The Tower's broadcast was visible from anywhere.
If you were outdoors, you could watch the broadcast simply by looking at the Tower visible regardless of distance, and if you wanted to see in more detail, you could also use the Tower Gallery's broadcast link.
What difference was there in watching through Tower Gallery?
For one, you could watch on a personal computer or phone screen, listen with personal equipment, and use the chat window much more easily.
Being able to use emoticons linked to Tower Gallery was also a great advantage, but until now, this broadcast's chat window had never been properly activated.
After all, humanity had nothing but bad memories regarding Hell difficulty.
Nevertheless, the moment Han Yuyeon's broadcast turned back on after seven years, the chat window activated in an instant.
It was because they were that curious about how she had survived, and because they wanted to show respect to the girl who had endured for humanity.
Those who had started watching with the resolve to cheer her on until the end, even if she could no longer endure, saw a girl who was very plump, contrary to expectations that she would be terribly gaunt.
This instinctively made them want to shout "Bread! lol!"
But endure they must.
Even though she looked better than expected, Han Yuyeon must have spent a very long time filled with pain and solitude for humanity's sake.
They had started watching to cheer her on, not to crack jokes, right?
While viewers suppressed their trembling fingers, Han Yuyeon blinked vacantly before performing a Maid's Dignity double peace sign.
That nonchalant gesture and the overwhelming presence it highlighted completely drained the viewers' patience.
Viewers who couldn't resist and tried to type in chat instead stared, captivated by the presence that kept stealing their gazes.
- D... I'm losing my mind...
- Dd... dya...
Having forgotten even what they were originally going to type, their intelligence dropped.
Only those who could overcome this innate hypnosis and maintain their reason could participate in the chat window, so the chat window's firepower was endlessly calm.
***
I had climbed to the 2nd floor. Because I was starting to miss people.
Talking with the Constellations was of course nice, but I really wanted to see someone I could properly make eye contact with.
First, I checked the trial contents.
「Tower of Trials 2nd Floor - Supply Route of Lamentation」
「This is the only supply route leading to the Serbaine supply base. Countless soldiers died from supply shortages rather than from fighting vampires.」
「Main Objective: Defend the supply route from vampire raids.」
Seeing a trial objective after so long felt welcoming.
Since the trial had begun, the broadcast must have started too.
Performing a Maid's Dignity double peace sign, I greeted the empty air.
"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
- Han Yuyeon! Han Yuyeon! Han Yuyeon! Han Yuyeon!
- Is her glowing beauty for real?
- What the heck happened during those 7 years?
"Long time no see. Has everyone been well? I've been well."
- I couldn't be well without you ;_;
- The first thing she says after reaching the 2nd floor is 'I've been well';; Her character really shines
- It must have been a hard time, is she saying that so we won't worry...?
I was greeting them, but how many people were watching this broadcast?
Surely there wasn't no one watching.
Hmm. The broadcast had been stopped for 7 years, so that might be possible.
Still, since someone might be watching, I recited the trial objective.
"It says to defend the supply route from the vampire-nim's raids."
- Fighting vampires from the 2nd floor lol nothing but madness
- But why are you calling the vampire 'nim'?
The 2nd floor of Hell difficulty was said to be much harder than the subsequent floors.
Because the vampire-nim can control the ghoul-nims.
So to face a vampire-nim who can command the ghoul-nims as an army- the rest is omitted. Anyway, it's hard.
- Isn't now not the time for this? Shouldn't we be cheering?
- If you're Korean, let's cheer for Han Yuyeon
- She probably can't hear us cheering, but I'm cheering
- How's a maid supposed to beat a vampire?
- If it's this crazy from floor 2, how are we supposed to clear it, you Tower bastard
But I am Han Yuyeon. The authority on flexible maids.
Unfortunately, the vampire-nim will not be my match.
Walking along the path, I checked my stats.
「Name: Han Yuyeon」
「Class: Maid」
「Unique Skills: Maid's Subspace Pocket (EX) Maid's Dignity (EX)」
「Held Skills: Mana Circle (A) Aura Core (A) Physical Mastery (S) Grappling (S) Swordsmanship (S) Spearmanship (S)
Cooking (S) Alchemy (S) Healing Arts (E) Carpentry (E)」
「Stats: Strength 30 Agility 30 Constitution 30 Mana 30 Aura 30 Divinity 30」
Skills acquired through training according to the Constellations' teachings.
And the stats obtained from S-rank ingredients had made me the strongest maid.
Mana Circle and Aura Core couldn't rise above A-rank, perhaps due to limitations, but I was probably the first person on the 2nd floor to possess such skills and stats.
"Kihik! Kyahak!"
Oh. I can see ghoul-nims in the distance. I should go greet them.
- What, why is she going that way?
- Isn't she trying to clear them before the army builds up?
- She'll need to manage her stamina to handle the vampire; is it really the right call to clear them first?
- Ye-yeon-nim, please be careful
- What, why is she so fast?
Pitter-patter.
Since the ghoul-nims might be surprised, I approached from the front and greeted them.
Since greetings are important.
"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
"Kyahak-!!"
"I'm glad to see you too."
- Is now the time for greetings?
- Why is she greeting ghouls?
- 'I'm glad to see you too' she's really doing this, I'm going crazy
It was a bit regrettable that proper communication wasn't possible, but greetings are important.
Perhaps the ghoul-nims' greeting is "kyahak."
Since I'd greeted them, I gathered aura and pushed them away with a palm strike.
"Kieeek!!"
- ?
- What, aura?
Genre. Musou.
Protagonist. Maid.
Music. Classical.
The flow of power spreading through my palm pushed the ghoul-nims away-
Kwagwagwang.
"Hing."
- ?????
- ??????
I turned them into bloody pulp.
I'm sorry, ghoul-nims. I can't control my strength.
Title. The Maid is Too Strong.
Music. Heavy Metal.
- What, is she playing air guitar right now?
- Seems like heavy metal
- Suddenly feeling the rock spirit, y'know
Ah, that's right, dignity.
I almost lost myself in heavy metal.
For the sake of dignity, I changed the background music in my mind back to classical.
Then I gathered aura with full power and reinforced my body.
A kick to the ghoul-nims- but since kicking would be far too undignified, I threw punches instead,
"This is my heart."
"Kik?!"
Pung-!!
Along with the explosion, the ghoul-nims' upper bodies vanished.
- ???
- ??????
Blood and flesh splattered and touched me, but my body and clothes didn't get dirty at all.
Maids are the best, maid maid.
I suddenly thought that this brutal scene was probably being broadcast worldwide right now.
What if someone is watching?
Since the sight of only the ghoul-nims' lower bodies remaining looked quite terrible, I quickly destroyed the lower bodies too and made them vanish.
I hope no one saw that.
"Hmm. Was it too gruesome? I will try to proceed in a less cruel manner next time. Thank you."
- What did I just witness?
- Is this a dream?
- Did she do closed-door training for 7 years and awaken her aura...? Her talent is insane;;
- So she's been doing closed-door training in the rest area all this time?
- Just what kind of time has she been having?
Pitter-patter. I quickly headed toward the supply base.
It was quite far, but to me it was a distance covered in no time.
As I almost reached the entrance, I saw soldiers belonging to Serbaine.
How long has it been since I saw people? I'm so happy my tension is rising.
First impressions are really important, so I should behave as politely as possible.
"St... stop! If you come any closer-"
"I've stopped."
"......"
"???"
- Wow, I've never seen them act like this
- Of course they're scared when she's approaching while blowing ghouls up left and right
Looking again, I could see the soldiers' complexions had gone pale.
Are they unwell somewhere?
Let me help them with the maid-style healing arts I trained hard in.
First, to show I mean no harm, I approached while doing a double peace sign.
"Let's communicate..."
"Hii, hiik!!"
"???"
Seeing the soldiers' reactions that clearly showed fear toward me, I received a shock.
Was I... impolite?
Hing-ing-ing, I felt like lying down and crying.
Since I couldn't cry noisily in front of the soldiers, I suppressed my tears and held back, then a soldier carefully asked,
"Could you... reveal your identity...?"
"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
- They're really scared
- Wouldn't you be scared if it were you?
- I wouldn't be scared even if Ye-yeon-nim destroyed the earth, yep
- You should be a bit scared of that
I greeted again with utmost courtesy and dignity.
I put in the will to make no mistakes this time.
Then, whisper whisper.
The soldiers whispered something among themselves.
I was curious, but I shouldn't listen. Because they're talking without me knowing.
While suppressing my urge to communicate, a soldier asked again.
"Perhaps... what is your affiliation...?"
"Hmm."
Affiliation. I was about to answer that I didn't particularly have one when something suddenly came to mind.
The description written in my subspace pocket.
「- You can use the Subspace Shop with Maid Points.
- You can acquire Maid Points when you raise your Master's satisfaction.
- Current Master: None」
Setting a Master probably meant determining my affiliation.
Then, who should I serve as my Master?
I didn't particularly feel any resistance to serving someone.
Rather, I was starting to want to set a Master.
[Numerous Constellations show expectant gazes.]
As expected, was it right to serve the Constellations as my Master?
It seemed right, but something nagged at my heart.
Even though it was thanks to the Constellations that I've been able to survive until now.
"Uum."
People who had embraced me when I knew nothing of this world before being dragged into Hell difficulty kept coming to mind.
An era where the Tower appeared and orphans became commonplace.
In an era where monsters poured out and death grew familiar, people who took care of me and hugged me.
Hardships. Things I wanted to eat. Things I wanted to learn.
I recalled people who approached me, telling me to just say the word if I needed help with anything.
It was a kind society that contrasted with the bleak era.
The kind society was maintained thanks to good people.
Just as I had seen in books, the civilization that had protected the ideal society I longed for was brilliant and beautiful.
"I."
So, praying that the Constellations would forgive me, I looked up at the sky.
Because there were people I had to repay first.
Since there probably aren't maids who serve their parents as Masters.
'Tower-nim. I've decided who I will serve as my Master.'
The moment I muttered inwardly, time stopped.
Thinking that Tower-nim is truly amazing as expected, I thought of the master I wished to follow.
I thought of a master whom I couldn't hold it against even if I were called greedy and told it's impossible.
「Maid rank confirmation. It is possible.」
Hing. That this is possible.
It seems Tower-nim's magnanimity is far greater than I thought.
Since I had received Tower-nim's permission as well, there was no need to hesitate.
Though the time I had lived and breathed since my reincarnation was short, it had given me a definite sense of belonging.
Having someone to talk to. Having someone to exchange greetings with.
Being able to live in the same space, sharing the same time, was a sensation I never wanted to lose.
「Maid Han Yuyeon. Do you swear to serve 'Humanity' as your Master?」
I would do my best to protect this sense of belonging.
The moment the choice was complete, an unidentifiable sense of fullness filled my entire body.
As if a maid without a master is merely a half-formed maid.
「Your master is 'Humanity'.」
「May fortune be with the maid who serves her Master.」
[Numerous Constellations swallow their groans.]
Thank you for the blessing. Tower-nim is sometimes kind.
I'm sorry, Constellations. Still, I will try my best.
I didn't know if it would be a convincing answer, but placing my hand on my chest filled with that fullness, I spoke to the soldiers.
"I am Han Yuyeon, a maid who serves humanity."
- ?
- Ser... vice?
- ?????
[Numerous Constellations express rage.]
Messages suddenly flooded in without cease.
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
「You have acquired Maid Points.」
"???"
Tower-nim. A bug just burst.
I spoke honestly, so please fix it in a little while. Thank you.