[21F, Card Kingdom]
'What the fuck is she doing here?'
My internal monologue screamed, but my body moved on instinct. My [Black Lotus] robe, enhanced with the [Faint Presence] effect, wrapped around me. I didn't just hide; I erased my existence from the narrative of the plaza.
Chae Nayun was too busy arguing with her party member—a knight who looked like he'd crawled out of a generic fantasy novel—to notice the slight distortion in the air ten meters away.
I slipped past them, my heart pounding a rhythm I refused to acknowledge, and ducked into the alleyway. I needed to calm down.
And in the Tower of Wish, the best way to calm down was gambling.
That's why I came here.
[Pinnacle-grade Card Shop]
I pushed open the glass doors. The shop was exactly as I'd written it: luxurious, filled with golden light, and smelling faintly of ozone and expensive paper. Cheok Jungyeong wasn't here this time. It was just me.
"Welcome," the NPC shopkeeper said, polishing a glass display case. "We have the finest 8-star cards in the Kingdom."
I ignored the display. I went straight to the counter. "Random boxes. The Grade-1 ones."
"Ah, a gambler," the shopkeeper grinned. "40,000 TP a pop. Limit of five per customer."
The shopkeeper stopped.
"Excuse me, the System tells me that you've already bought five, we cannot sell you anymore random boxes."
"Ah, right."
But there was always a loophole.
"Hey, who wants to earn some money?"
Hajin quickly found those who wished to earn 2,000 TP just for buying trash random boxes, especially for that price of 40,000 per unit. Someone wouldn't even be able to earn so much TP through their whole time in the Tower.
"Buy me all five." I slapped 200,000 TP onto the counter. It was a reckless expense, but It was totally worth it.
The adult-looking man didn't dare to even think about running away with such money, after all if you make 'Black Lotus' your enemy there would be no safe place in the world. Only if that place is protected by famous mercenary of Jeronimo, Fenrir.
I took the five ornate boxes to a corner table and gave the trembling man his 2,000 TP, he instantly used Emergency Teleportation and disappeared.
'What's with these people? Why are they so scared of me, I'm not some kind of a villain.'
[Chief Administrator pays attention to you!]
Chief Administrator, the existence overseeing all floors. He is also the administrator of the Last Floor of the Tower. I'll definitely pay him a visit in the nearest future.
[Chief Administrator closes his eyes on this violation of rules!]
Huu.Thank you!
I took a deep breath. My luck stat was immense. In the past, I pulled three 8-star cards and one 9-star here.
I still had two left.
===
[Last Moonlight of the World] [Active Card] [8-star] ＊Effective Good
[Story of a Legend on the Mural] [Person] [9-star]＊Effective Good
===
I checked two of the cards.
What would I get now, with the "Variable" of the other worlds affecting the Tower?
I opened the first two boxes. Psss... A pathetic gray smoke puffed out.
[1-Star Card: Toothpick of Amon] [1-Star Card: Just a stone]
"...What?" I stared at the cards. 1-star? With my luck? That shouldn't be possible. It was statistically harder for me to get a 1-star than a 9-star. "Is the system bugged? Or is that Chief Administrator?" I muttered, opening the third and fourth boxes.
Psss...[1-Star Card: Moldy Bread] [1-Star Card: Broken Compass]
My hands trembled. This wasn't bad luck. This was... interference. It felt like the world itself was trying to balance out the sheer absurdity of my luck.
"Last one," I gritted my teeth. "Come on." I popped the lid of the fifth box.
KWA-AAAAA—!
A blinding, iridescent light exploded from the box, flooding the shop. The shopkeeper yelped and covered his eyes. The light didn't stop at gold. It shifted—Crimson. Indigo. Violet. A kaleidoscope of colors that didn't belong in the Tower.
A single card floated up.
===
[9-Star Card: Momentary Apotheosis] ＊Effective Good
A card forged from the distorted laws of a foreign world. For 20 seconds, the user may accommodate the 'Authority' of a 'Sequence 0' entity compatible with their Pathway.
[Warning: The user's vessel may shatter if their 'Status' is insufficient.]
===
"Sequence 0...?" I whispered. That is Klein's terminology. The System had integrated Klein's world into a card?
But it wasn't over. As I reached for the card, the system window glitched. Zzzzt. The blue text of the notification box fractured. Pixels bled out like digital blood. A sixth card, one that shouldn't exist, formed from the debris of the system window itself.
It was black. Vantablack. It absorbed the light of the 9-star card. There were no stars on it. Just a 0.
===
[0-Star Card: ???] ＊??? Good
[Description: ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■.]
[Effect: ■■.]
===
My head throbbed. A new message from the Star Stream floated into my vision, distinct from the Tower's system.
[Your Giant Story has begun to sprout.]
['Star Stream' and 'World Will' are debating on the name of your Giant Story!]
I grabbed both cards. My hands were shaking. I shoveled them into my Stigma inventory, bypassing the normal inventory entirely. "I need to go," I muttered.
I had planned to meet Rachel. I had considered finding Chae Nayun. But this... this was bigger. I needed to focus on the Descend of Administrators and powerful Historical figures like Lü Bu. The creatures that could override the Tower's logic. If I could help them descend into the real world that would be great help.
Of course, with [Dimensional Entropy]'s infinite magical power, it would be possible for any NPC to descend into the real world. But the problem was that it was in the Human World. All they could now is descend outside the Tower with raising their level of existence through the items.
'I really hope that Yoo Yeonha took care of it and didn't let Entropy fall into the hands of Djinns.'
I teleported back to the emptiness of the waiting room.
First, I decided to greet Sannuri. She neighed in dissatisfaction, but still breathed and stamped the hooves excitedly inside her luxury stable. I spent some time stroking her mane.
Then, I went to check on Spartan. He was basking in a hot spring brought from the 6th floor.
I decided to finish the ceremonial robe for Medea, administrator of the third floor. I used the dust from the Basilisk's horns and high-level materials received directly from Medea to finish it. I did most of the works some time ago, but still it took me almost 10 hours to touch up the masterpiece.
Without any break, I contacted the system:
"Could you please a portal to the 3F?"
[The portal to the 3rd floor residential area will be created.]
Along with this system message, a portal shot up from the floor.
"Thank you!"
I stepped into it without hesitation.
[Welcome back to the 3rd floor – Prestige.]
The outer city of Prestige entered my sight.
Then I quickly reached the Troupe's hideout.
The chamber was quiet. Jain was sitting by the window, applying a new face. Cheok Jungyeong was polishing his sword(?), looking bored.
'A sword?'
"Since when do you use sword?"
Setryn was gone.
"Oh? Newbie?" Jain looked up, her eyes curving into crescents. "You're finally back. I saw the posts on Community. You've created a great commotion."
Cheok Jungyeong stood up, his massive frame filling the aisle. He looked serious. "Kim Hajin. Where were you?" He wasn't asking casually. There was a weight to his voice. "You vanished for weeks. We looked for you and eventually thought that you were in the Human realm."
'Since when Gyeong can make such emotional comments? The only emotions he showed so far were only the desire to fight strong enemies. Looks like that's the changes brought about that Theory Plotter mentioned.'
"I have zero idea where I've been," I said, brushing past him. "I don't have time to explain, Gyeong. Is Boss here?"
Cheok Jungyeong frowned, shaking his head disapprovingly. "She's in the Human Realm."
"Ah..." A pang of sadness hit me. Boss is also not here. Suddenly, the image of two other faces flashed in my mind. Evandel. Hayan. My cat, probably sleeping on her bed. I missed them. God, I missed them.
Jain, seeing my face, now not hid by the hood or the mask of Black Lotus, transformed into Boss.
"I'll...talk with you later," I said, my voice quiet. I walked past them to the back of the living room.
"Oi, Hajin!" Cheok called out. I closed the door to the workshop basement behind me and locked it.
The workshop was dusty. Tools I hadn't touched in months lay scattered on the workbench. I ignored them. I went to the safe and pulled out the [Book of Truth]. It was a divine skill, capable of answering any question. A mysterious book, formed with magic power appeared.
I moved it above the table, placing myself in a comfortable high-level armchair made by me. "I need to know," I whispered. "The Pathways. The Beyonders. Where do they come from? What is their true nature in this world?"
[…You do not have enough Stigma.]
Words carved themselves on the translucent page.
'Bruh, Okay. Um…'
"What are the basic settings of Klein's Universe?"
[…You do not have enough Stigma]
"Hm…What do you know?"
This time, 0.01 streaks of Stigma was consumed.
[Everything. It is your ability that is lacking.]
"…I guess you're right."
I didn't have much to say to that.
Scratching my neck, I thought for a second.
"Brief information about the Pathways?"
[Warning: The answer contains 'Corruption'. Knowledge of this information may facilitate infection by 'Cosmos'.]
'Success!'
[Do you still wish to proceed?]
"Corruption..." I laughed bitterly. I was the Author. I wrote this world. Even Aileen's speech couldn't control me. What corruption could affect me? "Proceed."
The book's pages flared. Light didn't pour out; darkness did. Information flooded my brain. Not words. Madness of ravings.
'…There are… 22 Pathways… On Earth… The names…'
[Attention! Your Stigma is not enough! Overclocking activated!]
It sucked out every bit of magic power I had, I even needed to use Overclocking!
'8 Streaks of Stigma only for Brief info?'
My head felt dizzy.
The Original Creator.The Cosmos.The Will that permeates the universe.The Beyonder characteristics are not gifts. They are fragments of a corpse. They are the desire to converge.And they are looking at you.
"Ugh...!" I grabbed my head. It felt like my skull was splitting open.
[Abnormal Status: 'Mental Corruption' detected!]
[Abnormal Status: 'Awakening of Original Creator's Will' is affecting you!]
My right hand—the hand with the Stigma—began to burn. It wasn't just heat; it was a white-hot branding iron searing into my soul. The Stigma was forcefully upgrading. Or maybe it was fighting back.
[Synchronization Rate: 60%]
[Attention! Your Authority 'Stigma' is upgrading!]
"Not... now..." I gasped, falling to my knees. My vision blurred. The blue system windows turned red.
"Kim Hajin, I told you that I'll eventually take my body back," I heard voice of… myself, familiar and unusually strange to me.
'Kim Chundong… Fuck…'
The next moment a golden current erupted with the magic power explosion. I knew very well what this phenomenon was.
[Narrow Escape from Death (8/9) – Special stat, Accumulation of Luck, becomes partly unlocked!]
[You obtain 444SP!]
That was the last thing I saw before the darkness swallowed me whole.
[It's a momentary misfortune for the ideal ending.]
***
"Carried?" Klein said.
"Like in a game?" Dokja understood.
"I mean boosting you to make you stronger," Hajin patted Spartan.
Klein adjusted his glove, his face serious.
Then, Hajin dropped his hand and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "We need to restore you stats as soon as possible."
Klein blinked, remembering the messages from the Tower.
—A portion of the restriction (10%) will be lifted when you reach the 3rd floor.
—A portion of the restriction (20%) will be lifted when you reach the 5th floor.
—A portion of the restriction (30%) will be lifted when you reach the 7th floor.
—A portion of the restriction (50%) will be lifted when you reach the 9th floor.
"Don't worry," Hajin muttered, turning his back on the ominous jungle. "I have prepared everything for you. Now we will begin our ascent through the tower."
He tapped the small bird on his shoulder. "Spartan. 3rd Floor. Prestige. The Chameleon Troupe hideout."
The bird chirped, he had fully recovered in Hajin's waiting room. Before Dokja could ask anything the world warped. There was no hiking through jungles, no fighting goblins, no climatic boss battle. Just a flash of black light, and the humidity of the 2nd Floor vanished.
They reappeared in a luxurious, well-furnished living room. Soft rugs, magical lamps, and the smell of brewing coffee. "Welcome to my base," Hajin said, throwing himself onto a plush sofa. "Well, one of them."
Dokja looked around, stunned. "You... you just skipped the entire floor?"
"I'm a Black Lotus after all," Hajin waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, right." He dug into his inventory and tossed two bundles onto the coffee table. "I made these while you were grinding in the tutorial. Consider it a welcome gift."
There were two boxes on the table.
===
[Gift Boxes for SSS-Grade Couple – made by J.]
===
"Don't mind the name, It's the Tower. Anyways, open it after you finish your training at Crevon."
Klein picked up a red box that looked suspiciously attractive. He inspected the box. 'Perfect quality...Am I inspecting the quality of a box?!' "You are... surprisingly proficient," Klein admitted.
"I just like my teammates alive," Hajin grunted.
Suddenly, the air in the room hummed. A massive, golden system window manifested in the center of the room, far larger and more majestic than the usual notifications.
[Main Scenario #1 – Survival]
[Condition Met: Rendezvous with all 'Collaboration' participants.]
[Scenario Completed!]
[Calculating Rewards...]
"Finally," Dokja breathed, placing his blue gift box inside the inventory of his coat, "I was wondering when will it appear."
[The 'Star Stream' and 'World Will' are finalizing the payout.]
Three beams of light descended, one for each of them.
[Player 'Demon King of Salvation']
[Reward: 50,000 Coins]
[Reward: Tower Special Skill – 'Narrative Intervention']
[Description: Allows the user to slightly alter the flow of a 'Scenario' through speech, provided the probability allows it.]
Dokja's eyes widened.
[Player 'Klein Moretti']
[Reward: 100,000 Coins]
[Reward: Star Relic – 'Gem of the Concealed Star']
[Description: A gem that enhances spiritual concealment and strengthens 'Beyonder' effects.]
Klein nodded, satisfied. It was exactly what he needed to maintain his facade in this high-danger world. He was still not used the items having zero negative effects, unlike Sealed artifacts from his Universe.
[Player 'Extra7'.............................]
Then, the light fell on Kim Hajin. The system window didn't just glow; it convulsed. Gold turned to black, then to a swirling, nebular violet.
[Your attribute 'Luck' has been greatly activated!]
[You have received the 'Jackpot Reward'!]
A tear in reality opened above the coffee table. From it, a heavy, velvet-like substance drifted down. It wasn't cloth; it was condensed, solidified fog. It landed with a heavy thud.
===
[Item: 'Sefirah Castle's Curtain' ]
[Rank: ???]
[A manifestation of the Gray Fog. Contains the complete Beyonder Characteristics for the 'Fool' Pathway (Sequence 9 to Sequence 1). It yearns for a master.]
===
Silence filled the room. Hajin stared at the item description, his face falling.
"Ah..." he groaned, rubbing his temples. "Seriously? The Fool Pathway? I already chose my Pathway. This is useless to me."
He poked the swirling gray mass with his finger. "Just my luck. Getting a myth-grade item I can't use."
Kim Dokja was staring at the item rank.
But it was Klein Moretti who reacted most violently.
He froze.
His breathing stopped.
His [Spirit Vision] didn't just see an item. The aura radiating from that 'Curtain' was undeniable. It was the aura of his own source. The aura of The Fool Pathway.
He slowly turned his head to look at Kim Hajin.
His eyes, usually calm and mocking, were wide with a primal, existential dread. The man sitting on the couch, complaining about "bad loot," was holding the literal building blocks of a god.
"...What..." Klein's voice came out as a hoarse whisper, deathly serious. "...What are you?"
***
Hajin gasped, waking up on the cold floor of the basement. He had been out for a full day. He pushed himself up, his body screaming in protest. He looked at his right hand. The Stigma. It had changed. A new streak of light had been carved into his skin, glowing with a fierce, golden power. It was beautiful, but the pain... it felt like his nerves were being rewired.
"Ugh..." He stumbled, grabbing the workbench. Then, it happened. "...weak." Hajin froze. "This body... is still too weak." The voice didn't come from his ears. It rang directly inside his skull. It wasn't his internal monologue. It was deeper, colder. He looked at his hands. They felt... distant. Foreign. As if he were operating a puppet. "Give it back."
"Kim... Chundong?" Hajin hissed, clutching his head. The original owner of this body. The 'Extra' who was supposed to disappear. The Awakening of the Original Creator's Will was thinning the barrier between them.
'I'm going crazy. I'm losing control.' He needed a countermeasure. He couldn't let Chundong take over. He couldn't let the corruption win.
He opened his status window. [SP: 2,551].
Hajin thought for a moment.
He pulled up the [Setting] menu.
[Setting Intervention]
His hands shook as he typed, the voice in his head screaming at him to stop.
===
[Conceptual Physique]
[Description: A physique designed to separate the 'Self' from the 'Other'. It grants immense resistance to mental pollution, possession, and narrative erasure. It creates an absolute boundary around the user's ego.]
[Cost: 8,000 SP]
===
"What kind of price is that?"
He scratched his head for another minute. Then typed one more time.
===
[Psychological Filter Physique]
[Description: A mental barrier that filters out 'foreign' consciousness. It does not grant immunity, but it grants the user a 'Mental Buffer', slowing down possession and corruption by 50%. It allows the user to maintain clarity even under significant mental pressure.]
[Cost: 2,300 SP]
===
It was expensive. astronomical. It was almost everything he had. "Create," he slammed the button.
Flash. A cool, blue energy washed over him. The voice of Kim Chundong screamed once, then faded into a muffled, distant echo, locked behind a new, impenetrable wall in his mind. Hajin collapsed against the table, panting.
[Synchronization Rate: 40%]
"Safe... for now."
He looked at the [Book of Truth] still sitting on the table. He had wasted so much power, but he still didn't have the answer. He needed a path. A Sequence. He could only get stronger as soon as possible.
"Book," he whispered, his voice raspy. "Which Pathway is the best for me?"
The book fluttered.
[Calculation in progress...]
[Insufficient Magic Power of Stigma.]
[Even with 'Overclocking', the variable complexity is too high.]
Hajin cursed.
"Useless overpriced encyclopedia." He sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. He thought back to the information he had received from crazy ravings. He only got 7 names of the Pathways and among those there was one that caught his attention. The 'Wheel of Fortune'. It sounded... right. It sounded like him. If there was a word 'Fortune' than it was exactly about Hajin. He placed his hand on the cover again. "Let's try this." He rephrased the question, making it specific, manageable.
"Is the 'Wheel of Fortune' Pathway suitable for me?"