Chapter 23
“Ah, please take this.”
I took out what I had brought in my pocket.
A highest-grade magic stone was radiating a golden light.
Billon took the magic stone and spoke, looking surprised.
“Oh, is this a highest-grade magic stone?” “Yes. You recognize it?” “I know a little about what rewards come from Nightmare Difficulty.”
Easy yields lower-grade magic stones; Normal yields intermediate-grade magic stones, and Hard yields higher-grade magic stones as rewards.
And the highest-grade magic stone was a grade of magic stone that only appeared in Nightmare Difficulty.
I brought the magic stone because it felt a bit wrong to only ever receive things.
Actually, I had originally intended to use this to make a deal.
I was just about to bring up the topic of continuing to receive skill stones in the future today. If Billon hadn't spoken first, I would have.
Anyway, since everything had worked out perfectly, and the magic stone was pretty useless to me, I figured I might as well hand it over to Billon since I had brought it.
“Since you're helping me, I should give you something in return.”
At my words, Billon shook his head.
“This isn't necessary. I don't want to establish a give-and-take relationship.” “Still, I feel uncomfortable just receiving. I don't need the magic stone anyway. I can't even sell it anywhere.” “Ah, are you unable to sell magic stones because you're an Unregistered Climber?”
I nodded.
Billon stroked his chin with a “Hmm” and spoke.
“I think I can help you with that part.” “Yes? How?” “There are many ways. I could handle the proxy sale of the highest-grade magic stone, or I could just pay the price and buy it myself.”
Ah, like that?
“The only problem is how to apply the market price. This isn't something generally traded on the market... Ellen, do you know anything about it?”
Billon asked the man in the driver's seat.
The man called Ellen answered.
“Supply is so limited that it doesn't mean much, but for that size, I'd say it would be at least 30 billion won, even at a minimum estimate.”
...30 Billion Won?
The highest-grade magic stone I brought was smaller than a fist at best. I knew it was rare, but that much?
“This is worth that much?” “As I said, it doesn't mean much. With only five Nightmare Difficulty clearers, there's an extreme gap between supply and demand, so it's practically worth whatever price is called at the time. In the United States, it's treated as a strategic material in the first place, making it impossible to trade...”
Listening to him, I found his words didn't add up, so I asked.
“Then how are you going to sell it?” “Because the legal route isn't the only way.” “Ah.”
True, a big shot like Billon would have a way somehow.
Still, I wondered if there was a need to go that far.
“That's a bit much. You don't have to go that far for me.”
Come to think of it, even if Billon gave me the money, how would I receive it? Would I have to open a Swiss bank account or something?
“Then how about this method? I provide you with lower-grade magic stones.”
What was this about?
Billon explained.
“You're an Unregistered Climber who hasn't registered yet, aren't you? You register as a Climber of a different difficulty, not Nightmare Difficulty. The nation has no way of knowing your real difficulty anyway. If I give you magic stones separately of a grade fitting that difficulty, you can just take them and sell them.”
...Wait, this is a bit tempting?
Because it was a solution that completely resolved not just the magic stone issue, but the worries I'd been having lately.
What if I registered as an Easy Difficulty Climber using the method he just mentioned, continuously received lower-grade magic stones from Billon, and sold them fair and square?
I would be able to play the role of an Easy Difficulty Climber perfectly.
It wasn't like magic stones had name tags attached to them, and if I claimed I received them as a reward for a tower clear, there wouldn't be any problems at all.
For Billon, getting some lower-grade magic stones wouldn't be difficult, so it was a very viable method.
Until now, I had been half-heartedly continuing to attend university.
Somewhere in my heart, I secretly hoped to return to a normal daily life someday.
But now that I had firmly decided to climb the tower with all my might, I couldn't keep attending university anymore.
Especially once I finished my second year of pre-med and entered the main medical school program, I would really have to do nothing but study.
Climbing the tower and studying—was there any way I'd have the luxury for both?
Well, it would be possible if I used my time stop ability like crazy. But there was no point in that, and I didn't want to overwork myself like that.
Even so, if I suddenly quit the medical school I was attending just fine, explaining it to my family would be a problem.
But if I said I became a Climber, I could persuade them.
Since the tower had issued a new rule, it wasn't like I could just choose not to climb even if I didn't want to anymore.
Quitting university, making money by selling magic stones, and revealing to my family that I'm a Climber meant I wouldn't have to be careful about getting caught going in and out of the tower anymore, and I could focus solely on clearing it.
This method solved almost all my problems. It was perfect!
“That's a good idea.” “Excellent. If you agree, let's proceed with that method.”
After hearing Billon explain the future plans, I decided to do just that.
And I forcefully pushed the highest-grade magic stone onto Billon, who adamantly refused it. Ah, I just didn't want to only receive things.
“Then I will gratefully accept it. I'll make good use of it for research.”
I remembered one more thing and spoke.
“Ah, and about the skill stones, I don't mind at all if you get me magic-type skills. I prefer magic-type skills over physical ones.” “Is that so? Understood.”
Though I'd gratefully accept whichever one he gave me.
It was time to part ways.
“Well then, I look forward to working with you.”
I shook hands with Billon one last time, exchanged a nod with Ellen, and opened the car door.
'Hmm...'
I was about to get out but looked back at Billon.
“My name is Kim Seohyeon.”
When he was helping me this much, it would be rude of me to just keep everything completely hidden.
I figured I should at least reveal my name.
Billon's eyes widened in surprise before he smiled.
“It was a pleasure, Mr. Kim. Let's meet again later.”
---
Exactly a week later, I met with someone to receive the magic stones.
“Ah, thank you.”
At the meeting place, a foreign man simply handed me a bag, bowed, and left.
I opened the bag to check.
*Inside, it was full of the lowest-grade and lower-grade magic stones emitting a pale blue light.*
From now on, we agreed that I would receive magic stones like this once a month at a designated location.
Since Billon couldn't personally deliver the magic stones every time, he said he would place a separate deliverer in Korea. He mentioned it was someone trustworthy, so I guessed it was probably a close aide.
Now that I had received the magic stones, it was time to register as a Climber.
“To think I”m finally doing this after two years.'
Since I had decided to climb properly anyway, I had also thought about just revealing everything about being a Nightmare clearer and getting some national support.
But I was worried about my family finding out, and there were just too many other things that bothered me about it, so I just dropped the idea.
I proceeded to register as an Easy Difficulty Climber at a nearby Climbing Special Agency (Korea) Branch.
The method to prove oneself as a Climber was simple.
A Climber who had cleared even one floor of the tower just had to show himself or herself entering and exiting the tower.
Even for a 1st-Floor Climber who hadn't entered the tower yet, there was a way to prove it.
Since a 1st-Floor Climber could also see the progress status of all difficulties, the climber just had to answer the inspector's questions regarding the real-time fluctuating numbers of people or time limits.
Of course, in my case, I just had to register using the former method.
Kim Seohyeon, Easy Difficulty, currently on the 2nd floor.
Once the registration was fully completed like this, Climbers on the 2nd floor or higher could even be issued a climber's license.
This license also served as a certificate allowing for magic stone transactions.
I was finally able to sell magic stones proudly. Kya.
“It is a total of 20.56kg.”
I took all the magic stones I received and sold them at the Nationally Certified Magic Stone Exchange.
The money I earned that way was about 130 million won.
It was a huge sum that made me understand Sangcheol's spending habits. I wouldn't be strapped for pocket money anymore.
Now, finally, the biggest hurdle remained.
“I actually became a climber.”
It was at night, after dinner was over.
I told my mother and father that I had something to tell them, and we sat in the living room to talk.
“What...?”
Seeing their shocked expressions, I quickly added.
“It's Easy Difficulty. I've already finished the 1st Floor Clear too. So there's no problem at all.”
I explained that I had actually become a new Climber this time but didn't say anything beforehand because I was worried they'd be anxious, and that I had easily cleared the 1st floor without any issues. Only then did their stiff expressions soften a little.
“Are you really okay? You didn't get hurt anywhere?” “Easy. It's just one Goblin. There's no reason to get hurt, and even if I do, all injuries heal once I clear it.”
I brought up my next point.
“So about that, I'm thinking of just quitting school and trying to be a climber.”
My mother freaked out and shouted.
“Absolutely not! What are you talking about!” “I'm not saying I'll climb the floors. I'm just going to repeatedly clear the 1st floor. You don't have to worry too much, Mom. There's nothing dangerous about repeated clears.”
My father also opened his mouth.
“What's your reason for wanting to be a Climber? You worked so hard to get into medical school. What about becoming a doctor?”
I brought out the words I had prepared.
“To be honest, it's become a world where we don't even know what will happen a year from now. But I don't want to just keep studying at school. To become a doctor, I'd have to study for several more solid years.” “Hmm...” “Before it's too late, I want to enjoy my hobbies more, travel, and try a lot of different things. If I work as a climber, I can earn enough money even if I only work a little.”
I laid out my persuasive arguments in detail.
My father listened quietly to my story and asked again.
“Have you firmly made up your mind? Won't you regret it?” “Yes. You know I don't usually say things like this.”
I thought it would be hard to persuade them in one go, but surprisingly, my father nodded.
“Alright. If that's what you think, Dad doesn't mind.” “What are you saying! You should be stopping him...!” “Seohyeon isn't wrong. It's a world where we don't know what will happen or when. I want to let the kid do what he wants.”
Great, father's permission was a go.
“Mom, I'm telling you it's really not dangerous. No one dies or gets hurt repeatedly clearing the Easy 1st floor. In the first place, if it gets even a little dangerous, I can just exit.”
“And I have absolutely no intention of climbing to the 2nd floor. The 1st floor couldn't be helped, but it's not like I'm crazy and want to die, so why would I keep climbing the tower, right?”
As expected, my mother was much more stubborn than my father.
So I even brought out a liberal arts book and put on a performance of tearing it apart with my grip strength in front of my parents.
“Look. I'm telling you, you get this strong even at level 1. My body is super sturdy too, so against a mere Goblin, I couldn't get hurt even if I wanted to.” “Huh...”
Actually, level 1 wasn't this strong, but well, it wasn't like my parents would know that.
In the end, I was able to get a reluctant answer that she would think about it.
I didn't want to cause them grief, so I felt a bit sorry. Still, it couldn't be helped.
Anyway, this was about half resolved.
Now I didn't have to sneak into the tower while walking on eggshells at home.
I picked up the bracelet I had left on the desk and called Diul out.
“You like it too, right, Diul? From now on, let's take more night walks on the 2nd floor.”
It felt like he was saying, "Do whatever you want," but I could also faintly feel a faint gladness.
Anyway, this prickly guy. It felt like raising a cat, which I had never even done before.
Bam!
The room door suddenly opened, so I hurriedly sent Diul back into the bracelet.
Ah man, I told her to knock seriously.
“What? Why?”
My younger sister, who was looking at me with a sullen face, spoke.
“I heard you became a Climber.” “...Yeah.” “But why didn't you even tell me?” “Just because. You heard it from Mom and Dad, so that's enough.”
My sister hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Is it doable?” “What is.” “Clearing the tower. You said it's Easy Difficulty.” “It's doable. Why? Are you worried?” “Ah, whatever! You're so annoying!”
My sister shrieked and left. Tsk tsk.
Thinking that I'd have to set her straight sooner or later, I called Diul out again.
“That's my younger sister. Even to you, she looks completely crazy, right? She treats her Oppa like dog crap.”
Diul didn't even react.
“Right, let's just go for a walk.”
\[Would you like to enter Nightmare Difficulty, 2nd Floor?\]
I threw on a cardigan roughly and entered the tower.
---
Gangwon North Prison.
Thud, thud, thud...
A repetitive sound reached the ears of the prison guard who was on night patrol in the cell block. It sounded like someone knocking on a cell door.
The Prison Guard searched for the source of the sound and approached a cell.
“What are you doing? Who's knocking on the...”
Frowning, he looked inside and suddenly freaked out as if he had seen a ghost.
It was because an Inmate had his face pressed right up against the Observation Window.
“...What are you doing right now! Mr. Seo Dong-woo!”
Seo Dong-woo of Cell Block 3, Cell 11.
He had come in with life imprisonment for murder, but he was an inmate who had been living quietly as a model prisoner without any major incidents for 10 years.
The Prison Guard couldn't help but be flustered by his sudden eccentric behavior in the middle of the night.
Seo Dong-woo giggled and spoke in a drawling voice.
“Ah, Mr. Prison Guard... It's nothing much, just that my friends are very sick...” “...Sick? Who is sick?” “Yes. Everyone is very sick. They're so sick they can't even move a single finger.” “What? What on earth...”
Suddenly, a fishy smell wafted over.
As Seo Dong-woo-woo slowly moved his face aside, the sight inside the room was finally revealed.
Bright red blood, crushed flesh, and the corpses of what used to be other inmates.
The Prison Guard's thoughts halted for a moment as he stared blankly at the scene.
“Uh, uh...?”
A hand reached out through the Observation Window and grabbed his head.
“What should we do about that? Can you save them, Mr. Prison Guard? Will they live if they take some medicine?” “Keu, keuk...!” “A person is asking you a question\~ Please give me an answer. An answer!”
As he applied force to his grip, the Prison Guard's head was crushed with a squelch like a ripe Persimmon.
“You should have answered faster.”
Letting out a laugh, Seo Dong-woo shook off his sticky hand and stepped back from the Iron Gate.
And then he charged straight at it, ramming it with his body.
Bang!
The Iron Gate rattled violently. Alarms started blaring like crazy from all directions.
After he rammed it a few times, the thick Iron Gate gradually distorted, and a crack formed on the wall connected to the doorframe.
Crash!
Soon, unable to withstand the impact, the wall collapsed.
The Mobile Patrol Team that rushed over was horrified by the sight unfolding before their eyes.
The torn-off door of the Cell was. An Inmate was standing in the middle of the Cell Block Corridor with his hands covered in blood.
“Why is this thing so sturdy? If my level had been just a bit lower, I almost wouldn't have been able to break it.”
Spotting the prison guards, Seo Dong-woo giggled.
“What are you looking at? First time seeing a prison break?” “...” “Well, I guess it is your first time seeing something like this. Kikik.”
*That night, screams and gunshots mixed together and echoed chaotically throughout the prison.*