I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 54

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

Chapter 54. Strategic Alliance
Camilia had no intention of stopping at merely leveling up a single old man.
She planned to select an adventurer party belonging to the Neutral Faction and push them forward so they could stand against representative parties from the Pro-Empire Faction or Anti-Empire Faction.
Even so, most would have poor compatibility with Mind Sorcerers, causing affinity and loyalty to plummet, but she didn’t care.
Even if they couldn’t serve as allies, placing them in the Adventurer Guild would make them useful external assets.
Of course, there was no guarantee her plan would work perfectly.
People moved by emotion rather than logic, so they might betray her for trivial reasons.
Unforeseen variables could emerge and render all her efforts meaningless.
‘Still, it’s better than doing nothing.’
Surrounded by hostile external forces as she was now, she had no luxury to hesitate over betrayals or variables that hadn’t even occurred yet.
Camilia stared intently at Malorik, who kept swallowing nervously, and spoke.
“Though I cannot lend strength to your faction, I can lend strength to you—the power to break through the wall you’ve been stuck against for years.”
It had worked on Vlad, so it would work on this old man too.
If he agreed to become her ally willingly.
“Do you desire it?”
“A chance to overcome the wall? Does such a thing truly exist? And even if it did, why would you offer it to a has-been like me…?”
Malorik seemed to be trying hard to maintain composure, but ultimately couldn’t help revealing his fear.
“I-is it because The Tower is crumbling? You need souls? Is that why you’re targeting mine…?”
‘I made a sincere proposal and he’s treating me like a contract demon.’
Camilia cut him off before the Adventurer Guild Master could ramble further with his nonsense.
“Do I look like someone who would covet the soul of a man like you? Don’t even dream of it.”
“Then, then why are you…?”
“Because I have work for you.”
“Surely you don’t mean for me to gather the souls of young adventurers? No matter what, I can’t do that…!”
I don’t need souls, I’m telling you!
“…That is precisely why I made this proposal.”
After scolding and coaxing the thoroughly confused Adventurer Guild Master and explaining at length, Camilia sighed and asked.
“Do you understand now?”
“So what you’re saying is… you have the power to awaken people’s latent potential, my Lord?”
“That’s correct.”
“If I temporarily swear loyalty and climb The Tower, you can awaken it for me.”
Camilia nodded in affirmation.
Malorik didn’t doubt whether it was true or how it was possible. He simply believed.
Even in the mental wavelengths Camilia read through mind-reading, there was no trace of doubt.
【What could be impossible for that monster…】
Rather than trust, it seemed he was overestimating her out of sheer fear, but thanks to that, the negotiations gained momentum.
“…Why are you making such a proposal to someone like me?”
“What else?”
“I’m sick of riddle games—I played enough of them during my active years.”
Camilia smiled faintly and answered Malorik’s complaint.
“When facing monsters, one must employ wisdom, Malorik.”
The Adventurer Guild Master, caught off guard by my reading of his thoughts, pondered for a long moment before speaking.
“What’s happening with the Tower now?”
‘Wisdom 14, as expected. Quite sharp.’
I praised him silently before continuing.
“The next floor of the Tower will open soon.”
“The next floor…? Surely you don’t mean the middle floors are opening?”
I found this surprising and pressed further.
“You know of the middle floors’ existence?”
“Ancient documents only mention that the Tower once had such things long ago… so they actually exist?”
Malorik exclaimed in wonder, muttering as if a realization had struck him.
“Is that why Floor 1 has fallen into such disrepair? Why you’ve been wandering the Tower? Why you’ve begun inspecting and renovating the City everywhere? Could it be…?”
He was almost entirely wrong.
But since allowing him this misunderstanding posed no harm, I answered with a meaningful gaze befitting a lord.
Taking my silence as confirmation, he opened his mouth with a grave expression.
“…Seeing you take such direct action, the middle floors must be extraordinarily dangerous.”
“Dangerous indeed. No dungeon on the surface could be less perilous than the middle floors. Yet for you all, this presents an opportunity.”
Malorik’s lips grew dry, and he continued speaking.
“…The rewards must be equally staggering then. Even the elite adventurers currently conquering other dungeons, and the executives who’ve shown no interest in Nidstar, will turn their attention here.”
“Now do you understand the meaning of my proposal?”
Malorik grinned, his expression turning fierce.
“You won’t have your lordship’s guard dog beaten by a pack of strays just because it’s weak—something like that, yes? I’m not an idiot, after all. I understood perfectly well.”
“How presumptuous. Since when have you been my dog, Malorik?”
“If it displeases you, I’ll be a stray that fears the stick you wield, my lord.”
“Fitting.”
As I answered coolly, I caught his inner thoughts.
【No wonder—a thousand-year-old geezer would be this eccentric.】
I wished he’d consider my position, having to chauffeur around this man’s whims.
With my own children needing leveling, the thought of wasting time raising people who wouldn’t even become allies already felt wasteful.
‘But what can I do? I should at least secure whatever Neutral reputation I can.’
I addressed the Adventurer Guild Master, who trembled with fear and excitement.
“I’ll inform you separately when the middle floors open. You don’t need me to tell you what preparations are necessary beforehand, do you?”
“I’ll need to recruit capable adventurers and establish their positions in advance if possible.”
‘He occasionally stumbles, but this old man is genuinely competent.’
I smiled slightly and spoke.
“If possible, focus on recruiting non-human parties.”
“Pardon? Most of those parties belong to the Anti-Empire Faction, so our ideologies differ…”
“Do you think I’m unaware of that?”
“…It seems you have a way to handle them?”
Instead of answering, I lifted the corners of my lips slightly.
Once again, Malorik misunderstood exactly as I’d hoped. He flashed a meaningful smile, as if mimicking Camilia herself, and replied.
“If that is what Lord Camilia desires, there is nothing I cannot accomplish. Please, entrust this to me.”
Fortunately, he was both competent and wonderfully prone to convenient misinterpretation.
I issued Malorik several additional instructions, then posed my final question.
“Will you enter my service?”
“…Yes, of course.”
I’d briefly worried whether the system would accept Malorik as an ally, but my concern proved unfounded.
A cheerful chime sounded, and a holographic window materialized instantly.
[Malorik Bancroft has sworn fealty to you!]
Duration: Until Level 10 is achieved
Loyalty: -30/100
Affinity: -5/100
Upon seeing the loyalty and affinity scores, I stifled an inward laugh.
‘No wonder he grumbles about everything.’
I took the opportunity to check his level and class as well.
[Malorik Bancroft]
Level: 6
Class: Spellblade
Both matched exactly what I already knew.
The debuffs clinging to him—Weakness, Aging, Dullness—were precisely as I’d observed before.
‘His build was a complete mess from what I saw during the escort quest… I’ll need to put in some work to make him functional.’
I closed the window and spoke.
“I look forward to working with you, Malorik.”

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