Chapter 192: Alice's Blood Clan
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Alice's Blood Clan
[The video uploaded to the 'Hall of Fame' has been edited by the Administrator.]
The scene shown on the screen was nothing short of shocking.
-HolidayBreaker: Does it make sense for a human to use a skill with that much power? At this point, I'm starting to feel sorry for the monsters.
-SESFOV: I can't believe the day has come where I get to watch Unknown's battle scene live. I'm so glad I didn't go out today. I had so many plans, I almost missed it. Whew.
-Papico: Hey, Mr. Kim. Wake up and get a grip. Break time is over.
-Emperor of Singer's Undershirt: But seriously, the more I watch, the more amazed I get. My heart is seriously swelling with pride.
-San: Just your heart? My pants are swelling too.
-Squishy Black Crane: Ah. So that is what they call 'martial arts.'
-Tiger in a Delivery Box: There has never been a player who cleared the 8th and 9th floors at the same time, and there never will be again. He's literally rewriting history.
-BubbleBubbleTea: I want to see the actual unedited footage, not the edited version. Sigh. It's such a shame so much was cut out. I heard even the players who were there have patchy memories because of the shock.
There was no pretense in the messages flooding in at a frantic pace.
Pure admiration for his overwhelming martial prowess.
And beyond that, the realization that such a powerful ranker was climbing the tower alongside them made everyone's hearts beat faster.
However...
-Tier Evaluator: But seriously, who is higher tier, Kang Jinhyuk or Unknown? There can't be two number ones, right?
The stronger Unknown appeared, and the more brilliant achievements Jinhyuk accomplished, the more questions poured in trying to determine who was superior.
It was a cliché debate, but too juicy of a bait to ignore.
-7th Year Harvard Statistics Major: I majored in statistics for seven years in college, and in close combat, Unknown wins. At long range, Kang Jinhyuk wins. If you disagree, you know nothing about the Tower of Trials.
-Speedwagon: "Know nothing about the Tower of Trials" means someone who is clueless about the Tower of Trials.
-Ranker of the Defeated: Obviously Kang Jinhyuk. Is this even a comparison? Honestly?
-Mundo on Top: Are you blind? Can't you see Unknown playing One-Punch Man with just his fists right now?
-Sae Yeong Eon Hwan: Well, whatever the case, I don't think a match between those two will happen anytime soon.
The comments were flooding in so fast the server was on the verge of exploding.
While the outside world was busy buzzing about Unknown and Jinhyuk, the man himself, Jinhyuk, was waiting for someone inside the 'Corridor of the Fallen' located on the 1st floor.
To be precise, while waiting, he was checking his unallocated level and stat points.
——————————————————
Name: Kang Jinhyuk
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Level: 74
Strength: 50 | Agility: 25 | Stamina: 34 | Mana: 181 | Gap: 100 | Luck: 10 | Adaptive: 78 | Vitality: 27.53
Stat Points Available: 21
Coins Held: 500,125
Class: Rune Interpreter
Unique Abilities: 'Fusion', 'Grave of Swords', 'Blessing of the Stars', 'Judgment of Anubis', 'Blood Demon Qi', 'Mandala', '1-Second Invincibility', 'Thousand Poisons', 'White Beast', 'Universal Sharing', 'Sanctuary of the Sun', 'Black Heaven Demonic Emperor Art'
Skills: The number of skills is too high; switched to 'Collapsed' state.
Barriers: The number of learned barriers is too high; switched to 'Collapsed' state.
——————————————————
[There is currently one selectable 'Title' saved.]
A whopping seven levels.
Thanks to clearing two floors simultaneously, he was able to monopolize an unimaginable amount of experience points.
This is insane. I can't believe I got to swallow all of this.
He could take his time choosing a 'Title' since he would only need it later, but he had to distribute his stat points right now.
The 11th floor... and the Empire.
Considering these two massive upcoming events, he needed to invest in something other than Mana this time.
Especially since he might run into 'that guy' if he went to the Empire.
Actually, considering the Murim had launched a preemptive strike on the Empire, that encounter was practically predestined.
His hesitation didn't last long.
Jinhyuk poured all of his available stat points into a single attribute.
[Strength increases from 50 → 71.]
Vrrrrrr!
Because he had raised his stats by an amount equivalent to seven levels all at once, the physical sensation of growth was distinctly different.
...Power surged through him.
Right now, he felt confident he wouldn't lose even in a bare-fisted brawl against the Lizard King.
Let's see...
Jinhyuk lightly extended his fist toward the wall.
It was a strike meant purely to test the increase in his physical strength, without channeling any mana.
However...
Boom!
The wall cracked like a turtle's shell.
Did I... raise it too much?
With his sub-stats like Gap and Adaptive already high, boosting his Strength on top of them produced an overly excessive effect.
At this rate, calling him a medium-sized monster rather than a human wouldn't even be an exaggeration.
Hmm. I should also test how much weight I can lift now.
Jinhyuk's gaze shifted toward a massive boulder.
Over an hour quickly passed as he tested various things.
Right then.
Step.
Along with the sound of light footsteps, a silver-haired girl approached.
It was Alice, whom he had sent ahead.
Perhaps they had grown fond of each other in their own dysfunctional way, because even seeing her sullen expression, he felt a wave of gladness.
"I gave you a rare chance to go out, but you don't look very happy?"
"Huh? Ah... well..."
Alice grumbled, ruffling her hair.
Seeing her cheeks puffed out as she muttered to herself, she was clearly having trouble persuading him.
Then again, that guy did seem to have quite a lot of pride.
"What's wrong? Is Bellus not listening? I guess he really hates the fact that you made a contract with me."
Michael, the hound of the Decasus family who had tried to shake the tower using the Blood Wayport.
And there was a special item obtained by disposing of him.
[Powet's Necklace]
Acquisition Difficulty: Overrank
Description: A necklace completed by High Priest Powet with the help of deities. It specializes in 'sealing' and is particularly effective against dark-attribute beings. (Note: Only one target can be sealed with this item.)
Jinhyuk had used this to have Alice bring out one of her kinsmen left behind in the corridor.
That was exactly why Alice had temporarily left Jinhyuk's side to go to the 1st floor.
Seeing that the color of the necklace around Alice's neck had indeed changed, she had undoubtedly succeeded in bringing out Bellus, the leader of her kinsmen.
The problem was...
that proud bastard couldn't accept that Alice, the True Ancestor and head of the Ataraxia family whom he served, was bowing her head to a mere human.
"I'm sorry. But he'll understand in time. After all, you're the contractor I recognized."
"I appreciate you saying that, but I can't waste ages trying to get approval from a subordinate."
This wasn't a democratic society.
It was a strict dictatorship ruled by absolute power.
Above all, he had no intention of keeping someone around who didn't know his place.
"W-what are you going to do?"
Alice asked, her face filled with dread.
And...
"What do you think?"
Jinhyuk replied with his usual smile.
"Time to reopen the spinning barrel."
Someone once said...
the spinning barrel of Hell Joseon always opens a second time.
* * *
[Gah! Cough, cough!Blegh!]
After leaving the corridor and returning to Signiel, Jinhyuk sat comfortably on the sofa and repeated exactly what he had done to Alice in the past.
The torture lasted for about two hours.
A 360-degree spin was just the basic course; he threw in 540-degree spins and 270-degree reverse spins for good measure.
As a result, breathless, choking sounds constantly echoed from the necklace.
"Now, tell me. Who is your master?"
[I... am the protector of the Ataraxia family. I will never yield to something like this. The only master I serve is Alice von Atarax...ia!]
Hmm.
At this rate, he was less of a vampire and more like an unyielding Joseon scholar...
He wondered if bamboo sap was running through his veins instead of blood.
A magnanimous king might have burst into a hearty laugh at this point and praised his spirit,
But unfortunately, I'm a petty tyrant with the heart of a narrow-minded anchovy.
Not King Sejong, but King Yeonsangun.
That was the role model for the monarch leading the Veteran Corporation.
Jinhyuk placed the necklace on the table for a moment.
[What? Is your wrist hurting from all that spinning, so you're giving up? I am more than willing to keep playing along.]
"Oh, really? I'll make sure you hold yourself to those words."
He could at least agree that his wrist was getting tired.
Therefore...
from now on, he planned to leave the rest to the pet he had adopted from Teresa.
Jinhyuk securely tied the necklace to the running wheel inside a hamster cage.
"Squeak!"
A snow-white pearl hamster tilted its head.
Alexander III.
A proud member of the prestigious 'Rosenberg' family of Amsterdam to which Teresa belonged, he was a grand hamster with an official pedigree.
[W-what is this?]
Bellus shouted in a panic, but Jinhyuk didn't answer.
Instead, he hung a mouth-watering piece of cheese just above the wheel.
Clack-clack-clack-clack!
"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!"
Alexander III began to run on the wheel like crazy to reach the cheese.
[You... how dare a filthy rodent like you! Stop! I said stop, damn it!]
Though screams echoed throughout Signiel, there was no chance of a security guard barging in, as this place respected its residents' privacy to the utmost degree.
"Alice."
"Y-yes?"
"I'm going out for a bit. You must never let him out. Got it?"
"N-never?"
"Yes, never. Oh, and if by some chance... some incredibly slim chance you commit such an atrocious act... then the necklace won't be the only accessory going into the washing machine."
A ring and a necklace always make a better set, after all.
If she wanted, he could easily make room for another piece on the wheel.
Since their dear Alexander III had received plenty of love from the Saint of Amsterdam, he was bursting with energy.
He could easily handle both a ring and a necklace.
"Don't worry! I'm really good at listening. You know that, right? Hehe."
Alice offered an awkward smile.
Early education really was key. She caught on instantly.
And a good child deserved a treat.
"When I get back, I'll buy plenty of your favorites—chicken, salmon, gopchang, and all that. Look forward to it. And as a special treat, I'll take you somewhere you've never been before."
Jinhyuk utilized the carrot-and-stick approach to perfection.
If you treat someone well ten times and fail them once, they complain.
But if you treat them poorly ten times and do them a single favor, they are deeply grateful...
He knew this truth all too well from his extensive experience.
"Yes! I also want to try that... what do you call it, beer!"
Sure enough, Alice's crimson eyes sparkled as she waved him goodbye, telling him to have a safe trip.
* * *
Enjoying a rare outing, Jinhyuk basked in the warm sunlight as he headed toward a cafe near Signiel.
"I-isn't that Player Kang Jinhyuk?"
"You're right. Oh my god. I wondered where he lived, but he actually lives in Signiel?"
"I knew it... Do you think I could ask him for a photo? Or at least just say hello..."
"Forget it. I heard someone literally pissed themselves just making eye contact with an S-rank player. But with someone like Player Kang Jinhyuk... you might just pass out on the spot."
Since he had become quite a celebrity by now, the number of people recognizing him on the street had increased significantly.
It's going to be hard to walk around freely.
A pair of sunglasses wouldn't cut it anymore; he needed to come up with another solution.
Passing through the crowd, he arrived at a cafe with a rather cozy atmosphere.
The door chimed as he pushed it open, revealing a completely empty interior.
Despite being in a bustling district, not a single customer was in sight.
There wasn't even... a clerk.
It was as if someone had rented out the entire place.
"Over here."
It was right then that a familiar voice called out.