Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: A Man's Decision
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Japan's feet were on fire.
The press conference about the Holy Sword's repair felt like a story from another world to them.
The 61st Floor was still a distant goal—what Holy Sword?
Floor 58. Barely the 58th Floor.
For any developed nation, clearing that floor shouldn't be difficult.
Yet Japan itself had no players capable of conquering it.
It was a national disgrace.
The Kawaguchi administration hadn't been idly wasting time, either.
They were investing enormous budgets to nurture state-sponsored players.
Results would come soon.
They just had to overcome the immediate crisis.
There was no other way.
They had no choice but to request temporary naturalization from the United States once again.
With precedent on their side, they believed without a doubt it would be accepted.
However…
"…Wha, what do you mean? The U.S. refused the temporary naturalization request?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Are they just playing hardball to raise the price?"
"It didn't seem that way."
Prime Minister Kawaguchi doubted his own ears.
Why would the U.S.?
It wasn't like they were asking for a freebie.
They had even offered better terms than before.
"What's the reason?"
"Secretary MacMillan suggested that Japan should first improve relations with South Korea."
"…What?"
"He said that since the Holy Sword would need to be loaned up to the 70th Floor, the U.S. must prioritize its relationship with the South Korean government."
Improve relations with South Korea?
"Kisama!!!"
It sounded like "improve relations," but it really meant to bow your head and go crawling.
It meant to prostrate yourself.
It meant agreeing to any and all conditions South Korea demanded.
"Gyaaaaah!!! Those damn fiendish bastards!!!"
Absolutely not.
He'd rather see the Tower collapse.
Even their trusted ally, America, had abandoned them.
In that case, there was no holding back.
"Starting today, all players affiliated with the Japanese cabinet are to be forcibly deployed for upper-floor climbing."
"F-forcibly, sir? What if they refuse or threaten to quit…"
Prime Minister Kawaguchi's eyes were bloodshot.
"Detain them! Threaten them, frame them, do whatever it takes! Tell them they can't leave until Floor 58 is conquered, that they must fight to the death and shatter their soul stones inside the Tower!"
It was the beginning of the so-called "Tower Imprisonment Operation."
Saudi Arabia's situation wasn't great either.
Black Tower, Floor 67.
The only known information was that a monster called the Phantom Reaper, an undead death god, appeared there.
South Korea, the U.S., Norway… quite a few countries were preparing strategies, but no body-cam footage had been released yet.
However, the players who had faced the Phantom Reaper knew.
They knew just how terrifying an undead monster it was.
Zombies, ghouls, specters—they all had dark auras shrouding their bodies.
That's why undead would always latch onto players on sight.
Because the dark aura served as both a shield and a close-range attack.
But the Phantom Reaper's pattern was different.
It swung its large scythe and fired clumps of dark aura at players from a distance.
A long-range type of undead, the Phantom Reaper.
Once hit by its long-range dark aura, you'd suffer physical debuffs like lethargy and mental blows like panic.
One hit was all it took.
The only way to block it was with brilliant radiance.
For that reason, even the American player Gerald had said conquering Floor 67 was impossible without the Holy Sword.
Saudi Arabia's top player, Nasser Al Aboud, only realized this after ascending to Floor 67.
He couldn't kill a single one.
All he could do was get hit by one clump of dark aura, retreat to a safe zone, give up on the strategy, and exit.
And now, the Holy Sword had been perfectly repaired.
Nasser hurriedly checked the video.
"M-madness!"
It was spectacular. Almost a rebirth.
If you protected your entire body with that brilliant radiance, clumps of dark aura were no different from water balloons.
Nasser rushed to Minister Majed.
They absolutely had to borrow the Holy Sword.
"Minister, we must make a reservation immediately. With another trait enhancement and the Holy Sword, I'm confident I can reach the 70th Floor."
"We are currently negotiating with the Korean Management Bureau to try and make a reservation."
"Then when approximately…"
"South Korea has presented conditions. We are considering whether to accept them or not."
Conditions?
"Is it money?"
"If it were money, it would be easier."
"What on earth are they demanding?"
"An official apology from the Saudi government… and a Trait Enhancement Rune."
"…What?"
Nasser's expression turned dumbfounded.
"No, what did we do wrong?"
"Regardless, isn't it true that you handled the Holy Sword roughly? Even though you knew its durability was weak."
"…"
Frankly, it was true he had used excessive force.
Drunk on power, he hadn't paid any attention to durability.
Stabbing it into the ground, smashing it against rocks….
"Hmm, a Trait Enhancement Rune is out of the question. Well, if they want my apology, I'm willing to give it. Bowing my head once isn't difficult."
Minister Majed looked at Nasser steadily before opening his mouth.
"The South Korean government did not request your apology."
"That's understandable. They probably couldn't pinpoint responsibility…"
"Instead, they demanded legal punishment."
Legal punishment?
"W-what nonsense is that?"
Nasser was startled. Was that even possible in the first place?
"That's why we are considering it."
"…Considering, sir?"
Nasser's gaze changed.
"Is that even a matter for consideration? How do you plan to conquer Floor 67 without me?"
Minister Majed replied in a calm tone.
"There is an alternative. The next-generation player, Akram."
"Ha! Akram is only level 62… Y-you can't be serious?"
A flash of realization hit him.
Akram. Nasser's backup player.
Even at level 62, it wouldn't be a problem.
With the Holy Sword, he could reach Floor 67 in no time.
"…So? Are you going to accept South Korea's demands?"
"I just told you. We are considering it."
"Considering? Minister Majed, have you lost your mind? How dare you treat me, Nasser, as a bargaining chip to 'consider'?"
Majed frowned deeply.
"It is you who have lost your mind."
"Me?"
"Are you blind? You're only a player inside the Tower. Outside, what can you possibly do?"
"Uh…"
"What? Will you try to rebel? Go ahead and try."
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Nasser felt a chill run down his spine.
That's right.
Why had he forgotten?
Outside the Tower, a player was nothing.
"Th-that's not what I meant."
"Go home for now. There's no need for Tower climbing today, so rest well."
"…A-alright."
Minister Majed glared at Nasser's retreating back for a moment, then picked up the phone and gave an order to someone.
"Put Nasser under surveillance starting today. If he tries anything foolish, arrest him immediately."
There was one nation more enthusiastic than any other about the Holy Sword's rebirth.
That was the United States.
Especially the American people.
The Holy Sword's brilliant radiance was the lightsaber from the sci-fi movies they loved.
A player wielding a lightsaber would save America.
How could they resist that?
Secretary MacMillan, Director Antonio, and Player Gerald shared in the joy.
As soon as the press conference ended, the three of them hugged each other, shouting "Yes! Yes!"
"When is our turn?"
"We booked first. Both the Eastern and Western Towers at once. Anyway, getting out of the first batch of 10 selected countries is the priority."
"Well done. It's a Tower we have to conquer anyway, so doing it a little earlier shouldn't be a problem."
Nations in the 50-Floor range were already rushing to prepare.
Probably by tomorrow, countries would start escaping from the first batch of 10.
"Oh! Did you notify Japan?"
"Yes, I told them directly. I said we have to consider the South Korean government's stance first. I'm sure they understood. The cabinet will likely take action soon."
Secretary MacMillan hoped Japan would apologize to South Korea and improve relations.
For that, Japan's apology had to come first.
If relations between the two countries smoothed over, he was also willing to support Japan through temporary naturalization.
"Kawaguchi won't stubbornly hold out to the end, will he?"
"He'll apologize. If he doesn't, his own country's Tower will collapse."
"Hmm. I think Japan will absolutely not yield."
"Haha, unless they're insane…"
"Think about the Pacific War in the past. They were the ones who reluctantly surrendered only after getting hit by two nuclear bombs."
"…Hmm."
Could it be? What's so important about that measly pride?
"If they take a stance of not caring about Tower collapse, there's no telling what Japan might do."
Secretary MacMillan pondered for a moment.
"Well, if that's Japan's choice, there's nothing we can do… But they wouldn't be that stupid."
"Right. It would be tantamount to suicide."
They didn't know.
That Japan was perfectly capable of doing just that.
Joo-hyuk was still staying at his parents' house.
The sudden global announcement had made his family very anxious.
His mom was one thing, but his father and Min-hyuk, with their Ordinary Guy blood, were on edge.
Worried that something might happen because of this.
What could he do?
As the only responsible man in the household, he had to take care of his family.
So he spent about two days with them.
They went out to eat together, went shopping, he helped his father with a car contract, and took Min-hyuk to the Apple Store to get some applause.
Each time, bodyguards tagged along.
He said they didn't need protection.
But it turned out the bodyguards weren't for him, but for his family.
The Management Bureau works well.
No need to worry then.
Joo-hyuk returned to his penthouse.
Having spent time with his family, he hadn't seen his summoned beings for two days.
If he summoned them at his parents' house, his family would be startled, and he'd have to explain again.
It was just too bothersome.
Anyway, the revealed Floor 70 boss.
The intelligent monster, the demonic Cabalan Duke.
He remembered what Mad Dog had said before.
The prophecy that Towers would collapse here and there.
A situation where that prophecy might come true had arrived.
Kosak had also mentioned it before.
That something starts to change in the late 60s.
But he said he couldn't remember.
Mad Dog also said he was under a prohibition.
Let's summon them and tell them.
That the identity of the Floor 70 boss has been revealed.
So he performed designated summoning one by one.
"The demonic Cabalan Duke has appeared?"
"Huh?"
"Did you curse him with the 'Average' this time too?"
"In the first batch of 10 selected countries… is Commander's country also…"
"No, South Korea is excluded, but…"
"Don't worry. I, the Summoner, will protect you."
"Hoooing!"
What? Why do they all know? Are they messing with me?
Clearly, when I asked before, they said they didn't know.
Why now?
"The prohibition has been lifted. Thus, memories of Cabalan naturally surfaced."
"Once a player on Earth reaches the 70th Floor, the blocked information is released."
"It's like a military secret has just been declassified."
"Warrior now knows too."
"Hoooeh."
Ah! I see.
The way prohibitions are lifted.
It seems that when humanity learns about an unknown floor, that's when the summoned beings' memories are restored.
"Then what about Floor 68?"
"Death Knight. Strong but stupid."
"Floor 69?"
"A Lich, an evil mage. However, since it acts on instinct having lost its reason, catching it isn't difficult."
They knew. They all knew.
"What about Duke Cabalan? Being an intelligent monster and all, and for a mere copy to curse the entire Earth…"
"The curse was not cast by the copy."
"Then who?"
"Naturally, the original. The copy is merely a puppet."
I thought so.
"If the 10 countries succeed in conquering it…?"
"That's just the first batch. Whether the first batch ends or not, the second batch of 20 countries, the third batch of 30, the fourth, the fifth… will follow in succession. There are even cases where a country selected once gets included again."
"…Wow!"
It was a vicious curse.
You could basically consider all nations as targets.
No wonder Towers would collapse everywhere.
"South Korea will be safe. Guardian God Kosak will protect Summoner Bong's homeland."
What good is just South Korea being safe?
The rest of the world is about to go to hell.
What's the point of making a fortune to live lavishly if the world ends?
So,
"Does anyone know where the original Cabalan is?"
No one did.
In that case,
"Anyone who knows how to find it, raise your hand!"
Kosak subtly raised his hand.
"Oh! How do we find it?"
"Kill the copy. The original and the copies share consciousness. It will take time, but a negotiation expert like me, Kosak, can do it."
As expected of our Lord Kosak.
But he seemed to have something to say, hesitating before opening his mouth.
"Um, Summoner Bong, sir."
"Yes?"
"Is it really necessary for you to step forward? Just repairing the Holy Sword alone means you've already given so much."
"Hmm."
Kosak seemed to be against it.
What does that mean?
"Is it dangerous?"
"Not exactly."
"Then why?"
"To deal with Cabalan, you'd have to climb to the 70th Floor of the French Black Tower, but your level doesn't match."
Joo-hyuk's current level was 67.
To ascend to the 70th Floor, his level needed to be 70.
"And you can't climb the Korean Black Tower to the 70th Floor either, plus you only have 2 Multinational Tower Use Tickets, right?"
"That's true."
"Even if we find the original, there's a problem. You'd have to conquer to the 70th Floor of the Black Tower in the country where it's hiding…"
This was the core issue.
A player can only conquer the Tower of their own nationality.
The item that ignores this, the Tower Use Ticket, is insufficient in quantity.
Of course, there is a method. Temporary naturalization.
"What if I choose temporary naturalization?"
"Your identity could be exposed. I fear any change to your leisurely, carefree daily life, Young Master."
What Gyeon Dal-rae was worried about was Joo-hyuk's identity exposure due to temporary naturalization.
'That is a bit concerning.'
But on the other hand…
'How long can I keep hiding?'
The fact that he was the Holy Sword's owner was already under suspicion by several countries.
'Temporary naturalization.'
He also felt like trying it.
'There are advantages too.'
If he conquered the French Black Tower, he could obtain a Platinum Badge.
Get special privileges, give badges to his summoned beings…
'I can't resist this.'
Identity exposure?
What does it matter if it happens a bit?
The time to worry about safety had long passed.
With the Primordial Thunderbolt Staff, the Blood Jade Astral Qi usable in reality, the Energy Shield, the Blink Ring…
And the summoned beings?
He could summon them anytime.
Even if other summoned beings were on cooldown, just summon Mad Demon and it's over.
Thus, the Ordinary Guy's chest swelled with grandeur.
"Let's do it right away."
"…Pardon?"
"Temporary naturalization is nothing. I'll just experience it once through this opportunity."
Once Joo-hyuk made his decision,
"Aiyoo, as expected of Summoner Bong. Such a true man. Hehehehe."
"This maiden can only marvel at Young Master's bold decision."
"Summoner decides. Gobang, follows."
"Victory! Sergeant Veronica Caliber will assist the Commander with a passionate heart!"
"Hooheeeek!"
They were summoned beings who obeyed unconditionally.