100 Floors All Master - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 045

First Test (4)

Not long after Kim Tae-yeon left, Baekdusan also came looking for him. He came running breathlessly and bowed his hands respectfully.

“Kang Jun-hyeok, you passed as well!”

“It seems you had no problems either, Baekdusan.”

“Oh my! Since Kang Jun-hyeok gave me a heads up in advance! I was prepared, so there were no problems! To anticipate such a situation. You’re truly amazing, Kang Jun-hyeok!”

Baekdusan praised Kang Jun-hyeok excessively. While it was partly flattery, half of it was sincere.

‘A test really did happen.’

Kang Jun-hyeok’s prediction had hit perfectly. It wasn’t empty words – it was spine-chilling. Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been looking at him with a smile, spoke.

“Was your Secretary alright?”

Baekdusan hesitated. His expression slowly darkened as he nodded.

“…Yes. She barely passed. Thank you.”

Baekdusan politely expressed his gratitude.

Without Kang Jun-hyeok’s advice, his Secretary wouldn’t have climbed the Tower. She would have started climbing hastily after the test announcement, but by then it would have been too late. She would have failed and been eliminated.

“Kang Jun-hyeok, you are her benefactor. And my benefactor as well. If you ever need help, please let me know anytime. I’ll roll up my sleeves and come running.”

“You don’t need to do that, just climb the Tower. That’s better for both me and you, Baekdusan.”

Kang Jun-hyeok asked Baekdusan.

“Are you planning to participate in the meeting that Kim Tae-yeon mentioned?”

“Ah. She already told you about it, I see. I probably will. …Are you participating too, Kang Jun-hyeok?”

“I probably will.”

“Oh, oh?”

Baekdusan’s eyes widened. Like Kim Tae-yeon, he had also assumed that Kang Jun-hyeok wouldn’t participate.

“When things are somewhat organized, please call me. I’ll attend.”

“Understood!”

Baekdusan nodded vigorously.

* * *

A few hours later.

Rest Space. The Small Building in its center.

Ten Chairs were placed around the Table inside. People entered the building one by one and sat in the Chairs.

Before long, Baekdusan entered the building and whistled when he saw the people.

“This is no joke.”

Six people were sitting in the Chairs.

Each and every one of them was someone Baekdusan knew.

“Kim Gang-hyeon and Jang Hwa-in… and even Gu Hyeon-ji. This is the major league.”

These were people that even Baekdusan himself couldn’t guarantee victory against.

Korea’s top-tier Players who could be counted on two hands had gathered.

Baekdusan sat down on the remaining chair. The man who had arrived first approached him with a slight smile.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Baekdusan.”

“…Lee San.”

Baekdusan frowned.

The man who approached was the guild master of the Freedom Guild. It was Lee San.

“It’s been a while.”

Baekdusan’s expression wasn’t pleasant as he greeted him.

Green Guild. Baekdu Mountain Guild. And Freedom Guild.

These were the three major guilds that divided Korea into three parts.

And Baekdusan found it quite uncomfortable to deal with the Freedom Guild.

Because the Freedom Guild literally advocated for freedom.

Joining the guild was free, and leaving was also free.

Climbing the Tower was free, and not climbing was also free.

Our guild simply provides affiliation. You bear both the responsibility and the rights.

Countless people who found both the Green Guild and Baekdu Mountain Guild uncomfortable flocked to the Freedom Guild. As a result, despite appearing late, the Freedom Guild showed growth that rivaled theirs.

Having lost so many guild members, it was quite difficult for Baekdusan to deal with them. The fact that Lee San was a stronger Player than him also played a part.

A moment later, a woman entered. It was Kim Tae-yeon. Like Baekdusan, she slightly frowned upon seeing Lee San.

“…Mr. Lee San.”

“Both of your reactions are quite hurtful. Don’t you think I’ve done something wrong?”

“That’s not it, but… It’s nice to see you, Mr. Lee San.”

Kim Tae-yeon exchanged a light nod with Baekdusan and sat down. Baekdusan also greeted her lightly.

Lee San made a strange expression at their seemingly emotionless attitude.

“You’re quite quiet compared to before. You always used to growl and fight with each other.”

As the three guilds that divided Korea into three parts, they often met to discuss various matters. Each time, Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan never failed to engage in verbal fights, and sometimes even exchanged blows.

Since he was the one who had to mediate with difficulty each time, their distant attitude was puzzling.

Baekdusan answered.

“Well, various things happened. Our relationship isn’t that bad anymore.”

“Is that so?”

Lee San smiled strangely. He quietly asked.

“I recently heard a strange rumor. Is it because of that?”

“A rumor?”

“That you and Ms. Kim Tae-yeon met someone very special.”

At those quiet words, Baekdusan frowned.

Lee San was now talking about Kang Jun-hyeok.

They had desperately tried to hide the information, but since the guild masters of two major guilds were having regular meetings, it couldn’t be perfect. Lee San asked with a smile.

“May I ask what kind of person he is that made your relationship improve?”

“Are you asking when you already know everything?”

“Hearing it directly from the person involved is a different story.”

Lee San quietly pressured Baekdusan.

Normally, Baekdusan should feel considerable pressure. The matter about Kang Jun-hyeok was a secret. If this fact became known, the contractual relationship between Kang Jun-hyeok and them could be broken.

But Baekdusan spoke indifferently.

“Perfect timing. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“…What?”

Lee San was slightly taken aback by his extremely nonchalant attitude.

Meanwhile, more people entered one by one. Eight of the ten chairs were now filled.

And among the remaining two, one person entered. The moment people saw him, they held their breath. Kim Tae-yeon let out a groan.

“Yu Jin-ha… sir.”

“Nice to meet you. Kim Tae-yeon.”

A handsome man greeted them with a confident smile.

Sword Saint. Yu Jin-ha.

Korea’s strongest Player.

No one could refute that title. Everyone gathered here were Players around the 30th Floor.

But Yu Jin-ha had reached the late 38th Floor.

He was a top-tier Player beyond their reach, renowned in the same world as Olivia Turner.

Yu Jin-ha walked confidently and sat in a chair. That seat was the head seat. It was a natural attitude, and no one objected. Seated, Yu Jin-ha looked at Kim Tae-yeon.

“Well then, Kim Tae-yeon. Please speak.”

“Yes.”

Kim Tae-yeon stood up from her seat.

“First, I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who came. Honestly, I didn’t expect everyone to show up.”

“It was none other than Kim Tae-yeon who personally called us. Of course we had to come running.”

Yu Jin-ha spoke with a pleasant smile. Kim Tae-yeon smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you.”

“…Wait a moment.”

Lee San, who had been quiet, raised his hand. He pointed with a puzzled expression.

At the end of his finger was an empty chair.

“There’s one seat empty.”

There were ten chairs in total.

But there were only nine Players present.

It was natural to think that someone hadn’t come. But Kim Tae-yeon spoke calmly.

“They were delayed for preparation. Please come in.”

With those words, Kang Jun-hyeok entered the building.

The Players were momentarily confused upon seeing him. Because it was a face they’d never seen before.

Everyone here were top-tier Players. They frequently appeared on the news and knew each other. They naturally expected someone they knew would come, but this was a complete stranger.

Amid the confusion, Kim Tae-yeon spoke with a trembling voice, but with an excited expression.

“Let me introduce him. This is Kang Jun-hyeok. A renowned Perfect Player.”

* * *

At those words, silence fell for a moment.

It was a silence of not being able to process the meaning contained in Kim Tae-yeon’s words.

But only briefly. The silence broke and shock appeared on their faces.

“W-wait.”

“Perfect Player?”

A notification for Floor 1 Perfect Clear appeared.

And after that, following the 2nd Floor and 3rd Floor Perfect notifications, Perfect Clear notifications all the way up to the 7th Floor appeared in succession.

Anyone could see that one person was Perfect Clearing all the floors.

The one and only Perfect Player.

The one who posted the 2nd Floor strategy guide, who knew things about the Tower that they didn’t know.

Who this person was had become one of Earth’s greatest mysteries.

There were quite a few who suspected the Perfect Player was Korean. There were those who had cleared Floor 0 together with Kang Jun-hyeok. But because Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon desperately hid the information, they couldn’t pinpoint it exactly.

That Perfect Player had suddenly appeared before them.

It felt like lightning had struck. People were visibly flustered. Kang Jun-hyeok looked at them.

‘These are faces I remember.’

They were all familiar from his previous life.

There were those he’d had bad relationships with, and those he’d formed long connections with. Those who died quickly, and those who stubbornly survived.

And among them, the one who had been closest to him and stayed with him the longest.

The one who had given up the Holy Sword for him.

Yu Jin-ha.

[…Oh ho. That guy is quite useful.]

Manbyeonggi muttered with interest upon seeing Yu Jin-ha.

Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Yu Jin-ha sitting at the head seat.

Yu Jin-ha’s expression was very strange.

He seemed surprised, and also flustered. It was a very peculiar expression.

Kang Jun-hyeok knew exactly what that emotion was.

“Nice to meet you.”

Kang Jun-hyeok sat in the chair closest to the entrance. Naturally, he ended up in a position facing Yu Jin-ha.

“You all came here to discuss future plans.”

His quiet voice echoed softly in the silence.

“First, I have no intention of interfering with your meeting. Please converse freely, and ask for my opinion if you need it.”

“Ah, ah, um.”

“Uh… uh.”

But their confusion wasn’t resolved. Their faces showed they wanted to talk with Kang Jun-hyeok rather than hold the meeting right away. At that moment, Yu Jin-ha clapped his hands.

Kiiing.

Though it was light clapping, the wave instantly shook them. People flinched and let out groans. Yu Jin-ha spoke with a good-natured smile.

“I understand everyone’s surprise, but didn’t we gather not for personal purposes? We gathered for the greater cause ahead. How about we compose our emotions and start our discussion?”

“Ah. Um. You’re right.”

“That’s correct.”

People made embarrassed expressions at Yu Jin-ha’s words. They slowly began to calm their emotions and prepare for the meeting.

“Then… where should we start our discussion?”

“First, we should confirm the number of people who have passed through.”

The meeting began.

But paradoxically, Yu Jin-ha, who had calmed the people down, couldn’t take his eyes off Kang Jun-hyeok. Feeling his gaze, Kang Jun-hyeok showed him a slight smile.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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