Chapter 88 - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The entire world was closely watching France.

The 70th floor of the Black Tower.

The boss monster Kavalan, who cast the Curse of the Average, was waiting there.

Humanity believed that if Bong Joo-hyuk, the hero occupying the French tower, cleared the 70th floor, the curse would be lifted.

However,

Joo-hyuk had not approached the Black Tower since his 69th-floor clear.

He spent the rest of his temporary naturalization period simply enjoying his vacation.

Enjoying gourmet food, taking walks around famous sights, and buying plenty of souvenirs.

Days passed like that.

Around the time his 15-day temporary naturalization period in France was nearing its end.

The anxiety of the world reached a crescendo.

Particularly, the countries whose time limits were counting down in the 1st phase of the Curse of the Average.

"Is he not going up?"

"He has to clear the 70th floor immediately!"

"Why on earth is he just playing around!"

Voices criticizing Joo-hyuk's lazy behavior began to emerge.

However, they couldn't openly complain to Joo-hyuk.

Because he was the undisputed number one player in the world, and if they provoked him, they might truly see their towers collapse without his help.

The French government was anxious.

"If Player Bong just leaves like this, what becomes of our 70th floor..."

"If the 70th floor is left uncleared, the French tower's progress stops. No one else can clear it."

"We must offer full naturalization one more time with unconditional terms!"

The French President directly stepped forward.

During an opulent dinner at the Élysée Palace, he earnestly proposed full naturalization with tremendous conditions.

However, Joo-hyuk's answer was firm.

"I will return to Korea."

He neatly declined again.

He had simply finished getting his travel experience and four Platinum Badges in France.

He had no further business here.

Even if the copy of Duke Kavalan was grinding his teeth inside the 70th floor, the original was in Korea.

He planned to catch the original and put an end to this annoying average curse.

There was no point playing with a copy.

***

Then, on his last day of temporary naturalization in France.

Joo-hyuk finally returned to Korea.

Boarding the private jet again.

When the news of his departure became known, citizens who had poured cheers for him gathered at Charles de Gaulle Airport and held a farewell ceremony.

"Thank you, Hero!"

"Please come back anytime!"

Joo-hyuk smiled and waved his hand.

"It was a fun vacation."

With extreme satisfaction, he boarded the plane.

Meanwhile, inside the 70th floor of the French Black Tower.

Duke Kavalan (Copy).

He still couldn't understand the situation.

The trap had been perfectly laid, and the soul of the original was ready to descend.

He had expected the Dimensional Summoner to definitely step foot on the 70th floor, but...

According to the information coming from outside, the Dimensional Summoner had completely left France and returned to his original country?

"..."

Kavalan sat silently in the boss room.

What kind of baffling situation was this?

A hero who swept through the upper floors like drinking water, yet completely ignored the boss room?

Had he noticed something? No, it felt purely arbitrary.

'This human... What is he thinking?'

For the first time, Duke Kavalan felt an incomprehensible sense of futility towards humanity.

***

As Joo-hyuk returned, the Korean Awakening Management Agency was flooded with cheers.

"Welcome back, Player Bong!"

"You've worked hard!"

They treated him like a general returning triumphantly.

Director Park Kyung-soo, who had been nervous, finally showed a wide smile.

"Haha, of course. You had no reason to become fully naturalized."

Joo-hyuk returning intact meant Korea had the most powerful trump card again.

Furthermore, he had grown to level 69 during this time.

Moreover, the Holy Sword rental business was thriving properly.

Even Saudi Arabia, whose relationship had strained, ended up giving an apology and a Rune of Trait Enhancement to beg for the Holy Sword's rental, completely clearing its 67th floor.

Other countries were also waiting in line to rent the Holy Sword.

As more floors were cleared sequentially, the world average was gradually rising.

Despite this, the remaining 1st phase curse countries were continuously failing and receiving penalties.

Even the Philippines was on the verge of its tower collapsing.

The world realized they desperately needed Joo-hyuk to step onto the 70th floor to stop this vicious cycle.

"Player Bong. The whole world is asking you to clear the 70th floor."

Director Park Kyung-soo cautiously conveyed the world's opinion.

Joo-hyuk nodded as if he knew.

"I plan to go up."

"Wait, directly into the 70th floor of the Korean Black Tower...?"

"Yes. Since I am back to being Korean, I should catch the Korean Black Tower's boss."

Director Park's eyes brightened.

"Then I will prepare immediately. We will announce a schedule confirming that Korea will be the first to attempt the 70th-floor clear."

It was a perfect opportunity for Korea's status to soar significantly on the global stage once again.

However,

Joo-hyuk had something he had to do first.

He had collected four Platinum Badges in France.

To gain a special privilege from five badges, he needed exactly one more.

And an opportunity to earn one more badge came right on time.

"Ah, wait a moment. Didn't you say the U.S. requested a Multinational Tower Access Ticket? And temporary naturalization?"

"Yes, they formally requested support for clearing their tower in the late 50s. Since they fully support us, we must maintain a good relationship."

If he did a temporary naturalization for just one day, cleared unexplored upper 50s floors, and earned a Platinum Badge...

He could then claim the special privilege for five badges before challenging the 70th floor precisely.

If he grew stronger before encountering the original Kavalan, it would be much safer.

"I will briefly go to the United States first. Prepare a procedure for a one-day short-term naturalization."

Director Park looked somewhat bewildered.

"Again? Just yesterday you returned from France... Going to the US today?"

"I have something to collect. Just process it quickly."

"Yes... understood."

Joo-hyuk used his status as the number one player to fly perfectly anywhere he wanted.

***

While Joo-hyuk flew across the Pacific toward the United States.

Kavalan's curse activated its final trigger.

[World Announcement: The clear time limit for the Black Tower of the Philippines has expired.]

[World Announcement: The Black Tower of the Philippines will begin its collapse.]

Following Japan, a second collapse occurred!

The Philippines, which had hurriedly received the curse after Saudi Arabia escaped, eventually, due to a severe lack of time, failed to block the collapse of their tower despite desperate efforts.

The capital, Manila, was devastated.

Monsters flooded out from the upper 50s floor tower.

A hell identical to Tokyo replayed itself.

The shock brought consecutive panic to humanity.

And,

[World Announcement: A new Black Tower is generated in Manila, Philippines.]

[World Announcement: The starting level of the new tower is significantly higher than the average.]

A new, stronger tower stood.

The vicious cycle continued without a break.

The Curse of the Average.

Its true essence was to utterly destroy the Black Towers on Earth one by one by imposing deadlines impossible to meet.

While countries able to overcome it with wealth or power barely survived, less capable countries were brutally torn apart.

The end of the world seemed imminent.

Following the Philippines, the remaining countries' deadlines were also rapidly approaching.

If this continued, the number of collapsed towers would exponentially increase.

"Kavalan! That devil must be killed!"

"Player Bong! Hurry! Hurry up and clear the 70th floor!"

The entire world practically prayed, waiting for Joo-hyuk's next move.

And Joo-hyuk, unaware of this global prayer, landed lightly in the United States.

To collect that one single Platinum Badge.