Chapter 111
The grand conference room of the North Korean Benevolent Person Party Central Committee headquarters Building.
All key figures, such as Central Committee members and military general officers, had gathered.
They all sat in their seats with stiff expressions, remaining silent.
In the midst of this, the man sitting at the head of the table, tapping his finger against it, opened his mouth.
“Relax your faces. What are you all so scared of?”
Park Gwang-jin’s closest aide and currently the de facto second-in-command is Ri Gang-ho.
At Ri Gang-ho’s words, the tense people gave awkward smiles.
Starting with Ri Hyeok-cheol’s great revolution, North Korea’s power structure had completely changed compared to before the Tower appeared.
In reality, Climbers had seized everything, and official positions and titles were merely formalities.
Ri Hyeok-cheol had extensively propagated that Climbers were the chosen ones, and in truth, if their levels were high enough, they were Monsters that not even guns could affect.
Why else would even the party’s name have been changed to the Benevolent Person Party?
The absolute ruling class and elite of current North Korea were none other than the Climbers.
Ri Gang-ho looked around the room and continued speaking.
“Our great supreme leader Park Gwang-jin will soon execute the traitor and return…”
The people gathered here all knew.
Park Gwang-jin would not keep the terms of the negotiation with South Korea and would kill Kang Tae-seong.
What was concerning was that this was a matter Person123 had interfered in.
An act that was essentially openly slighting him, the savior of humanity.
No one could predict what kind of repercussions this incident would cause later.
“You people worry too much. This is our inauguration ceremony. It is a declaration to the world by the New Park Gwang-jin Benevolent Person Party, one that no one would dare dictate. Isn’t that right?”
“You are absolutely right!”
Ri Gang-ho laughed and clicked his tongue, tsk-tsk.
“Person123 or whoever, what does it matter? A South Korean interfering in the Republic’s internal affairs is in itself absurd. Being revered as a Savior has made him overstep his bounds…”
Meanwhile, there was a person sitting quietly, managing his troubled mind.
“…I am sorry, comrade Tae-seong.”
Among the Climbers who led this revolution, there were many who, like Kang Tae-seong, genuinely harbored a grand cause.
But those who did not yield were all killed.
Some had no choice but to jump on the bandwagon.
Kim Baek-pyeong was the latter.
As soon as he realized the tide had turned, he thoroughly bowed down to Park Gwang-jin.
He wanted to survive, even if it meant doing so dirtily.
As long as he kept his life, an opportunity would surely come again someday.
However, Kang Tae-seong would die today.
No matter how strong a climber Kang Tae-seong was, there would be no second miracle.
…Even in death, he wouldn’t have the face to see him.
Kim Baek-pyeong could only make a vow.
Nursing a hidden resolve, he would one day fulfill the dream that Kang Tae-seong could not… Hmm?
At that moment, the Climbers' gazes all turned toward the entrance.
A faint commotion could be heard from outside.
“…What is that sound?”
Ri Gang-ho frowned.
Soon, the noise drew close enough to be heard even by the ears of the general public.
The Climbers, realizing something was wrong, began to stand up from their seats one by one.
CRASH!
The conference room door was smashed open.
People’s eyes widened in shock.
Because… it was Kang Tae-seong.
They were so surprised by his appearance that no one paid attention to the masked figure standing behind him.
What was held in Kang Tae-seong’s blood-soaked hand.
It was Park Gwang-jin’s head.
The conference room fell into silence. No one could open their mouth.
“H-How…”
Ri Gang-ho turned completely pale, unable to even spit out his words properly.
In his eyes, Kang Tae-seong looked like an evil spirit who had returned alive from hell.
Kang Tae-seong moved.
Ri Gang-ho’s body was slammed into the conference room wall in an instant.
“Kehek…!”
Kang Tae-seong simply twisted his flailing neck.
Ri Gang-ho, who was merely Level 28, died instantly without even being able to mount a proper counterattack.
“…”
Kang Tae-seong sat at the head of the table.
Looking around at the faces of the people who had fallen into shock, he opened his mouth.
“Park Gwang-jin is dead.”
…They couldn’t help but know it, even without his telling them.
Because Park Gwang-jin’s head was sitting right there on the table.
There was only the question of how on earth Kang Tae-seong had returned alive, while Park Gwang-jin, who had taken a swarm of elite forces with him, had returned as only a head.
“The traitors who abandoned our cause two are left here as well.”
Kang Tae-seong’s gaze turned toward two people.
Kim Cheol-i-yong and Ri Gyeong-tae.
The two men trembled violently before fleeing immediately toward the entrance.
One immediately had his head smashed by Kang Tae-seong.
CRACK!
The one who stopped the other was Kim Baek-pyeong.
“Guh…”
Kim Baek-pyeong, who had pierced through Ri Gyeong-tae’s torso with his aura Skill, pulled his hand free.
Turning his head, he met Kang Tae-seong’s eyes.
Soon, he approached him and knelt down.
“Kill me, comrade Seong-tae.”
He didn’t know what on earth had happened, but…
Kang Tae-seong had returned alive.
That was enough. He could gladly die by his hands.
Because he himself was a traitor who hadn’t resisted Park Gwang-jin.
Kang Tae-seong looked down at Kim Baek-pyeong before placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Baek-pyeong.”
“…”
“You’ve suffered a lot. I know how you feel.”
Kim Baek-pyeong’s eyes grew red.
“…Too many comrades died in vain. This is because of that son of a bitch Park Gwang-jin.”
Patting his shoulder, Kang Tae-seong looked at the other Climbers.
He had now killed most of those who had followed Park Gwang-jin from the start.
“Myeong-ho, Ju-gil, Seong-mi, Cheol-i… It’s the same for the other comrades.”
“…”
“I know you all had no choice. Thank you for surviving.”
They avoided his gaze or bowed their heads, as if they had no face to show him.
Kang Tae-seong spoke as if declaring it.
“There are no more obstacles. Let’s start again now. Our grand cause.”
* * *
After arriving at the headquarters Building.
Kang Tae-seong seized control of the atmosphere in an instant, and just as he had been confident he would, he rallied the remaining Climbers.
There was no particular need for me to step in. I just watched.
Since the situation seemed to have roughly settled, I was thinking of returning home.
“Thank you.”
Mr. Kang Tae-seong conveyed his final thanks to me.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have died today, and my homeland would have fallen into a long darkness once again. I will consider this a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.”
I nodded.
“I’ll trust that you’ll keep your promise well.”
“Of course. I will overhaul this country from its roots.”
Sincerity and resolve could be felt from Kang Tae-seong’s expression.
Well, he’d figure it out and do well.
But suddenly, Ma-wang threw a wet blanket on things.
- Nine out of ten humans who grasp power are bound to become corrupted.
'…It’s ending on a heartwarming note, so why are you suddenly being grumpy?'
Kang Tae-seong didn’t seem like that kind of person.
- There is no imprint as certain as fear.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
- I’m saying you’re always too soft. Hand over your body for a bit.
“Ah, why again?”
It seemed like he was trying to do something, so I handed it over for now.
Ma-wang, having taken over my body, stared at Kang Tae-seong.
Did he feel the atmosphere change?
Kang Tae-seong’s expression gradually stiffened, then slowly became tinged with a fear beyond that.
“Ugh…”
Kang Tae-seong trembled as if feeling a chill.
“I will always be watching.”
Kang Tae-seong barely managed to nod.
Ma-wang handed the body back to me.
Freed from the pressure, he gasped for breath.
It seemed like he did something similar to what he did to Park Gwang-jin…
I wondered if there was really a need to go this far, but there was.
No matter how strong a conviction Kang Tae-seong harbored, you never know what the future holds, just as Ma-wang said.
If I warned him like this, there wouldn’t be even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of him harboring ulterior motives, right?
Kang Tae-seong looked at me, completely cowering.
Feeling slightly sorry, I said.
“I’ll be rooting for you, Mr. Kang Tae-seong. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
I pulled out the warp device I had activated in advance.
It was time to return south.
* * *
Kang Tae-seong stared at the spot where Person123 had disappeared.
He had pulled out what looked like an item from the void.
Just as he had appeared suddenly, he disappeared just as suddenly.
“…Just what.”
It had been a long time since the Tower appeared and the World’s common sense was overturned.
Person123 was a mysterious existence even within that overturned common sense.
Wielding abilities at will that ordinary Climbers couldn’t even imagine, the Nightmare Top Climber and the savior of humanity stood.
Kang Tae-seong had also been saved.
Why had he helped him to this extent?
If he had merely helped someone in trouble, if that was the entire reason…
He was truly a great man whose depths were difficult to fathom by the standards of ordinary people.
At the same time, he was a terrifying figure.
Recalling the moment just before, Kang Tae-seong got goosebumps all over again.
Person123, who had warned him as if he had become a different entity in an instant.
Kang Tae-seong had never felt fear even during the life-threatening moments while climbing the Tower, but…
Just now, he had felt an instinctive fear, as if he had become a frog in front of a snake.
Of course, even without the warning, Kang Tae-seong would have done his utmost.
He was able to finally achieve his long-cherished desire to change this rotten country.
“Please watch over me.”
Since he said he would always be watching, he would definitely live up to it.
* * *
The Republic of Korea Government, which was supposed to receive Kang Tae-seong at the Joint Security Sector from India, was in an uproar.
Korea’s intelligence agency had also been watching the situation in North Korea via satellite.
They confirmed the appearance of a figure presumed to be Person123, and the deaths of the North Korean Climbers, including Park Gwang-jin.
“…Keep absolutely silent about this matter.”
They decided to bury it as a secret.
It was the same for a few other countries like the United States, China, and Russia. They merely kept a close eye on the situation in North Korea.
As expected, North Korea soon declared that its leadership had changed once again.
Hearing that Kang Tae-seong, who was scheduled to be handed over to South Korea, had suddenly seized power in North Korea, the public was surprised by the unexpected development.
[Yeonjuja: What the. Kang Tae-seong suddenly swallowed North Korea?]
[Patatutu: How did he do it lololololol]
[Bi-haeng-gi: How many revolutions are this? There’s never a quiet day over there.]
Because the content reported on the news was limited, those who knew the truth were few.
* * *
I received a message from Billon.
He asked if it was true that I had done something regarding Kang Tae-seong, so I told him what had happened.
The North Korean side broke its promise and tried to kill Kang Tae-seong, and Hada, resulting in this.
Billon told me that the United States had also watched via satellite and had known I had stepped in.
And that Korea, China, Russia, and others would probably all knew as well.
Hmm… I guess so.
Since I went back and forth using warp, it wasn’t like they could track my route, so I figured there wouldn’t be any particular problems.
- …North Korea’s Benevolent Person Party has changed the party’s name to the populace Peace Party and has strongly expressed its will to make its top priority stabilizing the people’s livelihood and cooperating with the international community…
Time passed, and news reports regarding North Korea were delivered.
Afterward, Kang Tae-seong seemed to have successfully seized power without any major issues.
He would also occasionally contact me via whispers in the communication window, but…
I stopped paying attention to political matters and returned to my daily life.
The United States and China sought the floor clear for the 7th Floor from me.
Their stance was that, regardless of whether they would challenge it or not, they would prepare the strategy for now.
They are going in and out of the 7th Floor to help them, and hunting in Zone 5.
While I did the things I usually had to do,
Time continued to flow…
[Nightmare]
Participants: 477,635
Time Limit: 94 Days 8 Hours 2 Minutes 1 Second
Floor reached: 8th Floor
Slowly, the moment for the next challenge was approaching.