[The unique floor 'Saintra's Last Siege' has been cleared, bringing changes to the 71st-80th floor section of the Tower of Despair!]
The changes apply only to the Tower of Despair belonging to 'South Korea,' where the unique floor was generated.
It wasn't a particularly long message.
But it was enough to cause a stir.
Every Tower of Despair belonging to each nation has an identical composition and system.
That's what made this possible in the first place.
The proposition that a country that cleared higher floors had more information and stronger players — and therefore greater national power — had just cracked.
"This is going to cause another shitstorm."
Jin Yunho clicked his tongue.
Yoon Miri sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair.
"Kids who were exactly the same in height, weight, appearance, personality, and background... and then one of them went on a diet."
Some countries might say it.
What's the big deal about just the 71st floor range?
But even the person saying that would know the truth.
What mattered wasn't whether a little weight had been lost right now — it was the arrival of the possibility that things could keep changing from here on out.
Ring ring ring ring.
Jin Yunho frowned at his phone, which was ringing furiously.
Not even a minute had passed since he finished speaking.
It had already started.
"Se-yeon-ssi. Looks like dinner tonight isn't going to happen."
"Of course. You're working hard."
"It's nothing. I got some amazing beef from Jin-hyeok-ssi, so I have to earn my keep. Well then."
Just as he finished his greeting and was about to stand up.
Ding!
An ominous alarm rang out, for reasons he couldn't quite place.
[The Century Necromancer Mortarion was a being scheduled to appear on floor 1?? of the Tower of Despair!]
[In the Tower of Despair belonging to South Korea, Mortarion's existence has been erased!]
[A being with significantly reduced difficulty will replace floor 1?? in that tower!]
"...Wow."
Se-yeon let out a gasp.
Jin Yunho and Yoon Miri's mouths hung open.
It wasn't just that the standard of comparison had changed.
Since it was replaced with question marks, the exact floor number couldn't be determined.
But one thing was clear.
The difficulty of clearing a floor that would have been a massive threat to the country had dropped dramatically.
At the same time, the possibility of the Century Necromancer being summoned onto South Korean soil through the transfer had been completely erased.
Se-yeon looked up at Jin Yunho, who had frozen solid.
"Fighting."
Jin Yunho squeezed his eyes shut and walked out of the situation room.
Yoon Miri and Cheon Se-yeon looked at each other and let out playful laughs.
"Want to check out the Tower Site during the break?"
"Oh, right. I completely forgot."
Cheon Se-yeon pulled her chair over next to Yoon Miri.
Sure enough, the Tower Site was in chaos.
---
Guys, I just went to check out floor 71 and something's weird. Some saints I've never seen before helped me clear it. They even lent me holy weapons. So I went in without any holy items and cleared it anyway. Trying floor 72 tomorrow!
@ Bullshit. I cleared it 4 hours ago. Nothing changed.
ㄴ Is the guy commenting from another country? The unique floor just got cleared, so it wouldn't have changed back then.
ㄴㄴ Sure, next delusional patient.
ㄴㄴㄴ Not bullshit. I just came back from floor 75 and some Saintra holy knights and priests helped me clear it. Last time I almost died, today I beat it with my feet.
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Stop your bullshit. I spent my entire savings on a holy weapon for 100 million yesterday. Don't gaslight me.
ㄴㄴㄴㄴㄴ Next, a soft-brained milk cow black crane who jumped the gun because he didn't trust the Runner.
---
"As always, it's a mess."
"Right. Feels like it's even worse today."
The truth war had only lasted until the post she'd just clicked on.
After that, new experiences and certification videos from news-tubers flooded in like mushrooms after rain.
---
I'm the black crane who bought holy gear for 100 million earlier. How do I do overseas transactions?
@ Idiot lololololol
@ Depreciation. It's 10 million now. Gg.
---
"Ugh. That's gotta hurt."
Yoon Miri shook her head.
At least there was still demand overseas, but with fees, the loss would be pretty significant.
---
Real-time status of other countries' sites getting wrecked by Korean players.
@ Your country doesn't have a Runner, right?
@ The Century Necromancer is scheduled to descend on your country. Get ready.
@ Where's that Zaihao37 bastard who was talking shit about a small country having a unique floor in the Saintra's Last Siege video? I'm curious about his reaction lol.
ㄴ That bastard bought holy weapons at insane prices two days ago claiming he'd clear floor 79 lol. If he was in South Korea, he wouldn't have needed to buy them, right?
---
"Hey!"
Se-yeon pointed at the monitor.
"Zaihao37! That guy left a ton of hate comments on the Saintra siege post!"
"Looks like he got some justice served. He's probably fuming right now."
Se-yeon patted her chest.
It felt refreshing, like downing a bottle of cider.
"Phew. Trustworthy Runner cider."
"Pfft. That's funny. Runner cider. Oh? It's a bit different, but this came up."
---
We live in the era of the Great Runner.
Therefore, I shall define it. All these effects caused by the Runner will henceforth be called the 'Runner Effect.'
Disagree and I'll slap you across the face.
@ Runner Effect lololol
@ But it kinda fits?
---
"Oh ho. Runner Effect, Runner Effect."
Se-yeon repeated it a couple of times and smiled.
"Has a nice ring to it. Rolls off the tongue."
"Right. It'll probably be used everywhere soon. There's even an article from foreign media."
They were giggling and looking at the monitor for a while.
"But."
Yoon Miri tilted her head and continued.
"The system said the Century Necromancer Mortarion was originally a being somewhere in the 100s, right."
"Right."
"So the Runner basically skipped grades and killed him."
"Exactly."
"Since a lot of countries keep their clears classified, I can't say for sure, but if no country has ever encountered Mortarion so far... doesn't that mean the Runner is the strongest in the world?"
"Huh?"
They looked at each other with faces of pure shock.
Though they didn't say it out loud, both of them were repeating the same word with their eyes.
Hooooooly shiiiiit!!!
---
* * *
The capital city of the holy nation Saintra, Solaum.
"Achoo!"
Jin-hyeok sneezed and rubbed his nose.
Was someone cursing him out?
His nose was running, his ears were itching — everything was going haywire.
"It's completely ruined!"
Grandma Mo stumbled over, staggering.
Her appearance was a stark contrast to the people cheering in victory.
Thud!
The Empress Dowager fell tragically and shook her head.
Then.
"All this rotten gold!!! How do you like it!!!"
She roared at the ground.
Jin-hyeok swallowed dryly.
Since Momo loved expensive things more than anyone, the shock must have been huge.
She looked ready to fight the floor, so he quickly ran over and gave her a piggyback ride.
"It's okay, Momo. We'll earn more outside."
"I'm so sad! I was going to melt down the remaining gold and make a necklace this big!"
Jin-hyeok looked up at Momo.
Since when had she been planning such an ambitious scheme?
And more importantly, something that big wouldn't be wearable for chubby Momo!?
"Hmm!"
Momo, deep in thought, nodded.
He didn't know what it was, but she seemed to have reached a conclusion.
"Master, master."
"Yeah?"
Momo glanced around slyly and whispered in his ear.
"Wouldn't there be a lot of treasure in the royal palace?! Everyone seems busy celebrating right now!"
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Had she turned dark from losing such a massive amount of gold at once?
She was almost at Black Momo levels.
But thinking about it calmly, it was a bit tempting.
Even if he couldn't take everything for conscience's sake, wouldn't they give him one or two?
"Let's not steal. Let's ask if we can take something we like."
"Great!"
A bright smile bloomed on Momo's face.
As long as she could take something, it seemed like a yes.
"We can't be too greedy. We already cleaned out all the holy weapons."
"Mmm! Momo already forgot everything she took before!"
Even though they'd put in a lot of gold, when you thought about it, the monetary gains from Saintra were enormous.
He casually opened his inventory.
Renya, Dark, and Seira had returned their weapons since they wouldn't be using them anymore.
Plus his own sword.
Each one was a holy weapon of a quality rarely seen anywhere.
'Just these alone would sell for a ridiculous price.'
The chains and greaves were a bit iffy, but if they didn't sell, he could melt them down and make other weapons.
"Let's steal Kancho's gun too! We can sell that for reeeeeally a lot!"
It would probably sell much faster than the swords.
Anyone who knew how to shoot could use it, regardless of class.
Maybe because their thoughts aligned.
Jin-hyeok and Momo's gazes shifted toward Kancho, who was maintaining his gun.
"Eh?!"
Kancho flinched and slowly turned his head.
'What is this...! This creepy energy!'
As a Yordle Ranger skilled in detecting presences, he could say this with confidence.
This was scarier than when the Skull Dragons were charging.
Sensing danger instinctively, Kancho quickly gathered his assault rifle.
"Kuuuuung!!"
But the heavy machine gun was too much.
He strained until his face turned red, but it wouldn't budge.
At that moment, a shadow crept up from behind.
Gulp!
He was done for.
"Kancho. I told you. I'd carry the heavy machine gun for you."
"Right! Master said so! Don't hurt yourself trying and end up pooping!"
Jin-hyeok smiled and reached for the heavy machine gun.
Swoosh!
Kancho's fluffy hand landed on top of it.
"Freeze."
Kancho looked at Jin-hyeok with sharp eyes.
"Top-shelf extraction!"
Jin-hyeok swallowed dryly.
Top-shelf extraction? The sudden curveball question gave him brain freeze.
While Jin-hyeok was marking Kancho, Momo crept down and approached the gun.
"Don't touch the gun, Momo! Your hand will fly off!"
Momo, who had been watching Kancho and Jin-hyeok's exchange, squeezed her eyes shut.
From her expression alone, it looked like she'd made a heroic decision.
Opening her eyes, Momo gave Jin-hyeok a thumbs up.
Her face was utterly determined, as if entrusting the rest to him.
And exactly 5 seconds later.
"Yaaaaaah!!"
"Guhk!"
Momo's dropkick split the air.
Today as well, Kancho rolled away helplessly.
Was that not enough?
Thwack!
Momo dashed over and, with skillful hands, grabbed his perked-up ears.
"Now!!"
He couldn't waste the opportunity Momo had created.
"I'll give it back when you grow up and get married, Kancho!"
He threw out the classic line Kim Minji used to use when taking his New Year's money as a kid, and grabbed the heavy machine gun.
Could he get that New Year's money back?
That was unknown.
He hadn't gotten married yet.
So was he not going to return this heavy machine gun either, like the New Year's money?
Of course not.
He planned to give it back soon.
Because he couldn't let his hard-working Yordle Ranger be sad today.
But for now, he'd play along with Grandma Mo, who was sad about losing all her gold.
He packed the gun as realistically as possible and sped up.
Darting away!
----------
T/N:
Just for being a free member, you'll get 5 advanced chapters every week!
Access 35 chapters in advance on my Patreon:[email protected]//towerup