Chapter 74 - Chapter 74

Chapter 74

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The shopping was satisfying.

The built-in closets in each room of the penthouse were full of clothes and accessories bought by the summoned entities.

Well, given how much money was spent.

Though he still hadn't shaken off the shame from yesterday.

Kicking his blankets so much at night that his legs were stiff.

The final 4th round after-party was also incredible.

They ate and drank extravagantly at the meat restaurant.

Just the money spent that day was tens of millions of won.

But it didn't even make a dent in his bank account.

It felt like it was ballooning the more he spent.

Not long ago, a Russian player visited South Korea and rented the Holy Sword after paying the rental fee.

Russia has 2 towers.

The floor number was 63, and because the clear time limits were different, they said they'd only clear one.

They left after making a reservation to come back in two months.

Fortunately, there were no accidents.

They succeeded in the clear, and the Holy Sword was returned safely.

The ten million dollars deposited into his account.

This amount is nothing for Russia.

Since they'd earn an enormous amount having cleared 3 towers in China sequentially through temporary naturalization.

Money ballooning crazily.

The Holy Sword rental fee, the tower ores supplied directly to the Management Agency, and he hadn't even received the money for the hides yet.

'Should I buy a building?'

That's a good idea too.

It's much better than just leaving money sitting in an account.

In any case, let's try clearing the 65th floor.

The original plan was to park at the 64th floor.

The privileges only extended to there, so he intentionally didn't want to overextend himself climbing.

He was planning to build camaraderie when the new summoned entity arrived and tour the country after buying a car.

But his thoughts had changed.

Largely thanks to Cossack's evil idea, which allowed the Heretic Inquisitor Lucius Bardin to be used as a Holy Sword.

Recalling the ghouls bursting apart due to his brilliance, he actually felt a strange sense of thrill.

How would the battle against the Dullahan on the 65th floor unfold?

It's an undead monster reputed to be a mid-boss, after all.

There's another good thing about going up to higher floors.

The fact that the number of item fragments Rajix can find through exploration increases.

If I don't go up in this situation, how can I call myself the tower's alpha male.

Before climbing,

Joo-hyuk made a phone call to Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

- Ah! Player Bong, what brings you to call? You even called first.

"It's nothing else, but I'm thinking of trying to clear the 65th and 66th floors... Would that be alright?"

- Hahaha, of course, if you wish to climb, you should. However, please hold off on the 67th floor. As you know, we need to fill the clear time limit fully.

"Ugh, of course I won't go up to the 67th floor."

It'll shock people.

Even when the 64th floor S++ clear was completed, the media was in an uproar.

Questioning if he shouldn't stop, saying an uncontrolled genius is dangerous.

"Let's just casually leak it while we're at it."

- Pardon?

"That Gobang won't climb up to the 67th floor, and that there was prior communication with the Awakening Management Agency."

- That is....

"Well, everyone probably already knows anyway."

The Holy Sword, leather, and ore supply.

Unless they're an idiot, almost anyone with sense would have caught on.

That the Management Agency and the S++ grade clear record holder have a close relationship.

- Understood. I will just casually hint at it. Vaguely.

The notification has been given.

First, starting with the 65th floor.

Joo-hyuk called the summoned entities one by one.

In order of seniority,

"Choo-woong! Summoner Bong's right arm, the flashing petty genius, Special Secret Agent, Cossack has arrived, sir."

He appeared wearing the luxury designer sunglasses he bought at the department store.

Exactly the way he looked when he was last seen.

'They said they get saved, and they really do appear just like that.'

Next was Gobang.

He was wearing a top-tier luxury suit.

Designer shoes, a tie, and the sparkling Platinum Badge on his chest too.

"Summoner, Gobang is here too."

Cool.

The tailored fit falling down him is no joke.

I shouldn't call him a Barbarian Warrior anymore.

The cold city warrior Gobang. But infinitely warm solely to his comrades.

"But you can't enter the tower wearing those clothes. If you enlarge, they'll rip."

"It's fine, Summoner. They won't rip."

"...Why?"

"It has been saved and authenticated as my personal belonging. When I enlarge, the clothes stretch."

"Ah!"

So I'll be seeing a giant Gobang in a suit?

Gyeon Dal-rae next.

"Thank you for calling me today as well."

Jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers.

A perfect Korean teenage youth.

What about Rajix and Veronica?

"Ho-eng!"

"Certain Victory! Sergeant Veronica Caliber, responding to the Commander's call."

Both had shopped a lot of miscellaneous things, but nothing had changed about them.

The items Rajix bought were stored inside his subspace backpack, and Veronica's items were in her closet.

"Shall we go to the 65th floor then?"

To catch the Dullahan.

We'll summon the weapon once we get inside.

* * *

[You are entering the 65th floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

The environment of the 65th floor is a plains area.

Therefore, the appearance of the mission area was clearly visible even from the safe zone.

It was like an ocean.

Literally waves crashing. Waves of undead.

'It's terrifying.'

An army-level undead troop scale.

All the undead that had appeared up to the 64th floor were filling the vast plains entirely.

And in the middle of the plains, on high ground, a headless knight riding a skeletal horse.

That guy is the mission of the 65th floor.

The game is over once we just catch the Dullahan.

But it's quite difficult.

To reach the place where the Dullahan is, we have to break through the forces of the massive undead army, so how are we supposed to do that?

Of course, a relatively easier method exists.

The Dullahan doesn't just stay still on the high ground.

He'll start moving soon.

Acting like a commander, he'll circle the perimeter of the plains on his skeletal horse as if patrolling alone.

Usually, the time it takes to start the patrol and arrive near the entrance of the mission area is about 5 hours.

So if we do nothing and just wait with bated breath, he'll appear right in front of the players.

"It will be easy if we wait about 5 hours. Although being a knight, the size and range of the Dullahan's dark aura are large, there exists a weakness in lacking a head, so dealing with him will not be difficult."

Meaning we just need to catch him after 5 hours.

"Then what about an S++ clear?"

"Would it not be difficult."

"Is it completely impossible?"

"It is possible if we use a frontal assault method. If we break through the undead army and catch the Dullahan directly...."

"Hmm."

Breaking straight through there?

'It'd be dangerous.'

Especially for the non-combat summoned entities Gyeon Dal-rae and Rajix.

Still, there's always a way.

Through a frontal assault.

We even have the Holy Sword.

"Mr. Rajix and Princess, move together with Gobang. Ride on his shoulders."

Since Gobang has done it a few times, he'll be used to it.

However,

"Eh? Not possible, sir. Even considering the Princess, if our worker Rajix rolls along, he'll be faster than Sergeant Be, sir. You should ride, Summoner Bong, sir."

"Ho-e!"

How could I do that.

Children and youths come first.

It's embarrassing; no matter how much of a beta male I am, I can't yield on this.

"Am I some kind of slug? Who was the one who taught you the Shadow Step, huh? Did you forget about Void Steps?"

"Uwa, t, that's not what I meant, sir."

"Young Master, please ascend together with this lowly one. A refined scholar does not run even when it rains..."

"Whatever, just do as I say. I'll be running, so get ready to sprint."

"...Yes, sir."

Breaking through the undead army and directly catching the Dullahan.

A clear method no one had ever tried before.

Well, every clear so far has been like that anyway.

"Let's begin."

Ssu-u-u-uk! Gobang's body growing large enough to touch the sky.

His suit stretched with him, making him look incredibly cool.

We shouldn't call him a Barbarian Warrior anymore.

The cold city warrior, Gobang. Yet infinitely warm solely to his comrades.

"Designated Summoning Lucius Bardin."

Spot!

"Summoner! You are being deceived...."

"Shh! Using skills other than manifesting brilliance is prohibited, talking other than 'Light!!!' is prohibited, and struggling is prohibited."

"..."

Gobang picked up the incapacitated Bardin.

"Bardin, manifest brilliance."

"Liiiiight!!!"

Hwa-a-a-ak! A radiant light of brilliance so bright it was blinding.

Simultaneously, Joo-hyuk and his party carefully began moving forward.

Ready to run the moment the mission pops up.

In the far distance, the headless knight, Dullahan, standing tall on a horse is visible.

It's an unconditional charge.

Smash anything that blocks the way.

[Floor 65 Mission: Defeat 1 Dark Knight Dullahan.]

[Time limit for completion: Within 16 hours.]

[Completion Condition: Dark Knight Dullahan 0/1]

The completion time limit is on the long side.

If so, the time allotted to judge an S++ grade would likely be long as well.

"Run!"

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

Taking massive strides, Gobang led the way.

"Kyaaaak!"

"Kak!"

"Kuaaa!"

Swarms of undead swarming in like a school of piranhas encountering prey.

Swoosh! Swish! Swish!

As the human Holy Sword Bardin was swung around, the undead shattered into dust with a pa-seo-seo-seok sound.

"Assault Mode, loading Small-Caliber Scattershot mode, selector on Automatic, executing tactical fire."

Psha-syat! Psha-syat! Psha-syat!

Veronica's rapid scattershot fire.

Aimed at stopping the enemy's approach rather than penetrating them,

The undead hit by the bullets flinched and were pushed a step back.

Cossack followed closely behind, escorting Joo-hyuk.

Pat-pat-pat-pat!

Both of them using the exact same skill, Shadow Step.

"Bardin, brilliance."

"Liiiiight!!!"

Whooooosh! Pa-sa-sa-sa!

There was nothing obstructing their path.

Gobang bulldozed through the undead as if conducting military snow removal operations and charged forward.

They couldn't stop even for a moment.

One misstep and they would be swept away by the wave of undead.

How long will it take?

No one knew because it was a path untrodden.

At any rate, this clear method they were executing right now was the fastest.

"Brilliance."

"Liiiiight!!!"

Who blocks Gobang?

He strode forward with huge steps while swinging the Bardin dangling from his hand back and forth.

Pa-sa-sa-sa-sa-sa...

Even so, the undead swarm continuously lunged at them stubbornly.

Whenever they got close, Veronica laid down suppression fire.

Psha-syat! Psha-syat!

Cossack's Shock Break, which briefly halted targets in their tracks, as well.

Tsu-pi-rit!

Cling-clang.

Riding on his shoulder, Gyeon Dal-rae shook her bell, and Rajix waved his golden pickaxe, encouraging Gobang.

"Hu-e-e-ek!"

But there were too many.

It looked endless.

The undead crashed over them in waves.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Pa-sa-sa-sa-sak.

"Liiiiight!!!"

But it was strange.

I didn't instruct Bardin to manifest brilliance.

"Liiiiight!!!"

He's doing it on his own?

It was truly so.

Lucius Bardin was shouting it himself.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Bardin with bloodshot eyes.

A voice overflowing with madness.

His facial expression was also crazy.

Is he evolving from fake madness to genuine madness.

Even when being swung around by Gobang, he didn't just stay still.

He was swinging the flail held in his hand together with him, obliterating the undead.

"Th, th, that's a pervert, sir. He added an auto-brilliance function to himself, sir. He's enjoying it, sir. Uwa, it gives me the creeps, sir."

Enjoying it in this situation?

"Look at his face, sir. Isn't he smiling, sir? He's completely hooked, sir. I doubt his disposition, sir."

And he's the one who made him like that.

They're just two peas in a pod.

When will I ever meet a proper summoned entity.

'No, there's one person. Our dependable Worker Rajix.'

Joo-hyuk raised his head and looked at Rajix riding on Gobang's shoulder.

"Hu-e-e-ek!!!"

Raising his golden pickaxe high from his shoulder and screaming bizarrely at the undead swarm.

"..."

Is he slowly going crazy too? If even Rajix acts like that, it'll be troublesome.

The remaining distance is now just a little over 100 meters. The charging Gobang.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Pa-sa-sa-sa-sak!

80m.

"Young Master, we are almost there. Please be careful until the very end."

60m.

"Commander! Large-Caliber Bullet preparation complete."

50m.

"Fire away!"

Zziiiing!

Pa-juju-juk! Pa-a-a-at!

The Large-Caliber Bullet striking squarely against the Dullahan's body.

The dark aura noticeably weakened.

Remaining distance of about 30m.

Right at that moment!

Rajix pricked up his fur and tensed up atop Gobang's shoulder.

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

Sniff-sniff,

He smells it. He smells it.

There's something.

Right over there.

But it's a bit deep.

It seems it will take time to dig it out.

The 65th-floor clear seems to be nearing its end, can he dig it out before then?

It's tight.

If he has to dig it out, he has to dig it out now.

Even if we come back in through a repetitive clear, there's no guarantee it will still be there.

Because the floor resets once the mission is completed.

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

Pa-at!

Finally, Rajix leapt off from Gobang's shoulder.

Simultaneously, roll-roll-roll-roll-roll...

Rajix rolling around, successfully evading the undead this way and that.

"Top Servant! Have you lost your mind? Come here at once!!!"

Gyeon Dal-rae shouted, terrified.

Joo-hyuk witnessed it as well. It was a crisis.

"Mr. Rajix!"

Spot!

Joo-hyuk chasing after Rajix using Shadow Step, as the undead rushed at them in droves.

Oooooong!

Up to both elbows, thickly cloaked in blood-red Blood Jade Astral Aura.

Pat-pat-pat-pa-pat!

Joo-hyuk's figure moving while leaving afterimages.

Slash! Crunch! Sl-sl-slash! Pa-sa-sa-sak!

Declaring while slicing the necks of the approaching undead clean off with the Blood Jade Astral Aura.

"Mr. Gobang, take the Dullahan first!"

"A, understood. Summoner."

Rajix had already lost the ability to see anything else.

He was also characterized by madness.

Item, item..., badge, badge.

Holding a golden pickaxe in each hand.

"Hu-ek! Hu-ek! Hu-ek!"

Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak!

Digging down into the earth like a madman.

Joo-hyuk, Veronica, and Cossack were frantically escorting such a Rajix.

Gobang was facing the Dullahan alone, no, together with the Holy Sword Bardin.

Swoosh!

The Dullahan launching a mounted charge holding a long lance,

Snatch!

Gobang firmly grasped the Dullahan's lance with one hand, raised Bardin high up, and smashed it straight down.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Radiant brilliance.

The thorn armor worn by Bardin.

Along with the joint attack from his flail.

Whoosh! Smash! One strike.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Whoosh! Smash! Two strikes.

"Liiiiight!!!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh....

Smash! Smash! Smash....

Gobang crushed the Dullahan down with the Holy Sword Bardin as if threshing grain.

Crack! The Dullahan was shattered.

Crack! The skeletal horse couldn't escape unharmed either.

The Dark Knight Dullahan scattering into dust.

[Dark Knight Dullahan Defeated 1/1]

[You have succeeded in the 65th-floor mission.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Reward: 6.5kg of Mana Stones]

And,

"Hu-eng!"

Covered entirely in dirt, Rajix triumphantly hoisted a sizable rune fragment from the pit he had dug.

[Notice: You have achieved the S++ grade clear for the 65th floor of the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

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

[You may challenge the 66th floor.]

[Exiting from the South Korea (South Korean) Black Tower.]

Spot!

Joo-hyuk's penthouse.

"Haaa,"

"Phew,"

"..."

"Umm."

"Ho-e..."

Who knew it would be this exhausting.

Everyone was tired.

Joo-hyuk as well as the summoned entities, and even the Holy Sword dangling from Gobang's hand,

Sway, sway.

Bardin's pallid face, unfocused pupils, dented thorn armor, and the beads of sweat dripping off 'drip, drip'.

"Kuh-uh-uh-uh...."

He looks like he's about to die. No choice but to let him go.

"Lucius Bardin, unsummon."

Spot!

Briefly gathering his composure, Joo-hyuk looked at Rajix and asked.

"...Why did you do that."

"Hu-e, this."

Rajix handed a rune fragment over to Joo-hyuk.

"I mean, a mere rune fragment, huh? What was so urgently important about this!"

When he almost died.

He could've just mined it slowly during the repetitive clear.

Still, I should read the information....

"Gasp!"

The information of the rune fragment surfacing in his mind.

"I, is it a good one, sir?"

"..It's a jackpot."

No wonder it was such a big chunk.

If I just attach one more piece, it's a finished product.

And Joo-hyuk's inventory contained numerous rune fragments inside.

'If just one of them attaches....'

Opening his inventory, swish-swish-swish, Joo-hyuk spilled out the fragments,

Gulp, swallowing his dry saliva and trying to attach the fragments one by one.

Slide, slide, slide...

It was then. Slide, click!

One rune fragment sticking tightly to it like a magnet.

[You have acquired the Rune of Summoned Entity Rank Ascension.]

"Heave ho!!!"

"It's a click, sir!"

"Congratulations."

"How many is this one? It is incredible."

Shrug!

Rajix blowing a snort out of his nose.

It felt like the angle for a badge had been sharpened keenly.

Does this make 4?

"Mr. Rajix."

"Ho-e!"

"You did well."

"Ho-e-e-e,"

"However, there is no badge."

"Ho-ek?"

Rajix's eyes opening round.

I shouldn't just coddle him unconditionally.

How dangerous was it because of his unexpected behavior.

If I praise him here, he might do the exact same thing again next time so.

"Even though I didn't issue a command, who told you to run out on your own? Do you want to be rendered unsummonable for 100 days?"

"...Ho-e, I'm sorry."

"Originally, I was going to ban your summoning for 3 days, but I'll forgive you with this."

"Hu-e,"

It breaks my heart, but rewards and punishments must be strict.

Anyhow.

"Ms. Veronica?"

"Sergeant Veronica Caliber!"

"Congratulations on your promotion in advance."

"Ah!"

"It's all thanks to Mr. Rajix so...."

In that moment!

"Qu, Quartermaster!"

Veronica hugged Rajix tightly.

Rajix becoming deeply buried in her massive breasts.

At that rate, wouldn't he suffocate to death?

'...Hmm.'

'...Hmm.'

'...Hmm.'

At any rate, how would her changed appearance turn out?