Chapter 159
“…”
After seeing that [25], I silently stepped onto the elevator and punched in [5] without a word.
The other players stammered but failed to stop me.
My reason for not explaining myself was simple.
The Glasses Girl figured out how the test worked—she’ll explain it to the others soon enough.
Wrrrr—
“Hmm…”
As the elevator moved, I drifted into thought.
The truth is, I already had a pretty good idea who the traitor was.
They lied from the very first test.
I’d been watching.
The others, the remaining four, were likely to be my allies.
Which means the traitor’s lie would most likely harm them, too.
From that, a few things became clear.
First, they didn’t value their teammates much.
To them, personal gain was more important than whether or not their group suffered.
Second, they clearly assumed the 12th floor would be structured in a way that pits players against each other.
So, they threw out a lie in the beginning, then sat back to observe how things would unfold before deciding on their next move.
Otherwise, why bother lying from test one?
The rest of us had guessed, based on the 11th floor, that this one would follow a similar format.
I thought the same.
So the liar planted the seed early—“there is a liar among us”—and later, with some well-placed manipulation, they could easily take someone down.
The finer details could be adjusted on the fly.
Which means the traitor isn’t just sneaky—they’re gutsy, and smart too.
If they were dumb, they’d have waited until test two to start lying, after first analyzing how the floor worked.
The fact that they lied right out of the gate proves that they are not just smart, but they have guts, too.
Ding—
The elevator doors opened, pulling me from my thoughts.
Without hesitation, I stepped out, cold mist spilling from my body as I walked toward the black mannequin.
-Thud.
The mannequin, which had just started to rise, froze mid-motion the moment it came into contact with my cold mana.
So this power even works on it, huh?
The fact that it could paralyze a mannequin—something more machine than human—spoke volumes.
It meant that this ability might work even on higher-difficulty enemies in the future.
-Stab.
I lightly pierced the unmoving mannequin right between the eyes, then turned around and headed back toward the elevator, continuing the thought I’d put on pause.
So, why do I think the culprit dared to pick [20] for the final test?
Probably… because I looked stupidly strong.
They were likely banking on the idea that “he’ll carry us through this anyway.”
If I didn’t have regression, they might’ve even been right.
“In the end, there’s only one real suspect.”
The traitor is the Glasses Girl.
The short-haired girl seems confident in her own abilities—she has no reason to lie.
Mole Guy and Acne Guy?
They’re not nearly smart or gutsy enough to make a high-stakes political move like that in the very first test.
Which leaves only her.
“Hmm…”
The problem, though, is that I have no way to confirm it.
She clearly got scared and stopped lying—so now, technically, her betrayal never existed.
Even if I confronted her with something like, “You were planning to betray us, weren’t you?”, she wouldn’t give me a straight answer.
And punishing her for it? That’s a problem, too.
Sure, she’s a traitor.
Sure, she tried to make things harder for us.
But if I were to actually go after her, what standard would I be using to justify it?
The law?
My own judgment?
Either way, it wouldn’t feel… right.
Besides, this betrayal is already buried in a past timeline.
If I go after her now, it’s not justice—it’s just bullying.
She wouldn’t even understand why she was being punished, and I’d be sitting there wondering if I went too far.
Now, I could keep quiet, let her think she’s gotten away with it, and then wait—wait until she tries to betray us again, and then unleash everything on her.
That way, I’d be punishing her rightly, and maybe even get some insight into how her mind works.
But honestly, that just feels a little too much like a “revenge fantasy.”
Like… “I wanna beat you down, but you’re not giving me a reason yet, so I’ll wait until you do.”
Even I think that sounds a bit devilish.
Wrrrr—
“Oh, um… you’re back? We think we figured out how the rules work—do you want us to explain?”
“No need.”
The elevator doors opened, and the Glasses Girl greeted me with a hint of friendliness.
I brushed past her and sat back down in the cold steel chair, sliding naturally back into character.
The fact that the liar had changed their mind—that wasn’t just a troll taking a step back.
According to the intel from the Association, the next test’s difficulty would be set based on the highest reward chosen in the previous round.
Not the average—the highest one.
But because the Glasses Girl, who was supposed to lie and choose [10], lost her nerve, and I picked [5] too… the highest selected reward ended up being just [5].
That fact revealed itself clearly when everyone completed the first test and the second test began.
[5] Small EXP Elixir
[10] Custom Item Box (A~C+)
[15] Medium EXP Elixir
The [10] and [15] tier rewards were the same as in the previous run.
But the [20] reward had vanished, and a new [5] reward took its place.
A direct snowball effect of the Glasses Girl backing down from choosing [10].
“Hmm…”
The second test shares a lot of rewards with the first.
But what if I pick [15] this time?
If the next round ends up offering [15], [25], and [35] tier options?
Then I’ll likely see something entirely new—
A reward I’ve never seen before.
A brand-new possibility will open up.
After deciding, I chose [15], and my protective barrier faded.
Ignoring the tense expressions of the other players, I glanced at the elevator screen.
[60]
“U-um, I picked [15]…”
“We three picked [10]…!”
Only the short-haired girl had chosen [15] with me.
The others had gone with [10].
Based on the data I’ve gathered over my regressions, that number—60—is a difficulty level I can clear with ease and without taking any hits.
“I’ll go first.”
Without hesitation, I stepped into the elevator and punched in [15].
I took out the black mannequin in seconds and returned.
The mannequin had completely frozen up just from being exposed to my cold mana.
It likely lacked resistance due to the low difficulty tier.
This power...
There’s nothing better for sweeping through the weak.
Without even saying a word, just letting my cold aura drift out in waves makes the weaker ones not even move.
When I returned to the starting point and sat down, projecting that heavy, composed energy again, the other four players finished quietly discussing among themselves, then boarded the elevator one by one without being told.
Worried that my cold aura might mess with their performance,
I even reduced the output slightly—just as a little courtesy.
“This level… It’s really not that hard.”
“Whew, guess I was nervous for nothing.”
Just as I expected, the other players cleared the second test with ease.
I could already see the beginnings of arrogance flickering in their eyes—but the moment I released a slightly stronger wave of cold aura, that little spark of hubris vanished without a trace.
-Now, before we begin the final test, please select your rewards. Everyone, return to your seats.
“Let’s sit.”
“Y-Yes, of course.”
The others glanced at me for cues and nervously shuffled back to their chairs.
I was already seated, so I didn’t need to move a muscle.
After a short pause, a protective barrier formed around us again, and a new message window popped up in front of me.
[15] Teleportation Scroll
[20] Book of Potential (Unique)
[25] Appraisal Scroll
“…Hm?”
Up to now, each final test reward had increased in steps of 10…
But this time, the increments were 5.
Could it be that the 10-point jumps were a penalty for consistently choosing the highest difficulty?
Maybe 5-point steps were the default, and what I’d been seeing before was the exception.
Either way, that wasn’t what mattered.
What did matter was that the Book of Potential—the very thing I wanted—was sitting right there at [20], and that both [15] and [25] were brand-new options.
“…”
I had to admit, the new rewards were tempting.
The Teleportation Scroll could instantly transport me up to 50 meters within line of sight.
The Appraisal Scroll would let me analyze not just items, but virtually anything, giving detailed information about the object.
Still—
“[20] it is.”
As tempting as the other two were, I pressed [20] without hesitation.
After all, the whole reason I was doing these tests was to get the Book of Potential and use it to guide my mana training.
-All participants have made their selections.
The new number displayed above the elevator was [90].
So the short-haired girl picked [25], I picked [20], and the others must’ve picked [15].
That short-haired girl really does stick to her guns.
I suppose her strength and mental fortitude are the reasons she’s less affected by my Awe trait.
“W-would you like to go in first? We’re totally fine going after you.”
“…”
And yet, standing in front of the elevator, about to take on the [20] difficulty opponent…
I felt something was missing.
[20] was a level I’d already cleared before—even when I hadn’t fully mastered cold mana.
Now that I was stronger than ever, it would be a total cakewalk.
No…
There has to be at least a little spice.
Some heat to test me.
Without a second thought, I stepped into the elevator—and calmly punched in [40].
“W-Wait, what?”
“Did he just pick… 40?”
There was a time when Mole Guy lectured me about not stealing someone else’s opportunity to grow.
Yeah, sorry about that.
But this time… I’m gonna take it.
It’s not like anyone’s dying—regression wipes everything clean anyway. Just let me have this one.
With the hum of the elevator serving as background noise, I began checking my body condition.
At most, I can only unleash full power for about 3 seconds.
But this time, I don’t plan on using my full strength.
My goal is to draw the fight out—and test my limits.
Wrrrrr—
The elevator doors slid open.
Inside the stark white space, the black mannequin was already on its feet.
Gripping its spear with both hands, it was clearly in a full battle stance.
“Been a while, huh?”
That tingling tension—
I hadn’t felt it in a long time.
From its stance alone, I could tell.
This mannequin was strong.
If I had to rank it, I’d say it was just one step below the top-tier players I fought on the 11th floor.
Probably around upper-mid-tier level.
There was no need for words between us.
The moment I stepped out of the elevator and drew my sword—
The mannequin charged.
Fwoosh!
The spear pierced the air where my head had just been.
I dodged the thrust and reached out to grab the shaft—but the mannequin spun it rapidly, pulling it back before I could get a grip.
Still, that created an opening.
I gripped my sword tightly and laced it with just the slightest trace of mana, then slashed.
Shimmering flakes of frost trailed the blade’s arc like falling stars.
“…!”
The mannequin, initially poised to block, sensed something—and quickly abandoned its defense, bending backward to narrowly avoid the strike.
Quick reflexes. I’ll give it that.
-Bang!
But dodging the blade didn’t mean it could avoid my kick.
My shin collided with its side, sending the mannequin skidding and bouncing across the floor.
“Hmph…”
The battle was unfolding just as I’d planned—
Yet I couldn’t shake this odd feeling.
Something felt… off.
I needed to fight a bit longer to confirm it.
We clashed for a full five minutes in fierce exchanges.
And then, with a deep slash across its chest, the fight ended.
The mannequin stopped moving.
The elevator doors opened again.
But I didn’t budge. I just stood there, staring down at it.
From the outside, it probably looked like a hard-fought battle—
But in reality, I had been in control the entire time.
In fact, it was almost too easy.
“…Something’s wrong.”
The mannequin’s movements had been… awkward.
Its reactions were half a beat slow.
Its footwork was clumsy at times.
The force behind its spear lacked weight.
It had solid technique, sure—
But it was like the body couldn’t keep up.
I mulled over what might’ve gone wrong—
Then glanced at the faint mist pooled across the floor.
“…Ah.”
So that’s why.
The black mannequin hadn’t been able to fully resist my cold mana and was fighting with a “debuff”.
And if even a mannequin of this level couldn’t withstand it…
Then anyone below a certain threshold—
…might as well not even try.
– – End of Chapter ––
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