Five candles laid out in a straight line.
"Whoosh!"
As I swung my sword powerfully, all the candle flames went out at once.
For someone like me, who has reached a somewhat superhuman level, such a task is as easy as walking on land.
"Well done."
The resident who introduced himself as a blacksmith handed me a silver mark with a satisfied look.
As I took the mark and pocketed it, a silver emblem floated above my head.
Indeed, getting the silver grade is too easy.
There was a reason why the gatekeepers of the plaza simply let those of the silver grade pass. They were giving out simple tasks that anyone could do.
"Here are the sword and the sheath."
"Oh, you can just keep that. We have plenty."
It was the knife I had been given to cut the candle... The blacksmith was suggesting I just keep it. Given that I don't refuse gifts, I simply nodded.
"But if I gather a ton of silver marks, can I get multiple rewards?"
"I doubt it. I heard the rewards are based on the highest grade mark you have."
"Aha. Thank you."
It seems futile to try to collect 1000 silver marks.
It didn't make sense to receive multiple rewards for tasks of this level of difficulty.
After all, to get a proper reward, I need to obtain a gold grade or higher...
But as I mentioned earlier, I'm bothered by the possibility of a hidden reward.
The most suspicious thing to me is the bronze mark.
Getting a silver mark is already quite easy. Anyone with a certain level of knowledge and skill can easily obtain it.
So, why does the bronze mark exist at all? It can exist, but why are there beggars in the tower?
My wild imagination keeps getting provoked.
I think the person who appears to be a mere beggar might be a master hiding immense power.
I think the peasant, scratching his rear end with dirty hands as he passes by, might turn out to be a grand mage.
"...I should try doing some manual tasks, right?"
When I scanned the people with bronze marks, I strongly felt that something might come out.
After finishing my thoughts and looking up, the players walking briskly in the street seemed a bit different.
Getting a silver mark is too easy.
But none of them had any emblem floating above their heads.
Nevertheless, the reason they are rushing around this street is... they are looking for some clues.
"Do you have any legends in this city? Like a sad story or something?"
"There's nothing like that."
"Come on, just take this."
"Why are you like this? There really isn't anything!"
From those poking food at any beggar, trying to find valuable gossip...
"To be honest, I want to make you my master!"
"...?"
"Please give me a chance! I'll do my best!"
"No, why are you doing this..."
"I know I'm not up to your standards! But if you give me a chance..."
"I'm just a beggar..."
"...Damn. Another false lead."
From those pleading with any beggar to become their student...
It seems the abundance of bronze marks isn't just my observation.
"...It seems more inefficient for me to look around myself."
If you obtain a mark, an emblem appears above your head.
When the emblem appears, the thugs guarding the central plaza will automatically block the way and create a commotion.
If there truly is something hidden here, waiting should trigger something.
Let's summarize:
Firstly, looking for the hidden reward is a low priority. There's no guarantee it even exists.
Secondly, I need to find out the exact standards for violence. If I get a good reward but can't get past the thugs in the plaza, it's all for nothing. But studying these standards inevitably involves regressing. After an inevitable regression, an experiment seems appropriate.
Lastly, thirdly, I need to find out what tasks I have to do to get gold or platinum rewards.
So, what I should do now is...
"Gold mark..."
I need to visit the so-called nobility.
I started walking towards the grand mansion on the other side of the street. Entering the mansion was surprisingly easy.
Whether it was due to the leather armor I was wearing or some kind of magic, the grand entrance just naturally opened.
"Hello, I'm Kim Junho."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Count Ri Hite."
The man introducing himself as Count Ri Hite had a very classical and old-fashioned aura.
Well-groomed mustache, seemingly tailor-made formal attire, and even a monocle over his left eye.
He seemed to fit perfectly with the mansion's dark red-toned interior.
He looked like a man out of an old painting, truly aristocratic.
"Well, I'd like to ask why you're here, but I assume the reason is obvious."
Count Ri Hite, flashing a playful smile, continued,
"You're here for a gold mark, or perhaps a platinum mark, aren't you?"
He then pulled out a mark that shone brilliantly gold from within his attire.
"As much as I'd like to simply hand this over... there's the dignity of an aristocrat to maintain, and the rarity of the golden mark."
"You're right."
"So... I believe I can give you this mark only if you pass an appropriate test."
Returning the mark to his pocket, Count Ri Hite walked towards a teapot in the reception room.
"Coffee, or tea? Which would you prefer?"
"... I'll go with tea."
"Excellent choice. Our coffee doesn't seem to suit climbers' tastes."
Count Ri Hite skillfully began brewing the tea. The subtle aroma of the tea leaves was quite fragrant.
Contrary to what the townspeople said earlier, Count Ri Hite seemed pretty normal.
I felt that this man might be willing to answer my questions.
"... How did you all end up in this tower?"
"A simple question..."
Count Ri Hite answered without turning his head.
"We entered because of our faith."
"Faith?"
"Yes, faith. God asked us to enter the tower... and the owner of this city, with deep faith, nodded..."
"The owner of the city is...?"
"She was a promising knight from the vicinity. Now, she's the guardian of this city, watching from above to see who breaks the rules."
"Ah, if you're thinking of doing something to see her, think twice. She's beyond human, having received the grace of God."
Watching out for those who break the rules...
Perhaps if one resorts to violence, this 'owner of the city' might appear.
Could I match her if I stacked up my hero stats? I'm not sure. Given she's beyond human, probably not.
"Here you go."
Having finished brewing the tea, Count Ri Hite returned to offer me a cup.
Upon sipping, the tea had a slightly electrifying taste. I've never tasted such tea before.
"... This tea has a unique flavor?"
"That's its charm," he replied with a smile. I smiled back.
"So... how can I obtain a gold mark?"
"Prove yourself."
He once again took out the gold mark from his pocket.
"You may not know... but we've been here for quite some time. You all can't leave this city, but outside... it's quite literally heaven. Fruits, animals, fish, vegetables... endless food. No one worries about starving."
"That's why life inside the tower is stable... but utterly boring. Repetition, repetition, and more repetition. There's no crisis. We desperately need new stimuli. I don't know what tasks other elders give, but I enjoy a bit thrilling ones. Just like the tea you just drank."
"... What do you want me to do?"
"Kidnap someone. A girl who sells fish in the street. Her name is Emily. You can hurt her body, but don't harm her face."
"Ah, don't worry about the tower's rules. Violence between climbers is prohibited, as is violence between residents. But violence between a climber and a resident isn't prohibited. It's my job to prevent it, but of course, I have no intention of doing so."
Count Ri Hite stroked his mustache thoughtfully.
Is this the same man who just spoke of an aristocrat's dignity? The townsfolk I met earlier were right.
This man... had the appearance of an aristocrat, but his behavior was far from noble.
"... Suspicious."
And I found it too suspicious to ignore.
I felt this tower was influencing my way of thinking.