Promotion (2)
I was about to get straight to preparing the Sage's Tome's upgrade when Ellaon added a remark.
"Wait a moment. You cannot guarantee that the Sage's Tome's promotion will succeed with one hundred percent certainty."
"What? Why not?"
"Do you recall what I said before? That the promotion of the Sage's Tome ought to be prepared for after you ascended to the second floor."
Right, now that I thought about it, I did remember him saying that.
Then why the change now?
"In truth, preparing on the second floor would have held the greater chance of success. However, witnessing alchemical talent that surpassed even my expectations, I have judged that it is possible even now."
Ah, so that was how it was.
"Then how much lower is the success rate compared to preparing on the second floor?"
"That depends entirely upon you. But judged by the standard of when you brewed the elixir of ascent... the difference will not be so great."
Either way, he was saying my odds would dip somewhat.
If the crafting failed, I'd flush every one of those hard-won materials straight down the drain.
So should I play it safe and head up to the second floor first?
No way. Not a chance.
Once the greed for setting records had taken root in me, giving up felt far too bitter.
After all, if I performed well, I could upgrade it anyway, couldn't I?
A surge of ambition boiled up — fine then, let's upgrade the Sage's Tome AND smash the Ascension Exam's records to historic new heights.
"An excellent attitude!"
Apparently Ellaon had been hoping I'd take the challenge all along.
Alright. Let's do this.
After that, I threw myself into gathering the materials Ellaon listed, and fast.
Honestly, some of them were far from easy to come by.
Mithril fragments, Etherium powder, Windleaf, Sunbloom, and more besides.
But somehow, I managed to get my hands on all of them.
How, you ask?
"Hello, Ascender Gain. The thing is, I have a favor to ask..."
The Han Gain option, of course!
"Oh, I can have all of these ready right away."
To my immense gratitude, Han Gain readily granted my request.
"I'll pay you back, I promise."
"We're just helping each other out. If I ever need something later, I'll let you know."
Ahh. Were you truly an angel descended from the heavens?
Thanks to her, the materials problem lost much of its weight.
Only one ingredient remained that even Han Gain couldn't procure on the spot.
"To reinforce it with the lightning attribute, you will require a branch of the lightning tree."
A tremendously rare and expensive material.
That was why even Han Gain couldn't obtain one immediately.
She offered to secure it if I gave her a few days, but I needed it right now, and piling up that much debt sat uneasily on my shoulders too — so I gratefully declined.
"Guess I'm heading to the black market."
Every floor of the Sky Tower had its black market.
If I went there, the odds of finding what I needed were extremely high.
That said, the black market on the first floor naturally stocked fewer high-priced goods than those on the upper floors, so there was a chance the branch simply wouldn't appear.
Still, worth a look.
With the gold coins I'd shaken out of the Treasure Goblin, I figured I could manage somehow.
One of the bustling commercial districts on the first floor of the Sky Tower.
I strolled through the streets wearing the Unprecedented Hahoe Mask over my face, and before long arrived at a massive building.
This is the place.
This was an establishment run by the Black Hand, one of the largest black market organizations within the Sky Tower.
How could a black market operate so brazenly out in the open, you ask?
Simple — the Black Hand possessed power enough to make it possible.
Earth's laws held no jurisdiction inside the Sky Tower; there, strength itself was law, strength itself was order.
"Do you have your admission pass?"
As I approached the entrance, two guards stepped into my path and demanded to see one.
I drew a single black card from inside my coat.
An admission pass granting entry to the Black Hand's black market.
"Confirmed. Please proceed."
Having checked my pass, the guards parted to let me through.
It actually works.
Well, of course it did. Who do you think gave it to me?
This was the pass Han Gain had handed over while I was gathering alchemical materials, telling me to make use of it if I ever ran across something hard to find.
Thanks to Han Gain, I'm already using the black market.
From what I'd heard, most people had to climb two or three floors before they could even get their hands on an admission pass — so I was using one remarkably early.
"This is the warp gate for transport to the main hall."
Descending underground, an enormous warp gate greeted me.
The scale was on another level, as expected.
Then again, with people converging on one location from every corner of this vast first floor, warp gates like this must have been essential.
"You may experience some mild disorientation. Then — enjoy your shopping."
My guide bowed at the waist in a half-fold.
Returning the bow, I stepped through the shimmering portal beyond the warp gate.
FAAASH!!
In an instant my vision flipped, and a new space unfolded before me.
A cavern of darkness, its ceiling studded with lights that flowed like the Milky Way.
"Welcome to the Black Hand's L-Auction House."
Someone wearing a skull mask addressed me.
He was one of the venue's attendants.
"Is there a particular item you wish to purchase?"
"I'm here to browse materials for alchemy."
"Then the second door is the one you want."
Dozens of doors lined the cavern walls.
Stepping through the second one, I found countless materials for alchemy and crafting displayed in rows upon rows.
No lightning tree branch, though.
I clicked my tongue quietly.
So even this place didn't have it?
Just as the disappointment settled in, a man wearing a deer mask approached and asked,
"Valued customer, is there something you cannot find?"
"Yes, I don't see it anywhere."
"Might I ask what it is you're looking for?"
"A lightning tree branch."
"Ah! That item... it happens to be a lot in the auction beginning shortly. Shall I escort you to the auction hall?"
Oh? It's going up for auction?
A worry gnawed at me — if competition broke out, my gold coins might not stretch far enough — but...
Let's check it out anyway.
Guided by the deer mask, I entered the auction hall.
The interior was quite spacious.
A stage stood at the front, and behind it, chairs climbed up the slope in tiered rows — easily two hundred seats or more at a glance.
"The auction will commence shortly. All attendees, please be seated."
After a brief wait, the opening announcement rang out.
The seats that had been half-empty when I first entered had filled to capacity before I knew it.
"Before we begin, allow me to extend our gratitude to each and every customer who has graced the Black Hand's auction hall with your presence."
A figure in a black rabbit mask stepped up as the auctioneer.
The auction proceeded under his direction.
The vast majority of lots were 1-star items, but every last one of them was at least Hero grade.
A few rare, otherwise unobtainable pieces drifted past as well.
Staves, wands, rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, robes, belts...
Some were high-grade equipment and artifacts that even I couldn't help salivating over.
How much would my combat power soar if I draped myself in all of that?
What a shame.
If only I had the money, I could have walked around clad in gear like that.
Come to think of it, James took his Ascension Exam wearing equipment even better than all of this, didn't he?
The wealth gap hit me with a distinct sting of deprivation.
"Once you have assembled all three Divine Artifacts of the Sage, such trinkets — however numerous — will amount to less than a hair on a new calf's back."
Fair enough.
Three Mythic-grade pieces would chew through all of it, sure.
But even so, I couldn't help wanting to try on such fine equipment at least once.
While I was lost in those idle thoughts, the item I'd been waiting for finally appeared.
"And now, our next lot. You all know of the lightning tree, said to exist only on the eighth floor, don't you? The sacred tree said to hold holy lightning within its boughs! The star of this auction is a branch of that very lightning tree!"
At the black rabbit mask's clap, the black cloth draped over the glass case on the stage slid away, revealing a blue-tinged branch resting inside.
There it is.
"Ho. It appears to be in remarkably fine condition."
The branch was of such good quality that even Ellaon gave his grudging nod.
"The opening bid will begin at 10 gold coins."
Whoa. Expensive.
10 gold coins came out to ten million won.
Granted, thanks to looting the Treasure Goblin I was sitting on a considerable pile of gold and silver coins, but...
surely I wouldn't fail to win it, right?
"Yes, customer number 53, 10 gold coins added. We are currently at 510 gold. Do I have any further bids?"
Son of a—
The worry had become reality.
That number 53 — a figure in a red fox mask — had latched onto every one of my bids, raising the price each time.
The others who'd chased at the start all fell away the moment the price crossed 100 gold.
Now it was just me and number 53, and together we'd driven it up to 510.
510 gold... that's 510 million won.
Insane.
Barely days ago my entire net worth had been under 2,000 — for a man like me, this was an amount that made my flesh crawl.
The haul from the Treasure Goblin was mostly silver coins, so the total value, despite the sheer volume, didn't reach that far.
But still — rich or not, this was too much. Burning 510 million on a tree branch?
That fox lunatic — had she lost her mind?
"Whoa, what's with that fox mask? Even granting that lightning tree branches are rare, burning half a billion?"
"Just how rich IS she...?"
Murmurs rippled from the seats around me.
The fox mask was indeed burning through an amount that leapt clean over common sense.
"Are there no further bids?"
Time was truly running out now.
Deep down, I'd considered just giving up and letting it go — step outside, hustle, and I could surely find one for far cheaper than this within a few days.
But that would drag down my Ascension Exam record attempt accordingly.
And that, I could not stomach.
Right. If a man's drawn his blade, he'd better carve something with it!
Could the man destined to become the world-commanding, planet-famous Unknown afford to wobble over a mere pittance like this?
"If there are no further bids, this lot will be awarded to customer number 53. I will begin the countdown. Five, four, three..."
Before raising my hand, I turned my head just slightly and looked toward the fox mask.
As it happened, she was turning to look at me at that very moment.
Our eyes met for a brief beat.
Grin.
Then I saw it.
The corner of the fox mask's mouth, curling slowly upward.
"Can you keep up with me, I wonder?"
It was a smirk that seemed to ask exactly that.
And that was the finishing blow.
That's it. Today, one of us dies.
Feeding her bids bit by bit would only mean she kept following anyway.
It was time — truly time — to throw the decisive gamble.
With an Ascender's line of credit, I can scrape together at least 200 gold more. I'll settle it here.
This wasn't a reckless, no-exit decision.
Climbing the tower at my pace, the day would surely come when sums like this were pocket change.
I raised my hand, resolve hardening in my eyes.
"700 gold."
"...!"
The instant the words left my mouth,
a breath-stealing silence dropped over the auction hall.
Even the auctioneer, evidently never expecting 700 gold to be called outright, had been struck dumb for a beat —
and the fox mask was staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Whoa!"
"Insane — he's actually throwing MORE out here?!"
"So THIS was the highlight of tonight's auction."
"Whooo-! Now that's fiery! Damn impressive, Hahoe Mask!"
A beat late, gasps of admiration erupted from every corner of the hall.
The fox mask, caught entirely off guard by this development, made no move at all — nothing like the instant pursuit of every earlier bid.
"Customer number 21 has bid 700 gold! Are there no further challengers? If not, I'll begin the count! Five, four, three..."
The numbers dwindled.
But the fox mask — whether from sheer frustration — only shuddered through one full-body tremble, and could not call out a higher price.
"Congratulations! The lightning tree branch is awarded to customer number 21!"
At that cry, I pumped my fist.
A bigger expense than I planned. But the winner, in the end, is me.
With this, the Sage's Tome could ascend to 2-Star (★★).
And all of humanity would bear witness —
to the record that James had held in an iron grip for so many years being demolished. Ut. Ter. Ly.
Flush with elation, I leaned back against my chair —
and in that very moment,
KWAAAAAANG!!
With a detonation like an artillery shell going off,
the entire auction hall heaved violently.
WIIIIIIN!!
"I-Intruders!"
"Stop them!"
KWAAANG.
"Gyaaaaaagh!"
Screams and explosions tangled together beneath the wailing alarms.
What the hell is going on?
Everyone, myself included, turned toward the entrance in stunned confusion.
KA-BOOM!!
The entrance blew apart in a burst of flame,
and masked assailants began pouring through.
Shffk, swish! WHAM!
The attackers savaged the Black Hand guards barring their path without discrimination, shoving relentlessly toward the stage.
"U-Ugh, aaaagh!"
"R-Run!"
Every attendee here was an ascender between levels 1 and 10.
And the assailants — every one of them looking to be a full level 10 at a glance — seemed leagues stronger than the auction participants.
Damn it, what is even happening?
The thought that I needed to move first flared through me, and I was swept along with the crowd, sprinting toward the stage.
"Open the door!"
"Get back, everyone!!"
The auction attendees began streaming out in a rush through the door behind the stage.
I'll slip out first too, then figure out what's going on.
Frankly, I doubted I'd lose even if I fought them —
but there was no need to get tangled up in danger if I didn't have to.
Wait — hold on. What happens to the lightning tree branch I just won?
I glanced back over my shoulder toward the stage.
There, the black rabbit masked auctioneer was shouting desperately at the ascenders around him.
"P-Please, help me!"
"Get lost!"
He was begging the fleeing ascenders for aid.
But who on earth would help anyone in a situation like this?
I clicked my tongue and was turning my head away —
when, at that instant, my eyes met the black rabbit mask's.
"A-Ascender, sir! Please help us. If you aid us in holding them off, I will simply give you the branch you won — as thanks, free of charge."
Huh?
Wait. You'll just GIVE me the lightning tree branch?
...Well, that does change the conversation.
I wheeled around from my march toward the exit.
"Fine. But you'd better keep that promise."
With that, I planted myself in the path of the onrushing assailants.
"Huh? Who's this Hahoe Mask?"
"And just who the hell are you?"
Hostile glares rained down on me from every side.
I answered them all with a slow, curved grin.
"The Grim Reaper."
And with those words —
emerald lightning burst from my hand.