A Wimp’s Strategy Guide to Conquer the Tower (Novel) - Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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What is the essence of the White Tower?
Needless to say, it is the shelter function.
You can decorate each floor like the actual world you live in too.
Granting residency permits to let people come in too.
Making self-sufficiency possible through farming too.
If there is one more function, that is precisely the role of a stepping stone between dimensions.
You can tell just by looking at the elevator.
Moving to other floors of the White Tower connects you to other Earths in parallel universes.
Even if they were perished worlds though.
So one might think it’s meaningless but.
No.
Why is it meaningless?
‘What if even a single survivor remained from the 1st floor to the 4th floor?’
Of course, they must be rescued.
Perhaps such an opportunity might come.
Bringing survivors from parallel universe Earths, that is.
Later, as the floors open up and you visit the 6th floor, 7th floor, 8th floor… you might run into survivors too, right.
Then you can just rescue them.
By granting them the Permanent Residency Permit issued for 1kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals, that is.
For that reason, the White Tower 5th floor dimensional auction house is a means to easily secure Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
“To think the White Tower 5th floor is an auction house, I couldn’t even imagine it in my dreams, sir.”
“Euum, that will probably not be the case.”
“Not be the case?”
“It’s something like a terminal.”
That’s right.
Joo-hyuk also agreed with Gyeon Dal-rae’s words.
Even when you go to the White Tower 5th floor, you have to ride the Link Gate to go to the Dimensional Traveler Exclusive Auction House.
The 5th floor is just a relay station.
The actual Dimensional Traveler Exclusive Auction House is probably somewhere no one knows.
Anyway, the auction was proceeding smoothly.
It was actually a watch put up as a test.
Compared to the other prominent items in the auction house, it’s at the level of trash.
Would anyone really bid on it?
I thought they wouldn’t even spare a glance at it.
However, it was beyond expectations.
– Accessory : Catek Philipe Grand Complication Wristwatch.
– Current Bid Price : 6,203kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Looking into the details.
– Auction Starting Price : 1,000kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
– 18 hours remaining until the auction closing time limit (Total 24 hours).
– An exchange item has not been designated.
– Bid cancellation is possible up to 1 hour before the auction closes.
It started at 1,000 and reached 6,000 before I knew it.
Honestly, I still don’t know.
Is that an item to buy paying that much Topmost-Grade magic crystals?
“The value of an item is decided by the person buying it.”
That is true but.
“Still, the bidding speed has noticeably decreased. I don’t know if it’ll pass 10 thousand.”
The bid price, which was going up sharply by 100kg and 200kg in the early stages, was now going up sluggishly by 1kg, 3kg, and 5kg.
It seems the heat has cooled down.
Natural in a way.
Well, it’s just a wristwatch.
Let’s abandon greed.
6 thousand kilograms of Topmost-Grade magic crystals is sufficiently expensive too.
Since the bid price won’t change just by looking at it continuously, shall we examine other items?
Joo-hyuk touched the Auction Status Board and pressed the items that came up one by one.
There are quite a lot of useful items.
Materials that don’t come out in the tower, various weapons and equipment that make your chest majestic just by hearing their names.
“There’s a Great Return Pill (Daehwandan) too. To think I would see a Great Return Pill at an auction house.”
“Heu-eum, this magician also covets the staff made of Demonic Realm Wood.”
“The thing that came up as the Demon King’s Heart, is it real?”
“They sell blood crystals too. Looks delicious.”
Tti-ring!
: I want the True Silver Ingots™ª
Okay.
Pick them out one by one.
Because when the money comes in, I’ll bid right away and buy them.
On the other hand, there are things one wouldn’t even dare to covet.
Water Drop of Creation, Flame of the Beginning, Breath of Light, Dust of the Origin, etc., things so expensive one can’t even look at them.
One of them.
– Divine Object : One World Tree Sapling.
– Current Bid Price : 2,000,000,000kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Two billion kilograms of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Is that a possible number?
Why is it so expensive when it is a tree?
If it’s the World Tree, I also heard of it a few times while climbing the tower but.
Our corner Alchemist Mari would know well.
Because she’s an Elf.
Tti-ring!
: The World Tree is the mother and identity of Elves.
“Oh.”
: The foundation where Elves can form a society and live is precisely the World Tree. We continue our race and prosper there.
: Also, it creates the optimal environment where plants can grow. Whether it’s medicinal herbs, grains, or whatever, they grow well.
Our LSSR Farmer Duu would like it.
Shall I buy it and try planting it?
But what if an Elf is away from the World Tree?
Like our Mari.
: I would gradually lose my identity as an Elf. Even if not now, someday.
“Um.”
It seems I should plant one World Tree on the White Tower 17th floor?
For Mari and Duu too.
The problem is that it’s too expensive though.
“Does it perhaps have fruits or seeds?”
: Even if there is a fruit, a World Tree doesn’t grow from a fruit.
It probably wouldn’t.
If you could obtain a World Tree from a fruit, the price wouldn’t be this expensive.
: Very occasionally, other than differentiating into a sapling form out of necessity.
I know the reason it’s expensive now.
Will I even be able to buy it?
‘I’ll have to diligently sell items.’
However, the watch bid price isn’t moving easily.
It seems to have entered a stagnation section.
It went up ì‰ì‰ (jjug-jjug) at first though.
“It will be difficult to pass 10 thousand.”
Then.
“Heu-eum.”
Cossack putting one hand on his chin and flashing his eyes.
Could this possibly be?
“May this Cossack, the auction master officially recognized by the universe, the match player of push-and-pull, the undefeated auctioneer of Garak Market, the master of identifying genuine luxury goods, say a word, sir?”
He came!
Our Auctioneer Cossack-nim.
“Ayu, of course you should.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Cossack started analyzing.
“I don’t know how many Dimensional Travelers there are, but they are probably testing the waters (gan-eul bomda) right now, sir.”
“Testing the waters?”
“Isn’t the total auction time 24 hours, sir?”
“That’s right.”
“The big spenders don’t move in the early stages, sir.”
Then?
“The earnest war will begin at the end of the auction, sir.”
“Oh!”
“Therefore, the bidding competition hasn’t even started yet, sir.”
I see.
“Could we know the expected winning bid amount?”
Auction Master Cossack shaking his head do-ri-do-ri.
“No one knows, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because there are variables, sir.”
Variables, you say.
“Look at that Dragon Heart, sir.”
“Eung?”
“It is an item that soared over 50 thousand earlier, sir.”
“Uh…….”
“Right now it’s 10 thousand, sir.”
So it is.
Why did it decrease?
“It seems the item was canceled, sir. And they probably put it up anew, sir.”
“Ah…….”
“There are many such items, sir. Canceled one after another, sir.”
Then it means the Catek Philipe watch can be canceled like the Dragon Heart too.
‘Ey, I felt good for nothing.’
I should give up my expectations.
‘Please just don’t cancel.’
Even around 6,000kg is a jackpot among jackpots.
‘By the way, how do I receive the Topmost-Grade magic crystals when the bidding ends?’
It wouldn’t fall from the sky.
‘Well, there would be a way.’
Time flowed quickly.
Indeed testing the waters, higher bids became increasingly infrequent too.
There are still about 10 hours until the auction closes.
Nevertheless, the current bid price.
– Accessory : Catek Philipe Grand Complication Wristwatch.
– Current Bid Price : 6,411kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Moving sideways in the 6 thousand range.
Let’s go home now.
The bid price will probably be decided after taking a nap.
So I thought about going to the penthouse and sleeping but.
“Are you all not resting? Are you going to keep staring only at the Status Board?”
The summoned entities gathered neatly (so-bok-ha-ge) in front of the Auction Status Board and completely focused.
‘My word, they’re properly hooked.’
It seems it’s fun.
“If there are any items you want in the auction house, keep them in mind.”
“…….”
“I’ll buy them for you when the money comes in.”
“…….”
Quiet.
There’s no answer either.
Yes yes, I’ll take my leave now.
* * *
The next morning.
Joo-hyuk opening his eyes in the penthouse.
Getting up, washing up, and briefly finishing breakfast.
‘I wonder how the bid price turned out.’
If it only reached around 7 thousand.
I’d be satisfied with just that.
Is 7 thousand Topmost-Grade magic crystals a kid’s name? (Korean idiom meaning it’s a huge amount)
It is truly funny that Dimensional Travelers would show interest in a wristwatch with no magical functions.
‘Have they never been to Earth?’
While ostensibly being Dimensional Travelers.
If they want Earth items, they can just go to Earth.
Isn’t it a parallel universe.
How many dimensions with civilizations like Earth…….
Wait!
A thought passing through my head.
‘That’s not it.’
When you get down to it, there aren’t many.
There probably used to be many in the past.
Look at our Earth’s number right away, it’s No. 1,001.
Earth No. 675 perished.
Although I don’t know the number, the Earth connected to the White Tower 2nd floor also perished.
3rd floor too, 4th floor too.
In the worst case.
Excluding Earth No. 1,001, the 1,000 Earths might have also perished.
Perhaps all 1,000 parallel universe Earths disappeared.
So they might have become extremely rare.
‘Fuck.’
Still, there would be surviving Earths.
For example, the Earth connected to the Immortal Realm where the Sword Immortal lived.
I heard there isn’t even a Black Tower there.
Right!
There’s no way something like a Black Tower would dare enter a world protected by immortals.
If it did enter, the Sword Immortal and the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal would have plucked out the Black Tower itself.
‘Let’s go check the bid price.’
Spot!
Joo-hyuk entered the White Tower 17th floor.
The summoned entities still gathered in front of the Status Board.
Don’t tell me they were stuck in front of that until now?
‘The auction progress situation is…….’
About 1 hour left.
– Current Bid Price : 7,207kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Yay!
7 thousand.
‘Heu-heu, I’ll place bids on other items with that now and…….’
At that moment!
“Bong Summoner-nim.”
Cossack opening his mouth with a tense expression.
“Yes?”
“It begins soon, sir.”
“Begins?”
“There is 1 hour and 1 minute left until the auction closes, sir.”
“Ah!”
“After 1 minute passes, cancellation is not possible anymore either, sir.”
“…….”
That means.
It means cancellations could pour out u-su-su-su within 1 minute.
In the worst case, I might not even savage 7 thousand Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
A tense moment.
Will bid cancellations really happen?
But suddenly.
The moving numbers.
– Current Bid Price : 7,199kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
“Heol!”
The bid price fell.
The higher bidder who called 7,207kg canceled it.
And again.
– Current Bid Price : 7,100kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
The next bidder who bid with 7,199kg Topmost-Grade magic crystals also canceled.
– Current Bid Price : 7,010kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Canceled again.
– Current Bid Price : 6,888kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
“E-ra-i.”
– Current Bid Price : 6,507kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Ju-reu-reu-reuk.
It was slipping down.
– Current Bid Price : 5,622kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Wow!
What is this, a stock hitting the lower limit?
Consecutive cancellations?
At this rate, it might go down to the bottom.
However, there was not even a budge in Cossack’s expression.
Fiercely glaring at the Status Board and.
“20 seconds left until the cancellation period ends, sir.”
After 20 seconds, it’s the period where bid cancellation is impossible.
The higher bidder unconditionally wins the watch.
Please don’t cancel anymore.
It’s in the 4 thousand range now.
I thought I’d receive 7 thousand Topmost-Grade magic crystals, though.
3 thousand melted at once.
“Initiating countdown, sir. 10, 9, 8, …4, 3, 2, 1.”
The last.
“It is 0, sir.”
Bid cancellation impossible state.
The current amount?
– Current Bid Price : 4,517kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Hyu-u.
It’s a relief.
I unconditionally receive 4 thousand 5 hundred kilograms.
Just this much, where is that?
With 4,517kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals, that’s 4,517 Permanent Residency Permits.
Very largely satisfied.
It was then.
Ggum-teul!
The numbers on the Auction Status Board screen moved.
– Current Bid Price : 5,017kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
“…Uh?”
The bid price that instantaneously jumped by 500kg.
Tak!
– Current Bid Price : 5,517kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Another 500.
“…….”
Ggul-ggeok.
Joo-hyuk swallowed dry saliva.
Something is happening.
Cossack seemed to have felt something too.
Suddenly stood up and shouted pointing at the number board of the Auction Status Board with his finger.
“Go! Catek Philipe Grand Complication!!!”
Those words were the signal.
Tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak…….
The fluctuating numbers.
The auction bid price soaring upward outrageously.
– Accessory : Catek Philipe Grand Complication Wristwatch.
– Current Bid Price : 6,044kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Passing 6 thousand.
– Current Bid Price : 10,874kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Hitting 10 thousand.
– Current Bid Price : 21,115kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Surpassing 20 thousand.
– Current Bid Price : 30,052kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Reaching 30 thousand.
‘Eou-ya.’
Tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak…….
It was going up crazily.
My goodness!
Is this a dream or reality?
“It’s not a dream, sir. The big spenders have attached in earnest, sir.”
Ayu, our big spender brothers.
As a fellow Dimensional Traveler, I extremely respect you.
Please splurge more.
More, more, more!
– Current Bid Price : 54,114kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Eol-ssi-gu. (Korean interjection expressing delight/surprise)
Going up recklessly.
Going up ceaselessly.
If you blink once, the numbers take strides in units of thousands.
The 1 hour flowing by in a flash.
Thus, the final result?
[The Catek Philipe Grand Complication Wristwatch has been awarded to the winning bidder.]
– Winning Bid Price : 104,397kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
“Hurrah!!!”
“A super-super-super-super-super jackpot, sir.”
“Congratulations.”
“You did it.”
Jjak-jjak-jjak-jjak-jjak-jjak!
The resounding applause.
Joo-hyuk also with a deeply moved expression.
Thank you, seniors.
This junior, a newbie Dimensional Traveler.
I will live diligently.
* * *
Wi-i-i-ing!
Tti-ring!
White Tower 5th floor.
The elevator door opening and.
“I’ll go get the Topmost-Grade magic crystals.”
“We will be waiting.”
“Don’t mind us and go comfortably.”
Ssu-uk!
Upon entering the Link Gate leading to the Dimensional Traveler Exclusive Auction House.
‘Heu-eum.’
Is there no one?
What if I meet the Dimensional Traveler brother who won the bid for the watch?
‘There isn’t.’
They probably wouldn’t let us meet.
If we could meet here, something like an auction would be meaningless.
Because directly seeing the face and trading would be enough.
‘Where was the locker.’
Over there.
His own sparkling locker.
One can’t even touch other lockers.
Name tags couldn’t be seen either.
Bbi-geok.
Joo-hyuk opened the locker.
‘Eung?’
Several tickets visible in the winning bid space.
9 red tickets, 1 white ticket.
‘What’s this?’
When I picked one up with my hand.
[The auction winning bid amount has been transmitted to the locker.]
[One red ticket contains 10,000kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals, and the white ticket contains 3,958kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.]
[After securing space, if you tear the ticket, you can acquire the Topmost-Grade magic crystals.]
‘Is it something like a subspace ticket.’
But why is the calculation like this?
Combined, it’s 93,958kg.
When the winning bid was 104,397kg.
[It is the amount after deducting an auction commission of about 10%.]
‘…….’
There was a commission too.
Well, the auction house has to make a living too.
‘Do the tickets go into the inventory?’
Seu-seut.
‘They go in.’
Now what’s left is to try putting up an item to apply for the next auction.
There is something to test.
Joo-hyuk took off the bracelet he was wearing on his wrist.
Rajix C&T’s cash cow.
Namely, the Obesity Escape Bracelet.
When I placed it in the auction application space.
[You have applied for an auction.]
[Please set the initial bid price.]
[If you do not set a bid price, the auction house will arbitrarily assess the value. Do you agree?]
“Agree.”
[The auction item has been registered.]
Earth’s highest popularity item.
How much would this be?
What is the initial auction starting price?
“Auction Status Board!”
Cha-reu-reu-reuk!
When I touched the currently ongoing auction.
– Accessory : Obesity Escape Bracelet
– Auction Starting Price : 1kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
‘…What the?’
It’s only 1kg?
It was the lowest price.
Are they lowballing it like this?
On Earth, it’s so popular they can’t sell it because they don’t have enough.
Dimensional Travelers’ assessments would be different though.
So I waited.
Until the bidding started.
However.
– Current Bid Price : 1kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Even with 10 minutes passing.
– Current Bid Price : 1kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Even with 20 minutes passing.
– Current Bid Price : 1kg of Topmost-Grade magic crystals.
Even with 30 minutes passing, it was the same.
It seems they have absolutely no interest.
Well, I expected it.
I just put it up as an experiment.
Now, then, let’s take out the item I originally planned to auction and place it.
[There is currently an item undergoing auction. Multiple auctions are impossible.]
Um.
Can’t the bracelet auction be canceled?
[You cancel the Obesity Escape Bracelet. As it is within 1 hour of registration, a cancellation fee does not incur.]
‘There was a cancellation fee too.’
Now a different item.
Something I brought in my hand because it wouldn’t go into the inventory.
An Apple Pad Pro 13-inch, 2TB in Black color. (t/n: iPad)
A product from Earth that falls far short in popularity compared to the Obesity Escape Bracelet.
It’s even used.
An item Cossack heavily downloaded and watched movies and dramas on.
[The auction item has been registered.]
– Smart Device : Apple Pad Pro 13-inch, 2TB Black (Massive storage of movie and drama content)
– Auction Starting Price : 1,000kg of top-grade magic crystals.
It was different from the start.
And the bid price exactly upon registration too.
– Current Bid Price : 1,078kg of top-grade magic crystals.
It fearfully started going up.
– Current Bid Price : 1,545kg of top-grade magic crystals.
It was an explosive reaction.