Otherworld TRPG Game Master

Chapter 136: Tower of Trials Floor 3_Gaze Insight

[My Clothes Don’t Get Wet Even if I Walk In the Rain : Survive over 10 minutes during Jenny's 2nd phase opening pattern on Floor 3.]

The reason a child who should have been playing in a playground found herself holding a weapon was simple: even in her young heart, there were things she wanted to protect.

The reason the foolish adults didn’t stop her, despite her age, was because the battle had grown so desperate that even her small, fragile hands were needed. They also respected her fierce will.

Even though there was a hint of childish recklessness in her actions, she had already accepted the possibility of death.

She fought bravely, standing alongside the adults, and perished as a warrior. There were no regrets in her heart.

However, if there was one thing she regretted, it was the future she would never experience. If only I had a little more time⋯⋯

What kind of adult would I have become?

===============================================================

The Tower of Trials Floor 3 was a desolate urban wasteland, littered with the debris of shattered and crumbling buildings. This place had been the battleground for a war between superhumans, leaving behind scars of destruction everywhere.

For those unfamiliar with modern superhuman warfare, it looked like the aftermath of an enormous magic battle—the difference was negligible.

At the center.

In a playground with sand laid out on the ground, the sound of a creaking swing echoed.

A blonde girl sat on the swing, swaying gently back and forth. On closer inspection, something was off. It wasn’t an ordinary swing.

The chains were made from her scythe, wrapped around a steel beam protruding out from a ruined building. The moment she sensed the intruders stepping onto her battlefield, she leapt from the makeshift swing and retrieved her scythe.

Clatterrr!

Then, she began spinning it lightly, gradually building up speed. Soon, a whirlwind of blades whirled within a five-meter radius.

Amidst the buzz, like the droning of a thousand bees, the girl addressed the visitors.

"Nice to meet you. Older brother. You've managed to make it all the way to the third floor of this tower... but this is as far as you'll go. Because now, you're facing me—Jenny of the Chain Scythe."

“Smirk.”

"?"

⋯⋯⋯⋯.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh

“Dodge, possible, on one leg.”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯!"

“Handstand, possible.”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!!"

Luna was having the time of her life. Floor 3 was her favorite—something about the rhythm and the thrill of dodging.

She had tried it countless times and even tried out various challenges that had nothing to do with clearing it quickly. Like trying to clear the floor without using her hands, to clearing it while wearing nothing but her underwear.

These strange trials had sharpened her skills to a near-hypnotic level. Selvier, watching from a nearby pile of rubble, couldn’t help but think, ‘What da heck is that’ while cheering her on. Occasionally, she threw out a request.

“Can you do it with your eyes closed?!”

“Possible.”

“Wow!!”

“Seriously, how did you actually do that with your eyes closed⋯⋯?!"

Luna played around for a few more minutes before using strategy number 5 to defeat Jenny of the Chain Scythe. She had at least ten different ways to deal with her.

As Luna was stretching in satisfaction, Envers asked.

"Uh⋯⋯ so, what is your reason for making such diverse attempts?"

“Fun.”

"⋯⋯You are quite the odd one."

Luna gave Envers a wide-eyed look before sticking out her tongue, as if to say, like you're any different.

The trio, however, had a reason for staying on this floor. They were stuck trying to figure out Jenny’s true form.

They had tried everything: burning her, fighting in shifts for hours, even disarming her by taking both her chain scythes. Yet, her second phase never triggered.

(Meanwhile, Crazy Wizard was gnawing on a handkerchief, yelling Just talk to her, you maniacs!”)

The only clue they had was time.

"Her last words are always the same, right?"

“Eung.”

"That’s right. She always says, 'If only I had more time⋯⋯'' before she dies. That's why we fought her in shifts for hours. That didn’t work either."

"Ugh, who came up with this stuff? It's driving me crazy!"

Selvier scratched her head in frustration. Unlike Floor 2, which was difficult but clear in its objective, Floor 3 was frustrating because they didn’t even know what to do..

She was seriously considering just moving on to the next floor.

Envers crossed his arms and quietly thought before coming up with an idea.

"How about we train?"

“What do you mean by that.”

"She always says she needs more time. So, we give her time—two or three days, or however long it takes. But we won’t just sit around, we train while we wait."

Something better than time was more time. Envers had essentially declared that he would brute-force their way through.

"⋯⋯You’re joking, right?”

“I am not joking. The path of Martial Arts has no end.”

"⋯⋯Sure, Envers, that's just you. But Luna, you're not going to do something that dumb, right?"

"I am."

For Luna, playing around in the Tower of Trials was her daily routine. The thought of breaking Jenny’s pattern by crawling on the ground sounded thrilling to her.

Selvier facepalmed.

"⋯⋯Uh, fine. I'll take a break outside while you two do whatever this is. Let me know how it turns out."

“I shall see you later!”

"Bye."

Selvier left the Tower of Trials Floor 3 and stepped outside. The sight of the ruined city fading away, then the familiar landscape of the Academy came into view and filled her with nostalgia. Taking a deep breath, she decided it was time to return to the dorms for some well-needed rest.

She also thought about asking Niolle about the mystery of Floor 3. Though, she wasn’t sure if they’d be around since they’d been busy lately.

Time passed ten times faster within the tower than in the outside world. So even with just an hour of resting with her eyes closed, Luna and Envers' rigorous training would have already shown substantial results—

"Wait. If time moves 10 times faster⋯⋯inside, then…"

This, it wasn’t about waiting inside the tower⋯⋯?

“Does that mean... wait outside?!”

A sudden realization struck Selvier. The correct strategy was to defeat Jenny, spare her life, and then exit the tower. Then re-enter after waiting for a while in the outside world.

Jenny would eventually reveal in conversation that her birthday was in about 20 hours.

For those who hated talking, Jenny’s journal—with the exact same information—could be found inside a nearby ruined building

Meaning, if they waited outside, they could be done in just two hours⋯⋯!

Selvier rushed back to the magic circle to deliver her newfound insight with the others and put an end to the endless grinding.

[You cannot enter, because another player is currently using the tower.]

"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"

It was already too late.

※ SYSTEM_INFO -----------

[Jenny of the Chain Scythe]

Vitality : Average

Mana : Does not use

Strength : 1 / 10 (Low tier student)

Agility : 4 / 10 (High-mid tier student)

Intelligence : 2 / 10 (Low-mid tier student)

Trait : Growth

=> Evolves to [Awakened Jenny of the Chain Scythe] as she ages.

※ ---------------------------

===============================================================

Inside the Tower of Trials Floor 3 : 5 Hours Elapsed

In a distant part of the field, out of Jenny's detection range, Envers was practicing martial arts he'd learned from the beggar with painstaking precision. Next to him, Luna was awkwardly trying to mimic his movements.

"Like a hawk launching into the sky, like this!"

“Like dis.”

"And like a waterfowl diving for fish, like this!"

“Like dees.”

Whoosh, WHOOOOSH──!

Flick, flick.

While Envers’ movements cut through the air with sharp, powerful sounds, Luna's attempts produced weak, hollow noises. Her motions lacked force and intent. It was quite strange when he thought about it.

She had memorized the basic techniques perfectly, so why couldn’t she execute them properly?

If it was a simple lack of coordination, that would explain things. But how could someone with poor coordination dance so effortlessly, dodging every attack as if it was second nature?

Envers couldn't figure it out with his limited knowledge. However, his master might know⋯⋯.

Envers decided that once they reached Floor 8, he would ask the beggar about this strange phenomenon. Surely, his master would immediately understand Luna's strange nature.

“Fun.”

"⋯⋯I’m glad to hear that."

Despite not achieving anything remarkable, Luna seemed genuinely interested in martial arts.

After imparting everything he knew, Envers finished his final stretch, and they took a moment to rest. Both he and Luna lay side by side on a relatively smooth patch of asphalt.

After a few moments of thinking, Envers spoke up.

“I humbly request your teaching.”

“Teach what?”

“That, dance move. How⋯⋯ did you manage to dodge attacks with your eyes closed? I understand that most skills can be honed through repetition, but I cannot comprehend how you accomplished that.”

“Feel, gaze.”

Envers sat up and looked down at Luna. She was sprawled on the ground, soaking in the sunlight like a cat, her eyes closed and completely relaxed.

“What do you mean by 'feeling the gaze'?”

“You. Staring at me. At my face.”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"

“Now, it’s on my neck. Chest. Desperately back to arm. Back to face.”

Envers was speechless. He thought perhaps her eyes were slightly open, so he leaned in for a closer look, but her eyes were completely shut. There wasn’t even any indication of mana being used either.

Gaze Insight (視線洞察).

It was an incredible skill. Without hesitation, Envers knelt and bowed deeply. The ability to read an opponent’s gaze without actually seeing them was an invaluable talent in combat.

"⋯⋯Please, teach me!”

“For free?”

“If there’s something you want, I’ll get it for you.”

“Buy food.”

And so, a simple contract was made. Whenever Luna wished, Envers would pay for her meals. Fortunately for him, she didn’t eat much.

Thus, the Temporary Gaze Insight Training began.

===============================================================

Envers sat cross-legged, eyes closed, while Luna slowly circled around him, beginning the lesson.

“Humans, have it. The sense of feeling a gaze. Everybody does.”

"⋯⋯Is that true?”

“Especially, contempt. Killing intent. The bad stuff.”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

He could remember it. His youth in the Redburn family, where he constantly competed against the illegitimate children. He could feel their glares without needing to see them—their contempt and hatred.

If this ability was an extension of that, it made sense. Envers nodded, and Luna, seeing his recognition, smiled with satisfaction.

The sensation of being watched... He knew that feeling. All that was left was to sharpen it through practice. The more one exposed their body to a stimulus, the more sensitive it would become.

“Repeated practice. Sharpen your senses.”

"⋯⋯Tell me what I need to do.”

“I’ll look. Guess where.”

“You want me to guess where you are looking? Alright, I shall give it a try but⋯⋯."

Envers concentrated. With his sight blocked, he could feel his other senses sharpening.

Flutter. Flutter.

He could hear Luna moving around him.

There is a faint scent—is it grapes?

No, that isn’t important right now. He shook his head, pushing aside the distraction. Focus. He had to sense her gaze

Luna thought carefully. The feedback had to be precise. Too many wrong guesses would interfere with his training, so she had to choose unexpected places to make the exercise effective.

Stareee. She focused her gaze.

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

“Do you feel it?”

"⋯⋯Head? Head, right?”

“Groin.”

"???"

A wave of embarrassment and distraction hit him like a flood. Envers clenched his teeth, trying to keep his focus. I am⋯⋯ training right now⋯⋯!

In addition to learning how to sense a gaze, he also had to train his mind to block out distractions.

“Le-leg?”

“Left? Right?”

"⋯⋯The right?”

“Stupid.”

Gradually, his accuracy improved.

"⋯⋯The left ear?”

“Eung. Next.”

Although he suffered from a mana disability caused by an accident in his youth, Envers still had martial potential (武材) ingrained in his body. His gifted physique quickly adapted, heightening its sensitivity.

“The nape of the neck⋯⋯ the carotid artery.”

“Good. Quick break.”

Rest, awaken the senses, repeat. To some, it might seem monotonous, but to them, it was far from boring. Fifteen hours had passed since they entered the trial.

“The left⋯⋯ pinky finger.”

“Next is the final one.”

Envers tightly closed his eyes and gave his final answer.

"⋯⋯⋯⋯It’s the groin.”

“Good job.”

Pat pat.

Luna patted his head as she complimented him. The tension that had built up in his body finally released, and he slumped forward. He couldn’t afford to fall backward—if he’d been wrong on that final guess⋯⋯ he would’ve taken both physical and social damage⋯⋯.

“Thaaankk youuu⋯⋯."

“V.”

They had done it. A sense of accomplishment coursed through his veins, as if his blood itself was bubbling with excitement. He had grown a bit stronger.

The ability to read a gaze would serve him well in many situations. While he wasn’t confident enough to ‘dance’ as effortlessly as Luna anytime soon, even if he could match half of her skill...

Even a rapier moving at lightning speed could be dodged.

Gaze Insight (視線洞察) acquired!

===============================================================

Inside the Tower of Trials, Floor 3: 25 hours elapsed.

Luna and Envers took turns while sparring, with one covering their eyes while the other kept theirs open. The one with open eyes used their fingers like blades, slashing and thrusting, while the one blindfolded dodged by sensing their opponent's gaze.

Poke

“Uck! No, that is cheating! Just right now, you were looking at my cheek, not my side⋯⋯!!"

“You did it earlier too, cheating.”

“There was a perfectly valid reason why my gaze had to unavoidably go that wa⋯⋯ Ack!”

“Talk, too much.”

As they continued training to use Vision Insight in real combat. Envers, having removed his blindfold to switch between attack and defense, noticed something odd.

"⋯⋯⋯⋯?"

“What’s wrong?”

“Look at Jenny. Doesn’t she⋯⋯ look like she grew a bit?”

Jenny, standing far in the distance, did indeed appear slightly larger. At first, they thought it was an illusion, but she had clearly grown a head taller.

It was five hours later that they witnessed Jenny’s second phase.

Boong boong boong boong boong boong──!!

“I won’t lose to you anymore, Mr. Hero. Because Jenny of the Chain Scythe has awakened⋯⋯!!"

“As expected, investing enough time was the correct solution.”

Jenny’s massive, deadly chain scythe whipped through the air, slicing violently toward them. Envers and Luna exchanged a brief glance before charging into the storm of attacks without needing to signal each other.

“Whoever doesn’t last for 10 minutes buys a meal!”

“Prepare to, pay.”

SWOOOOSH──!!

Omitted

The duel concluded after 17 minutes, with Luna’s victory.

Tower of Trials, Floor 3: Clear──!

===============================================================

[The Whip Always Comes Back: Defeat the Whip Witch using her own whip to clear Floor 4]

Floor 4 of the Tower of Trials was relatively easy to conquer.

The Whip Witch had a mechanic where she summoned shadow monsters by striking the ground with her whip. However, once Selvier, the Red Magic Tower Wizard, incinerated all the summoned mobs, the difficulty dropped considerably.

Through Luna's repeated attempts, she was able to precisely calculate the damage needed. After delivering the equivalent of ‘30 Luna Kicks,’ the Whip Witch would be left in a near-death state. At that point, Envers would reflect her own attack back at her, thus completing the Challenge Task.

Crazy Wizard had thought of a different solo-clear strategy:

The whip had a hidden ability to reverse-summon the shadow monsters. By perfectly parrying every attack the Whip Witch launched, one could erase the shadow beasts as they appeared.

Each time they successfully countered, one of the tattoos on her face would fade, one by one. Oddly, the Whip Witch had no shadow of her own.

From this information, they should have figured out ‘Aha, the Whip Witch herself was born from the Shadow Monster!’ and that if they could counter her attacks until all her tattoos vanished, she would turn back into a shadow, thus clearing the floor⋯⋯ but...

That strategy had long been reduced to ashes in the face of precise damage calculations and wide-area attacks.

The tragic tale of a fallen princess who had turned her own shadow into a monster was quietly forgotten.

⋯⋯⋯⋯.

In a rain-soaked field of grass, a man with a katana strapped to his waist stared up at the sky.

The blade’s name was Hundred Ghosts(鬼百), a cursed sword said to only return to its sheath after drawing blood. Such weapons were called Demonic Swords.

Floor 5 marked a boundary.

Unlike the earlier floors, where clever ideas, solving gimmicks, storytelling, and cunning tricks had all worked, the empty plain of Floor 5 had nothing in it.

There was only an enemy.

Here, what was required here was skill. His Battōjutsu was swift and deadly. If you couldn’t react in time, you would die. Countless students had been defeated here, either giving up on their climb or increasing their numbers for another attempt.

They chose to pay the price and climb higher.

[Sealed Sword of Light: Clear Floor 5 without allowing Jay to draw his sword.]

However── that option was not permitted to those facing the Challenge Tasks. They had to clash their martial arts(武) against his, and only by defeating him could they proceed.

The party was now facing ‘Jay of Battōjutsu’──.

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