Chapter 25: The Floor of Tests (5)
Second Regular Selection Venue
As the floor beneath our feet glowed, we were instantly transported to the floating building of the 2nd Floor. All around us, other passing teams were being transferred in one after another. By the stairs, one of the examiners we hung out with earlier—Partimire Alrosa—was sitting there looking half-dead inside.
"Oh, Alrosa. We meet again pretty soon."
"Puu… ah, Hoaquin Regular… good to see you. Thank you again for the alcohol earlier…"
Her voice just now, and her expression now—why was she suddenly so depressed?
I tilted my head, and Alrosa looked up at me with eyes full of desperation.
Eyes like a wet kitten.
I flinched instinctively.
"U-um… Hoaquin Regular…"
"Y-yes?"
"Do you… by any chance… have any Khun Family wine?"
…Wine? Why suddenly wine?
Did the traditional liquor not suit her?
No, that makes no sense—she was the one who drank the most enthusiastically.
"Well… I have Arie and Ari Family traditional liquor, but Khun Family wine… why? What happened?"
"…Haaah… I served Arie traditional liquor to the Chief Examiner… and then realized she's from the Khun Family."
"…And?"
"…Wine."
"Oh."
Now it made sense.
Maschenny also only drank wine.
Not all Khuns are like that, but many of them have absurd pride and attachment to wine.
And now she'd accidentally served Arie liquor to one of them…
And the Chief Examiner was already in a bad mood.
Oh no.
"Sorry, but I really don't have any wine… I feel awful about this."
Alrosa let out a bitter smile as the last spark of hope faded from her eyes.
"I see… well, we decided to share the Arie liquor among ourselves anyway. It's fine…"
She did not look fine.
At all.
After confirming that all teams had arrived, she struggled to her feet and stepped forward to address everyone.
"Ahem, hello everyone! Nice to meet you. I'm Partimire Alrosa, one of the examiners of the 2nd Floor. I oversaw your test."
The plaza quieted instantly as the Ranker-examiner took her position.
"Well then, since this next test isn't too difficult, shall we begin right away?"
She waved her hands lightly, and I felt the surrounding shinsoo begin to stir.
Ah. So it is that test.
Good.
Swoooosh—
"Huh?!"
"Uwah—!"
The moment she opened her hand, a shinsu barrier surged forward.
To me, it felt like a mild gust of strong wind, nothing more.
But Luf and Hwarang weren't as unaffected—they were pushed slightly outside the barrier.
Other Regulars panicked, stumbling backward. The varying distances they were pushed gave a rough estimate of everyone's skill.
"Normally there'd be a longer explanation, but I'll shorten it. In the Tower, shinsu exists everywhere. It's essential to life. Those who can pass through this shinsu barrier will be acknowledged as compatible and may proceed to the next test. If the shinsu rejects you, you're disqualified. Your entire team as well."
Instant uproar.
Alrosa didn't even blink.
She'd clearly done this thousands of times.
With her immovable demeanor, the Regulars had no choice but to accept the test.
"Wait, why didn't that guy get pushed back?!"
A Regular pointed at me accusingly.
Truly, the 2nd Floor is low…
I need to get to a floor where people have at least basic common sense.
"That Regular wasn't spared. He simply didn't get pushed. He's on a completely different level than you. Stop complaining and take the test."
Already in a foul mood, Alrosa added killing intent to her words.
The noisy Regular immediately shut up, and so did everyone else.
The test resumed.
Hwarang and Luf returned through the barrier with sheepish expressions.
"I got pushed, and even this kid got pushed, but you didn't move an inch? Ridiculous."
"Heheh… comparing me to Hoaquin-hyung makes me feel tiny…"
"Hoaquin Regular is basically cheating at this point. Don't mind it too much. I actually used enough force to push even him, but…"
While the other Regulars struggled against the shinsu barrier, we three sat on the stairs casually chatting.
The anger from outside the barrier grew louder, but that wasn't our problem.
Still—our strength didn't mean everyone else was weak.
Some found the barrier interesting, some gradually adapted, some fought through it with effort, and some walked in with ease.
After two hours, Alrosa announced the end of the test.
More than 20 out of the 34 teams passed.
"Well done, everyone. The next test is in one week. However, tomorrow there will be a bonus game with special rewards. Participation is optional and won't affect your standing."
As she finished, the end-of-test buzzer sounded and the door to the lodging opened.
Regulars walked toward their assigned rooms, chatting excitedly about the bonus game.
"Hoaquin Regular, looks like we part ways here. I need to go prepare the next selection."
Alrosa hurried off to welcome the next wave of Regular teams, and the three of us—Luf, Hwarang, and I—headed toward the lodging.
"Hey, Hoaquin, you're joining the bonus game tomorrow, right?"
"Of course. The reward is probably a direct promotion to the next floor. I need to get out of this 2nd Floor as soon as possible."
"Um… hyung, even when we go up floors… we'll still stick together, right?"
At Luf's question, I turned around to look at him.
His eyes were filled with a mix of hope and anxiety.
Perfect target for teasing.
I grinned.
"Why? Planning to transfer to another team already?"
"W-What?! N-no! Of course not—!"
"Haha, I'm joking. We'll stick together as long as we can. Friends like you two—honest Ten Families kids—are rare."
Luf let out a deep sigh of relief.
Hwarang's mouth twitched upward too.
Looks like traveling leisurely with me isn't so bad for them.
Speaking of "human Ten Families friends," I suddenly remembered my kids.
I wonder how they're doing.
Should I go down when they become Regulars and climb together? Or keep going up the Tower with Luf and Hwarang?
I told them I'd go down for them… but they kept saying I shouldn't worry.
People say things they don't mean, so I should meet them properly at least once.
Hmm. I'll talk to Luf and Hwarang about it later too.
"For now, get some sleep. Even if the bonus game is tomorrow, we don't know when it'll start."
"Got it."
"Okay~"
....
Next morning, early dawn
Ugh… can't they replace that awful buzzer with something nicer?
There are plenty of sounds—birds chirping, gentle bells—but they always pick the noisiest one.
— All Regulars may now participate in the Bonus Game: the Crown Game. Details will be explained at the venue. Participation is optional, and you will NOT be penalized for not joining. Repeat—
After getting ready and stepping outside, I saw that Hwarang and Luf were already waiting.
Wow. They were even more diligent than I expected.
"Let's go."
With both of them nodding, I led the way to the game arena.
When all teams had arrived, the examiner explained the rules of the Crown Game.
Same rules as the webtoon.
I half-listened, my eyes drifting to the throne in the center of the arena.
"And finally, the team that wins the Crown Game will proceed to the next floor without taking any further tests. This is the reward for winning, so do your best. The game begins in ten minutes."
Ten minutes passed.
The instant the start buzzer rang, I pressed the participation button.
After all—this game was prepared for us.
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