Chapter 3: It Wasn’t the Lottery, It Was Powerball (1)

Richard Lionheart.

She was wearing a cotton tunic reminiscent of the Middle Ages.

She didn’t look particularly pleased.

Oblivious, Yoo Junhyuk said.

“But isn’t the Lionheart King a man?”

“Historically, yes?”

Richard Lionheart narrowed her brows and said somewhat sulkily.

“Then. I’ll take my leave now.”

Swish!

“Eh?”

Her body turned into small fragments of light and scattered away.

It happened in an instant, without time to stop her.

Her bluntly cold facial expression seemed to show what kind of personality she had.

She was the type of cool beauty character seen in animations.

“No! Hey! It seems like she got angry because of you?”

“Tsk! Because of me? It’s all because you said unnecessary things.”

“What did I say?”

Yoo Junhyuk also seemed pricked, swallowing a “Ugh…” groan, and said.

To begin with, realizing the idea of merging with a sword isn’t something a normal person would do.

“Ahem! I know the tower’s system much better than you. That, that thing! Based on my experience! It’s a humanoid summon that embodies the Lionheart King’s pride, spirit, and mettle exactly.”

“…Who doesn’t know that? From the expression, it was blatant, but when saying ‘my lord,’ it was like suppressing vomit with a furrowed face, didn’t you see?”

Regardless, Yoo Junhyuk laughed heh heh heh.

“You get it?”

“Is he really crazy…”

“Tsk, what kind of manners is that to me, your great senior player who reached the pinnacle of the sword!”

“Ot……. ..Alright, whatever.”

“To kindly tell more for my junior, summons are bound to the system, so they treat you as master in words, but inwardly it can be completely different. Because it’s a human personality.”

“It seemed like that. I realized it as soon as I saw the face.”

As if a small speaker was attached near the chest, the resonating voice of the sword body continued.

“You would’ve been better with an animal-type summon. The most difficult to handle humanoid summon, and one with sky-high self-esteem, and you shattered her pride with those words on first meeting. You’ve botched the first button spectacularly.”

“So, it’s not me but you who botched it—”

Sigh. Whatever, it’s done.

What good is blaming him.

To begin with, being able to scratch that lottery ticket was all thanks to Yoo Junhyuk, wasn’t it.

Even if Yoo Junhyuk hadn’t spouted nonsense, she would’ve left anyway.

There didn’t seem to be anything to talk about even if summoned.

Even if the first conversation was perfect, the treatment would’ve been the same.

Her dissatisfaction was obvious without seeing.

Isn’t she the knight among knights above all people, the king among kings.

She must’ve inherited that personality intact.

There’s no way she’d be satisfied seeing an F-rank crappy player as master.

No?

To begin with, who would’ve pleased her by coming?

She’s not the vessel to come out as someone’s summon.

With that personality, who’d she follow above herself willingly.

It wasn’t impossible to guess.

What soothed the mood was the system window.

[The ‘Summon Summon’ skill acquired through the summon ticket is registered.]

Choi Junseok, who was turning his steps toward the gukbap restaurant where Mom works, stopped abruptly.

One fact flashed in that system window.

“Wait.”

Just now the summon… It was outside the tower, but it worked?

Chills ran down his spine.

All the summon-type skills he had seen while climbing to the 34th floor as a porter were invariably usable only inside the Magic Tower.

No way!

As expected.

Choi Junseok, who checked his status window, clenched his fist.

Crazy.

He thought it was just a bit better luck than winning the lottery.

This… It’s not just the domestic lottery. It was American Powerball-level lottery.

The American lottery with the world’s largest jackpot of 2.15 trillion won in Korean currency.

Moreover, there was no time limit for summoning.

Moreover, summoning was possible even outside the tower.

[General Skills: Magic Tower Entry (Once per day), Summon Summon (NEW)]

It was because it was registered as a general skill.

It seemed to fall under the concept of item summoning and usage.

Like taking out items from the bag inside the tower, outside the tower.

[Please register the summon’s name.]

Name?

If he designates Richard Lionheart, does he have to call that long name every time?

Richard, so Lee. Lion… Ra-yeon… Nayeon. Lee Nayeon?

“I’ll register as Lee Nayeon.”

[Summon Lee Nayeon has been registered.]

The restaurant where Choi Junseok’s mother Lee Junhee works fell into silence.

It was because of the 9 o’clock news.

Only 2-3 hours had passed since Choi Junseok cleared the 1st floor.

Breaking news related to the Magic Tower continued.

It was the biggest concern for the entire nation at the moment, enough for emergency programming.

Even the kitchen staff working were busy glancing at the news.

For a more detailed explanation of the related breaking news, we’ve invited Gil Changi, CEO of Cartographer, a Magic Tower攻略 specialist consulting firm. Welcome.

Nice to meet you.

Brief greetings and self-introductions followed.

Of course, the content was about Choi Junseok’s 1st floor record.

A broadcast subtitle was generated at his lower right.

[Magic Tower Specialist Consultant. Former Phoenix Guild Strategy Analyst.]

“Wow… From Phoenix Guild?”

Exclamations flowed from the customers who saw he was from Phoenix Guild, one of Korea’s top 5 guilds.

While tilting soju glasses and scooping haejangguk with spoons.

People’s gazes didn’t leave the TV.

The smacking sounds gradually quieting down was proof of the interest.

The clear time of the anonymous 1st floor clear that’s the topic now is 1 minute 27 seconds, a whopping 21 seconds shorter than the previous record of 1 minute 48 seconds.

21 seconds?

When the anchor asked back with a nuance of ‘just?’.

CEO Gil Changi continued excitedly.

– With this level of 1st floor clear speed, it can only be seen as having pierced the ‘goblin’s protective barrier’.

– For viewers who are not players, it might be hard to understand. Please explain in detail.

– Simply put, it’s ‘impossible’. Of course, for top…

Choi Junseok’s mother Lee Junhee was also curious about the broadcast sound.

While doing the dishes, she reduced the water pressure and perked her ears toward the kitchen entrance.

It had been 3 months since her skin and muscles necrotized from magic stone infection while working at the magic stone refinery.

Some people who worked at the magic stone refinery complained of the same symptoms.

Despite clear causality, no special compensation was given.

Compensation demands against the company were not accepted.

The lawsuit outcome might take years. Getting treatment costs or compensation in the meantime was distant.

– Could you show the data screen? This is the detailed structure of the 1st floor made to aid understanding.

A 3D modeling of the 1st floor’s structure was created.

He briefly explained the 1st floor’s clear method and conditions.

About the structure where you have to break through traps on both sides and place your hand to wait for the protective barrier to release.

– To release this protective barrier.

As much as the world of players, shocking and professional to the public, was revealed little.

People watching TV focused on the explanation, forgetting to put the raised spoon in their mouth.

“Wow… They climb places like that?”

“I heard it’s no ordinary job, but it was that bad?”

The kitchen staff in the restaurant were the same.

“Oh my… Amazing. Hey, Junhee! Can you handle my work for a bit? Okay?”

“…Yes.”

“Junhee, mine too!”

“Hey! Here! Just scoop some ddaegi in advance and take out the suyuk? It’ll be quick.”

Lee Junhee gritted her teeth to endure the aching shoulder pain and quietly nodded.

At home, there was a job-hunting son and a high school daughter.

In other words, killing the goblin isn’t hard, but clearing while ignoring the protective barrier was considered impossible… But you’re saying an anonymous someone who did that appeared?

Exactly. Lee Jiyu, who transcends human speed. Called the supersonic bunny, it took her 1 minute 48 seconds to go back and forth this course and deal with the goblin.

The anchor tilted her head and asked.

Then, couldn’t it be seen as another player who could shorten it by about 21 seconds appeared?

It was content all viewers were curious about, but the panel firmly shook his head.

Player Lee Jiyu’s speed was 7.62 seconds faster than teleport awakeners. Faster than her? The probability of impossibility is high.

Teleport means instant movement, right? But faster than skill holders like that?

That’s her.

…Impressive.

Then the anchor asked this and that, representing the viewers’ questions.

The possibility of using an artifact that destroys the protective barrier.

The possibility of foreign super-speed type players intervening.

If not that, how difficult destroying the protective barrier is, etc.

Someone said. If Sword God Yoo Junhyuk were alive, he would’ve shattered it in one stroke. 

The difficulty of breaking through the 60th floors you just asked… If he were here… No. This might not be appropriate to say…

……

Gil Changi on TV clapped his hands and changed the topic while continuing.

– The topic, aside from all that, is that this person is anonymous and at the same time an F-rank player.

– F-rank? Isn’t that the lowest grade?

– Yes. Statistically, it’s said to be rarer than being judged B-rank. Thus, the total number itself is small, but many F-ranks don’t report themselves after awakening…

Can an F-rank clear the 1st floor solo this fast?

– Of course, since such a player can’t be F-rank, it’s speculated that the system couldn’t measure the level, or it means something else…

……

At that time.

Crash! Clatter!

The sound of dishes breaking from the kitchen shook the restaurant.

It was the dishes Lee Junhee dropped.

While moving the washed earthen pots and dishes to the drying rack, she dropped them due to arm pain.

It was pain like stabbing a sharp dagger until it reaches the bone and twisting.

People who hurriedly entered the kitchen saw dozens of dishes shattered everywhere.

Many earthen pots had cracks or broken corners from falling.

A piece of plate was embedded in Lee Junhee’s slightly exposed ankle, blood flowing.

“Junhee!!”

They who rushed into the kitchen in surprise shouted.

It wasn’t a name called in worry.

It was to scold.

“How can you work like this!!”

“Oh dear, oh dear… Creating work!”

“Junhee… Is kitchen work new to you? Difficult?”

“Ugh, how much is all this?”

Even though someone must’ve seen the plate shard in the ankle and flowing blood, not a word.

They who had been waiting to haze Lee Junhee, who hadn’t worked long, caught the opportunity.

While clicking tongues and muttering one by one.

The restaurant door opened, and a jingling bell sound rang.

“I’m sorry… My hand slipped.”

“Even if we deduct all from Junhee’s salary, it won’t cover the money…?”

“You said your arm is bad, how can you work properly like this?”

“Hey! Be quiet! I can’t hear the news!”

When customers and staff were double-teaming her.

A sturdy young man walked in amid the TV sound.

Whether this will be a blessing or a disaster for the Korean player world, we need to watch more, thank you for your words.

“In a poor household… Can you even repay this?”

When the buzz-cut owner was clicking his tongue.

“How much are those dishes?”

All the kitchen staff’s gazes turned at the unfamiliar voice.

Choi Junseok was standing there.

“I’ll repay and have leftover. I won the lottery.”

Not just any lottery.

At this level, it’s not just a blooming life lottery 1st prize.

Choi Junseok could sense it.

A Powerball jackpot-level luck that turns life itself upside down had come.