Chapter 40
What lay before them was truly huge and extravagant.
First of all, it was big. It was shaped like a can of cola, but its size was that of a 1.5-liter PET bottle.
The fluorescent label gleamed with the words: “Super Special Great Protection Potion+ for Children Only.”
“Wow… it’s huge!”
Chary exclaimed in awe.
She wrapped her small hands around the bottle and lifted it, looking as if she were cradling the potion itself.
Just the visual alone was already perfect.
[Super Special Great Protection Potion+ for Children Only]
Perfectly protects the mind of a Tower climber. Nutrition and flavor have been improved. Protects the drinker from all types of addiction. There is no limit to the number of times it can be consumed, but drinking too much may cause frequent trips to the bathroom.
For children only
Sugar-free
“Whoa!”
Chary’s cheer made Pyraion twitch his nose in pride.
“This is why I love being an alchemist.”
Just as his chest swelled with pride, Chary’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Why, Chary?”
“Ugh…”
Chary looked a little disappointed.
Even though Pyraion had made such an excellent potion. They could climb the Tower right away!
“Davies has been really busy lately,” Chary explained.
Without Davies, they couldn’t climb the Tower.
She didn’t want to go with Pyraion.
“I can help with the lower floors,” Pyraion offered.
That was true. The system had also judged that Pyraion was better than Davies when it came to climbing the Tower.
After all, Davies was set at Empire rank, while Pyraion was set at Continent rank. (Now, they were both Continent rank, though.)
“No, thank you.”
Chary didn’t want to climb the Tower with Pyraion, who had trauma from killing.
But calling the busy Davies to come over was out of the question.
“However, Davies is your top priority, right?”
“Huh?”
Before Chary could react, Davies was perched on the window sill.
“Davies!”
Chary’s eyes went wide, her mouth gaping. Fear surged through her.
“Come down right now!”
Of course, she knew.
Davies was a Continent-level hero, so sitting on the ledge was no big deal for him.
But the sensation was different.
It was like being afraid of a cockroach—even if it couldn’t hurt you, it was still scary.
“Do you want to get scolded? Want to bleed?”
“Sorry!”
“If you fall, it’ll be a big problem. Stay safe.”
“Yes, I will.”
Pyraion clicked his tongue.
“Attention seeker.”
He had tried to lift the mood with the Super Special Great Protection Potion+, but Davies had barged in and stolen the spotlight.
Pyraion glared challengingly at Davies, who smirked and met his gaze.
“Hey, why are you laughing?”
“Pyraion, you’re only 0.01 level threat compared to Kim Myungja.”
“What’s that?”
“It means you’re not a threat to me.”
Thinking of his top-tier rivals, Kim Myungja and Eom Soyoung, Pyraion still fell far short.
Davies then turned his gaze to Chary.
“Chary… shall… we… climb the Tower together?”
“Yes!”
Chary happily held hands with Davies.
Davies winked teasingly at Pyraion and then moved off toward the Tower.
The room went silent. Pyraion stared at the empty space Davies had left behind and unconsciously flinched.
“Did I just… want to climb the Tower?”
It was a surprising change.
“Chary, shall we drink this first?”
Davies opened the can and handed it over.
It tasted like sweet orange juice.
Where he got it, he even added a giant straw.
“Ahhh.”
Visual? Perfect. Taste? Even better.
It wasn’t a potion—it was almost like a beverage.
A very even, pleasant-tasting one.
“Ugh…”
“I think I could drink a few more bottles.”
She said confidently, but reality was harsh.
“Ugh…”
She tried to hold back burps but couldn’t. Her face turned bright red.
Just a few sips and her stomach was already bloated.
A child’s stomach had its limits.
[Entered Tower (Seoul) 12th Floor]
[Challenge: Defeat the Violent Dragon Palace Turtle]
Before them stretched a wide, bright beach.
The sky was clear, and the waves were rough.
Through the waves, a giant shell rose.
“Huh?”
[Kids’ Safety Filter Activated]
The massive body, round eyes, and the big orange scar on its shell looked violent, but through Chary’s eyes, it looked like a cute character.
“Davies!”
“Yes?”
“This turtle looks like a Kkobuk (little turtle)!”
The enormous turtle crawling on the beach looked dangerous to anyone, but to Chary, it looked like a cartoon character.
“Ah… so that’s how it looks to Chary’s eyes.”
Now that Davies shared the Kids’ Safe Filter, he looked quite satisfied.
Although the turtle looked violent, it now seemed like a storybook villain.
“See, it has a big carrot-shaped mark on its back.”
“Wow, really?”
The shell had a deep, rough scar, but to Chary, it looked like a carrot—fluorescent orange and cute.
“The evil rabbit spread carrots!”
Chary clenched her fists. Her heart pounded.
Pyraion’s 4D fairy tale effects were impressive, but this felt like stepping directly onto a stage from a storybook.
Everything looked real, yet her mind was already flipping to the last page of the book.
Then, a notification appeared.
[!Hidden Condition Met!]
[Save the Dragon Palace Turtle that became addicted to carrots because of the evil rabbit.]
Davies tilted his head.
“Was there a hidden condition on the 12th floor?”
Many heroes had climbed the Tower.
They shared tips and experiences in the Spirit Realm.
Some were Tower experts.
A hidden condition on the 12th floor? The experts would have noticed.
“Then this must be new?”
Perhaps it was a special condition because of Kids’ Mode.
Chary handed Davies the Super Special Great Protection Potion+.
“Please use this to save the Dragon Palace Turtle.”
“Shall we?”
Even if it didn’t work, well…
‘One sip and it’s solved.’
“Completely cures all addictions… might actually work.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Davies disappeared.
Honestly, even Davies was surprised.
“That actually works?”
[Cleared Tower (Seoul) 12th Floor]
[Clear Rating: Legend]
Just by (forcefully) giving the potion to the Dragon Palace Turtle, the floor was cleared.
Even the hidden condition was satisfied.
[!Hidden Condition Met!]
[Card Hero Designation Ticket Awarded]
[Next card hero summon, you may choose the hero.]
[Guaranteed Card Hero: Brave Kkobuk (Kingdom-level)]
“It’s Kingdom-level, but that’s fine.”
The “Grade Enhancement Rune+” effect ensured it would synchronize to at least Empire-level +11 enhancement anyway.
It was an insanely overpowered effect.
[Hall of Fame – 12th Floor]
[South Korea]
Svita (Legend)
[Oh, the Legend brother moved again]
└ ???: Too scared to climb for now
└ If a bounty is on him, mental points drop and L-grade impossible
└ Experts? lol, just whining experts
└ Seriously, did he really reach the 12th floor?
└ Svita bro’s generosity is insane, real man
Even Pyraion, the creator of the potion, puffed his chest proudly.
“How is it? My Super Special Great Protection Potion+’s power?”
“……”
But Chary’s reaction was strange.
“Pyka-chu.”
“Uh, yes?”
Pyraion noticed.
Something was seriously wrong.
“You’re doubting my competence?”
“Pyraion Ka Tsupelinstein.”
Her full name came out involuntarily.
“Why am I not being praised at all?”
“…Huh?”
Even after clearing the Tower, Chary remained calm.
The Super Special Great Protection Potion+ regulated dopamine release, limiting the euphoria and excitement usually felt from Tower completion.
Even in extreme situations like clearing the Tower, it kept the user calm and relaxed.
Joy, excitement, and achievement were all slightly suppressed.
“Th-That’s…”
“Chary, precise wording, please.”
“Ah… that’s just how it is, I guess?”
From Chary’s perspective, it was disappointing.
Even in a joyful situation, her emotions remained muted!
Her mind calm, her body relaxed!
After clearing the Tower, only a listless Chary remained.
Once again, a verbal dagger struck.
“Are you saying I’m competent or not?”
Pyraion’s face turned pale.
