100 Floors All Master - Chapter 75

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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 075

 

Floor 14. Great Ocean (3)

 

He builds goodwill with the mermaids.

 

He brings a Giant Squid skewered on his spear to provide them with food supplies. After that, he uses fish traps and other methods to catch large quantities of fish and brings them over.

 

That’s not all. He replaces old coral reefs with new ones and scrapes away accumulated grime.

 

[Digging.]

 

Kuuung!

 

He even digs the ground to create caves where the mermaids can stay and play. The mermaids show expressions of amazement at his incredible power.

 

Not stopping there, he also provided emotional support. He told the mermaids countless stories about the ground above.

 

Using the power of his Acting and Persuasion Skills, he made his stories convincing and captivated the mermaids. At first, there weren’t many people, but at some point, most of the mermaids came to listen.

 

He builds intimacy with the mermaids and develops bonds with them.

 

When about a week had passed like this, the Village Chief called for Kang Jun-hyeok.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

The Village Chief bowed his head politely.

 

“I was wary of you. I thought you were a dangerous impurity and was watching you, ready to drive you out at any time. But I was wrong.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok had literally done everything he could to help them. He had breathed life into the sunken village and been a great help both physically and mentally.

 

He could be called a benefactor rather than just a guest. The Village Chief felt ashamed for having suspected him.

 

“I ask for your forgiveness. And thank you.”

 

“It’s alright. Extending a helping hand to those in need is my duty.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok accepted the apology with a gentle smile. The Village Chief’s face relaxed considerably as he burst into hearty laughter.

 

“Without your help, the situation probably wouldn’t have improved much. To be honest, things were quite difficult.”

 

“It seems like something has been troubling you.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes gleamed.

 

“I think I might be able to help.”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

The Village Chief, who had been contemplating for a moment, shook his head.

 

“This is a matter of the sea. It’s not a problem for someone from the ground like you to get involved in.”

 

The Village Chief refused.

 

It was a reasonable judgment. After all, it was their affair. Asking anything more of Kang Jun-hyeok, who was close to being a benefactor, would weigh on his conscience.

 

But for Kang Jun-hyeok, it was an unnecessary judgment.

 

He needed to change that stubbornness, that judgment.

 

What would be good? The answer came immediately. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke powerfully, yet quietly.

 

“Fruit for the thirsty. Meat for the hungry. Shelter for the weary. A staff for The Walker. Helping those who are troubled and suffering is my duty and mission.”

 

“…Hmm?”

 

The Village Chief’s eyes widened. Kang Jun-hyeok continued gently.

 

“You said that out of consideration for me, but actually, telling me about it would help me with my trial.”

 

“…Are you undergoing a divine trial?”

 

“Yes. I cannot tell you what kind of being they are, though.”

 

“Ah, I understand. It’s common for those undergoing trials to hide the god’s name and walk their pilgrimage. Let us give thanks to this unknown god for their grace.”

 

The Village Chief offered a prayer to the unknown god with a genuinely moved expression.

 

But naturally, it was all lies.

 

[Acting Skill proficiency has greatly increased.]

 

[Persuasion Skill proficiency has greatly increased.]

 

No such god existed. Kang Jun-hyeok had simply lied to draw out the Village Chief’s words.

 

Originally, he would have needed to build more trust with the mermaids.

 

And he would have had to wait until an incident occurred.

 

But with the power of his Acting and Persuasion Skills, he had compressed that entire process. Kang Jun-hyeok suppressed a smile. The Village Chief began explaining calmly.

 

“We weren’t like this from the beginning. We freely roamed the sea, caught fish, and lived that way. But two months ago, a serious problem suddenly arose.”

 

“What kind of problem?”

 

“The Fishmen. They began attacking us.”

 

Fishmen.

 

If mermaids were half-human, half-fish, then Fishmen were half-fish, half-human. They were a species that stood at the opposite end from mermaids, with human lower bodies and fish upper bodies.

 

But there was something puzzling about this.

 

“The relationship between Fishmen and mermaids shouldn’t be bad.”

 

Species that lived in the depths of the sea. Because the sea was a fluid territory, there hadn’t been any particular conflicts.

 

With abundant food supplies, their relationship was closer to an alliance. At Kang Jun-hyeok’s words, the Village Chief let out a deep sigh.

 

“That’s how it used to be. We frequently exchanged with each other and held festivals together. But starting two months ago, things suddenly became strange. They’re attacking us without warning.”

 

“Communication doesn’t work at all?”

 

“That’s right. No matter how we try to resolve things through words, the moment they see us, they immediately try to attack, so persuasion is impossible. On top of that, Alpram, the guardian of the Great Ocean, has also become strange.”

 

“Alpram, you mean…”

 

“A giant whale. It has lived for hundreds of years, peacefully protecting this Great Ocean.”

 

The whale’s true identity was the guardian of the Great Ocean. To think that whale, which had been killed by countless Players until now, was a guardian. He felt a strange sense of emotion. The Village Chief continued.

 

“The one who always quietly guarded the Great Ocean suddenly became strange and is creating chaos. All of this happened within the past two months. Because of this, we can’t properly go out to sea and can’t obtain food supplies either. I have no idea what’s going on.”

 

The Village Chief rubbed around his eyes as if tired. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.

 

“Then I’ll go and check it out myself.”

 

“A-are you sure that’s alright?”

 

“You don’t need to worry. I have the strength to protect myself. However…”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok spoke subtly.

 

“Could I receive some Mermaid’s Orbs?”

 

“Of course! If you solve this problem, you’ll be our benefactor! I can give you as many Mermaid’s Orbs as you want!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok smiled slightly.

 

* * *

 

[You’re skilled at deceiving people.]

 

Manbyeonggi muttered.

 

[When you talked about trials, I momentarily thought you were talking about that bastard Eldir.]

 

“I’m used to it. This kind of thing.”

 

Disguising one’s emotions and deceiving others.

 

It was one of the essential skills in the process of climbing the Tower.

 

“Then.”

 

Now it was time to seriously solve the problem.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok moved across the sea. He knew the location of the fishmen from what he heard from the Village Chief. After advancing a bit like that, he was able to discover a fishman.

 

A being with human legs and a fish head.

 

That fishman was moving through the sea in a daze. Its movements were no different from a zombie.

 

After exploring the surroundings and confirming there were no other fishmen, Kang Jun-hyeok immediately rushed in. The fishman was startled and raised its weapon, but he easily pressed it down and covered its mouth.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok whispered quietly to the subdued fishman.

 

“I’d like to have a conversation. Would that be alright?”

 

“…! !! !”

 

The fishman trembled as if having a seizure. It struggled desperately trying to break free, but the difference in basic strength was too severe. It didn’t budge as if bound by chains.

 

In a normal case, it would either give up resistance out of fear or at least try to have a calm conversation.

 

But the fishman didn’t do that. It continued to struggle. In the process, its movements showed it felt no pain even as its own body was getting injured.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been watching the fishman for a moment, let go.

 

Then the fishman immediately charged at him.

 

As if it knew neither fear nor terror, it fell into madness and tried to kill Kang Jun-hyeok. After deflecting its attacks for a while, he struck the back of its head to knock it unconscious.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok moved forward. The fishmen that looked similar to the previous one were all wandering around in a daze like zombies.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok quietly approached them and tried talking to them, or subdued them to attempt conversation.

 

But they all either tried to attack without warning like the first fishman he met, or struggled frantically. Not a single one showed a normal reaction.

 

“This is strange indeed.”

 

The fishmen were a very rational race despite their appearance. They disliked conflict and would yield even in situations where they would suffer losses.

 

But the fishmen he encountered now showed no such traits.

 

They were simply fallen into madness, trying only to wield violence.

 

“What is this.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok frowned.

 

All the fishmen seemed to be poisoned by something.

 

But at least as far as Kang Jun-hyeok knew, no such poisonous substance existed.

 

As Kang Jun-hyeok approached the fishmen’s village, he felt something strange.

 

The number of visible fishmen gradually increased. It was natural since he was getting closer to the village, but there was a problem.

 

“It’s somewhat systematic.”

 

The fishmen were standing guard extensively around the village as the center.

 

They weren’t simply spread out randomly. Looking at their positions, it was closer to a perimeter with the clear purpose of blocking anyone approaching the village.

 

They hadn’t simply become violent from falling into madness. They were receiving instructions from something.

 

To find out, he needed to approach the village. Kang Jun-hyeok lowered his stance and silenced his movements. The closer he got to the village, the more strict the fishmen’s surveillance became, but it wasn’t a big problem for the current Kang Jun-hyeok.

 

[Stealth.]

 

He hides his body. Sound, presence, aura. And even his appearance. He passes through the final perimeter and enters the village.

 

“Well, this is something.”

 

Kang Jun-hyeok whistled as he entered the village.

 

The Merfolk Village could no longer be called a village.

 

Everything had been hollowed out and excavated, leaving only a massive hole behind. It was an extremely artificial hole.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok peered into the hole. A hole spread across the Deep Sea Bottom.

 

Inside it, there was a single octopus.

 

A massive octopus that could easily cover an entire village and more. Though it was quiet now, seemingly asleep, even a single movement of its writhing tentacles would sweep across the entire area.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes widened.

 

A giant sea monster. A king that dominated vast territories of the sea.

 

It was a Kraken.

 

‘Wait a minute.’

 

If it was a Kraken, he could understand. Its specialty was precisely Mind Control. It could dominate merfolk or whales in an instant.

 

The problem was that a Kraken wasn’t the level of monster that should appear on just Floor 14.

 

That thing was a sea monster. An existence that could dominate and shake the seas, and a fully grown specimen’s power would be difficult for even top-tier Players of the Tower to handle.

 

As Kang Jun-hyeok examined the Kraken closely, he soon realized.

 

‘It’s not fully grown.’

 

The Kraken’s size covered the bottom of the deep sea. It wasn’t at a level where it could fit in a hole the size of just a village.

 

It wasn’t fully grown.

 

Beyond that, it appeared to have been born not too long ago. It seemed to have just made its nest here and was trying to expand its territory. Thinking of it that way, it made sense.

 

Then what he had to do was simple.

 

[Kuuuu…]

 

A sound echoes from the Kraken. Whether it had awakened from sleep, its single eye blinks as it rises. Soon its gaze turns toward Kang Jun-hyeok.

 

[…Kuuu?]

 

For a moment, as if not understanding the situation, the Kraken made a stupid sound.

 

Kang Jun-hyeok drew his spear.

 

“Hello?”

 

[Spear Throwing.]

 

The spear embedded itself precisely in the Kraken’s single eye.

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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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