Tricia's friends and colleagues.
And now, the Floor Administrators who had gained the new title of <Guardian>.
They began to reveal themselves one by one.
---
"Hello~ My name is... just call me Rukki!"
The first Guardian to appear was Inabark Levitain Rukki.
Instead of her usual bunny girl outfit, she caught everyone's eye in an elegantly dressed red gown.
"H-hiiik...!"
The moment Kim Ha-cheong recognized her identity, he reflexively hid behind Crow.
And for good reason—she was the very person who had created Kim Ha-cheong's trauma.
But Rukki wore an unconcerned expression as she stroked the monster's jaw.
A monster with a tiger's body and a rabbit's head—a 'Tiger Rabbit'—was growling at the delegation.
"This little guy has a habit of getting startled when someone screams... and immediately biting them, you know? Everyone be careful, okay?"
"......"
Even with her changed outfit, her characteristic cheeky and provocative tone remained the same.
As the delegation tensed up slightly, the second Guardian revealed herself.
---
"■■■■■―"
It was an unidentifiable existence whose form was even ambiguous.
Snake eyes attached to a slime-like body, dragon wings, insect legs, a penguin's beak, octopus tentacles, an elephant's trunk...
A horrific composite monster mixing fragments of countless creatures.
The slime constantly mixed and transformed, grotesquely blending the characteristics of various animals.
Seeing this, Seo Ryu-in muttered in a trembling voice.
"...Wang Jjin-ppang...?"
Because it resembled that gentle, squishy slime who had served her a warm meal just a few hours ago.
Seo Ryu-in began denying reality, insisting there was no way that squishy slime could look like this.
She desperately didn't want to believe this horrific reality.
However, the next moment, the slime spoke in a bizarre voice through tentacles that opened like a mouth.
『My... name is... Gluttony...』
"Glut...tony...?"
The other delegation members besides Crow backed away in fear, but—
"Thank goodness... it wasn't Jjin-ppang..."
Seo Ryu-in instead felt great relief that the monster was a different slime and patted her chest.
Watching this, Gluttony thought to himself.
'Oops... almost got caught!'
...That's right, that slime was actually Wang Jjin-ppang himself.
He had simply shown a little consideration to protect Seo Ryu-in's precious memories.
Soon after, the third Guardian revealed herself.
---
"My name is Flora Fireseed. I'm hot, so be careful."
A demon in female form whose entire body was made of blazing flames.
She was a physically hot woman, in a completely different sense from the typical expression "hot woman."
Flora carefully sat in the divine alloy chair prepared for her.
Though it was a special alloy chair crafted with Tricia's divine power, it was still melting ever so slightly.
"......"
Fear began to seep into the delegation's expressions.
However, the true terror was only just beginning—
The fourth Guardian walked out with a seductive smile.
---
"My name is Azmo Lilithis. I'm the queen who rules the succubi. Did you have a pleasant time on the 39th floor?♡"
At the mention of the succubus queen, three men in the delegation simultaneously flinched and began glancing around nervously.
This time, Lilithis showed a form closer to her true body rather than one tailored to her target's desires.
Of course, even her true body could transform its appearance at will, so this couldn't be definitively called her real form.
Incidentally, it's not a secret that an hour ago, when Rukki saw Lilithis's transformed appearance and said "You look old..." she nearly died from getting hit by a Demon King Death Beam. (?)
And the fifth Guardian appeared.
This time, a knight wearing a black alloy suit over his entire body.
---
He turned his head toward the delegation, then pointed at them with one finger and spoke.
『My name is Endor. Pleased to meet you.』
His voice was a rigid mechanical sound, clearly different from a human voice.
Truly someone befitting the name Guardian.
While everyone held their breath watching him, only Crow felt something off.
'At first glance he seems full of openings, but actually has none at all. And that stance is definitely...'
Crow recalled the person he had sparred with just a few hours ago at the 49th floor《Fighting Colosseum》.
And he was certain.
The identity of the person inside that suit was none other than—Asahina Yurining!
In reality, Yurining was wearing a full-body suit that operated on mana, even modifying her voice magnificently to strike an imposing pose!
Normally, he might have immediately informed the delegation of this fact.
But the current Crow was slightly different from usual.
Two hours ago, right after his spar with Yurining ended, he had a separate meeting with Tricia and had a 'secret conversation' that remained vivid in his mind.
Perhaps because of that.
Crow maintained a relaxed state, as if he knew to some extent what would happen next.
'...It's better to stay quiet for now.'
He remained silently still, recalling that 'secret promise' he had made with Tricia.
As Endor took his seat, the sixth Guardian also revealed herself.
---
A woman wearing a terrifying mask resembling a goat's skull began reciting words like an ancient incantation.
"【Descendant of the Sun God】, 【She Who Dances with Rocks】, 【Evil God Slayer】, 【Mother of the World Tree】... Please call me 'Jua Jiwe' for short."
After listing her flashy titles in succession, she revealed her real name and took her seat.
Needless to say... it was Ju Ji-ye, 『This Month's Outstanding Floor Administrator』.
Incidentally, she tried to include that as a title too, but removed it after getting scolded by Tricia.
Immediately, the seventh Guardian also revealed himself.
---
A half-human, half-skeleton undead in a neat suit.
"<Judge of Death>, my name is Zergos."
His introduction was brief, but he was a presence with more weight than anyone.
Since he could pronounce 'death' equally upon all, unnecessary decorations weren't needed.
As the Guardians filled their seats one by one, the delegation began to feel crushed by the overwhelming pressure.
Watching the delegation closely, Tricia smiled and said,
"Are the Guardians perhaps too scary, or are you terrified?"
"Th-that's..."
"Don't worry, the remaining two Guardians aren't scary at all—in fact, they're really cute friends."
"Ah...! Thank you!"
Seo Ryu-in, who had been wanting to run away in fear, bowed her head with a genuinely grateful expression.
It wasn't really a situation to express gratitude, but what could be done when hope that nothing scarier would appear transformed into thankfulness?
Just as she barely composed herself—
The eighth Guardian revealed itself—
---
"Hic—!"
...Not scary?
Not very scary!?
Terror that struck in a moment of lowered guard.
Having faced something beyond human comprehension, Seo Ryu-in was so startled she hiccupped.
An aberrant existence that didn't belong to reality, its entire body twisted like corrupted data.
The being opened what was presumed to be its mouth and began to speak, but—
『―□▲◎%♠♧.』
"...Pardon?"
Seo Ryu-in couldn't understand what it was saying at all.
An unknown language that even the [Interpretation] skill automatically acquired upon awakening as a [Climber] couldn't translate.
Watching the delegation's reactions carefully, Tricia asked again.
"Did you... not hear clearly?"
"...We're truly sorry. Even our [Interpretation] skill can't decode it..."
"Then I'll tell you instead. That Guardian's name is Rudiel Shephid. She possesses the ability to manipulate space."
Tricia skillfully interpreted Shephid's words and conveyed them to the delegation.
'Actually, Shephid didn't say anything.'
Of course—this was all an act!
If they thought about it rationally for just a moment, they might have reached the conclusion that if even the [Interpretation] skill didn't work, it wasn't a proper language at all.
But the delegation, already overwhelmed by fear, didn't have the composure to make such judgments.
They say even a tiger's den is survivable if you keep your wits about you, but the atmosphere here wasn't at a level where such proverbs could offer comfort.
An overwhelming terror that made comparison to tigers seem disrespectful pressed down on the conference room.
Kim Ha-cheong was on the verge of fainting, and Seo Ryu-in was also trembling in fear.
Even Geom Heuk-beom and Yun Seo-jin, who were relatively senior members, couldn't hide their fear before that existence.
Excluding Im Heon-beop, whose mental state had completely collapsed even before coming here.
Among the delegation, the only person maintaining a fearless attitude was Crow alone.
As expected of someone who didn't cower even when facing [Silence of the Deep Night], he possessed courage that transcended humanity.
But Tricia was smiling mischievously inside.
No matter how brave Crow was, she was curious what reaction he would show when he saw 'that thing'—practically the finale of this Guardian assembly.
"Now, it's time to introduce the last Guardian."
"......"
"Ah, just in case—I hope you won't be too surprised?"
Tricia gave a playful smile and sent a signal with her hand gesture.
Then—
...
...
...
...Nothing happened.
"......?"
Wondering if the signal hadn't been transmitted properly, Tricia raised her hand once more.
...
But again, there was no response.
"...Hehehe, ninth Guardian, please make your entrance now?"
Having no choice, Tricia directly called out to the Guardian.
She even secretly opened and sent a system message without the delegation knowing.
...
Still, no response.
"......"
An awkward silence continued for a moment.
Sensing something had gone terribly wrong, Tricia called for the butler.
"Butler."
"Yes, Lady Tricia."
"Where's Cyan right now?"
"She's sleeping."
"Ugh, seriously."
Today too, Cyan Nightmare was sound asleep.
"Shall I wake her?"
"No, just let her sleep."
Though she could wake and bring her right now, Tricia judged there was no need to go that far.
Actually, Cyan had been unusually busy moving around today.
First, when Kim Ha-cheong fell asleep at《Milky Way Hotel》, she entered his dreams, read some memories, and reported them to Tricia.
After that, she even took charge of manipulating the memories of three delegation members together with Lilithis.
As a result, Cyan had exhausted all her activity energy for the day and returned to her room, falling into deep sleep.
And naturally, the heavy and murderous atmosphere in the conference room had completely dissipated.
"Uh..."
At this unexpected situation, Tricia scratched her cheek awkwardly and blankly looked back and forth between the Guardians and the delegation.
The surrounding Guardians also looked at Tricia with subtle expressions, as if dumbfounded.
The delegation members also continued glancing around nervously, not knowing what to do.
An awkward silence that seemed like it would never end continued.
But someone had to salvage this situation.
Tricia stood up from her seat with a determined expression, extended both hands forward, and declared.
"Then... shall we begin? This unprecedented scale of conference where this tower and the human world intersect. Let us establish here a treaty that will change fate and history going forward—"
"Lady Tricia?"
"What."
"The delegation members haven't even sat down yet?"
"Ah."
Tricia had almost forced the conference to proceed with the entire delegation standing!
Thanks to Ju Ji-ye's precise intervention, the delegation, who had been standing the whole time, were finally able to take their seats with guidance from the maids and butlers.
In this completely derailed conference atmosphere—
Tricia, who had given up on salvaging the situation any further, propped her chin and sighed.
"Let's just start quickly, okay? Anyone speak first."
Tricia tossed the right to speak to the delegation with an expression that said she found everything bothersome.
Then all the delegation members looked at Seo Ryu-in in unison.
That's right.
The only person here with special government authority was her!
'...How do I even start speaking in this situation...?'
The delegation hadn't even properly introduced themselves yet!
But if they brought up self-introductions in this situation?
It could be seen as directly contradicting the Tower Administrator Tricia's words to "start quickly"!
'I'll finish this suffocating conference... and get out as fast as possible...!'
Seo Ryu-in swallowed her desire to cry and took out the diplomatic documents she had received from the government.
