Chapter 52
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 52. Organization
"...Found you."
My entire body stiffened at the giant voice rummaging through my head.
An overwhelming fear that pierced through even Legendary grade immunity.
It was an existence I dared not face.
Cold sweat poured like rain, and my heart pounded as if it would burst.
To live, no, to escape that gaze, I instinctively closed my eyes tightly.
*'Please...!'*
The afterimage of the giant pupil trying to swallow me in the abyss remained vividly.
That fleeting moment felt like aeons.
It felt like if I opened my eyes again, that giant pupil would swallow me up.
But risking fear, I opened my eyes wide.
"...Huff! Huff!"
Gasping for rough breath, I looked around.
The pitch-black universe and the giant pupil looking down at me had disappeared.
Instead, what entered my eyes were familiar streetlight illuminations and a quiet street.
It was in front of the Tower's entrance.
"I... came back?"
Strength left my legs and I almost slumped down, but I forced myself to hold on.
Rather than the relief of returning to reality, the fear of what I just experienced was still flowing down my spine.
Then I felt a presence from far away.
"Huh? Didn't you just hear a sound?"
"Well... Wasn't it the sound of the wind?"
They were Association employees guarding the Tower entrance.
They seemed to have heard my rough gasping breath.
Shining flashlights, the employees were approaching the side where I was.
My appearance right now was a suspicious sight no matter who looked at it.
It was obvious as seeing a fire that it would become bothersome if I got caught here.
I headed home with quick steps as if running away.
***
*—Click.*
Only after hearing the sound of the front door closing did I slump down in the entryway.
Unable to even take off my shoes, I leaned my back against the door and caught my rough breath.
Moldy wallpaper, a cramped room, a musty smell.
I don't know why my house, which I would normally have been sick of, felt so welcoming particularly today.
"Haha...."
I staggered into the room and threw my body on the bed.
As I felt the touch of the fluffy mattress, my tension released completely.
But my head was still confused.
"What on earth was that...?"
That giant pupil.
And the voice that said 'Found you' towards me.
It was too vivid to dismiss as a system error.
Above all, what was most shocking was that it chewed up and ignored status effect immunity, my class trait.
Status effects below Legendary grade do not work on me.
Then that means that existence is something that transcends Legendary.
"Is it a god...? Or the master of the Tower?"
I couldn't get a grasp of it at all.
The more I thought about it, my head just throbbed and fear only revived.
I shook my head vigorously and tried to shake off distracting thoughts.
Even if I agonize over it now, an answer won't come out.
It was then.
Along with a static sound in the empty air, the system window that had disappeared popped up again.
*—Ding!*
[Providing rewards that were not provided.]
Along with a loud notification sound, messages poured down like a waterfall.
[Leveled up.]
[Leveled up.]
[Leveled up.]
[Leveled up.]
[Leveled up.]
...
"Wait a minute... How many are going up?"
My jaw dropped at the endlessly rising level notifications.
It seemed the 20th Floor clear reward, the achievement reward for saving the Emperor and changing the Empire's fate, and the reward suspended on the 19th Floor had burst all at once.
The notification stopped only after ringing exactly 10 times.
But it didn't end there.
*—Ding!*
[The level of 'Primeval Crafting' has increased.]
[The level of 'Primeval Workshop' has increased.]
[The level of 'Grace of the Primeval Maker' has increased.]
[The level of 'Item Summon' has increased.]
Level up notifications for my main skills followed.
Subsequently, messages popped up saying the wooden box given by the Emperor and the items I packed from the Secret Vault had entered my inventory.
[Obtained 'Class Change Book of the Primeval Swordsman'.]
[Obtained 'Blue Feather of Griffon'.]
[Obtained 'Abyssal Sea Serpent Leather'.]
[Obtained 'Magma Turtle's Carapace'.]
...
"Hehehe...."
A silly laugh leaked from my lips.
I became simple in front of rewards, enough to wonder if I was the same guy trembling in fear just a moment ago.
I sat up and scrutinized the changed skill information one by one.
[Primeval Crafting Lv4]
[You can receive assistance in more detail.]
[The probability of a Rare grade item appearing when crafting is greatly increased.]
[The probability of an Epic grade item appearing when crafting is greatly increased.]
[The probability of a Unique grade item appearing when crafting is greatly increased.]
[The probability of a Legendary grade item appearing when crafting is slightly increased.]
[The quality of the crafted item receives a slight upward correction.]
"Wow... Greatly increased?"
The probability correction that was previously 'slightly' changed to 'greatly'.
On top of that, even the Legendary probability increased, albeit slightly.
This meant I could now pull out Epic or Unique as a default for the most part.
Moreover, an upward quality correction.
It meant even if it was the same grade, it would yield better performance if it went through my hands.
[Primeval Workshop Lv4]
[The workshop has been greatly widened.]
The workshop also widened.
It was quite wide even now, so I wondered how much wider it would get if it got wider.
[Grace of the Primeval Maker Lv4]
[Fire Resistance increases from 30% → 50%.]
[Patience increases from 30% → 50%.]
[Perseverance increases from 30% → 50%.]
[Concentration increases from 30% → 50%.]
[Item Summon Lv2]
[Summons 2 items in your possession behind your back.]
[You can use 1 ability of the summoned items.]
[Summoned items exhibit only 60% of their original power.]
"Two...!"
I clenched my fists.
Now I became able to float the [Pale Moon Sword] and the [Staff of the Crimson Lord] simultaneously behind my back, covering both close and long range.
Or I could summon a shield to increase defense while attacking with a sword.
The breadth of tactics had widened vastly.
Moreover, the ability exhibition rate also went up from 50% to 60%.
It might seem like a mere 10% difference, but the higher the grade of the item, the more tremendous that 10% difference was.
"With this much... it's like party hunting all by myself."
Intoxicated with satisfaction, I opened my status window lastly.
And I doubted my eyes.
Name: Kim Si-woo
Level: 50
HP: 4470/4470 MP: 495/495
Vitality: 101
Strength: 107
Agility: 112
Intelligence: 89
Dexterity: 151
Remaining Points: 50
"......?"
I rubbed my eyes and checked the numbers again.
Except for Intelligence, all stats had broken through 3 digits.
Normally, 5 stat points are given per 1 level.
If Level 50, a total of 250 points.
Yet my stat total easily exceeded 500 even by rough calculation.
It meant I was more than twice as strong as a general Level 50 Hunter.
"Does this... make sense?"
Even the remaining points I hadn't invested yet were as many as 50.
Depending on where I invest this, I could become even stronger.
"Wow... I really seem to have gotten a bit strong now?"
Rolling around on the bed, I giggled.
Then I suddenly remembered the fear I experienced earlier.
In front of that overwhelming existence, even these stats had felt shabby.
But the me now is stronger than the me of yesterday.
And I will become stronger tomorrow.
After being intoxicated by the stat boost for a while, the phone I had thrown at the head of the bed suddenly caught my eye.
As soon as I turned on the screen, missed call notifications and text messages poured out like bombs.
[27 Missed Calls]
[42 Unread Messages]
"......Uh?"
The sender was all Hong Chae-yeon.
Flustered, I opened the message inbox.
Scrolling up, I checked from the very first text that came.
[Hong Chae-yeon: Si-woo, did you get home safely? I slept well thanks to you hehe]
[Hong Chae-yeon: Did you eat lunch? I'm out of my mind because of Guild work TT]
Up to here were ordinary greetings.
But as time passed, the contents of the texts were changing strangely.
[Hong Chae-yeon: Are you very busy...? No reply.]
[Hong Chae-yeon: Are you working on something by any chance? Sorry for disturbing you.]
[Hong Chae-yeon: Your phone is turned off....]
[Hong Chae-yeon: ......Nothing happened to you, right?]
[Hong Chae-yeon: Si-woo?]
The last text came just 10 minutes ago.
While I spent a long time in the Empire, it seemed quite some time had also passed in reality.
Since contact was cut off without a word, it was understandable she was worried.
I hurriedly pressed the call button.
Before it rang even once, the other party picked up the phone.
As if she was waiting holding the phone in her hand.
*-Si-woo?!*
An urgent voice was heard over the receiver.
It wasn't her usual calm tone, but a trembling voice as if carrying moisture.
*-Where... where on earth did you go? You couldn't even be reached!*
"Ah... Sorry. Were you worried?"
*-Of course! Who wouldn't be worried when you suddenly disappear and lose contact! I had all sorts of thoughts wondering if you got into some accident... or if someone kidnapped you.*
She poured out words like rapid-fire.
How much she must have agonized, that fretfulness was transmitted intact.
I smiled awkwardly and made an excuse.
"Sorry, sorry. I was cooped up in the workshop making items, so I lost track of time."
*-......Work?*
"Yeah. Since I stayed up all night for a few days, I didn't even know my phone was turned off. I charged it and called you right away."
It wasn't a lie.
Only the place and subject were a little different, but since I did stay up all night hammering in the Empire, it was as good as truth.
At my excuse, a deep sigh was heard over the receiver.
*-Haa.... Thank goodness really...*
Only then did relief seep into her voice.
She seemed angry, but in fact, it was evident she was relieved by the fact that I was safe.
It was then.
*—Bang!!!*
"Hey you crazy bitch! Did I cheat on you? Huh? I said it's a misunderstanding!"
"Shut up! Why don't you get lost?!"
Screams that felt like tearing eardrums erupted from beyond the wall.
It seemed the lovers' quarrel of the couple next door had started again.
This time, there was even the sound of something shattering as if they were throwing things.
Through the thin wall with zero soundproofing, curses and screams were heard nakedly.
"Ugh.... I really need to move quickly or something."
*-Si-woo, what did you say??*
"A... Ah, nothing. More importantly, you must be out of equipment stock now, right?"
*-I was actually going to ask you that! Around when will you sell again?*
"I'll contact you right away when it's ready."
*-Got it!*
"Then let's see each other then."
*-Yeah!*
I hung up the phone with Hong Chae-yeon.
Next time we meet, I should ask her to look for a decent house for me.
I immediately logged into [Tower Gallery].
The gallery was plastered with talk about my 20th Floor clear video.
Among the released clear videos where I didn't use my crafting abilities, the reaction to the 20th Floor clear was explosive.
I clicked the analysis post with the highest view count.
[Title: I'll comprehensively summarize Barcode's 20th Floor clear video this time (Warning: Scroll Pressure)]
[Author: oo]
Wow... I just came back from watching the whole video, and my hands are shaking so much I can't type.
First, I'll calm down and start the analysis.
Today's main character is the Imperial Princess who appeared in the clear videos from time to time.
The Princess's martial power is crazy.
Especially that Rapier held in her hand, every time she swings it, light-purple afterimages remain, it looks like she's dancing.
The sword bends like a whip and bounces off, piercing three monsters at once, has anyone seen a weapon like that?
Even if you search the entire Association database, there is no weapon like that.
Is it an Imperial treasure? The performance makes no sense.
Emperor Raid (2 vs 1)
To think the boss is the Emperor...
The Emperor turns evil and attacks, and the scene where Barcode and the Princess double-team him is legendary.
Barcode blocks with a greatsword and the Princess thrusts, their coordination is perfect.
But the Emperor's physical stats are post-human, so it's goosebump-inducing that they are getting pushed back even though two are attacking.
In the middle, the scene where the Emperor grabs his own severed arm and stabs, I really screamed.
Purification ability?
At the end, the scene where the Princess stabs the Emperor.
Normally it would be normal for him to die, but a light-purple flame arose and burned away only the red energy attached to the Emperor's body.
What attribute is that? Holy attribute? Or the weapon's unique skill? I don't know.
Conclusion: The Princess is pretty today too.
But Barcode, the atmosphere between him and the Princess at the end was strange, aren't they really dating?
(Barcode die Barcode die Barcode die Barcode die)
└ oo: Wow, the monsters were disgusting. It's amazing their mentality doesn't burst when things like that come out in swarms.
└ oo: I really covet that Rapier. The elasticity makes no sense. It pierces steel like tofu, yet it even bends? I don't know who the maker is, but it's obvious they ground their soul into it.
└ oo: The Emperor's aura was sick. Seeing Barcode's armor shining, it looked like he used some skill, but he reacts and dodges it?
└ oo: That flame at the end looks like purification-type magic, but it's amazing it shoots out from a Rapier, which is a physical attack. Is it an item ability or a skill? Release some info!
└ Princess Fan No.2: Barcode's PP is 3cm Barcode's PP is 3cm Barcode's PP is 3cm
└ oo: But is this really a clear video? F*ck how are we supposed to copy this -.-
└└ oo: Barcode: Truly easy, right~?
"Pfft!"
Laughter burst out while reading the comments.
Seeing people's reactions analyzing and being amazed looking at my equipment was thrilling.
Especially the praises for the Rapier made me feel it was worth hammering Orichalcum all night.
I fell asleep while browsing the gallery looking for other posts.
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