Chapter 272: A World of Righteousness and Chivalry: Murim (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 272: A World of Righteousness and Chivalry: Murim (1)
As if he had expected this, Cheon Yu-seong opened his subdimensional inventory.
Clatter!
Along with a dazzling light, multi-colored magic stones poured out.
"Mogi?"
Goguma tilted his head slightly.
However, his confusion lasted only a brief moment.
"Mooogiiii..."
Large magic stones began to fill Goguma's amber eyes.
That was pure greed. Desire and avarice coexisted in one place.
It would be dangerous to leave things like this.
Reaching that conclusion, Jinhyuk quickly spoke up.
"Go-Goguma! Don't fall for it! I have magic stones too. You haven't forgotten, have you? The magic stones we're supposed to get as a guarantee from KDS. Just eating those will make your stomach burst!"
"I wonder. Is there anything like this among the ones they promised to give you?"
Among the magic stones Cheon Yu-seong possessed, there was one completely different from ordinary magic stones.
"A-An attribute magic stone?! You... how did you get that?"
A sharp gasp escaped Jinhyuk's lips.
There were various ways to imbue items with attribute magic, but the most efficient method of all was using an attribute magic stone.
With one of those, even a failing blacksmith in the middle of nowhere could slap an imperial blacksmith across the face...
Needless to say, its performance was beyond question.
"Goguma?"
"Mogi!"
Goguma chirped energetically, as if telling him not to worry.
But for some reason, he was snuggling right into Cheon Yu-seong's arms. Jinhyuk also couldn't tell why the glow of a Breath was suddenly pointing in his direction.
"Master. Do not worry. I will protect Master's life no matter what happens."
"T-Bone...?"
Yes. Only you remain, my loyal summon.
Just as Jinhyuk's eyes were about to well up with tears...
"You... are the undead summon that guy keeps around."
"Clack! That is correct. I am Master's summon, the Death Knight T-Bone! I have come all this way solely on my loyalty—"
Just as T-Bone was proudly continuing his speech, Cheon Yu-seong poured a glass of milk into a crystal goblet with a glug-glug-glug.
"I have something for you as well. It is premium milk from the Thousand-Year Ice Ranch on the 7th floor. I do not know much about it, but the ranch owner said its rich aroma makes it the finest quality in the entire Tower."
"Clack. Just smelling it makes me feel like my bone density is rising. It cannot even be compared to the Ogre Milk Master used to give me."
A strange gleam flashed in T-Bone's eye sockets.
"And as for the spirit beasts... I believe they prefer things that match their respective elements. Am I wrong?"
Cheon Yu-seong continued to lay out items.
To Undine, he gave Etrian water, which was good for beauty. To Sylphid, a dress imbued with the blessing of the wind. To Salamander, the lukewarm embers of Mount Molsomon.
"Master. Thank you for everything until now."
"I watched human TV recently, and I heard a saying: 'You reap what you sow.'"
"Master is a truly good master... Whew. I can't bring myself to finish that sentence."
"Die. Ah, sorry. My true feelings slipped out."
"Everyone, shut up. My head hurts."
The spirit beasts turned their backs without a single second of hesitation.
Unbelievable...
That wretched Sword Saint. Just when had he prepared all of this?
After treating them so well, they were stabbing him in the back like this.
Starting a live broadcast outside the Tower was possible just by investing Coins, so he had spent a fortune to plan this. If it ended like this, his losses would far outweigh his gains.
But a loss of Coins was the least of his worries right now.
"You took the Hippocratic Oath, right? Huh? Don't avoid my gaze, give me an answer."
"Do not worry. Didn't I tell you once before? I do not let personal feelings interfere with surgery."
He did recall Yu-seong saying something like that at a bar in Hongdae.
But why on earth was he infusing sword qi into the scalpel?
And above all, raising the scalpel that high clearly meant he intended to stab him, didn't it?
"The operation will be performed flawlessly. I will finish it in a single cut."
Cheon Yu-seong wore a smile so bright it could melt anyone's heart.
It was the kind of smile that looked as if all his long-held frustrations had been washed away at once.
"Sis, shouldn't we help him?"
"It's fine. Tough bastards like him don't die easily."
"Yu-seong-aaaaah!"
A sorrowful scream echoed from Jinhyuk's mouth.
* * *
A garden illuminated by dazzling moonlight.
In this place, which existed outside the rules of the Tower, six shadows were gathered.
Beings whom even the deities could not treat lightly, who managed the major and minor affairs of the Tower.
They were the 'High Managers'.
Shrouded in darkness, only their voices could be heard, but they conversed with familiar ease.
"Wasn't everyone supposed to gather today? One of us is missing."
Only six people sat on the seven stone chairs.
One seat was vacant.
"I hear there was a minor localized conflict between the Norse deities and the Egyptian deities. Lady Isabel is absent to handle the aftermath," Hastings spoke up.
"A war? Well, those two factions have always been at each other's throats."
"Sigh. Why can't they just live in peace? Our workload is going to pile up like a mountain again."
"After all, two of the most bellicose factions among the great powers of the upper floors clashed."
Complaints erupted from all sides.
For the High Managers, who had to maintain the balance of the Tower, such major events were never welcome.
Right then, the largest shadow, which had remained silent until now, brought up a heavy topic.
"Is the reason this time also because of the 'Crowns'?"
The Crowns.
Yes.
The cause of all conflicts, and one of the most important relics in the Tower.
To reach the top of the Tower, one had to collect all seven Crowns.
However, no one had ever gathered all the Crowns scattered throughout the Tower.
Of the seven Crowns, only five had designated owners, and even among them, only a single individual possessed more than one.
Thus, the crownless kings drifted through the Tower, merely biding their time for another chance to ascend to the summit.
"Most likely. Ever since Odin lost his Crown, the influence of the Norse deities has plummeted."
"In fact, the reason there are seven Managers is to protect the seven Crowns. To be precise, it is to ensure those Crowns go to those who are worthy."
"Well, in truth, it doesn't matter who holds the Crowns, as long as the process doesn't violate the rules of the Tower."
"Indeed. We are observers and guardians. We only need to watch and intervene when someone breaks the rules."
The gaze of one shadow turned toward Hastings.
"However, it seems not everyone shares that sentiment. Isn't that right, Hastings?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Traces of movement from 'those guys' on the 50th floor have been detected. Judging by the residual mana, it means the seal has been broken and a rift has opened somewhere."
"The primordial beings? Is that true?"
"...Surely, their intervention is forbidden."
"Are you saying they broke their promise?"
A great commotion arose among the shadows.
"To say a rift has opened on the 50th floor based solely on residual mana is wild speculation. It is merely that their immense mana leaked past the barrier. That place is still being strictly managed even now. I swear it on my name," Hastings shrugged.
"...Is that so?"
"Of course. Would I lie to you? In any case, there is no being threatening enough to gather all the Crowns. That goes for deities, residents, and Players alike. The scenario you all worry about will never happen, so there is no need to be so concerned."
No matter how absurd of a monster they might be.
No matter how powerful a faction they led.
They could never gather all seven Crowns.
Not in the past.
And not for all eternity...
"Certainly..."
"Indeed, there is no one capable of causing such an anomaly."
"That is true."
That was the grand premise to which all High Managers tacitly agreed.
* * *
Murim, located in the middle floors of the Tower.
Boasting a military power that rivaled the Empire, it was a massive coalition composed of countless sects.
Since it was modeled almost exactly after real-world China, it had also served as a major base for Chinese Players in the past.
Though only a tiny fraction of them had managed to climb up to the 20s floors.
After resting for a few days, Jinhyuk finally visited this place.
'It's been a while since I've been here, and it really is something.'
A massive town teeming with crowds of people. Looking at the bustling streets, he finally felt like he had entered a new floor.
"It is quite a bustling place. I have rarely visited this area, but as you said, it is not bad."
"My Lord, from here, it will take a full month of walking to reach the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. Of course, if we use lightfoot techniques, we can drastically shorten that time."
Cheon Yu-seong and Wolyeong each added a word.
Jinhyuk planned to head straight to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, where the Heavenly Demon Cult was located, but Cheon Yu-seong said he was going to the Mount Hua Sect to meet the Soul-Chasing Shadow.
Since their masters who taught them the sword were different, their destinations were bound to be different as well.
'Go and study hard.'
Get stronger, stronger, and even stronger.
Only then would he be able to copy another delicious skill next time.
[Blade's Breathing - Passive]
Acquisition Difficulty: SS
Description: Not only those who wield swords, but all swords themselves possess a unique breathing. Acquiring this skill allows you to draw out the potential of any sword you own. (However, the limit of the potential that can be drawn out varies depending on the skill's completion rate and your level of mastery.)
An overpowered effect that made it possible to rank up the weapon itself.
This was the skill he had obtained from meeting Cheon Yu-seong this time.
'While I was fighting the Wailing Witch, he went off to obtain this.'
To learn it, one had to possess at least ten sword-related skills and have practiced swordsmanship for over 10,000 hours.
Because of this, 'Blade's Breathing' was incredibly difficult to acquire through normal means.
Of course, the story was completely different if one could just leech it through copying conditions.
Looking at it this way, even this obnoxious Sword Saint looked quite adorable.
After all, he would return in ninety days to offer up yet another skill.
If he offered up good skills about three more times, Jinhyuk might even overlook their grudge from Hankuk University. Probably.
It was then.
"That's all well and good, but can't we go get something to eat first? You said we have to get that Identity Badge or whatever to move around on this floor anyway."
A mask with geometric patterns grumbled.
It was Unknown—or rather, Alice, who had agreed to play the role of Unknown.
Growl.
A sound like the Titanic setting sail echoed from Alice's stomach.
"How can you say that when you just ate thirty rice balls? Did you already forget that you devoured all the vanilla ice cream we set aside for ourselves as dessert?"
"Y-You said I could eat as much food as I wanted. And the ice cream was just a light palate cleanser."
"Four tubs of ice cream is a palate cleanser?"
"Food and dessert go into separate stomachs! Besides, that sweet Caramel Macchiato and tiramisu cake were delicious too. Oh, right. Don't forget you promised to go to a cafe with me next time!"
At this point, it was hard to tell whether she was a vampire or a glutton.
However, he agreed that they needed a brief rest.
Unless they rested here, there wouldn't be a place where they could relax comfortably for a while.
'I should also secure an Identity Badge while we're at it.'
On the floors ruled by Murim, an 'Identity Badge' was absolutely necessary.
It was essentially the equivalent of a modern resident registration card...
Without it, one would become a public enemy of the Five Great Families and Nine Sects, not to mention receiving a mountain of various system penalties.
"This area is under the jurisdiction of the Kunlun Sect. What will you do? Will you go to the martial hall to take the identity verification exam as usual?"
Cheon Yu-seong brought up the most basic method.
3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class, and Special Class.
The type of Identity Badge one received depended on the exam results, and naturally, the authority granted by each differed as well.
The higher the recognition, the more comfortably one could stay in Murim.
"An exam... Of course I'll take it."
He naturally intended to take the exam.
However, in a slightly different way from the usual.
"You... what kind of scheme are you cooking up again? I don't care about the class, I just need to get any Identity Badge. If you're planning to drag me into some weird stunt and cause me trouble..."
"Huh? Ah, don't worry. Why would I ever cause you trouble? I plan to take it normally. Very normally."
Jinhyuk smiled brightly.
The most unsettling smile in the world played on his lips.