Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Ordinary Guy's Tower Conquest Method
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The popularity of the Obesity Escape Bracelet showed no signs of dying down.
Every time the server opened, connections flooded in.
It sold out the moment it went on sale.
Many people still couldn't believe the bracelet's effects.
Some even claimed it was just a placebo effect.
But what could anyone do about it?
The effects were proving real.
Of course, if someone deliberately gained weight by gorging on high-calorie foods, sleeping right after eating, or lying around without moving a finger, they would gain some.
But once they returned to normal life, it melted away again.
With people going so crazy for it, the workshop on the 17th floor of the White Tower was running nonstop.
"Can't we take a break? It's the weekend."
"We're backed up. Weekend overtime. Scram."
"Sheesh! If we're backed up, we just won't sell 'em."
"Gotta earn while we can."
"For pocket change?"
"It's low now 'cause we're just starting. First goal: one million subscribers! That's five hundred billion a month incoming."
Is this guy nuts?
"...You're gonna make a million bracelets?"
"Nothing we can't do. If it ain't possible, we'll make it possible."
Then he turned to the other summoned beings.
"Comrades! Can we do this?!"
"We'll grind our bodies to dust for you, O Light!!!"
"A warrior gets it done."
"Hwehk!"
"Good. The march of hardship begins. Long live Joo-hyuk!"
Okay, fine for the others, but even Gyeon Dal-rae?
"We'll hit ten thousand soon. Just do that a hundred times. What's the problem?"
Good grief.
It's not like we're gluing doll eyes or something.
Everyone's eyes were spinning.
Money is one scary thing.
Die of old age making bracelets on the 17th floor of the White Tower?
Were they summoned just to crank out cheap bracelets?
Thinking about it, this was all Mackenzie's fault.
He'd pitched it as a great idea and even handed out badges.
'Shouldn't have gone along with it...'
Joo-hyuk shot a glare at Mackenzie. Zzt!
Mackenzie flinched at the sharp look, averting his eyes and bowing his head.
"Mackenzie?"
"Y-yes, speak."
"Do our top talents really have to keep sitting there stuffing mana stone powder?"
"W-well..."
"How about mass production with magic?"
Like pressing a button and watching finished products roll out on a conveyor belt, clicky-clicky-clicky.
"...You mean factory-style production?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Sigh."
Mackenzie hesitated a moment before speaking.
"If we summon an engineer—no, a magitech engineer, it could work."
Magitech engineer?
Magitech... Our Sergeant Veronica hails from the Magitech Empire.
"It's a different field from enchanting or alchemy. It mixes magic and technology to create mechanical artifacts. One of their specialties is automated production lines."
Oh!
Automated production lines.
Sounds perfect just hearing it.
"Is there a magitech engineer in the Soul World?"
"Well... I chatted with one ages ago."
"And?"
"Haven't seen him lately..."
Should he ask the other summoned beings?
Similar answers.
No one's talked to one, or like Mackenzie, once long ago but no idea now.
Gone.
No idea where.
Too bad.
Not worry about not pulling one, but picturing the despair of losing a summoner.
'I gotta live long.'
Unlike summoned beings, death is the end for him.
Anyway, no confirmation of a magitech engineer in the Soul World.
So?
Don't get hopes up.
Better not build expectations and get disappointed if someone else shows.
Well, with tons of people, manual labor could scale anyway.
Till then, take it slow and steady.
Three thousand sales at once is plenty.
Cut to one thousand.
With that in mind...
"Everyone!"
The summoned beings turned to Joo-hyuk, focusing.
"Time to work."
"We're already working."
"Not that. Tower conquest. Unconquered upper floors."
Time to climb the tower.
Screw the bracelets.
Mackenzie, who'd been deflated and glancing around, suddenly jumped up.
"S-summoner are we moving to the 84th floor?"
"Yeah. More fun than bracelets, right?"
"I'll burn their bodies to ash!"
Boom! Rumble-rumble-boom! Ta-da!
Some epic background music played out of nowhere.
Whoosh!
Mackenzie was engulfed in flames, a blazing visual effect.
'Pfft!'
This guy's hilarious.
Can't even hate him.
At the mention of "84th floor conquest," the summoned beings dropped work and gathered fast.
"Wait here. I'll summon you outside."
Joo-hyuk stepped out, and moments later.
The waiting summoned beings vanished one by one.
Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash...
The 17th floor of the White Tower fell silent.
But then,
Flash!
Someone appeared.
'...Anyone around?'
It was Jeong Dong-hoon.
He'd been visiting whenever free lately.
Coming here eased his mind.
Chatting with people was fun too.
'Must've gone to the tower.'
No one in the workshop.
Well, might as well work since he's here.
Jeong Dong-hoon grabbed a bracelet and chanted the spell.
Engraving activation.
"Ingredi Acto."
Whoosh... Sizzle!
Acrid smoke.
Failure.
His enchanting success rate was around 50%, skill not honed yet.
Set failed ones aside.
His master said not to fear failure, keep going.
That's how skill grows.
Right then!
Flash!
"Director Jung?"
"Oh! Chief Jeon, you're here?"
Chief Jeon Gwang-il arrived too.
Looks like a free weekend.
"Where's everyone...?"
"No idea. Came and found it empty."
"Oh! Then... wanna work together?"
Jeon Gwang-il grabbed a huge sack from the corner with one hand and sat by Jeong Dong-hoon.
A sack stuffed with unenchanted Obesity Escape Bracelets.
'That's heavy...'
But Jeon Gwang-il's a player.
And this place activates player abilities.
Turns out Chief Jeon awakened with Player Bong's help.
Not jealous though.
He's a mage.
"Ingredi Acto."
Sizzle!
Enchant success this time.
This conquest starts with Tower 1.
People always griped about doing Tower 2 first.
The backdrop: a windy, blizzard-swept snowy plain.
"Brr, cold!"
No sooner said,
"O Light!!!"
"Fire Heater!"
Bardin and Mackenzie chanted together.
Instant warmth.
Alright, what's this time?
Giant beast section, so something huge?
"Behemoth's a mammal, right? Apophis was a reptile snake punk."
"Yeah."
"Giant spider's insect..."
"What spider's an insect? Read some Namu Wiki."
"...Anyway, mammal, reptile, insect—next amphibian maybe."
"Amphibian? Frog or salamander?"
"Giant frog vibe. Ribbit!"
"Tch! Frog in this cold?"
But?
"Hweh?"
Razix suddenly tilted his head.
Sniffed the air.
"Hweng!"
Spotted something the leaped onto Hyeolrang's back.
"Hweeehk!"
He pulled out the golden pickaxe and pointed one way.
"Woof woof!"
Dash-dash-dash!
Hyeolrang bolted.
What's with them?
Smells locked on.
"Razix!"
"Hwe!"
"Where are you going? Come back quick..."
Suddenly!
Shwooo...
The sky darkened.
[84th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Giant Beast Frozen Colossus Condor.]
⏰ Time Limit: Within 15 hours.
🎁 Completion Condition: Giant Beast Frozen Colossus Condor 0/1
Giant Beast Frozen Colossus Condor.
Bird, giant bird type.
Yeah.
About time.
All giant land monsters so far.
Knew it'd come eventually.
Joo-hyuk and the summoned beings looked up.
It was truly gigantic.
It darkened the sky.
The frozen Colossus Condor was gliding with its massive wings spread.
Shhhh!
It was a very slow speed.
Just gliding like a floating airship.
Big and slow...
Might be easier than he thought.
But what's that?
Fly-like things were swarming the Condor.
So many, hard to see the body.
"Those?"
"Ice birds... Ice hawks?"
Ice Hawks.
The Giant Condor was like the queen spider with minions.
Meanwhile, Razix and Hyeolrang were charging through the blizzard.
Right under the Colossus Condor.
Okay?
Even high up, if they're spotted...
Right then!
Shatter!
Some ice hawks started diving from around the Condor to ground.
Screeech!
Eyes locking on to prey.
And the prey was Razix.
"Razix!!!"
"Hweeehk!"
Falling ice hawks.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
Bombs basically.
Countless ice hawks were bombarding Razix.
"Damn!"
Whoosh!
Joo-hyuk reflexively Shadow Stepped.
The summoned beings followed.
Boom-boom-boom!
Ice hawks were like multiple rocket launchers.
With frightening speed.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
"H-hu-hweeee..."
Hyeolrang and Razix were fleeing tails their between legs.
Boom-boom!
The Ice hawks kept chasing.
Joo-hyuk ran like mad too.
Razix and Hyeolrang were barely dodging, but it was dangerous.
If they were hit by the ice hawk?
Then!
Thud!
Hyeolrang tripped on a rock while running, tumbled rolling across the snow, sprawled flat with Razix.
At once,
Screeeeech!
Ice hawks were diving straight at fallen Razix's head.
"Gasp! No way..."
They can't dodge that.
"No!!!"
Screeech!
Splat-splat-splatter!
"Shit!!!"
Thwack!
"Yelp, yelp!"
Blood sprayed.
Red chunks flew.
Hyeolrang.
In the clutch, Hyeolrang threw itself to shield Razix.
"Hweeeeehk!!!"
[Catalog summoned beast Hyeolrang has died.]
[Hyeolrang's Designated Summon unavailable for 100 days due to death.]
Aaah!
Hyeolrang died.
No time to react.
"Hu-he, hu-he, hu-hweee..."
Razix was wailing.
"You damn bird bitch."
His heart ached, but there was no choice.
He'd save Razix at least.
Flash!
Joo-hyuk dashed forward, scooped up Razix.
Ice hawks kept plummeting.
Stab!
Giantized Gobang enveloped Joo-hyuk and Razix.
"Great Barrier!"
Mackenzie's massive shield covered all the summoned beings.
Splat-splat-splatter!
Ice hawks were slamming the barrier.
Suddenly!
Rooooar!
Fierce qi storm.
Shing!
The Mad Demon drew qi.
Dozens of crescent qi blades hovered over his hand.
Tzzt-tzzt!
Shot at Giant Beast Frozen Colossus Condor like light beams.
But.
Shatter!
Splat! Pop-pop! Splatter!
Ice hawks blocked incoming crescent qi.
Like chaff flares jamming missiles.
Thud, thump!
Some qi slipped through, hit the giant body...
But the Condor didn't stop flying.
'Whoa, that bird...'
Tanking the Mad Demon's qi means it's at least LSSR level, maybe higher.
More oddly.
Flying monsters usually aggro to ground.
Attack with beak or talons up close.
But this one stayed aloft despite hits.
Only ranged attacks possible?
Then Gobang, Kosak, Bardin—melee would be useless, twiddling their thumbs.
Ice hawks were still raining on Joo-hyuk and the group.
Screech! Screeeeech!
Splat! Splatter!
"You pest!"
Whoosh!
Mackenzie was blazing all over.
Shing, shing, shing...
Hundreds of fire spears floating behind him.
Blazing.
"Pierce and burn all. Fire Spear."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Fwoosh!
Fire spears salvoed at Colossus Condor.
But,
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ice hawks kept body-blocking the fire spears.
Similar to the crescent qi.
Crescent qi and fire spears filled the sky.
Yet the Condor flew on undisturbed.
Gulp.
Joo-hyuk swallowed dryly.
'An aerial battleship... How would they take it down?'
Right then!
Dong-dong, dong-dong, dong-dong-dong-dong!
Drums were echoing across the field.
Senses sharpened, power and courage surged.
Gyeon Dal-rae's ritual buff hit the group.
Flutter!
Talismans flew up.
Ice hawks were vanishing on contact.
And,
Ziiiiing!
Sergeant Veronica aimed her rifle at Colossus Condor.
Talismans cleared path.
Pew-pew- pew!
Slosh!
Boom!
A massive guided mana shell nailed the body.
"Kwek!"
Flap!
It climbed higher flapping furiously.
'Hm?'
It worked.
Shrugged off fire spears and qi, but Sergeant Veronica's shell hurt.
Second shot.
Pew-pew-pew!
Slosh!
Boom!
"Kweeeek!"
A mana shockwave shook the sky.
Screeching, wobbling midair.
Third shell.
Pew-pew-pew!
Slosh!
Boom!
Solid hit.
The Colossus Condor lept flapping upward frantically.
But that's it.
Three shells, no crash.
"Sergeant Veronica, spare big shells?"
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber, all expended."
"Got it."
Sergeant Veronica's magic rifle max big shells: three.
So...
"Mad Demon."
"Speak."
"Can you take it down?"
"If I pummel it all day, eventually..."
"Yeah, understood."
That means no.
Duh.
Gotta come down to do anything.
He'd have to use the reset ticket again.
An Ordinary Guy's attack must be overwhelming.
Chipping HP while racing against the clock? Failure.
"Ugh, it's freezing."
Why's the weather so crap?
"Damn."
Razix was saved, but...
'Poor Hyeolrang.'
Buy tons of dog treats when it was back in 100 days.
Crackle!