Chapter 101 - Chapter 101

Chapter 101

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Joo-hyuk summoned Gwangma.

As soon as he appeared, it seemed he noticed something.

"Summoner, a new beginning, I see."

"Welcome. Has the restriction perhaps been lifted?"

However, Gwangma shook his head from side to side and answered.

"Just a little, it's still blocked. Only the fact that the aspect of the tower conquest from now on will be different comes to mind."

What will be different?

"Uh-um, the exact mission details of the 71st floor too?"

"Only the feeling remains. The feeling I got back then was..."

"What is it?"

Gwangma pondered deeply and continued.

"Summoner, you will be very perplexed. A decision will be necessary."

What keeps being perplexing?

Come to think of it, Cossack also mentioned it once.

That it was difficult to deal with.

Well, I'll know when I go up,

In fact, I had no plan to climb the 71st floor for a while.

Because if I enter, I unconditionally have to conquer it.

If I exit or abandon the mission, I can't get an S++ rank conquest, get a badge, or receive special privileges.

Furthermore, the most important obstacle.

The 6-month tower conquest time limit.

Because conquering it quickly was a loss.

But Season 2 has begun.

The restriction on tower conquest has disappeared.

Since they say the conquest time limit is added if you conquer a new floor, there's no reason not to conquer it.

Plus, the items.

Joo-hyuk also knew after hearing the explanation from the other summoned entities.

The Ring of Form Alteration, the Potion of Disease Cure, the Elixir of Rejuvenation, and the Rune Necklace of Liberation.

Joo-hyuk explained the items to Gwangma.

"...You mean the Rune Necklace of Liberation?"

"Yes."

"Has that appeared already?"

"I heard they give it as a gift."

"Heo-heo."

Gwangma frowned deeply.

"These cunning bastards."

"Who?"

"Who else! The ones who created this situation."

"...Pardon?"

So who is that?

"I cannot explain the details."

Hey, why are there so many things he can't do?

"However, I do know around when these items are supposed to appear."

Around when?

"They appear when the world is about to perish. The items that accelerate the tower collapse and become the cause of conflicts between nations and players, discord between ordinary people and players, wars between nations, all sorts of disturbances."

It seems so.

Making people younger, curing diseases, and players manifesting their tower abilities in reality while hiding themselves.

There's no way it wouldn't cause greed.

If you're a player, you'd try to get your hands on them somehow.

Ordinary people will also burn with desire.

"Eventually, the Rune of Liberation won't even be needed, as the world will become like the tower."

Things are steadily getting bigger.

What do I do?

"First, let's go to the 71st floor and get the items..."

"Summoner."

"Yep?"

"Before that, let's go somewhere together."

"Where?"

"A floor with many monsters would be good. Preferably bipedal ones, and somewhat strong ones."

Where would be good?

The ones that fit the conditions are Orcs or Trolls, or Ogres or Minotaurs.

"A floor where Minotaurs appear would be appropriate."

So Joo-hyuk and the summoned entities entered the 35th floor.

The mission was,

[35th-Floor Mission: Regardless of type, eliminate 80 Minotaurs and 1 Minotaur King.]

But why did we come here?

"Since the Rune Necklace of Liberation has been released, there are many more things this old man can do for you."

He's giving something again?

Is it something good?

"Summoner, what combat skills do you currently possess? Excluding Blood Jade Aura."

What were they?

[Combat Skills]: Shadow Step / Primordial Thunder Club / Blood Jade Aura

"Shadow Step and Primordial Thunder Club."

This shabby status window skill.

Others say they have at least dozens of combat skills, even excluding trait skills.

"That's enough. Then try hunting a Minotaur yourself."

Wait, what does this mean.

"...Me?"

"Use only Shadow Step and Primordial Thunder Club. Take out your weapon too."

"Ah! Yes, yes."

This is a novel experience?

Gwangma is the first summoned entity to tell him to hunt a monster himself.

'Hmm.'

However, as anyone would, you tend to hesitate when the stage is actually set.

'Why is he suddenly telling me to fight?'

Just a while ago he was told to just quietly hide in the back.

Did I come to catch Minotaurs for nothing?

I should have just caught Orcs.

Overwhelmed by their size for now.

It's been quite a while since he caught a monster too.

When conquering Minotaurs, their size was so big that he hadn't even caught stage 3 or above, but...

Moreover, that Minotaur King.

Over 6m tall, slightly smaller than the giant Gobang.

'Am I really catching them?'

Sneaking a glance backward,

The summoned entities looking at him with uneasy eyes, half-standing and half-sitting.

'...Man, they should have stopped me.'

But right then!

Swish, Gwangma grabbed his left wrist.

"Do not worry. I will always be right beside you, so let's start with Shadow Step."

Right. My hyung-nim is beside me, so what's there to worry about?

There's no way I'll die, right?

Holding his hand tight like this.

Joo-hyuk took out an Adamant metal mace from his inventory.

A weapon purchased from the player shop.

It has no option effects, but it's sturdy.

'Let's go.'

Shadow Step toward the Minotaur.

Swat! S-pa-pat! Swa-wat!

Joo-hyuk approached, leaving afterimages.

Gwangma also moved with him, holding his wrist.

'Hmm.'

Two men running while holding hands feels slightly weird.

S-pa-pa-pat!

"Primordial Thunder Club."

"Yeap!"

Falling Thunder Pursuing Soul, the 1st of the 3 forms of Primordial Thunder Club.

Crackle, crackle...

The mace enveloped in thunderous power.

Leaping up and striking the back of a stage-1 Minotaur's head just like that,

Crack!

"Ummuu..."

The bastard collapsing with a thud.

Oh yeah! It's nothing much. I got scared for no reason.

Gwangma also nodded his head and said.

"You did well. Let's try it a few more times."

"Yep!"

Sure, I can catch as many as you want.

His confidence revived.

His macho instincts were squirming.

S-pa-pat! S-pa-pa-pat!

His Shadow Step also became faster and more proficient.

Joo-hyuk moving rapidly.

Gwangma matching his steps while holding his hand.

Hand in hand.

S-pa-pat! S-pa-pat!

Dancing with Gwangma.

S-pa-pat! S-pa-pat!

Dancing a Shadow Step waltz together.

The forms of Primordial Thunder Club also bloomed individually from the mace.

Crackle! Bzzzzt!

Falling Thunder Pursuing Soul, Falling Thunder Scattering, and the fatal move with a cooldown, Falling Thunder Flash.

Crack!

Stage-1 and stage-2 Minotaurs, leaping slightly to shatter their heads.

"Mooo..."

Stage-3 and stage-4 Minotaurs, leaping with all his might and smash!

"Moooo..."

Like that, driving them ruthlessly and frantically while immersed in a state of hyper-focus.

"That is enough. Let us go outside now."

"...Uh, I just started. I can catch more though."

"It's sufficient."

What can I do? I have to abandon the mission and go out.

S-pa-pat!

Joo-hyuk and the group appeared in the penthouse.

Gwangma, still holding his wrist.

And then.

"Skills acquired in the tower are comfortable to understand as a kind of automatic macro system. The system was designed that way."

Someone who was a martial artist in Jianghu also knows about macros.

"For that reason, they are automatically launched just by the player calling out the skill name. Because mana moves automatically even if you don't consciously control it."

"However, no matter how much it's a macro, the mana must transform and move inside your body for the actual skill to be released."

I understand what that means.

Because Blood Jade Aura used inside the tower and Blood Jade Aura used in actual reality had different activation principles.

Blood Jade Aura in reality required the process of operating the internal energy mnemonic, transforming the Qi, and releasing it externally in the form of a technique.

"Thus, this old man figured out how the summoner's mana transforms inside the tower, what path it takes, and its operation method."

Holding my wrist was the reason?

"Then you should unfold it with actual internal energy, Summoner, based on the Heaven and Earth Unity Art you learned in reality."

"...Ah!"

But is it possible to use Shadow Step with internal energy?

With Primordial Thunder Club, maybe.

"There is a saying that ten thousand streams return to the source. No matter how diverse the paths are, they eventually converge into one."

In an instant! Woooong!

Gwangma's profound internal energy seeping through Joo-hyuk's pulse point.

"Let's walk."

The internal energy moved to his lower body.

Energy gathering in the Yongquan acupoints (Yongquan acupoints) on the soles of his feet.

Srrr, taking a step unconsciously.

Swat! Swa-wat!

Shadow Step unfolding in the penthouse living room.

Swa-wat! Swat! Swat!

It works. I did it.

"Remember the flow of Qi. Learn the operation method with your body."

Swa-wa-wat! Swa-wat!

Afterimages generated with every step.

Although he was moving as if dancing with Gwangma, to think he could use Shadow Step outside as well.

Pouring applause.

"So cool! You can run away well outside too."

"Young Master, this young girl finally feels at ease. Who could ever catch you?"

"Master Sergeant Veronica Caliber, it is an efficient tactical maneuver."

"Light! Blessings upon my Lord!!!"

Rajix must have been excited too as he moved following Joo-hyuk.

Rolling here, rolling there.

Before he knew it, Gwangma also let go of Joo-hyuk's hand.

Joo-hyuk executing Shadow Step alone.

It's fun.

Shadow Step executed with internal energy.

A different feeling from inside the tower.

Even though the penthouse living room is spacious, it felt much too narrow moving like this.

He wanted to unfold it freely in an open wide space.

Joo-hyuk falling deeper into a state of self-forgetfulness,

It was then.

Cossack cried out in an urgent voice.

"Heok!!! It's the Minotaur King!"

"...What?"

In an instant!

Ssss!

A huge shadow approaching from behind Joo-hyuk.

"Heok! F*ck, that startled me!"

It was instinctive.

Energy concentrating in the mace.

Bzzzt! Falling Thunder Pursuing Soul just like that.

Swaaack! Crunch! Claaaang!

"...Uh?"

It was Gobang.

"...."

Joo-hyuk's mace striking Gobang's head; Gobang with a blank expression.

Because he had just been hunting Minotaurs until a moment ago, something big appeared so he reflexively swung the mace but...

"Why are you there?"

"...The assassin pushed me."

That evil Cossack.

"Ah, oops! It was Gobang. You were so big I thought you were the Minotaur King. Hehehehe."

"..."

Should I hit him?

"...Does it not hurt?"

"The warrior doesn't hurt. Hit me more as much as you want."

The feeling is a bit strange.

It was an intended critical hit.

He doesn't even feel a tickle?

"Kyaa! As expected of Gobang. Try hitting him a few more times, Summoner Bong, to experiment if it works well."

"Should I?"

"Yeap!"

Joo-hyuk rapidly approached Cossack.

Swa-wat! Swat! Swat!

"Eeeek? Why me?"

"You told me to experiment if it works well."

"Hi-hit G-Gobang."

"I don't want to?"

"Uwaaah! O-Or even Bardin, he likes getting hit too."

Swa-wat! Swat! Swat!

Joo-hyuk chasing, Cossack running away.

"Freeze!"

"So what?"

Are we playing tag?

Rajix rolling in and cutting in as well.

"Hoe, un-freeze!"

I told you it's not a game of tag.

The penthouse living room was filled with shadows of Joo-hyuk and Cossack.

The Rune Necklace of Liberation?

Joo-hyuk was already liberated.

'Still, there's no way Cossack could even land a hit.'

Whose skill is Shadow Step anyway.

However, Cossack's fate was already decided.

Grab! Gobang quickly grabbing Cossack's collar.

"...Heeek?"

And with his thick finger, a flick on the forehead...

Flick! BAAANG!

Gobang's finger flicks are accompanied by an explosion sound.

Cossack's head violently tilting back.

"Urk!"

Thud!

He sprawled spread-eagle on the living room floor.

The summoned entities looking at that sight with satisfaction.

Gwangma also chuckled and said to Joo-hyuk.

"Summoner, for the 71st floor, go into conquest excluding this old man."

"Why?"

"Because they are enough, too."

"Then Sir Gwangma is..."

Wouldn't the conquest be easy if we were together?

"There is an aphorism in Jianghu. A warrior must always hide 30% of their skill. Whether inside the tower or outside the tower, to strike the enemy off guard at a crucial moment."

"Ah!"

"This old man is the summoner's hidden card. 30% of your combat power."

No, you aren't?

From my view, you're almost 70%, though?

Anyway, he contributed, so I'll pin a badge on him.

"Ahem, my chest feels heavy."

Before he knew it, Gwangma's 3-hour manifestation limit had passed.

With a satisfied smile, he returned to the other world.

Now I should slowly prepare for the 71st floor conquest.

First, a phone call with Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

Anyway, I have to inform him that I'm going to conquer the 71st floor.

The Management Agency must be in an uproar too.

Given that the global announcement was made.

In an instant! Riinggg!

A sudden phone call.

It happened to be Jeon Kwang-il.

'Hm? I was going to call you first anyway.'

Answering the phone.

"Hello?"

- Player Bong, I have a favor to ask.

"Yes? What..."

- Right now, please go up to the 71st floor of the Korean Black Tower and secure the 4 items.

"Uh, I was actually about to go up anyway. I was planning to try conquering it while I'm at it. It's okay, right?"

- As much as you want. Since the time limit for conquest has become meaningless now. Anyway, if you secure the items, please do not hand them over to anyone and definitely keep them in your inventory.

"Hmm."

- Especially the Rune Necklace of Liberation...

Uh? He seems to somehow know its true identity,

"Excuse me, do you happen to know what the Rune Necklace of Liberation is used for?"

- Yes, I am not certain but I am guessing.

"How?"

It didn't even have a description.

- Have you recently watched YourTube?

"No."

- Please check it out. It has as many views as the video of the Japanese anti-Korean protesters being taught a lesson. Put 'China Beijing Tiananmen' in the search term.

What's this?

"I'll look at it now."

Joo-hyuk launched the YourTube app on his tablet.

Upon entering the search term, a few videos with tens of millions of views popped up.

Tiananmen Square in China.

It looked like an ordinary video.

A video of a Chinese streamer introducing Tiananmen Square.

But then someone suddenly appeared behind him.

Swoooosh!

Someone was crossing the square at a terrifying speed.

How can a person be that fast?

Is it a manipulated video?

There are too many similar videos for it to be one.

From the side, from the back, on top of buildings, or in other places,

- It's not manipulated. They were all captured by coincidence. The running man has been identified as Chinese Player Bailong.

"...A player?"

- Yes, Bailong's trait is High Speed; he is presumed to be the player who used Tower Jumping Tickets to climb to the 71st floor and acquired the 4 items.

He used the Rune Necklace of Liberation.

- There is also a rumor that an accident befell the newly appointed Chinese President Wang Yuan. The Public Security Bureau and the People's Liberation Army have designated Bailong as a dangerous individual and are currently pursuing him.

I think I understand.

The conflict has begun.

A dispute between nations and players.

***

Joo-hyuk realized why Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il told him to secure the 4 items.

He probably judged that if someone had to possess the items anyway, it'd be better if it were Joo-hyuk.

So Joo-hyuk waited for about 3 hours and entered the 71st floor.

Along with Blood Wolf, Cossack, Gobang, Gyeon Dal-rae, Rajix, Veronica, and Bardin.

Gwangma is the hidden card.

Let's finish the conquest and come back.

Will the global announcement ring this time too...

[Entering the 71st floor of the Republic of Korea Black Tower.]

His first entry.

[You have reached the 71st floor of the Republic of Korea Black Tower for the first time.]

Will it?

[A set of 4 congratulatory gifts is provided to your inventory.]

'Oh.'

[The Ring of Form Alteration is provided to your inventory.]

[The Potion of Disease Cure is provided to your inventory.]

[The Elixir of Rejuvenation is provided to your inventory.]

[The Rune Necklace of Liberation is provided to your inventory.]

Neither the global announcement nor the overall announcement rang.

But this is even scarier.

Because no one will be able to know who acquired them.

'Shall I go get the mission?'

What's the 71st-floor mission?

What do I do if obtaining the S++-rank grade conquest is hard?

There is a way.

The Start Pack item he received for accumulating 70 Platinum Badges.

This is an item related to S++-rank conquests and Platinum Badges.

A ticket that provides one more chance when failure is anticipated; let's reset it if push comes to shove.

'By the way, where is this?'

It's a new beginning, so the entry location is strange too.

'Inside a house?'

It seemed to be a house made of logs.

There was a door to go out at the front.

Inside the house seemed to be a safe zone.

'Do I have to go outside?'

Joo-hyuk grabbed the doorknob.

Then, Ding! The mission popped up.

[71st Floor Basic Mission: Eliminate 20 members of the Pommel Mercenary Company.]

[71st Floor Additional Mandatory Option Mission: Eliminate James, the Vice-Commander of the Pommel Mercenary Company.]

[71st Floor High-Difficulty Option Mission: Eliminate Pommel, the Commander of the Pommel Mercenary Company.]

[71st Floor Super High-Difficulty Option Mission: Eliminate Necromancer Kate.]

[Completion Condition: 20 members of the Pommel Mercenary Company 0/20]

[Time Limit: Within 10 hours.]

What is this?

Even if I ignore the changes in the mission-granting method,

"...They're people?"

Really?

"They are people."

"So they are humans."

"That's easy. Just give the order. I'll take care of it."

"It's an easy mission. Please do not worry."

"Sniping ready."

"Hoe..."

No, people here.

Easy or hard is not the problem right now.

It says I have to kill people.

'This is troublesome.'

Suddenly I feel like abandoning the mission.