On the morning of the third day since Tricia had transferred to Earth.
"Tower Climbers can earn Tower Coins based on their achievements within the tower."
"Tower Coins: 397"
"After 3 days, the Tower Collapse countdown may begin again. Please be careful!"
"...Huh?"
Tricia's eyes wavered as she saw the remaining coin count.
"I'm screwed...!"
Tricia instinctively sensed it. The situation was seriously screwed!
At first, she had thought:
*I'll definitely recover whatever I invest!*
With that belief, she boldly poured out Tower Coins.
She installed Warp Gates on every floor, remodeled the environment in some areas, and even unlocked free movement for floors with various amenities!
The result?
The tower had certainly transformed enough to give the impression that "this tower is different"!
It looked like heaven! A tower that generously gave everything away!
She thought that if she set it up like this, Climbers would flock in droves, and Tower Coins would pour in proportionally!
...That's how it should have been.
In reality, only 6 Climbers had entered.
The first 5 who came initially, and then Crow who arrived the next day.
After that... not a single person came...!
"I'm ruined...!"
Tricia collapsed on the floor, clutching her head.
Actually, she hadn't completely failed to anticipate this situation.
That's why she had casually asked Crow to help with promotion as insurance... but the effectiveness was questionable.
She should have just given away a truckload of [Holy Water of the Majestic Angel] from the warehouse to promote the tower!
...The problem was that the holy water was a bit... ambiguous.
In fact, it was "bath water"—purified water from the bathtub after Tricia had bathed in it (...)
Of course, Tricia was a transcendent and special being... just by soaking in water, it naturally transformed into holy water.
She had been collecting it because it seemed wasteful, and that's why it had accumulated in the warehouse.
For reference, [Tears of the Majestic Angel] made from Tricia's tears had the incredible effect of boosting abilities five to hundreds of times immediately upon drinking!
[Feather Amulet of the Majestic Angel], Tricia's feather, had absurd effects just by possessing it—mental stability, misfortune avoidance, minor causality manipulation, and more!
She had even displayed these items at the market on the 12th floor to sell for Tower Coins!
Yet still, no one was coming!
It was time to seriously come up with a plan... Tricia immediately called an emergency meeting in the Conference Room on the 99th floor.
She avoided summoning everyone.
After all, calling everyone would just create chaos!
This time, only those who could truly help were gathered!
"For these reasons, to prevent our home from collapsing—I'd like to start a discussion on how we can attract more Climbers."
First, Zergos stood up.
"I think we instilled too much fear in our initial response. Even in our world, adapting to the sensation of reviving from death is difficult, so it might have been a great psychological shock to the people here."
Second, Lilithis grumbled.
"The problem is there's no promotion outside. Any store needs a sign, and in this state, it's difficult to bring in Climbers."
Third, Rukki hit the nail on the head.
"You said you left promotion to that Crow guy? What made you trust him?"
Tricia was momentarily speechless at Rukki's direct question.
Soon, she placed her hand on her chest and spoke sincerely.
"I... believe in my choice. Because I trusted and believed in all of you, you also trusted me."
"...As I always feel, you're too kind-hearted for your own good."
"That's why I'm a pure and kind angel, right?"
"The moment you say that yourself, purity is already out the window..."
As Rukki grumbled sarcastically, Tricia laughed it off.
But at that moment, her demeanor changed.
Her eyes sank, and her voice became calm.
"Don't worry, if all else fails... I have other means."
One of her eyes glowed red, and the air around them grew heavy.
Everyone present recalled "that incident."
The catastrophe that occurred while facing the final enemy in Eriel.
The terror branded like a mark on their souls resurfaced.
The boundary between life and death collapsed, the concepts of reality and imagination twisted—
"Hey! That's not allowed! It's truly dangerous!"
Rukki trembled as she objected.
"It's okay, I don't plan to use it yet."
When Tricia replied nonchalantly,
This time, both Zergos and Lilithis joined in to dissuade her.
"I... don't recommend that either. If something goes wrong, Tricia—"
"That's right. You should never do that again."
Tricia blinked in disbelief.
"Alright, I won't do it. That's truly just a last resort."
With Tricia's words, the atmosphere finally calmed down, and the meeting continued.
"By the way... I'm curious about something."
Tricia tilted her head and asked.
"Our home suddenly became a tower... why are you all adapting so naturally?"
"That's obvious. You chose this place with the potential to become a tower as your home. That's why it has now become a [Tower], hasn't it?"
"...?"
"Wait, could it be—you didn't know?"
A moment of silence followed.
Tricia just stared at Zergos with a completely clueless expression.
Zergos stroked his chin for a moment, then said:
"Tricia, our home... this place is originally the remains of a tower that appeared in Eriel long ago. And according to ancient history, the origin of all life forms in Eriel began from this tower."
"This is the first I'm hearing of this...?"
"...To think you really didn't know, that's my oversight."
Thinking this wouldn't do, Zergos immediately brought a blackboard.
"Very well. Then let me briefly explain the history of the tower in Eriel."
He began a history lesson about the tower as told in Eriel.
The summary is as follows:
What is a [Tower]?
In summary—it's a dimensional backup device.
When a world faces destruction, God compresses the "information" of that world into a tower and transmits it to another dimension.
Then the tower reopens in that dimension, and the life forms inside begin a new life.
But that's not all.
God also activates the tower 'when the number of life forms grows excessively and the dimension reaches saturation.'
Relocation combined with organization and purification.
In other words, selection and movement.
"According to records, our ancestors' dimension was destroyed—and afterward, they began a new life in Eriel. In other words, we are descendants born from the tower."
"...Then I understand why I, as the Tower Administrator, can't leave, but why can't you all go outside?"
To Tricia's question, Zergos remained silent for a moment before answering.
"That... I don't know. History doesn't tell us everything."
He cleared his throat lightly and continued.
"Here, what Tricia should focus on is 'saturation.' Recently, Eriel has regained peace, causing a population explosion. As a result, it likely reached 'saturation,' and God was probably trying to thin us out and send us to another dimension."
"And that's where our home became the variable, right?"
"Correct. God reactivated the tower, but since you were already accommodating many life forms within the 'tower remains'—this entire house may have become a new [Tower] and been transmitted to Earth."
"I see... Still, the current abnormal structure where Climbers are needed to maintain the tower isn't explained at all."
"That's right. I don't know about that part either... I've been re-examining the records about the tower recently."
So, Tricia's companions knew this place would eventually become a tower, but.
It seems they hadn't anticipated being bound to the tower in this way.
"...Wait, so you all knew this and still decided to live with me?"
"Yes, because you saved us, Tricia. So we decided to go with you wherever the path led, but..."
"...To think you yourself didn't know."
Zergos sighed, and Lilithis looked at Tricia with eyes that said "I knew it."
"Why was I the only one who didn't know?!"
Tricia felt unfairly treated in this situation.
Just then, Rukki approached with a smirk.
"It's because you never properly studied Eriel's history in the first place."
"......"
"Incompetent~♥"
Rukki giggled mockingly.
This one word sounded particularly annoying today.
Tricia hung her head.
------
That afternoon.
After the meeting, Tricia returned to her room on the 100th floor and lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
*Sigh... I wish I could ask the internet... No, if I had internet, I would have used it for promotion in the first place...*
As Tricia was rolling around hugging a fluffy pillow made with her feathers—
"[My Home Tower] is currently being accessed by Climbers."
"Expected number of entering Climbers: 5—"
"10—"
"17—"
"Updating..."
"28—"
"31—"
"Final entry count: 37"
"...Huh?"
Wait, how many?
Tricia bolted upright.
The number displayed on the screen was clearly—37.
"They're coming... They're coming!! Finally, Climbers are coming!!"
Tricia shouted in joy and ran out of the room.
When she encountered Rukki in the hallway, she picked her up and ran somewhere!
"I knew Crow would come through!!! I believed in you, damn it!!!"
"Why are you carrying me?! Put me down!!!"
Tricia then moved to the Sparkling Water Hot Spring on the 37th floor via a warp point and threw Rukki into the hot spring!
"Today we're having rabbit stew!!!!!"
*Splash-!*
"Gaaah-!!!"
Tricia getting petty revenge on Rukki who had called her incompetent♥! And Rukki falling into the hot spring with an indignant expression!
Lilithis, who happened to be bathing in that hot spring, advised the jubilant Tricia.
"Rabbit stew is good, but how about rabbit hot pot?"
"That's good too!"
"I'm not food! You guys!!"
Rukki, soaking wet and looking like a drenched rabbit, shouted!
Of course, this is just their usual WWE-style antics, so it's fine!
And then—
"[My Home Tower]'s entrance is opening."
"37 new Climbers are currently entering."
"1st Floor -Lobby-"
"So this is the tower with the holy water!"
"I have arrived."
"This place is incredibly clean."
Climbers with various personalities began pouring in...!
