"Hey!"
After returning to his team, instead of a warm welcome, he was immediately met with a dissatisfied rant from Yihwa.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself—talking to girls left and right! Even going out of your way to save someone! What happened to team benefits, huh? Did you change your mind because of a girl? Do you like her?" she grumbled, arms crossed and eyes glaring. Clearly, she wasn't satisfied with Shinso's behavior. So what if someone got injured? Wasn't that beneficial for them? What happened to that cold, logical mindset of his? That girl wasn't even cute—especially not compared to her! Hmph!
"…"
Shinso understood the real reason for her frustration, but it was personal. He couldn't just blurt out, "I needed Anaak Zahard to bait a Ranker—it's part of my quest." So, he simply sighed and offered a vague explanation.
"Lady Yihwa, please don't misunderstand. We just happen to share a grudge against the same person. That's all. We formed a temporary cooperative relationship."
"Cooperative relationship? Do you think I'm an idiot!? Huh!? You talked to her once, and she didn't even seem to know who you are!" she shot back.
"..."
Shinso was speechless. *Since when did this girl become so observant?* Still, she seemed to forget something important. "And how exactly would you know that, Lady Yihwa… you seem to have been keeping an eye on me."
That made her flinch. Her face flushed crimson the moment realization hit. "W-who's been watching you!? We've just been together, that's all! Don't jump to weird conclusions!"
*She didn't even consider the possibility that Anaak and I might have known each other before coming to this floor…*
Shinso sighed in exasperation, shaking his head. He didn't say anything aloud, but inwardly he began to question his own decision. *Maybe I should've picked Elaine instead. She's more level-headed... more reliable.*
As if reading his thoughts, Yihwa grumbled again. "Why aren't you saying anything now, huh? Are you thinking of someone else?"
The corner of his mouth twitched. Women's intuition is something else. "No, not at all. Lady Yihwa, I believe in you," he said, lightly waving his hand as if to ease the tension—though mentally, he was already considering another angle.
*Come to think of it, that was the plan from the beginning. I even received money from Hwa Ryun to clear Elaine's debts. Speaking of Hwa Ryun, could this all have been part of her arrangement?*
*Pairing up with Yihwa... And guiding her towards me in order to manufacture a weakness they can exploit? Typical FUG strategy.*
He cast a subtle glance toward Hwa Ryun. *Heh. If that's the case… it's a little amusing.*
*If they think a single emotional connection is enough to manipulate me like a puppet—then I'll just show them how twisted I can really be.*
*Enryu's child or not… I'll hunt down every redhead in the Tower, and I'll kill their Slayers along the way. I'll even start with the one they consider my weakness… right in front of their eyes. There's no need to play by their rules. After all… I am an Irregular.*
Still, for now, he set aside those thoughts. There was no solid evidence—maybe it was just a coincidence. Perhaps, she couldn't read that far. One way or another, the truth would reveal itself in time.
"Alright, Regulars."
Hansung Yu, accompanied by Lero Ro, arrived at the arena. While delivering his speech, his eyes were focused on Shinso. Maybe he was holding a grudge. But if he was, Shinso didn't seem to care.
"The test will resume after two days. Until then, you are free to do as you please. As for accommodations and meals, we will provide one dorm per team."
The break was most likely granted to allow injured Regulars time to recover. If they didn't, the exam would continue regardless.
[2 days later]
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the wide yellow-painted room. The remaining teams had gathered, although some were notably absent—likely still recovering from injuries.
*It's about time,* Shinso muttered, his eyes drawn to the stage.
As if on cue, Lero Ro stepped outside, calmly surveying each Regular one by one. Satisfied, he gave a nod and spoke.
"It's been a while, Regulars. Did you rest well? You look energetic. Anyway, today marks the beginning of the next test—positions!"
"A position test? Could it be..." Shibisu wondered aloud.
"Yes!" Lero Ro nodded. "As you know, battles in the Tower are usually fought in teams. Your position determines your role within the group."
He began listing them:
Fisherman: The core frontline combatants who use reel inventories to battle head-on.
Spearbearer: Support attackers from the rear who apply pressure by sniping, often assisting the Fisherman.
Lightbearer: Illuminates the battlefield, gathering and analyzing information to guide the team.
Scout: Operates on the front lines using observers to assess enemy lines and avoid danger.
Wave Controller: Manages the battlefield through Shinsu manipulation, often taking the role of strategist and suppressor.
Hearing this, Shinso narrowed his eyes.
*I only inherited 1.1%, but with Urek Mazino's talent combined with my intellect, I could easily cover all roles except the Guide. Still, Wave Controller and Fisherman are the most practical for me.*
*Speaking of wave controller. Did Urek's strength really rely on Shinsu? No... While he was strong with it, his raw power clearly transcended Shinsu. Even I find that choice inefficient. But it's just another option to consider.*
After all, why use flashy attacks when you can just punch someone into oblivion?
Urek had once shattered Shinsu-based plant attacks with brute force alone. In a way, using Shinsu almost seemed like nerfing himself.
*Come to think of it, Shinsu doesn't exist outside the Tower. That alone proves that an Irregular's power isn't bound by it. Enryu is another example. He beat an administrator to death using spears made of Shinsu—using the Tower's own power against itself. That's just pure disrespect.*
Rubbing his chin, Shinso fell deeper into thought. *Still… why does it feel like I'm forgetting something important? I can't put my finger on it... Whatever.* Unable to recall it, he set the thought aside and returned his attention to Lero Ro.
"From today onward, each of you will be assigned a role based on your past performance. You'll be trained in that position for one month. After that, those with high grades may proceed to the next test."
"Keep in mind," Lero Ro continued, "the number of people who can pass is limited by position—not total participants."
Lero Ro gestured to a large yellow board listing the names and their assigned positions. "Here are your assignments, based on your performance."
Shinso glanced at the list. Seeing his name under Fisherman, he felt relieved.
Fisherman (4 selected)
Best performance
Anaak, and Androssi
Shinso
Yeon Yihwa
Deod
Leon
Kon
Shinso didn't pay much attention to the others. He already knew who would pass and who wouldn't.
*There are some changes in the Fisherman lineup. The first four will pass. In the original, Kon made it, but this time I'll ensure only my team gets through. Or rather—should I say teammate?*
He corrected himself internally, glancing at the Wave Controller list.
*Hwa Ryun was assigned there. Though her true role is as a Guide. Only two people will pass here—Laure and Baam.*
As for the other positions:
*Lightbearer—Khun will pass. Scout—Hatz and Shibisu are guaranteed. Spearbearer—Arkyung and Rak are locked in. But this name...*
His eyes paused at one particular entry under Spearbearer. A nostalgic smile formed on his otherwise indifferent face.
*Parakewl...*
The strongest Regular in existence—according to memes. Rumored to be a secret Zahard prince, he was a fan favorite. People even made memes using the Kallavan template, wielding the "Essence of Bravery."
*Before I got summoned here, there were canon chapters about the revolution. And Parakewl kept shouting, "Revolution! Freedom! " Some people joked he might be the mastermind behind everything... Who knows? SIU might actually go with it.* He chuckled to himself.
"Mister Administrator."
Someone raised a hand. The speaker was none other than Khun Aguero Agnis. Seeing this, Shinso sighed. *As expected, Baam's still out. But his concern was unnecessary; the real teacher will be delayed. After all, he will be replaced by my target.*
"There are many injured people. How will they take the test?" he asked, voice edged with concern—though it was obvious he only cared about Baam.
"Once they recover, they'll be sent to testing. However, they will start with a disadvantage due to missing participation points," Lero Ro said.
"Isn't that unfair?" Khun pressed.
"Correct," Lero Ro replied plainly. "But being injured was their own fault. Isn't that right?"
Khun had no comeback. With no more questions, Lero Ro wrapped things up. "The details of your training will be explained by your assigned manager. Please follow the guides and proceed to your respective areas."