Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The Gray Node, a dedicated item market for Awakened ones.
This place is neither a tower nor a gate. Anything can be traded freely here.
It is a kind of virtual space created by the system. Real names are not revealed, but anonymity is not fully guaranteed.
(7th rank – Republic of Korea)
The rank and country of origin of each Awakened person are displayed transparently above their heads in this strange place.
A woman with horn-like decorations clicked her heels as she walked in.
The gazes of the Awakened gathered in the lobby all turned toward her at once.
One of only about 2,200 Korean 7th-rank Awakened.
Such a rare rank naturally drew attention.
And if that person happened to be a stunning beauty, even more so.
Molok’s emerald dress flowed along her body.
“Wow….”
“Is she a model?”
Molok snorted as if finding all those stares ridiculous.
“So unsightly it is unbearable.”
At this moment, logs were raining down like a storm in everyone’s status windows.
System message: Awakened “Scar” has entered 8th rank floor 55.
System message: Awakened Scar has cleared an 8th rank tower.
…
System message: Awakened Scar has entered 9th rank floor 12.
System message: Awakened Scar has entered 9th rank floor 23.
System message: Awakened Scar has entered 9th rank floor 26.
└ That “New Scar” is breaking the system
└ (shocked reaction emoji)
While the entire world was in chaos over Scar’s insane climbing speed, one of the very sources of that madness had casually come to sell mana stones.
No one would have imagined that someone actively climbing towers would also appear inside the market.
Korean Central Awakened Exchange.
This exchange, operated by the Awakened Administration, allows anonymous accounts that are exempt from national tax audits.
It is a system designed to attract foreign Awakened assets while preventing domestic capital outflow, granting anonymity and tax benefits.
In practice, it functions like an anonymous corporate account system for Awakened ones.
Molok walked into the exchange with an elegant stride.
“How may I assist you, customer?”
A black-suited NPC employee approached and bowed.
“I am Calivata. I had someone deliver mana stones here earlier.”
“Ah! Customer Calivata! Please wait a moment.”
Five minutes later, the head of the exchange personally rushed out and guided Molok to the appraisal room.
A thick door.
Once inside, all sound was cut off as if it had never existed.
The mana stones entrusted by Jin-hyuk filled the table.
“These are today’s market prices.”
The director displayed the rates on a tablet without unnecessary politeness.
Rank 1: about 15,000 won
Rank 2: about 50,000 won
…
Rank 6: about 50 million won
Rank 7: about 120 million won
Rank 8: about 410 million won
“Off the record, may I ask why you have not sold them yet?”
“How insolent. Just do your job and calculate properly. This is a private exchange.”
Molok crossed her legs elegantly and examined her nails.
“Ah… understood.”
The director swallowed dryly under her cold presence.
Sensing the faint trace of cursed items, his hands trembled slightly as he began the appraisal.
“Haa…”
Even for a veteran, handling this much mana stone at once was rare.
“Beginning appraisal.”
Together with two assistants, he carefully sorted each stone one by one.
“Thank you for waiting. We have completed the appraisal. A total of 144 intact mana stones ranging from rank 1 to rank 8.”
“After applying the minimum fee of 5.5 percent—”
His fingers moved quickly.
“The total is approximately 11.8 billion won. It will be deposited into your registered account.”
“Well done.”
Calivata.
Molok signed the documents with her alias.
“Have a safe departure, Ms. Calivata!”
Even as 11,799,315,502 won appeared in her account, Molok remained unfazed.
With state protection, anonymous domestic use meant no tax issues, no identity exposure, nothing.
It was simply money.
She had only wanted to walk on her own two feet for a while.
A small indulgence.
A brief act of leisure.
Molok began strolling inside the exchange before her summoned form duration ended.
“Did you see that just now?”
“He said 100,000 won!”
“Is that really important right now? Mu-mu is stuck in a gate for two hours.”
“Stop changing the subject because you don’t want to pay.”
She stopped in front of a group murmuring near a shop.
“How vulgar. The lower beings react to everything so noisily.”
A status window appeared before her.
Awakened Scar has cleared a 12th rank tower.
At that moment, Jin-hyuk, the one actively climbing towers, was doing something completely unrelated.
The world was once again shaken by Scar’s record-breaking speed.
└ Breaking: Scar just cleared a 12th rank tower
└ No way lol
└ It’s real, news just confirmed it
└ WHAT IS THIS
└ How is he even doing that damage output
└ Scar >>> King, Black Abyss
└ FACTS
The internet was exploding.
└ Should I try climbing with cursed items too?
└ You’re still believing that rumor?
└ lol Scar is just gonna disappear like King now
└ lol as if
Meanwhile.
Jin-hyuk checked his plan calmly.
He had turned attention toward Scar and used it as cover.
A perfect diversion.
And then—
System message:
Quest accepted.
Tower clear condition: eliminate Abaddon, subordinate of the Star Devourer (0/1)
A massive purple dragon stood before him, baring its teeth.
Abaddon, final boss of the 12th rank tower.
Its breath gathered.
“Fuuoooo!”
Abaddon’s cursed breath struck.
Status: corrupted with curse. Effects include bleeding, muscle dissolution, bone tumors—
This would kill most people instantly.
But Jin-hyuk stepped back calmly.
Scar moved.
The sword of Shati struck the dragon’s weak point.
System message: Abaddon’s execution gauge 10/10
“Everything in the body of Abaddon begins to dissolve.”
System message: 12th rank tower cleared.
Item acquired: Crafting method – Tears of the Star (curse)
Congratulations. Rank 12 achieved.
Unread messages: 143
He had cleared it again.
World record number twenty-one.
But there was no hesitation.
He closed the status window.
Now the problem was selling the mana stones quietly.
And then—
A message arrived.
Awakened Administration.
King.
Jin-hyuk exhaled.
Too much attention.
He needed a way out.
And he had one.
Molok.
At the same time.
Molok, now fully materialized, had just finished her little errand.
She smiled faintly.
“Ah… amusing.”
But deep inside the system…
Something new began.
Tutorial End.
You may now challenge 13th rank towers.