Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Steel Tower (8)

#46

『You defeated Rudel Asberg the lower executive of the Abyss!』

The fight was messy but the death is clean.

Rudel’s body accurately split in half collapsed to both sides.

Steam was rising softly over the organs that poured from the cut surface.

『Amazing achievement! You achieved victory against an opponent much stronger than yourself!』

『You overcame chill that surpasses the body’s limit. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『All stats increase!』

『The growth speed of cold damage resistance greatly increases!』

Suddenly golden messages rose one after another.

Whether because he caught a strong enemy not matching the level the reward was substantial.

The always pleasant all-stat increase.

Cold resistance was also a resistance with high general-purpose usability no less than flame.

‘Now if I just get lightning resistance it would be perfect. Become the nightmare of spell casters.’

In the end having immunity to all attribute damage was Bran’s goal.

Beyond immunity to all poisons immunity to all attributes. Doesn’t the chest pound just hearing it?

Anyway since he obtained intangible income now it was time to collect material rewards.

“Old man. I’ll take this.”

Actually the item that could be obtained from Rudel was only one.

Bending his waist Bran pulled out one ring from the middle finger of his left hand.

A ring with a white gem embedded in the center.

Along with cool chill it contained an indescribable ominous energy.

『Caution! You acquired equipment contaminated with the energy of the Outer Sea.』

『If worn by one without resistance continuous damage is received.』

How ominous that even a type of notification seen for the first time rose.

At the same phenomenon as when obtained in the game Bran smacked his lips.

‘Hmm. As expected can’t use it right away?’

It seemed purification work was needed.

Because if worn by one without resistance the performance is not properly displayed either.

Of course if just that process is gone through since it is a really decent item there was sufficient value to collect it.

Putting the ring in his pocket Bran giggled satisfactorily.

“Quite substantial.”

Well if there is conscience this much had to be given.

Not enough that he did freediving from a height of hundreds of meters and had a life-and-death match with a crazy Santa Claus.

At the tension that loosened late Bran sighed.

“······I was lucky.”

The Rudel fight ended much faster than expected.

Considering his own specs honestly it was no different from eating for free.

As expected the number one contributor is fall damage.

The strategy of Return Road of first pushing if there is a cliff around and the enemy has no wings worked.

Although I also fell together.

‘Only that crazy woman Silien remains.’

Now it has really almost arrived.

Whether because Rudel was busy with his own survival he seemed to have forgotten even ringing the alarm device.

Since he secured even the Magic Central Control Device the remaining goal is truly only Silien.

If he eliminates that psycho and rescues the hostages Valkeros could avoid tragedy.

Just as Bran who briefly caught his breath was about to proceed to the next work.

“Bran! Are you here?! If alive answer!”

“Hiiik. Corpses all around···!”

Familiar double window was heard from somewhere.

Bran’s eyes widened. Not that far.

The clattering footsteps were gradually getting closer.

Soon Ilark and Kale popped out from beyond the corner.

“F-found! There!”

“Uwaang! You were alive!”

“You guys.”

Bran’s eyes widened.

Kale who was wedged like a bag in Ilark’s side hurriedly landed on the floor.

Both were covered in blood and oil from head to toe.

Bang! Ilark who approached with one leap tightly hugged Bran.

“Bad bastard, I was worried!”

“Kuek!”

“A-are you okay? No place hurt?”

Kale grabbed Bran’s face with both hands.

Truly small hands. Hot tears were flowing while melting the blood stuck on the cheeks.

“I’m fine. Fine but···.”

Barely detaching his face from Ilark’s embrace Bran asked back while flustered.

“Why are you guys here? The upper floor?”

“I swept everything! The moment you took that old man and fell the body suddenly became light?”

“L-Lady Rawiena’s power mostly returned too.”

“······You caught all of that?”

“Yes! Cleared without leaving even one mouse. Amazing right?”

Ilark smiled proudly.

Losing words Bran was dumbfounded as is.

No matter that Morning’s Blessing normalized this was too fast.

Even before shutting down the golems.

‘A bit scary. Did they even level up.’

It was clear that specs grew in the Steel Tower.

Thinking about it although notification windows do not appear, these guys would also be going through a process similar to himself while stats rise and skills are acquired.

Like when Kale learned Sanctuary.

Then, Ilark who late confirmed Rudel’s corpse let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha, in the end eliminated.”

“A-amazing···.”

Kale also shivered while shrinking his shoulders.

Sincere awe was condensed in the two’s eyes.

Bran tilted his head.

“What. You came without even knowing this is Rudel?”

“Uung. That··· just because Bran is alive. Just that was so happy···.”

“Me too. I didn’t even know it was there.”

Ilark shrugged.

This was a bit shocking.

Even after being hit like that by Rudel to think they worried about my safety first.

Originally it was a situation to scold saying what if it was a trap, where did you leave your mind and go around but that seemed it could be postponed a bit later.

It was not a time to care about things like level.

Slowly raising his arms Bran hugged the two.

“You worked hard.”

And said containing sincerity.

In fact it was no different from a miracle.

This spec party cleared the 3rd floor and the Rudel fight without anyone dying.

Although experience as a player is experience, it was a result achieved because the remaining two supported well.

“But you have to work hard a bit more. Because Silien is much stronger than this old man.”

However it was still early to be glad.

Because the strongest enemy remained up there.

Finishing the hug Bran looked at the two alternately.

“Do you guys remember the precautions I said?”

“Yes.”

“Of course! Because the head is bad I memorized while even taking notes.”

Kale and Ilark nodded at the same time.

Judging from the resolute expressions it seemed there was no need to worry.

The three who finished the discussion looked up at the Magic Central Control Device at the same time.

[Number 11 moving.]

[Number 38 needs refueling.]

[Number 44 minor damage.]

Even though the control panel was broken Silien’s masterpiece was operating normally.

The moment this is touched it would enter the final battle with her who is the final boss of the Steel Tower.

Honestly the outlook is not good.

The win rate is single digits no matter how optimistically caught.

Nevertheless the reason challenging is, because it is work someone has to do.

“Then doing it.”

Gripping the sword hilt Bran moved his steps toward the control device.

****

“I cannot accept that proposal.”

Leodorn shook his head.

Beyond the window installed behind his back cumulus clouds were passing.

He was in the middle of discussing while facing Silien for several hours in the conference room at the top of the Steel Tower.

“Uaa··· so firm. I listened to everything the director said so far.”

“That and this are different stories.”

So far almost only Leodorn was talking.

Although there was a feeling of sorry because this was the first time she proposed something there was no choice.

It has to be ordinary nonsense.

Silien tilted her head.

“Exactly which part is not to your liking?”

“Leaving liking and not liking it is originally a matter that does not make sense. Asking to send cargo whose contents are not even known throughout the empire.”

Even thinking again it was dumbfounded.

Silien asked to move specific cargo throughout the empire using the distribution network of the White Silver Song merchant group.

With the condition of not revealing what the cargo is, and not inspecting.

Instead her proposal was to pay more than double the usual cost.

“But the compensation is definitely paid though? The former management director Chloe readily accepted.”

“That woman was not in her right mind. To forget the basics of White Silver Song because blinded by gold.”

Leodorn stood up from his seat.

“Money is not everything. You cannot operate a merchant group with gold alone. Unless there is a coachman called trust the carriage does not move forward.”

“Can you not trust me?”

“As of now yes.”

It was natural that trust does not go.

Although he pointed out the point that suspiciously much material gathers to the Steel Tower, the point that Bran who met that side became strange Silien only smiled while pretending not to hear.

He did not know that the renowned chief magic engineer would be this insidious person.

“Hing··· disappointed. I want to maintain a good relationship with the White Silver Song merchant group.”

“I am the same. I do not know what circumstances there are but I hope you do not deviate from the right path. Did you not receive the teachings of the great Blue Magic Tower.”

“What great. It’s all fools.”

Silien muttered as if whispering.

Leodorn raised an eyebrow.

“Mm? What did you say just now?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Hmm··· I must have heard wrong.”

“Seems so. Anyway since you refused the proposal my chest hurts.”

Sighing she took out some bundle from under the table.

“Then will you at least accept my gift?”

“···Uum?”

Something the size of a watermelon was wrapped in luxurious silk.

Leodorn shook his head.

“I do not accept bribes.”

“Regrettable. Then at least look what it is. That’s okay right?”

“Huu··· understood. If just looking···..”

Leodorn inevitably accepted.

If even this is refused it was not etiquette as an invited guest.

The face of the chief magic engineer would also be hurt.

When lifting the silk one glass bottle was revealed.

A bottle filled with yellowish liquid.

The moment confirming that content, Leodorn’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Hueeek!”

Bang! The chair fell backward.

Staggering up Leodorn backed away while clutching his chest.

A pinkish brain was floating in the glass bottle.

“Tada.”

Silien smiled brightly.

Leodorn who took several deep breaths barely opened his mouth.

“W-what kind of act is this on earth?! With what intention that kind of thing···!”

“Oh. You don’t recognize it? Still I heard you were quite close until the relationship went wrong.”

“What is that···”

Even before Leodorn finished the words.

At the same time as Silien turned the bottle with an elegant gesture, the writing written on the surface revealed itself.

[Chloe Jivitz]

The name of the former White Silver Song management director.

Leodorn’s face froze pale.

“She was a truly useless woman. I put in all kinds of effort and pulled her to our side, but she only did nonsense and got ousted from the position.”

“Th-that is Chloe? Wasn’t she the one who died on the way to prison?”

“I diverted her on the way of being transferred and brought her to the Steel Tower. I couldn’t bear to see the appearance of her living well in prison. Until she became this appearance she spat out a lot of information.”

After this threat ends she was thinking of making it into a golem’s core.

Chloe right before death was in a state of experiencing most of the pain a human can experience while alive.

The torture Leodorn suffered would not even feel like a child’s play.

Silien smiled.

“And one of the things I found out from that information is··· that Director Leodorn is a human so capable that he cannot be compared to this woman.”

“Huff··· hueeuk.”

“Help us Leodorn. I’ll let you enjoy wealth and honor that humans cannot even imagine.”

In this case mental domination magic was useless.

Not only is the duration short but he was a person who had to use his head.

Rather than leaving unnecessary aftereffects it was better to pull him to our side completely.

“I-I···.”

Leodorn stammered.

Although scary enough to die the answer he had to give was decided.

Just as the one word of get out was about to come out of his throat.

“Si-Silien! Big trouble!”

Bang! Suddenly the door of the conference room was flung open and some man rushed in.

A tall middle-aged man.

The point of calling Silien casually was surprising but more surprising was his face.

Leodorn’s eyes widened round.

“My god. Lord?!”

He was none other than Lord Rohart of Valkeros.

Although the frivolous tone or light attire was completely different from the lord, anyway the face matched perfectly.

Silien tightly closed her eyes.

“···Don’t you see that a meeting is going on now?”

“E-emergency! I didn’t come for nothing! I think you have to see!”

“Haaaa··· sorry director. I’ll be right back.”

Silien who raised her body followed the fake lord.

Veins were bulging over the smooth forehead.

Anyway there is nothing helpful.

After this matter ends she should kill him or something.

The fake lord who came out to the corridor pointed outside the window with his index finger.

“Th-there! Below!”

“No. What on earth is there···.”

Looking down outside the window Silien froze.

“······Eh?”

New model golems were collapsing one after another.

Soldiers and passersby nearby were backing away in shock.

“Uwaak! What’s going on?!”

“B-be careful!”

The collapsing golems were all individuals that would be used in tomorrow’s big event.

Silien’s face contorted.

“W-why?!”

Although screams were being heard from various places in the city, that was nothing more than trivial noise less than one ten-thousandth of the scream she intended.

The level of “Startled!” “Surprised, why is this can suddenly like this?!”

Looking down at the city she muttered.

“Research institute.”

First the situation had to be grasped.

The case where all golems’ operation stops at once is only when the central control device on the 4th floor of the secret laboratory is touched.

What on earth is Rudel doing.

Tsaaaa···!

Mana that reacted to anger was gathering to her feet.

At the appearance of the robe fluttering even though no wind was blowing, the fake lord was shocked.

“Hiiik.”

Even breathing is hard.

Silien Rua.

An existence that was a member of the Blue Magic Tower before being an executive of the Abyss.

Not only in the Steel Tower but in Valkeros there is no one who can oppose her.

“Contact the research institute.”

“A-understood!”

Saying that Silien moved her steps.

The nearest elevator was in the audience chamber.

Bang! Silien who flung the door open with only a gesture stood in front of the lord exclusive elevator.

1st floor...2nd floor...3rd floor...top floor.

Soon it was the moment the elevator door opened left and right.

Boooooooo-!!!

Along with an intense explosion Silien’s body was bounced.

“Keuk!”

The front of the eyes shook. She who flew a distance of over twenty steps landed while doing a somersault.

When the vision corrected the outline of a familiar boy revealed itself.

Silien’s eyes widened round.

“······!”

“As expected this doesn’t work.”

Bran clicked his tongue.

A translucent silver membrane was wrapping her while rippling.

As expected different from the likes of Rudel. It was basic magic that protects mages.

Silien’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“You did it.”

“It became like that.”