Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Decision to Climb the 80th Floor
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Decision to climb the 80th floor.
Then we need to start from the 77th, 78th, and 79th floors.
What kind of missions will they be?
Would the Summoned know?
They are people who have experienced towers from other worlds.
If they weren't bound by restrictions, they would know almost everything about the strategy information for each floor.
However, they didn't know about the 77th floor.
Because the missions on the 70s floors are not fixed.
The mission changes based on the Summoned that the Summoner calls forth.
For example, if Joo-hyuk hadn't summoned Gobang, the 71st, 72nd, and 73rd floors would have been completely different.
Because Gobang was there, and because Gyeon Dal-rae was there, the tower's missions were designed to be customized.
So, we have to climb the 77th floor to know as well.
Whether it's a Summoned-themed mission or a completely unrelated place.
Then, what about the 80th floor?
No one had ever reached the 80th floor.
They were already ruined before that.
"We had no problems with the climb at all."
"Then?"
"The signs of destruction appeared in other countries."
"Ah!"
Gwang-ma continued with a sorrowful expression.
"There isn't just one tower, right? What good would it do if only we do well? The problem isn't inside the tower; things happen outside the tower. I tried my best too, but there was a limit."
The wars breaking out everywhere.
Would the Players be safe?
The collapse starts from the towers of weaker nations.
"The towers collapse in a chain reaction. They pierce the ground's surface like giant nails, driving deep into the earth. And when they've been driven in deep enough... the world transforms into a tower."
He had heard it from Kosak before.
A collapsed tower terraforms the Earth.
Then the boundary between the world and the tower disappears.
Meaning, even without the Liberation Rune necklace, Players can use their powers in reality.
Because the world itself becomes the tower.
"Monsters manifest and pour out, Players die inside and outside the tower... What will new Players do when they Awaken? Their levels are low."
This was why Gwang-ma suggested world conquest.
Let's finish them off before the towers collapse.
"A situation may soon arise where we'll need to use the Tower Dominance Declaration Megaphone frequently, so we must prepare. I will help you, even if it costs me my life."
Carelessly, Earth could face the same fate as other worlds.
The reason Diarmat manifested outside the tower.
Who knows, maybe he came helplessly?
It's not that he intends to do something inside the tower.
He must be plotting some sinister scheme outside the tower.
Dealing with Diarmat is essential.
The original, not the copy.
What's the point of dealing with the copy and climbing to the 81st, 82nd floors?
The original would still remain somewhere outside the tower, on Earth.
"Let's go up."
Let's find the original through the copy.
"I shall prepare."
"If we just catch the original Diarmat, we'll rest comfortably from then on."
Kosak also nodded repeatedly.
"That's right. Don't do anything. You shouldn't even do Random Summons."
This time, he planned to climb the North Korean tower.
Since we've cleared up to the 74th floor, we'll start from the 75th.
We'll also get the Platinum Badges.
Total badges accumulated: 106.
After giving Kosak 3 badges the other day.
Physical badges: 17.
Not many left.
At this rate, we might not even hold the badge award ceremony.
Anyway.
"Princess."
"Speak, my lord."
"We'll be clearing the 75th and 76th floors again... You can rest. We can handle it ourselves."
Because she would have to face her painful past again.
But,
"This humble girl is overwhelmed by Your Excellency's generous consideration. However, it is a past already gone; even if I face it again, it will have no effect on me."
Ah!
Our resilient Gyeon Dal-rae.
"On the contrary, it will be fastest if I take the lead. Please do not worry."
Alright.
Let's leave it to her.
To Princess LSSR.
Clearing party, including Joo-hyuk, a total of 10.
Excluding the Room Alchemist, Ms. Marie, for now.
Her explosive homunculi haven't been replenished yet.
We should get some medicine before entering.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Joo-hyuk entered the North Korean tower.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have entered the 75th floor of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).
75th floor.
A place already experienced.
The ruined imperial palace of the Celestial Empire.
Soldier and warrior ghosts wandering the Nine Heavens.
And the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Heuk Chi-soo, who committed treason, and the Akyu Gyeonsul.
A floor that Gyeon Dal-rae carried alone.
Even before her grade breakthrough.
Now that she has returned as an LSSR grade.
Gyeon Dal-rae floated in the air and glided forward smoothly.
The low-level ghosts couldn't even run and were extinguished.
The Captain of the Imperial Guard, Heuk Chi-soo, also...
'The Princess? Truly...?'
Whoosh,
'Kyaaaah!'
There was no need for conversation.
A celestial maiden has manifested, how could mere evil spirits...
The Akyu Gyeonsul was the same.
When he encountered Gyeon Dal-rae in the palace battle,
Whoosh,
'My niece. Huh?... How? Wha, what in the world?'
He panicked and stepped back.
'D, don't come any closer! Pl, please....'
Finally, *pop*!
The Akyu Gyeonsul disappeared like a soap bubble.
⚙ WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙
You have achieved an S+++ clear rating for the 75th floor of Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).
2 Platinum Badges acquired.
And immediately.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have entered the 76th floor of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).
The most difficult enemies on the 76th floor were undoubtedly the Twin Nine-Tailed Fox, Yeochi, and Yeopae.
"Should we summon the Room Alchemist?"
"No. We'll do it ourselves. We have Princess LSSR and Mr. Jepetto too."
"Oh! Jepetto and Yeochi! They suit each other. I'll pair the guy who wants the Summoner's blood with the woman who wants the Summoner's liver."
Kosak gave Gobang a look.
*Thump!*
Gobang kicked Jepetto's butt, who was standing there blankly, towards Yeochi.
"Kek!"
*Whoosh!*
Jepetto flew away.
Yeochi, who had been lying down, sprang up and slashed down with her blue claws,
*Swipt!*
But,
"Uh-hee-heek?"
*Poof!*
Jepetto transformed into a bat and dodged.
Simultaneously, the Three-Tailed, Five-Tailed, and Seven-Tailed Foxes jumped down from the waterfall.
The real battle began.
"Mr. Gobang, you keep the fox underlings busy with taunts, and the rest of us focus only on Yeochi."
He had discussed it with Gyeon Dal-rae beforehand.
How to clear without the Bomber, Ms. Marie.
First, focus only on Yeochi.
What if Yeopae appears from the cave behind the waterfall?
*Tswipipipit!*
*Screeeaaak!*
"Kyaaaaak!!!"
A massive beast tore through the waterfall and appeared.
But *Chalarat!*
A yellow talisman shot from Gyeon Dal-rae's hand.
Neither slow nor fast.
It flew in a strange trajectory and,
*Snap!*
Stuck to Yeopae's body like a magnet.
"Stay right there and don't move!"
It was a Constraint Talisman.
An effect that makes the target unable to move a muscle.
This was the Talisman Art of LSSR Gyeon Dal-rae.
Not only the effect but also the ability to stick the talisman *snap!* onto the target.
Was it just Constraint Talismans?
Three or four more talismans flew towards Yeopae.
Demon-Dispelling Talismans.
Talismans to exorcise evil spirits.
They also flew and stuck to Yeochi.
Yeochi was being ganged up on by the Ssusal Summoned, including Gwang-ma.
Finish Yeochi, then Yeopae, then the fox underlings.
The clear was over quickly.
⚙ WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙
You have achieved an S+++ clear rating for the 76th floor of Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).
Razix and Hyeolrang aren't visible again.
Did they mine a lot of high-grade Magic Stones?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three tower entries per day.
The third one is the 77th floor.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have entered the 77th floor of the Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).
*Pop!*
This is where the real journey begins.
Today, up to the 77th floor.
Tomorrow, the 78th, 79th, and 80th floors, finishing them in one go.
Check the special rewards all at once like before.
The environment of the 77th floor?
*Swoosh, swoosh.*
A wide sandy beach by the sea.
It was a seaside with waves crashing.
"Oh! The smell of the sea."
It felt like we had arrived at a beach resort.
Speaking of which, we should catch Diarmat quickly and go on vacation.
"Let's go to the beach too."
"That's a good idea. We need to buy swimsuits first."
Right.
We need to buy swimsuits.
Joo-hyuk subtly slipped his hand inside his clothes to check his abs.
He felt the bumpy washboard.
'Not bad.'
The result of daily breathing exercises.
With this, he shouldn't be embarrassed.
He could imagine it.
The Summoned swimming, surfing, running on the beach, playing beach volleyball.
'Hmm.'
We must go.
Everyone buying swimsuits.
Anyway, let's receive the mission.
Looking around, this place seemed like an island.
If we go inland from the beach, a mission will probably appear.
Sure enough.
*Ding!*
Missions scrolled up.
📜 FLOOR MISSION 📜
77th Floor Basic Mission
📍 Objective: Eliminate 24 prisoners of Alto Island.
77th Floor Additional Optional Mission
📍 Objective: Eliminate 11 long-term prisoners of Alto Island.
77th Floor High-Difficulty Optional Mission
📍 Objective: Eliminate the Alto Island Prison Boss, Gillian.
77th Floor Extreme-Difficulty Optional Mission
📍 Objective: Duel the fallen Swordmaster Hartmann of Alto Island.
It was an island.
And prisoners?
A prison?
"This is Alto Island."
Kosak was startled by Joo-hyuk's words.
"D, did you just say Alto Island?"
"Yes. Do you happen to know it?"
Don't tell me...
"Whoa, Alto Island is a prison located in the middle of the vast ocean. It's where only the most vicious criminals of the Empire are imprisoned. It's famous."
The fact that Kosak knew the name meant...
'From the 77th floor, it's a floor for Mr. Kosak.'
Kosak seemed to have realized it too.
Tilting his head.
"That's strange. I don't have any special history. Of course, I was raised as an assassin, but it suited my aptitude and I had no regrets, and well, I died after overextending myself..."
Kosak's background explanation.
- John Kosak was a guild member considered a nuisance within the Cruel Assassins Guild. His end came from a single failure. He died miserably while attempting to assassinate the Empire's strongest Sword Master.
Then?
"Is the person who killed Mr. Kosak perhaps Swordmaster Hartmann?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"Because the extreme-difficulty optional mission is a duel with the fallen Swordmaster Hartmann."
"Whoa! That's surprising. That guy was once the Empire's greatest Sword Master. Why is he imprisoned here as a fallen man?"
"I don't know either. Anyway, it says to duel him."
Kosak said with a slight frown.
"I died by his hand, but I actually hold no grudge at all. It was just an assassination request. Accepting a mission to assassinate a Sword Master in the first place was a foolish thing to do. It was all my fault."
No regrets, no grudge.
Then why does it appear as a mission?
That's when it happened.
Suddenly, people holding swords or spears came running towards the beach.
Each had a name tag: [Alto Island Prisoner].
Their running movements were not ordinary.
They looked stronger than the mercenaries met on the 71st floor.
"I am curious, warrior. Why do they keep prisoners alive?"
"Right. If they're so vicious, just execute them."
"It's because they're nobles. Under Imperial law, nobles cannot be killed arbitrarily. So they're thrown here to die on their own."
Aha!
So those bastards are all noble-born criminals?
"Originally, nobles were above the law. But since they're imprisoned here, they must be real scumbags."
They seemed like it.
Their eyes were different from the start.
"Meat has arrived. And ten of them!"
"He, hey, there's a woman too."
"We'll eat the woman slowly."
"No, we shouldn't eat the woman."
"Let's catch the men first and roast them over fire."
"If we want to eat for a long time, we should boil them."
What?
Eat?
"Are they talking about us like that?"
"Those bastards have probably turned into cannibals after living on the island for so long."
In an instant!
Something caught his eye on the beach sand.
Human skulls, ribs, leg bones, etc.
Seems they've already eaten many people.
Those crazy bastards.
"...Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
Before the words even finished, Squad Leader Ma's musket spewed fire.
*Bam! Bam! Bam!*
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Precise headshots!
Prisoners falling.
"Wh, what is that? ...A crossbow?"
"Take cover! Don't bunch up, spread out! Run in a zigzag!"
"Magician! Deal with that woman first!"
"Didn't you say not to kill women?"
"We can kill her and then do it!"
*Spot!*
Kosak dashed out like lightning.
"Light!!!"
*Screeeak!*
Bardin followed behind.
"Hoe!"
Following Razix's command, Hyeolrang joined in.
24 prisoners?
They couldn't even run away.
Cleaned up in less than 10 minutes.
Basic mission complete.
Next,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Will you continue with the Additional Optional Mission? If you refuse, you will exit the tower with mission success judgment.
'Continue.'
An old brick building was visible in the middle of the island.
Probably where the prisoners lived.
And 11 humans appeared.
Guys even wearing armor and equipment.
[Alto Island Long-Term Prisoner]
Well, they seemed stronger than the regular prisoners.
They rushed in a group,
*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Beaten down like dogs,
"Kyaaak!"
"Y, you bastards!"
"Sp, spare me..."
"Do you know who I am? I am from the Baron's... Kehek!"
*Swish! Swish! Swish...*
Kosak finished them off by slicing their necks and attaching ribbons simultaneously.
"They are cannibals. Must be exterminated."
Rewards appeared but weren't particularly good.
Just ordinary equipment items.
High-difficulty optional mission.
A tall giant came out from inside the building.
[Alto Island Prison Boss Gillian.]
Name tag, information, background description.
Grade was SSR++, top-tier Sword Expert. Gillian was the third son of a Count's family, imprisoned on Alto Island for the charges of raping and murdering multiple women, eating human flesh, etc.
A bastard deserving divine punishment.
He was definitely quite strong.
He looked at least 3 meters tall.
But when Gobang enlarged his body and approached,
"Huh! W, wait! L, let's talk..."
Gobang's fist plunged down like lightning towards Gillian's head.
*Crack!*
*Crush!*
That was the end.
High-difficulty optional mission also complete.
The final extreme-difficulty?
The party entered the building.
It was quiet.
Inside, there was nothing except furniture like beds, clothes, and human bones.
Where is Hartmann supposed to be?
"There's a locked door here. A sturdy lock."
"Let's open it."
"Yes, sir!"
*Clank!*
Opening the door revealed stairs going down.
'A basement?'
Gobang took the lead.
Followed by Gwang-ma.
And then Hartmann, with a name tag, was seen.
Half-naked state.
Head bowed deeply, arms chained to the wall.
A chain metal hook hanging from the ceiling pierced his collarbone, binding him.
Blood and pus flowing from the wound.
His legs were the same.
Shackles were also attached to his ankles and knees.
His skin was already rotting.
It was horrific.
It looked better to just die.
⚔ TARGET STATUS ⚔
⚡ Name: The Fallen Swordmaster Hartmann 💨 Grade: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) ✨ Type: Human (Knight)
Of course, LSSR grade.
The background description?
- Swordmaster Hartmann, as the Empire's strongest swordsman, enjoyed both wealth and honor. He married into a Marquis's family as a son-in-law, married a beautiful young lady, and even had a son. He thought happiness would last forever.
- But from then on, his misfortune began. His son, only 3 years old, went missing. He disappeared without a trace from the heavily guarded Marquis's mansion. He searched desperately but in vain. Hartmann fell into despair, and his wife, shocked, fell ill and eventually died after wasting away.
- With his family ruined, Hartmann left the Marquis's house and lived alone, healing his wounds. The best way to overcome pain is to immerse oneself in work. He participated in wars for the Empire, achieving consecutive victories and raising his fame. About 20 years passed like that.
- Then one day, an assassin secretly infiltrated his bedroom. Hadn't he experienced assassination attempts once or twice? He cut him down with a single stroke. The dead assassin. But his face looked familiar. Where had he seen him?
- The same hair and eye color as himself, a frighteningly similar facial structure, nose bridge and jawline, and familiar moles and scars on the body... It couldn't be. It must not be. Hartmann investigated the dead assassin. And he found out. The assassin was the son he had lost long ago. Hartmann became a fallen man that very day.
'...'
Joo-hyuk doubted his eyes.
'What kind of nonsense is this....'
A secret of birth?
I am your father?
Maybe it was another assassin, not Kosak.
However, along with the background description, scenes flashed through his mind.
It was Kosak.
Hartmann's son was Kosak.
Wow!
His mind went blank.
What should he say?
"Summoner, what exactly was the extreme-difficulty mission?"
At Gwang-ma's question, Joo-hyuk opened his mouth with difficulty.
"...A duel with Hartmann."
"A duel, meaning we have to kill him?"
"No! You mustn't kill him. Absolutely not!"
"Huh? Why are you like that?"
"Th, that's..."
What to do?
Should he hide it?
No.
Revealing it is better than hiding it.
"Mr. Kosak."
"Yes?"
"D, don't be surprised and listen carefully to what I say. Actually, Hartmann is..."
Slowly, in detail, omitting nothing, Joo-hyuk explained Hartmann's background.
When he reached the last part, Kosak's mouth just hung open.
An expression of utter disbelief.
"I, is this a makjang drama?"
The other Summoned also fell silent.
"Then this man is..."
And then Kosak's lips moved with difficulty.
"...Dad?"
At that voice, Hartmann raised his head.