Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Promise and the Intruder
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The next afternoon.
Joo-hyuk went back to the Awakening Management Bureau's player shop.
He had agonized over it all night.
Should he give it a proper shot or not?
Now that he'd jumped in, it wouldn't hurt to test the extent of his talent.
Actually, he thought he understood why he could do this.
Monsters were scary.
Not just their appearance, but because he could lose his life if he wasn't careful.
But the more he faced them, the more that fear subsided.
Also, his combat abilities rose with each level, there were special rewards, and he had reliable allies.
Joo-hyuk's timidity stemmed from the difficulties of human relationships.
The fear people gave him and the fear monsters gave him were fundamentally different.
He didn't need to consider a monster's feelings.
What good was it wondering how a monster felt about him?
He didn't have to act while reading a monster's mood.
Was he going to become friends with a monster?
He didn't have to worry about wanting to get closer, about what they liked or disliked.
It wasn't a relationship where he had to think about how the other person would interpret a message, typing and deleting, considering special characters and emojis.
He also didn't have to wonder why the "1" notification wouldn't disappear, or why they were ignoring his message after it was read.
Monsters were simple.
Even if they were scary, once you met them, the relationship was just about smashing their heads in.
Was climbing the Tower socializing?
Of course not!
For those reasons, he could shake off his timidity within the Tower.
He could do it.
The Tower's Alpha Male.
If he was going to do this properly, an energy shield alone wouldn't be enough.
As the floors got higher, the monsters' attack power would increase another level. Relying solely on the shield and being reckless could lead to big trouble.
'Where was the place that sold shields... Ah! There it is.'
It would be a perfect match to use alongside the energy shield, offering synergy effects too.
'By the way, it's crowded today?'
When he first came, there wasn't a single customer.
Players were shopping for items here and there.
'Let's buy it quickly and go home.'
On his way to the armor shop,
Joo-hyuk recalled Kosak's advice from yesterday.
- You'll gradually start to enjoy combat.
- Your confidence will grow.
- And the danger level will increase proportionally.
Every single word was true.
But it was such a contradiction.
He was scared, but he also wanted to fight again.
He was clueless.
Who knew he would change like this?
His father would be shocked, and his younger brother's jaw would drop.
'I've really grown a lot.'
That timid ordinary guy.
His life's value was to live a long, quiet life.
It was too late to turn back now.
Joo-hyuk's mind was currently filled with the brief battle against the Goblin Assassin.
'I want to try it again.'
He understood Kosak's concern.
Kosak said he had a previous Summoner.
But that Summoner had died.
Kosak probably witnessed his Summoner's death firsthand.
The guilt of failing to protect his previous Summoner.
A firm resolve to definitely protect this Summoner.
That's why he might overreact to actions that seemed dangerous.
'I want to go along with it as much as possible, but...'
He was sick and tired of living timidly.
A chance to seek change.
'Why can't I have confidence?'
From now on, he would be different.
Spread his wings wide, from an ordinary guy to an alpha male.
Right!
There was no Joo-hyuk of yesterday.
There was only Joo-hyuk of today.
Joo-hyuk stood boldly and confidently in front of the armor shop.
"Welcome. Player, please tell me what you're looking for."
"...Y-yes?"
The shop salesperson.
Of all people, it was a female employee.
"Umm, w-well, th-that, uhh."
"Hohoho, if you don't know the equipment name, you can just point with your finger."
"A-a shield... ,"
"Oh my? Looking for a shield. Should I pick one out for you?"
"...Yes, yes."
Ugh, he couldn't make eye contact.
Alpha male, my foot.
"How about this one? It's a large square shield made from orichalcum and sectonium alloy. It's big, right? It also has a self-repair function, so you don't need to get it fixed."
"...Th-the price?"
"Just 100 million won. As you know, we only charge the material cost."
"Umm, f-for me, it's t-too heavy and... e-expensive, if that's all you have, I guess I have no choice."
He was going crazy.
Why couldn't he speak properly?
"Aha! This one should be suitable. It's a round hand shield made from adamantite and sectonium alloy. It's small and light, and also has a self-repair function."
Oh!
This was good.
A circular shield, a little over 30 cm in diameter.
A small hand shield worn on one arm.
It suited him perfectly.
It matched so well it could be considered a set with his mace.
"...Th-the price?"
"40 million won."
"I-installment... ,"
"That's possible. We can also deduct it from your magic stone sales proceeds."
"...I'll take it."
"Yes!"
The installment payment was done via the palm recognition device.
*Beep!*
He finally bought it.
Now the set was complete.
A mace in his right hand.
A hand shield on his left.
'It'll take time to pay off the installment... ,'
Well, he'd pay it off quickly.
By the way, talking to the employee was much harder than dealing with goblins.
He quickly moved his feet toward the exit.
Time to go home.
Going home was resting.
But at that moment!
"Hello."
A man spoke to Joo-hyuk.
Who was this?
"You're a player, right? Haha, I'm a player too."
Of course.
The people who could come here were either players or Bureau employees.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Choi Ho-seok."
The man suddenly offered a handshake.
Refusing would be rude, so Joo-hyuk shook his hand as well.
"...I'm Bong Joo-hyuk."
"Hahaha, so it's Joo-hyuk. I come to the shop every day, and since you're the first new face I've seen today, I thought I'd get to know you."
"Ah, yes, yes, this is my second time here."
"I see. If you don't mind me asking, what floor are you on? I'm climbing in the 30s."
A high level.
"...Umm, I'm in the 10s."
"Aha, you must have just become a player recently. If you have any difficulties while clearing floors, feel free to ask me anything. I'll answer anything."
A rather friendly attitude.
His face looked gentle, so he seemed nice.
He seemed to be a natural extrovert.
That's why he was so sociable even with someone he just met.
"Ah, not yet."
"Really? Then ask me anytime. I come here often. Hahaha."
"Yes, yes,"
"Well then, see you later!"
Choi Ho-seok waved and disappeared.
The bold interpersonal penetration ability of a social butterfly.
Witnessing it up close was simply amazing.
'With that level of skill, he probably has a girlfriend, right?'
He was envious.
Since he was already out, he decided to get dinner before heading home.
He planned to take a break from clearing floors today.
Since he usually ate alone, his options were limited.
A fast-food place or a soup restaurant.
He stopped by a pork soup restaurant near his home.
He emptied a bowl of hot pork soup, loaded with chives, salted shrimp, chili paste, and perilla seed powder, with ease.
Joo-hyuk returned home as it was getting dark.
After a quick wash,
"Status window."
He felt content.
When had it climbed so high?
Level 19. He could challenge the 19th floor.
Now, should he start the persuasion process?
Joo-hyuk took out the mace and round hand shield from his Tower Exclusive Inventory and held one in each hand.
He also gave John Kosak and Gobang each a five-star rating in the catalog list, and then,
"Designated Summon, John Kosak."
"Chung! Thank you for the stars... uhhh,"
The sight of Joo-hyuk, standing confidently with mace and shield.
The will in his eyes was blazing.
John Kosak realized it before Joo-hyuk even spoke.
Plopping down onto the floor,
"Hueheuk, you've finally... ,"
Summoner Bong's appearance was an expression of conviction.
It showed his will to do this properly in the Tower.
"D-do you really have to do this?"
"I'll be as careful as possible."
"My previous Summoner said that too."
"Don't worry. Since I'm an ordinary guy, if it gets tough while climbing, I'll give up immediately."
Kosak wiped away his flowing tears with the back of his hand.
"Promise me. No charging ahead."
So earnest, so earnest.
Joo-hyuk put the mace and shield back into his inventory and tightly grasped Kosak's hand with both of his.
"...I promise."
"If it gets tough, sacrifice me and Gobang to escape."
"Umm, okay."
"It would be better to sacrifice that Gobang brat instead of me, if possible."
That depended on the situation.
"Sh-shall we start now?"
"No, let's start tomorrow."
"Then I'll just watch TV... huh?"
At that moment!
Suddenly, John Kosak tilted his head.
Soon after, with a cold expression,
"Summoner Bong."
"Yes?"
"By any chance, do you have a grudge against someone?"
"A grudge? Of course not. I've never done anything to make someone hold a grudge."
"There's someone outside. They're overflowing with killing intent."
Killing intent?
Who?
In an instant!
*Click-clack, clack,*
The sound of the front door knob turning.
It sounded like it was being forced open.
"...Hide for now."
"Yes!"
*Whoosh,*
Kosak disappeared.
And then,
*Zzzzziiing!*
A transparent energy shield enveloped Joo-hyuk's body.
Finally,
*Clunk!*
The door opened.
"Hey there? Hehehehe,"
"...What is this? Why are you here, no, how did you know my house?"
"I had a hard time tailing you."
Joo-hyuk clenched his fist tightly.
Player Choi Ho-seok, level 33, was more interested in other things than climbing the Tower.
His other job was a self-proclaimed item broker.
Finding useful items and selling them to those in need.
How does he get items?
By clearing the Tower?
No way.
You have to take them from those who have them.
First, he scouted for prey at the player shop.
He didn't pick just anyone.
Guys who looked easy.
The kind of losers who probably acted as errand boys for bullies in school.
Today, he happened to find a suitable guy.
The type who would freak out if you just pointed a knife at him.
It was even a jackpot.
The bracelet on the guy's wrist.
That was an item.
It looked extraordinary at a glance.
He deliberately approached him in a friendly manner and even shook his hand.
While shaking hands, he looked carefully at the wrist and, as expected, it was indeed an item.
What if this bracelet didn't have the "Tower Exclusive" modifier attached?
It would be worth a fortune.
Even if it did, it didn't matter.
The guy said he was clearing floors in the 10s, so he was probably only around level 10.
Even if he was level 50 or 60, so what?
Outside, he was just a regular person.
So, the moment Bong Joo-hyuk went outside, he secretly followed him on his motorcycle.
He followed the taxi the guy took, watched him eat at a restaurant, and finally figured out where he lived.
As long as it wasn't an Elite Team.
If something happened to them, the nation would track you down.
Then you'd be screwed.
But he wasn't.
If he were an Elite Team member, he wouldn't be living in such a shabby place.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around,
*Click-clack,* he picked the lock with a skeleton key, and then,
He took out a pistol from his pocket and entered.
In a world like this, getting a gun wasn't difficult.
Since it had a silencer, even if he fired it, no one would know.
"Hehehehe,"
He couldn't help but laugh.
The guy was still wearing the bracelet.
There would probably be equipment in his inventory too.
First, make him spit it out through torture and threats,
Killing him could come later.
Just dump the body inside the Tower.
Ironically, a player's corpse goes into the Tower Exclusive Inventory.
Because players belong to the Tower.
"Don't make a sound! If you even squeak, a bullet goes in your head."
At Ho-seok's threat, Joo-hyuk's eyes widened.
"Take off the bracelet and open your inventory. See this gun? It has a silencer, so it won't make much noise. If you don't like guns, I have a knife too. I'll slice you up like sashimi."
No!
Why would you say that... ,
It's practically suicide.
"Decide. Are you going to endure torture? Or are you going to hand over the items and live?"
Please!
Joo-hyuk's hands and feet trembled.
His heart pounded.
An extremely dangerous situation.
Himself?
How could that be!
With the energy shield active.
The dangerous one was that man, Choi Ho-seok.
So,
"Mr. Ho-seok."
"Shh! Stop the useless talk and open your inventory! And take off that bracelet."
"...It's not too late even now. Put the gun away and leave, and you won't die. I promise."
"What the hell are you talking about? Do you really want a bullet in your knee?"
Aah!
It was as good as over.
Choi Ho-seok was already dead.
His head would be cut off and tied with a ribbon in a butterfly knot.
By the way, what about the body?
What excuse would he give the police?
That's when it happened.
*Whoosh,*
Something pale obscured his vision, and then.
'...Huh?'
Suddenly, the pistol disappeared from Ho-seok's hand.
"Wh-what the?"
Ho-seok was bewildered.
Where did the gun go?
He was holding it in his hand,
In an instant!
*Crunch!*
A sharp pain felt on the back of his head.
"Kek!"
What was that?
'...S-shit, there was another one?'
The room definitely only had that guy alone.
His consciousness faded.
Ho-seok collapsed forward.
*Thud!*
Joo-hyuk's shocked eyes.
What kind of reversal was this?
'He didn't kill him?'
*Whoosh,* Kosak appeared.
Aah!
What a reliable assassin!
He had followed his request not to kill people so perfectly.
"You did so well! That's amazing, Mr. Kosak. Subduing him without killing him!"
"...Yes?"
"Hahaha! Knocking him out, that's truly praiseworthy. A five-star rating is far too stingy. I want to give you 50 stars, no, 500 stars."
"Hehehe, r-really?"
Kosak secretly slipped the throat-cutting dagger and butterfly knot ribbon he was holding back into his clothes, away from Joo-hyuk's sight.
Originally, he planned to knock him out first, lay down some plastic or newspaper to avoid getting blood on Summoner Bong's floor, and then work.
"I-I'll take this guy outside and dispose of him... ,"
"Just leave him. We can report him to the police."
"Th-that's not necessary. If I carry him out and leave him far away... ."
"It's fine. Reporting is the easiest way."
Kosak glanced regretfully at the unconscious Ho-seok.
A bastard who dared to try and kill Summoner Bong.
He should kill him.
Cut off his head and decorate it nicely with a ribbon.
What a waste.
So what if a little blood splattered?
He should have just cut him without knocking him out.