– "BREAKING NEWS: The first Close Mystery Tower ever has been announced to be opened in the upcoming month!
"Many ordinary players are awaiting the briefing of the Obelisk Organization.
"What will be the impact of the first opening of the Close Mystery Tower in 40 years?
"Will it bring catastrophe? Or will it be something for humanity to thrive more?"
...
In the early morning, when the normal routine of everyday life started after the World Announcement, the media outlets and the internet were flooded by speculations, but most of them were positive according to the Close Mystery Tower's name: Tower of Growth.
Many of the players suspected that it would lead to something incredible... Something about their growth... something that couldn't be easily increased especially by less resourceful players.
"...They're not wrong, it's just...'
Russell — who was browsing on his laptop he ordered in the Black Market: Thorn of Rose — paused for a moment and thought about what he did last night.
He didn't let Freya and Amelie accompany him for one reason: Emmanuel Lyncoster's authority.
The moment Ayleen Mayfield realized that the Obelisk Organization was ought to mobilize the Obelisk Military to lessen the future casualties that would be caused by the Tower of Growth, she would certainly ask Emmanuel to use his authority to find the owner of the paper, but due to Russell's Trait: Nihility that has been further strengthened with the blessing of the mysterious Egg that was silent for a while — which was also the same case with the Goddess of Night — he wouldn't appear in the World of the Past.
"Unless... she threw it away...
"That would be a shame."
He muttered before closing the laptop that was sitting on his abdomen while his back was leaning on the side of the long couch where Amelie was still gracefully sleeping.
He knew that he was not a hero, the same with Amelie; they're not responsible for the lives of many.
"Hmm..."
He fell into thought as he put the laptop on the side, and looked at her soundly sleeping younger sister.
During the past month, since they had their serious conversation, she somehow changed; however, Russell knew that she was burdened by the responsibility she was meant to bear in the future, especially since it was only a month away since she would start to placate and bring rest to souls every day.
'I wonder why she isn't summoning Estelle?'
For some time now, Freya wasn't summoning her familiar.
'Maybe she just didn't want to summon her without a purpose.'
Although that somehow made sense, Russell was convinced that Freya mostly move with a purpose in mind.
After an unknown period of time, the Sun started to rise through the horizon. Russell had woken up his younger sister and Amelie.
"Hey, it's time for training."
Since it's Saturday, 16th of September, 2062. There were no academic classes.
With the two women in a state of stupor, Russell picked up the remote control for the television and volumed it up.
– "BREAKING NEWS:..."
Another breaking news sounded as though it was screaming in fealty, jolting awake the half-sleep Freya and Amelie.
"Yawn-"
Russell smiled at the stretching and yawning Freya before he toned down the volume of the television.
"Oppa..."
Freya spoke softly, causing Russell's ears to prick up.
"...Hmm? I prepared breakfast."
"...No, no. Come here."
"Ugh-"
Russell received a slightly strong punch on his abdomen, causing him to reflexively bend his body as his hands also reflexively touched his abdomen.
She didn't explain her actions as Russell knew what he did.
"...Amelie, let's go. They're waiting."
The two went to the kitchen, where the breakfast was served, instead on the usual rectangular glass table in the living room that's just beside the bedroom.
...
At Exclusive Public Training Grounds.
This time, they weren't going to the Chaos Training Grounds, but rather to the training ground that's only accessible for A-1 students residing in the Rigel Building.
Arriving at the training grounds, Russell, along with his younger sister and Amelie, saw Samantha, Anya, Jiho, and there's also Mira, Leon's younger sister, and one of her friends who managed to kick out someone from A-1 class during the Ranking of Exchange, Lyn.
Although there were only 40 students in the entire Rigel Building, it seemed like there were others, aside from them, who wanted to use the training ground.
"...Is that Celine?"
Celine, the light green-eyed and green-haired timid woman, who conjured Pure Form of Potions during the Virtual War activity from Professor Murak, was unexpectedly sitting on one of the benches.
'...Isn't she an alchemist...? she should be in the library.'
Russell — who heard Freya's question — spoke inwardly.
"I asked her to be here, I'll bring her with me to the Tower of Growth next month."
It was Samantha who spoke as she approached Freya.
Russell thought that it made sense for Celine to garner Samantha's attention.
Even though he's been a classmate with her for a while now, he didn't inspect the Status Window of everyone in the class as he thought that they were unnecessary at the moment.
'Pure Form of Potions... huh.'
[Activating Skill: Gaze of the Abyss (EX)]
Russell checked the timid Celine's Status Window from a distance.
'...Eh?'
"Is that so... I wonder what's the limit of the party...?"
Freya replied to Samantha while Russell fell into thought, but she already knew the answer based on what her older brother previously said.
"It's probably around... 4? No, I'm not sure."
Samantha replied casually, but it broke Russell's little reverie while checking Celine's Status Window. It didn't escape Russell's senses... noticing the unusual reaction of Samantha seemed to contain assurance in her tone.
Although Samantha said the wrong answer, he felt like it was deliberately spoken.
"Anyway, if it's not 4, then maybe we can form a party, right?"
"Well, how can we refuse such an opportunity?"
Amelie interjected with a cheerful smile, to which Samantha responded with a faint one before they started their training.
...
After a few hours, a woman was slumped down on the ground.
Huff- Huff-
The sound of heavy breathing could be heard from her.
'Why did I need to go through this...? I should just make potions...'
Celine lamented in her mind as Samantha taught her defensive tips like where she should go when a monster runs from a certain direction.
Basically, she's being taught how not to panic in front of a monster, but this time, it was Samantha who seemingly appeared as a monster for her.
'At least I get to make potions for these people.'
She at least consoled herself. Even though her potions were unlike the time from the Virtual War where she had just conjured a Pure Form Potion, she was still able to concoct a Pure Form Potion by any chance.
And at this moment, Samantha was supporting her, which also helped in raising the level of her potion-making-related skills.
"H-here... e-everyone."
She took out a few Stamina Potions for them, although she's not close with Russell and the others due to her timid personality, Samantha asked her beforehand to give them the necessary potions when it's resting time.
'Sigh... I feel like becoming rich soon enough.'
Like Russell, Celine was talkative in her mind, and also when she was alone.
...
- "Arthur, the money will be sent to you next month. With the appearance of the new Tower, the Guild Master has decided to prioritize raiding it when the additional information has been added to the System."
"F*ck!"
He cursed intensely while sitting on the high-back chair.
The extra money he needed to buy Ela's Needle would arrive next month, instead of this one.
"I f*cking need it as soon as possible."
Although he could borrow some money from some of the members of the Weaver Faction just like through Reinhardt and Ruina, he absolutely rejected the idea as he would rather die than tarnish his reputation.
Tap. Tap.
After a minute or two, he tapped into his smartwatch and sent a message to Amelie — the mediator of the transaction.
"Please tell him I'll purchase the artifacts, Ela's Needle and Junain's Blanket next month."
...
Ding-!
[Supplementary Announcement!]
The information regarding the Tower of Growth will now be added to the "Close Mystery Tower" of the Information Section.
...
At exactly 6:01 P.M., 18 hours since the World Announcement about the Tower of Growth was announced throughout the world, the Information Section regarding Towers has been updated in the System.
Russell — who was now lying on his bed in his dormitory room at this hour after some time of training with the others — browsed the information regarding the Tower of Growth to check if there was anything amiss or had changed.
...
[Information Section]
Category:
– Close Mystery Tower
[Tower of Growth]
– Description:
It is the ancient tower that appeared after a certain major event. With its opening, the true journey of a player will begin.
– Details:
Number of Floors: 30
Characteristic: Trial
Theme: Monster Raiding (From 1st to 29th floor). Player Assessment (30th floor).
Maximum Number per Party: 10
Allotted time for four floors: 50 minutes
Allotted time every fifth floor: 10 minutes
Reward when clearing every fifth floor: Random Rare to Unique-rank item.
Reward when the last floor is cleared: Growth Rate increases by 10 times.
Failure Penalty: ???
Mode of Access: Virtual (via System)
Duration until the Tower of Growth opens: 7XX hours.
...
Ayleen Mayfield — who was arranging some paperwork — stopped and browsed the additional information from the System's update. She compared it to what Lunaria had told her.
At first, she thought that Lunaria lied when it came to the theme of the Tower of Growth because Lunaria didn't mention anything about Player Assessment.
'Maybe she didn't know.'
She pondered a little while fidgeting with a pen in her hand.
Ring- Ring-
Her thoughts were cut off by a call through her smartwatch.
"Okay, I'm on my way."
She said on the other end of the call before she hung up.
'Sigh... it's work again.'
...
Knock-! Knock-!
"Yes. Come in."
Azalea's soft voice sounded as she heard a knock on the door of the Disciplinary Committee Office, but she had an idea about the person's identity.
"Good evening, Azalea... and, hello...?"
The guest greeted Azalea before looking around as there were other people in the office right now.
"Yes, Ms. Ayleen. I called them here based on your request."
Azalea replied with a smile. The reason why Ayleen went to the Disciplinary Committee Office wasn't because of the Disciplinary Committee President, but due to the other guests.
"Right... hello, Russell, Freya, and Amelie, if I remember correctly.
"Alright, without further ado, I called you here for something... and it should be okay for Azalea to remain here because she's somehow related to it.
"It's about your experience regarding the Micro-Strayed Dungeon.
"But first, I'd like the four of you to sign this..."
Ayleen spoke somewhat in a formal tone before taking out four pieces of paper.
"This is not a Mana Contract as it would be absurd between a teacher and student to do as it would violate your rights. This only serves as an assurance that whatever will be talked about here, at this moment, must not be told to anyone, in any way.
"We know that the four of you, including the one who dropped out, had passed the interrogation under the witness of the Legendary Artifact: Orb of Truth, but...
'Why am I here? Second-guessing these kids.'
She felt tired mentally due to the very unexpected sequence of events; from the World Announcement, the Flu's return, Artorious Hall's sudden suggestion, and so on.
The four of them signed the "consent paper". It's consent for their cooperation because, as students with the cleared case about the Micro-Strayed Dungeon, they had the right to reject their present predicament.
"Alright, thank you. To be honest... I don't want to do this as all of you have been cleared of suspicions under the Orb of Truth, but I came here under Sir Artorious Hall's order."
...
<This is not good.>
Russell seriously said to Amelie and Freya via Telepathy through their "Chaos Connection" as he felt cold sweat on his scalp as he heard Ayleen's words about Artorious Hall — Samantha's father.
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