Chapter 58

Chapter 58.

Successfully conquering Resonar was not the end.

‘Considering the pattern the Tower has shown so far… there is a high probability that we will experience one more Break.’

The fact that only I knew the strategy!

That was valuable information not for now, but for that time.

With the Resonar subjugation complete, I had succeeded in forming the bare minimum of a party: a Debuffer, a Tanker, and me as the Damage Dealer.

‘There is a way for the Healer.’

But still… my ‘94th Floor strategy party’ was undercooked.

Han Seol-ah had only just stepped into EX-rank.

And Lee A-un was nothing more than a newborn who had just awakened again.

I needed just a little more time until those two could fulfill their roles.

‘But will the Tower really give me that time leisurely?’

The possibility was endlessly low.

It would not be strange even if the grace period truly came out as one day.

Last time, I had used a trick once through Han Seol-ah, but…

‘Well. The same move probably will not work again.’

A trick was ultimately a trick. To put it extremely, it could also be seen as ‘cheating.’

Moreover, a Break was the whip the Tower brought down upon those who did not climb it.

Considering the Tower’s position, which regarded climbing the Tower as more important than anything else, there was no way it would allow me to play around with that whip twice.

‘I may have to use the Possession Ticket on Han Seol-ah or Lee A-un again.’

Unlocking the Corridor further to strengthen myself was not a good option.

That was because me becoming stronger from here would not affect the clear probability.

‘The 94th Floor is not a place that can be cleared just because one person is strong.’

Even if everyone could not do as much as I could, they at least had to be able to pull more than their own weight before I could see a clear angle.

Even after that, I stared into the air for a long while, organizing my thoughts.

“….”

Even after waiting while organizing my thoughts, no warning message about the next Break appeared.

‘…But seriously, why is it not appearing?’

It is not discriminating against me because I did not awaken normally, right?

‘Let us check.’

“Min Ji-hee.”

When I lightly called her name into the microphone.

[…Yes? Ah, yes! Apostle.]

Min Ji-hee answered in a flustered voice.

“What about the warning message for the next Break?”

[It still… has not appeared.]

What is going on?

I waited about five more minutes after that.

However, the Tower did not display either fireworks or a warning about the next disaster.

An eerily silent stillness…

That silence gradually felt as though it were tightening around my throat.

The clattering sounds of weapons, armor, and shields colliding felt unpleasant to hear, like dissonance.

It was a sensation as though an invisible noose were slowly tightening around my neck.

Moreover, it seemed everyone felt the same way.

In the end, unable to bear this heavy atmosphere, everyone was dismissed for the time being.

No one knew what disaster was coming next.

It was a victory that left a bad aftertaste.

***

‘Ugh, my stomach hurts.’

I feel like I am going to go insane from anxiety.

Let us say I have to receive a forehead flick as punishment, but the one flicking me is Superman, and if I fail to block it, my head will burst and I will die.

That is the current situation, except I do not know when that superhuman will come and ambush me.

‘If I knew when he was coming, I could at least prepare.’

The system is quiet, so nothing will happen?

I do not have such soft expectations.

I have to think about the system’s will.

That malice of, if you do not climb the Tower, I will kill you all.

This silence is the eye of the typhoon.

Rather, I should interpret it as advance notice that the next disaster will be that much more dangerous and infuriating.

‘…Looking back on the Tower’s pattern, the next boss will try to make something that absolutely cannot be killed appear.’

If the ‘one’ I expect appears…

I guarantee it. We absolutely cannot kill it.

We have to clear the 94th Floor before that.

‘So how much time is left? What can I prepare, and how far can I prepare it?! Damn it!’

The anxiety of knowing that something serious would definitely happen…

But not knowing when it would happen.

That was gnawing away at me.

[Agent, your current brain waves are in an overloaded state. Your sympathetic nervous system is abnormally hyperactive.]

Snowy displayed a hologram with medical data attached and gave me a warning.

“Whew.”

Right.

If I kept my nerves on edge, as long as I was human, I would eventually wear myself out and collapse.

[Take deep breaths.]

So the method I chose was simple.

“Let us play the game first.”

Since anxiety was filling my head… I would empty my head first.

My priorities were clear.

One. Handle the urgent things first.

Two. Enter the Tower as quickly as possible.

‘First, handle the urgent things.’

When I logged into Lost Honor, a quest window notifying me of completion greeted me.

Checking this was the top priority.

[Emergency Epic Quest]

[Save the Republic of Korea from the Crisis of Destruction 4]

[Quest Objective]

[Defeat Wondrous Echo - Resonant Entity Resonar] (Achieved)

There were two rewards.

[Reward]

[Synchronization (EX) ‘Trait’ Unlocked]

[Possession Ticket]

That was not the end.

[Hidden Quest: Bloodless Clear has been completed]

“As expected.”

The condition of the Hidden Quest was a no-death clear.

Resonar’s gimmick had clearly been designed with one purpose in mind.

The will of ‘kill the guy who hit me.’

Let us assume that someone started the Resonar raid without knowing the strategy.

Since there were two Resonar individuals, the strategy team would likely be split into two as well.

Because Resonar did not attack first, the strategy team would prepare everything possible in front of Resonar in order to inflict as much damage as possible with the first strike.

And finally, when they attacked Resonar along with the signal to begin the strategy?

They would be annihilated immediately.

That was how vicious Resonar was.

‘Though the difficulty drops sharply if you know the strategy.’

Anyway, if the opponent was a boss that was designed to force damage no matter what, identifying the condition of the Hidden Quest was simple.

‘Just do not take damage.’

My objective was a no-death clear.

This was the very reason I had distributed items to the Tankers.

“Now then. Let us take a look.”

[Reward]

[Synchronization (EX) ‘Trait’ Unlocked]

[Possession Ticket]

[‘Anchor’ Unlocked] (new!)

“…Anchor?”

‘Is this the one I know?’

If it was, then this was…

An incredible reward!

***

In Lost Honor, an Anchor was, simply put, a ‘teleportation ability.’

If a certain item was used, the coordinates where the player stood became an ‘Anchor.’

And if one used a ‘Link Stone,’ one could teleport to the registered Anchor.

‘This is insane, insane!’

The days when I had to activate Synchronization and hurriedly run around by stepping through the air.

The experience of having to anxiously rush back home while worrying about when Synchronization would turn off.

The moment this function appeared, goodbye to all of that.

It was a function that provided that much remarkable convenience.

If I had this, my range of activity would expand infinitely.

Moreover…

This would also increase my combat power tremendously.

‘If I install one Anchor in Pyongyang…?’

I could turn on Synchronization and teleport to the Pyongyang Anchor.

I could save an enormous amount of time and Mana that would have been spent heading to Pyongyang.

No, there was no need to limit it to within the country.

If necessary, anywhere overseas across the sea could become my front yard as long as I planted an Anchor there.

And if I needed to refill Synchronization during external activities or battle?

With one click, I could return home.

‘Ha.’

In effect, it meant maintaining Synchronization infinitely was possible.

“Let us use it right away.”

In any case, my room was the only space where I could activate Synchronization, so it was the top priority for Anchor installation.

Gulp.

The method of use was already in my head.

“Create Anchor.”

When I recited the Starting Incantation with my will in it, a system message appeared in midair.

[Anchor Stone required]

The moment I read the message, what an ‘Anchor Stone’ was naturally came to mind.

‘The conditions are the same as in Lost Honor.’

Creating an Anchor consumed one Anchor Stone each.

An Anchor Stone was…

‘A craftable item.’

In Lost Honor, obtaining the materials was not difficult, so making it was easy.

‘I do not know what it will be like in reality.’

Consuming an Anchor Stone to create an Anchor was the first step.

‘If an Anchor Stone is needed, then a Link Stone will also be needed.’

In order to return from the outside to an Anchor created this way, one had to use a ‘Link Stone,’ which was the concept of a Return Stone.

Naturally, this was also a one-use Consumable Item, and it had to be crafted.

“Snowy.”

[Yes.]

I asked Snowy to investigate.

[Most of them are things that can be obtained easily.]

“Really? That is a relief.”

[However, one main material is a bit…]

Snowy displayed a screen.

[Holy Water]

[Out of stock]

“Huh?”

Why is this out of stock?

It should be an item that can be obtained easily at a temple.

[Holy Water is a material supplied exclusively by the Supreme God Order. From some time ago, the Order unilaterally stopped its supply, so the stock has completely dried up.]

“Ahh.”

This is reality. It seems I cannot obtain it as easily as in the game.

‘But… the Supreme God Order?’

“Why does only that place have a monopoly on supplying Holy Water?”

[At first, Hunters who had awakened Divine Power produced Holy Water everywhere, but…]

Of course they did.

The reason Holy Water was easy to obtain in Lost Honor?

Because Holy Water was something even low-ranking clergy could easily create.

To exaggerate a little, if one put water in a glass bottle and imbued it with Divine Power, that became Holy Water.

[However, after ‘monster Holy Water’ with overwhelming efficacy and an absurdly low price appeared on the market, the existing low-grade Holy Water producers all went out of business because they could no longer break even. The ecosystem itself went extinct.]

“And that was the Supreme God Order’s Holy Water?”

[Yes. The Holy Water created by Yeriche, the ‘Saintess’ of the Supreme God Order.]

Yeriche?

That name is familiar.

“At the Red Elixir auction? The one I saw there?”

[Yes. That Yeriche.]

That made sense.

A Saintess was Earth’s strongest Divine Power Awakened.

If a Hunter like that made Holy Water, it would make all other Holy Water look like knockoffs.

“Are there no used goods or resellers?”

[No. The Supreme God Order strictly prohibits the resale of Holy Water. They say that if you are caught reselling it, you will be kidnapped by the Order and killed without anyone knowing.]

“…For real?”

[The part about being killed is not true.]

“So the part about being kidnapped by the Order is true?”

[It is true that there is a prison at the Order’s headquarters, and that resellers are being confined there. The Order calls it a legitimate ‘correctional facility,’ though.]

‘What a frightening place.’

“So in the end, you are saying there is no way to obtain it right now?”

[Yes. Unless the Supreme God Order starts selling Holy Water again.]

Since I was already at it, I called Kang Hyo-jun as well.

[…]

“Hello.”

[…Yeees.]

It was Kang Hyo-jun, sounding half-dead.

‘If someone heard him, they would think he ran a raid alone. If I excluded him from the subjugation battle, he should be grateful!’

“There is something I want to ask.”

[Yeees.]

“How much has been completed?”

[Cough! Cough! Hack!]

On the other end of the phone, Kang Hyo-jun began coughing violently.

I even heard him go, “Ghk! Uwegh!”

He must be under extreme stress.

“…That was a joke. Calm down.”

[…Huff, huff…]

“….”

[…Please refrain from making such jokes. Hoo…]

Gulp, gulp.

I heard the sound of him drinking water.

[Haaa…]

Then came a sigh of admiration, like when one drank a delicious beverage.

‘Looks like he drank an Elixir.’

[So, what are you curious about?]

“Can you obtain Holy Water?”

[That will be difficult.]

“Even if I give you Points?”

[Because I cannot sell what does not exist. And…]

Kang Hyo-jun trailed off, as if choosing his words.

[Hm, since you are Numbers 1, it should be all right to tell you. The place that receives Holy Water as its top priority is our Market. If we do not have it, you probably will not be able to obtain it anywhere.]

As if to say those words were true, Snowy flashed in affirmation beyond the data window floating in the air.

“So it seems.”

[You have already checked? Then this will be quick. We are also pressing them through the person in charge, but the answer that comes back has always been the same.]

“What is it?”

[They say Yeriche has fallen ill.]

“…?”

The Saintess was the Hunter who had awakened the strongest Divine Power.

Such a person was bedridden from merely being ill?

“Can they not treat her?”

[It is a mental issue…]

“Ah.”

Then there was no answer.

Divine Power worked only on the body.

“Hm. That is troublesome. I need it.”

[In that case, there is one method.]

I heard Kang Hyo-jun tapping away at a keyboard.

Immediately afterward, with a ding, a message arrived on my Numbers card.

When I opened it, it was a phone number.

[That is the number of ‘Happy,’ the Black Market’s Italian representative. That person should have a method. I will contact them in advance.]

After hanging up, I immediately called Happy.

Surely her name cannot actually be Happy, right?

It must be something like a code name, but…

‘To name a code name Happy.’

She must be a truly happy and positive person.

[Aw, damn it…]

A very irritated young woman’s voice came from the other end of the receiver.

[Who are you? How did you get this number? If you do not answer my question, I will kill you.]

?

“This is Special One.”

[What? Has this crazy bastard really lost his mind? If you are Special One, then I am the Saintess! You arrogant bastard, how dare you…]

I pulled the receiver away from my ear because of the torrent of curses that followed.

Just hearing it for a moment felt like my ears would bleed.

“Curses contain infinite possibilities depending on how the user combines them.”

Hm. I learned one thing.

Happy does not seem to be a happy person.

[You bastard… Huh?]

Not long after, Happy shut her mouth as if it had been a lie.

[….]

“….”

It seemed she had only now checked the message Kang Hyo-jun had sent.

Happy immediately prostrated herself.

[I have been waiting only for your call, Special One.]

“Are you done cursing?”

[…Er, I am truly sorry.]

“…?”

I see.

[I will send you 30 million Points.]

“Suddenly? Why?”

[As a gesture of my deepest apology…]

Ding—

Thirty million Points were really deposited.

“….”

[If your anger has not been appeased, I will deposit another ten million Points.]

Ding—

“?”

[If it still has not been appeased, I will deposit an additional 213 Points.]

The amount suddenly dropped sharply.

It was a move that seemed as though she was emptying her entire fortune.

Instead of opening my mouth, I maintained an intrigued silence.

When I said nothing, she eventually went one step further.

[If your anger still has not been appeased, I will apologize with my life.]

“Wait.”

She was an eight-ton truck with a broken steering wheel.

I had a feeling she might actually do it, so I stopped her first.

[Yes.]

“I do not need your life.”

[Thank you. Then it was worth offering my entire fortune.]

“…Your entire fortune?”

[It is cheaper than the price of my life.]

Happy laughed, “Hehe,” and added.

[And if it is a transaction with Special One, a few tens of millions of Points can be earned in an instant, can they not?]

Ahh.

I smiled faintly.

I was wondering why she was prostrating herself so completely while apologizing.

She had calculated everything?

Not a chance.

“I will only conduct transactions through Kang Hyo-jun.”

[…]

I had already decided to back Kang Hyo-jun.

Then I had to back him to the end.

[I… see.]

“Anyway, I will use this well.”

Naturally, I had no intention of returning it.

It was Happy’s fault for misunderstanding.

‘I suddenly got free money.’

“I have something to say about the Holy Water supply issue.”

[Ah, I was already planning to explain.]

Happy answered immediately.

[After seeing the Red Elixir, the Saintess became a shut-in.]

…Excuse me?