***
Discovery.
It meant finding something that had not been known to the world, something that had never existed until now. And now, I had 'discovered' the Celestial Spirit. Even as a five-year veteran player, I had never heard of a spirit with such a name. Coincidentally, the spirit shared the same name as one of my hidden traits: 【Celestial】.
Was it a coincidence, or was I able to find it because of the hidden trait?
‘That doesn't matter.’
In any case, the fact that I had discovered it was what was important. I reached my hand toward the light, which was the existence at the summit of the Tower of Chaos and the unknown itself. Then, I pulled something out from within that light.
‘A spirit egg.’
It was a spirit egg. However, it was far removed from a typical spirit egg. Usually, the surface of a spirit egg bore marks related to the spirit. For a spirit of wind, there would be wind-scratched marks; for a spirit of fire, there would be scorch marks. For a spirit of light, the egg itself would be made of light.
However, the egg containing the Celestial Spirit did not fall into any of those categories.
‘It’s wrapped in feathers.’
It was an egg made of white and black feathers. The ratio was exactly fifty-fifty. Hundreds, thousands of layers of feathers formed the egg. I was seeing an egg of this form for the first time as well. Not only was the name unfamiliar, but the form of the egg was also incredibly strange.
I gazed at the egg. Then, a parchment containing the egg's information rose before my eyes.
【 Egg containing the Celestial Spirit (??? ) 】
★ An unidentified egg that fell from the ‘Celestial Realm,’ the end of light, darkness, and chaos.
★ Only a ‘Celestial Being’ can see and hatch this egg.
It was a shorter explanation than I expected. However, I was able to find out several facts within it.
‘Generally, the Celestial Realm refers to the Divine Realm.’
The Divine Realm. The place where the Goddess resided. A 'Celestial Being' referred to the Heavenly Race. And the fact that I discovered this egg was proof that I was a 'Celestial Being.' Of course, I couldn't truly be a member of the Heavenly Race. It was likely something that happened because of the 【Celestial】 hidden trait.
‘If so, is Celestial a trait related to the Heavenly Race?’
I stroked my chin. Thinking normally, that would be the case. However, that was a fallacy of generalization.
‘…The Demon Race also calls the Demon Realm the Celestial Realm.’
We often refer to the Celestial Realm as the Divine Realm, but in fact, the Demon Realm is also called the Celestial Realm, mainly by the demons. Therefore, from this explanation alone, I couldn't tell if this egg fell from the Divine Realm or the Demon Realm. The fact that white and black feathers were mixed half-and-half only added to the confusion.
‘I’ll only know for sure once it hatches.’
I couldn't reach an answer for now. But what was certain was that it was by no means an ordinary egg. The Constellations of the Hall of Hundred Saints, the Tower Masters, and the Spirit Kings were all watching it closely. The Constellations always took interest whenever something ingenious or great was discovered, but the most important thing was the interest of the Spirit Kings.
‘Spirits are powerful enough to create and maintain forests.’
Spirits are the most important medium for maintaining the world. When they contract with a human, they allow them to handle the power of nature, and depending on the spirit's grade, it is even possible to erase an entire giant mountain.
The Kings of such powerful spirits. How powerful would the might of the Spirit Kings be? The Hundred Constellations of the Hall of Hundred Saints, the rulers who governed the Rifts of the Abyss, the Earth Dragon Giants who protected the Goddess, the Black Emperor and White Emperor said to be at the north and south ends of the world... the Spirit Kings were beings who were not lacking even when compared to them.
‘Not a single person has contracted with a Spirit King.’
Therefore, in this world of Pangenia, no one had ever contracted with a Spirit King. This was because the Spirit Kings were absolutely neutral and never involved themselves in the affairs of the world. Thus, the weight of the fact that all the Spirit Kings had taken an interest in this 'Celestial Egg' was by no means light. It meant that this egg possessed a value equal to or greater than that.
《 Calculation has been completed. 》
At that moment, a new piece of text appeared. The calculation for Main Quest 3 had finally been finished. Looking back at Main Quests 1 and 2, the calculation time was considerably long.
‘Unlike other towers, it wasn't a tower that required a high level to climb.’
If it had been a tower where one ascended according to a set level standard, the calculation would have been easy. Likewise, there would have been a set score standard according to the tower. But the Tower of Chaos was different. Climbing the Tower of Chaos was a battle with my pure self.
‘The score might be lower than I thought.’
Therefore, I could receive a lower score than expected. Scoring a battle with 'myself' was subjective. There was no way there could be an objective indicator. I didn't know how the score was determined, but it was certainly a different case from the previous Main Quests. If one expected too much, the disappointment would be equally great. Therefore, I let go of my expectations regarding this part.
‘Obtaining the Celestial Egg is enough.’
Composing my breathing, I looked at the calculation sheet before me.
< ‘Main Quest 3: Ascend the Tower’ has been completed. >
< You have succeeded in being the first to climb the Tower of Chaos. >
< Incomparable. This is a first-ever achievement that no one else has accomplished. >
< Total Score: 240 points. Updated in the Main Quest - ‘Hall of Fame.’ >
It was updated in the Hall of Fame. It meant I had at least entered the rankings. An achievement that no one else had accomplished. It was higher than any score I had received so far.
The score for Main Quest 1, Survival, was 220 points.
The score for Main Quest 2, Obtaining a Class, was 230 points.
And the score for this Main Quest 3, Ascending the Tower, was a staggering 240 points.
With this, I felt I could look forward to the rankings. But the rewards were not over yet.
< Beginner's Luck? The ‘Constellation of Luck’ is surprised by the result. The reward content is upgraded even further. >
< The ‘Constellation of Adventure,’ excited by you who are adventure itself, licks its lips. The reward content is upgraded even further. >
< The ‘Constellation of Battle’ praises you for overcoming the battle with yourself. The reward content is upgraded even further. >
< The ‘Cursed Constellation’ expresses interest in you, who became the owner of the Celestial Egg. The reward content is upgraded even further. >
< The ‘Constellation that Guides the Black Light’ remembers your name. The reward content is upgraded even further. >
< You possess ‘Lucky Dice.’ You obtain a reward list one tier higher. >
< Rolling a dice a total of six tiers higher. >
< The reward grade exceeds tier 20, and the caliber of the reward transcends. >
The three Constellations that had appeared before and two Constellations I was seeing for the first time. A total of five Constellations responded. When the reward grade was raised by six tiers, including the Lucky Dice, a notice appeared saying that the caliber of the reward itself had changed.
It meant that if it exceeded tier 20, one could obtain a Transcendent reward. In other words, the tier of the reward I obtained while climbing the Tower of Chaos was at least tier 14 or higher. I had somewhat expected that there were tiers to the rewards, but they seemed to be much more systematically subdivided than I thought.
‘Transcendent reward?’
I didn't know the exact meaning of a reward transcending. Did it mean obtaining a transcendent reward? Or did it mean the grade of the reward itself changed? However, I soon understood the meaning.
< You can select two rewards from the twenty rewards below. >
< ‘True (眞) Greatsword’ >, < ‘Demon-Slaying (慘) Blade’ >, < ‘Extreme (極) Iron Helmet’ >, < ‘Annihilation (滅) Gauntlets’ >, < ‘True (眞) Stamina Potion’ >, < ‘Extreme (極) Wand’ >……
True, Demon-Slaying, Extreme, Annihilation.
Items with those four titles all meant they had reached the pinnacle. Even an ordinary item would become an incomparable treasure if one of those four titles was attached to it. The performance and options would all change to befit a treasure, and they could not be obtained even with money. This was because transcendent items were fundamentally impossible to trade or transfer.
Equipment that showed certain power to only one person—the user. Just as a human transcended by consuming a Star, those four titles could only be attached to something that had transcended.
‘…So this is what it meant for the reward to transcend.’
I was so surprised I was lost for words. If it hadn't been for the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Lord, my heart would have burst. The effort required to attach those four titles was, no joke, equivalent to walking around the Earth once. However, because an enormous amount of effort was required, one wouldn't normally transcend ordinary equipment or tools... but since it was a 'reward' being given rather than something I was making...
I would have shouted "Jackpot" even if I could only choose one, but I was told to choose two. I was more clearly excited than when I cleared the previous two Main Quests. To the point that I hated the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Lord for forcibly calming this excitement at this moment.
‘Incredible.’
I marveled while checking the items one by one. I couldn't keep my senses straight in the flood of rewards pouring in.
✺✺✺
It was when I left the tower and was crossing the portal.
- "Quite impressive, Knight King."
The golden spirit who had first permitted me to enter the portal spoke. He was an existence like a gatekeeper guiding people to the Tower of Spirits. However, there was no way an ordinary gatekeeper would know about the person climbing the tower. Above all, he called me 'Knight King.' Knight King was my title from when I was Wilhelm.
I turned my head in wonder, but the portal closed in an instant.
……Was the golden spirit not a mere gatekeeper?
"Ooh. It seems you truly climbed the Tower of Spirits!"
Before I knew it, the High Dryad was there. Along with numerous Dryads guarding the surroundings, his eyes were wide with shock.
I took a breath and asked.
"How much time has passed?"
"Not even a day has passed."
A mere day. It wasn't just a subjective feeling; I had spent at least a hundred days in the Tower of Chaos. But here, only a day had passed.
Vrrrrrr!
Soon after, another portal opened, and Hudson and Isabella revealed themselves.
"Hah! Hah! Bleeegh!"
Immediately upon coming out, Hudson threw up the contents of his stomach. I didn't know what kind of hardships he had gone through in the meantime, but not a single part of his entire body was intact. His clothes were in tatters, and his hair was burnt and frizzy.
Bowing.
Isabella gave me a short nod. Unlike Hudson, Isabella had no change in her appearance. She looked as if she had just come back from a walk in front of her house.
"O Druid! I apologize for doubting you."
The High Dryad showed formality. He was finally treating me as a 'guest' in earnest.
"As promised, if you give the 'Spirit Egg' to the forest, we will treat you as our eternal friend. Naturally, we will also give you a reward befitting it."
Ah.
……That’s right. I had clearly promised to give a spirit egg to the Dryad's forest. The problem was that I only had one egg that I brought back. When I climbed the Tower of Spirits as Wilhelm in the past, I had obtained five spirit eggs. I climbed this time thinking I would obtain multiple eggs again, but what I actually obtained was only one: the 'Celestial Egg.'
‘Should I run away?’
In an instant, the High Dryad’s gaze sharpened.
"O Druid! Surely you aren't planning to break your promise?"
...His intuition was incredibly sharp.