Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Tower of Ascension
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After donning the mask and golden armor, I stepped outside, and all the hunters' gazes converged on me.
It was only natural. To them, I was the benefactor who had spared their lives and the only one who could grant them entry into the Tower of Ascension.
I had no idea what lay within that tower, but if entry was possible, reaping enormous rewards was a given. That's why greed overshadowed gratitude in their eyes.
Ignoring their stares, I moved to another spot.
'I need to say hello to Seo Ye-rin too.'
Because we'd entered different zones, we hadn't met, and after the zones merged, I'd relinquished control of my body, so I hadn't even properly greeted her.
I'd handled everything alone, so she hadn't been able to help, but since she'd come at my request without refusal, a proper greeting was the least I owed her.
Even if I'd paid the price by dangling potential rewards to lure her and forfeiting a magic training session.
First things first, though: meeting the special merchant. He was sitting in an eye-catchingly obvious spot, grumbling away.
"Damn it. I've got so much to do after work, and here I am wasting time like this. Ugh, this evil boss leaves me no days to rest easy. None at all. It's enough to make me weep!"
It was obvious he was pissed because I'd come out late. But the system must have prevented him from leaving.
I was grateful for the system's consideration. I approached him slowly and bowed my head.
"Oh? Finally here. You damn bastard. Forget the rest—just pick something quick, buy it, and get lost! Let me clock out already!"
I nodded and checked the catalog floating before my eyes.
True to its special shop nature, it was filled with unique and peculiar items, but one in particular caught my eye.
Fortune was screaming at me intensely to buy it too.
'What's so special about this?'
My curiosity didn't last long. With both my senses and Fortune insisting on it, I couldn't pass it up.
It would cost most of my points, but that wasn't an issue. I probably wouldn't meet the special merchant again for a very long time anyway. If luck was on my side, maybe sooner.
"I'll buy the Item: Heart of the Sky [Myth-EX+]."
The grumbling merchant fell silent at my choice and stared at me, as if confirming something he knew. I simply met his gaze steadily.
"You picked this without knowing what it is?"
He scanned my mind thoroughly with evident interest, then handed over the item with an amused grin, deducting the points.
In an instant, 3,666,666P was gone, leaving me with barely 4,000. Nothing else worth buying.
'No wings.'
Unfortunately, Lucifer's wing wasn't there. It would have been great to snag one.
"This'll be fun. Let's see what happens to you with that in your possession."
With a mocking laugh, the merchant tore open space and vanished. I stared at the item, my Infinite senses and Fortune still urging me on.
"What the hell is this?"
A 3,666,666P piece of trash?
I double-checked the item info in disbelief. Every single ability was indeed sealed. Hell, did any one item even make sense with this many abilities?
Even roughly counting, there were dozens. All just sealed and unusable.
No point crying over it now—I'd crossed the point of no return. Calling back the departed merchant for a refund was out of the question.
There had to be a reason my senses and Fortune had so fiercely chosen this as destiny's pick. The merchant's knowing smirk as he handed it over lingered too.
I stowed the item in my inventory and turned away. After getting Dangun Ji-hyeok's permission, I headed to the black tent where the others were gathered.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Pressing the tent's bell, the door opened, revealing a man wearing a pure white mask like mine.
"You've arrived. We've been waiting."
I smirked at his continued politeness as he bowed.
"I've been hearing that a lot lately."
"Indeed. It feels like we're always waiting for you, sir."
He even cracked jokes. The director was growing on me. I followed him into the tent. Unlike the one I'd stayed in, this was lavish, filled with all sorts of luxuries. Not just expensive—more like custom-ordered.
"You're here."
"Yeah. Took a bit since I rested first."
I removed my mask and sat across from her.
"The mask has been a big help."
They both nodded at my words, clearly getting their money's worth and squeezing every bit of value from it.
Observation skills were completely blocked anyway, so a mask with perception hindrance was perfect for concealing my identity.
"Impressive. Incredible. Advent. Divine Seat?"
"I don't know the full details either. Even she doesn't know her own identity well. She's a soul I rescued by chance from a hidden stage."
Interest flickered in their eyes at my explanation, and I gave them a rough rundown with a smile.
"Remarkable. Your first Abyss delve was full of twists and turns. No wonder you pull off the impossible so casually."
The director was amazed and impressed.
"Agreed."
Seo Ye-rin simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Smirking at them both, I finally broached the main topic.
"You've been waiting to enter the Tower of Ascension, right?"
"Yeah."
"Correct. To think the reward for slaying a catastrophe-grade monster in a special-type dungeon was this! Unbelievable. Special-type dungeons barely appear ten times in 200 years, and this one manifests as permanent!"
This was the first time I'd seen the director so excited. Even when I'd shown him the gold and mithril, it hadn't been like this.
"Even if we wanted in, we haven't helped much, so it might seem unreasonable... but we'd love to enter."
"You came to help me, so that's only fair. How many spots?"
The director held up three fingers.
"300?"
"No, 30. Letting in randos to waste opportunities is pointless. Better to send elites in first to scout. Easier to relay info that way."
I chuckled and shook my head at that. The director's premise was off.
"The Tower of Ascension tailors trials to each individual. It's all about transcending personal limits—that's the dungeon's purpose and will."
He nodded in surprise. Since 30 was fine even now, I confirmed the numbers, told them to contact me, and left the tent.
"Tower of Ascension entry limit: 1,000."
Mine aside, 30 for the Black Market side. Even giving Dangun Guild 200 left 769.
"Time for an auction."
Not some Black Market shindig—a proper, above-board auction for fair compensation. Another chance to rake in cash by the truckload.
I headed straight to the Dangun Guild tent, secured 200 spots, and left.
"Heading back for now."
I hit the system return button and warped to the Miracle Guild infirmary.
Three days passed. I handled various matters, discussed Miracle Guild and lifespan business, and took it easy.
Finally, today, the 1,000 entrants for the Tower of Ascension were set. Naturally, Dangun Guild and Dangun Cheonje handled the auction.
He'd offered the 200 spots as payment for helping hide my identity and personally ran the auction.
With hunters worldwide eyeing the special dungeon, it was no surprise. Seats sold out in a day—no dragging it out. Now, at the promised time, they gathered on old North Korean soil.
"Been a few days. You've kept me insanely busy."
Dangun Ji-hyeok gave a hollow laugh and extended a hand for a familiar shake. I greeted him warmly in return.
"And congrats. You get half the North Korean land for slaying that Imugi. I pulled some strings. The tower's yours anyway, so I snagged some land on the side."
What? Sudden landlord vibes? Stunned by the news, I stared, but he looked matter-of-fact.
"Should be disappointed with just half. If I'd subjugated it, the whole thing would've been mine. Those desk-jockeys just chasing greed—tch."
Right. Even before regression, half the land linked to the South had been his, dubbed Dangun Territory—a kingdom of sorts. Not literally ruled by a king, though.
Just called that because it was his land. Officially a city under South Korea, like a semi-autonomous state.
My land probably too.
"Since you're hiding your identity, I temporarily registered it under our guild. Swing by when ready. No taxes or anything. Pocket change for you now anyway."
Warning me about incoming contacts, he led me to the Tower of Ascension. There, 1,000 prepared hunters awaited only me.
I stood before them, voiced the entry message, and spoke.
"I wish you all achieve the ascension you seek."
I, too, would claim the ascension I desired.