Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Roulette of Fate
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Joo-hyuk's ambitious journey, determined to succeed in trait enhancement no matter what after receiving the special privilege.
The solemn resolve of the three summoned beings, desperate not to lose their jobs by creating one more slot.
It started from the 36th floor.
The large humanoid monster, Ogre.
Smaller in stature compared to a Minotaur, but the Ogre's strength lay in its speed.
The 1st stage of the 36th floor was just moderately fast,
but from the 2nd stage, that huge body became as fast as an Orc.
The 3rd stage?
Almost rabbit-like.
Moreover, they were clever and cunning, quickly fleeing if things seemed hopeless.
The 4th stage used some kind of movement skill, annoyingly hopping high above the players' heads.
Restraining skills were crucial.
The players had crowd control skills suited to their traits, but using them at the right place and time was difficult—that's what talent was for,
but Joo-hyuk had no such control skills.
He only had his summoned beings.
Gobang, the SSR Savage Meat Shield, who was much larger, stronger, and faster than the Ogres.
Crunch! Smash! Swish!
"Kwooooooh!"
SSR Shaman Gyeon Dal-rae, who bound the Ogres with area-of-effect debuffs.
"Evil things, do not move!"
And the assassin John Kosak, who went into a frenzy with bloodshot eyes.
"Tear them apart!"
Actually, it wasn't just Kosak who was in a hurry.
Who knew who the next summoned being would be?
Carelessness meant getting fired.
They would no longer be able to enjoy the pleasure of a company dinner, bought by the boss after a hard day's work.
Of course, they had to be desperate.
Joo-hyuk kept his promise.
He stood idly in the rear.
But his feelings were complicated.
He had boldly shouted, "Proceed!" but,
'What if the special privilege didn't appear even by the 50th floor?'
With bad luck, it could be a total disaster.
'No, it must appear.'
There was one more way to achieve trait enhancement besides the special privilege.
Namely, the Trait Enhancement Rune.
But it had an extremely, extremely low drop rate.
It could only be obtained as a reward item from the 40th or 50th floors and above, and these days, they didn't even appear on the market.
'Should I beg the Management Bureau? Ask them to get me one?'
But that also had a downside.
It would mean owing an even bigger favor than receiving a penthouse.
'This is troublesome.'
Let's go to the 40th floor, check the special privilege, and decide then.
And so, the 36th floor,
the 37th floor,
and even the 38th and 39th floors,
The speed was insane.
Once a day, in the morning, without fail, a nationwide announcement rang out.
While watching morning dramas, the citizens had to see the subtitle <Korea Black Tower 3xth Floor S++ Clear Grade Record!> every day.
By now, it had become a chronic condition, and it wasn't even surprising anymore.
39 consecutive S++ clear records.
And four days in a row at that.
The national pride just wouldn't subside.
In the midst of this,
the nation's biggest source of national pride quietly left his place of seclusion.
Every time he used it, Joo-hyuk felt it: the effect of the Perception Disturbance Talisman was truly outstanding.
It went beyond simply not recognizing his face; it even scattered their wariness.
Even if he passed right by them, he was perceived as someone they always saw, a person who posed no threat whatsoever.
Recently, the security around the officetel where Joo-hyuk resided had been significantly strengthened.
The number of internal guards had increased, and there were many personnel monitoring the entire building from outside.
But they were useless against the Perception Disturbance Talisman.
Even when Joo-hyuk opened the officetel door and came out at 4 a.m., a time when few people were around, they just thought a dog was passing by.
Walking a good distance from the officetel, he saw some early morning taxis.
Shyly raising his hand, he stopped one.
"Um, driver... I'd like to go to the traditional market in Gongju, Chungnam."
"Huh? Where did you say?"
"Gongju City Traditional Market. Is that not possible?"
"That's too far..."
"Ah, umm, five hundred thousand? In cash..."
"Please fasten your seatbelt."
The taxi sped off like an arrow.
It took an hour and thirty minutes to reach the Gongju Traditional Market.
It was still early morning.
There were already quite a lot of people.
Looking at his watch, it was just before 6 a.m.
Joo-hyuk entered the market's public restroom and summoned Kosak.
"Poof! Kosak is here."
"Are you ready?"
"I am firmly prepared."
"Good. Let's go."
The reason for coming to the market... was, of course, to go shopping.
"Should we buy fruit first?"
"There's a lot more to buy besides that. It'll be very heavy."
"Ah, I'll carry everything. Summoner, you just handle the payment."
As he said, they bought an enormous amount.
After finishing their shopping, they moved again.
Hailed another taxi,
"Gyeryongsan National Park, please."
"Alright, going hiking, I see? Get in."
"We have a lot of luggage, can we use the trunk..."
Joo-hyuk and Kosak got in the taxi together.
They didn't say a word during the trip.
Arrival at Gyeryongsan National Park.
Then, heading to a place with no people, they also summoned Gobang and Gyeon Dal-rae.
"We have been waiting, Master."
"I'll carry all the luggage. Give it to me."
Gyeon Dal-rae took the lead.
"Although it is a different world, seeing that the mountain terrain is similar, that place should also be here. Please follow this maiden."
Following the hiking trail up for a while, then turning off to the side at Gyeon Dal-rae's direction.
A rugged valley appeared.
Continuing to walk,
"It is here."
"Where should we put the items?"
"Hmm, around here... Ah!"
As if remembering something, she looked at Gobang.
"Could you move this rock to the side?"
"Understood, Princess."
A rock that looked incredibly heavy was lifted effortlessly by Gobang's hands.
Beneath it appeared a flat slab of stone.
"We must clean it thoroughly. Fetch water from the stream and scrub it hard with the pine branch we brought."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Without a word of complaint, they did as they were told.
Gobang and Kosak meticulously cleaned the rock, which had become black with moss.
And Gyeon Dal-rae?
She also had work to do.
Her appearance, holding a piece of traditional Korean paper in her mouth while solemnly sharpening her knife, swish, swish.
'Hmm...'
A woman in white mourning clothes sharpening a knife.
It was a bit eerie.
The food was placed on the now clean stone slab.
In the center was a pig's head, with fruits and various ceremonial foods on either side.
"We shall begin."
Quickly!
Joo-hyuk, along with Gobang and Kosak, knelt before the altar.
At the same time, Gyeon Dal-rae placed the speaker they had brought in front and started the playback.
Jjang! Jjang-jjaejaejaeng, Jjaejaengjaengjjae Jaengjjaejaejaeng.
Dung! Dungdeokung, Deodung Dungde Dungdeokung!
A shamanic ritual began with a lively rhythm.
Gyeon Dal-rae, holding a bell and a knife, began to shake her body noisily.
"Eoheo, Eoheoi, Eohi, I beseech the gods of heaven and earth, look favorably upon Master Bong, I pray that his future be filled with great fortune."
No one was laughing.
It was solemn, serious, and dignified.
"I pray, I pray, for trait enhancement, I pray."
As Joo-hyuk led the chant, everyone joined in with one voice.
"I pray, I pray, for trait enhancement, I pray."
It was a ritual.
A prayer ritual for the special privilege to be received from accumulating 40 Platinum Badges.
Would this work?
Isn't believing in superstition too pathetic?
What if it didn't work?
The important thing was the effort to try something.
And holding a ritual wasn't that unusual.
When starting a company, when filming a movie for the first time, when a politician runs for election—many people do it.
It was all to find peace of mind.
Let's get it this time.
He didn't want to disappoint his summoned beings.
If this didn't work, he might end up having to beg the Management Bureau.
A ritual was better than that.
The ritual reached its climax.
Gyeon Dal-rae's dance movements became even more intense.
Whoosh!
A blue knife was thrown into the sky.
Kosak quickly caught it and handed it to Gobang.
The kneeling Gobang tightly gripped the back of the knife with both hands and raised it with the blade facing up.
Having already taken off her traditional socks, Gyeon Dal-rae stepped onto the blade with her bare feet.
Lightly, lightly.
Gyeon Dal-rae walked on the knife.
The feeling was good.
It would probably work.
As expected, Joo-hyuk took a taxi alone and arrived back at his Seoul officetel.
He tapped his card key and entered.
Having finished his day trip and returned home, Joo-hyuk began meditating with a solemn heart.
He had dismissed his summoned beings right after the ritual ended, so he could summon them again soon.
Actually, clearing the 40th floor with an S++ grade wasn't the problem.
Success was a given.
But what if he failed to achieve trait enhancement this time too?
Honestly, he had no intention of dismissing even one of them.
Even if he summoned an LSSR.
He would rather give up on S++ clears.
He was only doing this for Kosak and the other summoned beings, who were trembling with fear of losing their jobs.
Alright! Time's up.
Designated Summon, all of them.
"Are you ready?"
Everyone nodded with grave expressions.
"Let's go in."
He had reached the 40th floor before he knew it.
Received the mission.
40th Floor Mission
📍 Objective: Eliminate 80 Ogres (any type) and 1 Twin-Headed Ogre.
⏰ Time Limit: Within 13 hours.
📊 Progress: All Ogre Types 0/80, Twin-Headed Ogre 0/1
Was killing monsters the problem?
The problem was checking the special privilege after killing them.
Ogres weren't even on his mind.
He just wanted to kill them quickly and check the special privilege.
Ooooooh,
The aura was rising from Gobang and Kosak's bodies.
As if sensing the danger, the Ogres hesitated to charge forward and instead shuffled backward.
But could they even escape?
The Ogres were torn apart, and the Twin-Headed Ogre, the moment it appeared,
"Squish!"
And thus,
Pop!
The group returned to the officetel.
"I am excited."
"Shh! Don't jinx it. Please watch your words."
"Yes."
Joo-hyuk took a deep breath, then,
checked his inventory.
Let's go! I've waited long enough.
If it doesn't appear this time either, I'll have to temporarily halt my tower climbing for a while.
Will it finally be trait enhancement...?
"...Huh? What's this?"
Joo-hyuk's expression was dumbfounded.
"Wh-what is it? Did it appear?"
"Is it trait enhancement?"
"Summoner, I'm curious, tell us."
Joo-hyuk didn't answer.
He just blankly stared at the image that had appeared before his eyes.
It was a round wheel.
There was one needle on it.
Colorful, differently sized fan-shaped sections were densely packed.
It was similar to the Random Box he had received before, but the method was different.
The words written on the sections.
Magic Stone, Medicinal Herb, Item, Potion, Skill, Various Tickets...
'What about Trait Enhancement?'
It was there.
But it was the narrowest section.
'Now, of all things, it's a spinning wheel?'
Could he even get the needle into that?
"...Is it a bust?"
In response to Kosak's question,
"I have to spin the roulette."
"Huh? Ro-roulette? That spinning thing?"
"That's right. There's a trait enhancement section too... but it's a bit narrow."
"How narrow is it?"
"About this much."
"Oh no!"
Don't get excited.
Even now, the summoned beings were staring at his face like baby owls.
"Wait a moment. I'll take a shower and come out."
Joo-hyuk took clean clothes and went into the bathroom.
Starting with brushing his teeth, as a reflection for the curse words he'd used earlier.
Cleaning his ears thoroughly.
Drying every nook and cranny, changing his underwear, changing his clothes, and when he came out of the shower,
"..."
All eyes were on him.
Everyone was expecting, but the pressure of having to spin the roulette.
Wow! This is really burdensome.
"...Would, would anyone tear the ticket for me instead?"
The gathered gazes were withdrawn.
The summoned beings suddenly started acting oblivious.
They averted their eyes as if looking at a distant mountain.
To avoid meeting Joo-hyuk's eyes.
"...Damn it."
Cowards.
You don't want to take responsibility, huh?
'Whatever comes out, it would've been better when it was time to do it.'
Anyway, he had no choice.
He even held a ritual,
Joo-hyuk took out the Roulette Spin Ticket (Single Use) from his inventory.
His hands trembled, shivering.
After taking several deep breaths,
"Will you curse at me if it doesn't come out? Yes or no?"
"No!"
"No, we won't!"
"How could this maiden do such a thing?"
Riiip!
He tore the ticket without mercy.
Charararararak!
The roulette spun.
Spinning, spinning, again and again.
The trait enhancement section, was as small as a mouse dropping.
Charararararak!
It spun, and spun.
Not just the roulette, but his eyeballs spun.
His head spun.
The endlessly spinning roulette.
When will it stop?
It really spun for a long time.
Spun like crazy.
Before he knew it,
Chararara, Chararak, Charak.
The speed began to decrease.
Srrrrrrt.
The wheel slowly spun from right to left.
"Go, go! We even held a ritual."
Srrrrr...
Very slowly.
Almost coming to a stop.
Just a little more, just a little.
Joo-hyuk's body twisted.
He followed the direction the wheel was spinning.
To the left, to the left,
The bodies of the summoned beings, who were anxiously watching, also twisted along.
To the left, to the left,
'Oooh! It's getting closer. Just a little more.'
Did the prayer ritual actually have an effect?
The trait enhancement section and the needle were getting closer and closer.
It seemed like it would work.
No, it almost did.
The almost-stopped wheel.
Now the needle was on the trait enhancement section.
"St-stop!"
If it stopped right now, that would be it.
But it still moved a little to the left.
It would go past it at this rate.
"This damn roulette..."
Joo-hyuk twisted his body in the opposite direction.
Following him, the summoned beings' bodies also twisted in the opposite direction,
"You can't go any further!!!"
If it went past, it would land on some unknown medicinal herb section.
A special privilege, and you get a medicinal herb and fall? No way!
Go the other way!
Spin to the right! To the right!
Zzzt! Joo-hyuk clenched his right toe with all his might.
At that moment!
- Click!
Huh?
He heard a sound,
'Click?'
Simultaneously, the roulette stopped completely.
The needle's position was...
"Oooh."
Trait Enhancement.
"Click!"
"Click!!"
Joo-hyuk threw both hands up in the air.
"Click!!!"
The summoned beings also cheered together.
They jumped up and down.
"It's a click!"
"It is a click!"
"Click!"
And so, the status window was,