The Sweet Chime of Taxes
Ding. Ding. Ding!
Carpe felt those relentless notification chimes were sweeter than any melody.
Having safely completed the Windcatcher mission, he slipped out of the shop with a satisfied grin.
'Kuh. Never thought I'd come to love the word "taxes" in my life. Come to think of it, there was a similar system back in the day.'
Long ago, in the 90s and 00s when online RPGs flooded South Korea.
Amid that turbulent era's flood of games, one stood out above all, leaving an indelible mark on players.
Blood Oath Online.
Based on a famous cartoonist's original work, this game was the essence of RPGs—no exaggeration.
A rock-solid worldview. Vast fields. Four distinct classes bursting with personality. Free-form PvP.
It had countless success factors, but what crowned it Korea's top RPG was none other than siege warfare.
The world of Blood Oath Online featured multiple castles, and every guild went berserk fighting to claim them.
The perks of holding a castle were beyond description.
The guild master who seized one became the "Lord," wielding near-absolute power—and one prime example was levying taxes in the controlled territory.
'That game made items and gold easy to cash out, so Lords were basically called real-life landlords.'
—Sounds familiar. Some internet article? I think it said Lords raked in 5 million won a month just from taxes.
That 5 million a month was back in the early 2000s.
Adjusted for inflation, it'd be way more today.
'Whoa. Always thought that was someone else's story. Life's full of surprises.'
Just a game servicing only Korea, pulling in 5 million won monthly!
Then in an irreplaceable god-game targeting the whole world?
'No way it's just 300,000 won a day or something? Gasp. My heart's RPM is spiking just imagining it.'
—...What a needlessly sensitive ticker. But why's your economic sense so dull?
'Huh? What's that mean?'
—Nah, nothing.
Cheonma shot Carpe a look screaming, 'How's there such a small-timer?'—but Carpe missed it entirely.
300k a day? That's peanuts?
On one hand, he got it. Just months ago, the guy was scraping by on minimum-wage gigs.
Daily earnings in the tens or hundreds of thousands? Hard to picture.
—You're late to the party. You've scored items worth tens of millions already.
'Pfft, that's different. Epic drops aren't steady. A reliable fixed income not ruled by luck? That's huge.'
—Fair enough. Steady cash flow gives real peace of mind.
'Exactly! Hmm. But checking this out, it's not like gold pours in endlessly.'
Eyeing installable facilities, Carpe squinted dubiously.
First off, building them cost gold.
The Magic Shop he'd just erected was free thanks to a first-install event—normally, it'd run 10,000 gold.
Plus, separate maintenance fees to keep them running.
'Ugh, maintenance? It's unmanned—no labor costs.'
—No payroll, sure, but suppliers gotta get paid. Potions don't sprout from the ground.
'It's a game—they could!'
—Congrats. Nailed your daily dose of shameless gamer logic. Anyway, no worries. Long-term, it's pure profit.
Besides, this was just floor 9.
Floor 19, 29, 39... Keep conquering, and income doubles, triples, quadruples!
—Especially now, floor 19's got the most foot traffic. Probably over half the tower's users there.
'Makes sense. Silver and Gold tiers always pack more than Iron or Bronze.'
Any game, mid-tiers draw the crowds over bottom ones.
'Alright! Goal: landmarks on floor 19!'
Not just shops—build everything possible.
Shops and Fountains of Recovery aside, there were player buffs from structures too.
Those special ones? One or two per full tower, so prime spots only.
'Plan's clear: blast through floors, snag permissions.'
—Can't clear to the top, but push as far as possible. Oh, and nail that relic quest too—don't lose focus.
'Obviously.'
Carpe gave the bustling shop one last glance, then headed down to B1 where Dretsch had been.
Already cleared once, floor 8 was monster-free.
—Why walk? No elevator?
"Hold on, lemme check. Oh, there! Admin-only eleva—Gack! 5,000 gold? Screw it, walking!"
Sure, more floors later might force it, but 10 was walkable.
Floor 8 spawned mobs unlike 9, so different facilities.
Pitfalls, arrow traps on strings—classic stuff everywhere.
One snagged Carpe's eye.
Plunder Trap
Inflicts damage on triggered targets while absorbing their HP and MP. Stored HP/MP can be used as elixir ingredients once sufficient.
Rare chance to produce "Elixir of Vitality" or "Elixir of Mana."
"Building this, no question."
Elixirs permanently boosted stats—priceless, always in short supply no matter the gold.
From a trap? Install cost was brutal, and no permissions yet, but mandatory.
"Unlock's slacking lately. Thought it was the first 10-star skill. Kinda disappointing. Could unseal stuff like this."
—...
"Don't glare—say it."
As Carpe bickered with Cheonma en route to B1—
Beep beep beep!
"What?! No way—time's up already?"
—Hm. Yeah, about that. You were in the zone.
Daily login quota exhausted. Quest tomorrow.
"God-game indeed. 10 hours vanished again."
—Not for nothing the world’s obsessed. RaSe will dominate more and more.
"Tch. Unlock anything but this time limit, please. Unlock! Unlock! Work, damn it!"
—...That's hacking territory, not unlocking.
"Just venting. Anyway, pick up tomorrow. Rest up."
—Yeah. Eat well, stay peak condition.
Carpe logged out. Cheonma retreated to his room.
—Whew. Admin rights. Not bad.
Cheonma nodded in his room. More satisfying than expected.
Another hook tying Carpe to RaSe.
—He's hooked anyway, no worries... but.
No complacency. Fun-seekers were wildcards—rugby balls bouncing anywhere, hooked one day, bored the next.
—So you gotta step up. Got it?
"Kyu kyu kyu!"
—Plays it cool sometimes, but sentimental type. Stick close, shower affection, fetch items—he'll stay for the bonds. Priority one: max attachment. Our shared mission.
"Kyu kyu kyut!"
Mukhyang nodded vigorously; Cheonma smiled approval.
—Smart kid. Fits as Little Sect Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult... Wait, why do you keep warping to my room? You got your own.
"Kyuuut?"
—What the hell even...
"Advisor, Mukhyang says your room's more fun."
—And why're you here?
"Pardon. Same reason as Mukhyang."
—Sigh.
Tina watched Cheonma and Mukhyang's exchange with fascination, right beside him.
—My room a playground?
Room upgrade massively expanded familiar quarters.
Cheonma's was over double original size—roomy for 10+—and stocked with his old life's items.
That was the issue.
—Ugh. More stuff's nice, but.
Cheonma collected books in life, with a dedicated mansion library.
Expansion added a massive bookshelf in his room, packed with volumes.
From magazines to tomes.
Tina's target: those books. Otherworldly knowledge was her ultimate pastime.
"Then, if I may today too, Advisor."
—...Do what you want.
Couldn't shoo a bookworm; now she was lost in them, practically merging.
Tina pulled a volume, sat primly.
Rustle. Rustle.
The doll-like girl with long golden hair turning pages quietly was a painting come alive.
—...If only the books were worthwhile. Why manga?
"Pictures make it easy to follow. And above all, super fun."
Lately, hooked on shounen battle manga, devouring them nonstop.
Impressed scenes or plots? "Hmm! Hm!"—uncanny for a doll.
"This Zanpakuto's so cool. The 'Ninja' assassin manga last time was striking too, but this 'Soul Reaper' one's excellent."
—...
Carpe's "Rest up~" was clueless.
Post-logout was Cheonma's real grind.
Bang!
"Advisor! Here to play."
—Damn. Playground confirmed.
"Yeah. So many cool things."
Mirage bounced in, cheeks flushed.
Moments later—bang again.
—...Help yourself. I've given up.
New resident Gillian lumbered in, browsing the shelves.
Grabbed one: Giggle Humor Collection.
—...
Cheonma watched with enlightened eyes.
Sending infinite respect to his mom—and moms nationwide.
"Advisor, this is odd. Why grip the sword like that? It'll slip on clash."
Eldest daughter—in puberty or rebellion?—devoured manga endlessly.
"Mukhyang! Stay!"
"Kyu kyu kyu!"
Ambiguous youngest ravaged the house with pet in tow.
Dad lounged in the master room demanding coffee.
Argh! Out! Everyone out!
Cheonma roared.
Couldn't live like this forever.
Rededicating to guide Carpe to the ending, end this regression.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw