CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: EVELYN EVERNIGHT [1]

[Announcement to everyone, the 21st floor will be opened in 1 minute.]

[Get ready.]

There was no one who wasn’t looking up at the giant countdown clock in the sky.

That was only natural, it was too attention-grabbing.

And then, just like what they did when the 20th floor was about to open, everyone started counting down.

"59!"

"58!"

"57!"

...

It was really ear-piercing.

Kael hated it.

But no matter how tightly he covered his ears, his eardrums were still being tortured miserably.

Hans, who was beside him, had to shout so that Kael could hear what he was saying.

"Kael, what’s our plan on the 21st floor?"

Plan?

"Why are you asking that?"

He widened his eyes.

"Why shouldn’t I ask? Aren’t we going together?"

"Going together?"

Kael raised his eyebrows.

But then, a thought flashed through his mind.

It seemed like he had forgotten to tell Hans something important.

"Why didn’t you say anything? So, what’s our plan?"

Feeling a little guilty, Kael gave a very forced smile.

"Just wait until the countdown timer reaches zero and you’ll know."

"Huh?"

He was completely speechless because of his friend.

For some reason, he always kept it all from Hans, only answering his questions when things were almost over.

Just like with Caster.

It wasn’t until the final day that Kael revealed that the kid was Doom Bringer.

Why?

’Is it because Kael still doesn’t truly trust me?’

That was what he had in mind, not knowing that he was wrong.

"Whatever."

Feeling his brain heavy, the protagonist turned his attention to the giant countdown clock in the sky.

He was quite curious, wondering what Kael’s words meant.

[3.]

[2.]

[1.]

[0.]

[The 21st floor has officially opened.]

[The 21st floor is a special floor.]

"Huh? Special?"

[Because only one person can enter.]

At that moment, all the noise seemed to have evaporated from this world.

Everyone, including Hans, and except for Kael, were glued to the notification that had just popped up.

Just like the system said, it was truly special.

In the entire history of the Tower, this was the first time that only one person could participate in a floor’s mission.

But the question now was who would be the one to go to the 21st floor.

Fortunately, the system did not keep the information secret, not sharing it with anyone.

Unlike someone.

Hans glanced at Kael - who still looked quite carefree.

[And that person was none other than the MVP of the 20th floor.]

[Climber - Kael Draven.]

Murmurs began to appear and spread, no one knew who this Kael Draven was.

Except for the protagonist.

He slowly turned towards him, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, only to be met with a smile as if he had predicted everything from Kael.

"From the start?"

A question that was really hard to understand.

But somehow, Kael could still answer.

"Yeah."

"Will you be okay? This time, you’ll have to act alone, without any help."

"Are you looking down on me, Hans?"

He let out a helpless laugh.

"Don’t forget who’s the MVP on the 20th floor. Besides, I have [Authority of Gluttony] with me."

Even though Kael said that, the protagonist’s anxiety had not lessened in the slightest.

Realizing this, he placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I’ll be fine, don’t worry too much. While I’m dealing with the 21st floor, you should spend some time with your family."

"...Alright."

"Good boy." He stroked his hair, making it messy.

It felt like a father was saying goodbye to his child.

"Teleport."

Kael said, and then disappeared from the first floor.

The last thing he heard before disappearing was Hans and the system’s wishes for good luck.

***

Floor 21.

Atlas Academy.

It was a top academy in a country called Voidveil.

It gathered genius students from all over the world, regardless of their family background, and the descendants of powerful and wealthy families.

There were two ways to enter this academy.

One was that the person had to be a genius in using magic.

And the other was money.

Yes, this academy gathered everyone from slaves, serfs, commoners, nobles, and descendants of royalty, without missing a single one.

And as a matter of course, commoners and nobles cannot coexist.

Atlas Academy, in addition to being known as the world’s best academy, also had another nickname that only insiders knew.

Hell for commoners.

***

[Welcome Climber - Kael Draven, to the 21st floor.]

[Your mission is to protect this world from the Rust Seraph.]

[Time limit is 1 month.]

[Time until the Rust Seraph appears: 2 weeks.]

"..."

It was morning.

But for some reason, the sky was covered with dark clouds, unusually gloomy.

Cold drops of water continuously poured down from above, and it seemed to be getting heavier.

’Damn it... why is it raining?’

Kael didn’t really hate the rain, but based on what he understood, rain meant something bad was happening, or about to happen.

’But before that, let’s confirm my location first.’

He started glancing around the surroundings.

’Um, it’s obvious.’

He had no idea where the hell he was. It seemed like the situation was pretty bad, because he was lost.

All he could see were trees and trees, not a single building.

Perhaps Kael’s current location was in a forest?

And it seemed that within Atlas Academy, there was a forbidden forest where many Tower Creatures existed, where students could only enter with the professor’s permission.

"...Wait."

So did that mean he was trapped in the forbidden forest?

"That can’t be right?"

That could be.

Other than that forbidden forest, Kael truly couldn’t remember any other forest in Atlas Academy.

"...Am I going to die?"

He asked himself.

"Nah."

Then replied.

Suddenly, at that moment, from afar, he heard the laughter of many people mixed together.

"Hahahaha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Kael didn’t know who the owners of that laughter were, but one thing he was sure of, it wasn’t the laughter of a good person.

’There are bad people here? Fuck.’

Curious, he ran towards the source.

The closer he got, the louder the laughter became.

It sounded extremely disgusting, to the point that it felt as if hundreds of wasps were buzzing inside his ear.

And when he was only a certain distance away, he began to hear human voices.

"From the depths of the ocean, I summon the waves! Form and strike, lash the air with the whip of the deep!"

’Wait, that’s not talking.’

"Ice of the mountains, rise from the earth! Form into a spike, sharp as a thousand frozen blades, and strike down my enemies!"

That’s the sound of someone performing magic!