The Special Floor and the Price of Convenience
Home is best. As soon as I got home, I turned on the air conditioner and collapsed onto the floor, as if my legs had given out.
I felt like I’d just finished a grueling day of manual labor. My entire body felt like a wrung-out, damp towel.
“Ugh. How many times have I entered the Tower today? Most people only go in once a day.”
No matter how much the Strength stat helps inside the Tower, exhaustion is still exhaustion. After spending all that time grinding my body into the dirt, there was no way I wouldn't be wiped out.
Still.
Inventory.
Looking at the elixirs occupying the last three slots of my inventory, my fatigue seemed to lift just a little. I was just beginning to heal when—
-Vrrr-Vrrr!
Suddenly, the sound of a phone broke the silence. Who on earth was calling at this late hour? One vibration meant a text message. But for someone like me with no friends, the only texts I ever got were spam.
I ignored it, continuing to gaze at the lovely elixirs in my inventory, when—
-Vrrr-Vrrr!
“Spam bots these days have no manners, do they?”
Even the vibration was a luxury I didn't need. I picked up the phone to set it to silent.
“Huh?”
The content of the message was different from the spam I’d expected. Calling me ‘Awakened’—was this someone from the Association? I quickly scrolled up to check the rest of the messages from the same number.
The main point was that there was an error in my registration paperwork and I needed to visit the Association as soon as possible. The final message asked if I was entering the Special Floor tomorrow.
Since the last message was the only one that required an answer, I typed a concise ‘Yes’ and sent it.
The next day. At the top floor of a super-luxury hotel in Beijing, a man with striking, messy semi-curly hair stood before a mirror, adjusting his clothes one last time.
“Enchanter Jegal Cheong, are you ready?”
Three large men, dressed entirely in black and exuding a cold, menacing aura, had been looking for Jegal Cheong since early morning.
“Yes. I have already provided enough supplies to be delivered to the Chinese rankers, and I have prepared enough items in my inventory for the mid-to-low-tier Awakened we will meet inside.”
This was the one thing Jegal Cheong couldn't get used to after coming to China. In Korea—no, in every other country—the relationship between Enchanters and Awakened was one of mutual aid: Enchanters sold goods and bought materials. But in China, the state gave the Enchanter money and Ticks, and the Enchanter provided items to the Awakened without receiving anything in return.
Differential distribution was, of course, a given. Based on rank? No. Based on Tower performance? No. While having a high rank and good Tower performance helped, the ultimate deciding factor was how ‘close you were to the current regime.’
‘Well... that’s none of my business. China is famous for giving special treatment to Enchanters and Awakened who are high-level personnel poached from overseas.’
“The Chairman is very much looking forward to the results of this Special Floor run.”
“Do not worry.”
Jegal Cheong smiled broadly. China was already a powerhouse of Awakened. They raised their own. While there was an element of coercion and oppression, it allowed for rapid growth. Even if the individual probability of Awakening was low, it was a mathematical certainty that a larger population would lead to a higher number of Awakened. They were using human-wave tactics.
They sent a large number of people into the Tower to earn Ticks, used those Ticks to create and enhance items, and then sent those enhanced Awakened to higher floors to bring back even greater rewards.
‘I’m just the one adding the ‘spoon’ to the mix by providing the goods.’
The Special Floor was a national-level party. They were already ahead simply because they had so many Awakened. By supplying them with high-quality goods in large quantities, they raised the overall average. Their ranking was bound to rise. And the Enchanter who made that possible was Jegal Cheong. His production speed was unparalleled, which was why he was coveted not just in China, but in other countries as well.
“From today on, we will continue to remain in the top rankings. I’ve even handed over all the items I’d been hiding away and refusing to sell to the Korean rankers.”
In truth, he had sold weapons that didn't fit the Korean rankers' main styles at an exorbitant price, but Jegal Cheong wiped his mouth clean of the guilt. It wasn't the deceiver who was bad; it was the fool who got deceived.
As soon as the Special Floor opened, every A-Rank or higher Awakened in South Korea entered. Even so, there were only 15 combat-type Awakened and 30 Enchanters—not even 100 people in total. The reason the number of Enchanters felt so high was because the mortality rate of combat-type Awakened was exceptionally high. It was said that in the early days of the Tower, there were three times as many combat-type Awakened as Enchanters.
And as for me, having entered the Special Floor for the first time:
‘It looks like a ruined temple?’
Everything was fascinating. Plus, I saw quite a few familiar faces. To think I’d see so many Awakened in one place! Every time I’d intruded before, I’d only met one person at a time!
“Ah, damn it. It’s a temple?”
As I was looking around, a curse drifted from behind me. I knew that tone, that voice. I turned my head slowly, and sure enough, Seo Ian was standing there, her silver armor gleaming brilliantly.
“Hey. Hong Jehun.”
“Yes?”
“Try just breaking a pillar again, will you?”
“I’ll be careful today.”
For some reason, Seo Ian didn't seem satisfied with Hong Jehun’s calm response. She clicked her tongue sharply and moved away.
But wait, where was the boss? Didn't they say we just had to deal damage for 10 minutes and then leave? Why was everyone gathered in little groups, chatting away...?
Wasn't this supposed to be like a national team competition? Why was the discipline so lax? There were even people who didn't have their weapons in their hands, the prime example being Seo Ian, who was currently pressuring Enchanter Park Siwoo by shouting, “Give me everything you have with a hammer!”
“Now, now, Awakened Seo Ian. Did you perhaps leave a hammer in my care?”
Park Siwoo replied with a faint smile.
“Ugh, hurry up! I’m in a rush!!”
“Hahaha.”
Seo Ian strode toward him, and Park Siwoo quickly stepped back. Since he was an Enchanter, his Agility stat must have been high, because he was moving faster than her. Deciding it was difficult to close the distance, Seo Ian placed both hands on the twin blades behind her back.
“Whoa, wait! I’m non-combat! I’m non-combat!”
It was a total mess. But really, where was the boss? I looked around and spotted another familiar face. Mr. Hwang Gyubeom, the man who was always hungry. Of course, I couldn't approach him familiarly since I wasn't in my rabbit state, but still.
“Excuse me, hello.”
“A face I haven't seen before! Are you a new Awakened?”
When I greeted him first, Hwang Gyubeom smiled kindly and asked. Yes, this was exactly what I expected from him.
“Yes. I awakened a few days ago. But the boss...?”
When I asked subtly, he grinned.
“Unless it’s a labyrinth map, the boss naturally rises from the floor after 2 minutes, so you don't have to go looking for it. It’s like a scarecrow that doesn't attack, so just hit it to your heart’s content and leave when the time is up!”
“So, it’s practically a damage meter that you can hit for 8 minutes, not 10?”
“A damage meter? Well... I guess the actual hitting time is 8 minutes!”
That made sense. Given Seo Ian’s personality, if she could have hit the boss immediately, she would have charged at the boss, not Park Siwoo. Was the 2-minute wait like a break time? It was a gain for me. I needed time to take my elixirs.
“If it’s your first time, I’ll stay with you today!”
“I’d be grateful if you did!”
“Ah! By the way, my name is Hwang Gyubeom! Feel free to call me whatever!”
“Yes!”
It was a good thing I’d reached out. I’d been anxious because it was my first time, but my heart felt as sturdy as his greatsword.
“By the way, this is unexpected.”
“What is?”
“I didn't know it would feel like a ‘meeting plaza’ like this. I thought everyone would just come in, start dealing damage without a word, and then leave once it was over.”
At my words, Hwang Gyubeom laughed heartily.
“I thought the same thing when I first came in. Anyway, let’s get ready!”
Saying that, he began to warm up. Looking at the others, they were also starting to warm up, cleaning their weapons, or already popping recovery capsules into their mouths to dope in preparation for any emergencies...
Why were they doing that?
“Excuse me, Mr. Hwang Gyubeom.”
“What is it?”
“Why are you doping? You said the boss here is a scarecrow?”
“Ah. The boss here isn't dangerous. What’s dangerous are the other Awakened.”
“Pardon?”
Did they fight each other because of grudges? Inside the Tower, skill usage was possible, so it wasn't an impossible story. As if he could see right through my thoughts, he laughed loudly and continued his explanation.
“Sometimes people get hurt by skills others use, or get crushed by cover that someone else knocked over. Didn't that silver armor over there just talk about breaking a pillar near that neat-looking man? That actually happened last month.”
He looked up at the ceiling, a wistful expression on his face as if lost in memory.
“...Excuse me, Mr. Hwang Gyubeom.”
“Hmm?”
“Could I buy some capsule recovery potions too...?”
I hadn't entered this place through an intrusion, but through a standard Tower entry. That meant I couldn't just shout ‘Exit’ and leave; it took time to get out. It would be safer to have capsule recovery potions than the kind I had to take out, open, and drink.
“Capsule recovery potions are...”
His gaze shifted past me to the area behind me. Following his line of sight:
“Awakened Kim Uju! I hope you’ve been well.”
A low, bass voice. Park Siwoo’s smiling face came into view.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been doing well. But Enchanter! Do you happen to sell capsule recovery potions?”
In other people's Towers, you could run away by shouting ‘Exit.’ Since it wasn't dangerous, they didn't dope. But my Tower was still on the low floors. There was nothing dangerous other than tree roots or rocks. That was why I hadn't bought any capsule recovery potions.
“Of course I do. Why else would an Enchanter enter the Special Floor? It’s to provide quick supply of goods to the Awakened running the Special Floor.”
He said with a faint smile. I was extremely bothered by the luxurious red pistol held in his hand, but I decided to ignore it for now.
“How much for one?”
“500 Ticks.”
“That’s for the low-grade ones?”
“They’re low-grade, which is why they’re relatively cheap.”
In reality, I’d expected 200, maybe 250 Ticks at most. But 500 Ticks?!
“That guy, look at that. He’s even charging delivery fees to the new guy?”
Seo Ian, having finished her hammering, approached and sneered at Park Siwoo. A delivery fee?
“Oh, come on. That again? I told you, it’s not my decision, is it? The International Enchanter Association issued a public notice to sell at double the price including delivery fees on the Special Floor, so what can I do?”
“Why the hell would such bullshit come out!”
It seemed she’d been severely ripped off on the price of her hammer. Seo Ian’s eyes were visible through the gap in her helmet. Her eyes were red—not from tears, but from the intense rage she was feeling. I could infer as much.
But.
“I don't know much about it either. Maybe he’s copying the Rabbit? If you look at the Rabbit’s reviews, they say he sells necessary items, but they’re a bit pricey.”
Heartbreaking words flowed from Park Siwoo’s lips. Was this some kind of butterfly effect? The Rabbit’s tail-wagging eventually turned into this kind of rip-off and came back to me.
“Yeah. He did sell things a bit expensively.”
Seo Ian also agreed immediately.
“But I don't care, I want to meet him again. I want to be the only one to meet him!”
Seo Ian’s head turned toward Hong Jehun as she added the last part. Then.
“Anyway, newbie!”
Seo Ian said, turning sharply toward me.
“Yes? Me?”
“Yeah, you!”
Our Awakened Seo Ian. Inside the Tower, I’d thought she used informal speech because I was a Wandering Merchant, but it seemed it was just her nature. But in my eyes, I was likely the elder. If anyone was going to use informal speech, it should be me. It felt strangely unpleasant to have a younger person use informal speech with me.
Was it because I was a young ‘kkondae’ (old-fashioned person)? Or was it dissatisfaction with Seo Ian, who didn't even show basic courtesy...
“Don't get ripped off by that guy, buy from me! 250 Ticks each!”
...There was no way that was it! Hadn't informal speech been a sign of friendliness since ancient times? At least, I decided to think of it that way starting today. After all, the content of the words—the skeleton—was what mattered most.