Chapter 153: Masquerade (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Masquerade (3)
“I am neither Rick's companion nor his subordinate.”
His tone was dry.
“Rather, he works for me.”
The goblin uttered an absurd truth.
No way...
Was he ranked higher than Rick, an intermediate administrator?
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart beat rapidly.
The fine hairs all over his body stood on end.
'A real big shot has appeared.'
That meant this goblin was one of the only seven 'High Managers' in the Tower of Trials.
Out-of-spec existences that even the deities of the Tower could not treat lightly.
Even Jinhyuk hadn't met all seven High Managers by the time he reached the top of the Tower in his past life.
Because they were shrouded in such mystery, this meeting was incredibly significant.
[Lv8 'Gluttony's Eye' has been activated!]
[The level difference between you and the target is extreme.]
[The 'Luck' stat and 'Adaptive' stats have been additionally activated!]
[‘Gluttony's Eye’ has failed to pierce the target's status window.]
He had tried it just in case, but all he got in return was a red status window announcing his failure.
Even with his 'Luck' and 'Adaptive' stats active, he couldn't breach it.
As expected, a High Manager's level was comparable to the deities. Or perhaps even higher.
Still.
'Not bad.'
Most rankers wouldn't even be able to stand properly in the presence of a High Manager.
The ambient mana radiating from him felt intense enough to scorch the inside of the shop.
In the past, Jinhyuk too would have succumbed to this pressure, fainting or collapsing.
But now, it was different.
He could feel that the gap between them was no longer so vast that he couldn't even dream of closing it.
'It's not far.'
Yes, it wasn't far.
He could catch up much faster than before.
Perhaps he could do more than just catch up—he might even surpass them.
In the not-too-distant future.
With that thought, his composure returned, as if cold ice water had been poured over his head.
“Hmm. You don't seem very surprised. And to withstand this aura so easily... To be honest, I'm the one who's flustered.”
“I didn't expect to meet a High Manager in a place like this, so I was actually a bit surprised. But I've experienced far more absurd things than this. Thanks to that, I've developed a personality that just rolls with the punches.”
“Hooh. Are you saying you know about us?”
“I've heard whispers. Just rumors about the seven 'Uncrowned Kings'.”
At Jinhyuk's words.
“...!”
This time, the goblin's expression changed drastically.
Unlike before, it was clearly readable on his face.
“I suppose this is what they mean when they say someone is like an onion, constantly surprising. Haha. Indeed... I am extremely curious as to how you obtained such information, but...”
“That would be against the Tower's rules, wouldn't it?”
“Even the Tower's rules... Haha! Quite right. You are absolutely correct. That is a boundary I must not cross. At any rate, this is fascinating. I'm beginning to think what Rick told me about Player Kang Jinhyuk wasn't an exaggeration, but an understatement.”
“You must have many questions about me, but what's important right now is that I've found one of the administrators hiding in the city, isn't it?”
Jinhyuk smirked slyly.
You could call it a sort of Easter egg.
This masquerade had several hidden quests.
Like finding intermediate administrators disguised as monsters throughout the city.
And players who discovered them were rewarded handsomely.
Knowing this, the goblin did not pry further into the background of Jinhyuk's information.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Hastings. I am the manager who oversees the 1st floor of the Tower. Usually, I run this shop and make decisions on trivial matters.”
Trivial matters...
For a High Manager who governed the major affairs of the Tower to speak in such a way.
He wondered what kind of catastrophically impactful event would have to occur for Hastings to deem it "important."
“I'm Kang Jinhyuk.”
Jinhyuk also briefly introduced himself.
“Since Player Kang Jinhyuk has found one of the administrators, it is only natural that I provide a fitting reward. So, what is it you desire? If you wish, I can tailor a top-grade suit for you free of charge.”
Was he joking?
He hadn't come all this way and talked his ear off just to get something like that.
“A bespoke suit made by a master craftsman isn't bad, but I'll pass this time. Instead, I would like one more invitation.”
“An invitation...”
“Because it wouldn't do to have one person go to the party while leaving another behind.”
“My, my. You are asking for something quite unreasonable.”
“I'm asking for something unreasonable because I accomplished something unreasonable. I doubt any player other than me has found an administrator, right?”
Jinhyuk didn't back down for a second, but Hastings seemed to like his audacity all the more.
“Puhaha! That is also true. Demanding a fitting reward is indeed your rightful privilege.”
A hearty, booming laugh erupted.
“Ah! And there is no need to take measurements for your clothes. I already know them. As a personal service, I will prepare something that suits you both.”
“Thank you.”
“I can see clearly that you are an extraordinary individual. However, do be careful.”
Hastings added playfully.
“Among the players heading to the ballroom right now, there are a few rather interesting individuals. People who give off a similar vibe to you, Player Kang Jinhyuk.”
* * *
After parting ways with Hastings, Jinhyuk spent his time in an empty lot located on the outskirts of the city.
There were about two hours left before midnight.
Until then, he could enjoy a brief moment of leisure.
“Here, catch! Good boy. Next is this way.”
Jinhyuk tossed magic crystals to Goguma one by one.
“Mogi!”
Goguma hopped around, catching and eating the magic crystals Jinhyuk threw.
Crunch. Munch!
Like a puppy chewing on a bone treat, Goguma kept busily chewing.
“Yes, eat up, my cutie.”
Jinhyuk nodded with a warm, motherly smile.
Indeed, nothing was more rewarding than watching a pet grow big and strong.
It was worth feeding him every single magic crystal he had received from Caracal.
Ah!
Come to think of it...
Jinhyuk, who had been feeding his pet for a while, stood up as if remembering something.
The unique ability he had copied after having a drink with Caracal on the 7th floor.
Now was the perfect opportunity to test it.
'The lot is spacious and secluded, making it the perfect environment.'
He couldn't use his skills recklessly if others were watching, but in a deserted place like this, he could practice to his heart's content.
[Unique Ability 'White Beast' has been activated.]
[Attack power and attack speed increase by 15% for 5 minutes.]
[An 'Invisibility' effect is applied to your equipped weapon.]
[The degree of invisibility varies depending on your proficiency with the ability.]
As the golden parchment unfurled, the unique ability Caracal had used was activated.
White Beast.
True to its name, it was an ability that maximized attack power while concealing the weapon's reach.
Jinhyuk glanced down at the Fang in his hand.
'My proficiency is still too low to completely hide it.'
Translucent would be a more accurate description.
It was enough to cause visual confusion, but that was all.
For those accustomed to combat, this level of distortion wouldn't pose much of a threat.
'Still, if I keep raising my proficiency, it'll become quite useful later on.'
Translucent and completely invisible were on entirely different levels.
If one could perfectly deceive an opponent regarding weapon reach, nothing was more troublesome.
Especially when engaging in a life-or-death struggle against an unfamiliar opponent.
Good.
Now, next...
[Lv10 'Glacial Shaping' has been activated.]
As white snowflakes fluttered around, the blade of his sword grew even fainter.
On top of that, he used the 'Fire Element' to further disorient the senses.
Whoosh!
In the late evening after sunset, in the empty lot, snowflakes and flames danced together.
“Fuuu...”
Steadying his breath, Jinhyuk chained his unique abilities and skills in rapid succession.
The hand gripping his sword thrust forward.
His feet smoothly shifted his center of gravity.
And so, the talent absorbed from the Grave of Swords, and the forms of the Muhon Sword Style, began to manifest through his sharp dagger.
* * *
How much time had passed?
Jinhyuk, who had been swinging his dagger in a trance-like state, finally came to a halt.
“Pant. Pant. Pant.”
His parched lungs desperately clawed for oxygen.
It felt as though every single cell in his body was screaming.
After moving frantically for about an hour, his stamina was completely depleted.
Yet, rather than feeling exhausted...
the corners of his mouth curled up in sheer excitement. 'This is fun.'
Perhaps because it had been a while, acquiring new skills and practicing their synergy felt insanely thrilling.
Even the sweat soaking his entire body felt welcome.
'This is exactly why I can't give up training.'
It was just as Jinhyuk was catching his breath.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
Alice, who was sitting on a chair, spoke up.
He had thought she was sulking because her blood sugar was low, but apparently that wasn't the case.
“Ask away.”
“Even I have only met a High Manager once. And that was on the 40th floor of the Tower. It was a complete fluke.”
“Well, High Managers aren't exactly easy to run into.”
“W-What's with that reaction?! I said a High Manager! You've been hanging around Egyptian deities so much that you seem to have lost your sense of scale, but those guys are the ones who make the rules of this Tower!”
Alice raised her voice.
Her eyes trembled slightly, clearly frustrated and dumbfounded by his nonchalance.
But.
“I know.”
“What?”
“I know exactly how dangerous they are, and what happens if you underestimate them. I know all of it.”
Jinhyuk replied dryly.
However, his response was by no means light.
Like the monologue of a battle-worn regressor who had experienced everything, his words carried an inexplicable weight.
“How on earth do you know so much? You even knew they were the Uncrowned Kings. The existence of the Crowns is something only I and that bastard Exencion know among the family heads...”
The Crowns were hidden pieces required to see the top of the Tower, and the highest-grade relics symbolizing supreme authority in the Tower.
The reason each faction was so desperate to expand their territory was ultimately to lay their hands on those Crowns and ascend to the throne of a monarch.
But Alice wouldn't know.
That there was a player who had gathered all the Crowns symbolizing absolute power, climbed to the 50th floor, and conquered the very end of that floor.
“I am just me.”
That was enough.
No further explanation was needed.
Jinhyuk pulled out another large magic crystal and handed it to Goguma.
Chomp chomp!
“Mogi!”
Having devoured the magic crystal in the blink of an eye, Goguma wagged his tail.
His pinkish tongue gently licked Jinhyuk's palm.
“...Sigh. Well, it's not like I expected a real answer anyway. Fine. You're my contractor, and we're together right now, so that's enough.”
Alice let out a small sigh, as if giving up.
There was no point in asking further anyway, and it remained an undeniable fact that Jinhyuk's overwhelming strength and absurd wealth of information were reassuring.
As long as they were on the same side, there could be no contractor more powerful than him.
Just then, a status window appeared in front of both Jinhyuk and Alice.
[The 'Bespoke Suit' from Hastings has arrived.]
A message announcing that the long-awaited attire was ready.
“I guess it's about time to go.”
The time to attend the highly anticipated ball had finally arrived.
He wondered who would be there.
And how many opportunities he could squeeze out of them.
He was already looking forward to it.