Chapter 34 - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Joo-hyuk's officetel.

Today as well, the smell of ramen vibrated through the air.

For the time being, they said they'd only eat ramen.

Ramen after finishing the 34th-floor clear, ramen even while resting the next day, and now ramen again.

Calling out Gyeon Dal-rae and Cossack, they immediately headed for the kitchen and pulled out the pot first.

How can one eat only ramen for 3 days?

When he suggested ordering delivery food, they pleaded to be allowed to eat ramen for at least 5 more days.

Saying it would put their minds at ease.

If that were the case, they shouldn't have eaten so much back then.

What's 150 servings for 4 people? 150 servings.

'When I couldn't even properly eat 2 servings myself.'

Therefore, when they asked to eat ramen together, he declined.

Intending to order and eat chicken alone later.

Currently, there are only two summoned entities cooking ramen, Cossack and Gyeon Dal-rae.

What about Gobang?

He couldn't be summoned.

Because the catalog was like this.

[Catalog]: Barbarian Meat Shield (Summoning Unavailable)

Summoning Unavailable, huh.

He had already asked.

What the meaning of Summoning Unavailable in the catalog was.

That was precisely yesterday.

At Joo-hyuk's question, Cossack scratched his face and answered.

"Originally, grade ascension is immensely dangerous, sir. Because you have to enhance the soul, sir. Therefore, during enhancement, umm, t-there's a probability of failing and perishing...,"

"Gasp!"

Perishing?

His heart became extremely anxious.

'...Did I give him poison?'

Cossack returned perfectly fine.

"What is this...,"

He had heard something from Cossack previously as well.

That rushing it is dangerous, and that he would do it after returning and completing preparations.

However, he didn't know it was this dangerous.

"Is t-that true? Perishing?"

"...I'm not exactly sure either,"

Sigh.

I'm going crazy.

However, Gyeon Dal-rae said.

"Do not worry. If it were truly perishing, the name would be entirely deleted from the list. The fact that the name remains while conveying Summoning Unavailable signifies another reason."

Another reason.

What could it be?

She's not just saying that to reassure me, is she?

"During the enhancement of a soul, there is an extremely rare probability that the margin of ascension expands significantly, allowing for a drastic leap of 2 grades or more. In such an event, the state of summoning unavailability persists for several days."

Oh!

His anxiety vanished.

To think it might not be a bad thing, but rather a good thing.

As expected, Gyeon Dal-rae, whose very origin was imperial family.

To know so much about this.

Glare!

Joo-hyuk glared at Cossack.

'When he didn't even know properly.'

Frightening me by mentioning perishing.

Cossack flinched and avoided his gaze.

Anyway, Joo-hyuk had heard of something similar as well.

The enhancement content in games.

When applying an enhancement scroll to a weapon or armor, a blessing and fortune erupt, causing what should have been a +1 enhancement to critically succeed as a +2 enhancement.

It's called a blessed enhancement, or a critical enhancement.

If this is the cause, it's a hundred-thousand-fold relief.

"Hehehe, thinking about it quietly, the Princess's words are right, sir. Since his soul plays in a flower garden, it must be pure, sir. If the soul is pure, the enhancement goes well too, sir."

A sense of relief washed over him.

Hold on!

Regardless of that, if it's a 2-grade enhancement...,

"Is Gobang-ssi an SSR too?"

Cossack's shoulders slumped at Joo-hyuk's words.

What should he do if his source of persecution disappears?

This was what happened yesterday.

Even now, he is still in the Summoning Unavailable state.

It seemed they had finished cooking the ramen in the meantime.

Cossack and Gyeon Dal-rae naturally sat at the dining table and scooped up the ramen.

It's peaceful.

No shouting voices could be heard either.

If there was one complaint.

'Tsk, tsk,'

With over 3 billion won sitting in the bank account, ramen?

At least their ramen-cooking skills had improved, so now the broth was perfect, and the noodles were chewy and not soggy, making it truly excellent.

From now on, even if I cook ramen, it won't be just plain ramen.

At the very least, abalone ramen, octopus ramen, snow crab ramen, truffle ramen, jumbo shrimp ramen, wild pine mushroom ramen, top-grade Hanwoo ramen...

'I should buy groceries later.'

For now, I'll just let them eat plain ramen.

Still, they cracked open a generous amount of eggs and green onions.

In that sense, towering climbing is temporarily suspended until Gobang returns.

He had actually been planning to rest for a few days anyway.

Joo-hyuk opened his smartphone and searched the news.

Player Nam Ga-eun's South Korea Black Tower (South Korean Black Tower) 66th-floor clear scheduled for tomorrow.

Originally, fearing failure like Japan, they intended not to disclose the schedule, but due to Player Nam Ga-eun's proactive will, the date was set.

What would the reactions of the people be?

As a reaction to Yoo Chul-min's surprise naturalization, almost all the opinions towards Player Nam Ga-eun were favorable.

It's fine even if you fail.

Right. As long as you are safe. Just recover your mentality and challenge it over and over.

We have the holy sword. I believe in you.

I'm praying at dawn every single day.

Well, the 66th floor is nothing, let's go straight to the 67th floor too.

Above commenter, read the room. The 67th floor is a long way off.

Go, go! Fighting!

It seemed like a comment he had posted himself was visible too.

'Oh right! I told them I'd get Player Nam Ga-eun's autograph for them.'

I should get it after she succeeds on the 66th floor.

I also have to drop by the family home for the first time in a while.

'I can just bring the talismans Gyeon Dal-rae wrote simultaneously.'

At that moment!

Bzzz!

A call came in.

It was Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il.

"Hello?"

- It's late, but congratulations on achieving the 34 consecutive S++ record.

It's nothing worth this.

There had been a lot of talk, though.

So-called experts appeared on TV, newspapers, and the internet, predicting that the 30th floors were a turning point in tower climbing and the difficulty would skyrocket, making it difficult to maintain S++ clears any longer, but he ultimately achieved it.

"Player Nam Ga-eun is far more incredible than me. Preparations for the 66th floor are going well, I assume?"

- Smoothly. Since we even borrowed a Light attribute item and handed it over smoothly. According to our support team's analysis, we have absolutely no doubt she'll clear it sufficiently. She is confident herself, too.

"Yes, I also have no doubt she'll do well. Please pass on my regards and tell her to cheer up."

- Haha, understood.

It's not an empty compliment.

She is a truly incredible player.

- Oh right! There is something I must tell you...,

"Yes."

- Regarding the apartment that Yoo Chul-min bastard used to live in.

Suddenly talking about the apartment.

Could it be that Cossack having visited there was discovered?

"Ah, what about the apartment...?"

- It is currently vacant. Since there's no one to move in, if you are interested in the apartment, we will simply hand it over to you. Transfer of registration is possible.

"..."

What is this?

Did I mishear?

Isn't the house Yoo Chul-min used to live in a penthouse?

To say they're simply handing it over...

"For free?"

- Yes, however, you will have to pay the maintenance fees separately. Because that wouldn't be supported.

The maintenance fees for a penthouse alone would be enormous, but...

What's the problem with maintenance fees?

When they are offering to transfer the registration and hand it over.

However,

'Should I accept this? Or not?'

He must choose carefully.

This isn't a problem of accepting or not right this instant.

He must meticulously weigh all the factors he must weigh.

"Could you give me a little time? I need to think about it."

- It is fine. Even if you say you will accept the apartment, there probably won't be anything different for you. Because it's a token of sincerity for renting the holy sword cheaply.

Well,

Is it truly solely a token of sincerity?

Let's converse with the summoned entities.

Then decide.

* * *

After finishing the ramen and doing the dishes as well.

Joo-hyuk called over Gyeon Dal-rae and Cossack.

"I received a phone call a little while ago...,"

He gave the two a detailed explanation.

And opened his laptop, searched for photos of the penthouse Yoo Chul-min used to live in, and showed them.

As the price for breaching the contract, all his assets in South Korea were confiscated.

This house was one of them.

"Cossack-ssi knows, right? Since you went there once."

"Yep!"

"How was it?"

"I can't express it in words, sir. Because it was so magnificent, there was an overarching rooftop garden, sir. You could grow lettuce and eat beef there, sir."

Gyeon Dal-rae also scrutinized the photos closely.

"It looks even better than the palace this humble girl resided in during her life. I believe it is a house befitting Young Master's status."

He shared the exact same thought.

However, rather than weighing status, he precisely needed a large house at the moment.

Joo-hyuk now had a larger family than his original family home.

If Trait Enhancement occurs a few more times in the future, will there only be 3 summoned entities with him?

How could they live packed together in this cramped space?

"Would it be better for everyone to continue living here, or to move?"

"I actually like it here too, sir. However, wouldn't a large house be better if possible, sir?"

"This humble girl also agrees with Lord Cossack's words."

"Hmm...,"

In truth, he had decided.

He needed a large house.

And he absolutely loved the penthouse.

However, at this juncture, his agonizing wasn't whether to move or not.

Should he accept it for free? Or should he buy it with money?

It wasn't an easy decision to make.

So, when he revealed these thoughts.

"To speak my mind, I oppose taking it for free, sir. There is no freebie in the world, sir. Capitalism is cold-hearted, sir. You'll have to pay the price with something else anyway, sir."

"This humble girl believes it is acceptable to receive it. Compared to the benevolent grace Young Master has bestowed upon them, that house is merely an insignificant price."

Opinions were divided.

Cossack's argument was correct, and there were valid points in Gyeon Dal-rae's argument as well.

What to do about this?

He felt like he would get a stomachache if he accepted it for free,

'Should I just legitimately buy it with money?'

The most expensive item Joo-hyuk had purchased so far was the 40 million won hand shield.

Even that was pulled via a loan.

Because it was a matter of survival, he excluded that.

He natively wasn't a personality who bought items recklessly.

The descent of the god of spending didn't apply to Joo-hyuk.

When he needed an item, he accessed an internet shopping mall.

If he discovered an item he liked, he saved it in his shopping cart first.

After doing that, he found a product with similar specs and put it in his shopping cart too,

Like this, he compared multiple items, weighed cost-effectiveness, and selected solely one product he deemed strictly the best among them.

But does he immediately pay for it then?

Not a chance!

He has to search for reviews.

Why good reviews are good.

Why bad reviews are bad.

Suspicious of whether it might be viral marketing too.

Only after weighing everything on the scale does his mouse finally hover over the checkout window.

Immediately click?

No way!

On the verge of paying, he pressed "back" to search the internet shopping mall over again to see if this was truly the ultimate choice.

He had to go through this process several times.

There were times when it took over 3 hours just to buy a single item.

Ultimately, the price of the product purchased after agonizing for a long time was usually under 10,000 won.

If he trembled while buying a mere 10,000 won item..., what about an apartment?

Regardless, the debate would be protracted.

Since he was thirsty, he should drink something at least.

"Let's continue while having a cup of coffee each. Using the delivery app...,"

Cossack spoke.

"Delivery fees are a waste, sir. I can just go and come back, sir. We ate a lot of meat, so we have to save, sir."

"Do we have to, how much could delivery fees possibly be."

"I am faster than delivery, sir. It's just right around the corner, so it'll take a jiffy, sir."

If you insist, well,

"Here, use this card to pay."

"Yep!"

"Take the Recognition Interference Talisman and access card key just in case."

"Understood, sir. I'll take your orders before I go, sir."

* * *

Cossack left the officetel alone.

A world that had not yet collapsed.

People moving about busily.

Cars practically cramming the roads.

Over there, in the space of the bottomless abyss teeming solely with souls,

Just the fact that he was able to exit possessing a physical body was something he was excessively entirely grateful for.

Yet to be able to enjoy the myriad goods of the real world like this to his heart's content.

Summoner Bong must naturally live a very long life.

Like an elf or dragon, far surpassing the designated human lifespan.

He just needs to diligently clear the tower.

Because among the tower rewards, there are also treasures that extend a human's lifespan.

When ascending into the 80th floors, they would probably start appearing one by one.

'By the way, which cafe should I go to?'

There are remarkably too many cafes in Korea.

To the point of inducing decision paralysis,

There are countless around the officetel as well.

He doesn't understand what's so delicious about guzzling that bitter coffee like water.

Summoner Bong alone right now, an iced Americano.

On the other hand, Gyeon Dal-rae a strawberry latte, and himself a sweet and sour grapefruit ade.

'Let's go to the biggest one.'

To the cafe called Star, something or other.

It has the most people.

They must come here frequently because it's delicious.

Cossack, possessing the Recognition Interference Talisman.

He opened the cafe door and walked in.

'Where was the kiosk again?'

He knew how to operate it.

A few days ago, when they had a Seoul outing after eating beef, he witnessed Summoner Bong operating it a few times.

He could just go to an employee and order directly, but he must try using this once as well.

Therefore, as he was about to approach the kiosk,

'Huh?'

Suspicious individuals were captured in Cossack's eyes.

Two men sitting at a table poking their smartphones with tea beverages in front of them.

'Oh...,'

An extremely ordinary sight.

However, he could sense it.

The pungent smell of blood exuding from their bodies.

'Look at this?'

Cossack was an assassin.

Upon encountering a kindred spirit, he could identify them instantly just by looking into their eyes.

He instinctively commenced probing.

Small cuts on their hands.

They must have been inflicted while handling knives.

And the subtle smell of gunpowder exuding from inside their jackets.

'A gun?'

Their ankles were suspicious as well.

They certainly are likely wearing knives.

Would they have only a single blade?

Inside their sleeves, and at their waists too.

To think two, not just one, men who have killed people, no, who seem to have killed at least dozens of people in this peaceful world, are drinking tea in a cafe located near Summoner Bong's officetel?

Could it be a coincidence?

Not a chance.

Still, since there was a possibility they could be Korean soldiers or national intelligence agents.

Cossack subtly shifted his steps.

And passed by the table where the suspicious men were seated.

He didn't even turn his head.

First, he should apply the Mark of Tracking imbued with his unique mana.

Swish, swish.

Both of them.

Coincidentally, the men stood up from their seats and exited.

Cossack postponed his beverage order and followed behind them.

As soon as he exited the cafe.

Vroom, screech!

A suspicious van stopped, and

Slide, the door opened and the two men boarded the vehicle.

Reflected in the cafe's glass window, there were quite a lot of people riding inside the vehicle besides those two.

Cossack printed the Mark of Tracking on the van as well.

Let's see.

Whether they appear tomorrow as well.

Of course, they might be bastards utterly unrelated to Summoner Bong.

However, what if he judges there is even a hair's breadth of a connection?

Smirk.

The corners of Cossack's mouth twisted.

He was smiling, but his expression was horrifyingly terrifying.

A frosty gaze chilling enough to freeze over.

His red tongue darted between his lips.

'I should prepare a lot of ribbons.'

He planned to keep it a secret from Summoner Bong.

Because Clause 3 of the 3 Principles of Summoned Entities had already been triggered.

Cossack entered the cafe again and ordered beverages.

And transferring them to a tray, he returned to the officetel.

Beep, beep-beep-beep!

Opening the door, he spoke with an energetic voice.

"Loyalty! Hehehe, Cossack of Delivery is here, sir!"

"You've worked hard. Come quickly and sit."

"Yep!"