Chapter 38 - cooling off

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 - cooling off

Then we exited from the tower, and once again it showed us the results of the challenge.

[Congratulations. You successfully completed the 2nd floor of the Tower of Ascension.]

[Reward]

[All attributes +30]

[Random attribute fruit x10]

[Gloves of Frost (Lv 20)]

[Midnight Necklace (Lv 20)]

[Obsidian Boots (Lv 20)]

I looked at the loot and observed the information about them.

Item: Gloves of Frost

Level: 20

Ability: 10% increase of frost attack

And then I looked at the necklace.

Item: Midnight Necklace

Level: 20

Ability: +20 Agility, +30 Perception

And we exited the tower. I looked at Nyx and cursed at the tower. "This damn tower is so biased. Look at those items. They’re made for you. Even the tower is jealous of my greatness."

I huffed.

Nyx looked at me, smiled, and asked, "What about the necklace? It’s usable."

I looked at it and just gave up. "Aaa, no. Look at it. It’s like it was made for you. The design suits you perfectly."

She laughed and said, "But you can wear it too. You have similar features as me."

I looked at her like I was looking at an idiot and said, "But I’m a boy. Humph."

She laughed and said, "Then that’s your problem. On the battlefield you can’t think about fashion."

I nodded and said, "But this is not the battlefield, and you suit it more than me."

"So just take it."

She nodded and took them both and put on the necklace. It suited her.

The necklace is dark blue. It matches her eyes.

Then we divided all the attribute fruits.

"Hm. It’s good to take for snacks."

Nyx looked at me strangely. I just raised my hand and said, "Hey, I’m just joking. Its taste is not good enough to take as a snack."

Then I ate all five of them at once.

+20 Strength

+10 Mana

+20 Perception

I looked at them and nodded with satisfaction and felt the sudden change in power and perception.

Nyx just sighed and said, "How about we go report the 2nd floor, then we can go and sleep."

I looked at her. "Hm. You look so sleepy. Didn’t that damn tower make us fully refreshed after the floor? Don’t tell me it scammed us." I widened my eyes.

She just sighed and said, "That’s the first-day benefit."

"Let’s go. I’m really sleepy."

I looked at her sleepy face, smiled, took her student ID, and said, "Okay. Go and sleep. I’ll report and take care of things."

She stared at me and asked, "How am I going to get into my room?"

I grinned and asked, "Oh, you want to come to my room?"

She didn’t hesitate to hit me in the head. "You... shameless scoundrel."

I smiled and said, "Ow, ow. Okay, it’s a joke. I’ll come see you off to your room and go report it."

She nodded and went to her room.

I smiled and followed her. I didn’t start a conversation because she looked tired and sleepy.

And we finally reached her room, and I unlocked the room and asked, "What should I do with your student ID?"

"Let me think. Hmm... ah... I... got it..."

"How about I write a love letter and put the student ID inside it and throw it under your door?"

She gave me a deadpan look and said in an amused voice, "Why can’t you just be a normal person and give it to me next time we meet?"

I grinned and said, "Where’s the fun in that? That’s too mediocre for a great person like me."

I said it with a smug expression.

She looked at me. A small smile always plays on her lips.

Then she waved at me and said, "Good night, Asher."

I looked at her. A playful smile appeared on my face, and I asked, "Oh, where is my good-night kiss?"

She just lightly pushed my head and went back to her room, but her smile never faded.

I looked at her and said, "Good night, Nyx."

Then I turned back and went to the place where we have to report the completion of the tower floor.

The same room as last time. I opened the door and entered and saw the same old woman as last time. She is on her paperwork as usual.

She looked up at me, put away her paperwork, and asked, "What can I do for you, student?"

I looked at her and replied, "Ah, it’s not much. I just came to report the tower clearing."

She looked closer and replied, "Ah, I remember. You are the boy that came with that girl to report your first-floor clearing."

"You already cleared your 2nd floor. That’s impressive. Where is that girl who was with you before?"

She hesitated and asked, "Is she..."

I cut her off. "Oh, no, no. After this she told me she is tired, but she still wants to report, so I sent her to her room and took her student ID with me to register."

She looked at me and nodded. "Hm. That’s good to hear. So, young man, how far have you two gone? I can clearly see you two aren’t ordinary friends."

I frantically waved my hand and said, "Oh, no, really. We are just friends still."

She caught the word and put on a smile and asked, "Hm. Still, huh?"

I didn’t avoid it this time. I nodded. "Hm. Yeah, still. I like her, but we haven’t had time to date or something. I just tease her a bit sometimes. That’s it."

She nodded with a warm smile. "Hm. It’s rare these days to admit that you like someone, especially students in front of me denying it like their life depended on it."

She laughed.

I nodded and said, "Hm. That might be, but I believe if someone likes someone, that’s not something to hide. If you hide it, it’s from a guilty conscience."

She nodded and asked for my and Nyx’s ID cards.

I gave them to her, and she did her work and continued our conversation. "So, kid, I don’t see a family name behind you. What’s the story?"

I just nodded with a tired smile and said, "Hm. About that. When I was young, like at an age I can’t remember exactly, they dumped me in the slums and left. I don’t know about them, and I don’t want to know them either."

She paused for a moment, not because she hadn’t heard something like that, but because of the casual way I said it, and she nodded. "Hm. That’s tough, kid. You must have suffered a lot. But now you have a bright future. No one can take it from you. I’m sure you will be a powerful figure."

I nodded. "Hmm. That’s the plan."

She looked at me once more and asked, "So what’s your life goal, young man?"

I just shrugged and said, "Hm. Nothing big. Just live an ordinary life and enjoy every moment of it without being under anyone."

She nodded. "Hm. That’s a good goal. Simple and straightforward."

"Here. Yours and that girl’s new resources and benefits will update, and you’ll receive your new resources soon."

I took the cards and nodded. "Thank you for your efforts."

She just smiled and said, "I’m the one who should be telling you that."

"You know we need people to conquer the tower for the world. But remember, kid, don’t abandon yourself for power. Once you enter the higher floors, there’s many ways to receive power by abandoning oneself."

"That’s good for the short term, but in the long run you will be miserable for life."

"And don’t obsess over power, because power isn’t everything. Cherish the things you have, and treat that girl well. I know her background. She has many scars inside her."

I nodded and said, "I saw it too, but I’ll let it go for now. I can’t just go into her life and give her life advice. If she does something foolish, I’ll try to stop her, but ultimately it’s her life."

She nodded. "Hm. I like your thought process, kid. Then good luck, and I hope to see you again. Stay safe."

I smiled, waved at her, and left the room, saying, "Thanks for the advice, and see you later."

Then I left her room, and I felt refreshed. It’s good to talk to her openly without being held back.

Then I went to Nyx’s room and thought about returning her ID, then I abandoned it. Let’s return it tomorrow.

Then I felt a little hungry, so I went to the cafeteria, took a plate, filled it up, and devoured the whole plate in one sitting.

And after all that I returned to my room and took a shower, and all the exhaustion faded away when the water hit me. After a long shower I went to the closet, put on normal clothes, jumped into my bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

I slept like a log because of all the exhaustion.