Chapter 193: Proclamation (2)

A secret training facility run by the US Climbing Bureau.

After finishing her training, Taylor took a short break and checked the Communication Channel.

Max handed her a cup of coffee as she looked through the channel, her expression slightly tense.

“Things are getting rather unsettling out there.”

“...They really are.”

All of humanity had felt a strange sensation, an earthquake had struck, and even the Tower’s Time Limit had stopped.

It had been a day of one bizarre phenomenon after another.

It was now the third day since Person123 had received the Tower’s proposal.

Like many others, Taylor was convinced that all of this had something to do with Person123.

But he still hadn’t posted anything on the Nightmare Communication Channel. Worried, she had even tentatively sent him a Whisper, but that had gone unanswered too.

Had he still not finished clearing the Hidden Route?

Taylor trusted Person123 almost as much as Ye Tianwei did, but with so many unsettling things happening, she couldn’t help growing anxious.

What if something had happened to him because of the Tower’s proposal...

That was when it happened.

“...!”

An intense sensation swept through her, as though her very soul were trembling.

Crash-

The coffee cup slipped from Taylor’s hand and shattered on the floor.

She didn’t even have time to register it.

Overcome by a sense of sacred awe, she let out an involuntary cry.

Max’s eyes also went unfocused for a moment before shock slowly registered on his face.

The two stared blankly at each other.

The headquarters of South Korea’s Tower Climbing Special Agency.

“...Ah!”

Shin Su-jin sprang to her feet in the middle of the meeting, shoving her chair back.

The others looked at one another in surprise.

“J-just now...”

“Did everyone feel that?”

That strange sense of connection had returned.

The murmurs in the conference room quickly died away.

This time, they could hear a voice inside their heads.

【 The Tower will fall in the end, and we, humanity, will prevail 】

Everyone was speechless, utterly stunned.

Shin Su-jin was no different, but as she came to her senses, the shock on her face slowly gave way to elation.

‘This...!’

Her heart pounded, and she could barely contain the emotion welling up inside her.

There was no mistaking it.

Person123 had made a proclamation to all of humanity.

“...holy.”

Bilon also heard the voice while working in his office.

He sank back into his chair and stared blankly into space before murmuring to himself.

“Mr. Kim...”

Have you truly become a god?

The world was thrown into an uproar.

News outlets across the globe poured out breaking headlines.

- Humanity hears a divine voice... A new ability from Person123?

- Person123 declares that the Tower will fall and humanity will prevail...

- Has Person123 truly become a god, stopping the Time Limit and interfering with the Tower’s system...

Everyone had felt it much more clearly the second time.

Their minds had connected with a great being... The sense of sacred awe and exhilaration was beyond words.

No one could mistake who that being was.

They had even heard his voice this time.

He was the hero who protected humanity from the Tower.

He was the greatest savior the world would ever know.

Now everyone understood one thing for certain.

Person123 really had become some kind of divine being.

Followers of the Person123 Church poured into the streets all over the world, passionately chanting his name.

“Person123! Person123! Person123!”

“O God, do you see us! Your servants are here, answering your call!”

“Aaaah! The Tower will fall, and humanity will prevail! His word has come down to usss..!”

The crowds were in a frenzy.

They could hardly have reacted any other way.

For them, this was the first time they had heard directly from their god, and there could be no stronger proof that Person123 truly was a god.

It wasn’t just the existing believers.

Even people who had never thought of Person123 as a god, even those who had never been religious, began changing their minds as though spellbound.

It was hard for anyone who had experienced it firsthand to keep denying it.

[Truth: Person123-nim has spoken! Humanity will prevail in the end!]

[Papyrus: So Person123 really was the one who stopped the Time Limit too, right?]

[Fireworks: Show some respect, asshole. Where’s the -nim?]

[Chris: Could the earthquake have happened because Person123 and the Tower were clashing? Holy crap]

[Yuhan: Has he gained the power to confront the Tower head-on? Person123, just what are you...]

[Weapon: Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god! Person123 is a god!]

[Black-and-White: Just joined the Person123 Church. Hurry up and get outside to pray, guys]

[Moss: He will free humanity completely from the threat of the Tower!]

[Shrew: I believe I believe I believe...]

[Ruibilli: O God of humanity, watch over us]

Beijing, China.

“...”

After remaining motionless for a long time with his forehead pressed to the floor, Ye Tianwei finally rose.

His face was alight with joy and rapture, yet there was a solemn resolve in his expression.

With solemn care, Ye Tianwei straightened his rumpled clothes and smoothed his hair, then summoned someone.

Standing Committee member Xiao Lin came hurrying over in response.

Ye Tianwei addressed him.

“Tell the Chairman and the Standing Committee to begin preparations as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, preparations for...”

“The Person123 Church’s Great Prosperity Project.”

Xiao Lin flinched.

China imposed strict conditions and restrictions on religious activity.

Ye Tianwei had therefore long supported Person123 Church groups within China to ensure they had a measure of freedom, but he had made no active attempt to expand the Church’s following.

For all his devotion to Him, Ye Tianwei remained clear-eyed about one thing.

Person123 did not particularly like being worshipped as a god.

That was why Ye Tianwei had limited his support for the Person123 Church until now...

But now, the situation had changed.

This was His revelation.

Ye Tianwei was certain he knew why He had proclaimed the Tower’s downfall and humanity’s victory to all mankind.

‘He needs more people to put their Faith in Him.’

Given His character, He would never do something like this for any other reason.

Ye Tianwei did not know why He needed their Faith, but that hardly mattered.

Nor would he presume to send Him a Whisper asking why.

As His servant, he would simply do everything in his power to see His will fulfilled.

Now that His voice had reached all of humanity, all Ye Tianwei had to do was fan the flames of this sacred wildfire.

Opposition from within the Communist Party?

He would simply get rid of it.

No Party member would dare object to something Ye Tianwei had decided to do. His power within the Party was now absolute.

Every obstacle to the Person123 Church’s activities in China would be removed, and the state would lavish it with every kind of support and benefit to help expand its following.

The ultimate goal was to make the Person123 Church the state religion.

Every one of China’s 1.4 billion citizens would become a believer.

Ye Tianwei smiled in excitement as he finally put a long-cherished plan into motion.

*

I had used my Divinity to broadcast an announcement to all of humanity.

“Well, this blew up.”

The whole world was in an uproar again.

The news showed Person123 Church rallies packing streets all over the world.

It was clearly having the effect I’d intended.

Even now, I could feel people’s Faith growing by the moment.

I was checking the Communication Channel when my younger sister knocked on the door and came in.

“Hey, come out and have some fruit.”

“Yeah. I’ll be out in a bit.”

She looked at me and grinned.

Then she suddenly adopted a mock-solemn tone.

“The Tower will fall in the end, and humanity will prevail.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just saying, that was a good line. You seriously sounded like a god.”

After a playful chuckle, my sister spoke again, her voice a little more subdued.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Can the world really be peaceful again? Like it was before the Tower appeared...”

I had given my family a rough explanation of what was going on.

I’d told them I could now stop the Tower’s Time Limit with my own power, and that I’d found a possible way to save the world from the Tower completely.

I nodded.

“Yeah. It’s not impossible anymore.”

“...I really hope that happens.”

My sister sighed before speaking again.

“But don’t push yourself too hard, okay? You’ve been through so much already. You could take it easy for a while now. You don’t have to enter the Tower every week anymore.”

Hmm...

I still hadn’t told them that I needed to gain Divinity inside the Tower and intended to keep climbing as quickly as possible, before it had a chance to recover its strength.

I felt bad for my family, but I planned to enter Floor 18 soon. I would tell them when the time came.

My sister left the room.

I turned back to the Communication Channel.

I had been working through the Whispers that had piled up.

Naturally, there was a message from Bilon among them.

[Chicken Sandwich: Mr. Kim, are you safe? I’m concerned about what’s going on.]

I sent a reply.

[Person123: I got through the Tower’s proposal safely. There’s no need to worry.]

[Chicken Sandwich: That’s a relief. But was that voice really your doing, Mr. Kim? Have you truly become a god?]

His reply came immediately.

Bilon seemed very curious about my current situation.

There was no reason to keep anything from Bilon, so I was completely honest with him.

I explained that I had become a god, that I was indeed the one who had stopped the Tower’s Time Limit, that my lifespan problem was completely resolved, and even that the more Faith people had in me, the more it would help me stand against the Tower...

[Chicken Sandwich: My God. So you really do intend to fight the Tower itself now.]

Even through text, Bilon’s shock at my explanation was unmistakable.

I also gave him a rough outline of my plans.

[Person123: So I’m going to keep climbing and gather more Divinity. I won’t know whether it’s possible until I try, though.]

[Chicken Sandwich: I understand. Is there anything at all I can do to help?]

[Person123: Just keep focusing on the work you’re already doing. That will be enough.]

I remembered the promise Bilon and I had made when we met before.

[Person123: Do you remember? We said we’d both fight with everything we had.]

[Chicken Sandwich: Of course. Though the Mars Plan turned out to be a wasted effort...]

[Person123: No, it wasn’t pointless. It’s true that going into space won’t put us beyond the Tower’s reach, but its power should at least be a little weaker out there than it is on Earth.]

That was because the Tower had sunk its Divinity into Earth as though putting down roots.

So Bilon’s efforts weren’t entirely pointless.

His plan wouldn’t solve the underlying problem. But weakening the Tower’s power by even the tiniest amount would still be worthwhile.

Bilon hoped that all of humanity could someday relocate to Mars or another planet...

If that became possible, it would be at least a little easier to push back the Tower’s Divinity there than on Earth.

And if the thing followed us there and tried to establish itself all over again, that would cost it power too.

Of course, I needed to settle things with the Tower as quickly as possible, long before that distant future ever came.

[Chicken Sandwich: That’s encouraging to hear. I’ll continue to do my utmost.]

Another message arrived after a short pause.

[Chicken Sandwich: This reminds me of when we first met, Mr. Kim. You were about to tackle Floor 2, and only a few dozen days remained before the world’s destruction. Somehow, we’ve already made it this far. I’m overwhelmed to hear that your goal is no longer merely to extend the Time Limit, but to destroy the Tower’s system itself.

Thank you for giving humanity so much hope. You truly are a miracle, Mr. Kim. Our god. As one of your believers, I too have no doubt that you will bring down the Tower in the end.]

I scratched the bridge of my nose.

[Person123: Thank you. I’ll do my best.]

I really had come a long way.

It was a far cry from the days when I’d been struggling to extend the Time Limit a year at a time.

After wrapping up my conversation with Bilon, I also replied to Taylor and a few others to let them know I was safe.

Time passed.

In the meantime, I stuck to my usual routine.

“Looks like I’ve surpassed you now, Demon King.”

I was training in the Mental World.

Becoming a god had put me on an entirely different level, and the Demon King was no longer a match for me.

And now, even after handing control of my body to the Demon King, I could take it back at will.

The Demon King sounded less than pleased.

“Do not get cocky. Had I only possessed a suitable vessel, I would have long since... Tch.”

Honestly, I was a little tempted to tease him.

But that would have been too disrespectful, so I didn’t.

His help had played a huge part in getting me this far.

I’d put so much effort into honing my swordsmanship here... but now even that seemed to serve little purpose.

Whoooooosh-

The Demon King swept a hand through the air, and our surroundings transformed into the Ice Kingdom.

It was the place he always recreated.

We stood side by side on the palace roof, looking down at the city.

“Have any more of your memories come back?”

It was the question I always asked.

The Demon King gazed down at the citizens moving through the city for a long time before finally speaking.

“Floor 23.”

“...What?”

“That is one thing I have remembered. My world met its end after I cleared Floor 22, before I could attempt Floor 23.”

So he remembered the exact floor, at least.

But he still didn’t seem to remember exactly how his world had been destroyed.

The Demon King made the city vanish again, looking annoyed.

“Enough of this. Those memories would serve no purpose even if I did recover them. If you truly bring down the Tower, that will be enough for me.”

Then the Demon King asked me a question.

“When will you enter the Tower?”

“I’d better get back to it. Tomorrow.”

Floor 18 was next.

Starting tomorrow, I would resume climbing the Tower in earnest.

But honestly...

Would clearing Nightmare floors even put me in any real danger anymore?

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