Chapter 172

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The Gigant wasn’t the main body.

The main body was separate.

Magical Engineer El sleeping after being hit by the Dream Realm spread by Diamat in the Gigant’s cockpit.

It wasn’t a large physique.

A height in the early 160 centimeters?

A body made of silver metal like the Gigant.

She wasn’t wearing any clothes either.

A bald head without a single strand of hair, a slender face, thin lips, neat eyes, a sharp nose; looking at the overall appearance and body shape, she seems to be a female type.

A name tag was attached.

Along with the modifier saying her soul was damaged by a vicious sense of loss.

Then I should be able to see the background explanation too.

Gwangma raised his hand that had turned bright red with Blood Jade Sword-ki and asked Joo-hyuk for permission.

“Summoner, let this old man handle it. It seems a clear completion judgment will pop up only if we kill this punk.”

“…….”

However, Joo-hyuk didn’t answer.

“If we don’t kill her now, an S+++ grade clear might be difficult. Just give the order.”

“…….”

Haa.

How do I kill her?

I already saw the background explanation.

– Magical Engineer El was actually a summoned entity of the world of souls. When she was alive, she had a strong obsession with magical engineering research. So she transferred her soul into a golem prosthetic body and devoted herself solely to research for hundreds of years. The cause of El’s death was due to a war with a neighboring country; after being killed by enemy forces, she responded to a summoned entity contract. To do magical engineering research even in death.

– Then, El was chosen by the summoner of Earth NO.442. However, despite being an already perishing world, Magical Engineer El tried to save the world while climbing the uncleared upper floors of the worldwide towers together with Earth’s summoner. She was happy during that period at least. The summoner of Earth NO.442 trusted and relied on El, and El also did everything for him.

– But destruction could not be avoided. Eventually, the summoner died right before El’s eyes, and forcibly returned to the world of souls, she went crazy. Collapse of the soul, reaching a point where she could no longer maintain the summoned entity contract, ultimately she was subjected to soul recycling while losing her memories from when she was a summoned entity. Thus her soul was copied countless times, and right now her role was the pilot of the Black Tower 85th floor giant golem Magnus boarding-type Gigant.

My heart hurts as if it’s tearing apart.

El wasn’t a monster.

She was a summoned entity from the beginning.

A pitiful existence who lost her memories and was recycled as a copied soul, degenerating into a tower monster.

“…She says she was a summoned entity.”

“Yes?”

“Heo-eo!”

“What?”

“…….”

The summoned entities were startled.

Joo-hyuk explained the background of Magical Engineer El.

“Then the magical engineer who was said to have existed in the world of souls in the past is exactly this person?”

“I see.”

“Haa, it is truly a harsh life.”

“No wonder, I didn’t want to kill her.”

That’s right.

It’s nothing but lamentable.

How can one kill her even after knowing this background?

I want to save her.

I want to strip off the fetters of being a tower monster.

‘Is there no method?’

Magical Engineer El is completely different from the confined souls of the tower we’ve met until now.

Gyeon Dal-rae’s master Hae-ryeong or Cossack’s father Hartmann were figures chosen as tower monsters from the beginning.

So they were released from the tower through a method called ‘Liberation’.

What about Diamat over here?

Succubus Queen, Lord of Mongma, who made a contract based on free will with the tower manager and became a tower floor boss herself.

For that reason, she received a penalty of dropping in grade and was released from the tower through a method called ‘Defection’.

However, El’s essence was a summoned entity from the very start.

A soul confined by the tower later on.

I don’t know if Liberation or Defection would be possible.

Sae-geun-sae-geun.

El falling into a deep sleep, knowing nothing.

The more I look, the more pitiful she is.

Joo-hyuk raised his hand and absentmindedly stroked the head of the golem prosthetic body containing the soul of Magical Engineer El.

Seu-euk.

The palm and El’s head made contact like that.

“…It’s smooth.”

Um-jjil!

El shivering bu-reu-reu while still asleep.

Simultaneously with that.

Tti-ring!

[Will you restore the soul of Magical Engineer El with 5 Platinum Badges and recover her qualification as a summoned entity?]

“…Uh?”

[If El’s qualification as a summoned entity is recovered, she can immediately be recruited into the Catalog.]

“Oh…….”

[A penalty will be imposed on the player upon recovering the summoned entity qualification and recruiting her into the Catalog.]

“Eng?”

Even if I let the 5 Platinum Badges slide.

‘Penalty?’

What is it?

[The penalty given to the player upon recovering Magical Engineer El’s summoned entity qualification and recruiting her into the Catalog is a temporary suspension of random summoning for 100 days.]

‘Ey, and here I wondered what it was.’

It’s no big deal.

*

El was dreaming.

It was a happy dream she was having after a long time.

After a long time, huh…….

Did she ever even have a dream in the past?

Come to think of it, she didn’t even know why she was here.

She remembered the days she lived as a magical engineer.

And also when war broke out and she died.

Her current self is a Magnus Gigant pilot.

Operate the Gigant and kill the players climbing the 85th floor, that is the mission given to her. Right now, that was the only thing she could think of.

Actually, she did have other memories too.

A single scene and phrase that wasn’t erased.

One person seen as a silhouette, whose facial features she didn’t even know, the scene of him putting his hand on her head and stroking it.

Just recalling the silhouette makes her heart feel warm.

Moreover, the words he said whenever he stroked her.

– It’s smooth. The texture is nice.

The dream she’s having now is exactly this scene.

So even though she could wake up from sleep, she didn’t.

She just wanted to keep dreaming.

Just who is it?

Why am I longing for that person so much?

Right at that moment!

El felt it.

That someone was stroking her head.

And.

‘…It’s smooth.’

Ah-ah-ah.

What is this?

This seemingly happy yet painful emotion?

Her heart pounded.

But she could guess what kind of situation it was.

It would probably be a player.

A person who entered to clear the 85th floor.

On the other hand, she had the obligation to absolutely kill the player.

However, she failed.

It was right before she killed the player, but she ended up losing consciousness at some point.

It was definitely obvious she was suppressed after that.

Since the hatch of the cockpit was opened.

‘Kill me quickly.’

It turned out well.

Since being alive is annoying anyway.

But then?

‘…Eung?’

Hwa-a-a-at!

A warm energy seeping into her chest.

‘Wh, what is this?’

Along with a clearing head.

‘Ah-ah-ah… yes, that’s how it was.’

Only now did she realize.

Who she originally was.

‘I was a summoned entity.’

The forgotten memories sprang up profusely.

It was mixed up in a jumble at first, but it was slowly getting organized.

One summoner she had met in a dimension called Earth NO.442.

The years spent together with him to save the world.

It was joyful and happy.

And it was regrettable and sorrowful.

Two contradictory emotions.

Because he ultimately died.

That’s right.

Her summoner disappeared.

Since his world perished, his soul must have vanished too.

As she recognized her ego, her mind became increasingly clear.

It was time to wake up from sleep now.

El slowly opened her eyes.

Then, one man visible before her eyes.

‘…Who?’

It wasn’t her old summoner.

The feeling was very similar to him, but a completely different person.

But then?

“Would you like to join us?”

“…Yes?”

A proposal that hooked in out of nowhere.

‘What should I do?’

El couldn’t easily answer.

Because she knew who this person was and what he wanted.

She could tell right away just looking at the people standing together around him.

All summoned entities.

Everyone looks happy.

Should I hold the summoner’s hand?

Can I protect this person to the end this time?

By doing so, would the regrets and pain engraved in my soul wash away even a little?

El made a decision.

And slowly opened her mouth.

“I…….”

*

Joo-hyuk decided to willingly bear the penalty.

It was a heartbreaking soul who became a tower monster from a summoned entity.

As a summoner, he has the obligation to recover her qualification.

In exchange for that, suspension of random summon for 100 days.

This is nothing.

100 days is three months and 10 days.

It passes quickly.

Let’s start with the Platinum Badges first.

Her whole body is made of metal, so there’s nowhere to attach them.

So as I carefully placed 5 badges on top of her body.

Hwa-a-a-at!

The 5 badges melted as if seeping in and disappeared into El’s body.

[Restoring the soul of Magical Engineer El.]

[The summoned entity qualification of Magical Engineer El has been recovered.]

[Will you recruit Magical Engineer El into the Catalog?]

Joo-hyuk paused his answer for a moment.

I should ask for her intention too.

Of course, if I say I’ll recruit her, she would immediately be affiliated with the Catalog by the system.

Let’s wait until she wakes up from sleep first.

Presently, she opened her eyes.

Joo-hyuk making eye contact with Magical Engineer El.

She seems to have grasped the situation too.

Since her soul was restored and her summoned entity qualification was recovered.

“Would you like to join us?”

“…Yes?”

El stayed silent for a moment and then.

“I… yes, I want to join you.”

“Great! You thought well.”

It’s done.

I’ll recruit her.

[Magical Engineer El has been registered on the System Catalog roster.]

[Random summoning is impossible for the next 100 days.]

[Magical Engineer El departs from the tower and returns to the world of souls.]

[Designated summoning will become possible after 3 hours.]

She returns to the world of souls for now, huh.

“See you in a little bit.”

“…Yes.”

Spot!

Magical Engineer El disappearing.

Simultaneously with that.

[Due to the departure of Magical Engineer El, all 85th floor giant monsters in Black Towers will be changed from Boarding-type Magnus Gigant to Auto-type Magnus Ego Gigant.]

Auto-type Magnus Ego Gigant, huh.

Did it get a bit easier?

I wish it did, but.

Oh right! What about the mission clear?

Tti-ring!

[Giant Golem Magnus Gigant 1/1]

[You have succeeded in the 85th Floor Mission.]

[Level has increased.]

[Reward : 85kg of High-Grade Mana Stones]

The clear success message too.

However, an S+++ grade clear judgment didn’t pop up.

It seems the reason was that we delayed time too much.

Well, is that important?

I sent a summoned entity who was in the wrong place back to her proper place.

It wasn’t a waste at all.

Right at that moment!

[Achievement : You have restored the soul of a summoned entity confined in the tower and recovered their qualification for the first time.]

It gives an achievement too.

[Achievement reward is distributed.]

[The manifestation period of all summoned entities is extended uniformly by 3 hours.]

Hmm.

It’s a reward that’s essentially meaningless since we have the 17th floor of the White Tower, but…….

Still, well, the time lived in reality is also important.

Anyway, let’s prepare.

I should throw a welcome party 3 hours later.

Have the Permanent Occupancy Right ready too.

*

Black Tower Control Room.

[…….]

[…….]

[…….]

The managers were silent.

There was no one who opened their mouth.

The event ultimately ended up erupting.

The realization of the Holy Trinity of Magic, Alchemy, and Engineering.

It’s driving them crazy.

They’re so dumbfounded that only sighs come out.

It was force majeure.

Just what kind of punk is the summoner of Earth NO. 1001?

Is there even a method to stop that punk?

Now they think they know how the previous manager felt.

Being in the same position, they felt it more desperately.

They wanted to stop him even if it meant violating causality.

[Haa.]

[Huu.]

[Heu-eum.]

After time passed.

Engineer asked Designer.

[Why did they recycle the soul of the summoned entity? The reason they absolutely had to do that……?]

[It’s because of the tower’s difficulty. The Ego Gigant had a problem.]

[What kind of problem?]

[The Gigant’s own performance was excellent, but… it was stupid.]

[Ah!]

[Even in the Magical Empire in the past, Gigants were initially designed as Ego-types, but later they were all replaced with Boarding-types. Because the mobility difference between Boarding-types and Ego-types is like heaven and earth.]

To raise the clear difficulty, they replaced the tower 85th floor giant monster with a Boarding-type too.

It actually had an effect.

Because it became truly difficult.

Of course, although that brought about the worst result.

[Maker, what is the expected result going forward?]

[The pinnacle of magical engineering is weapons utilizing magic power. Equipment equivalent to Earth’s scientific weapons can be made. Assuming the magician and alchemist help, of course.]

[Usable even on tower floors?]

[Yes, they will go into the inventory too.]

Magic theory and magical engineering, and alchemy.

Various items made based on the user’s magic power.

Magic guns, magic cannons, magic artillery shells, magic electromagnetic pulses, magic tanks…….

Imagine that those can be used inside the tower as well, and even go into the inventory.

From the managers’ perspective, it’s nothing short of a terrible thing.

[Clearing giant monsters up to the 84th floor might become easier…….]

Not only the summoner but also ordinary players might be able to climb the 80s floors.

Assuming they hold magic weapons in their hands, that is.

[Still, wouldn’t the 85th floor be difficult? Even if they hold magic weapons, the Gigant is equipped with functions to neutralize them.]

[It changed, didn’t it?]

[Yes?]

[The 85th floor monster is an Ego Gigant from now on.]

[Ah!]

[Ego Gigants are stupid, so active coping is difficult.]

[Then?]

[It’ll move around clumsily and eventually get heavily beaten by magic bombs and break down. Well, I’m saying this under the premise that the magical engineer makes and spreads such items, though.]

[…….]

It’s terrible.

Items that the trinity of magic, alchemy, and engineering would collaborate to make.

Let’s just give up on the 80s floors.

Let whatever happens happen.

There’s no choice but to settle the score in the 90s floors.

Or else in reality.

By the way, we distributed Rune Necklaces of Liberation in large quantities, so when will the results appear?

Conflict spreading into civil war, and civil war spreading into war between nations. It has to lead to that.

*

White Tower 17th floor.

The news that a magical engineer had been recruited on the 85th floor of the Black Tower was conveyed to all summoned entities.

Also the fact that she would be registered as a new resident of the White Tower 17th floor 3 hours later.

Currently, the summoner is waiting in the outside penthouse to welcome her,

So the 17th floor is busy preparing to welcome the guest who will soon move in.

Laying down a red carpet, blowing up colorful balloons and floating them, and installing placards with welcome phrases too.

However, 9-circle Great Magician Mackenzie Dronac had a slightly dissatisfied expression.

“It lacks fairness.”

“Old man Mae, are you full of complaints like that in everything, sir? Just blow the balloons, sir.”

“The welcome ceremony is too excessive. You should have at least laid down a red carpet for me too.”

“Aigoo, as expected of an attention-seeking magician, sir.”

“What’s wrong with seeking attention?”

At that, Gyeon Dal-rae.

“She was a summoned entity who lost her summoner, had her soul damaged, and became a monster by the tower. Can it be the same as us? When I just think about how much she must have suffered, my heart hurts too.”

Gwangma also nodded his head.

“I agree too. She was a pitiful soul. However, since she achieved salvation from the Summoner, congratulations and a welcome should naturally be given to her.”

Cossack also chimed in.

“That’s right, sir. She’s not pitiful anymore, sir. I will take good care of her, sir. Aren’t the truly pitiful people the souls who will just be waiting yeong-cha-yeong-cha for random summons in the world of souls, sir.”

That is true.

Perhaps they received the greatest damage.

“Hmm.”

“Tsk-tsk.”

“They must have been guaranteeing they’d definitely go out this time, but now they’re bound to be tied down for 100 days.”

Everyone in a solemn atmosphere.

“Anyway, now that the magical engineer has joined, what should we do first?”

“What is there to think about, sir? Mass production of bracelets, sir.”

“I see. That is the most urgent issue.”

“I am dying of happiness thinking about bracelets popping out one by one cheok-cheok from a conveyor belt from now on, sir. He-he-he-he.”

“Me too. Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

The summoned entities full of excitement at the thought that they could mass-produce Escape Obesity Bracelets with the joining of the magical engineer.

“Where do we build the factory? Here on the 17th floor?”

“Well, that depends on Player Bong-nim’s decision, but I think installing it outside is fine too, sir.”

“Right. No matter how automated it is, packaging and distribution will require a lot of manpower.”

“If outside, where?”

“North Korea is optimal, sir. Management is easy, and security is fine too.”

At that moment!

Spot!

Two people appeared on the 17th floor of the White Tower.

One was Joo-hyuk, and the other was a golem.

“Oh-oh!”

“Welcome, sir. Please step on the red carpet, sir!”

“Welcome.”

“The factory manager is here!”

“Let’s run the conveyor belt!”

“Exceeding production targets, welcome!”

“Ho-e-e-e-e!”

“Applause!”

Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap.

The 17th floor was filled with enthusiastic clapping sounds.