Climbing the Mythic Tower as a Cheating Administrator - Chapter 30

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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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A Mythic-Tier Tower Climber Using an Administrator’s Cheat (30)
Whirrrrr…….
An ultra-high-speed elevator that made your head spin.
[……There’s a scanning function here. And I’m supposed to believe this was hidden? The data flow is glaringly obvious.]
Wash muttered to himself as he examined various corners of the elevator.
Moo Saeng, hearing those words, seemed to remember something and opened his mouth.
“Now that I think about it, didn’t they used to do the inspections at the 1st Floor Lobby? I remember having to place my hand on tablets and things like that for checks.”
It was a rather sudden remark.
But Yun Pyo had to conceal his alarm.
What Moo Saeng had just said meant he’d picked up on the fact that this entire elevator contained a scanning function.
“Ahem, well, that’s still the case. It’s just that for guests being escorted to the Chairman, such procedures seem a bit……. If we’ve offended you in any way, please accept my apologies.”
Watching Yun Pyo bow, Moo Saeng shook his head.
There was nothing to be offended about.
If anything, it could be seen as special treatment.
“No, I understand. A company should naturally take such precautions.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
So Geum Byeong Chul kept no bodyguards.
It didn’t mean he was simply negligent because he was strong.
It also meant he was preparing in advance by examining information about whoever he would meet—likely including details about their Awakening abilities and various other factors.
Yun Pyo continued with a pleasant smile.
“What’s remarkable is that no one until now has caught on to it. You’re certainly not an ordinary person, Moo Saeng. This is technology we’ve developed in secret within our group and haven’t even announced yet.”
He casually emphasized the part about being a group secret.
A subtle pressure it created. And the formation of intimacy.
Since we share the same secret, we’re on the same side—a masterful rhetorical touch.
“Heh, I just made a lucky guess, really.”
Moo Saeng deflected out of embarrassment, but Yun Pyo shook his head firmly.
It was clear that Yun Pyo’s attitude toward Moo Saeng had definitely changed since they’d been through the 55th Floor Dungeon together.
“The abilities of an Awakener can’t be measured by objective metrics alone. The invisible touch, the instinct, the accumulated experience and knowledge, the unpredictable power……. Those are precisely what matter most to tower climbers like us, aren’t they?”
Even Moo Saeng felt a moment of admiration at this sincere declaration.
But there was no time for a lengthy conversation with Yun Pyo.
Ding……!
The elevator finally came to a stop.
As the doors opened, a rather long hallway appeared, with a large door at its end.
It was wasteful use of space—the entire floor consisted of nothing but the Chairman’s Office.
Yun Pyo knocked lightly on the door.
“Chairman, it’s Yun Pyo. I’ve brought Moo Saeng.”
There was no response.
After about three seconds of silence, Yun Pyo opened the door anyway.
The door opened smoothly, without a sound.
And the moment Moo Saeng finally faced Geum Byeong Chul, seated in his chair.
─────────────!
Moo Saeng felt as though wind had struck him.
Of course, no wind could have blown.
But there was an overwhelming force powerful enough to push his body back.
A pressure that physically compressed the flesh—what was this?!
‘Mana Pressure!? Insane-.’
It was Mana Pressure.
Mana Pressure so intense his thighs trembled and his knees shook.
Moo Saeng understood at once.
‘Mana Pressure from the 66th Floor Dungeon or beyond—. How?!’
Around the time he’d entered the 66th Floor Dungeon with One-Way Group, Moo Saeng had been a 3rd-floor climber.
An incompetent Awakener who’d barely scraped his way up through party play.
Now?
He’d already climbed past the 6th floor, completing all the Hidden Conditions and Additional Conditions, and achieved enormous stat increases thanks to Strong Bone.
He’d grown to an incomparable degree.
Yet this pressure. Yet this level of oppression still made itself felt.
Which naturally meant its power exceeded the 66th Floor Dungeon!
“Hahhh.”
In fact, even Yun Pyo stood bent-backed, struggling with each breath.
The only one moving freely in this room was one.
A yellow rubber duck drifted lazily through the air.
[Ho ho… When savagery reaches its extreme, does it become this? A beast pure and simple?]
Wash spoke from above Geum Byeong Chul’s head, looking down at him.
Wearing sunglasses—South Korea’s strongest Awakener.
Geum Byeong Chul spoke as well.
“…So you didn’t do this alone, then?”
* * *
Moo Saeng answered without hesitation.
“Over thirteen years, I’ve watched the backs of countless Awakeners. As for the 55th Floor Dungeon, I was with Geum Seong’s elite.”
How he’d escaped the 66th Floor Dungeon, and what had happened in the 55th Floor—these were things Geum Byeong Chul wanted to know.
Geum Byeong Chul’s lips twitched slightly.
“Heh heh, that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about what you inherited from your parents. A sturdy constitution, I see.”
What he’d meant to say was about Moo Saeng’s innate characteristics.
“Yes, it’s listed in my Status Window’s special notes. High resistance to Mana Pressure, it said?”
Moo Saeng’s lips curled into a good-natured smile as he threw out the jest.
Only then did the corners of Geum Byeong Chul’s mouth rise in kind.
“A child born in a dungeon.”
At that moment, Moo Saeng understood.
Why Geum Byeong Chul hadn’t particularly asked about the 66th Floor or the 55th Floor.
A child born in a dungeon.
Everything about him had already been reported to Geum Byeong Chul.
Whoosh.
The Mana Pressure vanished in an instant.
“Huff… huff… huff…”
Yun Pyo quickly steadied his breathing.
Geum Byeong Chul remained seated in his chair. He clicked his tongue lightly.
“Pyo. If you show it this openly in front of a guest, it’s rather awkward, wouldn’t you say?”
“My apologies, Chairman. I’ll do better.”
“Heh heh, yes. Go on now. If anything comes up, call me.”
Anything comes up.
Yun Pyo flinched slightly, but merely bowed his head.
He left the Chairman’s Office quietly.
The Chairman’s Office, sparse with little furniture or fixtures.
Now only Geum Byeong Chul, Moo Saeng, and Wash remained.
Moo Saeng looked at Geum Byeong Chul.
Even in the dimly lit Chairman’s Office, he wore his sunglasses.
His signature appearance, unchanged.
Yet Moo Saeng could see.
The muscles around his eyes. The slight tremor of flesh near his nose and cheekbones.
Whether the wrinkles on his forehead moved, or whether his earlobes shifted.
In other words, whether his pupils were moving. Moo Saeng observed carefully.
‘A true monster.’
He realized that Geum Byeong Chul wasn’t looking at Wash.
Which would have been shocking enough in itself, but…
At least for now, there was more than that to shock him.
[Geum Byeong Chul]
―Age: 55
―Awakening Ability: 〈Thunder Tiger (SSR)〉
―Skills: [Cannot be confirmed. User ability too low.]
―Resistances: [Cannot be confirmed. User ability too low.]
―Floor Climbing Record: Highest 59th Floor
―Special Notes: [Cannot be confirmed. User ability too low.]
‘…59th Floor?! That can’t be right!’
Lower than Yun Pyo?
No, it wasn’t just lower than Yun Pyo.
‘Officially—I know Geum Seong Guild’s official announced Floor Climbing Record is the 65th Floor. How is this… what…’
Even the official announcement was false?
It’s published based on the World Awakener Association’s investigation records.
‘Truly… Geum Seong.’
They might have manipulated records, bribed investigators, or used some deception or ability manifestation within the investigation itself.
Geum Byeong Chul’s strength was becoming clear once more, and despite his official records being lower than Yun Pyo’s, the fact that his skills, resistances, and special conditions were all invisible to sight meant…….
‘He’s stronger than Yun Pyo. No, that’s obvious. It’s not just a matter of being stronger than Yun Pyo. Geum Byeong Chul is probably-.’
Stronger than the 66th Floor Dungeon’s boss. Stronger than the master of serpents, Slacken.
By a considerable margin.
A low screech escaped him. Geum Byeong Chul rose from his seat and moved toward the reception table and chairs.
“I thought I was showing proper hospitality to an Awakener from humble Dungeon Sherpa origins. I hope I haven’t made a mistake. Come now, sit down.”
Slightly taller than Moo Saeng.
Yet far more powerfully built.
Beyond these physical traits alone, the overwhelming presence and pressure he emanated truly justified his ranking as Korea’s strongest.
“Indeed, sir. For a Dungeon Sherpa, information is our greatest asset. It was an honor to feel the hidden strength of Geum Seong Group.”
Therefore, Moo Saeng could only marvel.
Not merely because of raw power.
Fundamentally, an individual’s abilities can only be enhanced by climbing the Tower.
There is only one exceptional method.
‘Just how many Elixirs has he consumed? Good heavens.’
Elixirs.
Just as Moo Saeng had gained poison resistance by consuming Slacken’s Shed Skin.
Elixirs could enhance individual stat categories or strengthen Awakening abilities and acquired skills alike.
Naturally, such Elixirs were rarer than most Artifacts.
And being consumables, their value was all the greater for it.
Yet that was likely not all.
‘So the odds are high that he cleared everything up to the 59th Floor through solo play.’
Geum Byeong Chul’s climbing was probably almost entirely Solo Play.
That way he could claim more rewards, grow faster and stronger.
While his staff at the Strategy Division—Yun Pyo and others—broke through the higher floors, he built his reputation.
Then, applying the knowledge he’d gained, he’d gradually climb higher through solo play, growing stronger as he went?
‘Even that reasoning falls short. There are Hidden Conditions as well, presumably. But I know from experience. That alone isn’t enough. There’s something more. Something I can’t yet even imagine.’
Beyond that, there were likely secrets even Moo Saeng himself couldn’t yet perceive.
A power that could emit Mana Pressure so overwhelming that even Yun Pyo couldn’t move an inch.
Such overwhelming growth could not be achieved through Elixirs and Solo Play alone, nor through accomplishing a handful of Hidden Conditions and Additional Conditions.
Moo Saeng knew this from his own experience.
He couldn’t have cleared every floor up to the 59th that way…….
Which meant there was definitely something more.
“Hehehehe, that’s right. I’ve put in my own capital, so don’t feel too bitter about it. You saw Yun Pyo’s face earlier—this isn’t something I show just anybody, understand?”
Geum Byeong Chul spoke in a playful tone that seemed at odds with his age.
It wasn’t just his voice.
As Moo Saeng sat down, Geum Byeong Chul picked up several items from the reception table.
“Coffee? Or perhaps green tea—we have oolong as well. All top-grade, naturally.”
A playful manner.
Moo Saeng responded with a light smile.
“No matter how fine the tea, I’d be too nervous to drink if the Chairman prepared it himself. Cold water would be perfect for me.”
“Huh? Trahahahaha! You’ve got a good sense of humor too. After breaking through the 66th Floor Dungeon alone, you shouldn’t be nervous. Even Yun Pyo and Soo Ah lost one employee clearing the 66th Floor. You’ve got no reason to be nervous.”
Carelessly delivered words, yet they were top-tier classified information.
And naturally woven in was the secret of clearing the 66th Floor Dungeon.
Moo Saeng’s mind raced.
What was Geum Byeong Chul’s reason for meeting him?
What was Geum Soo Ah’s reason for coming to see him?
What had Geum Byeong Chul’s official climbing records looked like?
Moo Saeng knew it all.
‘I thought he’d need information on whether the 66th Floor could be cleared through solo play…….’
Therefore, he’d inferred that this was Geum Byeong Chul’s reason for summoning him.
But now.
Having seen the climbing record up to the 59th Floor, he had to admit his assumption might be wrong.
Information on clearing the 66th Floor? Was that really what Geum Byeong Chul needed?
When he was already stronger than Slacken?
Then what did Geum Byeong Chul actually want?
What was his true reason for summoning Moo Saeng to this office?
“You’re too kind, sir. How many men wouldn’t grow nervous before the Chairman? Most of Eight Seconds would be tense in your presence.”
And beyond that—what could Moo Saeng himself gain from Geum Byeong Chul?
Moo Saeng replied, accepting the Chairman’s compliment.
Perhaps it was the blend of flattery and sincerity that lifted Geum Byeong Chul’s spirits.
He finally swept off his sunglasses.
His Awakening ability: Thunder Tiger.
When the white tiger, whose hair, eyebrows, and even irises had turned a ghostly pale, revealed those eyes.
“Ah, Chairman, there’s something I’d like to tell you.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Moo Saeng gathered his resolve and spoke.
“Did you know there’s an Administrator in the Tower?”
First move, certain victory.
Moo Saeng gazed into Geum Byeong Chul’s ghostly white eyes.

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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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