Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Ordinary Guy's Tower Strategy
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Before the welcome party kicked off, everyone exchanged greetings first.
There were people he'd seen on the 85th floor, and others he was meeting for the first time.
"Summoner Bong's right-hand man, second-in-command among the summoned beings... This is important. Remember it well. I'm the number two after the worker. Anyway, I'm the Minister of People's Armed Forces, Swordmaster Kosak."
Starting with Kosak.
"Warriors are the summoner's meat shields."
"Pleased to meet you. I am the shrine maiden Gyeon Dal-rae."
"Hoee, worker number one..."
"Woof woof!"
One by one in turn.
"I'm Sergeant V, Engineer. Not sure if we're from the same world, but let's get along."
"I, Bardin, am the lighthouse illuminating my lord's path."
"Mad Demon here. You've probably heard the name."
"Um, I'm the vampire Jepetto with zero presence. Really. I have nothing to do. Even the defector outranks me. Please remember me."
"I'm that defector. Dream demon Diarmat. How were your dreams?"
Mari sent hers via text on the monitor set up in front.
Mackenzie expressed himself with all sorts of visual and special effects magic.
Tada! Boom boom boom boom! Spotlight! Rumble rumble, whoosh!
"Magician Mackenzie Dronak, making my entrance."
Jeon Gwang-il and Jeong Dong-hoon were briefly called in from outside too.
They'd be seeing each other's faces a lot going forward, so better to get acquainted.
Even if one of the people he was greeting was an unexpected golem,
"...Jeon Gwang-il here. I handle Bong Player's external real-world business and legal matters."
"I'm Jeong Dong-hoon. I manage the assets."
It was a long line.
With so many people taking turns saying a few words, it dragged on.
If they took this crew on a variety show, the intros alone would fill an episode.
Of course, the magitech engineer El responded in kind.
Expressionless, saying only what was necessary, and briefly.
"Pleased to meet you. Looking forward to working together."
It could come off as pretty cold.
Was it because she was a golem?
Or had she been like that even as a human?
Actually, back in the penthouse after the designated summon, when he'd hung the residency badge around her neck, her reaction had been equally flat.
Even after entering the White Tower's 17th floor, she hadn't said a word.
But that was fine.
What was wrong with a little coldness?
Plus, were any of the summoned beings here normal folks?
Every last one had a screw loose somewhere.
"Alright, let's eat and drink..."
"Summoner."
"Yeah?"
"May I go over there for a bit?"
El was pointing at the 17th floor's comm tower and power plant.
"You want to check it out?"
"Yes. There's something I need to examine."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thank you."
In that instant!
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the golem El's soles.
Tsssh!
Her body shot out like an arrow.
She was already at the comm tower.
"Whoa!"
"Rockets in the soles?"
"Golems gonna golem."
"Hope she doesn't launch missiles from her chest next."
"Hm, now that you mention it, I'm suddenly looking forward to it."
"But why'd she head there?"
"Looks like facility equipment. Gotta pique a magitech engineer's curiosity."
The magitech engineer El's tour of the comm tower and power plant didn't take long.
She was back soon.
"So? Anything magitech-related?"
"No."
"Then?"
"It looks like engineering equipment on the surface... but honestly, I have no idea what it really is."
"Higher-dimensional magic?"
"Not at all. The comm tower and power plant run on creation energy. It's not magic. If anything, it's in the realm of the gods."
The White Tower's comm tower and power plant.
Not only did they handle internal space comms, but external connections too, powering electronics without cables.
Smartphones here were always at 100% charge.
No carrier needed for YouTube, SNS, or online games.
But no one knew how they worked.
Not even 9th-circle magicians or magitech engineers.
Well, when the landmark skyscraper popped up here, even 9th-circle mage Mackenzie had been floored.
Black Tower or White Tower,
both ignored basic scientific principles the same way.
No point overthinking it.
If even a magitech engineer couldn't figure it out,
How would he?
Climbing the tower would reveal it eventually.
"Alright, let's get this party started. El, you're a golem... uh, special body means no food, right?"
"Yes. I can't eat."
Figured as much.
"Too bad. Would've been nice to share a meal and drinks."
"I can drink alcohol."
"...Huh?"
A golem drinking booze?
"For energy replenishment."
"Ah!"
"Usually its mana stones, but high-concentration alcohol can power the mana core engine too."
So she could ingest liquids.
"Drink too much and I get drunk. Alcohol affects the golem nervous system."
Perfect.
One more drinking buddy.
Time to crank up the party?
Drinking with a golem.
First, a welcome shot for the new recruit.
Pour.
"Thank you."
Glug!
El brought it straight to her mouth.
"Haha, bold one. Downed that stiff drink in one go, no chaser!"
"Straight shooter."
"Looks like a heavyweight drinker."
"Let this old man pour the next one."
Mad Demon tilted the bottle and poured.
Glug! Glug! Ahh!
"Ooooh!"
"Back-to-back!"
"Keep 'em coming."
Pour.
Glug!
The old-timers grinned contentedly.
A newbie who could hold their liquor was always welcome.
"Pour me one too."
Pour.
Glug!
Mad Demon, getting into the swing of things with this bizarre drinking buddy, raised his glass.
"Don't hog it all yourself like a mooch. Pour this old man one too. Booze tastes better shared. Haha!"
He shoved his glass toward El.
"What the hell, mooch?"
"...Hm?"
El's eyes were glazing over a bit.
"This bastard's ruining the vibe..."
"Huh?"
Mad Demon froze in shock at first, then his face flushed red with rage.
"You crazy bitch..."
Right then!
Whir?
Mad Demon was dumbfounded.
"This lord is the troublemaker? The audacity has limits..."
Then the magitech golem engineer El's eyes glowed red,
Beep!
Bzzz!
Zing!
Bam!
The glass Mad Demon held shattered from El's eye beam.
"..."
She calmly picked up the bottle, poured herself another, glug,
glug!
"You don't drink booze. I'm drinking alone."
Even Joo-hyuk was baffled.
She seemed more like the troublemaker here.
"Hey, El, that kind of thing at a drinking party is dangerous, so please hold back a bit."
In that instant!
Swish!
El turned her head toward Joo-hyuk.
Gulp.
'No eye beam at me, right?'
But whoosh!
She approached Joo-hyuk, gently leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Hehehe, feels good."
"..."
Well, couldn't be helped.
At least she was in a good mood.
"Snooore..."
It felt like drunken rambling, but this loosened-up side beat her usual cold, robotic demeanor.
Even kinda cute.
The next day.
Joo-hyuk woke up in the penthouse.
Quick wash-up, then into the White Tower.
Flash!
El was up already, looking perfectly fine, chatting with Veronica.
Hangover gone?
"You okay?"
"Yes."
"...You remember last night?"
"I do. I haven't forgotten."
"I see."
No embarrassment?
"It was a perfectly normal reaction. High-concentration alcohol disrupted my nervous system."
"...Right, sure."
"Not my fault. The alcohol's."
"Yeah... probably."
Acting like it was unavoidable due to drunkenness.
Her expression was shameless, brazen even.
"What were you two talking about?"
"Sergeant Major Veronica Caliber! About the Magitech Empire."
Magitech engineer El and Magitech Empire Ranger Veronica.
"Any connection?"
"No. Different worlds. Just the common thread of magitech civilization."
"Aha!"
Well,
Earth had multiple civilizations.
No reason magitech worlds would be one-size-fits-all.
Meanwhile, El was inspecting Sergeant V's magirifle closely.
Any upgrade potential?
Ways to boost performance.
"No need for mods. It's the latest version, top-grade magirifle. Even in my magitech world, only about ten existed."
"Really?"
"Sublight shells were the pinnacle of tech there too."
Fitting for Sergeant V's weapon.
"But it got blocked."
"Magnus Gigant is a final weapon too. But with three more sublight magirifle users, Gigant wouldn't have survived."
Hm.
Meaning Sergeant V alone couldn't take it down.
"Can you make another magirifle?"
"...Not the latest version. Only lower-spec older models for now."
"Oh?"
A Lower version was fine.
The fact she could make them mattered.
"Power level? Work on giant monsters?"
If even lower-spec worked, he could make one and lend it out.
To other players.
Like the holy sword in the undead section.
"It'll work. With situation-specific special shells."
"Ooooh! Special shells too?"
"Yes. Downside is they guzzle high-grade mana stones."
Doable.
Magirifle rental business was viable.
Another one.
"What about Gigants?"
"Impossible. Can't source core parts, and some require non-manual fabrication. It's beyond me alone."
Yeah!
One magitech engineer couldn't churn out everything.
Shame.
How cool would piloting a rideable Gigant be?
A dream for any guy.
"Let's handle urgent stuff first."
"Urgent? Magirifle?"
"Obesity-escape bracelet mass-production setup. Assassin and mage requested it."
Ugh, that bracelet again.
Well, mass-production was something.
"Need anything? Just say."
"All good. Assassin worked it out with Razix trading CEO. They'll handle procurement."
"..."
"Summoner just sit tight."
"..."
Totally freeloading.
Tower clears by summoned beings.
Money earned by them.
Business handled by others.
What did he even do?
Bong Joo-hyuk, living the easy life.
Another day passed.
Sergeant V's magirifle sublight shell cooldown reset.
Time for the Tower 2 clear.
84th floor.
Party time.
"Melee benched again?"
"Yeah, rest easy. We'll wrap it quick."
"Roger!"
Five in the crew:
Veronica, Gyeon Dal-rae, Mad Demon, Mackenzie, and magitech engineer El.
Honestly, the 84th floor Colossus Condor was Sergeant V's solo territory.
El was new, so the field trip was for experience.
To show off their strategy prowess.
Mission popped.
The Aerial battleship Colossus Condor was gliding slowly.
The Ice hawks werebuzzing around it like flies.
"Let's finish quick and bounce."
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber, aiming."
"Fire when ready."
Zzzzzzzzzz...
Sergeant V's magirifle glowed white-hot.
Boom!!!
Rumble rumble boom!
Onrushing shockwave.
Bang!
Sound of the exploding Colossus Condor.
Pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew!
Kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom!
Whew, hot stuff from Sergeant V.
That's a proper clear.
Two badges secured.
Flash!
Joo-hyuk and the crew returned to the penthouse.
"Good work."
"Call The ultimate worker for repeat clears?"
"Take it easy. Digging ether ore takes hours, not minutes. I'll release summons, rest up on 17th floor."
"Then Tower 2, 85th?"
85th floor.
With El's summoned status recovered, it switched to the ego Gigant.
"It's Still a Giant, though. Tough without Sergeant V's sublight cooldown?"
Honestly he was conflicted.
The conquest strategy was unclear.
Autonomous ego Gigant.
It had no pilot.
Thus no soul.
Diarmat's dream realm skill was no useless.
Arguably it was harder now.
But?
"The 85th floor is fine."
Magitech engineer El spoke flatly, like it was nothing.
"I'll handle it. An S+++ clear is possible."
"Huh?"
What?
Was she still hungover?
"How?"
"I'll show you inside."
Then in they went.
She was that confident.
Joo-hyuk and summoned beings appeared in the ruined desert city.
Mission received as expected.
Rumble rumble rumble...
Ego Magnus Gigant burst from the ground.
How to tackle the Giant?
That monstrous mega-golem.
"Gigant will stop soon. For about five minutes."
"Stop?"
"Yes. And I'll stop too."
"...Why?"
Giant stops, El stops.
What did that mean?
"Mana EMP. Electromagnetic pulse."
Ah!
"No effect on organic life. But magitech golems halt temporarily. Me included."
Got it.
"Why take it yourself? Can't you hit just the Giant?"
"It's my exclusive weapon. Needs close range, self-destructs on use."
"...Will you be okay? Any aftereffects?"
A suicide weapon would suck.
"With Allies present, there is no issue."
Right.
El wasn't alone anymore.
"Gigant's weak point is its mana core engines. Five parallel in its chest armor plate. When it stops, rip 'em all out."
Stop it and carve it up.
"Mana core engines are key golem parts. With them, golem production is viable. They have other uses too."
Really?
He perked up his ears.
"But not reward items. Can't keep. Just smash."
El advanced.
Ego Gigant spotted her, started moving.
Thud thud thud thud!
It was charging fast.
"Commencing."
Thud thud thud thud thud!
El moved.
Whoosh!
Tsssh!
Rushing toward the advancing Giant.
Whirr,
Her right thigh panel opened.
Clank!
A Cylindrical rod extended.
'Mana EMP?'
Distance was closing fast.
She'd get stomped.
Flattened like a bug.
At under 3m range,
Rrrrip!
El gripped both ends of the rod and twisted hard.
Then,
Flash! Zap! Zap zap zap!
Mana EMP burst with intense light waves.
Halt!
Halt!
Mega-golem and magitech golem froze.
"It actually stopped."
"That easy."
"This old man will finish it."
Splat!
Mad Demon leaped onto the frozen Ego Giant's chest.
Tap tap tap, tap tap!
Whirr!
Blood Jade Astral Qi activated.
Rip rip slice.
With 1st tower 85th floor experience, peeling the cockpit armor was easy.
The armor as off, revealing mana core engines.
Five 60cm cubic devices in pentagon formation.
Crunch! Grind!
He Yanked one, whoosh! Dropped to ground.
"Whoa! It'll break."
At Joo-hyuk's shout, Mackenzie telekinesis'd it, swish! Plop! Safe landing.
Then two, three, four, five.
Mission cleared.
'Were those the core parts?'
Many uses.
Not rewards, confirmed.
Won't enter player inventory,
But that rule was for normie players.
'Heh! Ways to take 'em out exist.'
Mr. Utility Worker here.
"Razix designated summon."
Flash!
"Hoee?"
The ultimate worker.
"Those boxy things there? Subspace backpack 'em."
"Hoeng!"
Swish swish swish...
Razix stashed the mana core engines in his subspace backpack.
Best Razix.
That's why he was number one.
Clear grade message.
Flash!
Exited the tower.
Including the still-motionless magitech golem engineer El.