Chapter 71

“...”

The reticent young man, Kang Chan, regained consciousness in an unfamiliar vacant lot.

“Wh-where am I?”

“Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?”

Strangers. An unfamiliar space. It was a situation tense enough to make anyone nervous, and Kang Chan was no exception.

“...Why does that guy look so fierce?”

However, as Kang Chan became more tense, his expression would harden, leading to misunderstandings by those around him. Of course, his naturally stern appearance must have contributed to this.

“Mom...”

“Damn it, damn it...”

As time passed, emotions like anxiety, impatience, and fear gradually subsided.

“...So, where are we?”

“It’s so muggy...”

Just when people started to take an interest in where they were,

A man muttered softly,

“...Status window.”

Most people seemed to have missed it amid the murmuring, but Kang Chan, sitting right next to him, clearly heard the voice.

“What, what?”

His reaction was one of surprise, eyes widening in shock.

“...Status window.”

Then, for Kang Chan to murmur ‘Status window’ was perhaps a natural progression.

It was mere curiosity. He had no intention of taking the lead in such a situation. Kang Chan, who often created unnecessary misunderstandings due to his ‘intense’ appearance, trusted the saying ‘Just by staying still, you’re halfway there’ more than anything else.

But even Kang Chan couldn’t maintain his composure after seeing his status window.

“…!”

Startled, Kang Chan abruptly rose from his seat. He was so flustered upon seeing the ‘S+’ rating that he failed to notice the attention of everyone else drawn to him.

“...Intimidation?”

The moment he muttered this,

Whoosh!

It was like the gaze of a predator. The aura emitted by murderers for whom killing was second nature.

An aura that would instill fear in any living being emanated from Kang Chan, causing everyone in the clearing to instinctively lower their eyes without understanding why.

“...”

After surveying the people around him, Kang Chan finally realized what he had done. He had unintentionally drawn crazy attention in this strange place among strangers.

The best course now would be to deactivate the trait and sit down as if nothing had happened...

The problem was, that Kang Chan, still unskilled with his abilities, was not accustomed to using them. It was like writing with his left hand - a sensation that seemed controllable, yet tantalizingly elusive.

Yet, it was clear he had to deactivate the trait. People were trembling under the pressure of his murderous intent, some to the point of wetting themselves in fear. Kang Chan grunted, focusing all his energy on turning off ‘Intimidation’.

“...”

Was it because he was too concentrated on deactivating the trait?

“Hello! Wasting life in the most splendid way... Huh?”

Kang Chan didn’t notice a small winged creature, the size of a young child, approaching him.

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

The moment the tutorial fairy leaned in, Kang Chan was startled out of his wits.

A strange environment. Unknown people. Uncontrollable abilities. In a situation where stress was already brimming, suddenly, a monster thrust its face forward.

Thud!

No one could blame Kang Chan for instinctively hitting ‘it’ in such a scenario. It wouldn’t be fair to label him a barbarian or a thug.

But even if the action was justified by the situation, the one who committed the act must bear the responsibility.

The tutorial fairy, eyes rolling back, crashed to the ground like a broken puppet.

Simultaneously, the ‘Intimidation’ trait that had been active was finally deactivated.

As a tacky fanfare played, a message window popped up in front of him.

“...”

Kang Chan, new to the tower and ignorant of many things, was certain of one thing.

The situation had gotten incredibly messed up.

***

It was a result of a series of coincidences.

The angel assigned to guide the 0th floor was a lower-tier entity, even among the 9th order, tasked with menial duties. Naturally, its strength was weaker than that of humans, and its lowly nature was such that it wasn’t even granted a halo, the symbol of an angel.

Therefore, there was no such thing as a tutorial fairy. It was just that the angel responsible for Korea’s ‘0th floor’ was well-versed in human culture and had a nasty disposition, hence choosing to act like a monstrous being that would burst people’s heads.

However, perception is often based on others, not on the reality of the situation. The unfamiliar circumstances led people to be passive, causing them to mistakenly believe the lowest-ranking angel was the ‘Tutorial Fairy.’

“…Hey, what’s that? Something is lying on the ground?”

“Did anyone see what happened? What did he do?”

“...I was too scared, I was just staring at the ground.”

“Wait, look closely! Isn’t that... the ‘Tutorial Fairy’? The situation fits, doesn’t it? Suddenly summoned here, and a winged creature the size of a child appears...”

“So, did that guy just defeat the Tutorial Fairy? Right after being summoned? Does that even make sense?”

Ironically, perception, while intangible, carries weight. The false title of ‘Tutorial Fairy’ shifted its burden onto Kang Chan.

“Was it a mistake...? That person was just summoned too...”

The people, who initially glanced at Kang Chan with a subtle fear in their eyes…

“Hey, wake up! Ah... Dear humans, could you please wait a moment?”

…Changed their gaze into one of outright fear after another angel appeared to take care of the unconscious one and explained about the tower before leaving.

“...Was it really the Tutorial Fairy?”

“...How many people has he killed?”

Their eyes transformed as they filled with palpable fear, fueled by the fact that none of them had actually seen Kang Chan exert any effort.

“Hyung!”

But not everyone was paralyzed with fear.

“I wish to follow you, Hyung! In this tower, you seem to be the only one we can trust and follow!”

“Me too! Please let me serve you!”

While most people felt only fear from Kang Chan’s murderous aura, some, unfortunately twisted individuals, felt admiration.

In essence, these were people with a skewed sense of judgment, desiring to be with someone who seemed to have killed thousands.

Kang Chan had no desire whatsoever to associate with these warped individuals.

I just checked my status window, and it seems my trait is an A+ grade! Of course, it’s nothing compared to Hyung...”

“I’m S grade! Please allow me to serve you!”

The problem was, these individuals appeared much stronger than Kang Chan. For now, they were misunderstanding the situation, but who knows what they might do once they realized the truth about Kang Chan.

“...”

Kang Chan was acutely aware of his current situation.

People saw him as an unbelievable monster. The only trait Kang Chan possessed was ‘Intimidation’, which specialized in bluff. In terms of actual combat ability, he had none.

There were two main choices before him:

First, to reveal that his recent intimidating presence was just the effect of his trait and not actual murderous intent. However, as mentioned before, there’s no telling what the crazies clinging to him might do.

Second, to exploit people’s misconceptions for his own benefit.

He could threaten others to take their golden beads, or play the role of ‘Hyung’ to these fanatics. As long as the misconception of ‘Kang Chan, the overwhelming power’ remained, the ‘Intimidation’ trait was almost like a master key.

However, the downside of this option was clear. The moment his bluff was called, things wouldn’t end well. Every moment would be like walking a tightrope.

“...”

After much contemplation, Kang Chan finally spoke.

“...Do as you please.”

If this tower was anything like the ones in the works Kang Chan knew of, his life would always be on the line from here on out.

If the situation was fraught with danger, Kang Chan decided to choose the option that would bring him benefit.

“My name is Kang Chan.”

He deliberately roughened his voice. His expression was completely neutral. His gaze was empty, looking far off into the distance.

Kang Chan had decided to play the role of the overwhelming powerhouse that they wanted.

“...Anyone who gets in my way will be killed.”

To survive in this tower.

***

“...And that’s how it happened.”

Kang Chan finished his long explanation and closed his mouth.

I understood that due to the misunderstanding, he was forced into a situation where he had to act the part of a strong character. I figured I would have done the same in such a situation.

“...So you entered floor 3-5 because...”

“Yeah.”

Kang Chan let out a wry laugh.

“I was trying to catch a bus. The ones following me might be weird in the head, but their abilities are outstanding.”

“...Where did they go now?”

“They’re probably earnestly advancing through the other 3-5 floor. We got separated because I was the last to enter.”

Originally, Kang Chan had planned to progress through floor 3-5 with his followers, but due to the 3rd-floor grouping people in fours, he inevitably got separated from his group.

It seems I wasn’t the only one who was fooled. I also failed in my attempt to ride the Choi Ji-won bus.

“But there’s a part of your explanation that’s lacking.”

“...What part?”

“Your fist. In the story you just told, there’s no mention of that fist.”

“...After I hit the fairy, a message appeared saying I was the first to subdue an angel.”

“Ah.”

“The reward evolved the Intimidation trait. That should explain it.”

Indeed.

I’m not exactly sure what this ‘Trait Evolution’ given as a reward entails...

But it seems like that evolution was suitable for playing the role of an ‘overwhelming powerhouse’, just like emitting a murderous aura.

“You’re right about your earlier guess. This fist... it can’t be used carelessly. It’s a power with great risks.”

Kang Chan said this in a self-mocking tone, then lifted his head to look directly at me.

“I’ve laid all my cards on the table. Now it’s your turn.”

“...My turn?”

“If you’re a regressor, you must know more about the 3rd floor than I do.”

The murderous intent was gone, but Kang Chan’s eyes remained sharp.

“Do you have a plan? A plan to clear the 3rd floor?”

“...”

Kang Chan’s abilities. The crazy golem that reflects kinetic energy. Wolves. Mirrors. Trauma. Arrows. Traps. Natives. Spears. Dok Su-hee. Enchantments.

All the experiences I’ve had so far fragmented and floated through my mind.

“Uh, um... Aren’t you all coming?”

Just when An Kyung-Joon, tired of waiting, cautiously stepped forward to see what was happening…

“I have it.”

…The solution emerged in my mind.

Just one.

A solution as narrow as the point of a needle.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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