/n/second-life-ranker-252/c-177
chapter-176

“It’s a relief that you like it.”

Henova chuckled. He was usually pouting all the time, but he looked like he was in a good mood right now.

There was nothing Yeon-woo could say except for the words, ‘thank you.’

***

[This is the 21st floor, gate of the ‘Shadow Dojo.’]

When everything was set, Yeon-woo bid farewell to the One-horned tribe, and set to climb the Tower again.

Other than a few words with the Martial King, he didn’t say much.

He looked like he was deep in thought.

Shanon and Hanryeong didn’t say anything either. They sensed that there was something about Yeon-woo and Henova’s relationship. Only Rebecca brought it up.

[What ‘s your relationship with that old man?]

“Savior.”

[Savior?]

Rebecca tilted her head.

But Yeon-woo didn’t respond. What else should he call the only person who missed his brother?

[It seemed like he’s fond. Of you.]

Like a parent.

Rebecca didn’t say anything after that. She belatedly realized that it wasn’t something she should talk about.

Yeon-woo lightly pat his face with his hands to wake himself up. Henova was cheering him on with the rare material.

It was time to focus on the Tower now. The 21st was important to Yeon-woo.

As soon as he passed the door, a message popped up.

[The trial of the 21st floor is beginning.]

[Trial: A shadow has always been faithfully with you, silently. However, some shadows gain their own will and do what they want.

They try to take the bodies of people passing by.

The 5 doors where the shadows are are divided into 33 different sections.

Now, choose a door and battle shadows to clear at least 20 sections.

The more shadows fought, the more their will to fight will decrease.]

Yeon-woo checked the message and headed inside. He already knew what it said, and he would need as much time as possible to go around all the sections.

Then, a green portal opened in front of Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo stopped in his tracks. Green meant that someone was teleporting. It was a portal that Guardians used. Who was coming?

He never saw any of the Guardians after meeting Laplace on the 16th floor, so he was curious as to who it could be. The Guardians didn’t appear on the higher levels unless it was an emergency.

Then, the face of a scared little child popped out. There were tears in the child’s eyes. The child seemed to be hesitant to get closer to Yeon-woo.

Yeon-woo’s eyes shined.

‘The Hai of the Twelve Earthly Branches, Lupi.’

The highest rankers Guardians were known to be as powerful as high rankers. So most of them were arrogant and mysterious.

But Lupi was different.

Like his weak appearance, he had a lot of tears and fear. He would cry at the drop of a hat and the other Guardians were tired of him.

Even among players, Lupi was treated as a nuisance. Guardians usually gave hints about the stage, but Lupi just cried.

There were girls who liked Lupi, because he was cute.

But people who knew Lupi well tried to avoid him as much as they could.

Although he looked timid and weak, there was a reason why the Tower appointed him as the highest Guardian.

Lupi was a hedonist. He didn’t care about other things, and he only sought thrills. The tears he spilled were only a prop to set up his stage.

Why was he here? It seemed like he was here for him.

“Are you #,