<The Southern Man's Tower Conquest Strategy 21>
Finally, the first item.
Not a magic stone or a healing potion.
Excluding items received as special rewards or purchased from the player shop.
It’s the equipment item received as a reward for completing floor-specific missions.
The probability of receiving equipment items as rewards is slim.
They rarely appear in the player shop as well.
Of course, they sell out as soon as they appear.
“What luck!”
A sword used by a paladin, a holy knight.
But at a glance, it looked extremely worn out.
No scabbard, the blade had chips here and there, the engravings were almost faded, and the handle was tattered.
On the other hand, it was quite large and heavy.
What would a holy knight spreading the gospel do with such a massive greatsword?
Preach with a sword?
“Do you believe?”
“No.”
“Then drop dead.”
“Wait, do you believe…?”
“Too late. Lost lamb, huh!”
Swish! Hack!
Like this.
But the description read:
<Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom – Tower Exclusive>
Effect: Increased attack power against undead, holy flames, steadfast spirit, critical hit rate boost.
Limitation: Effects inactive against non-undead. Low durability requires repair after use.
Feature: User’s sword and body emit a faint glow.
‘It has its uses after all.’
Still, the limitations were clear.
Low durability, and useless against anything but undead.
Wait!
Wasn’t the 60th floor an undead section?
I’d heard rumors.
Might fetch a high price.
Just in case, I asked the barbarian Gobang if he wanted it.
“Warriors need fists.”
“…”
This guy never stops with the warrior talk.
To Cossack:
“Ah! Our Summoner Bong, your heart warm as the sea moves me today!”
“Want this sword, then?”
“Hehe, no need for this clunker. Toss it in recycling.”
“…”
“What I use is wyvern leather armor and a dwarf-made dagger. Top quality, I tell you.”
“Sure, sure.”
Everyone’s too well-off to need this old relic.
No choice but to sell it.
To sell the sword…
‘Need to visit the player shop.’
Call ahead, arrange transport, meet people, haggle over price.
‘Ugh, too many steps.… I’ll sell it slowly.’
Anyway, before climbing the 30th floor, I’ll grind missions for skill mastery and magic stones. Sell everything then.
‘It’s so worn, might not even sell.’
Still, before ditching it…
Should at least try swinging it once.
Juhyuk stood before a full-length mirror, sword in hand.
“Hmm.”
Does this look right?
Feels less like I’m holding the sword and more like it’s using me as decoration.
“Lookin’ sharp, Summoner Bong!”
“It clearly doesn’t suit me. Sharp my ass.”
‘This guy… Definitely a corrupt minister in his past life. The type who toppled nations.’
The brutish greatsword looked absurdly heavy.
Could I even swing it properly?
“Ngh!”
Gripping the hilt with both hands, I tried to swing—
Wobble. Wobble.
Outside the Tower, my ordinary human strength couldn’t properly wield it.
My torso jerked awkwardly with the sword’s weight.
Wobble. Wobble. Wobble.
“Oh! Magnificent! Truly paladin material!”
“…What’re you selling?”
“I said paladin.”
“Not buying.”
“Huh?”
The exchange was bizarre, but—
“Does this look ‘magnificent’? I’m getting dragged around by its weight!”
“Enough flattery.”
“You’re doing fine! Outside the Tower, level-based physical limits apply. It’s normal.”
Juhyuk knew this already.
“Ugh. Will these restrictions ever lift?”
“Sometimes they do.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“You’re saying we can use abilities outside the Tower?”
“No. Impossible outside.”
“But you just said sometimes—”
“Well…”
Cossack paused before continuing.
“If the outside world becomes the Tower, restrictions lift. That’s the harbinger of destruction.”
“Ah…”
Made sense.
The real world becoming the Tower itself?
Meaning the boundary disappears.
Levels and skills would then work.
“If we fail to conquer the Tower, that happens?”
“Yep!”
Not exactly news.
Even without Earth becoming the Tower—
If upper floors remain unconquered, collapse creates cosmic sinkholes?
New Towers don’t reset to Floor 1.
They start from the collapsed Tower’s unconquered floors.
Fail again? The cycle continues—regenerate, collapse, repeat.
Earth becomes Swiss cheese.
Doomed either way.
Hence the need to conquer the Tower.
‘Unsettling.’
What’s the point of playing safe when we’re all screwed?
Even a Southern man feels this crisis.
※ ※ ※
Japanese Embassy, Seoul Gwanghwamun.
Across the street, a basement hid a quiet classic bar.
No signboard. Unrecognizable as a pub.
Two patrons. No bartender in sight.
One: Counselor Tomoda from the embassy.
The other: A Korean player… actually a scout broker.
“Add a few conditions, and we’ll consider it positively.”
Not a yes, but progress. Contact itself was previously impossible.
“Conditions?”
“Read this.”
Tomoda scanned the broker’s note.
“Hmm. Tell them we can meet these.”
“Will do.”
“When can we get a definitive answer?”
“Hard to say. They claim they won’t stall.”
“Ha! Comparing offers with China first?”
“No way he’d choose China. Needs to wrap up affairs here first.”
As Japan’s hired broker, he’d say that. But China wasn’t slackening either.
“You understand? Absolute secrecy until decided.”
“Hmph! Think I’m stupid?”
If Korea caught wind, their efforts would crumble.
“Still. I’d hate to be backstabbed. Don’t disappoint.”
“Relax. He’ll choose Japan.”
Tomoda nodded. His gut said yes.
“By the way… The 27-floor streak?”
“Yes. Media’s buzzing.”
“Identity still unknown?”
“Being hushed, but it’s inevitable… Why? Interested?”
“Obviously.”
In fact, desperately interested. He wanted that player too.
“But no rush yet.”
“Why?”
“We need someone who has been verified.”
It’s not because we need an S++ conquest.
What’s urgent right now is finding a player who can conquer the 57th floor of Japan’s Black Tower.
I’m talking about the player Yoo Cheol-min, who conquered the 65th floor.
If he comes, we won’t have to worry about Japan’s Black Tower up to the 65th floor.
“If Player Yoo Cheol-min were to naturalize to our side, a storm would soon follow.”
The Korean player broker also agreed.
“Yes, both Korea and Japan would be in an uproar. Just thinking about it makes me tremble. This is such a big deal that I’m risking my life for it.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll guarantee your status for sure. Or, why not just come over to Japan this time?”
“Hahaha! Should I?”
The naturalization of Yoo Cheol-min, Korea’s star player, to Japan.
The word “storm” doesn’t even come close to describing it.
The world would be turned upside down.
If things go wrong, a war between Japan and Korea might break out.
‘A war,’
Counselor Tomoda chuckled.
A war is something we can handle.
If Japan’s Black Tower collapses, it might trigger a second Great Kanto Earthquake.
Truthfully, Yoo Cheol-min is just a temporary solution.
Even though he’s boasting, it’s likely impossible for him to conquer the 66th-floor Specter.
That’s his limit.
He’s only useful up to the 65th floor.
The player we really want is someone else.
Though it’s not urgent… it’s the S++ grade conqueror.
Has there ever been such a player globally?
Especially one who has set an unprecedented record of 27 consecutive floors.
‘Korea sure is lucky. How did they get such a player?’
Especially considering they’re just a bunch of subservient Joseon-jing, after all.
※ ※ ※
How do you check the progress of each country’s Black Tower conquest?
It’s simple.
Just ask the system as a player.
“Status of Korea’s Black Tower conquest progress.”
Ding!
[Location]: Gangwon-do, Korea, Black Tower
[Completed]: 65th floor
[In Progress]: 66th floor
[Time Limit]: 92 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes, 52 seconds
That’s how it appears.
At first, I didn’t even understand what the time limit meant.
Or what would happen if it was violated.
It wasn’t until Mumbai collapsed that I realized.
Since Joo-hyuk is part of the elite team, he’s naturally interested in the tower’s progress, but right now, the task in front of him is more important.
Only the 27th floor.
He’s still far, far from the top.
He won’t rush to climb.
Even a sturdy stone bridge is tested a hundred times,
Without relying on accumulated Platinum Badge perks,
Ensuring not a single hair is harmed, taking every precaution,
He climbs with utmost caution, ensuring safety at every step.
‘That’s the beginner’s mindset.’
Adventures are forbidden.
Understanding the situation is essential.
Leave the 66th floor to elite players of higher levels.
There’s still half the time limit left, and the country must have its plans.
‘They’ll conquer it soon.’
After all, Korea has the extraordinary player Yoo Cheol-min.
What Joo-hyuk needs to do right now is conquer the 28th and 29th floors.
“Welcome.”
“Ssusal Cossack greets the summoner. Boom!”
“Algobang is here too.”
Now he’s referring to himself as Algobang.
Isn’t that a nickname Cossack made to tease him?
Yet he’s acting like it’s his real name.
‘It’s heartbreaking, truly heartbreaking.’
A barbarian warrior who, due to his lack of intelligence, was deceived by people and ultimately met his death.
‘I need to find a way to get him a grade-enhancing rune.’
[Entering Korea’s Black Tower, 28th floor.]
Jungle terrain.
Not just an ordinary forest, but a dense jungle with massive trees.
Not a single ray of light enters, making it extremely dark.
[28th Floor Mission]: Defeat 20 Jungle Trolls.
[Completion Time Limit]: Within 4 hours.
“Hwi-yu, these jungle trolls. If I were Ssal, it would’ve been a bit difficult. No, even as Ssusal, doing an S++ conquest alone would’ve been tough.”
Understandable.
The reason jungle trolls are tough:
They live in the trees.
Their bodies are smaller than other trolls, allowing them to live in the trees.
To catch them, you have to climb up.
Because they never come down to the ground.
“So, is it easy now?”
“Yes.”
“Even S++ conquest?”
“Piece of cake.”
“How?”
“What do you think Algobang is for? He’s more useful than you’d think.”
Cossack tapped Algobang’s shoulder as he spoke.
“Algobang, let’s start.”
“Got it. I’ll handle it all.”
There seemed to be some kind of understanding.
Algobang bent over, placing both hands on the ground.
Like a sprinter on the track,
At the same time.
“Uwoooooo!!!”
Algobang charged toward the massive tree.
Kwaaaaaang! Kugung!
What’s that sound?
Did a bomb go off?
The huge tree shook violently like a vibrating smartphone.
Creak! Snap!
You could hear the trunk breaking,
Sssssss!
Leaves fell in droves.
“...”
What the heck?
Mom, he’s terrifying.
Jungle trolls live in the trees.
Do you think the trees they live in are just ordinary in size?
They’re enormous.
More than twice the size of the largest tree on Earth.
And that thing shook from a shoulder charge?
Is he human? A tank?
‘He could make a living doing demolition work outside.’
How is Algobang only Rare grade?
No matter how dumb he is, with that strength, shouldn’t he be at least Ssusal grade?
“Algobang, you summoned one! So weak, so weak. Is that all you can do? Are we going to party like this?”
“I’ll reflect. Algobang, I’ll go harder.”
Once more.
Dadadadak!
Paaaaak!
Kwakwakwakwak! Kwadduk!
The tree shook as if its roots were being pulled out.
At the same time.
Thudududuk! Thududuk!
Jungle trolls fell to the ground like chestnuts.
“Good job. Algobang, the summoned one, we can party now.”
“Let’s eat something delicious.”
Now it’s Ssusal and Cossack’s time.
They quickly dispatched the falling trolls.
The sword energy from the dagger illuminated the dark jungle.
Sssk, ssskkk! Ssskk!
The trolls couldn’t even regenerate.
Their heads were cut off the moment they fell.
“Alright! Next, let’s go to the tree.”
“...Yeah, we should.”
Though they may seem unrefined,
These two were true powerhouses.
Their strategy was the same.
Cossack would point to a specific tree,
Algobang would charge into it,
The jungle trolls fell like chestnuts,
Cossack would harvest them.
It looked simple,
But it was far from an easy strategy.
“I kind of want to try it too...”
“Aiyoo! Of course! Go for it! Do whatever you want!”
The jungle trolls had already taken a heavy hit from the fall.
They were dazed and disoriented.
“It’s done. Hehehe.”
“Yeah, it’s done. Hahaha.”
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ grade conquest on the 28th floor of Korea’s Black Tower.]
[S++ Conquest Reward: A Platinum Badge has been awarded.]
