Right before heading out for a hearty meal, I suddenly remembered that I needed to ask about the [Tower Exchange].
Title: What exactly is the Tower Exchange about?
Poster: Anonymous
-A notice board-like display says there are 21 days left.
n Jujjek) It happens every 25th of the month. Anywhere from 5 to 10 people are summoned to one space, regardless of Tower difficulty or Tower number distinction. However, people gather according to tiers: 1st to 10th floors together, 11th to 20th floors together, and so on. The last grouping is 90th to 99th floors. The 100th floor is the finale.
n Anonymous) Is this what it’s like? Hard difficulty 3rd floor, Normal difficulty 10th floor, Easy difficulty 5th floor—all mixed together in various combinations?
n Jujjek) That’s right. As an exception, if you’re from the same Tower number, you can add ‘Friends’ to be summoned together.
I see.
It sounds like you can form teams beforehand.
There’s no way I can form a team beforehand if I’m the only one around for [Pandemonium] difficulty levels.
n Anonymous) Can players physically attack each other…like, kill each other?
n Light Sword) It is possible. The themes of the exchange are threefold: Sparring, Dungeon, and Mission. Ironically, only in ‘Sparring,’ which is explicitly set up for direct combat, is killing entirely prohibited. But in Dungeon and Mission themes, killing is allowed.
So, the Dungeon and Mission themes are designed for cooperation with other Tower participants but killing can still occur.
n Jujjek ) Killings are extremely rare, especially in the lower-level exchanges. But the chances are never zero.
n Anonymous) That’s right. Since I’ve already failed at probabilistic games, I can’t be complacent just because the odds are low.
n Hahaha laughing self-deprecation
n Probability! Pandemonium! Survival Probability 0%!!
n Jujjek) Should I block this guy?
n Anonymous) Let’s wait a couple of days.
n Jujjek) Okay.
n Ah, fuck help me!
Jujjek seems fond of me.
If I swear too much, I could be in trouble. It’s probably out of sympathy, but still…
n Anonymous) Is there information available when Exchange participants meet me? Can people see which Tower I’m from?
n Jujjek) No, all you can see is which floor you’re on. The Tower or level won’t be known unless you reveal it yourself.
n Anonymous) If I’m summoned at the 3rd floor after clearing the 2nd, won’t people look down on me?
n Jujjek) Well…you’ll know when you’re grouped with some people. What’s important now is your growth.
That’s true.
n Light Sword) Eat something first and come back. I’ll help you decide on a training direction.
n Anonymous) Alright. But how much time should I allocate to training before attempting Pandemonium’s 2nd floor?
n Archmage) I don’t know what Light Sword is planning, but even estimating generously, about 15 days would be optimal. You need to fully clear the 2nd floor to participate in the Exchange safely. You’re not planning to clear the 2nd floor after the Exchange finishes, are you?
Of course not.
Exchange.
I must clear the 2nd floor before attending.
Even if I enter the Exchange as a “3rd Floor Climber,” the likelihood that I’ll be the lowest floor participant among the group is quite high.
n Light Sword) If you understand what I’ve laid out, that should be enough time.
n Anonymous) Got it. But what happens if the Exchange starts while I’m in the middle of the 2nd floor?
n Jujjek) If you’re in the middle of the 2nd floor and the Exchange begins, you’ll be forcibly summoned. Unless you own the item [Exchange Denial Token], you will always be summoned.
It sounds ruthless. The Exchange, that is.
n Anonymous) If I suddenly disappear and return to find the monsters and NPCs surrounding my original position, wouldn’t I be killed instantly?
n Heaven’s Devil) Right. That’s why you should be transported from a safe spot.
Conclusion made.
Clear the 2nd floor within the next 21 days, reach the 3rd floor waiting room, and participate in the Exchange.
I closed the Elysian Gallery and opened the [Coin Store].
It’s not like a kiosk or anything, but the display filters image examples of food.
It seems Chaopan is some kind of Chinese fried rice based on my memory…ultimately, I chose the first option.
Instant noodles and a small amount of kimchi.
I thought about indulging in a hearty bowl of pork bone soup, but unfortunately, it was the menu I enjoyed two days ago after my convenience store part-time work.
Anyway, it’s a period during which I’ll eventually try everything.
Poof!
Suddenly, a light flickered in mid-air, and a box dropped down.
Tung!
The violet-colored box looked extraordinary even at first glance.
On the very top of the box, there was a sticker.
Menu – 1. Instant noodles and a small amount of kimchi
Delivery coordinates: 666.666.66.532
Amount paid: 10 Coins
What is this?
A delivery receipt?
The insignificant note on top of the luxurious box made me chuckle as I opened the lid.
Carefully, I lifted the item out of the box.
The touch of the transparent container was felt in my palm.
I lifted the object.
Upon opening, there was a bowl of instant noodles and an extremely small dish of kimchi.
I carefully lifted the noodles with chopsticks…
I grabbed my terminal and took a picture.
Wow, it turned out pretty cool.
I went ahead and wrote a post while attaching the picture.
Title: Do you even know what ramen is?
Poster: Anonymous
-Isn’t it radiant?
Attachment: 852903862.jpg
[Just received, took a shot while steam was rising. Instant noodles and a pinch of kimchi.]
After posting, I took a bite of the instant noodles.
Holeholehok-
Hmm, noodles always taste like honey after a tough day of physical labor. It’s just like the camping trip with my buddy where we squatted down to boil them.
Since I had the Elysian Gallery open while eating instant noodles, I could see the comments popping up in real-time under the post I made.
Ah, I’ve seen that already in the Climber’s Gallery lolololololol, but you took a good picture!
n Heaven’s Devil) What is this…? Those bizarre noodles and soup without any fundamentals…
n Mustard Fan Fury lolololololololol
n It’s bizarre indeed.
n Seriously, what is that?
n Since some new climbers haven’t seen instant noodles either. Apparently, when people from different dimensions are incorporated into the Towers, their foods show up in the Coin Store. It’s 21st-century Earth food.
n Sorceress: Hahaha, it’s curious what it tastes like.
n Archmage) Wow…to eat something that looks like that…?
Fools.
n Anonymous) Ramen, a magnificent food crafted from numerous sciences. Click.
n Taste’s making me kinda curious. You want an inter-dimensional trade with me?
n What do you even have to offer to a climber? lolololol
n Why not Great House Dredthefakan Spear Art?
n The name is cringe.
n Hey you, where are you from? Medieval Earth? I’m a knight from the Romphelt continent.
I didn’t mean to mock the noble master’s spear technique.
Whether it’s from easy or normal difficulty, this master cleared the 100th floor, so his spear technique must have some refined points to it.
However, my current problem is about finding the perfect rope to save me.
A strong rope that will save me.
Therefore, I have to pass on the noble master’s offer.
After finishing my meal, I made a post.
Title: Light Sword, let’s do an inter-dimensional trade.
Poster: Anonymous
– I know nothing, so you take the lead.
n Light Sword) Sure.
The moment Light Sword left a comment, a new window popped up under the Elysian Gallery.
[User ‘Light Sword’ has requested an ‘Interdimensional Trade.’]
[Will you accept?]
I pressed the circular button next to the text.
[You have accepted the trade request.]
On the screen, there seemed to be slots resembling inventory slots where items could be placed.
There was also a small chat window.
[Caution! ‘Dimension Gallery’ trade opportunities are provided twice a month! If both are used, the next attempt will be available after 30 days!]
[Caution! Trading items requires both parties to register an item at a time for the trade to be successful!]
[Caution! Only one item can be exchanged per trade.]
[Please announce the item you’d like to send by saying ‘Designate!’]
“One trade per month?”
[Light Sword: Sorry, but I need to use both trade chances this time since I need two items.]
Of course, this cursed Tower wouldn’t be merciful enough to offer unlimited trades or let me trade without giving something up.
[Anonymous: Does it matter as long as I survive properly?]
[Light Sword: Don’t worry about that.]
[Anonymous: What would you like me to send?]
[Light Sword: One is the ramen you just posted. The other is the cheapest thing you have. Keep the food in its container so it can be safely delivered.]
Though I was asked to send something I had, I couldn’t send my plain sword as it could break. Plus, everything I had was useful.
I didn’t ponder for long.
Along with the ramen, I chose to send the next cheapest item—dried meat, excluding water.
I placed my hands on the ramen and dried meat in their containers.
“Designate.”
The two items vanished instantly before my eyes and appeared as tiny icons in the trade slots.
[The trade has been completed.]
Chheeeerk.
A burst of space revealed two items.
One was a thick book. The other was a square-shaped box.
“What’s this?”
The Arcamer Empire.
“Grand Duke Brinier.”
The silver-haired woman narrowed her eyebrows at the sound outside the door.
“What is it?”
“The Emperor wishes to see you. He wishes to invite you to this banquet…”
“I’ll have my head blown off if you fetch me again. Deliver the message precisely as I gave it.”
“… Understood, Grand Duke.”
The Grand Duchess.
Elaine de Brinier’s crimson eyes were fixed on a translucent screen to her left.
There was a writing there:
[Climber’s Gallery]
She pressed the most eye-catching thread.
Title: Don’t act impulsively. If you stay calm, you can break the 62nd floor. That’s why we have our 《Alliance》.
Poster: Alliance Leader
– There will be no betrayal. We will reach the summit without losing anyone.
n Seriously, is this possible?
n Can there really be a Hard difficulty attempt with so few casualties?
n Sword Emperor) Aren’t we good enough to break the 66th floor with no casualties?
Elaine felt discomfort.
It was like looking at a broken mirror.
Like seeing her hopeful past self.
A picture about to collapse.
“You don’t understand the essence of Hard difficulty.”
She doesn’t know why they didn’t document reaching the 66th floor.
While hoping for their illusion to be shattered, she also hoped it wouldn’t.
“Get stronger quickly, climbers.”
She wanted to create a ripple among them.
Right from the bottom.
[2nd Floor – Score Rankings]
1st – Alliance Leader: 784 points
2nd – Tracked: 412 points
3rd – Sinclair: 399 points
…and more.
The ranking only announced the scores of current climbers.
Elaine, whose name could not appear there, had already cleared and exited the Tower.
Elaine chuckled faintly as she looked at the violet preservation chamber that had appeared before her eyes.
“Is this what ramen looks like?”
She opened the chamber.
“The smell isn’t bad.”
The Sword Star of the Empire.
Dragon Slayer.
Demon King Beheader.
All of them described one person, Elaine de Brinier.
That’s why her words against the emperor went unnoticed.
Slurp-
“Hmm!”
A satisfied smile graced her face.
Elaine pushed the climber’s gallery to the side and opened another gallery.
[Elysian Gallery]
The one joy in life that provides her amusement these days is here.
She posted a message.
Title: Quite edible.
Poster: Light Sword
-It looks strange, but it has flavor.
