Where did I obtain it?
I didn’t want to repeat the mistake I made earlier. Mentioning Azalea’s name had triggered a severe reaction in her. Instead, I decided to address the core issue directly.
"Do you enjoy being trapped inside the Tower?" I asked.
It was a straightforward question, yet I was curious about her answer. In my past life, I hadn’t engaged in conversations while clearing floors. Back then, I didn’t even realize the inhabitants were real people; I assumed they were generated by the system out of thin air.
"I-I don’t know," she stammered, her brow furrowing in pain. "Argh, what is this headache?"
The positive takeaway was that her aggression had subsided. She was actually listening, which made negotiations significantly easier.
"I have a proposition for you."
I didn’t check the active viewer count, but I knew it had surged based on the constant chime of donation alerts. Albert had evidently suppressed the incoming text pop-ups so I could focus on clearing the boss.
They’re probably panicking after seeing what I’m holding.
After all, the item had come directly from the High Elf Queen.
"I want to take you out of the Tower. What do you think?"
"Out of here?" She blinked, looking around the arena in confusion.
Some form of external force was clearly suppressing her cognitive functions. I remained silent, allowing her time to process the proposal.
"Why?" she asked softly.
"The individual who entrusted me with this branch asked me to free you."
Her eyes softened almost instantly at my words. While she had been suspicious moments ago, mentioning the World Tree earned her complete trust. It was unusual behavior for a Dark Elf, but I refrained from questioning it aloud.
"Alright. I trust you. How do you plan to get me out of here?"
To be completely honest, I have no idea how this item operates, I thought to myself.
Without speaking, I stepped forward and tapped her shoulder with the [Golden Branch of the World Tree]. The moment it made contact, she fell into a quiet trance. Her eyes lost their focus, completely ignoring the sound of my voice.
[Emma Nave has agreed to become your summon.]
[As her Master, she is incapable of inflicting harm upon you. However, you do not possess absolute command over her actions. She retains her autonomy and may refuse direct orders. To increase your command authority, you must build rapport and foster mutual trust.]
So she isn’t just a mindless puppet.
Part of me felt a slight touch of disappointment, but I recognized it was for the best. I couldn’t entirely trust my own impulses. Some inappropriate thoughts had briefly crossed my mind, considering how striking her appearance was.
Cough! Cough!
I cleared my throat, forcing those thoughts aside.
[ System Announcement: Summon Registration Complete ]
[ Summon Profile: Emma Nave ]
Name: Emma Nave
Race: High-Noble Dark Elf
Status: Bound Asset [Master: Caliste Henry]
Grade / Rank: Expert / Elite
[ Summon Parameters ]
Loyalty Rating: 22% [Fragile]
Obedience: Low [Retains Free Will]
Mental Status: Compromised [Memory Suppression]
Non-Aggression: Cannot harm Master.
"Memory suppression...?"
Her erratic behavior made complete sense now. Regardless, I had fulfilled the Elf Queen’s request, earning her favor and securing a valuable asset.
More importantly, I had officially reached Floor 3.
"Albert. Open the Tower Shop. I need to purchase an item."
Albert materialized instantly, visibly surprised that I was already aware the shop unlocked upon reaching Floor 3. To his credit, he didn’t pry for information.
"Of course, sir. What can I get for you?"
"One 24-Hour Return Ticket."
[24H Return Ticket - 1,000 Points]
Description: Consuming this item allows the user to return to their home realm for a total duration of 24 hours.
"Here you are!"
The moment the ticket landed in my hand, I activated it. Light enveloped Emma and me before we vanished into thin air.
It was time to assess the state of the world in my absence—specifically, to see how badly the government had managed the crisis this time around.
[POV - Ice Queen (Elena)]
"How do you anticipate global society will adapt as more people enter the Tower? Do you believe others can achieve your level of strength?" the interviewer asked, holding a microphone toward me.
This was my fifth broadcast of the afternoon, and the questions were becoming repetitive. The PR team had provided scripted responses for me to recite, leaving no room for genuine answers.
"I believe so," I replied smoothly. "Anyone can reach this level with enough time. In fact, there are likely individuals who are already stronger than I am."
The interviewer looked surprised. "Is that so? Who could possibly surpass your accomplishments?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Anyone who selected a higher difficulty setting. I recall someone choosing [Hell] difficulty—the most extreme tier. Most assumed he perished immediately, but if he managed to survive... his strength would dwarf mine."
It was the first time today I had broken away from the script, and it felt surprisingly satisfying.
"One moment—we’re receiving a live update," the host interrupted, touching his earpiece. "It appears another challenger has just materialized at the New York Spire entrance!"
Wait... who?
"We are switching live feeds right now."
The main broadcast display transitioned to a live camera feed from Central Park. Standing directly in the center of the crowd was a very familiar figure.
"T-That’s him," I muttered under my breath. "It’s the challenger from [Hell] difficulty. He actually survived..."
I stared at his expression on screen.
Why does he look so unbothered? It’s as if he’s completely accustomed to this level of scrutiny.