Chapter 46 - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The basic framework of the plan was as follows.

One floor per day as the baseline.

However, each floor cleared twice.

The first clear would be done quickly for the S++ grade, with no leather stripping.

Rajix had said he could strip one or two pieces on the fly, but was there really any need to push it?

Instead, on the second clear, they would strip the leather.

Slowly, with Rajix escorted so he could work comfortably.

After exiting, a group meal together.

One day's schedule done.

On to the 45th floor this way.

After that, they'd stay and hunt there for a while.

[You are entering the 42nd floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

Long-Tailed Basilisk, a mission to kill 15 of them as usual.

Since they'd decided to take them all down fast, Joo-hyuk was looking for a chance to join the fight.

He casually pulled out the Golden Mace of Cold Twilight and the warm Golden Aegis of Dawn's Light, and the summoned entities let out sighs.

"Hmm..."

"Ah."

"Please."

"Ho-e..."

Even Rajix.

He understood their worry, but the true man inside the tower would never yield.

Putting on a thick skin,

Swat! Swat-swat!

"Young Master! Please restrain yourself!"

"Ho-ek!!!"

The Long-Tailed Basilisk had a blade at the tip of its tail, making it tricky to approach from behind.

But at this point, Joo-hyuk's Shadow Walk, Shadow Step, had reached a new level of mastery.

Spot! Pa-pa-pa-pa-pat!

Even the sound of his movements had changed.

Dozens of Joo-hyuk's shadows remained on the field, enough to make it impossible to tell which was his real body.

The tail attacks that somehow managed to fly toward him were blocked with the shield.

Taeng!

His shadows encircled the Long-Tailed Basilisk.

The real Joo-hyuk was already on top of its head.

Let's just go straight for a finisher.

He could use it again after 10 minutes, but judging the situation, he'd probably only get one.

'Falling Thunder Flash.'

Swooooosh!

The mace came down on the basilisk's head.

A lightning strike from the skill.

A frost strike from the weapon.

The basilisk's head burned and froze simultaneously.

Zzzt! Clang! Crack!

The creature convulsed a few times and then went limp.

What a satisfying hit after all this time.

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 42nd floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

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

See!

He knew it would be like this.

It was over in no time.

Done the moment he caught one.

He almost didn't get to catch a single one.

Everyone exited together.

After resting at home for a bit.

"Okay! Time for the second entry."

The repeat clear was only for stripping hides.

Until Rajix's backpack was full.

Last time, with other materials mixed in, it was 6 pieces, but filling it with just hides, it would probably hold 7.

The repeat mission clear began; 14 were killed.

The hides were packed to the brim in the backpack.

However, the last one was left alive.

"Mr. Rajix, are you ready?"

"Ho-e-e."

"Then... let's begin."

Gobang wrapped his arms around the Long-Tailed Basilisk's head in a headlock, immobilizing it completely.

Grip!

Following that, Cossack's sword aura pierced through the creature's eyes and turned its brain to mush.

The basilisk went limp.

"It's dead, sir!"

[Long-Tailed Basilisk eliminated 15/15]

[42nd-floor mission succeeded.]

[Reward: 4.2kg of Mana Stones]

"Mr. Rajix, quickly!"

"Ho-eng!"

Gobang and Cossack quickly stepped aside.

Roll-roll-roll-roll.

The furball rolling toward the fallen Long-Tailed Basilisk's corpse.

Scrape, scratch, scra-scratch.

Making cuts here and there across its body.

Grabbing the jaw section.

Riiip...

Right at that moment!

[You are exiting the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

Swoosh!

Joo-hyuk and the party returned to the officetel.

What a shame.

Failed to strip the hide in time.

If only they'd been two seconds faster.

"Ho-e-e-eng."

He's crying again.

"It was practice. For a first try, it went well. Next time will be better."

As Joo-hyuk offered words of comfort.

"Lord Rajix, you were only a touch late. Please do not grieve."

"My apologies. I should have stepped aside faster."

"Rajix laborer, don't cry, sir. Did we lose our country? What can't be done must be made possible, sir. Giving up is only for counting cabbages."

(T/N: In Korean, "포기" (give up/quit) sounds like "포기" (a head of cabbage), so the joke is that giving up is only appropriate when you're counting cabbages.)

"...Ho-eng."

There was a reason they were practicing even before reaching the 45th floor.

The 45th-floor boss, Rainbow Basilisk, only appeared after killing all 60 basilisks of every type as the primary mission.

Killing the boss completed all missions on the 45th floor.

Thus, in that brief instant between the mission success message and the exit message.

The leather needed to be stripped and placed in the backpack.

Miss the window, and the leather couldn't be stripped.

That was why Rajix was training so hard.

He would absolutely strip the Rainbow Basilisk's leather.

Just from the sheen of it, the value could be anticipated without even guessing.

Twice, or perhaps more than three times the value of the regular leather?

And the next day.

43rd floor, Ironjaw Basilisk.

The same process.

The day after.

44th floor, Thorn-Scaled Basilisk.

The hide was covered in thorns, making it hard to strip and difficult to process.

Only the initial S++ clear was done, then passed.

Now came the awaited 45th floor.

They'd made it.

Two things had to be achieved simultaneously.

The privilege, and the Rainbow Basilisk's hide from the boss.

Earning Platinum Badges was no problem.

They'd just do what they always did.

But getting the Rainbow Basilisk boss hide depended entirely on Rajix.

They would challenge it on both the first clear and the second.

If successful, they'd obtain two pieces today.

With all that practice, Rajix would do well.

[45th-floor Mission: Regardless of type, eliminate 60 basilisks and 1 Rainbow Basilisk.]

[Completion Time Limit: Within 13 hours.]

[Completion Condition: All types of basilisks 0/60, Rainbow Basilisk 0/1]

"Let's go!"

The clear began.

Starting with the 60 basilisks.

Gobang on aggro, Cossack on damage, Gyeon Dal-rae on buffs.

Joo-hyuk stayed out of the fight and stuck close to Rajix's side.

Focus, total focus.

The kill count rose rapidly.

They needed time for the boss, so the regular ones had to go down fast.

Rajix had his eyes fixed on the battlefield with a sharp look.

He was clearly steeling himself.

In his current backpack, space had been reserved for the boss's whole hide.

"Ho-eng!"

He would strip it within the time limit, no matter what.

Peel it clean and stuff it in the backpack.

"Ho-e-eng!"

At that moment!

From far off, tongue flicking, walking on all fours, the Rainbow Basilisk in all its multicolored glory approached.

Quiver, quiver.

Rajix's round body trembled slightly.

And he slowly began rolling closer.

Trundle, trundle, trundle.

He stopped for a moment to gauge the distance.

Gobang and Cossack were in the thick of it.

Killing the boss wasn't the hard part; the struggle was trying not to damage the leather.

"Grab it! Damn, missed again."

"The skin is too smooth. It keeps slipping."

"Then grab the jaw, the jaw! Grab upper and lower jaw and pry it open, let Cossack stab through the throat."

"Got it."

Even amidst that, Rajix was slowly rolling toward the battlefield.

Trundle, trundle.

Joo-hyuk followed behind like a bodyguard.

Staying too close would interfere with the hunt.

He maintained an appropriate distance, ready to sprint in at any moment.

At last, both of the Rainbow Basilisk's jaws were seized by Gobang's hands.

The forearm and upper arm muscles bulging enormously on Gobang.

"Unngh!"

Creaaaak!

The creature's mouth was wrenched wide open.

Rajix's movement also started accelerating.

Building speed while approaching was far faster than starting from a standstill.

Cossack lunged into the Rainbow Basilisk's open mouth that Gobang had pried apart.

Sliding his upper half inside.

"Die!"

Tshpit!

Plunge!

The dagger loaded with sword aura pierced through the roof of its mouth and into the brain.

"It's dead, sir!!!"

[45th-floor mission succeeded.]

It was then.

Rajix hit full acceleration.

He shot out like a bullet.

"Ho-e-e-e-e-ek!!!"

Whoooosh!

Like a certain blue hedgehog from a game and anime.

Thwack!

He landed on the Rainbow Basilisk's corpse in an instant.

Scratch, scrape, scra-scra-scrape!

Cutting here and there across its body, slipping his hands into the gaps between sliced skin and leather.

"Eek!"

Rolling at blinding speed, he pulled.

Riiiiip!

Complete separation of the inner skin from the outer leather.

Flutter!

The Rainbow Basilisk's skin rippled like a flag.

Simultaneously.

Slide.

The whole hide was sucked into the backpack.

It was a success.

Rajix placed both hands on his hips and struck a pose of supreme confidence.

"Ho-ek!"

Rajix, completely legendary.

Joo-hyuk threw an uppercut into the air and shouted.

"Rajix is the best! You did it!"

Roll-roll-roll.

Rajix came running and leaped into Joo-hyuk's arms.

"Ho-e-e-eng!"

The other summoned entities also ran over cheering.

"Well done."

"Amazing, sir! Incredible, sir."

"Too well done. The finest worker among workers."

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 45th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

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

[You may challenge the 46th floor.]

[You are exiting the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

* * *

It was a great success.

He had stripped the Rainbow Basilisk's hide on the very first clear.

All thanks to Rajix.

"Oh, I'm so happy with you. Let's give it one more round. Mr. Rajix."

"Ho-e-e..."

Into the repeat clear.

The second was easy.

No, from now on it would all be easy.

It was a repeat clear, after all.

No time pressure.

The repeat clear was finished, and another Rainbow hide was stripped.

What was next?

Time to check the privilege.

The moment he confirmed the 45 Platinum Badges in his inventory, the privilege message appeared.

"...Should I do it tomorrow?"

"That is fine too, sir."

"Isn't tomorrow too late? I'd rather confirm it immediately."

"That is fine too, sir."

"No, maybe I should do a gut performance first and then..."

"That is fine too, sir."

Zzzt!

Joo-hyuk glared hard at Cossack.

Cossack flinched and looked away.

Even though he knew exactly how anxious he was feeling.

The reaction was all sorts of wrong.

"Young Master Bong, whatever comes out, what can you do about it? Rather, that very thing could become a blessing and help you achieve great fortune at the 50th-floor privilege."

That was Gyeon Dal-rae.

Showing her how a proper reaction should be given.

Good is naturally good, and if something bad comes; there's the next chance, so that's good too.

"Summoner, I don't care what comes out."

"Ho-e-eng!"

Let's check it now.

Joo-hyuk opened the inventory.

And there, the brilliant glow of the 45 Platinum Badges caught his eye.

[A privilege is granted for accumulating 45 Platinum Badges.]

What is it?

Surely not another Random Box or Roulette?

Just give it to me directly.

Don't mess with me like that.

[Privilege: 1 Multinational Tower Access Ticket (Single Use) is paid into your inventory.]

...Oh.

"Is it a good one? Did it happen? Trait Enhancement, sir?"

What is this thing!

"Ah, damn it..."

[The Multinational Tower Access Ticket grants entry into any tower regardless of nationality. However, entry into floors beyond your level is not permitted.]

This completely useless ticket.

He'd rather Mana Stones had come out.

He wasn't even hoping for Trait Enhancement.

A Summoned Entity Rank Ascension Rune would've been so much better.

"Ugh!"

Haah, he'd wanted to see SR Rajix.

Should have done the gut performance before starting.

"For the 50th-floor privilege, we absolutely must do the gut performance beforehand."

"Ah, understood."

"We absorbed all the bad luck, so next time it'll definitely be good, right?"

"I believe it will come to pass as you wish, Young Master. I will prepare my very best."

Let's not be disappointed.

The lemon car goes, and the Benz comes.

(T/N: Korean idiom meaning good luck follows bad.)

Opportunities are plentiful.

No need to be disappointed.

"Let's have our company dinner! Company dinner!"

"Shall we go out and get it, sir?"

"No. Delivery. And grab some beer from the fridge too."

Cossack scratched his head.

"Beer on duty is..."

"Absolute obedience?"

"I'll have just one can, sir."

"Let's have about two cans."

"Yes, sir!"

They ordered chicken, pizza, hotdogs, tteokbokki, hotdogs again, boiled pork knuckle... organic carrots and bell peppers.

They had a great time.

Though because of noise-level concerns, they couldn't laugh and shout quite as freely.

* * *

And the next day.

Joo-hyuk waited alone in the officetel for someone.

Currently, his inventory was packed to the limit with basilisk hides.

30 pieces in total.

28 pieces of regular basilisk leather, and 2 pieces of Rainbow Basilisk leather.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang.

Joo-hyuk opened the door.

"Player Bong-nim. Congratulations on the 45th-floor S++ clear."

"Come on in. Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il, you always lead with congratulations on the clear."

"Ha ha ha, of course that's the first thing to say."

And along with Jeon Kwang-il, another person.

"Long time no see, Player Bong Joo-hyuk. I offer my congratulations to you as well."

"...Oh, yes. Please come in. Um, Officer Lee Min-ah."

Lee Min-ah, Awakening Management Agency employee and player.

They'd been called here to hand over the accumulated leather.

Joo-hyuk pulled the whole hides from his inventory one by one.

A massive whole hide sliding out from thin air.

"...Wow! There's Long-Tailed here too, and this one is the Ironjaw."

"Yes."

When Joo-hyuk took one out, Lee Min-ah placed it into her own inventory.

Officer Lee Min-ah was a talented player who worked at the Awakening Management Agency while simultaneously working her way through the 59th floor toward the 60th.

When she and Joo-hyuk first met, she'd been on the 55th floor, but she'd apparently cleared four more floors since then.

That was why her inventory space was even larger than his.

"28 pieces? So many. How did you possibly..."

"No. There are 2 more."

Last out of the inventory came a silver hide.

"Oh!"

"Oh, my goodness!"

Gasps burst out.

When the crumpled hide unfurled, seven blinding colors of a rainbow poured forth.

Officer Lee Min-ah was speechless.

Jeon Kwang-il was the same.

Were his eyes seeing this correctly?

"Ra, Rainbow Basilisk?"

"That's right. Please sell this one too."

Honestly, it was beyond belief.

Who would have thought they'd see a whole hide of the 45th-floor boss Rainbow Basilisk in real life?

Well, by that logic, even the ordinary basilisk whole hides weren't any less extraordinary.

Officer Lee Min-ah stared at the Rainbow hide with mesmerized eyes.

It was too beautiful.

Crocodile leather was practically garbage by comparison.

'If I snipped off just a little bit of this to make a wallet, it would be absolutely perfect.'

If this were released onto the civilian market?

For instance, if a leather coat were made and sold?

It would be beautiful, but above all, the functional aspect.

It would serve as a bulletproof vest in its own right.

Bullets wouldn't pierce it.

There was no way to even guess what the selling price would be.