Chapter 94: How a Veteran Builds Up (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: How a Veteran Builds Up (1)
[Boundary-Breaking Mirror (Growth-type)]
Acquisition Difficulty: Over-rank
Description: A special item of unknown origin. When used, it connects to any desired location on the 10th floor of the Tower of Trials. (Cooldown: 90 days, Duration: 30 minutes.) As the player grows, the floors they can connect to will rise, and the duration will increase accordingly. (Can bring up to one companion.)]
While playing the Tower of Trials, one can discover a few overpowered items or abilities.
The unique ability 'Fusion' obtained from the National Museum of Korea was one of them.
And the 'Boundary-Breaking Mirror' he was looking at right now was another.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Jinhyuk's heart beat rapidly.
Although officially gaining the loyalty of a boss monster was already a play that shattered common sense...
'I never expected them to give me this.'
An extraordinary reward that made even a veteran like him excited.
His generous offer to let Alice rest was entirely because he couldn't contain this excitement.
'First, I need to gather what I need.'
Once used, it would take 90 days before it could be used again.
He had to use the mirror under the absolute best conditions.
Jinhyuk's mind spun rapidly.
He had already figured out exactly what he needed to do.
'First...'
Vrrr!
Jinhyuk pulled out his phone and made a call.
—Click!
Before it could even ring once, the person on the other end picked up.
"Ah! Boss! What brings you to call? I was starting to think you'd completely forgotten about us."
It was Kim Hee-woong, the figurehead president of the Black Crow Guild.
Kim Hee-woong, whose life had completely turned around thanks to Jinhyuk, had been managing the mid-sized Black Crow Guild in the meantime.
And quite solidly, too, utilizing his unique business acumen.
Jinhyuk smacked his lips awkwardly.
"I've been a bit busy lately."
He had been so busy he'd actually half-forgotten.
"Haha. Of course, I understand. These days, it's harder to find a channel that doesn't show your face, Boss."
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, why play dumb? You're the one getting the most spotlight in Korea—no, the entire world right now."
True, he did seem to have gotten quite famous lately.
To the point where people recognized him and struck up conversations whenever he went outside.
"Cut the pleasantries. How's the guild? Is it running smoothly without me?"
"It's running so well it's actually a problem. We're being flooded with players wanting to join just because of you, Boss."
"Players wanting to join because of me? Are there really that many?"
"Yes. We're filtering them for now, but with hundreds flocking in every day, it's becoming impossible to manage."
Hundreds a day?
What kind of madness was this?
He didn't have any grand ambitions of expanding the guild, but it would be troublesome if Kim Hee-woong worked himself to death.
'Maybe I should add a membership requirement: bald, full-body tan, and wearing only a bikini.'
For the record, he planned to apply this regardless of age or gender.
Of course, if anyone still wanted to join despite that, he'd have to accept them.
Because it was better to keep people that insane inside the guild rather than making them enemies.
Above all, he had no choice but to respect veterans who truly understood the true aesthetic.
"I'll take care of regulating that."
"Please do."
"And by the way, has anyone contacted me? Like the Ssaulabi Guild, for instance?"
"Ah! Actually, the Ssaulabi Guild has been looking for you constantly. They said... you contracted to receive an exclusive dungeon in exchange for the cure's recipe?"
"That's actually why I called. I finally have some breathing room. So, could you set up a meeting with Player Kim Gi-tae from the Ssaulabi Guild?"
"I can do that, but when would you like it to be?"
"As soon as possible. And while you're at it, book reservations for a famous concert and a Michelin-starred restaurant. I don't care if it's domestic or overseas."
"Pardon? Why would you...?"
"Do I really need to explain every single detail to you?"
"Ah, no, of course not. I'll book the best seats available."
With that, the call ended.
Jinhyuk chuckled and pocketed his phone.
'He wouldn't understand.'
Not just Kim Hee-woong, but no one would.
At a time when he should be focusing on growth, leisurely looking for gourmet restaurants and enjoying music made absolutely no sense.
Especially considering that the 6th floor boasted the absolute best conditions for leisurely growth.
The 6th floor of the Tower of Trials, the 'Elf Forest'.
Could this place be called a sort of breathing room?
The vast forest spanning the entire 6th floor was peace itself.
Furthermore, simply spending 90 days playing and eating here would open the path to the next floor.
During this period, players focused on training their skills, abilities, and leveling up.
They would merely stamp their attendance on the 6th floor and spend most of their time running dungeons or labyrinths from the 1st to 5th floors.
However.
'Leaving the 6th floor abandoned just because they told us to rest is the height of stupidity.'
If a newly transferred private was told to lie down and rest comfortably...
Or if someone who just got their first job was told, "There's nothing to do, so you can head home early today"...
Would their superiors look kindly on them if they lay down thinking, 'Wow, military life has gotten easy these days,' or if they pulled an Itachi, saying, "Well, I'm off then! Keep up the hard work!"?
The Tower of Trials was the same.
Every floor had a purpose, and there were fortuitous encounters to be gained through them. In other words, no floor existed without a reason.
And Jinhyuk...
...intended to spend his 90 days on the 6th floor more perfectly than anyone else.
Only.
In a way that only a veteran could.
'The concert and the Michelin-starred restaurant are just the setup for that.'
Jinhyuk formulated his plan step by step.
By the way.
'Those pointy-eared bastards. It's been a while since I last saw them.'
He was already looking forward to it.
How shocked would they be when they saw what he was up to? And what kind of good stuff would they cough up because of it?
* * *
It was about an hour later when Kim Hee-woong contacted him again.
A meeting had been arranged with Kim Gi-tae of the Ssaulabi Guild at a coffee shop near Yeongdeungpo.
Arriving a bit earlier than the scheduled time, Jinhyuk sipped a frappuccino piled high with whipped cream.
'As expected, there's nothing like a sugar rush to relieve fatigue.'
Unfortunately, the Mint Choco was sold out, so he had ordered this instead, but the chocolate frappuccino was decent enough.
Right then.
Step.
Unlike ordinary people, footsteps heavy with mana approached.
He didn't even need to look to know.
It was Kim Gi-tae, a ranker belonging to the Ssaulabi Guild.
"It's been a while, Player Kang Jinhyuk."
Kim Gi-tae bowed slightly. Despite likely having a lot of pent-up frustration, his tone was quite polite.
Jinhyuk also greeted Kim Gi-tae with a bright smile.
"It really has been a while since we last saw each other during the test."
Of course, strictly speaking, things were different now.
Unlike his rookie days when he didn't even have a rank, he had now received an S-rank evaluation.
Furthermore, due to his various exploits, comparing the recognition between the two of them had become downright laughable.
That was probably why he was acting so submissive.
'This is why one needs power.'
Jinhyuk realized once again.
What it truly meant to possess power and ability in this world.
Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, Jinhyuk spoke again.
"I apologize about the Mandragora's location. I was so focused on climbing the tower that I didn't have the leeway to tell you."
"...I'm sure you were."
Kim Gi-tae grimaced.
He was only holding back because his opponent was a top-tier ranker. If it had been anyone else, he looked ready to draw his sword.
However, Jinhyuk casually brushed off that glare.
"In that sense, I'd like to slightly alter the terms of our contract. I heard that Ssaulabi holds a few A-rank dungeons. On the 3rd floor, if I recall?"
Ten exclusive dungeons on the 1st floor.
They were attractive back then, but now that he was over level 30, they were pretty much useless.
It wasn't like he was going to play tag with goblins at this point. Since he had grown, didn't he need a dungeon befitting his level?
"So... instead of the ten 1st-floor dungeons we hold, you want one of our A-rank dungeons on the 3rd floor... is that what you're saying?"
"You heard correctly."
"You're telling us the recipe for the cure this late, and yet you're raising the price on your end?"
"Exactly."
It wasn't like they were reviewing a lesson.
He didn't understand why the man kept repeating everything like a parrot.
Judging by his flushed face, he seemed angry...
Should he offer him a glass of cold water in times like this?
"...Player Kang Jinhyuk. What exactly do you take us for?"
Hmm.
A giving tree that generously provides whatever I need?
But he couldn't just say what he was thinking out loud.
In times like this, he had no choice but to use a universally accepted excuse.
"It's an unavoidable decision due to inflation, rising raw material costs, and increased labor expenses."
"What on earth...! We are not a charity. We didn't come here to accommodate such ridiculous demands!"
Kim Gi-tae abruptly stood up from his seat.
"Are you leaving?"
"If that's how you're going to talk, there's no point in wasting my breath any further."
"Hmm. The 3rd-floor labyrinth, [Gray Temple]. As far as I know, Ssaulabi holds it, but your raids keep failing, don't they?"
"...!"
Kim Gi-tae, who was about to turn away, froze.
Because an unexpected name had just come out of his mouth.
"How... how do you know about that?"
"I've heard things here and there. My network is quite extensive, you see."
He had received the list of dungeons held by Ssaulabi through Kim Hee-woong before coming here.
And the moment he saw 'Gray Temple' on that list,
Jinhyuk was certain.
That with Ssaulabi's current forces, they wouldn't even dare dream of clearing that labyrinth.
And his prediction hit the bullseye.
'As expected, he's reacting.'
They wanted to obtain the treasure sleeping in the temple, but since their raid teams kept coming up empty-handed, they must be burning with anxiety.
And since he had brought up the labyrinth at the perfect moment, of course he had to stop in his tracks.
Now that the opponent had shown interest, all he had to do was smooth-talk him.
To reel him in and steer things exactly the way he wanted.
"I'm not saying I'll hog all the rewards for myself. After all, the Gray Temple is a 20-player labyrinth, so it's impossible to clear alone."
"……"
The most important thing was to put Kim Gi-tae at ease by citing the system's rules.
"Besides, Ssaulabi must be suffering heavy losses. Rather than losing more players to half-baked attempts, wouldn't it be better to go with someone of proven skill like me?"
"That... is true."
The second most important thing was to give him a justification.
A plausible excuse that they weren't making a disadvantageous deal because they were weak, but because they cared for the players belonging to their guild.
The third most important thing was to express a sense of apology.
But the apology here wasn't just empty words.
Paying a fitting price to make the apology feel sincere.
This was the core point of the third condition.
"The Mandragora can be purchased at the 1st-floor basic shop. You have to drink the Jasmine Tea offered by the shopkeeper eleven times in a row to see the secret items hidden in the back room. It tastes absolutely awful, but you'll have to bear with it."
"...Gasp!?"
Kim Gi-tae gasped sharply.
He had never expected him to reveal the Mandragora's location first.
Lost for words, a brief silence ensued.
'If he's going this far, he probably isn't planning to trick us.'
Kim Gi-tae nodded as if he had made up his mind.
"Understood. I'll discuss this with the guild executives and let you know the schedule for the labyrinth raid."
Then, with a satisfied smile, he offered Jinhyuk a handshake.
'Kang Jinhyuk. For a named player, you're surprisingly sloppy. This works out well for us.'
Since his opponent was who he was, he couldn't openly exploit him. Still, a foothold had been established to set the stage in favor of the Ssaulabi Guild.
However,
Kim Gi-tae would never know.
The secret hidden within the Gray Temple.
"Haha. I look forward to working with you as well."
Jinhyuk also shook Kim Gi-tae's hand with pleasure.
'Go ahead and use that useless 1st-floor shop to your heart's content.'
After drinking eleven cups of bitter jasmine tea, he'd have a rough time running in and out of the restroom all night.
'While I make good use of your labyrinth and your guild members.'
And so,
with each harboring different thoughts,
their existing contract was renewed.