Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Dimensional Summoner
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After completing the S++ grade conquest and repeated conquests of the 68th floor's Death Knight,
Joo-hyuk also heard the third global announcement.
It was a curse that now included Korea.
"Ugh, this feels gross."
When it was other countries, it was one thing, but
now that Korea was selected, the feeling was distinctly unpleasant.
Was it because he was thinking of his family?
'They'll all be worried.'
The Curse of Cablan.
Its content was extremely simple.
It merely reduced the time limit for conquests.
But the result was anything but simple.
How anxious must people feel watching the real-time shrinking conquest timer?
As Joo-hyuk's expression soured, the summoned beings grew furious.
"A mere copy, that Cablan bastard, he's gotten far too arrogant. That damn son of a bitch."
"My Lord, please grant this humble one the honor of burning that demon scum to ashes in Your name."
"I'll shove a musket up his ass and pull the trigger on a large-caliber round."
"Warrior tear him in half."
"Seeing the sorrow in the young master's noble countenance pains this one's heart."
"Hoo-heck!"
Hmm.
His mood improved a bit.
Was this mental massage?
"Let's catch Cablan tomorrow. Is it possible?"
"It should be doable if we enter the 70th floor immediately after conquering the 69th floor."
"...How is the 69th floor?"
"A Lich, a vile undead black mage, appears there."
Gyeon Dal-rae began the explanation.
"It is a monster. One could consider it vermin who sold its soul to a demon and chose servitude."
Could we catch it?
"This maiden will exert her power. Using exorcism rites, sacred ropes, and talismans, we can defend against the black magic the Lich casts."
Then it should be easy.
We had the holy sword too.
"However, preparation is required."
Preparation...
"This maiden has long researched how to maximize the effects of the usual rites. And I have finally found a method."
Maximizing the rite's effects...
"All of this is possible thanks to that servant, Razix."
"...Hoo-he?"
Razix' eyes went wide as his name was called.
Just looking at him was satisfying.
Because lately, nearly all solutions for our team came from Razix.
"Also, a considerable amount of money is needed... is that acceptable...?"
"Ah, money. Use as much as you need."
"We only need to purchase a few items."
Money was plentiful.
Money that never seemed to run out no matter how much was spent.
'Should I check my account balance while I'm at it?'
Opening his smartphone and launching the banking app,
'...Whoa.'
He couldn't help but widen his eyes.
What is this? This unrealistically long string of digits?
One, two, three, four..., ten, eleven,
'O-over a hundred billion?'
When did it pile up this much?
It was all money from the holy sword rental fees.
'They'll keep coming to borrow it in the future.'
Then the number in the account would only grow bigger.
"What do you need? I'll go buy it right away."
Gyeon Dal-rae listed the desired items one by one.
Items that could be obtained without much difficulty.
However, it required legwork.
He didn't feel like going out.
Was there anyone who could buy them for him instead?
'Hmm,'
There was one person.
He might be busy, so via smartphone...
Tap tap, to-to-tap, tap, tap.
After carefully composing and sending a text to Deputy Director Jeon Gwang-il,
About 30 seconds later? *Zing!* A reply came.
Oh! Fast.
An ordinary guy, Bong Joo-hyuk, was having a big-shot Korean public official, a real power in the Awakening Management Bureau, Deputy Director Jeon Gwang-il, run errands for him.
Upon receiving the text, Jeon Gwang-il immediately sprang into action.
He called his staff and gave them the list of items Joo-hyuk wanted to buy.
"Prepare them as quickly as possible."
"Yes!"
Korea was also included in the third target countries.
The situation was busy, managing the morale of the player Nam Ga-eun who would climb the 67th floor and preparing for the conquest.
But Bong Player's request was the top priority.
Thus, it didn't take long for the items to be prepared.
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il loaded the items into his car and set off for Joo-hyuk's house in Cheongdam-dong.
There, he sent another text.
*Ziiing.*
After waiting a moment, Player Bong Joo-hyuk appeared, taking the penthouse's private elevator from the underground parking lot.
But he wasn't alone.
A hamster, holding Bong Player's hand tightly, toddled along.
Ah, how could something be so cute.
But why did he bring Razix?
There's a lot of luggage too.
He should have come with Gobang instead.
The reason soon became clear.
"Thank you so much, Deputy Director. For bringing the items personally."
"Hahaha, it's nothing. Don't mention it."
"Oh! About the Korean Black Tower conquest... Should I help? Even without changing nationality."
"Absolutely not. Player Nam Ga-eun is preparing."
Player Nam Ga-eun was reliable enough.
Anyway.
"Where are the items?"
"They're here in the trunk."
"Ah, I'll take them now."
As Joo-hyuk pointed at the luggage in Jeon Gwang-il's trunk,
"Hoo-heng,"
*Swish, swish-swish, swish-swish-swish*
The items disappeared without a trace.
Hmm, so that's how he takes them.
Not really surprising.
Did Bong Player really bring Razix along just for cuteness?
"Well then, I'll get going. I have a lot to do."
As Joo-hyuk was about to take the elevator, Jeon Gwang-il stopped him.
"W-wait a moment, please. There's something else for you."
"Huh? Did you forget an item?"
"No, it's... a delegation from Saudi Arabia came yesterday. The King of Saudi Arabia said he would give compensation to the owner of the holy sword as an apology for the sword's damage..."
As he said this, Jeon Gwang-il took out a small jewel case.
What could it be? A ring or necklace?
Joo-hyuk opened the case.
Inside was a small stone.
'Gasp!'
Could it be?
"Yes, it's a Trait Enhancement Rune."
"Ah, no, this is so precious..."
"Please take it. It's rightful compensation."
Oh my, to get a Trait Enhancement Rune here of all places.
What a surprise.
"I really don't know how to thank you."
"Seeing you happy is a relief."
Of course he should be happy. Oil-rich countries indeed.
The sheer audacity to give a Trait Enhancement Rune as compensation for just breaking one measly holy sword.
"Please register Saudi Arabia as the top-priority holy sword reservation customer from now on. And convey our thanks."
"Yes."
Trait Enhancement.
The day for Random Summoning was approaching anyway.
Perfect timing.
8th day of French nationality.
Now, the 69th floor.
All preparations were complete.
Now, slaughter the Lich, they'd succeed in conquering the 69th floor, then immediately enter the 70th floor and catch Cablan.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes!"
"Let's go get him."
Joo-hyuk and the summoned beings left the safe zone and headed to the conquest site.
"Is that the Lich?"
"That is correct."
"Hmm, doesn't look that strong."
That was compared to the Death Knight.
A small-framed mage in a black robe, holding a staff.
It floated slightly in the air like a ghost.
A dark energy was seeping and rising from its body.
Slightly different from a dark aura, it seemed more like a protective barrier.
[69th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat 1 Dark Lich.
⏰ Time Limit: Within 17 hours.
🎯 Completion: Dark Lich 0/1
A mission requiring only one kill.
Then.
"Mr. Razix."
"Hoo-he!"
The cosmic butler who could store Earth items in his subspace backpack.
He took out the items prepared yesterday from the backpack.
Two high-capacity power banks that could be charged with electricity, an MP3 player that played music via USB, one large woofer speaker, and four high-quality stand speakers.
One shouldn't laugh at them.
Together, they cost tens of millions of won.
All the connections were already made.
Ready to use as soon as the power was turned on.
They weren't ordinary audio equipment.
Both the speakers and the MP3 player were plastered with talismans drawn by Gyeon Dal-rae herself, along with sacred ropes.
These were prepared in advance to maximize the effects of the exorcism rite.
Each one was practically a divine artifact.
Compared to the tiny portable speaker Gyeon Dal-rae used to carry, these were large theater-grade Dolby stereo surround sound systems.
Suddenly! The Lich raised its hand.
*Whoosh!* *Pop pop, whooosh!*
Undead crawling out from the ground.
Zombies, Skeletons, Ghouls, Dullahans, Specters, Phantom Liches, even Death Knights.
'This guy summons too.'
Just summoning pathetic undead trash. But it wasn't just undead.
*Ooooooong!*
The air grew heavy and oppressive.
A feeling as if the entire tower was trapped in a dark aura.
Then, Gyeon Dal-rae slowly stepped forward.
The Celestial Empire's foremost supreme shrine maiden.
"I shall unleash the exorcism rite."
With her jade-like hands, she *clicked* the MP3 player's button, and music blared from the Dolby stereo surround speakers.
*Koo-koong!*
A majestic sound that seemed to tear through eardrums.
*Chae-chang! Chae-chae-chae-chang!*
*Koo-koong! Koo-koo-koo-koong!*
The melody of the exorcism rite reverberating through the speakers.
The exorcism rite melody played by the MP3 player was amplified to maximum volume.
*Jjae-jjaeng! Jae-jae-jjae-jjaeng! Jjae-jjaeng-jjae-jjaeng-jjae-jjaeng!*
*Koo-koong! Koo-koo-koo-goong! Koo-goong-koo-goong-koo-goong!*
Already, the weaker undead staggered, taking damage from the sound waves alone.
Gyeon Dal-rae grabbed a microphone wrapped in talismans.
In a very hip voice, like a rapper,
The Lich seemed to feel threatened.
Sinister darkness rose from its hand and shot directly at Joo-hyuk's group.
Instantly! *Whoooosh!*
The bronze mirror hanging around Gyeon Dal-rae's neck glowed.
The dark energy was pushed back.
*Pa-pa-pa-paat!*
Hundreds of exorcism talismans scattered simultaneously.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The Lich's dark magic, weakened by the exorcism rite, was blocked by the talismans.
"Light!!!"
"Attribute absorption initiated, large-caliber round loaded, homing function activated, suppressive fire commencing."
*Zzzzzziiing!* *Pa-ju-ju-ju-juk!*
*Sploosh!*
A large-caliber round was fired at the Lich.
*Spit!*
The Lich disappeared in an instant.
Blink?
But it had no chance.
Because Sergeant V's musket had a homing function.
The large-caliber round sharply curved towards the Lich, which had dodged with blink magic.
*Paaang!* The round struck the dark protective barrier.
*Bzzzt!* A crack formed in the barrier.
Another shot.
*Zzzzzziiing!* *Pa-ju-ju-ju-juk!*
*Sploosh!*
Gobang, holding the holy sword Bardin, charged towards the Lich.
Talismans swirled around them as if providing escort.
"Light!!!"
*Kwaaak! Kwajik! Kwaji-jik! Kkwa-deuk!*
Bardin swung alongside the flail.
"Swing it harder! You pagan barbarian!!!"
*Boo-oo-oong!*
"Light!!!"
Gobang was swinging Bardin, and Bardin was being swung by Gobang.
They swept away the undead blocking their path to the Lich and advanced stride by stride.
The coordination between the two was incredible.
As Bardin was swung, Gobang twisted his body in that direction, adding acceleration.
What was Joo-hyuk doing?
Just standing with his arms crossed.
He needed something to do.
Kosak was no different.
"My butt is twitching. Feels like we're at a club."
"Go dance then."
"If I dance, it's blasphemy. The young masterss will scold me."
Right. How could one watch Kosak dance?
"Can you actually dance properly?"
"The god of the wave, street breakdancer, synonym for solo dance, vibrating twerking, I am Dancer Kosak."
"..."
Anyway, the grand orchestra of the exorcism rite resounded magnificently.
The sorcery of the supreme shrine maiden Gyeon Dal-rae, combined with Earth's audio technology.
Even Joo-hyuk's ears were ringing.
How must the Lich, listening to it, feel?
Who knows, but it must be hell.
Talismans scattered in all directions like cherry blossoms.
Falling, rising, swirling.
The Lich's black magic couldn't pierce the wall of talismans.
If the protagonist of the 68th floor was Veronica,
the protagonist of the 69th floor was undoubtedly Gyeon Dal-rae.
The Lich's specialty was black magic.
It tormented players with various curses, decay, poison, disease, and dark attribute black magic, but what if all of that was preemptively blocked?
It was a monster weaker than even a Specter.
"Light!!!"
*Kwajik! Kwaji-ji-jik!*
The Lich was nothing special either.
🏆 Reward: Platinum Badge
Finally, they could face Cablan's copy.
Let's see that face.
We're going in today.
Anyway, we don't plan to conquer the 70th floor of the French Black Tower.
No repeated conquests, straight in.
*Spot!*
Joo-hyuk and his party returned to the penthouse.
First, the special reward.
What is it?
Give it to me quickly. I'm in a hurry.
'...'
What is this now?
Is it good?
Not sure.
Right now, Random Summon was also on cooldown.
Let's just finish this for now.
How much did we suffer because of that damn Cablan curse?
Temporarily naturalizing to the mismatched French tower just to conquer it.
'What am I, a tower conquest machine?'
Even factory machines get turned off to rest sometimes.
Finally, the final stop.
...No, a layover?
"It's gloomy."
"Trying to set the mood. Pathetic piece of shit."
A small straight path ahead.
At the end, a large mansion was visible.
[70th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat the High-Ranking Demon Noble, Duke Cablan (Copy).
⏰ Time Limit: Within 20 hours.
🎯 Completion: High-Ranking Demon Noble Cablan (Copy) 0/1
The mission appeared, and Joo-hyuk was surrounded by his six summoned beings.
Reaching the mansion, they saw an iron door leading inside.
'Hmm.'
Should we knock?
It's not like we're door-to-door salesmen, why knock.
"Mr. Gobang?"
Giant Gobang nodded.
He raised his foot, *Kwaa-aang!*
A kick, and the door swung wide open.
Where's our pretty boy? Let's see that face.
A large hall came into view.
The kind with a red carpet laid out.
And at the end of the carpet. On an ornately decorated chair,
"Welcome."
Copy Cablan was seated. His appearance was similar to a human's.
However, as if to prove he was a demon, he had large wings on his back and goat horns on his forehead.
"Dimension Summoner."
"...Huh?"
Is he talking about me?
"In a tower one can enter alone, who else but a Dimension Summoner could appear leading a whole pack like this?"
Dimension Summoner. It had a nice ring to it.
"Mr. Kosak, please call me Dimension Summoner from now on."
"Uhm, Lord Bong Dimension Summoner, isn't that a bit long?"
Is it? Anyway.
'He speaks Korean well.'
Since it's the French Black Tower, I thought he'd speak French.
Communication will be easy.
Joo-hyuk poked Kosak's side. *Poke poke.*
A signal to do something.
Then Kosak also poked Bardin's side. *Poke poke.*
Bardin bravely stepped forward.
"Vile demon, where is your original? Confess the truth!"
"A forgotten god's paladin. An empty shell."
"Hmph! Pot calling the kettle black. Wasn't the demon god you served in the same state?"
"How dare you!"
*Oooong!*
The mansion shook as if an earthquake had struck.
But Bardin stood firm.
"You are insolent. A replicated fake, a mere fragment of a soul, do you think a fake like you can withstand my lord's sword?"
Cablan chuckled.
"Quite confident. But do you know something?"
"What?"
"You're all caught. In other words..."
Cablan spread his wings and sprang up.
"You've fallen into a trap."
Instantly!
*Ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!*
Thick iron doors slammed shut, and a dense gray mist rose from the hall.
"Dimension Summoner, you die here today."
[The soul of the original Demon Realm Duke Cablan descends upon the copy Cablan's body.]
"Uh..."
He's here. The original.
He had something to rely on too.
The dark aura grew even thicker.
The dense fog also billowed up violently.
"Light!!!"
*Whoooosh!*
Starting with the holy sword Bardin's roar,
Giant Gobang blocked Joo-hyuk's front.
Kosak drew his twin daggers.
*Click!* Veronica loaded her musket.
Gyeon Dal-rae clutched a handful of bronze bells and talismans.
Razix held his golden pickaxe, trembling.
"Kekekeke, this is my home. A space built with a barrier. Dimension Summoner, you die here."
No, such scary words,
Joo-hyuk asked Kosak.
"If we kill that, is it over?"
"That's not it. The body is just a copy anyway. Only the soul is the original."
"Then?"
"I'll mark it. We should be able to tell where the soul goes when it flees."
Ah! I see.
Too bad.
It would be nice to finish it here.
"How arrogant. Do you think you can escape this place? The moment you set foot here..."
That's when it happened.
A turbulent flow of energy.
*Pa-pa-pa-pat!* A sound of something breaking was heard.
"Why, why is the barrier..."
*Spot! Pa-pa-pat!* And a person appeared.
Already behind Cablan.
*Grab!* Then he seized Cablan's wing and,
"Huh-uck!"
*Riiip!* Tore it off savagely.
"Kyaaaak!"
In a chilling voice,
He's here! Our big bro.
The Mad Demon had descended.