I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 65

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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 65. A Problem Without Problems
Camilia tried desperately to think of something that might draw out Rohengreen Ashen’s thoughts, but it was already too late.
“It seems we’ve arrived. Is this the place?”
We had reached our destination—The Device.
With Zehar Al Rashid waiting ahead, there was no way to deny it.
“…I see.”
In the end, I approached Zehar Al Rashid while feigning composure.
“Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Zehar Al Rashid. Have you inspected The Device?”
“I’ll need to activate it for a detailed assessment, but fortunately there doesn’t appear to be any significant damage.”
“Well done.”
I nodded and moved toward The Device.
The Farm—or rather, The Device positioned at the center of the Crown of Creation—resembled a control tower of sorts, its appearance strikingly similar to a grand organ.
Its operational mechanism was likewise comparable.
‘Though it does require soul authentication.’
I touched The Device’s keys with my wounded hand.
A deep hum resonated.
Just as the magical circle had resonated, The Device began to emit a luminous song, radiating brilliant light.
Zehar Al Rashid gazed up at that light with distant eyes.
“To think I would witness this Device move once more….”
Anyone could tell his words carried profound history.
Camilia, as always, ignored it with practiced ease, but Rohengreen Ashen could not.
【Did the Steward… know about this?】
A mental wavelength laden with complex emotions rippled forth.
But it went no further than that.
‘Why in the world can’t I read him at all? Is he wearing some kind of mind-reading blocking device?’
Of course, no such device existed.
Either he had no thoughts, or he was deliberately refraining from thinking.
It was likely the latter.
‘Can I really leave this alone? Shouldn’t I enter intensive counseling mode right now?’
With colleagues already in short supply, if Rohengreen Ashen deserted now, it would become extraordinarily troublesome.
Yet I couldn’t neglect the purpose for which I had descended this far.
I made an effort not to be conscious of what lay behind me as I examined The Device thoroughly.
Each time I pressed a key, system windows related to Farm functions appeared automatically—it seemed I could operate it much like in a game.
Crown of Creation, pinnacle of homunculus technology and all that, yet the Farm’s functions were remarkably simple.
Bring two or more monsters and release them into enclosures like a zoo, and it automatically duplicates them.
In exchange, due to some setting about mana recharging, it can only be used exactly three times per year.
‘In truth, it can duplicate things other than monsters too.’
If I restored the records the First Lord had hidden and found and modified certain items, it would be possible to duplicate humans or homunculi as well.
And what would I use such duplicates for?
‘Pointless.’
Cloned humans are treated as soulless and cannot even be used for the Crown of Creation.
Moreover, they fall into madness alongside the original, making them unusable as allies.
Honestly, I don’t understand why this function was created in the first place.
In the game, it was only used as a tool for entertainment playtesting—things like “Double Your Lover Event!” or “Let’s See If Civil War Breaks Out If We Clone the Emperor!”
There were so many bugs that I think I filed around a hundred bug reports.
That’s why I didn’t want to activate the Farm if possible.
In the game, you just close it and move on when a bug appears. But in reality, there’s nowhere to run. If some unidentified monstrosity emerges, everything collapses.
‘Still, it’s better than grinding gold slimes endlessly.’
The Farm was a space only the Lord could enter, so even if external forces discovered it, defense would be manageable.
Gold grinding was the opposite. If discovered, the risk of immediate danger was high. The Tower was essentially a lawless zone, after all.
Why not just use administrator authority to expel everyone in The Tower and enter?
Anyone would find it suspicious, and it would only draw more attention.
‘The Gilded Disguise is equipment that works even on the Upper Floors, so if it’s stolen, it’s a disaster.’
If I became a target later for the Gold Slime Dungeon access ability—something I’d never use and didn’t even need—things would become far too troublesome.
So my plan was to use the Farm to quickly and efficiently duplicate gold.
I thought it was a perfect plan.
Except for arousing Rohengreen Ashen’s suspicion.
And except for learning that rather significant secret—that my soul might be one of the First Lord’s fragments.
In truth, the latter wasn’t particularly surprising.
‘What difference does it make if my soul turns out to be a fragment of the First Lord’s soul? Whether I’m a possession without a soul or with one, I’d still be treated the same way.’
One good thing was that I no longer needed to worry about being exposed as a possession whenever Zehar Al Rashid looked at her with tears in his eyes.
‘Why did he have to pick me out of all the fragmented souls scattered about? Does he look down on me because I’m a single woman with no family? Huh?!’ At least I could resent it all I wanted internally.
‘The risk of being completely exposed to Zehar Al Rashid for being unrelated to the First Lord has disappeared, right? That’s good. Yeah.’
Grumbling that I didn’t want to be happy about something so trivial, I touched the keys as much as possible with my wounded hand.
I needed to authenticate my soul in advance so I wouldn’t suffer like this next time.
“My Lord, isn’t this sufficient? Your palm is….”
It wasn’t a pleasant sight, so Zehar Al Rashid hesitated and tried to stop me, but I remained composed.
“It’s fine. Wounds can be healed.”
“Still….”
Zehar Al Rashid murmured as if troubled.
“To think that you yourself would have to open the Crown of Creation that you personally sealed, all for mere money… It’s all my fault.”
“You can’t call it mere money. Everyone suffered because we lacked it, didn’t they?”
“How could that be your fault? It was….”
Zehar Al Rashid, who was about to say something, moved his lips and then stopped.
I could guess what he’d swallowed, but I pretended not to know.
“Didn’t I say it? Even without memories, if I did it, then it’s my responsibility.”
Since the Previous Lord had done such things, I couldn’t simply wash my hands of it and ignore the Territory’s condition.
It was difficult just to look at, so I wanted to do something about it regardless.
‘I need to raise the Territory’s reputation if I’m to survive.’
I squeezed out every drop of blood with utmost sincerity and activated all the Devices.
I was flooded with light, signaling that I had fully awakened.
Now all that remained was to capture a Gold Slime and place it here.
Relieved, she turned her body.
Having continued to stare at the back of her head, my gaze met Rohengreen Ashen’s directly.
‘This is rather bothersome.’
I wanted to say something, rolling my thoughts over, but dizziness overwhelmed me from having drained so much blood.
With no choice, I extended my hand, and Rohengreen Ashen quickly grasped it, supporting me.
“…It would be best if you returned and rested immediately.”
“Return? I must inspect the Workshop before I depart.”
“Pardon?”
Camilia replied, enduring the dizziness.
“Even though it’s damaged, most of the records remain intact, do they not? I should be able to recover byproducts of the old research.”
If I hand that over to the Mage Order, several special scroll recipes will be unlocked.
Since I’m here, I might as well gather them. When else would I?
“I can come separately and inspect that, so wouldn’t it be better for you to return for now?”
“What if there are mechanisms that only I can open? Then what would you do?”
“My Lord….”
Zehar Al Rashid wore an expression caught between laughter and tears. For some reason, Rohengreen Ashen bore a similar countenance.
“It is not my place to speak so boldly, but Your Lordship…sometimes needs to concern yourself with matters beyond the Territory and The Tower.”
Not content with that, he even added a remark that, while not overt, carried a subtle note of reproach.
[Rohengreen Ashen’s loyalty has increased.]
[Rohengreen Ashen’s affection has increased.]
Yet my loyalty and affection had risen regardless.
Camilia could not fathom his reaction.
Wasn’t he suspicious that I was a fake?
Does he enjoy working himself to exhaustion despite his doubts?
Then why the reproach?
While it was gratifying that both loyalty and affection had increased by five points, everything else remained a mystery.
What on earth is this?

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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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