Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Attention-Seeking Mage and the 17th Floor
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Mackenzie Dronak.
The Lord of the Ruby Magic Tower, a 9th Circle mage overflowing with a need for validation, an extreme extrovert, an attention-seeker.
That's right.
Attention-seeker.
An extremely fitting catalog title.
The first summon proved it. After darkening the living room and announcing his presence with miniature fireworks, he lit two spotlights.
The show continued. The protagonists were Joo-hyuk and Mackenzie. The rest were just extras.
Squeeze!
Mackenzie, was hugging Joo-hyuk who was standing there blankly. The two spotlights merged into one.
Simultaneously, majestic background music flowed. Ta-da! Da-da-da-da-daan... da-daan!
A truly perfect stage. Rose petals conjured by illusion magic blanketed the entire living room. It was a spectacle.
"Thank you! Truly thank you! No, even 'thank you' is insufficient. To pull me out from hell..."
"Ah, yes, yes."
"We are truly a match made in heaven. I felt it the moment we met. Don't you think so, Summoner?"
'Match made in heaven' is a bit...
A sincere, strong hug. Perhaps annoyed by the sight, Gwang-ma finally spoke up.
"Damn attention-seeking bastard, I'm worried. I'm worried."
At that, Mackenzie glared at Gwang-ma with a cold expression.
"What's that? Jealous?"
"Jealous? Why would this lord feel jealous of the likes of you?"
"Then why pick a fight?"
"Let me say one thing. If you pull that meteor summoning bullshit outside the Tower again, you'll die by my hand."
"..."
Had he touched a sore spot? Mackenzie's expression instantly twisted.
And then,
Whoosh!
Flames blazed fiercely behind his back. Crackle, crackle-crackle! Electrical sparks jumped from the ends of his standing-on-end hair.
What is this? It's not threatening. It's not even hot.
It's merely a visual effect expressing his anger.
'...He's like a living cartoon character.'
It seemed to be magic unconsciously manifested according to Mackenzie's emotional state.
"Damn it! Why bring that up?"
Whoosh! Crackle!
"Don't get cocky. If I see even a hint of meteor summoning magic, your head will fly off instantly."
"...Hmph! How dare you? Do you think that's possible?"
"When did I say I'd do it alone?"
"If not alone, then..."
In an instant! Mackenzie realized there were other guys glaring at him.
Swoosh!
Gobang, enlarging his body with Gigantification.
Swoosh, swoosh-swoosh!
Kosak, stepping with frivolous steps while making a whistling sound with his mouth.
Swish!
Gyeondal-rae, was pulling a talisman from her bosom and slipping it onto her finger.
Swirl-rrrrl!
Aliamari's Homunculus, had somehow already coiled around his lower body.
'Hmm.'
Pshh!
The visual effect of flames behind his back diminished. The hair standing up with sparks also lay down.
Gulp.
After swallowing once,
"...I haven't done anything yet?"
"You looked like you were about to. So please, go ahead and act up. So I can cleanly finish you off."
"Kill me? Is that even possible? The Summoner won't just stand by either."
"3 Principles, Clause 3!"
"...Damn it,"
Whoosh.
Mackenzie's divine form darkened. The flashy visual effects were nowhere to be seen.
He just turned pitch black. As if painted over with black.
'Wow!'
The more he watched, the more fun it was. A summoned being who directly shows unique special effects for each emotion. A true man who tears up the screen.
'He's a precious one.'
Mackenzie's background description.
- His magic also boasts very flashy effects, conscious of people's attention.
'That's what it meant.'
Even now, Mackenzie was turning black. Not a metaphor, but actually black.
"Don't underestimate Earth. Especially here!"
"..."
"I'll say it again. Absolutely no meteor summoning outside the Tower."
"..."
"Answer!"
"...I understand."
Joo-hyuk just watched quietly. It was entertaining, but it seemed Gwang-ma and Mackenzie had some history with each other.
'They'll work it out themselves.'
Anyway, meteor summoning, huh. Is it possible inside the Tower?
"Well, since Mr. Mackenzie has also become one of our family, the White Tower 17th Floor occupancy rights..."
"W-wait a moment!"
Huh? Mackenzie raised his hand brightly.
Whoosh!
A shining brilliance. A falling spotlight.
Ugh, so dizzying. Black one moment, shining the next.
"I have a request, Summoner."
He could guess what it was.
"Please release the summon now."
Right.
"Give me just 10 hours. It'll be tight, but I'll go brag quickly and come back."
He understood. A soul thirsty for attention and validation couldn't possibly miss a chance to show off.
'But just how much bragging does he plan to do that 10 hours is tight?'
There was no choice. He had to grant the wish.
"Yes, I'll do that. Go brag and come back."
"Thank you. Hahahahaha!"
Mackenzie floated up into the sky. Wheeeee!
Nine shining circular rings were spinning around his entire body like hula hoops without rest.
'...'
Special effects at every opportunity. He didn't know what he'd be like inside the Tower, but he was undoubtedly a very interesting person.
"Mackenzie Dronak, Summon Release."
"Hahahahaha!"
Pop!
And so, Mackenzie returned to the Infinite Prison immediately after being randomly summoned. Anyway, now that he was gone...
"Isn't that a bit too harsh? Even if he's Legend grade, talking about killing him and all..."
"Not at all! He's the kind of guy who could go off in any direction. If you let your guard down, who knows what accident he might cause."
Really, is he that bad? He seemed like an okay person...
He's the type to simultaneously express his emotions visually with special effects like that. Ding!
Even Mary seemed to be on high alert.
"He's the type to enforce the 3 Principles, Clause 3 under strange pretexts... Hang in there, Summoner."
"This warrior will keep a close watch."
"We must not let our guard down for even a moment."
What about them? It seemed they'd forgotten their tadpole days now that they'd become frogs.
Let's go meet Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il. There are a few things to ask.
'Right! Mr. Razix, we have to do the badge awarding ceremony.'
We'll do that later when everyone's gathered.
China was being swept up in a storm of great chaos. The explosion terrorism at the Mainland Crisis Management Headquarters. It was an extremely serious incident.
The previous incident of the former Chairman's death. The cause was all revealed. Lin Chaoming from a heart attack, Wang Yuan by Bai Long.
But this explosion incident involving Chairman Liu Zhao and the Standing Committee members was shrouded in mystery. The motive, method, suspect... even the bodies couldn't be found.
All the deceased were leaders of various political factions in China. Their absence sparked power struggles everywhere.
And that's not all. The discontent of Chinese Players was also bubbling up.
In fact, the treatment of Chinese Players was almost at the world's lowest level. In China, they were easy targets for bullying at the slightest provocation. This despite China having the largest number of Players.
In this incident too, the public security officials rushed in under the pretext of hunting down the terrorists, demanding they empty their inventories, asking about their alibis during the explosion, whether they harbored disloyal thoughts toward the Communist Party government, tormenting Players every day.
State-nurtured Players were somewhat better off. But discrimination against ordinary Chinese Players was extreme.
They couldn't take it anymore. They judged they couldn't endure this any longer.
So, centered around a few Players, they tentatively established the 'Chinese Players Association'.
They used SNS to encourage membership and rapidly expanded their influence.
The Chinese Players Association's first move. Immediately stop the ongoing Player oppression.
They warned that if their demands weren't met, they would refuse to sell high-grade magic stones in China, and even stop Tower climbing if necessary.
Did the Chinese government accept the association's demands? Not a chance.
The Chinese government defined the Chinese Players Association as a rebel organization, declared strict investigation and punishment, and immediately set out to identify its leadership.
Will Tower conquest even proceed properly like this? Of course, if they only cared about state-nurtured Players, it wouldn't collapse.
The problem was the resources extracted from the Tower. The Chinese Tower materials market saw red lights flashing.
Ordinary Chinese Players refused to climb the Tower. Even if they climbed, they didn't sell high-grade magic stones to the government. The conflict grew increasingly severe.
Meanwhile, other countries besides China? The paradigm of science was changing.
Humanity encountered a revolution in the Black Tower's 70s floors. Changes occurring across industries thanks to high-grade magic stones.
The Black Tower was no longer seen as a white elephant but as a treasure trove. If not for the worry of collapse, the Tower was essentially a high-grade magic stone mine.
But not everything was smooth sailing. The identity of the 80th floor boss revealed by the Korean Awakening Management Bureau. The Nightmare Black Knight of Nightmares.
A very dangerous monster. A skill that puts Players to sleep.
If you fall into the dream, you can't do anything and just get hit. Not sleeping was important.
Then what's the countermeasure? Are there items like the Holy Sword that was the key to the Undead section in the past?
Why wouldn't there be! Of course there is.
The Korean Awakening Management Bureau website. As soon as you entered, one large banner appeared.
Items scheduled for sale in the Player Shop. The Dream Resistance Kit for conquering the 80th floor boss monster, Nightmare Black Knight of Nightmares.
The product composition was one bottle of The Sage's Brewed Potion of Sleep Control and one Evil-Repelling Talisman.
Two items per set. Price: one million dollars, 13 billion won per set.
A product sold to state-nurtured Players. It's the 80th floor anyway. Ordinary Players can't even reach it.
As soon as the banner appeared, pre-orders flooded in. Almost every country conquering the 70s floors inquired with the Awakening Management Bureau.
America's Director Antonio called directly.
- Hello, Team Leader Jeon.
"Hahaha, have you been well? Director."
- Oh, I'm always free. Anyway, Team Leader Jeon must be busy. As a Player, you have to level up, and handle team leader duties too.
"I'm actually at the point where I regret my Player awakening."
- Hahaha, you're exaggerating too much. You're so talented.
Talent, my foot.
- Anyway, I want to pre-order the Dream Resistance Kit.
"How many?"
- For now, 30 sets. Will there be enough stock?
"There will be, but you'll have to wait a bit. We're only taking pre-orders for now."
- I'll wait as long as needed.
"I'll prepare them with special care."
- Oh! About the Pyongyang terrorism attempt incident.
"...Yes, what about it?"
- There were rumors that China was behind it,
"Well... I don't really know, but the North Korean government would know."
- Then it's unrelated to the Beijing explosion incident too?
"I told you. I don't know anything about it, and that's also something for the Chinese government to reveal."
- Ah! Yes, yes. I understand.
"Then I'll hang up."
Click!
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il hung up.
"Who do they think they're fooling?"
Of course, Jeon Gwang-il was aware. Who was involved in the Chinese Beijing Mainland Crisis Management Headquarters explosion incident. America seemed to know too.
But they would never find out. They shouldn't find out.
Frankly, just 7 deaths wasn't enough. No matter how high-ranking they were.
'Those damn Chinese bastards.'
If it were up to him, he'd want to blow up the entire Zhongnanhai compound.
Suddenly! Ding! A smartphone message notification sounded. Checking it,
"Oh!"
It was from Player Bong.
- I'm thinking of visiting the Awakening Management Bureau today, is the time okay? -
Absolutely okay. I'd cancel all schedules to meet him. Jeon Gwang-il quickly replied.
- Please visit whenever it's convenient for you. I'll be waiting. -
The Infinite Prison. The sorrow of those remaining behind. It was sad enough not being summoned, but.
This damn attention-seeking mage. The souls were going crazy. They had to listen to his bragging for a full 10 hours.
And as time passed. In the world of souls that had grown quiet with envy, jealousy, disappointment, and anger, someone sent a telepathy.
Simultaneously.
It wasn't a strong shout, but it was very desperate.
The Korean Awakening Management Bureau Tower Materials Warehouse. Joo-hyuk met with Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il. They'd only talked on the phone until now, both being busy.
"Player Bong, long time no see."
"Hahaha, have you been well? I wonder if you've leveled up much."
"Well, I haven't had time to enter the Tower..."
"Oh no!"
He wanted to enter the Tower together and give him a boost, but the principle of Tower conquest was solo play, so there was no suitable method.
They chatted about various things. The supply of Dream Resistance Kits for 80th floor conquest, methods for conquering the giant monster section from the 81st floor and above, Tower material supply, etc.
"Team Leader."
"Yes."
Jeon Gwang-il was someone who knew practically everything about him. For that reason, he should tell him about the 17th floor's existence. There were things to confirm too.
"I have a place I've been allocated."
"Allocated? An apartment? Where..."
"The White Tower 17th floor."
"...What?"
What on earth was he talking about? Was there an apartment called White Tower?
"It'd be better to see it directly than explain with words, but if you're not busy..."
"Ah, n-no, I'm not busy."
"Then here, take this."
Joo-hyuk took out a piece of paper from his inventory and handed it to Jeon Gwang-il.
Something issued from the White Tower 17th floor. [1-Day Experience Pass]
While the permanent occupancy right was a card, the 1-Day Experience Pass was thin paper that could easily tear if mishandled.
It didn't cost much either. Just 1kg of high-grade magic stone.
Jeon Gwang-il had a bewildered expression. As he took the paper Joo-hyuk handed him,
Suddenly! Scribble-scribble! Letters engraved themselves on the paper.
'What?'
- White Tower Visitor: Jeon Gwang-il -
Simultaneously, Ding. A message rang in his mind.
"...Uh-uh,"
Jeon Gwang-il's eyes widened. His status window had changed.
Joo-hyuk had been curious about this. When he gave occupancy rights to summoned beings, they moved in completely.
Then what about Players? If he gave them occupancy rights?
"Has anything changed?"
"Y-yes, it has."
"What...?"
"An item added to the Universal Skills..."
Jeon Gwang-il's status window had changed. Like this.
[Universal Skills]: Tower Entry (1 time/day)/ Tower Exclusive Inventory/ White Tower 17th Floor Entry and Exit (Valid for 24 hours).
It seemed Players registered it as a skill in their status window. Since it was a 1-day experience, only for 24 hours.
"Would you like to try entering?"
"Where? The 17th floor?"
"Yes."
If he said to do it, he should. He was curious too. Jeon Gwang-il quietly recited the 17th floor entry skill.
'White Tower 17th Floor Entry.'
Suddenly! Pop! The environment changed in the blink of an eye. Just moments ago, he was inside the Awakening Management Bureau warehouse, but.
'This place... is the White Tower?'
Presumably. Since he entered through the system status window's Universal Skills.
'Ahhh.'
His gaping mouth wouldn't close. Houses erected everywhere. Asphalt roads laid between them.
In the distance, he could see something that looked like a communications tower, and next to it, a building of unknown purpose.
My goodness! What kind of Tower is this? Just then!
"Hueh?"
A person—no, a beastman—had appeared out of nowhere. Razix, riding a large red giant dog, was in front of him.
"Ah, hello."
"Hueng!"
"Woof woof!"
Razix was wearing a card necklace on his chest like a temple certificate. A quick glance showed the words 'White Tower 17th Floor Occupancy Rights' written on it. Moreover, even the dog had a short card necklace attached to its collar.
'Mr. Razix has occupancy rights. Even the dog...'
He only had a 1-day experience pass.
"Huehehe."
Razix gestured as if telling him to follow. Jeon Gwang-il quickly ran after the red dog.
Come to think of it, his body felt overflowing with energy. It seemed he could use his Player abilities inside the White Tower too.
Eventually, a group of people gathering in the distance. They seemed to be huddled together, having a conversation.
"Oh! Team Leader Jeon!"
"Welcome."
"Have you also received occupancy rights?"
Jeon Gwang-il showed the scrap of paper Joo-hyuk gave him.
"...Not occupancy rights, but a 1-day experience pass."
"Tsk tsk, I see. Ours are permanent occupancy rights."
People showed off the plastic cards hanging around their necks as if boasting.
"You'll need continuous effort from now on. Permanent occupancy rights aren't something just anyone can get."
"Someday you'll be able to get them, won't you?"
"Eh, they don't just hand out occupancy rights to anyone."
"Team Leader Jeon isn't just anyone."
"Still, there's a slight feeling of inadequacy."
"Hueh!"
Jeon Gwang-il felt strange. Somehow, he felt left out.
'Permanent occupancy rights,'
What would he have to do to get those?