I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 52

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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 52. This Reputation is Mine?
Lying in the bed that my dedicated maid Aisha Kandisha had warmed for me, I gazed at the open Diplomacy window.
‘Normally, the Diplomacy window doesn’t open until summer is completely over.’
Diplomacy is a feature that unlocks after bankruptcy, when you become indebted to creditors.
It had opened around the time various factions began moving through the city, but there was nothing I could do about it immediately.
Still, I could check my current reputation status.
On Hardcore difficulty, there had been five hostile factions—but how many on Hell difficulty?
My heart racing with anticipation, I tapped the window.
[Fallum Empire] Very Hostile
[Holy Alliance] Very Hostile
[Silver Moon Empire] Very Hostile
[Magic Tower] Very Hostile
[Iron Kingdom] Very Hostile
[World Tree Kingdom] Very Hostile
[Dragon Alliance] Very Hostile
[Witch Circle] Very Hostile
‘Huh? Is this a bug?’
Very Hostile wasn’t a reputation that appeared so easily.
I scrolled down further to check the rest.
No matter how far I scrolled, it was nothing but bright red “Very Hostile” entries.
‘This has to be a bug. It’s definitely a bug.’
While I was halfway into denial, the scrolling ended. And finally, I encountered text that wasn’t red.
[Adventurer Guild] Neutral
[Golden Scales] Neutral
‘….’
I closed the window immediately.
Otherwise, I’d forget it was a hologram and start punching the system interface.
This wasn’t right.
This really wasn’t right!
‘What kind of insane game is this—how am I supposed to clear it!?’
In a game where having just three hostile factions causes complications, nearly every external faction was Very Hostile? This was basically telling me not to bother clearing it.
Thanks to gold grinding, I’d become wealthy, and on my first day of gaining allied factions—even if they were only neutral—why couldn’t I be happy…!
I wanted to tear my hair out from the anguish, but I was too exhausted to even lift the blanket.
After futilely tossing about for a while, I eventually ran out of energy to move at all and gave up, accepting reality.
‘At least I found out in advance.’
It felt like I’d been given a terminal diagnosis, but knowing the blow was better than taking it blind.
Fortunately, external faction attacks weren’t too fierce until the third year.
If I could complete the Tower’s conquest by then, there shouldn’t be any major problems….
‘…That’s just wishful thinking.’
There’s no guarantee that empires or foreign races won’t appear before the third year, even if I’m bounced out of the Pantheon Tower’s 2nd Floor.
Should I just launch a preemptive strike at this point?
I could fabricate a neutral faction like the Golden Fleece Trading Company, then pit each force against one another so they’re too busy fighting to focus on the Tower….
‘Ah, that’s one of the bad ending conditions.’
Several other schemes crossed my mind, but those too carried a high risk of veering into a bad ending route.
Surely it’s unreasonable that I can’t reach the happy ending just because I employed assassination and scheming?
‘That’s right. The Fallum Empire’s imperial succession isn’t tied to the bad ending branches anyway. Should I intervene aggressively? Elevate a bastard to the throne and spark a civil war?’
A civil war would keep things chaotic for several years, significantly reducing interference from various factions.
It wasn’t optimal, but it was a viable alternative.
‘Ugh… no, forget it. I’m already short on allies—I can’t abandon a tier-0 companion just to buy a little time.’
Even after deciding against it, I couldn’t let go of the idea and spent a long time fretting over it.
As I ran through simulations in my head, deploying this method and that, I grumbled inwardly.
This wretched game—solve one problem and another rolls right in.
“My lord, are you feeling well?”
Zehar Al Rashid regarded me with concern, his lips moving slightly.
“I’m fine.”
I’d been losing sleep over reputation issues, so a fatigue debuff had settled on me, but my body was otherwise unharmed. My complexion was the only casualty.
Netanel Fragma had blessed me thoroughly before heading to City Hall, so the debuff would wear off soon enough.
Not wanting Zehar to fret over unnecessary details, I quickly pulled several gold ingots from my inventory and placed them on the table.
He started in surprise.
“Gold? Where did you obtain it?”
“I visited the Colosseum.”
“You said you were just taking a quick look, yet you went to such a dangerous place?”
Before Zehar could launch into another lecture, I spoke quickly.
“I’ve resolved the donation required for the Golden Scales, so we need to decide what to do with the remaining gold. What’s most pressing?”
Zehar’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he graciously fell for my deflection.
“…If I may be so bold, the most urgent matter would be replenishing the mana stones for the barrier.”
The barrier was essential for tackling the 3rd Floor, so his assessment was indeed the top priority.
“We can procure them through the Adventurer Guild. What else?”
“The castle walls and roads require repairs. The water and sewage systems also haven’t been serviced in quite some time.”
This too was a sound suggestion. Neglecting the aging walls would invite bandits, and failing to maintain the sewage system regularly would trigger a plague event.
“The sewage system takes priority. Have it repaired before summer arrives. Entrust the wall repairs to the Stonemason Guild.”
“We should also settle the outstanding debts.”
“Handle that as well. Anything else?”
Rather than looking pleased, Zehar’s eyes narrowed again.
“Just doing all this will cost a hundred platinum coins, and you’re asking for more? How much did you plunder from the Colosseum….”
“The Mage Order will likely need funding too. Is there anything they’d want?”
“…I’ll summon the commander and ask.”
I didn’t bother pointing out that the Mage Order’s commander was also one of my summons.
As I’ve said before, in moments like these, you simply think ‘Ah, that’s how it’s set up?’ and move on.
“Is there anything else the city needs?”
“The Inner Castle shouldn’t pose any major issues, but… ah, what if we distributed bonuses along with the overdue wages we owe the servants?”
“Not a bad idea.”
“The accountants and administrators dispatched by the Golden Fleece Trading Company should arrive soon, so we’ll need to attend to City Hall as well.”
Camilia found herself parroting agreement with every suggestion Zehar Al Rashid made—how splendid, yes let’s do that too—like an emperor lavishing gold coins upon his concubines.
By the time she regained her senses, fifty thousand gold coins had already been spent.
Even Zehar Al Rashid, who had been making the suggestions, looked flustered, realizing he’d gotten carried away with the scope of the projects.
“I fear my ambitions exceeded proper bounds, my Lord. Some of these matters need not be addressed with such urgency…”
“Enough. They’re all necessary expenditures.”
To restore the city’s tarnished reputation, the gold had to be spent.
The temporary inflation that would result from releasing so much currency at once didn’t concern me greatly.
‘It’s not as though I’m printing currency—I’m distributing actual gold. This sort of thing can be managed by reforming the tax system and releasing supplies in bulk.’
Zehar Al Rashid seemed to think the projects had grown too ambitious, but from my perspective, his thinking was far too cautious.
To complete the city development I’d planned, I needed to finish the first-year preparations and begin the second phase of castle wall expansion before next summer.
The problem lay in the conditions required for the second phase of wall expansion.
1. Possess at least 10,000 platinum coins
2. Complete the 30th Floor
3. Iron Kingdom reputation ‘Neutral’ or higher.
Conditions one and two wouldn’t be difficult.
The problem was condition three.
‘Who would have thought reputation would become a bottleneck?’
According to the game’s lore, large-scale fortification construction was nearly impossible without dwarven assistance.
I absolutely needed the Iron Kingdom’s help, yet my relationship with Nidst had become deeply hostile.
‘I’ll need the elves’ help to develop farmland too… how did they end up becoming very hostile when they maintained neutral standing even on hardcore difficulty?’
If things were this dire, I had no choice but to begin reputation farming as quickly as possible.
Opening the market significantly or producing specialty goods was currently impossible.
That left only one path forward…
‘I’m not sure I can trust that man, but what choice do I have?’
Even as I deliberated, I opened my mouth.
“Now that preparations are complete, we need to make arrangements. Summon the Adventurer Guild Master.”
“Understood, my Lord. When should I tell him to come?”
I chose the speed that Koreans favored.
“Immediately.”

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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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