Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 8
SHAAA-.
Seo-jin looked at the scarecrow that had been completely charred black and destroyed, narrowing his eyes.
'The reason they used a scarecrow instead of a punching machine for the test.'
And the reason this 2nd floor test is a newbie cutter is precisely because the scarecrow that is the subject of the test is made of special materials.
'This scarecrow made of artificial mana bodies has its mana flow change randomly each time. Accordingly, the location and attributes of its weak points also change.'
Therefore, to obtain a high score, it's important to strike at the most appropriate time with the appropriate attributes.
Since Seo-jin lacked mana sensitivity, he couldn't read the mana flow possessed by the scarecrow at once, so he used a somewhat troublesome method.
A method of injecting his own mana into the scarecrow, then reading the weak points by remembering the wavelength that returned in reverse.
It's a principle similar to acoustic depth measurement, which sends shock waves into the sea and reads the returning wavelengths.
It's a technique of directly experiencing with one's body to read the target.
'If you don't have talent, your body has to suffer.'
This method is accompanied by pain in the mana circuits due to high mana consumption, but above all, it can accurately pinpoint the opponent's mana flow.
The previous highest record was Sword Star Ju Won-jae's 10,900 points.
Unlike the previous records that had consistently recorded in the thousands, this was the first score to exceed ten thousand.
And Seo-jin's record was.
[37,240]
A score that easily surpassed that by three times.
It was a score suspicious enough to wonder if a bug had been used.
It was the result of perfectly analyzing the target's weak points and mana flow and concentrating all force on that striking point.
As soon as the test ended, notification windows appeared one after another before Seo-jin's eyes.
[Congratulations. You have achieved a new record for the 2nd floor test site. Chain quests are unlocked.]
[You have achieved the 'Dismantling Analyzer' achievement.]
[You have achieved the 'Cheater' achievement.]
[Your record will be shared on the leaderboard. Please choose anonymous or real name.]
"Anonymous."
Record sharing was anonymous as before.
[Confirmed. The Climber's personal information will be safely protected by artificial intelligence BABEL.]
[We will provide the prize money for passing the test.]
CHARRR-.
The prize money deposited in Seo-jin's status window was 37,240 gold. It was exactly the same amount as the score he achieved.
[The test has ended. Shall we transport you to the next floor?]
To the AI's question, Seo-jin shook his head.
"No."
With the Association and each guild's nerves on edge due to the tutorial's new record achievement.
He had taken advantage of the confusion to take the 2nd floor test, but if he were transported to the 3rd floor right now, he would be caught immediately.
He didn't intend to hide his identity for a long time, but he didn't want it revealed right away either.
At least until the 29th floor where the Frontline Strategy Team was located, he planned to quietly raise his value while building strength.
'It won't be difficult if I use the systems inside the Tower.'
Thanks to BABEL's system that thoroughly guarantees anonymity, as long as he didn't do anything stupid to get his tail caught, he could buy quite a bit of time.
Having organized his thoughts, Seo-jin spoke.
"Transport to B-17 entrance."
[Understood. Have a pleasant climb.]
FLASH-.
A flash of light transported Seo-jin.
The place Seo-jin arrived at was behind the 2nd floor climbing test site that smelled musty. It was the B-17 entrance where the recycling area was located.
After confirming there were no signs of people around, Seo-jin touched his black robe and activated the robe's ability.
[Wave Conversion]
RUSTLE-.
Seo-jin's black robe trembled, then soon changed into a pure white robe that beginners often used.
At the same time, bustling noise and signs of people could be heard from inside the climbing test site.
"Find him quickly!"
"He must have gone up to the 3rd floor!"
"Secure witnesses first!"
It seemed that news of the new record had just been delivered to the Association, and personnel had been dispatched to the climbing test site immediately.
Confirming this, Seo-jin smiled slightly and disappeared into the depths of the dirty alley.
***
A high-rise building overlooking Seoul city at a glance.
This building that rose majestically in a streamlined shape as if modeling the Tower was the 'Climber Association' headquarters.
A man had visited the Association President's office located on the top floor of this building.
Team Leader Park Tae-hyeon, who was both the guidance team leader of the Immigration Management Office and the head of the Korean headquarters.
He who had been harshly scolding and shouting at the guides earlier was now sitting meekly like a gentle sheep in front of one person, giving a report.
"...That concludes my report."
When Team Leader Park's report ended, the figure sitting in front of the magnificent desk slowly raised their head.
An office lady with dark circles under both eyes as if worn down by work.
The director of the Immigration Management Bureau and president of the Climber Association, Han Seo-hee.
"Have you secured witness testimony?"
At the cold and businesslike voice, Team Leader Park Tae-hyeon felt his spine chill as he tried to answer.
"Yes. Yes, according to the testimony of waiting witnesses, he was dressed in a black robe and was quite tall. Though it was hard to see clearly due to the hood, he had Asian features and voice. Voice analysis suggests he's Korean, and he reportedly showed magic that created black flames."
"Good. How is the identity confirmation proceeding?"
"Well... we distributed personal information to the personnel stationed at the 3rd floor transport array, but there's been no results so far..."
"There's no guarantee he'll go straight to the 3rd floor right after the test. You should have sealed off all the test site entrances first."
"I'm, I'm sorry!"
At Team Leader Park's frozen appearance, Han Seo-hee sighed.
"No. Please continue your hard work. You may go now."
"Yes."
Just as Team Leader Park was about to open the door and leave, Han Seo-hee added a word to the back of his head.
"Oh, and you'd better call it a day today. The hard-working guides too."
Han Seo-hee emphasized the guides.
It seemed that Team Leader Park's unreasonable orders had reached her ears.
Team Leader Park tried to smile and left the room.
"Under... stood."
CLICK-.
After Team Leader Park left, Han Seo-hee took off her glasses, placed them on the desk, and slumped back in her chair.
"Whew."
Her gaze turned toward the guest sofa after loosening even the necktie that was choking her neck.
Her younger sister Han So-yul was lying on the sofa, fiddling with her smartphone and giggling.
"What are you so happy about, giggling like that?"
To her sister's question, Han So-yul, the guild leader of Korea's representative mage guild [Taebaek], answered.
"Hehe, of course I'm happy. Maybe a mage similar to or surpassing the Sword Star has appeared in Korea. I've been unable to hold my head up because of Gu-ren all this time."
Grand Mage Tsuchimikado Gu-ren, a Japanese climber with the rather arrogant title of 'Grand Mage' and a mage of the frontline strategy team.
His existence was like a ray of light to mages who were a despised and avoided profession.
But that didn't mean it was entirely good either.
His achievements showed the potential of the mage profession, but for latecomers, it also meant having previous achievements and precious quests and artifacts taken first.
This was also a major threat in the climbing competition that had now become a national-level competition.
Currently, due to the time limit of climbing, each nation's frontline strategy teams were working together to challenge the 30th floor, but there was no guarantee they would continue together forever.
In this situation, the birth of a supernova in the mage field, moreover the appearance of a Korean climber, would be the most welcome news.
"Since that anonymous climber is definitely Korean, there's no need to rush, right? Since he chose anonymity himself, rather than digging into his background, let's watch the birth of a new supernova."
To So-yul's words, Han Seo-hee shook her head.
"No, the time for such naive responses has passed. Groups transcending nationality and race are already forming one after another inside the Tower. For maintaining order, securing his person is absolutely necessary."
The Tower, another world where human wisdom and law don't work.
This world where each floor's area is equivalent to a nation and has numerous different races and special ecosystems.
Due to these characteristics of the Tower, it's impossible to control climbers with just the Association's management power.
At such times, if they could place the anonymous supernova who attracts attention under the Association's management, they could stabilize the chaotic Tower even a little.
To this response from Han Seo-hee, So-yul asked back.
"Hey, isn't the very idea of humans trying to control the Tower arrogant to begin with? This Association is also an organization barely created under the administrator's goodwill."
To So-yul's response that seemed immature yet was like a penetrating remark, Han Seo-hee let out a deep sigh.
"I'd like to do that too, but it's not that easy."
The Tower's appearance brought prosperity to humanity, but it was a threat that could bring upheaval to existing vested interests.
Even now, many political and business figures want to place the Tower under their management.
They have been rampantly issuing all kinds of regulations and special laws pursuing immediate profit maximization, and have consistently checked the growth of the Climber Association that desires the Tower's sustainability.
This harms the rights of climbers and the Tower's autonomy, and furthermore could lead to dangers for humanity.
'If we fail to break through each floor within the time limit, who knows what will happen then.'
Although no documented rules have been discovered, there are reports that the longer the time without updating the highest floor, the higher the frequency of mana disasters occurring worldwide.
For these reasons, Han Seo-hee has strongly blocked attempts to regulate the Tower as the head of the Climber Association.
But if the Association can't properly handle incidents like this tutorial's new record case, it will give strength to the voices of those wanting regulation.
For her, it was an unavoidable decision.
Han Seo-hee sighed and quietly clenched her fist.
'If only climbers could be active outside the Tower too...'
If they could use all the skills, power, and artifacts obtained inside the Tower, would this damn situation have changed?
Or would even greater chaos shake this world?
As Han Seo-hee was having such idle thoughts and swallowing her complaints,
So-yul got up from the sofa and headed outside.
"Anyway, sister, I'll stay in the Tower for a while and look for traces of him."
"Didn't you just say to leave him alone?"
"That was about not stirring things up at the Association level. I'm personally curious."
"..."
When Han Seo-hee narrowed her eyes and glared, So-yul stuck out her tongue and said.
"Heh. Why? If I find that person, it's good for you too, sister. High-quality personnel like me is lending a hand."
"Well... that's true. So? Where are you going?"
To Han Seo-hee's question, So-yul answered with a smile.
"The 2nd floor. That person is probably going around the entire 2nd floor right now, sweeping up hidden achievements and items, don't you think?"
***
"Is this the place?"
Seo-jin, who had escaped from the climbing test site, arrived at a hunting area on the 2nd floor.
[Yellow Rock Forest]
A vast forest completely unrelated to its name, with no yellow rocks visible anywhere.
The reason Seo-jin, who had taken the climbing test, visited this place was just one.
'To obtain a secret skill.'
Seo-jin stood in front of the wooden bridge leading to the forest and recalled the past.
***
A few months after the Tower's collapse, during the period when the Seoul recovery war was in progress.
It was one night when he was keeping watch with Fist King Choi Gang-hyeon.
While Seo-jin was dozing in front of the campfire, that guy suddenly opened his mouth.
Come to think of it, there was a skill that would be perfect for a guy like you.
What sudden bullshit are you talking about?
Gang-hyeon ignored Seo-jin's words and threw a tree branch into the campfire, continuing what he wanted to say.
There was an old man who taught secret martial arts that combined magic and combat. But I thought it would harm the pure enlightenment of martial arts, so I didn't particularly learn it.
Why didn't you learn something that was being taught? are you an idiot?
...
Seo-jin saw the veins rising red on Gang-hyeon's fist and corrected his words.
I take back calling you an idiot. So where do you get that?
Gang-hyeon, having calmed his anger, continued.
I think it was the 2nd floor. I set a new record on the climbing test and went to Yellow Rock Forest, where I met that eccentric old man.
Eccentric old man?
Yeah, he's half-crazy and has similarities to you. If you listen well to that old man's words and do as he asks, that's it. That secret martial art might be able to solve your chronic madness problem.
I see. But what am I supposed to do about it now?
The Tower had collapsed and there was no way to obtain skills anymore. What use was this information now?
To this, Gang-hyeon said matter-of-factly.
To make you envious, you bastard.
***
In the end, they fought all night that day, but Seo-jin didn't forget that conversation.
And now he had come to Yellow Rock Forest following that memory.
'He definitely said I could meet him here.'
On the wooden bridge with a stream flowing below, as Seo-jin was silently waiting for the old man,
TRUDGE-.
From beyond the forest on the opposite side, a kind-looking old man with a snow-white beard appeared.
The old man, who had been slowly approaching the bridge, stopped right in front of Seo-jin.
Seo-jin politely bowed toward him and greeted.
"Nice to meet you, elder. I am Lee Seo-jin. May I ask your name?"
"..."
Despite Seo-jin's polite greeting, the old man just looked at Seo-jin without saying anything.
'What's with this old man?'
Is he perhaps deaf?
Just as Seo-jin was about to say something with his eyebrows twitching,
WHOOSH-.
The old man took off the straw sandals he was wearing and threw them down below the bridge.
Then he suddenly made a request to Seo-jin.
"My shoes fell down. Could the young man pick them up for me?"