Chapter 22
After a full week of searching and a spar with a Level 999 vengeful spirit, it was all over.
And what did I get for all that effort?
-Ding.
[You have obtained Hidden Piece #3 of the Beginner's Tower #KR.]
[Conditions]
Resolve the grudge of the vengeful spirit 'Baekrihyang'
(Completion +1000%)
[Rewards]
- Moonlight Sword
- Baekrihyang's Soul (additional reward for completion)
[Moonlight Sword (Unique)]
A sword that glows pale.
Made from high-quality ore,
it can be charged by converting moonlight into mana.
The charged mana can be used freely until depleted.
"…Unique?"
First, the sword.
Unique-grade? Wasn't that the grade of item even Hwang Hee-chan used?
Anyone else would bow and scrape to receive it,
'But this is a little disappointing.'
I was a man who had already obtained Legendary-grade armor on the second tier.
And the reward for defeating a Level 999 vengeful spirit in a spar was Unique equipment?
Honestly, it was a little anticlimactic.
'…No, is that a little shameless of me to say?'
Actually, this was only natural.
Legendary-grade equipment was rarer than artifacts; there were fewer than ten in the entire world.
In East Asia, Japan had one, and that was it.
There was no way something like that would just pop out of the Wimp's Tower, obviously.
'And I didn't even get an achievement notification.'
On top of that, there was one more thing.
Unlike the Orc Lord, sparring with the vengeful spirit wasn't counted as an achievement.
Probably because she wasn't a boss monster, but more like an NPC for a hidden piece.
That was why the reward felt strangely stingy.
'Well, it should come in handy in a place with thin mana.'
Still, it was more than good enough.
I decided to accept it without complaint.
I figured the day would come when I could use it.
And, above all…
there was something else I was most excited about.
-Swish.
'This is probably the real prize.'
My gaze turned to the orb in my hand.
The item the vengeful spirit had personally handed me before passing on.
It was the additional reward I had received for resolving her grudge to 1000 percent.
"Please be a Level 999 pet or an enhancement item!"
After crying out fervently.
Ding—.
Along with a message saying Dragon Eyes had activated, the item description unfolded before my eyes.
[Baekrihyang's Soul]
It contains the soul of a powerful being.
Upon consumption, Baekrihyang will possess your body,
and while possessed, you gain Baekrihyang's physical abilities and techniques.
The possession time decreases according to mana consumption,
and the rate of mana consumption is proportional to the total stat difference between you and Baekrihyang.
(Current stat difference: 129)
(Estimated possession time: 57 minutes)
"……Possession?"
Upon seeing that.
I immediately started calculating in my head.
'Baekrihyang has the specs of the fifth tier of the Pilgrim's Tower, doesn't she?'
So this was what it meant.
The vengeful spirit, Baekrihyang, possesses your body.
You can fight with the specs of a Level 999 NPC.
Though if the level gap was too large, I'd only be able to fight for a few seconds, but anyway.
'Not bad.'
With this, anyone could become a cheat-level powerhouse.
Even if only for a very short time, they could surpass Hwang Hee-chan.
At the decisive finishing blow.
They could become Korea's strongest.
That alone explained how valuable it was.
'Even so…'
"I don't need it."
Of course, I had no intention of consuming it myself.
Sure, she had higher stats than me right now, but the difference was only slight.
And I had completely overwhelmed her in swordsmanship.
There was no point in obtaining possession.
After all, with just a few more clicks, I could become much stronger than Baekrihyang.
…Put another way.
For someone struggling to get past even the fourth tier, it would surely be a godsend.
'It'd be perfect for that third-generation chaebol.'
Hyunseo.
The third-generation chaebol trapped on Floor 39 of the Pilgrim's Tower, surviving on bread and jerky every day—food Dohwa wouldn't even eat.
What if I… sold this to him?
'That could be quite profitable.'
It was an item I would soon have no use for anyway.
I would pass it on to the person who needed it most.
In return, I'd ask for nothing more than a reasonable token of gratitude.
How much he would value his own life, well… that was for him to decide.
At least, I didn't think I'd feel shortchanged.
'I'm about to reach the fourth tier, so this worked out nicely.'
After giving a small chuckle.
I slipped the orb into my inventory.
A Unique-grade sword, an item whose value was hard to put a price on, and the footwork I'd learned, too.
It was more than enough to call this a satisfying haul.
"Shall we go, then?"
I started walking again as well.
I'd squeezed the third tier dry, so now I intended to clear it for real.
"G-great one. What in the world was that just now?"
"Hmm? Oh, you were there?"
The Salamander had returned at just the right time.
That worked out nicely.
If he'd run away, looking for him would have been a pain.
"Just open the portal."
"Yes, sir!!!"
With him prostrating himself one last time.
The third-tier climb came to an end.
* * *
"Intr…."
"Spam Spatial Slash!!!"
"uder……."
Crack.
Countless cracks spread across the golem's body.
Then it shattered into pieces.
It took less than ten seconds for the 'Crystal Golem,' the Challenger's Tower's third-tier boss and a Level 250 powerhouse, to be reduced to dust.
'Even Normal is really nothing special.'
My first Normal Tower boss clear.
I came here because of the Ruler trait.
It was far more manageable than I'd expected.
I guess I can just fight the bosses in the Normal Tower from now on.
"Kieeeng…."
"There you go again. Did you really want to go to the Hard Tower that badly?"
"Kkang!!!"
Dohwa, however, seemed to want me to kill the Pilgrim's Tower boss,
"You saw what happened earlier. That was… yeah."
I did visit the Pilgrim's Tower, after all.
I was starting to gain confidence, so I figured I'd run if things looked bad.
But then, what do you know?
The moment I entered, a skeleton attacked me.
It immediately fired a beam while saying, 'Pilgrims like you should burn in hell.'
I went, 'WA!!! It's strong!!!' and immediately switched Towers.
I didn't even have time to check the level difference.
I felt like I'd caught a glimpse of why the Pilgrim's Tower was called a coffin.
'Other people said they at least had time to talk to it. Why was I the only one!?'
Unlike with the vengeful spirit, I was startled by the ambush before I could prepare myself. That was the biggest reason, anyway.
"Of course, it's not that I can't kill it. I beat a Level 999, so you think I can't beat that?"
"Kieeeeing…."
"But, well. I'm only one step away from curing Serin, so it seems a little excessive to take risks."
I coaxed and placated Dohwa.
As a bonus, I consoled myself inwardly that I wasn't doing this because I was a wimp, but simply because I wouldn't risk anything with my little sister at stake.
I was a little embarrassed even by my own excuse, but pride couldn't put food on the table. Right.
"I'll try the Hard Tower on the fourth tier later, so hush now!"
"…Kkang!!"
After showering Dohwa with affection and making promises I might not keep.
I quietly set Dohwa down.
Dohwa then scampered away.
In the very middle of the boss floor, Dohwa looked quite adorable bouncing around as if to say they were ready.
"Trait Enhancement, Fusion."
I reached out my hand with a smile as well.
Ding.
With a cheerful sound, notification windows popped up in rapid succession before my eyes.
['Crystal Golem' consumed….]
[Evolution complete.]
[The trait 'Fusion+' grants you 1 trait.]
[Dohwa]
Level: 356 (+1)
(Can evolve using the trait 'Fusion')
(Required: 1 summon)
Traits: Lightning Flash (Rare), Charm (Common)
"Kyaeung~."
Dohwa landed back on the ground, enveloped in a slightly shabby light.
Dohwa's tails spun like windmills.
Now that there were three tails, fur flew everywhere.
Seeing Dohwa so happy over gaining a mere single level…
'I'm sorry, Dohwa.'
From the fourth tier onward, I absolutely have to kill Hard Tower bosses.
Once I heal my little sister, I won't have any excuses left, either.
I should work up some courage.
'…Right, Serin!'
"Dohwa, stop making a fuss and let's go!"
I quickly picked Dohwa up and started walking.
Whoosh—!!
Portal light enveloped us,
-Ding.
[You have been transferred to the 'Pilgrim's Tower.']
[Boss Floor Clear Rewards]
- Stat Points +20
- Lowest-grade Recovery Potion x11
- Weapon/Armor Selection Ticket x1
[The trait 'Golden Rule+' activates.]
You obtain the following additional rewards.
- Stat Points +2
- Lowest-grade Recovery Potion x2
[Ryu Hwi-min]
Level: 715 (+45)
Title: Beyond the Impossible
Strength: 225+50 (+10)
Agility: 205+50 (+10)
Vitality: 195+50 (+10)
Mana: 96+50 (+10)
Luck: 53+50 (+5)
'…I'm stronger than Hwang Hee-chan now.'
A flashy Status Window welcomed me.
The figures before me were even higher than those of Hwang Hee-chan, Korea's strongest Awakener.
That meant I was now Korea's strongest.
But I didn't feel much about it.
'They say Cheol Gangmin is at least Floor 50.'
My community username was 'Cheol Gangmin's Awakener Analysis 2.'
People had made a huge fuss over him.
Saying things like he had reached an unprecedented realm, that he had definitely cleared Floor 50 or higher of the Pilgrim's Tower, and so on.
Maybe that's why it didn't feel all that real.
How should I put it? I just thought, 'Well, I suppose that is how it is.'
'Let's finish this quickly and head straight to the hospital.'
Swish—
I reached out my hand again.
I grasped the cross containing a Stigma,
-Ding.
[Stigma inscription complete.]
[Third-Tier Stigma—Blood Explosion]
For every wound he suffers, he gains, in an instant, the power to shatter even a boulder.
'Well, nothing special.'
An increase in stats proportional to self-inflicted damage.
I inscribed the Stigma I'd thought of beforehand.
The Dragon Armor trait and self-harm restriction made a perfect pair, so this would surely prove useful for a long time as well.
'That's done. Next!'
But even that was outside my focus.
Something else was most important.
"Trait Enhancement Swap, Fusion!!"
After enhancing the Fusion trait with the ring.
I took out the items I'd carefully stored in my inventory.
Twenty lowest-grade potions.
Nine low-grade potions.
More than enough to make the intermediate healing potion needed to heal my little sister.
'There aren't any listed for sale at auction, so please…!!'
Kneeling reverently, I placed my hand on them,
-Ding.
[Using the trait 'Fusion+'….]
[Crafting complete.]
[Intermediate Healing Potion x1]
Greatly heals and regenerates serious injuries.
"…It worked, it worked!!"
I had obtained my little sister's medicine.
"Dohwa, finally!!!"
"Kyaeung!!?"
"At long last!!!!"
A massive wave of dopamine hit me belatedly.
An artifact worth 1.2 billion won.
Legendary-grade armor, of which there were fewer than ten in the entire world.
Insanely overpowered footwork I could use for years to come.
This made me far happier than all those other rewards.
There weren't even any lowest-grade potions for sale, and this was intermediate-grade.
This was truly one of a kind.
'I'll hold on to the rest of the potions for now!'
"Come on, Dohwa, let's go home!! Together with Serin!!!"
After springing to my feet.
I hurried off.
"Kkang!!!"
Dohwa followed behind me excitedly, but…
-Pause.
"Oh, Dohwa. Hang on a second."
"Kyaeung?"
"I'm just going to leave one comment."
I almost forgot, drunk on dopamine.
The third-generation chaebol recording his Awakener's Survival Journal on Floor 39.
I had to give him an update and ask whether he wanted to buy a good item I'd obtained.
'I'll just leave a quick comment and go.'
Of course, I had no intention of taking long.
Ten seconds. One comment.
I'd post that one comment, leave the Tower, and sprint to my little sister.
That was definitely the plan, but…
"……Huh?"
"Kyaeung?"
"Hang on, why are there so many comments?"
The moment I opened my Status Window and accessed the Pilgrim's Tower community.
I realized something was wrong.
[Pilgrim Public Channel]
Author: Hyunseo
Title: I want kimchi jjim with rice [99+]
Hwang Hee-chan: The Awakener known as Cheol Gangmin might know the way. Please wait a little longer.
Hyunseo: Yes… Um, what about Mr. Construction Worker?
Hwang Hee-chan: Among the Pilgrim's Tower Awakeners I know, there is no one who operates under that name. Perhaps it is merely a malicious prank.
Hyunseo: I suppose so, after all…
Hyunseo: Anyway, good luck clearing the gate!!!
Hwang Hee-chan: Yes. It looks like we'll be finished in a day, so I'll greet you again then.
Hyunseo: Yes!!!
………
……
…
Hyunseo: Mister?
Hyunseo: Are you busy? It's been several daysss.
Hyunseo: Mister…?
Hyunseo: Mister? You're just busy and unable to come, right?
Hyunseo: Nothing happened to you, right?????
"……Huh?"
A week ago, around the time I entered the third tier.
Cheonghwa, who had said they were going to raid a super-large gate.
Contact with Hwang Hee-chan, the face of that operation, had abruptly stopped.