IWRIT-13

Chapter 13 – Back to the Tower

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“I see.”

“So… you’re saying the domain has no money.”

“I suppose that’s understandable.”

“Most lords forget accounting ledgers even exist.”

“So perhaps my employer simply fell into the same habit.”

[Netanel Pragma’s Affection has decreased.]

“Thanks to the Golden Balance’s blessing, you’re practically alive because of it…”

“But perhaps, now that the crisis has passed…”

“You’ve decided you’d rather not repay the debt.”

[Netanel Pragma’s Affection has decreased.]

[Netanel Pragma’s Affection is critically low!]

Apparently, he was not fine with it.

Netanel’s Affection plummeted into the negatives in the blink of an eye.

Camellia had expected this reaction…

But seeing his Affection crash so spectacularly still made her sweat a little.

At least his Loyalty couldn’t decrease.

Mainly because…

He hadn’t had any to begin with.

Whether that counted as good news was another matter.

Maintaining a perfectly calm expression…

Camellia spoke.

“Calm yourself.”

“I haven’t finished.”

“So what comes next?”

“You refuse to repay me and simply exile me?”

“Or perhaps…”

“You’ll refuse to repay me…”

“And cut off my head instead?”

“Either way is acceptable.”

“It’ll simply become yet another curse upon this accursed city—”

“I’ll pay in installments.”

Afraid he’d keep talking forever…

Camellia hurriedly interrupted.

“I’ll even pay interest.”

Her confident declaration made Netanel pause.

He stared at the terrifyingly beautiful Lord before him.

Her expression remained utterly unreadable.

“…You’re… actually going to repay it?”

“Isn’t that what debts are for?”

…Repay it?

Seriously?

Despite acting angry…

Despite pretending to be disappointed…

He had honestly assumed events were unfolding exactly as expected.

Nobles viewed the wealth of those beneath them as their own.

Why would one ever honor a mere verbal agreement?

Especially not the Lord of Needstar.

She wasn’t merely another aristocrat.

She was infamous as a heretic.

A fanatic who despised the gods so completely…

She forbade temples within her domain.

She even prohibited priests from entering.

Someone like that should’ve dismissed a contract with a priest as meaningless.

If she’d decided to impale him on a stake and burn him alive instead…

No one would’ve been surprised.

Yet she intended to repay him.

Even if it meant installments.

Why?

Was it because of her poor health?

Did she simply want to keep a priest nearby to look after her?

Whatever the reason…

Remaining in Needstar wasn’t a bad outcome.

With enough luck…

He might enter the Tower a few more times.

And if that happened…

He’d gain another opportunity to find that.

After rapidly weighing the situation…

Netanel smiled pleasantly.

“Are you certain?”

“The required offerings aren’t exactly small.”

“The interest alone will be considerable.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Even though the principal alone amounts to three hundred sixty platinum coins?”

Thirty-six thousand gold.

A staggering amount.

Nearly equivalent to an entire year’s tax revenue for a small territory.

“…Are miracles truly that expensive?”

Even Rohengrin couldn’t stop himself from asking.

Only after the words escaped did he realize his mistake.

He immediately lowered his head.

“My apologies.”

“I spoke out of turn.”

Camellia waved dismissively.

It wasn’t strange for him to be shocked.

They’d explored one dungeon.

And somehow…

That alone had consumed an astronomical fortune.

Even if they spread the offerings across installments…

The monthly payments would still be immense.

Anyone would worry about the domain’s finances.

Don’t worry, Rohengrin.

Your Lord has everything under control.

Truthfully…

She could solve the problem immediately if she wished.

She could simply reveal a clue about that thing Netanel had been searching for so desperately.

The object worth enduring even the humiliation of offering installments to the church.

But…

That was a last resort.

If she wanted to increase Netanel’s Loyalty…

She absolutely had to repay him with money.

Camellia lightly tapped the armrest of her chair.

“Discuss the offerings with my Steward.”

“As for you…”

“I have another contract to propose.”

“Another contract?”

Smiling faintly…

Camellia answered,

“Even if you are my creditor…”

“I cannot simply allow a priest to wander freely throughout my territory.”

Netanel’s foxlike smile deepened.

“I don’t mind.”

“So long as this contract isn’t as unfair as the last one.”

The negotiations that followed proved surprisingly fierce.

Even so…

Both sides ultimately reached an agreement they found satisfactory.

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[Netanel Pragma has entered your service!]

Duration: 12 months

Loyalty: 5/100

Affection: -5/100 (…)

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His Loyalty had increased by an impressive five points.

And even his Affection…

Which had plunged to rock bottom…

Had recovered to -5.

All things considered…

A successful negotiation.

Satisfied…

Camellia rose from her chair.

“Then.”

“Let’s return to the Tower.”

Rohengrin blinked.

“…Pardon?”

“You intend to return to the Tower?”

She’d only regained consciousness half a day ago.

Cleanup wasn’t even complete.

His expression alone conveyed everything he wanted to say.

Camellia answered calmly.

“If it concerns affairs outside the Tower…”

“Others may handle them.”

“But when it comes to confirming whether the seal remains stable…”

“I alone am capable of doing so.”

“So naturally…”

“I must inspect it myself.”

For twenty-four hours after resealing…

Every monster and gimmick on that floor disappeared.

The lore claimed the floor was temporarily purified…

Restored to its original form.

In reality…

It had mostly existed as a gameplay convenience.

A chance for players to collect hidden items…

Or finish exploring the dungeon map.

The First Floor didn’t contain many collectibles.

Still…

There was no reason not to gather them.

She also wanted to verify whether glitches still worked.

Test the inventory.

Confirm the system functions.

And most importantly—

Special treasure chests appear after a floor is resealed.

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[Loading… 58%]

[Tip: Immediately after a floor has been resealed, there are no monsters… nor traps. For one day, you may stroll through the Tower as though taking a leisurely walk. But… can you truly call it safe? The most frightening thing within the Tower isn’t the monsters… but…]

Yeah.

I know.

People are the real danger.

But who exactly do you think I am?

Sure.

The universe kept throwing absurd misfortune at her.

Even so…

She was both the Lord of this domain…

And the Master of the Tower.

Afraid of meeting other people inside?

Simple.

System Settings → Dungeon Management → Gate Permissions → First Floor → “My Party Only.”

One click.

Done.

The adventurers searching for their fallen comrades would probably curse when they were suddenly ejected from the dungeon.

But what could they do?

The Tower’s owner was using it.

Thus…

Wrapped in brilliant light…

Camellia entered an utterly deserted First Floor.

“…The atmosphere feels different from before.”

“Wow…”

“There really aren’t any monsters.”

“So this is the effect of resealing the floor?”

“Quiet.”

“You’re disturbing my Lady.”

Naturally…

She had brought the rest of her party as well.

Walking around alone in a game where carelessness earned you a knife in the back…

Was practically inviting death.

Safe or not…

There was always the chance that another one-in-ten-thousand disaster would strike.

“We’re moving.”

“Our destination is the Sealing Chamber.”

Having already experienced it once…

The party smoothly formed around her without instruction.

Their entry point lay somewhat near the edge of the map.

But with no monsters…

And Camellia’s map guiding the way…

It didn’t take long to reach the boss room—

Or rather…

The Sealing Chamber.

“…Oh.”

An awed breath escaped Netanel.

The first time he’d seen the boss room…

It had merely been a large chamber with enormous golden doors.

Now…

The room had transformed completely.

Dozens of magnificent magic circles surrounded it.

The entire space radiated unmistakable holiness.

The effects looked amazing in the game…

They’re even more incredible in reality.

Camellia admired it as well.

But sightseeing could wait.

There was something more important.

First…

She needed to confirm how faithfully the game mechanics carried over.

“Everyone.”

“Stand back.”

After sending the others away…

She placed her hand upon the central magic circle.

The formation resonated with her.

Light blossomed outward.

Then…

A system window appeared.

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Sealing Chamber (First Floor)

• This Sealing Chamber is currently empty.

• No Boss Effects are active.

※ If no evil being is sealed within this chamber, experience gain and item drop rates will decrease.

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Just as I thought.

Exactly like the game.

The Tower…

The central content of Dark Tower…

Operated through an incredibly complicated system.

Clearing a floor wasn’t the end.

It required constant maintenance.

And among all its mechanics…

The cruelest was undoubtedly…

Sealing Chamber Management.

Players needed to balance progression…

Equipment farming…

And experience gain…

Without completely destroying the seals.

Because the evil imprisoned inside each chamber wasn’t merely a prisoner.

It also served as the Tower’s power source.

Players generally had four choices.

First: Defeat the original boss and seal it again.

Second: Capture monsters from outside the Tower and imprison them instead.

Third: Create a Homunculus and use it as the seal.

Fourth: Seal a companion…

Or an NPC.

Back when it was just a game…

Players joked:

“Grinding your companions to keep the dungeon running?

Standard dark fantasy stuff.”

Reality…

Wasn’t nearly as amusing.

Seeing her frown while staring at the seal…

Jehar cautiously asked,

“My Lady…”

“Is something wrong?”

“Has your condition worsened?”

Camellia withdrew her hand.

“No.”

“The seal is functioning normally.”

“We needn’t concern ourselves with it further.”

“What a relief.”

“Then… shall we return?”

Jehar spoke first.

Rohengrin followed.

Even without saying it aloud…

He couldn’t stop watching her complexion with concern.

You two…

Your Lord may be frail…

But work still needs to be done.

“No.”

“What comes next…”

“…is the enjoyable part.”

Camellia smiled mischievously.

Then looked at all three of them.

“Tell me.”

“Have any of you…”

“…ever gone treasure hunting?”