Chapter 107 - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Korea Awakening Management Agency.

Player Bong Joo-hyuk's 72nd floor S+++ grade clear announced via global announcement.

Another 180 days were stacked.

On the large LED billboard in the Management Agency lobby, the words '527 days until tower collapse deadline' were floating.

A deadline with a year and a half left.

Just looking at it brought peace of mind.

The elite players coming and going from the Management Agency felt the same.

Because the burden of climbing the uncleared upper floors had largely disappeared.

Even if they only farmed High-Grade Mana Stones or items while climbing the floors suited to their abilities, no one would say anything.

High-Grade Mana Stones.

The price set by the Management Agency was twice that of regular Mana Stones.

The quantity mined from the tower was on the lower side.

That was until Player Bong handed them over in units of tons.

Now, a massive volume was secured.

Enough to utilize commercially.

As it was, inquiries were pouring in from various research institutes and corporations.

Even from foreign countries.

Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il, who was summoned by Park Kyung-soo, knocked on the Director's office door.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

"Director, did your trip to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conclude well?"

The French special envoy delegation had not yet left Korea.

Because the curse was lifted and a considerable amount of time remained.

Park Kyung-soo opened his mouth with a sullen expression.

"Those French bastards, they still haven't come to their senses."

"Did the negotiations not go well?"

"It went well at first. Regarding the monetary part, return of cultural heritage, reduction of export tariffs for Wyvern leather products, and so on."

"And then?"

"Even while receiving help, they demanded something unreasonable."

Jeon Kwang-il tilted his head and asked.

"What..."

"Rune Necklace of Liberation and Ring of Form Transformation."

"...Pardon?"

"They asked us to climb the 71st floor and hand them over."

"Ha!"

It was an absurd situation.

"These arrogant bastards, did they entrust them to us? They should be grateful we are clearing the 70th floor for them, and they want us to go up to the 71st floor and bring them a Rune Necklace of Liberation?"

Director Park Kyung-soo drank another glass of water and continued his words.

"Well, there are aspects where the French position is understandable."

"What part?"

"The Rune Necklace of Liberation, you see, is something like a nuclear weapon."

A nuclear weapon?

What kind of random nonsense is this?

"Let's assume two countries in a hostile relationship are at war. What if a player whose abilities are liberated with a Rune Necklace of Liberation infiltrates the enemy country and sets out to assassinate government figures or military commanders? Could they stop them?"

It would be impossible.

They would suffer helplessly.

Especially with a Ring of Form Transformation in the picture.

"It might be a forced analogy, but just as a nuclear weapon can only be deterred by a nuclear weapon, the Rune Necklace of Liberation is similar."

The purpose of trying to possess a Rune Necklace of Liberation,

If your country's players commit some act with it, we will also send a player wearing a Rune Necklace of Liberation.

Of course, it's an unreasonable analogy.

How can you compare a nuclear weapon and a Rune Necklace?

Still, Jeon Kwang-il also agreed that there were similar aspects.

Because it couldn't be denied that it was a dangerous item.

"So they said if we just bring them the necklace and ring, they will grant whatever we want, and they even said we can keep the Elixir of Rejuvenation or the Potion of Disease Cure."

"...What are your thoughts, Director?"

Park Kyung-soo spoke while shaking his head vigorously.

"I am opposed. If Player Bong receives the necklace instead and hands it over to France, he will be entangled together with them. What if an accident happens because of the necklace?"

That's right.

It is right to unconditionally refuse.

If they need it, they can climb up themselves.

If they have no players to climb, they should just use a Tower Jumping Ticket or something.

"Oh right! When will you start selling the items?"

"We should release them to the Player Shop at least today."

The massive amount of tower reward items Player Bong Joo-hyuk entrusted to them, they couldn't even be compared to goods manufactured in workshops.

Where did he bring so many items from?

He is that kind of person.

A mere Elixir of Rejuvenation? Potion of Disease Cure?

There is no need to even glance at them.

He is a player who even easily obtains the Rune Necklace of Liberation right away.

The benefits he bestowed start with domestic players.

The number of players active in South Korea is around 10,000, not counting North Korean players.

No matter how much the item drop rate has increased across all floors of the Korean Black Tower, it is still insufficient to cover the demand.

Thanks to Player Bong, players will be armed with high-quality equipment and be able to climb the tower more safely.

The plan was to supply these people sufficiently first and then turn their eyes to overseas sales.

There is nothing dangerous either.

Because they are tower exclusive items, they are just ordinary cold weapons with no option effects in reality.

After doing that, they will enter overseas sales.

They plan to use Rajix Corporation.

They must charge higher prices.

"Director, did you look into the building Player Bong asked for?"

"Uh, a decent building in the Gangnam area did come out on the market. It's a 61-story building, but the price is...."

"How much are they asking?"

"Compromised at 1.3 trillion won."

"...Hmm."

Is it too expensive?

He might have to get a loan.

He would have to ask him later.

Joo-hyuk rested comfortably for a few days together with the summoned entities.

Playing at home, and going out when they got bored.

He kept postponing the 73rd floor clear.

Because there is no great rush.

Of course, he had the desire to check what the mission content was, but... their Gobang didn't seem too desperate either.

Right now, they were at the Namyangju villa.

He made a vegetable garden together with Rajix.

Planting lettuce, sweet potatoes, potatoes, flowers, and trees too.

Our versatile Rajix.

Befitting a servant, he farms well too.

There is nothing he can't do.

Gyeon Dal-rae is also busy.

With the help of Gobang and Cossack, she set up a taboo rope strung with talismans and erected a Sotdae (sacred pole) around the perimeter of Joo-hyuk's land.

"This is the sacred territory where Young Master resides. I shall ensure that coarse beasts or outsiders cannot enter carelessly."

As expected of our Princess.

The desolate land is gradually becoming splendid.

He also plans to ask Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il to install a few more residential container prefab houses fully equipped with water, sewage, and electricity.

He also learned a new skill.

The rune received as a reward for defeating the 72nd floor Super Demonic Beast Hydra.

[Random Skill Rune]

Effect : Upon consumption, randomly grants one skill to the player. Can only be used in the tower.

So what he learned was...

[Skill : You acquire Ice Spear.]

On the status window,

[Combat Skills] : Shadow Step / Hunwon Thunderclap Staff / Blood Jade Astral Aura / Ice Spear

It is a magic skill.

Could this be used in reality too?

Sir Gwangma thought this probably wouldn't work either.

"Naturally it won't work. Shadow Step could be replaced with internal energy, but magic is a completely different domain..."

I see.

"Still, it's like I've acquired one ranged skill I can use inside the tower, isn't it?"

That's great.

It can be helpful for clearing.

It's like having two ranged damage dealers.

He added one skill too,

Actually, he didn't come to the Namyangju villa because he had nothing to do.

There was a distinct purpose.

The thing he spent the most time on here was precisely,

Spot, s-pa-pa-pat!

Martial arts and skill training.

Shadow Step unfolded in the wide empty lot in front of the villa.

Joo-hyuk's afterimages left here and there.

It was a place wide enough to move around to his heart's content.

He thoroughly unleashed the skills he couldn't fully use inside the tower in reality.

Running in zigzags,

Hwi-ri-rit!

Kicking off the ground and soaring up, then falling slowly.

Woooong!

The internal energy of the Cheonji Ilwon Gong continued continuously and seamlessly.

Tseu-chi-chi-chi-chi...,

With the Destructive Thunder Storm Club received as a reward,

Swaaaaaaek!

As he directly struck a large rock at the edge of the empty lot like a streak of lightning,

Kwa-ji-jik!

The boulder shattering into pieces,

Together with the falling stone fragments too,

Ji-i-ing!

Slashing them with the Blood Jade Astral Aura manifested in his left hand in mid-air! Slash! Cutting them with clean cross-sections.

How is it?

Isn't this worthy of applause?

But...

"Huh?"

The summoned entities gathered in one place and whispering to each other with serious expressions.

What's this?

Did they not even watch?

Even though I worked so hard moving my body for my part.

What scheme are they trying to pull now.

Actually, there is a reason they are doing this.

Because they judged that a threat was imminent.

The Rune Necklace of Liberation, the Ring of Form Transformation, and equipment items, various potions, and elixirs that apply even in reality.

These things started being released into the world.

Reality-applicable items will put players to the test.

"When the summoned entities' summoning cooldown is applied, you must be careful and careful again. You must absolutely have at least one person ready to be summoned immediately."

"An energy shield is essential. You must operate it habitually even against falling dead leaves."

"Certain victory! Please try using the Blink Ring in your spare time as well. Considering the recharge time, you must practice frequently, once or twice every 2 hours, to be able to use it easily."

"My Lord, please do not trust the Ring of Form Transformation too much, you could be discovered by a liberated player with the insight skill."

This is, well, treating me like a child left near the water.

It's not that I don't understand the summoned entities' hearts, but.

"It is not the time to be relaxed and at ease. Danger can strike anytime, anywhere. What if a sniper targets you from 1km away? What if someone poisons the water?"

You keep scaring people.

"That's right, sir. You could be attacked while taking a dump, sir. You must summon one summoned entity before going to the restroom, sir."

Can't I even go to the restroom freely?

"Public bathhouses are also a no-no, sir. You could get whacked while picking up soap during a shower, sir."

No, such a terrible thing.

I shouldn't go to public bathhouses then.

He didn't just hear nagging words either.

He also did practical training.

Joo-hyuk and Cossack standing facing each other in the wide empty lot.

The Thunder Storm Club in Joo-hyuk's right hand, the Blood Jade Astral Aura in his left hand.

Cossack held a metal round shield.

"Try hitting me just once, sir. I will block it with the shield on my own, sir."

He's looking down on people.

"Admit it if I hit you just once?"

Then Cossack, smirking and laughing.

"Are you confident, sir? You won't even be able to touch me, sir."

Ha!

Cossack definitely has a talent for grating on people's nerves.

There's a reason Gyeon Dal-rae scolds this guy and that guy for no reason.

"Fine. Don't cry after getting hit."

"Hehehe, if I get hit, I'll be Gobang's son, sir. Call me Gosack, sir."

Suddenly Joo-hyuk turned his head and looked at Gwangma,

"...Yes? Sir Gwangma? What did you say?"

Wondering what it was, Cossack also turned to look behind.

Spot!

Joo-hyuk, shooting out like a ray of light,

However,

"Heng! I knew this would happen, sir."

Failure.

"I knew it wouldn't work on you either."

"I still praise you, sir. It was a cool move, sir."

Even if it's cheap, it can't be helped.

Because he himself is a beta male.

Cossack leisurely stepped backward.

Joo-hyuk also followed closely.

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

The two people chasing and being chased.

The distance gradually narrowed.

"Got you."

Tseu-chi-chit!

Kwack! The Hunwon Thunderclap Staff unfolded with the club.

However,

"Hmph! That is my afterimage, though, sir."

Cossack appearing from behind Joo-hyuk before he knew it.

"Will this work being so slow, sir?"

A face full of ridicule with twitching corners of his mouth.

That, that wicked...!

"Indeed, I recognized it when you were driving, sir. Is the expressway still 50km/h these days, sir?"

"...I told you it's 80!"

I am really going to hit him once.

Pa-pa-pat! S-pi-pit!

"Rajix worker Degul-i probably is faster than this, sir."

"Ho-eng?"

Haa, alright, keep scratching, scratch.

The internal energy of his entire body swelled up.

Energy gathered in his lower body.

Tseu-pi-pi-pi-pit!

Jumping up, then nosediving.

Pung-geu-reu-reu, spinning and momentarily bursting forward.

"Yikes! That was close, sir."

That was truly a pity this time.

The difference of a hand's span.

It feels like he could catch him if he overcomes just this difference.

But Cossack was a genius.

Moreover, a genius among geniuses.

He was the one who was so outstanding he even attempted to assassinate the Swordmaster.

Of course, he got conceited and died, though.

Could he hit him even once?

How long has it been since he learned martial arts in reality.

And against an SSR-grade Cossack.

25 years of beta male life.

One of his life mottos was rapid giving up if he felt it wouldn't work.

But not now.

He doesn't want to give up.

He wanted to confirm.

Whether he had talent.

"Let's try to get one proper hit in."

He moved with the resolve to collapse here.

A sweet smell wafted from his mouth.

His heart pounded as if it would burst.

Immersion came quickly.

In Joo-hyuk's eyes, only Cossack was visible.

Nothing else even entered his eyes.

Tseu-pit!

The forms of the Hunwon Thunderclap Staff flying wildly,

Falling Thunder Pursuing Soul, Copious Falling Thunderstorms.

Cossack dodging this way and that.

It seemed like he was unnecessarily wasting internal energy, but he didn't swing aimlessly.

Changing the board.

If he simply chases, he can't catch Cossack.

In martial arts terms, a kind of feint.

Simultaneously grasping Cossack's behavioral patterns.

Befitting an SSR assassin, he's too fast.

If he just follows with his eyes, he can absolutely never catch him.

Then?

He has to act one step ahead.

There is no answer other than predictive attacks.

He has to know how he reacts when attacked like this.

Cossack has to be in the predictable direction.

Only then.

Pa-chi-chik!

The final 3rd form of the Hunwon Thunderclap Staff.

Extreme speed, the ultimate one-hit-kill skill.

Because he can feed him a Falling Thunder Flash.

Pa-chik! Swaaek!

"...Huh?"

Cossack's eyes wide open as if flustered.

A thunderbolt falling from above his head at a completely unpredicted moment.

This is dangerous.

Even if he dodges now, he is within the attack range.

His arm holding the shield was already going up.

Kwack! Chae-chae-chaeng!

An intense impact enough to crack the shield.

Cossack tottered and fell on his rear.

"Oops!"

"Got you!"

Joo-hyuk stood imposingly in front of the fallen Cossack.

Right at that moment!

"Ahuhuk."

Fallen and twisting his body bizarrely, Cossack sent a pitiful gaze.

"A, are you going to hit me, sir?"

Why is this kid acting like this again?

"I have a wife and children, sir. Please spare me, sir. Please!"

"...."

"If you let me off just once, I will live kindly, sir."

What wife and children does he have.

Thereupon, the summoned entities shouted in unison.

"Finish it. He became my son, but I won't care."

"You must strike him. Please fix his habits."

"Commander, it is a vital point. Precisely between the legs."

"My Lord! Blast him. He won't die anyway!"

"Hmm... isn't it better for him to die. Then this old man also securely takes up a spot."

"Ho-et?"

Even so.

How can he beat up a summoned entity?

It was then!

Cossack springing up.

Thumping his chest as if frustrated.

"Summoner Bong, you can't be like this, sir. Why aren't you finishing it when everything is set up, sir?"

"...."

"A person must have a vicious mind, sir. Have you not even watched movies, sir? Being relaxed leads to counterattacks, sir."

"...."

"Flimsy sympathy is like eating a hundred dry sweet potatoes, sir."

Damn it!

Hwiiik!

Kwack!

"Urgh!"

Cossack, hit on the forehead by the club and falling backward,

He sprawled out spread-eagle and fainted.

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Only then did the summoned entities send applause.

"It was a cool strike."

"It's a pity you didn't use a skill, but you did well."

"If you were just a little stronger, it would have been perfect."

"You should have hit between the legs instead of the head."

"Hu-e-ek!"

He thinks he knows why they did this.

It was probably an intention to harden his heart.

To not hesitate when facing an enemy.

"...Get up now. Stop pretending to have fainted."

Cossack getting up from his spot while sneakily opening his eyes,

"Hehehe. You are excellent, sir. Summoner Bong, sir."

"When it didn't even hurt."

"U-ek? What are you saying, sir? Don't you see the bump here, sir? It's 1/10th the power of Gobang's finger flick, sir."

That much?

'If I make a mistake, someone could die.'

He gained confidence.

With this much, he could respond even if a Level 70s player liberated their abilities and rushed at him.

As long as they don't rush at him while taking a dump,

However!

If a situation like this actually occurs, could he kill a person?

That is, if a situation comes where he dies if he doesn't kill.

'...It won't be easy.'

Should he try it once in the tower?

"Let's go clear the 73rd floor."

"I shall prepare."

"Certain victory!"

"Is Mr. Gosack also ready?"

"It's Cossack, sir."

"Weren't you adopted as Mr. Gobang's son?"

"...Yes, sir?"

"Ho-eng!"

Anyway, by all means,

Please take good care of me this time too, Mr. Rajix,

[You are entering the 73rd floor of the South Korea Black Tower.]

Spot!

What kind of place would the 73rd floor be?

The Royal Palace?

"I don't think so."

It seemed to be an underground space.

However, it wasn't dark because torches were hung on the walls.

"Is it a prison?"

It seems so.

Rooms with iron bars arranged on the left and right.

"Let's go."

Gobang stepped forward.

At that moment! Tti-ring!

The mission popping up.

[73rd Floor Basic Mission : Defeat 20 Underground Prison Battle Chimera Hounds.]

The basic mission popped up.

Defeating Battle Chimera Hounds.

What about selective missions?

[73rd Floor Additional Selective Mission : Defeat 15 Norton Kingdom Royal Knights.]

[73rd Floor High-difficulty Selective Mission : Defeat Norton Kingdom Royal Knight Commander Jorgen (Condition Clear)]

[73rd Floor Super High-difficulty Selective Mission : Defeat the Norton Kingdom King (Condition Clear)]

"It really is the Royal Palace."

The moment of the decisive battle has approached.