Chapter 23: Decision (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Decision (2)
“Oh, here. Take this.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the item I’d brought along. It was a Highest-Grade Magic Stone, radiating a brilliant golden light.
Villon took the stone, his expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. “Oh, a Highest-Grade Magic Stone?”
“Yeah. You recognize it?”
“I know a bit about the rewards found in Nightmare difficulty.”
Easy difficulty rewarded the lowest or low-grade stones; Normal gave mid-grade; Hard gave high-grade. Highest-Grade Magic Stones were a tier that only appeared in Nightmare difficulty.
Part of the reason I’d brought it was a sense of guilt; I didn't want to keep taking from him without giving anything back. But honestly, I had originally intended to use it as a bargaining chip. I’d planned to have a serious talk today about whether I could continue receiving Skill Stones in the future. If Villon hadn't brought it up first, I would have.
Since everything had worked out perfectly anyway, and the magic stone was useless to me, I figured I might as well give it to him.
“Since you’re helping me, I should give you something in return.”
Villon shook his head. “There is no need for this. I am not looking for a transactional ‘give-and-take’ relationship.”
“Still, I’d feel uncomfortable if I was the only one receiving. Besides, I have no use for magic stones. I can’t even sell them anywhere.”
“Ah, is it because you are an Unregistered Climber?”
I nodded.
Villon hummed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I believe I can help you with that.”
“Wait, how?”
“There are many ways. I could act as a proxy to sell the Highest-Grade Magic Stone for you, or I could simply buy it from you myself.”
Oh, just like that?
“The only issue is determining the market price. This isn't exactly a common item traded on the open market... Ellen, do you have any idea?” Villon asked the man in the driver’s seat.
The man called Ellen replied immediately. “Since the supply is so limited, market price doesn't mean much. But for a stone of that size... I’d estimate at least thirty billion won at the minimum.”
...Thirty billion?
The Highest-Grade Magic Stone I brought was barely smaller than a fist. I knew it was rare, but thirty billion won?
“It’s worth that much?”
“As I said, the price is somewhat arbitrary,” Ellen explained. “With only five Nightmare Clearers in existence, there is an extreme disconnect between supply and demand. It’s essentially worth whatever the seller asks. In the US, these are classified as strategic materials, making them illegal to trade privately anyway...”
As I listened, something didn't seem to add up. “Then how are you going to sell it?”
“Legal routes aren't the only ones that exist,” Villon said with a faint smile.
Ah.
Right. A big shot like Villon would have his ways. Still, I wondered if it was really necessary to go that far.
“That seems like a bit much. You don't have to go to those lengths.”
Thinking about it, even if Villon gave me the money, how would I even receive it? Would I have to open a Swiss bank account or something?
“In that case, how about this? I provide you with lower-grade magic stones instead.”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You are currently an Unregistered Climber,” Villon explained. “You could register yourself as a climber of a different difficulty instead of Nightmare. The government has no way of knowing your actual difficulty level. If I provide you with stones of a grade that matches that difficulty, you can simply sell those.”
...Wait, that was actually tempting.
It wasn't just about the magic stones; this plan solved all the dilemmas I’d been facing lately. If I registered as an Easy difficulty climber, as he suggested, and consistently received low-grade stones from Villon to sell legitimately, I could perfectly maintain the persona of an Easy difficulty climber.
Magic stones didn't come with name tags. If I claimed I got them as rewards for clearing the Tower, there would be no issues at all. For someone like Villon, sourcing low-grade magic stones would be trivial. It was a perfectly viable plan.
Up until now, I’d been half-heartedly attending university. Part of me still hoped to return to a normal life someday. But now that I’d firmly decided to climb the Tower with everything I had, I couldn't keep going to school.
In fact, once I finished my second year of pre-med and entered the clinical years of medical school, I’d have to do nothing but study. Climbing the Tower while surviving med school? There was no way I’d have the time.
Sure, if I used my Time Stop ability like a madman, it might be possible. But there was no point in that, and I didn't want to push myself that hard. However, if I suddenly dropped out of medical school, explaining it to my family would be a nightmare.
But if I told them I’d become a Climber, I could persuade them. Especially since the Tower had issued new rules—it wasn't like I could just stop climbing because I wanted to.
I could quit school, make money by selling magic stones, and by coming clean to my family about being a climber, I wouldn't have to worry about being caught sneaking in and out of the Tower. I could focus entirely on the conquest.
This method solved almost every problem. It was perfect!
“That sounds like a great idea.”
“Excellent. If you agree, we shall proceed with that plan.”
After hearing the details of the future plan from Villon, I decided to go through with it. And despite Villon’s repeated polite refusals, I forced the Highest-Grade Magic Stone onto him. I really didn't want to be a one-sided recipient.
“Then I shall accept it with gratitude. I will make good use of it in my research.”
I remembered one more thing and added, “Oh, and about the Skill Stones... I don't mind if you get me Magic-type skills. I actually prefer Magic-type over Physical-type.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
Though, honestly, I’d be grateful for either. It was time to part ways.
“Well then, I look forward to working with you.”
I shook Villon’s hand one last time, nodded to Ellen, and opened the car door.
‘Hmm...’
I was about to get out when I looked back at Villon. “My name is Kim Seo-hyun.”
Since he was helping me this much, it felt rude to keep everything hidden. I figured I should at least give him my name.
Villon’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment before he broke into a smile. “It was a pleasure, Mr. Kim. I shall see you again.”
* * *
Exactly one week later, I met someone to receive the magic stones.
“Ah, thank you.”
At the meeting spot, a foreign man simply handed me a bag, gave a polite bow, and left. I opened the bag to check. Inside was a heap of lowest and low-grade magic stones, glowing with a faint blue light.
We had agreed that I would receive magic stones like this once a month at a designated location. Villon couldn't personally deliver them every time, so he said he would have a separate courier in Korea. Since he said the person was trustworthy, I assumed it was one of his close associates.
Now that I had the stones, the next step was to register as a climber.
‘I’m finally doing this after two years.’
I had briefly considered just revealing that I was a Nightmare difficulty climber and getting government support, since I was going to climb seriously anyway. But I was worried about my family finding out, and there were just too many complications, so I scrapped that idea.
I went to the nearest branch of the Special Climbing Agency and registered as an Easy difficulty climber. Proving one was a climber was simple. A climber who had cleared at least one floor could just show themselves entering and exiting the Tower.
Even for a 1st-floor climber who had never entered, there was a way to prove it. Since 1st-floor climbers can see the progress of all difficulties, they just had to answer the inspector's questions about real-time fluctuations in the number of participants or time limits.
In my case, I registered using the former method.
[Kim Seo-hyun | Difficulty: Easy | Current Progress: 2nd Floor]
Once registration was complete, climbers on the 2nd floor or higher could be issued a Climber Certification. This certificate also served as a permit to trade magic stones.
I could finally sell magic stones openly. Nice.
“The total is 20.56kg.”
I sold all the magic stones I’d received at the state-authorized magic stone exchange. The money I made was about 130 million won. Now I understood Sang-cheol’s spending habits. I wouldn't have to worry about pocket money for a while.
Now, the final and biggest hurdle remained.
“The truth is, I’ve become a Climber.”
That night, after dinner, I told my parents I had something to say and sat them down in the living room.
“What...?”
Seeing their shocked expressions, I quickly added, “It’s Easy difficulty. I’ve already finished clearing the first floor. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
I explained that I’d recently become a new climber but hadn't told them because I didn't want them to worry, and that the first floor was easy and I was perfectly fine. Only then did their stiff expressions soften slightly.
“Are you really okay? You aren't hurt anywhere?”
“Easy difficulty is just one goblin. There’s no way to get hurt, and even if I did, all injuries heal once you clear the floor.”
I moved on to my next point. “So, about that... I’m thinking of quitting school and working as a climber.”
My mother cried out in horror. “Absolutely not! What are you talking about?!”
“I’m not saying I’ll keep climbing higher floors; I’ll just repeatedly clear the first floor. You don't have to worry, Mom. There’s zero danger in repeated clears.”
My father finally spoke up. “What is your reason for wanting to be a climber? What about becoming a doctor after all that hard work to get into medical school?”
I gave the answer I’d prepared. “To be honest, the world has become a place where we don't even know what will happen a year from now. I don't want to spend all my time just studying at school. To become a doctor, I’d have to study for several more years.”
“Hmm...”
“I want to enjoy my hobbies, travel, and try many different things before it’s too late. If I work as a climber, I can earn enough money even with just a little bit of work.”
I laid out a long, persuasive argument. My father listened quietly before asking again, “Have you firmly made up your mind? You won't regret it?”
“Yes. You know I don't say things like this lightly.”
I thought it would be hard to convince him all at once, but surprisingly, my father nodded. “Fine. If that’s how you feel, I won't stop you.”
“Honey, what are you saying?! Instead of stopping him...!”
“Seo-hyun isn't wrong. We live in a world where we don't know what will happen tomorrow. I want to let the boy do what he wants.”
Great. Father’s permission: check.
“Mom, I’m telling you, it’s really not dangerous. No one dies or gets hurt repeatedly clearing the first floor of Easy difficulty. If it gets even slightly dangerous, I can just exit. And I have absolutely no intention of climbing to the 2nd floor. I have to do the 1st floor, but I’m not crazy enough to keep climbing the Tower if I want to live, right?”
As expected, my mother was much more stubborn than my father. So, I even performed a little demonstration by picking up a thick book and tearing it in half with my bare hands.
“Look. Even at Level 1, you get this strong. My body is so tough that I couldn't get hurt by a mere goblin even if I wanted to.”
“My goodness...”
In reality, a Level 1 isn't quite that strong, but my parents had no way of knowing that. In the end, I managed to get a reluctant "I'll think about it" from her. I didn't want to cause them grief, and I felt a bit sorry, but it couldn't be helped.
Anyway, this solved about half of it. Now I didn't have to sneak into the Tower while walking on eggshells at home.
I picked up the bracelet on my desk and summoned Diul.
“You like this too, right, Diul? From now on, let’s take more night walks on the 2nd floor.”
The response felt like a dismissive ‘Do whatever you want,’ but I also felt a faint trace of happiness. What a prickly fellow. It felt like raising a cat, even though I’d never had one.
Vroom!
The door suddenly swung open, and I scrambled to return Diul to the bracelet. Damn it, I told her to knock.
“What? Why?”
My younger sibling looked at me with a grumpy face and said, “I heard you became a climber.”
“...Yeah.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Just because. You heard it from Mom and Dad, so that’s enough.”
My sibling hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is it... manageable?”
“What is?”
“Clearing the Tower. You said it’s Easy difficulty.”
“It’s manageable. Why? You worried?”
“As if! You’re so annoying!” My sibling screamed and stormed out.
Seriously, that kid. Thinking I’d have to set her straight soon, I summoned Diul again.
“That’s my sister. She’s crazy, right? She treats her older brother like dirt.”
Diul didn't even react.
“Fine, let’s just go for that walk.”
[Would you like to enter Nightmare Difficulty, 2nd Floor?]
I threw on a cardigan and entered the Tower.
* * *
Northern Gangwon Prison.
Thud, thud, thud...
A repetitive sound reached the ears of the prison guard on night patrol in the cell block. It sounded like someone knocking on a cell door. The guard followed the sound to a specific cell.
“What are you doing? Who’s knocking on the—” He scowled and looked inside, only to recoil as if he’d seen a ghost.
A prisoner had his face pressed tightly against the observation port.
“...What do you think you’re doing, Seo Dong-woo!”
Seo Dong-woo of Cell 11, Block 3. He was a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, but he had been a quiet, model inmate for ten years without any major incidents. The guard couldn't help but be bewildered by his sudden bizarre behavior in the middle of the night.
Seo Dong-woo grinned, his voice trailing off lazily. “Ah, Officer... It’s nothing much. It’s just that my friends are in a lot of pain...”
“...Pain? Who’s in pain?”
“Yes. Everyone is hurting very badly. They’re in so much pain they can’t even move a finger.”
“What? What on earth are you—”
Suddenly, a metallic, fishy scent wafted out. As Seo Dong-woo slowly moved his face aside, the interior of the room was finally revealed.
Crimson blood, mangled flesh, and the corpses of what used to be the other inmates. The guard’s mind went blank as he stared at the scene.
“Uh, wha...?”
A hand reached out through the observation port and grabbed his head.
“What should I do? Can you save them, Officer? Maybe they’ll live if they take some medicine?”
“Guh, ack...!”
“A person is asking you a question~ Give me an answer. An answer!”
As the hand tightened its grip, the guard’s head burst like an overripe persimmon.
“You should have answered sooner.”
Chuckling, Seo Dong-woo shook the gore from his hand and stepped back from the iron door. Then, he lunged forward and slammed his body into it.
BOOM!
The iron door rattled violently. Alarms began to blare frantically from all directions. After several more impacts, the thick iron door began to warp, and cracks spread across the wall connected to the frame.
CRASH!
Finally, the wall, unable to withstand the impact, crumbled.
The Rapid Response Team, having rushed to the scene, froze in horror at the sight before them. The cell door had been ripped off. In the middle of the corridor stood a prisoner, his hands drenched in blood.
“Why is this thing so sturdy? If my level was any lower, I might not have been able to break it.” Seo Dong-woo smirked as he spotted the guards. “What are you looking at? Never seen a prison break before?”
“...”
“Well, I guess you wouldn't have seen one like this. Hehe.”
That night, screams and gunshots echoed chaotically through the prison.