Chapter 184 - Chapter 184

Chapter 184

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The world of souls.

The souls who were still full of anxiety, worrying about the Summoner in the outside world.

However, there was no sharp method.

How do they find out the outside situation?

When even the connection link with the outside had disappeared because of the White Tower.

But?

『Have you all been doing well? Hyung-nims and Nuna-nims, Gepetto offers his greetings.』

『Gepetto? What is that?』

『Why ask me? How would I know what kind of nobody he is.』

『Ah! Now that you mention it, I think I've heard it. Wasn't that SSR True-blood Vampire punk who spouted off about being a gourmet named Gepetto?』

『It was a vampire? But what's so great about him that he's even offering his greetings.』

『He's probably bragging about being a true-blood given his caliber.』

『Get lost! You punk! When taking into consideration that we're already distraught with worry for the Summoner in the outside world.』

Gepetto had a despondent heart.

These guys didn't even know he had been summoned outside.

Whether it's Earth or the world of souls, having no presence is the exact same.

『Excuse me, I was a White Tower resident though?』

『What nonsense are you spewing?』

『Delusions are free, but don't mess around. Because I'm not in the mood to entertain jokes.』

『I am an honorable True-blood Vampire. And a summoned entity chosen by the Summoner, I tell you. I merely came out on dispatch duty right now because there's work to do.』

The world of souls becoming silent momentarily.

This is a place where they communicate via mental waves, not by communicating with voices.

So lies are bound to be obvious unconditionally.

『Hmm, I see it is not a lie. But why?』

『We also know of the existence of the White Tower. Despite that, for you to have returned here means?』

『Didn't that punk cause a disaster and get kicked out?』

『What kind of disaster did you cause to get shunned by the Summoner?』

『That's not it, but.......』

Gepetto slowly and minutely unspooled the story.

Starting from the Rune Necklace of Liberation's strange reward method, the things occurring on Earth because of it, together with the story behind why he came here, and even the reason why random summons weren't happening.

Then.

『Admirable. Vampire Gepetto. I will apologize for having looked down on you.』

『Right. To think you rejected the sweetness of White Tower 17th floor, we send praise to your restraint and spirit of sacrifice.』

『As expected of a true-blood. I see the reason you were called out.』

『You are indeed a true loyal retainer. We acknowledge you.』

Praises pouring out.

Gepetto's mood improved.

When had he ever heard praises like this?

Simultaneously, criticisms towards the Managers too.

The souls speaking up one word at a time.

『The new Manager crossed the line again this time as well.』

『He's looking down on causality too much. Not knowing how terrifying it is to go against the laws.』

『We must not just leave him be!』

『Still, it is fortunate for the Summoner that a Magical Engineer joined. We are fully willing to wait a mere 100 days.』

『Shall we begin then? We must pull the Manager down this time too.』

『This Gepetto, I will be believing only in you Hyung-nims and Nuna-nims.』

The souls' desires gathered into one again.

The mental waves they exuded.

They became a massive current and began to shake the infinite barrier.

* * *

The environment of the Black Tower 86th floor is a volcanic terrain.

The crater of a volcano is seen far away over there.

A flying monster blazing intensely above it.

'Do I have to go all the way there to catch it?'

I don't know if pulling works.

Well, it won't change much even if it does but.

Superheated Kalpa Fire Phoenix, Phoenix.

Or one of the Four Auspicious Beasts, the Vermilion Bird (Jujak).

Originally, the fire (bul) of Phoenix (Bul-sa-jo) means the un-dying 'bul' (不).

Being 'sa' for death (æ­») and 'jo' for bird (é³¥), so it means a bird that does not die but.

It also possesses another 'bul', meaning the fire (í™”) attribute.

So its entire body is a fireball.

The material that the Phoenix's ash and feathers go into various kinds of Elixirs.

She said it's also used in Nectar.

Since she said it can be substituted with the Millennium Fox's Bead and the more there are, the better it is.

Hwa-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu.......

The majestic figure of the Phoenix where horrifying flames of fire sway all over its body every time it flaps its wings once.

Joo-hyuk's feelings upon witnessing that punk for the first time were.......

"It's beautiful."

This is sincere.

To the extent that it couldn't be called a monster.

9-circle Magician Mackenzie also nodded his head as if agreeing with Joo-hyuk's words and spoke.

"It is not that I am taking its side because I have learned fire-type magic, but fire also symbolizes the soul in the cultural spheres of each dimension. Unlike the flesh that rots and decays, the essence of the soul is eternity indeed. Thus, the Phoenix is an incarnation of immortality, a spirit entity made up of pure flames......."

At that moment!

Pi-shik, a ridicule heard from the side.

"Pure my ass!"

"What is it? If you have complaints, say it with words."

"Is this the time to be evaluating the Phoenix, sir? How are we going to clear that, sir?"

"Uh-eum, th, that is."

"Can it be cleared with the fire magic Magician Mackenzie boasts of, sir?"

"......."

Truthfully, he cannot.

How do you attack fire with fire?

Furthermore, a spirit entity without flesh.

If he manifests even a Hellfire at the Phoenix, it would probably absorb that fire energy and grow its strength further.

"Who was it that said let's clear the 86th floor... For now, it wasn't me, sir."

What?

"The warrior was not either."

"This old man stayed still at first as well."

"This girl too only followed because Magician Mackenzie was so confident in himself."

"By the Light!!! What power would an SSR have? We followed because you told us to climb."

"Me too."

"Master Sergeant Veronica Caliber, the person who drafted the strategy must take responsibility."

"Ho-a-at!"

These traitors.

As expected, they were punks who shouldn't be trusted.

When saying let's get Nectar and Elixir materials to make the Summoner consume, every single one of them agreed.

"So is there a method, sir? Or is there not, sir?"

"...If it's the Silver Dragon's Ice Breath, it might be able to extinguish that fire."

"Speak of something possible, sir. Where is a dragon here, sir?"

"If it's the 9-circle wide-area freezing magics Blizzard, Frozen Storm, and Frost Orb......."

"Is Magician Mackenzie an ice-type Magician, sir? Can you use Blizzard, sir?"

"......."

Mackenzie feels like dying.

No, how could anyone have known a Phoenix would appear on the 86th floor?

"This is a huge deal, sir. It looks like we'll have to consume a Tower Clear Mission Reset Ticket again, sir. Our livelihood will be wiped out if we use a ticket every single time we climb the tower, sir."

Joo-hyuk feeling pity at that sight of Mackenzie.

Poor Magician Mackenzie.

If so, why did he step forward saying he would do a briefing.

'He overdid it too much.'

When it would've been entirely enough if he had just quietly gauged the mood and followed along.

This is why people with 'E' tendencies are dangerous.

Why does he not know that he could get subjected to a reversal while leading the mood.

"In any case, we would need an ice attribute magic or attack means. I learned a skill called Ice Spear in the past but......."

At that, Gyeon Dal-rae stepping forward hastily and.

"It is not to disparage Young Master, but with middling freezing means, you will not be able to freeze even a single feather of the Phoenix."

Right.

It looks like too much even at a glance.

"It doesn't have an actual physical body, right? If it's a spirit entity......."

"It's made of fire. I heard it leaves feathers and ash when it becomes extinguished though,"

"The method to kill it?"

"We just have to extinguish the fire."

Do we have to pour water or something over it?

"Water is not enough. Unless you throw it into the sea, it will vaporize into steam as soon as it touches."

So it doesn't work.

"I knew it would be like this, sir. Fire magic is outdated, sir. Isn't it a magic that falls behind recent trends, sir! Cold noodles are inevitably tastier than boiling hot chopped noodles, sir."

Cossack, why is this guy being like this?

He's tormenting our poor Magician Mackenzie way too much.

"What we need is not someone who sets fires, sir. It's someone who extinguishes fires, sir."

Downcast Mackenzie.

Tsk tsk.

"Don't be too hard on him. There could be another method, right, like how we bombed the ultra-giant monster Titan Behemoth to death with nukes in the past."

El widening her eyes roundly and acting shocked at Joo-hyuk's words.

"...What do you mean by nukes? Don't tell me a nuclear explosion inside the tower?"

"Did you not know, sir? Indeed, you were a tower monster experiencing mental fluctuations around that time so."

That was the case.

The days when her summoned entity status was revoked.

Because she was nothing more than a mere monster piloting a Gigant.

"Heo-heo-heo, it was the best moment."

"That's right, sir. It's thrilling even now just thinking about that time, sir."

"It was a paradigm shift. The Managers probably freaked out and passed out."

"Although it's blocked now."

Mackenzie also nodded his head.

The nuclear explosion on the 81st floor.

"The world of souls was also in an uproar at that time."

El still could not believe it.

Even so, still.

How did they get a nuke?

At that moment!

Rajix entering El's eyes.

"Ah!"

She thinks she knows.

How they brought a nuke inside the tower.

Since there is nothing he cannot bring in his subspace backpack.

Is he the #1 for nothing?

A summoned entity whose sight only gets more wondrous the more she looks.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie narrowing his eyes and engrossed in his thoughts.

His head feels ticklish.

'I feel like I'm about to think of something.......'

All sorts of thoughts brushed past his head.

Then.

'...Eung?'

Mackenzie suddenly opening his eyes brightly.

The words the assassin punk said just a moment before.

'What we need is not someone who sets fires, sir. It's someone who extinguishes fires, sir.'

And the paradigm shift of the nuke tactic.

Together with Rajix's subspace.

Then?

"S, Summoner!"

"Why is it?"

"There is an idea this Magician just thought of right now."

"Tell me whatever it is."

"What if we haul fire engines inside the tower?"

What kind of out-of-the-blue nonsense is this?

"...Fire engines?"

"Right. This Magician has an interest in fire normally, so I have seen it on the news before."

Mackenzie added an explanation.

"There is a chemical fire engine which sprays special extinguishing agents instead of water among fire engines though."

Eng?

"...Chemical fire engines?"

"That is correct. If we bring those inside the tower, and keep spraying them at that Phoenix......."

Oh!

"Isn't that a decent idea?"

"Since the Dimensional Farmhand is an LSSR, about 10 chemical fire engines shouldn't be a problem."

"Ho-a?"

What do you mean 10?

20, no, wouldn't it be 30 too?

It's worth a try.

If dozens of fire engines spew out chemical fire extinguishing agents all at once, that is indeed Dragon Breath.

"Ayu, our genius Great Magician Mackenzie-nim, as expected of a 9-circle. Your mind is very brilliant."

"I am f, flattered."

Mackenzie emitting beul-ring-beul-ring light from his entire body at Joo-hyuk's praise.

"Firefighting tactic on the 86th floor, how could you come up with such an idea!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Setting fires is also important, but extinguishing them is no less than that. Shouldn't we take another look at extinguished fires as well?"

"Of course! As expected from an expert."

Mackenzie greatly encouraged by Joo-hyuk's praises.

Cossack judging that the general trend leaned too maybe.

"I was also just about to suggest it just now, sir. A fire engine tactic, it's a good thought, sir."

Going outside first.

[Upon use you automatically exit, the mission for the corresponding floor is reset, and the entry record is deleted.]

Jji-ik!

[You have used a Tower Clear Mission Reset Ticket. You exit from the tower.]

Spot!

Let's call Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il first.

Because getting fire engines means I have to ask Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il.

I have to ask him to make sure there's no harm to firefighting operations too.

* * *

Arriving back at White Tower 17th floor.

The good thing about having the 17th floor is when meeting Vice Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il.

If I just fly a message, he arrives within 10 seconds.

Of course, when he has nothing else going on.

So I altogether gave him permanent residency tickets.

CEO Jung Dong-hoon together too.

Suddenly thinking of residency tickets reminds me of Gepetto.

Our gourmet Vampire-nim.

'He said he wanted to drink my blood, didn't he.'

I'll make time sometime and even do a blood donation to draw out some blood.

Sticking a straw in it too.

Spot!

Jeon Kwang-il who entered the 17th floor at Joo-hyuk's contact.

"Player Bong-nim. I am here."

"Ah! I'm sorry for constantly telling you to come and go so."

"Not at all. Please call me frequently."

Joo-hyuk showed him the monster, Superheated Kalpa Fire Phoenix of Black Tower 86th floor, taken with his camera.

"Th, this is perhaps?"

"Yes, 86th floor. It's a Phoenix."

"...It's a giant bird made of fireballs. Completely opposite from the Colossus Condor."

"I heard it's a spirit entity."

A spirit entity.

Meaning it doesn't have flesh.

"Can you catch it?"

"I'm not certain, but there is a method worth trying though."

Joo-hyuk explained about the fire suppression and firefighting tactic plan using chemical fire engines.

"...Yes?"

Jeon Kwang-il with a dumbfounded expression.

"F, fire engines? Is it the fire engines I'm thinking of?"

"Right. Those fire engines."

And pointing to Rajix.

"And it's a possible method because we have our Rajix-ssi so."

"Ah!"

Right.

A truly bizarrely extraordinary tactic that no one else can imitate.

"So we need to cast fire engines, chemical fire engines. The ones that can shoot special fire extinguishing agents instead of water."

"Around how many units?"

"At least 20 to 30 units or more? I'm planning to prepare amply."

Jeon Kwang-il nodding his head and answering.

"It's possible. I will contact the Fire Department."

"Because there absolutely shouldn't be a problem caused by this by any chance, on the line where there's no setback to firefighting duties."

"Do not worry. If securing vehicles doesn't work out, I will place a request to the US Forces Korea."

US Forces Korea, he says.

"They operate their own fire brigades there too so."

Oh!

Since it's US military equipment, it must be big and excellent.

"Will it work?"

"One phone call will do. They will comply."

Right.

I could ask Secretary McMillan.

Anyway, I can't borrow them for free.

There must be a price.

What would be good?

Since money is the only thing I have.

"Excuse me, Commissioner-nim."

"Yes, please speak."

"I'd like to like make a, eu-eum, donation to our country's Fire Department."

How important is extinguishing fires!

I understand now that I experienced it.

Our country's firefighters.

No, firefighters all over the world are all like that but.

They are people who fight magical beasts like Phoenixes in actual reality.

If I borrowed fire engines for free from those people, it's a shameless act.

"Ah, yes, then approximately what amount of money are you perhaps planning to donate?"

How much should I do?

I can't even grasp the amount.

'I'd have to have donated before.'

About 100 million?

Honestly, that's a bit petty.

10 billion?

Well, this isn't great either.

Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il would know far too well how much I earn.

From the Escape Obesity Bracelets, Magic Power Sealing Scrolls, Dream Resistance Kits, various item sales, and we plan to start renting magic guns soon too.

Money is overflowing.

To the point I don't know how much is in my accounts.

It probably far exceeds trillion units.

E-ra-i (Whatever), I don't know.

I even coolly bought a 1.3 trillion won building in Gangnam in the past, didn't I.

Firefighters.

I'll treat you once.

Hope you purchase lots and lots of good equipment and perform safe fire suppressions.

So rather than stingily giving 10 or 20 billion.......

"I'm planning to donate around 100 billion won."

This is the donation of a real man!

"...Yes?"

Then the summoned entities reacting.

"Heok!"

"Oh!"

"Wow!"

"It's very fiery, sir!"

"As expected of the Summoner."

"You are truly bold."

"Ho-e-e-e......."

Joo-hyuk's heart swelled majestically.

"Eum, there's no need to go that far."

"What's the point of earning money? You earn it to use it in times like this."

"A, understood. I will contact the Fire Department saying a donation will be made under the Supreme Player's name."

It's settled.

My heart is comfortable if it's like this too.

Thus, the chemical fire engine securing operation commenced.

The casted fire engines steadily moved to the Awakening Management Agency parking lot and.

Whenever Joo-hyuk had time, he summoned Rajix to put the fire engines into the subspace and move them to the White Tower and.

The fire engines secured like that were a whopping 30 units.

Does it all go in, you ask?

Of course it goes in.

Since he's an LSSR.

Special fire extinguishing agents also went into order.

The larger the amount, the better it is.

Among them, liquid nitrogen.

It's a substance that can drop to negative 196 degrees, if not to absolute zero.

It belongs to the rather common side.

A thing that is also used for school teaching materials or cooking.

What if we spray that massively onto the Phoenix?

Liquid nitrogen was also purchased massively, put into metal tanks, and piled up in the White Tower.

Now what's left is the method for using the firefighting equipment.

Procuring manuals or videos, practicing diligently until becoming proficient.

Almost all the summoned entities participated in the practice.

Mari joined as well.

Even though she couldn't enter the 86th floor directly, after hearing the fact that the monster is a Phoenix.

Tti-ring!

: I'll try making cold energy potions too. So powerfully to the extent they can torment the Phoenix.

Magical Engineer El researched the automatic potion injector belt Rajix borrowed(?) and entered special bullet production.

Applying the inventory magic's magic power circuit diagram to bullets, so they can add to the firefighting tactic.

Time passed.

The tactic preparation progressed smoothly step by step.