Chapter 43 : Dusik the Blind Swordsman

It had already been two days since rescuing the Raccoons.

Awakenings started one after another.

All seven races underwent changes.

Seven rainbow-colored lights flashed, enveloping the representatives of each race.

What on earth was happening?

A dazzling spotlight shone around before revealing the figures.

First, Bbyak.

Has it turned a bit redder?

Somi?

Looks about the same.

Toto as well, unchanged.

At least Choco’s fur had grown a little longer.

Not as much of a change as expected.

What is this awakening, then?

Is an upgrade supposed to be something entirely different?

Even the parties involved seemed unsure what had changed after these two days.

Still, the days felt just like any other.

Well, maybe it doesn’t matter.

We’ll find out gradually.

Today was the day to climb the 25th floor.

It was also the fifth time receiving a special mission.

Entered the tower immediately.

[Entered floor 25]

Mission: Bomb Dandelion 0/20

Time Limit: 12 hours

From the 20th floor onwards, the monsters are plant-type.

They have tough exteriors and high stamina.

Though they’re no match for our Dongseng.

By now, we were used to it.

Just unleash Bbyak and Toto and wait behind the farmland.

Toto and Choco stay with the older brother.

Bbyak—

Bow bow!

Taking out the popcorn I brought, I sat down in a safe spot.

Let’s go check it out.

The 25th-floor monsters were Bomb Dandelions.

They scatter seeds that explode even from slight impacts, covering a wide area—troublesome creatures.

The classic strategy was to eliminate them slowly from a great distance.

Even physical fighters prepared crossbows and bows for this reason.

Firearms using explosives didn’t function inside the tower.

Unless you were a mage or mana sniper who used guns magically, there was no other choice.

If you got close, you’d be caught in the explosion. What else could you do?

Setting pride aside, you had to chip away from afar.

Of course, that made the success rate nearly 100%.

If you had a way to attack from afar, climbing safely was possible.

But our first and third didn’t need such basic knowledge at all.

First, Bbyak.

Explosion?

What’s that?

Is it something edible?

Even if a single seed exploded midair, in front of Bbyak, it was more feeble than a house cat’s fire.

Who dares to challenge the Phoenix?

Calmly absorbing the explosions, Bbyak swept away the dandelions.

Toto was the same.

With lightning-fast movements, seeds were destroyed before they could detonate in midair.

Who do you think you’re messing with?

Slower than sound!

And so, the tower climb was over in an instant today as well.

Immediately, a success message popped up.

[Notice] You are the world’s first to clear Black Tower floor 25 with an SSS rank.

[Reward] Golden Ticket obtained.

[Reward] 100kg of Magic Stones

[Reward] 5 Premium Health Potions

[Reward] 5 Bomb Dandelion Seeds

A normal reward.

No big deal with the additional rewards.

Where am I supposed to use those?

Still, better take them anyway.

You never know.

But the real reward hadn’t come yet.

The message that followed was the real one.

[Notice] 25 Golden Tickets special rewards are now being distributed.

[Reward] Tower Exit Location Selector Seat

Another item never seen before.

A location selector seat for exiting.

One of the tower’s fundamental principles.

When exiting, you return to the place you entered.

Players always climb in a safe place for this reason.

Unexpected accidents can happen anytime.

Until you clear the 50th floor, outside the tower you’re no different from an ordinary person.

There had been cases of planned crimes like kidnapping, robbery, and assault targeting players for their magic stones, making it the most vulnerable moment for players.

So, let’s check this item out.

What effect does the selector seat have?

[Tower Exit Location Selector Seat] Allows you to designate the place you want to exit from the tower. You will exit to the closest unpopulated area of the designated location. (Currently designated locations 0/5)

As expected from a special reward, this was an incredible item.

This is what a special reward should be.

You can choose the location you want to exit to?

Let’s try using it.

“Set home.”

Thinking of home in my mind.

[Exit location has been set.]

[Home 1/5]

The location was saved.

Then I exited.

With a blue light, I returned home.

Oh, then let’s designate another place.

Entered the tower again.

This time, I saved the main house.

[Exit location has been set.]

[Do you want to overwrite the existing location?]

So I could delete the existing location and save a different one.

For now, no need to change it.

There were still free slots.

Saved it in one of the remaining four slots.

Touched the screen and exited again.

“Huh? This is—”

It was the bathroom in the main house where Woo Hyuk and my parents lived.

So this was what it meant to appear in an unpopulated place.

Well, in a normal family home, aside from the bathroom, no one used places that wouldn’t be seen by others.

Then, where should I put the remaining three slots?

First, register the Association and save the Incheon Warehouse.

That leaves just one slot.

Where should it be?

Could this really work?

“Set United States Association.”

[Exit location has been set.]

[Do you want to overwrite the existing location?]

I saved the US Association just in case.

Even though I only knew it from pictures, it worked.

This made overseas travel effortless.

Saved the US, then Europe.

Japan, China, Egypt, India.

Any place I wanted would work!

This was kind of fun.

The thrill of saving locations.

Want to try sneaking out once?

Just as I was contemplating, my phone rang unexpectedly.

“Hello, this is the station.”

“Ah, yes. Woo min.”

It was Dohyun.

He sounded very urgent.

“Yes, yes, team leader.”

“I’m not calling about the mission, just checking if you’re doing okay.”

A sudden check-in call?

No, it was a bit different.

“Yes, I’m always healthy.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. Have you seen the news this morning?”

“No, I’ve been at the tower since morning, so haven’t checked.”

What on earth was going on to make him sound so tense?

This was making me nervous for no reason.

“A new virus has broken out in India. There are suspected infections in Korea as well. Thanks to Honey Jelly, it’s unlikely to spread, but I contacted you just in case.”

“Ah, I see.”

Virus? Suddenly?

Unpleasant memories flashed.

How hard those years had been.

Because of that virus, I couldn’t meet friends and had to wear a mask all day long.

It was a real pain.

But this time, it only infects players?

What could that mean?

“They’re figuring out the cause, but it seems to be Chinese again. The Chinese players dispatched by the World Association all show the same symptoms.”

China again.

Last time and this time as well.

“That’s serious. Is everyone else okay?”

“People who ate the Honey Jelly thanks to Woo min seem fine, but it looks like chaos will last for a few more years.”

Right.

The last virus took at least two years.

How long this one would take?

One year? Maybe longer.

There has never been a virus targeting only specific groups before.

So it would take a long time and many samples to develop a vaccine.

“That’s why I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes, would you consider a black market vaccine project?”

***

Hidden mine on the 15th floor of the tower.

The Dudermoles were working hard as usual.

Dusik, back to normal, managed the entire mine as always.

Though awakened, not much had changed.

Just a bit more strength in the body?

Thanks to that, mining efficiency was twice as good as usual.

As everyone worked diligently to extract magic stones, something unknown appeared on the 15th floor.

What kind of creature would it be this time?

A green lifeform soon appeared.

It wasn’t a demon.

It was a monster, a Goblin.

Drooling filth, it scanned its surroundings.

Hunched back, ugly face.

Clearly a mid-level monster, a Goblin.

Each one could be defeated by an adult male alone.

But when they gathered, it was a different story.

They formed teams with cunning minds.

Those who sneaked into the fortress and attacked from behind were a nightmare even for high-ranked players.

E-rank Dudermoles would find them dangerous opponents.

hmm?

One Goblin smirked and looked around mockingly.

To naturally greedy creatures like them, the mine was nothing less than a treasure trove.

This was dangerous.

If the Dudermoles working here got ambushed, massive damage would ensue.

That’s when it happened.

One Dudermole on guard spotted the Goblin group and sounded the alarm.

Ding ding ding—

An emergency siren signaling evacuation.

The Dudermoles mining suddenly froze, startled.

Dusik, who managed them, calmly assessed the situation.

Duda, Duda.

Maintain four rows and quickly evacuate to the plains.

They could move faster than Goblins inside the mine.

But at that moment—

Thud—

An arrow came flying from somewhere.

whoosh!

It was a Goblin archer.

Not just ordinary goblins, but a properly organized military unit.

The arrow narrowly missed Dusik’s side.

But it couldn’t protect his glasses.

They shattered completely.

Still, Dusik calmly guided the Dudermoles to evacuate.

Excellent leadership.

Protecting friends with his small body.

His body trembled slightly.

Honestly, Dusik was scared too.

The opponents were goblins.

Diggers like them had no chance of winning.

But someone had to do it.

As the leader here, he had to sacrifice himself.

He evacuated the last Dudermole and just needed to get through the gate.

But it was too late.

The Goblins had already seized the mine entrance.

There was nowhere left to retreat.

Du… Duda.

Clutching a broken Pickaxe from the ground, he resisted.

But with shattered glasses, he wavered.

The darkness after a long time made his body tremble.

Then—

Duda?

The Pickaxe felt like it was glued to his hand.

As if it were part of his body, it moved as he willed.

Was this the legendary unity of body and weapon?

It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see.

He could sense sounds, smells, and skin vibrations vividly!

Dusik opened his eyes to new abilities.

Just like a protagonist in a novel.

The Blind Swordsman. Dusik.

Thud—

Another arrow flew his way.

Chak!

With monstrous reflexes, he blocked it.

Then—

Ssssh.

He freely moved through the tunnels.

Pew!

With a single strike, Dusik split the Goblin commander’s head in half!