Chapter 52

052. Administrator (4)

'Apostle?'

Taken aback by the sudden proposal, I narrowed my eyes and looked at the Iron-Blooded Monarch.

Only then did she smile gently, as if about to explain, and began to speak.

"An administrator is a being subordinate to the tower. However, that doesn't mean an administrator can't gain anything."

"Then, do they receive special benefits?"

"It's a bit ambiguous... But yes, this can be considered a benefit. There are a few benefits, but the position of apostle is closely related to the challengers."

"Is the position of apostle a binding contract...?"

I asked, startled, and the Iron-Blooded Monarch shook her head.

"The position of apostle is merely a sponsorship relationship established through a contract with an administrator."

"Sponsorship...?"

"Through the contract, as the contracted challenger grows and ascends the tower, the administrator also receives benefits from the tower."

"Is that all? Are there no other conditions?"

"I'm not sure about the administrators, but the challengers have no conditions to bear. However, there is a common condition for both."

"......?"

"After making the apostle contract, you cannot make any other contracts with other challengers or administrators."

"Besides that, there are no other restrictions?"

"That's right."

It sounded reasonable.

The interview with the administrator and the purpose of the tower seemed to align.

It didn't feel like a hastily fabricated lie, but mostly like the truth.

Of course, it could be a deliberate deception, but I didn't think so.

If the tower, an enigmatic phenomenon, had wanted to deceive me, it would have done so long ago.

It felt more like something else.

'The position of apostle seems to be a way for the tower to help challengers grow...'

I had some doubts, but I couldn't disbelieve it.

So far, the tower had helped me grow and made me take on risks.

'The problem is whether this applies on a global scale...'

Nonetheless, it gave me some confidence that I wasn't being deceived at the moment.

"First, could you tell me what the 'sponsorship' mentioned in the apostle contract entails?"

"When a sponsorship contract is made, a 'private shop' opens where you can purchase special skills and abilities."

"And?"

"You can sponsor the special points used in the private shop, and you will receive special points whenever you overcome a trial."

"Hmm..."

"Well, there are a few minor things... But that's it. Other administrators' sponsorship contracts won't differ much from this."

"I see..."

Standing still, I slowly pondered.

Would it really be a problem to make this contract?

And...

'I won't be at a disadvantage, will I?'

I had that thought, but it didn't seem like I would be at a disadvantage.

The tower had always given me rewards commensurate with my efforts.

'The interview with the administrator is already a sufficient reward, so this shouldn't be a loss.'

I quickly came to a conclusion and looked at the Iron-Blooded Monarch.

"Can I meet other administrators?"

"It's impossible. Well, you might be able to meet them later..."

"So, it's impossible for now."

"That's right."

After a brief moment of thought, I nodded.

"I'll make the contract."

It didn't seem like a lie, and I didn't want to throw myself into something uncertain.

I didn't want to avoid making a contract just to meet other administrators.

"You're quick to decide. Do you trust me?"

"Since you said you're subordinate to the tower."

The personal interview was also arranged by the tower.

'Since it was prepared for the vanguard, the probability of it being a lie is low.'

The Iron-Blooded Monarch narrowed her eyes, as if sensing my thoughts.

"Hmm... You're smarter than I thought. Or is it that you have good intuition?"

The Iron-Blooded Monarch licked her lips sensually and said,

"I can't let a challenger with good abilities and a strong heart slip away."

Her gaze seemed to be that of a predator eyeing its prey, but...

I maintained a calm demeanor.

"Are we making the contract?"

"Yes, from now on, I will sponsor you."

At that moment,

"Would you like to make a sponsorship contract?"

There was no hesitation.

I then pressed 'Accept' at the bottom of the contract message...

"The contract has been established."

"A private shop for the contractee has opened, and you can use SP (Special Points)."

"You are the first contractee of Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Monarch'."

"As a special benefit for the first contractee, all your stats have increased by +1."

Messages quickly appeared, filling my vision.

'So, this is what a contract is like...'

Looking further down, I saw that all my stats had increased by 1 as a special benefit for being the first contractee.

'She said I can't make any other contracts with other challengers or administrators after making this one...'

Seeing the content of the special benefit, it seemed that the contract would be nullified if the challenger died.

Right then,

"The interview with the administrator has ended."

"You will be moved to the waiting room shortly."

The message appeared, and the Iron-Blooded Monarch frowned, as if not wanting to let me go.

"Hmm... It seems we're out of time."

Her tone suggested disappointment, but there seemed to be no solution.

"It was enjoyable, vanguard. See you later."

Before I could respond, the scenery around me changed instantly.

"You have entered the waiting room on the 8th floor."

"......"

The dream-like moment ended, and I felt a sense of strangeness returning to a familiar place.

The rumor that after the 20th floor of the Trial Tower, I would compete with challengers from other worlds felt like a mirage.

'Really, did I make a contract with an administrator...?'

However...

"Private shop."

"Contractee's private shop"

"SP - 1,000"

"Category: Skills"

"Category: Abilities"

"Category: Items"

"Contractee: Iron-Blooded Monarch"

"Note: You are the first contractee of Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Monarch'."

"It wasn't a dream after all..."

Opening the contractee's private shop, the dream-like feeling quickly disappeared.

'I really did make a contract with an administrator...'

The sensation of being immersed in a bubble finally woke me up.

"......"

Everything is real.

Meeting the Iron-Blooded Monarch and making a contract with her are real.

Also...

'Challengers from other worlds will invade, which is also true.'

The Iron-Blooded Monarch said that when invading other worlds, you can steal rewards.

This means that challengers from other worlds will gradually increase.

"Damn..."

I sighed deeply and then turned my eyes to the private shop.

My mind was complex, and I had talked about competing with challengers from other worlds, but...

In fact, there wasn't a significant change for me right away.

'Nothing has changed.'

Climbing the Trial Tower was already determined.

I was prepared to meet interdimensional challengers during the process.

So, what should I do is also clear, isn't it?

"Opening the 'Category: Abilities' in the contractee's private shop."

'I need to get stronger first.'

To the point where I can overpower any challenger from other worlds.

"Category: Abilities"

"List (1/3)"

"Ability: Clear Mind (C-)"

"Ability: Steel Soul (A+)"

"Ability: Winter King (D+)"

"There are fewer abilities than I thought."

Seeing only three abilities, I clicked my tongue.

Abilities are the powers the tower offered to give a halo on the 8th floor.

Well, what I got from the halo was precisely a 'unique ability,' so it's a bit different.

Nonetheless, they are the same abilities.

'I thought there would be more useful abilities than skills...'

But most of the abilities didn't have very high ranks.

The 'unique ability' I originally got on the 8th floor had no rank, but the abilities in the shop had ranks.

'Is there a difference between unique abilities and regular abilities?'

Before checking the performance, I tried to flip through the list to see other items, but...

"You do not have the authority to view the ability list (2/3)."

"You can view the ability list (2/3) from the 10th floor waiting room."

"What...?"

The list viewing was stopped as if it wouldn't be allowed.

Then I saw the text below the ability category.

"(!) The ability list can be filled through sponsorship and transactions with other administrators."

"(!) The initial abilities provided are only those of the contracted administrator."

"(!) You can only view the abilities in the list (1/3)."

'So, if I don't go higher, I can't view more abilities?'

I thought it was a strange restriction, but there was nothing I could do.

After all, the restrictions on the 'contractee's private shop' are set by the tower.

However, seeing that the ability list can be filled through sponsorship and transactions with other administrators, it seems there is a way to break the restriction.

"Is there a way to make a transaction with another administrator...?"

I was curious, but it was useless for now.

'Question tokens and abilities...'

The tower's attitude was as if it wouldn't give them unless I climbed higher.

It was as if the tower was saying, "If you want to get stronger, don't stay down there, climb up quickly."

"......"

I would have brushed it off as nothing before, but now I finally understood.

'The tower wants challengers to climb higher.'

The fact that the worlds connected to the Trial Tower must compete is also because of this.

It's clear that the tower makes it impossible to hold out unless someone climbs higher.

'Why?'

I didn't know.

"If you want to know everything, you have to climb the tower..."

The tower was skillfully luring me as I climbed higher, with the desire to get stronger or the desire to know the truth...

If there's something you want to know, the tower is telling you to climb up quickly.

"Ultimately, since there's no way to solve it, I have to think positively...?"

Anyway, if I climb the tower, I can get everything I want.

So, it's more rational to respond to its intentions rather than being frustrated without a plan.

I started to look at the abilities before entering the 8th floor.

"Ability: Clear Mind (C-)"

"Price: 1,000 SP"

"Description: You can make rational judgments in any situation. Negative status effects like anger and confusion are halved during battles."

'Not bad, not good.'

It's a skill that's like an upper-level version of a mental resistance skill.

It makes rational judgments possible and reduces negative status effects like anger and confusion during battles.

In other words, it enhances your composure and makes mental attacks ineffective during battles.

'But it doesn't directly increase combat power.'

I hadn't experienced much of that kind of situation, so it didn't seem necessary.

"Ability: Steel Soul (A+)"

"Price: 6,500 SP"

"Description: The soul of rulers who were said to have no blood or tears. The skill proficiency growth rate for all weapon types increases by 2.32 times. New weapon skills start with 10% proficiency."

"Wow..."

It was a powerful ability that directly increased combat power.

Not only does the skill proficiency growth rate increase by 2.32 times, but new weapon skills start with 10% proficiency.

'I had already maxed out my dagger skills...'

Considering that you get 10% proficiency when combining new skills, it was quite attractive.

However...

'I don't have enough SP.'

With only 1,000 SP, I couldn't buy it.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I then checked the last remaining ability.

"Ability: Winter King (D+)"

"Price: 800 SP"

"Description: An ability often obtained by rulers of the north. Your stats temporarily increase in cold environments, and you don't get hurt by the cold."

"A bit ambiguous...?"

But the remaining ability wasn't very good either.

It was somewhat related to increasing combat power, but...

Your stats only increase in cold environments, and you don't get hurt by the cold?

'It's a kind of immunity, but it's not very versatile.'

This also didn't seem very appealing.

'What should I buy...?'

After checking all the abilities, I closed my eyes and pondered.

Even if I can't get everything, it's right to get something I can.

'This one is the best...'

With that judgment, I opened my eyes and made my decision.