A Wimp’s Strategy Guide to Conquer the Tower (Novel) - Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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China was still in a state of national emergency.
Great chaos caused by the Rune Necklaces of Liberation.
It spread like wildfire across the entirety of China.
The Chinese Communist Party government declared martial law and deployed public security and the People’s Liberation Army to step in and extinguish it, but it was insufficient.
Because the liberated villain players did not rush in ignorantly like before.
They used the necklaces extremely craftily, such as hit-and-run guerrilla warfare, long-distance sniping using bows or crossbows, and target assassination with minimal movement.
High-ranking government officials and Communist Party political leaders were reluctant to even go outside.
Because they were the main targets of the Resistance liberated players, the Chinese Player Association which had become a secret society organization.
Beijing, China.
An emergency countermeasures meeting of the Chinese government held in a thoroughly controlled location.
“The Party Secretary of Shanxi Province died.”
“The cause of death is?”
“He was attacked at home. Hit in the forehead by an arrow that flew through an open window…….”
“Have you not caught the suspect?”
“They already disappeared so… however, we are in the middle of tracking them.”
Tracking, you say.
Will they even be able to catch them?
The Resistance liberated players moved more secretly as time passed.
It was organized and systematic.
However, the biggest problem above all.
“Their numbers are gradually increasing. It is to the point we cannot estimate them anymore.”
“Heo-eo.”
“If it continues like this…….”
“It drives one crazy.”
What should we do?
Just how many high-ranking politicians and officials have died so far?
If things go wrong, the government could be overthrown.
If there is a method, there is nothing other than fundamentally blocking tower climbing, but is that even possible?
There is absolutely no method.
To the point my insides are burning up severely (ba-jjak-ba-jjak).
No, there is exactly one.
Namely, the magic power sealing scroll.
The sole plan that can neutralize the liberated players through an extremely stable method.
I think it would be possible if we bring in about 100 million sheets.
“Did you say the magic power sealing scrolls are produced in Pyongyang?”
“That is correct.”
“Have you tried talking to Chairman Kim?”
“We have already tried contacting him, but,”
“What did he say?”
“Saying that distribution is taken full charge by the Korean enterprise and Awakening Management Agency, while they are just subcontracted production…….”
“Damn it!”
Fucking bastard.
Kim In-joong has now definitely changed his route.
He completely stuck together with South Korea.
“Let’s send an assassination team and kill him.”
“It is useless even if we do. The real power of North Korea is not Kim In-joong.”
“Ah! That’s right.”
Currently, the most powerful real powerhouse of North Korea is exactly the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Cossack.
“Then Cossack…….”
“Rather, if we attack the Pyongyang factory and rip off the printing facilities…….”
“A preemptive strike first.”
However, there were also opposing opinions.
“Ah-ah, let’s not do this. Why are you trying to go down a difficult path? We don’t even have the capacity to wage a war right now. If we do that, the liberated player scrubs will like it even more.”
That is true.
Even if we kill Kim In-joong and Cossack, will magic power sealing scrolls that we didn’t have suddenly appear?
Rather, only side effects will occur.
Extorting the facilities is also a problem.
We already obtained a few sheets of magic power sealing scrolls to research them.
Items we wouldn’t even dare attempt to imitate.
They say it’s possible only if you have special paper and ink.
“Is there an alternative?”
“We must bow our heads and enter the Korean Awakening Management Agency. That is the best.”
“Hmm.”
“Let’s apologize to the players in a joint statement by the Chinese Emergency Countermeasures Committee and show our sincerity. Then the Awakening Management Agency will allow the export of scrolls too.”
“Kkeu-eung!”
Although that is the sole alternative…….
The problem is our pride as a great nation which will obviously crumble.
This is practically the same as begging.
It’s surrendering with a white flag.
Still, can it be helped?
“What does everyone think? To the Korean Awakening Management Agency, …the method of reconciling.”
“…I am in favor.”
“Well, since there is no other method than that, in favor.”
“I am also in favor.”
“In favor.”
“I am in favor.”
Consensus of opinions.
To the point that all 6 Standing Committee members agreed.
Only action remained.
“Then who as the special envoy?”
“I will go. I will go and try meeting Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il.”
“We must match a minimum of 100 million sheets. It will have an effect only then.”
“Yes, understood.”
If it’s 100 million sheets, will it be around 10 trillion in Korean Won?
Well, is money the problem?
When it’s at the point of going bankrupt if things go wrong.
* * *
Human Holy Sword Bardin.
That Bardin who was grabbed by Gobang’s hand and shouted “Oh Light!!!” returns.
As the LSSR grade.
Joo-hyuk ran to the Landmark Building to welcome Bardin.
Together with the summoned entities as well.
I’m nervous.
Just what kind of appearance will he have?
The true colors of our LSSR Holy Knight?
A moment later.
Bardin arrived at the Landmark lobby.
“Oh Light!!!”
After shouting one phrase.
Jeo-beok-jeo-beok.
“Ehew, I can’t open my eyes.”
“He’s a complete lump of light.”
“It’s at the level of a searchlight, Young Master.”
“Didn’t I tell you before, sir? Things like undead will melt away smoothly, sir.”
An overly resplendent radiance.
It would be a nightmare for the undead, but it was so warm for Joo-hyuk.
It even felt as if his body was being healed.
“O Liege! Your servant Bardin, has successfully broken through the grade and returned.”
– Name : Lucius Bardin
– Grade : LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
Ah-ah-ah!
A Holy Knight heavily armed from the top of his head to the tips of his toes in brilliant silver armor.
However, the flail was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, he came carrying a shield much larger than his own body on his side.
Right.
A Holy Knight must have a shield.
Still, just in case.
“Bardin-ssi?”
“Please command me.”
“You’re not going to be the Human Holy Sword anymore, right?”
“Do not worry. I have finally realized my duty. The Holy Sword is not my role.”
“Oh!!!”
A sound that couldn’t be more welcome.
“Instead, my role is…….”
Cheol-keok!
Holding out the shield he was carrying on his back forwards.
Kwak!
Bardin slamming it down on the floor.
“I am the Liege’s shield.”
It was then.
Ssu-u-u-u-u-uk!
An already large shield.
It grows even larger.
It continues to become gigantic.
It becomes tremendously gigantic.
Large enough to be able to block any external attack.
However.
‘…Size enlargement again, this is making me anxious.’
Bardin holding a giant shield.
And over there, Magnified Gobang holding a giant hammer in one hand.
One of Gobang’s hands is empty.
Meaning it is entirely possible for him to hold something giant.
For example, like a giant shield.
“Don’t tell me in Gobang’s hand…….”
“As I said earlier. I am the Liege’s shield. I only protect the Liege.”
…Hyuu.
What a relief.
I thought he’d become like the Human Holy Sword.
However, Cossack’s thoughts seemed different.
Grinning (pi-sik) while looking at Bardin.
“A leopard cannot change its spots, sir. He will eventually be held in Gobang’s hand, sir.”
What!
Not a chance in hell.
Just try being held!
I will snatch away your occupancy rights and exile you to the world of souls for a month.
Both Gobang and Bardin.
Although my heart would ache, what is not meant to be is not meant to be.
Anyway, Bardin’s grade breakthrough.
Thus, the LSSR grade summoned entities currently together with Joo-hyuk are a whopping 10 people.
A grand banquet was held on the White Tower 17th floor.
Everyone sent unsparing encouragement to the changed Bardin.
Didn’t he come holding a shield?
With the purpose of protecting the Summoner.
“I compliment you, sir. Use the shield properly, sir.”
“The Warrior is proud of the Holy Knight.”
“You are truly commendable. Please take good care of Young Master.”
“Seeing the radiance, it seems the aura of healing also resides within it, so when climbing the tower, be absolutely sure to stick closely to the Summoner’s side.”
“Adjutant Bardin, congratulations.”
“Ho-eng!”
We should also check his changed abilities.
For now, the things that changed are the brightness of the radiance and holding a shield instead of a flail.
There’s no way that’s all there is to it.
Let’s enter the tower and find out.
If so, to where?
It just so happens there’s something to do.
Piercing the Earth No. 675 Black Tower 84th floor.
Filling the High-Grade and Top-grade Mana Stone storehouse by doing so.
‘There will be a vein there too, right?’
Once for the S+++ grade clear.
Once for vein exploration.
“Our Bardin-ssi, to double as an initiation ceremony, let’s just do exactly 2 runs of the Earth No. 675 Black Tower 84th floor and come back.”
“I shall prepare, Young Master.”
“Yep!”
Joo-hyuk and the party took the elevator and came to the White Tower 1st floor.
Since we have to go outside first, we exited the White Tower wearing the Concealment Veil of Transcendence but.
“…Um?”
What is it?
‘There is nothing?’
Before, it was full of monsters without even room to step foot, but now not a single one was seen.
Are there really none?
Still, just in case, Designated Summon.
Spot! Spot! Spot…….
“Eng? Why is it so empty?”
“Well, we came out quite tense in our own way, but at this rate, is the Concealment Veil even unnecessary?”
Gyeon Dal-rae waving her hands in denial.
“It is utterly unjustifiable, Young Master. You must wear the veil at all times, Young Master.”
“The fairy’s words are correct. You must always be careful.”
Let’s go into the tower.
Together with the summoned entities.
Spot!
[Entering Germany Black Tower 84th floor.]
The environment here.
A snowfield with a blizzard fluttering.
It’s identical to our Earth’s Black Tower environment.
But exactly at that moment!
“Uh?”
What is it?
One person standing in front there.
At that, Bardin stepping forward holding his shield, Gobang growing his body with Size Enlargement, u-ung, Gwangma’s crescent sword aura, ji-ing! Mackenzie’s Barrier protective shield protecting Joo-hyuk.
Joo-hyuk was merely watching quietly.
Dejavu being felt.
‘I think it’s someone I saw somewhere.’
It was.
A hologram, not a real body.
A head shaped like an egg,
without hair or eyebrows.
Don’t tell me again?
“It’s a manager.”
“It’s a manager, sir.”
“It’s a manager.”
“It was a manager.”
“Is it the No. 675 manager?”
“Why is the manager scrub?”
“Lower your eyes, you scrub!”
“Ho-at!”
The managers all look identical.
The scrub’s mouth slowly opening.
[Bong Joo-hyuk, coming to someone else’s world, you are running around too rampantly. Is this your world?]
Eng?
He’s being funny.
‘What about himself? Even though he himself isn’t a local from this neighborhood either.’
[The reason I came here is…….]
“Perhaps the Equivalent Exchange Scale again?”
[As expected since you’ve tried it once, you know it well. We can communicate.]
“What will you give?”
[Speak what you want first.]
At that moment!
“Because we just sit back and watch, this scrub’s tongue is short. Use polite speech when I ask nicely. If you keep prattling in informal speech, I will tear you to shreds.”
O-ol!
What is going on?
For Cossack to speak so assertively.
The manager didn’t stay still either.
With a mocking smile.
[The master stays still but the dog steps forward first. I must educate it properly.]
‘What?’
This arrogant scrub.
Calling our Cossack a dog?
Don’t stop me.
I’m going to act recklessly from now on.
Trusting in the 10 LSSR summoned entities…….
“Hey!”
[Um? Are you speaking to me?]
“Yeah, I mean you, ssipal! Who’s calling who a dog? Screw off. Because I don’t need Equivalent Exchange or whatever.”
[…….]
“Did you roll your manners up in rice and eat them?”
[…Why all of a sudden.]
“I told you to screw off!”
[Are you saying you will refuse conversation?]
Conversation my ass.
“If you want to converse, apologize and use polite speech.”
[What?]
“Use polite speech, I’m saying, or I won’t listen.”
Since I’m going to use informal speech.
[…….]
“You won’t?”
I’m leaving, okay?
[Let’s, …do so.]
“Your apology?”
[I apologize.]
Preemptive strike successful.
How dare he challenge a real man?
[As said earlier, I ca… came to propose an Equivalent Exchange Scale trade.]
“I don’t wanna? Can’t you just leave me to climb the tower?”
Why do you keep bothering me when I’m climbing well?
[…You know it yourself as well. That this is not a situation to leave you alone, how could you use a Gigant to clear the tower… moreover, isn’t clearing it 5 times a day too much?]
“Um.”
[There must be hardships to grow. To you, tower climbing is to an extent that it cannot even be called a hardship. It is merely play. Shouldn’t it at least take effort for there to be a sense of accomplishment?]
He’s spouting dogshit.
“But my tower climbing philosophy is to eat it raw though?” (t/n: expression meaning get things effortlessly)
[Yes, I shall let you eat it raw. Equivalent Exchange Scale trade, you succeeded in Earth No. 1,001, didn’t you. Please do the same here.]
‘…….’
My heart shakes.
A clear eaten raw, rewards eaten raw.
I felt good just imagining it.
[The number of floors to be set is the 85th floor. Put what you want on the scale. The difficulty will be determined accordingly.]
What should I do?
First, everyone gather.
Gathering together, putting our heads together and whispering (su-gun-su-gun).
“Shall we try it?”
“What are you agonizing over, sir? Accept it immediately, sir.”
“Put the Rune of Trait Enhancement as a requirement.”
“Dragon Heart too.”
“Shall we just ask for a bottle of Enhancement Elixir?”
“How about 1 ton of topmost-grade mana stones.”
These people have a big liver (t/n: bold/daring).
What will you do if we fail at that rate?
“What does it matter, sir? It is the tower of a ruined world anyway, sir. If it doesn’t work out, we just give up, sir.”
Now that I hear it, it’s true.
Even if the tower collapses here, there’s no damage to the Earth he lives on.
‘Should I just raise the stakes?’
However, Gwangma.
“Let us not raise it too much. Just to the extent we can clear.”
Gyeon Dal-rae too.
“She is correct, Young Master. This is an opportunity. We must be able to take the items placed on the scale with us.”
If so?
“Is the Rune of Trait Enhancement possible?”
[I shall place it on the scale.]
“3,000 tons of High-Grade Mana Stones, and 1 ton of Top-grade Mana Stones too.”
[I shall place them for you.]
One more here.
“If I succeed in an S+++ grade clear, Platinum Badge acquisition multiplied by 10.”
Meaning give me 20.
[They are placed. Anything else besides that?]
I asked for too much.
If I raise it one more, we might not even be able to lay a hand on it.
As for a Dragon Heart, I just have to catch a Dragon.
As for Elixirs or Nectar, I just have to gather materials and make them.
Let’s endure.
I’ve been greedy enough.
“None.”
[I see. It was an excellent trade.]
The manager with a seemingly satisfied expression.
‘I’m satisfied too.’
I will definitely succeed and sweep it all away.
“I’m telling you in advance.”
[Yes?]
“Thanks.”
[…Understood. So long then.]
Seu-seut!
The manager of the 675th Earth Black Tower disappearing.
Even up to the moment of leaving, he had a bright smile on his entire face.
Yeah, laugh.
Let’s see who laughs at the end.
Setting that aside.
“Am I not a manly man enough to this extent?”
Anyone could see it was like that.
So please give some compliments…….
“You are the best, sir. You are an extreme manly man, sir.”
“Among people of great character, you are a person of great character.”
“Young Master is the paragon of a gentleman.”
“You were strong from the beginning.”
“Master Sergeant Veronica Caliber, you are the exemplar of all commanders.”
“You will become the Emperor to lead the Earth Empire. Oh Light!!!”
“Even looking through all dimensions, there is no man like Master. Hehe.”
“Ho-e!”
Ayu! Why are you all like this.
Making my face hot.
“Since we don’t know how the situation will unfold, let’s process it as quickly as possible.”
“Yep!”
Before it’s patched.
First, clear from the 84th floor.
With Master Sergeant Be’s Sub-light speed missile.
Jji-i-i-i-i-i-ing!
Ppa-ju-ju-ju-ju-juk!
Chu-ul-leong!
Peong!
The Colossus Condor bursting apart.
[World Notice : You have reached clearing grade S+++ for the 84th floor of the Black Tower (Germany).]
[S+++ clearing reward : 2 Platinum Badges are conferred.]
Next, repeated clear.
Investigating whether a vein exists.
Of course, there was one.
Now we just have to dig it up.
And.
“Cossack-ssi,”
“Nem?”
“That thing is ready, right?”
That thing which doesn’t work on our Earth, but is valid on the 675th Earth.
“It should be ready, sir.”
“Then let’s go to North Korea together with the Dimensional Farmhand Rajix and bring it back.”
“Yep!”
Just how many should we detonate this time?
Would about 5 be enough?
I can just adjust it based on the situation.
‘Eou.’
Suddenly my heart is thumping (kung-deok-geo-ri-da).
I’m looking forward to it.
If that detonates on the Black Tower 85th floor, how will the managers feel?