After wandering for a while, Song finally left behind the grim scenery of the 1st Floor and began his ascent up the spiral staircase. Before he realized it, he had passed through the Tower's gate — where the stifling darkness gave way to the open world beyond.
A rush of cool, fresh air struck his face like a wave washing away the lingering scent of blood and smoke.
He had returned. By some miracle, he had survived his first descent!
"Finally… fresh air."
Song drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, savoring the taste of the wind.
"Smells a hell of a lot better than blood and gunpowder!"
He looked back over his shoulder at the looming Tower gate, its obsidian surface swallowing the light around it.
A short, disbelieving laugh escaped from his lips.
"…Can't believe I actually made it out alive. Guess luck really does favor some idiots!"
He tightened the strap of his backpack and muttered:
"First descent, cleared. Now… let's never do that again."
Then, after a beat, he added under his breath:
"At least not until I get paid."
Without further delay, Song made his way past the checkpoint. The guards who had checked his ID earlier were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a fresh set of faces standing watch.
That much was expected.
Judging by the orange tint of the sky and the fading light on the horizon, the sun had set not long ago. Evening had already settled in, and shift changes were only natural at this hour but he barely paid them any attention at all.
After all, he was utterly spent, drained and running on fumes.
His entire body trembled, and his fingers throbbed with dull pain from pulling the trigger over and over again. Honestly, it was rather surprising how he could still stand, let alone walk. Somehow, sheer willpower kept him moving.
Or rather, the burning desire to get compensated for all his damn troubles!
Fortunately, it didn't take long before a cab pulled up beside him, the driver rolling down the window with a friendly nod.
"Good day to you, sir. Where are you headed this fine evening?"
Song slid into the cab and said flatly,
"Take me to the Awakened Association."
† †
Arriving at his destination, Song paid the cab driver and the familiar sight came into view. The building radiated prestige and luxury. A marble colossus which was the Awakened Association towered over him like a sacred museum. Inside, the intricately crafted interior left no doubt about the meticulous work invested in every corner.
Passing Espers stole glances at him; some scowled with disdain, while others looked on with pity or quiet understanding.
Maybe it was because of his current tousled appearance.
It didn't matter.
Song ignored them all and made his way directly to the reception.
The female receptionist caught sight of him and recognition flickered across her eyes before she greeted him with her signature, polite smile.
"Good evening. How may I assist you today, Sir?"
Song shifted the weight of his backpack and replied curtly,
"I'm here to make an exchange."
"Oh..."
Her eyes brightened with comprehension, and she nodded. Then, with a practiced ease, she said,
"I see. Then let me direct you to the Exchange room."
He shrugged.
"Lead the way."
The receptionist gave a small, knowing smile and gestured for him to follow.
Song moved through the polished corridors of the Association, the marble floors reflecting the warm glow of the chandeliers above. The atmosphere was one of quiet sophistication. It was a stark contrast to the blood-soaked chaos he'd just escaped.
They reached a pair of large double doors. She pushed them open, revealing a room bathed in soft golden light. Several counters were arranged neatly, each staffed by attendants with sharp eyes and even sharper uniforms. Behind them, large display screens showed real-time exchange rates.
"Please, place your Spirit Shards here," she instructed, pointing to a polished counter. "Once counted, the system will automatically calculate your reward."
Song carefully emptied his backpack, letting the Spirit Shards clink onto the counter. The attendants immediately set to work, examining each shard as though they had done so a thousand times prior. They were certainly experienced.
He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. At the same time, his mind began to wander as he watched the process. Despite the exhaustion nagging at his muscles, a spark of anticipation flickered in his chest. This was the moment his labor would finally pay off.
Who knows? Maybe he'd even recoup all the money he'd poured into supplies and ammo.
It was a small hope, but hope nonetheless. Without it, the weight of mounting pressure would have crushed him completely.
Minutes passed before a small chime sounded, signaling that the count was complete. One of the attendants glanced up at him and nodded.
"All done, Sir. You've brought in a total of one hundred Spirit Shards, which converts to…"
The attendant's fingers danced over a small control panel, and the system's calculation appeared on the screen:
[$100,000]
'W-What... W-What the fuck?! Do my eyes deceive me?!'
Song rubbed his eyes, convinced he must be hallucinating. There was no way he was that lucky. However, the numbers didn't waver nor did it disappear.
It was reality.
His eyes widened to the maximum, almost as if they were trying to escape from their sockets!
Such a huge amount of zeroes! He had never seen such a staggering amount in his entire life!
Looking at him, the receptionist found his bewildered reaction amusing and chuckled. Then she explained:
"Don't worry, Sir. It's correct. Each Spirit Shard is worth roughly one thousand dollars, regardless of its source. Their magical properties make them extremely valuable, and they have a wide range of uses. Your haul… well, it adds up nicely."
Song blinked, still trying to process the numbers.
"I… I made a hundred thousand… just like that?"
She nodded.
"Yes. And if you had managed to collect a thousand shards instead…"
Her fingers hovered over the panel, and the screen updated with a new calculation:
[$1,000,000]
"A million… dollars…? Are you serious?!"
"Completely serious, Sir," she said, suppressing a small smile. "That's why the Association always emphasizes the value of rare shards. Even a few Greater or Unholy shards can multiply your earnings significantly. You've done remarkably well for your first descent. Most Squires don't make this much, especially on their first time entering the Tower."
Truer words could not have been said.
Even so, the amount was staggering. Of course, gathering a thousand shards in a single day was impossible, especially on a first descent. But hypothetically, if he managed it, he would have walked away with a million dollars.
A whopping million dollars!
Most people would never even see that kind of money in their entire lifetime!
What was this feeling? It felt like he was about to faint.
Overwhelmed by this revelation, Song staggered back several steps like a drunken man. Before he could regain his balance, he tripped on literally nothing and collapsed into a chair that one of the Association officials had conveniently placed nearby, just in time to catch him.
"I… I can't believe this. All that pain, all that hell down there… and it actually pays off."
The receptionist gave him a sympathetic glance.
"It always helps to remind yourself that risk carries reward. You've earned every cent, Sir. And… congratulations on surviving your first floor."
What did Song say in response? Nothing at all.
His mind drifted, wandering aimlessly at first, then gradually circling back to the staggering reality before him. Bit by bit, the truth settled into place: the weight of the numbers, the value of his haul, and the status he now held in the awakened world's hierarchy.
And for the first time that evening, he allowed himself a small, excited smile.
'Holy shit… I'm rich! I'm freaking rich!'