Climbing the Mythic Tower as a Cheating Administrator - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Admin with a Cheat Code Climbing a Mythic Tower (25)
Towers rise in every major city across the globe.
Dungeons? They connect through Gates scattered around those towers like seeds cast to the wind.
Some towers still have Dungeons whose depths remain unconfirmed.
Around some cities, Dungeons 1 through 10 cluster densely together.
With even those rules unverified, neither governments nor the World Awakener Association could manage everything.
So the nations agreed to take responsibility only for Dungeons corresponding to floors where most Awakeners stopped climbing—floors 30 and below.
In other words, floors above 30 could be managed by the major guilds of that country without issue.
“Good morning, Manager. I’m Seo Young-hwa, Deputy Director at Strategy Headquarters.”
Of course, there were countries where, following the World Awakener Association’s recommendations, government-affiliated Awakeners were strong enough that they managed even Dungeons above floor 30.
In the end, the question of who managed higher-floor Dungeons came down to pure might.
“Ah, Deputy Director Seo Young-hwa? I got your message. So this gentleman is…”
“Yes, this is Kim Mu-saeng the Sherpa.”
That being the case, it made sense that Geumseong managed most Dungeons of floor 50 and above.
South Korea’s top five guilds? No—to be precise.
Even combining guilds ranked third, fourth, and fifth couldn’t match it.
The undisputed strongest guild in South Korea—that was Geumseong.
A barricade erected in front of the 55 Dungeon Gate.
In front of that heavily guarded checkpoint—the kind of place you couldn’t breach casually even with an armored vehicle—a man who looked to be in his mid-forties extended his hand toward Mu-saeng.
“I’m Park Jin-chul, Manager of the 55 Dungeon, Dungeon Management Division.”
“From OMG Company—well, actually, I quit being a Sherpa. Ha. Kim Mu-saeng.”
Mu-saeng introduced himself habitually, then abruptly threw out information.
At those words, Park Jin-chul and Seo Young-hwa’s expressions darkened.
“Pardon? Ah…”
“Oh, really? My apologies, Kim Mu-saeng.”
Sherpas are typically treated as the ‘errand runners’ of Awakeners.
They’d received their guests without even knowing that he’d quit such a position, just calling him Sherpa, Sherpa the whole time!?
For both the Strategy Headquarters Director and Deputy Director, it was practically a grave business blunder—but.
“Please, there’s no need to apologize. I’m still used to introducing myself as Sherpa Kim Mu-saeng anyway. Just call me Freelancer Kim Mu-saeng.”
Mu-saeng let it pass with a wave of his hand.
There was nothing genuinely upsetting about it, and given what lay ahead working with Geumseong, there was no reason to make a fuss about it.
Besides, no one could blame Park Jin-chul or Seo Young-hwa.
“Then, Freelancer Kim Mu-saeng, if I may ask—why did you ask to meet here?”
“Deputy Director, getting straight to the point like that…”
The information that Mu-saeng had left OMG Company was something even Geum Su-ah and Yun Pyo had only recently learned.
Watching the two emerge from the black limousine, Mu-saeng felt something luminous emanate from them.
‘I was too tired last time to notice, but… they definitely radiate power.’
Geum Su-ah, wielder of Luminous (SR).
Yun Pyo, wielder of Absolute Zero (SR).
There were even several videos on video-sharing sites documenting the application and deployment of their overwhelming Awakening abilities.
Back when he was a Dungeon Sherpa with no hope of reaching the tower, these people had been figures of longing, trees he dared not even gaze upon…
“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Yun Pyo, Director of Strategy Headquarters at Geumseong. First, please allow me to express our gratitude for making time for us.”
“That’s my line. Even knowing it breaks protocol, I wanted to meet with both of you, so I asked for this spot. And Geum Su-ah, you’ve been well?”
“Your brother was very kind to us, so yes, we’ve been doing well.”
“Ha, I hope Park Hyun-gu didn’t mess anything up while shaking in his boots.”
A mess-up?
That’s Park Hyun-gu’s talent—making it impossible to tell whether something is a mistake, sincerity, or hidden intent!
Geum Su-ah shuddered at Kim Mu-saeng and Park Hyun-gu’s ever-confusing manner of speaking.
But that wasn’t something to say here.
Yun Pyo asked.
“May I inquire whether you have some business inside the Dungeon?”
“Ah, nothing major. I need to meet Maia, the mage. With the two of you helping, it should be much smoother.”
“…Maia. If I may say so, based on your tower-climbing record and Sherpa experience, the idea of meeting her…”
“You’ll understand once we’re inside. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
After all, it was Mu-saeng who had asked to enter the 55 Dungeon in the first place.
It was Mu-saeng who had said he wanted to go inside.
Were Yun Pyo and Geum Su-ah really going to let Mu-saeng go in alone?
He might die.
Mu-saeng had already done all those calculations, so asking now whether they’d come along was the closing move of a game already decided…
“Very well. Let’s go.”
Yun Pyo had no choice but to accept.
And if the head of Strategy Headquarters was going, it was only natural that the deputy head would accompany him.
Geum Su-ah followed along while trying to seize control of the situation.
“We can’t just go like this! Director Park, could you give us some Mana Pressure Resistance Potion? Kim Mu-saeng needs to drink some—”
A single move that said: I don’t know what you want, but remember our favor, regardless.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t need to drink it until we reach the 55 Dungeon.”
Kim Mu-saeng refused outright.
Not even saying he’d drink something he’d brought himself. Just… no need to drink anything at all?
Geum Su-ah and Yun Pyo were momentarily taken aback.
“I’m sorry?”
“B-but Kim Mu-saeng—”
“The 51 Dungeon was fine before, no issues. And once I got used to the 66 Dungeon, it was manageable enough. There’s no point wasting it… you shouldn’t carelessly use company supplies, right?”
And it was Kim Mu-saeng who landed a counterattack on their bewilderment.
Smiling faintly—a Dungeon Sherpa talking about company supplies, of all things…?
“Shall we go.”
And then throwing himself into the Gate without hesitation.
Geum Su-ah started in alarm and chased after Kim Mu-saeng.
“Wait! Just a moment! We should go together!”
The space where he’d vanished into the Dungeon in an instant.
Yun Pyo stood silent for a moment, staring at the Gate.
Then he turned and spoke.
“Young-hwa, gather all emergency equipment and follow us in nineteen minutes.”
“Ah, yes. Understood, Director.”
He would prevent any contingency, any worst-case scenario, no matter what.
Even if the person himself refused, he prepared for every possibility.
The head of Geumseong Strategy Headquarters threw himself into the Gate.
* * *
A high-pitched hum, a deep thrumming……
A vast interior space, sprawling and immense.
And across the walls, ceiling, and floor, circuit patterns etched in dense profusion.
When one watched the blue light traveling along those patterns in fits and starts, anyone ought to feel dwarfed.
At least Yun Pyo and Geum Su-ah, who had both cleared the 55th floor, certainly did.
Back when they’d formed a party with Strategy Headquarters personnel and climbed the tower.
And even on the occasions they’d entered the 55 Dungeon for staff training afterward.
“Let’s see, then……”
The problem was that Kim Mu-saeng, who’d entered for the first time today, seemed completely unbothered.
More than that—he was actually glancing at the floor, walls, and ceiling, as if searching for something.
“Um, Kim Mu-saeng… this is your first time in the 55 Dungeon, right?”
Geum Su-ah asked carefully.
Kim Mu-saeng surveyed his surroundings as he answered, not even looking at her.
“That’s right. When Geumseong discovered this place and started managing it, I was either six or seven years old. Since there’s no record of me visiting until now, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s… true. According to our management system, there was no access record for you, after all.”
Geumseong was meticulous—they wouldn’t have made an error.
So it really was his first time.
But what information did he have? How much did he know, to move like that?
“…You know, what you’ve said about Mana Pressure goes well beyond rumor. I honestly thought the bit about visiting the 51 Dungeon was just hearsay, the way you mentioned it directly.”
And Mana Pressure doesn’t bother him at all?
Not even a hint of strain?
Yun Pyo, too, reacted with fresh surprise at that point.
Kim Mu-saeng laughed awkwardly.
“Well, the client wanted to leave right away that time, so honestly I didn’t do much. But it was enough to realize my body is more resilient than I thought.”
“The 66 Dungeon was also manageable?”
“The first five minutes were a bit rough, but after that it was… decent.”
He’d adapted and it became fine?
Yun Pyo glanced at Geum Su-ah. Geum Su-ah gave a slight shake of her head.
Mana Pressure couldn’t be adapted to like that.
It wasn’t like a sauna where it’s hot when you enter and becomes bearable after a while.
‘Even in Strategy Headquarters, there are staff who can’t enter without a potion.’
‘A Sherpa who’d only managed three floors just days ago—how is this possible…?’
Thud, thud, thud.
Leaving the two flustered SR-rank Awakeners in his wake, Kim Mu-saeng pressed forward without hesitation.
“Where are you going?! You said this was your first time in the 55 Dungeon—”
“I’m going to meet Maia, I told you.”
“—but the route—”
“Right. This is the route. I checked with my Mado Engineering skill, and I can see the energy flowing in this direction.”
Mado Engineering encompassed creation, operation, maintenance, and disassembly.
Mu-saeng had already attempted to use the skill to manipulate the “operation” and “maintenance” of this space and confirmed that both were impossible.
And through that same skill, he had identified which direction the source of that impossibility lay.
Su-ah and Yun Pyo could only exchange bewildered glances.
“Excuse me? What did you just—”
“Mado Engineering skill……?”
The two of them stared at each other.
Mado Engineering skill.
The technique to create Artifacts.
An extraordinarily rare Awakening ability, and the most famous person who possessed it was…….
‘Are you talking about the skill the CEO of Metalline has?’
‘……How would I know something the vice-commander doesn’t, when we only just met today?’
Their lips moved silently as they exchanged thoughts, but no answer came.
“The Mage Maia’s location is randomly designated. If you’re confident, then I and Vice-Commander Geum will cooperate fully, but…….”
Yun Pyo spoke as he followed Mu-saeng.
Beneath his offer of cooperation lay an unspoken caveat: ‘I’ll protect you if things go south, but the consequences of putting us in that danger fall on you.’
Hearing such a weighty statement, Mu-saeng answered without the slightest concern.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. First, have the commander freeze all the Guardians so they can’t move. And Su-ah, just aim at Maia’s head with a Solar Beam—give the impression you’re ready to threaten her. Like, ‘If you don’t do what I ask, I’m blasting you right now.’ I’ll handle the actual conversation with her.”
He was walking even faster now.
That unflinching momentum left Su-ah and Yun Pyo in stunned silence.
Realistically, with just Yun Pyo and Su-ah—both having cleared the 66th floor—there would be no serious threat in the 55 Dungeon.
But threatening the Mage Maia by aiming at her head.
Freezing all the Guardians first? What was he even planning?
‘Negotiate with Maia…… You’re talking about making some kind of deal?’
‘That can’t be. She’s just a humanoid monster that can speak. It’s already been proven that you can’t negotiate, threaten, bargain with her—and you can’t extract any information about the upper or lower floors—. Huh?!’
Beep-beep-beep————! Beep-beep-beep————!
How long had they been walking?
An alarm suddenly blared to life.
In that same instant, the color of every Mana Pressure circuit that had been flowing with blue light shifted.
Red.
From the crimson walls and floor came a hissing sound——.
Pressure released, and five Guardians materialized!
“Intrud—”
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh————……!
All five froze solid in an instant.
Before they could even finish their standard warning that an intruder had been detected.
“Is this acceptable, Kim Mu-saeng?”
Yun Pyo flicked ice crystals from his fingertips as he spoke.
Absolute Zero—response speed and destructive power both masterful.
“Wow…… yes.”
Mu-saeng found himself momentarily speechless at the Geumseong Strategy Headquarters commander’s raw ability.
Su-ah too scattered the particles of light she’d been gathering in her palm and muttered softly.
“But something feels wrong. Even if Maia’s location is in this direction, I don’t remember ever having the Guardians appear like this before……”
It was something absent from her memories of visiting the 55 Dungeon five or six times.
Su-ah felt the question take root.
And soon that doubt would intensify.
[I have been waiting…… Marked Human.]
A voice resonated through the entire corridor.
Maia the Mage had spoken.

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