Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Price of a Spectacle
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Whoosh!
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il emerged from the White Tower's 17th floor into the Awakening Management Bureau's Tower Material Warehouse about ten minutes after he had entered.
Exit from the point of entry.
It was similar to the Black Tower's method.
Gwang-il was still in a daze.
"D-did I just go in and come out of a real p-place? Is that really a Tower?"
"Yes, as I said before, it's not the Black Tower but the White Tower."
"What in the world..."
"You saw people there, right? They should have all been there."
"I-I saw them, but..."
He had been ignored for not being a permanent resident.
"You also exited using a skill, right?"
"Y-yes, that's correct."
In a way, the White Tower was specialized for Players.
For summoned beings, it was like a waiting room, so they couldn't come and go as they pleased, but Players could enter and exit freely by registering the skill.
Then what about ordinary people?
Those who were neither summoned beings nor Players—how could they become residents of the White Tower?
'Well, I can figure that out later by giving them a 1-day trial pass.'
For now, Joo-hyuk gave him a rough explanation of what the White Tower was.
While conquering the Black Tower, he achieved a feat, and they gave him a floor to manage. It's like a safe shelter, but other people can also come in.
Just that much.
Rather than a long explanation, it seemed better to let him find out gradually by visiting often.
Anyway, Joo-hyuk had another reason for meeting Gwang-il.
"By the way, what's the current market price for high-grade magic stones?"
"Around 150 dollars per 100g. That's about 210,000 won."
The price had risen quite a bit.
210,000 won per 100g, 2.1 million won per kg, 2.1 billion won per ton, 210 billion won per 100 tons.
'Wasn't a regular magic stone 50,000 won per 100g?'
About four times the price.
It might go even higher once the high-grade magic stone material industry fully takes off.
'The residence rights are expensive too. That's the price of an apartment in Gangnam, Seoul.'
Refining 1 ton of high-grade stones yields only 1 kg of highest-grade.
That means one residence right is worth 2.1 billion won.
Including Mari's refining labor cost, it would be much more than that.
Come to think of it, even a 1-day trial pass is very expensive. A monthly rental pass is out of the question; a permanent residence right is practically a bargain in comparison.
'The residence rights, and on top of that, decorating the 17th floor will consume a huge amount of high-grade stones.'
Now that the 76th-floor vein is almost depleted, how can he secure high-grade stones quickly?
"Is there any way I could purchase high-grade magic stones privately?"
"...Hmm."
Gwang-il showed reluctance.
"The state purchases all high-grade magic stones for supply to the private sector, so every process—purchase, sale, distribution, supply—is recorded."
Of course.
That's what the law stipulates.
"So we have to report to the government how they are used..."
Right.
You can't just casually release the most important industrial resource.
But he couldn't reveal he was buying high-grade stones to decorate the White Tower.
"...Is there no other channel?"
"Hmm, there are rumors lately that Chinese Player peddlers are trying to sell high-grade magic stones abroad."
"Really?"
"Yes, near the borders with Russia, India, Vietnam, or North Korea, they meet with brokers and sell them cheaper than market price..."
"Ah!"
He also heard the reason.
It's a form of resistance against the Player suppression policies currently happening in China. So they're selling the stones to entities other than the Chinese government.
'Tsk tsk.'
Poor Chinese Players.
Not only are they being suppressed, but they're also risking their lives to sell their hard-earned high-grade stones at a discount.
'I should ask our dear Comrade Minister of People's Armed Forces to look into it.'
He should buy them at a fair price.
Help the Chinese Players and secure high-grade stones for White Tower operations.
But he needs the funds for that.
Time to empty the accounts.
"Oh! How's the leather material inventory these days?"
"I was just about to mention that. The current inventory is insufficient. I'm afraid you'll have to put in some more work."
He figured as much.
"Actually, I brought some new leather."
"...New leather?"
Joo-hyuk took out a sample piece of Apophis leather he had cut and brought from his inventory.
"What do you think? Does it look good?"
Gwang-il was startled.
It looked similar to Basilisk leather, yet different.
Looking closely, it resembled snake skin,
Snake, snake... snake?
"...This, could it be from the 82nd floor?"
"Yes, that's right. Apophis leather, a sample."
"Aah."
He skinned Apophis too?
That huge thing?
"I have the whole hide too. In Mr. Razix's subspace backpack."
"..."
"I'd like to supply this..."
Apophis, known recently as an unconquerable colossal monster.
But to Player Bong, it was just a leather shuttle.
Gwang-il examined the Apophis leather closely.
It was beautiful and decent, but...
"It's incredibly thick. And very heavy for its size."
"Right?"
That's why Razix couldn't skin it, and the enlarged Gobang had to do it.
Razix had skinned the Basilisk and Wyvern easily by himself.
"And the patterns are quite large and coarse."
"It's a colossal monster."
"The leather's toughness also seems impossible with a regular tanning knife. You'd need a mechanical cutter made from Tower metal."
Hmm.
"Detailed processing might be difficult. It would be best to have it appraised by an expert."
An expert meaning?
"I'll consult with CEO Jeong Dong-hoon."
"Ah! The CEO of Razix Goods?"
"Yes. In fact, he called yesterday too. About the leather supply issue."
"Really?"
So leather really is running short.
It's a business he started himself; he should have paid more attention.
To be fair, Joo-hyuk wasn't much better.
How many things had happened in just a month or two?
"Would it be okay if I visited him directly sometime?"
"Of course! He'd be very pleased."
He should meet him at least once.
Even if meeting strangers was awkward.
"Just let me know when you plan to visit. I'll try to arrange an appointment."
"Not today. I'll drop by when I have time."
"Understood. I'll inform CEO Jeong in advance."
His business was done.
"I'll be going now."
"Ah! Already?"
Joo-hyuk said while shaking Gwang-il's hand.
"And regarding the White Tower's 17th floor, think of it as a resort for the day and look around freely. If you want, I can get you a one-month rental pass."
"...A rental pass?"
"I can't give you a residence right, but I can arrange a rental pass."
A rental pass.
Literally, the right to enter and exit that place for a month.
Gwang-il nodded.
That seemed fine.
Much better than a 1-day trial pass.
It even felt like a status upgrade.
'Is there no leasehold right?'
After owning, the next step is usually leasehold.
Joo-hyuk returned home.
His future tasks were set.
Securing high-grade magic stones for residence rights and decorating the interior of the White Tower's 17th floor.
The high-grade stones from conquest mission rewards had limits.
The vein was also depleted.
He had to get them from outside.
Since Chinese Player peddlers were selling high-grade stones, he needed to prepare funds for purchase.
Let's focus on leather supply for now.
Apophis leather, plus Basilisk and Wyvern.
But no matter how he thought about it, Behemoth leather was no good.
What's so pretty about just pitch-black leather?
So Behemoth was out.
After sufficiently supplying leather, he planned to proceed with climbing higher floors.
The 80s were the colossal monster section.
Maybe he'd see one if he went up.
A colossal monster possessing leather that could rival the Rainbow Basilisk.
Additionally, he needed to explore whether high-grade magic stone veins existed in the 80s.
First, he called out all the summoned beings resting in the White Tower to the penthouse.
"Designated Summon: Mackenzie Dronak."
Whoosh!
Boom! Boom!
Shalalalala!
Fireworks exploding in the sky, colorful confetti fluttering.
Simultaneously, Mackenzie appeared with both arms stretched toward the sky as if cheering.
"I, Mackenzie Dronak, 9th Circle Mage, have arrived!"
Quite a flashy summon.
Does he always appear like this?
"Did you have a good time showing off?"
"Thanks to the Summoner, I was utterly satisfied. Hehehe, those guys, they were going crazy with envy."
He definitely seemed in a good mood.
His body itself was sparkling and shining brightly.
As if he understood that feeling perfectly, Kosak smiled and asked, an experienced man.
"Feel refreshed?"
"Very satisfied."
"I wonder if you're not afraid of repercussions. Didn't you also say you'd kill your other self if you met him?"
"I did. But now I fully understand your feelings. No, how could anyone resist showing off!"
The Mad Demon shook his head with a look that still found Mackenzie displeasing.
"Tsk tsk tsk, his actions are just..."
In fact, the Mad Demon was also regretting.
He accepted the residence right too quickly and couldn't show off.
"Mr. Mackenzie?"
"Summoner, please speak."
"I'll give you a residence right."
"Oooh!"
Whoosh!
Two more spotlights.
'...'
It's dizzying, but let's adapt.
That's just his nature.
Joo-hyuk placed the last remaining residence right necklace around Mackenzie's neck.
Swish, sssswish, swish,
Clap clap clap clap!
Applause celebrating becoming a complete family.
Next in line.
"Mr. Razix, step forward."
"Hweh?"
Razix stepped forward at Joo-hyuk's instruction.
Followed by the badge awarding ceremony.
"Despite being a non-combat class, you have splendidly overcome your trauma by shattering the jar of the baby snake Apophis on the 82nd floor with a pickaxe. Therefore, you are awarded two Platinum Badges."
"Hweeeeh."
Clap clap clap clap!
Razix's mouth hung open wide.
There was more.
"As the quartermaster of the Bong Joo-hyuk division, you have excellently supplied the lacking military provisions by collecting a large quantity of rune fragments and ticket fragments. Therefore, you are awarded an additional three Platinum Badges."
"Hweng?"
Why so surprised?
You deserve it.
Mr. Razix, hurry up and accept the badges so you can rise to LSSR.
"Hweh."
That's right!
He puffed out his chest.
He seemed to judge himself worthy of receiving them.
Clap clap clap clap!
Thus, Razix's cumulative badges reached 23.
Just two more and he'd break through to LSSR.
But then?
"Ahem."
Mackenzie stared intently at the badge awarding scene.
His eyes held an unconcealable greed.
"U-um, Summoner."
"Yes?"
"H-how does one receive a Platinum Badge..."
"Ah... badges?"
"I'd like to have one too."
He seemed to really want one.
What to do?
Just give him one?
The Mad Demon answered instead.
"You must achieve merit for the Summoner. How shameless to ask for a freebie!"
"Achieve merit?
Mackenzie, right in front of him, puffed out his chest.
"Look at this one's chest. A full six badges. That means I've achieved merit more than six times."
"Ah!"
"You probably can't, though."
"Why couldn't I?"
The Mad Demon let out a mocking Pfft!
"A mage who only cares about fireworks, spotlights, and decoration magic, what do you think you can do? This one is already a body acknowledged by the Summoner. Even that impudent assassin over there."
Whoosh!
Mackenzie flared up.
"Y-you bastard!"
"How does it feel to be shown up? That's what 'walking in another's shoes' means."
Shake shake.
Mackenzie's entire body turned red.
A visual effect expressing anger.
A tiny cloud flew in from somewhere and Boom! Boom! with thunderclaps, dropping small flashes of lightning.
"Hmph! Achieve merit to get badges... Well, that's not hard. From now on, I, 9th Circle Archmage Mackenzie Dronak, will monopolize all of the Summoner's badges."
Kwa-boom! Tada! Tarararan!
A grand background music played simultaneously with his declaration.
That was some serious resolve.
No need to worry about the 80s from now on.
"Alright, today's first climb is the 82nd-floor Apophis repeat conquest. Everyone ready?"
He was curious.
He might be an attention-seeker, but wasn't he a 9th Circle Archmage?
What would the power of his magic be like?
Apophis repeat conquest.
After accepting the mission,
walking through the dark labyrinthine underground passage.
Ssssssss...
Apophis appeared.
"Hweng!"
Razix, who had overcome his trauma, looked at Apophis with a scornful expression.
Then he pulled out a shiny, razor-sharp golden tanning knife.
The labyrinth's colossal monster, demoted to a leather shuttle for our ultimate worker.
Well done! Razix.
"Alright, then..."
"Wait a moment, Summoner."
More spotlights.
Mackenzie, glowing alone in the dark labyrinth, spoke to Joo-hyuk in a confident tone.
"Leave that thing to me. I'll handle it alone."
"...Will that be possible?"
Mackenzie answered with a broad smile.
"Hahaha, although the magic I've shown you, Summoner, has only been flashy exteriors, I am also a Tower Lord who once managed an entire Magic Tower, an Archmage who pioneered the 9th Circle. That little snake is nothing but a trifle."
Oh!
Full of confidence!
Great.
Let's trust him and leave it to him.
If he does well, he might get a Platinum Badge.
"I'll leave it to you."
"Thank you."
Mackenzie Dronak stepped forward.
Spotlights still following him.
An incantation quietly flowing from his mouth.
Mackenzie raised his hand.
"Let the world's hottest fire form into masses and rain down. Fire Rain!"
⟨ Fire Rain ⟩
That was the moment.
Ooooooo...
A hot energy born in the high void of the underground cavern.
It was a red cloud.
A cloud of fire concentrated with terrifying heat.
Plop, plop plop plop.
Fist-sized fireballs began to fall one by one.
And then,
Plop plop plop plop plop plop...
Like a downpour, like a tropical squall, an enormous number of fireballs rained down toward Apophis.
Fire Rain, rain of fire.
Scorching, blazing heat.
"Barrier!"
Mackenzie blocked the heat approaching Joo-hyuk.
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
Apophis writhed.
It tried to burrow into the ground to hide, but the falling fire-rain pooled on the ground, turning into crimson lava.
There was nowhere to escape.
"This is the flame spell of a 9th Circle Mage. The unquenchable fire-rain; the colossal monster Apophis will burn to a crisp without even being able to regenerate."
...What?
No, what did he say?
It can't regenerate?
Then...
Thud!
A startled Razix dropped the golden tanning knife he was holding onto the ground.
The other summoned beings shook their heads,
Sighs flowed from all around.
"Ah!"
"Ohh,"
"Haa."
"Sigh,"
"Hoho."
.
.
.
But Mackenzie laughed heartily.
"Uahahahaha! See? This is the magic of the Master of Flames, Mackenzie Dronak. Everyone's so shocked they've lost their words. Now, as I said, the Platinum Badges are... hmm, uh... why?"
Was Mackenzie that oblivious?
The atmosphere was unusual.
Seeing the Summoner's expression, he sensed something was wrong.
Then he looked at the Mad Demon.
"D-did I do something wrong?"
"You did. A very big mistake."
"What?"
"Do you think eleven of us gathered because we couldn't kill that thing?"
"Then why?"
"For the leather. Selling that hide whole makes money. And the Summoner needs money right now. But you just burned it all up."
"Aah..."
That was the moment.
"Hweeeeeeeeh!"
The roar of a thoroughly enraged Razix.
Mackenzie had no choice but to face the wrath of the ultimate worker.
"Hweeeeh! Hweh!"
"S-sorry."
"Hweeeeeh!"
Mackenzie ended up showing weakness.
The hyenas who caught that wouldn't stay quiet.
"Seriously, what were you thinking burning it all up?"
"We were being careful with our cuts to avoid damaging the leather, and then this."
"Can't you tell by looking? Why do you think we came to the 82nd floor for repeat conquests?"
"So-called 9th Circle Archmage, seems useless."
"Feels like we wasted a residence right on him."
"Ha! And you wanted to get badges?"
"You're old enough, yet your situational awareness is that poor? Truly pathetic."
"An old geezer still playing with fire!"
"He'll wet the bed at night. We'll need to put a diaper on him."
"Punishment is necessary. Should we copy a solitary confinement cell from the White Tower and attach it?"
"Woof woof woof woof!"
The criticism poured down.
"Can you use anything besides fire attribute magic?"
"I have some, but their power isn't great..."
"He probably only knows magic for decorating his appearance."
"Sigh, old man, just rest at home. Don't come out."
"Tell him to farm in the White Tower!"
"Don't underestimate farming? Are you going to burn all the crops?"
Mackenzie was utterly disheartened.
The spotlights that had been shining on him had long since gone out.