I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 85

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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 85
At my blade-sharp refusal, Richard Sterling’s face drained of all color.
Savoring the anxiety flickering behind his eyes, I boarded the helicopter with deliberately unhurried steps.
Then I disabled synchronization and began charging Nopi.
Lounging casually against the helicopter hatch, I observed Richard scheming frantically while organizing my thoughts with deliberate calm.
Regardless of what benefits Richard might offer, there were three irrefutable reasons I could not let him live.
First. He was connected to the Outer God.
Every time I encounter such creatures, they must be eradicated.
Their nature resembles cockroaches—eliminate one, and countless followers will inevitably swarm in its wake.
Second. He attempted to commit terrorism against me.
This bastard brought that abomination—an Outer God’s egg—and dared to awaken it in the heart of South Korea, my domain.
Since I am South Korea itself, any attack on South Korea constitutes an attack on me.
Capital punishment.
Third. He dared to manipulate my choices.
Follow blindly down a path of false options designed to force a “yes,” and you inevitably encounter horrors.
I speak from experience.
And now he attempts to seduce me with honeyed words, pushing me toward “yes”?
Death! Execution!
However.
Before I kill him, there is something I must know.
“Who gave you this?”
“…I won’t answer.”
He understood I wouldn’t spare him, so he refuses all cooperation. Is that it?
Moments ago he was begging for his life, yet now that I’ve rejected his proposal, he drops the formal speech—utterly pathetic.
Well, as expected.
There’s a reason I secretly charged Nopi.
“Answer me, and I’ll give you a chance to live.”
“…I’ll listen and decide.”
“So you’re an S-rank Hunter?”
While waiting for Nopi’s charge to complete, I guided the conversation forward.
Realizing a path to survival had opened, light returned to Richard’s eyes.
“You can see it yourself. I’m a swordsman.”
“Not an assassin?”
A smirk played at the corners of Richard’s mouth.
Currently, synchronization is disabled. In other words, I’m in an awakening-disabled state.
There is no mana in my body.
Yet he likely believes that humans without mana don’t exist in this world.
It seems he thinks I possess a concealment ability that transcends my own power.
‘Fool.’
Without responding, I raised both hands to show them.
“I didn’t have time to grab my sword on the way here. You saw it yourself—that’s why I’m fighting with a tree branch instead of a proper weapon.”
“…I saw. It was quite… remarkable.”
“It was, wasn’t it.”
“?”
“I’ll undo the paralysis I inflicted on your body. I won’t arm myself either. I’m giving you a chance to fight me in this state.”
Richard Sterling’s brow furrowed.
The face of someone weighing their options.
But did he really need to deliberate?
Death versus a slim chance at survival.
The choice was obvious—he’d pick the latter.
“There’s only one condition to earn this opportunity. Answer three questions for me.”
Richard Sterling’s pupils trembled.
His expression suggested he was thinking: a swordsman without a sword—isn’t that worth a shot?
“Refuse, and I kill you right now.”
At my words, Richard Sterling’s eyes darted frantically.
“…I’ll do it.”
A wise decision.
“First question.”
I pointed at the halved Outer God’s egg and asked.
“Who gave you this orb? And fair warning—lies won’t work, so don’t bother trying.”
Simultaneously, I sent a discreet signal to Whitey.
“…The Guild Master of Pandemonium.”
Pandemonium?
I’d heard of it.
A ruthless information broker who peddled worthless dungeon strategy guides for profit.
From what I’d learned on the dark web, it was supposedly a cesspool where only criminals could register.
‘An Outer God’s egg from the Guild Master of such a place?’
[Detection complete. No fluctuations in pulse or other bodily changes observed. Truth probability: 99%.]
Whitey, running the lie detection, whispered covertly into my ear.
“What kind of person is this Guild Master?”
“I don’t know much about him.”
[He’s hiding something. Let me dig deeper.]
“This is your last warning.”
“I really don’t know. I’ve never even seen his face!”
“Then tell me what you do know. If you hide anything or dodge again, you die.”
“…He gives people two chances. No matter what mistake you make, he forgives you twice.”
[That’s the truth.]
‘Two chances…’
Someone capable of creating an Outer God’s egg would need to be at least an Apostle—directly chosen by an Outer God.
If I assume the Guild Master of Pandemonium is an Apostle of an Outer God…
This “third time comes with a price” clause carries considerable credibility.
‘Is that the content of the contract?’
A contract.
No matter how much an Outer God claims to hail from beyond this world, it remains a god nonetheless.
To exert influence over inferior life forms like humans, specific procedures must be observed.
Just as priests offer faith to divine beings and borrow their sacred power.
The Outer God grants the power of ruin through contracts.
Among all the “contracts” used by Apostles, the most sinister method is precisely what Richard just mentioned—”disobey my words.”
‘A vicious bastard got caught…’
It speaks volumes about how skillfully he wields the Outer God’s power.
For instance, suppose someone imposed an absurd contract like “add ‘meow’ to the end of every word when speaking to me.”
The moment this poor contract-bearer speaks without adding “meow,” they violate the contract and forfeit body and soul.
‘And he tolerates it twice.’
By crafting more stringent restrictions, he borrows even greater power from the Outer God—a calculated design.
“Beyond that, we’ve identified him using some unidentified shadow-based magic.”
“Hmm.”
Richard elaborated further on this “shadow magic.”
Physical force capable of tearing beasts apart and defensive power that deflects bullets.
Combined with the ability to freely manipulate distance…
‘He can even transport matter?’
Yet the ability is rooted in “shadow”…
This too bears the unmistakable mark of an Outer God’s design.
‘It’s confirmed.’
The Guild Master of Pandemonium.
That bastard is an Apostle of the Outer God.
‘Kill him on sight.’
Target number one for elimination.
I’ve written his name in red pen in my mental death note.
The act of writing a name in red pen.
It carries the curse of certain death.
“The third one.”
“…The last one, then.”
“Why did you bring this to South Korea?”
“The Guild Master ordered me to expose the magic stone where as many people as possible would see it.”
‘So this bastard was just discarding a useless piece.’
A man of such stature—the Hunter Association Chairman of the superpower United States.
If one were to name the leaders guiding the Hunter era, he would rank among the top three in influence, whoever you asked.
To use such a man as a disposable pawn in terrorism?
“And this is my final question.”
“You said you’d only ask three questions…”
“It’s my choice.”
“….”
Richard Sterling’s face darkened as he clenched his teeth.
‘What will you do if I’m annoyed?’
A criminal bastard, daring to defy me.
“Since you’ve fallen into my hands, your mission has failed.”
“…Yes.”
“Then, how many times is this failure?”
“….”
Richard Sterling hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
“This is… the third time.”
Cold sweat now drenched Richard Sterling’s face.
During our exchange, he must have been straining with all his might to break free from the pressure point.
He would know it too.
The suffocating energy paralyzing his body was gradually weakening.
Regardless, I had already calculated exactly when it would release and transmitted the information to Whitey.
[Agent, 5 seconds remaining until ‘Pressure Point’ deactivation.]
I activated synchronization through Nopi and lightly leaped from the helicopter.
“You noticed? Let’s begin once it releases.”
“…Tch.”
[3]
Richard Sterling remained tense, determined not to miss the exact moment the pressure point released.
[2]
I didn’t resort to amateur tactics like drawing mana beforehand.
Instead, I subtly adjusted the angle of my wrist wearing Whitey.
So Richard Sterling could see clearly.
[1]
Hm—
Richard Sterling drew in a sharp breath.
[0]
The timer reached zero, and the instant the pressure point released…
“‘Unequal Treaty’ activated!”
Richard Sterling stumbled backward, his voice hoarse as he unleashed his ability.
Kugugugung—!
A colossal scale materialized behind him.
Gone was the pathetic figure begging for his life moments before; Richard Sterling’s face now radiated arrogant confidence as he wielded his specialty.
“From this moment on… this battlefield is under my dominion.”
“So you say.”
“Insolent…! Let’s see how long that composure of yours lasts.”
Richard Sterling pointed a finger at me sharply and shouted.
“From this moment on, your mana consumption doubles!”
Gu-gu-gung—
The moment Richard’s declaration ended, the scale groaned heavily and tilted to one side.
“And through the effect of the Unequal Treaty, my mana consumption is halved.”
Despite the obviously unfair conditions being imposed, the colossal scale magically restored its balance.
‘Fascinating.’
Truly an Unequal Treaty indeed.
For an ordinary Hunter, this ability alone would have them crawling on the ground worrying about mana depletion—a genuinely S-rank broken ability.
And I could see it was specialized for human-versus-human combat rather than against massive monsters.
‘The skill effect is flawless, the intimidating dialogue is excellent. Well done, Richard!’
“What’s next?”
“Still bluffing to the very end…! ‘Monopoly: Exclusive Dominion’!”
Fwash! A blinding light flashed once from the scale.
“Through Monopoly’s effect, all recovery and buff effects you receive from now on are forcibly absorbed by me. It means you can’t even drink a single potion!”
“Hmm.”
“It’s not over yet!”
My composed demeanor seemed to trigger his anxiety instead, and Richard ultimately drew out his third ability.
“‘Golden Arsenal: The Armory of Gold!'”
As Richard smoothly extended his hand to the side, something like a burning portal materialized in the empty air, and a war hammer forged from gold slid out.
“Oh.”
That was actually impressive.
Richard gripped the massive golden hammer lightly in one hand.
Whooom—!
With a terrifying sound of metal tearing through the air, the hammer’s head pointed directly at me.
His blue eyes flashed with malice.
“This is everything of my awakened ability, ‘Contractor.’ You’ll regret the arrogance of releasing me in hell!”
Clap clap clap.
I applauded enthusiastically in my mind.
‘Perfect.’
He could’ve been a movie actor.
“Whitey, got everything?”
[Yes. Recording complete. We’ve got the perfect opening footage to prove self-defense.]
‘So I’m the film director.’
“Stop recording.”
Now.
Time for the real thing.
* * *
‘Why… why is he so composed!’
Richard gritted his teeth.
His three-skill combo was an absolute domain where he could guarantee victory against any S-rank Hunter in the world.
Mana consumption doubled.
For a Hunter whose very life depends on mana, could there be a more terrifying death sentence than this?
And the man wasn’t even holding a weapon—he was completely unarmed!
Yet his demeanor was as leisurely as someone out for a casual stroll.
When he’d muttered something into the empty air just moments ago, it felt like the unhurried composure of a director ordering the stage lights dimmed on a finished set.
“Stop bluffing!!!”
Richard Sterling gripped the golden hammer with both hands and drove it into the ground.
Boom—!
The surge of mana radiating from the golden hammer pressed down upon the air with crushing weight.
“Die!!!”
The instant Richard’s hammer descended like a tempest toward the man’s head.
The man slowly raised his right index finger.
And.
Clang—!
“…?!”
The hammer stopped.
The massive head of the golden war hammer was blocked by a single finger.
“A lie, you say….”
Richard’s eyes bulged from their sockets.
“Mana consumption doubled.”
The man spoke with a bored expression.
“It’s a decent debuff. If you’d hit someone like Han Seol-ah who burns through mana like crazy, it would’ve been quite effective.”
From the tip of the man’s index finger, a bluish mana blade began to shimmer like heat haze.
From that finger, something as sharp as a sword’s edge erupted forth.
Whoosh.
The man’s finger traced lightly through the air.
Crack.
“Ah…?”
Richard felt his hands go slack.
The heavy shaft of the war hammer was severed cleanly along a diagonal, as smoothly as tofu being sliced, and fell to the ground with a thud.
That wasn’t all—the finger continued through to sever Richard’s wrist as well.
“Aaaaagh! My, my wrist!!!”
“Next. Buff and mana recovery theft.”
The man stepped forward.
“D-don’t come closer!!”
Richard screamed and stumbled backward, but the man closed the distance like a shadow, appearing before his face in an instant.
“This is also a fine ability. The problem is, though—don’t you think your neck will fly off before I even find a recovery potion?”
Whoosh!
The man’s hand blade descended like lightning toward Richard’s shoulder.
The mana barrier tore like paper as Richard’s right shoulder blade shattered.
“Krraaaaaagh!”
Richard Sterling, sprawled across the floor, thrashed in agony and screamed.
“Your mana consumption has doubled! How are you burning through mana so recklessly?”
“Ah, that.”
The man pressed his foot firmly against Richard’s solar plexus, letting out a low chuckle.
“I’m ‘borrowing’ mana.”
“…What?”
Thud—!
As the man applied pressure, a strangled cry mixed with blood erupted from Richard’s lips.
The man’s gaze fixed upon the colossal golden scale hovering in the void behind Richard’s back.
“You said this battlefield was under your dominion, didn’t you?”
The man’s index and middle fingers converged, forming a sword seal.
“If the one who sets the rules is the ruler, then witness your rules shatter before your eyes.”
Kwaaaang—!
A brilliant blade of light erupted from the man’s fingertips, tearing through the empty air.
Richard’s awakened ability—the Contractor—and the golden scale that formed its foundation, the instrument of tyrannical contracts.
The scale, which should never have broken, shattered into countless fragments with a single slash, scattering into the void.
“Ughh… Cough!”
As the foundation of his power crumbled, Richard convulsed violently, vomiting blood as mana surged backward through his entire body.
Weapons, debuffs, and even the ruler’s dominion over the laws themselves.
Everything he had spent a lifetime building was utterly negated in three simple gestures.
“Now do you understand who the true master of this battlefield is?”
The man pointed his fingertips toward Richard’s blood-soaked crown.
“Wait, wait! If you spare me, America will—!”
The man’s eyes turned glacial, devoid of all warmth.
“No.”
A merciless strike.
A thunderous blade of light erupted from the man’s fingertips, piercing cleanly through Richard’s forehead.

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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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