Convenience Store 24: The Tower of the End 1st - Chapter 105



Only Krnovel

Episode 105 Welcome to the Ent Forest

‘It looks like there are already many raiders who have gone to Pandrian.’

If you look at the number of videos related to Pandrian, it seems like there are quite a few uploaded.

I am among the videos.

[Day 1 of settling in Pandrian.]

I pressed one.

In the video, several of the attackers were seen smiling brightly.

[They really give you land if you go to Pandrian?]

[Yeah! You said you’d give me a house too?! Surely the Queen herself said that, so it couldn’t be a lie?]

[Wow, a house on the village floor… … .]

[We have to hurry. I heard that everyone is rushing in now.]

The background of the video, which showed the entire view of Forentia, the capital of Elasium, passes by at a rapid pace.

After a while.

[That’s… … .]

The woman in the video looks at a sign stuck to the floor.

[Is this where Pandrian begins?]

[… … This place? It’s just a wasteland? This is the Ent Forest?]

At that time, besides the woman, the attackers in the video were murmuring amongst themselves.

[Welcome to Pandrian! Houm!]

Suddenly, Ent, who had come closer to them, began shaking the branches of the tree from side to side.

[Pandrian is full of dreams, hopes, and romance! Houm!]

[Uh, um… … So, where is the house? I heard that if you come here, you’ll be given a place to settle down.]

[That’s right! You’ve come to the right place, hooom!]

Ent lifts a thick branch and points to the wasteland.

[That vast land you see over there is all a place where climbers can live, hooom!]

Looking at the Ents shaking left and right.

The raiders are muttering.

[Are you telling me to reclaim that wasteland?]

[But there’s nothing?]

[Let’s wait a little longer. We might be able to get some special quests.]

Among the murmuring raiders, one suddenly raises his hand.

[Is there any support from Pandrian?]

[Hooooom! We have something prepared for the climbers. Follow us!]

The raiders move following the leading Ent.

Soon, strange things began to appear on the footage.

Leaf tents made of broad leaves and thick branches were scattered throughout the field.

[These are the houses we worked hard to build for the climbers who will come to Pandrian, Houm! Aren’t they great?]

[… … .]

The expressions on most of the raiders’ faces became rotten.

[… … Hey, is this right? You want to live there? It’s not even as good as an inn, is it?]

[Shh! Don’t talk nonsense. What if you end up falling out with the Ents? Just wait. This is probably all part of the quest.]

[Ahaha… … I like it… … .]

The raiders tried hard to give a thumbs up.

A bright smile appears on Ent’s face.

[Hohoum! Really? I thought you’d be happy!]

[So, what should we do?]

[There is nothing for climbers to do in this Pandrian! All they have to do is enjoy Pandrian! Hoooom!]

Is the playback time over?

The video ended as soon as Ent’s scream ended.

‘What? It’s already over? Oh, there’s also a video from Day 2.’

I quickly pressed the video.

Okay then.

[This is my second day in Pandrian.]

Inside the leaf tent, a woman dressed in shabby attire continues her story while gathering up her weapons one by one.

[… … It’s better than I thought. I don’t know if I should say it’s fortunate that it’s not cold.]

The image that had been shining inside the leaf tent soon shifted to the outside.

Thud, thud-

[Sigh!]

[Haaap!]

Strategists picking off land from all over the place.

[They’ve been working hard since morning. I guess it’s because Ents said they’d give us land if we worked hard to develop the land. For now, we’ve decided to work together to develop the land. After that, we’ll divide up the land. It’s still barren, but if we develop the land, it’ll be a good place to live in many ways… ]

At that time.

[Run, run! Everyone, run!]

A man with a pale face screams like a madman.

[What, what is it? What’s going on?]

[The Ents, the Ents… …!]

[Hooooooooom!]

Ents appear from somewhere and instantly block the man.

[I haven’t finished collecting the rocks yet, hoom!]

[Go back quickly and collect 1,000 pieces of mother rock! Then, go and receive the promised reward!]

[Poem, I hate it! When are you doing all that! What would you do if I gave you gold? I just want to live freely… … !]

A faint smile appears on the Ents’ faces.

[Houm! It’s as the Savior said! He said to push back harder in times like this!]

[Climber! You can do it! Come join us in the forest!]

[Gyaaaaaaah!]

The faces of the raiders who saw the man being dragged away by the Ents’ hands were blank.

[What, what was it?]

[Hohoum! Don’t worry! Climbers with nothing better to do, come to me! I’ll take you to the lake in Pandrien! Go fishing there! You can’t leave Pandrien until you catch 1,000 fish!]

The raiders who were diligently clearing the land noticed.

They start to get up one by one quietly.

[Ahem, ahem… I have to get out of here. Something urgent came up.]

[Me, me too!]

however.

chuck-

[Hooooooom!]

[There’s still a lot to enjoy in Pandrien! Go and enjoy it more! If you enjoy it, you’ll get gold!]

[No, that’s… … .]

The video ends with the Ents laughing and blocking the street.

‘Hmm, this is it.’

I nodded with satisfaction.

‘The advice I gave to the Ents worked really well.’

When climbers come to Pandrian.

He had been told to offer lots of work and entice them with appropriate compensation.

And the Ents seemed to follow that advice very faithfully.

‘You must have gone to Pandrian to find a peaceful place, a place to live. No way, no way.’

There is no paradise where you run away.

There are only farms that encourage production for the raiders.

‘If we do some farming like that, it will help the circulation of supplies in the tower.’

People are diverse.

Not everyone has the courage to risk their life.

That’s why I respect their choice too.

‘Still, I hope you all work hard so that I can respect you more.’

At that moment, I was looking at my phone with a happy smile.

“Boss! Boss!”

Seon-ah’s voice is heard from behind.

“It’s almost opening time!”

“Hmm. Oh, already?”

I got up from my seat leisurely.

* * *

Same time.

Lee Ji-soo turned her head and looked at her colleagues.

“… … .”

As always.

At this time, most people become silent.

“Lord… … .”

Some made the sign of the cross and entrusted their day’s safety to God.

Others tried to relieve tension through meditation.

“I’m shaking, I’m shaking. Why is it that no matter how much I practice, I never get used to it?”

“Well, you might die, right? Don’t worry. As long as you can breathe, I’ll somehow save you.”

“Haha… … .”

Others tried to loosen up their stiff hearts by talking with their colleagues.

‘I think this is enough.’

Lee Ji-soo gestures to her colleagues.

“If everyone is ready, let’s go.”

“What the heck, let’s go and see!”

“Yeah! And besides, I won’t have to starve to death anymore! That alone is great!”

Everyone raised their weapons at her words.

“Let’s go!”

Saaaaah-

Lee Ji-soo began to climb the stairs with light streaming in, one step at a time.

We will soon reach the 53rd floor.

‘Still, I feel a little bit at ease today.’

The new challenge was a burden even to her strong personality.

Today was a little different.

[Floor 53. You don’t have to believe in fairies, but you don’t have to be too suspicious either. Sometimes it’s good to follow the clichés that others have created.]

Maybe it was because of the advice the fantasy shopkeeper gave her.

Jeobuk-

‘What a curious person.’

To be honest, I didn’t blindly believe his advice.

That would be the case, since the 53rd floor was an unknown territory where no one had yet set foot.

I’ve already told my colleagues about this.

‘I think most people didn’t believe it though.’

Lee Ji-soo smiled faintly.

It’s okay if his advice turns out to be a nice lie.

Jeobuk-

At least thanks to that lie, her mind was calmer than ever.

Hwaaaaaaaah-

Lee Ji-soo has reached the end of the stairs.

The intense light was swirling around as if it was going to swallow her up.

‘Phew… … ‘

She slowly drew her sword and stepped into the light.

That moment.

Tiring-

[Entering the 53rd floor.]

[The maximum number of people who can play on the 53rd floor at the same time is 2.]

[Confirmed multiple simultaneous entries. People will be randomly assigned.]

Her vision flashed with light as a message appeared before her eyes.

* * *

‘Here is… … .’

Lee Ji-soo looked around first.

Fortunately, no enemies were visible.

but.

“What? Is it you?”

Saint Sylvia looks at her and raises the corners of her mouth.

“I guess I’m pretty lucky. You’re the one who came with me to the two-person quest floor.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Right?”

Sylvia snickered, draping the mace over her shoulder.

“If the party member next to me is the strongest among the clan members, wouldn’t that make you feel a little better? Didn’t you think the same thing when you saw me?”

“… … .”

This kind of party quest floor depends on the power of the companion next to you.

Clearing or not was often a matter of life or death.

That’s why Lee Ji-soo didn’t answer.

Even though Sylvia’s words were direct, they weren’t wrong.

“Anyway, the quest floor is a really, really crappy system. Since you can’t know until you enter, you can’t deal with it, right?”

Sylvia, who had been grumbling, glanced around and spoke.

“By the way, it’s a strangely shaped place.”

“I know.”

Women looking at a stone corridor with dim light sources scattered here and there.

“It’s nice because it looks simple. Can’t we just go there?”

Sylvia points forward.

There was no way back.

There was only a space that was straight, yet slightly distorted and twisted.

“Let’s go first. We have to find some clues… … .”

At that time.

[Quest, ‘?’ begins.]

A quest window appeared before her eyes.

‘This is… … .’

“You’re up too?”

As Lee Ji-soo nods, Sylvia tilts her head.

“That’s strange… … Why did this quest suddenly appear? Did you touch something?”

“Maybe it was a condition for us to arrive at this floor.”

“… … Is that so? Has there ever been a case like this?”

“Let’s first look at the quest.”

Quest: ?

Description: In these unknown corridors, the only thing you can trust is your fairy, Wumpy.

detail: ?

compensation: ?

Lee Ji-soo, who was looking at the quest, flinched for a moment.

‘……fairy?’

Sylvia also asks her if she feels something is strange.

“Is this the fairy or something that the shop owner mentioned?”

“… … .”

It’s too early to tell.

It could just be a freaking coincidence.

At that time.

Forr-

A ball of light flew up in front of them.

[Ah, I’m finally free from the Chaos Seal! Thank you, climbers! My name is Wampy!]

“… …Warmpy?”

“Yes! I’m Wampy!”

The ball of light called by its name twinkles.

[Climbers, you must hurry!]

“Why?”

[This is not just a simple stone passage, but a ‘dimensional corridor’ where multiple dimensions are intertwined!]

‘Is this a guide for this quest? Can I trust what that fairy says?’

The moment Lee Ji-soo looked at the fairy with sharp eyes.

The quest name that was written as ‘?’ has been changed.

Quest: Dimensional Corridor

Description: In these unknown corridors, the only thing you can trust is your fairy, Wumpy.

detail: ?

compensation: ?

‘This is… … .’

Every time you talk to a fairy, you get to know a little bit more information.

And, the conversation she had with the fantasy shopkeeper in her head.

[You don’t have to believe in fairies, but you don’t have to be too suspicious either. Sometimes it’s good to follow the clichés that others have created.]

It passed me by again.

‘oh my god…….’

Lee Ji-soo couldn’t help but be astonished.

No, I couldn’t believe it.

‘It’s exactly as he said.’

It feels like my skin is standing up.

‘He… was he really the manager? If so, why did he tell us this information? Is it okay? What good does it do for him to tell us this information… .’

Lee Ji-soo was momentarily lost in thought.

Sylvia tapped her side.

“I know you’re surprised, and I have a chill down my spine right now, but come to your senses. That thing seems to be trying to say something.”

[That’s right, climbers! There’s no time!]

“Why isn’t it there? If it’s not there, why don’t you make it?”

As Sylvia raised her mace, she let go of her guard.

The light is blinking.

[Because this is a strategic point where multiple dimensions overlap, interdimensional wars occur frequently. Recently, there was a war between the Celestial Realm and the Chaos Realm, and the Chaos Realm lost, right? But these crazy things tried to summon the ‘Primordial Chaos’, saying that if they couldn’t have it, no one could. The Celestial Realm… ]

“So? What’s the main point? Tell me the main point, the main point!”

[… … So the seal of the heavens has failed, and over time, the ‘Primordial Chaos’ will be summoned. Then, everything will be over.]

As soon as Wompey finished speaking.

Lee Ji-soo mutters softly.

“Time limited quest… … .”

“That seems to be the case, but is it okay to believe what that fairy says?”

[There’s no need to be so suspicious. Sometimes it’s good to follow the clichés that others have created.]

In response to Sylvia’s question, Lee Ji-soo nodded after a moment of thought.

“Let’s believe it. Let’s believe his words, not the fairy.”