Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 103

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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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Chapter 103

“….”
Mizuki recognized this voice.
She’d heard it more than once during Neia’s broadcasts.
The voice that had captured her.
Mizuki chose not to answer.
She was afraid her anxiety might slip through.
But clearly, the woman hadn’t expected one anyway.
Beep—bip bip—
She simply manipulated the surrounding equipment and went about her work.
Unable to bear the suspense any longer, Mizuki finally spoke.
“What do you want from me?”
“That would be tedious to explain here. You’ll understand in time.”
Mizuki knew what she was supposed to do in a moment like this.
Otherwise, she’d only suffer before death claimed her.
So she’d been about to burst the poison pouch she kept tied behind her molars when she froze in alarm.
Her tongue searched for it, but found nothing.
“I removed that from your mouth, so you can set your mind at ease.”
“…You mean to torture me?”
“That hardly seems likely. Seon-woo has a compassionate nature—he wouldn’t favor such barbaric methods.”
“Seon-woo? Is that Neia’s real name?”
“I’d rather you not speak of him so casually. Unless you’ve grown tired of living.”
Mizuki was grateful for the blindfold covering her eyes in this moment.
She hadn’t the nerve to face the pressure radiating from the woman, even unseen.
“Then…what will you do with me?”
“I intend to give you a chance at a new life.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“Yes, though there will be certain restrictions.”
Mizuki remained skeptical.
Release her just like that?
When she might possess internal secrets?
Click—
At that moment, the restraints binding her limbs vanished.
When she removed the blindfold, her eyes beheld a scene like an operating theater.
Strange, wondrous machinery surrounded her, and a woman watching her intently.
“Ah yes—you’ll need to leave behind anything you stole from this place.”
Mizuki couldn’t shake her suspicion.
The moment she emptied her inventory, would the woman suddenly turn and attack?
“That’s everything.”
But even after she’d opened her inventory and laid out every item, no ambush came.
“Very good. You’re free to go.”
“You said there were…restrictions.”
“Already planted them.”
She pointed to Mizuki’s head.
“Planted…?”
“Yes. In addition to a communication device, I’d say…a bomb that can blow your brain out if needed.”
At Neia’s words, Mizuki flinched visibly.
Reading her expression, Neia spoke with a reassuring air.
“Don’t worry. The bomb won’t detonate as long as you don’t cause trouble.”
“…Didn’t you just say something about compassion?”
“For a thief and spy caught trying to extract information, I’d say this treatment is remarkably humane.”
Mizuki couldn’t argue the point.
“So I can go?”
“Yes. Follow the markings and you’ll exit without difficulty.”
Mizuki was turning to leave when—
Neia spoke.
“Congratulations on beginning your new life as a member of Nemesis.”
Work hard for me.

* * *

Today felt different—as though the climb would flow without obstruction.
My hunch proved right.

[Outer Tower Floor 45 cleared.]
[Clearance Rank SSS+ achieved!]
…

Floor 45.
I’d reached such heights.
‘I’d only predicted maybe 40 floors at best.’
That I’d made it to 45 owed something to luck.
Surveys, resource gathering, ruin restoration—
complicated missions had cropped up between floors.
But they came rarely.

– Twenty floors in one day?
– Wow… that’s crazy.
– Will you push to 50 if you keep going all night?

Without a queue today, I’d been able
to maintain momentum. Perhaps because of that,
it had been unusually hard to stop mid-ascent.
Not having to worry about others’ gazes made it easier too.
“Still, I’ll call it here for today.”
Floor 50.
I felt the sting of ambition, true enough.
But the fatigue I’d been ignoring came crashing down all at once.
9 PM.
Twelve hours of climbing—hardly surprising.

– Might as well cement the daily tower-climb record today…
– But honestly, twenty floors is already a record no one can touch.
– Twenty floors lol, it’s ridiculous just thinking about it.

“I’ll see you all next time.”
As I looked toward Baek Jin-seong, he delivered his closing remarks and ended the broadcast.
“Thanks for watching, everyone. See you later.”
Or rather, he would have.
If I hadn’t stopped him just as he was about to.
“Wait.”
“Did you have something to say?”
I didn’t need to announce it today—it could wait.
But I had no idea when the next broadcast would happen.
My resolve had already shifted, so I decided to reveal the plan now.
“I’ll be selling two Legendary Weapons and various other items. For details on how to participate, check Baek Jin-seong’s YouTube announcement.”
I’d given it serious thought over time.
In the end, I’d decided to sell the Legendary Weapons.
But I added a twist to the sale method.
A private auction.
Whoever bid the highest would get them.
The bidding period would run one week.
I added a clause: I wouldn’t sell to anyone whose identity couldn’t be verified.
That clause was aimed at Eclipse.
“Does this look right?”
“Yes.”
Through his Community skill, Baek Jin-seong drafted and finalized the announcement, then posted it.
This time, the real work was finally over.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
We reached the elevator and stowed the drones away.
It was just as I opened the elevator doors before heading to the 40th Floor for our exit.
Flash—
Light flickered before my eyes, and a Skill Card materialized.
Seeing one twice in a single day was absurd.
I scanned through the card and selected Frugal Spirit.
Two new skills added in a single day, then.

-[Efficiency Process]: Reduces production time at facilities within the City by 10%.
-[Frugal Spirit]: Decreases energy consumption required for City operations by 5%.

For reference, I had upgraded Promotion Examination at the 40th Floor enhancement event.
The number of promotions granted each month doubled—a sweet deal that had felt like a real windfall.
Even if Blessing disappeared, this more than made up for it, at least in practical terms.
“Ready to head out for real now?”
“Yes, sir.”
I stowed the drones and stepped into the elevator.
I manipulated the controls to return to the 40th Floor.

[Entering Neutral Zone 40-1.]

Stepping out of the elevator, the dingy tower greeted us as always.
I opened the status window and checked—I could exit now.

[Do you wish to exit the tower?]

Before leaving, I turned to Baek Jin-seong.
“Oh, right—you said you were doing another broadcast, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Here? In the tower?”
I asked, half-joking, and Baek Jin-seong replied.
“Surely not, sir?”
True—he understood well enough that the elevator’s existence couldn’t be revealed.
And the path back through the Neutral Zone was treacherous enough as it was.
“I’m planning to stream from outside the tower.”
“You’re really something, you know that?”
“This is proprietary information, but days like today are goldmines for donations—two massive stories dropped, after all, huh? Hehehe.”
Broadcasting really was his calling.
Had he streamed all day every day because it was genuinely that fun?
“If it’s because of the auction, take your time with it.”
The announcement I’d posted on the Community portal.
By now, bids and inquiries must be flooding in.
I’d mentioned it just in case, but Baek Jin-seong shook his head.
“It’s really not because of that, sir.”
“No, seriously—you’re making me worry. Just get some rest, all right?”
“I’m moved that you’d concern yourself with my health!”
He continued with genuine emotion in his voice.
“In that case, I’ll just do two more hours!”
He sounded like an alcoholic.
Two more hours?
How much longer had he been planning to go?
Still, I didn’t press the issue.
“Fine, go ahead.”
I knew it was a bit hypocritical for someone like me to say it.
Technically speaking, interfering in his lifestyle wasn’t my place.
“Then I’m heading out?”
“Yup!”
The creature nods its head obediently.
I took that as my cue and left the tower.

[Exiting the tower.]

* * *

Splat—
The moment I step out of the tower, something attaches itself to my face.
Meow, meow, meow—
I peel Kamang-i away and meet its eyes.
“Miss me that much?”
“Meow—”
I tuck the creature under my arm and scan the room.
“Did Kamang-i clock out early?”
Our Nemesis is a white-collar company that respects working hours.
Which means no overtime.
We observe nine to six.
“It was a bit late, actually.”
I gave up on cooking anything fancy.
Since my stomach was rumbling, I decided to whip up some instant noodles for a change.
But first, I needed a shower.
I grabbed some clean clothes and went into the bathroom, taking my time to wash up.
When I returned and was boiling noodles on the stove, Neia spoke up through the display.

『Late-night meals are not good for your health.』

“But they taste good, don’t they?”
Traditionally, eating them in secret would complete the experience, but that’s a shame tonight.
Anyway, I brushed off Neia’s nagging and set the table.
When I opened the refrigerator, there was some well-fermented kimchi.
Meow—
“Go on, get out of here. Go eat your kibble over there.”
It seems Kamang-i has been spoiled so much by Neia and the others that cheap pet food no longer suits its palate.
Anyway, I kept watch over Kamang-i
and ate my noodles wrapped in kimchi.
Fireworks burst in my mouth.
The kick from instant food is something fierce, even when you’re used to it.
Maybe I’ll mix some rice into what’s left…?
While mulling that over, I reached for another forkful, and suddenly the day’s events came to mind.
“Oh right—anything happen while I was gone?”

『…….』

Ever since the incident with Kang Min-hyeok,
I’d told her never to keep secrets from me.
So she falls silent.
She’s an honest one, that’s for sure.
“Is it serious?”

『It is quite trivial, actually.』

“All right, I trust you.”
I mixed in some cold rice and scraped the bowl clean, then sprawled out on the sofa.
“Ah, I’m stuffed.”

『Lying down immediately after eating can lead to acid reflux and various gastric ailments….』

“This is my reward for working late today.”
Consider it a reward, then.
What’s on my mind.
We cleared twenty floors of the dungeon today, after all.
The rewards have piled up massively in my inventory.
I’m thinking I should unpack some of it soon and add it to the auction.
As drowsiness begins to creep in, Neia speaks while I’m still tracking my thoughts.

“Seon-woo.”

“I know, I know—I’ll head to bed when I’m ready to sleep.”

“That’s not it. Player Baek Jin-seong is currently calling you. How would you like to proceed?”

Sleep scatters from my mind.
“What line is it?”
There are two main ways I contact Baek Jin-seong.
First, the standard connection—a regular phone line.
Second, the emergency channel through Nemesis’s wireless video communications system.

“It’s the emergency line.”

Baek Jin-seong, who was crawling through the dungeon with me barely an hour ago.
He’s reaching out on the emergency line at this hour of the night?
He’s got a sense of time—he knows
I avoid personal calls late at night when I can.
This won’t be something trivial.
“Did you ask what it’s about?”

“It seems to be related to President Yusera.”

I nod at that.
“Put him through.”

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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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