Chapter 126 - Chapter 126

Chapter 126

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The fate of the Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong was one of two.

Whether she dies in a situation where she has become an evil spirit.

Or she severs all lingering attachments and ascends to heaven.

If it were an ordinary monster or human, we would have just dealt with it easily.

However, we absolutely cannot do that.

Is she not our Princess's master?

We shouldn't treat her as a simple clear target.

The result?

Hae-ryeong regained her senses.

The evil spirit's energy began to disperse.

Time passed.

A profound and auspicious energy blooming from her body.

Spot!

The Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong disappeared in an instant.

"Master!!!"

"...Hmm."

"Phew."

"...."

Tti-ring,

[Completed all missions on the 74th floor.]

Clear success.

Honestly, he didn't even care whether they succeeded or not.

The only important thing is Hae-ryeong's current situation.

Is it a simple clear success?

Or is it ascension?

Thereupon, a message that popped up following right after.

[The soul of the Millennium Fox Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong has been liberated from the tower's restraints.]

Liberated from restraints.

What does this signify?

"A-ssa!"

Joo-hyuk raised both his hands high and cheered hurrah.

"It says soul liberation. Then it's ascension, right?"

"Pertains no doubt. Escaping from the tower."

"Everyone worked hard."

"Heo-heo, it is an auspicious event, an auspicious event!"

"Light!"

"She overcame it. As expected of the Princess's Master."

"Ho-e!"

"Congratulations. Princess."

Teol-sseok!

As if her tension had completely unraveled, Gyeon Dal-rae slumped to the floor and shed tears.

And yet, a faint smile blooming.

Just how much must she have been nervous?

Now she can feel at ease.

Because her Master has been liberated.

Because she found freedom.

It was the best possible result.

Messages continued to pop up.

[The 74th floor ultra-high difficulty optional mission for all Black Towers on Earth will be changed.]

Ultra-high difficulty optional mission change.

The original mission was [Eliminate the Millennium Fox Nine-Tailed Fox Bound and Tied to a Knot].

Naturally, it should change.

When her soul has been liberated, how could she be a clear target?

'It would be good if it changes to an easier mission...'

[The changed 74th floor ultra-high difficulty optional mission is 'Destroy the Millennium Fox's Magic Formation'.]

'Hmm.'

It didn't become easier.

Even if it changed, it being uncountable to clear is the same.

Who would destroy that magic formation?

Ordinary players wouldn't stand a chance.

Even Cossack almost died and came back to life acting cocky on it.

And,

[Achievement : Liberated a soul bound to the tower for the first time.]

'...It's an achievement?'

Of course! Honestly, he expected it.

An achievement should come out.

The problem is the achievement reward.

[Paying out the achievement reward.]

'If it's this time again...'

If a reward for the number of daily Enter Tower entries pops up, he's just going to flip it over.

He doesn't know what he'll flip, but he'll flip it anyway.

[The manifestation limit for all summoned entities is uniformly extended by 2 hours.]

'Eh?'

This is a good thing.

It truly is extremely sweet.

"What popped up, sir?"

"The manifestation limit for all summoned entities is uniformly extended by 2 hours."

"...Euhik?"

"Oh!"

"Jackpot!"

"Ho-e!"

"Heo-heo-heo-heo!"

The summoned entities showing gladness.

Everyone rejoiced.

Especially Gwangma had a beaming face.

It seems the achievement reward is very much to his liking.

[Paying out the 74th floor clear reward.]

Ah! Right.

There was a clear reward too, right?

[Reward : High-Grade Mana Stone 740kg / Fox Bead]

'...Fox Bead?'

What is it?

He'll examine it later.

Lastly.

[World Notice : You have achieved the 74th floor clear grade S+++ of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

[S+++ Clear Reward : Awarding 2 Platinum Badges.]

Grade judgment is S+++ too.

[You may challenge the 75th floor.]

[Exiting the South Korea Black Tower.]

Spot!

It was a truly rewarding clear.

Namyangju villa.

The 74th floor clear has ended.

And he can guess what the next mission will be.

It is undoubtedly eliminating the bad Nine-Tailed Fox.

On the 75th floor, or the 76th floor.

Gobang was also a linked mission continuing for 3 floors.

Gyeon Dal-rae will likely be no different.

'Anyway, our Princess is....'

Does she have any aftereffects?

Like PTSD or something.

"Ayu, the exact moment I stepped on the line, my body went jji-reu-reu-reu, and backward, kwak! I was pushed away, and I really almost died, sir. I almost got outed for 100 days."

Pik, Gyeon Dal-rae chuckling.

"It is a pity. It seems her power was about a half-measure short. Was it because our Master's power weakened after being done in by the damned Nine-Tailed Fox wench... I could have sent Mr. Cossack off comfortably as well."

Cossack tilting his head.

"But did you really learn properly from your Master, Princess, sir?"

"Why?"

"Then you would have learned transformation arts, sir."

"I could not learn it. Since this girl is not a fox either."

"Aigo, what a pity, sir. If you had learned it, you could have made your breasts the size of watermelons like the Seven-Tailed Foxes..."

"You, you bastaaaard!!!"

She seems fine.

One thing he's curious about here.

"...Do you not want it, Sir Gwangma?"

"Mmm? What are you speaking of?"

"To be liberated from the tower through ascending to heaven like Hae-ryeong-nim."

"Heo-heo, ascending to heaven, my foot!"

Gwangma didn't even agonize over it.

"If it were possible, I would have done it too. But it is impossible. If there is anyone in the world who has as many lingering attachments as I do, tell them to step forward."

Is that so?

Then again, he is the public enemy of the martial arts world, the ultimate calamity of Jianghu, the very person responsible for the Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood.

"I am stained with the dirt of the secular world just as much as one can be, and it will not be erased. I am sufficiently satisfied with the manifestation limit being extended."

Right.

As long as Sir Gwangma is satisfied, it's fine.

Anyway, the morning tasks are finished with this.

He can enter 3 times a day, but...

It's bothersome.

He wants to rest.

Is there anyone else who lives as busily as this?

He has to pay attention to climbing the tower, and look after the domestic and international affairs too.

No, since when did a real man become like this?

Joo-hyuk took out the Fox Bead he received as a reward from his inventory.

Red color.

The size is about a ping-pong ball.

Effect : It is a material item.

A brief description.

If it's a material?

Anyway, since it might be related to Hae-ryeong.

"Excuse me, Princess,"

"Please speak."

"A Fox Bead came out as a clear reward, would you like to have it? It might be a keepsake of Hae-ryeong-nim."

Saeng-geut, Gyeon Dal-rae speaking while smiling.

"You speak words of ten million. It is not this girl's. Please consider it as Master's gift of gratitude for the grace you bestowed upon her."

Then, well.

Since it says it's a material, let's figure out where it's used.

Going inside the camper.

"Blood Wolf Return Summon."

Spot! Blood Wolf going in,

"Aliya Mari designated summon."

Spot! Mari coming out.

Cheol-keok, Joo-hyuk closed the door and came outside.

Conversations with our corner Alchemist-nim are always via tablet.

It is cumbersome, but what can he do?

It's not as if a severe anthropophobia would be cured overnight anyway.

[Real Man] : Ms. Mari.

[Mari] : Summoner-nim!!! A miraculous thing happened. The manifestation limit has been extended by 2 more hours.

[Real Man] : Are you happy?

[Mari] : I'm so happy. I can play with the tablet for 2 more hours™¡

Honestly, he is curious.

Our hikikomori and keyboard warrior Ms. Mari, what does she do playing with a tablet?

[Real Man] : I received this in the tower, and I was curious where it is used.

Opening the door a little and sending the Fox Bead rolling, de-gu-reu-reu, giving it to her.

[Mari] : Oh my? It's a High-Grade material.

[Real Man] : Is it usable?

[Mari] : It's something like an essence, and it can be used as a material for the Elixir of Enhancement. As a substitute for a Phoenix's Feather.

[Real Man] : Ah!

[Mari] : It originally doesn't drop often.

Which means it is that precious.

Since he ended up achieving an achievement, wouldn't the clear reward have also been influenced by it?

[Mari] : Please gather a little more of the material. Then I can make the Elixir of Enhancement.

[Real Man] : Yep!

Shall I slowly head home?

After dropping Cossack off in North Korea.

Cossack preparing for his business trip.

"Are you ready?"

"Chung! I will be back from the dispatch, sir."

"Then let's go."

"Yep!"

Pyongyang.

Chairman Kim In-joong was still in a botanical human state.

He couldn't move his body, couldn't open his eyes, and couldn't speak, but his mind was perfectly fine.

The place he is currently at is an underground bunker somewhere in Pyongyang.

A facility that wouldn't budge even if a nuclear weapon detonated.

A place with stricter defense than the residence.

If the entrance doors were sealed, it was a safe zone where not even a ghost could enter.

'Hoo.'

Thinking that he had become safe, his heart calmed down.

'Just what kind of bastards are they?'

No way, from the South?

The most credible speculation is that a South Korean player used the Rune Necklace of Liberation to secretly infiltrate Pyongyang, but.

Actually, it's close to a certainty.

An old man and a young man.

Both of them used the Korean language.

The problem is whether the South Korean government intervened,

Or if it's a deed committed personally by a player who obtained the necklace?

Even if it is, what are they going to do about it.

Whether it's one of the two, is there any sharp brilliant idea?

At best, protesting to the South Korean government, or firing ballistic missiles or long-range artillery into the East Sea or West Sea.

There's nothing other than this.

An actual war is impossible.

The military power of South Korea and North Korea is practically an insurmountable wall.

If a war breaks out, the Republic will be annihilated.

They probably wouldn't even be a match.

Whether it's the ground forces, the air force, the navy, or information warfare, even missile power has long since been reversed.

They say they have nuclear weapons, but that's for threatening and for suicide.

It is not a means for war.

It is closer to a political purpose.

If they actually launch a nuke, at that moment North Korea is set for destruction.

Pyongyang will become ashes.

No one will survive.

Well, whatever the case, be it war or provocation, he must first shake his body off and get up to be able to respond.

He, the supreme decision-maker, is not dead but perfectly alive.

Who would decide on a war?

Anyway, when will the paralysis be released?

Kim In-joong could not see, but he could hear.

They even took CT and MRI scans.

Even so, they said they don't know the name of the disease.

They said no external or internal injuries were seen, there were no problems with his organs, and his brain was clean.

So they brought in a masseuse to knead his entire body, administered oxygen therapy, and even injected narcotic drugs.

However, no matter what they did, he did not get better.

He couldn't twitch even his toes or fingers.

His pent-up anger burst.

This is all because of the failure in security.

To think the Chairman's residence, which should be the safest in the Republic, was breached like that.

When he recovers, the security chiefs will all be targets for a purge.

Anyway, will the bastard really come?

Since conversation was a bust today, he did say he would come back again tomorrow.

He will absolutely not be able to come.

No matter if they are liberated players, it is impossible.

This underground bunker here is a thoroughly concealed fortress.

He probably wouldn't even know he had been moved here.

Furthermore, the armed forces spread throughout the entire bunker.

Inside the room, outside the room, and in the corridors too.

Not even a ghost could enter.

Even if it takes time, after he recovers his condition here...

However?

Spot! Peok! Teol-sseok!

'What is it?'

Peok! Teol-sseok!

Peok peok peok, teol-sseok, teol-sseok, teol-sseok...

It was the sound of striking.

The sound of someone being hit and collapsing.

'What the?'

And,

"They didn't die, sir. Stunned them, sir."

'Heok!'

"I almost died today, so I realized the preciousness of life, sir. I now know just how dangerous an act it is to step on a line, sir."

It's that man.

'How did he know I was here? Is there a traitor?'

"Did you feel at ease because it is an underground bunker, sir? No matter where Comrade Chairman is, you absolutely cannot escape from me, sir."

Ahhhh.

"If you cannot believe it, try experimenting, sir. I do not care even if you spread the army all around, sir."

'Just how?'

At that moment!

"Comrade Chairman!!!"

"It's an intruder!"

"You brats, what are you doing? Sound the emergency bell quickly!"

Wi-i-i-i-ing!

An emergency was declared in the underground bunker.

Chairman Kim In-joong being moved somewhere again.

However,

"Look, sir. Isn't it that no one can find me, sir?"

'....'

It was true.

He was right next to the bed.

However, there was no one who perceived him.

After upgrading the stealth skill to LSSR grade with 5 badges, Cossack continuously stayed next to Chairman Kim In-joong.

For quite a long time.

While occasionally speaking to him as well.

Then,

"Since you might become my superior officer in the future, I will make your body able to move for now, sir."

'Superior officer?'

"Do not worry, sir. I learned how to release acupoints from the old man, sir."

Kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk.

After poking here and there on Chairman Kim In-joong's body with his fingers,

"I will come again tomorrow, sir."

Spot!

Cossack disappeared.

A moment later,

'Heo-eo....'

Chairman Kim In-joong realized that his physical condition had changed.

Wiggle wiggle.

His body moves.

His mouth is also free.

Springing up.

"H-hey you! ...Is anyone there?"

"C-Comrade Chairman!!! Have you awoken, sir?"

Bodyguards running in a hurry,

"Prepare a car right now."

"...Yes?"

"I am going to leave Pyongyang! Keep it strictly secret so no one knows!"

And a day passed.

The place he is at is Wonsan on the East Sea of North Korea,

Surely he wouldn't seek him out all the way here?

However, late at night,

"Comrade Chairman, what are you intending to do coming all the way to Wonsan, sir? Did you think Wonsan would be safe, sir?"

"...."

"I thought I would die from my legs hurting coming here, sir."

It's driving me crazy.

"...What do you want from me?"

"I will come again tomorrow, sir."

"W-wait!"

Spot!

The next day.

"Wow! Is it Sinuiju this time, sir? Trying to flee to China, sir?"

"This damn!"

"I will come again tomorrow, sir."

Spot!

"That son of a bitch bastard! I will pull out his tongue."

Spot!

"What did you say, sir?"

"...N-no, n-no words."

"Please be careful, sir. I will bring our bouncy Sergeant Bae, sir. A red dot might be stamped on your forehead, sir."

Bouncy Sergeant Bae, you say?

Spot!

Another day passed.

Kim In-joong gave up.

The man who seeks him out no matter where he moves.

The place he is currently at is Pyongyang.

Alone in the Chairman's residence.

He also withdrew all the bodyguards.

What could he do?

He couldn't escape no matter what he did.

Seu-reu-reuk!

Cossack appearing.

"You did well, sir. Are you ready to have a conversation now, sir?"

Chairman Kim In-joong nodding his head.

"Good, sir. Let us begin, sir."

"Just why did you start such a thing...."

"I am doing it so we can live well, sir. Shouldn't the people of our Republic also eat white rice and meat soup, sir?"

Cossack smiled broadly and continued speaking.

"Our Comrade Chairman has eaten too much, sir. Look at your protruding belly, sir. At this rate, you will die of an adult disease before I can even attach a ribbon on you, sir."

"...."

Gulp.

Kim In-joong swallowing dry saliva.

"Please hand over the tower first, sir. The Republic also has to resume production of High-Grade Mana Stones, does it not, sir?"

"How do you mean hand over the tower....N-no way, unification?"

"Tsk tsk, your dreams are big too, sir."

Cossack clicking his tongue.

"Unification also requires matching levels, sir."

"Then what must I do."

"You just have to not do anything, sir."

"What?"

"It is not a joke, sir. Even if something happens, please do not do anything, sir. After that, you just have to do as I order, sir."

Finally, the last day Cossack planned.

[World Notice : A player affiliated with the South Korea Black Tower declares forceful occupation of the tower against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.]

A world notice rang out.