A Wimp’s Strategy Guide to Conquer the Tower (Novel) - Chapter 148

Chapter 148

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The world where souls live is desolate.

Those who have no physical bodies and have their five senses blocked.

They say they communicate with each other, but is it fun?

However, the reason they endure and endure.

The mission given to souls by a contract with rules that cannot be fathomed.

Help the savior who called them out and save the world.

Summoner player.

There is no need to specially explain the formidable power of that class.

An irregular that might perhaps be an error of the tower.

Despite that, there hadn’t been a single success.

In whatever world it was, the tower invariably collapsed, and because of that, the boundary between the world and the tower ended up disappearing.

They couldn’t even climb high.

Usually, they crumbled at the 70th floor Curse of the Average of Cavallan.

Even though it was a world where a summoner existed.

Tower clears are this difficult.

However, this time, the summoner is definitively different.

The number of summoned entities currently out is already numbering 10 or so, and thanks to that, he is currently climbing at a rapid speed.

But eventually, an incident ended up breaking out.

It was an extremely astonishing event.

Rumors spread as one tail bit another tail.

『I heard a nuke exploded in the Earth tower.』

『…Ah! Oh my!』

『Damn it! Just when I thought he was holding out well.』

『Tsk tsk, then is Earth finished now too? A retaliatory nuclear attack will fly in soon, and they’ll face destruction before the tower collapses.』

『No, what am I supposed to do if it’s ruined already when I haven’t even been able to go out.』

『Ah geez, what was Gwangma doing? He should have killed the politicians playing with nukes first.』

『Haa, can I not go out again this time either?』

Telepathy among souls mixed with frustration, regret, despair, and lamentation.

But?

『No you guys, what did you listen to my words with? Did you even understand?』

『Didn’t you say a nuke exploded? Isn’t it the beginning of a nuclear war?』

『Geez! I said it exploded in the tower, inside the tower! Inside, not outside!』

『…What?』

『What kind of preposterous nonsense is this again?』

『Wait! Inside the tower? Uh-uh, s, so you mean that place where you receive missions on each floor?』

『Yeah, they said nuclear fission occurred on the 81st floor and blew away a giant Kaiju.』

Flabbergasted, souls who have no idea what is going on.

『That, that makes no sense, why would a nuke explode inside the tower?』

『Did a player with a nuclear bomb trait appear or something?』

『Could it be that foul-mouthed Mari bitch? Did she finally transmute a nuclear fission homunculus?』

『No, all wrong.』

『Then how?』

『I heard the Earth summoner airlifted a nuclear warhead inside the tower and detonated it.』

At that moment!

Silence flowed in the infinite world.

It couldn’t be helped.

It’s not a joke either,

『R, really?』

『I’m certain. Because it’s a story that came out of Gwangma’s mouth.』

『Wh, what is the possibility that Gwangma lied?』

『The shaman who upgraded to Legend grade last time confirmed it again too. She doesn’t lie, you know.』

Suddenly, the souls became boisterous.

『Wow!』

『Ha-ha-ha!』

『Cool.』

『Ho-ho-ho, my insides feel completely refreshed.』

However, there were also points of doubt.

『But was the Behemoth on the 81st floor a guy strong enough that they had to detonate a nuke?』

『Right. Gwangma alone would have been enough to process it.』

『There was a hidden reason for that apparently.』

『What is it?』

『I heard an administrator revealed themselves in front of the summoner and made a deal. By the law of equivalent exchange, state the reward you desire, and I will give it if you succeed. Instead, the mission will become difficult.』

『…You’re saying they attempted a deal? What a crazy administrator bastard!』

『Have they lost their minds? This is an explicit violation of causality. And overstepping of authority.』

『We should tear them to death.』

『They can’t distinguish between poop and doenjang just because they’re wearing the hat of an administrator.』

『Fucking dog-like trashes, my wish remains immutable in the future too. To snap the administrators’ necks.』

In the midst of that, one thing they were curious about.

『But what did the summoner desire? Eternal life? Trait enhancement? World conquering?』

『Liberating a soul subjugated in the tower, as for how that happened…,』

Explanations continued.

『Ah!』

『As expected…, it wasn’t for himself.』

『Altruistic. He’s a person perfectly fitting for the title of savior.』

『There was a reason he had no choice but to be strong.』

『Hmmmm, isn’t he truly lovable?』

『I want to go out quickly and meet the summoner too.』

『Yeah, since it’s random summon soon….』

『This time it’s unconditionally me. Summoner! Wait for me!』

It was then!

Unfamiliar telepathy jumping into the souls’ communication.

『It’s not even close, sir. Everyone wake up from your dreams, sir. You all will not be summoned, sir.』

Eh?

A guy flying telepathy with this kind of tone is?

『Oh!』

『You are the assassin.』

『The main character finally appeared.』

『Congratulations. I am envious.』

『But what do you mean? Why are you saying we can’t be summoned?』

『The catalog is full, sir.』

『Eng? If the catalog is full, an expansion ticket should appear.』

『That’s what I mean, that expansion ticket isn’t coming out, sir.』

『Why isn’t it coming out?』

『That’s right. Because it originally comes out automatically when the catalog personnel is filled.』

『The probability for a Catalog Expansion Ticket is extremely high. 20 people, 30 people, 40 people, it can be increased at will.』

『But it’s not coming out, sir. Even though he gathered 3 privileges and received them at once, it isn’t coming out, sir. Isn’t it strange, sir?』

It’s not coming out, you say?

There’s no way that’s true.

Only then did the souls realize the seriousness.

『Could this be the administrator bastards?』

『I see. It’s unmistakably probability manipulation.』

『These bastards, using such a despicable trick?』

『Ha! As if making a deal with a player wasn’t enough, even manipulating item probabilities?』

『These beggarly narrow-minded bastards…,』

Originally, souls hate administrators.

They practically recognize them as irreconcilable mortal enemies.

『Are you going to stay still? We should rise up.』

『How?』

『Just yell randomly! So the infinite world gets turned upside down.』

『Dropping item probabilities? And daring to make a deal with a player? Operate properly. …Like this?』

『Harder!』

『I accuse the administrators of overstepping their authority. You sons of bitches!』

『Is causality the name of someone’s dog? Equivalent exchange? Suck my cock!』

『You cheap bastards! Do you have a conscience?』

『Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck…,』

『Administrators fuck off! Administrators fuck off! Administrators fuck off! Administrators fuck off! Administrators fuck off! Administrators fu…,』

『Hey, you sons of bitches! Hey, you sons of bitches! Hey, you sons of bitches! Hey, you sons of bitches! Hey, you sons of bit…,』

『Maem-maem (Cicada sound), Seu-pi-o, Seu-pi-o! Maem-maem, Seu-pi-o, Seu-pi-o! Maem-maem, Seu-pi-o, Seu-pi-o! Maem-maem, Seu-pi-o…,』

『Who is the cicada sound?』

The souls’ outcries resounded fully through the infinite world.

Endlessly, spreading like an infectious disease.

The roaring of infuriated souls.

It was a massive current.

It didn’t know how to stop.

It was natural.

Because without catalog expansions, random summoning itself might be suspended.

For souls, could there be anything more important than this?

Beijing, China.

Lately, the corners of newly-appointed China’s President Liu Zhao’s mouth were hanging on his ears.

All 3 of China’s towers have reached the 70s floors.

They had finally broken through the undead section which they considered impregnable.

This was all thanks to holy water and tower reward items.

Furthermore, climbing the 70s floors was also extremely smooth.

It was truly as easy as he heard.

Once they escaped the hardship of the undead section, a flower path unfolded before their eyes.

Limiting it to just the basic missions, of course.

Well, just the basic missions is good enough.

Starting with the 71st floor clear, the 72nd floor, 73rd floor, 74th floor…,

All 3 towers are cruising rapidly.

Now the 80th floor was right before their eyes.

How good does he feel?

For the time being, he won’t have to worry about tower collapses.

However, there were also matters that got on President Liu Zhao’s nerves.

Exactly because of the peninsula bastards of a small country.

South Korea and North Korea.

They started discussions on unification with each other without knowing their place.

An absolutely unacceptable matter.

He must stop it before unification is accomplished.

“Is the casting operation finished?”

“Yes, we have made contact with North Joseon People’s Army Player Major Jang Chang-soo. We safely handed over the item too.”

“Is he a guy we can trust?”

“You can trust the money. We promised 30 million yuan. We already brought his family to China and paid 5 million yuan as an advance payment.”

If it’s 30 million yuan, it’s almost 6 billion in Korean Won.

“What if the guy changes his mind at the last moment?”

“Major Jang Chang-soo has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He’s a guy whose remaining days to live are numbered. He will definitely do it even if just for his family.”

President Liu Zhao nodding his head as if satisfied.

Both South Korea and North Korea need to be punished.

If the two countries unify, China’s national security will be threatened.

For South Korea to possess nuclear weapons.

If nuclear warheads are mounted on Hyunmoo missiles that can reach Beijing?

Furthermore, what about the hegemony of East Asia?

South Korea is already rapidly expanding as an advanced tower clearing country, and talks of admitting South Korea as a permanent member of the UN Security Council are gently flowing out.

It is undoubtedly a terrible matter.

“When is the execution date?”

“There is scheduled to be an establishment ceremony for the Awakening Management Agency Branch Office in Pyongyang a few days from now. That day is D-day.”

The world’s best tower climbing and clearing institution.

The Republic of Korea’s Awakening Management Agency.

But they say they are constructing a branch in North Korea.

South Korean civil servants starting work for North Korean players on North Korean soil?

If this isn’t unification, what is?

“It’s perfect because the ceremony is an event where all high-ranking officials from North and South Korea will attend, including Chairman Kim In-jung, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk, and Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il and Park Kyung-soo who will soon be assigned as the director of the Pyongyang Awakening Management Agency Branch Office.”

Actually, a request asking them to attend came to China as well.

They didn’t even care, though.

“You must not fail.”

“Major Jang Chang-soo is a player. And his level is on the considerably high side at that.”

“Didn’t you say he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer? No matter how much he uses the Ring of Liberation necklace…”

“That’s not the case. Only at the moment the Ring of Liberation necklace is used, his abilities inside the tower are applied just as they are. He will unconditionally succeed.”

One more thing.

“Is there any risk of our involvement being revealed?”

“There will absolutely be none. It’s a Russian-made item airlifted from Pakistan anyway. Major Jang Chang-soo is the only one who knows, and if he dies, it will be buried forever.”

“Good.”

Even if an incident breaks out, there isn’t much room to suspect China.

Especially the political situation in North Korea which has been highly unstable recently.

Because things like terrorism are events that can sufficiently happen.

Suddenly, President Liu Zhao recalled the world notice that rang a while ago.

The content that nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions would not happen inside the tower.

Well, it was a ridiculous notice.

You can’t even bring nuclear weapons inside the tower, so why bother?

‘But outside the tower is different.’

Here is reality.

Something like a nuclear backpack is portable enough, and if detonated, it explodes.

He had given North Korea enough opportunities until now.

What if they still don’t listen?

There is no choice but to suppress them with force.

Joo-hyuk decided to clear the South Korean NO. 1 Black Tower from the 77th floor to the 81st floor.

He has to maintain the balance.

There was a lot of talk anyway.

Saying it’s suspicious he only cleared the North Korean tower, asking if he defected to the North, asking if he became a commie.

‘No, why am I a commie?’

It’s a tower with the exact same nationality.

When he brought it over using tower seizing, they were blabbering about northward advancement unification and what not.

So he decided to continuously climb.

Also to secure platinum badges and privileges while at it.

First, the 77th floor where the ultra-high difficulty optional mission changed.

Kill Serial Killer Sword Master Zoldick.

“It is a chance to try using the Hartmann Sword Style, sir!”

He bravely declared a frontal confrontation.

Slithering stealthily with stealth into the prison where Zoldick was hiding.

Seu-euk,

Chi-pit!

Deng-geong!

Finishing with a despicable ambush.

Clap-clap-clap-clap!

Pouring applause.

“Ahem! I am Sword Master LSSR, sir. Leu-reu-reu.”

Everything is good but….

“Didn’t you say you would face him head-on?”

“This is the frontal confrontation of an assassin, sir.”

“What about the Hartmann Sword Style?”

“I used it when cutting his neck, sir.”

“…”

Yeah well,

No matter how much of a Sword Master he is, an assassin probably has an assassin’s way.

The 78th floor, Cossack also carried alone.

The ultra-high difficulty mission, kill Cruel Guild Guildmaster Jericho.

Isn’t it his own theme floor anyway?

The 79th floor, killing Emperor Kalios at the Imperial Palace Labyrinth Detached Palace.

A time-attack mission, but it was easily found with Gyeon Dal-rae’s Tracking Talisman.

Cossack processed Kalios according to his father’s instructions.

Rather than killing him at once if possible, slowly engraving pain unto him while doing so.

The 80th floor?

Nightmare Black Horse Nightmare, replaced due to Tiamat’s defection.

This guy is also an incubus type.

Befitting its name, Nightmare bestows nightmares.

So as soon as they entered, dream attacks began.

However, they were not caught.

Now there was no reason to see Jin-sook in a dream.

Because Mari made a potion that allowed them to avoid the incubus’s unique skill, the dream domain.

If you drink this, you don’t sleep.

Your eyes become bright and alert.

So there’s no way you’d dream either.

If there’s a side effect, it’s that you can’t sleep for about 3 days.

Even that level doesn’t even qualify as a side effect.

Furthermore, Gyeon Dal-rae’s Demon Warding Talisman (Cheoksabu).

A talisman that blocks bad energy coming from outside once.

If you just have these 2, there’s no reason to dream.

If you don’t dream?

Nightmare Black Horse Nightmare is merely a horse with slightly strong strength.

Easier than a Wyvern physically.

The last 81st floor.

In the NO. 2 tower, it was the Super-Giant Kaiju Titan Behemoth enhanced as a result of equivalent exchange.

Then what are the specs of the changed guy after the difficulty returned to normal?

[81st Floor Mission : Kill 1 Giant Kaiju Behemoth.]

[Completion Time Limit : Within 15 hours.]

‘Super’ and ‘Titan’ disappeared.

The time is also within 15 hours.

It’s a breeze.

Because the Behemoth’s size that was as big as a mountain shrunk miserably.

To use an analogy, what was an elephant has now become a mouse.

Though it was still extremely giant even so.

Kung-kung-kung-kung!

The Behemoth, which had become dwarfish compared to then, was moving around.

However…,

‘It will be difficult.’

Of course, not for himself, but for other players.

Even if the bubbles burst, it’s a formidable difficulty.

It will be hard to catch.

Actually, the 70s floors until now were too easy.

It has to be at least this much to be called high-floor climbing.

Joo-hyuk intuited.

This is the new parking spot.

Almost all players on Earth excluding himself will taste frustration in front of the wailing wall called the 81st floor.

“This old man’s thoughts are different, though.”

“Yes?”

To say your thoughts are different.

“The players’ despair will probably start from the 80th floor.”

“Ah!”

He understands what he’s saying.

“If they get caught in a dream, it’s over. Giving up the clear wouldn’t even be possible. If they have no defenses, they’ll probably die in droves on the 80th floor.”

It’s a correct statement, but.

“There’s the Elixir of Sleep Control and the Demon Warding Talisman, aren’t there.”

“That is correct, sir. It will be easy if they have those, sir. Just like the holy sword of the undead section, sir.”

At that, Cossack rubbing his fingers together frivolously.

“Once upon a time, the holy sword was a reliable cash cow, wasn’t it, sir. Now its popularity has dwindled, so it is time to transfer to a new source of revenue, sir. He-he-he.”

Creating a new profit business.

Meaning let’s sell the Elixir of Sleep Control and the Demon Warding Talisman right away.

“How much should the price be?”

“We must sell it expensively, sir. Isn’t it the price of the players’ lives, sir?”

Right.

Because they’d die right there if they don’t have this.

In a state where they fall into a dream and can’t even wake up.

“I advise you not to sell it to those who don’t listen well. It could be used for taming or even world conquering, I see.”

“…”

Did this gentleman’s disease flare up again?

It seems his lingering attachment to world conquering still remains.

Anyway, assuming they pass the 80th floor with the elixir and talisman.

What about the Behemoth’s 81st floor?

‘It really is hopeless.’

Even if it shrunk, it’s too big.

Joo-hyuk up his smartphone and recorded a video of the Behemoth moving.

Kung-kung-kung-kung!

Although he can’t show them a clear video, this much should give them a sense of alertness.

Anyway, clear begins.

Gigantified Gobang blocking the front of the normal Behemoth.

At that time it was unthinkable, but now it is a size where he could grab onto at least one leg somehow and hold on.

And Gyeon Dal-rae’s talisman arts.

Gwangma and Cossack’s damage dealing.

The clear was in an instant.

With this, the Republic of Korea’s NO.1 Black Tower is also completed up to the 81st floor.

Final settlement?

128 accumulated badges.

23 actual items.

And privileges?

[A privilege is disbursed for the accumulation of 120 Platinum Badges.]

[Privilege : Multinational Tower Clear Ticket is disbursed to your inventory.]

‘Ah geez,’

[A privilege is disbursed for the accumulation of 125 Platinum Badges.]

[Privilege : Turncoat Defector Grade Breakthrough Rune is disbursed to your inventory.]

‘…In the end, they aren’t giving the expansion ticket.’

Bad guys.

Acting petty.

Are they pouting because he detonated a nuke inside the tower?

Still, one more Turncoat Defector Grade Upgrade Rune came out.

‘Why is this coming out so well?’

Is it a balloon effect?

It feels like an intention to tell him to try shifting direction to this side since one side is blocked.

“Tiamat-ssi?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give you a rune, so go upgrade your grade and come back.”

“Eumm, …again?”

“Let’s meet again as an SSR.”

As long as it goes on like this consistently, defector turnaround isn’t bad either.

“Understood. Master, I will tell Manager Go that I cannot attend tomorrow and be right back.”

Tomorrow, you say.

“Ah!”

Come to think of it, the event was tomorrow, right?

The opening ceremony of the Pyongyang Awakening Management Branch Office.

Former Commissioner Park Kyung-soo will take office as the branch director, and Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il will also attend.

Manager Go, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Go Sa-geuk, and Cossack too.

“Then let’s just make it so you go after participating in the event. Since I’ll talk to Manager Go about it.”

“Thank you. Master.”

Naturally, Joo-hyuk plans to go to the event too.

Even if he doesn’t step up personally, shouldn’t he at least congratulate them from behind?