Chapter 95 - Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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There is a place called the Prison of Infinity.

A place filled only with souls, not living people.

A soul is literally a soul.

Only the shape remained like a piece of a painting, and there was nothing else.

To compare it to a game, the NPCs you can see on a monitor?

Still, communication was possible.

Not with words coming out of a mouth, but through the resonance between souls.

However, bound by a restriction, only to the permitted extent.

The souls there were all those who had died in their past lives and then formed a contract by some transcendental law, so it was impossible for them to escape this place with their own strength.

However, there is a way to escape.

Someone just has to call them.

Namely, the summoner.

When the summoner calls them, they manifest with a physical body.

It's no different from gaining life.

To be able to see something with eyes, to be able to smell with a nose, to taste delicious food, hear, touch, move....

How great of a blessing these trivial things are.

When souls, that is, summoned entities, are called out to the world, they take on the mission of helping the summoner conquer the tower.

The complete clear of the Black Tower.

If successful, they gain complete freedom.

But it wasn't easy.

Because humans were weak beings.

In worlds as numerous as grains of sand on a beach, they had repeated failures over failures for tens of thousands of years.

Inside the tower, or outside the tower, summoners died one by one.

What happens if the summoner who manifests the soul dies?

It's simple.

They can't go outside.

And the hope of gaining complete freedom also disappears.

This time too, they didn't have high expectations.

As always, the summoned souls would lose their summoner and wander the Prison of Infinity in despair, swaying like madmen.

But they say this summoner is a little different.

He even safely got past Kavalan's curse.

Only one tower collapsed because of the curse.

Rumors, which might be exaggerated but were filled with quite a bit of hope, were spreading through the Prison of Infinity.

『I heard he already summoned 7 people.』

『Really? Are you sure? 7 people, but he's still perfectly fine?』

『It's not something I heard directly. I heard it secondhand too.』

『Ho-oh, I knew about the manifestation up to the slippery assassin, the stupid meat shield, and the cheeky shrine maiden, but,』

『You have to add the beastman worker and the lazy magic gunner, I heard they are all receiving plenty of love from the summoner.』

『The crazy heretic inquisitor went out too. Ha, to think even a guy like that gets called.』

『But who is the remaining one? You said 6 people.』

『There's a rumor that Gwangma also succeeded in manifesting.』

『Oh, so that's why this summoner lasted a long time. If you take Gwangma around, at least the 60s and 70s floors shouldn't be difficult.』

『It doesn't seem to be exactly like that.』

『What do you mean?』

『I heard Gwangma received poor treatment? There was a rumor he upset the summoner's mood and got kicked out as soon as he went out, and his satisfaction level was the lowest.』

『...Gwangma received poor treatment? Why on earth?』

『Some say this summoner has a different disposition from other summoners before him.』

『How is he different?』

『How would I know that? The souls who have been with him would know.』

『I'm curious. Where are the kids who went out? It'd be nice to meet them.』

『I don't know, this place is too vast, you know.』

『Anyway, isn't Random Summoning coming up soon? It's time for someone to go out.』

『Whether to do a Random Summoning or not is up to the summoner. If the trait isn't enhanced, he might skip it.』

『Well, that depends on the summoner. There are some who just unconditionally pull first.』

『Right, a summoner I was with a very long time ago did that. He could only simultaneously summon 5 people, but his catalog had 25 people. I was one of them.』

『It's harder to bear if you get pulled once and never called again.』

『It seems I must go out in this Random Summoning, the summoner of Earth will surely become an emperor soon, shouldn't I teach him at least basic refinement?』

『Don't make me laugh. What emperor, he should become the world's mastermind, shaking even the emperor in the palm of his hand.』

『Mastermind my ass. You just have to smash everything. Dropping a single meteorite on disobedient countries makes them all quiet down.』

『Yeah, because of you, that summoner got hit by 10 nuclear weapons and died. You crazy mage bastard!』

『H-how dare you speak carelessly! Son of a bitch! Do you even know how many years I lived in pain because of that?』

『That's why you should have done well earlier instead of regretting it.』

『If I go out, I could replace that slippery assassin, I could make sure no enemies remain around the summoner.』

『Rule by force doesn't last long. You have to capture humans' hearts with holy power. Only I can make the summoner a god worshiped by humans.』

『Wake up from your dreams, all of you. Who knows who will go out.』

『I have a good feeling about this time somehow. I feel like I'll go out.』

『Me too?』

『At this point, I'm curious about the administrators' reactions.』

『Why bring up those unlucky administrators?』

『Because those bastards won't stay still. Even during the Kavalan curse event, only one tower collapsed.』

『Right, they'll throw a fit again, saying it's not fun, doing emergency patches or adding new content.』

『Bug-like bastards.』

『Someday, I'll definitely kill those bastards. My last lingering attachment is getting revenge for my former summoner.』

『Me too.』

***

Joo-hyuk's Namyangju villa.

For three or four days, he really ate and played without thinking about anything.

Mainly with the existing summoned entities.

Sir Gwangma was a drinking buddy he called occasionally.

Honestly, there are times when Gwangma is burdensome.

As they giggle and chat, he suddenly finds himself immersed in the thought, 'World domination seems worth a try?'

Sir Gwangma was an eloquent speaker.

He was incredibly good at talking.

'I have to be careful.'

In a moment of carelessness, he might experience a moment where the US President, subdued by Gwangma before he knew it, bows his head in front of him and says, 'I will offer the United States to you!'

He absolutely does not want that.

He hates it just thinking about it.

Actually, Joo-hyuk also has his own unique values and life goals.

But they're not that firm.

Shallow values that can change at any time.

Ah, a lesser man with flappy ears whose mind changes as quickly as a reed.

So he was sorry, but he called Sir Gwangma sporadically.

He dedicated a lot of time to his comfortable existing summoned entities.

He cleaned following Rajix, exchanged bland jokes with Cossack, took naps lying in a hammock, and if he got bored, he entered the tower.

He heard the item restrictions were lifted, and the reward probability increased significantly, so he was curious if it was really true.

[Entering the 59th floor of the Republic of Korea Black Tower.]

The Lightning Wyvern, which is said to have the most beautiful leather among Wyverns. Due to the nature of flying monsters, they don't come down unless pulled, so.

"Hoeek!"

Whack, whack, whack, whack!

Starting with Rajix's farming.

Rajix digging the ground with fierce momentum.

When he poked a rock or the hard ground with his golden pickaxe, clunk! A blue-glowing pebble would get caught on the end of the pickaxe one by one.

'...What is this?'

Cossack picked it up, examined it, and.

"It's a High-Grade mana stone."

Oh! High-Grade mana stones come out even from gathering?

Things have definitely changed.

"As expected! The cosmic servant worker Rajix. Applause!"

Clap clap clap clap!

"Hoeee..."

A fist-sized, beautiful High-Grade mana stone glowing deeply in blue.

"Sergeant Ve."

"Sergeant, Veronica Caliber!"

"Does the power of the magic gun get stronger with a High-Grade mana stone?"

"Of course. The power of a magic gun is determined by the quality of the mana stone."

"Ah!"

But there's no need to specifically use it as magic gun ammunition.

Normal mana stones are sufficient.

Thus, the amount of High-Grade mana stones mined in one clear was about 30kg.

He will sell this all at once later.

'Shall I slowly start catching Wyverns now?'

The mission to catch 15.

Skinning them as soon as he caught them and putting them in, and after catching the last one.

[You have succeeded in the 59th-floor mission.]

What about the reward?

[Reward: Mana Stone 2.9kg / High-Grade Mana Stone 3kg]

[Reward: Tower Exclusive Healing Potion (4) / Healing Potion (1)]

'Hmm.'

The mana stone reward had changed too.

Normal mana stones and High-Grade mana stones at the same time.

About half and half.

But?

'...Huh?'

What's this healing potion?

Four tower exclusives, and one healing potion that doesn't have the 'tower exclusive' modifier attached to it.

'Don't tell me this is?'

Effect: Heals external and internal injuries sustained outside the tower as well as inside the tower.

Limit: Unlike Tower Exclusive Healing Potions, it has no effect on poisons or diseases.

'....'

Oh my god!

'Is this what they meant by restrictions being lifted? It wasn't just that the types became diverse?'

Meaning it applies even to wounds sustained outside the tower.

In other words, non-players can use it too.

The world will turn noisy again.

By the way, this healing potion...

'I should give it to my father.'

Although the hip fracture he sustained before is said to be fully healed, just in case.

***

Another day passed.

Joo-hyuk hadn't returned home yet.

Because there was a special event today.

The Random Summoning event.

The day to welcome a new family member.

The Random Summoning cooldown ended a little while ago.

Before summoning.

"Should I use the Summoning Attribute Change Ticket or not."

If he uses it, one among a Golem, Spirit, Demonic Beast, Phantom, or Spirit Beast will appear, and if he doesn't use it, one summoned entity will be summoned like now.

"I am in favor of using the ticket. Currently, our Holy Sword has come to his senses, but if another weird guy comes out...."

Weird guy, you say,

What about himself?

Anyway, Cossack is in favor of using the ticket.

"I agree. How uncomfortable has Young Master been all this time because of Sir Cossack or Bardin? Even a mere beast has its use, so please use the ticket."

Gyeon Dal-rae also tells him to use it.

"Various tactical changes will become possible. In our Magic Empire, we also tamed demonic beasts and deployed them on the battlefield."

Veronica and the other summoned entities also had no dissenting opinions.

Then I should try using it.

What would be good to get?

Joo-hyuk had also done some research in advance.

Through an internet gallery frequently visited by players with summoning traits.

They all say there are pros and cons.

However, they all shared the commonality of being difficult to handle.

As the level goes up, that tendency becomes increasingly severe.

Why can't players with summoning traits slack off?

There are rarely summoning players in the level 50 range.

Because it takes a considerable amount of time to properly handle summoned beasts.

- You think Golems are good? They are so stupid it drives you crazy. If you don't give them proper instructions, they are no different from a broken robot. Even when I'm in a crisis on the verge of dying, they just stood there staring blankly.

A bipedal golem similar to a human.

However, its intelligence is very low.

- When I first summoned a spirit, I was really happy, I thought clears were all over. But they are sly. They have no affection for their master. Arrogant bastards, keukeukeu.

Spirits have high utility.

But building loyalty is hard.

- Demonic Beasts, they're good, incredibly strong, enough to just bite and thrash things like Basilisks. But as they fight, they go blind with rage, isn't it berserk mode? This is the characteristic of demonic beasts. They even lunge at me sometimes. Their temper is really filthy.

They say demonic beasts are too violent.

Sometimes to the point where they can't be controlled.

- Phantoms are fascinating. They even use magic. But they are unpredictable guys. Sometimes they listen well, and sometimes they act as if they didn't even hear you.

Phantoms that have a tendency to act as they please.

- Spirit Beast, it means a divine beast. It's a noble summoned beast, so they look down on their master. Sometimes I can't even tell if I'm taking the spirit beast around or escorting it.

Spirit beasts with strong pride.

In severe cases, the master and summoned beast relationship can be reversed.

Like this, loyalty and affinity are important for all summoned beasts.

So for the first few times, you just familiarizing faces, building intimacy through simple instructions, and then later making them hunt.

If the loyalty value is out of 100, they say you have to raise it to at least 80 or above before hunting is possible.

Well, so what, it doesn't matter what comes out.

Kavalan is dead, the Curse of the Average is over, he can afford to take it easy for once.

"Let's do it."

The summoning location was the Namyangju villa.

It was evening, but not dark yet.

Next to a blazing campfire, he tore the Summoning Attribute Change Ticket.

Riiip!

"Random Summoning."

Fhaaaaaash! Pa-a-aat!

Something vivid red appeared.

Neither a Golem nor a Spirit.

'A wolf?'

The size was about that of a large dog.

It was rather small for a summoned beast.

However, a tremendous aura was felt.

To the point where his skin tingled.

The type?

Is it a Demonic Beast, Phantom, or Spirit Beast.

- Grade: Stage 1 (Level 71)

- Type: Demonic Beast (魔獸)

- Manifestation Duration: 10 Hours

- Re-summon Cooldown: 3 Hours (applied after summoning is dismissed)

It was a Demonic Beast.

Finally, Joo-hyuk pulled a non-human summoned beast.

Pricked ears, stiff mane fur bristling in all directions, its color was blood red, and black pupils without whites. Its paws were also large, and sharp claws jutted out from the crevices.

"Grrrrrr.."

Unfamiliar with the changed environment, the Blood Wolf growled in vigilance.

'Hmm, I'm scared of big dogs.'

If it were a small dog, maybe.

Still, let's observe the duties of an owner.

Joo-hyuk made eye contact with the Blood Wolf.

We met for the first time, so I should at least say hello,

"Hi, hello, Blood Wolf."

However,

Turn!

The Blood Wolf turned its head away as if uninterested.

'What's wrong with it?'

Is it sulking?

Should I pet its head?

Physical contact is the best way to get close quickly.

So he approached closely and was about to put his hand on its head!

"Grrrrrrr..."

The Blood Wolf bared its white teeth and glared at Joo-hyuk with hostility-filled eyes.

With an expression that said, 'How dare a lowly thing like you touch my head?'

"Uh..."

"Grrng!"

Snap! Its widely opened mouth, sharp teeth.

What the? Is this bastard.... trying to bite the summoner?

It was then.

"Hey, you mutt bastard! Where do you think you're baring your teeth?"

Swoooosh!

Cossack immediately delivered a soccer kick straight to the Blood Wolf's face.

The Blood Wolf, sensing danger, tried to turn its head to dodge, but,

Thwack!

Like that's going to work?

Who is Cossack.

"Yelp!"

The Blood Wolf's head snapped back after taking a hit.

Simultaneously, Gobang transformed into his giant form and snatched its tail.

Grab!

"A beast that attacks its master must be beaten."

Lifting it up, Whoooosh! Swung it one full rotation.

Kwa-ang! Smashed it straight into the ground.

"Yi-yi-yi-yip!"

There was no time to stop them.

Rajix also took out his pickaxe, panting heavily.

"Hoeeeeek!"

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

Stabbed by the pickaxe too.

The frantic summoned entities.

Veronica had already loaded her magic gun, and Gyeon Dal-rae's eyes were cold.

'...It might die at this rate.'

Then, the Holy Sword Bardin,

"Light!!!"

Manifested radiance and placed his hand on the Demonic Beast Blood Wolf's body.

"Whimper."

The wounds began to heal.

The Blood Wolf's unfocused eyes regained focus too.

'Hmm.'

Our Bardin has changed a lot these days.

It seems he's regaining his duties as a Holy Knight.

Right, that's how a holy attribute should act.

The Blood Wolf also had a docile look in its eyes as if touched.

Expressing gratitude for healing it, it raised its body and tried to lick Bardin's hand,

"This bastard! Where do you think you're putting your filthy snout!"

Bardin pulled his hand away and smacked the bastard's head directly.

"Get away! You ill-mannered beast!"

Smack!

"Yelp!"

Then he said to Cossack,

"I will heal it if it gets close to dying, so educate it thoroughly. Make sure it never bares its teeth at the Lord again."

"Okay!!!"

The education started again. It was ruthless.

Veronica also joined in, tenderizing various parts of the Blood Wolf's body with the butt of her magic gun.

Even Gyeon Dal-rae started rubbing fermented soybean paste (doenjang) on the Blood Wolf's body.

"Yelp! Yi-yi-yi-yip! Yeee-elp!"

Joo-hyuk felt sorry for the Demonic Beast but decided to endure it.

It's not the kind of dog we think of.

It's completely different from those cute puppies that just wag their tails wanting to love and be loved when they see a person.

It was a Demonic Beast.

If it goes crazy, it's a terrifying beast that will even tear apart the summoner.

It almost did just a moment ago.

"Yi-yi-yi-yip!"

The training (?) continued like that.

After some time had passed.

"Salute! Demonic Beasts are excellent. There are no bad Demonic Beasts in the world. The lone Demonic Beast trainer, President of Beasts, this Cossack has trained it perfectly."

Is beating it considered training.

"Summoner Bong, please give it a command."

Hmm, what should I start with?

Something simple first.

"Sit."

Plop!

As soon as the words fell, the Demonic Beast Blood Wolf put its butt on the ground.

"Lie down."

Drop!

"Oh!"

It listens well?

"Roll over to the left."

Roll!

"Roll over to the right."

Roll!

"Bang!"

Pretending to shoot a gun,

"Geuk!"

It even plays dead.

Finally, he threw a stick,

"Fetch."

Dash!

Even a hideous Demonic Beast is quite cute when it listens well.

How can a kid like this go berserk?