Chapter 131 - Chapter 131

Chapter 131

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Black Market Guild Master Dmitri.

After being kidnapped in Prague, he was dragged to North Korea.

In a state of almost having lost his mind due to continuous drug administration.

When he woke up, it was North Korea.

The most closed-off nation on Earth.

Even so, he did not lose hope.

He will absolutely escape.

How could he get out of this place?

He even considered negotiating with his inventory items.

Handing over the items they want and becoming a free body.

However, they are untrustworthy folks.

If you are fooled once, to be fooled twice is being a fool.

They won't be able to kill him.

Is there a need to kill him?

His utility value as a high-level player is sufficient too.

On top of that, if he dies, his inventory gets locked up as well.

He endured to the end.

Despite all sorts of torture, he steadfastly protected his inventory.

Because the items inside will become the foundation for him to escape North Korea and make a fresh start someday.

However, a change occurred.

Forceful occupation of the tower, they say.

The nationality of the North Korea tower changes?

Then what happens to him?

Eventually, that day did arrive.

The nationality expungement of temporarily naturalized players that popped up as a world notice.

And the system messages heard at the same time.

[Please acquire a new nationality within 10 days.]

[If a nationality is not acquired, player qualification will be deprived.]

Status window nationality None.

Just what in the world is this?

Let's say nationality expungement is what it is.

But how is he supposed to acquire a new nationality while in a restrained state.

If he were a free body, all he would have had to do was run to any country's embassy and acquire a nationality through a player naturalization application...

In 10 days, deprivation of player qualification.

He cannot use the tower-exclusive inventory either.

While he was filled with trepidation, the atmosphere of the concentration camp where Dmitri was incarcerated also changed.

The North Korean players who were locked up became free bodies and returned to their homes.

The spring of Pyongyang.

The relationship between South and North Korea changed to a reconciliation mode, and in South Korea, the Awakening Management Agency is planning to establish a branch for the purpose of exchange.

He harbored a shred of hope.

Whether he might also be released.

However, completely silent news.

There was no further torture, but he was still in a locked-up state.

What do I do?

Should I try to negotiate even now?

However, there was no one to listen.

Time continued to pass.

The remaining time is now 5 days.

He gradually became anxious.

If his player qualification is deprived, his usefulness also disappears.

However, a single lifeline came down.

The appearance of North Korea's new man of power.

Minister of the People's Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk.

Coming to meet him accompanied by an interpreter.

"Comrade is the Black Market ringleader?"

"Y-yes, I am."

"What is the player status window nationality?"

"...I am currently stateless."

"Is that so? Then if you cannot acquire a nationality within 5 days, you will be deprived of your qualification."

Dmitri observed the Minister of the People's Armed Forces' mood.

He did not come aimlessly.

There is something he desires.

"I could save your life, comrade. And arrange the acquisition of a nationality too."

"...Really?"

"If the conditions are right, that is."

"Please speak of anything."

Gulp.

Dmitri swallowed dry saliva.

It finally came.

The opportunity to escape North Korea.

He can hand over inventory items as much as he wants.

Excluding the most expensive item.

"There is exactly one thing I want."

"What is it?"

"A single small stone, a size that slips right into the mouth, something where traits get heavily enhanced if you eat it."

"...."

"If you just give me that, I can liberate you immediately, comrade. I will promise."

Rune of Trait Enhancement.

Actually, he has one in his inventory.

He had 3, sold 2 to the United States, and 1 left as a spare.

However, he absolutely cannot hand it over.

The most valuable item among the items he possesses.

It is also an absolute necessity for his fresh start in the future.

"I do not have that on me. Could I give you something else instead? A deposit of 300 million dollars in a Swiss bank..."

Pik, Cossack sneering.

"Are you making fun of me right now? Do you think I wouldn't know for how much comrade sold that stone to the American brats?"

"...Uh-uh."

"Listen well! If there is no Rune of Trait Enhancement, the negotiation is also over. Comrade will be deprived of player qualifications too."

"N-no, that is...."

"If you are not a player, isn't comrade useless as well? You just die after completely mining coal in a mine for the rest of your life."

"B-but what am I to do when I don't have it! I'm telling the truth."

Dmitri desperately denied it.

The Rune of Trait Enhancement must not become the subject of negotiation.

"Well, if there is no Rune, there is no conversation either. Rot in the Republic for the rest of your life."

Cossack jumping up.

"W-wait!"

He left the concentration camp's solitary cell without even pretending to hear.

He's just leaving?

Not a chance, he will come back again.

Cossack was certain.

That the bastard called a Guild Master has the Rune in his inventory.

However, he must not rush in hastily.

He has to give him time to think.

So that he can vomit out the Rune of Trait Enhancement from his inventory on his own.

The result is decided anyway.

He plans to visit a day before nationality expungement.

At that time, the Rune will be held in his hands.

The North tower was cleared up to the 74th floor.

Next is clearing the NO.1, original South Korea tower.

Taking a full day of rest.

After calling all the summoned entities except Mari.

"Summoner, it is a good morning."

"Chung! Summoner Bong, sir. The Minister of the People's Armed Forces has arrived, sir."

"The warrior has come too."

"Young Master, have you awoken from your sleep?"

"My Lord."

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber."

"Ho-e!"

"Keong-keong!"

Since the numbers are many, just greeting each takes an age.

And it will become even more as time goes on.

"Let's wrap it up quickly. Because we have to build houses."

Shall we enter?

To the unclear upper floors.

[Entering the 75th floor of the South Korea Black Tower (NO.1).]

Spot!

Safe zone.

It was a place like a barn.

However, the atmosphere is eerie.

It doesn't seem like the weather is cold, but a feeling of chill digging into his entire body.

'Hmm, it looks like ghosts would come out.'

Making a person tense.

'Let's dope first.'

The potions received from Ms. Mari.

Drug reliance is not good, but would there be side effects in potions made by an LSSR grade Sage.

Drinking them gulp by gulp.

Joo-hyuk opened the barn door with a creak and stepped out.

The surroundings were a dark night without a speck of moonlight, not a single sound of grass bugs could be heard.

"Light!!!"

Hwa-a-ak!

The quick-witted Bardin manifested his radiance.

Ssu-u-uk!

The giantized Gobang firmly grabbed the human Holy Sword and human illumination Bardin, deop-seok, and lifted him up.

Like a torch.

Following behind him were Gwangma and Cossack, in the middle Joo-hyuk and Gyeon Dal-rae, and finally Rajix and Veronica riding the Blood Wolf.

Only now did the outside scenery enter his eyes.

Antique tile-roofed buildings erected here and there.

However, they were half-collapsed.

Under his feet, pieces of broken tiles and weeds were lush.

At this level, it's an ideal location for NuTuber streamers' abandoned house experience content.

However, Gyeon Dal-rae tilting her head.

After looking around for a long while, with a trembling voice.

"I think I know where this place is. Here is...."

At that moment!

Tti-ring!

Ju-reu-reuk, the missions floating up.

[75th floor Basic Mission : Eliminate 30 Palace Guard Soldier Earthbound Spirits.]

[75th floor Additional Optional Mission : Eliminate 15 Palace Guard Ssaulabi Earthbound Spirits.]

[75th floor High-Difficulty Optional Mission : Eliminate the Palace Guard Captain Heuk Chi-su Earthbound Spirit.]

[75th floor Ultra-High Difficulty Optional Mission : Eliminate the Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul.]

Palace.

Elimination of Earthbound Spirits.

'Then?'

Here was the palace of the Cheon Empire.

And a ruined one at that.

Gyeon Dal-rae's sorrowful expression.

Then again, is it not the place where she was born and raised.

"It has perished. The Imperial Palace, the Empire...."

It seems so.

There was not a single living person.

Instead,

Seu-reu-reuk, seu-reuk, seu-reu-reuk.

Whitish somethings flying through the air as if swimming.

"...They are really ghosts."

Vengeful spirits harboring grudges.

Earthbound Spirits who failed to ascend to the afterlife and fixed their horizon coordinates in a specific space in this world.

"Gh-ghosts are scary, though."

"Sergeant Bae catches undeads with ease, so what is scary about ghosts, sir?"

"Are undeads and ghosts the same?"

"Honestly, if you get down to it, aren't we also ghosts, sir."

"Shut up! Main enemy bastard, do you want me to really turn you into a ghost?"

"Aigo, our communist-destroying Sergeant Bae. Unification is any day now, and you're still singing the main enemy tune, sir?"

Sergeant Bae wasn't the only one scared.

Rajix was also hugging the Blood Wolf's neck and trembling uncontrollably, ho-dal-dal.

'Mmm.'

Joo-hyuk's mouth also went completely dry.

Sergeant Bae's words are right.

Are ghosts and undeads the same?

Especially traditional Korean ghosts are scarier.

The memory of covering myself up with a blanket and watching TV horror dramas when I was young is still vivid.

'Ugh, making my heart tremble.'

Taking out the Mental Power Enhancement Mango Juice manufactured by the Sage from his inventory and drinking it.

"Princess."

"Please speak."

"We ultimately have to catch the Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul, but do you know who he is?"

"If it is Gyeon Sul, he is this girl's uncle."

He knew it.

Gyeon Dal-rae's uncle.

The figure who staged a rebellion, killed her younger brother, ascended to the imperial throne, and got struck by Gyeon Dal-rae's Death Curse.

"This girl, has one request."

"Just say the word, I'll grant anything."

"Please give this girl an opportunity to resolve the grudges and resentments of the deceased."

"Ah..."

Right.

That would be better than blindly clearing.

These Earthbound Spirits are people who lived in the same palace as Gyeon Dal-rae; perhaps they were acquaintances.

"I am thinking of holding a Guiding Shamanic Ritual to guide them to the afterlife and pray for their passage to paradise."

A good idea.

There's nothing quite like a shamanic ritual for exorcising ghosts.

Even if they do a Guiding Shamanic Ritual, it might not mean they go to the afterlife, though,

Well, it's the tower's world, so there should be a tower afterlife too.

"Ho-eng!"

Seu-seut.

Rajix took out a handcart loaded with a power bank, a large speaker and amplifier, and an MP3 player.

"I will pull this, sir."

"Comrade Minister of the People's Armed Forces pulling around something like a handcart is...."

"Ayu, do not tease me, sir. There is only one person I pledge loyalty to, sir."

"Who? Chairman Kim?"

"Ei, you know already, he-he-he."

"Ha-ha-ha."

Exchanging joke-like conversations, the fear seemed to subside a little too.

Cossack flipped the play switch.

Dung-dung! Du-dung-dung!

Chae-chaeng! Chaeng-chae-chaeng!

A Guiding Shamanic Ritual melody ringing out alongside drumbeats.

Cha-reuk! Cha-reu-reu!

Gyeon Dal-rae stepped forward holding bells and a sword.

Actually, in the previous undead section on the 60s floors, Gyeon Dal-rae's rituals and talismans had limits.

It was possible to weaken the dark aura very slightly, but she couldn't deal substantial damage or inflict fatal debuffs.

The ones who played the decisive roles were the Holy Sword and the summoned entity Holy Knight Lucius Bardin.

However, the situation is different now.

Earthbound Spirits are not undead.

Furthermore, this is the palace where Princess Gyeon Dal-rae lived.

The paramount shaman priestess of the Cheon Empire's Imperial Family shrine, Princess Bari Gyeon Dal-rae, who guides the deceased to the afterlife.

Therefore, the Earthbound Spirits of the palace are no different from petty ghosts to her.

Cha-reu-reu-reu-reu!

As the bells rang, the soldier Earthbound Spirits began to flee in a flurry.

Hu-du-du-du-duk!

Yellow-colored talismans scattering like flower petals.

Pa-pat! Pa-pa-pa-pat!

Ghosts disappearing as soon as they were touched.

A matter of compatibility in the first place.

What palace Earthbound Spirit could stand against the paramount shaman priestess Gyeon Dal-rae.

The clear was instantaneous.

[Eliminate Cheon Empire Palace Guard Soldier Earthbound Spirits 30/30]

[You have succeeded in the 75th floor basic mission.]

[Your level has gone up.]

[Reward : Mana Stone 1.5kg / High-Grade Mana Stone 6kg]

Basic mission accomplished.

[Will you continue proceeding with the additional optional mission?]

[If you decline, you will exit the tower with a mission success judgment.]

'Proceed.'

The next targets are the Guard Ssaulabi Earthbound Spirits.

Even if they are higher-ranking warrior ghosts than soldiers, they couldn't muster any strength before Gyeon Dal-rae's Guiding Shamanic Ritual and talismans.

In fact, the moment they faced her, it was over.

What was the role of the Guard Ssaulabis when they were alive?

It was protecting the Imperial Family.

The very being they had to protect appeared smack right before their eyes.

'Princess...'

'Princess, My Lady.'

'I am deeply unworthy.'

'Please kill your disloyal subjects.'

To the point that there were even Ssaulabi Earthbound Spirits who recognized Gyeon Dal-rae and bowed to her.

Pa-pat! Pa-pa-pa-pat!

The Earthbound Spirits withdrew on their own.

[You have completed the additional optional mission.]

[Reward : High-Grade Mana Stone 20kg]

The next high-difficulty optional mission, Guard Captain Heuk Chi-su Evil Spirit.

A named monster whose information can be checked.

- Grade : SSR (Special Super Rare)

- Type : General (Ghost)

- Heuk Chi-su was a low-ranking general guarding the Cheon Empire Palace. However, attaching himself to Gyeon Sul, he became the leading force of the rebellion and betrayed his young liege.

"You bastard!!! Heuk Chi-su!"

Gyeon Dal-rae's bellow.

The Guard Captain Earthbound Spirit Heuk Chi-su trembled his spirit body, bu-reu-reu.

'Princess? Is it really the Princess?'

"I knew it would be like this. The treacherous end of a betrayer is truly miserable. You have become a lowly petty ghost wandering the nine heavens."

'Keu-keu-keu, what betrayal? When wealth and honor are visible right before my eyes, one is an idiot and a fool if they do not seize the opportunity.'

"So, are you enjoying that honor now?"

'I-i-ik! You wench, it's because of you wench. Did you not throw a Death Curse at the Emperor! Because of you, the Empire perished.'

"If it is a world that perishes over the death of a mere Emperor, it is right for it to end quickly."

'You bitch like a dog!!!'

Heuk Chi-su rushing in with fearsome momentum.

However, saying it again, this place is Gyeon Dal-rae's world.

"There will be no afterlife for you. Die once more! You traitor!"

Cheu-pit!

A talisman flying.

Hwa-a-ak!

A bronze mirror emitting light.

"Keu-a-a-a-ak!"

Hit by the talisman and exposed to the mirror's light, Heuk Chi-su ended up melting away.

[You have completed the high-difficulty optional mission.]

[Reward : Tower-Exclusive Cursed Guard's General Sword.]

"The one catching ghosts is a shaman, not a marine, huh."

"They said she was the paramount shaman priestess, and it was not empty words."

"She is overflowing with spirit, sir. It reminds me of the time I got scolded for slurping noodles, sir."

"A warrior does not make sounds when eating noodles."

Even though Gyeon Dal-rae died at a young age and hadn't shaken off her girlish demeanor, her in the palace was invincible.

The natural enemy of Earthbound Spirits.

Who would dare stand against her?

Now the last one.

Gyeon Dal-rae knew where the Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul, the target of the ultra-high difficulty optional mission, was.

Her, walking alone with long strides.

The largest pavilion in the palace.

Ppi-geok, as she opened the door and entered.

"...Uncle."

With a form like an emaciated skeleton, a ghost crawling on all fours across the main hall of the pavilion like a dog.

Da-geu-dak, da-geu-dak.

The miserable appearance of an evil spirit.

- Grade : SSR++ (High-Grade Special Super Rare)

- Type : Emperor (Ghost)

- Gyeon Sul is the figure who killed his nephew Gyeon Uk and became the Emperor. However, not long after ascending the throne, he was struck by a Death Curse from his other niece and died. He put forward proxies and even held a proxy-killing shamanic ritual to block the Death Curse, but the Death Curse from the Cheon Empire's paramount shaman priestess flew in exactly and struck him.

- After Gyeon Sul died, his three sons fell for the coaxing of the evil spirit Nine-Tailed Fox and engaged in a struggle for imperial power. Eventually, taking advantage of the chaotic times, Japanese pirates and northern nomadic tribes invaded, and the Empire ended up perishing due to the war.

The Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul saw Gyeon Dal-rae.

'Oh! My niece has come. Exactly the same as before, you've gained weight very appetizingly.'

"You are truly lowly. Being bound to the tower even in death and unable to leave, how do you have so many lingering attachments?"

'Shut up! Before you killed your younger brother, I should have killed you first. That is merely the one piece of lingering attachment I have.'

"Have you not yet realized the transience of power? Even after making the Empire like this?"

'Kil-kil-kil, power is something that cannot be shared even between father and son.'

"There is something I wish to ask... Was it perhaps you who killed my father as well?"

'Heu-heu, do you not already know. Yes, I killed him. Because your weak father was a figure who shouldn't have become Emperor in the first place.'

Bi-teul!

Gyeon Dal-rae staggering her body.

Pa-reu-reu, trembling pupils.

A pale face losing its blood color.

Joo-hyuk, who was watching, also felt a pang in his chest.

How could he not know that feeling?

The enemy who killed her father and younger brother.

For a bastard like that, getting struck by Death Curses a hundred times is still not enough.

Joo-hyuk approached Gyeon Dal-rae and held her delicate shoulders with both hands.

"Princess."

"...Ah!"

"Leave that guy to us."

"Th, that is."

"Don't handle it alone."

Gyeon Dal-rae stepping back.

Rajix toddled over and hugged her tightly.

"Ho-e."

"Servant Rajix... I, I am alright."

"Hoo-e-e-e!"

It is lamentable.

On the 74th floor, she let go of her master, and on the 75th floor, she ended up facing the enemy of her father and younger brother again.

Joo-hyuk issued an instruction to Veronica.

"Sergeant Bae."

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber!"

"Feed him a shot of a large-caliber bullet."

"Certain victory! Executing elemental absorption."

Veronica approached Gyeon Dal-rae and asked cautiously.

"Princess, I will excuse myself for a moment."

"...Yes, Sergeant Bae. I will attach a talisman for you."

An exorcism talisman attached to the magic gun.

The energy of the talisman was sucked into the magic gun.

"Targeting Evil Spirit complete!"

Cheol-keok!

Sergeant Bae's magic gun bullets are Mana Stones.

Attack power equipping the divine power of the talisman simultaneously through physics, magic, and elemental absorption.

Da-da-da-dak!

The Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul running on all fours like a dog.

'I will definitely devour you alone, you wench!!!'

He's pulling some bullshit.

Just eat a large-caliber bullet.

The magic gun heating up white.

Jji-i-ing!

Pa-ju-ju-juk!

Sergeant Bae's entire body shook violently.

Chul-leong!

The large-caliber bullet hit accurately on the body of the rushing Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul.

Pa-a-a-at!

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

Gwangma and Gobang blocked the surging aftermath of the explosion.

The Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul trembling uncontrollably with his four legs directed towards the sky due to the shock of the large-caliber bullet.

"Kki-i-i-i...."

He's not dead yet.

"One more shot."

"Yep!"

Jji-i-ing!

Pa-ju-ju-juk!

Chul-leong!

Pa-a-a-at!

Kwa-kwang!!!

The Evil Spirit Gyeon Sul was instantly obliterated.

Well, he'll come out again if reset, but.

[Completed all missions on the 75th floor.]

[Reward : Ring of Shape Transformation / Restore (Restoration) Scroll]

It wasn't even hard.

Since it's exactly the same as Gyeon Dal-rae doing it all by herself.

Then?

I should enter the 76th floor right away.

Is there a need to drag out the time?

[Calculating the clear grade.]

[World Notice : You have achieved the 75th floor clear grade S+++ of Black Tower NO.1 (South Korea).]

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