“Ready to fight the boss? What do you think?” Isa huffed, falling to her butt and sighing in a deep breath. “Gosh. I thought Kyung died!”

“It’s fine even if he does. He respawns. Well… I do, anyways,” Vivian said thoughtfully. He got reset to the barber shop, so he probably respawns too, right? He follows all the other rules. And we know Isa respawns, based on her… well, spawn.

“How reassuring,” Kyung said sarcastically.

Vivian turned, looking down from the tower at the rest of the castle. He hummed to himself, putting a hand on his chin.

“Where to from here?” Isa asked.

“Ideally, we skip the whole castle, walk along the ceiling, and swing in the boss room through the window,” Vivian said, using his finger to draw out the path.

“So… what are you thinking so hard about, if you know what to do next?” Isa asked.

“Well, I’m just considering… if we proc the boss too fast, will I have time to find Kyung’s dad in the Rankings table?” Vivian muttered, half to himself. By the way Isa and Noah are acting, he’s either an actual pop star outside the Tower, or his dad is at least in the top ten. But what if his dad’s just top-hundred, and that’s impressive enough to grant celebrity status nowadays? Or, I dunno, his dad is like, top-thousand, but also a movie star or something? If we start the battle right away, I won’t have time to do anything but glance at the table! If his dad isn’t top-ten, I’m totally at a loss!

Isa stared at him. Her jaw dropped.

“What?” Vivian asked.

“You are…” She shook her head and turned away, sighing.

“What? I won’t learn if you won’t tell me!” Vivian said, looking around at the party.

Noah climbed to his feet and dusted his front down. “You won’t learn even if we tell you.”

Isa pointed at Noah, expression serious.

Kyung nodded, pinching his chin.

“So rude, jeez,” Vivian complained.

“Let’s get to the boss, then worry about the Rankings table. We don’t even know if NPCs can beat Floors, yet,” Isa pointed out.

Kyung nodded. “There must be a reason Andrea agreed to be the Lady of the Lost. It may be we have to become Bosses to progress.”

Taken aback, Isa scowled. “Ugh. A Boss? Yuck. I don’t want to kill Players.”

“Right? Who would kill Players? Jeez, I mean, who does that? Player-killing, ick,” Vivian said, shaking his head.

Kyung stared at him, dead-eyed.

Confused, Noah frowned at Vivian. “Don’t you kill Players all the time?”

“I—hush. It was a joke, a joke,” Vivian said, waving his hand.

“You kill Players?” Isa asked, shocked.

“In bad situations? Yes,” Vivian said.

Isa opened her mouth, then shrugged. “Life is tough. Sometimes you have to kill. I don’t want to, but sometimes you have to.”

Noah cut his eyes at Vivian, but said nothing.

Vivian cut his eyes back at Noah. Yeah? What do you want to say? I know I hunted down the Players after your ass, but that’s because if I didn’t, you’d be a corpse right now. Don’t go complaining now after I did hard work to keep you alive! Hell, that’s the definition of a bad situation, if you ask me.

He pointed ahead of them. “We can talk about it later. First, let’s get to the boss room.”

The tower they stood atop reached a good ten feet over the rest of the castle, which, square and squat, likewise sported flat roofs, jutting up and down along the way. In places, the roof gave way, revealing glimpses of the inside of the castle, with tattered wall hangings and fraying red rugs. Where the roof gave in, single-stone-wide walls provided narrow walkways to the next piece of roof.

In the center of the castle, a wide, tall square section jutted up nearly as tall as the tower. Not a single chink opened in the roof’s armor, its stony surface completely solid.

“That… is our goal,” Vivian said dramatically.

“How are we getting in? We can’t go directly through the roof,” Isa pointed out.

Vivian waved his finger. “Not so fast! The back of the boss chamber has a big, dramatic stained-glass window in the rear. It’s a dumb thing to put in an actual defensive castle, but, well, the Tower isn’t always one to pick substance over style. It’s twenty feet off the ground, too high for a level twenty Player to reach, but coming in from the top with a rope, we can—”

“We don’t have a rope,” Kyung pointed out.

Stopping short, Vivian licked his lips. He put a hand on his chin. “Yep. That’s right. Didn’t think that one through, did I.”

“We didn’t have an option. It was that, or let the centaur kill Kyung,” Isa pointed out.

“I know, but still…” Vivian said, sighing.

“Should we turn back? Go back to town and get another rope? It isn’t that long of a walk, and… and we made it here once, so…” Noah asked nervously.

“We almost got killed once, you mean. If we can press on, I say we do.” Vivian turned. He looked at Isa. She’s a Seamstress. If anyone could figure out a replacement for our rope, it’s her.

Isa reached out, hand hovering in the air. She grinned at Vivian. “Remember when you asked me to try to manifest some fabric?”

“Yeah,” Vivian said, slowly smiling.

Folded white canvas fell from beneath her palm. With a heavy flop-flop-thump, the folded fabric struck the ground.

“Looks like I can,” she said, giving him a somewhat nervous grin.

Vivian applauded. “Hell yeah! Saved our run right there.”

“Man, NPCs are total cheats,” Noah complained.

“Says the Mage, who’s using straight-up magic,” Vivian pointed out.

Noah waved his hand. “Whatever, man.”

I wonder what I can materialize, aside from gardening tools. For that matter, I wonder what Kyung can materialize. Actually… he’s a Hairdresser, right? Could he materialize… hair? Vivian looked at Kyung, a thoughtful frown on his face.

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Kyung’s eyes narrowed.

“Well, while Isa makes our rope, let’s take a break!” Vivian declared, plopping down on the rooftop.

Isa rolled her eyes.

“Actually, I have a question. Isa, how did you spawn?” Vivian asked. He sat up and tucked his legs neatly together, focusing all his attention on her.

“Eh? Oh… I don’t really know,” she said, putting a hand on her chin. She shrugged. “I feel like I heard a voice.”

“A female voice?” Vivian asked, frowning.

“Yeah, that’s it! Oh, and she said…” Isa frowned, putting a hand on her chin. She shrugged. “It’s like a dream. I can’t quite remember now. But it was something like… ‘tell Vivian that I…’” She fell silent, contemplative.

“That I…?” Vivian asked.

“No, I can’t remember,” Isa said. She lifted the fabric and flapped it down, using the drop to straighten the canvas. Raising her hand, she called out a needle and thread, then a pair of scissors. Her eyes and hands glowed with white light. The scissors leaped forth, chased by the needle and thread. Before their eyes, a new construction took form.

Vivian pouted. “Ugh. Useless.”

“She’s the one who’s getting us into the Boss Room. That’s the opposite of useless,” Noah pointed out.

“I don’t mean—” Vivian sighed. He rested his head on one arm and slumped. It wasn’t useful, just hearing that much. If she had to remember half of what ‘she’ said, then—

Hold on. But the fact that ‘she’ talked to Isa… how? Is ‘she’ still alive? Actually, who is ‘she?’ I’m assuming that this girl, the one leaving me notes and such, is the same one I supposedly killed. I have no proof… except that… it feels right? Is that my memories, breaking through whatever’s blocking them, telling me that this is her, that it must be her?

I mean, there is a possible logical explanation. If I killed her in the Tower… or she died in the Tower, anyways, does that mean she became an NPC, the same as me? Is she waiting for me, higher in the Tower?

Pain began to build behind his temples, a kind of low pressure that beat along with his heart.

That is what her note said, right? “I’m waiting.” And even in my memories, she said—

His vision flickered. A woman leaned down, her features blurry. She smiled at him. “I’m waiting for you at the top.”

Vivian raised his eyebrows, then frowned, pushing through the pain as the throbbing grew stronger. But… huh? I killed her, supposedly, and anyways… did I make it to the top? Did she? But if she out-climbed me, then she’d be the one on the top of the Rankings chart, assuming I’m ‘the’ Vivian—no, either way, she’d still be on top. So why this emphasis on “waiting” and “at the top?” In my memories, anyways. I…

A pang snapped through his head. Vivian pressed a hand against his forehead. “Ow.” The more I think about her, the more it hurts. Why? I don’t understand.

“Oh well. Once I defeat the Tower, then I’ll figure it out,” Vivian decided.

“Easy as that,” Noah muttered.

Vivian grinned. He ruffled Noah’s hair. “Already taking our first steps, though!”

Noah looked at Vivian, shoving his hand away. “Why did you want a mage so badly, anyways? The Boss isn’t weak to magic, from what I’ve heard.”

Vivian shook his finger. “The Boss isn’t the point.”

“What, then… you brought me to fight the mob spawns, like the armored slimes?” Noah asked. He sat up and peered off the edge of the tower, where an angry centaur and an armless slime smacked powerlessly at the stone edifice.

“That’s a good guess, but not quite,” Vivian said. He sat back, adjusting his posture to get even more comfortable. “You’ll see when you get there.”

“You couldn’t tell me beforehand? I mean… I thought most Players talked battles out and stuff first. You know, strategy,” Noah said.

“That’s Players. I’m an NPC,” Vivian pointed out, as if it was obvious.

Noah started to nod, then stopped himself and grimaced at Vivian. “Hey. You were a Player, though.”

“Oh, right. Anyways, all joking aside… there’s this thing, and I’ll…” Vivian twisted his lips, then waved his hand. “It’s too much of a pain to explain it, so I’ll show you live.”

Noah turned to Kyung, spreading his arms in an ‘is he serious’ gesture.

Kyung sighed. “It’s not that complex. You just have to…” He fell silent, then shook his head. “You’ll see when we get there.”

Frustrated, Noah threw his hands up.

Vivian chuckled under his breath. You just don’t want to talk, isn’t that right, Kyung? Kid, you picked the wrong one to ask, going after our reticent Hairdresser. Not that Isa would know, but she’d probably at least take a guess.

As for Kyung… he hasn’t protested Noah’s presence too much, which means his dad probably told him about the trick. Well, it’s as old as the Tower itself, so it’s not that surprising. Yawning, Vivian tucked his arms behind his head and laid back, half-dozing while he waited.

Time passed. The sun rose slowly, piercing over the horizon. At last, Isa lifted up her arms. A long piece of braided canvas coiled along the surface of the roof. “Phew. Done!”

Vivian sat up. “Done?”

“Done! If it’s long enough, that is,” Isa confirmed. She climbed to her feet and shook it out. A wave traveled down the braid and around the coils.

Vivian looked it over. “Probably,” he said, shrugging. It’s not like I have the length from the roof down the wall to the stained-glass window memorized. The rope looks pretty long, so it’s likely enough.

“Probably?” Noah asked, whipping around.

“It’s long enough,” Vivian corrected himself, nodding with all the authority he could muster.

“One of you respawners goes first,” Noah muttered.

“No worries, I’ve gotcha,” Vivian said, beaming. He stood and dusted off his pants. Looking over the roof, he took a deep breath. “Alright. It’s going to be a bit tough, but not too hard. Watch where I step, and step how I—”

Kyung darted past. With ease and grace, he sprinted across the roof, easily maneuvering over the loose, slanted tiles. In a few seconds, he drew up to the point Vivian had pointed out earlier and turned back.

Looking up at them, he lifted a single eyebrow, hair flying on the breeze.

“He thinks he’s so damn cool,” Vivian muttered.

“He is,” Noah said honestly.

Beside him, Isa nodded.

“Shut up, you two. Isa, do you need any help with that rope?” Vivian asked.

“No, I can just put it in my inventory,” Isa said. She gathered it up into loops, then gave it a pat, and it vanished.

Vivian laughed. “Fair enough.”

Slowly, the group made their way across the roof to the top of the Boss’ chamber. The box beneath their feet bore no features. Even the texture of the stone didn’t truly exist, painted onto the flat surface like a cheap texture. Noah knelt and patted it, confused.

“If something gets destroyed too often, the Tower gets lazy about reconstructing it,” Vivian explained.

“Is that a problem for us?” Isa asked, alarmed.

“Oh. No, probably not? I mean… well, maybe,” Vivian said slowly. Lots of NPCs don’t seem like anything special, after all. Are they NPCs who got reborn so many times that they stopped being human? And then… and then what happens? New people replace them?

“Anyways, it’s not important. For now, let’s beat this boss and see if we can wiggle our way up to the second floor,” Vivian said, crossing his arms.

“And then what?” Isa asked.

“And then we conquer the Tower,” Vivian said, nodding.

Isa laughed. Slowly, she paused, then frowned. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” Vivian returned.

She turned to Kyung, incredulous.

“Do you have a better idea? Anyways, we should Party up,” Kyung said.

Vivian tilted his head. “Aren’t we already—”

“Not in the System’s eyes,” Noah pointed out.

Nodding, Vivian called up the System with a wave of his hand. Quickly, he navigated the green-tinted menus to the Party screen. There, he paused, putting a hand on his chin. “Hmm…”

“What is it?” Isa asked, concerned.

“Should I put a party-breaking penalty or—”

Before he could even finish his joke, a ding chimed in his ear. He glanced down to find an invite glowing in front of his screen.

Join Kyung’s Party? Y/N

Vivian pursed his lips. “Didn’t we agree that I’m the Party Leader?”

Next to him, the same ding chimed as Isa quickly slapped at the air. Noah glanced at Vivian and hesitated a moment, then picked Y as well.

“Really?” Vivian asked, exasperated.

Kyung shrugged. “I’m just too charismatic.”

“Oh, shut up. We all know you’re handsome, thanks, no need to remind us,” Vivian muttered. Shaking his head, he pressed the Y as well.

Isa applauded. “Yay! We’re a party!”

Vivian reached into his Inventory and pulled out the largest sword he’d picked up. He hefted it high with both hands.

[Incompatible Tool] [Sword]

Critical rate locked at .01%. Weight increased 5x. Skill bonuses cannot be applied.

Isa’s eyes widened. She backed away. “Vivian…?”

He slammed the sword down, using his full weight as well as the sword’s augmented weight to smash it into the stone. Stone fragments flew up, slicing past Vivian’s face.

HP: 9/13

Wiping the blood off his face, Vivian shoved down at the sword, forcing it deeper. Giving it a shake left and right, he nodded, satisfied, and stepped back.

“What the hell?” Isa asked.

“Gave us something to tie the rope to. The stone’s weak because it’s been remade so many times… after a while, the System half-asses it,” Vivian explained. He flicked the sword, making it vibrate.

“Will it hold?” Isa asked.

“For a while?” Vivian said, shrugging.

Noah jumped forward. “I’ll go first.”

“Huh? What was that about letting the respawners go first?” Vivian asked, raising a hand to his ear.

“Changed my mind. No reason,” Noah said.

Vivian laughed. “Alright, alright. I’m going first, though.”

Noah scowled at him. “Fight me.”

“No, seriously. You don’t want to go first. Someone’s gotta break the glass.” Vivian winked.

Noah raised his eyebrows, pressing his lips together, and stepped back. “I’ll go second.”

“Good man,” Vivian said, clapping him on the shoulder.