Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 85

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 85. Galaxy Martial God Hall – Exchange with Seniors (4)

“Huh? Why are these two here?”
The people who appeared at the meeting place were Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa.
The moment I saw them, I understood the situation.
These two hadn’t properly established a connection with Cheon So-yeon at the exchange event, so they must have hacked into Cheon Cheol-young’s messenger account and sent me a message asking to meet.
Probably, if I came out with Cheon So-yeon, Cheon Cheol-young would suddenly claim to have something urgent and arrive late, suggesting we hang out in the meantime.
Then, after a while, Cheon Cheol-young would make an excuse—perhaps an accident on the way, or food poisoning—and say he couldn’t make it.
Wait, if this happens, do I have to return the reward I received in advance?
As I panicked, the person on the other end of the phone call asked.
-What’s going on?
I answered in a low voice.
“They’re direct line members. Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa from Class 1, second year of Cheonmu First High School.”
Silence stretched out on the other end of the phone after my words.
-Are you saying the direct line has betrayed the family?
“No. They’re probably just using me to establish a connection with Cheon So-yeon.”
Silence stretched out once more.
-Approach them for now. Secret Guard Unit, don’t let your guard down just because they’re direct line—be ready to subdue them at any moment. If subdual is impossible, kill authorization for the kidnapper has already been granted. The existing operation remains unchanged.
Wow, hearing those instructions sent chills down my spine.
These lunatics had no intention of showing mercy even to direct line members.
They were even prepared to actually kill them if necessary.
This order was probably from the Family Head.
Otherwise, there’s no way the family would continue an operation with kill authorization against promising heirs of a powerful household, to the point of pressuring the Principal.
I showed myself as instructed.
The two thoughtless high school girls who spotted me looked around my surroundings.
“Where’s Cheon So-yeon?”
At Cheon Bo-ryeon’s question, a grave voice came through the phone saying “Mm.”
The fact that they were looking for Cheon So-yeon first felt like another death count was being tallied.
“She has something to take care of at home, so she’ll be a little late.”
I didn’t approach too closely. I didn’t want any trouble coming my way.
“Oh, okay? Cheol-young said he’d be a little late too.”
Cheon Jung-hwa’s acting was awkward.
I felt like another death count was being added from that poor performance.
As we stood there awkwardly, I felt an ominous presence from a distance away.
Could this really be a kidnapping? I thought, turning around, and there was Cheon Cheol-young approaching with a fierce glare fixed on Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa.
“How did you—! Ugh!”
Cheon Bo-ryeon looked surprised at Cheon Cheol-young, then glanced at me. How did Cheon Cheol-young get here?
“Cheon Bo-ryeon! Cheon Jung-hwa! Did you two hack my messenger account? You hacked it and called Ji-woo here? Just to make a connection with Cheon So-yeon?”
Ah, so I got caught by Cheon Cheol-young while investigating whether the family was hacked.
That’s why he noticed who the culprit was after seeing the restored deleted messages.
Those two couldn’t have learned hacking professionally, so Cheon Cheol-young must have carelessly leaked his account ID and password.
Or maybe those two deliberately stole it.
At Cheon Cheol-young’s sudden appearance, I asked in a low voice.
“What should we do?”
-Stand by for now. According to the investigation report, Cheon Cheol-young is not a target of the operation. If Cheon Cheol-young provokes those two like this, the real kidnappers might emerge, so everyone remains on standby.
They were openly treating Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa as the culprits and acting accordingly.
It’s thorough if anything, but aren’t those two actually going to die here like this?
Insane bastards. These truly insane hunting dogs only understand orders.
I shouldn’t do anything that would make the family hate me.
When Cheon Cheol-young pressed the issue, Cheon Jung-hwa, who had been glancing at my expression, came back at him instead.
“So what are you going to do about it?! Yeah, we used your account a bit! So what!”
No, don’t do that, you crazy woman! You’re actually going to die like this! Don’t provoke those insane hunting dogs any further!
As cold sweat broke out on my forehead, Cheon Cheol-young’s expression twisted.
“Hey, you trash! And you call yourselves seniors?! Were you trying to use that kid?!”
“What do you mean use? You’re talking nonsense. As seniors, we can just eat delicious food together, hang out together, that’s all! Are we extorting money from you? We’re paying for everything ourselves!”
“Then you should just contact him yourselves! Why did you hack my account to send those messages!”
Cheon Cheol-young was genuinely furious.
“Ah! Come on, it could happen! You little otaku! Yeah, sorry, sorry. Is that enough now? Do you feel better making us look like bad people in front of your junior?”
“What are you going to do if you glare like that? Want to throw a punch?”
At their provocative remarks—whether intentional or not—Cheon Cheol-young’s anger reached its peak as he drew upon his inner energy.
“What? You really want to fight?”
“Your ranking is lower than both of us anyway. Just don’t make this bigger and leave.”
At their words, Cheon Cheol-young took a deep breath and drew his sword from his waist.
“Draw your swords. No matter how much you bitches are, I don’t want to attack someone without a blade.”
Suddenly the situation took an interesting turn.
It wasn’t the development I wanted—catching the kidnappers—but I was about to witness a two-on-one fight.
The Secret Guard Unit hiding nearby didn’t seem inclined to intervene.
“Ha! Do you think you’re something special?”
“Both of you come at me. You bitches.”
The moment Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa drew their swords, Cheon Cheol-young quickly closed the distance.
Cheon Cheol-young swung his sword aiming for Cheon Bo-ryeon’s neck.
Clang!
Cheon Bo-ryeon blocked Cheon Cheol-young’s sword, and Cheon Jung-hwa infused her blade with inner energy and thrust at Cheon Cheol-young’s side.
Cheon Cheol-young sidestepped the incoming thrust with footwork and kicked Cheon Jung-hwa’s abdomen, sending her flying, then swung his sword at Cheon Bo-ryeon’s side.
Cheon Bo-ryeon blocked the sword and deflected it, while Cheon Jung-hwa, angered by the hit to her abdomen, generated sword energy and rushed at Cheon Cheol-young.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?”
To my question, a response came through the phone.
-Stand by. The situation has not changed.
Cheon Cheol-young created sword energy and struck Cheon Jung-hwa’s blade with considerable force.
“Ugh!”
Cheon Jung-hwa flinched at the impact transmitted through her hands, and Cheon Bo-ryeon similarly generated sword energy as she swung her blade.
Cheon Cheol-young deflected Cheon Bo-ryeon’s strike and redirected it toward the approaching Cheon Jung-hwa.
Against both opponents, he never exposed his back, instead maneuvering so their blades interfered with each other.
Though Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa appeared close, they rarely fought together, and their coordination was nonexistent.
A proper combination should have produced synergy exceeding the sum of two fighters, yet they undermined each other’s effectiveness—functioning at barely one point three times the strength of a single person.
Even at one point three times, their coordinated assault remained sufficiently threatening.
When Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa failed to gain an advantage against Cheon Cheol-young alone, their pride wounded, they began adjusting to each other’s movements.
To target the back he refused to expose, they increased their distance from one another.
As they reduced the areas where they hindered each other and expanded the attack range Cheon Cheol-young had to manage, both women smiled, believing they had seized victory.
In that instant, Cheon Cheol-young moved far more rapidly than before, generating sword threads from his blade.
He wove a single thread into Cheon Jung-hwa’s sword to obstruct her movements, then clashed blades with Cheon Bo-ryeon and drove forward with pure force, striking her solar plexus with devastating impact.
“Gahhh!”
As Cheon Bo-ryeon lost consciousness instantly, Cheon Cheol-young swung his blade toward Cheon Jung-hwa.
“Kyaaah!”
The blades collided violently, tearing the skin of Cheon Jung-hwa’s hands and causing her arm to tremble.
Yet, as a martial artist honed through years of training, she refused to release her grip on the sword.
“You! You were hiding your true strength!”
“And you two foolishly displayed everything you had. Isn’t it common sense in the martial world to conceal thirty percent of your power?”
Sword threads were evidence of the pinnacle realm.
A high school sophomore reaching the pinnacle meant he was an extraordinary genius.
Or perhaps even what he displayed now wasn’t his true capability.
“Shall we stop here?”
At my words, Cheon Cheol-young sheathed his blade and offered me an apologetic expression.
“Sorry, I got too caught up and didn’t notice you were—”
Before he could finish, figures in black clothing with masked faces appeared and surrounded the three of us.
As Cheon Cheol-young and Cheon Jung-hwa froze in confusion, their representative stepped forward and spoke.
“Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa of Cheonmu First High School. You are under emergency arrest as suspects in the attempted kidnapping of a first-class critical figure. This is a lawful action of the family, and a kill order has been issued should you resist.”
“K-kidnapping?! Us?! Us?! A k-kill order?! Why would we—?!”
The unconscious Cheon Bo-ryeon couldn’t respond, but Cheon Jung-hwa descended into panic.
“You attempted to lure a first-class critical figure to a specific location using illegal means—you won’t escape accountability. You have the right to remain silent, the right to refuse incriminating statements, and the right to retain counsel. However, if you wish to avoid the interrogation chamber, you’ll need to provide a clear written statement.”
At those words, Cheon Jung-hwa’s face drained of color. Here, the interrogation chamber was synonymous with a torture chamber.
I approached the one delivering the warning and spoke.
“To be honest, you already know this isn’t kidnapping anymore. Let’s handle this reasonably. They’re still minors without social experience—they may have made mistakes. There’s no need to be so rigid about it.”
At my words, he regarded me with an expression that seemed to ask, what is this kid?
“That decision rests with the family’s Criminal Law Hall and the Family Head.”
“Then please convey my testimony to your superiors. I’ll submit a detailed written statement and a petition for leniency effective immediately. I certainly have the standing to testify regarding this incident.”
Though they approached through improper means, neither of them harbored true malice.
At minimum, I held enough position in this matter to request leniency for them.
“…I understand.”
With those words, he ordered a withdrawal, and Cheon Bo-ryeon and Cheon Jung-hwa were dragged away in restraints.
Cheon Cheol-young blinked repeatedly, unable to comprehend what was happening.
I explained the full circumstances to him, who looked utterly bewildered.
After hearing the details, Cheon Cheol-young asked anxiously.
“W-will they be okay? They won’t die or anything, right?”
“The misunderstanding will be clarified through investigation, and I’ll submit a petition as well. They’ll face some consequences, but both of their families are quite influential within their clans.”
“That’s true. I should submit a petition too, just in case.”
Though he’d beaten them up in anger over them hacking his account to lure me, he clearly didn’t genuinely wish for them to die or be seriously injured.
Cheon Cheol-young studied my expression before apologizing.
“I’m sorry. You got caught up in this because of me.”
“No, it’s not really damage. But don’t you have any friends who share your interests?”
At my question, Cheon Cheol-young laughed awkwardly and replied.
“I did. Back in Elementary School. I even joined the manga club as a hobby club.”
But everyone drifted apart as they advanced to higher levels.
After graduation and once everyone had established themselves in society, it might be different, but someone advancing ahead in competition couldn’t easily contact friends who’d fallen behind.
“My family was strict, so if my grades slipped, they’d interfere with my hobbies. I practiced martial arts relentlessly, and somehow I ended up like this.”
“If you’d been in a club, you’d have had seniors and juniors, wouldn’t you?”
“W-well… for some reason, most everyone except me ended up going to Second Middle School.”
Not a single person?
“One of the guys who went to First Middle with me became a manga artist and went to an elite art school in the Fourth Star System, and the other had to go to the Shaolin Star System due to family circumstances, so I was alone. We do keep in touch, but the distance makes it difficult….”
Ah, then there’s no helping it.
A distance measured in star systems rather than continents or planets was remarkable for maintaining contact.
“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to apologize for….”
“What is it?”
“The truth is, when my family contacted you, I used the excuse that I was trying to make contact with Cheon So-yeon through you.”
So he was trying to get close to me under the pretense of Cheon So-yeon?
How serious was he about that otaku talk?
Or maybe he was just lonely.
The martial arts world was somewhat harsh for everyone to form relationships where they could open their hearts.
“When I talk with you, it feels comfortable because you seem like someone my age or maybe a slightly older peer. But that won’t work anymore, right?”
“Why wouldn’t it? We can just keep in touch like we do now.”
Cheon Cheol-young looked at me in surprise.
“Really?”
“The purpose of the exchange meeting last time was to build connections, after all. There’s no reason to sever a good relationship. Though, given today’s incident, let’s avoid meeting for a while. We don’t want any more misunderstandings.”
“Right! And once some time passes, I’ll buy you a meal. Invite your friends too if you want. Cheon Ga-ryeong and Cheon Gong-hu, you know. Cheon So-yeon might be awkward, so maybe not her.”
“Sure. When that happens, I’ll definitely bring Cheon So-yeon along.”
Cheon Cheol-young laughed at my joke and replied.
“If you can clear up the misunderstanding with your friend, do that. I’d rather not invite unnecessary suspicion.”
“Is it okay to back out like that?”
“Honestly, the old-fashioned folks in my family would love for your friend’s side to deepen ties with us, but let’s just say I’m going through my rebellious phase.”
Cheon Cheol-young was a freer spirit than I’d expected.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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