Chapter 62

062. Another Administrator (3)

Common Area.

A space created for interaction, exclusive to the challengers on certain floors.

In this space, even challengers from other countries, whom one could not meet in the Integrated Trials, could all gather.

Lee Sungjin, a challenger of the difficult difficulty who had just arrived at the 10th floor, was drawn by this fact and immediately entered the common area.

'If I can interact with other challengers... wouldn’t that be a complete win?'

The possibility of meeting challengers from other countries, whom he couldn’t meet even in the Integrated Trials, and gaining the attention of their administrators.

Lee Sungjin thought that this alone would be a significant advantage.

After all, when administrators took an interest, it became possible to receive patronage and trade of powers, so it would be better to at least leave an impression.

'Even if not, there are many ways to gain benefits...'

When he asked his contracted administrator about the advantages of the 10th floor common area, he heard various stories.

Auction houses, betting arenas, gambling places, and so on...

There were quite a few facilities, and one could gain significant benefits from them.

Because of this, he even canceled his original plan to return immediately and visited the common area.

However...

Perhaps because he was summoned to a deserted path slightly away from the common area, rather than directly to where people gathered?

"Are these guys all Korean hunters?"

The situation started to flow strangely from the moment he entered the common area.

"Yeah, they're all Korean hunters. Isn't that guy over there an A-rank hunter?"

"Wow, I always heard Korea was a hunter powerhouse, but they were helpless at the top, huh?"

"Those who said China was no good... they didn’t have anything else, did they? These guys are so infuriating..."

「Due to the unique characteristic 'Light of Weakness,' your mana consumption rate increases by 100%.」

「Due to the unique characteristic 'Territory Declaration,' all your stats decrease by 20%.」

「Due to the unique characteristic 'Eyes of Fear,' part of your body becomes paralyzed.」

The people summoned to the common area suddenly used various debuff abilities to seal Lee Sungjin's movements.

'What the hell...?'

Only then did Lee Sungjin clearly realize that something was wrong.

Out of the six people summoned, three of them suddenly activated their unique characteristics.

He had heard that one had to walk a bit to get to where other people gathered in the common area.

In other words, if a murder were to occur here, no one would know.

"...Wait, just a moment. What are you doing?"

Lee Sungjin, flustered, urgently asked the three challengers what they were doing, but...

"Who knows...? What are we doing? Think about it."

"You're Korean, right? You can't be unaware of what's happening, can you?"

"Haha, surely not. A Korean wouldn't be unaware of this."

Instead, the three of them sneered and smiled bitterly.

'Ah, this is bad...'

Lee Sungjin had been an A-rank hunter before being summoned to the tower.

Having survived countless life-threatening situations and seen the ugly side of hunters, he could clearly understand what was happening.

'Not even in a trial, and they're trying to plunder here...?'

They intended to kill him, take his items, or incapacitate him and achieve their goals.

As Lee Sungjin felt a chill run down his spine, a woman behind him spoke.

"Hey, from the language, you seem Chinese... Can you handle this? If you turn on the community function and tell others, you won't be safe."

Only then did Lee Sungjin recall that there was such a move, but it made no difference.

"Can you really spread the word through that community? Even if you can only tell people outside the tower, who knows if it's true or not?"

It was as if they were saying that it didn't matter if they killed him as long as it didn't cause problems outside.

"Well, but we don't have to kill you outright."

"..."

"If you put down all your items and do as we say, we might let one of you live."

"..."

With those words, the Chinese challengers' sinister gazes made Lee Sungjin frown deeply.

Even more so...

「Administrator 'Black Demon' is watching this situation with interest.」

「Administrator 'Glutton' tells the contractor to let go.」

「Administrator 'Black Demon' says the victim is at fault and laughs loudly.」

「Administrator 'Glutton' tells the contractor to avoid it somehow.」

Despite 'Glutton,' Lee Sungjin's contracted administrator, threatening the Chinese challengers' administrator, the situation couldn't be avoided.

'What should I do...?'

No matter how much he thought, Lee Sungjin couldn't come up with an answer.

The female challenger behind him, also terrified, took a step back.

She was certain she had encountered people who were not in their right minds.

"Let's disarm first and talk, shall we?"

Just as the Chinese challenger smiled slyly, another voice spoke.

"That might not be necessary."

A man in a black robe, who had been standing silently, finally spoke.

"..."

"That might not be necessary, I said."

"...Do you know what you just said?"

"Of course. I said there's no need to listen to threats from non-humans."

"...Haha. Interesting."

Of course, the Chinese challenger didn't look amused.

He just seemed irritated that someone dared to defy him in this situation.

He glanced at the other two and then spoke in a cold voice.

"I wonder if you'll still think that way after you're dead."

As the worst-case scenario he had imagined became reality, Lee Sungjin began to tense up.

'Is there no choice but to fight...!?!'

But at that moment, something unexpected happened.

Bang!

「The power 'Sword Qi Injury' is activated.」

「The skill 'Instant Acceleration' is activated.」

Swish!

"..."

In an instant, the Chinese challenger's head was severed by a blade.

By none other than the man in the black robe.

***

In fact, I had high hopes for the common area.

After all, it was a place where challengers gathered for purposes other than trials...

I believed it would be a place for proper interaction.

However...

'Another bunch like this... I'm sick of it.'

The situation was thoroughly ruined from the start, shattering my expectations.

I never imagined that challengers from other countries would attempt to plunder.

But beyond the disappointment, these foreign challengers were simply unpleasant.

Their sinister intentions to bully and toy with people were clearly revealed.

One of my main skills, 'Blessing of the Wind,' was on cooldown, but...

「The skill 'Forced Breakthrough' is activated.」

「The skill 'Anti-Demon Power' is activated.」

It was now laughable to face mere challengers like these, not even from another world.

「The effect of 100% increased mana consumption is removed.」

「The effect of 20% decreased stats is removed.」

「The paralysis effect on part of the body is removed.」

'Easy.'

All the debuffs that had been weighing him down disappeared, and vitality surged through his body.

「The power 'Sword Qi Injury' is activated.」

Swish!

In one swift move, he beheaded the leading Chinese challenger...

Then, using the Instant Acceleration skill more intensely, he lunged at the remaining two challengers.

"Y-You madman! Lightning Sp...!"

Swish!

The Chinese challenger who tried to activate a skill was split in two...

"H-Help! S-Save...!"

Crack!

The Chinese challenger who dropped his weapon to surrender was kicked with a foot.

He immediately rolled on the ground, showing signs of broken bones.

"Ugh...!"

The broken bones seemed to be piercing his insides, causing him considerable pain.

Tears streamed down his bloodshot eyes, making me feel disgusted.

They laughed when trying to kill others, but now they were crying as they themselves were dying...

Had they never thought they would receive the same treatment they had inflicted on others?

"Ugh... P-Please... J-Just once... L-Let me go..."

Of course, regardless of what he said, I approached the remaining Chinese challenger without hesitation and finished him off.

Thud.

"..."

Perhaps because I no longer felt anything...

「Achievement 'Fight Fire with Fire' unlocked.」

「Strength increases by 1.」

It was a bit disappointing that killing someone didn't have much meaning to me.

「Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Overlord' is pleased with the contractor's decisive actions.」

Of course, it seemed to be a refreshing experience for the Iron-Blooded Overlord.

After a brief moment of reflection, I absorbed the souls of the dead challengers.

「Player 'Xuan Wu Jin's soul absorbed.」

「Player 'Li Tian Jin's soul absorbed.」

「Player 'Nan Jin Xian's soul absorbed.」

「Proficiency increased by 6.4%.」

They weren't particularly strong, so the increase in proficiency wasn't significant...

But considering the items they had, it was a decent reward.

'Anyway, I wanted to test how powerful my sword qi is...'

Unfortunately, I fought these weaklings, so I couldn't gauge the full power of my ability.

'Well, another opportunity will come eventually.'

Whether in the tower or in reality, there would be plenty of opportunities to fight, and the enemies would be stronger.

For now, I put aside my regret and turned around.

Then...

"Um, are you a ranker...?"

The man who had been threatened with the Chinese challengers was looking at me.

His face showed surprise that the situation had been resolved so quickly.

"Ranker... I suppose I could be called that."

I had always been in the top 10 in the rankings, so it wasn't a stretch to call me a ranker.

"Is that so? It's an honor to meet you. Thank you for your help."

The man expressed his gratitude, and the woman behind him finally spoke.

"S-Sorry. I should have helped... But the fight ended faster than I thought..."

Of course, I had almost been killed by the Chinese challengers, so I didn't feel entitled to thanks.

"It's nothing."

I wasn't a saint or a hero who helped others out of the goodness of my heart.

'I just helped because I almost died too...'

These Chinese challengers had tried to plunder without thinking.

'They must have believed their debuff abilities would work...'

But they didn't work on me, which is why it ended this way.

"You can all go now."

"Huh? But, shouldn't we at least...?"

"It's fine. You can go. I don't need anything."

"Ah, okay..."

The woman seemed to want to do something, but...

Honestly, I didn't want anything from her, and it wouldn't have helped much anyway.

Just as I was about to approach the bodies of the Chinese challengers, a voice came from behind.

"Um, excuse me..."

I turned around to see the hesitant male challenger.

"You're still here?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

'What is it? I already said I don't need anything...'

Just as I wondered, the male challenger spoke.

"Um, about the reward..."

"I already said it's fine. You don't need to feel obligated."

"But, what about this?"

"..."

"Give me the bodies of these challengers."

"What...?"

I had just killed them all, and now he wanted the bodies?

I frowned, thinking it was a ridiculous request.

"That's a bit difficult..."

"I'll give you a power through the administrator."

"Alright."

The male challenger's eyes widened in surprise.

"R-Really?"

I was serious.

While other things might be negotiable, powers were a different matter.

To receive a power in exchange for these bodies?

It was good luck, not a bad deal.

'I can't refuse a power...'

「Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Overlord' is impressed by your quick change of stance.」

While the Iron-Blooded Overlord was impressed by my attitude, humans are like this.

"I'll take the power. But, tell me what kind of power it is. I'll decide what to do after hearing it."

At that moment...

「Administrator 'Glutton' smiles at your wisdom.」

「Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal' looks at you with interest.」

「Administrator 'Black Demon' finds your good fortune boring.」

'What is this?'

I was momentarily taken aback by the sudden messages.

More attention from administrators than I had expected.

But the more administrators pay attention, the more I can gain.

So, I remained calm and spoke.

"What do you think?"

The male challenger nodded, as if there was no other choice...

"I understand. The power I'll give you is..."

After hearing his explanation, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

Somehow, I had a feeling that I would gain a good power as soon as I entered the common area.