It’s been 10 days since I started climbing the top.
Yesterday’s 9th-floor raid was also easy.
Strictly speaking, it was easy for the Cossacks, not for himself.
A 9th-floor mission to remove 10 jungle cannibal corpse flowers.
A giant man-eating corpse flower that spreads its petals on the ground in the lush jungle forest, then bites off the feet of humans who pass by.
“What should I do? It’s annoying.”
It has no teeth, its petals have little closing power, and although it leaks digestive juices, they only sting when touched.
John Cossack just walked along.
The corpse flower was crushed so much that its shape was unrecognizable.
“Should I try stepping on it too……,”
“Hey, don’t come any closer, you stink, and your shoes will get dirty.”
Isn’t this growing too much like a greenhouse plant?
On the one hand, it’s true that they don’t rush in because they don’t have any proper combat skills.
Anyway, the 9th-floor conquest was successful.
S++ rating is the default value.
The platinum badge is a bonus.
How sturdy.
It didn’t matter that he was a crazy assassin who had brutally murdered three people.
‘Honestly, he did that to protect me.’
Today’s mission is on the 10th floor.
From the Cossack summons.
The satisfaction rating is also an unconditional 5 points.
However?
[John Cossack’s satisfaction rating is now 5 points.] [Continued high score accumulation increases John Cossack’s manifestation time by 1 hour.]
‘…huh?’
I never thought of that.
‘It was worth giving it the highest score.’
John Cossack also looks happy.
“Thank you. I can now assist you for another hour.”
“As I always say, please take good care of me.”
“Just trust me!”
Joohyuk and Cossack entered the 10th floor.
[Enter the 10th floor of the Black Tower of the Republic of Korea.] [Physical abilities have been improved according to your level.] [Trait and combat skills can be used.]
When I got to the 10th floor, my mood changed.
Now I could clearly become conscious of it.
‘You’ve gotten stronger.’
Rebalancing physical abilities within the tower.
I was brimming with energy and strength.
Plus, a subtle magical power felt in the lower abdomen.
It’s useless because I haven’t acquired the skill yet.
Among the status window items, there is something called [Battle Skill].
Joohyuk has nothing because it is a summoning trait, but other combat trait players tend to acquire it from level 1.
So does that mean summoners can never learn combat skills?
That’s not it.
You can learn them by leveling up or by receiving items as rewards, such as skill runes.
Anyway, the mission on the 10th floor:
[10th-floor mission: Kill 1 Giant Horned Mantis.] [Completion time: Within 2 hours.] [Completion condition: Giant Horned Mantis 0/1] [Failure condition: Death or abandon mission.]
“I’ll help you too.”
“Oh, no, that won’t do. If I make a mistake and the Summoner Bong gets even one scratch, I’ll have to smash that head in.”
“No, but why are you playing around? If you get hurt, just drink a healing potion. I got something as compensation.”
“Please save the potion and praise me behind my back.”
I don’t want to be a greenhouse plant anymore.
Do anything.
“No. This time, definitely! Definitely together……,”
Moment!
Splash, splash!
A giant horned locust appears through the forest.
“…uh.”
Big.
It gives me goosebumps just looking at it.
Compound eyes of a giant insect.
Well-developed large mouth and jaws.
Forelimbs curved like scythes.
Horns that grow instead of antennae on a triangular head.
That’s a monster on the 10th floor?
How did you catch the other players?
“…If I were to help out and act like a jerk, wouldn’t Mr. Cossack be annoyed?”
“Well, there’s nothing particularly bothersome.”
“No. I think it’s better to support them from the side rather than help them in a clumsy way.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Cheer up, Mr. Cossack.”
“Pressure!”
Papa Pot!
The Cossacks charged at a terrifying speed.
Pfft pfft!
The compound eyes of the locust are destroyed in two stabs,
Crunch! Crunch!
Both front legs were cut off in two strokes of the sword.
Phuuk! Zuuuk!
The locust’s stomach was cut open by the sharp black sword, and its internal organs spilled out.
As expected, it happened in an instant.
The giant horned locust was struck down without even being able to fight back.
[You have successfully completed the 10th-floor mission.] [You have leveled up.] [Reward: 1kg of Magic Stone.] [Notice: You have achieved S++ level of strategy for the 1st floor of the Black Tower (Korea).] [S++ strategy reward: Platinum badge awarded.] [You can now challenge the 11th floor.] [You are leaving the Black Tower (Korea).
Spot!
Joo-hyuk returns to his studio apartment.
‘…It’s already over.’
Is this a beginner’s escape?
Let’s check the reward.
1kg of magic stone.
Total accumulated 5.5kg.
What about the platinum badge?
Because when you have 5, you get the special benefit of strengthening your awakening trait.
[You will receive special benefits when you accumulate 10 Platinum Badges.]
‘…also?’
A special feature has appeared.
What is it?
[Perk: You can copy 1 skill from the victim’s skills.] [List: Blade Blast, Shock Break, Vile Ambush, Poison Dagger, Shadow Step, Distraction, Stealth, Invisibility, Polymorph…] [Tell me which skill you want.]
“…and.”
Skill copy.
So does that mean I can learn one of John Cossack’s techniques?
There are too many.
Which one should I choose?
“Summoner Bong!”
“Yes?”
“It must be a shadowy step.”
“What…?”
“This is a skill you can copy from me. Just learn Shadow Step without asking or questioning.”
Is that so?
Let me ask you why first.
“Why?”
“It’s convenient when I run away. If I make a mistake, I can escape quickly and stealthily.”
“…””
Running away,
What do you think people are!
Do I look like someone who would run away and live alone?
“…Learning shadow footsteps.”
[Skill: Learn Shadow Step.] [Shadow Step skill has been registered in the status window.]
Quick feet are also very important in combat.
Isn’t speed everything in a fight?
Of course, it’s also useful when running away.
Anyway, the skill usage method was clearly ingrained in my head.
Skill: Shadow Step
Description: Quickly escapes, leaving behind a shadow. The effect becomes more effective as the level increases.
How to use.
You can use it by saying the name out loud or by expressing your will inwardly and taking steps.
‘I feel happy.’
[Battle Skill]: Shadow Step
Now there is a skill that can be used inside the tower.
‘Is it possible that this happens in reality too?’
Just try it.
“Shadow Steps.”
I have developed the skill, but
“…”
There is no change.
“It won’t work.”
I was secretly looking forward to it.
“It’s a mess.”
Summoning skills from outside were possible.
But why not combat skills?
If you let me summon you, you should let me do this too.
“There is no consistency. There is no consistency!”
“I don’t know what it is, but you are right.”
It’s a pity.
A very useful skill when running away.
If it were possible to use it outside, there would be so many places where it could be used.
However, it is becoming increasingly safer as it can be used inside the tower.
This is a desirable direction.
☆ ☆ ☆
It’s been 11 days since I climbed the top.
Alba also has a day off.
I took a special vacation.
Because there is work to be done.
A random thought.
Should I quit my part-time job?
‘…Stay a little longer and see.’
Conquering the top is not difficult.
Just call Mr. John Cossack and you’re done.
They said there would be no problem at least up to the mid-10th floor.
We need to add one more person to the 10th floor.
That is, when the random summon cooldown comes back.
Anyway, there’s something to do this morning.
Selling magic stones right away.
But special procedures must be followed.
The most difficult and challenging moment for Joo-hyuk.
A magic stone that contains energy that is harmless to the human body.
It is used across industries and research is still ongoing.
If you want to sell it, you can sell it anywhere.
However, the moment you try to sell the magic stone,
Your identity as a player is exposed.
Putting yourself in an extremely dangerous situation.
A warrior who demonstrates his abilities inside the tower, but in reality, he is no different from an ordinary player.
You could be kidnapped and imprisoned by bad guys and end up being turned into a magic stone shuttle.
Players die a lot in the tower, but they also die a lot in real life.
Well, that doesn’t apply to Joo-hyuk.
Because you can summon John Cossack in real life as your loyal bodyguard.
Even so, we cannot be at ease.
What happens if something awkward happens after John Cossack is de-summoned?
What if you can’t summon him right away because of the designated summon cooldown?
If you care about safety, there is only one choice.
Enter into a contract with the state.
In the past, they would do business with large corporations, and players would join forces to form guilds, but these have almost completely disappeared now.
There are rumors that black markets and secret player organizations still exist, but the reality is unclear.
It is safest to contract with the national government.
If you request it directly, we will provide personal protection.
The government also handles the sale of mission success reward items.
In fact, there may be preconceptions.
Belonging to a country does not mean you are free or that you are unfairly exploited.
But that’s only true in a dictatorship.
Governments in general, and the government of the Republic of Korea in particular, grant players wide freedom.
Because players are not dangerous in reality, they are strong inside the tower but weak outside, and without them, the tower might collapse.
Rather, the state should step forward and provide protection as a top priority.
‘It’s nice to be in the sweet embrace of public power.’
There are two types of players currently managed by the state.
There are ‘elite’ and ‘ordinary.’
Elite is a team of professional top climbers managed by the state.
Move towards the unconquered upper floors.
On the other hand, the average or top teams are made up of players who have lost their will to climb to the top and only play at the lower levels.
You just have to avoid joining an elite team.
Because it creates obligations and responsibilities.
What Joo-hyuk wants is a great team.
More than 90% of players under contract with the country fall into this category.
They just park on the right floor and perform repetitive tasks.
How good is it?
A goal that fits perfectly with the identity of Hannamja Bong Joo-hyuk.
But there are also some uneasy corners.
A notice that came up recently while clearing up to the 10th floor.
[Notice: You have achieved S++ level of strategy on the △△ floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
I just recently found out what this is.
Yesterday, after finishing the 10th-floor raid, I went to an internet bulletin board called Tower Climbing Gallery, where players sometimes visit to look for information about the 11th floor.
└ Are those rumors true?
└ That’s right. The management office is keeping quiet right now, so only one or two people should have heard the notice.
└ Achieving 10 consecutive S++ grades, is this patriotic?
└ Then what else is that if not nationalism? Do you know what the highest record of a Japanese player is? It’s only an A-rank. And they didn’t even make a general announcement.
└ Even if you look at it globally, A++ grade is the best. Even then, there was no general announcement.
└ Is the general notice only for S rank and above?
└ I think so. But it’s not S, it’s S++, so it’s definitely a huge nationalistic thing.
└ It’s clear that you’ve recently awakened… but who are you really?
A general notice to all players.
I knew it all.
A topic that has been hotly discussed on various internet bulletin boards recently.
Of course, the country is aware of it too.
‘If it is revealed that I am the main character of the S++-rank strategy…,’
You could be forced into an elite climbing team.
So what?
Wouldn’t it be better to reveal who you are and go out there with confidence?
This is a golden opportunity to gain both fame and fortune?
‘That won’t do!’
One bold move can change the direction of your life 180 degrees.
Let’s keep this in mind again.
It’s not that I got an S++ rating because I’m good.
That’s because John Cossack is so good.
Even the Cossacks can’t guarantee what will happen when they pass the 20th or 30th floor.
What if the random summoning doesn’t work well and I get a lower grade than Cossack?
‘Without fail, to be a top team.’
How’s the jjerri?
The magic stones they acquire help industries develop, the environment be protected, and the world become richer.
Okay! Now just dial the number.
And then all you have to do is tell the official in charge, ‘I’ve awakened. I want to sell the magic stone.’
But you have to have courage.
It’s not easy.
Is this really true?
If you call, there’s no turning back.
Can’t I just hide it and live like this?
So what about the tower climbing rewards going forward?
You can’t even sell things like magic stones.
‘5.5kg, 2.75 million won.’
Pick up your smartphone, put it down, and then…
I pressed all the numbers and then deleted them again.
Even now, a thousand thoughts are passing through my head.
Iced coffee!
The epitome of indecision.
The height of pettiness.
It’s the curse of paternal genes.
Father, why did you give birth to me like this?
No.
Let’s believe in maternal genes.
I’ve been worrying about this dozens of times.
‘Yeah! Just hide it somehow.’
I cleared up to the 10th floor with S++ rank, but from the 11th floor onwards, I just told Cossack to take it easy and play around.
“Phew…”
Finally, Joo-hyuk picked up his smartphone and dialed 1111.
Too…,
As soon as the signal goes,
Click!
“Look, my name is Bong Joo-hyuk. Um, I, I … have awakened and am contacting you.”
I finally did it.
“Yes, you can. But I live somewhere other than my parents’ house. The address is…”
Petit bourgeois Bong Joo-hyuk.
It was the most courageous decision I’ve made in my 25-year life.
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