100 Floors All Master - Chapter 46

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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 046

The First Test (5)

Yu Jin-ha flinched for a moment upon seeing that smile.

He twisted his lips as if uncomfortable with the gaze that seemed to see right through him.

But it disappeared in an instant. A good-natured smile was drawn on his expression.

Meanwhile, the meeting was still in progress. Kim Tae-yeon, who had organized the information, spoke.

“According to our confirmation, approximately twenty thousand people from Korea passed.”

“Twenty thousand… you say.”

Lee San let out a groan.

Korea’s current population was approximately twenty million.

Only twenty thousand out of that. It meant barely one out of a thousand had passed. Silence lingered at the terrifyingly small number.

“What about the situation in other countries?”

“We’ll have to go outside to know for sure, but it probably won’t be much different from ours.”

“Are the Failed Participants dead?”

“I don’t know about that, but it’s unlikely. They said there would be penalties, not that they would be excluded. But… at least for the time being, they probably won’t be able to serve as fighting power.”

“I suppose that’s right.”

The Administrator had said this was the first test.

It meant there could be second and third tests in the future. They needed to prepare for them.

“We don’t know what the next test will be like. It might require individual strength like this time, or it might require collective strength. We don’t know what it will be, but…”

“We do need to prepare.”

But how should they prepare?

They groaned and let out sighs. While thoughtful silence lingered, Yu Jin-ha gently opened his mouth.

“What do you think about leading people?”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean by that?”

People were confused. Yu Jin-ha continued speaking.

“I mean exactly what I said. In the end, twenty thousand people passed the test at this point. They’re likely to become our fighting force. You would lead them directly. Baekdusan’s guild would be a good example.”

Baekdusan’s guild had survival of the fittest as its motto. It helped guild members build strength with each other and enthusiastically climb the Tower.

“You would join forces to create one large group. Gather people, assemble them, and help them. What do you think?”

It was very reasonable and correct words. They were Korea’s top players after all. If they didn’t lead, who would?

“Hmm…”

“If that were to happen…”

But their faces were actually ambiguous.

The reason was simple.

Each of them had their own affiliations.

Numerous guilds existed in Korea.

And most of these people were guild masters of their respective guilds. They competed with each other, opposed each other, and sometimes had conflicts.

If they followed Yu Jin-ha’s words, they would need to combine their forces, which meant they would have to give up the power they held.

No one wanted to willingly give up the power they possessed. As they hesitated, Yu Jin-ha spoke with strength.

“We need to set aside personal pride and greed. We are Korea’s strongest Players.”

A voice filled with strong will resonated among them.

“Leading people and guiding them is our role.”

“Hmm….”

“That’s right.”

They wore ashamed expressions. Yu Jin-ha’s words were absolutely correct. Even with the world in this state, they were still hesitating because they couldn’t let go of power. What a shameful sight this was.

The atmosphere completely changed with Yu Jin-ha’s words. Some among them looked at Yu Jin-ha as if they were moved.

And watching this scene, Kang Jun-hyeok was struggling to hold back his laughter. Manbyeonggi also muttered as if finding it absurd.

[Don’t these guys understand reality? What are they talking about right now?]

“Um… then what should we do?”

“Well, we’ll have to give up all the guilds. To think it would come to this after building them up with such difficulty for ten years.”

Lee San looked at Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon.

“Are you two alright with this? You’re probably the ones who put the most effort into your guilds among us.”

“You’re the same way though.”

“I’m fine since I’m just a guild leader in name only.”

“It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of clinging to such things at this point.”

“Same here.”

The two with the largest guilds agreed without much resistance. Normally they would have resisted considerably, but their conversation with Kang Jun-hyeok had made them give up their attachments.

The discussion was settled with them combining their forces to create one group.

“Then… what should we do about the leader?”

Even if they combined forces to create a group, they still needed a leader. This was even more true since they were all top-tier Players with strong pride.

Naturally, their gazes turned toward Yu Jin-ha.

The strongest Player that no one could approach. If Yu Jin-ha became the group’s leader, they could all accept it willingly. But Yu Jin-ha shook his head.

“I have no intention of becoming the leader. I lack both the qualifications and ability for that.”

“If Mr. Yu Jin-ha says he’s lacking, I think there’s no one who could become leader….”

“Um… then how about we do it this way?”

Yu Jin-ha, who had been thinking for a moment, organized his thoughts.

“I’ll become the leader. However, I won’t give any orders to any of you. It would be closer to a nominal leader of sorts. How about you all freely discuss and decide on direction and such matters?”

“That doesn’t seem bad.”

“Let’s do that.”

People nodded their heads. It was because his words were very reasonable.

Yu Jin-ha’s words were generally correct.

If you listened casually, they were close to sound arguments, with nothing to criticize.

‘Still the same.’

Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Yu Jin-ha.

Sweet words. Picture-perfect words. But words without substance, completely empty.

The Yu Jin-ha from the past that he remembered. Exactly the same.

The discussion gradually reached a conclusion. Then their gazes began to turn toward Kang Jun-hyeok.

“So… what do you think, Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok?”

“If you participate as well, Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok, we would naturally offer you a position in the leadership.”

“Since you’re a Perfect Player, it’s only natural.”

They never even considered that Kang Jun-hyeok might refuse or oppose them. They believed without a doubt that there was no reason or justification for him to do so.

That’s why the air froze at Kang Jun-hyeok’s words that followed with cynicism.

“You people. Aren’t you mistaken about something?”

* * *

“…What do you mean by that?”

In the silence, Lee San barely managed to speak. Kang Jun-hyeok leaned back in his chair.

“Your words are idealistic. You strong ones will care for, lead, and nurture the weak. Your words are very righteous. But there’s a problem.”

Kang Jun-hyeok chuckled.

“You are not strong. You don’t have the luxury to worry about others.”

“Wh-what do you mean.”

“Let me ask one question. Among those present here, excluding Mr. Yu Jin-ha, is there anyone who received an A grade or higher in this test?”

“…”

No one could answer.

There was no one. At best, they had B grades. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke indifferently.

“You are weak. You’re just like adolescent children who pride themselves on being excellent just because they’re slightly ahead of inexperienced kids. Who’s leading whom? You’d be too busy taking care of yourselves. And most importantly, forming a group won’t change anything.”

Those who finished the meeting created a massive group.

And Kang Jun-hyeok knew the result of that.

They checked and hindered each other to gain even slightly more influence.

‘Power really drives people mad.’

If Yu Jin-ha had controlled something as a leader, it might have been different, but he was a leader in name only. He had only honor but took no responsibility.

As a result, the group formed in the first test collapsed without any achievements.

Instead, it only confused people and acted like a cancer cell that ate away at them for a long time.

“If you want to help others, you could personally take one or two people and teach them. But anything beyond that is meaningless. Use that time to climb the Tower and build your skills. You are still hopelessly inexperienced.”

“…If we are inexperienced, are you saying you’re not inexperienced?”

Someone stood up from their seat in anger.

It was Kim Gang-hyeon. A Player stronger than Baekdusan who had cleared the 30th Floor, he had strong pride in his power. He couldn’t help but be angry at Kang Jun-hyeok’s words.

At the angry gaze, Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.

“Yes. You are inexperienced. Let me show you a simple example.”

With those words, a chair flew out. Kang Jun-hyeok rushed toward Kim Gang-hyeon.

Kim Gang-hyeon was startled and drew his weapon. He quickly drew a dagger and swung it toward Kang Jun-hyeok.

Kang Jun-hyeok lightly twisted his body to dodge and grabbed his wrist. He applied force and roughly pulled. Kim Gang-hyeon’s body flew through the air while caught by Kang Jun-hyeok and crashed into the ground.

Kwaaaaang!

“Ku, kugh!”

Kim Gang-hyeon tried to resist somehow but was trampled under Kang Jun-hyeok’s foot. Kang Jun-hyeok drew his great sword and struck down.

Kuuuuung!

“W-wait!”

“Wait a moment!”

People jumped up in shock. The great sword was embedded right next to Kim Gang-hyeon’s cheek. His face turned pale white.

“…He’s gotten stronger.”

“Indeed.”

Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan muttered with a knowing, bitter tone. For the two who had already been thoroughly beaten by him, this was a natural scene.

But for the others, it wasn’t.

“Wh, wh, what?”

“What?”

They hadn’t evaluated Kang Jun-hyeok’s power that highly.

While he was an excellent Player who had achieved Perfect Clear and knew things they didn’t, they thought his actual strength was still lacking. It was a natural assumption since he had only cleared the 7th Floor while they were looking beyond the 30th Floor.

But Kim Gang-hyeon had been subdued without being able to do anything.

Bewildered shock lingered in the air. Yu Jin-ha’s eyes widened.

“This is precisely the proof that you are all immature.”

Kang Jun-hyeok sheathed his great sword.

“As a result of failing to obtain what you should have gained while climbing the Tower, despite reaching the 30th Floor, you’re defeated without being able to do anything against me, who’s only on the 7th Floor.”

No one could refute him. The movement Kang Jun-hyeok had just shown was at a speed and strength they couldn’t respond to.

“So how about we do this?”

Kang Jun-hyeok smiled slightly.

“In the end, you are all nothing more than children who need others to guide you. You don’t have the luxury to create groups and lead others. However, if you receive education, build strength, and grow, the story could be different.”

“…Ah.”

“Hmm.”

Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon realized what he was trying to do. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke cheerfully.

“I will educate all of you. Of course, I’ll receive sufficient compensation befitting that service. How about it?”

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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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