I'm the Only Wizard Climbing the Tower - Chapter 74

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 74: 074

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Flash!

The bright aura faded.

I slowly looked around.

What I saw was a desolate wasteland.

Countless buildings had crumbled into powder and covered the ground. Dust blew through the ruins, obscuring my vision.

I muttered quietly.

“Floor 30. The capital of the ruined Golem Empire.”

It looked similar to the previous Golem Floors at a glance, but it was different.

Unlike the lower floors, where some intact buildings remained, this entire massive city had been completely destroyed. Not a single building stood whole. Everything had been shattered into tiny pieces.

Na Hyeji muttered beside me.

“It’s incredibly desolate. I guess it’ll be hard to find a Magic Stone Reactor here. There isn’t a single intact building.”

“Probably.”

“What are you going to do, Jiho? Aren’t you disappointed that you can’t get a Magic Stone Reactor?”

“Not really. I don’t need Magic Stone Reactors anymore. We already got enough to save our country.”

We had already gathered all the Magic Stone Reactors needed to save the Republic of Korea.

I wasn’t particularly disappointed that we couldn’t farm more reactors.

“Anyway, let’s finish this quickly and leave.”

“Okay. Iing Iing, rise.”

-Iing Iing!

Twinkle.

Using Iing Iing’s telekinetic flight, we rose into the sky.

The ruined scenery of Floor 30 came into clearer view.

A graveyard of buildings stretched to the horizon, with hundreds of Golems roaming over it.

And far in the distance, a broken Black Tower, split in half.

I muttered quietly.

“They said the Golem Floors in the twenties were worlds destroyed by the Tower, right?”

“I heard that was likely. There’s that collapsed Black Tower over there. The Tower of Trials.”

Back when Tower climbers were still actively ascending the Tower, scholars had been forced into shock upon reaching Floor 30.

They had found a Black Tower there.

Not only that, but a Black Tower that had collapsed after running out of Points.

In fact, it wasn’t just Floor 30.

A broken Black Tower had also been discovered on Floor 40, the floors of the Ruined Magical Civilization.

Because of that, scholars who studied the Tower speculated that the worlds inside it might be modeled after worlds the Tower had destroyed.

Na Hyeji spoke quietly.

“Then if our country is destroyed, will it appear in a Tower in another world someday?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. It’s only a theory. But there’s one thing I know for sure.”

“What is it?”

“As long as I’m here, King Korea will never fall.”

I drew up the Blue Motes in my heart.

Woooooong!

Mana pulsed through the air.

I skillfully formed the array.

Countless Fireball arrays layered over one another, and a black fireball rose into the air.

-Rrrrrumble...!

The pitch-black sphere of flame radiated overwhelming power.

I gauged the amount of Blue Motes in my heart.

‘My mana pool is about enough for 1,500 Fireballs right now... I can fire five Super-Fireballs.’

The abundant Blue Motes in my heart felt reassuring.

It felt like only yesterday that I had struggled on the Lower Floors because I couldn’t even handle ten Fireballs.

Now I could pour out more than a thousand at once.

At this point, I could probably handle an entire army if it came after me.

Anyway.

“Let’s deal with them and get out of here.”

“Okay. Iing Iing, hide.”

-Iing Iing!

Hyeji and Iing Iing hid behind my back.

Then I threw a Super-Fireball.

After that, a familiar sight unfolded.

A brilliant light flashed.

Kwoooooooong!

A thunderous roar and impact that shook heaven and earth.

A pillar of fire shooting upward.

A mushroom cloud billowing into the sky.

Kwakwakwakwa!

The shockwave and dust came rushing in.

Of course, I had no intention of throwing only one.

Kwoooooooong!

I threw tactical Fireballs everywhere the Golems were gathered.

Mushroom clouds rose all over the ruins.

The Golems died in droves.

Easy.

Ssssss...

The land had been thoroughly devastated.

I gave a light order.

“All right. The Golem clean sweep is done! Let’s grab the loot and head back.”

“Okay. Iing Iing, collect the loot!”

-Iing Iing!

Twinkle.

Hyeji and Iing Iing busily began collecting the loot.

My SSS-grade porter, who moved through the rubble gathering Magic Stones, and Iing Iing, the Extreme Lunatic Hell Fairy.

It took only five minutes to wipe out the Golems, and around ten minutes to gather the loot.

Just like usual, it was an effortless click-and-clear raid.

After collecting every last piece of loot, we entered the Escape Portal inside the collapsed Black Tower.

[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 30)]

[You have completed Tower Floor 30.]

[You have defeated 511 Rock Golems (300).]

[You have defeated 49 Steel Golems (3,000).]

[You have defeated 1 Large Golem (9,000).]

[Points are being calculated.]

[Tower Floor 31 has been unlocked.]

[Returning.]

I had cleared Floor 30.

That made me a High Floor Hunter.

I had risen to the ranks of Korea’s top Hunters, a position held by only sixty people in the country!

Of course, I wasn’t the only one who had become a High Floor Hunter.

“Hyeji. You became a High Floor Hunter thanks to me. Don’t you have something to say?”

“Thank you...!”

“You should always be grateful, human.”

-Iing Iing!

“You earn your keep, Iing Iing. You don’t need to thank me.”

Hyeji had become a High Floor Hunter alongside me.

She should consider it a stroke of divine fortune that she met this Extreme Lunatic Hell Hunter.

I had carried an Easy-rank ordinary person all the way to the High Floors.

My excessive mercy was truly a flaw.

That was the day I became a High Floor Hunter.

* * *

Right after returning to reality, I immediately opened my status window.

[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 31)]

[309,300 Points]

There it was, Floor 31.

And over 300,000 Points as well.

I murmured quietly.

“I finally became a High Floor Hunter. My Point earnings have surpassed 300,000 too.”

“You’re going to proceed with the formal contract now, right, Jiho?”

“Yeah. I’m on the High Floors now. It’s about time to sign one.”

I had finally reached the High Floors!

The days of people looking down on me as some Middle Floors nobody were over.

Now I could proceed with a formal contract.

Still, it was a little disappointing.

“I wanted to sign the formal contract after reaching the Highest Floors, if possible...”

“Other countries have been approaching you too often lately. You should sign it as soon as possible. That way, they’ll stop clinging to you.”

“That’s true.”

More and more regretful, desperate, obsessively clingy countries were appearing one by one.

I intended to sign the formal contract as quickly as possible.

The United States kept sending Rachel to recruit me.

Japan had even sent a beautiful agent, wearing a bikini and carrying a hypnosis app, to kidnap me with a honey trap.

Europe might come next at this rate.

More and more countries were eyeing me because I was simply too outstanding.

That was why I intended to sign the formal contract now that I had reached the High Floors.

China and Russia might still interfere, but at least I could stop interference from First World countries bound by the London Convention.

I was looking forward to it.

“Hehe. My handsome face will finally be revealed. Starting today, girls all over the world will lose sleep over my awesome looks.”

“Jiho, stop being so full of yourself. You’re not that handsome, you know? You’re just a skinny, average-looking guy.”

-Iing Iing Iing Iing Iing!

“...Iing Iing? You think Jiho is handsome? Aren’t you flattering him too much?”

-Iing!

“My eyes are broken?! Iing Iing! How could you say something so cruel...!”

Na Hyeji and Iing Iing suddenly began bickering over my looks.

Well... Iing Iing’s eyes were probably more accurate.

Unlike Na Hyeji, an Easy-rank ordinary person, Iing Iing was an Extreme Lunatic Hell Fairy.

There was a higher chance that Iing Iing’s evaluation was correct!

That little Iing Iing.

I knew she had a good eye for people.

Even a fairy had fallen for my Extreme Lunatic Hell beauty.

With looks like these, girls all over the world would surely lose sleep.

Anyway.

Today’s climbing was over.

It was time for my post-climbing routine.

Click!

I took pictures of the loot we had collected in the Tower and was about to quickly upload a post to Hunter Gallery.

That was when it happened.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“What is it, Jiho?”

“Someone’s coming. That presence is... Hyeji, hide Iing Iing quickly.”

-Iing Iing...

Iing Iing slipped into Hyeji’s handbag.

Glance.

I turned my gaze toward the living room’s front door.

A strange presence could be felt beyond it.

It was familiar.

Click.

The door opened, and a figure appeared.

A Western woman with blond hair.

I raised my staff and spoke.

“Raymu. Didn’t I tell you I’d smash your head in if you came again?”

“...It’s Rachel, not Raymu. Mr. Baek Jiho, please be honest. You’re getting my name wrong on purpose, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

The person who had appeared was none other than Rachel.

The CIA agent who kept showing up to take me to the United States.

And a regular patient at our Agent Sleep Clinic.

Seeing that she had come again today, she must have missed my scalp massage skills.

I really couldn’t delay the formal contract any longer.

Japan yesterday, America today.

What a pain...!

Anyway.

“Rachel. You didn’t bring one of those Guardian Stones again today, did you? That would be a waste. A Grade 2 artifact must be worth at least ten billion won each. Just hand it over to me instead of breaking it.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes, Mr. Baek Jiho. It’s an urgent situation.”

Rustle.

Rachel pulled out several documents and handed them to me.

I took them and read through them.

The documents were written in both English and Korean.

There were photographs attached as well.

I muttered quietly.

“Russia and China have made their move? Japan too?”

“That’s right. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has deployed its Tier 1 Hunter special operations unit, the Zaslon Group. China has sent four Committee Members. Japan’s CIRO has also mobilized its Hunter special operations unit.”

It seemed that the threat from China and Russia Rachel had mentioned before had become reality today.

The Chinese and Russians had come after me.

Still, I found something strange.

“Why are these Japanese bastards coming too? And with nothing but Middle Floors Hunters?”

Japan wasn’t as strong at climbing as China or Russia, so it lacked Hunter special operations personnel.

Apparently, it was considered Tier 2 by international standards.

Its special operations unit had only dozens of Middle Floors Hunters.

Compared to China and Russia, who had brought High Floor and Highest Floors Hunters, they looked a little lacking.

I could deal with them later.

As I looked over the documents, Rachel spoke.

“This is dangerous, Mr. Baek Jiho. Come to the United States with me now.”

Rachel held out a green stone.

I recognized it.

I had seen it before.

“This is that thing, right? The one-use spatial transfer artifact with its coordinates set to Washington.”

“You remember. That’s right. Please take this and come to the United States to begin your naturalization process.”

“You know I won’t take it.”

“...Mr. Baek Jiho. I highly respect your abilities and patriotism, but this is different.”

Phew.

Rachel sighed as if she found me frustrating.

Her expression hardened.

“I know how strong you are, Mr. Baek Jiho. You wiped out China’s Hunter special operations unit. But this time, they have Highest Floors Hunters.”

That was right.

The enemies who had appeared this time were even stronger than before.

Four Highest Floors Hunters had come after me.

“Four of China’s Committee Members are among the people targeting you. No matter how strong you are, Mr. Baek Jiho, you can’t defeat them.”

They were Highest Floors Hunters.

People who had obtained absolute strength even among Hunters.

The strongest humans alive.

It was only natural for Rachel to think that I, who had just reached the High Floors, couldn’t defeat four of them.

But I had confidence.

‘They’re still just Hard-rank ordinary people, aren’t they? At most, they’re struggling around the forties.’

I was the Extreme Lunatic Hell Hunter.

A peak master among the younger generation of the Goblin Sect.

Longbow Apache.

A massacre genius who carried on Mao Zedong’s legacy.

And an overwhelmingly handsome man who had even charmed a fairy.

There was no reason to be scared of some Hard-rank ordinary people!

Of course, I needed to stay somewhat alert...

But I had gained a decent amount of confidence from sparring with Choi Yejin.

So.

“I’m not going to America. I’m the Extreme Lunatic Hell Patriotic Admiral Yi Hunter. I won’t abandon Korea. For the eternal glory of King Korea!!!”

“...So you’re refusing after all.”

“Go ahead, put your head out. Take off any Guardian Stones you have and set them down first. It’d be a waste.”

Rachel gave a bitter smile.

I slowly raised my staff.

I intended to smash Rachel’s head in, then borrow her invisibility artifact for a while.

If I had an invisibility artifact, I could use magic easily again this time, right?

That was when it happened.

“I have no choice. I had hoped you would come willingly... but I’ll have to use somewhat forceful measures.”

“?”

“The target has refused. Execute Plan B.”

She touched the earpiece in her ear as she spoke.

Then, immediately after.

Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!

Bright flashes erupted one after another behind her.

Numerous hazy figures appeared there, slowly becoming clearer.

I was shocked.

‘What? Spatial Leap?!’

I knew that bright flash effect well.

It was the effect produced when the Tower’s Unique-grade artifact, the Spatial Leap Gate, activated.

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

“You sent troops from Washington to Seoul? It would take at least 10,000 Points to get here from there.”

“To be precise, it costs 11,200 Points per person.”

“You people spend Points like water.”

The Spatial Leap Gate required one Point per kilometer traveled.

The distance from Seoul to Washington was roughly 11,000 kilometers, and there were thirteen figures behind Rachel.

The United States had burned over 140,000 Points on this one deployment.

These bastards really threw Points around without restraint.

Were they overflowing with Points because they ranked first in Tower climbing?

If they had Points to waste on something like this, they should sell them cheaply to King Korea, which was on the verge of destruction...!

What an outrageous bunch!

As I deeply furrowed my brow, Rachel spoke calmly.

“In exactly one minute and ten seconds, the CIA’s SAC/SOG team will arrive. Special Activities Center, Special Operations Group. It is the CIA’s proudest and strongest force. The SOG team leader is a Highest Floors Hunter. With this much force, even you, Mr. Baek Jiho, will have no choice but to come quietly.”

“You’re going to kidnap me by force?”

“Yes.”

“Can you really do this? I haven’t signed a formal contract yet, but I’m still a Hunter from an allied nation. Trying to kidnap me seems like it would cause a serious problem.”

“Your value is simply that great, Mr. Baek Jiho. You may be a Hunter who can completely conquer the Tower. If we can obtain you, we can endure a few diplomatic problems.”

“...”

“If we leave you here, it’s obvious you’ll be killed by Chinese Hunters. We can’t let that happen.”

“...”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m sure you’ll like life in America too. The United States is a country that treats heroes generously, regardless of their country or nationality. If you want, you can watch bikini beauties dance Zero Two until you get sick of it. How long are you going to be satisfied with videos alone?”

“You investigated my internet history too?”

“Yes. Your preferences are remarkably straightforward. Do you like bikinis that much?”

“Ugh.”

How far had my damn preferences spread?

My personal information was basically public property now.

Anyway, Spatial Leap...

‘Tch. I still can’t understand it.’

While Rachel kept talking, I stared intently at the glowing auras behind her.

Because I could see the arrays of Blue Motes within them.

‘That looks like a clue to spatial leap magic.’

A spatial jump artifact was some kind of magical thing!

If I could decipher that array, I might be able to learn spatial leap magic.

Unfortunately, I failed to interpret it.

‘...It’s too difficult. Why is that magic so complicated?’

Unlike the arrays I had used so far, which were flat geometric forms, these incomprehensible arrays formed complex three-dimensional structures and changed from moment to moment.

My instincts told me it was completely impossible with my current abilities.

Was I still just a low-level wizard?

I had a long way to go.

Still, if I remembered it well, I might be able to use it someday.

Anyway, I had observed the array carefully.

Woooooong...!

The figures in the glowing auras gradually became clearer.

Almost a minute had passed, and the CIA special operations team was about to arrive.

That was when I raised my staff.

“Raymu. Want to see a cool magic trick?”

“Hehe. What is it? Are you trying to stall for time? It won’t work. The SOG team is about to arrive...”

“A magic trick that cancels Spatial Leap...!”

“?”

I couldn’t cast spatial leap magic myself.

But ruining magic that was already being cast was easy enough.

Because I was an Extreme Lunatic Hell Wizard.

The method was simple too.

“Yah!”

All I had to do was use my spiritual senses to thoroughly disrupt the Blue Mote arrays within those glowing auras.

That was it.

In other words.

Dispel.

Sssssss...

The Blue Mote arrays broke apart and scattered helplessly.

The glowing auras distorted and vanished without strength.

The lights that had appeared behind Rachel disappeared completely.

I felt proud.

“Ta-da! A magic trick that cancels Spatial Leap!”

“Huh, huh...? How did the Spatial Leap...?!”

“Put your head out, Raymu. You dared try to kidnap me? Pay for that crime with your invisibility artifact.”

“Uh, uh...?!”

I swung my staff at Rachel, whose eyes were shaking.

Thunk!

But Rachel endured my staff strike.

What was this? Why didn’t it break?

“Raymu. Don’t tell me you brought an even better Guardian Stone this time?”

“No. How did you cancel the Spatial Leap...?”

“Would it break if I hit you harder?”

This time, I put more strength into it.

I struck the top of her head with my staff again.

Crash!

At last, her necklace shattered.

The blue gem crumbled into powder and fell helplessly away.

Rachel was shocked again.

“No, how?! A Grade 1 Guardian Stone...!”

“If it’s Grade 1, it must be worth at least 100 billion won. What a waste...”

“Mr. Baek Jiho! Don’t tell me!”

“Be quiet!”

Smack!

I struck the top of her head with my staff.

“Guh...!”

Thud.

Rachel collapsed.

Once again, she had been knocked out cold after getting her head smashed.

The Agent Sleep Clinic was open for business again today.

Anyway.

“Last time, it was only a recruitment attempt. This time, it was attempted kidnapping... I can extort the invisibility artifact from her this time, right?”

“Jiho, are you really going to fight? They said China has Highest Floors Hunters. It’s dangerous.”

“Don’t worry. Did you forget that I fought Choi Yejin in real life and won? I can beat them.”

-Iing Iing!

Twinkle.

As Rachel collapsed, Iing Iing quickly jumped out of the handbag.

Then she began stomping all over Rachel’s head.

-Iing! Iing! Iing! Iing!

Stomp stomp stomp stomp.

She seemed very angry.

Iing Iing repeatedly stomped Rachel’s head with her adorable little feet.

“Ugh... Ughhh...”

Rachel groaned and twitched while unconscious.