Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The First Item
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Finally, the first item.
Not magic stones or healing potions.
Not the special reward items or things bought from the Player Shop.
I mean the equipment item received as a floor mission completion reward.
Equipment item rewards are extremely rare.
They appear very occasionally in the Player Shop too.
Of course, they sell out the moment they appear.
"You got lucky."
A sword used by a Paladin, a Holy Knight.
But even at a glance, it looked terribly worn out.
No scabbard, the blade was nicked and chipped in many places, the pattern that seemed to be engraved on the blade was almost completely faded, and the hilt was tattered.
On the other hand, it was quite large and heavy.
What would a Holy Knight spreading the gospel do with such a large greatsword?
Proselytize with a sword?
Do you believe?
No.
Then die.
Wai-wait, I belie-...
Too late. Lost lamb!
*Swish!*
*Gack!*
Like that.
But looking at the description:
'So it did have a use.'
Still, its limitations are clear.
Low durability, and aside from undead, it's just a regular sword.
Wait!
The floors in the 60s are the undead section, right?
I remember hearing that.
It might sell for a high price.
Still, just in case, I asked Savage Gobang if he wanted it.
"Warrior, use fist."
"..."
This guy is always going on about being a warrior.
I asked Kosak too.
"Ayu! Our Bong Summoner-nim, your heart is as warm as the ocean, I'm touched again today."
"So, would you like to take this sword?"
"Hehe, I don't need such a shabby sword. Please throw it in the recycling bin."
"..."
"The things I use, this is wyvern leather armor, and these are dwarf-made daggers. Top quality, I tell you."
"Yeah, yeah."
It seems everyone is already so well-equipped they don't need an old sword like this.
I guess I'll have to sell it as I initially thought.
To sell the sword...
'I have to go to the Player Shop,'
I have to call ahead, call a car, go there and meet people, haggle over the price...
'Tsk, so many procedures... Let's sell it slowly.'
Anyway, before climbing to the 30th floor, I plan to practice skill proficiency and collect magic stones through repeat missions, so I can sell it all at once then.
'It's so worn out, I'm not even sure it'll sell.'
Anyway, before disposing of it,
I should at least try swinging it once.
Joo-hyuk stood in front of a large mirror holding the sword.
"Hmm,"
Does it look okay?
It doesn't look like I'm holding the sword; it looks like I'm the decoration attached to the sword.
"Hehe, very cool. Bong Summoner-nim."
It obviously doesn't suit me at all, what do you mean 'cool'?
'This guy, in his past life, he was definitely a sycophant. One who could easily ruin a whole country.'
Anyway, the stupidly huge greatsword.
How heavy and clumsy does it look?
I'm not even sure I can swing it.
"Grrr!"
I tried to swing it with both hands gripping the hilt, but...
Wobble, wobble.
Outside the Tower, as a normal person, I don't even have the strength to hold this thing.
My upper body was being dragged around by the sword's weight,
Wobble, wobble, wobble,
"Oh! Well done! You're a complete Holy Knight."
"...What are you buying?"
"I said Holy Knight."
"I'm not buying."
"Huh?"
The conversation was weird, but,
"And does it look like I'm doing well? I can't even handle the sword's weight and I'm wobbling all over,"
Flattery should be done in moderation.
"That's good enough. Outside the Tower, physical abilities and skills tied to level are restricted, that's why."
A story Joo-hyuk already knew.
"Tsk, will those restrictions ever be lifted?"
"There are cases where they are lifted."
Huh?
What do you mean?
"The restrictions can be lifted? So you mean a player can use their abilities outside the Tower?"
"Nope. Impossible outside the Tower."
"You just said they could be lifted."
"That's because..."
Kosak paused briefly before continuing.
"When the outside world becomes the Tower, the restrictions are lifted. That is the sign of its destruction."
"Ah..."
That's right.
The real world, Earth itself, becomes the Tower?
Meaning the boundary between the world and the Tower disappears.
Then level application and skill use would be possible.
"That happens if we fail to conquer the Tower, right?"
"Yes!"
Well, it's not exactly groundbreaking news.
Even if Earth doesn't turn into a Tower,
What if we fail to conquer the un-conquered upper floors, and a giant sinkhole visible from space is created due to Tower collapse?
New Towers don't start again from the 1st floor.
They start from the un-conquered upper floors of the collapsed Tower.
And if we ultimately fail to conquer it, the Tower regenerates, collapses, regenerates, collapses again...
What if the entire Earth turns into a ravaged land full of holes?
Whether the world turns into a Tower or not, it's ruined anyway.
That's why we have to conquer the Tower.
'It's unsettling.'
What's the point of me alone playing it safe, prioritizing self-preservation and being cautious?
When everyone's going to die anyway.
No matter how ordinary of a guy I am, I can't help but feel a sense of crisis.
Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Gwanghwamun.
Across the street, in the basement of a building, there was a quiet classic bar.
A place with no signs, so you wouldn't even know it was a bar.
It had only two customers, and the bartender had also left his spot.
One of the customers was Counselor Tomoda, who works at the embassy.
The other is a Korean player by status, but... in reality, a scout broker.
"They said if a few more conditions are added, they will review it positively."
A response of merely reviewing positively, not a definitive answer.
But even this much is something, isn't it?
Until now, contact itself was impossible.
The fact that a reply came is what's important.
"What conditions?"
"Here, read this."
Counselor Tomoda read the note handed by the Korean player broker.
"Hmm, please tell them these are conditions we can sufficiently meet."
"Yes, I'll convey that."
"Then, approximately when can we get a definite answer?"
"Hard to say. They said they have no intention of dragging it out, whatever happens."
"Ha! So they're comparing our conditions with China's before deciding?"
"Ah, there's no way he would go to China. He needs to settle his affairs first, so it's taking time."
Since he was a broker hired by Japan, he had to say things like this.
But China was no pushover either.
They are equally in a hurry.
"Anyway, you know, right? Until a decision is made, both you and they must keep this absolutely secret."
"Hmph! Do you think I'm a fool?"
If the Korean government finds out beforehand, all the effort put in so far will be wasted.
"Still, I really don't want to be stabbed in the back. Please do your best not to disappoint."
"Don't worry. He will ultimately go to Japan."
Counselor Tomoda nodded.
He had a good feeling.
He would definitely come.
"By the way... the 27th-floor consecutive record was set, right?"
"Yes, the media is still in an uproar."
"And his identity hasn't been revealed yet?"
"Well, they're keeping it hush-hush, but it's only a matter of time before it's known... Why? Interested?"
"It would be a lie to say I'm not interested."
In truth, he was very interested.
If he could, he'd like to bring him to Japan too.
"But it's not urgent yet."
"Why not?"
"Because we need a proven person."
Because what's needed isn't an S++ conqueror.
The current urgency is a player who can conquer Japan's Black Tower's 57th floor.
Player Yu Cheol-min, conquered the 65th floor.
If he comes to us, we won't have to worry about Japan's Black Tower up to the 65th floor.
"If Player Yu Cheol-min naturalizes to our side, a storm will surely hit soon."
The Korean player broker agreed.
"Yes, both Korea and China will be furious. Just thinking about it makes me tremble. This is such a big deal that I'm risking my life too."
"Don't worry. We'll guarantee your identity. Or, why not cross over to Japan yourself this time?"
"Hahaha! Should I?"
The naturalization to Japan of Player Yu Cheol-min, Korea's star.
Saying it would be a storm was an understatement.
The world would turn upside down.
If things went wrong, a war between Japan and Korea might break out.
'War,'
Counselor Tomoda chuckled.
A war is something we can fully bear.
Because if Japan's Black Tower collapses, a second Great Kanto Earthquake might occur.
Actually, Yu Cheol-min is just a temporary measure.
They talk big, but they expect he probably wouldn't be able to conquer the 66th-floor's Specters.
That's his limit.
He would just be useful up to the 65th floor, then he would be disposable.
The player they really wanted was someone else.
He said it was not urgent, but... it was the S++ grade record holder.
Has there ever been such a player worldwide until now?
And he was setting an unprecedented record of 27 consecutive floors.
'Korea really is lucky. How did such a player appear?'
Especially among those Joseon-jing with their slave mentality.
How do you check the conquest progress of each country's Black Tower?
Simple.
Ask the system.
"Republic of Korea Black Tower conquest progress status window."
*Ding!*
It shows up like this.
At first, I didn't even know what the time limit was.
Or what would happen if you exceeded it.
I only realized after Mumbai collapsed.
Since Joo-hyuk was also part of an elite team, he became interested in the Tower conquest progress, but for now, the tasks given to him were more important.
Only the 27th floor.
He still has a long, long way to go.
He wouldn't rush to climb.
Even a sturdy stone bridge, tap it a hundred times and it might collapse.
He'd wrap up the Platinum Badge cumulative special benefits,
Without getting a single hair hurt, gather everything that can be gathered,
Climb safely, and the safely again, floor by floor.
'That's the original intention.'
Adventures are forbidden.
Knowing your place is essential.
Leave the 66th floor to elite players with higher levels.
The collapse time limit still had about half left, and the country must have plans.
'They'll conquer it soon.'
Because Korea had an extraordinary player named Yu Cheol-min.
What Joo-hyuk needs to do right now was conquer the 28th and 29th floors.
"Welcome."
"SSR Kosak greets Bong Summoner-nim. Salute!"
"Algobang, here too."
Now he calls himself Algobang.
Wasn't that a nickname Kosak made up to tease him?
But he acts like it's his real name.
'It's pitiful, so pitiful.'
A barbarian warrior who, because of his poor intellect, was deceived by people and ultimately met his death.
'I must somehow get a Grade Enhancement Rune and feed it to him.'
Jungle terrain.
Not a normal forest, but a jungle densely packed with giant trees.
No light enters, making it very dark.
[28th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat 20 Jungle Trolls.
⏰ Time Limit: Within 4 hours.
"Whew, Jungle Trolls. If It were Kosak, alone, an S++ conquest would have been very hard."
Understandable.
The reason was that Jungle Trolls are tough.
Their bodies are smaller than other trolls, making it possible for them to live in the trees.
To catch them, you had to go up into the trees.
Because they never come down to the ground.
"So it's easy now?"
"Yep."
"Even S++ conquest?"
"Piece of cake."
"How?"
"What do we have Gobang for? He's more useful than you think."
Kosak said, tapping Savage Gobang's shoulder.
"Gobang, let's start."
"Got it. I'll do it all."
It seems they have some kind of understanding.
Gobang bent over and placed both hands on the ground.
Like a sprinter track athlete,
Simultaneously.
"Uwooooooooh!!!"
Gobang charged toward a giant tree.
*Kwaaaah! Kukung!*
What kind of sound is that?
Did a bomb explode?
The huge tree shook violently like a vibrating smartphone.
*Woodudeuk! Pujijijik!*
The sound of the trunk breaking could be heard,
*Euseuseuseu!*
Leaves fell in droves.
"..."
What the?
Mom, he's scary.
Jungle Trolls live in the trees.
Would the trees they live in be just ordinary size?
No, they're enormous.
More than twice the size of the biggest tree on Earth.
And it shakes from a shoulder charge?
Is he human? Or a tank?
'He could make a living doing demolition work on buildings outside.'
How is Gobang only Rare grade?
No matter how dumb he is, with that strength, shouldn't he be given SSR?
"Algobang Summoned Being! You, weak! So weak! Is that all you can do? We have feast soon?"
"I'll reflect. Algobang, I'll try harder."
Once again.
*Dadadadak!*
*Baaaak!*
*Kwakwakwakwak! Kwaddeuk!*
The tree shook as if its roots were being pulled out.
Simultaneously.
*Hudududuk! Hududuk!*
Jungle Trolls plummeted to the ground like chestnuts.
"Well done. Algobang Summoned Being, you may feast now."
"Eat tasty things."
Now it's time for SSR, Kosak.
He swept through the falling trolls.
The sword aura enveloping his dagger illuminated the dark jungle.
*Swish, swishswishswish! Swishswish!*
The trolls couldn't even regenerate.
Because they were beheaded the moment they fell.
"Alright! Next, let's go to the tree."
"...Y-yeah, sure."
Outwardly they may seem sloppy,
But these two were the real deal, genuine powerhouses.
The method of conquest was the same.
Kosak would point to a specific tree, and Gobang would charge and ram it.
"Go! Algobang, feast!"
"Uwooooh! Feast!"
*Kwakwakwak! Kwaddeuk!*
*Hudududuk! Hududuk!*
And when the Jungle Trolls fell like chestnuts, Kosak harvested them.
It looked very simple, but it was a conquest method that was anything but simple.
"I kind of want to try it too..."
"Ayoo! Of course, of course, our Bong Summoner-nim, do whatever you want to do."
The reason Kosak readily agreed.
The Jungle Trolls had fallen from a high place to the ground, so they had already taken significant damage from the first impact.
He just walked over to the dazed, disoriented creatures and hit them roughly, that's all.
"Done. Hehehe."
"Yeah, it's done. Hahaha."
Black Tower (Korea) 28th Floor Conquest Grade: S++
S++ Conquest Reward: Platinum Badge awarded.