Chapter 187 - Chapter 187

Chapter 187

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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White Tower 17th floor elevator.

I made it because Dal-rae the Fairy's fortune telling said it's a Great Fortune (Daegil) if I install it but.......

However, a terrifying cost.

What? 10kg of Top-grade Mana Stones for a single round-trip operation?

The current market price of High-Grade Mana Stones is about 200,000 won per 100g.

Since the ratio is 1kg of Top-grade Mana Stones to 1 ton of High-Grade Mana Stones.

'Is it about 20 billion won per round-trip operation?'

They deliberately decided to completely strip me bare.

It's not just something to calculate in terms of money either.

Considering how precious Top-grade Mana Stones are.

There are many uses for it too.

It's something we can't use because we don't have it.

For permanent residency tickets, for Master Sergeant Be's sub-lightspeed bullets, as material for high-ranking alchemical medicines, and even for creating magical engineering items.

Well, still, thanks to the achievement reward, the one-time round-trip operation fee is exempted.

I will use it exactly this once.

If it really hits the jackpot, I might use it twice too.

'But why is that gentleman doing that again.......'

Sha-sat! Sha-sha-shat!

Cossack stepping dazzling steps in front of the elevator.

When he pressed the external button and the door opened, sha-sat! He went inside the elevator, then when it closed, he stood in the center, blocking the door from closing, and when it opened again, sha-shat! He came outside and.

"...Excuse me, what are you doing?"

"I am in the middle of a safety inspection, sir."

Aha.

Sha-sat! Sha-sha-sha-shat!

"So is it safe?"

"Nothing has happened yet, sir."

Seems like it.

Seeing as he's perfectly fine even though he went back and forth.

Shall I go in?

When Joo-hyuk tried to get on the elevator, the summoned entities pushed past him and surged in a crowd (u-reu-reu) to get on first.

"Eo-heo, cutting in line!"

"Sorry, sir."

"I will pass first."

"Because this old man is older."

"Women and children have priority, indeed."

"Ho-rat!"

These people seriously!

Without manners, I say!

Of course, I know why they are trying to get on first.

It's probably out of the judgment that perhaps a dangerous matter might occur to Joo-hyuk.

Anyway, getting on last and examining it, the interior was considerably large.

'It's spacious.'

Almost like a freight elevator?

It seems it would be more than enough even if over 50 people went in.

Furthermore, an interior design that looks exactly as if an actual elevator was moved in.

Mirrors were hung, and there were handrails.

However, on the wall side where you designate floors, there were only two buttons attached.

17th floor, which is the floor of this place, and 1st floor.

'Can I only go to the 1st floor?'

At that moment!

Tti-ring!

A message ringing in Joo-hyuk's mind.

[The current elevator grade is Grade 1. Therefore, the unlocked White Tower floor is the 1st floor.]

What the, the elevator runs on a grading system too?

[Following future grade advancements, unlocked White Tower floors will be opened sequentially.]

What kind of big deal is there that they locked the floors?

'1st floor.'

Other floors of the White Tower.

I was curious about it from before.

Where would that place be connected to?

Joo-hyuk received a White Tower floor distributed by the system.

The 17th floor connected to Earth, I mean.

What if the other floors have a similar system too?

'I might end up meeting a player.......'

And a player from another dimension at that.

"...Shall we not go in?"

"Why not, sir?"

"Because I suddenly got anxious."

"Just believe in me, sir. Whatever it is, I will deal with it instead, sir."

Then, as if they had been waiting, the other summoned entities too.

"A warrior is the Summoner's shield."

"This girl, will assist you closely at all times from a short distance."

"Commander-nim, preparations for VIP escort operation complete."

"Summoner, this old man will......."

"With an absolute defense spell, this Magician will......."

"By the Light!!!"

"Ho-at!"

.
.
.

Oof, it's noisy.

I brought it up for no reason.

Hurriedly pressing the 1st floor button and.

[You have selected the 1st floor.]
[Currently, the 1st floor of the White Tower is in a state where the owner has lost their rights.]
[Therefore, you may enter without the owner's permission.]

Ah!

It's like this, huh.

It seems originally visiting is possible only if there is permission.

But what does it mean that the owner lost their rights?

Does it mean they lost it, or that it was taken away?

It was then.

Seu-u-u-ung!

The elevator starting to vibrate.

Then.

Seu-sha-sha-at!

Eu-deu-deu-deuk!

A terrifying pressure crushing down on the entire body.

"Keuk!"

Ji-i-ing!

Hwa-a-at! Bardin's radiance, Mackenzie's barrier, and Gyeon Dal-rae's talismans stuck to his body.

Seu-sha-sha-sha-sha.......

Deu-deu-deu-deu-deu.......

The feeling as if the body is floating up.

Presently.

Wi-ing!

Seu-eut.

Tti-ring!

[The elevator has arrived at the 1st floor.]

It came.

Finally arrived!

[The stay limit is 24 hours.]
[Upon exceeding the stay limit, you will be forcibly moved to the elevator.]
[The 1st floor owner is in an absent state.]
[Therefore, the owner of White Tower 17th floor will become the temporary owner of White Tower 1st floor for 24 hours.]

Meaning this is Joo-hyuk's possession for 24 hours.

[The owner's accompanying persons have also been automatically registered as 1st floor residents. It is valid for 24 hours.]

The summoned entities became temporary residents as well, and.

[The White Tower 1st Floor Entry and Exit skill has been temporarily registered for 24 hours.]

It even registered a skill for him, and.

'The round-trip operation cost, there was a reason it was expensive.'

Seu-reu-reu-reuk!

The door opened.

Then.

"...Wow!"

"Heol!"

"Hmm."

"Oh!"

"Heo-heo."

The scenery that unfolded before Joo-hyuk's eyes.

It was a city.

The place currently located is the edge of the city, the outskirts.

A streetscape where small little buildings under 5 stories were lined up on both sides exhaustively (jul-jul-i), the roads laid out between them, and communication towers and power plants.

Right.

It is very similar.

To Joo-hyuk's White Tower 17th floor, I mean.

'People.......'

There seems to be no one.

A desolate and dreary city atmosphere.

Cars were also seen sparsely along the street.

Though I don't know if the engines will start as they're covered in pure white dust.

The area of the city also seems much smaller than expected.

At best, about the size of a military base parade ground?

"Summoner, look over there."

Turning his eyes to where Gwangma was pointing.

"Eu-eum,"

A green field on the outskirts of the city entered his eyes.

A small river is flowing as well.

And behind that, a verdant forest.

'The natural ecosystem is operating, I see.'

Because Joo-hyuk's White Tower 17th floor is like that as well.

"Is there really no one?"

Perhaps inside the buildings?

Quick-witted Cossack opening the door first and.

Sha-sha-shat!

Master Sergeant Be, Bardin, and Gobang following behind him.

"Clear, sir. There is no one, sir."

"Master Sergeant Veronica Caliber, safety confirmed."

"By the Light!!!"

Joo-hyuk also went inside the building.

'There's none.'

It was merely completely empty.

A feeling that suddenly becomes eerie.

Joo-hyuk went outside.

"Let's go further inside the city."

"Yep!"

"The warrior leads the way."

The inside of the city wasn't much different either.

A bleak atmosphere.

A city that died away because it wasn't managed.

"You don't feel any signs of people, right?"

"There is none, the life energy caught on this old man's qi-sensing is entirely non-existent."

"...Yes."

But?

Seu-seut, sha-sha-shat!

Cossack making all kinds of frivolous commotions right in front.

Going inside a building, coming out, going up to the rooftop, coming down.......

Magician Mackenzie, not to be outdone.

Hovering the letters 'Strict Escort' above his head and flying with Fly magic, landing, ji-i-ing! coming to Joo-hyuk and placing a barrier on him too.......

Why are they being like this?

They should only make a fuss moderately.

Gwangma shaking his head jeol-re-jeol-re and.

"Pay no mind to those fools. There's not even a need to try to understand. It only wastes mental energy for no reason."

Master Sergeant Be too.

"Should I just shoot them all?"

Cheol-keok!

As if she really intended to shoot.

"...Please do not shoot. It would hurt if they get hit."

Presently.

A wide plaza seen far away.

Walking to the very end, they arrived at the plaza.

Here is the same too.

Absolutely not a person, no, not even traces of people having lived could be seen.

Did they all die away? Or were there none from the beginning?

Even going around looking at the entire city, it was the exact same.

Only buildings all over, almost a feeling like a movie set.

'Hmm.'

A memory suddenly brushing past Joo-hyuk's mind.

The message heard when he reached the 1st floor.

[The White Tower 1st Floor Entry and Exit skill has been temporarily registered for 24 hours.]

And Joo-hyuk's general skill window.

[General Skills] : Tower Entry (4 times a day) / Tower Exclusive Inventory / White Tower 17th Floor Entry and Exit (Unusable) / White Tower 1st Floor Entry and Exit (Valid for 24 hours).

If people aren't here, wouldn't they be outside?

He happens to have the skill too.

"Shall we go outside?"

Then the summoned entities' expressions becoming not good.

If it's Black Tower entry they go in together, but here Joo-hyuk has to go out alone.

That's why even on Earth, he couldn't enter the tower directly from the 17th floor.

He used to first go out to the penthouse and then call out the summoned entities to enter the Black Tower.

If he goes out alone and something happens......?

"Summoner, is there truly a need to go outside?"

"Gwangma-nim's words are correct."

"Right, sir. Please do not go outside, sir."

"Ho-e."

I understand their concern but.

On the other hand, the curiosity is unbearable.

What kind of world is the outside of the White Tower 1st floor?

Earth? Or another world?

The people living there?

"If it's dangerous after going out, I just have to come back in, or otherwise summon everyone immediately."

"Eum."

"Huu."

"Hmm."

What's dangerous about it?

"Then I'll just step out and......."

"W, wait just a moment, please."

Seu-seut.

Chak-chak-chak-chak!

Gyeon Dal-rae sticking talismans da-deok-da-deok onto Joo-hyuk's entire body.

Jji-ing!

Mackenzie's barrier protective shield.

Magical Engineer El also fastening a belt onto Joo-hyuk and.

"I made it modeled after the belt I acquired previously. It is an automatic potion injection device. I filled it up with healing potions as well."

This much seems like overprotection but.

'It's not like I'm a three-year-old kid.'

However, I accept it.

Because I know their worried hearts.

"Call us as soon as you step out. Anyone!"

Let's go out now.

Joo-hyuk chanted slowly and clearly.

"White Tower 1st floor exit."

Spot!

Outside the 1st floor.

He finally came outside.

'Where is this?'

It looks like the rooftop of a building.

Anyway, shall I try summoning the summoned entities?

"Gwangma targeted sum... Eum."

Joo-hyuk stopped talking.

Because of the sight sprawling before his eyes.

"Th, what is this?"

What came into his eyes was a gloomy sky.

Thick, dark clouds were rolling over.

However, the reason he was surprised wasn't because of the gloomy sky and dark clouds.

Something was flying around.

And a lot of them at that.

Beating their wings (peol-leok-peol-leok).

"...My god!"

Flocks of Wyverns and Griffins flying while flapping their wings, and the giant bird beast Colossus Condor gliding leisurely together with Ice Hawks from even higher up.

They covered the sky pitch-black.

"......."

Is this the Black Tower?

There's no way that's the case.

This place is outside White Tower 1st floor.

The world connected to it.

Perhaps another dimension.

At that moment!

Kung-kung-kung-kung!

The rooftop of the building shook because of vibrations.

Going close to the railing and looking down below.

"Crazy!"

Organisms moving in the ruined city.

"Kya-a-a-a!"

"Ku-o-o-o."

"Keu-ek!"

"Ki-a-a......."

They were all monsters.

Goblins, Orcs, Basilisks, Trolls, Ogres... and Behemoths, huge Queen Spiders spinning webs everywhere, and Apophis revealing its body from under the sewers.

That is not all.

Zombies, Ghouls, Skeletons, Dullahan, Specters... Death Knights roaming the streets.

Creepy swarms of undead.

I finally realized.

This place was a world where the boundary between the tower and reality collapsed.

And a partial area among it at that.

If everywhere in this world is like this.......

"Haa."

It's ruined.

Completely and utterly ruined.

Let's return.

There is nothing more to see.

"White Tower 1st floor entry."

Spot!

"Summoner-nim!!!"

"Haa, this girl was worried."

"Why did you not summon us?"

"Uwa, I really thought my heart was gonna drop with a thud!, sir."

Anyway, Joo-hyuk informing the summoned entities about the facts he witnessed outside.

Then everyone had grim expressions, and the mood also became heavy.

The world was ruined and only White Tower 1st floor remained.

This place is an indestructible place.

Joo-hyuk also heard it when the White Tower was distributed.

[It absolutely does not collapse. It exists permanently.]

What's the point of it being permanent?

When the main base has disappeared.

It's bitter.

What if Earth's future is like this?

However.......

"Eung?"

Where did this one go again?

"Rajix-ssi?"

Don't tell me?

"Perhaps anyone seen Rajix-ssi?"

"...Uh? He was there until just now."

"It seems he went inside that building, sir."

"Ah!"

A considerably antique building located at the front of the plaza.

Tseu-pit!

Joo-hyuk swiftly entered the building.

The other summoned entities following behind him.

The inside of the building was decorated like the civil petition office of a government office.

Just where the hell did he go?

"Rajix-ssi!!!"

"Ho-e!"

Is it upstairs?

Through the stairs, they went upstairs and looked for Rajix but.

"Aigo, wandering around all alone as he pleases again and again!"

At the end of the hallway.

Rajix trembling bu-deul-bu-deul with his tiny hands was pointing towards the inside of a room.

"I told him not to do that... Eung? Ah!"

What Rajix pointed at was a person.

To be precise, a person's corpse.

Dried up 바싹 in a mummy state, not fully rotted.

A single dagger was stabbed into the chest of the corpse.

At that moment!

Tti-ring!

[You have encountered the legacy of the 1st floor owner. Will you connect to the memories he left behind?]

"...Uh?"

What in the world is this?

'This person was the 1st floor owner?'

So that's why they said he wasn't there.

Because he died.

Memory connection, huh.

Is it like viewing the background explanations of summoned entities?

It turned out well.

A chance to resolve curiosity.

'Connect.'

The environment changing simultaneously.

The memories of the 1st floor owner unfolded before my eyes.

The name is Max Kruger.

A player of Germany, the world's strongest nation.

The strongest nation is Germany, not the US, it says.

It's definitely a parallel universe.

A world similar to Earth but different.

Anyway, he was the best player in the world, not just Germany.

His trait is close combat, a Hammer Master wielding a large hammer.

He who had his talent recognized since the early days of awakening.

He was intensively nurtured by the government.

Floor by floor.

Max smoothly climbing the upper floors.

Whenever he felt it was beyond his power, the government immediately supported him and.

Like that, one by one, one by one.

The amount of Runes of Trait Enhancement he consumed alone was a whopping 20.

It was 20 trait enhancements.

Empowered by that, he proceeded to clear the tower with unstoppable momentum.

Small monster section, terrestrial medium monster section, flying monster section, undead section.......

And finally!

Max Kruger, the world he lived in confronted the 70th floor boss Cabalan.

The curse of averages.

The beginning of that terrible nightmare.

The conflict between nations below average and above average.

The conflict spread into a war and.

Because of that, tower collapses repeating here and there.

Still, Max did not give up.

While crossing over Europe, Asia, and the Americas continents, if necessary, he did temporary naturalization, or utilized multinational tower usage tickets to do all sorts of efforts to catch the genuine Cabalan on the 70th floor.

In that process, after getting an item called Tower Occupation Declaration Megaphone as a reward, he actually used it and was also given a White Tower as an achievement reward, and.

Although the war deepened even more in exchange for that.

'...The method he was given a White Tower is the exact same as me.'

After all sorts of hardships, he cleared the genuine Cabalan.

Going up to the 71st floor, he even obtained the reward of the 4-type gift set, and the unlocking of High-Grade Mana Stones.

However, it was already after it was too late.

The tower collapses proceeded uncontrollably.

The human war continuing even in the midst of that.

There was nothing he could do.

Thus, the boundary between the world and the towers came to a collapse.

Monsters coming out of the towers.

They poured out as if there was a flood.

Furthermore, various kinds of monsters also poured out from the uncleared upper floors that hadn't been climbed yet.

Especially the giant monsters.

The world being ruined happened in an instant.

Max Kruger entered the White Tower alone.

Because there was nothing he could do.

If resident registration had been possible, there would have at least been someone who could live together in this place.

But only if Top-grade Mana Stones could have been obtained.

'Since 1-day trial tickets or monthly rental tickets also require registering permanent residents to pop out as an achievement reward.'

The last scene.

Max Kruger piercing his own heart with a sharp dagger.

'Ha.'

The end.

[Memory connection with 1st floor owner Max Kruger has been disconnected.]

I don't feel good.

Experiencing the destruction of a dimension indirectly and peeking into the memory of a player who took his own life.

Another fact I found out.

'The White Tower wasn't something you receive only with a summoning trait.'