Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Don't Run Away!
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"Goddamn it, I told you not to drop spears."
After clearing the High End 6th floor.
I checked the drop items and immediately started complaining.
Put on some armor and all it gives me is a bunch of goddamn spears.
I bought a new sword, so I don't need 'em.
Spears and swords are awkward to use together anyway.
And how many of these are there anyway?
One, two.
Huh.
Five of 'em?
'Five monsters all dropped items?'
That doesn't make sense for these guys.
What's with this tower acting like a tourist trap scam artist?
"Ah, wait, because it's High End?"
No sooner had I muttered that than a message popped up in front of me.
Whoa, startled me.
Of course I'm number one.
I'm probably the only one who's tackled a High End floor.
I'm not dumb enough to gripe at text messages.
My choice was option one: click tongue.
"Huh?"
Maybe that's why.
I could let out a relaxed gasp at the next reward that appeared.
"Tower Currency x18?"
The number was a bit fuck-you-ish, but whatever.
It's that generous.
'18 pieces of Tower Currency already on the 6th floor?'
The gallery folks said one per floor number, right?
Should be six on the 6th floor normally.
But 18.
Exactly three times as much.
Plus─this time it was a dud, but─extra drops too.
Only then did a grin spread across my face.
"Yeah. That's more like it."
S+ score?
Number one ranking?
Somehow those didn't come with any rewards.
'So all that was just screening for the High End challenge rights.'
Man, it really twisted my guts.
Even while grumbling, my smile wouldn't fade.
'This makes me look forward to skill cards on the 10th floor.'
Skill cards drop twice per major section.
Only on the first and last floors.
We're in the 0 major section now, so next one's the 10th.
If I push through here and enter the 1 major section?
11th and 20th floors.
'Maintaining High End means big gains like this.'
I'll find out if I keep going.
I unfolded the next reward: a piece of paper.
[Orc Scout's Edict].
A scrap of paper with a mysterious name.
"Hmm."
This vibe is exactly that.
Quest item.
Not that I expect NPCs in the tower or anything.
-Pak!
Unfolding the paper, three things caught my eye.
Black ink for writing, yellowed paper.
But not just writing.
A drawing.
Like something a kid scribbled.
"Jeong-uk 2. What do you think this looks like to you?"
"A pot!"
Right?
It was a self-answering question. Sorry.
The edict had a pot drawn on it.
With arrows and highlights too.
Even a kid could tell this is the orcs' target.
"Rub it and a genie pops out or something?"
If so, wish for the tower creator to get hemorrhoids.
I folded the paper and pocketed it.
Let's tally up today's gains.
Benefits of High End floors.
Equipment drop rate increased.
Triple Tower Currency rewards.
'And the promise of even bigger rewards from events.'
Plenty of reason to run High End.
Monsters get stronger?
Then the equipment they drop is higher quality too.
Let's go as far as we can.
Hasn't been too tough so far.
'That wraps up today's climb.'
I let out a sigh like I'd been holding my breath.
Back-to-back surprises had worn me out.
Wanna head back, scroll the gallery, and crash...
'Ah, right, I'm Gallery Master.'
Suddenly don't wanna return.
Poor me.
Still, gotta do what needs doing.
I dumped all five spears on my clone.
"At least you're alive. Head back quick."
"Being a porter under the likable party leader... this is an awakening cliché, you know."
No awakening, Jeong-uk.
'Tch. Can't just ditch 'em either.'
Not about the clone.
The drop items.
Tower climbing's only money-makers are drops.
To avoid wasting energy on outside stuff, gotta grab everything valuable.
Popular posts, one-quest-a-day, climbing too.
Lots on my plate.
Demands of mandatory NEET life.
I took the lead, clone followed carrying the load.
Handy in fights too.
'Top priority upgrade: Clone Art for sure.'
Two test runs.
The clone was as capable as I thought.
Not more than I expected~
Exactly as much.
'Two of us couldn't beat no-gear orcs barehanded, but weapons let us take geared ones.'
1v1 soul match with mobs?
Party member passed.
I acknowledge you as comrades.
'Even if it dies in battle, a nap revives it.'
Destroyed clone.
Regeneration takes up to 24 hours max.
Only if it's totally obliterated.
This time just a deep heart stab.
No biggie, heals quick.
Died yesterday too, but fine by morning.
And that's still at 0 upgrades.
Enhance it and it'll get better.
Plus.
'No room for me to tweak this Clone Art myself.'
Can't improve what you don't understand.
In other words.
What I need first isn't weapons or armor.
'Gotta buy a Skill Enhancement Rune.'
Lonely pufferfish that dies without company.
Reverse guinea pig.
Enhancing my one and only companion Baek Jeong-uk's sole ally is top priority.
Slap this on Anonymous Clone Art.
Boost the number or performance of clones.
But 30's a lot.
'And rune requirements square each upgrade?'
Then what.
90 Tower Currency just for +2?
I scratched my head.
'Eh, there'll be other farming methods besides the shop.'
Or more currency farms.
None?
Low-grade's this bad, how to buy high-grade.
Ask the gallery later.
"Buy one for now. Got exactly 30."
"Whoa! IP copy event!"
Floors 1 to 5: 15 pieces.
High End 6: 18 pieces.
Deduct longsword cost, exactly one rune.
So what?
Buy it.
A rock etched with the rune dropped into my palm.
I held it up to the tower's fake sun.
"Lookin' good, buddy."
This is the real reward of this climb.
Pretty satisfying.
"Apply it now and it'll enter enhancement queue, blowing you up, so return and do it."
"No enhancement rune for the main body?"
There is.
"Oh? What rune."
Tower Climbing Gallery.
Back to the 0 major section.
At the cabin, I opened the Climber Gallery first.
"Whoa! Main body enhancement rune!"
"Wash up and eat first."
"Ok."
Gallery before food.
Gallery after food too.
This is a climber's life?
Reality hit, but I endured.
If not the eldest son, I wouldn't have.
Endured the shame of survival anonymously.
Why anonymous?
Tower Gallery was blazing hot today.
Because of shameless trolls.
"Holy shit... Tower Gallery's fucked up again?"
I shook my head with a sigh at the state of the gallery.
Just cuz I certified a High End floor.
But Tower Noob... they won't upvote me otherwise?
I gotta live too.
Blame my [Deficiency] for that.
"Sob sob. Today's popular post was delicious."
I scrolled through the blazing gallery.
Hm.
But can't post questions in this mess.
Troll career: about 15 years.
I know well.
Screw up a post in a burning gallery, big trouble.
Get flamed?
Nah.
Specificity builds up.
'Trolls dip, then a floater or high-nick with similar speech pops up, stacks accumulate.'
Stacks pile up?
Then sniped as sub-account.
I'm Gallery Master anyway.
I shit it, I clean it.
So I replied to Bow God first.
Yeah, spin the wheel.
Gallery Master's a roulette.
It's basically a friend circle gallery anyway, do as you please.
That's when Bow God's comment came.
Thought he'd ask about skills first?
Exactly my point.
I chimed in while browsing the gallery.
Vets mostly agreed.
Honestly relieved.
'If I had to climb High End forever, it'd suck.'
Already solo-only.
Why torture people.
"S+ strategy post?"
Not wrong opinion in comments.
Strategy post? Easy.
That was my old major.
I breezily typed up a guide.
Yeah yeah, I get you don't wanna admit it.
But no cheats in reality.
Only honest effort and diligence meaningfully impact results....
Wanna grow tall? Sleep deep.
Want good grades? Study hard.
This is the bitter taste of reality.
I quietly wiped tears, embracing my villain role.
Sorry.
Gallery Master is me too.
While dodging the Tower Noobs,
I felt pretty excited.
'Bow God.'
Won't match Hunter William,
but maybe something to learn.
Looking forward to it?