A Wimp’s Strategy Guide to Conquer the Tower (Novel) - Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Joo-hyuk was at his family home.
Eating the home-cooked meal his mother prepared, and chewing on fruit as well,
“Nothing is wrong with everyone, right?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? I’m worried because it’s too uneventful.”
Seems like it.
His parents look very healthy, and Min-hyuk has plumped up like a piglet.
“But Joo-hyuk, about unification. Is that really happening? Has the Awakening Management Agency establishing a branch in North Korea been decided?”
“Probably? I heard they’ve already selected all the dispatched personnel too.”
“Chairman Kim In-jung, that man has finally come to his senses.”
Actually, he was forced to come to his senses, though.
His younger brother Min-hyuk also chimed into the conversation.
“I heard the power of another person was greater than Chairman Kim In-jung.”
“Another person you say, who?”
“They say the current person holding real power in North Korea is not Kim In-jung but the new Minister of the People’s Armed Forces. That person is spearheading the unification.”
“Ah! Cossack-ssi.”
“Cossack? It’s Go Sa-geuk. Hyung, did you go abroad somewhere?”
Hmm,
A guy who knows nothing,
“How do you know all the names of high-ranking North Korean officials? Were you interested in current affairs ordinarily?”
“He’s famous on the Tower Climbing Gallery bulletin board. North Korean players also post and leave comments there.”
“Even so, they go there?”
“I followed a link and went in, and it was fun. It’s the most popular bulletin board these days.”
“Is that so?”
Tower Climbing Gallery bulletin board.
Joo-hyuk also went in and out a few times to get information in his early days of awakening.
“Go Sa-geuk is the most popular person there?”
“No,”
“Then who?”
“Korean Peninsula’s top player, S+++ grade record holder, Tower Extortionist, the person who climbs the tower with the art of folding space.”
Art of folding space, my foot.
However, feeling good that he’s popular.
His shoulders also shrugging.
“North Korean players especially revere him on almost a god-level. Ah, right! They call your name recklessly too, hyung.”
“…Why my name?”
“Hurrah for Joo-hyuk! They say it’s an abbreviation for Juche Revolutionary Spirit.”
“…”
“If it’s Democratic Revolutionary Spirit, it should be Hurrah for Min-hyuk.”
This is driving me crazy.
At this rate my name will become a worldwide buzzword.
“Anyway, eldest son.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t climb the tower anymore and just rest comfortably taking Holy Sword rental fees.”
“That’s right. The top player will do everything, so you could retire taking this opportunity.”
“…Heu-eum, I will take care of it.”
If I retire now, it’ll be a disaster.
The world will probably be in an uproar?
Unification my foot, a war might break out again.
Because the matter has grown too big.
It’s a state where dropping out midway is impossible.
“But Min-hyuk.”
“Why?”
“Do you have no desire to awaken?”
“Someone has to let me.”
“I’m asking if you’ll do it if someone lets you.”
“No! I’m absolutely not going to be a player, you know? I’m going to be a civil servant unconditionally.”
I knew it.
“…Where as a civil servant?”
“A community center civil servant, obviously.”
“What about the Awakening Management Agency? They say the salary is higher there than other places, and promotions are fast.”
“I hate it. I want to attend a normal workplace, without receiving attention, for a long, long time even with a low rank, and retire quietly.”
As expected, this guy was a true timid real man.
At that moment!
Tti-ring!
The SNS messenger notification sound that rang from his smartphone.
“Hmm,”
“What is it? A loan text?”
“No, a friend.”
“…Hyung, you had friends too?”
“Yeah, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk. He says he wants to meet quickly.”
“It’s a loan text.”
He can’t believe it even when told the truth.
Anyway, I should get going now.
Seems an urgent matter has come up.
Cossack was heading towards the Pyongyang Black Tower riding a car.
He decided to meet Summoner Bong at the Black Tower.
How happy would he be if I handed over the Rune of Trait Enhancement to him.
Kki-ik!
The car arrived right near the Black Tower.
Summoner Bong’s presence is felt from far away.
“Comrade should get going now.”
“Yes? Then when you return…,”
“I will take care of it on my own, so comrade can clock out and rest comfortably.”
“V, very well, sir. Hurrah for Joo-hyuk!”
“Hurrah for Joo-hyuk!”
After confirming that the car departed towards Pyongyang.
Spot! Pat-pat-pat-pat!
Running in one breath with Shadow Steps.
“Suummoooooner Booooong!!!”
Joo-hyuk witnessed Cossack running frighteningly towards him.
What urgent matter is there that he’s running over panting like that?
“Why did you call me? Maybe an accident…,”
“No, sir, not an accident, sir!”
“Then?”
“Pri! Pri, sir, pri!”
What do you mean pri.
Did he eat gukbap and come?
“Please wait just a moment, sir. I put it in my pocket…, huh? Where did it go?”
Flustered, Cossack rummaging through his pocket.
“I s-surely put it in my pocket, sir. Uh-uh? Th, this?”
Tsk tsk, how sloppy.
It seems stress has piled up due to his dispatched work in North Korea.
Then again, how hard must it be.
It’s not like he receives more salary just because he works extra.
“Ah! It’s here, sir. Please take it, sir. It’s my heart, sir.”
“…”
Anyway, he accepted something small and dull that Cossack gave him, but,
‘Hmm.’
It is hard.
It’s a stone.
Unknown patterns are also engraved on its surface.
Its appearance is exactly…,
“Heol!”
Crazy!
Why is this coming out from here?
“I-is it right?”
“It is right, sir. It is the Rune of Trait Enhancement, sir.”
“How did you get a Rune…?”
“I traded for it, sir.”
Traded, you say.
“You didn’t extort it by threatening someone, right?”
“No, what do you see me as to say that, sir? A master of negotiation, an offer that absolutely cannot be refused, the mastermind of masterminds, an experienced negotiator, that is me, Cossack, sir.”
To who in the world?
Cossack’s explanation that followed.
That the head of the Black Market Guild was kidnapped in North Korea’s player concentration camp.
He received the Rune as the price for releasing him.
“Oh! Truly the excellent Comrade Minister of the People’s Armed Forces!”
“You embarrass me, sir. Beans grow where beans are planted, and red beans grow where red beans are planted, sir. Isn’t it natural that an excellent summoned entity is under an excellent Summoner-nim, sir? He-he-he-he.”
“Aigo, Kong-kong-pat-pat, it’s a perfectly fitting expression. Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
I genuinely never imagined it.
To bring me the Rune of Trait Enhancement again.
The Runes Cossack solely brought alone are already 2.
“I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“This Cossack knows all of Summoner Bong’s feelings, sir. Between real men, words are not necessarily needed, right, sir.”
Right.
Exchanging eye contact is enough.
However,
“Now now, how many badges should I pin on you?”
“A-yu-u, making my chest heavy, why are you doing this, sir. It is a waste of badges, sir.”
Saying that while sticking out his chest, Cossack.
This is unconditionally a 3-badge deal.
Pinning one, pinning two, pinning three.
“Loyalty!!! I will repay Summoner Bong’s grace with an unstopping supply of Runes from now on as well, sir. Hurrah for Joo-hyuk!”
“Hurrah for Go Sa-geuk!”
“He-he-he-he.”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha.”
Proud.
What would I have done if not for our founding contributor?
I probably wouldn’t even have made it this far.
“Our founding contributor Cossack-ssi, I will absolutely not delete you from the catalog list.”
“Yep?”
Cossack tilted his head.
Catalog deletion suddenly?
“The catalog list is completely filled with 10 people. So they say if I randomized summon one more time, the oldest summoned entity will be deleted.”
“…Yep?”
Flustered Cossack.
“Who would the oldest item be? It’s you, Cossack-ssi. I’m saying if I randomized summon, Cossack-ssi gets deleted from the catalog.”
“…Y, y-yeep?”
His hands and feet are trembling, ba-deul-ba-deul.
“Ha-ha-ha, do not worry. Would I really abandon you, Cossack-ssi?”
“Umm, i, is that so, sir?”
Cossack’s face became as pale as the vampire Geppetto.
“Ei, why are you so scared. I said I really won’t!”
“Y, y-yeap…,”
How could I abandon Cossack?
‘Anyway, if I eat this, is it simultaneous summon 10 people?’
I can call the entire catalog.
When Princess Gyeon Dal-rae succeeds in breakthroughs and comes, let’s climb the 77th floor together.
Like a tower climbing advanced country, South Korea’s Awakening Management Agency is a place where various information about the tower is shared and propagated.
For example, information about the fox specters on the 74th floor, the earthbound spirits on the 75th floor, the Korean-style specters on the 76th floor.
Also, only do basic missions if possible, but the additional optional missions are worth trying for certain floors, etc.
And one more thing.
Refrain from climbing the 80th floor.
Wouldn’t it be better to climb as late as possible.
Refraining from climbing the 80th floor.
Everyone had already noticed this.
That the 80th floor wouldn’t be ordinary.
Because they had already experienced it once.
The 70th floor’s curse of Kavalan’s average.
What if a phenomenon similar to that occurs on the 80th floor too?
It is certain that the nation that climbs up first will take the blame.
So everyone was implicitly agreeing.
To park at an appropriate floor.
However, do worldly affairs go as intended?
The beginning was from a single video uploaded on You-Tube.
About 10 people wearing animal masks appeared in the video.
They introduced themselves as the ‘Apostles of Sinsim’.
In the video, they stated one demand towards the United States government.
– Close down and burn all churches and religious temples within the US.
– If the condition is not met, we will climb the Western Tower up to the 80th floor.
This was it.
An absurd claim.
Close down and burn all religious temples within the US?
Moreover, if it’s not met, climbing the Western Tower 80th floor?
Is this a threat?
No matter if one only carries out basic missions, the 70s floors is not an easy section either.
This ridiculously senseless content video was talked about by people’s mouths for a short time and was soon forgotten from memory.
Then this video caused a stir again.
Because such an incident actually occurred.
The United States Western Tower clear progress was 73rd floor completed and 74th floor challenged.
That Western Tower 74th floor was cleared yesterday.
Did the top player clear it?
However, it was not Gerald.
An unidentified someone.
Could it really be the Apostles of Sinsim?
The media began to pay attention.
The White House Department of Homeland Security also went on emergency alert.
The next day.
A threat video was uploaded on You-Tube again.
One person wearing a lion mask disappearing with a spot! and demonstrating tower entry was also shown.
A short time later.
75th floor of the Western Tower cleared again.
The United States was turned completely upside down.
There are 2 types of players.
Are they controlled by the government.
Or are they not controlled.
The former are the nation’s nurtured players.
They contract with the nation, receive meticulous management from professional personnel, and aim for upper floor climbing.
The latter are ordinary players.
They are free.
They also have no obligation regarding upper floor climbing.
Their main purpose is repeatedly clearing to receive Mana Stone rewards.
If counted by numbers, ordinary players are far greater.
Over 95% are ordinary players.
Then what about talent?
Do ordinary players fall behind in talent compared to the nation’s nurtured players?
That’s absolutely not true.
The nation’s nurtured players are strong because they receive government support.
Items, potions, Runes of Trait Enhancement, etc.
If calculated by ratio, perhaps more talented people are distributed among ordinary players.
It’s just unknown because it hasn’t been revealed.
The United States was like that in the past.
There was a player who climbed the uncleared upper floors faster than the nation’s nurtured players.
Meaning during the days before the collapse deadlines overlapped.
When they had to fully fill the 6-month deadline before climbing the next upper floor.
Within just a month, 3 uncleared upper floors of the United States Western Tower had been cleared.
An uncontrolled clear.
However, there was no method to stop it.
When they didn’t even know when or where a player enters the tower.
Such incidents disappeared as the difficulty gradually rose while climbing upper floors, though.
But right now.
An incident exactly like that time was occurring again in the United States Western Tower.
If there is a difference, it’s that there is a clear purpose.
An act of terrorism using 80th floor climbing as a means.
The FBI launched an investigation.
However, identifying them solely through the video and the organization’s name was impossible.
Secretary McMillan and Director Antonio conversing with serious expressions.
“It’s driving me crazy. Apostles of Sinsim? Just what kind of bastards are they?”
“Just a common pseudo-religion organization.”
“There are players capable of clearing the 70s floors belonging to that mere pseudo-religion organization?”
“They cleared it because there are.”
“Haa.”
Of course, because clear deadlines overlap, it has nothing to do with tower collapse.
In a way, it’s a good thing.
However, what if they really accomplish the 80th floor climbing?
How do we know what will happen?
For example, a curse falling upon the entire Black Tower like on the 70th floor with Kavalan.
“Antonio, what do you think. Do you see them succeeding in the 80th floor climbing?”
“At first I thought it was impossible, but given they’ve cleared up to the 75th floor…,”
An environment where that could happen has been constructed.
The barrier of the undead section has disappeared too.
The relatively easy 70s floors, the supply of tower reward equipment.
Perhaps it might be realized.
The probability was sufficient.
As if to prove it,
A new video was uploaded the next day, and a person wearing a tiger mask entered the tower.
And it was cleared up to the 76th floor.
The United States was in an uproar.
Uncontrolled upper floor climbing.
The 80th floor gradually getting closer.
Joo-hyuk also watched the breaking news flowing out from the TV along with the summoned entities.
It was an event he had worried about.
However, he hadn’t expected the incident to occur there in the US, and in that manner too.
“Could they really climb up?”
Gwangma speaking while nodding his head as if it’s obvious.
“The Summoner has also experienced it. The basic missions of the 70s floors are on the very easy side. As long as a certain level of talent and equipment is possessed, they can clear it as much as they want.”
Though it’s correct.
Right away, just looking at the Human-Faced Birds, the basic mission of the 76th floor, they are at the level of wyverns, no, in a way, easier than wyverns.
…Should I stop them?
I do have one Tower Floor Intrusion Ticket.
If managed somehow, I might be able to stop them on the 77th floor.
However, the ones currently climbing are not individuals.
It is a strange organization group called Apostles of Sinsim.
What if the number of climbing individuals is 2 or more?
Even if I catch one, how do I catch the other one?
“May I speak this old man’s thought.”
“As much as you’d like.”
“I do not know whether they will climb to the 80th floor or fail, but I think it would not matter if we just leave them be.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s a floor we must climb anyway. If stopping them were possible, maybe, but if not then…”
Gwangma’s thought is to just leave them be.
Since it’s a floor that must be climbed someday.
“If something happens, would we be able to respond?”
At Joo-hyuk’s question, Gwangma formed a smile and said.
“Summoner.”
“Yes,”
“There are various summoners this old man has personally experienced and indirectly heard of until now… among them, combining the present and the past, there has not been a single person as strong as you.”
“…”
Sir Gwangma is good at flattery too.
“Who could have commanded 10 summoned entities and further made them move with one heart and one will?”
“…”
To the point my face is burning up.
“It is not empty words. You are the best. There will not be a summoner like you in the future either.”
“…”
Even my chest feels grand.
“Therefore, do not worry even if any event occurs. Because you can sufficiently overcome it.”
Well, if you speak to this extent, it can’t be helped.
Since it’s an event that occurred in the US, the US will figure it out.
The other summoned entities didn’t particularly care either.
Rajix was playing playing throw-and-catch with the Blood Wolf, Veronica was napping, Bardin and Gobang were doing physical training, and Cossack was giving Geppetto mental education.
“Repeat. Summoner Bong-nim’s blood is not tasty.”
“Is not tasty!”
“I feel like throwing up just smelling it.”
“Throw up!”
“The most delicious blood in the world is Gobang’s blood.”
“Gobang’s blood is the most delicious!”
Geppetto strictly disciplined.
Actually, even though they were of the same grade, he couldn’t rebel against Cossack.
When Gwangma and Gobang were coldly glaring beside them.
“We must do well, sir. We must be perfect, sir.”
“Perfect!”
“Summoner Bong-nim must have no need to do randomized summons anymore, sir.”
“Randomized summons absolutely no-go!”
“Good, sir. You are doing well, sir.”
It was a world this peaceful.
And finally, the event he was worried about eventually broke out in the end.
[World Notice : Humanity faces the Lord of Magical Beasts Tiamat (Copy) for the first time.]
The 80th floor climbing was achieved in the end.
[World Notice : The Lord of Magical Beasts Tiamat (Copy) observes the world through the player who climbed the 80th floor.]
[World Notice : Information about the world is transmitted to the original Tiamat via the copy.]
[World Notice : The Lord of Magical Beasts Tiamat (Original) manifests outside the tower.]
Manifestation?
Like the summoned entities?
But what is this.
Is this the end?
It was.
There was no ensuing world notice.
What about something like a curse?
Even as a day passed, and two days passed, and three days passed…,
The world was quiet.