I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 58

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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 58
Defeating Resonar wasn’t the end of it.
‘Considering the patterns The Tower has shown so far… there’s a high probability I’ll experience another Break.’
The fact that only I know the strategy!
This information is precious not for now, but for this moment.
With Resonar’s subjugation complete, I’ve successfully assembled the bare minimum for my party—a debuffer, a tank, and myself as the dealer.
‘There’s a way to handle the healer.’
But still… my ’94th Floor conquest party’ is half-baked.
Han Seol-ah has only just stepped into EX rank.
Lee Ah-woon is barely more than a newborn who’s just awakened again.
I need a bit more time for these two to pull their weight.
‘But will The Tower really give me that time generously?’
The odds are infinitesimally low.
It wouldn’t be strange if the grace period turned out to be just one day.
I did pull off a trick once before through Han Seol-ah…
‘But I doubt the same trick will work twice.’
A trick is still a trick. Taken to extremes, you could call it ‘cheating.’
Besides, Break is The Tower’s whip against those who haven’t climbed it.
Considering The Tower’s stance on valuing Tower climbing above all else, there’s no way it would tolerate such games twice.
‘I might have to use the possession ticket on Han Seol-ah or Lee Ah-woon again.’
Unlocking additional Corridors to strengthen myself isn’t a good option.
Because my growing stronger here won’t affect the clear probability.
‘The 94th Floor isn’t a place you can clear just by being strong alone.’
Everyone needs to be capable of pulling their weight—not necessarily as much as me, but at least one person’s worth—for there to be any hope of clearing.
After that, I spent a long time staring into the void, organizing my thoughts.
“….”
I waited while organizing my thoughts, but no warning message about the next Break appeared.
‘…But why isn’t it showing?’
Is it discriminating against me for not awakening normally?
‘Let me check.’
“Min Ji-hee.”
I called her name lightly into the microphone.
[…Yes? Ah, yes! Apostle!]
Min Ji-hee’s startled response came back.
“What about the next Break warning message?”
[It still… hasn’t appeared.]
What’s going on?
I waited another five minutes or so.
But The Tower displayed neither fanfare nor a warning about the next calamity.
A silence so eerie it sent chills down my spine…
That silence gradually felt like it was strangling the breath from my lungs.
The clang of weapons, armor, and shields colliding struck my ears as a discordant, grating noise.
It was as if an invisible noose were slowly tightening around my neck.
Moreover, it seemed everyone was feeling the same suffocating dread.
Unable to bear this oppressive atmosphere any longer, we all eventually dispersed.
No one could fathom what calamity was coming.
It was a victory that left a bitter aftertaste.
* * *
‘Ugh, my stomach’s churning.’
The anxiety was driving me mad.
As punishment, I’d have to take a flick to the forehead—and if it’s from a superhuman, they say your head explodes if you can’t block it.
The problem is, I have no idea when that superhuman will come and ambush me.
‘If I knew when they were coming, I could at least prepare.’
Since the system is quiet, nothing will happen?
I’m not harboring such naive hopes.
I have to consider the system’s true intent.
That malice—climb The Tower or everyone dies.
This silence is the eye of the storm.
Rather, I should interpret it as a warning that the next calamity will be equally dangerous and vicious.
‘…Looking back at The Tower’s patterns, the next boss will definitely be something I absolutely cannot defeat.’
If that ‘thing’ I’m anticipating appears…
I guarantee it. I won’t be able to beat it.
I have to clear the 94th Floor before that happens.
‘So how much time do I have left? How far can I possibly prepare?! Damn it!’
Something serious is definitely going to happen…
But not knowing when is the anxiety that’s killing me.
It was gnawing away at me.
[Agent, your brainwave activity is currently in overload. Your sympathetic nervous system is abnormally hyperactive.]
Whitey projected a hologram with medical data attached, issuing a warning.
“Sigh.”
Right.
If I keep my nerves wound this tight, I’m only human—eventually I’ll burn out and collapse.
[Please take deep breaths.]
So the method I chose was simple.
“Let’s just play a game for now.”
Since anxiety is flooding my mind… I’ll just clear my head.
The priorities are clear.
One. Handle the urgent matters first.
Two. Enter The Tower as quickly as possible.
‘First, handle what’s urgent.’
Upon logging into Lost Honor, a Quest completion notification window greets me.
Confirming this is my absolute priority.
[Urgent Epic Quest]
[Saving South Korea from the Brink of Annihilation 4]
[Quest Objective]
[Wondrous Echo—Eliminate the Resonant Entity Resonar]
(Completed)
The rewards came in two forms.
[Rewards]
[Synchronization (EX) ‘Trait’ Unlocked]
[Possession Ticket]
But that’s not all.
[Hidden Quest: Bloodless Clear Completed]
“As expected.”
The Hidden Quest’s condition was a no-death clear.
The mechanics Resonar possessed were clearly designed with a singular purpose in mind.
The will to ‘kill the one who challenged me.’
Let’s assume the raid team had started Resonar without knowing the strategy.
Since Resonar exists as two entities, the raid team would likely split into two groups as well.
Resonar doesn’t initiate attacks, so the raid team would prepare every possible measure to deal maximum damage in that first strike before Resonar.
And finally, with the signal to begin the raid, they attack Resonar?
Instant total annihilation.
That’s how vicious Resonar is.
‘Though the difficulty does plummet once you know the strategy.’
In any case, when facing a boss that absolutely forces damage upon you, discerning the Hidden Quest’s condition becomes simple.
‘Just don’t take any damage.’
My objective was a no-death clear.
For this single goal, I even distributed equipment to the tanks.
“Now then. Let’s see what we have.”
[Rewards]
[Synchronization (EX) ‘Trait’ Unlocked]
[Possession Ticket]
[‘Anchor’ Unlocked] (new!)
“…Anchor?”
‘Is this what I think it is?’
If that’s the case, then this is…
An extraordinary reward!
* * *
In Lost Honor, an Anchor is, in simple terms, a ‘teleportation ability.’
​
When you use a specific item, the coordinates where the player is standing become an ‘anchor’.
​
And when you use a ‘Link Stone’, you can teleport to the registered anchor.
​
‘This is insane, absolutely insane!’
​
Those past days when I had to activate Synchronization and scramble through the air like a madman.
The experience of rushing home in a panic, dreading the moment Synchronization would deactivate.
​
All of that was gone the instant this function appeared.
​
It was a function that provided such tremendous convenience.
With this, my range of activity would expand infinitely.
​
And beyond that…
​
this would massively amplify my combat power as well.
​
‘If I set up an anchor in Pyongyang…?’
​
I could activate Synchronization and teleport to the Pyongyang anchor.
I could save an enormous amount of time and mana that would normally be spent traveling to Pyongyang.
And there was no need to limit myself to just South Korea.
If needed, I could place anchors anywhere across the sea, and that place would become my own backyard.
​
And if I needed to refill my Synchronization during external activities or combat?
One click and I could return home instantly.
​
‘Heh.’
​
I could essentially maintain Synchronization indefinitely.
​​
“Let me try it right now.”
​
Since my room was the only space where I could activate Synchronization, it was the first priority for anchor placement.
​
Gulp.
​
I already knew how to use it.
“Create anchor.”
​
I chanted the activation word with resolve, and a System Message materialized in the air.
​
[Anchor Stone required]
The moment I read the message, I naturally understood what an Anchor Stone was.
‘It’s the same condition as Lost Honor.’
Creating an anchor consumed one Anchor Stone per attempt.
An Anchor Stone was…
‘A crafting material.’
In Lost Honor, gathering materials wasn’t difficult, so crafting was straightforward.
‘I’m not sure how it’ll work in reality though.’
Creating anchors by consuming Anchor Stones like this was the first stage.
‘If Anchor Stones are needed, Link Stones will be too.’
To return from outside using an anchor created this way, I’d need to use a ‘Link Stone’—the equivalent of a return scroll.
Naturally, this was also a one-time consumable that had to be crafted.
“Whitey.”
[Yes.]
I asked Whitey to investigate.
[Most of the materials are easily obtainable.]
“Really? That’s a relief.”
[However, one of the primary materials is somewhat…]
Whitey displayed a screen for me.
[Holy Water]
[Out of Stock]
“Huh?”
Why was there no stock of this?
It should be something easily obtainable from temples.
[Holy Water is a material supplied exclusively by the Primordial God Sect. Ever since the sect unilaterally halted supply not long ago, inventory has been completely depleted.]
“Ah.”
This was reality. Unlike a game, things couldn’t be obtained so easily.
‘But… the Primordial God Sect?’
“Why do they have exclusive supply of Holy Water?”
[Initially, hunters who had awakened divine power produced Holy Water in abundance…]
That would make sense.
The reason Holy Water was easy to obtain in Lost Honor?
Because even low-ranking priests could produce it effortlessly.
To put it bluntly, you could fill a glass bottle with water and imbue it with divine power, and it would become Holy Water.
[However, when a ‘miraculous Holy Water’ with overwhelmingly superior efficacy yet absurdly cheap pricing flooded the market, the existing low-grade Holy Water producers couldn’t break even and all shut down. The entire ecosystem collapsed.]
“And that miraculous Holy Water is from the Primordial God Sect?”
[Yes. It’s Holy Water created by Yereche, the ‘Holy Maiden’ of the Primordial God Sect.]
Yereche?
That’s a name I’ve heard before.
“When they auctioned off the crimson elixir? That one we saw?”
[Yes. That very Yereche.]
I understood.
The Saint was Earth’s strongest awakened user of divine power.
Holy water crafted by a hunter of that caliber would make all other holy water look like cheap imitations.
“There’s no used stock or resold inventory?”
[No. The Primordial God Sect strictly prohibits the resale of holy water. If caught reselling, they say you get kidnapped by the sect and disappear without a trace.]
“…Really?”
[The disappearing part isn’t true.]
“So the kidnapping part is true?”
[It’s true that the Sect Headquarters has a prison, and resellers are detained there. The sect calls it a legitimate ‘rehabilitation facility,’ though.]
‘A terrifying place indeed.’
“So there’s no way to obtain it right now?”
[Correct. Unless the Primordial God Sect puts holy water up for sale again.]
While I was at it, I called Kang Hyo-jun as well.
[…]
“Hello?”
[…Y-yes.]
It was Kang Hyo-jun, his voice barely alive.
‘Anyone listening would think he soloed a raid. He should be grateful I exempted him from the suppression operation!’
“I have a question for you.”
[Y-yes.]
“How far along is it?”
[Hack! Cough! Cough!]
Kang Hyo-jun burst into violent coughing on the other end of the line.
The sounds of retching and gagging came through clearly…
He must be under extreme stress.
“…I was joking. Calm down.”
[…Huff, huff…]
“…”
[…P-please refrain from such jokes. Wheeze…]
Gulp, gulp.
The sound of drinking water came through.
[Ahhhh…]
Then came an exclamation of satisfaction, the kind you make after drinking something delicious.
‘He must have drunk an elixir.’
[So, what is it you wish to know?]
“Can you obtain holy water?”
[That would be difficult.]
“Even if I offer points?”
[I can’t sell what doesn’t exist. And…]
Kang Hyo-jun trailed off, choosing his words carefully.
[Well, since you’re Numbers 1, I suppose it’s safe to tell you. Our Black Market is the primary supplier of holy water. If we don’t have it, you won’t find it anywhere else.]
As if to affirm his words, Whitey sparkled with agreement beyond the floating data window.
“I see.”
[Have you already checked? Then things move quickly. We’ve been pressing our contacts as well, but the answer has been consistent.]
“What is it?”
[Yereche has taken ill.]
“…?”
The Saint was a Hunter who had awakened the most powerful divine authority.
Someone like that was simply bedridden from illness?
“Can’t she just be healed?”
[It’s a mental issue…]
“Ah.”
That’s hopeless then.
Divine authority only works on the body.
“Hmm. That’s troublesome. I need it.”
[Then there is one method.]
The sound of Kang Hyo-jun typing on a keyboard echoed.
Shortly after, a message arrived on the Numbers card with a soft chime.
Opening it revealed a phone number.
[That’s the number of ‘Happy’, the Black Market’s Italy contact. That person should have a way. I’ll reach out to them for you.]
After hanging up, I immediately called Happy.
There’s no way her actual name is Happy, right?
It must be some kind of code name…
‘To give a code name like Happy…’
She must be a truly cheerful and positive person.
[For fuck’s sake…]
A young woman’s irritated voice came through the receiver.
[Who the hell are you? How did you get this number? If you don’t answer my questions, I’ll kill you.]
?
“I’m Special One.”
[What? Are you fucking insane? If you’re Special One, then I’m the Saint! You arrogant bastard, where the hell do you get off…]
I pulled the receiver away from my ear as a torrent of curses poured out.
Just listening for a moment made it feel like my ears would bleed.
“Curses truly hold infinite possibilities depending on how one combines them.”
Well. I learned one thing.
Happy was not a happy person at all.
[You little… huh?]
Not long after, Happy closed her mouth as if she’d been caught in a lie.
[….]
“….”
It seemed she had only just noticed the message Kang Hyo-jun had sent.
Happy immediately prostrated herself flat.
[I was merely waiting for your call, Special One.]
“Are you finished cursing?”
[…Ah, I am truly sorry.]
“…?”
I see.
[I shall transfer thirty million points to you.]
“Suddenly? Why?”
[As a token of my sincere apology…]
Ding—
Thirty million points actually deposited into my account.
“….”
[If your anger remains unassuaged, I shall deposit an additional ten million points.]
Ding—
“?”
[Should you still be displeased, I shall deposit an additional two hundred and thirteen points.]
The amount suddenly plummeted.
It was as if she were emptying her entire fortune.
Rather than speak, I maintained an intrigued silence.
When I said nothing, she escalated further.
[Should you remain unsatisfied, I shall atone with my very life.]
“Wait.”
She was like an eight-ton truck with completely broken steering.
I had a premonition she might actually do something reckless, so I stopped her.
[Yes.]
“Your life is unnecessary.”
[Thank you. It was worthwhile to sacrifice my entire fortune.]
“…Your entire fortune?”
[It is cheaper than the price of a life, after all.]
Happy laughed softly and continued.
[And if it is a transaction with Special One, a mere few tens of millions of points—surely I could earn that back in an instant, no?]
Ah.
I let out a quiet laugh.
So that’s why she was prostrating herself and apologizing so earnestly.
It was all calculated.
Not a chance.
“I will only conduct transactions through Kang Hyo-jun.”
[…]
I had already decided to back Kang Hyo-jun.
So I might as well see it through to the end.
[I see.]
“In any case, I’ll put it to good use.”
Of course, I had no intention of returning it.
It was Happy’s mistake, after all.
‘I’ve suddenly come into some unexpected money.’
“There’s a matter regarding the supply of holy water I wished to discuss.”
[Ah, I was planning to explain that anyway.]
Happy answered immediately.
[Ever since witnessing the crimson elixir, the Saint has become a complete recluse.]
…What?

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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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