How to Conquer the Tower of the Jerk 28
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu prepared to stand before a press conference for the first time in a while.
The mental anguish had been severe.
Even the president, his friend and political partner, had suggested it might be best for him to step down.
But the situation had changed now.
Not only had he overcome the crisis, he had struck a massive blow.
It was all thanks to Player Bong Juhyeok.
An S++ rank attack recorder, on top of bringing back the absolute item that neutralizes the dark aura of undead.
South Korea had become a nation possessing the Holy Sword.
Player Bong Juhyeok would earn the money, of course, but having the Management Agency handle the rental procedures was an enormous source of power.
Any country would need the Holy Sword from floor 61 onward.
Unless another divine item appears, that is.
No—even if one did appear, they would still have to borrow it.
Because the difference between one item and two means a difference in safety from the very start.
And so, everyone would have to watch Korea's mood.
Park Gyeongsu walked toward the conference hall.
His stride was as commanding as the elevated status of the Awakening Management Agency itself.
Thump, thump—shoulders squared, chin lifted, he stood before the podium of the press hall.
“I will now take questions.”
Reporters raised their hands eagerly.
When he pointed to one of them, “Please explain the effects of the Holy Sword first.”
Park Gyeongsu answered while referring to the paper he had prepared in advance.
“The core of the Holy Sword can be considered one thing. Radiance. The radiance neutralizes the dark aura. The undead attack boost, unwavering mind, Holy Light, and critical hit increase are nice, but they are merely side benefits.”
“The footage showed the radiance around the sword was faint. Is there no way to strengthen it?”
“That is an unfortunate point, but as of now, there is nothing we can do.”
Next question.
“The appearance looked quite old. It doesn't seem very durable,”
“It can be repaired. There are master craftsmen the Management Agency can commission, and our reserves of Orichalcum are plentiful, so there is no problem with the sword's performance whatsoever.”
Next.
“Did the Management Agency purchase it? How much budget was spent?”
“We do possess it, but it is not an item that was purchased.”
“Then?”
“There is a separate owner. The item will not be sold; it is available for rental only.”
“And the rental fee?”
“That will not be disclosed.”
Why would we tell you that?
There's no need to decide in advance.
The desperate parties will figure it out themselves.
For the one lending it out, a single word is enough.
Offer!
“Can you not reveal who the owner of the Holy Sword is?”
“We cannot reveal the owner either. The Management Agency will act on the owner's behalf.”
“Are there restrictions on renting the item?”
“There are. Countries wishing to rent it must send players to Korea, where they may borrow and use it in a controlled location. There is the risk of theft and loss, so a liability contract must also be signed.”
“Can ordinary players rent it privately?”
“No. Applications are accepted at the national level only. The state must provide a guarantee.”
“Any other restrictions?”
Finally, the moment he had been waiting for.
“Any country may rent it, but Japan alone cannot. I trust you all know the reason.”
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu smiled brightly.
“I also hereby declare that there will be no exchanges whatsoever with Japan regarding the Tower from this point forward.”
Not a single reporter asked whether that was really necessary.
However— “Did the president sign off on this matter···,”
“Would I act on my own authority like this?”
“···.”
“Poaching another country's player is, in effect, a declaration of war. Export regulations? Diplomatic pressure? Go ahead and try, as much as you like.”
And furthermore.
“Depending on the situation, one more country may be added to the rental ban.”
It was aimed at China.
They, too, were obsessed with poaching players of Korean nationality.
In any case, the press conference came to an end.
Park Gyeongsu felt the chronic tightness in his chest melt away.
└ Ka! Another drink on the house.
└ Anyone gonna translate and post Japan's reaction?
└ I'd like to know too.
└ Post China's reaction too.
└ What's Yu Cheolmin's Byulstagram handle? Gotta go laugh at him.
└ That got deleted a while ago.
└ Kkkk, what a hilariously predictable bastard.
※ ※ ※
A national security meeting held at the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence.
Cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats had gathered to watch footage on a large monitor together.
Footage of the Korean Black Tower's floor 63 conquest.
Because it was first-person bodycam footage, they couldn't observe the overall strategy, but confirming the power of the Holy Sword item was more than enough.
A player carefully luring out the dark skeletons one at a time using thrown weapons.
Creating one-on-one situations and viciously slicing them down with the Holy Sword.
The skeletons wrapped in dark aura were helplessly carved apart.
Their weapons and shields were cut through as well.
Calling it the natural enemy of undead would be no exaggeration.
It wasn't the first time seeing the floor 63 footage.
There was Yu Cheolmin's conquest data, and footage provided by the United States as well.
But they had never seen such a superb performance as this video.
And the conquest time limit?
Yu Cheolmin took 12 hours, the US 9 hours.
Meanwhile, Player Nam Gaeun's completion time was a mere 2 hours.
That's right. Two hours.
And that was only because she handled it so carefully and cautiously—if she had been greedier, she could have cleared it in an hour and a half.
One item changes things that much?
Shouldn't they have brought back that item instead of Yu Cheolmin?
Silence filled the meeting room.
The officials' expressions were grim.
Prime Minister Kawaguchi of Japan was no different.
He had held a press conference and thrown a bomb at Korea, but it hadn't gone off.
Instead, Japan had caught that bomb itself.
“Divine attribute, you say. Then is there a possibility other divine attributes exist besides that Holy Sword?”
“As far as is currently known, that is the only one. However···,”
“Go on.”
“There is also the possibility that other nations possess them but have not made them public.”
Of course.
As if that would be the only one.
If you looked, there would surely be more.
As of now, it wasn't an especially urgent item.
Japan was only on floor 57, after all.
But his pride was gravely wounded.
He had been utterly humiliated.
The more Prime Minister Kawaguchi thought about it, the more his fury boiled over.
What? They won't rent the Holy Sword to Japan?
‘Damn Joseonjin.'
What greater humiliation could there be?
His approval rating, which had surged when he naturalized Yu Cheolmin, was plummeting by the moment.
‘Chikusho!'
Anxiety gnawed at him.
This was the moment he needed something to turn the situation around.
“When did you say Yu Cheolmin would conquer floor 57?”
“He relayed that he would do it as soon as possible. He seems to have been provoked by the situation in Korea.”
“Hmm.”
There was still plenty of time left on floor 57's 41-day limit.
There had originally been another top-level Japanese player conquering floor 57.
But he had died absurdly mid-conquest, leaving them no choice but to bring in Yu Cheolmin.
Originally, they'd planned to clear it with about ten days remaining···,
‘Do it now?'
Actually, that might be a good idea.
It would help his approval rating too.
“Good. Have him conquer floor 57 quickly. Package it well and publicize it.”
“Yes, we'll proceed.”
“Give him thorough support so his climb isn't hindered.”
“Understood.”
※ ※ ※
In Japan, "apartments" are housing for commoners.
The wealthy live in ultra-luxury mansions.
And those wealthier than that?
They live in stately, old-fashioned estates.
The kind with ponds in the garden, raising large koi fish, that sort of estate.
The house Yu Cheolmin received from the Japanese government was one of those.
“Son of a—!”
Yu Cheolmin burst into curses while searching on his smartphone.
Because a situation completely opposite to what he had expected was unfolding.
Ever since naturalizing to Japan, searching articles on Korean portal sites every day had become part of his routine.
At first, it had been fun.
The flood of broadcast news and internet articles.
The Awakening Management Agency being criticized, the NIS and the police being called idiots, everyone fighting and tearing each other apart···,
But what was this?
The situation had completely changed.
They'd gone all out with a press conference and everything···,
Korean news articles were nothing but praise for Player Nam Gaeun and the Holy Sword.
His name did appear, of course.
The difference was that it was nothing but condemnation.
└ I'll kill Yu Cheolmin.
└ There's gotta be a way to find his address in Tokyo, right?
└ Hope he goes bald and impotent.
‘Pathetic bastards.'
Crawl through the comments all you want.
Like that would hurt me.
Yu Cheolmin had also watched Nam Gaeun's conquest footage.
Floors 62 and 63.
Wait, those places were that easy?
He'd been through absolute hell because of the dark aura.
All because of the Holy Sword, an item with a divine attribute.
If such an item existed, they should have handed it over to him long ago.
In that case, he might have even considered naturalization to Japan more seriously—
‘I should have dragged things out a little longer···,'
No.
Hesitating now would mean losing.
Living large in Japan was enough.
Since he'd already naturalized, he would swiftly conquer the Japanese Black Tower starting from floor 57.
Once he cleared that, he would rise as Japan's hero.
Floor 58, and then 59 and 60 too.
No matter how the haters thrashed about, he would be the victor.
That was what Yu Cheolmin believed.
He believed it without a shred of doubt.
※ ※ ※
After finishing the conquest,
Juhyeok ordered ten tubs of what was said to be the most expensive ice cream from a convenience store near the officetel.
That ice cream he used to deliberately ignore even when it caught his eye.
He'd really grown up so much. Bong Juhyeok.
But that was fine.
The account had over a billion won in it, after all.
This time too, as soon as Juhyeok scooped a spoonful of ice cream, Gobang, Cossack, and Gyeon Dallae, who had only just opened the lid and dug in, smacked their small lips and ate with delight.
Having fought together in the Tower, the three had grown considerably closer than before.
They chatted away while eating ice cream.
A lovely sight.
He hoped they'd continue to get along like that.
“Truly, my mouth is being spoiled. Even in the palace, I never got to eat such sweet things.”
“Heheh, you'll be able to eat it to your heart's content from now on, Princess. Lord Bong the Summoner is so generous that he never begrudges us anything.”
“That's right. You two must never forget the Young Master's grace either.”
“That goes without saying—you know that, right? Alkong?”
“The Princess speaks true. I am ever loyal.”
Look at these guys.
Sucking up to a fellow summon now?
Meanwhile,
“Has anything been troubling the Young Master's mood lately? Aside from you two, I mean.”
As Cossack mulled deeply over Gyeon Dallae's question,
“Ah! There is one thing.”
“There is? Such an outrageous matter—speak, quickly.”
“There's this wretched, good-for-nothing bastard called Yu Cheolmin. This fellow, you see···,”
Cossack rattled on about Yu Cheolmin with great animation.
Gyeon Dallae's expression gradually changed as well.
“What did you say! Have you ever seen such a despicable wretch? Those with great power should devote themselves fully to the peace of the realm and loyal service to their nation, yet he dares entrust his body to the Japanese? Truly preposterous.”
Gyeon Dallae's pale face flushed crimson.
“Just thinking of the Japanese makes my teeth grind. I will not let this fellow be. He shall surely pay the price.”
“Wise words, as expected of the Princess.”
Then, looking at Juhyeok,
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“Could you obtain the belongings used by that Yu Cheolmin? I know it is a bother, but please, do secure them. This maiden asks because it is truly necessary.”
“No. And even if I had them, I wouldn't get them for you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
What does she plan to do with those?
He could guess.
On this point, he absolutely opposed.
If that were the intent, he wouldn't have sent Cossack to Japan in the first place.
Hiding aboard the Tokyo-bound flight with Stealth, lopping off Yu Cheolmin's head and tying a ribbon to it—done.
Cossack had wanted to, but Juhyeok had told him not to.
Because there was no real need to kill Yu Cheolmin.
“He is one who has betrayed the duties of man. If such a one is left be, injustice will run rampant.”
“Eh, then I guess he'll go to Japan and commit injustice there.”
“···What do you,”
“He's a Japanese citizen now. Let's not interfere. As long as we eat well and live well, that's all that matters.”
At that, Cossack chimed in.
“Lord Bong the Summoner speaks true. As ever, so wise.”
“Right?”
“Of course. Since the filth was carted off to Japan, hasn't Korea become clean?”
“That's right. Hahaha!”
“Heheheh.”
Even when witnessing injustice, he would tolerate it as a rule.
That had always been his life motto.
The complicated world of humans.
Even when it seemed perfectly clear who was at fault, perpetrator and victim could flip in an instant.
So his car gear was always in neutral.
But above all, the most important reason.
He had no intention of doing anything about Yu Cheolmin at the cost of sacrificing Gyeon Dallae.
She was a precious fellow summon.
“Cutting flesh always comes with a rebound. The princess would suffer harm just to deal with a guy like that? I’m against it.”
Kosak sidled up close to Juhyeok and rubbed his palms together.
“I’ve known all along why you were opposed, I have. The heart with which Summoner Bong worries for the princess—it’s so compassionate, so wise, so absolutely the best!”
Juhyeok’s shoulders puffed up with pride.
As expected, well-timed flattery is sweeter than ice cream.
But Gyeon Dallae spoke. “This maiden knows not where to place herself, so touched is she by the young master’s consideration. However! What this maiden shall fling is not flesh.”
Huh?
If not flesh, then…
“It is karma (業) that this maiden shall fling.”
Karma? What’s that supposed to be?
“Whatever deeds a human commits, they shall one day receive reward or punishment for those actions. As they say, cause and effect, and all things return to their proper place.”
And?
“If this maiden flings karma, they will receive the fruits of their deeds a little sooner.”
“Ahh.”
“If Yu Cheolmin’s karma is good karma (善業), fortune will find him. If it is evil karma (惡業), misfortune will find him.”
Fortune or misfortune—is that all?
“…There’s no rebound from karma?”
“Fortune and misfortune are decided according to the will of heaven and earth and the gods. No harm whatsoever will come to this maiden, so be at ease.”
Well then.
“Now that I think about it, we can’t just leave Yu Cheolmin be. If he abandoned his duties as a human being, he ought to at least suffer some misfortune.”
At that, Kosak clapped his hands—snap!
“Summoner Bong speaks true. Those who break their duties must be punished. That’s why I was about to board a plane to Japan, I was.”
“Let’s go right now!”
“Hehehe, how flexible your thinking is. How swiftly you shift your stance—first this, then that…”
That sounds more like an insult than a compliment.
Zap!
Juhyeok glared, and Kosak flinched.
“Ah, my mistake, I did.”
So he does know.
This is why the words of treacherous lackeys have always been untrustworthy.
Getting items Yu Cheolmin used wouldn’t be difficult.
He would have left everything behind in the house he lived in before fleeing.
That aside—I still hadn’t checked what the special reward was.
I checked the thirty Platinum Badges sitting in my inventory.
[For accumulating 30 Platinum Badges, a special reward will be granted.]
‘What is it?’
[Special Reward: An Item Skill Cooldown Reset Ticket will be delivered to your tower-exclusive inventory.]
“Oh!”
A Skill Cooldown Reset Ticket!
Fantastic.
Beautiful.
“What did you get?”
“Ta-da!”
“Whoaaa! That’s a really good one, it is. Congratulations.”
“It’s all thanks to you all.”
“Aigoo, how embarrassing. What did we even do?”
“Hahahaha!”
“Hehehehe.”
A warm and friendly atmosphere once more.
A genuinely great item, just as Kosak said.
His power comes from his summoned beings.
In that sense, a skill reset is the ultimate reward.
He could use Random Summon one more time.
‘Should I just use it right now?’
Pfft, what a stupid thought.
The skill reset is the ultimate comeback card.
It should be saved for when I hit a truly impossible situation with no answer in sight.
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