The Tower Of Prophecy (5)

Kugugugu-!!!

Above the sky, something began to appear with a tremendous noise.

Startled, Ma Hana and Ju Na-young looked up at the sky with their jaws dropped.

“Se, Seha, what on earth is that…?”
“Yo-Yong?”

Yu Seha patted their heads as if they were cute and answered.

“That’s exactly the special gimmick that Natsu mentioned.”
“Meow? Ah! That definitely appears if conditions are met?”
“Yes, to be precise, it’s a group S-rank test.”
“A, a group S-rank?”

To supplement Yu Seha’s explanation, a large <Information Window> updated for everyone.

Dding-!

[The tower will grant a new opportunity to challengers who have passed the second test without giving up.]
[‘A group test’ will be given. Some unexplored floors will open.]
[‘You will have a chance to meet the ‘Tower Administrator.’ If you pass all tests, you can earn one more ★.’]

Jiiing-!

Soon, vast magical power surged above the sky.
Immediately after, a gigantic door appeared.

It was a door leading to a hidden place commonly called the <Unexplored> floor.

Yu Seha stood up from his seat.
He patted the backs of the two who were still startled, murmuring ‘Meow, Yong-aa…’.

“Come on, come on, let’s get our heads straight and start preparing.”
“Meow? What preparation?”
“Of course, it’s the strength thing.”

Yu Seha smiled gently.
He turned his neck this way and that.

“Ju Na-young.”
“Yong?”
“Could you call Moon Bora and senior Choi Mari?”

We’re going to start the meeting to claim the last ★.

A little later.
Everyone gathered.

Yu Seha explained within the scope of what he knew to everyone.
Moon Bora, who was listening silently, raised her hand slightly.

“From what you’re saying… Seha, you had considered even this.”
“Yes, raising up to three stars. That’s my goal.”

Of course, well…
There is one more thing.

‘That thing you can check after completing all the tests.’

However, this is a category that cannot be told to the party.
Only he, who was the instructor of ‘GAL,’ can verify it.

Moreover, since it is unknown whether it actually exists in this world, there was no need to mention it.

“…Then, is it possible to keep challenging the group S-rank test?”
“No, this test is a trial given by the tower, so if you fail once, it’s over.”
“Other than that, is there any fatal penalty…?”
“None. The <Tower of Prophecy> is a floor that has already been fully walked through. There is no danger. The only downside is that you can’t challenge again… but since we’ve already entered once, we are automatically banned from re-entry.”

As Yu Seha finished speaking,
Ju Na-young’s eyes sparkled as he raised his hand sharply.
His bright green pupils shone like starlight.

“What, what! The more I hear, the more it sounds like a merit! Great! Let’s go right now, Yu Seha.”
“Meow! Me too, me too want to go.”
“Seha. Naturally, I will go too.”

Yu Seha smiled gently at the party’s words.
Any possible opposition,
No longer needed to worry.

‘Hmm…’

Except for one person.
Yu Seha glanced aside.

In the corner of the wall.
Choi Mari, crouched so as not to be seen, was sneaking away.
She was heading straight for the exit gate.

“Mau, Mauu… I, I don’t want to. Ma, Mauu…”

Undeniable escape.
But Yu Seha was not going to let this go easily.
With a swish, he moved and appeared with a whoosh.

“Senior Mari?”
“Ma, Mau, Mauuung!!”
“You will obviously participate too, right, senior?”
“Uh, well… hehe. Se, Seha junior. I, I’ve already raised a lot…”
“So you should raise more when the opportunity comes.”
“I, I’ve unlocked my potential… and the Holy Law restrictions I couldn’t learn are lifted… and my stat limits have increased… well, even this much is-”
“-If you raise one more, the saint will be pleased. Come on, stop whining and let’s prepare and go up.”

Yu Seha smiled brightly and lifted Choi Mari up.
Choi Mari resisted, making mau-mau sounds.

“I, I don’t want to! I don’t want to do mini-games anymore! No, no!”
“Come on, everyone, let’s go.”

[Challenging the ‘Group S-rank Test.’]
[Participants: Yu Seha, Ma Hana, Ju Na-young, Moon Bora, Choi Mari]
[‘Tower Administrator’ responds to the call.]

Paaat-!
A bright light burst forth.
Soon the scenery was revealed.

“…Meow? Is this the special floor?”
“…It looks like a kids’ play area.”

Yu Seha looked around.
The scenery looked like graffiti everywhere.
It was like a fairy tale scene roughly drawn by kids with crayons.

Immediately after, Ma Hana flinched.
She raised her two tails like an alarm and shouted.

“…! Seha.”
“Yes, I know.”

Something was approaching.
With that thought, an alien magical power shimmered before their eyes.

It wasn’t strong.
But it was a pure and sublime power.
It was a magical power Yu Seha had experienced before.

‘…Qilin.’

It was a magical power similar to that felt from a divine beast called Kirin.

At that moment!
A popping sound.

Soon, a rabbit character the size of a child wearing an inverted hat appeared.

The reason it was called a character was,
Because it literally looked like a mascot from a cartoon.

“Hoo~”

The rabbit trembled its body.
It looked at Yu Seha and his party.
It clapped its hands with interesting eyes.

“Wow~ Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you~ I can’t even remember how many decades it’s been since a challenger came~”

After speaking, the rabbit looked around.
It fiddled with its own body.
It seemed very happy as if it had a physical body for the first time in a long while.

Its appearance and behavior.
It was literally ridiculous,
Yu Seha muttered lowly, warning not to let their guard down.

“Everyone, don’t lower your guard. That guy… was the owner of this tower.”

Ju Na-young flinched.
He came closer and whispered.

“…You mean the owner?”
“Yes, the <Layer Lord>.”

The final boss who guards and manages the unprecedented disaster called the <Tower>.

Since the <Tower> itself is a high-end content, most bosses are a level above dungeon or trial bosses.

Then Moon Bora, who was listening, asked with worried eyes.

“…Seha? Should we prepare to attack?”
“No, there’s no need. It’s just an old story.”

Unless the <Tower of Prophecy> was not completely conquered.
Since all traps are finished, the rabbit before them is just a remnant of the past.
A fragment and part of the soul left because the tower’s existence hasn’t completely vanished.
A state close to a shadow, not the main body.

In other words, it was not dangerous.

They were invited to take the special S-rank test in the first place.

No host would be rude enough to attack visiting guests.

‘However…’

There was one concern.

The rabbit looking around.
Soon, it made eye contact with Yu Seha.
Then it quickly approached and said ‘Hooh…’ with an intrigued expression.

“…Yong-aa.”
“Ju Na-young, it’s okay. There’s no sign of attack.”
“Of course! I am here as an examiner responding to the tower’s call. I have no power to harm you.”

The rabbit waved its hands.
Originally a Layer Lord, it skillfully flew up into the sky.

Then it smiled, revealing sharp carnivorous teeth hardly resembling a rabbit.

“By the way, you have experience killing my kin, haven’t you?”
“……”
“Let’s see, this scent of blood… I see. That ‘Kirin’ guy. He was quite strong but ended up dead.”

Layer Lord <Barbatos>.
A divine beast and demon beast inheriting demonic blood.
A fierce and powerful being in the form of a rabbit.
That was his identity in his prime.

Yu Seha swallowed dryly.
Even knowing he had no such power, he worried about retaliation for killing the same kin.

The rabbit saw through this.
It waved its hand as if to say don’t worry.

“Don’t be nervous~ I wasn’t close to him anyway… and personally, I think…”

The weak one is at fault.

“My main body died for the same reason. Anyway, sorry for the long digression.”

The rabbit clapped its hands.
A brief vibration.
Soon, a ridiculous wooden board rose from the floor.

“Now, now, then, I’ll explain quickly.”

There were three pictures drawn on the board.
Interestingly, they knew they were pictures but couldn’t precisely recognize the contents.
It must be a kind of perception interference ability.

“The special test proceeds in three stages.”

A lot of rabbit-like explanations.

To summarize simply, if all three tests are passed, everyone receives one star.

“If any one member of the party succeeds, the test is considered passed. Of course, that one must save the rest.”

Yu Seha nodded.
Because it was exactly what he had said.

After finishing all explanations, the rabbit.
Hmmmed and rested its chin.
Muttered softly.

“…However, I am barely maintaining my consciousness now… so with this ridiculous body alone, there are some restrictions on taking the test.”
“…Then?”
“I need a body I can use only during the test. No worries about anything strange. Actually, I can’t do that.”

After speaking, the rabbit looked around the party.
Meanwhile, a crunching sound was heard.

The rabbit naturally turned its head…
And made eye contact with Choi Mari who was munching popcorn absentmindedly.

“Munch munch. Mauu?”
“…Oh ho. Nice. A body filled with powerful divinity but the person has no will to act and thinks of just failing! Surely, a person who will be a burden to comrades!”
“Ma, Mauu?!”
“I’ve chosen you.”

Shuwoong-!

The rabbit dashed to Choi Mari in an instant.
Choi Mari, watching, threw popcorn up and struggled.

“Ma, Mauuuu!!”
“Don’t worry. I’m just borrowing you for a moment.”

It slipped inside.
With a pop sound, smoke rose.
Yu Seha reacted a beat late and shouted loudly.

“Senior Mari!”

He drew his sword at his waist and swiftly slashed.

Cutting through the rising smoke, Yu Seha quickly ran and grabbed Choi Mari’s hand.

If necessary, he planned to throw her down and subdue her…?

Uh, hmm.
Uuuh?

“…Huh?”

Such thoughts collapsed completely at the sight of the different Choi Mari before him.

“Hmm~ Young bodies are nice after all. Her chest is bigger than I thought, this woman? Not as much as in my prime… but a good body.”

Choi Mari touched her own chest with obscene hand movements.
It was definitely her body, but the color of her eyes was the same red pupils as the rabbit earlier.

Her outfit was also provocative.
Fishnet stockings and high heels.
Long rabbit ears attached above her head.
Yellow eyeliner heavily drawn on her eyes.

Finally, a risqué black piece of cloth.
It was a fashion commonly called a bunny girl.

The rabbit possessing Choi Mari’s body winked at the dumbfounded Yu Seha.

“How is it? From a man’s perspective, is this attractive? Does it turn you on?”

“……”