Climbing the Tower of Gods as a Reader

The Fallen Guild

"Ah, why am I always being teleported? It makes me sick..." I groaned,

feeling a wave of nausea wash over me as I landed in yet another unfamiliar location.

As I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find myself surrounded by a crowd of people. I could see an armored man standing guard nearby, a girl with a staff browsing through a market stall, and various vendors selling what looked like potions. The hustle and bustle of the place, the sights and sounds, they were all so different from what I was used to.

As I was observing the surroundings, the armored guard approached me.

"Hello, sir. Welcome to the town of Decan, located on the first floor of the tower," he greeted me, his voice resonating from behind the helmet.

"Surely, Miss Michi has explained to you why you are here, right? May I know what group of gods you belong to. That way, I can guide you to their guild."

I hesitated for a moment before replying, "Um, sir, but I am merely a mortal."

The guard seemed taken aback. "What? How did that happen? Why would a mortal enter the Tower of Gods?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"Well, that is also my question," I responded, echoing his bewilderment.

The guard let out a sigh,shaking his head slightly.

"You need the support of other powerful gods to climb the Tower of Gods."For instance, if you have inherited the blood of one of the Olympian gods, then the guild of that clan will support you on your journey in the Tower of Gods. That's why joining a guild is necessary. It not only makes your ascent easier but also serves as your identification. If you join a famous guild, your social status will also be high. However, if you join an unknown guild, you're less likely to get support from others."

He paused, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. "Well, it was impossible in the first place for a mortal to enter here. There's no guild that accepts mortals, except for the Astral Guild. You have no choice but to join them."

His words, while blunt, made sense. I realized that this was my reality now, and I needed to adapt if I wanted to survive and continue my journey in the Tower of Gods.

"Well, if that's the only place I can join, then I will,"I responded, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

I then looked at the guard, noticing a hint of hesitation in his demeanor.

"But why does it seem like you're not in favor of me joining the Adventurer's Guild?" I asked, curious about his apparent reluctance.

The guard's voice softened as he began to share a piece of the tower's history.

"The Astral Guild was once known as the strongest of all guilds. Their leader and their strongest members were revered by all. They managed to conquer up to the 90th floor of the tower, a feat unmatched by any other guild."

His gaze turned distant, as if he was seeing a time long past.

"But then, their leader and the strongest members suddenly vanished, leaving only the children and non-combatants behind. Without their leader and their strongest warriors, the Astral Guild, once the mightiest, became the weakest."

He sighed deeply, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "People have forgotten their old history, the glory of the Astral Guild. That's why they are now willing to accept anyone, even a mortal like you. It's a sad turn of events, but it is what it is."

His words painted a vivid picture of the guild's rise and fall.

"What a sad story," I said, feeling sympathy for the fallen guild.

"Well, you have no choice but to go there," the guard replied,

"You need the support of a guild to conquer the Tower of Gods. Even though they've become the weakest, they can still provide you with valuable information about the tower."

His words rang true. Even a weakened guild would have knowledge and resources that could prove invaluable on my journey. I nodded, accepting the reality of my situation.

The guard reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a worn piece of parchment. "Here, I'll give you this map of the town," he said, handing it over to me.

He pointed at a spot marked with an 'X'.

"If you go to this location, you'll find the Astral Guild."

I took the map, studying the intricate lines and markings. The town of Decan was larger than I had initially thought, but with the map as my guide, I felt confident that I could find my way.

"Thank you," I said, tucking the map safely into my pocket. With a final nod to the guard, I set off in the direction of the Astral Guild.

******

"Ah, finally, I'm here at the Astral Guild," I breathed out, standing in front of the grand entrance.

As I pushed open the doors, I was taken aback by the vastness of the space. A wide training ground stretched out before me.

"Wow, so cool," I muttered under my breath, awestruck.

However, my admiration was cut short by a commotion in the front hall. A girl's voice echoed through the guild, shouting defiantly,

"GET OUT"!

We will never sell our guild hall to the likes of you! We will never give away our home! And the next time you try to come back, I won't hesitate to cut you in half!"

An old man on the ground replied, his voice filled with malice, "I will never forget this! Our boss will do something so that this guild hall will become ours soon. And you, I will buy you as a slave, dancing in front of us!

"Wahahaha!"

The girl's response was immediate.

"You... I will cut you!"

Her threat was clear and dangerous, causing the man to scramble to his feet and run out of the guild hall.

After the man ran outside, the girl's fierce gaze turned to me. "And you, what are you doing here? Are you also here to buy the guild hall?" she demanded, her voice laced with suspicion and anger.

"No, I'm here to join the Astral Guild," I replied sincerely, trying to convey my genuine intentions.

In my words, the woman's anger seemed to intensify. "Ohhh, so you came here to mock us, huh? Do you think I will believe you?

GET OUT!"

she shouted, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword.

"Wait, I'm really serious!" I tried to protest, but she cut me off.

"Get out before I cut you!" she threatened, her gaze daring me to challenge her.

"Heee..."

was all I managed to utter, taken aback by the intensity of her reaction.

As the girl, Lyra, was shouting at me, a woman's voice sounded from behind her.

"Lyra, stop! You're threatening our guest," she admonished.

"But, Anna..." Lyra started to protest, but the woman, Anna, cut her off.

"Do you really believe that this...ugly monkey will join us?" Lyra asked, her gaze fixed on me.

I was taken aback. "What? I'm not an ugly monkey!" I protested, my voice echoing in the hall. Lyra, however, didn't react, causing me to feel a bit pissed.

"Lyra, let's listen to him first," Anna suggested, her voice calm and composed. "Aizen, is that your name? Let's go inside first."

As I followed Anna inside, I noted the condition of the hall. There were visible signs of damage and wear, but it was clear that someone had been making an effort to keep it clean. Despite its current state, I could tell that this place, the Astral Guild, was still a home to those who remained.