh?
n Light Sword) What weapon do you have now?
n Anonymous) I was given a sword when I came up to the second floor.
n Light Sword) Sword, that’s good. It will keep you from dying.
n Anonymous) How so?
n How so? hahaha Just train until you’re exhausted!
n Light Sword) I might take the position of your first teacher.
Suddenly Sword Master started pressing in.
What’s going on?
Just because I’m in ‘Pandemonium’ difficulty now, they became more active?
[!– Slider main container –]
