Chapter 39 - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Joo-hyuk's ambitious journey to acquire a privilege and absolutely succeed in Trait Enhancement.

The resolute determination of the 3 summoned entities to create one more vacant position and avoid losing their jobs.

That beginning started precisely from the 36th floor.

The large humanoid monster, Ogre.

It possessed a smaller build compared to a Minotaur, but the Ogre's strength was speed.

The 36th floor Phase 1 was merely mediocre speed,

However, from Phase 2 onwards, that massive body became exactly as fast as an Orc.

What about Phase 3?

Nearly rabbit-level.

Furthermore, being intelligent and cunning, they quickly fled when they felt they were at a disadvantage.

What kind of movement skill it utilized in Phase 4, it tormented players by jumping high overhead with a bounce.

Skills binding their feet were critical.

Players each had crowd control skills suited to their traits, but using them at the right time and place was a difficult feat; hence, it was a matter of talent,

and Joo-hyuk didn't possess any crowd control skills.

Merely the summoned entities.

SSR Gobang, far larger, stronger, and faster than the Ogres.

Ppeu-deu-deuk! U-deu-deuk! Ssu-u-uk!

"Ku-o-o-o-o-oh!"

SSR Shaman Gyeon Dal-rae, continuously binding Ogres with Area of Effect debuffs.

"Evil things, freeze!"

And Assassin John Cossack, furiously going berserk with bloodshot eyes.

"Tteu-ah-ah-ak!"

In fact, Cossack wasn't the only one in a hurry.

Knowing who the next summoned entity would be?

A slight mistake and it's dismissal.

After working diligently at a workplace, they would no longer be able to enjoy the joy of the team dinners the boss treated them to.

Naturally, they had no choice but to be desperate.

Joo-hyuk kept his promise.

He stood vacantly in the rear.

However, his mind was complicated.

He had shouted boldly, "Proceed!" but,

'What if a privilege doesn't pop up until the 50th floor at this rate?'

If unlucky, it's utter ruin.

'No, it absolutely must appear.'

There actually was one more method to achieve Trait Enhancement besides privileges.

Namely, the Rune of Trait Enhancement.

However, the probability was extremely, extremely slim.

On top of only being obtainable as reward items from the 40th or 50th floors and above, he was told they haven't even appeared on the market lately.

'Shall I pester the Management Agency? Ask them to procure one for me?'

However, that also had its downsides.

It would be tantamount to incurring a far larger debt than receiving the penthouse.

'This is troublesome.'

First, let's go to the 40th floor, confirm the privilege, and decide.

Therefore, the 36th floor too,

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 36th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

The 37th floor too,

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 37th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

Even the 38th and 39th floors,

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 38th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 39th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

It was an insane speed.

Once a day, and during the morning at that, the global announcement rang without fail.

While citizens were watching morning dramas.

They had to see the subtitle every single day.

Perhaps they had developed immunity now, but it wasn't even fascinating anymore.

Nam Ga-eun VS 39 Consecutive S++ Clear Record Holder

I'm for Nam Ga-eun.

Me too.

Ay, maybe for a regular person, but if you're a player, you won't choose Nam Ga-eun.

Right, you unconditionally have to choose the S++ clear record holder.

Where can you even compare a 39 consecutive S++ clear?

But isn't he overdoing it lately? Ripping through clears 4 days in a row.

A record of 39 consecutive S++ clears.

And for 4 consecutive days at that.

The national pride seemingly wouldn't diminish.

Meanwhile,

the distributor of the largest amount of national pride in the country quietly slipped out of his hideout.

* * *

He felt it every time he used it, but the effect of the Recognition Interference Talisman was extremely outstanding.

Beyond simply preventing facial recognition, it even scattered vigilance.

Even if you passed right next to them, you were perceived as someone they always saw, a person posing absolutely no threat.

In fact, security around the officetel Joo-hyuk resided in had been significantly strengthened recently.

The number of internal security guards had increased, and the personnel monitoring the entire officetel from the outside had also multiplied.

However, in front of the Recognition Interference Talisman, it was useless.

Even when Joo-hyuk opened the officetel door and stepped out at 4 AM, a time sparse with people, they merely considered it as some dog passing by.

Walking far away from the officetel, early morning taxis were visible.

Bashfully raising his hand to stop one, he said,

"Excuse me, driver..., I was thinking of going to the Gongju Traditional Market in Chungnam."

"Pardon? Where, you say?"

"Gongju City Traditional Market, is it perhaps not possible?"

"It's too far...,"

"Ah, umm, 500,000 won? In cash...,"

"Please fasten your seatbelt."

The taxi darted off precisely like an arrow.

It took 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the Gongju Traditional Market.

It was still early morning.

Yet there were already quite a lot of people.

Looking at his watch, it was before 6 AM.

Joo-hyuk entered a public restroom in the market and summoned Cossack.

"Loyalty! Cossack is here, sir."

"Are you ready?"

"I have firmly steeled my resolve, sir."

"Good. Let's go."

The reason he came to the market..., naturally, to buy groceries.

"Shall we buy fruits first, sir?"

"There are many other things to buy besides that. It will be very heavy."

"My word, I shall carry everything, sir. Summoner, please just handle the payments, sir."

Exactly as he said, they bought a tremendously large amount.

Moving again after finishing all the grocery shopping.

Catching another taxi,

"Gyeryongsan National Park, please."

"Yes, yes, going hiking, I presume? Please get in."

"I have a lot of luggage, could you open the trunk, please...."

Joo-hyuk and Cossack rode the taxi together.

They didn't utter a single word during the journey.

Arriving at Gyeryongsan National Park.

And going to a secluded place devoid of people to summon Gobang and Gyeon Dal-rae as well.

"I have been waiting for you. Young Master."

"I will carry all the luggage. Give them to me."

Gyeon Dal-rae took the lead.

"Although it is a different world, seeing the similar topography of this mountain, that place will also likely remain intact. Please follow this woman."

First heading straight up the hiking trail before Gyeon Dal-rae turned off the path.

A rugged valley appeared.

Continuing to walk.

"Here it is."

"Where should we set down the items?"

"Umm, right around here..., ah!"

As if remembering something, looking at Gobang.

"Please move this rock aside."

"Understood. Princess."

The rock, which looked tremendously heavy just from a glance, was effortlessly lifted in Gobang's hands.

Revealing a flat bedrock underneath.

"You must wipe it clean. Scoop up valley water and scrub it vigorously with the brushes you brought."

"Yup!"

Doing exactly as instructed without a single word of complaint.

Gobang and Cossack meticulously cleaning the rock blackened entirely by moss.

And Gyeon Dal-rae?

She had work to do as well.

Biting Changhoji paper in her mouth, reverently sliding the knife, sseueuk, sseueuk, against a whetstone.

'Umm,'

A woman in white mourning clothes sharpening a knife.

It's a little eerie.

Food was placed on top of the newly cleaned bedrock.

A pig's head in the center, flanked by fruits and various ancestral rites foods on both sides.

"I shall commence."

Hoo-da-dak!

Joo-hyuk, along with Gobang and Cossack, knelt before the ritual table.

Gyeon Dal-rae simultaneously placed the speaker she brought in front and began playback.

Jjae-jjaeng, jjaeng-jjae-jae-jaeng, jjae-jaeng-jaeng-jjae jaeng-jjae-jae-jaeng.

Deong! Deong-deo-kung, deo-deong deong-deo deong-deo-kung!

A Gut (exorcism ritual) commencing with a Jajinmori rhythm.

Holding her bells and a knife, Gyeon Dal-rae started violently violently shaking her body.

"Eo-heo, eo-heo-i, eo-hi, Reporting to the Gods of Heaven and Earth, please watch over Young Master Bong, I beseech you to fill his future purely with Great Fortune."

No one was laughing.

They were solemn, serious, and stern.

"I beseech you, I beseech you, I beseech you for Trait Enhancement."

When Joo-hyuk led the chant, everyone followed in unison.

"We beseech you, we beseech you, we beseech you for Trait Enhancement."

It was a Gut.

A Gut praying for the privilege to be received by accumulating 40 Platinum Badges.

Will this work?

Isn't believing in superstitions too petty?

So what if it doesn't work?

The effort of trying something, anything at all, is what matters.

And performing a Gut isn't particularly unusual.

Many do it when starting a company, shooting a movie for the first time, or politicians running for election.

All to find peace of mind.

Let's pull it out this time.

He didn't want to disappoint the summoned entities.

At this rate, a situation where he has to beg the Management Agency might arise.

A Gut is much better than that.

The Gut reached its climax.

Gyeon Dal-rae's dance movements became even more intense.

Hwi-ik!

A gleaming, sharp blade tossed high into the sky.

Cossack swiftly caught it and handed it over to Gobang.

Kneeling, Gobang firmly grasped the back of the blade with both hands and raised the sharp edge upwards.

Before anyone knew it, having taken off her Beoseon (traditional Korean socks), Gyeon Dal-rae stepped barefoot onto the sharp edge of the blade.

Lightly, lightly.

Gyeon Dal-rae jumping on the blade (Jakdu-taki).

The feeling is good.

It will probably go well.

* * *

Riding a taxi, Joo-hyuk arrived at the Seoul officetel alone.

Tapping his card key and entering inside.

Finishing his day trip and arriving home, Joo-hyuk reverently started to meditate.

He unsummoned the summoned entities as soon as the Gut ended, so he could call them again soon.

In fact, the 40th-floor S++ clear is not a problem.

Clear success is guaranteed.

But what if he fails to achieve Trait Enhancement again this time?

Honestly, he had absolutely no intention of casting out a single one of them.

Even if a Legend popped up.

He'd rather give up S++ clears altogether.

He was purely doing this for Cossack and the summoned entities, who were terrified of losing their jobs.

Now! The time has come.

Designated Summoning for all of them.

"Are you ready?"

Everyone nodded with grim expressions.

"Let's enter."

[You are entering the 40th floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

Before he knew it, he had reached the 40th floor.

Receiving the mission.

[40th Floor Mission: Regardless of type, eliminate 80 Ogres and 1 Twin-Head Ogre.]

[Time Limit: Within 13 Hours.]

[Completion Condition: All types of Ogres 0/80, Twin-Head Ogre 0/1]

Is catching monsters the issue?

Checking the privilege afterward is the issue.

He paid absolutely no heed to the Ogres.

His thoughts were purely filled with quickly catching them and checking the privilege.

Wu-u-u-u,

the momentum arising from Gobang and Cossack's bodies.

Whether the Ogres also sensed the crisis, they couldn't readily charge and stealthily took steps back.

But could they flee?

The Ogres were torn apart, and the Twin-Head Ogre as well, the moment it appeared.

"Kkwek!"

Thus.

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 40th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

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

Pop!

The party returned to the officetel.

"I'm anticipatin' it, sir."

"Shh! You'll attract impurity. Please refrain from speaking."

"Yes, ma'am."

Joo-hyuk took a deep breath momentarily, and then,

checked the inventory.

[A privilege is bestowed for accumulating 40 Platinum Badges.]

Let's go! He had waited long enough now.

If it doesn't appear this time, tower climbing will be temporarily suspended for a while.

Did Trait Enhancement indeed...,

[Privilege: A Roulette Spin Ticket (Single Use) is bestowed to the inventory.]

"...Huh? What is this?"

A flabbergasted expression on Joo-hyuk.

"What, what is it, sir? Did it pop up, sir?"

"Is it Trait Enhancement, right?"

"Summoner, I am curious, tell me."

Joo-hyuk didn't answer.

Merely staring blankly at the image hovering before his eyes.

[Tearing the Ticket (Single Use) will spin the roulette. If not torn within 1 hour, the opportunity disappears.]

It was a circular spinning wheel.

With a single needle on top.

Densely packed with colorful, differently sized wedge-shaped sections.

Similar to the Random Box received previously, but the method was different.

The words written in the sections.

Mana stones, herbs, items, potions, skills, various tickets...,

'Trait Enhancement?'

It was there.

However, it was the narrowest section.

'Has it finally come down to spinning a roulette wheel of all things?'

Could the needle even fit in there?

"...Did we flop, sir?"

At Cossack's question,

"I have to spin a roulette."

"Eh? A ro-roulette, you say? Something that purely spins round and round?"

"That's right. It has a Trait Enhancement section too, but... the width is a bit narrow."

"How narrow is it, sir?"

"This much."

"Oh my!"

Let's not get agitated.

Even now, the summoned entities were staring precisely at his face exactly like baby owls.

"Wait a moment. I'll come out after taking a shower."

Joo-hyuk grabbed a set of clean clothes and entered the bathroom.

As a gesture of reflecting on cursing just moments ago, brushing his teeth first.

Thoroughly cleaning the insides of his ears too.

Wiping off the moisture in every nook and cranny, changing his underwear, after putting on his clothes and exiting the shower room,

"..."

Everyone's gazes converged on him.

The heavy pressure of having to spin the roulette when everyone was anticipating it.

Wow! It's genuinely burdensome.

"...A-anyone want to tear the ticket on my behalf?"

The converged gazes were withdrawn.

The summoned entities suddenly feigning ignorance.

Turning their gazes elsewhere as if looking at a distant mountain.

To avoid making eye contact with Joo-hyuk.

"...Eek."

Cowards.

So you don't want to take responsibility?

'It was better when I was like "Whatever pops up, pops up".'

Anyway, he had no choice but to do it.

He even held a Gut, after all.

Joo-hyuk took out the Roulette Spin Ticket (Single Use) from his inventory.

His hands trembling violently, shaking.

Taking a few deep breaths, before,

"No swearing even if it doesn't appear, yes or no?"

"No swearing, sir!"

"None at all, sir."

"Would this woman possibly do that?"

Jjwa-ak!

He mercilessly tore the ticket.

Cha-ra-ra-ra-ra-rak!

The roulette spins.

Spinning, spinning, and spinning again.

The Trait Enhancement section, as tiny as a rat's dropping.

Cha-ra-ra-ra-ra-rak!

Spinning, spinning.

Not only the roulette but his eyeballs were spinning too.

His head was spinning as well.

The incessantly spinning roulette.

When will it stop?

It spins absolutely forever.

Spinning crazily.

Before he knew it.

Cha-ra-ra-ra, cha-ra-rak, cha-rak.

The speed started to decrease.

Seu-reu-reu-reut.

The spinning wheel turned slowly from right to left.

"Let's go, let's go! We even did a Gut."

Seu-reu-reu-reu...

Very slowly.

Almost on the verge of stopping.

Just a little more, just a little.

Joo-hyuk's body twisted.

He followed the direction the spinning wheel was turning.

To the left, to the left.

The bodies of the summoned entities, anxiously watching that sight, twisted along with him.

To the left, to the left.

'Ooh oh oh! It's getting closer. Just a little further.'

Did the Gut prayer indeed have an effect?

The Trait Enhancement section and the needle were gradually drawing closer.

It seems it will work.

No, it's almost there.

The nearly stopped spinning wheel.

Now the needle is on the Trait Enhancement section.

"S-stop!"

If it stops exactly now, it's over.

However, it continued to move slightly to the left.

At this rate, it will pass over.

"This dog-like rouleeeet...,"

Joo-hyuk twisted his body in the opposite direction again.

Following him, the bodies of the summoned entities twisted in the opposite direction too,

"You shouldn't go any further!!!"

If it passes over, it's the unknown herbs section.

A privilege, and it says strictly 'eat herbs and get lost?'

Go the opposite way!

Turn right! Right!

Jji-rit! Joo-hyuk clenched his right toes with all his might.

The moment!

- Click! (Ttal-kkak!)

Huh?

He heard a sound,

'Click?'

Simultaneously, the completely halted spinning wheel.

The needle's position was...,

"U-uh-uh."

It was Trait Enhancement.

"Click!"

[Awakening Trait is enhanced.]

"Click!!"

Joo-hyuk raised both his hands high.

"Click!!!"

The summoned entities rejoiced all together as well.

They jumped up and down.

"Click, sir!"

"It is Click!"

"Click!"

Thus, the status window,

[Trait]: Summoning (Simultaneous Summons: 4)