Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: The Princess's Return and the Search for Diarmat
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When humanity climbs to the 71st floor of the Black Tower, many things change.
Especially the benefits granted.
It's like a reward congratulating them for overcoming the average curse of the 70th floor and making it this far.
High-grade Magic Stones, increased item reward probability, a drastic drop in tower conquest difficulty, and extended tower collapse time limits.
Thus, the world becomes a little safer.
The abilities of the Players also gradually grow stronger.
But there is another purpose to the Tower.
A trial for the world and the Players.
If there is no trial, the Tower has no reason to exist.
It makes the Players climb to the 80th floor and releases Diarmat into the world.
The Succubus Queen, the monarch ruling over demons and monsters.
Like all demons, Diarmat is different from other monarchs.
Not a physical class, but an intelligence class.
Cunning, selfish, and skilled at weaving sinister plots.
A trial where she infiltrates the world, sows discord among nations to trigger war, reduces the number of Players, and ultimately leads to the Tower's collapse.
The Tower makes them step onto the 80th floor as quickly as possible.
Because in the world, there exists a Player who grows more powerful with each passing month.
A Player who summons his helpers one by one each month, upgrades their grades, and monopolizes all sorts of items given by the Tower.
The door to the 80th floor must be opened quickly before he becomes even stronger.
For this purpose, two items were scattered as Tower rewards.
Diarmat's Right Arm
Diarmat's Left Arm
The items' function is simple.
They bewitch the Player's mind, creating a plausible belief and will that they must ascend to the 80th floor.
They might not even realize they are being brainwashed.
Because the infiltration happens stealthily through dreams.
Diarmat's Right Arm and Left Arm lead the Player to the 80th floor by ensuring the tower conquest succeeds under any condition.
And the moment they climb to the 80th floor, Diarmat's Right Arm and Left Arm are automatically destroyed.
The climb was a success.
Diarmat observed the world through the memories of the Player who reached the 80th floor, and...
The first thing she did after leaving the Tower was to polymorph into a form identical to a human.
Then, she began looking for a place to hide and live.
A large city would be best.
Somewhere with as many people as possible.
'I must lie low for the time being.'
Why?
Because now is not the time to act.
The situation, as observed from the world, was the worst.
If she rushed in recklessly, she'd be finished before she could do anything.
'If I'm discovered, it's over that very day.'
The information from the memories of the Player who climbed the 80th floor.
She found out where the Summoner Player of this world was and what activities he had undertaken so far, but...
'He's insane, a mad Summoner!'
My god!
A Player who has achieved consecutive highest-grade conquests up to the 76th floor of the Black Tower.
How many Platinum Badges has he acquired?
The number of privileges received?
By this point, the beings he summons must number at least six.
And one among them might even be the same grade as herself.
Only then would consecutive highest-grade conquests up to the 76th floor be possible.
'Am I supposed to handle that guy alone?'
No matter how she thought about it, it was impossible.
Frankly, she didn't even want to go out.
But according to the Tower's law, she had no choice but to manifest outside.
'Those stupid administrator bastards.'
How did they manage the Tower?
They nurtured a Player into a monster and then told her to give him a trial?
Is a trial even possible?
They should have told her in advance.
They make the mistake and then dump the cleanup on her.
For now, she'll hold out, playing dead.
Even if sanctions come from the Tower, there's nothing she can do.
Better than being exposed by acting rashly.
'As slowly as possible.'
Diarmat quietly closed her eyes.
And mulled over the information she had obtained.
No matter how she thought about it, he was a mad Player.
Achieving highest-grade conquests not only in his own country's tower but also in towers of other nations.
He overcame Cabalan's Curse, which in other worlds acted as a cause of destruction, with minimal damage.
He even peacefully succeeded in forcibly occupying a tower without war.
She didn't know exactly who he was, but he lived in a country called the Republic of Korea.
Then, where should her base be?
Certain conditions must be met.
A country easy to hide in.
Yet one that can directly influence the Republic of Korea.
She would choose a suitable place and establish a hideout.
But she wouldn't start work immediately.
She would wait until an opportunity arose.
When the first world announcement rang out, the world was tense.
Everyone couldn't help but recall Cabalan's Curse.
It seemed that way.
The final world announcement.
The monarch of monsters, Diarmat (Original), has manifested outside the Tower.
The 80th-floor boss had come out into the world.
That fact alone was the worst threat, wasn't it?
What form would it take?
A curse? A physical attack?
But nothing happened.
It remained so even after several days passed.
Could it possibly end as just a hoax?
The world was simply quiet.
Thanks to that, the United States barely avoided a crisis.
If something had actually happened, they would have been showered with curses.
The videos from the pseudo-religious group that had threatened to climb the 80th floor also stopped being uploaded.
Joo-hyuk met with Jeon Gwang-il at the Management Bureau.
"Director Antonio informed us that the U.S. FBI has apprehended the 80th-floor climbing threat suspects."
Wow!
The FBI.
"He said they traced the upload route of the YouTube video."
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, often seen in movies and dramas.
They certainly lived up to their reputation.
"Was it really a cult group?"
"Well... there's something a bit strange about it."
"What is it?"
"They arrested two Player suspects, but they apparently have no idea how they conquered the tower or why they climbed to the 80th floor. They say they don't remember either."
"They don't remember? Not even the conquest info for floors above 77 or what Diarmat looks like?"
"Yes, nothing at all."
Hmm.
It's one of two things.
Either they're feigning ignorance and lying, or they were genuinely bewitched by something.
"The investigation will continue, so we'll have to wait and see. Antonio said he'd share if there are any special developments."
They'll handle it well.
They're experts in that field.
By the way, what about Diarmat?
If she manifested, shouldn't she be taking some kind of action?
What if she's hiding and plotting something in secret?
It's extremely unsettling.
Feels like having a boil on your butt.
It needs to be popped quickly.
"Where do you think Diarmat is?"
"Since it's the U.S. Tower, it seems likely she's in America, but it probably wouldn't be that obvious. Still, we're searching hard. The U.S. government is also watching for any unusual phenomena."
Well, it's good if nothing happens.
"Oh right! What about the Awakening Rune?"
"Ah, it's a bit embarrassing, but I..."
Huh?
"Then... are you a Player too, Chief?"
"Yes. And I also made the Elite contract."
"Ah..."
Joo-hyuk wasn't sure if he should congratulate him or not, but could he just let it slide?
"Razix, Designated Summon!"
Spot!
"Hoh-hong!"
Razix saluted with one hand raised high.
"Mr. Razix, our Bureau Chief has become a Player."
"Hweh?"
"So let's give him a gift. You have items in your subspace backpack that don't have tower-exclusive modifiers, right?"
"Hoh-eh-eh."
"Give him a full set. From head to toe."
Jeon Gwang-il was flustered.
"Ah, no, you don't have to do this..."
"Tsk, just put it in your inventory. You need to climb the Tower safely."
"...Hmm."
The Bureau Chief is climbing the Tower.
A novel with the theme 'Make way!' might come out of this.
Jeon Gwang-il, now a Player himself, understood.
Especially as a close-combat type, he knew how important items were.
So he couldn't refuse.
Kosak also went to work at the North Korean Chairman's residence today.
Having a private meeting with Chairman Kim In-jung.
"Chairman Kim, no problems?"
"...N-No, nothing major."
"What's up? You don't look good, I say."
"Those Chinese bastards are up to their tricks again."
"What did they do now?"
Kosak's gaze turned cold.
Kim In-jung hurriedly continued.
"The Chinese bastards demanded to meet Comrade the Minister of People's Armed Forces again today, and threatened that it would be good to stop the current North-South unification work..."
"Hah, their livers must be itching for a beating, I say. I got it for now."
China.
The country that hates the unification of the Korean peninsula the most.
Of course they wouldn't just sit still.
He didn't care personally.
If they come at him, he'd be grateful.
The problem was Chairman Kim In-jung.
If something were to happen to this guy while he was away?
All the work done so far would go down the drain.
"Don't worry. I'll send a bodyguard to protect Chairman Kim while I'm gone, I say."
"A, a bodyguard?"
"Yeah, a bat."
A bat?
"I brought him with me. Open that window a bit, I say."
Kim In-jung hesitantly got up and opened the window.
Then, Flap flap flap flap!
A bat fluttering its wings flew into the room.
'...A real bat? That thing is going to guard me?'
That's when it happened.
Poof!
"Huhk!"
Kim In-jung couldn't believe his eyes.
The bat suddenly turned into a person.
With a poof!, it transformed into a pale-faced handsome man wearing old-fashioned Western clothes and a cloak.
'W-who is this?'
Who is this person?
Is he even human?
"Looks human, but he's actually a vampire. Sucks blood like a mosquito, I say."
"Huhk!"
A vampire? That's a blood-sucking demon.
"Hey, Comrade Jeppetto!"
"Why... yes?"
"Say hello, I say. This is the human we must protect from now on."
Jeppetto gave a signal with his eyes.
Kim In-jung also bowed his head in return.
"So don't suck his blood recklessly, I say."
"Won't suck... yes. Looks tasteless... yes."
"That's right. Even if I were a vampire, I wouldn't suck it, I say."
Kim In-jung felt strangely offended.
What's wrong with him?
"And I'll send another person too, named Sergeant V."
Sergeant V?
"Is he a South Korean soldier?"
"He is a soldier, but not from this world. Don't mess with him recklessly, I say, or you might get a hole in your head."
"Ah, understood."
"And is the position of Minister of State Security vacant?"
"We haven't appointed anyone yet."
"Let our Sergeant V sit as the Minister of State Security, I say. Then it'll be safer."
It seemed they'd need to work in shifts.
It would be very troublesome for Summoner Bong, but there was no choice for the time being.
It wouldn't last long.
Once they overthrow China, things should be fine.
"You must always be grateful to the one I serve, I say. You're alive only because he allows you to live."
"..."
The Minister of People's Armed Forces was like that, the old man he met back then was like that, and now this bat-human vampire was like that.
They all pledged their loyalty to one person.
He knew the name too.
They openly shouted "Long live!" all the time; only a fool wouldn't know.
Truth be told, Kim In-jung's desire for power had vanished long ago.
If he wanted to do anything, he'd have to deal with these people.
Could he do it?
Not a chance.
He just had to follow their orders.
That was the only way to prolong his life.
Joo-hyuk repeatedly conquered the 76th floor with the remaining Summoned Beings.
In a way where they'd exit after completing only the basic mission once Razix had mined enough High-grade Magic Stones for a sufficient time.
The High-grade Magic Stones also seemed to be treated as treasure vault items.
They didn't regenerate even after a reset.
Well, it's fine.
They have the North Korean Tower.
Mining to their heart's content like that, they quickly gathered 20 tons.
They also built a generator on the 17th floor of the White Tower.
Now, all that remained was buying a livable house and registering as a resident.
The Room Alchemist Marie began a supreme-grade synthesis using the High-grade Magic Stones.
In the midst of this, a request came from Kosak.
He said it was necessary to guard North Korea's Chairman Kim In-jung.
So they deployed Sergeant V and Jeppetto on rotating shifts.
North Korea aside, where on earth was the manifested Diarmat?
Would it just end with the manifestation?
That couldn't be.
Time passed quickly.
Now, gradually...
'It's about time for our Princess to return.'
And finally, that day arrived.
The catalog entry for Gyeon Dal-rae changed to a summonable state.
Joo-hyuk called out the Summoned Beings.
He temporarily suspended the rotating shifts and gathered everyone in one place.
"It's time for the Princess to come."
How would she have changed?
"Princess Gyeon Dal-rae, will she become a nine-tailed fox like her master?"
"Ah, no way!"
"Promoted from Princess to Queen?"
"Hweh?"
"At the very least, she will appear as the highest-ranking shaman, a Great Mudang."
"I hope her personality has softened."
"If we hear that LSSR-grade scolding voice, our ears might bleed."
They'd know once they checked.
"Gyeon Dal-rae, Designated Summon!"
Whooosh!
He was excited.
Grade breakthrough success?
Spot! She appeared.
"Huhk!"
"Huh?"
"Oh!"
"Hweh?"
Joo-hyuk's eyes widened.
"...Princess?"
Is it her?
It seems like her, but...
She had changed a lot.
Her appearance, her attire, and even her height....
'She grew.'
Originally, she was a heavenly maiden.
If you just put her in a school uniform, she'd be a Korean high school girl.
But not now.
The youthful look was gone.
Gyeon Dal-rae appeared in the form of a mature woman.
"We could send her off to be married now."
"..."
He didn't know if Summoned Beings could get married.
"Sergeant V should be nervous. Our Princess is not to be taken lightly either."
"...Still a long way to go."
"I sense a sacred aura. Rivaling the divine radiance, the light!!!"
A celestial maiden in full bloom of mature beauty, possessing culture, etiquette, and dignity.
📍 Name: Gyeon Dal-rae
⭐ Grade: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
The catalog name had also changed.
From 'Supreme Mudang' to 'Celestial Maiden'.
She definitely looked like a real celestial maiden.
Because even now, she was floating about 30cm off the ground.
"Is she a ghost?"
"She's a celestial maiden."
"Ah! It's the feather robe."
"If she's a celestial maiden shaman, she must be spiritual. I should ask her for a fortune reading later."
She flies. Dal-rae.
The levitating Gyeon Dal-rae.
A celestial maiden in a feather robe.
Gyeon Dal-rae seemed to fly toward Joo-hyuk... no, she actually bowed while floating in the air.
"This maiden has returned."
"...Ah, ah, welcome back."
Having returned as a mature adult woman, it wasn't easy for the virgin Ordinary Guy to handle the situation.
"W-was it... h-hard?"
"Thanks to your concern, I have safely completed the breakthrough."
Gyeon Dal-rae continued with a captivating smile.
"Furthermore, I have become able to offer a meaningful, albeit feeble, assistance to Your Highness in achieving his great undertaking."
Of course.
She is an LSSR Celestial Maiden.
"During the strengthening of my soul, within my consciousness, I met someone."
Who?
"Master Haeryeong, who attained immortality and became a divine being, and another immortal."
Another immortal?
"A being called Immortal Danju, who imparted the art of talismans to this maiden."
Oh! Talisman arts learned from an immortal.
How incredible must they be?
"However, while this maiden was in that other world, was there any unusual event in this world?"
"How could there not be? Something absurd did happen."
"What kind...?"
Joo-hyuk explained everything that had happened during her absence to Gyeon Dal-rae.
"Diarmat, a monster that should be in the Tower has manifested outside, so we must capture her."
"But we don't know where she is."
"This maiden has one method."
A method?
"Among the talisman arts I learned from Immortal Danju, there is one called the 'Tracking Talisman'..."
A Tracking Talisman.
A celestial talisman art that can locate where a specific target is.
However, it's not omnipotent.
You need to know about the target you wish to track.
At the very least, their face or overall appearance, personal details.
It's even better if you have a unique aura or a part of the target's body, like hair.
Then?
"We need to climb to the 80th floor. There should be a copy of Diarmat there."
"Indeed, you are wise."
The difference between the copy and the original is minimal.
Activate the Tracking Talisman using the copy.
And then use it outside the Tower?
They would be able to find where the original Diarmat is.