Episode 36: Tower of Strife (1)
Hertia marveled at Lucifer’s transcendent foresight.
‘He foresaw everything.’
Sensing killing intent toward Lucifer, she and Caligo impulsively manifested.
Though Lucifer disliked plans going awry, their concern for his safety led to the worst outcome—Caligo being taken by Theo.
‘How foolish of me…’
Yet, Lucifer remained unshaken, subduing Theo effortlessly.
‘Not only Theo, but he even predicted this vermin’s presence.’
When Lucifer ordered her and Caligo to scout the surroundings while he spoke with Theo alone, Hertia was puzzled.
All she heard were animal cries and wind—what was there to scout?
But, as expected of Lucifer, a human was lurking.
‘He foresaw it all—Theo’s arrival, our manifestation, even this rat’s existence.’
The man in the forest held a massive camera, over a kilometer away.
Hertia wouldn’t have noticed him if he hadn’t shifted slightly.
She immediately relayed this to Oh Hyun-woo—Lucifer.
“Master, I found a suspicious person.”
- Suspicious person?
“Some rat’s spying on you.”
After a brief pause, Lucifer issued orders.
- Reveal yourself to him.
“Is that alright?”
- It’s better here. But don’t reveal you’re my summon.
“Understood.”
Following Lucifer’s command, Hertia approached the man from behind as he peered through his camera.
“A little rat sneaking around?”
At her voice, the informant Min Kang-hoon turned, sweating, and saw Hertia.
His legs gave out as he realized she was indeed Witch of the Apocalypse.
“What were you doing? Daring to spy on me?”
Min Kang-hoon trembled.
From afar, it was just suspicion, but her oppressive aura confirmed it—this was the Witch of the Apocalypse.
“You spied on my domain without permission. What price will you pay? Your eyes enough?”
“You think I’m scared?!”
As Min Kang-hoon shouted and tried to summon, Hertia leaned in close.
“I’ve memorized your face. Think carefully before summoning. If it’s an elf, your eyes won’t be enough.”
At her whisper, Min Kang-hoon’s pants dampened.
He dropped everything and fled the forest.
“Arghhh!”
Watching him run, Hertia sent another message.
“He fled, leaving his gear. Should I pursue and finish him?”
- No need to chase if he left his stuff. Secure it carefully.
“Yes!”
***
I’ll admit, I was a bit rattled.
I’d felt odd stares but wondered if I was being paranoid.
The Adventurer Management Association even issued a no-entry notice for this area.
But preparing in advance paid off—this guy was clearly tailing me.
“Master, here. All his gear.”
A hiking bag and a telephoto camera.
He came fully equipped for long-range surveillance.
‘Pretty professional, but he must’ve been terrified to leave even the camera.’
I’d be shaking too if Hertia glared at me like that.
I checked the camera’s data.
It was too dark for clear details, but Hertia’s silhouette was caught in the moonlight.
Theo and Caligo’s outlines were faintly visible, obscured by fog.
With precise analysis, though, they could be identified.
‘Definitely tailing me. He’s been filming since before I entered the forest.’
Photos from a convenience store and the Tower of Strife were there too.
I pulled the SD card from the camera.
This mana surge zone disrupts electronics, and this model has no spare SD slot, so I’ve likely secured all the data.
‘Now, who’s digging into me? I have a guess.’
I rummaged through the bag and found the rat’s business card and ID.
‘Deathside Guild member, Min Kang-hoon.’
A quick portal site search pulled up info.
‘Recently active in the Floor 90 strategy team…’
Part of the top strategy team, so he’s likely a big deal in the guild.
Deathside tailing me, huh…
‘They were probably at that secret major guild meeting.’
Deathside might’ve even organized it.
Acting alone without other guilds’ cooperation suggests they’re the most aggressive in targeting the Unknown Adventurer.
“Anything else suspicious?”
“Nothing found.”
“Got it.”
“What should we do with this? If you command, I can burn it all.”
Hyun-woo paused to think.
Burning it felt wasteful, but scheming with it seemed pointless—it was a dilemma.
As he pondered how to use it, Caligo squeezed between him and Hertia, sniffing the air.
“This smell…”
“Caligo, your antics are familiar, but this is unsightly. Have you finally become a beast?”
Despite Hertia’s jab, Caligo didn’t snap back.
He grabbed the bag, sniffing intently, then shoved his head inside.
“Master, this mutt in heat should be dealt with.”
At that moment—
“Sage! I found it!”
My brow furrowed instantly.
I hadn’t ordered Caligo to find anything.
Still, he seemed to have discovered something, so I nodded.
“Speak.”
“This rat’s bag reeks of vampire rot.”
Vampires? Why would their stench be on a spy’s bag?
It could be from materials they dropped, but Caligo’s reaction suggested it wasn’t that simple.
“What exactly did you smell?”
“Karmar de Demeter Lavle… that fool’s stench.”
I quickly grabbed Min Kang-hoon’s bag.
‘This needs more investigation.’
Looks like I’ve stumbled onto something big.
***
I returned home from Inje County early in the morning.
Having summoned Theo, there was no reason to stay, and I had things to look into.
‘The Deathside rat’s bag smelling of Karmar Demeter Lavle…’
A connection between Deathside and vampires?
This wasn’t something to brush off.
Back when Legend Seven was just a game, vampires were sealed in their domain by the end of Episode 4, poisoned by none other than Caligo.
I thought they were fully contained, but they showed up in the Tower and now seem to be meddling on Earth.
‘If Karmar’s involved, it explains why they’re tailing me.’
Karmar knows I have Hertia and Caligo as summons.
Deathside’s pursuit might be an attempt to find a weakness, tipped off by him.
‘By now, Deathside’s probably confirmed Hertia’s presence.’
But it’s fine—they have no proof.
Even if they spread rumors about Hertia, it won’t matter much.
A baseless claim like “The Unknown Adventurer controls episode villains!” is less believable than tying it to Episode 8’s lore.
‘Is Min Kang-hoon the only one linked to Karmar, or is it all of Deathside?’
Why is Karmar interfering outside the Tower?
I’ll need to keep a closer eye on Deathside.
“How slow! Hertia, I told you to find more praise for the Sage!”
“…Wait. I’m still not used to this world’s language… Un, known, Adven, turer… where’s the ‘U’?”
“Ugh, typical elves. Can’t keep up with change.”
My thoughts were interrupted.
Hertia and Caligo, hogging the computer since we got home, were scouring articles and community reactions about me.
“Move! This is how you search!”
Caligo confidently typed, but grumbled when the results didn’t load properly.
“Typical human junk. Utterly useless.”
“Master, we should focus on carving your name in the Tower,” Hertia added.
…Yeah, no need to dwell on unsolvable problems.
Focusing on my growth is more productive.
“Alright, let’s move today.”
“We’ll prepare and return.”
As Hertia and Caligo left, I sat at the computer to check the major guild alliance’s progress.
Caligo’s leftover search term caught my eye.
⌕Achievements of Lusper
‘Caligo… were you trying to search for Lucifer’s achievements?’
Those two are still far from adapting to this world.
***
The top 10 guild alliance’s Tower climb seemed smooth.
While I was setting up Theo, they’d reached the verge of Floor 100.
After taking three days for Floor 96, they cleared 97 in a day and 99 in two.
‘Were they slacking before, or did they get outside help? Either way, pathetic.’
Struggling past Floor 94, yet suddenly speeding up—did they take some miracle drug?
Of course, I cleared Floors 91 to 99 in two days, breaking every record.
This created a rivalry narrative: the rookie from a fledgling management company versus the veteran major guilds.
The public loves It.
“Hyun-woo-nim, it seems they’ve already started countering us. The items you requested might take time to secure.”
“They’re coming on strong.”
The Gale set to boost Theo’s strengths and an artifact to enhance his abilities—essential for his tricky setup.
Problem is, the biggest supplier is a major guild.
Thanks to Ascend and Radiance’s efforts, I got a slightly lower-grade set, but it’s done.
“And the strategy videos for Floors 40 and up you sent last time…”
Son Tae-ha briefed me on the video distribution and In-soo’s growth.
I nodded and spoke.
“Good work. I’ll get going now.”
“Heading for Floor 100?”
“Yes. The episode update’s near, and since it’s a competition, I intend to win.”
The guild alliance set out last night, but I’m not worried.
Floor 100 isn’t easy.
Episode 7’s theme is speed.
Without meticulous setup, you’re always outpaced, making it notoriously brutal.
Given the guilds’ setup level, they’re probably getting pummeled.
I’m fully prepared, though.
With Hertia, Caligo, and Theo, failing would be harder.
“Safe travels.”
With Son Tae-ha’s send-off, I headed to the Tower.
I must claim the first Floor 100 clear title.
Partly to prove myself to the Seven Sins, but also…
‘I can’t stand losing.’
《Entering Floor 100 of the Tower of Strife: Endless Afterimage.》