A few minutes passed as I browsed the gallery.
By reading the community users' conversations and various newbie guides, I grasped the structure of this world. The layout of the world inside the tower, which I'd learned about so suddenly, was surprisingly simple.
First, the 'tower' itself.
Its official name was 'Multidimensional Tower Yggdrasil,' but people just called it the tower because it was too long. The goal was to climb to the next floor by completing the tricky quests on each level.
'From the vibe, it looks like the 100th floor is the top.'
It was a smaller number than I'd expected, but climbing even one floor seemed insanely difficult. Some floors had taken over 11 years to conquer.
And the current progress was...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Official Climbing Progress: 49th Floor (Climbing Halted)] [Climbing Time Elapsed: 56 Years, 8 Months, 15 Days Since Tower Creation]
'Essentially, a new society has formed based on the tower's creation.'
Next, I checked out the 'climbers.'
They were the main users of this gallery.
💬 Tower Climbing Gallery— [General] Title: Anyone at the Hundred Swords Society guild office?— [General] Title: Ah♡ Beastkin are so beautiful♡— [General] Title: Ears..., sinks..., so nice to look at...— [General] Title: Got black bread as quest reward, yay!— [General] Title: What should I switch my swordsman gear to, ffs— [General] Title: Respect the rights of mages...!
"Phew."
Yeah...
I got the gist.
They looked just like 'game players.'
Made up of various races and classes, they roamed the world inside the tower, interacting with the tower's native inhabitants—the NPCs.
And they all had one goal.
To reach the top of this tower.
I could also infer the relationship between climbers and NPCs.
"..."
'Climbers are powerful but lack infrastructure, while NPCs are weaker but provide it—a symbiotic relationship.'
A realization dawning for the first time.
I never imagined I'd be reborn as one of those 'tower NPCs.' So, could NPCs come here to interact too?
I hit the 'post' button and asked.
— [General] Title: Question about NPCs『Author: Anonymous』 『Can NPCs come here too?』
Replies came in immediately.
— Anonymous (38.2): What the hell is that?↳ ReplyAnonymous: Sorry, I don't know much...— Anonymous (38.2): Oh, a newbie? Newbies check the pinned guide first. And no, NPCs absolutely can't come here lol
"...!"
— Anonymous: Got it.— Anonymous (38.2): Yeah. Regular NPCs have dimensional perception blocks anyway... So they don't react much even if they see climbers or the climber system lol. Most don't even know what floor they're on.
'But I spotted something off about the bunny guy right away.'
I'd held back for the lord's dignity, though. Generally, NPCs couldn't perceive the 'tower' or 'climber' systems at all.
'Guess I'm the weird one.'
— Anonymous: Is there a way to find out what floor you're on?— Anonymous (38.2): If you can enter the tower and see the gallery, just think 'What floor am I on?' in your head.⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your current floor is the 51st: 'Walled City Baran'.]
"!"
'Official progress is 49th floor, but I'm on 51...!'
This place must be uncharted territory for them.
'That's why, aside from that vet in the Luke getup, I've never seen a climber my whole life!'
With this new insight.
As I chatted with the friendly drifter '38.2' and others, my vision started to blur. Soon, the text in the Tower Climbing Gallery swirled away like water down a drain.
When I opened my eyes.
I was back in a familiar room.
The bedroom I'd stayed in since becoming lord.
I lay on the massive bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
A dreamlike farce.
"...Was it a dream?"
No way.
My reason coldly denied it.
Yggdrasil.
Tower Climbing Gallery.
Everything I'd seen there was beyond even my wildest imagination from my past life. And there was only one trigger I could think of for this 'dream.'
"Bunny guy."
The bunny guy casually wielding legendary archmagic. Meeting him a few days ago—had that unlocked the Tower Climbing Gallery? I wondered.
And...
'If climbers value food above all else, could I get an advanced grimoire from that archmage bunny guy?'
With such questions in mind.
Today, I cleared the forest with the soldiers as usual. Then, using a break as an excuse, I wandered near the waterfall alone and spotted the bunny guy from a few days back again.
He was drinking water. Not just quenching his thirst, but gulping it down like he was trying to fill his stomach.
"..."
'Climbers are mostly starving, as expected. Still, he didn't break into the castle to steal—that must be due to the unwritten rule that antagonizing a floor is dangerous...'
It was pitiful, somehow—a legendary archmage wielding spatial legend magic, yet starving because he followed the tower's rules.
So, I approached making sure to announce myself first.
"Hello, traveler."
"!"
The bunny guy, who'd been slaking his thirst at the waterfall, widened his eyes at me. That passive gesture let me catch a glimpse of a side I hadn't seen before.
'I didn't notice at first because of the shocking outfit, but his belly's bloated while the rest of him is skin and bones, no color in his face. Like someone starved for ages...'
Feeling a twinge of sympathy.
I cautiously approached the archmage bunny guy and spoke as politely as possible. No reason to antagonize a neutral climber yet.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again. I am Lucius Baran, lord of Walled City Baran."
"...Niva."
"..."
Niva.
It felt like a gamer nickname—
Was that just my bias?
But I didn't let it show.
"Yes, pleased to meet you, Niva."
"..."
Even to my greeting,
Niva fiddled awkwardly with her sunglasses.
'Her pinky sticking out with every gesture is annoying, but I can't snap at a hungry person.'
I spoke politely again.
"Delighted by this fateful encounter, may I, as the lord of this land, treat you to a meal?"
"F-Food...?"
"Yes. We're about to hold a grand festival in Walled City Baran to celebrate the wheat harvest. Mountains of white bread, fruit jam, and fresh fish."
"!"
At my words,
A mighty rumble answered from Niva's stomach.
Groooowl─!
She must have starved for a long time.
Embarrassed, Niva didn't know what to do. She fiddled with her sunglasses, scratched her chin beard, and finally nodded.
"W-Well... Ahem! N-No need to stand on ceremony."
"Yes, follow me."
And at that moment.
Text shimmered before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[You have invited Climber 'Niva' to Walled City.][Using your unique lord authority on this floor, you may expel climbers at any time.] [Expel Climber?] [YES / NO]
"!"
A notification I'd never seen in my life.
But these words proved my choice was right.
"..."
'Tower Climbing Gallery, and climbers.'
Naturally, I picked 'NO.' I couldn't chase Niva off before gathering more info.
And to avoid getting played by an archmage unilaterally, 'expel' had to stay as a bargaining chip.
'Feed her well and let her rest a day first, then we talk. Threats right away would scare her off.'
Back at the castle.
I told the maids to bring food for Niva. Then, secretary Milla eyed Niva's bizarre outfit quizzically and asked me.
"L-Lord... Who is that...?"
"Oh, seemed lost in the forest."
"Lost?"
"Yeah, looked like she hadn't eaten in days, so I brought her."
"Hmm..."
Milla watched Niva eat at the table with a strange look. Niva cautiously bit into an apple pie, then started tearing up.
-Sniff...! D-Delicious...! A million times better than sea giant armpit moss...!!
"..."
'Climbers have it rough.'
Milla stared for a while, then looked at me.
"Lord Lucius."
"Yeah?"
"Um, by any chance..."
"?"
Milla fidgeted, unable to continue. Her eyes shook behind her glasses. Finally, she spoke.
"...Are you planning to take her as your wife?"
"No, what nonsense is that."
The denial burst out reflexively.
'Why is Milla spouting nonsense all of a sudden?'
I wasn't married yet, sure. But I swear, I wasn't 'that way.' I couldn't even imagine marrying a bunny-girl-outfitted middle-aged... whatever.
'Ah, damn!! I don't want to imagine it, but now I am!!'
To shake off that horrific curse.
I told Milla firmly.
"No, how could you even think... Sorry. Anyway, I want a kind 'woman' I can live with side by side. And I'm too busy as lord for marriage right now. Maybe when things settle, but not yet."
"..."
Milla's expression returned to its usual businesslike blank at my repeated denials. She seemed to realize it was a mistake even as she asked.
And she shyly nodded.
"...Yes, understood."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The tower connected to multiple dimensions.
On the 1st floor of 'Yggdrasil,' there was a starting village where climbers from outside lived. That village was now in desperate crisis.
Young archmage Lane of the guild 'Blue Tower' sighed. In her hand was a report from guildmates complaining of food shortages.
Lane brushed back her flowing blue hair and muttered.
"We finally beat the 'Famine Demon King,' and now his curse has dried up food on every floor..."
Food shortages from the curse.
That was why climbers hadn't advanced despite defeating the Famine Demon King guarding the 49th floor six months ago.
-All sprouts shall wither, and stockpiled food shall be devoured by worms...
With those words.
The worst hardship they'd ever faced began.
Lane despaired.
'At this rate, even the starting village might fall.'
She decided to summon the other guild leaders running the village. In this do-or-die situation, a decision was needed.
'Start with the Merchant Guild—they know the situation best.'
But the receiver picked up to chaos.
-Hey! Grab every bag you've got!
-The carts too?
-Yeah, all transport! It'll take three months even if we rush!
"?"
Lane asked Merchant Guild leader Ella.
"What's the commotion?"
"Huh? Witch? Busy now, call later."
"It's about discussing countermeasures guild leader to guild leader..."
Ella cut her off.
"Didn't see the gallery post?"
"Huh? Gallery?"
"Busy, check it yourself. It's pinned as a concept post."
Click!
Ella hung up unilaterally.
Lane frowned.
'Tower Climbing Gallery... Isn't that where climbers post anonymous dumb jokes?'
The moment she hesitantly opened the gallery.
"!"
She saw one post everyone was going wild over. Casually posted with a temp nickname. But enough to shake those in despair.
Because it had a proper, massive pile of food photo—the kind climbers hadn't seen in half a year.
📰 Breaking News『[Best] Title: Paradise on earth...』 『Author: Bunny Duo (175.123)』 『Hard climb finally pays off ㅠㅠ Friendly NPC feeds well, not 100% sure yet but watching』
"What the... crazy."
Lane could guess the author. Newbies wouldn't know, but she was a vet long in the Blue Tower.
But the problem was...
— Anonymous (38.2): Dude where is it!!— Anonymous (45.91): Please just tell us where!!!!— Fur Lover🔹: Tell us so our beastkin don't starve ㅠㅠㅠ— Apostle of Justice🔹: Author, sir... thank you for the good info! But for the convenience of many climbers and netizens, you seem to have forgotten to include exact info and location^^*— Gold Rush🔹: Ugh another troll
Lane stood up.
"...We have to find it."
The floor Bunny Duo found.
And that friendly NPC...!