Chapter 91 - Chapter 91

Chapter 91

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Kavalan, designed as the boss of the 70th floor of the French Black Tower.

One original and 144 copies.

There is a difference between the original and the copies.

Starting from basic physical abilities to the absolute amount of dark demonic energy, and the class of the soul.

In short, a copy can be seen as an avatar of the original made by borrowing the tower's power.

In proportion, about 70% of the original's capabilities?

Therefore, a degraded version and an imitation.

However, he was currently in a descended state.

Even if the body was an avatar, the soul was the real Kavalan, himself.

He considered it more than enough to deal with mere adventurers climbing the tower.

Even if that adventurer was a Dimension Summoner, a Dimensional Summoner.

If he only eliminated the Dimension Summoner, Earth would be finished.

The chain collapse of the towers would be absolutely impossible to avoid.

In fact, he had never imagined it would be this fast.

He thought it would take at least 2 years before encountering the Dimension Summoner.

But for the tower to suddenly open up to the 70th floor.

It opened much faster than expected.

It was a golden opportunity.

The Dimension Summoner would not be fully formed yet.

A chance to eliminate him before he grew.

For that reason, he spread the curse.

He would have preferred to cast the curse directly on the tower of the country the bastard belonged to, but that was impossible.

Because the curse of the average originally applied at random.

Anyway, the bastard would definitely come to the 70th floor.

Because in the current state, the only one capable of clearing the 70th floor was the Dimension Summoner.

And finally, he faced the bastard.

Truthfully, when he first confronted the Dimension Summoner through consciousness synchronization with the avatar, he was a little surprised.

The faces of the souls with him.

They were not to be underestimated.

All of them were hero-class entities.

Even all 6 of them.

Despite still being only the 70th floor.

However, he thought he was confident.

One of the 6 was a useless beastman worker.

Assuming the shaman supporter was also neutralized by setting up a barrier...

The actual combatants were 4.

An Assassin, a Barbarian Warrior, a Magic Empire Ranger, and a Holy Knight of a Forgotten God.

The Dimension Summoner himself was nothing.

He immediately descended into the avatar.

No matter what, his only target was the Dimension Summoner.

Since he was just a weak, frail human anyway.

But what was this situation now?

When did a legend-class entity appear?

Had he already succeeded in summoning one?

Kavalan couldn't collect his senses.

He couldn't fight a legend-class with an avatar's body.

When it was difficult even with the original's flesh.

His soul had already taken a hit.

'I-I have to cancel the descent.'

But he couldn't escape.

It was the worst situation he hadn't anticipated at all.

***

The Rune of Trait Enhancement is not an item to be saved.

Consuming it right away when you get it is the desirable choice.

Thus,

[Trait]: Summoning (Simultaneous Summoning: 7)

Before entering the 70th floor, it had become like this.

Well, it was a stroke of genius.

[The soul of the original Demon Realm Duke Kavalan descends into the body of the copy Kavalan.]

As soon as this message popped up, he summoned Gwangma.

The pillar of light from summoning was buried by Bardin's "Light!!!", and the summoned Gwangma comprehended the situation instantly.

The reason why he remained so calm even when they were threatening to kill him.

Our brother is here, what is there to be afraid of?

The overwhelming divine power of Gwangma.

Public Enemy of the Martial World, the Greatest Terror of Jianghu, Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood.

The one who fought for 7 days and nights straight in a 1 vs 3 duel against the Martial Alliance Leader, the Evil Emperor, and the Demonic Cult Leader.

He had mentioned it before.

How to deal with demonic energy.

By crushing it with an even stronger demonic energy.

One of Kavalan's wings was already torn off by Gwangma.

Even the remaining wing.

Riiiiiip!

"Kaaaaaaargh!"

Even at the wretched scream, Gwangma didn't blink an eye.

"Tsk tsk, calling yourself the one responsible for the 70th floor when you can't even endure this level of pain."

Zzzzing!

Gwangma shoved his hand, deeply saturated with the crimson light of the Blood Jade Astral Aura, into the torn wound where the wing had been.

"Guhhhhhh..."

Rolling his eyes back, Kavalan writhed.

Escape, he had to get out.

That was his only thought.

But.

"A-hem, trying to run away?"

Wooooooong! The dense demonic energy rising from Gwangma's body.

"Did you think I'd just let your soul escape?"

Gwangma pressed Kavalan's shoulder, forcing him to his knees, and then,

Grabbed the horn on his forehead, and CRACK, ripped it right out.

"Keueeeee...."

He was in that state and still wasn't dying.

Because Gwangma didn't permit him to die.

As the horn was ripped out and Kavalan's demonic energy leaked away, Gwangma was supplementing it by pouring his own demonic energy through his head.

Cruelty more horrifying than a demon's. That was precisely Gwangma.

"Let's finish the conversation we started. What exactly did you say you were going to do to this venerable self's summoner?"

"D-damn it, y-you will definitely, d-die..."

"Hahaha, how is a bastard merely guarding the 70th floor going to do anything to me? Are you confident?"

Gwangma smirked and continued.

"I think I'll play around with your soul a little while we're at it. Until you become obedient."

Woooooooong!

Gwangma's hand entirely covered in dark red demonic energy.

A scream erupted from Kavalan's mouth.

"Keuaaaaaaargh..."

No, rather than a scream, it was closer to crying.

"...Lord Dimension Summoner Bong."

"What?"

"It is scary."

"...He's on our side."

"I am still terrified. Look at Rajix. He might piss himself soon."

Rajix, trembling uncontrollably.

Tsk tsk, why look at something like that?

He gently covered his eyes.

Cossack was right.

Even if he was on their side, scary is scary.

He should treat him well from now on.

Faithfully giving him 5-star ratings.

Wings torn, forehead horn ripped out, Kavalan crawling on the grand hall floor.

However, the pain applied directly to his soul was unbearable above all else.

Without changing his expression, Gwangma followed behind him. CRACK! Stomping and shattering his ankle.

"Thinking about it, there's no need for interrogation. I can guess where the original is."

Huh? He can guess without interrogating? How?

"Ignorant of your place, you set a trap aiming for this venerable self's summoner? You must have judged that taking him out would bring ruin to this world."

Fwoosh! Flames ignited in Gwangma's eyes.

"Because only this venerable self's summoner can completely clear the towers of the world, isn't that right?"

Crunch! Stomping and breaking the remaining ankle, Gwangma.

"Heuk! Ugh, uuhg..."

Joo-hyuk unconsciously nodded his head.

Kavalan knew who he was.

He had clearly mentioned it being a trap as well.

"Still, we must verify."

Swish. Gwangma turned his eyes to Cossack.

"Assassin bastard, do what you intended to do."

"...Pardon?"

"Didn't you say you'd interrogate him to find the original?"

"I-I didn't say that. This guy will."

Swoosh, Cossack pushed Bardin forward.

"Hmm, are you the Holy Sword?"

"T-that is correct."

"How will you interrogate?"

"With the Heretic Inquisitor's unique ability to discern truth and falsehood..."

"Ho-oh."

Gwangma smiled satisfyingly.

"Good. Ask him this, if the place the original Kavalan is hiding is the Black Tower of our summoner's nationality. Ah! The original nationality, I mean. Korea."

Joo-hyuk was caught off guard. The meaning of those words...

'Look at this damn bastard.'

The original was the 70th-floor boss of the Korean Black Tower?

To target him?

Enraged, Bardin stepped forward.

"Cunning demon bastard, is your original on the 70th floor of the Korean Black Tower?"

"Keuk, do you think I'd answer..."

Grab. Bardin grabbed Kavalan's head, emitting radiant light.

"Light!!!"

"Aaaaaaaargh!"

"Answer, is your original the Korean Black Tower?"

"...N-no. I am not there."

Bardin shook his head back and forth.

"Falsehood."

Then?

"As expected. He was in Korea."

Gwangma grabbed Kavalan's hair and lifted him to eye level.

"You plotted to lay a trap on the 70th floor of the Korean Black Tower and wait."

Kavalan fell silent.

He didn't say a word.

However, everyone here knew.

That silence equaled affirmation.

Gwangma, with a gentle smile, looked at Joo-hyuk and spoke.

"Summoner."

"Yes."

"Now, hand down the sentence. What you will do with this bastard."

Joo-hyuk pondered deeply.

Then.

"If we kill this copy, does it also eliminate the original?"

"Unfortunately, that isn't possible. The soul of the descended original will return to the main body. Only the French Black Tower here will be cleared."

"...The original is only in the Korean Black Tower?"

"That is correct."

Then killing this guy would be useless.

The Curse of the Average wouldn't be lifted.

'It means I have to clear the 70th floor of the Korean Black Tower.'

What should he do?

Clearing a nation's tower wasn't a problem for an individual to decide.

"Summoner, I am under a seal and cannot speak about the 71st floor, but I have something to tell you concerning clearing the 70th floor."

"Ah... what is it?"

"The 71st floor is a new beginning. If you clear the 70th floor, the restrictions applied for the 71st floor climb will be released."

A new beginning.

Joo-hyuk had experienced it as well.

Because he had received a start pack for the 71st floor as a special privilege for accumulating 70 badges.

"Since you are going to clear the 70th floor anyway, it is also a good method to climb up in advance. Of course, the final decision lies with you, Summoner."

"Hmm."

First, let's go out and think.

Since he had decided not to clear the 70th floor of the French Black Tower, he would abandon the mission here.

Go out, have a modest team dinner, and hold a badge awarding ceremony since they'd made a contribution.

'Should I pin one on Sir Gwangma too?'

He wondered if he would like it.

***

- Kavalan, you fucking son of a bitch!

- Honestly, the 70th floor is too much. Not even my midterm average hit 70.

- Average my ass, it just means he's going to collapse the towers.

- Clearing with Tower Jumping Tickets, isn't this a paradigm shift?

- Right, just skip the difficult floors lightly.

- What about the next floor? The tickets aren't infinite.

- If misused, this is poison. And the supply isn't high either.

- In the end, it's the same as temporary naturalization. It just buys time.

- What's there to worry about for Korea?

- Right. Nam Ga-eun is enough.

- You shouldn't let your guard down. You know where the top player went.

- Kya! Truly a hero. You guys raise the average. I will catch Kavalan.

- But why the French tower, even if he reaches the 70th floor, it'll just be a copy anyway.

- Well, he must have gone because he has a method, right?

- Offering my condolences to Japan. May they rest in peace.

- Could I get a bowl of Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup, traditionally served at Korean funerals)?

- Out of humanity, let's at least give some condolence money.

Literally, Japan was in a mourning atmosphere.

Tower collapse, tower regeneration, and the Prime minister's death.

They experienced all of this in one single day.

But that wasn't enough, they were now a target for the 3rd curse?

Following the regeneration of the Tokyo tower and the death of Prime Minister Kawaguchi, the Chief Cabinet Secretary Usuda took over the role of Acting Prime Minister to lead the cabinet.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Usuda had also been at the Prime Minister's residence that day, but miraculously survived.

Personally presiding over the meeting of high-ranking Japanese officials and party representatives.

"We must mobilize all diplomatic channels. A second collapse cannot happen."

"We know that as well. By what method exactly?"

"We must cling to the United States."

"It's difficult. Even the naturalization specialist players are fully booked."

"If it's Russia..."

"There's Norway too."

"To Saudi Arabia again..."

Usuda clicked his tongue inwardly.

The country not being mentioned in their conversation.

That was Korea.

They were consciously avoiding bringing up that nation's name.

"How about Tower Jumping Tickets like China?"

Tower Jumping Tickets?

Letting out a deep sigh, Usuda spoke.

"Phew, Tickets, can we even procure them?"

"I've heard there are still countries holding onto them..."

"I've looked into it as well. Since China's announcement, there is currently a shortage."

It was true. The prices had massively skyrocketed too.

They weren't even entering the market at all.

Although an expedient method unusable in a normal clear, they were sufficient for buying time in a crisis.

"...Shouldn't it work if we pay a sufficient price?"

"Then what about after that? Is the 60th floor possible? What about the 61st? 62nd, 63rd... Are we going to clear them all with Jumping Tickets?"

At this point,

"I will personally visit Korea. I will accept all conditions and request a Mutual National Tower Collapse Defense Treaty."

A Mutual National Tower Collapse Defense Treaty.

A much better method than temporary naturalization or jumping.

However, absolutely no one opened their mouths.

"..."

"Why is there no answer? Wasn't this what everyone wanted? You were just hoping someone else would step up and take the heat, weren't you?"

He hit the nail on the head.

Belling the cat.

Bowing their heads to Korea as a Japanese politician?

Their political life would be over.

Well, it was good that the Chief Cabinet Secretary stepped forward.

He would take all the responsibility alone.

"Then let us conclude the meeting assuming it has been decided."

But would Korea accept it?

***

France.

President Macheron in an emergency meeting at the Élysée Palace.

Originally, they had planned to tie Player Bong Joo-hyuk down with French nationality.

In fact, the French Embassy in Korea was already in contact.

But to be included in the 3rd phase selection in the midst of this.

They thought they wouldn't be selected since they achieved the average.

Climb even higher?

Who would clear the 70th floor?

The situation had changed.

Ultimately, there was only one person they could rely on.

The player who just recorded an S++ rank clear on the 69th floor of the French Black Tower.

"In the current situation, tying down Player Bong Joo-hyuk's nationality is the worst choice. It will only backfire."

It was correct.

If he was in France, it might be different, but...

By what means could they force a tower climb on a player who was in Korea?

"The day Player Bong Joo-hyuk feels even slight discomfort, our France is finished. Before urging naturalization, we must gain his favor with the utmost courtesy."

President Macheron agreed as well.

Among all players worldwide, the only person capable of clearing the French Black Tower was Bong Joo-hyuk.

"Then how?"

"Dispatching a special envoy is the first step. Not directly approaching Bong Joo-hyuk, but through the Korean government."

"Let's do that."

Thus, the French special envoy team departed for Korea.