Chapter 83 - Chapter 83

Chapter 83

===================

Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

===================

At that time, Joo-hyuk was at his family's home.

He had dropped by on his way back to his Cheongdam-dong house from the Namyangju villa.

He had called often lately, but it had been a long time since he saw them face to face.

"I am here. It's Joo-hyuk."

However,

"Oh, welcome. Th-there's nothing wrong... No, of course there is."

His father was walking on eggshells around him.

'Hmm.'

Was it because he felt awkward interacting with his son, who was growing into the richest man in the world?

'I can understand that.'

He understood.

It could be burdensome for parents when their son became too successful.

His younger brother, Min-hyuk, also came out of his room awkwardly.

"Brother? You are okay, right? You aren't having any bad thoughts or anything?"

Why was this punk acting like this, too?

Bad thoughts, my foot.

His mother also spoke in a calm voice.

"Joo-hyuk, don't be too heartbroken. You have made a lot of money so far. There is no need to feel regret over it breaking. When technology advances later, you might be able to repair it."

He knew what this was about.

"Are you all consoling me right now because the Holy Sword broke?"

"Ahem, what does it matter if you are not the owner of the Holy Sword? You can just become a building owner. Use the money you have saved to buy a building."

"We have lived without greed all this time, brother. It is okay. Everything will work out."

"Also, I haven't spent a single penny of the money you gave me and have kept it safe. You can take it back."

Oh my, she hadn't spent a single penny? This family of losers.

"I knew this would happen. I told you to spend it however you wanted. I have a lot of money, you know? Mom, you should go shopping for luxury goods at the department store. Dad, you should buy a luxury car. Min-hyuk, you should buy the most expensive pad from the Apple Store spread and get a round of applause from the employees, too."

Min-hyuk with a blank expression.

"...What are you talking about? Why would I get a round of applause?"

"There is such a thing, you punk!"

It couldn't be helped.

He had planned to reveal the Holy Sword repair with a bang at a decisive moment.

He had even coordinated the story with Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il.

"Phew, Mother, Father, and Min-hyuk."

It should be fine if his family knew.

It wasn't some huge secret.

"The Holy Sword, I fixed it."

"...Fixed it, you say? It was just snapped in two three days ago."

"I told you I put it back together. Completely. But it is a secret, so do not go around blabbering about it anywhere."

"R-really?"

"Yes."

"You are not lying, right?"

"It is me, Joo-hyuk. You know it is obvious when I lie."

"That is true..."

Suddenly, his father's eyes sparkled.

"Then can I really go buy a car?"

"Hurry up and buy one. A nice car. Just do not drive at 50 km/h on the highway later."

"Huh? Are there crazy bastards who do that?"

"...There shouldn't be any right now."

Still, he was grateful that they worried about him.

"But aren't you going to give me food?"

"Wait a moment, I am preparing it now."

"Ah, I am hungry. Hurry..."

It was then.

[World Announcement: Humanity encounters a sentient demonic monster for the first time.]

[World Announcement: The high-level demonic being Duke Kavalan (Copy) is observing the world.]

A World Announcement.

What was this?

The atmosphere among his family was also unusual.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and paused.

"D-demonic being? Is it the name of a jokbal dish (pig's trotters)?"

"Why am I hearing this?"

"Mom, you too?"

"Y-yes, it is ringing right in my ears."

"Why is Duke Carnival observing us?"

"Not Carnival, Kavalan."

"Right, Carnival copy."

It seemed everyone heard it.

Joo-hyuk realized.

A World Announcement.

The target it conveyed to was literally the 'world'.

***

The French Black Tower 65th floor, 66th floor, 67th floor, 68th floor, and straight through to the 69th floor without a break, a continuous clear.

Since it was the French Black Tower, French players were the first to recognize it.

At first, it was just an absurd feeling.

5 floors cleared at once?

No, had the Black Tower gone crazy?

Had a system error occurred?

Furthermore, the clear time for each floor was spaced exactly one second apart.

No matter how they thought about it, it was not normal.

And the following messages.

This time, it was an unprecedented 'World Announcement'.

Delivered not only to French players but to all players worldwide, no, to all Earthlings...

Everyone heard it.

The elderly couple walking kindly hand in hand.

The elementary, middle, and high school students going home after finishing classes.

The merchants selling goods in the market, the laborers on construction sites.

Politicians, civil servants, office workers, unemployed shut-ins... it was heard even by newborn babies.

Although they would not have known the meaning.

Perhaps the world had become quiet at this very moment.

Demonic being Duke Kavalan?

Curse of the Average?

Meet the 70th floor?

Why the 70th floor of all things?

The world fell into chaos. Why exactly?

After a period of commotion, people focused on France.

Because the first abnormal phenomenon occurred in France.

The incident where 5 floors were cleared in 5 seconds, and France's tower clear progress suddenly changed to the 70th floor overnight.

The French government could not hide it.

They had no choice but to make it public.

Regarding why this had happened.

The clue was the death of top player Guillaume Loiret.

The CCTV footage installed at his residence to monitor Guillaume, who usually battled depression.

Guillaume, who entered the tower and reappeared as a corpse right after the overall and world announcements rang out.

Thus, one hypothesis was established.

"There is an item called the Tower Jumping Ticket. The reward probability is slim, but it actually exists."

Director Antonio, with a stiff expression, reported to Secretary of Homeland Security MacMillan.

"I know. And I know it is a disgustingly useless item, too."

"Normally, it is an principle for the government to collect and store it, but..."

"So Guillaume was hiding it."

"Yes. That is why he was able to clear 5 floors in a single day. There is a very high probability that the demonic being Duke Kavalan is the boss of the 70th floor."

"Probability, my foot. It is a certainty."

The first sentient monster.

And it spreads curses outside the tower?

Curse of the Average.

10 countries were selected.

South Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, America (USA), Japan, Netherlands, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Kazakhstan.

It was maddening.

The United States was also included.

The selected countries had to clear the upper floors quickly.

Because it was stated that the clear time limit would gradually decrease.

And it actually decreased.

For example, the tower clear progress status window showed,

[Time Limit]: 101 Days 5 Hours 25 Minutes 38 Seconds.

You could check down to the hours, minutes, and seconds like this.

However, it began to decrease rapidly.

The speed 'gradually' became faster.

Like an improperly handled time bomb timer, the time limit was decreasing very quickly.

Gradually, gradually, gradually, picking up acceleration.

The curse was real.

"To lift the curse, we have to match an average of the 70th floor, but is that possible?"

"Well, if enough time is given... it might be possible."

There were 145 towers on Earth.

Not every country had a tower.

Some countries had towers, and some did not.

The criteria were population size and territorial area.

No towers were built in small countries or countries with a population of less than 3 million.

Also, towers in divided nations like South and North Korea were unified as one.

Of course, there were countries with multiple towers.

145 towers.

Suppose all Black Towers on Earth reached an average of the 70th floor.

Excluding repeat clears and re-clears.

Only counting the first climb of uncleared upper floors cleared so far.

An average of 70 floors for 145 towers meant the total required was 10,150 floors.

However, the current global average climb floor was around 55 floors.

The total number of cleared uncleared upper floors climbed so far was about 7,975.

10,150 minus 7,975 is?

"Through a simple calculation, the number of uncleared upper floors the entire world must clear to reach the average of 70 is 2,175."

"This will drive people crazy."

Not everyone had to climb to the 70th floor.

They just needed to hit the average.

But was that possible?

"If countries on the 60th floor and below try harder and climb up more than 10 floors each..."

"Tsk, easier said than done."

"We should apply pressure. Set a quota for tower clearing."

"You are saying something that could cause big trouble. Do you think that will work?"

That's right.

The tower clear of each country was entirely up to that country's players and government.

If you gave them a quota saying 'Your country must clear the Black Tower up to this floor,' would it work?

But if they refused to cooperate, saying, 'We were not selected among the 10 countries, so we will not rush the climb,' they would receive glares from other countries.

This was exactly the terrifying point of the Curse of the Average.

Countries failing to meet the average, countries bringing down the average, were certain to become the world's outcasts.

The seeds of conflict were being sown.

At this rate, World War III might even break out.

"War would rather be easier. How convenient would it be to conquer the world and make it a single nation."

"...Before that happens, the Earth will probably come to an end."

"How about clearing Duke Kavalan?"

"Well, the condition is to catch the original, not the copy. It's highly likely that the Kavalan on the 70th floor of the French Black Tower is also a copy."

Then where should they find the original?

"It would be on the 70th floor of one of the 145 towers. Ultimately, it means every country must clear the 70th floor to lift the curse."

"Hahaha, we are ruined."

The future was clearly visible.

Black Towers collapsing from all corners of the world.

The Earth punctured with massive holes popping up here and there.

The world changed in an instant.

The paradigm of tower clearing would shift drastically from now on.

Since the US was also among the 10 selected countries, clearing the 67th floor was urgent.

However, the biggest remaining problem.

"If only the Holy Sword had not broken..."

"Haa,"

The Holy Sword.

Even with just the Holy Sword, reaching an average of 70 floors was not an impossible goal.

Advanced countries could assist the countries in the 50s through temporary naturalization, and what if the countries in the 60s used the Holy Sword to climb higher?

"The core is the Holy Sword. If we can somehow repair the Holy Sword, there is hope."

But could it be fixed?

The opinions of experts were overwhelmingly negative.

Repair was impossible.

Even if it were fixed, it wouldn't show the exact same effects as before.

"Should I inquire with the Korean government?"

"Again?"

"Because it is urgent."

"Let's just wait and see, they will announce their stance soon enough. We just need to pray and wait."

***

Saudi Arabia felt like dying.

Putting aside the criticism from other countries for a moment.

Since they could just close their eyes and endure it.

However, the name of Saudi Arabia was included among the 10 countries selected for rapid tower climbing to achieve the average.

Out of the 10 countries, only two countries were attempting the 60s floors: the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The remaining 8 were all countries in the 50s.

There were many methods for the 50s.

Temporary naturalization, to begin with, was one of them.

Players above level 50 were quite common.

So they could definitely climb, but some countries delayed it to manipulate the time limit.

But what about the countries in the 60s?

Were players above level 60 common?

On top of that, the Holy Sword was broken.

Originally, Saudi Arabia had the most clear time limit left.

Because they had cleared most recently.

But as soon as they were selected, the clear time limit started noticeably decreasing.

Perhaps because they had the most time left, it was decreasing the fastest.

King Ibn bin Al-Wahid of Saudi Arabia asked Minister Majed.

"Can Nasser clear the 67th floor within a month?"

"If he achieves trait enhancement one more time, then probably..."

"I do not need vague hypotheses. I need a definitive answer."

"..."

Minister Majed could not immediately answer.

Actually, he had deployed Nasser to the 67th floor.

However, he couldn't even catch a single Phantom Reaper.

It was on a different level from the Specters.

Light attribute items were basically garbage.

In the midst of this, what if he achieved trait enhancement one more time?

It would still not work.

In fact, when Nasser attempted the 66th floor clear, he had also ascended after trait enhancement.

Even so, he failed.

He had no choice but to borrow the Holy Sword and succeeded. But the 67th floor?

"So you are saying it is difficult."

"...I-I am sorry."

"Phew, if only the Holy Sword hadn't broken."

Broken?

He had broken it himself, but Saudi King Al-Wahid refused to acknowledge it to the end.

Japan was also desperate.

The realization of the Tower's collapse.

The clear time limit dripping away like grains of sand in an hourglass.

How could they clear the 58th floor?

There was only one way.

Prime Minister Kawaguchi shouted furiously at the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

"Quickly request Saudi Arabia. Since we signed the Tower Collapse Defense Treaty, ask them to fulfill it."

"I have already requested."

"What was the reply?"

"R-right now, Saudi Arabia's situation is also difficult, they say. And since the defense treaty was only made verbally, it has no legal effect..."

"What?"

It was true.

They only spoke of making a treaty, but no signatures or stamps had been cast.

"This damn it!!!"

Who the hell would clear Japan's 58th floor?

Real tower collapse was right in front of them now.

***

The Korean Awakening Management Agency.

It was also a chaotic scene there, but in relatively relaxed circumstances.

Because they had a reliable trump card.

Director Park Kyung-soo asked Deputy Director Jeon Kwang-il, who had just finished a phone call.

"Did you try calling? What did Player Bong have to say?"

"Yes, he said we can reveal it immediately. Saying we should quickly resume the Holy Sword rental."

"Phew, then what about the rental fee?"

"He said to charge the same as before. Saying it's not the time to raise the Holy Sword rental fee right now."

"Haha, he is truly magnanimous. It would be natural to try to rake in a hefty profit at a time like this."

"That is exactly why the Holy Sword was given to him as a reward, wouldn't you say?"

Park Kyung-soo nodded and continued.

"I wonder if the people will appreciate that gratitude."

"There is no way they would know. Look at what Saudi Arabia is doing right now. Barely achieving the 66th floor clear with the power of the Holy Sword, they break it, and then act shamelessly like this."

If they had just offered a single word of apology, he probably wouldn't have been this angry.

"What should we do? Japan is one thing, but we cannot just let Saudi Arabia go."

"Don't worry. I also have an idea."

"...What is it?"

Park Kyung-soo smiled fishily.

"If we reveal the repaired Holy Sword, Saudi Arabia will have no choice but to bow their heads, right?"

Of course.

To survive, they would have to do so.

"However, an ordinary apology will be far from enough."

If they meekly accepted an apology, they would essentially be pushovers.

"Shouldn't they crawl on all fours bringing at least a Rune of Trait Enhancement?"

Jeon Kwang-il also smiled in satisfaction.

"You are absolutely right. Empty apologies are meaningless. We should also have something to offer Player Bong, shouldn't we?"

Rune of Trait Enhancement.

An item extremely difficult to find these days.

In the early days of tower climbing, many of them hit the market.

Because the reward probability was very high back then.

But as time passed, the probability got lower and lower, and now it was barely dropping at all.

The country that swept up all the runes when they flooded the market was Saudi Arabia.

They definitely had at least one in their possession.

"When will the press conference for the Holy Sword repair revelation take place?"

"Let's do it immediately tomorrow."

"Will you be conducting it yourself?"

"I tried it before, and it was quite thrilling."

"Hahaha, I will prepare it."

***

If one were to pick the most shocking events in human history,

First would be the appearance of the Towers,

Second would be the collapse of the Mumbai Tower,

And third would be the World Announcement of the Tower.

Even ordinary people, who had been an audience to the situation until now, heard the curse from Duke Kavalan, or rather, the tower.

It was natural for the world to feel unsettled.

Strange, fearful, worried, bewildered... to a degree that could not be expressed in words.

Meanwhile, a press conference from the Korean Awakening Management Agency was scheduled.

Was it about the Holy Sword repair?

Was it actually repaired? Or did they fail?

If repaired, could it fully display its original performance?

If it failed, would they hand it over to a country with stronger technological capabilities than Korea?

Every media outlet in the world focused on Korea.

The press conference was held in the Management Agency's main auditorium, and there was not even room to step.

Director Park Kyung-soo stood on the podium.

And alongside him stood Jeon Kwang-il.

"First, let us watch a video."

A video.

The conference room started buzzing.

A video played on the large screen.

Footage taken via a bodycam.

A single Specter was descending from high up in the sky towards the ground.

In an instant!

Fwoooooooooosh!

A brilliant light filling the entire screen.

"Heuk!"

"Ah..."

"Th-that is?"

"Oh my God!"

"Crazy!"

It was the Holy Sword.

The very Holy Sword they had seen in previous videos.

But the intensity of the light, the radiance, was completely different.

If the previous radiance was at the level of a firefly, the current radiance was an ultra-powerful searchlight.

Swish, swish, swish.

With just three swings of the blade, the Specter burst into flames.

"The Holy Sword has been completely repaired."

Park Kyung-soo continued speaking, with a wide smile on his face.

"No, rather than saying it was repaired, it would be more accurate to say it has been reborn. Fellow citizens, and citizens of the world, you can rest assured regarding clears in the 60s. Please alleviate your worries and return to your daily lives and work."

Silence flowed through the conference room.

"The Holy Sword's repair was conducted by the owner himself. Yes, that person who first acquired the Holy Sword. Humanity truly ought to be deeply grateful to him. Following that..."

Park Kyung-soo's closing remark.

"We will now begin taking reservations for Holy Sword rentals."

At the same time, the press conference erupted with a roar as if the roof was being blown off.

Only there?

Every location where a TV was installed erupted as well.

Even if it wasn't a perfect solution, they had still bypassed a dangerous hurdle.

Everyone was relieved.

Everyone rejoiced.

Everyone was grateful.

There were, of course, some countries that could not bring themselves to smile.