WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

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Chapter 145: A Thunderous Scolding (2)

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After safely completing my contract with the Tower, I lay on the bed in my room, looking through the Communication Window.

Climbers were celebrating their curse immunity reward.

Now, Climbers wouldn't die even if the Tower's deadline ran out.

It meant humanity had a chance to survive even if the world ended, but...

It definitely wasn't all good news.

At this point, I didn't have any expectations anyway.

You couldn't even call this insurance.

As the existence of the 10th floor suggested, even if humanity survived, the world would likely end one way or another as long as the Tower, the root cause of it all, remained.

And as I'd considered before when I ultimately decided against choosing this reward, it had great potential to throw society into chaos.

It might create even greater conflict and division between Climbers and ordinary people.

The pace at which the other difficulties cleared their highest floors might also slow dramatically from now on.

"Phew."

I'd watched Seri's world perish.

The more I climbed the Tower, the more its malice surpassed anything I could have imagined.

Watching it, I realized more clearly than ever that if Climbers became uncontrollable, my world would meet the same end.

It was impossible to control millions of Climbers unless I became a god myself...

Still, they needed a powerful warning.

One strong enough that no one would even dare do anything stupid from now on.

I began writing a post in the Communication Window.

* * *

After the Joint Battle ended and Person123 accepted and successfully overcame the Tower's proposal, the news media rushed to pour out reports.

The defeat of the Zone 6 through 10 bosses was one thing, but Person123's actions during the Joint Battle had also become the center of major controversy.

- German Hard-difficulty Floor 16 Climber Robert Müller dies at Person123's hands...

- Did Person123 furiously rebuke the Climbers who chose Round 6? An inhumane act that put 100 million lives on the line...

- German government has yet to issue a statement on Robert Müller's death...

[Challenge: I stayed until the end of the Joint Battle. I'll only tell you the facts as I saw them.

Person123 barged in during Round 3. He spammed what looked like magic-type skills and wiped out every monster by himself. He even summoned some tiger-like beast that went wild, and it was fucking strong. The monsters just got shredded. Things were already impossible to handle from Round 3 onward, and if Person123 hadn't intervened, people would've died in ridiculous numbers, not just by the hundreds like in Round 2.

Person123 put on a one-man show through Round 5, but the final Round 6 was the real highlight. Thousands of monsters came rushing in, then Person123 shot up into the sky and froze every last one of them with a single skill. Anyone who saw it knows I'm not exaggerating at all.

After dealing with the monsters, Person123 was seriously pissed off. He scolded the Climbers for being selfish bastards, then just killed Robert. That guy had been the first to incite everyone to choose Round 6. He didn't kill him with that black beam. Flames burst out of the ground, and Robert vanished without a trace. A Level 60 Climber just died like that... It gave me chills.

After seeing that, all the other Climbers left and ran away. I left then too, so I don't know what happened afterward. But judging by the posts going up, no one else died, and it seems Person123 told the Climbers who remained to leave too?

For the record, I chose Round 1, so don't come at me. I didn't leave because I felt guilty. You try being there yourself. I thought Person123 had snapped and was about to kill everyone.]

Person123's anger had claimed the life of Germany's highest-floor Climber.

Naturally, most people sided with Person123 and said Robert deserved to die.

Because of the Climbers who chose Round 6, countless people had almost died. Person123 had deliberately accepted the Tower's proposal, nearly jeopardizing future Nightmare clears.

Ordinary people in particular were cursing Robert and the other Climbers who chose Round 6 as traitors, but...

The mood in the Communication Window, where Climbers gathered, wasn't entirely the same.

Many were cursing them as well, but some wondered whether Person123 had gone a little too far.

[Starlight: But honestly, did he really have to kill Robert...? During the Mask Auction and the Wang Kai incident, I get that he had no choice, but this time he killed him just because he was angry.]

[Reinhardt: He's become a bit of an extralegal figure.]

[Duke: Hmm... Still, didn't they need an example?]

[Paprika: Person123 went too far? Are you insane? Those bastards nearly blocked the Nightmare clear and fucked the world over.]

[Mali: If Person123-nim killed him, there must have been a reason. If you're unhappy, spit out that curse immunity reward too~]

[Seagull: For real lol. Just worship him already. Why are you talking so much? Are you a German Climber?]

International Climber Association headquarters. The chairman's office on the top floor.

Nicholas, the association chairman, stood with his hands behind his back and smiled as he looked out the window.

"Fantastic. Truly."

He had no interest in the uproar outside. There was only one thing on his mind.

The curse immunity granted to Climbers as the Joint Battle reward.

It was an utterly unexpected gift.

As a Climber himself, he was happy to have found a way to live even if the world ended...

But the thought of how much more influence the Association and Climbers could wield from now on brought a smile to his face.

The tide was already turning in the Climbers' favor.

The Climbers' curse immunity would be a catalyst that accelerated it further.

Climbers would no longer die when the deadline ran out, while non-Climbers would.

Climbers had no reason to urgently climb to the highest floor, but non-Climbers would have no choice but to desperately hope for their clears.

That difference in position would create a completely new order.

"I wonder what kind of faces those government bastards are making right now."

The governments had constantly kept the Association in check and made things difficult for it.

At future negotiating tables, the Association would hold the absolute upper hand.

He felt like bowing to Person123 for giving them such a gift. As expected, Person123 was humanity's hero.

Chairman Nicholas spoke to his secretary.

"Gather the directors. Tell them it's a meeting about curse immunity."

"Yes."

Nicholas called the meeting to discuss the Association's strategy, how to pressure the governments and expand Climbers' influence even further...

But the moment he sat down and opened the Communication Window, his expression stiffened.

He called back the secretary who was about to leave the office.

"W-wait."

"Yes?"

"Cancel the meeting."

Nicholas swallowed hard as he looked at the Communication Window again.

[Person123: This is my first and final warning to all Climbers.]

Person123 had made a post.

[Person123: I believe I have repeatedly said that you must not be swayed by the Tower, and that nothing but destruction awaits at the end of that path.

Even so, it came as a great shock that more than half of you chose Round 6 during this Joint Battle, despite 100 million lives being at stake.

I will no longer try to make you understand with words. Nor do I expect you to understand.

If an incident like this Joint Battle or the Mask Auction happens again, and any Climbers, swayed by the Tower's rewards, try to sacrifice people's lives, I will find them all and kill them. No matter who you are or where on Earth you are, I will find you and kill you.

Climbers have become immune to the Tower's Curse. This is good news, but I have serious concerns.

If any Climbers or organizations try to use this to throw society into chaos or gain the upper hand over ordinary people, I will personally come for them as well. Nothing can protect you.

Humanity is currently standing closer to the edge than you realize. I do not have the time to worry about anything beyond clearing the Nightmare.

Climbers, do not forget that I am also a Climber. Unless the world ends because the Nightmare clear fails, I will remain alive and well in that ruined world. Do not test my patience any further.]

Person123's lengthy post appeared in the Communication Window.

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

The small number of Climbers who had subtly expressed dissatisfaction in the Communication Window, and the tabloid media outlets that had been writing sensational articles about Robert's death to stir up controversy...

They all fell silent.

Person123's declaration was that shocking.

Humanity's savior had announced that he would mercilessly punish Climbers from now on.

It was a blunt, raw, open threat that completely contrasted with everything he had said and done until then.

The media outlets were the first to react.

News organizations around the world simultaneously poured out positive articles about Person123's declaration.

- Humanity's savior Person123 displays unprecedented anger... Announces a crackdown on Climbers who crossed the line...

Of course, the governments of each country were behind it.

The governments understood perfectly well what consequences the Climbers' curse immunity could bring to society.

With a crisis on their hands, Person123 had unexpectedly stepped forward to help them.

"As expected... he is humanity's true savior."

The White House. A meeting between the president and senior staff.

Punishing Climbers who threatened civilians' lives under the Tiered Floor Rule had been discussed since the Mask Auction incident, but...

Nothing had progressed until now. Every standard and detail had been vague.

Climbers were difficult enough to punish as it was. High-level Climbers in particular were above the law.

Then Person123 left an unprecedented warning, using the Joint Battle incident as a trigger.

His existence alone had already restrained Climbers to some extent, but...

This time, it looked like he intended to suppress them completely, so they wouldn't even dream of doing anything stupid.

The governments only had to follow that momentum and move in step with him.

Person123, humanity's savior.

It was incredibly fortunate, and they were deeply grateful, that Person123 considered the position of non-Climbers.

Meanwhile, in an upscale villa in Shanghai, China.

"Cough... Hack...!"

A man knelt in the lavish living room, vomiting blood.

The homeowner was hovering at death's door and desperately begged the intruder before him.

Despite being over Level 30, he had been subdued without even being able to resist.

"P-please... spare me... What do you want from me...?"

A gloved man with slicked-back hair stood before him.

Ye Tianwei looked down at him and smiled faintly.

"Recite your sin."

"W-what... What sin...?"

"The sin you committed just two days ago."

After coughing up another mouthful of blood, the man seemed to realize what Ye Tianwei meant and stammered, "Th-the Joint Battle...?"

"You chose Round 6, didn't you?"

"...N-no. I chose Round 1..."

One of the man's fingers was severed.

"Arghhh!"

"This will continue until you give the right answer. You chose Round 6, didn't you?"

The screaming man only confessed honestly after several more fingers had been cut off.

"I chose it! I chose Round 6! Please spare me...!"

Ye Tianwei lifted the man's chin and asked, "What do you think you did wrong?"

"Ugh... I didn't think about the lives of 100... 100 million people..."

"Hmm, no. That's not it."

Ye Tianwei shook his head.

"I don't particularly care about the lives of 100 million people either. If that person had considered the Climbers' curse immunity more valuable than the lives of 100 million people, then that was what you should have chosen."

"Y-yes...?"

"But that was not the case, was it? You dared to go against that person's will. That is why that person was greatly enraged. That is your only sin."

Ye Tianwei smiled.

"If you understand now, be on your way. I have plenty of other vermin to deal with besides you."

Thud.

The man's head fell to the floor.

Ye Tianwei took off his bloodstained gloves and handed them to the subordinate beside him.

"Clean this up and come out."

"Yes."

The Joint Battle incident. The 51 Climbers who chose Round 6.

Ye Tianwei was personally dealing with them one by one.

That was possible because one of Ye Tianwei's close associates had also been present during the Joint Battle.

Among the Climbers advocating for Round 6, the associate had recognized and remembered some of those affiliated with the Black Star Society.

Within days, their identities and locations had all been uncovered. China was a country where that was possible, and Ye Tianwei stood at the peak of power in China.

He might not be able to execute all 51, but he intended to kill everyone he could identify with certainty.

After leaving the villa and getting into his car, Ye Tianwei's executive assistant handed him a tablet.

"We just received this. It is a list of the Security Force Climbers identified so far."

Ye Tianwei looked over the list and asked, "What's expected to happen to them?"

"The Security Force is considering expelling them internally, and the governments of each country are separately considering legal punishment."

Ye Tianwei smiled. There was a hint of mockery in it.

"I see. If they're going to drag their feet like that, I suppose I'll have to take care of them all myself."

As a believer who followed that person and watched the path that person walked, he was simply doing what he should.

Ye Tianwei opened the Communication Window and read Person123's post once more before muttering, "May everything be according to your will."

He stroked the rosary of the Person123 Church in his hand.

Footnotes:

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