Rye watched the hawks as they slowly followed the other examinees, their wings slicing through the air with effortless grace.
While they're taking the exam… maybe I should explore this place, he thought, eyes drifting around the bustling lobby. The room was enormous, far larger than it had seemed from the outside. The ceiling soared high above, adorned with magical lights that shimmered faintly in midair, illuminating the space in a soft glow.
"Did they use magic here too…?" he murmured, following the gaze of climbers as they floated and conversed far above him, completely at ease in the open air.
His eyes caught the registration lady from before, still as radiant as when they first met, her blonde hair glinting under the lights. Behind her, other staffs moved efficiently, their gestures precise and confident, giving the counter an almost choreographed rhythm.
Rye stepped closer, curiosity outweighing his nervousness. He needed to understand more about the tower and the climbers.., what they did, how they earned their rewards, and why so many risked their lives to climb. He had some general knowledge about the profession.., he knew the rewards were enormous.., but he wanted the details, firsthand.
As he reached the counter, a young man looked up from a stack of paperwork.
"Good morning, sir! How may I help you today?" he asked, his voice calm and professional.
The man had short, tousled hair, perfectly framing a sharp, handsome face. Square glasses perched neatly on his nose, reflecting the soft glow of the lobby lights. He adjusted them with a gloved hand, revealing strong, precise fingers, the kind of hands that seemed used to meticulous work. His tuxedo was impeccable, tailored to fit snugly and elegantly, mirroring the style of the instructors Rye had seen before. Despite appearing to be in his twenties, there was a quiet authority about him, an air of confidence that made him seem older than his years.
"Ah… yes," Rye began, trying to steady his voice. "I would like a guide or some information about the tower, the climbers, and what they do… how they make money, that sort of thing."
The man's lips curved into a knowing smile. "It seems it's your first time here."
"Y-yes," Rye admitted, his voice tinged with nervousness. "It's my first time being a climber and being in this place, so I just want some general knowledge about everything…"
The man nodded and leaned slightly forward. "Well then, to save time, I'll explain it as fast, briefly and accurately as I can." He smiled warmly at Rye, a gesture that immediately put him at ease.
"First..! the floors themselves," the man began. "As you know, each floor is different, but the first ten floors of every section are connected in a way, even when the environments vary. Let me explain."
He gestured as he spoke. "The first floor is a simple grassland, with a bright blue sky, bustling winds, and mountains in the distance. The monsters here originally consisted of slimes and goblins. But after the floor was secured, only slimes continued to respawn, making it the safest floor of them all. Outposts and buildings were built on its vast plains, and monsters don't spawn near those structures, creating a safe zone inside the tower."
Rye listened intently, nodding.
"The difference as you go higher is the intensity of the floors," the man continued.
"Intensity?" Rye asked.
"Yes. The first floor is mostly open plains with few trees. On the second floor, there are more trees.., still sparse, but denser than the first. The enemies change drastically too. Slimes become medium slimes, faster and stronger than their usual kind, and goblins remain but increased in numbers. After securing the floor, an outpost was built. But because monsters kept appearing, the First Generation created a veil to protect the area. Over time, it weakened. Later generations reinforced it, making it nearly impenetrable to any monster residing on that floor."
Rye blinked. "So… does this happen on every floor? How far up does it go?"
"Up to floor ten," the man said. "Beyond that, the environment changes completely. Floors eleven through twenty become rainforests. Heavy rainfall, dense vegetation, stronger monsters. Safety veils exist only up to floor eighty; beyond that, monsters are too powerful for a large-scale veil, which would break immediately."
"Oh, right!" The man ducked under the counter and returned with a thick, dust-covered book.
"This is a guidebook about the tower," he said, brushing off some dust. "It's very old, but it contains details for floors up to eighty, written by the Thirteenth Generation."
Rye took the book carefully. Its cover was scratched and worn, the edges torn in places. It looked fragile, as if it might crumble if handled roughly.
"It's been here for ages, gathering dust and cobwebs," the man laughed.
Rye looked up at him.
"Well then, sir," the man said, pointing behind him, "I guess we've spent quite a lot of time talking."
Rye's eyes widened as he noticed a line forming behind him. "Oh crap… sorry for wasting time! I forgot people are here to register…"
"No worries," the man said warmly. "It's my job to help newcomers. And honestly, it's rare for someone to ask us questions in person. Most people just look everything up online."
"Ah… right. Of course. Thank you." Rye gave a small wave and clutched the book tightly.
"You can take the book home!" the man called quietly. "It's been rotting here for ages!"
Rye nodded again, turning the book over in his hands. The author's name had long since faded.
Hm… this might be useful, he thought.
He pulled out his phone and typed in a search: tips for beginner climbers and how climbers earn money.
The article displayed a list of climbers rankings:
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Climber Rankings
6. Unpathed
5. First trace
4. Pathwalker
3. Trailseeker
2. Peak step
1. Crest path
Monster rankings.
5. Mire
4. Gloom
3. Ruin
2. Brake
1. Scourge
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{The ranks signifies your strength, crest path being the strongest for the climbers, and scourge being the strongest for the monsters...}
---
"That's interesting," Rye muttered.
He scrolled further, eyes wide. The tower was more complex and dangerous than he had imagined.