Emojis
ForTestingPurposeThe tentacle shot rapidly toward the turtle.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle deflected it with its shell and quickly dodged.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAlong with that, more tentacles struck the spot where the turtle had just been.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe trees grazed by the tentacles began to melt as if turning into liquid, releasing murky air.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle inspected its shell with magic.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe spot where the tentacle had been deflected was damp and corroding, ruining even the magic contained within.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCold sweat trickled down.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut thanks to the turtle’s evasion, an opportunity arose.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe creature had revealed an opening.
EmojisForTestingPurposeQuickly, a command was given.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Now!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt those words, Cassian drew her sword.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe blade, enveloped in magic, shot forward from the turtle’s mouth and struck the tentacles.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt began slicing through them one after another.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe tentacles resisted, but under the swift strikes of the sword, they fell to the ground.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOnce severed, they melted where they landed and vanished completely.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe sword didn’t stop there.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt flew toward the direction the tentacles had come from.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt the end of its path was a massive egg.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSuspended on a tree, it resembled a large, white eyeball.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThat was the origin of the tentacles.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA monster of unknown nature.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe sword shattered the tree holding the egg.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe creature atop it fell to the ground.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt managed to barely support itself with the remaining tentacles, but it couldn’t stop the fall.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Let’s run now!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeWith that shout, an order was given to the turtle.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle immediately turned and bolted without looking back.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira glanced at me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe nodded her head in understanding.
EmojisForTestingPurposeFrom her fingertips, a mist began to flow out.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe mist escaped through the turtle’s mouth and gradually concealed its body.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe sword, having finished its task, quickly returned to Cassian’s hand.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHe sheathed it at her waist, watching the creature closely.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe monster began to rise.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt climbed onto another tree, scanning for us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt appeared unscathed.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven the severed tentacles had regenerated.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI felt like it was watching the direction we had fled.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut thanks to the mist, it couldn’t find us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEventually, it turned and retreated back into its territory.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe tension eased a little.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis would suffice.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI let out a sigh.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt had been a week since we left the tower.
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘How many times had we fled already?’ Monsters were overwhelmingly strong.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“That thing looks like it’d taste good if roasted.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian muttered while swallowing her saliva.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe bear plushie beside her nodded in agreement.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI gave a bitter smile.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe journey so far had been filled with relentless monsters.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey poured down like rain, attacking day and night without pause.
EmojisForTestingPurposeExhaustion had piled up from fending them off.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLooking around, the inside of the turtle was filled with the remains of monsters.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven after gathering only what seemed useful, it was this much.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWe had discarded countless other items.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAmong those discarded items, we sometimes tried cooking a few.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt felt wasteful to throw away so much.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI had even prepared some of it for Cassian.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was rare for me to serve food to others, except for my professor.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI had only learned to cook with him in mind.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira, on the other hand, had been a test subject during my early cooking experiments.
EmojisForTestingPurposePerhaps that’s why she seemed delighted whenever I cooked.
EmojisForTestingPurposeFortunately, the food seemed to please Cassian.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSince tasting my first dish, she had become very proactive in hunting monsters.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEspecially strong monsters, like the one we just encountered.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter all, the stronger the monster, the better it tasted.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Still, taking that one on would be too much. We had no choice but to run,” I said.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe creature seemed like a high-tier monster.
EmojisForTestingPurposeFacing it head-on would’ve been impossible. Even fleeing had taken all we had.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian nodded glumly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe bear plushie rummaged in its pouch, pulling out a small piece of jerky and handing it to her.
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe accepted it and began nibbling slowly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAs I watched, I pulled out the map I had brought for the trip.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt had been a while since I’d last used it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeConfirming our location, I noticed Mira leaning into my arm.
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe glanced at the map with me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh, we’re almost there.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yeah, we’ll soon be free from these monsters.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI nodded.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWe were getting close to our destination: the canyon city Cassian had mentioned.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt would take roughly 30 more minutes to reach it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWe were halfway there, the city overlapping with our position.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI hadn’t expected such a powerful monster to appear this close to the city.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAssuming it would be like Stalactite City had left me overly relaxed, and it almost cost us.
EmojisForTestingPurposeTo be honest, my range of activity hadn’t been very broad.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen I asked other tower students, they mentioned operating across two or three cities.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut I had only used Stalactite City and my tower as my base.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOr rather, my tower was the sole focal point.
EmojisForTestingPurposeStalactite City was the nearest, and I never felt the need to visit other cities.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThat’s why, over the past five years, the only places I’d been to were my professor’s tower and Stalactite City.
EmojisForTestingPurposeStill, it made sense.
EmojisForTestingPurposeManaging the tower alone was demanding.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt least the area near Stalactite City was well-maintained.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThere were no high-tier monsters, and lower-tier ones were regularly culled through commissions.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOnce I left that zone, however, monsters poured in.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI had heard about the abundance of monsters but hadn’t experienced it firsthand until now.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Once we arrive, I need to buy some clothes and change. Every city has its own style, after all. Cassian, you’re coming too, right?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira smiled.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian gulped down the jerky she was chewing and pulled a reluctant face.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira stared at her silently until Cassian awkwardly nodded.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yes, Mira… sister.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Sister.’ It was an awkward word.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian seemed uncomfortable saying it, her eyes darting around.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOver the past week, Mira had persistently clung to her, and this was the result.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira let go of my arm and approached Cassian.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe two began chatting quietly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI returned to the map, scanning the area through the turtle’s eyes.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThere was still a lot of monster magic in the vicinity.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey were observing the turtle, but the surrounding mist obscured its exact location.
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Had Cassian and Mira not been with me, how would things have turned out?’ Alone, I probably wouldn’t have reached the destination even after a month.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThanks to them, all I needed to focus on was moving forward.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSuddenly, I recalled spatial gates.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHwaryoung had mentioned them once, about how cities used to be connected by them.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt must have been so convenient back then.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI couldn’t help but envy those times.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe number of monsters seemed to be decreasing now.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle crashed through trees, pressing forward relentlessly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe mist surrounding us began to fade.
EmojisForTestingPurpose***
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter crossing several mountains and following the map’s guidance, we finally neared the city.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIn the distance, peculiar structures came into view.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA narrow gap, perhaps that’s what one could call it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeFrom there, a few people could be seen emerging.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was a fissure located between the mountains—a split canyon.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian looked at it and nodded.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ah, that’s the place.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Is it?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI glanced at her briefly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe looked utterly deflated.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe bear plushie patted her gently, as if comforting her.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira watched the scene with a gaze full of adoration.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI understood Cassian’s demeanor.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe people she would have to face in the city were formidable figures.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen I first heard about her benefactors, I was astonished.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt wasn’t the kind of sponsorship that came from ordinary organizations.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHer supporters were none other than the Blade Association, the rulers of Canyon City.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI hadn’t paid much attention to them, as I thought they had little to do with me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter all, their organization only accepted swordsmen into their ranks.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSo it made sense for them to sponsor her.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnd now they had summoned her—to question her about why she hadn’t reached the third floor.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen she shared this, she had slumped to the floor as though she wanted to melt into it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey had called her as soon as her lectures had ended.
EmojisForTestingPurposeNo one could guess how the conversation would go.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven Cassian had tilted her head, saying she didn’t know.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI recalled a similar situation of my own—having to face Miryeong and Myra.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIf I had to stand before them again and talk…
EmojisForTestingPurposeJust thinking about dealing with them again made my stomach churn slightly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian must be feeling the same way, especially since she would have to report her failures to them.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Don’t worry. We’ll go with you, and everything will be fine,” Mira said softly, gently stroking Cassian’s back.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian shivered slightly at the touch.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira began to massage her shoulders, starting her “improvement” session.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI averted my gaze.
EmojisForTestingPurpose***
EmojisForTestingPurposeBefore we knew it, the canyon had grown closer.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe gap, the sight of it, became clearer.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSeeing it, I couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe fissure was immense—a truly gigantic canyon.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe name “Canyon City” instantly made sense.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe vast chasm stretched deep into the ground below.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt the very bottom, a massive lake was visible.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLooking down at the canyon, it felt as though the sharp, cutting energy within was aimed directly at the turtle.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe shape of the canyon caught my eye once more.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt resembled the aftermath of a giant blade slicing through the earth.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe sharp and rapid flow of energy within the canyon seemed to prove it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe city boldly revealed itself.
EmojisForTestingPurposeUnlike Stalactite City, which felt hidden within the mountains, this place seemed to bare itself entirely.
EmojisForTestingPurposeStill, there was one similarity—the city was located underground.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCanyon City was situated along both walls of the canyon.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe buildings, resembling honeycombs, formed multiple layers vertically along the canyon walls.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEach level had a distinct atmosphere, becoming increasingly crude the lower they went.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was a familiar structure.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI had heard that most cities were like this, built underground.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt made sense.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter all, it was due to the mana values.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle stopped near the canyon, not moving closer.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was likely because of the figures approaching us with swords infused with mana.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey seemed to have mistaken the turtle for a monster.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Shall we get down then?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt those words, Mira stepped away from Cassian.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian tidied herself and hugged the bear plushie tightly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHer face, buried in the bear’s back, was slightly flushed.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle’s side opened, forming a path down to the ground.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLeading the way, I stepped out.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe mana in the surroundings became much more palpable.
EmojisForTestingPurposeA faint metallic tang accompanied the sharp energy brushing past me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian and Mira followed behind me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe turtle, shrinking itself, climbed onto my chest.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt had grown much heavier, likely due to everything stored inside it.
EmojisForTestingPurposePatting the turtle, I looked toward the city.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe approaching figures, upon confirming our appearance, lowered their swords.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey turned back and began heading toward the city.
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘We’ll just follow them,’ I thought, starting to walk forward.
EmojisForTestingPurpose***
EmojisForTestingPurposeTime passed after we entered the city.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI glanced at Cassian beside me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Are you alright?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“No… it hurts…”
EmojisForTestingPurposeShe groaned in pain.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe clothes she had purchased with a considerable amount of money were now tattered, slashed by rough sword strikes.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHer body was covered in wounds.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMira was tending to her injuries.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMist enveloped Cassian’s body, wrapping around each wound and leaving behind a faint trace, like a bandage.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCassian’s body healed quickly, and her complexion gradually improved.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHugging the bear plushie, she slumped completely in exhaustion.
EmojisForTestingPurposeLooking around, I observed the room.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt was a clean and tidy space, somewhat reminiscent of the room used during the auction.
EmojisForTestingPurposeIt had a slightly luxurious feel.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHowever, the walls were surrounded by strong mana. Layers of defensive magic seemed to envelop the exterior.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe door was the same—firmly sealed, as though to prevent any exit.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI gave a bitter smile.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThere was no way out.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis place was essentially a prison.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI glanced at Cassian.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSeeing her like this left a heavy feeling in my chest.