Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Bong Joo-hyuk's Tower Conquest Method
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Joo-hyuk emerged from the White Tower's 17th floor.
Then, after summoning all his summoned beings except for Hyeolrang.
"I asked about the White Tower earlier, remember?"
The summoned beings answered as if they had been waiting.
"This old man also looked into it briefly in that world, but I found nothing. It seems no one knows what the White Tower is."
If even the souls of that world didn't know, it was one of two things: they hadn't experienced it, or it was under a prohibition.
"What kind of place is it? This girl is curious."
Joo-hyuk explained the White Tower's 17th floor in detail, one by one. Starting from receiving it as an achievement reward, the floor's environment, the ownership menu, its functions, costs, and so on.
Everyone's expressions grew serious.
They understood what that floor meant.
In a way, the White Tower's 17th floor was also an item. It was real estate given by the Tower.
When an item appears, there will inevitably be a use for it.
Just look at the Tower Seizure Declaration Megaphone; they thought there would never be a reason to use it. They even hid it from Gwang-ma, fearing he might suggest using it.
But a reason to use it had arisen.
Of course, it ended very peacefully, unlike they had expected, but what did it mean that the White Tower's 17th floor was given as a reward in such a situation?
It assumed the world would be destroyed.
"It's a concept of a shelter."
"Correct. Even if the world is destroyed, that place should be safe."
"Perhaps, going further, it will become possible to be self-sufficient inside it."
"Haa... We shouldn't have a need to use that floor."
Everyone's expressions weren't good.
Amidst this, Joo-hyuk spoke while clenching his fist.
"I think we should build a city. I've even decided on a name. Joo-hyuk City!"
But Gwang-ma wore an awkward expression.
"...Ahem, Summoner, isn't it a bit premature?"
"What is?"
"The judgment that the world will be destroyed."
"Huh?"
Gyeon Dal-rae also answered quickly.
"Lord Gwang-ma speaks rightly. There is still leeway at present. Whether there is a need to construct a shelter..."
The meaning of building a shelter was tantamount to concluding that the world would be destroyed. In fact, it was no different from revealing a weak will.
If the Summoner weakened, the summoned beings would inevitably waver.
"Lord Bong Summoner, just trust this Kosak. The world won't be destroyed."
"This warrior has staked his life. To protect the Summoner's world, I will risk even the annihilation of my soul."
"My Lord! This god will assist with all my heart."
"Sergeant Officer Veroinca Caliber, the Republic of Korea is also my homeland now. Even if I must re-enlist, I will protect my homeland."
"Hueeeek!"
Even Mari.
Ding-dong!
Hmm.
It was good they were firming their resolve for the sake of an ordinary guy, but...
"I think there's some misunderstanding? I've never once thought the world would be destroyed."
The summoned beings looked puzzled.
Then why the shelter?
"Just look at this penthouse. It's crowded, cramped, about to burst."
That's right.
And it's not like the living room is small either.
"If I summon everyone at once, the household members, including me, are nine people. Plus, one room is taken by Ms. Mari alone."
He had even considered buying another house.
But would that be enough?
"The Manifestation duration has been extended too. The time spent staying is longer, and in a few days, another person will come. If I enhance the trait, the simultaneous summoning capacity will increase, and then 10, 20, 30 people... how can we live only in a penthouse?"
It was clear it would get more cramped over time.
"Th-then what should we do?"
Joo-hyuk grinned.
"We'll build a new house on the White Tower's 17th floor. We'll install basic infrastructure, copy-paste to build wide and sturdy houses, and construct roads!"
First, he turned to the agoraphobic alchemist Mari, who was listening from the corner of the room.
"Ms. Mari, we need top-grade magic stones. Is there any way you can make them?"
Ding-dong!
Yes!
Of course she could do it.
Who was Mari? An LSSR-grade alchemist!
Ding-dong!
"...What did you say?"
1,000 to 1?
So, you need to transmute 1 ton of high-grade magic stones to get 1 kg of top-grade ones?
'What kind of ratio is that?'
The cost would be much higher than expected.
When conquering the 70th floor, only about 6 kg of high-grade magic stones came as a reward.
He had declared boldly, but thinking about it calmly, it was no easy task.
The high-grade magic stones needed just for basic infrastructure like the power plant and wireless communication network alone amounted to 30 tons.
Then, copying and placing buildings, roads, parking lots, etc., would require more high-grade magic stones.
Forget about transmuting top-grade magic stones; even procuring high-grade ones would be difficult.
It might be cheaper to just buy an entire apartment building outright.
'...Should I give up?'
He glanced subtly and saw everyone was brimming with anticipation for the new house.
As a real man, it would be embarrassing to go back and forth now.
There was no choice.
Joo-hyuk firmly grasped Razix's short hand.
"Mr. Razix."
"Hoe?"
"We need high-grade magic stones."
"Hoe..."
Razix could mine regular magic stones from the ground.
Then, couldn't he also mine high-grade ones?
"You can find high-grade magic stone veins, right?"
"Hoe!"
"Is it possible?"
"Hoe-eek!"
"A whole lot!"
"Hoe-eeek!"
Razix's eyes sparkled.
Got it.
If the Ultimate servant, Razix, could do it, then it existed.
Let's climb the Tower until a high-grade magic stone vein appears.
"We'll start Tower climbing today."
Starting with the North Korean Tower.
The climbing progress: 62nd floor conquered, challenging the 63rd.
With three entries per day, starting with the 63rd floor on the first day, by the fourth day they could conquer up to the 74th floor—a total of 12 floors.
Joo-hyuk's current level was 75.
He could receive badges up to a 5-level difference.
The floors eligible for badges started from the 70th.
The 70th floor gave 1 badge, from the 71st onward, 2 badges.
Calculated, that's 9 badges from the North Korean Tower alone.
And if he conquered the existing South Korean Black Tower's 75th and 76th floors on the last day?
The total badges he could obtain would be 13.
'How many badges do I have now?'
Cumulative 93, physical 33.
Adding 13 more to that...
'Cumulative 106, physical 46.'
Upon completing the 5-day Tower tour climbing schedule, the special privileges he could receive would be a whopping 3 times.
'I'll check the special privileges all at once.'
If he opened three special privileges simultaneously, surely something good would come out of one of them.
And he'd also hold the badge awarding ceremony all at once.
He'd attach them generously, lavishly.
"Mr. Kosak."
"Yes?"
"Mr. Kosak, you only join the first daily conquest and then go to North Korea."
"Yes, sir!"
And so, Joo-hyuk started from the North Korean Tower.
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2) 63rd Floor.]
He began the climb.
First day of climbing.
From Joo-hyuk's perspective, the undead section was low-level.
So, no grade conquest announcement sounded.
The second day was the same.
Completed up to the 68th floor.
Third day.
During the second conquest run, a global announcement rang out for players affiliated with South Korea.
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ grade conquest of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) 70th Floor.]
ㄴHuh?
ㄴGasp!
ㄴOh!
ㄴNumber Two?
ㄴIt's started.
ㄴThat's why the Tower forced occupation was needed.
ㄴWho could conquer the North Korean Tower's undead section?
ㄴRight. No one but that one person.
ㄴAnyway, we have a numbered Black Tower now, two Towers!
ㄴWhat's so good about that.
And about 30 minutes later.
[World Notice: You have achieved an S+++ grade conquest of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) 71st Floor.]
The world notice spread across the globe.
ㄴ71st floor!!!
ㄴIt's that easy, why couldn't the temporary naturalization players do it?
ㄴAll they did was whine about being bound by nationality for a year.
ㄴComrade South Korea's top player is climbing the Tower with teleportation steps.
ㄴHe fiercely threw pine cone grenades. Joo-hyuk manse!
ㄴHuh? Who are the guys above?
ㄴNice to meet ya, I'm a player belonging to the South Korean Black Tower living in Pyongyang.
ㄴWow! Are we really going to unify? In the past, you'd be reported as a commie right away.
ㄴBut what's with 'Joo-hyuk manse'?
ㄴIt's a slogan trending in the Republic these days.
ㄴA propaganda slogan?
ㄴThat's right, it's short for Juche Revolutionary Spirit.
ㄴNorth Korea shortens everything too.
ㄴAnyway, is life better there now?
ㄴThanks to Comrade Top Player taking over the Tower, it's become livable.
ㄴComrade People's Armed Forces Minister Ko Sa-geuk's grace is also there.
ㄴSoon, free travel between North and South will be implemented, so come visit Pyongyang.
ㄴThey say South men, North women, are North Korean women pretty?
ㄴYou bastard, there's a face class here too, you know? If you're confident, go for it, I won't stop you.
ㄴDamn, I gotta go eat Okryu-gwan cold noodles.
The next day, the notice rang without fail.
[World Notice: You have achieved an S+++ grade conquest of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) 72nd Floor.]
ㄴHe's going again today!
ㄴRevolutionary Tower climbing!!!
ㄴJoo-hyuk manse!
The 73rd floor also had an S+++ grade conquest world notice.
ㄴHe's going twice!
ㄴUp to the 74th.
ㄴWhoa.
ㄴThree times?
ㄴIsn't three times a day a record?
The first-ever three S+++ grade conquests in a single day.
ㄴIf this isn't teleportation steps, then what is?
ㄴThe great Comrade Top Player climbs the Tower with clone technique.
ㄴHe crosses Tower floors riding on a leaf!
ㄴHe makes rice out of sand!
ㄴWow! These bastards learned nothing but thievery, the deification is insane.
The Player Management Office in downtown Pyongyang.
A place was remodeled from a pyramid-shaped hotel whose construction had been halted for a long time. It was commonly known as a detention camp.
Over 800 North Korean players were imprisoned there.
A place that starkly showed the treatment of North Korean players.
Once it was known that someone was a player, they were immediately taken into custody and admitted to the Player Management Office.
If you were dragged there, you couldn't get out.
You either died in reality or died inside the Tower.
Of course, they were fed three meals a day.
They received the title of Revolutionary Warrior, and their families were paid a certain amount of compensation.
But that was it.
They couldn't even wear equipment and were forced to climb the Tower.
Parasitically climbing the South Korean Tower, weren't they worried about Tower collapse?
Player protection couldn't possibly be proper.
So, even if North Koreans awakened, they hid the fact that they were players. They operated secretly, evading the government's eyes.
Climbing the Tower at night or dawn to receive magic stone rewards and handing them over to black-market brokers to make money.
And if caught?
They were dragged away as reactionary elements.
What would you do if high-grade magic stones came from the South Korean Tower through Cabal conquest?
Even if you received the reward, it would all be confiscated.
Amidst this, the newly created Black Tower of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea nationality.
It was a nightmare.
It was obvious they would be driven to break through the undead section to prevent Tower collapse.
All that was left was to enter the Tower to die.
But then, an astonishing event occurred out of the blue.
The South Korean S+++ grade top player's Tower stronghold declaration.
They thought war might break out, but not at all.
The situation flowed in an entirely unexpected direction.
Their nationality was changed back to South Korea.
Chairman Kim In-jung proposed a North-South summit.
The South Korean Awakening Management Bureau decided to establish a branch in Pyongyang.
And the players were all released from the detention camp.
They returned home and met their long-missed families.
Was it a dream, or reality?
Who bestowed such a blessing?
The great Baekdu-bloodline Chairman Kim In-jung?
No way!
North Korean residents weren't fools.
Everyone had noticed.
Comrade People's Armed Forces Minister Ko Sa-geuk, who had risen to the position of second-in-command overnight. It was the result of his proactive movements.
And today.
Comrade Ko Sa-geuk came on an inspection tour to the Pyongyang Player Cooperative Management Office.
"We welcome Comrade People's Armed Forces Minister's inspection of the management office with our entire bodies! Joo-hyuk manse!"
"Joo-hyuk manse!"
Ko Sa-geuk, wearing sunglasses, nodded his head.
"Did you send all the management office players home? Soon, South Korean civil servants will take over this place."
The detention camp building where North Korean players were imprisoned was scheduled to become the South Korean Awakening Management Bureau branch.
"Y-yes, all comrade players have gone home. Only comrade staff remain at the management office."
"Really? You're not lying?"
The management office director flinched for a moment before opening his mouth again.
"Ah, there is still one person left."
"Huh? What, where?"
"He, he's not a comrade player from the Republic. He's a comrade temporary naturalization player brought from the Czech Republic."
Ko Sa-geuk glared at the director with sharp eyes.
"This, isn't this kidnapping? You still haven't come to your senses!"
"N-no, it's because he's a reactionary element, the leader of a black market guild."
"Even if he's a black market leader... what?"
Black market.
He had heard about it before.
The Trait Enhancement Rune that America brought to repay their debt to Lord Bong Summoner for saving Player Gerald. Its origin was a black market guild.
Then?
He couldn't just stand by.
"He is a reactionary element indeed."
"Yes! That's right."
"Bring him here! With an interpreter, I'll interrogate him myself."
"Understood!"
Kosak trembled with excitement.
Perhaps a Trait Enhancement Rune might be sitting plainly in his inventory.
A chance to earn merit.
He had to coax him gently and strip him clean.
Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2).
The North Korean Tower was conquered up to the 74th floor.
The Necromancer dungeon treasure and the royal palace treasury were also safely secured.
He received high-grade magic stones and several minor items.
Now, tomorrow.
It was time to conquer the Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.1) 75th and 76th floors.
Gwang-ma and Gobang, the two LSSR grades, and Kosak, who was dispatched to North Korea, were scheduled to join.
It wouldn't be difficult, but that didn't mean they could let their guard down.
In the final ultra-high-difficulty optional mission on the 74th floor, a hook for a linked mission was laid.
The demon fox, Gumiho.
It would definitely appear.
The demon that had subdued the thousand-year fox Haeryeong, who was Gyeon Dal-rae's master.
It was certain to be LSSR grade.
And it wouldn't be easy.
It was a clear fact that even within the same LSSR grade, there were significant differences.
Just look at the thousand-year fox Haeryeong.
To bind her, who was weakened and not fully transformed into an evil spirit, both Gobang and Gwang-ma had to step forward.
It was as clear as day that the demon fox Gumiho would be incredibly strong.
They had to prepare thoroughly and face it.
So, Joo-hyuk asked the room-bound alchemist Mari to make doping potions for him.
Click.
The door opened,
and potions and elixirs manufactured by the Sage were neatly stacked up.
[Real Man] : Thank you as always. It must be bothersome.
[Mari] : Not at all. Please request anytime. I'm making them diligently♬♬♪
Although not a combat class, Mari's role was irreplaceable.
Without her, how would they make top-grade magic stones?
But,
[Mari] : Um... Summoner-nim.
[Real Man] : Yes?
[Mari] : If you encounter a difficult situation while conquering, please call me. I can help too.
Her heart was this kind as well.
[Real Man] : Okay. I'll call you.
[Mari] : ♡♥♬♪♪
Though there likely wouldn't be a need to call her.