I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 13

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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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Inherited the Basement 1 of the Tower – Episode 13

Ding!
【You have purchased a large quantity of items using Wol-yeong-seok.】

Whoosh—

The moment the purchase was complete, items materialized before my eyes in an instant.
This is what makes the Wol-yeong-seok Shop so convenient.
I didn’t know the exact principle behind it, nor did I need to.
Just as I can turn off the lights without understanding the precise mechanics of electricity.

‘After all, the Tower is far removed from reality.’

I finished my preparations, packing the items away.

“Are you ready, Yahwi?”
“Y-yes.”

Yahwi’s nervousness was evident.
So it was wariness toward the new resident, after all.

“Come on. Would I ever abandon you, no matter what?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then you’re scared of combat?”
“I’m not scared, Master!”
“Alright, alright. You’re getting awfully serious. We’ve been together for quite a while now, haven’t we? Seems like I’ve gotten too comfortable.”
“Ugh. I apologize.”

Yahwi shrank back, thoroughly deflated.
I patted his back heartily and laughed with abandon.

“Just kidding, you fool. You seemed tense. Now let’s go!”

Ding!
【Will you challenge Nix’s second task?】

“Yes.”

【The special dungeon’s second task allows party play.】
【Will you select members to enter together?】

“You.”

Ding!
【Yahwi has been recognized.】
【Total members confirmed: 2 people, Kang Ha-jin and Yahwi.】
【Moving to the special dungeon’s second task.】

Grin—

A smile spread across my lips.
Finally.
The second task I had been so eagerly anticipating.
Unlike the first one, the transition to the special dungeon took a moment.

‘What on earth will appear?’

It deliberately took the form of a special dungeon.
I found it somewhat odd, but it didn’t matter.
I’d know once I saw it.
I closed my eyes as my vision grew hazy.
Then, the system voice sounded.

Ding!
【Yahwi, resident of the Temple, has been confirmed.】
【The special dungeon is exploring Nix’s memories.】

‘What?’

In that instant, my eyes snapped open.
But the deed was already done.
Now I understood why Yahwi had hesitated to participate in the task.

【Nix’s memories related to the subject ‘Yahwi’ have been confirmed.】
【The special dungeon responds accordingly.】

“Master! No matter what happens inside, it’s all an illusion reconstructed from memories! You must not react under any circumstances—!”

I heard Yahwi’s urgent voice.

【Special Dungeon – Nix’s Second Trial, “A Bright Day in the Central Plains” – Beginning.】

Immediately, a tremendous light engulfed my vision.

Whoooosh!

“What in the—!”

Before I could even open my eyes again.

Crack!

A sudden, sharp pain struck the crown of my head.

“Ugh! Tsk.”

Clutching my head, I slowly opened my eyes to see Yahwi with a stern expression.

“You fool! What are you doing in a place like this during training time! Slacking off again!”

My mind went blank for a moment.
The Yahwi I knew was nothing like this—as different as heaven and earth.
His grave tone and expression made me want to laugh.

“Pfft! Yahwi, what are you even—”

Crack!

The moment I opened my mouth, his sword struck my head once more.

“How dare you speak informally to your master. You’ve truly lost your mind.”

I swallowed the words ‘Yahwi, aren’t you the one who’s lost it?’
I wasn’t stupid enough to fail to grasp the situation even now.

‘It’s because of the second trial.’

-No matter what you see, do not react!

Yahwi had definitely said those words before my vision went dark.
In other words, this was an illusion created by the trial.

‘Now that I think about it, something feels off.’

Chirp, chirp—

I heard the songs of mountain birds, the whisper of wind, and the roar of waterfalls.
It felt as though I had stepped into another world entirely.

‘Well, that’s how The Tower is anyway.’

Up to the 4th Floor, it’s all caves, but suddenly from the 5th Floor onward, grasslands appear out of nowhere.
One thing was certain though—the Yahwi standing before me now was not the one I knew.

‘Is this a memory from a past life?’

It was the same when I first entered a trial.
They said I would explore Nix’s memories.

‘Though I don’t see Nix anywhere.’

I would naturally understand that later.
For now, let me proceed with the trial.
But strangely, unlike the previous floors, no clear conditions appeared this time.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

My head tilted in confusion, but there weren’t many actions I could take right now.

“Yes, Master! Let’s go train!”

I played along with Yahwi while grinding my teeth.

‘Once this trial ends, I’m going to give him a proper beating.’

I could already picture Yahwi’s face contorted in shock at what he had done.
Recalling that image made it bearable.

“Now then, starting with the First Form of the Yahwi Style I taught you, swing the blade a thousand times each. Since you lack talent, you must train all the harder.”

Lacking talent, he said.
These fragments of memory surely weren’t directed at me.
They were likely referring to my current role—Yahwi’s disciple.

‘Or was what he said to me just lip service?’

No, that probably wasn’t it.
These residents were bound by contract with Nix to be genuinely loyal.
Since their primary goal was to make me stronger, they wouldn’t resort to such lies.
Rather, they would speak honestly and help me grow stronger.

‘So it means I’m not completely devoid of talent.’

When I crossed blades with Ahn Jae-jun, I even overwhelmed him with swordplay for a brief moment.
Considering how long I’ve been learning the Yahwi Style, I might actually have some talent.

‘Or perhaps Yahwi is simply a genius instructor.’

The latter was probably true.

“Yahwi Style, First Form. Midnight Flash.”

Whoosh—!

I swung the blade as instructed.
The jet-black longsword looked peculiar against the wuxia-styled buildings and natural landscape.
Whether it was Nix’s power or the Tower’s power, Yahwi didn’t perceive it.
To his eyes, I appeared to be wearing a wuxia-style robe and wielding an ordinary sword.

“…Hmm.”

Only 999 left to go.
A sudden unease washed over me.
Surely I don’t have to complete all of them, right?
But in that moment.

“…You’ve improved remarkably.”

Fortunately, I could see Yahwi’s surprised expression.
It seemed the disciple I’d taken on was an absolute dullard.
My swordsmanship was more refined than his, despite having only just begun learning.
Hmm, but wasn’t Yahwi-ryu not meant for beginners in the first place?
The disciple under my care should have been able to wield a sword decently.
I suppose there’s always an exception or two.

“Yes, well….”
“Don’t dawdle. Show me the next form as well.”

Yahwi now stood with his arms crossed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Eager to move past the second form quickly.

Whoosh! Whoom! Swish! Clatter-clatter-clack!

“Yahwi-ryu, Second Form! Midnight Veil Slash!”

I unleashed the second form with all my strength.
Then Yahwi’s mouth fell open.

“…Who are you?”

A jolt ran through me.

In that instant, I looked at him in alarm.
What? Did he notice I’m a different person?
To be honest, it was already precarious when I spoke informally earlier.
However.

“Is it truly you? I worried so much, and now your efforts are finally bearing fruit. Come, show me the next form as well.”

…Wow, he didn’t even notice that.
In my past life too, I only focused on strength, so it seems my perception and intellect remain as they were.
Anyway, I’ve only learned up to the Second Form.
I deliberately feigned ignorance and opened my mouth.

“Ah, right. My memory’s a bit fuzzy. How was it done again?”

At my question, Yahwi let out a deep sigh and drew his sword.

“Tsk. I thought you’d changed. Fine, I’ll show you just one more time.”

Shink.

And he took his stance with practiced ease.
Every sensation from the tip of his blade to the tips of his toes was under Yahwi’s control.
It was an incredibly delicate movement.
Watching it made my heart race.

‘So this is how I’ll learn it. The Third Form.’

Soon, Yahwi spoke.

“If the First and Second Forms are blades that summon the night, then the Third Form is….”

I had asked him to teach me this several times before.

-Ah, aaah! Suddenly I need the restroom!
-Argh! I forgot about the Kobold meat! My apologies, my lord!

He would make excuses and slip away like this.
So I thought he wasn’t ready yet….

It seems he simply didn’t want to teach me.
How infuriating.
When I get back, I’ll give him a piece of my mind and demand the real reason.
Why couldn’t he just teach me all at once?

‘But in the end, I’ve learned it anyway.’

“…Focus.”
“Ah, my apologies.”

The sudden chill in his voice snapped me back to attention.
I could see Yahwi standing with his brow furrowed.
He had been teaching earnestly before belatedly noticing my wandering thoughts.

“Ahem. In any case, the Third Technique is to ‘command’ the night I’ve summoned. For example, like this.”

Whoosh!

Yahwi swung his arm lightly.
Yet the force behind it was anything but light.

Screeeech!

An enormous sword aura erupted from the blade’s edge, obliterating everything in its path.

Boom-boom-boom-crash!

It was utter devastation.
The next instant, a tremendous gust of wind struck my face and swept past.

“Ugh!”

That wasn’t all.
Over the rippling afterimage, Yahwi shifted his feet.

Tap—

“A technique that becomes an arrow striking distant enemies, or conversely, a path that reaches that location in a straight line.”

Thud!

As he took a light step, his body shot forward at a speed far exceeding any ground sprint.
It was an otherworldly sight, like witnessing spatial folding before my very eyes.

“Wow.”

My mouth fell open before I could stop myself.
I made a decision.
I was going to beat Yahwi half to death.

‘Why didn’t he teach me this broken technique?’

Yahwi in this era hadn’t met Nix yet.
Which meant he couldn’t use the Dark Stat.
If I perfected this technique now and combined it with the Dark Stat?

‘I wouldn’t have needed to do rock climbing at all!!’

My chest tightened with frustration.
If his explanation later wasn’t convincing enough, I’d test the Third Technique directly on his body.

‘So this is Yahwi’s true power.’

It had happened too quickly to fully register before.
Where the blade had passed, everything returned to nothingness.
A small hill that had stood there moments ago simply vanished in the blink of an eye.

‘This is the true strength of an unsealed Yahwi!’

Without a comparison, I couldn’t convert it to a grade, but it was absolutely not Rare-tier.
It was far beyond that.
Perhaps even beyond Unique…

Crack—

I coveted it.
All of Yahwi’s techniques.
Unlike when he’d flown away, Yahwi trudged back toward me, and I opened my mouth.

“That was truly incredible swordsmanship! Could you perhaps show me the remaining techniques?”

But Yahwi simply chuckled softly.

“It’s impossible.”
“Pardon?”
“To use my next technique, this space is far too cramped. You could easily get caught in the crossfire. Besides….”

Shing—

Yahwi trailed off mid-sentence and adjusted his grip on his sword.
I thought he was about to strike my head again and raised my hands defensively.
But in that moment.

“An uninvited guest has arrived.”

Ding!
【Nix’s Second Task has begun.】

The System Message chimed before Yahwi could finish speaking.

【Clear Condition: Keep ‘Yahwi’ alive until Nix arrives.】
【Failure: ‘Yahwi’ permanently dead.】

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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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