Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Badge's Meaning and the World's Curse
The repaired Holy Sword was sent to the Management Bureau.
The rental business would start again soon.
Since its performance was now more than twice as good as before, customers would flock, and money would flow in steadily.
Joo-hyuk decided to return to the penthouse apartment in Cheongdam-dong the following day.
He hadn't been able to properly relax while repairing the Holy Sword.
Now, for the badge awarding ceremony.
The team's hope and cheat key.
"Razix Worker, come forward."
"Hooey!"
Rolling over,
Thump! Raising his head high,
Puff! Sticking out his chest, Razix.
"Wow, so arrogant."
"What's wrong with being arrogant? The chief servant can be like that."
"This warrior acknowledges it."
"Supply Officer, your charm is off the charts."
"Hooey!"
Confidence? Arrogance?
Of course, he could have both.
"You have performed your role as a homemaker well, repairing the broken Holy Sword with remarkable skill, thereby contributing to maintaining a steady stream of income. Accordingly, I hereby award you badges. For your reference, I will be awarding two badges."
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause.
Joo-hyuk took the Platinum Badges from his inventory and attached them to Razix's backpack.
Click!
"Hooey,"
Four were now attached.
"Let's add one more."
Attaching this would make the total number of badges five.
Click!
But then?
Whooosh!
Suddenly, the five badges began to shine brilliantly.
"...Huh?"
Something was happening.
'Could it be?'
Because he had attached five badges? Maybe so.
For Joo-hyuk, five Platinum Badges were also the condition for a special perk.
He had received benefits every five badges.
Could that formula also apply to Summoned Beings?
Whoosh!
Pop!
In the blink of an eye, all five of Razix's badges disappeared.
'Why did they disappear? What a waste.'
However, the expressions of the other Summoned Beings were calm.
As if they knew this would happen.
'Huh?!'
Did he hear that wrong?
So, one skill gets upgraded to LSSR grade?
Such a thing exists in this world?
It's practically a special perk.
No, but these people...
"You should have told me earlier!"
"Huh?"
"That awarding five badges has this effect!"
"W-well, there's a reason for that."
A reason? It's a skill upgrade.
And to LSSR grade at that.
This is an enormous benefit that could change the landscape of the strategy, and you weren't going to tell me?
"Mr. Kosak, come forward quickly."
"...Y-yes."
Kosak stood up hesitantly and came before Joo-hyuk.
"I'll skip the ceremony and just attach the badges."
Kosak only had one badge.
Ahhh, it brings tears to my eyes.
A pitiful number for an original member.
Until now, awarding badges was something I had considered only as a form of motivation for the Summoned Beings.
'If I had known, I would have distributed all the badges evenly.'
Joo-hyuk took a bunch of badges from his inventory and attached them one by one to Kosak's chest.
One, two, three, and then four to make a total of five, but...
"..."
What's this?
"Hmm."
There was no change.
"...It's not glowing?"
"It's because you attached them without meaning."
"Huh?"
Without meaning?
"Summoner Bong must believe we are truly worthy of receiving the badge, and I must feel I have the rightful qualifications to receive it. Only then does the effect of the badges activate."
"Ah!"
So that's how it was?
"That's why I didn't mention it from the start. If you knew in advance, the criteria for awarding badges would become ambiguous. The criteria must be clear. For both Summoner Bong and for us."
I understand now.
The situation must align.
Only when the giver's heart and the receiver's heart are in perfect harmony does the meaning of five badges arise.
"That's difficult. I'm always grateful, so I just want to attach as many as I can."
Gyeon Dal-rae bowed as if her head might fly off.
"This servant is moved by the Summoner's magnanimous heart, vast as the ocean. However, except for the chief servant, the other servants have not accomplished any significant feats and thus cannot receive such grace."
Veronica also,
"That's right. Commander, receiving a medal for false merit is not an honor but a disgrace. We will work harder from now on. Victory!"
Gobang also,
"Warrior will also strive. So he receive badges."
There's no helping it.
They were human too.
Their standards were clear.
'It's like a character-raising simulation game.'
I must nurture them well somehow.
I should praise them for even the smallest things.
'Oh my, Mr. Kosak, did you put oil on your lips? How do you speak so well?'
'Princess Gyeon Dal-rae, just your existence gives me strength.'
'Sergeant V... you're just nice to look at.'
'Mr. Gobang, who is always as reliable as an older brother.'
If I keep this up, the criteria for awarding Platinum Badges might drop significantly, right?
Anyway,
I wonder which skill Razix upgraded.
"Hooey, Exploration."
"Oh!"
"I will find even more, hooey."
Ah, how admirable.
Rune fragments and ticket fragments will pour out like crazy.
Anyway, I'll need a lot of badges from now on.
Is there anywhere to get new ones?
But the next possible date for climbing a new, un-conquered Tower is far off.
I don't have many multinational Tower use tickets either.
'Lack of content, lack of content.'
Tower conquests are good and all, but I'm dissatisfied with the repetitive pattern.
'Shouldn't it change a little?'
Is this the sentiment of a max-level veteran?
The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia was very close.
They had a mutual defense treaty, were military allies, and political exchanges between the two countries were active.
The fact that Player Nasser Al Abud could climb the 60th floors was partly due to US support with light-attribute items.
So, obtaining Nasser's 66th-floor body cam footage wasn't too difficult.
Of course, unofficially and secretly.
Secretary of Homeland Security MacMillan and Director Antonio watched the body cam footage first.
First-person perspective body cam footage.
A hand holding the Holy Sword is visible. Simultaneously, it swings the Holy Sword like an axe...
Crunch! Smash! Thwack! Crack!
The blade of the Holy Sword cleaved through the Specter's torso and still had enough force to dig into the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Scattering dust and stone fragments.
Ting, the trembling blade of the Holy Sword.
"He's insane."
"He's the guy I used to praise as a brave Arab warrior. It was obvious even without seeing."
"That ignorant bastard, borrowing the Holy Sword and not even considering the next users. This is why I hate macho types."
"What should we do? We can't just leave it be."
MacMillan pondered for a moment, then...
"Release it on YouTube."
"On the official US government channel?"
"What's wrong with your head? You shouldn't even ask that."
"Hahaha, I was just asking. We'll have a hacker group that loves freedom and peace hack the Saudi government's network and upload it."
Thus, the body cam video was abruptly released on a YouTube channel.
Under the title <The Madness of Saudi Arabia's Insane Nasser Player>.
Naturally, people were furious.
Saudi Arabia didn't stay quiet either.
Majed, a Saudi royal and head of the Tower Climbing Management Department, made a special appearance on national TV news.
"We are not at fault. The Holy Sword was deficient in durability from the start. It was accumulated fatigue. Player Nasser is not the perpetrator but an unjust victim."
"Saudi Arabia paid Korea a hefty rental fee. The return process is complete. You took ten million dollars, and now you want us to take responsibility because it's damaged?"
"Rather, I want to ask Korea. Do you even intend to repair the Holy Sword? If you lack the technology and ability, seek help. We in Saudi Arabia are also sincerely willing to help."
He shamelessly argued and came forward.
He didn't seem to have any intention of apologizing, let alone compensating.
From Saudi Arabia's perspective, they had to do this.
Apologizing would mean admitting their fault.
Minister Majed's interview was like pouring oil on a fire.
The whole world condemned Saudi Arabia.
But then, a country suddenly stepped forward to support Saudi Arabia.
It was Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Kawaguchi appeared on TV and issued a statement.
"Japan supports Saudi Arabia's position. The two countries have signed a mutual Tower Collapse Defense Treaty. Through smooth temporary naturalization and Tower material support, Japan and Saudi Arabia will move towards the future."
And then, towards Korea,
"The Holy Sword is a global public good. Therefore, we formally request. If you cannot repair the Holy Sword, hand it over. Japan will fix it. We have sufficient technological capability to restore the Holy Sword."
The two had stuck together.
Saudi Arabia and Japan.
The Korean Awakening Management Bureau also watched Saudi Minister Majed's interview.
And Japanese Prime Minister Kawaguchi's statement.
But they didn't get angry.
In fact, Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su wore a gentle smile.
"How cute."
"...Them?"
"Not their appearance. Their actions are cute."
Jeon Gwang-il agreed.
They'll repair the Holy Sword?
Words not even worth responding to.
They felt too insignificant.
So much so that they seemed cute.
Well, would those guys even know about Player Bong's abilities?
"When should we reveal the repaired Holy Sword?"
"No rush. Take it slow. To enjoy a refreshing cider, you have to swallow the dry sweet potato first."
"Many people will have their throats clogged up."
"What can we do? Drinking plain cider only makes your throat sting."
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su, who had actually experienced that in the past.
Due to the incident of Korea's top player defecting and naturalizing, he had to attend a hearing and suffer before pulling off a miraculous reversal.
How could he forget that thrill?
"It's a pity that Saudi Arabia's next Tower conquest deadline is still six months away."
"I'm more disappointed that Japan is still stuck in the 50s."
"I wish their conquest deadline would be drastically shortened. Ah! Except for us."
"Words become seeds. If you go around saying things like that, it'll be a disaster."
"I just thought about it, just a thought. It shouldn't happen."
Words become seeds.
The old saying isn't wrong.
French Player Guillaume Levoire made a decision.
To carry out what he had been contemplating.
France, was his homeland.
But it he was resentful.
The French government bore significant responsibility for why he had been driven to this point.
They had always forced things upon him.
It was practically intentional gaslighting.
Begging him to prevent the collapse of the French Black Tower and save France.
'Then who will save me?'
Even his wife, who always comforted him, died of cancer.
She wasn't saved either.
'No, maybe she was saved?'
Yes.
The answer was already set anyway.
His wife was indeed saved.
For him too, death was salvation.
'Let's go together.'
Dying alone wasn't enough.
He would take his beloved homeland, France, with him.
Spot!
65th floor.
He could die here.
Would the French Black Tower collapse then?
Not a chance.
Immediately, the US, Norway, or Korea would just temporarily naturalize a player capable of conquering the 65th floor and conquer the Tower.
Even if he disappeared, the chance of the French Black Tower collapsing was extremely slim.
He couldn't leave it like this.
France must collapse.
So that no one could interfere.
Until the Tower collapses, and collapses again, and finally the French territory is left in ruins.
Guillaume took out an item he had kept hidden in his inventory.
An item he received as a Tower reward for conquering the 62nd floor.
<Tower Jumping Ticket (Up to 5 Floors / 5 Levels)>
Effect: Skips up to 5 floors of the Tower. Your level also increases accordingly. Skipped floors are recognized as conquered.
Going up 5 floors from the 65th floor would be the 70th floor.
Would anyone dare to conquer the 70th floor?
With this, France's fate was sealed.
Guillaume tore the Tower Jumping Ticket without hesitation.
Riiip!
"Five. I skip five floors."
Spot!
And finally,
Thus, Guillaume Levoire became the first person in the world to reach the 70th floor.
The background was a dark forest.
And a path stretching straight ahead.
'Now, let's go die.'
To the boss monster of the 70th floor, presumably the final part of the undead section.
[70th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat the high-ranking demon Duke Cabalan (Duplicate).
⏰ Time Limit: Within 20 hours.
🎯 Condition: High-ranking demon Duke Cabalan (Duplicate) 0/1
'A demon?'
And what does 'duplicate' mean?
Actually, there's no need to know.
I came here to die, so who cares what kills me.
Guillaume continued along the path.
Then, a large mansion appeared before his eyes. The door leading inside was closed,
Creeak,
Guillaume opened the door.
A long red carpet was laid out.
At the end of the carpet was a high podium with a chair.
And on the chair was...
"Welcome."
"Wh-what?"
A monster... talking?
And in French, no less.
"You came up by exploiting a loophole. You skipped five floors."
That's when it happened. Swoosh.
"Gah!"
Guillaume's body moved on its own.
Floating in the air, he was dragged before the chair.
Grab!
The demon Duke Cabalan seized Guillaume's neck.
But Guillaume didn't resist.
He just stared at the demon Cabalan with empty eyes.
"Did you come here to die?"
"..."
"You've had a hard life. I'll grant your wish. First, I'll observe the world through you."
And then,
Ding!
A message rang out.
"Too stagnant."
What's stagnant? Perhaps Tower climbing?
"I'll help."
The high-ranking demon Duke Cabalan (Duplicate) has cast 'The Curse of the Average' upon the world's Black Towers.
The average floor level of Earth's Black Towers has been fixed at 70.
Rapid Tower climbing is required to achieve the average.
10 nations have been selected for the first wave.
Selection method: Random.
The messages continued.
Ten nations announced.
And finally,
The Curse of the Average will be lifted only when the average Tower climbing level of the entire world reaches 70, or when the high-ranking demon Duke Cabalan (Original) is conquered.
Then, Duke Cabalan spoke to Guillaume.
"Now, as you wished."
Crunch!
Guillaume's neck was snapped.
"I'll send your corpse outside. My favor to you."
Spot!
Thus, Guillaume, now a corpse, vanished outside the Tower.