Chapter 22 - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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He lacked confidence.

He wished to break free from his pathetic reality and live a different life, at least within the tower.

He believed he possessed the necessary capabilities to do so as well.

That was, until prior to entering the 29th floor.

"Kueeeek! Kuek."

Setting a ruined city as the backdrop,

Plague Trolls roaming about, wandering the pulverized buildings.

'Must I catch those?'

A moment where he even contemplated abandoning the climb.

A Plague Troll?

Plague was a sanitized expression.

Accurately, they were masses of pus; thus, they should rightfully be called Pus Trolls.

Every single time they ambled, they left a trail of yellow pus oozing out.

'The 28th floor was a breeze.'

Joo-hyuk was donning a mask.

Not a typical one for fine dust, but a gas mask utilized at construction sites, sterile factories, or laboratories.

And yet, he completely felt the unbearable stench.

"You look dashing, sir. Is that a gas mask, sir?"

"...It's just a mask."

The most critical factor to evade in clearing Plague Trolls was the bacteria and viruses that instilled diseases into players.

If exposed to them, one developed high fever, muscle pain, cough, runny nose, dizziness, and a variety of symptoms.

One merely needed to consume a Healing Potion, but what if it erupted amidst combat?

Since they were items crafted outside and had to pass the possession judgment, he wore it beforehand and entered the tower.

Upon asking Gobang if he wasn't going to wear a mask.

"I will not wear it. A warrior does not contract diseases."

"You punk! Your head is too big to wear it anyway."

"A warrior must possess a large head. You wear it, Assassin."

Cossack, likewise.

"If I wear something like this, I get short of breath and become immobilized, sir. Furthermore, I am a......."

"An SSR, an SSR."

"Hehehe."

Gobang incessantly babbled about being a warrior, Cossack about being an SSR.

Just administer a Healing Potion each if they contracted a disease.

Actually, would individuals who had already died once even contract diseases to begin with?

"I feel like throwing up."

"They are incredibly repulsive, sir. Can you spot those blisters formed there, sir? Once those burst, the yellow pus just utterly......."

"I think I don't need to hear about it."

"Will you catch them, sir? I believe roughly 3 would be manageable, sir."

"......."

Even while wearing a gas mask, he didn't want to do it.

What if he ended up getting drenched in that pus?

So he kept his mouth tightly sealed shut.

'I'll definitely just have to catch the 28th floor Jungle Trolls for repeatable missions.'

Commencement of the clear.

Gobang sprinted forward.

Cossack followed right behind him.

Thwack! Smack, smack, smack! Thwack, thud!

Sticky pus bursting forth out as the Plague Trolls collapsed.

'Ugh, fuck!'

A pass was the correct answer.

How was he supposed to endure that?

[You have succeeded in the 29th Floor Mission.]

[Your Level has increased.]

[Reward : 2.9kg of Mana Stones]

Cossack and Gobang grinning broadly, completely drenched in yellow pus.

"......."

They appeared grotesque and unnerving.

They resembled Plague Trolls themselves.

Wait!

They would probably be instantaneously transported home once the mission concluded and the clear rank message ended.

Then all that pus.......

"Summoner Bong, sir! Do we have a team dinner today as well, sir?"

It was a no-go.

Nausea surged up to the very root of his chin.

"Um, I'm truly sorry."

"...What do you mean, sir?"

"You may hurl insults at me."

"Oh my! How could I hurl insults at you, Summoner Bong, sir? Always bright and sagacious, endeavoring tirelessly day and night for the advancement of the summoned entities' rights......."

"Cancel the summon for both of you."

"...Nom?"

Poof, poof!

Cossack and Gobang disappearing concurrently.

Ah!

I am sorry. I am genuinely terribly sorry.

I am a traitor.

I am a vicious employer.

Hurl insults to your heart's content.

Spit Ptui, ptui at me.

However, it's a new house.

That plague pus would smear everywhere throughout the house.

Moreover, a tremendous amount would smear because Mr. Gobang was massive.

How could we possibly return together?

It couldn't be helped.

He had no alternative but to re-summon them later.

Should he do it 3 hours later? Should he do it tomorrow?

'...I'll prepare a grand feast for them tomorrow.'

First, he should head outside, run the laundry, and take a shower.

[Notice : You have achieved the clear rank S++ for the 29th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

[S++ Clear Reward : A Platinum Badge is awarded.]

The Platinum Badge was standard.

He would be genuinely disappointed if he didn't receive one.

He wondered up to how many he could amass?

* * *

Hannam-dong Awakening Management Agency, Seoul.

Director Park Kyung-soo hummed a tune as he sprayed water onto the leaves of his cherished orchid using a spray bottle, pssh, pssh.

Then meticulously wiped its leaves.

It seemed things he undertook lately were proceeding smoothly.

Beyond anything else, the successful Elite contract with Bong Joo-hyuk.

This aspect was the paramount one.

How exceptionally elated he was feeling.

As anticipated, he didn't disappoint their expectations.

He didn't cease his ascent even after concluding the contract.

The 28th floor S++ rank clear record.

Assuming this pace, even generously estimating, he would undeniably be capable of ascending to the 40th floors, no, possibly even the 50th floors in merely three months' time.

'Still, it would be best not to harbor expectations beyond the 30th floor.'

Anticipating an S++ clear record was unreasonable practically.

Right off the bat, the 31st to 35th floor segment featured Minotaurs, and the 36th to 40th floors were the Ogre segment.

Colossal monsters whose scale transcended entirely any comparison with Trolls lay in wait.

Then what of the 40th floors where even more monumental beasts manifested?

He would be satisfied as long as he continuously exhibited the will to ascend.

Merely hoping he cleared them unscathed.

Suddenly!

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of a knock upon the Director's office.

"Come in."

The individual who entered was Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il.

"How did it go?"

"The 29th floor S++ clear has just been concluded as well. The Management Agency's affiliated players verified it too."

"Ho ho."

He was utterly unstoppable.

Whenever a notification came through a phone call stating he intented to clear the 29th floor right now, an overall notice popped up in less than 20 minutes.

What on earth was his clearing method?

He heard it was a Summoning trait, but was he summoning a dragon by any chance?

Given the absence of any footage, there was no method to ascertain anyway.

Initially, the Elite team was obligated to wear bodycams upon entry into the tower to record clear footage, but Summoner Bong Joo-hyuk was exceptionally exempted.

Because he himself requested it.

The Management Agency was entirely capable of permitting that much.

"Did you converse with Player Bong?"

"Yes, I returned after conversing with him prior to reporting."

"Any unusual matters?"

"Well... he contacted us stating that the 30th floor clear might solely be possible an entire ten days later."

"Why? Did he say his preparations were insufficient?"

"He says he requires about that much time to achieve skill proficiency."

"I see. Ten days is nothing really."

Others rested for over a month.

It was a monumental miscalculation to automatically assume players were as diligent as Bong Joo-hyuk.

Those who had already tasted money were too preoccupied playing around.

The Elite team was no exception either.

"Speaking of which, how has Player Yoo Chul-min been acting lately? Has there been any attempt at clearing the 66th floor?"

"I was precisely about to report on that."

"On what?"

"He has practically been reporting to work at clubs daily. Drinking himself into a stupor, only returning home around dawn, or indulging in one-night stands with women......."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, the security detail must be suffering enormously."

However, Park Kyung-soo comprehended him sufficiently.

The 66th floor, the sole player capable of climbing the un-cleared upper floors of South Korea's Black Tower.

He was single-handedly bearing the expectations of everyone.

Given his identity was publicized entirely, the weight of expectations wouldn't even be fathomable to others.

"It must be because clearing the 66th floor isn't going according to his will."

"The clear support team analyzed the footage, and they stated he's barely manifesting any progress."

"Is it tremendously difficult?"

"Eliminating 10 Specters is the sole requirement, yet they say barely successfully eliminating 3 before the time limit expires is the utmost he can manage, or he abandons the mission due to a derailed start entirely right from the beginning."

Due to the nature of the undead, their intrinsic essence completely differed from other monsters.

Starting from the 61st floor Mummies, they fundamentally roamed about exuding an 'Dark Aura', and merely enduring that itself was exceptionally demanding.

They were a far cry from the undead frequently depicted in games or movies that even an ordinary person might pummel into submission.

A gruesome demonic beast that gnawed away at a human's soul through Dark Aura.

Park Kyung-soo gradually becoming somewhat anxious.

Still, he had to believe in Player Yoo Chul-min.

'He will ultimately clear it.'

He recalled the countdown to the collapse of South Korea's Black Tower had roughly 92 days remaining.

Half of the 180-day time limit had passed.

There could be a difference in perspective between having only half remaining and having a whole half remaining, but at least Park Kyung-soo believed it was sufficient.

'Player Bong Joo-hyuk still has a long way to go to reach the 60th floors.'

The Awakening Management Agency also possessed a Plan B to a certain degree.

"What of Player Nam Ga-eun? She is currently attempting to clear the 62nd floor, correct?"

"Yes, she is ascending with vigor."

It was an intense regret merely thinking of Player Nam Ga-eun.

Her innate talent alone was superior even to Yoo Chul-min.

To this day, she had successfully cleared numerous floors with an A rank.

There had even been an A+, A++.

[You have achieved the clear rank A++ for the �� floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

Something reminiscent of this.

Although an overall notice didn't resound.

However, Player Nam Ga-eun's Trait Enhancement was merely precisely 1 time, equating to stage 2.

That equated to a gap of three stages minimum compared to Yoo Chul-min, who achieved 4 Trait Enhancements.

"Is obtaining more Trait Enhancement Runes impossible?"

"I wouldn't know, the supply of Enhancement Runes in the item market has completely dried up. As the reward probability is intensely infinitesimal."

"I will endeavor to ask around somehow."

Even if he procured one, he would ultimately consolidate it onto Player Yoo Chul-min.

"Right! How is the securing process for Light-attribute items progressing?"

"From what I have heard, complete purchases are unattainable, hence they are attempting to negotiate even in a rental format."

"Understood, I shall receive reports concerning that directly from the item department myself."

"Yes."

Securing Light-attribute items for clearing the undead segment was encountering struggles as well.

Conversely to information sharing, sharing items was complex owing to national circumstances.

Tower reward items exclusively being even more so.

A bountiful supply of solely Light-attribute items alone would greatly assist in clearing the 66th floor.

Light-attribute items had played a substantial role in assisting Yoo Chul-min clear the 65th floor too.

They had expended copious funds up to this moment to secure a vast number of items, yet they assert it still fell short.

What must be done?

He would simply have to secure more.

* * *

The following day.

Joo-hyuk concluded preparations for the team dinner.

The menu was bossam (boiled pork).

Instead of ordering delivery food, he procured an immense steaming pot and pork to boil it directly himself.

The particular reasoning behind directly preparing the meal.

He was immensely apologetic.

"...They aren't sulking by any chance, right?"

"Phew, for what do you mistake me, sir? Even if you shatter my skull with your mace, hehe, I would merely laugh, sir. It is the same for Gobang, sir. Would you like a try, sir?"

"Mr. Cossack?"

"No, sir. I am speaking about Gobang, sir."

"......."

A bountiful feast of bossam was spread upon the living room dining table.

Cooking inherently entailed devotion originally.

Despite it being less than a year since he attained independence, he could at least put together a bossam.

"Right! It's piping hot bossam."

"Oh! Let us enjoy this profoundly, sir."

Wait, Gobang's expression was strange.

Suddenly beginning to well up with tears shimmering tearfully in his eyes.

"Why are you crying? Can you not eat pork? You gobbled down sweet and sour pork perfectly prior."

"Thank you, Summoner."

Huh?

"There has never been anyone who treated me this nicely except for you, Summoner."

"Uhh......."

Why was he feeling so poignant like this?

"I, R Gobang, pledge absolute loyalty. Even if I die, I will absolutely save you, Summoner."

"Ummm... Yes, indeed, let's just eat."

He could guess the reason for Gobang welling up.

People invariably attempted exploiting the Barbarian Warrior's limited intelligence solely to deceive him.

How sorrowful must he have felt.

Well, he himself was no different.

Except, it solely deviated in the aspect that he at least provided a bountiful team dinner after exploiting him.

Setting that aside, what was Cossack doing?

Was he being profoundly moved by this heartwarming conversation?

'.......'

He wasn't at all.

Cossack, exhibiting a grave face, was solely poking at the Mother's homemade geotjeori (freshly made kimchi) with a solemn expression.

Haa, this spicy-food coward!

"Incline not to poke at it if you shan't consume it."

"S-Sorry, sir. It appears exceptionally appetizing, and I earnestly yearn to consume it, but I simply entirely lack the courage to......."

He likely recollected the memory of fainting whilst consuming tteokbokki.

Cossack even asserted ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) was spicy.

"Just dip it in saeujeot (salted shrimp) employing ssam-mu (pickled radish paper)."

"...Nom."

Placing an individual leaf of ssam-mu upon his front plate, adding bossam, setting saeujeot alongside, and swallowing it in one gulp.

"Mmh, it's d-delicious, sir. The harmony traversing the bossam and saeujeot is phenomenal, sir."

This individual thoroughly unacquainted with flavor whatsoever.

He would be eternally oblivious to the harmony of bossam alongside geotjeori kimchi.

"I have cleared down to the 29th floor now, so shall we proceed straight to the 30th floor?"

"Umm, my capabilities slightly fall short, but I will endeavor, sir."

Slightly falls short?

Why?

"The Twin-Head Troll's regenerative capability is no joke, sir. Its cranium is also extraordinarily resilient, rendering it difficult to sever entirely even with sword aura, sir. Even if one were severed entirely, an additional one remains, sir."

That absolutely does not work.

A badge must inevitably be secured for the 30th floor as well.

"Then let's place it on hold initially. Exclusively proceeding with the 28th floor repeatable clears until the random summon cooldown returns."

"Understood, sir. Everything will be resolved if Gobang exclusively shakes the trees commendably, sir."

Assuming the 30th floor was ambiguous.......

"What about starting from the 31st floor?"

"The 31st floor... R Gobang's compatibility is deficient as well, sir, resulting in an S++ clear being difficult, sir."

"Compatibility?"

"Monsters immensely larger than R Gobang manifest, sir. It is the Minotaur and Ogre segment, sir. Gobang will unavoidably struggle too, sir."

"No. R Gobang will win."

"Shut up! It's because I stated it is so!"

A colossal monster inherently meant.

"Although R Gobang would emerge victorious in a 1 vs 1, assuming multiple attach simultaneously, he will undoubtedly face difficulties too, sir. Consequently, the aggro will shift, sir. Should the aggro shift, you might be in danger, Summoner Bong, sir."

"Aha."

"Hence pulling one or two singly to mitigate the danger is necessary, which will inherently consume a significant duration, sir."

This perfectly encapsulated Cossack's meaning of 'difficult'.

Clearing it posed no issue.

However, an S++ rank clear appeared ambiguous.

A neurotically cowardly player's tower climbing method.

If it's ambiguous, don't climb.

Prepare so perfectly that one considers it excessive.

"An additional person must inevitably be summoned prior to initiating the clear."

"Precisely, sir. You are exceptionally sagacious and wise, sir."

It would be the icing on the cake if their rank was high.

"Hmm, would an LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) (Legend Special Super Rare), Legend Special Super Rare, be feasible?"

"It is possible, sir. Even should it fail this time, repeatedly pulling will inevitably yield it someday, sir."

It fundamentally hinged on drawing luck.

He desperately hoped an acceptable individual would be summoned.

Namely, an ordinary summoned entity completely devoid of mental derangement with an intellect not exceedingly inadequate.

And the 28th floor repeatability mission commenced.

Almost ten days had elapsed since the overall notice last resonated.

* * *

The Japanese Embassy in South Korea.

Counselor Tomoda, who had been performing his duties, suddenly sprang out of his seat.

A contact had arrived on his burner phone.

There was unequivocally no one besides the scout broker who'd call via this phone.

Quietly heading over to the restroom.

"Hello?"

- It's me.

"The outcome?"

- The rabbit asserted it would depart from its former nest to relocate into a new nest.

"...That is splendid. Truly phenomenal."

- However, someone must venture forth to retrieve it. Because wolves are continually surveying the rabbit.

"Please convey that he needs not harbor any concerns. We will safely retrieve him."

Counselor Tomoda tightly clenched his fist.

He finally succeeded.

Player Yoo Chul-min's abruptly sudden naturalization.

Now Japan was safe.

Though what would become of South Korea remained uncertain.