Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Ordinary Guy's Tower Conquest Method - 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
He had been confident.
He wanted to escape the wretchedness of reality and live a different life, at least within the Tower.
He thought he had acquired the ability to do so.
That is, until he entered the 29th floor.
"Ggrrrooaaagh! Grooagh."
Against the backdrop of a ruined city.
Plague Trolls loitered, wandering among the collapsed buildings.
'Should I hunt them, or should I not?'
For a moment, he even considered giving up the climb.
Plague Trolls?
"Plague" was a euphemism.
They should more accurately be called Pus Trolls, or lumps of pus.
With every step, they oozed and dripped yellow, viscous fluid.
'The 28th floor was a cakewalk.'
Joo-hyuk was wearing a mask.
Not a regular dust mask, but a gas mask used at construction sites, sterile factories, or laboratories.
Even so, an unbearable stench seeped through.
"That is very cool. Is it a gas mask?"
"...It's just a mask."
The most crucial part to avoid when dealing with Plague Trolls was the bacteria and viruses that could cause illness in players.
Exposure to them would lead to high fever, muscle pain, coughing, runny nose, dizziness, and various other symptoms.
You could take a Healing Potion, but what if you fell ill mid-battle?
Since items made outside were considered personal belongings, he had to take it before entering the Tower.
When he asked Gobang if he wasn't going to wear a mask.
"I not wear. Warrior no get sick."
"You bastard! You can't wear one anyway because your head is too big."
"Warrior must have big head. Assassin, you wear."
Kosak also.
"Wearing something like this would make me short of breath and unable to move. And also, that..."
"SSR, right? SSR."
"Hehehe."
Gobang with his warrior talk, Kosak with his SSR talk.
If they got sick, he'd just give them a Healing Potion each.
No, would someone who's already died once even catch a disease?
"I feel like I'm going to throw up."
"It is extremely disgusting. Do you see those blisters over there? If those pop, yellow pus just gushes out..."
"I think I'd rather not hear."
"Will you hunt them? I think about three would be doable."
"..."
Even with the gas mask on, he didn't want to.
What if he got splattered with pus?
So he kept his mouth tightly shut.
'For repeat quests, I should just hunt the Jungle Trolls on the 28th floor.'
The conquest began.
Gobang charged forward.
Kosak followed behind him.
Thwack! Splat! Splat-thwack!
As the Plague Trolls fell, sticky pus burst out.
'Ugh, damn it!'
Passing was the right answer.
How could anyone deal with that?
Kosak and Gobang were grinning widely, covered in yellow pus.
"..."
It was bizarre and eerie.
They looked more like Plague Trolls.
Wait!
Once the quest ended and the grade conquest message finished, they would be transported home immediately.
Then all that pus would be...
"Summoner Bong! Shall we have a company dinner today as well?"
This wouldn't do.
Nausea rose right up to his throat.
"Hey, I'm really sorry."
"...What do you mean?"
"You can curse me out."
"Oh my! How could I curse out Summoner Bong? Who is always bright and brilliant, working tirelessly day and night for the betterment of summoned beings' rights..."
"Summon Release for both of you."
"...Pardon?"
Pop! Pop!
Kosak and Gobang vanished simultaneously.
Ahh!
I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry.
I am a betrayer.
A wicked employer.
Curse me all you want.
Spit at me.
But it's a new house,
Plague pus would get all over the place.
And Mr. Gobang is huge, so a lot would get on him.
How could I return with them?
There was no other way.
I'll just have to summon them again later.
Should I do it in three hours? Or tomorrow?
'...Let's treat them to a big feast tomorrow.'
First, I need to go outside, do the laundry, and take a shower.
The Platinum Badge was a given.
He'd feel slighted if he didn't get it.
How many could he get?
Seoul, Hannam-dong, Awakening Management Bureau.
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su was humming a tune as he sprayed water from a spray bottle onto the leaves of his prized orchid.
After that, he carefully wiped the leaves.
Things seemed to be going well lately.
Above all, the successful elite contract with Player Bong Joo-hyuk.
That was the biggest factor.
He was in such a good mood.
Indeed, he had not disappointed expectations.
He hadn't stopped even after the contract.
An S++ grade conquest record on the 28th floor.
At this pace, even conservatively, he could reach the 40th floor in three months, or maybe even somewhere in the 50s if things went well.
'Still, it's better not to expect too much beyond the 30th floor.'
Expecting an S++ grade conquest record was probably asking too much.
Immediately, from floors 31 to 35 was the Minotaur section, and from 36 to 40, the Ogre section.
Giant monsters awaited him, incomparable to Trolls.
And what about the 40s, where even larger monsters roamed?
As long as he continued to show his will to climb, that was enough.
Just conquer them safely.
Suddenly!
Knock, knock, knock.
It was the sound of someone knocking on the Chief's office door.
"Come in."
The person who entered was Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il.
"How did it go?"
"He just completed the conquest of the 29th floor with an S++ grade. Our bureau's players have also confirmed it."
"Hoho."
He was unstoppable.
Whenever he called to notify that he was about to conquer a floor, the global announcement would appear in less than 20 minutes.
Just how was he doing it?
He'd heard it was a Summoning trait, but was he summoning a dragon or something?
There was no video, so there was no way to know.
Originally, elite team members were required to wear body cams when entering the Tower to record conquest videos, but Summoner Bong Joo-hyuk was specially exempted.
Because he had requested it.
The Bureau could easily allow that much.
"Did you talk to Player Bong?"
"Yes, I did before coming to report."
"Any particular issues?"
"Well... we got word that the 30th floor conquest might not be possible for about ten days."
"Why? Is preparation insufficient?"
"He says he needs that much time for skill mastery."
"I see. Ten days is nothing."
Others took breaks of over a month.
It was a big mistake to think all players were as diligent as Bong Joo-hyuk.
Players who had already tasted money were busy having fun.
The elite team was no different.
"By the way, how is Player Yu Cheol-min lately? Any attempts on the 66th floor?"
"I was just about to report on that."
"What is it?"
"He's practically clocking in at the club every day. He drinks until he's unconscious, goes home only at dawn, or enjoys one-night stands with women..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, the security personnel must be having a hard time."
However, Park Kyung-su understood completely.
The 66th floor, the only player capable of climbing the un-conquered upper floors of Korea's Black Tower.
He bore the expectations of everyone.
Since his identity was known, the pressure he felt was unimaginable to others,
"He must be acting that way because the 66th floor conquest isn't going as planned."
"The conquest support team analyzed the videos, and he seems to be making little progress."
"Is it very difficult?"
"He only needs to kill 10 Specters, but the best he's done by the time limit is kill 3, or he gives up on the quest from the start because it's too tough."
Due to their undead nature, they were fundamentally different from other monsters.
Starting from the Mummies on the 61st floor, they emitted a 'Dark Aura', and just enduring that itself was difficult.
They weren't the kind of undead that often appeared in games or movies, which ordinary people could beat with their fists.
They were horrifying monsters that gnawed at human souls with their Dark Aura.
Park Kyung-su felt somewhat uneasy.
But he had to believe in Player Yu Cheol-min.
'He'll conquer it eventually.'
As far as he knew, the countdown to the collapse of South Korea's Black Tower had about 92 days left.
Half of the 180-day deadline had passed.
One could think there was only half left, or that there was still half left, the perspective could differ.
But in Park Kyung-su's opinion, it was enough.
'It's still far for Player Bong Joo-hyuk to reach the 60th floor,'
The Awakening Management Bureau also had a Plan B of sorts.
"What about Player Nam Ga-eun? She's currently conquering the 62nd floor, right?"
"Yes, she's climbing vigorously."
Thinking of Player Nam Ga-eun alone made him feel very regretful.
In terms of talent alone, she was superior to Yu Cheol-min.
So far, she had conquered many floors with an A grade.
She even had A+ and A++ grades.
Like that.
No global announcement rang out, but.
However, Player Nam Ga-eun's trait enhancement was only at level 1, stage 2.
That was more than three stages behind Yu Cheol-min, who had achieved trait enhancement four times.
"Can't we acquire more Trait Enhancement Runes?"
"Hard to say, the Enhancement Rune market has dried up. The reward probability is just too low."
"I'll see what I can do to inquire around."
Even if they found them, they would ultimately be funneled to Player Yu Cheol-min.
"Right! How is the procurement of light-attribute items going?"
"From what I hear, outright purchase isn't possible, but they're exploring the possibility of a rental format."
"Alright, I'll get a direct report from the Items Department on that."
"Yes."
Procuring light-attribute items for the undead section conquest was also hitting difficulties.
Contrary to conquest information, item sharing was difficult due to national circumstances.
Especially Tower reward items.
If only they had an ample supply of light-attribute items, it would help with the 66th floor conquest.
Light-attribute items had played a big role in Yu Cheol-min's conquest of the 65th floor as well.
They had spent a lot of money to procure many so far, but it was still insufficient.
What to do.
They'd just have to procure more.
The next day.
Joo-hyuk finished preparing for the company dinner.
The menu was Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps).
Instead of delivery food, he got a large steamer pot and pork and boiled it himself.
The reason he specially prepared the food himself.
Was because he felt sorry.
"...They're not upset, are they?"
"Eheh, what do you take me for? Even if you smashed my earthenware pot with a mace, hehe, I would laugh. Al-Gobang too. Would you like to try hitting him?"
"Mr. Kosak?"
"No. I meant Gobang."
"..."
The living room table was generously set with Bossam.
Food, after all, is about sincerity.
It hadn't even been a year since he became independent, but he could still manage Bossam.
"Here! Nice and hot Bossam."
"Oh! I will eat well."
But Gobang's expression was strange.
Suddenly, he was sniffling, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Why are you crying? Can't you eat pork? You ate Sweet and Sour Pork just fine."
"Thank you, Summoner."
Huh?
"No one has ever treated me this well except the Summoner."
"Uh..."
Why was he getting so sentimental?
"I, Al-Gobang, will be utterly loyal. Even if I die, I will definitely save the Summoner."
"Ahem... yes, yes, eat first."
He could guess why Gobang was choked up.
People had only tried to take advantage of the barbarian warrior's dim-wittedness.
How hurt he must have been.
Well, he himself wasn't much different.
Except that he treated them to a generous company dinner after using them. That was the difference.
By the way, what was Kosak doing?
Was he moved by this heartwarming conversation?
'...'
Not at all.
Kosak was poking only at the seasoned kimchi his mother had made, with a serious expression.
Sigh, this spice wimp!
"If you're not going to eat it, stop poking at it."
"S-sorry. It looks so delicious, I want to eat it, but I just can't muster the courage."
It seemed the memory of fainting after eating Tteokbokki came to mind.
Kosak, who even said Ssamjang (spicy soybean paste wrap) was spicy.
"Just eat it with a lettuce wrap and pickled shrimp."
"...Yes."
He placed a lettuce leaf on his side plate, added Bossam, put some pickled shrimp on it, and ate it in one bite.
"Mmm, de-delicious. The harmony of Bossam and pickled shrimp is amazing."
This guy has no taste.
He would never know the harmony of Bossam and seasoned kimchi.
"We conquered the 29th floor, shall we go to the 30th right away?"
"Hmm, it's a bit lacking, but I will try my best."
A bit lacking?
Why?
"The Twin-Head Troll's regeneration ability is no joke. Their heads are tough too, so they don't cut well even with sword energy. Even if you cut one off, there's another one."
Absolutely not.
I need to get a badge on the 30th floor too.
"Then let's put it on hold for now. Until the Random Summon cooldown resets, we'll just do repeat conquests on the 28th floor."
"Understood. As long as Gobang-ee shakes the trees well, it will be fine."
If the 30th floor was iffy...
"What about from the 31st floor?"
"The 31st floor... also has bad compatibility with Al-Gobang-ee, so S++ would be difficult."
"Compatibility?"
"Monsters much larger than Al-Gobang-ee appear. Minotaurs and Ogres. It would be hard even for Gobang."
"No, Al-Gobang can win."
"Shut up! If I say it's so, then it's so!"
Meaning large monsters.
"One-on-one, Al-Gobang might win, but if multiple attack at once, even he would have a hard time. Aggro would drop. If aggro drops, Summoner Bong might be in danger."
"Ah, I see."
"So we have to pull them one or two at a time and hunt them, which would take quite a while."
When Kosak said it was difficult, this is what he ultimately meant.
Conquest itself was not a problem.
Only that an S++ grade conquest was iffy.
The Ordinary Guy's Tower Conquest Method.
If it's iffy, don't climb.
Prepare perfectly, to the point of overkill.
"We'll need to summon one more person to conquer it."
"Correct. You are brilliant and wise."
A higher grade would be the icing on the cake.
"Hmm, LSSR, Legend Special Super Rare... is it possible?"
"It is possible. Even if not this time, if you keep drawing, you'll get one someday."
Anyway, it depended on his gacha luck.
Please, I hope a decent person is summoned.
Someone not too crazy, not too dumb, an ordinary summoned being.
And so, the 28th-floor repeat quests began.
Almost ten days had passed since the last global announcement.
Japanese Embassy in Korea.
Counselor Tomoda, who had been working, suddenly shot up from his seat.
A call had come on his satellite phone.
The only person who would call this phone was the scout broker.
He quietly went to the restroom.
"Hello?"
- It's me.
"The result?"
- The rabbit has decided to leave its old nest and move to a new one.
"...That's great news. Truly great."
- However, you will have to come and get him. Wolves are watching the rabbit.
"Tell him not to worry. We will come to escort him safely."
Counselor Tomoda clenched his fist tightly.
He had finally done it.
The sudden naturalization of Player Yu Cheol-min.
Now Japan was safe.
He didn't know what would happen to Korea.