Chapter 17: Arthur’s World Record

It’s been a while since the Chaos Tower.

‘Which floor?’

11th floor.

“I heard it gets pretty tough from here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. That’s what they say.”

What was it again?

Up to the 10th floor was just a taste.

From the 11th floor, the real challenge begins or something like that.

“Wasseo, Hwarrhwar later.”

“Right! Since we have Hwalhwal now, it’ll be fine!”

“Hwarrhwar is great!”

Back and forth, they bantered.

They’re really on point with each other.

But it’s not wrong.

“Honestly, Arthur wouldn’t get stuck just starting from the 11th floor.”

“Exactly! 11th floor? That’s easy!”

Agreed.

He even cleared the 9th floor in just three minutes…

There’s no way he’d get blocked just two floors higher.

Especially now that he has the new weapon, Hwalhwal…

“He’ll finish and come out in no time.”

This is exciting.

‘I wonder how fast he’ll clear it?’

Let’s just watch for now.

“Arthur, ready?”

“Yeah!”

Warm-ups are already done.

Time to go in.

[Dispatching Worker]

[Tower]

“Wasseo, I’m off! I’ll be back fast!”

Once the door opened, right in he went.

[Worker has entered the Chaos Tower.]

[Auto-hunting started.]

Usually, I’d just leave it alone now and do other tasks—

Boil water in the coffee pot, call other workers, things like that.

‘Monitoring? Is it really necessary?’

Arthur handles it well on his own anyway.

“Hmph.”

Look at Rani too.

She’s already messing around with the materials.

Still?

[Monitoring]

Today I’ll watch.

It’s the first time using the new weapon.

“Gonna check out Hwalhwal’s performance. Rani, wanna watch too?”

“Yeah! Rani wants to see!”

She hurried over.

Even then, she’s clutching the materials tightly.

Rani, someone might steal that…

“Boss! Arthur’s over there!”

Yeah.

I see him.

‘But he’s stroking the Hwalhwal even there?’

“Hey, you’re supposed to be fighting.”

“What about the enemy?”

Sssik!

“Huh? Orc?”

“These look different from the orcs the boss called!”

Right.

Those aren’t ordinary orcs.

‘What orc would wear a safety helmet?’

“That one looks super strong!”

“Exactly.”

Definitely looks strong.

Steel armor and a huge axe.

There’s a reason it’s not alone.

Sssik!

“Oh…”

It charges, incredibly fast.

‘Can Arthur block that?’

I tilted my head, and before I knew it, it reached Arthur.

Just as it was about to bring the axe down—

Flare!

‘What’s that?’

Suddenly flames burst out.

Ssssiik!

Is it surprised? It hesitates.

But does it take a hit right in front of Arthur?

“This is over.”

Slash!

[Chaos Tower 11th floor cleared.]

[Auto-hunting stopped.]

As expected.

But was that skill attached to the sword just now?

“Yeah! Hwalhwal and Hwarruk retaliate automatically!”

Ah, so the sword…

That’s just ridiculous.

[Chaos Tower 11th floor cleared!]

[Level up.]

[Clear rewards – 120 Lower-grade Magic Stones.]

[Clear time – 00:02:19.]

[New world record!]

[Additional reward – Key Fragment of Chaos.]

The record?

Another world record this time.

With the tower cleared, Arthur returned.

He immediately said, “Boss. Wasseo, can we go to A-rank now? A-level? We can go!”

Oh?

***

A-rank Dungeon.

I’ve cleared it once before.

Even with Robin, the top ranker, it took 15 minutes.

But…

“You can clear it alone?”

“Yeah!”

No way.

Just a few days ago he said it was hard.

‘Changing one weapon made that possible?’

Amazing.

“Well…, it’s not just any weapon.”

“Hwarrhwar! It’s great!”

“Of course! Rani made it!”

Hmm.

Suddenly curious.

If Arthur at the upper rank is this strong…

‘What if we made a different bow for Robin, the top ranker?’

“That’s impossible.”

‘But can Rani make more?’

I asked.

“No… it’s hard… Rani can’t make more today…”

Makes sense…

She was like this even after making Hwarruk yesterday.

‘Can she only make one a day?’

“How about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow I can make one! But do we have materials?”

No, we don’t.

“Hmmm…”

“Wasseo’s bringing them!”

Ah, that’s reassuring.

Right, right.

Arthur already has a weapon.

And since we’re climbing the tower one floor a day, materials should come easily.

“Oh, right. I still have that Management Bureau request…”

Before the tower, I should handle that.

If I’d known I’d get so many request points, I wouldn’t have accepted it!

‘Too bad…’

Still, well.

I have to clear the accepted requests first.

That’s a promise.

“A-rank Dungeon, where was it again?”

I opened AwakenerNet to check—

“Huh? What’s with all these notifications?”

Moscow.

The Russian Awakening Management Bureau.

The director and senior officials gathered in the conference room.

[Ranking 2nd, Baek Hwarang. Chaos Tower 53rd floor cleared!]

“Why suddenly watching Korean news?”

“Simple.”

“Because of that Baek Hwarang guy.”

“He’s going to mess up their plans.”

***

“I heard their 2nd rank has been stuck at 53 floors for a long time.”

“That’s right.”

“So what’s with this news?”

“Well…”

Everyone there knows the reason.

Suddenly, a top-grade weapon appeared.

“So, what about the 1st rank?”

“Still the same. Trying hard to get a weapon but no luck.”

“Good. Keep watching and when the time’s right, offer naturalization. If he comes, we’ll provide top-grade equipment.”

Nowadays, the tower’s height is a measure of national power.

The recruitment war over each country’s elite hunters is fierce.

‘Why?’

Materials and high-grade Mana Stones from the upper floors fill the nation’s wealth.

That Alexei guy… The US cleared the 61st floor ages ago but still can’t manage this mess.

Currently, the five great powers are: [Russia, United States, China, United Kingdom, Germany.]

The lowest among them?

Russia, stuck at the 61st floor.

So, Korea, coming right behind, has been a constant thorn in their side.

Even Russia’s top floor raider, Alexei, is stuck.

‘What if Korea overtakes them?’

They were restless when good news came.

The intelligence agency obtained this info: [Korea’s top 1st ranker’s weapon broken. Currently unable to clear the tower.]

The chance was now.

‘So?’

They joined forces with China immediately.

“The operation to isolate the top 1st rank is going smoothly.”

“Of course. Korea, if we shake them, what else can they do?”

“Exactly.”

It was far too easy.

The weapon supply route? Few to begin with.

All seized.

[Korea’s 1st rank, slump.]

They spread rumors on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Shaking public opinion at once, what could the Korean Awakening Management Bureau do?

They were caught off guard.

When public opinion hits, people weaken.

They tried to lure him in during that gap—

“Never expected the 2nd rank guy to steal the spotlight.”

“On the other hand, it might be a chance. The more the 2nd rank is in the limelight, the more the 1st rank fades.”

Good idea.

Of course, they wouldn’t just wait.

They’d keep stirring up trouble.

That way, he’d come over to their side.

The only variable was—

“The guy who made weapons for Korea’s 2nd rank is the problem. What if he makes one for the 1st rank too?”

“That won’t happen.”

No way.

Top-grade gear is in short supply.

Few people can make it.

Even if they can, once made, they can’t make another for at least a year.

“At least a year.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good.”

One year is plenty of time.

By the time his cooldown ends and he can make weapons again, we’ll have already reached our goal.

“Korea’s 1st rank.”

His tower floor is lower than Russia’s.

But?

He has enough potential.

He might climb even higher.

We’ll provide an environment where he can fully unleash it.

Come to Russia’s side.

[AwakenerNet]

[Unconfirmed Notifications: 371]

“371?”

“Why so many?”

Looking closer, ‘They’re all requests?’

“Why so many hundreds of requests?”

Mostly crafting requests, too.

Even more than when we first posted.

“What the…”

Baek Hwarang must be bragging.

Still, even considering that…

It’s too many.

What’s going on?

Let’s take a look.

A quick search, and it popped right up.

***

“Oh, so after clearing the 53rd floor, the Labor Management Office Head made his weapon.”

This is why you need to watch the news…

Yoon Hajun, 23 years old.

[Occupation: Laborer and Hunter.]

Time to watch the news?

None.

Wake up early for work…

Come home, and it’s already this time.

But so much happened in a day?

[Baek Hwarang clears 53 floors!]

[Labor Management Office Head, who is he?]

Baek Hwarang broke through the long-standing wall,

And the Labor Management Office Head became known nationwide.

“Rani, everyone keeps asking for us.”

“Huh? For Rani and the boss?”

“Yeah, they want us to make more stuff.”

“Hoo… Rani’s tired… can’t do it now… but I can tomorrow…!”

It’s okay.

We won’t ask now.

And for a while, we’ll make stuff for ourselves first.

I’m just here to check the A-rank dungeon requests, so don’t worry.

[Request offers: 370]

Countless piled-up requests?

Reject them all.

No point giving false hope.

[Rejected]

[Rejected]

[Rejected]

…

***

After rejecting for a while, I paused.

‘Huh?’

There’s a familiar name?

[Requester: I Bojun]

Same name as the 1st ranker…

“No way. Must be someone else.”

‘Could he really be the 1st rank?’

Still, just in case, I clicked the request.

[Required item: Sword]

[Main material: Basilisk Fang]

‘Hmm.’

‘Basilisk Fang?’

Checking,

“It’s a monster from the 57th floor?”

Then it’s definitely the 1st rank.

‘Oh…’

‘Wait a minute.’

‘If I accept this request and make the weapon, and there’s leftover material?’

‘Could I make Robin’s weapon too?’

“This is tempting…”

‘Crafting requests?’

I didn’t plan to accept any for now.

But if they offer materials I can’t refuse…

I can’t help it.

“Rani.”

“Hmm?”

“Make one more tomorrow.”