The Apostle Candidate
Namgung Seojun opened his eyes again to the sight of beautiful priestesses smiling in welcome.
"Namgung Seojun, you're awake."
"Ah. Yeah."
He gathered his wits and sat up. A priestess standing nearby offered her congratulations.
"We truly congratulate you on becoming a candidate for the Apostle of the Main God."
She went on to explain further.
"The Main God will reevaluate you. Climbing from the 20th floor to the 50th will be your trial. It will be decided in the great city of Seokyo on the 50th floor whether you become the Apostle or not."
Once the explanation was complete, the priestess pointed toward the entrance.
"Your comrades are waiting outside."
"Thank you."
He stepped out, and...
"Seojun!"
Gisohee and the rest of the party greeted him warmly. With Gisohee taking the lead, they each announced their new jobs in turn.
"I got Archer. The god said I'd worked hard, but... it's a pretty ordinary job."
It was disappointing, but for her, it was the standard combat job of Archer—a normal class where Agility increased by 1 per level.
"I'm a Mage. The goddess praised my climb and gave me this unique job: 'Aspiring Grand Mage.'"
Lee Guho had landed a Unique job. Intelligence rose by 3 per level—a top-tier Unique class worthy of an inviter.
Dmitri followed, her face twisted in disappointment.
"I got Warrior. Ugh... She didn't say a word to me. I was just standing there quietly, and when I checked my status window, it was Warrior."
Dmitri had received the normal job of Warrior. Strength went up by 1 per level—nothing special.
Next up was Jo Jaehun.
"I was given '10-Man Captain.' She said it suited me well."
Jo Jaehun seemed somewhat satisfied. It was a Rare job, reflecting his experience managing guards and slaves. Strength and Intelligence each rose by 1 per level.
"My job is 'Spearman.' The god didn't say much to me either."
Li Zhangwei's was also a normal job—Strength up by 1 per level, utterly average.
Naturally, all eyes turned to Kim Hoon.
"I'm a Merchant. The god didn't say much. Did I slack off too much?"
Kim Hoon had drawn the normal production job of Merchant. Intelligence rose by 1 per level—a standard production class.
Finally, it was the party leader Namgung Seojun's turn.
"Ah... Um... Mine is..."
He hesitated before speaking.
"Candidate for the Apostle of the Main God."
"......"
An absurd job had appeared. Everyone stared at Namgung Seojun in shock. It was an off-spec class—Strength, Agility, and Intelligence each rose by 1 per level—but its true value went far beyond that.
"Congratulations."
Gisohee rejoiced as if it were her own.
"Hyungnim, you're amazing."
"Leader, congrats!"
"Whoa! As expected, you're fucking incredible."
The others offered their sincere congratulations.
The party headed straight to the temple shop. Upon reaching the 20th floor and receiving a job, one could buy the job's basic skill at a discount using Merit Points. These job skills were another chance at a turnaround—even a mundane job could shine with a good skill.
Through the priestesses, the party members checked their available job basic skills.
"The skill available to Namgung Seojun is Oracle."
"Oracle?"
The name wasn't immediately clear, so he paid 1000 Merit Points to acquire it.
Skill: Oracle (A)
Rank: Epic
Mana Cost: 0
Receive the oracle from the Main God. Fulfill it to the best of your ability.
It was a whopping Epic-rank skill. But the description was awfully vague.
"It says to receive and fulfill the oracle?"
The priestess replied brightly to his question.
"Simply carry out the oracle given by the god."
It was an obvious answer... Seojun ended up activating the Oracle skill.
Oracle used.
The Main God says you are still insufficient to receive an oracle. Gain more Fame and grow your abilities.
Even as he looked flustered, the priestess smiled warmly.
"Oracle isn't a skill you use at will. It's activated when the god calls for you, Namgung Seojun. Grow diligently, do many good deeds, and await the divine summons."
Namgung Seojun waited for the others after acquiring his new skill. Dmitri was the first to approach, her face a mask of disbelief.
"Ha. Fucking typical of my life! What bullshit."
She'd gotten a Rare combat skill, Continuous Thrust—useful in battle, but at 2000 Merit Points, it felt too ordinary for a job-change reward.
Jo Jaehun came next.
"Everyone got their skills, right? I got Imperial Shieldsmanship. A Unique skill, no less! And it's exactly what I needed."
The others trickled in one by one, sharing their skills with Seojun.
"Hyungnim, I hit the jackpot! Fast Casting—Unique rank for me too."
"I got the Rare skill Nimble Handiwork. My spear techniques will be a bit faster now."
Li Zhangwei had spoken, and Kim Hoon stood there laughing like a madman.
"Hahahaha... hahahaha... hahahaha!!"
No one asked about his slightly unhinged expression. Curious, Seojun used God's Eye to check Kim Hoon's new skill.
Skill: Flesh Toilet Conditioning (P)
Rank: Unique
Mana Cost: 0
When conditioning women who are 2nd Class Slaves, effects are tripled. 2nd Class Slaves will not even think to resist.
That bastard's been whoring around, and he gets a skill like that.
"Hahahahaha!"
Kim Hoon kept laughing in disbelief. But the most moved was someone else.
"I... I... got an Epic skill."
Gisohee approached Seojun, her voice trembling with tears.
Skill: Archery of Seulle (P)
Rank: Epic
Mana Cost: 0
You have learned the original archery of the legendary archer Seulle. You can accurately shoot your bow from any stance, with faster reload speed and increased attack power.
In truth, Gisohee had felt a bit resentful toward the goddess for giving her such an ordinary job. She'd been with them since the tutorial, yet unlike the others, she'd only gotten a normal class. But the goddess had deemed skills more important for her and gifted an Epic one.
"I didn't understand the goddess's great intent... Thank you, Goddess."
Gisohee sobbed in Seojun's arms, expressing her gratitude.
With skills confirmed, they retrieved their slaves from the temple and headed to the certified slave shop next door.
"Selling 12 female slaves and 3 male slaves."
The 15 2nd Class Slaves bought on the 19th floor purely for resale were all sold to the temple-authorized shop.
"Yes, let me calculate. 12 female slaves for 468 gold, 3 male slaves for 118 gold—total 586 gold. We'll round it up to 600 gold."
Seojun's Super Sense sensed it was fair. After some light haggling from Jo Jaehun and Kim Hoon, they secured extra Merit Point coupons, and the deal closed.
Just one floor up from 19 to 20, the 12 female slaves had jumped from 270 gold to 468— a tidy 198-gold profit. Even the 3 male slaves, porters and low-tier fighters, sold for 118 gold, 34 more than purchase price.
From the 20th floor on, 2nd Class Slaves held more value—especially the women.
With 600 gold in hand, the party left the shop and entered a nearby inn's restaurant. They ordered food and immediately settled accounts.
"Time to settle up for reaching the 20th floor."
He glanced at the party members.
"This'll probably be the last settlement with this lineup."
The party contract ended at the 20th floor, so even if someone wanted to leave after this, he couldn't stop them.
"40% goes to party funds, and the remaining 60% split among the regular members per the usual ratios. Li Zhangwei and Dmitri are now freed from slavery upon reaching 20, so they sit this out."
"We'll also redistribute the current party funds. Excluding silver and below, we have 142 gold, plus 240 incoming—total 382 gold. We'll split this by ratios too. Any objections?"
The party members each took home around 150 gold in final earnings. With full agreement, the settlement wrapped up. Namgung Seojun addressed them.
"Our party formed on the 1st floor aiming for the 20th. And now we're here."
He pulled out the old pledge forms they'd signed and tore them up.
"The pledges from the 1st floor no longer hold. We need to reform the party."
He looked at Gisohee and Lee Guho, who nodded immediately. Seojun continued.
"From now, we're reforming for the climb to the 40th floor. I'll still lead, and Gisohee and Guho are already in. What about the rest of you?"
Jo Jaehun spoke first.
"I'm staying, of course. I want to go until I hit my limit."
It was the expected choice. Seojun welcomed him warmly.
Li Zhangwei followed naturally.
"I was a combat slave until just now. Still, I think I contributed enough. If the master—no, leader—approves, I'd like to join as a full member."
Seojun replied gladly.
"Of course you're welcome. Let's climb together."
Li Zhangwei's membership was set.
"I'm coming too. You ain't gonna reject me, right?"
Dmitri wanted in.
"Yeah. Your skills suck and your personality's shit, but you're a comrade, so I'll let it slide."
"Fuck off."
Dmitri flipped him off with a prickly retort, but her spot was secured.
Kim Hoon was last. After thinking, he spoke.
"This is it for me. A Merchant joining a climbing party? Honestly, it's kinda lame. But I'll drop before 30, so give me a ride to a decent city."
His honest words drew nods from Seojun and the others. A longtime comrade from the tutorial, but pushing someone with a production job to keep grinding the tower felt wrong. He chose to work as a Merchant—respect that.
"You've worked hard, Kim Hoon. We'll take you to your city."
They accepted his decision. New contracts were drafted—this time to the 40th floor. Profit and Merit splits stayed similar: Seojun and Guho at 1.2, Gisohee, Jo Jaehun, and Li Zhangwei at 1, Kim Hoon and Dmitri (still deemed lacking) at 0.8. All agreed without issue and signed.
"Alright! Contracts done—let's rest for about five days."
"Yes!"
"Fuck yeah! Finally a vacation as free folk!!"
"Time to party!"
As everyone prepared to head out, Seojun held back Lee Guho.
"Guho, sort things out with Yuki yourself."
"Got it."
For the party... especially for Lee Guho, it was time to resolve things with Yuki, who would soon be freed from slavery.