[How to Conquer as a Bottom-Tier Player 14]
The Awakening Management Agency in Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Director Park Gyeong-su receiving a report from Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il.
“Bong Player visited the shop again?”
“Yes, without my knowledge. If I'd known in advance, I would have gone down to assist him personally.”
“What did he buy?”
“A shield. A small hand shield, at that.”
“Tsk tsk. If he'd just signed the Elite contract, we'd have outfitted him from head to toe.”
He's cleared up to the 18th floor with S++ ratings. The 19th floor shouldn't be difficult either.
The problem is the 20th floor.
Every kind of goblin that has appeared so far comes out all at once.
The mission time limit alone is 10 hours. No one expects an S++ clear on the 20th floor.
It's a floor where simply clearing it within the time limit is considered a success.
Some players waste months just trying to get past it.
“What on earth is Bong Player's trait?”
“Judging by his purchases of a mace and a shield, we estimate he's a melee type.”
“Heh. And this when even full equipment wouldn't be enough for him.”
Melee combat types.
They use powerful skills with every strike, but are equally vulnerable in defense, requiring full-body protection.
“Why doesn't he buy armor and a helmet? Pants and greaves are one thing, but the head and heart need to be protected at all costs.”
“That's my concern as well.”
If he's wounded anywhere else, there's time to spare.
Because he has healing potions.
But if his head or heart is struck, it's instant death.
He wouldn't even be able to use a potion.
“I'll find some excuse somehow and get him a full set of armor—”
Right at that moment!
Bzzzt!
A phone call came in.
Checking the caller ID, it was the Police Department for Player Affairs.
“Excuse me, I need to take this call. It's from the police.”
“Go ahead.”
“Hello, this is Jeon Gwang-il. What's the matter? Ah! An attempted item robbery, hmm, armed with a handgun and—”
A crime between players.
Probably committed by someone whose eyes had rolled back over items.
It happens from time to time.
The act of abducting a player with expensive items, torturing them, and looting their tower-exclusive inventory.
Such crimes are heinous.
Because to hide the evidence, the robbed player is usually murdered.
It's kept secret, but those in the know are aware.
That a player's corpse can go into the tower-exclusive inventory.
So the odds of a perfect crime are fairly high as it is.
The only reason it stops there is because skills and levels are locked outside the tower.
But what if players could wield the same power in reality as they do inside the tower?
A disaster greater than the tower would befall the world.
“The presumed victim player said your name, you say? Who is it? Male, age 25, ... Yes? B-Bong Ju-hyuk Player?”
What a bolt from the blue.
“Wh-what? The victim... Is—is he all right?”
Jeon Gwang-il's face went pale. Director Park Gyeong-su, listening nearby, was also thunderstruck.
“Oh no! Was he injured anywhere?”
“Uh, apparently not. But he did seem a little sh-shaken.”
“Go see him at once.”
“Understood.”
Jeon Gwang-il rushed off at once.
Left alone, Director Park Gyeong-su bit his lip hard.
It had been a mistake.
He shouldn't have thought only of the dangers inside the tower.
Where is it written that players only die in the tower?
They die plenty outside too.
‘He should have signed the Elite contract from the start.’
Then the security issue would have been completely resolved.
He had wanted to assign trained, official security personnel.
But that isn't something the Management Agency does directly.
Security must be requested from the police or the National Intelligence Service.
But he hadn't even signed an Elite contract with Bong Ju-hyuk.
The Management Agency is a state organization.
There are set procedures.
To assign security to an ordinary player, legitimate grounds are required.
For instance, the fact that he holds an S++ clear record.
But if that happened, a report would inevitably go up the chain, and his existence would ultimately be exposed to the outside.
Would the wolf-like scout brokers just sit idle?
Bong Ju-hyuk would undoubtedly be placed in a more dangerous situation.
He might be forcibly contracted or abducted and dragged off to another country.
He had judged that quietly leaving him alone was safer than hasty security measures.
And then this happens.
‘There's no more time to delay.’
I'll bring him in one way or another.
To the Elite Team.
※ ※ ※
Ju-hyuk bound Choi Ho-seok with rope and called the police.
Cossack had been unsummoned and sent back.
He seemed somewhat disappointed, but the police would be arriving soon, so nothing could be done.
The police arrived earlier than expected.
“Whoa, you really laid into the back of his head.”
“H-he's not dead, is he? ...Does self-defense apply?”
“Well. That depends on the investigation. For now, it looks like a concussion. At least his heart's beating.”
“Uhh, he, he won't die, right?”
The police were making him nervous for no reason.
He hadn't even done anything wrong.
Well, there was that thing Cossack did in the past.
Ancient history.
In truth, the moment Choi Ho-seok showed up with a gun, he was as good as dead.
And he hadn't just said he would kill him once, but many times.
If this isn't suicide, what is?
In any case, even if the gun had fired, he himself would have been safe.
Because he'd already turned on his energy shield.
But then?
“Mnngh...”
Choi Ho-seok cracked his eyes open and came to.
Ju-hyuk breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, he wasn't dead.
As the police cuffed him:
“Choi Ho-seok? We are placing you under emergency arrest on charges of trespassing and aggravated robbery.”
At that, Choi Ho-seok rolled his eyes around.
“W-wait a moment! This is a frame-up. A misunderstanding! I'm the victim. The perpetrator is over there.”
Oh my.
“That man abducted me to his home and tried to steal my items.”
“Then what's this silenced pistol?”
“F-for self-defense. He tried to kill me, so I had no choice... You know how dangerous players are. Ah! And he isn't alone. He has an accomplice, an accomplice!”
Wow!
Is it because he's a social butterfly?
His words flow like water.
Then the officer in charge looked at Bong Ju-hyuk and asked.
“Was there someone else?”
“No? I'm al-alone, though.”
He eyed Ju-hyuk with suspicion.
“It seems both of you will need to come with us.”
“No, I'm telling you, the thief is that guy.”
Choi Ho-seok spoke, pounding his chest in frustration.
“My level is 34. Clearing a single floor of the tower yields over 3 kilograms of mana stones. Why would I need to resort to robbery?”
...I should have let him go when Cossack said he'd throw him outside.
And he's playing innocent in this situation?
“Meanwhile, this guy has only just cleared the 10th floor range. He approached me and said so himself. If you inquire with the Awakening Management Agency about registration dates, it'll all come out.”
Just then.
Bang!
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il of the Management Agency kicked open the front door of Ju-hyuk's home and burst in.
Choi Ho-seok beamed at the sight and shouted.
“Team Leader, it's me, Choi Ho-seok. You know me, right? I'm the victim, and right now I'm being falsely accused—”
Smack!
The sound of a crisp slap rang through the room.
“Huh? Why did you slap my—”
It wasn't just once.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack...
Choi Ho-seok's head whipped helplessly from side to side.
His face had turned red at some point, and blood gathered at the corners of his mouth.
“You little bastard! Spouting barefaced lies right to my face!”
“N-no, that's not—”
CRACK!
Jeon Gwang-il seized Choi Ho-seok by the hair and growled.
“Choi Ho-seok, you fucking bastard! From now on, you're going to a cell. How dare you try to kill a fellow player?”
“No, no, please just hear me out.”
“Your registration is being revoked as of now. Whether you climb the tower from your cell or not, I couldn't care less. Release? Don't even dream of it. If you want out, go die in the tower.”
“Uhh... I, I'm telling you it wasn't me.”
Choi Ho-seok couldn't make sense of it at all.
What was going on?
‘They won't even listen to me?’
Jeon Gwang-il spoke to the responding officers.
“Take him away. He'll be transferred to the National Intelligence Service soon, so hand him over there.”
The NIS?
The state is extremely strict about crimes against players.
He might even be tortured.
‘N-no!’
Choi Ho-seok pleaded desperately.
“I was blinded. Please, have mercy on—”
“Cut the crap! I know you're a repeat offender. We'll uncover everything you've done. Go find a lawyer, you bastard—though no one will bother to defend you.”
And then, to the police:
“Oh, right! You know the player arrest manual, yes? This bastard might enter the tower on the way to the station. If he disappears, wait right there, and if he shows up, arrest him again.”
Then, looking at Ju-hyuk:
“Bong Ju-hyuk Player, I'm so sorry. Were you injured anywhere?”
“...I was merely startled, that's all.”
Jeon Gwang-il bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.
“I will make absolutely certain that no such incident ever happens again.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Jeon Gwang-il's expression was grave.
“You should probably install a few more locks on your home for the time being.”
“...I will.”
He wanted to take more definitive measures, but there were too many eyes watching right now.
Nothing to do but ask the police to step up patrols.
A frustrating feeling.
In any case, it could be put off no longer.
The Elite contract.
※ ※ ※
Time passed.
The whole commotion died down.
The police offered to strengthen patrols around his home, but he declined.
They'd just knock on his door every so often asking if anything had happened.
‘Who in the world is safer than me?’
Even when Choi Ho-seok broke in, he had worried more about whether the guy would die than himself.
Now, back to daily life.
He gave five stars each to Savage Gobang and Cossack.
[John Cossack has been summoned.]
“Chung! No trouble yesterda'?”
“Thanks to you. The police took that guy away.”
“Death penalty?”
“No way. He'll serve a few years and get out.”
“...Hmmm. Might ye happen ta know the location of the detention center?”
“No idea. And don't try to find out.”
“Yessir.”
Next.
[Savage Gobang's Meat Shield has been summoned.]
“...It's a first.”
“What is?”
Gobang, folding his fingers one by one.
“Fi, five stars.”
Well, at least he can count.
Today is the 19th floor clear.
“Let's go.”
[Entering the Black Tower of South Korea, 19th Floor.]
The mission is to exterminate goblin shamans.
[19th Floor Mission: Exterminate 30 goblin shamans.]
In truth, they aren't all that threatening.
Goblins, of all things, casting Ice Spears or Chain Lightning?
At most, curses, binds, or some feeble fire arrows.
Of those, the one to watch out for is, of course, the curse.
It's terribly harmful to mental health.
It causes hallucinations, weakness, loss of motivation, depression... all of it comes pouring out.
Curses especially stack, so they must be killed quickly.
But that only applies to players of the same level range; it didn't apply to an assassin whose mind was already gone, or to the Meat Shield who had withstood every kind of attack with nothing but his body.
Thud thud thud thud!
Gobang charges.
The size difference between him and the goblins is that of an infant and an adult.
Ignore the curses and binds, charge in, and pummel them flat—that's all there is to it.
Cossack hid behind Gobang to dodge the curses, then, when the chance came, moved like lightning, ravaging the shamans.
Swish! Shrrrrrip...
Blood and flesh scattered across the 19th floor battlefield.
‘Then me too.’
Ju-hyuk raised his mace and shield.
Bzzt!
Energy shield is a given.
Time to join the battle and show off his talent with flashy skills...
[19th Floor Mission Complete.]
‘Huh?’
What?
Already?
In the distance, John Cossack, drenched in red blood, grinning.
‘You son of a—!’
Did he finish it quickly on purpose?
‘To keep me from joining the battle?’
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 19th Floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: You are granted a Platinum Badge.]
Fine.
I'll let it slide today.
And the next day.
The long-awaited 20th floor.
[Entering the Black Tower of South Korea, 20th Floor.]
Known as the first talent discriminator, it boasts extreme difficulty.
A place where, rumor has it, the 21st floor is actually easier.
“It mightily dangerous here. All goblins come out. Scouts wi' poison darts, warriors skilled in tactics, hidin' assassins, shaman curses, and damn big hobgoblins. Ooh, it scary.”
“...”
John Cossack, making a fuss and warning him how terrifying the 20th floor was.
“Were it me, I'd wait somewhere safe.”
And as he poked Gobang in the side:
“Summoner, ya needn't do anythin'. I'll kill 'em all.”
Even Gobang piled on.
[20th Floor Mission: Exterminate 100 goblins of any kind and 1 hobgoblin.]
[Time Limit: Within 10 hours.]
[Completion Condition: Goblins of all kinds 0/100, Hobgoblin 0/1]
[Failure Condition: Death or mission abandonment]
“Gobang, you go out first. Block them with your body, no matter what. Once the aggro is drawn well enough, I'll come out too. Got it?”
“I'll draw all the aggro.”
“Okay! Good!”
After that, Cossack subtly blocked Ju-hyuk's path.
As if to keep him from going forward.
Thud thud thud thud.
Savage Gobang charged like a tank.
Poison darts flew.
The warrior squad blocked the front.
The assassins targeted the rear.
Curses and fire arrows poured down.
At that very moment!
Bzzzt.
Ju-hyuk burst out.
Energy shield, Basilisk petrified-leather combat boots, mace and hand shield.
“Eh?”
John Cossack, idly picking his nose, jolted in shock and screamed in despair.
“B-Bong Summoner! Nooo!!!”
Swat! Swat-swat!
Ju-hyuk advanced in zigzags.
Swat! Swa-wa-wa...
Shadow Footwork unfolded in full splendor.
Afterimages left behind with every change of direction.
One, two, four, eight...
Everything around was Ju-hyuk's shadow.
‘Have I gone mad?’
It seemed so.
At least for this moment, he was no timid bottom-tier player.
He was freer than ever.
Swat!
He slipped behind a shaman—one swing of the mace.
KRAK!
Swat!
The mace caved in a warrior's skull.
KRAK-ISH!
Incoming poison darts met the hand shield.
Ting! Ting!
Swat! Swat! Swat!
A speed impossible to follow with the eyes.
Cossack let out a sigh.
A perfect shadow walker, so flawless even he would struggle to imitate it.
He'd thought this summoner at least knew how to spare his own body.
He must be protected at all costs.
Even if he had to burn his own soul to do it.