Chapter 152: The King’s Army Enters the Tower

“Gather up!”

At the entrance to the tower of Zone 5.

There, I summoned all my assistants.

Even without further explanation, the assistants gathered in perfect order.

“Combat Team, all present.”

“The Mining Team has all assembled.”

“No issues with the Production Team.”

Combat Team, Mining Team, Production Team.

All three teams lined up in order, starting from No.1.

Guild master 1 was absent because Guild master 1 was staying behind to protect the Vulcanus Guild, so he was excluded.

For now, our current strength seemed sufficient, so I hadn’t called for him, but if things got too urgent later, I planned to bring him as well.

After all, the ally buff that Guild master 1 provided would be quite useful for climbing the tower.

“There really are so many when you see them all together.”

“I heard there was a separate Mining Team and Production Team, but I didn’t expect this many.”

“And even with this, one person’s missing. He has to protect the guild.”

“So how many do we have in total?”

“Twelve in the Mining Team, fourteen in the Production Team. The Combat Team went up by one, so twenty. If you include Guild master 1, who’s not here… that’s forty-seven in total.”

“Heavens.”

“Each one is so powerful, and there are forty-seven such soldiers!”

“No necromancer, summoner, or tamer we know of could handle so many powerful soldiers at Seo Jun’s level.”

“Truly befitting the challenger we acknowledge!”

As I gathered all my assistants, the two Statues watching over us let out admiring exclamations.

Hearing that, my shoulders swelled with pride.

But haven’t the two Statues seen countless challengers at the entrance of the tower by now?

Could it be they’ve never seen a case like mine?

That thought made me ask a question.

“Is this really so many? They call necromancers one-man armies.”

“Well, that depends on the necromancer. Even if a necromancer summons a hundred skeletons, usually most of them are just weak bones.”

“Summoners and tamers can only maintain a small number of summoned or trained creatures. No one can maintain dozens of soldiers like Seo Jun.”

“To put it in perspective, it’s like a summoner maintaining ten times as many elite summons as the usual four or five.”

“That just shows how powerful you are, Seo Jun!”

“Oh, you’re just hyping me up so I’ll climb the tower harder, aren’t you?”

“Nonsense!”

“I swear on my Gatekeeper position!”

To swear on their Gatekeeper post.

They must be sincere.

After all, from the start, both were always serious about their Gatekeeper duties.

A bit embarrassed but grateful, I offered them a heap of seasoned chicken.

While the two Statues munched on the chicken,

I stood proudly before my assistants.

“First, let me introduce the new recruit to the Combat Team! Combat 20!”

“Yes, Master.”

The newly created Combat 20.

Its form was close to a mage.

A tall, red conical hat, a fluttering cloak, and a staff crowned with a blazing orb.

If I painted it blue, it would look quite a bit like Combat 4.

Despite appearances, though, Combat 20 was a completely different kind of mage than Combat 4.

After all, the material I used to create Combat 20 was the SS-grade item with especially strong fire attributes from Egypt, the ‘Pharaoh’s Flame Insignia.’

With it, I forged the staff ‘Burning Glory of the Desert.’

‘Naturally, it’s a legendary-grade item.’

Thanks to that, Combat 20 became a mage who excelled at fire magic.

No, not just fire magic.

Because the power of the desert was also imbued in it, Combat 20 could also wield sand magic.

I wouldn’t know just how powerful it was until we entered the tower, but with an L-grade staff, I was expecting great things from Combat 20’s magic.

“Now, applause!”

“Clap, clap, clap.”

The sound of rousing applause.

Actually, it was the clang of gauntlet on gauntlet as the Combat Team clapped, and Combat 20 took a place at the end of the Combat Team’s row.

Now, the Combat Team numbered twenty in total.

Counting the other assistants, the grand total was forty-seven.

Ah, since Guild master 1 isn’t here, the number gathered is forty-six.

Anyway, that wasn’t all for the ceremony.

“We’ll now proceed to the equipment award ceremony!”

This time, with the SS-grade materials I earned from Taiwan, France, and Canada, I crafted new L-grade items for the assistants.

Proudly bringing out the items I’d made, I stepped up to each recipient and awarded the items one by one.

“First, Combat 2!”

“Yes, Master.”

“Thank you for your steady support since the earliest days of the Combat Team. This is your reward.”

“Thank you, Master.”

First, Combat 2.

Originally made as an archer to support Combat 1, but Combat 2 had not only helped in battle but also gathered materials dropped on the ground—a truly helpful presence.

So, as a priority, I made arrows for Combat 2.

The material I used for Combat 2’s bow was the ‘Golden Feather of the Divine King.’

Like the Pharaoh’s Flame Insignia, it was an SS-grade item I obtained in Egypt.

The bow made from it was imbued with the power of the sun and sharp winds.

The bow that Combat 2 used until now was the ‘Corrupted Spiderweb Bow.’

It was decent, but it was a supportive bow, more for restraining enemies with webs than for direct attack.

Now, Combat 2 could finally stand proud as a frontline combatant.

“Next, Combat 4!”

“Yes, Master.”

“You did a great job clearing Zone 5 as a founding member of the Combat Team!”

Next up was Combat 4.

Combat 20’s staff was L-grade, being a fire mage-type, so wouldn’t it be a shame if the earlier mage-type, Combat 4, only had SSS-grade?

That’s why I rebuilt 4’s staff.

Using the material from Taiwan, the ‘Orb of Longhaigui.’

Longhaigui was said to be a monster shaped like a cross between a dragon and a turtle, ruler of the sea and rivers.

With it, Combat 4 would be able to freely use not only ice magic, but water magic as well.

And be specialized in defensive magic.

Next.

“Combat 6!”

For 6, I awarded the N-grade weapon, ‘Barbarian God’s Scimitar,’ made from the ‘Green Barbarian’s Bone Fragment’ I earned from the tower.

“Combat 19!”

To Combat 19, I awarded a whip crafted from ‘Jinsu’i’s Molt,’ an SS-grade material I got in Taiwan.

Honestly, I gave weapons to 6 and 19 not so much for their merits in battle, but because the materials simply suited them well.

Even though I explained that the rewards were for notable contributions in battle, I wondered if the other Combat Team members would feel left out.

“I’ll work even harder next time.”

Instead, all the Combat Team members seemed to burn with competitive spirit.

While I was looking over the Combat Team, pleased, I noticed one member hanging his head more than usual.

“Combat 1.”

“Yes, Master.”

Combat 1.

With 2, 4, 6, and 19 right above him all receiving L-grade weapons, it was only natural that 1 might feel disappointed at not receiving one.

So, calling Combat 1 over, I said, “You’ve worked the hardest. I’ll count on you from now on, too.”

And I awarded Combat 1 with Durandal.

Though called an EX-grade, a rank outside the norm, Durandal’s attack power clearly surpassed that of an L-grade weapon.

“Master…!”

Combat 1 looked truly moved.

He carefully accepted the sword I handed him, then knelt on one knee, holding the sword upright.

Like a scene from a knighting ceremony.

“For the rest of my life! I will devote myself to Master!”

Combat 1 bowed his head and pledged.

It was a much richer reaction than I expected.

Even though my assistants’ intelligence had risen, their answers had always retained that stiff, robotic quality.

But just now, Combat 1’s reply sounded almost like a real, living person.

A brilliant light erupted from Combat 1, who had just sworn loyalty to me.

[‘Combat 1’ has advanced in rank.]

[All abilities of ‘Combat 1’ have increased.]

[‘Combat 1’s intelligence has increased, and it can now officially acquire skills.]

“Huh?”

System messages flooded my vision.

Advanced in rank?

Combat 1?

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“My goodness!”

“Rank advancement!”

“Seo Jun, not your own rank, but your assistant’s! Have you already accumulated enough rank to bestow it upon your subordinates?”

“Amazing!”

“No, I don’t know how to do that. Did I even have rank to begin with?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“From the moment you started climbing the tower. No, even before that, Seo Jun, your rank has been steadily rising.”

“And now you’re granting that rank to your subordinates. In all the years we’ve guarded this tower and seen countless heroes, this is a first.”

The two Statues, too, noticed Combat 1’s change.

It was a little bewildering, but there was nothing bad about it.

Stats increased, and now it could learn skills, too.

I’ll see how much Combat 1’s power has risen when we enter the tower.

“As expected, the king of weapons! The sovereign of all arms is, of course, the sword! Look, my disciple was the first to advance in rank!”

“Don’t say nonsense! It’s just because it was made first. Our Combat 3 will advance in rank soon enough!”

“With a mere legend-grade weapon, you think?”

“How dare you say ‘mere’!”

“My disciple’s weapon is none other than ‘Durandal,’ and you react like that over a legend-grade? Hmph.”

“You rascal! I’ll settle this with you today, for sure!”

“Please calm down. I may have repaired your weapons, but if you two break, I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix you.”

“Ahem!”

“Hmph.”

After settling the random squabble between the two Statues I asked, “All right, is everyone ready?”

“Yes, Master.”

“We’re all set.”

“Of course.”

I surveyed my assistants once more.

The Combat Team, equipped and ready.

The Mining Team, holding pickaxes and shears.

The Production Team, each with a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other.

The Production Team, in particular, would block enemy attacks with their shields and join me in using production skills during large-scale ordeals like the Trial of Orc Invasion on the 5th floor.

Their combat ability was the lowest among the teams, but they were the most important members in major trials.

On top of that, every member of the Production Team carried a Space Pocket.

Inside those pouches were all kinds of items prepared for any situation.

Forty-seven assistants in total.

Looking at my proud assistants, I nodded in satisfaction and followed the two Statues toward the tower.

Rumble.

After the door closed.

Thankfully, the scene before my eyes wasn’t the first floor.

I worried I might have to climb from the first floor again, but it seemed we were automatically transferred to the 6th floor without me having to seek it out.

And then—

[The trial of the 6th floor begins.]

[6th Floor: Gnoll Legion]

A message appeared, and the trial of the 6th floor began.