I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 87

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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 87
I returned to the conference room at Hanam Fortress.
“Everyone’s here.”
I surveyed the faces gathered in the conference room.
Jin Cheon-jin. Min Ji-hee. Han Seol-ah.
Three members from the Hunter Association.
Next were Lee Hyung-je and…
‘Goodness, what a shock.’
I thought a walking corpse had shuffled in on its own feet.
Beneath deeply sunken eye sockets lay a sickly blue darkness.
He looked like a zombie ravaged by overwork—I didn’t recognize him as Kang Hyo-jun at first glance.
“Happy couldn’t make it. The circumstances simply don’t allow her to leave her post…”
“I see. So she’s still working where she is.”
‘You shouldn’t have come either. Just keep working.’
In any case, two members from the Foundation.
Lee Ah-woon and Kim Chul-soo.
My party members.
Now that I thought about it, one of my four party members was missing.
“Where’s Yereche?”
“She returned to Italy.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, I’d exhausted all her access passes climbing the 94th Floor.
I hadn’t refilled her passes.
‘She saw her chance and fled.’
Well, it’s fine.
She’ll need sustenance, so she’ll be back soon enough.
And…
She’ll come to regret not answering my summons.
“I have gifts for you.”
* * *
Whoooosh—!
As the Apostle extended his hand, a mountain of luminous equipment cascaded down.
‘…Artifacts?’
Aside from a few pieces of armor, most were accessories.
Even the armor showed no overlapping pieces, as though they’d been stripped directly from someone who’d been wearing them.
‘Is that the Eye of Aegis?!’
Min Ji-hee’s gaze locked onto a brooch rolling across the table.
The Eye of Aegis—a high-grade A-rank artifact renowned for its exceptional defense against projectiles, perfect for anti-sniper use!
She recognized it instantly because it was a protective charm like the “Constellation’s Ward” she’d once sold to Pandemonium—the same category of defensive artifact.
And more importantly, this was an item known in hushed circles as the exclusive equipment of Richard Sterling, the American Hunter Association Chairman.
‘At this level of value… these must be items from across the sea, from that star-spangled nation.’
Lee Hyung-je immediately recognized the origins of the artifacts scattered across the table.
‘…All stolen goods. American.’
Kang Hyo-jun, a Black Market specialist in contraband, saw the same thing.
The three of them, simultaneously realizing whose belongings these were, exchanged glances as if bound by an unspoken agreement.
‘Keep it secret.’
‘Yes.’
‘Understood.’
A nod.
By the time the three foxes had finished their silent exchange of looks.
The others, unaware of the truth, stared at the clearly valuable artifacts with their mouths agape.
“Wow… where on earth did you get these from?”
“After outfitting the tank and healer, you’ve been collecting these to fully equip us too! Right, hyung!”
Despite Lee Ah-woon’s excited chatter, the Apostle’s expression remained as impassive as always.
“Found them on the road.”
“To find something like this while walking—truly, the Apostle, even fate itself aids you!”
“…Yes, thank you. Han Seol-ah.”
The Apostle picked up the most eye-catching brooch from the table and tossed it toward Min Ji-hee.
“This is yours.”
“Oh.”
It was the A-rank artifact Min Ji-hee had spotted first—the Eye of Aegis.
“W-why are you giving this to me…”
“Your role is to control the situation from the rear. If you get struck down by a stray projectile or an assassin’s bullet, the loss would be catastrophic.”
At those callous words, Min Ji-hee bit her lip hard.
‘The Apostle…’
Min Ji-hee, who had never awakened combat-related abilities, had always carried the label of ‘the weak one who must be protected’ among these monstrous hunters.
She wanted to ease the burden of protecting her, to send one more tank to the front lines.
That’s why she had sought out self-defense artifacts.
Most already had owners, or those on the market were far too expensive… she’d never managed to purchase even one.
Deep in her heart, there had always lingered a thirst: ‘If only I had just one such protective artifact.’
‘The Apostle saw through this anxiety of mine… and gave me the most certain answer.’
The Apostle had comforted her secret fear of becoming a burden to the party by giving her the artifact she needed most desperately.
“Thank you so much…!”
Min Ji-hee gripped the brooch tightly.
‘Huh?’
And the moment she flipped the brooch over, a familiar earring layered beneath it caught her eye.
‘…!’
Her parents’ heirloom… that she had sold for the transaction fee at Pandemonium…!
The A-rank protective artifact ‘Constellation’s Ward’.
‘H-how did the Apostle obtain this…?’
Clearly it was sold at Pandemonium…
‘Ah!’
In that instant, the scattered fragments of information coalesced into a single thread within Min Ji-hee’s mind.
Pandemonium, Richard Sterling, terrorism.
Richard Sterling had been Pandemonium’s lackey.
‘…They command the leader of the world’s strongest nation as a mere underling? Is Pandemonium truly that powerful? If so…. No, this isn’t the time for such thoughts.’
Min Ji-hee suppressed the endless cascade of questions and resolved to focus solely on the ‘gift’ the Apostle had bestowed.
“Thank you so much, Apostle!”
Tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes.
But the Apostle merely glanced at her earnest gaze before swiftly setting it aside, immediately reaching for the next artifact.
“Next. Han Seol-ah.”
“Yes!”
Han Seol-ah, who had been watching enviously from behind, scurried forward like an eager puppy wagging its tail.
What the Apostle presented was a necklace adorned with a large blue gemstone.
“This is a B-rank artifact with the function to regulate perceived temperature.”
“Oh…”
“Frost Mages must often endure prolonged exposure to cold due to the nature of their training. If the balance of cultivation becomes disrupted, the frost debuff… in other words, your body freezes. In severe cases, it can lead to permanent injury.”
“Yes!”
Han Seol-ah nodded vigorously, her outward response spirited.
‘Since becoming EX-rank, I haven’t actually felt the cold during my training…’
[Nevertheless, heed these words. He stands at the pinnacle of frost magic.]
‘…I’ll interpret that as meaning such situations may arise in the future.’
Taking the opportunity, Han Seol-ah immediately fastened the necklace around her neck.
‘!’
And she felt her body… growing warm.
‘What on earth…’
[…Such an artifact exists in this world?]
Han Seol-ah quickly turned her awareness inward.
Nothing had changed. Her mana core and pathways still brimmed with EX-rank frost mana, bittingly cold in nature.
Yet what was this warmth she felt?
[I see… so that was the meaning.]
‘What? Please explain it to me too!’
[Frost magic ultimately pursues sub-zero temperatures… yet paradoxically, the Apostle, who stands at the apex of frost magic, has granted you an artifact that brings warmth. The answer lies within this contradiction, this paradox.]
‘….’
[Artifacts are precious objects infused with fragments of the Tower’s ‘rules.’ In other words, the contradictory rule of ‘feeling warmth while harboring extreme frost mana’ is now being applied to your body.]
‘Ah!’
[To glimpse the ultimate truth of frost magic, you must ultimately embrace even opposing natures and transcend the Tower’s very rules. The Apostle is presenting you with your ultimate goal.]
‘Such profound meaning…’
Even this brief moment of receiving an artifact was a succession of precious insights for her.
Han Seol-ah felt the chill within her frost mana deepen slightly as she gripped the gemstone at the necklace’s center.
Somehow, even the jewel seemed to radiate a gentle warmth.
“I’ll do my best!”
“Mm.”
Next.
The Apostle gave Lee Ah-woon the Ring of Regeneration, which enhanced bodily healing power.
The moment Lee Ah-woon put on the ring, his face contorted in agony.
“Ugh! Just putting this on hurts like crazy…”
Lee Ah-woon felt as though tens of thousands of razor-sharp thorns were scraping through his veins.
Rat-dol, sensing that pain alongside him, poked his face out from Lee Ah-woon’s pocket.
[Dark mana and regenerative power are clashing. We’ve acquired an excellent training tool. Thank you, my lord.]
“…Mm.”
What was given to Kim Chul-soo was a bracelet-shaped spatial expansion backpack.
“Hah—!”
Seeing it, Kang Hyo-jun involuntarily caught his breath.
“What’s wrong?”
When the Apostle’s sharp gaze fixed on him, Kang Hyo-jun flinched and hurriedly shook his head.
“…It’s nothing.”
Kang Hyo-jun forced himself to look down casually, but internally he was astounded.
‘That’s definitely… the National Treasury Pouch!’
Its storage capacity was no worse than other backpacks.
Yet it possessed the incredible convenience of a bracelet form—the king of spatial expansion backpacks!
That was the National Treasury Pouch.
Naturally, it was priceless beyond valuation.
‘Even if I converted all these premium-grade equipment stacked here into cash, it wouldn’t compare to that single pouch.’
Kang Hyo-jun looked at Kim Chul-soo again.
If he was bestowed the most precious artifact, then this seemingly ordinary man must be the one the Apostle cherished most within his Tower climbing party…!
‘Kim Chul-soo…’
Kang Hyo-jun committed Kim Chul-soo’s unremarkable face to memory.
‘…I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere before. Hmm, it won’t be easy to remember.’
Even for the seasoned merchant Kang Hyo-jun, Kim Chul-soo’s excessively ordinary face was a formidable challenge.
‘Still… I should definitely remember it.’
Lee Hyung-je was given Vishnu’s Six Steps, which now had only one use remaining.
Having earned notoriety through this recent ‘transaction’, it was meant as insurance against potential assassination.
“Heheheh. If assassination comes, I’ll just die.”
“…You absolutely cannot die.”
“Haha. I’ll be careful.”
Jin Cheon-jin received the return formula for the artifact White Tiger’s Fang.
The Apostle clearly declared that it was his own, received as compensation, and that he was merely lending it now, yet Jin Cheon-jin simply wept tears of gratitude.
And finally.
“Kang Hyo-jun.”
“Huh?”
‘Me too?’
The Apostle tossed a pair of rings to Kang Hyo-jun.
At first glance, they looked like ordinary gold rings.
But if these were the same gold rings Richard Sterling wore, that changed everything.
‘Could these be… the Ring of Dawn and the Ring of Dusk?’
A pair of matching rings that formed a set under the names “Dawn” and “Dusk.”
Despite their grandiose names, their abilities were remarkably simple.
Increased sleep efficiency.
And fatigue recovery.
The Ring of Dawn got its name because improved sleep efficiency allowed one to wake earlier than others and witness the “dawn.”
The Ring of Dusk got its name because one would never grow tired until the sun set.
They were fairly common artifacts obtainable around the 40th Floor.
In fact, they were standard welcome gifts for new recruits at the American Hunter Association.
A gift for Kang Hyo-jun, who suffered from extreme fatigue every time.
I wanted to accept it that way, but…
New recruits at the American Hunter Association who received this artifact interpreted it differently.
—When do you have time to sleep? Get back to work!
‘…Right, it’s definitely telling me to work harder.’
Kang Hyo-jun bowed his head slightly and pocketed the rings.
Now that I held them, there were four rings total.
Two pairs.
‘I’ll give one pair to Happy.’
“Good. Now only Min Ji-hee, Lee Hyung-je, and Kang Hyo-jun remain. Everyone else, get out.”
‘What about Yereche?’
In that moment, everyone present seemed to recall the Saint’s absence simultaneously.
But just as they were about to move on, assuming there must be a reason she wasn’t called…
“What about the Saint’s share?”
Lee Ah-woon asked politely, raising his hand with a bright smile.
“There is none.”
The Apostle stated it flatly.
* * *
Everything else is mine.
That Richard fellow had some decent armor on him.
Since it’s stolen goods anyway, I can’t sell it.
Too famous equipment risks exposing it as contraband if I wear it.
So I’ll wear it myself.
Whether others suspect something or not, I can just ignore them.
The others, on the other hand, can’t handle the consequences.
Click.
As the door closed behind Han Seol-ah, the atmosphere in the conference room shifted entirely.
Simultaneously, the faint smile that had played at my lips vanished.
“We’re ready, Apostle.”
I had deliberately kept only those who knew how to use their heads.
Han Seol-ah had a sharp mind, but she rarely bothered to apply it.
Jin Cheon-jin was the type who despised thinking altogether.
Lee Ah-woon and Kim Chul-soo were slow to comprehend.
Happy was… ambiguous.
Yereche was simply dim-witted.
“Now, everyone focus on this.”
I produced the “Outer God’s Egg” from my pocket and set it down with a soft thud.
Split in half, drained of all mana—it resembled an empty mana stone.
“Is that a mana stone, sir?”
Kang Hyo-jun asked cautiously.
The way he phrased it as a question suggested he wasn’t entirely certain even as he spoke.
“What does it look like to you?”
“It resembles a mana stone. But something about it is different.”
Kang Hyo-jun withdrew an appraiser’s lens from his pocket and examined the egg carefully.
“…The fact that nothing shows up means it’s not a Tower artifact.”
So he could discern even that much.
Quite useful, indeed.
“It’s not a mana stone? But it looks identical to one.”
Lee Hyung-je raised an objection.
True. I wasn’t sure which detail Kang Hyo-jun had initially noticed, but to an ordinary person, a mana stone and an Outer God’s Egg were indistinguishable.
“How did you sense something was wrong from the beginning?”
“The fracture surface is different.”
Kang Hyo-jun extended his finger toward the severed edge.
“A mana stone is a crystalline structure containing highly concentrated, high-purity mana. When cut, the mana ruptures outward, leaving explosive traces. But…”
Kang Hyo-jun ran his finger smoothly across the fracture surface.
“It’s pristine. Which means it’s not a mana stone.”
So this is the Black Market’s expertise.
Their understanding of ‘merchandise’ operates on an entirely different level.
Even I was learning something new.
“Exactly. This isn’t a mana stone.”
“Apostle, then this is…”
Min Ji-hee’s expression grew serious.
“…This is the egg that contained the Corrupted Entity. I call it the Outer God’s Egg.”
“The Corrupted Entity?”
I showed Kang Hyo-jun the footage as well.
I paused the video at the section where the Corrupted Entity appeared and provided an explanation.
“…This monster was contained in that stone resembling a mana stone?”
“For reference, it possesses enough combat power to kill even several S-rank Hunters who aren’t specialized in combat.”
The three of them grew serious.
But the real danger lay elsewhere.
“So then… how many of these ‘Outer God’s Eggs’ do you think are scattered across the entire world?”
“…It’s impossible to predict.”
“The supply and utilization of mana stones are handled as top-secret information by each nation.”
As if agreeing with Min Ji-hee’s words, Whitey’s voice came through the watch.
[It will take time for me to penetrate each nation’s information networks, Agent. And if it’s a physically isolated closed system, there’s no way to hack it from the outside.]
“….”
I too grew serious.
I couldn’t get a sense of how far or how widely the Outer God’s Eggs had spread.
“What about us?”
“…There are none domestically.”
“How can you be sure? As you can see, before being cut open, the Outer God’s Egg looks identical to a mana stone.”
“…That’s…”
Min Ji-hee trailed off, looking embarrassed.
Seeing her hesitate in such an uncharacteristic way, it seemed the eggs had spread quite seriously throughout the country as well.
“What is it? Speak clearly.”
“…Apostle, South Korea is the only country without a mana stone power plant.”
“….”
“…Therefore, there are none. I’m certain.”
Hah…
Being the poorest nation on Earth came in handy at times like this.
“…So we’re safe then.”
“…Yes.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Yes. It is fortunate…”
Hmm.
“Then the solution becomes simple.”
Min Ji-hee was startled by my declaration.
“Pardon? Simple? We’re in a situation where we can’t even know how widely this danger has spread across the world.”
Yes, it probably sounds strange.
“To use an analogy, this is like a remote-controlled bomb.”
But it’s true.
“If you kill the one holding the switch, the bomb won’t detonate.”
The target was clear.
Pandemonium.
Destroy that place, and we’re done.

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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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