Chapter 171
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Ordinary Guy's Tower Strategy 171
1st Tower, 84th Floor repeated conquest.
Four tower entries per day are possible, but in reality, he only worked once a day.
Just like always.
Joo-hyuk's ultimate goal was to live happily ever after with his summoned beings, free from all worries.
So, minimize work.
Spend the remaining time lavishly wasting it on fun.
'Four times a day, my ass.'
Die working in the tower?
No way.
Even once a day, high-grade magic stones poured in.
Highest-grade ones yielded at least 15kg to 30kg per run.
Now, there was no need to buy high-grade cores from outside.
The bracelet business was started to acquire high-grade mana stones in the first place, but now he could just mine them.
Thanks to that, there was some financial leeway.
Combining the money in his existing accounts with recent payments from leather sales put him in the hundreds of billions range.
Enough to live off forever without working.
But Kosak thought differently.
"Money is best when it's left to grow. You gotta invest it."
Invest, huh.
"Is that really necessary?"
"It is. I've told you time and again. Money is the purest form of power. It can make the impossible possible. Earn as much as you can while you can."
Hmm.
What to do?
Well, making more money couldn't hurt.
So he asked where to invest.
What the hell?
"The key to investment is future value."
"Right."
"Invest in fields that look worthless now but are guaranteed to boom later."
"Oh!"
Kosak sounded like a real investment pro.
"So the answer is real estate."
"..."
"You need land to do business."
"Hmm."
Aw,
he thought there'd be some clever idea.
Real estate? Come on.
This cramped country, where's there room to invest?
"Korea's it. The lowest current value spot, North Korea. Invest there."
Huh?
North Korea?
"Unification is inevitable. Land prices will skyrocket thousands of times. Buy it up now, build factories, buildings..."
Right.
North Korea.
With Kosak and the others involved, unification was just a matter of time.
"...Sounds good?"
"Who am I? Summoner Bong, just sit back. I'll multiply your wealth thousands-fold. I'll make you the shadow puppetmaster shaking the world economy."
Joo-hyuk grabbed Kosak's hand firmly.
"Aigoo, as expected of our Kosak! One poke, and the answer pops right out."
"O-overpraise. Detailed plan with President Jung directly."
"Whenever. Your decision is mine."
"Ayy, I'm the number two among summoned beings. Right after Worker Razix."
"Of course. I acknowledge your solid number two spot. Hahaha."
"Hehehe."
Mackenzie watched enviously.
A dark cloud hovered over his head in video form.
His number two spot was slipping away.
He needed some scheme.
'Sigh, at least climb to number three.'
Mackenzie's biggest worry lately.
Sergeant V's sub-light speed bullet cooldown: 48 hours.
Two days.
Time flew.
"Commander, ready."
"Good?"
Endless play got boring.
Repeated conquests too.
Time for a change of pace.
Chance to witness Sergeant V's sub-light speed bullet again.
Thanks to Razix, Highest-grade mana stones were plentiful.
Two choices here.
First: Conquer 2nd Tower 84th Floor first.
Second: Tackle 1st Tower's unconquered upper floor, 85th, first.
Either worked.
Way better than holing up in White Tower making bracelets.
'Might as well go new floor...'
Sergeant V's sub-light speed bullet skill.
Would it work on 85th floor too?
It seemed plenty capable to him.
It was still vivid.
The aerial battleship monster Colossus Condor exploding in the sky.
Exactly the conquest he wanted.
Overwhelming one-shot conquest.
So this time too?
He'd decided.
The upper floor climb would be next.
They'd 2nd Tower later,
all at once.
Time to form the party.
But different from before.
It was a lesson from the early 80s giant monster sections.
No need to summon full capacity.
Before, the unsummoned waited in soul world.
He pitied them, so he summoned most every time.
Now 17th Floor of the White Tower exists.
They can chill there whilst unsummoned.
Split into starters and bench.
Optimized starters per floor.
The bench joins in emergencies.
Joo-hyuk declared 85th conquest, summoned beings swarmed.
But.
"Kosak, Gobang and Bardin, Worker Razix, Hyeolrang—one round off. Bench. I'll assess the 85th floor and decide on the summons."
Then,
"Hoek?"
Razix trembled in disbelief.
Excluded? Him?
No way!
"Sorry. A quick conquest planned, no work time. Bear it this once."
"Huuu..."
Kosak, Gobang and Bardin were shocked too.
"Why am I excluded?"
"Giant monster section, melee is kinda sub par..."
"W-warrior is the summoner's shields. Sh-shields must be brought."
"I'll call if you are needed."
"Aa, self-reflection. All my inadequacy. Light!!!"
Kosak still sulky.
"Why Jepetto and Diarmat?"
"They are still rookies. Got to give them a chance to grow."
"..."
"They fly too."
Giant monster section.
Melee roles were severely limited.
Even dangerous.
Sticking to giant monsters, risks death.
Tower reset tickets were unlimited.
If it was tough? He'd reset.
But resurrection runes? No.
He was not stingy.
He Feared seeing death.
Thus he formed the party.
Mad Demon, Mackenzie, Sergeant V, Diarmat, Jepetto and Gyeon dal-rae are the starters; Kosak, Gobang, Aliamari, Bardin and Hyeolrang, you're on the bench.
"Old geezer wh-why are you grinning? It gives bad vibes."
"Ahem! When did I grin?"
"Then what's that bouncy smile icon overhead? Wipe it."
Mackenzie couldn't hide his rising smirk.
He was selected as a starter, while number two Kosak was benched.
Their status reversed instantly.
This is life.
Entered, Joo-hyuk handed Sergeant V 1kg of the Highest grade mana stones.
"Load the magic gun."
"Sergeant Major Veronica Caliber! Piercing on sight."
85th background: barren desert.
But not just desert.
Ruins of a devastated city lay ahead.
'A city?'
Human-made structures were scattered about, half-collapsed walls, broken roads, sunken buildings.
Okay, what's it this time?
It was the Giant monster section, so something huge?
Like the culprit that wrecked this city backdrop.
"Seems urban street combat mission."
"Yeah, let's go in."
Joo-hyuk and party slowly entered the city.
Mission popped up.
[85th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Magnus Gigant, the Magic Empire's Ultimate Weapon Giant Golem.]
⏰ Time Limit: Within 15 hours.
📍 Completion Condition: Giant Golem Magnus Gigant 0/1
'...Magnus Gigant?'
Golems were well-known.
Players with summon trait often had the golem-summoning class.
A giant golem then,
but how big exactly?
"Sergeant V, The Magic Empire's ultimate weapon Magnus Gigant. Ever heard of it...?"
"No. This is the first time."
Eh?
She was a magic Empire ranger squad member.
"At least in my era, there was no Magnus Gigant. Name's new too."
Ah!
Maybe?
"Probably made after I died. Truth is, this sub-light speed bullet magic gun post-promotion to LSSR was new to my era."
Then..., that Magnus Gigant was from an era after Sergeant V's life, a future world maybe.
Then.
Ku-kung, ku-ku-ku-ku-ku...
The surface shook hard.
And,
Kwa-duk, swu-uk!
Enormous columns of a dark material burst from the ground.
'Pillar?'
No.
One arm, dark gray metal.
'Uh...'
Just one arm.
Yet it was that huge.
'Whoa!'
The head followed.
It was human-like too.
Ku-ruru-ruk!
The head rose,
Ku-ku-ku-kuk!
Then its torso emerged,
Swu-uuu-uk!
Followed by even bigger legs than it's body.
A Humanoid giant golem with an obese lower body.
Height roughly equivalent to a 30-story building.
Its body was seemingly completely made of metal.
'Robot or what?'
Childhood cartoon giant robot memories.
Suddenly!
'It talks too?'
It had a chilling mechanical voice.
The Giant Golem Magnus Gigant fully stood.
It turned head toward Joo-hyuk.
Beee-ing!
Its eyes glowed red.
This ain't good.
"Huk!"
"C-Commander!"
"Summoner!!!"
"No!!!"
He reflexively cast Shadow Step.
Spot! Spa-pa-pa-pot!
And used the Ring skill Blink too,
Pot! Pot! Pot! Pot! Pot...
Chi-ji-jik!
Post-move, crimson beam like laser from its eyes.
Jeo-jeo-jeok!
The Laser's path burned red.
"...Uh."
If he'd stayed put, he'd be dead.
The Mad demon was furious,
Woo-woong!
Blood Jade Astral Qi wrapped over his whole body.
Tsu-pi-pit!
He was already atop the Giant's head.
Jii-ing!
Clear Blood Jade aura cut in to it.
Pu-uk!
The Mad Demon's hand stabbed deep into its head.
And stabbed again.
Puk-puk-puk-puk!
But it seemed unscathed.
Shallow penetration?
Kung-kung-kung-kung.
The giant walked casually, Mad Demon on head.
Suddenly!
Pa-tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu!
A blue electric field covered Giant's body.
"Such!"
Spa-pa-pot!
The mad Demon dodged urgently.
Pa-chi-chik, chi-chik, chik, chi-chik...
The giant was wrapped in lightning strands.
That was close, it was a major electrocution risk.
At that the battle began.
Spot! Spot!
The Mad Demon blinked around it rapidly.
Tsu-pi-pit! Tsu-pit!
Crescent sword aura poured out.
Jeo-jeo-jeok!
Red beams fired.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Dodge hit, hit dodge.
Crescent scars were etched on Gigant each time.
But its metal body...
Was extremely tough.
Still, it halted its advance.
Gigant stood taking the Mad Demon's attacks.
"Sergeant V! Are you done aiming?"
"Doing it. Hold a bit."
Sub-light speed bullet: one shot.
The Mad Demon soloed to help Sergeant V's aim.
Ji-ji-ji-ji-ji...
The Magic gun glowed white hot.
Spa-pa-pa-pot!
Mad Demon retreated far.
Aim complete.
But?
"...What?"
It Knows sub-light speed bullet?
And has counter?
Sergeant V's body jiggled.
Sub-light speed bullet fired.
Simultaneously, massive explosion detonated in front of Magnus Gigant.
Not from the magic gun blast.
But one of its own making.
Kwa-kwang! Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Ppa-ju-ju-ju-ju-ju-ju!!!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa...
In the explosions aftermath the was a huge dust cloud.
Soon, dust cleared, revealing Gigant.
'Holy.'
It was unscathed.
The sure-kill shot missed.
Sub-light speed bullet hit an adjacent building instead.
It was deflected by Gigant's counter explosion.
'No way?'
As expected, Magnus Gigant: future Magic Empire weapon from Sergeant V's civilization.
Thus, sub-light speed counter tech was equipped apparently.
Meanwhile, Magnus Gigant acted.
Ku-kung! Kung-kung-kung!
It charged Joo-hyuk's direction fast.
Natural, swift like human.
'A Body slam, huh.'
What now?
Slashes won't work,
Good called leaving Kosak, Gobang, Bardin.
I he'd brought them it'd be risky.
'...Should he abandon the mission?'
Or reset again?
He was pondering blankly when suddenly!
Potholes were pockmarking the Giant's charge path.
It tripped, kwa-dang fell.
It was the 9th Circle mage.
His basic spell Dig.
Each cast create a huge ground pit.
Yes.
Hope remains.
Hwi-rit!
Its huge body rolled up effortlessly.
But Mackenzie was unrelenting.
The Mad Demon joined.
Kwa-reureuk!
Lava erupted from ground.
"Dig, Hellfire, Dig, Hellfire..."
Umpuk! Kwa-reuk, Umpuk! Kwa-reuk, Umpuk! Kwa-reuk...,
Kung-kung-kung-kung-kung!
Giant zigzagged, dodging Mackenzie's lava pits and ground holes skillfully.
Tsu-pit! Tsu-pi-pi-pit!
While tanking Mad Demon's ranged attacks.
Wow!
So fast.
Giant yet speedy, what do we do?
There was no choice.
One hidden card left.
He had to use it.
He had confirmed a recent restock of explosive homunculi via chat with the shut-in alchemist Aliamari.
"Aliamari Designated Summon."
Hwa-aat!
Spot!
His summoned being, instantly grasped the situation.
Red metal spheres tumbled from her arms: tuk-tuk-tuk, de-gururu.
It was dozens of collapsing metal spheres.
Red grains.
Explosive homunculi,
They swarmed charging Giant's body like locusts.
Da-dak! Da-da-dak! Da-da-da-dak!
'This fucker?'
Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-tut!
Giant's blue electricity shifted to dense spiderweb, sprayed everywhere.
Homunculi were stuck.
But caught in the current, they exploded before attaching.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
It set off a fearsome chain of explosions.
They were still charging Gigant.
No answer.
Magnus Gigant nullified everyting: physical attacks, magic and explosions.
"Haa, fuck..."
Should he call all remaining summons and swarm it? A method exists maybe.
But at least one death seemed likely.
Resurrection rune? Meet at 17th? Charge recklessly?
How could he watch them die.
Better to abandon conquest.
Yeah, reset.
Joo-hyuk pulled ticket from inventory.
But,
"W-wait! Master."
Dream Demon Diarmat stopped him.
"Why...?"
"Dream Realm might work."
What?
It was clearly an inorganic Giant golem, yet in thedream realm, mental attack work.
"It's possible. But itsresistance is strong. A little more power needed."
Gyeon Dal-rae's eyes sparkled.
"For real?"
"Yes."
"Then this lady will help."
Su-woong!
A Holy fairy aura bloomed onsite,
Pa-ra-ra-rak!
She began scattering talismans.
For Dream Demon Diarmat: buff ability-up talismans,
Pa-ra-ra-rak!
For the Giant Golem Magnus Gigant: debuff ability-down and lethargy talismans.
Cha-cha-cha-chak!
Both talisman types stuck to her targets.
Enhanced SSR Dream Demon Diarmat closed her eyes and focused her mind.
Dream Realm declaration.
Would it work for real?
Right then!
Kung-kung! Ku-kung, kung...,
Charging forward, Magnus Gigant's steps slowed, it staggered like it was falling.
Ku-kung!
It suddenly knelt on one knee.
But rose, one step, another.
Suddenly!
Chae-chang! Chae-chae-chae-chang!
Dung-dung, du-dung-dung-dung!
Fairy's ritual drum joined.
Effect clear.
Kung, kung, kung...,
It seemed directionless: right, left, spun like top...,
Giu-ung!
Toppled backward like log.
Kwa-kwang!
It worked.
Diarmat's Dream Realm felled the Giant with Gyeon Dal-rae's aid.
Mad Demon's martial arts, Sergeant V's sub-light speed bullet, Mackenzie's flashy magic, Aliamari's explosive homunculi—were all futile against it.
But was it a living being?
How?
The Conquest complete message had not rung yet.
Diarmat yelled loud.
"Mad Demon! Chest, chest! Something in Gigant's chest."
"Got it."
Spa-pa-pot!
Mad Demon lept atop the fallen Giant's chest.
He thumped it with his hand.
Jii-ing!
Blood Jade Aura manifested,
Geu-geu-geu-geuk, geuk, geuk,
He sliced the specific chest area.
Long slices removed its chest armor plate.
Bbu-deuk!
"Heh heh."
"What's there?"
"Dunno. What is it..., a human?"
Spa-pot!
Joo-hyuk hurried atop Gigant too.
"Uh..."
The Mad Demon was right.
Something Human-like was inside.
A Tiny golem was sleeping soundly in the giant robot cockpit.
A Golem inside a golem? 'Info?'