Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: 34th Floor and a New Leap
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I successfully conquered the 33rd floor with an S++ rating and exited the Tower.
A brief break time.
Kosak turned on the TV, saying it was time for a drama, but nearly every broadcast channel was plastered with special programs.
Player Nam Ga-eun's successful conquest of the 65th floor.
Soon to be followed by a 65th-floor conquest announcement.
Kosak exploded in anger.
"What in the world is that? What's so great about a measly 65th floor! Huh? If our Summoner Bong hadn't delivered the Holy Sword, it would've been impossible! I'm angry, so angry! Our record of 33 consecutive S++ ratings is a joke to them?"
Then, Gyeon Dal-rae spoke up.
"Sir Kosak. Please don't be so upset. It's just a seasonal thing. Once the 66th-floor conquest is over, they'll gradually fade from the news."
"Oh! Is that so?"
"Yes. In the end, only the Young Master's achievements will remain. Forever!"
"Hehehe, wise words indeed."
Achievements, my foot!
They're all their own achievements.
What share do I have in any of that?
However, Player Nam Ga-eun's conquest was purely solo.
Of course, items were extremely important in Tower conquests.
As the saying went, 'it's all about the gear'—a single high-quality item could completely change the tide of a conquest.
But a player's personal capability was just as crucial as their items.
You have to use items well for their effects to shine.
'Still, it's impressive.'
Honestly, I was envious.
Maybe not to Nam Ga-eun's level, but I'd at least like to have the ability to protect myself within the Tower.
'But right now, I'm just dead weight.'
Not that my Summoned Beings would ever think of me as such.
It was the same during the 33rd-floor conquest.
Overwhelmed by the size of the three-stage Minotaurs, I couldn't even land a proper mace swing.
'Let's just do what I can for now.'
Joo-hyuk decided to conquer the Tower again the next day.
Yesterday was the 33rd floor.
Today is the 34th.
Two days in a row.
South Korea's Black Tower, 34th Floor.
The mission: conquer four-stage Minotaurs.
Now, the bull-headed monsters were nearly 6 meters tall.
"...They're huge."
"Incredibly huge. You'd have to crane your neck way back to see the bull's head."
Aah!
Leaping up to smash their heads like clay pots is now completely impossible.
Does that mean I can't use the Primordial Thunderbolt Staff techniques at all now?
They'd only get bigger as the floors increase.
Do I have to stick to hunting low-floor Orcs and Trolls?
A sudden wave of sadness hit me.
This timid, cowardly personality of mine... is there no way to fix it?
While I was lost in thought, the conquest had already begun.
*Thud thud thud thud!*
*Jingle jingle*
*Shimmer shimmer shimmer!*
Gyeondal-rae's buff spread across the 34th floor.
Empowered by it, Gobang and Kosak swept through the Minotaurs.
Meanwhile, Joo-hyuk couldn't bring himself to charge out recklessly.
He had firmly resolved:
A gentle, ordinary guy on the outside.
A dashing, manly man inside the Tower.
But faced with these giant monsters, that resolution was shaking like a reed again.
'Let's just attack the legs. If I chip away at them with small hits, they'll probably fall over. Then I can finish them.'
Well, not exactly the manly man's way.
Seeing Joo-hyuk's gloomy expression as he just watched the battlefield, Kosak, who was in the middle of fighting a four-stage Minotaur, rushed over.
"Summoner Bong, is the bull's head too big?"
"Yeah. I've hit my limit."
"Don't worry. Who do you think I am? SSR Kosak will solve it for you."
"Huh?"
"In return, promise you'll only kill one. There aren't many left anyway."
He had a method?
My interest was piqued.
"Alright. I'll just kill one."
"A swift decision, most excellent."
Kosak looked at Gobang.
"Gobang. You owe us for all that beef, right? You ate the most! When others had one piece, you gobbled down four, no five pieces!"
"Wh-whatever. I'll do it."
"It's not difficult. Interlock your fingers. No, not like that, like this."
Aha!
I think I get it.
He's telling him to make a foothold with his hands.
"Oh! So I step on it and jump up?"
"Hehehe, Gobang will *thwack*! Lift you right up."
The scene played out in his mind.
Stepping on the foothold and *whoosh*! Soaring, then making a cool descent to smash the bull's head.
How awesome would that be.
'Is he a genius?'
Kosak was just so lovely, no matter how many times I look.
How did he know exactly where to scratch the itch?
Great.
Let's do it.
"Mr. Gobang, please lift me up."
"Understood. A warrior lifts his summoner."
Gobang got into position.
"Here I go."
*Padapadapada!*
Joo-hyuk ran.
He powerfully stepped onto the foothold Gobang made with his hands with one foot, simultaneously straightening his knee,
*Thwack!*
He leaped into the sky.
Gobang added his strength too.
*Whoooosh!*
His body soared upward.
A cool breeze on his face,
A leap that cast off all shackles and restraints.
This is amazing.
I'm glad I tried it.
'Yeah, this is what a real man does.'
He kept rising.
Higher and higher,
Higher... ,
'Huh.'
Why isn't it stopping?
How high is he planning to go?
'...I'm screwed.'
Gobang is strong.
But not very bright.
However, he followed instructions.
He asked to be lifted, so he lifted him.
He just didn't know how much was enough, so he gave it his all.
He himself was partly to blame.
When you entered the Tower, your physical abilities improved according to your level.
Strength, agility, magic power—they became significantly enhanced.
Not realizing that, he used too much force when stepping on the foothold.
Even an ordinary human could leap incredibly high with a proper foothold.
The synergy of action and reaction.
Because of that,
*Whoooooosh!*
He was still going up.
"Hahahaha...,"
Joo-hyuk laughed hollowly.
The situation was so absurd, he wasn't even sure if he was scared anymore.
'Will I die if I fall?'
Nah, no way.
His level-enhanced abilities should apply.
It'll just get hurt a bit.
He had healing potions.
Joo-hyuk looked down at his feet.
Kosak was delivering a dropkick to Gobang.
Seems like he was blaming him for lifting him too high.
'Why's he like that.'
He's the one who told him to do it.
'Suddenly reminds me of the Jungle Trolls.'
They must have felt like this when Gobang was shaking the trees.
Gradually, his speed decreased.
Finally, the ascent stopped.
But now all that remained was the fall.
Maybe I should have just stayed put.
All because I wanted to try smashing a monster's head,
And soon,
*Whoooosh!*
Joo-hyuk's body began to plummet vertically.
"Oww."
His lower body twitched.
Feels like he might wet himself.
But contrary to his body's reaction, he wasn't that terrified.
Gyeon Dal-rae was readying a talisman with his orb, while Gobang had already stretched out his arms to catch him.
She would slow his speed, and Gobang would catch him.
With that size, a princess carry would be safe and secure.
But it gave him goosebumps.
His hair stood on end. Gently held in those hideous arms like a blushing bride?
'...'
Just imagining it was horrifying.
Was there no way to land coolly on his own, without being caught?
Then, a scene from a movie came to mind.
A hero in an Iron Suit with rockets on his feet flying around.
Robots in animations often did that too.
He wished he could fly like that.
Igniting rockets from his feet with a *whoosh*...,
At that moment!
'Huh?'
What's this?
As he imagined the rocket ignition scenes from movies and animations, energy gathered toward the soles of his feet.
'Uh...'
He had an idea what it was.
Mana.
Mana responded to Joo-hyuk's will.
Simultaneously, he felt resistance.
A slight sensation of falling slower,
'Could it be?'
Instinctively, Joo-hyuk activated Shadow Step in mid-air.
*Swat! Swat! Swat!*
"Huh?"
It worked.
Shadow Step unfolded even in the empty air.
'This works.'
*Swat! Swat! Swat!*
The force of mana was pushing against the air.
So he could, albeit with difficulty, find footing.
In a zigzag pattern,
*Swat! Swat! Swat!*
Definitely.
His falling speed slowed even more.
Joo-hyuk concentrated all the mana in his body into the soles of his feet.
Meanwhile,
Below, Kosak, Gobang, and Gyeon Dal-rae watched blankly.
"Summoner walks. In sky."
"Uh, I, I see it too."
In mid-air... a Shadow Walker?
Was that possible?
Kosak recalled something his Assassin Guild's guild master once said.
That a Shadow Walker who reached the pinnacle could walk across the sky.
Back then, he laughed, thinking it was a scam.
Who would have thought he'd witness it with his own eyes.
Kosak realized it clearly.
"...Truly, our Summoner Bong has a talent beyond measure."
"Sir Kosak is right. Who would have thought we'd witness Void Treading here?"
Joo-hyuk was still anxious.
His descent speed had decreased significantly, but it was still fast.
Would he land properly?
Could he plant his feet on the ground coolly?
The ground was now much closer.
Right then!
A four-stage Minotaur directly below caught his eye.
Simultaneously, an idea flashed through his mind.
'...Hmm.'
Why not try it?
At the moment of impact, he stretched the hand holding his mace behind his shoulder,
'Falling Thunder Soul Chaser.'
He drove it straight into the four-stage Minotaur's head.
*Squeeaaak!*
*Crunch!*
A perfectly executed Falling Thunder Soul Chaser.
Thus, its power was beyond imagination.
The Minotaur's upper body was completely erased.
And using the recoil, he landed lightly.
*Thud!*
"Huff huff!"
His breath caught in his throat.
That was a decent save.
'Did I, without realizing...'
Joo-hyuk sneakily glanced down.
His pants were clean.
Luckily, it seemed he hadn't wet himself.
*Clap clap clap clap!*
The Summoned Beings clapped their hands and rushed over, out of breath.
"Am, amazing. Dazzling talent! Even I can't do that."
"Summoner deserve, warrior title."
"Ahh, how can you be so extraordinary, this maiden is only frightened by the Young Master's immense talent. I humbly beg you to exercise restraint."
Geez! So embarrassing.
"I'm... something, right?"
"Fantastic! Not only did you go up so high, but a Shadow Walker in the void? Beautiful. Look at my pants. Aren't they damp? Soaked through, I pissed myself."
"You scoundrel!!! Ah, no, Sir Kosak, how can you be so vulgar? There is no limit to your coarseness."
Thanks.
He pissed himself for me.
Honestly, I was scared.
I thought I'd just flail helplessly and fall, only to be violently embraced by Gobang.
But what's this?
Shadow Step worked in mid-air.
Honestly, it seemed like I do have talent.
Even I think the aerial Shadow Step was fantastic.
I practically flew.
And what about the Falling Thunder Soul Chaser?
The moment I executed it, I felt it.
It went in cleaner than ever.
Anyway, mission complete.
Again, today, a Magic St... wait!
"Huh?"
What's that?
"Gasp!"
It's a reward, a reward.
Not a special prize,
A Summoned Being Grade-Up Rune appeared as a reward item?
Is the Tower giving me a commendation prize for showing off?
You have achieved an S++ rating in conquering the 34th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).
🎁 S++ Conquest Reward: Platinum Badge awarded.
⬆️ Unlocked: You may now challenge the 35th floor.
🚪 Exiting: Exiting the Korean Black Tower.
*Pop!*
Joo-hyuk and his party returned to the officetel.
Joo-hyuk plopped down on the sofa as soon as they arrived.
"Wow!"
He still couldn't believe it.
Opening his inventory to check,
'It's real.'
First, he quietly called Kosak over.
"If I use the Grade-Up Rune, can someone go from SSR to LSSR?"
"Not a chance. Grade enhancement via rune only works up to SSR. LSSR is an exception."
I see.
Decision made.
This Grade-Up Rune was for Gobang.
"Let's rest for a bit now."
"Yes sir!"
"You have worked hard. But please, next time, take care of your own body. This maiden felt as if her heart would tear apart."
"Alright, alright. Let's have a team dinner. What do you want to eat?"
He was about to turn on his smartphone to open a delivery app when Kosak stopped him.
"Don't order anything. We should only eat ramen for a while."
"Why?"
"We had Hanwoo beef, remember. Especially that Gobang brat, he can go hungry for days. How many servings did he eat by himself?"
Kosak's fiery criticism was joined by Gyeon Dal-rae.
"No matter how well one works, a servant with a pauper in his belly should not be employed. Ah! Of course, I am not specifically referring to Sir Gobang."
Gobang?
How many meat wraps did that small mouth devour again?
Poor savage Gobang.
He seemed utterly dejected, hanging his head low.
This wouldn't do.
I should give it to him right away.
"Mr. Gobang?"
"...I'll eat less from now on."
"Don't say that. Take this."
"Warrior can go hungry. I no eat. Summoner, you eat plen... huh?"
Gobang's eyes widened.
He seemed to know what it was.
"Go and raise your grade."
"..."
Gobang bowed his head and fell silent.
His shoulders trembled.
'Is he crying?'
He must have been hurt until now.
Bullied for eating too much, looked down on for being dumb.
*Plop, plop-plop, plop plop.*
Tears as large as his frame dripped onto the floor.
"Crying again? Don't cry... gasp!"
Suddenly, Gobang pulled Joo-hyuk into a tight hug.
Due to the height difference, Joo-hyuk's face was against Gobang's stomach area.
Gobang had a lot of hair on his belly too.
A prickly, scratchy sensation brushed his face.
'...Ugh.'
What is this?
I struggled so hard not to be caught, tap-dancing in mid-air.
And now I'm being hugged here.
But with his poor intellect, will he even be able to use the rune properly?
It was a bit worrying.
Park Kyung-su, Chief of the Korean Awakening Management Bureau, received an official request from the United States regarding the loan of the Holy Sword.
He accepted immediately and scheduled a visit.
Ever since Korea conquered the 66th floor,
"Right after the 66th-floor conquest ended, we got a call saying Player Gerald Watson and Antonio, Director of the Tower Conquest Division under the Department of Homeland Security, would be entering through Incheon Airport."
"That fast? What's the rush?"
Jeon Gwang-il had spoken with Antonio on the phone just four days ago.
Back then, Antonio offered a million dollars as the loan fee, so Gwang-il told him to think it over carefully and call back, thoroughly chewing him out.
He knew why he did that.
He was just testing the waters.
But this crossed a line.
"Are they coming to conquer the 67th-floor Phantom Reaper?"
"No, there's still a long way to go. No need to rush the conquest."
"Then?"
"They want to repeatedly conquer the 66th-floor Specters, to experience the Holy Sword's effects, they said."
Gerald Watson.
America's highest-level player.
It took him over 13 hours to conquer the 66th floor too.
"And the one-time loan fee?"
"They offered ten million dollars."
"Anything else?"
"Withdrawal of anti-dumping regulations on Korean magic stone steel products."
"Hmm,"
Well, discussing it now is pointless.
After all, the loan price was set by Player Bong Joo-hyuk.
"Oh! And also...,"
"Huh? Something else?"
"There's that penthouse Yu Cheol-min used, right?"
"Why? Haven't you cleared it out yet? Burn all of Yu Cheol-min's belongings."
"That's the plan. But Player Bong Joo-hyuk seems interested in that house."
"Ah...,"
Chief Park Kyung-su pondered for a moment.
The penthouse's ownership had been confiscated and incorporated into government assets.
A house,
Player Bong Joo-hyuk was qualified.
If not him, who else would they give it to?
"I was actually thinking of giving him something extra anyway... A house would be perfect."
The justification of being the Holy Sword's owner was sufficient.
The fact that Bong Joo-hyuk was an S++ rating record holder was unknown even to the President.
The fewer who knew, the better.
However, a report about the Holy Sword's owner had been submitted.
Since the loan fee had to be deposited into an account, his identity would be revealed anyway.
"Good! Have all the items in the house thoroughly cleared out and transfer it to him. I'll handle the upper-level approval."
"Yes, I'll proceed."
Perfect timing.
It had been bothering him that he'd only given him a 2-billion-won salary and an officetel.