Breaking Through the Lower Floors (2)
After the widespread reports that the former Function cult leader had vanished, the player community cooled once more.
The victim had nothing to do with the real Function. Function himself was still safe, consecutively clearing the 23rd and 24th floors in a manner that seemed to ignore the tower’s rules entirely. Yet the players interpreted the kidnapping of the impersonator in only one way.
‘Someone is still targeting Korean players.’
The cult leader had been taken because he claimed to have seen Function at the previous gathering. They had abducted him to extract related information.
Regardless of the reason, the Korean player society now understood that an outside force could silently snatch away even one of their own.
Outside the Magic Tower, players were no different from ordinary civilians.
Therefore, if those people could kidnap the Function cult leader, they could just as easily take anyone else.
The Player Management Agency was also struggling to track the situation.
“Any leads?”
“We’re still tracking, but it’s proving difficult to locate them.”
Using Song Hana was nearly impossible as well.
They hadn’t placed any tracking skills on the target beforehand.
Although she possessed a wide array of abilities, finding a target from mere fragments of information—like the American seer, Oracle—was beyond her.
“Suddenly, the fact that we’ve been gathering high-ranking players in the Player Residential Village is being twisted.”
“In what way?”
“The rumor is that the Agency lacks confidence in protecting players, so they’re keeping them all in one place.”
“Hah.”
Director Mun Gwon-su let out a dry laugh, yet remained composed.
“If that’s how they want to see it, then so be it.”
It seemed plausible enough, if one chose to believe it.
“The cult leader claimed to have seen Function’s face?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It was my mistake for not anticipating that such a force would exist. I apologize.”
“No one could have predicted this. With tensions high and North Korea under pressure, who would have expected someone to kidnap the impersonator in broad daylight in Seoul?”
“We’re still investigating, but some believe Korean players orchestrated the kidnapping themselves.”
“Jealous rivals, then.”
“That appears to be the case.”
The director nodded as if he had already considered the possibility.
“It seems we’re still not ready for Function to remove his mask and reveal himself to the world.”
“Staying anonymous as long as possible would be best.”
“Either way, nothing has changed. We must protect the players until the situation stabilizes and safety is secured.”
“Correct.”
After the recent terror incident, he had been dragged through congressional hearings and endured every possible insult.
“In times like these, it’s crucial that Function continues climbing the tower without pause. How is the support for his 25th-floor ascent progressing?”
“It’s going well.”
“Provide whatever he requests, to the fullest extent the Agency can offer.”
“Of course, Director. However, Function doesn’t seem likely to request support as he did before.”
The director nodded with a faint smile.
Recent events had brought considerable stress, yet every piece of news about Function melted that stress away.
It was almost as if he had become a follower himself.
Late at night, he felt embarrassed recalling how he had once wondered whether Function would hit a wall in the 10th floor range.
─┼
─ Sending the materials needed for the 25th floor.
─ Breaking through the 1/4 mark of the tower is by no means easy……
Choi Junseok skimmed Team Leader Kang’s message and nodded.
─ Clearing the 25th floor in record time should help stabilize the chaotic player community somewhat.
‘Isn’t that a bit of an overstatement?’
He asked about the truly important matter—his security.
─ The cult leader saw my face. Is there any problem with my protection?
The reply didn’t come immediately.
─ It’s difficult to give a definitive answer at this time.
More ambiguous bureaucratic language.
Soon, however, better news arrived.
─ The Player Management Agency is likely to purchase the Magic Tower entry tickets. The unit price matches what you requested, but after taxes, it will be less than half.
─ Those bastards.
─ That’s how life works for high-income earners. I wouldn’t know personally.
─ You said it was tax-exempt.
─ Taxes are like death. Unavoidable.
─ Ah~ I think I’ll need some tax-saving strategies for the 25th floor~
─ There is a way to reduce taxes by receiving it through the Function Foundation.
─ That… is it called the Function Foundation now?
─ It’s the Function Social Welfare Foundation. Taxes are lower. Since it’s under a corporate foundation name, it may be difficult to use personally.
─ How much tax are we talking?
─ If received in installments, it could drop below 40%. If you want a lump-sum payment, over 50%.
Choi Junseok’s hands trembled.
─ How much is the sale price?
─ They plan to purchase it for 12 billion won.
─ Half of that is 6 billion?
─ The actual amount deposited is likely to be even lower……
Six billion.
Of course, it was an enormous sum. Not many people would ever handle that much money in their lifetime.
Yet strangely, watching the number drop from three digits to two left him feeling utterly hollow.
It was money obtained by dismantling the first floor of the Japanese Magic Tower, after all.
With that amount, his family could have lived in luxury for the rest of their lives.
“They’re taking more than half in taxes?”
Even Lee Nayeon, who usually paid no attention to Choi Junseok’s actions, showed a hint of concern.
“Are you all right?”
“I can’t take this anymore! I’m entering the 25th floor!”
Climbing was the perfect way to vent.
You have entered the 25th floor.
Time Limit: 4 hours 00 minutes.
25th Floor Clear Condition: Defeat the black mage hiding in the underground research facility.
The black mage’s underground space resembled a maze.
He had to find the black mage somewhere on this floor.
Normally, without a player possessing detection skills, finding the path alone could take over two hours.
As always, a cluster of light gathered beside Choi Junseok, and Song Hana appeared.
“Over there!”
Song Hana pointed downward.
“Okay. We’re going hard this time. Maximum protection barriers and techniques!”
Lee Nayeon was summoned in front of Choi Junseok.
Song Hana’s eyes widened in shock.
“D-Don’t tell me… right here?! It’s quite far!”
“Yeah. We’ll drill through lightly with Caliburn and shove the Holy Sword through the gap.”
“……Caliburn will break!”
Lee Nayeon narrowed her eyes as if glimpsing the future and stared at Choi Junseok, but he had already thought it through.
Above Choi Junseok’s head, in the direction Song Hana had indicated, Caliburn slowly materialized.
It spun like a black drill emerging through rippling space.
The difference this time was that Caliburn stopped midway and was pulled back.
As if drawing a spear or arrow before launching it.
Whirrrrrr-!
The rotation was faster than before, and the condensed power before launch was immense. Lee Nayeon looked flustered.
It was probably because Choi Junseok’s level had risen significantly after she had massacred the 24th floor.
The three of them had already reached level 92, just shy of 100.
Once they hit 155, they would meet Caliburn’s equip requirement and open a new realm.
As his level increased, Choi Junseok’s abilities as Inventory Master had naturally grown as well.
“Summon.”
Kwaaaaaang-!
Caliburn was no Holy Sword, but it was still a formidable blade.
It was a mythic-grade item, after all.
Thick clouds of dust and stone fragments scattered, but Song Hana’s blue barrier blocked them, causing them to fall harmlessly or dissipate.
“Go! Lee Nayeon! Retrieve it!”
“……?”
Lee Nayeon tilted her head at Choi Junseok.
It felt like being told to fetch like a dog.
Yet she understood her physical capabilities and that the hole was too narrow for Choi Junseok to enter. She nodded and slipped inside.
‘He drilled quite deep.’
The fall lasted a long time.
It truly was like a drill.
The 25th floor’s structure had been pierced through four underground levels.
Thud-
She had descended dozens of meters, yet her landing was as light as a cat’s.
When Lee Nayeon, who had fallen vertically to the fourth underground level, picked up the sword embedded in the floor—
“Gwooooorgh……”
The black mage’s creations from the 21st to 24th floors greeted her from all sides.
The moment she grasped the sword stuck in the floor, her eyes changed and her body vanished in an instant.
Just as she was about to strike with the sword—
Choi Junseok sensed the connection to the item and unsummoned her, pulling her back to his side.
The reason became clear immediately.
“We need the record! Summon!”
The Holy Sword of Yu Junhyeok plunged down through the vertically drilled hole.
He hadn’t used the spinning and backward-throw technique on the Holy Sword like with Caliburn, for safety reasons.
Kugugugugu─
The mere sound of the Holy Sword falling shook the entire tower.
The moment the sword disappeared into the hole—
Tu-kwaaaaaaaaang─!!
A twisting vibration, as if stretching and compressing the body vertically, followed.
Soon after, a gale surged up through the hole, instantly shattering Song Hana’s shield.
Crash-!
The protection barrier activated in succession.
Kwaaaaaaaaak!!
The wind alone was enough to break the barrier and threaten the protection inside.
Through Choi Junseok’s shaking vision, a status window appeared.
Congratulations!
You have cleared the 25th floor.
Clear Time: 27 seconds.
Would you like to register anonymously on the Hall of Fame? (Y/N)
The additional effect of ‘Recovery Fairy Dragon’ has activated.
Mid-floor clear rewards have been granted.
This exhilarating sensation.
It didn’t end there.
Hidden Clear Condition Achieved! — Clear without allowing the black mage to speak.
Rewards for achieving the hidden clear condition have been granted.
The original 25th-floor boss would inflict status ailments on players and ramble on endlessly.
As if trying to waste time and force a retirement.
Yet they had cleared it without such pointless delays.
“Whoa… As expected. Players have to climb the tower.”
Would you like to return? (Y/N) Automatic return in 30 minutes.
The rewards piled up instantly.
The bonus from achieving five consecutive record clears starting from the 23rd floor.
Plus the hidden clear condition achieved this time.
And the items stored in Kkamdori’s belly.
Above all, it somewhat lifted his mood after having to pay billions in taxes.
“Return.”
Indeed, players had to climb the tower.
And now, the real climb had only just begun.
After all, they had only reached the 25th floor—merely a quarter of the way up the tower.