Chapter 54 - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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After finishing the 51st-floor clear,

Joo-hyuk and his party exited the tower.

Since they used up both of their daily tower entry chances.... what do they do now?

Why would there be nothing to do?

They should throw a welcome party for the new member.

"Let's have a company dinner, to serve as Ms. Veronica's welcome party too. Take out the beef from the refrigerator. Today, drink as much beer and soju as you want... Huh?"

Snore, snore,

Veronica was already sprawled out in a spread-eagle shape on the living room floor, fast asleep.

"Whoa, falling asleep as soon as she comes out. At this point, isn't she a sloth?"

"...Maybe a panda or a koala."

The three great sleepyheads of the animal kingdom.

Veronica, possessing a sleeping ability to rival them.

It's pitiful.

She should at least eat before sleeping.

Because he knew what Veronica craved so much before dying, he couldn't wake her up either.

"She must have gone crazy from the lack of sleep, sir. It's best to let her sleep soundly, sir."

"Still, it's better to eat and sleep. Pandas also eat bamboo before sleeping."

"She throws a fit if you wake her up unnecessarily, sir. You saw it earlier, didn't you, sir? Tsk tsk, her face is pretty, but her personality is...."

"Huh? Pretty?"

"...Pardon?"

"You just said that."

"I never did, sir."

"You did, though?"

"N, no, sir."

Cossack subtly avoided the situation, saying he was going to grill meat.

Look at this guy.

If things go well, they might even start dating.

'This could be interesting?'

He doesn't know if summoned entities can date each other, but there's no reason they couldn't.

Considering they can eat, drink alcohol, and sleep when they come outside.

Let's just have the get-together.

Leaving a portion for Veronica in case she wakes up later.

Beef sizzled and cooked on the large dining table.

Drinking and eating, laughing and chatting....

It was a welcome party missing its main character, but today wasn't the only day.

They could just do it again next time.

Truthfully, Joo-hyuk found this situation constantly amazing.

Until now, he had lived without a single decent friend.

A company dinner? What company dinner.

He hadn't even expected to be able to laugh and chat with people like this.

To Joo-hyuk, being able to enjoy moments like this with his comrades was better than succeeding as a player.

In fact, he bought this spacious penthouse exactly to hang out together like this.

Right then!

'Gasp!'

Veronica, who had been sleeping in the living room, abruptly disappeared in a flash.

'...Where did she go?'

She was sleeping soundly on the floor just a moment ago.

She wasn't unsummoned either.

However, Gobang, who was eating meat, pointed under the dining table with his finger,

"Female soldier Sergeant, is here."

Looking down, it was Veronica.

This time, she was sleeping under the dining table.

She must have rolled over here while sleeping in the living room.

The more he saw her, the more fascinating it was.

"Is it a sleep habit?"

"Ho-e-e..."

"She probably came drawn by the smell of roasting meat even while sleeping."

It seems so.

Even while sleeping.

Sniff, sniff.

Her nostrils flared.

Smack, smack, she also smacked her lips.

"We should probably wake her up and feed her."

Cossack stared blankly at the sleeping Veronica. Then, as if he remembered something, he grinned and said,

"Summoner Bong, sir."

"Yes?"

"Please wait a moment without waking her up, sir. I have something to try, sir."

"What is it?"

Cossack subtly placed a piece of beef on the fast-asleep Veronica's lips.

Sniff, sniff, her nostrils twitched.

Then her tongue darted out! She swept the meat into her mouth.

Cossack sprang up and applauded.

"Amazing, sir. Amazing! She ate while sleeping, sir. I'm truly surprised, sir."

The more he saw, the more dumbfounded he felt.

No, chewing meat while lying down and sleeping?

Is this a skill too?

Finding it fascinating, Cossack placed another piece of meat on Veronica's lips.

Dart, munch-munch.

"It's breathtaking, sir. Would you like to try it too, Summoner Bong, sir?"

"..."

Gobang also watched blankly, then,

Swoosh.

Placed two chunks around her lips.

Dart, dart, munch-munch, smack-smack.

"Ho-e-e-e-heh?"

Rajix also seemed fascinated.

He snapped the carrot he was eating in half and, with a face full of anticipation, carefully placed it on Veronica's lips, then dart!

"Ho-e, she ate the carrot too."

"Good job, sir. Worker Rajix, one must eat a balanced diet of meat and vegetables.."

Ptooey!

Suddenly, carrot pieces spat out from Veronica's mouth.

"Ho-eek!"

Rajix, looking disappointed.

She eats while sleeping, but her palate is definitely strict.

Anyway, the welcome party ended well.

Because she did eat, even while sleeping.

When time passed and it was time to return, Joo-hyuk didn't wake Veronica.

Thus, she was unsummoned and disappeared while remaining asleep.

* * *

13 days left until the UAE tower collapse.

A Multinational Tower Access Ticket can only be properly used when you meet the qualifications.

Climbing a floor higher than the user's level is impossible.

After climbing up to the 59th floor in the South Korean Black Tower, to the 60th floor of the UAE Black Tower.

So today is the 52nd floor.

[You are entering the 52nd floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

[Your physical abilities have been enhanced to match your level.]

[You can use Traits and Combat Skills.]

52nd floor, Lv. 52.

His strength became as strong as Lv. 52, and his mana also became abundant enough to use Shadow Step all day long.

Let's get moving slowly.

Though he was stripped of his privilege items, he still had the mace and small shield he bought when he started as a player.

A real man shouldn't blame his weapons.

Gobang fights well barehanded too, after all.

Preparations for the clear began.

Veronica Caliber, who was summoned while sleeping today as well.

"Preparations for the operation are comple.... Ah!"

Veronica, who was checking her magic gun, shouted with a flustered expression.

"Is there a problem?"

"C-Captain! Ammunition exhausted. I failed to resupply independently. I apologize. I will rectify it."

Ammunition?

Did she need ammunition?

"What kind of bullets?"

"Mana Stones are required. The magic gun is loaded with Mana Stones as live ammunition. Usually, they are extracted from monster corpses for self-resupply, but yesterday ended too quickly...."

"Is that so?"

Why worry when a Mana Stone millionaire is right here?

"Where do you load the Mana Stones?"

"You just have to put them all in here."

Veronica taking off the top cover.

He understood why the rifle was so bulky.

The inside of the magic gun was completely empty.

If he poured Mana Stones in here, it could easily fit 5kg.

"Mr. Rajix."

"Ho-eng?"

"You have the mined Mana Stones, right?"

"Ho-e, I do. A lot."

"Give them to the Sergeant."

Rajix opened his backpack.

Taking them out from inside, swish, Mana Stones pouring out.

"How is it?"

"I-it's sufficient."

"What about reloading during combat?"

"It is possible. Reloading time is instantaneous."

"Then Mr. Rajix, please supply Mana Stones immediately if you think Veronica needs ammunition."

"Ho-eng!"

Veronica also said,

"When ammunition is exhausted, I will raise my left arm to signal Quartermaster Rajix."

"Fire away to your heart's content. Don't spare the ammo."

"Certain Victory!"

How many shots can she fire with one full reload like this?

"Based on large magic bullets, 2 shots. Based on small magic bullets, 200 shots. Single and continuous fire are possible."

200 small bullets.

2 large bullets.

Roughly comparing, the power difference is 100 times.

"Can you just keep firing unconditionally if you continue putting in Mana Stones in the middle?"

"For small bullets, there's no limit even with continuous fire, but large bullets are limited to 2 shots."

"Even if Mana Stones are replenished?"

"Large bullets put a strain on the magic gun. After firing 2 shots, an hour must pass before they can be fired again."

A kind of cooldown. It doesn't matter.

Even the small bullets have decent power.

Moreover, she said she can spray them continuously.

[52nd Floor Mission: Eliminate 15 Steel-Beak Pitch-Black Griffons.]

[Completion Time Limit: Within 14 hours.]

[Condition of Failure: Death or Mission Abandonment]

The 52nd floor was also smooth sailing.

Veronica's pull, chipping away health, and handing over to Gobang, and Cossack's finish.

At this point, it's more monotonous than smooth.

Of course, it's not like unexpected situations don't occur.

"Squad members, would it be alright if I handed over 2 at once?"

"Do as you please. It wouldn't matter if 10 came all at once."

"Roger! Wishing you good luck. Princess, please focus as well. Aggro might bounce, so be careful."

"Rest assured."

Pew! Pew! Pew!

However, not 2 but 3 came down.

Gobang blocking her front.

"There are 3. Magic Gunner, fall back."

"No! I will handle one."

Ziiiiiing!

Veronica's magic gun glowed white-hot.

After aiming carefully in a kneeling position,

Bzzzttt!!!

A massive large magic bullet accurately hit the Steel-Beak Pitch-Black Griffon's body.

Thump!

The griffon, hit by the large magic bullet, plummeted helplessly.

At the same time, the kill count went up.

One shot was enough.

However, the aggro of the remaining 2 was still valid.

Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt!

After halting their descent with continuous fire,

Veronica rolled over continuously to escape the battlefield.

The remaining 2 that chased her.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Gobang grabbed both their necks simultaneously.

And Cossack severed their windpipes by stabbing their vitals with his blade-aura-infused dagger.

"Ho-e... Cool."

Rajix said with wide eyes.

He seemed smitten by Veronica's appearance of firing a big shot and rolling out of the way.

"Worker Rajix, I am also cool when I fight. Did I tell you about the time I walked down from the sky?"

"Ho-eek? D, dangerous. Summoner is cool even when staying still."

Right.

Rajix is indeed a worker with a good eye for people.

Anyway, Veronica Caliber.

Perhaps because she was a soldier in her past life, every single movement was disciplined and efficient.

Especially her form of ruthlessly driving small bullets into griffons with a standing shooting stance during continuous fire was....

However, there was a downside too.

The cost-efficiency was worse than expected.

The Mana Stone consumption was significant.

Gobang and Cossack only needed to be fed food.

When Veronica raised her left hand, Rajix dashed out as if waiting,

Roll, roll, roll, roll,

"Ho-e-e-e!"

Swoosh.

Opening the backpack and resupplying her with Mana Stones.

"Thank you. Quartermaster Rajix."

"Ho-e-e..."

Rajix, taking on the role of Quartermaster and participating in the frontlines of the battle.

'Then I should probably slowly join in too....'

Joo-hyuk took out his mace and small shield.

Witnessing that, Veronica sprinted over in a flurry and said,

"You must not move forward."

"Why?"

"You could be hit by bullets flying from behind. Originally in war, there are more deaths from friendly fire than from the enemy."

She's at it too.

Why are their excuses so diverse?

"Then what about Cossack and Gobang over there?"

"Hmm, Cossack is sly so he'll dodge bullets, and Gobang seems like he wouldn't flinch even if hit."

"...What if I order you to as a Captain?"

"Reciting the 3 Laws of Summoned Entities. One! A summoned entity must prioritize the summoner's life above all else...."

"Ah, alright."

Those damn 3 Laws.

"Also, if you, the Captain, personally step forward, who will command? A commander must not move hastily."

"Command, my foot."

"I didn't quite catch that, sir."

A commander, she says.

Is sitting back and slacking off in the rear counted as commanding?

'Hmm...'

Thinking about it calmly, she's not wrong.

Rather, it's perfect historical accuracy.

It is right for a commander to slack off in the rear.

Anyway, the 52nd floor as well,

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 52nd floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

The next day too.

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 53rd floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

And the day after that too.

[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on the 54th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

* * *

The United Arab Emirates is a federation.

The main power lies with the Federal Supreme Council, but you could say the King of Abu Dhabi, the most powerful among them, practically rules the UAE.

Crown Prince Abdul Bin-Sala of Abu Dhabi was under house arrest at his residence.

All external activities were restricted.

It was no different from being imprisoned.

It happened as soon as he returned to Abu Dhabi from South Korea.

Because of the failure of the temporary naturalization contract?

Not a chance!

A mere contract failure couldn't be the cause of his exile.

Moreover, he was a Crown Prince.

The cause was the Rune of Trait Enhancement.

The item that had to be given as a condition for the temporary naturalization contract with Saudi Arabia.

Giving that to a mysterious intruder of unknown identity was the crime.

All he received in return were 2 tower reward items and a verbal promise to clear the 60th and 61st floors.

Because he had to bear the responsibility entirely, Bin-Sala was exiled to his residence.

Along with being on the verge of being stripped of his qualifications as Crown Prince.

Will it end at just being stripped of his qualifications?

Eventually, he'll be expelled outside the UAE.

Then removed by an assassin.

Because an exiled Crown Prince staying alive would be a burden to the next power structure.

The only way for a miraculous revival.

That man he met at the hotel.

He just needs him to clear the 60th floor of the UAE Black Tower.

Then he'll be freed from exile and able to exercise even stronger power than now.

The moment!

Knock, knock.

An attendant knocking on the door of the room where Bin-Sala was confined and entering.

"How did it go?"

"Today, the 54th floor of the South Korean Black Tower was cleared with an S++ grade."

"I see."

Climbing 4 consecutive days.

To be honest, he was half in doubt, but now he's certain.

Gobang.

A mysterious player capable of exerting power beyond his abilities inside the tower in reality as well.

Gobang is undoubtedly the S++ grade clear record holder of the South Korean Black Tower.

Consecutively clearing from the 51st to the 54th floor over four days was also to keep his promise with him.

Giving away extremely rare tower reward weapons and a shield just as a gift, how bold of him.

Player Omar, who equipped those gears and entered the tower, already climbed 2 more floors, reaching level 29.

What if Gobang clears the 60th floor as promised?

'I absolutely must go to South Korea.'

Preparing a generous bundle of gifts.

He must somehow meet Gobang again.

Maintaining a continuous relationship with him is necessary.

The fact that Gobang was an eerie and spine-chilling person wasn't even an issue.

Perhaps getting acquainted with such a person would actually be fortuitous.