I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 88

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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 88. The Source of Rumors
I found the situation utterly absurd.
There was no need to employ Domination to pry further.
The Usurers, overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere of the Prison and my Charm stat of 18, spilled everything the moment I raised an eyebrow.
They confessed to receiving funding from some imperial knight, manpower from some baron, promises of land from some count if they handled this matter well—the list went on.
Summarizing the results of an interrogation that lasted roughly an hour, the picture became clear.
The Fallum Empire had been consistently scheming to obstruct Nidst’s development.
That’s why they’d spread vicious rumors about the bank.
“What exactly did they say about the bank?”
“Th-that is… that the bank coming to the Territory is… the Demon Bank Helheim…”
A reputation drop of 10 points was certainly justified.
Demon Bank Helheim collects souls from those who cannot pay interest.
It was the reason people thought of them first in times of desperation yet refused to borrow from them until the very last moment—the source of fear in their very existence.
While it was a reasonable transaction if one honored the contract, to the Territory’s residents who had never even glimpsed a demon in their lives, the arrival of Demon Bank Helheim must have sounded like opening the gates of hell itself.
Now I understood the situation completely.
Simultaneously, fury welled up at the Fallum Empire for executing such a petty scheme.
‘To be precise, it was the doing of the Falum Imperial Family.’
Most of the imperial nobles who supported the Usurers held low ranks, but I would have wagered my entire playtime that the Imperial Family stood behind them.
The Falum Imperial Family was among the factions that rushed to propose an alliance the moment Nidst faced bankruptcy.
If Demon Bank Helheim targeted Nidst for revenge, the Fallum Empire did so purely for profit. The Tower was the only place to reliably obtain high-grade mana stones.
That was the surface explanation, but their true objective was the reincarnation magic I possessed.
Like any other ruler, the Emperor of the Fallum Empire desired eternal life.
It was greed of the utmost stupidity.
The reincarnation ritual was not a spell for immortality—it was a cursed ceremony.
Only the First Lord could endure it; an ordinary human couldn’t even attempt it.
The game reflected this as well.
When the Previous Lord’s laboratory was unlocked, one could use the reincarnation magic or transfer it to others, but none of those who received it succeeded in transferring their soul to a homunculus or another’s body. The Emperor of the Fallum Empire was no exception.
I crossed my arms and tapped my forearm with my fingers, thinking.
‘Their intentions don’t matter much. What matters is that the Empire is reaching out to Nidst.’
The Usurers likely hadn’t accomplished anything significant.
If they had, it would have appeared in the game, but the only related event I remembered was the Quest to defeat Shylock, the supposedly virtuous Usurer.
‘The Empire’s people did push in claiming alliance, and the Merchant Guild they established did rise in tier rapidly afterward. Perhaps there’s a connection with the Usurers…’
I set the gears in my mind turning.
How could I maximize my advantage? Since I’d already caught the tail, should I spread counter-rumors instead?
It didn’t seem like a bad idea to recruit and exploit some of the imperial nobles involved in this matter.
The methods of response were infinite.
The problem was that all of them had questionable efficiency.
If I pushed the Tower hard, by the early stages of my third year I could destroy the Imperial Capital single-handedly—so why waste effort now?
It was more profitable to spend that time climbing the Tower than crushing a handful of nobles like a pyramid scheme.
‘Fine. I’ll just cut this entire matter away and clean it up.’
Having reached a clean conclusion, I emerged from the Interrogation Room.
The faces of those waiting outside the door were notably grave.
Among them, Rohengreen’s condition stood out as particularly poor. His mental wavelength, normally too faint to perceive clearly, now rang out with unmistakable clarity—his emotional turmoil was that severe.
【As if destroying our house wasn’t enough, now the Territory’s own people… Does the Falum Imperial Family even deserve to call itself an empire?】
Considering Rohengreen’s personal history, the fact that he wasn’t cursing or raging was itself a remarkable achievement.
Thinking it best to pretend I hadn’t noticed, I turned my attention toward Netanel.
“You heard, didn’t you? Go inform the Mayor, consult with the Guard Captain, and have the Prison emptied within the next few days.”
There was some resistance to ordering the execution of ordinary people rather than monsters, but it couldn’t be helped.
I couldn’t leave a danger unaddressed simply for the sake of modern conscience.
“Just how thick is the skin on these Falum Imperial Family members? They slip away themselves while using the nobility as a shield.”
“Mind your reckless words.”
“Yes, yes. You mean no evidence has surfaced yet, my lord.”
Netanel cast one more blessing upon me before immediately departing. Given the gravity of the matter, he seemed intent on handling it at once.
In the meantime, Rohengreen—having sufficiently composed his emotions and returned to his usual expression—escorted me while speaking.
“The Guard Captain is waiting outside.”
It seemed he had arrived during the interrogation and been waiting.
“Good, that’s convenient.”
I regretted making him wait, but thanks to it, I’d saved time.
Once I gave the Guard Captain the necessary instructions, I could return directly to the Castle.
‘In any case, this solves the problem… or does it? Where exactly did the bank plan leak from?’
The fact that rumors about Demon Bank Helheim spread the moment the announcement about establishing a bank went up meant the enemy had been given time to prepare.
That’s how they managed to slash my reputation by 10 points in a single day.
Information was flowing to the other side in near real-time.
This was already the third time my information had been compromised. There was definitely a spy.
‘The problem is, I have no idea who it is.’
Could a spy truly exist who was skilled enough to evade both my mind-reading and Zehar Al Rashid’s surveillance?
If someone were that capable, I’d want to coax and persuade them into becoming an ally by any means necessary.
As I stepped outside while pondering this, Guard Captain Tarrak and Solandir were waiting for me.
I looked at Solandir with confusion.
“Haven’t you left yet?”
Solandir replied with a cold expression.
“I have something I wish to ask my lord. May I ask now?”
No doubt he wanted to ask about that living evil I’d glimpsed in the Seal Chamber earlier.
It wasn’t important enough to address right now.
“Return to the Castle and wait. I’ll answer you when I have time.”
“You said the same thing before and broke your promise.”
I smiled faintly.
“Go back once I’ve made you a promise.”
….
Solandir’s expression immediately turned displeased, but I held my chin up confidently.
If you’re dissatisfied, what exactly will you do about it?
Who knows how to save the rotting World Tree?
Who can return the World Tree to its proper state?
‘Since I’m at 7th Floor and doing you a favor, read the room and cooperate, Solandir.’
Whether Solandir understood the warning gleaming in Camilia’s eyes or not, he withdrew reluctantly, though visibly displeased.
Tarrak and Rohengreen, who had been tense from his aggressive presence, watched his retreating back for a long moment before finally relaxing.
“The Steward wasn’t warning us for nothing. To think you’d display killing intent toward the Lord herself…”
So that fierce glare was killing intent? Even my Mirror Self worked too diligently sometimes. It seemed I’d inadvertently earned the reputation of being a ‘magnificent Lord who doesn’t flinch even when facing killing intent and returns it in kind.’
Though it happened by accident, I’d apparently established quite the image, but there was no point in arguing about it now.
‘Still, it wasn’t really killing intent.’
Camilia decided she’d explain it to him later and answered calmly.
“Don’t concern yourself. Can I not handle a single young elf?”
Treating a three-hundred-year-old elf like a child felt questionable, but since that was the established narrative, I went with it.
“Rohengreen, you need not worry about anything. Just focus on the Seal Chamber we’ll enter tomorrow.”
Rohengreen, who had seemed reassured, looked flustered as he asked again.
“…You’re going to the Tower again tomorrow? Will I be accompanying you?”
“Of course. What could the Empire possibly say to stop me from climbing the Tower?”
With the direction set, internal affairs would sort themselves out. Unless something unusual arose overnight, there was nothing more for me to concern myself with.
What mattered more was conquering the Tower.
Only three days remained in April. Even if I used every moment efficiently, time would be tight to conquer up to the 10th Floor this month.
Leading the visibly paled Rohengreen forward, Camilia’s lips curved upward.
‘Let’s go, 9th Floor.’

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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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