Chapter 86 — To the Garbage Incinerator

1

Manus explained the recent events.

Along with what needed to be done next.

After hearing the full story, the first-year students’ expressions hardened, while the two who were still unaware looked puzzled.

Especially Nia Abrel, who was shocked to see them casually discussing matters the Chairman had just said to “never disclose.”

“Wait a minute-. Didn’t the Chairman clearly say not to talk about any of this?”

“That only applies to those who don’t know the situation.”

“What situation are you talking about?”

Where to begin explaining.

Manus took a moment to organize his thoughts.

It was always challenging to articulate things coherently, so he needed time.

The role of imparting knowledge, context, and background had always fallen to Manus, but this time was different.

Alano spoke up first, addressing the new members.

“Do you believe there are gaps between spaces?”

“There’s no such thing-.”

“I don’t believe it.”

Nia and Guillermo flatly stated.

Alano smiled faintly and began to tell the story of a strange secret.

The gap between worlds.

The Tower, Ziggurat.

The reason they became overwhelmingly strong and the calamities occurring in the Tower.

All the events up until now, including Professor Mia and Lupera’s incident.

After hearing everything, the two couldn’t manage their expressions and had peculiar looks on their faces.

Isn’t this place where they’re standing also connected to another world?

“Everything leaking from those gaps will become a disaster. The people gathered in this club are those who can walk through the gaps and fight.”

“-That’s amazing. Does the fact that I haven’t realized it yet mean I haven’t been chosen?”

“There is a way to force entry.”

“What is it?”

Professor Mia had devoted her life to research since learning about the existence of Ziggurat.

The structure of the Tower.

The conditions for entering the Tower.

What happens if you leave the Tower, or if you die.

The research that began exactly 21 years ago provided a lot of information to the players as well.

That knowledge spread widely on community sites, giving rise to various speculation posts.

Why not?

People writing posts speculating about the story and predicting future events.

‘It’s good I read those posts.’

“We forcibly open the intrusion alongside a chosen one. In a safe place like the infirmary.”

“Is it possible to do that without anyone noticing?”

“With the Chairman’s permission, it’s not difficult.”

Manus casually mentioned the Chairman.

Nia was dumbfounded.

The Chairman of Mythos Academy was in charge of all administration.

He wasn’t someone an ordinary student could casually ask favors from.

At least, that’s what Nia thought.

She felt that everyone here needed to reconsider their view of the Chairman’s authority.

“Is the Chairman some kind of security guard? Do you think he’ll just grant requests like that?!”

“-Yes.”

Everyone answered.

In the same tone, with the same look in their eyes.

Except for Guillermo.

Nia, who had become bewildered, soon started gesticulating.

“There’s a problem here! This is a problem! Do you really think that?”

Nod, nod.

They refused to deny it.

Manus smiled at the amusing scene he hadn’t seen in a while.

This is why it’s fun to hang out with students.

“The Chairman also knows the secret. He’ll help us because we’re the only force that can stand against the Tower.”

“-Ah, so, that’s how it is?”

Am I the only fool here?

Am I the only one who’s been made a fool?!

Nia let out a deep sigh.

Okay, putting that aside-.

“But why the infirmary?”

“Because it’s the safest place.”

A safe zone.

It was a space that remained unchanged even under the Tower’s influence.

They could enter using the method Livy, who hadn’t been chosen, had used.

There were two problems.

They didn’t know on which floor the infirmary would form.

While Livy had only entered once, Nia would be entering continuously.

The side effects of this were unknown.

‘Nia didn’t climb the Tower in the original work.’

They were bringing in a complete outsider as a fighting force.

There was a comment in a speculation post:

[I’m not sure if it’s just a setting or if the game company used it thoughtlessly, but it seems crucial who you come into contact with inside the Tower.]

[Lupera was led by demons. Emerson was too, but in the end, both of them left the Tower through different routes.]

[It wasn’t implemented in the game, but if this is correct, theoretically, couldn’t we bring in and rescue anyone from the Academy and turn them into fighting forces?]

It seemed to make sense.

Nia would be the first test subject.

Although they’ve brought her in, will she really be able to play an active role in the Tower?

“Tonight, we enter the Tower to catch Professor Mia.”

“-Okay.”

“Aden planted a catalyst, and Professor Mia disappeared with it. Once she touched the bottle, she can’t escape us.”

Manus briefed them on the plan.

The team would be split into two.

Himself, including Guillermo and Nia.

And the rest led by Alano and Kael.

With Emerson’s detection range and communication orbs prepared, joining up shouldn’t be a problem.

Whichever side is closer will wait.

In Nia’s case, she needed to adapt, so she had to stick with this side.

[Interference has begun.]

[It’s time for a careful choice.]

Manus looked at the message that appeared before his eyes.

Every moment, with each action taken with will, events and the world change.

Which line will they sail along this time?

He couldn’t know if the world was heading towards a cliff or paradise.

It would probably be the same this time too.

Nevertheless, he had no choice but to move forward, hoping for a better outcome.

“Senior.”

“-Yes?”

“The tragedy that befell Lupera might come to you too.”

“That’s a bit scary.”

In fact, the best method would have been to kick her out of the club.

He didn’t deny that he was terribly selfish.

Manus had only one goal.

To see the end of the story in this new life.

And to do so safely.

That’s why he intended to cram more fighting power into the Tower.

Even if it meant tearing apart someone’s heart.

“You can back out anytime.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking.”

Nia envied Manus’s blue eyes.

The strange atmosphere emanating from that black hair and blue eyes.

The symbol of a great family always made her burn with desire.

I want to stand with them too.

Silver hair and black hair. And golden eyes.

“To become strong like you, to lead my family, and ultimately become a great family, I realized I can’t keep walking this path.”

“Then-.”

“The choice is mine anyway. I’ll manage somehow.”

Nia smiled seductively.

The fatal beauty possessed by dragon’s blood subtly pressured Manus.

Of course, she probably didn’t intend to.

Right.

The choice is one’s own, and the responsibility for that choice also falls on oneself.

But Manus didn’t forget.

The instigator must also take responsibility for their choice.

‘If any problems arise, I’ll have to take responsibility until the end.’

He hoped such a tragedy wouldn’t occur.

As the protagonist.

And as a beneficiary of the DLC story, he hoped things would turn out well.

2

The sun set, and night fell.

All preparations were complete, and now they just had to wait for the right time.

As they said, getting into the infirmary at night was really easy.

Nia, sitting there blankly, looked at the clock with a hollow laugh.

Manus, and Guillermo.

Both seemed far removed from fun and wit, quietly doing their own tasks.

Sigh-.

‘How did I end up in such a stiff party-.’

“We’re going in now.”

“Is this place really going to turn into a labyrinth?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Guillermo nodded, examining and tightening his shield.

Eyes full of anticipation.

Seeing the look in his eyes that yearned for struggle, Manus understood why he had been active in the original work.

Those with goals can adapt to any environment.

Everyone here had goals, big and small.

They would probably adapt well in the Tower too.

“Stay still.”

“Okay.”

Manus placed his hand on Nia’s shoulder.

He harmonized their mana and merged their presences into one.

Those entering from the entrance and those entering midway.

Before going in, Manus kindly instructed:

“The Tower is not a place to fight with all your might. Just keep that in mind.”

“Got it.”

3.

2.

1.

All time stopped, and the space where only they and the cursed ones lived arrived.

A space dyed in dark green opened like a gate.

As they stepped in, darkness enveloped the three.

Where would they wake up?

Manus faced the darkness with a resolute expression.

3

“Haa-. Nothing’s going right.”

[Groan-.]

Somewhere in the Tower.

Professor Mia gulped down the visible water bottle.

Didn’t Moris give it to her?

The magically treated thermal performance was certainly effective.

Her grand dream had been distorted.

If she hadn’t forcibly opened a gap and snuck in, she would have been caught helplessly.

She looked at the demon in front of her.

“I think I’ve completed it to this extent, but there’s no way to extract this.”

Should I send out some weaker children?

Moris.

Right, there was Moris.

“It might be better to just turn them into puppets and stack them up. Hmm-.”

She started making reagents while thinking various thoughts.

As long as she was alive, she could make any number of plans.

This Tower would continuously supply her with materials.

Suddenly, she thought of the Wanderer.

Although she hated it, if she did something with him, couldn’t she turn the situation around?

“No, what am I saying.”

Getting involved with that madman would not end well.

He seemed like an attention seeker only interested in inciting and increasing his influence, with no substance.

To get what she wanted, she’d have to make some kind of deal.

The Wanderer didn’t know that she had discovered this place a very long time ago.

He probably just thinks she’s holed up somewhere doing research.

She pondered where to procure the necessary materials.

“If I could just find one more clue, I could send out this pretty child-.”

At the end of her gaze, as she smiled quietly, was a huge and grotesque thing curled up.

A silhouette that could never be described as “pretty” by a normal person.

The already twisted woman did not have a normal perspective.

“Hehe, just wait a little longer.”

Now I can release you into the world and erase those filthy things.

Her laughter was like looking at a work of art.

However, what was at the end was nothing more or less than a terrible monster.

–TL Notes–
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