Farewell to the Red Tower
[Then good luck. You've made it this far, so you'll do fine from here on out.]
Those were his final words.
While Carpe was still flustered by the unexpected quest, Dretsch simply vanished.
"Wait! What the hell, just leaving like this?!"
-Looks like a classic guilty getaway to me. Dude's got sins to hide, so he bolted, huh?
"I'm sorry. Allow me to apologize on his behalf, my lord."
The more traces of Dretsch they uncovered, the more Tina seemed to be apologizing.
"Dretsch hasn't changed a bit, even in old age. Royard, you okay?"
When Mirage asked, the red soul stone in Carpe's hand began to glow faintly.
"Yeah... good... Phew, that's a relief. Master, Royard says he's fine. He's feeling a bit empty right now, but he trusts his new master to give him a great body."
"Huh? You can talk to the soul stone?"
"Yup. Doppelganger perks."
"...Doppelgangers are wild."
"A normal doppelganger couldn't, but Mirage is a homunculus based on the Doppelganger King. Perfect communication might be tough, but reading intentions is pretty straightforward."
"Yup yup, Tina's right. Even non-living things work if they've got intent."
"Oh yeah? Impressive."
"Heehee. Praise me more, Master. I allow it."
"Yeah, yeah. Good job."
Carpe gently stroked Mirage's snowy hair, and she nodded contentedly, murmuring, "Mmm. Yeah. Feels good!"
-Anyway, mission accomplished. What's next? Keep climbing?
"Hmm... Nah. Better head to the Room first and research what to make and how."
And honestly, he wasn't confident about clearing the 30th floor.
Cheongeom's party—one of Last Savior's peaks—had barely scraped by on that floor after tons of grinding.
He was strong for his level... way stronger, actually. But jumping more than double his current level? Seemed impossible no matter how he sliced it.
-Smart call. The tower ain't going anywhere. Priority's the class quest.
"Oh, but I'll clear up to the 20th. Gotta build a shop on the 19th too."
-Efficient, yeah. Oh, right—see that third bookshelf on the left? Pull out the book there; there's an old safe. Grab the item inside before you bounce.
"You know I will!"
A Hero-grade gauntlet and a Hero+-grade staff.
Carpe snagged the library's final hidden piece before heading to the other floors.
After that, Carpe resumed climbing from the 15th floor, floor by floor.
16th. 17th. 18th... and finally the 20th.
"Grroooaaarrr...."
Thud!
The 20th floor boss monster, the Owl Bear, collapsed its massive body to the ground.
You have defeated the boss monster of the 20th floor. Your clear record has been saved to the tower.
You are the tower's administrator. As a clear reward, you have acquired rights to all floors up to and including the 20th.
The Owl Bear was a tricky boss, but after facing way tougher Dretsch statues, it didn't feel that bad.
-That's really it. End of the line.
"Phew. Yeah. Gotta build the shop on the 19th and bail. Ugh, 10,000 gold just for a shop..."
-You'll make that back and then some, so invest without regrets.
"Guess so..."
Carpe picked up the boss drops and headed to the 19th floor.
He opened the tower facilities menu and built the shop there, sparking a huge commotion among the players—just like on the 9th floor.
"Whoa! Is this that rumored shop?"
"Heard it popped up on the 9th, and now the 19th too?!"
The rumors about the magic shop had spread overnight, so players weren't as shocked as on the 9th.
Carpe confirmed the shop was built normally, then made one last stop: the treasure vault.
To say goodbye to Treasure before leaving the tower for good.
"Leaving now? Did you find the clue Dretsch left?"
"Yeah. Teleporting me straight to the 22nd made it smooth. Thanks."
"Glad I could help. Oh, and Carpe. I need to ask a favor."
"Huh? What?"
"I've managed the tower's finances so far, but I couldn't do everything."
He could handle almost all gold and item stuff, but a few key permissions needed the final admin's approval.
"Now that you're here, I can finally clean up those annoying pests. Heh heh heh. Perfect."
"Annoying pests?"
"Indeed. Outsiders messing with money inside the tower. Couldn't touch 'em since they can't leave."
"You gonna fight them yourself?"
"As if. Wrestling with small fry like that would tarnish my dignity."
"Then how?"
"Heh heh. Simple. Those who play with money get played by money. It'll help the tower's finances too—look forward to it."
Treasure explained the plan in detail.
And moments later...
"Whoa, that actually works? Let's do it now!"
"Great minds. Applying it immediately."
"Phewww. Finally made it."
"Whew. Almost died there. That was close."
Level 61 players Posher and Saisel had just arrived at the Red Tower's 9th floor.
They'd visited plenty, but the crowds always reminded them how popular this hunting ground was.
"Still packed as ever. More people breaking 10th floor as time goes, but numbers ain't dropping."
"Means steady influx. Newbies pouring in like crazy, right?"
"God game stays god game."
"Keeps us fed too. Heh heh. Dev who made Red Tower deserves a medal."
They shared a laugh.
To them, the bustling players were all walking money.
"Excuse me, Porter sirs. We've safely escorted you to the 9th. Please confirm."
A man approached: Level 75 swordsman user Kozel, their bodyguard.
"Of course. Vanguard guild escorts are always solid. Wiring the balance to your guild master."
"Thanks for checking. Oh, next time it'll be other guildmates—I'm heading to the 11th."
"Aw, really? We'll miss you."
"Yeah, you've been solid forever. Shame."
"Haha. Others'll do great too. Gotta log soon anyway. See ya."
"Take care. Loot big."
They waved off Kozel and headed to the crowd.
Normally, most clustered at the 10th-floor entrance, but that changed yesterday.
The massive shop that appeared out of nowhere on the 9th.
Players swarmed it, filling their gaps.
"Heard rumors, but seeing it pisses me off. Why'd this crap pop up?"
"Tell me about it. Word is Cheongeom cleared 30th and unlocked it."
"Fuck. Hated her fans from the start. Pretty face got her hyped. 'Top pro gamer' my ass..."
Posher glared at the shop like it was cursed.
"Our profits halved now. Just signed for a new car too."
"What? Another one? You bought three months ago."
"Selling that used. Money's rolling in—no need for domestic rides."
"Fair. Most Porters flex imports."
Red Tower interior was one spot where player trading was basically impossible.
But "basically"—exceptions existed.
Special job: Merchant.
Trash combat, but a hidden class for unique feats.
No level penalties anywhere.
High-levels in lowbie zones like Ruana? Fine. Fits the trading-anywhere concept.
And in no-trade zones, only Merchants could trade.
Red Tower was prime example.
"Let's start business."
"Yeah. Sell out quick, climb back. Gotta hustle for installments."
Posher and Saisel.
Both Merchants, and for them, Red Tower was goldmine.
Method was simple: Stuff inventory to brim with village potions, sell inside tower.
Low combat meant hiring escorts to 9th—essential—but profits were huge post-fees.
Pros selling outside goods? Called Porters.
Merchants had huge inventory, perfect for it.
"Unknown creator of Red Tower, we pray."
"Thanks for our daily bread!"
Charge 5x, 6x village potion prices—players bought anyway, tears and all.
Cheaper than reclimbing.
But that was yesterday.
That damn shop sold potions for 10 gold.
To compete, they had to undercut.
"Set at 9 gold like you said, open stall?"
"Yeah. 9 gold 90 silver? Buys resentment."
10 silver diff? They'd spite-buy at shop.
True merchants factored buyer pettiness into pricing!
"Tch. Consumer marketing majors think different."
"Heh. Finished my master's."
As Posher and Saisel activated Merchant skill Street Stall, satisfied...
A new alert popped—never seen before.
The '??? Tower's Owner' has enacted a new trading law.
From now on, a tax will be imposed on all trades inside the tower.
30% of all trade proceeds will be paid as tax to the tower's owner.
"...What?"
"What bullshit is this outta nowhere?!"
"Tower's owner? Jenonia's king? Why now after staying quiet?"
They'd been praising Red Tower moments ago—now cursing up a storm.
Meanwhile...
Back in his Room, Carpe tilted his head, fiddling with his solar plexus.
"What? Why do I feel bloated in a game?"
-Too much freeloading? Someone's cursing you out.
"Nah. Gotta upgrade the Room. Wonder what rewards this time?"
-Sigh. Loving that free lunch life...
And so Carpe's Red Tower expedition wrapped up.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw