Chapter 32 - Capture the Flag (1) (2/2)
There were also a couple of people who were newly admitted as pioneers…
‘Some of the initial pioneers might have even failed out.’
I wasn’t sure why, but that was just how the 5th trial handled things.
Unfortunate for the people around the edge of 50th place.
Of course—
“That has nothing to do with me placing 3rd.”
But this was still a unique situation.
Making the grading criteria stricter to balance the system.
‘That must mean the perk of being a pioneer is that great.’
I wasn’t sure what exactly they had planned, but it must be something worth fighting for.
Whether it’s a skill or an item.
But—
“The better the reward, the higher the risk.”
Even I knew that.
Anyway, there was something else to think about at this point.
‘The black knight— he said he was from a different dimension.’
There were more urgent matters, so I hadn’t thought about it too much, but this was also a big deal.
The existence of a different dimension, and how hostile he was towards me.
“…I won’t be able to guarantee my survival if something like this happens again.”
This time, I didn’t die because I failed to meet the failure requirement.
But what if this happens again?
If they steal my trial objective and I’m forced to meet my failure requirement…
‘I’ll die for sure.’
That was 100% the worst-case scenario.
‘I wanted to save my questions until the 8th floor but…’
This wasn’t something I could wait to find out.
“If it’s information pertinent to keeping me alive, there’s no use in delaying it.”
「 Please ask a question. 」
「 The administrator will answer the submitted question. 」
「 Currently available questions – 5 」
I started typing out the words on the holographic keyboard.
「 Amidst my 5th trial, I met a challenger who claimed to come from a different dimension. 」
「 This challenger stole my objective and tried to kill me. 」
「 What is a floor intrusion and what kind of being is the man from a different dimension? 」
「 And under what conditions do these events occur and how can I know if it happens? 」
Others said that the administrators didn’t fully answer questions.
I made my question as detailed as possible.
“This should be enough.”
I reread my question and clicked on the 「 Submit 」 button.
「 The question has been submitted. 」
And just a second later.
「 An answer has arrived. 」
“…Already?”
It was unexpected but good news.
And who am I to assume the mysterious being controlling this tower abides by time?
So I clicked on the little envelope icon next to that message.
But something was off.
「 Cannot comprehend higher-level concepts at your current floor. 」
「 Can only confirm a part of the answer. 」
「 This does not use your available questions. 」
‘A higher level concept.’
Maybe it was because I asked about the floor intrusion or other dimensions but…
The tower decided to censor some of the details from me.
Honestly, I thought they would answer whatever I was curious about, but I guess there were floor restrictions.
‘At least my questions aren’t being used.’
If they were, I’d be totally outraged but…
I was getting some information for free now.
So, instead of getting mad, I turned my attention to the partial answer I got.
「 Floor intrusion is a system that allows challengers to join another challenger’s trial within 10 floors. 」
「 But, it cannot interfere with special trials like a competitive trial. 」
「 This system will become available after getting to the 8th floor. 」
“…”
I finally got exactly what that knight was talking about.
Breaking the ladder, huh.
‘…Getting rid of competition before they reach the 8th floor.’
Because they wouldn’t know anything about this system or how to deal with it.
Even if that wasn’t the case, it was unsettling to know that you could interfere with lower-floor trials.
I didn’t know the exact benefits you could gain from doing that, but there were already a few cases I could think of.
While trying to scroll further down, an alarm rang.
Biiii~!
「 The following information is not accessible on the current floor. 」
A message popped up and erased everything on the screen.
‘…I guess it can’t tell me anything extra.’
Considering it didn’t use any of my questions, it couldn’t possibly give anything that useful.
A small message popped up after that, but it wasn’t much help.
「 Most challengers from other dimensions will be hostile to challengers in your dimension. 」
“I guess the questions aren’t a be-all-end-all either.”
Practically speaking, I only learned a little bit about the floor intrusion and nothing else about all the other information I requested.
It was as if they were telling me that the information had to be earned.
“I guess I just have to keep climbing…”
I closed the question window and opened the community instead.
「 You have entered the community. 」
Maybe someone else went through a similar experience.
But that thought went away as soon as I saw the messages.
The community was in a state of chaos.
____
MC: *Worries like hell*
MC: But I don’t have to worry about that yet
____