Chapter 71 - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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It goes without saying that the Holy Sword is an essential element in the undead sections.

However, that applies only to other players; in Joo-hyuk's case, he is an exception.

His power stems entirely from his summoned entities.

Therefore, trait enhancement is a much higher priority task than repairing the Holy Sword.

'The Holy Sword is just for sucking up rental fees.'

Also, after passing the undead section?

The Holy Sword's usefulness will drastically decrease.

Moreover, repairing the Holy Sword isn't impossible forever.

Since Rajix said he'd handle everything if I gather all the repair materials.

The Restore (Restoration) Scroll is used on the rune fragment.

To do that, I first need to figure out the identity of the rune fragment.

'I need to find more fragments.'

We just finished the 64th-floor clear.

But it was too fast.

Because of that, Rajix lacked the time to demonstrate his abilities.

If so?

Two tower entries a day.

There is still one shot left.

"Let's proceed with a repetitive clear of the 64th floor."

"Ready, sir."

"It would truly be a jackpot if we find a rune fragment during the repetitive clear."

"Shall you award a badge to the person who finds it, sir?"

"Isn't that a given? If they find it, it's unconditionally an angle for a badge."

Twitch.

Rajix's hamster ears perked up sharply.

Badge, badge, badge....

Fumbling,

Rajix took out the golden pickaxe from his subspace backpack and began wiping it with extreme care.

A resolute expression conveying he would absolutely accomplish it.

"Ho-eng!"

[You are entering the 64th floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

"Mr. Gobang."

"Command me. Summoner."

"Please gather the ghouls as much as possible and stall for time."

"Understood. I will stall for time."

To Cossack and Veronica as well.

"It's fine even if the clear fails, so deal damage slowly, while protecting Mr. Rajix and Princess Gyeon Dal-rae."

"Leave it to us, sir."

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber, I have familiarized myself with the instructions, sir."

Repetitive clear.

The ghouls had already reset and were popping out from the holes.

"Uwaaaaah!!! Come! You filthy demonic beasts!"

The swarm of ghouls lunging at Gobang, Gyeon Dal-rae's Exorcism Ritual, Rajix's exploration commencing simultaneously,

Roll-roll. Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak!

The golden pickaxe glinting as it reflected the torches.

Everyone was working hard.

Except for two people.

Despite lacking any detection abilities, Cossack was sniffing and poking the ground with a dagger.

'Is he an archaeological excavator or what?'

Veronica was dozing off sleepily and occasionally suddenly jumping up to shoot her gun.

'She just sleeps if she feels there's nothing to do.'

He understands.

Because it's not a time when clearing ghouls is necessary.

'Still, aren't they slacking off too much?'

Joo-hyuk wrote down something with the pen and notebook he brought in advance.

"Hmm."

Cossack, who was pacing the cave with his hands behind his back, approached closely as if finding it strange that Joo-hyuk was writing in a notebook.

"What are you writing, sir? A diary, sir?"

"No, an official merit record book."

"Pardon, sir?"

"To refer to when awarding badges. If I just hand out badges based on my mood, there will be issues with equity, right."

"..."

A point where a systematic badge awarding system is needed.

"Since Mr. Gobang is suffering alone, 20 points; Princess Gyeon Dal-rae is also 20 points, Mr. Rajix is 40 points..."

"M, me, how many points do I have, sir?"

"0 points. Sergeant Be too, since it seems like you aren't doing much...."

"...P, pardon, sir?"

"Phew, our Mr. Rajix, his face is covered in dirt. He's working so frantically, he wouldn't even know if a ghoul came right behind his back at that rate."

Spot! Cossack disappeared in an instant.

"Gobang! I'll help you."

"I don't need it. Assassin. You're of no help."

"Punk! I can tank too, you know of evasion tanks?"

"Go away, the ghouls are my share."

"Shut up! Let me get a piece too."

Stab, stab, stab!

After detaching a few ghouls clinging to Gobang with dagger attacks.

Cossack frantically casting Shadow Step and luring them here and there.

"Summoner Bong, look at this, sir. It's veteran evasion tanking, sir. It's truly fantastic, sir."

It seems Veronica also heard the conversation...

Sleeping, she suddenly sprang up, snapping to her senses.

Pa-syut! Pa-syut! Pa-syut!

She began covering fire with small-caliber bullets.

"Commander! I will provide covering fire for Quartermaster Rajix. I will ensure not a single one approaches him."

Gyeon Dal-rae's Exorcism Ritual also grew fiercer.

"The top shaman of the Heavenly Empire commands, you miscreants rot in the Scorching Hell!"

Gobang also grabbed the lunging ghouls tightly, pushed them, threw them, dragging aggro perfectly.

The ghouls were pushed way back. To the end of the cave passage.

'It's going well.'

Thanks to that, Rajix became free.

His detection range also became much wider.

Appearing here and there, digging with his pickaxe like a flash in the east and a flash in the west.

Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak! Pak-pak-pak-pak!

Time flowed swiftly. Finally, Rajix's pickaxing stopped.

It seems there's no smell anymore. Rolling, he rolled over.

"Ho-e-eng, it's over."

Seeing him drenched in sweat, he must have explored thoroughly.

"Okay! Now now, let's wrap this up and head out."

Thus, the 64th floor repetitive clear mission was complete.

[You have succeeded in the 64th-floor mission.]

[Reward: 6.4kg of Mana Stones]

* * *

Back at the penthouse,

How many rune fragments did Rajix manage to find?

"Take them out."

"Ho-e."

Rattle-rattle.

Rajix scattering the rune and ticket fragments he collected on the floor,

There's quite a lot.

6 rune fragments, 4 ticket fragments.

Along with broken wooden splinters and metal scraps.

Just because there are many doesn't mean they are all useful.

There are more that don't fit than those that do.

Joo-hyuk also took out the partially assembled ticket fragments first from his inventory. Do any of these match?

However, one of the 4 pieces slid over and attached itself.

"Oh!"

...Reset Ticket.

What else could it be?

Obviously a Skill Cooldown Reset Ticket.

Although its utility is very high,

'It's not something to use the Restore Scroll on.'

The rest of the ticket fragments didn't attach anywhere. They didn't fit.

Either they were duplicates, or too damaged.

Still, I should store them.

Next are the runes.

A total of 6 to piece together.

Among them, when he gently brought one towards the ,

"Hmm."

The rune fragment didn't even budge.

The same went for the other several pieces.

Next.

What about ?

"..."

It didn't move.

This wasn't it either.

Now the last one.

One left.

With a careful attitude, Joo-hyuk tried attaching the stone fragments one by one.

"It has to fit this time...."

It doesn't.

It still doesn't.

It continually doesn't fit.

"Just fit one, c'mon!"

I mean, we found 6 rune fragments and not a single one fits!

"I, it'll unconditionally fit, sir."

Cossack seemed anxious as well.

"It's because you lack earnestness, sir. Everyone repeat after me! When I say Heave!, you say Ho!, sir. Heave!"

"Ho!"

"Heave!"

"...Ho."

"Heave ho!"

"Heave ho!"

"Guardhouse! I, I mean heave ho!"

"Ho-e-e-e, heeeave hoo...."

Right then!

Slide,

Like being drawn by a magnet, a fingernail-sized piece slowly moved,

"Uh, uh, uh?"

"Go!"

"It's going, it's going!"

"Let's gooo!!!"

Click! It attached like one body.

Joo-hyuk throwing his hand up!

"It fit!"

"It has fit."

"It stuck perfectly, sir! Princess, strike up the music, sir."

"Very good."

"Ho-e-e-eng!"

But it wasn't time to raise a toast just yet.

The final process remained.

Checking the item information.

To use the Restore Scroll, at least a minimal hint had to be visible.

Gulp.

Joo-hyuk swallowed dry saliva.

A tense moment. What will it be?

'Check Info.'

"...Rune of hancement?"

When Joo-hyuk opened his mouth,

"Is it hancement?"

"If it's the Rune of hancement? Tr, Trait Enhancement? Is that correct, sir?"

It's certain.

Damaged Rune of Trait Enhancement.

What else could it be but that?

"H, Heave ho worked, sir!"

"Yes! 10 points for Mr. Cossack!"

"Yes!"

I'll restore it immediately.

Joo-hyuk pulled out the Restore (Restoration) Scroll.

The method of use is just bringing the Restore Scroll into contact with the item you want to restore.

With trembling hands, just as he was about to press the scroll against the ,

Pause!

A thought suddenly crossing his mind.

'A Rune of hancement, huh.'

Is this truly the Rune of Trait Enhancement? There's a possibility it's a new item.

Cossack had also mentioned that various items appear as the floors go higher.

The Restore Scroll itself is an item he's seeing for the first time.

It's probably not only traits that get enhanced.

For example, what if it's a Rune of Weapon Enhancement, Rune of Equipment Enhancement, or Rune of Skill Enhancement?

Also, 'hwa' (enhancement in Korean ends with hwa) might not even mean enhancement.

Harmony (jo-hwa), Purification (jeong-hwa), Conversation (dae-hwa), Movie (yeong-hwa), Fairy tale (dong-hwa), Fresh flowers (saeng-hwa), Chrysanthemum (guk-hwa), Rain boots (jang-hwa), Beautification (mi-hwa), Gold coin (geum-hwa), Silver coin (eun-hwa), Sneakers (un-dong-hwa), Indoor shoes (sil-nae-hwa)....

Ahh, the beta male disease acting up again.

Negative thoughts biting each other's tails. However.

"Fuck it!"

What is there to life?

It's either a jackpot or going broke.

[You have used the Restore (Restoration) Scroll.]

[The item is restored to its original state.]

Hwa-a-a-at!

A resplendent radiance surged from the rune fragment.

The moment!

[Beginning restoration of Damaged but Letters Revealed Rune of ??...hancement.]

[Time remaining until restoration is complete: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]

"...Damn it,"

It wasn't instantaneous.

I'll be able to check it tomorrow.

Making someone so anxious.

* * *

Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence.

Officials, including the Director of Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, gathered in the conference room.

"Bong Joo-hyuk, age 25, we understand he signed an Elite Player contract with the Awakening Management Agency relatively recently."

Prime Minister Kawaguchi furrowed his brow while looking at the photo displayed on the screen.

"This is the individual highly likely to be the actual owner of the Holy Sword?"

"Yes."

"His face is completely different."

Gobang, and the giant revealed in the HG Hotel terror incident.

An ordinary face that shared no similarities with those two,

"What is the veracity of this data?"

"The source of the intelligence is the US Department of Homeland Security. We believe it is reliable data."

"Are you certain?"

"I have a close executive within Homeland Security. This is information he handed over."

"Hmm.."

Up until now, Japan had figured that the S++ grade clear record holder, the actual owner of the Holy Sword, and additionally the supplier of Basilisk hides and tower ores, were all one person.

That's the only way it makes sense.

To say individuals with different abilities all popped out at once at the same time?

That's impossible.

"Has the US contacted this person named Bong Joo-hyuk?"

"Currently, there is no sign of that."

"I see."

Prime Minister Kawaguchi scoffed.

'It's an utterly transparent trick.'

The US doesn't have certainty.

Perhaps this intelligence was also discarded.

That's why it was leaked to Japan.

'Are they telling us to figure it out instead?'

The possibility of that is extremely high.

Considering their relationship with South Korea, the risk is too big for the US to step forward directly.

Especially when it's unconfirmed intelligence.

The same goes for Japan.

They must exercise self-restraint right now.

Hastily approaching another country's player is strictly forbidden.

Don't they have a track record.

Other countries wouldn't look kindly upon Japan.

Besides, there's the exposure of China's player kidnapping incident.

However, they couldn't just throw away intelligence they took the pains to collect.

Wouldn't some level of verification be necessary?

"Which company receives the exclusive supply of Basilisk hides?"

"It is HG Fashion of the brand 'Wildflower & Basili'."

"The biggest competitor to HG Fashion?"

"Originally, the place leading the Korean fashion market was Ilseong Apparel."

"Ilseong, huh...."

A South Korean conglomerate.

Kawaguchi has an acquaintance with the Chairman of Ilseong.

"Go to South Korea yourself and leak the intelligence to Ilseong. That the Holy Sword.... no, the Basilisk hide supplier might be Bong Joo-hyuk."

"Yes! Understood."

Let's watch how things unfold. Who knows?

A clue to the S++ grade clear record holder could pop out during that process.

* * *

The next morning.

As soon as Joo-hyuk woke up, he took out the rune from the inventory and checked the restoration progress.

[Rune of ?...hancement with increasingly clear letters is undergoing restoration.]

[Time remaining until restoration is complete: 3 hours 17 minutes 32 seconds]

'Phew, it's enhancement.'

Passed one hurdle.

It's definitely a Rune of Enhancement.

I just need to confirm if the letters in front of that are trait, item, or skill.

'Even if just one letter appears, if it's Rune of ...it Enhancement, it's practically certain.'

Today is the day he promised to go shopping with the summoned entities.

Scheduled to go in the evening.

The identity of the rune will be determined within a few hours, so after confirming that.

Going to the bathroom, taking a shower, changing into clean clothes, grabbing a quick bite for breakfast,

'Let's return the Holy Sword.'

Joo-hyuk contacted the Awakening Management Agency.

Saying he would return the Holy Sword.

Shortly after.

Ding! A message arrived.

So he went down to the underground parking lot,

Today was also a different car, the type of car and the license plate changed every single time.

However, the person was always the same.

Jeon Kwang-il, or Lee Min-ah.

The driver today was Team Leader Lee Min-ah.

"The Holy Sword..., I'll return it."

"Yes! Received. I will store it safely so that there are no issues with the rentals. Oh! The Deputy Director requested to see you briefly; do you perhaps have time?"

"...Ah, yes, yes."

"I will escort you to the Management Agency."

Joo-hyuk rode in the car driven by Team Leader Lee Min-ah and went to the Awakening Management Agency.

Soon, the car arrived at the tower materials storage warehouse.

"Player Bong."

"Have you been well?"

"Hahaha, as usual for me. Right this way."

Jeon Kwang-il was waiting at the place where the Basilisk hides were stored.

The hides were being consumed rapidly. Business must be good.

"The payment for the hides will be settled soon. Perhaps you can look forward to it."

Money rolling in left and right. When will I ever spend all this?

"Also, I looked into the land near Gyeonggi-do that you mentioned before."

Jeon Kwang-il unrolled a map and pointed to a section marked in red.

"It is about a 3,000-pyeong plot of land on the outskirts of Namyangju. It's a quiet area. There are no villages nearby. There is a road paved to it, so it's convenient for traveling."

There were photos as well.

A prefabricated container erected on an empty flat lot. But it looks way too nice.

"This is a container?"

"These days, residential containers all come out like this."

"The price? Together with the land and the container."

"It is state-owned land. We have already completed the transfer of registration. The container is complimentary."

"Uh, I said I would buy it with my own money."

"Please endure it just this once. It is a piece of land that doesn't cost much anyway."

"..."

Well, then it can't be helped.

When he's requesting it like this.

"Um, it's presumptuous of me, but I have a proposal to make."

"What is it?"

"It's about those people."

Those people must mean Cossack and Gobang.

"Why? Is there a problem...."

"The Awakening Management Agency can register those people as players."

"...Pardon?"

Registering as players in South Korea.

"Strictly speaking, they would be naturalized players. A clean wash of the past, becoming players with South Korean nationality just like Player Bong."

"Ah!"

Something he'd never even thought of.

Cossack and Gobang becoming Koreans like him.

However,

"Well."

He wasn't really inclined towards it.

Is having a nationality a good thing?

They'd have to take responsibility equal to that.

Also, rather than his own opinion, he needed to ask the parties involved.

"There won't be any obligations whatsoever accompanying the acquisition of nationality. It is merely an intention to provide convenience so they can live in South Korea without issues."

Jeon Kwang-il carefully continued his words.

"Furthermore, our government doesn't have the power to do anything to those people anyway."

That's true.

Rather, it's the opposite.

Who in this world could handle them?

"It doesn't matter if it falls through, so please contact me whenever you feel inclined."

"Yes. We'll discuss the issue of acquiring nationality slowly over time...."

It was then.

A system message heard inside Joo-hyuk's head.

[The item restoration is complete.]

'Huh?'

What is it?

[You have acquired the Rune of Trait Enhancement.]

"...Hahaha!"

"Um, did something good happen?"

"Yes, something extremely good."

"Hahaha, I don't know what it is, but I feel good too."

In the end, his choice was right.

'Now I can draw one more person.'

Let's just proceed with the Random Summoning today.

And go shopping together in the evening.