Hidden skills.
It referred to the individual derived skills branching from the awakening skill.
Nevertheless, the reason they are called hidden skills is simple.
Because the system window registers them as new skills.
To begin with, what the system window explains about skills is only a part of the explanation.
Whether to bloom that potential depends on the player’s individual capability.
When honing one’s skill in a specific direction and opening a new realm.
The system window notifies that a new skill has been acquired.
Yoo Junhyuk seemed to have already grasped the existence of hidden skills with his unique sense.
Wasn’t he the one who coached numerous players and climbed the tower.
He must have watched players’ growth and seen the awakening of the true power of skills multiple times.
“Uh, the ability to talk with items, quite useful.”
“That is, useful or not.”
“Why do you say uniting with the sword is also a hidden skill.”
“That, I want to call it an awakening skill.”
Was it real?
“Anyway. Look now too. Aren’t you talking to me and Lee Nayeon.”
“Was I talking to Lee Nayeon too?”
“How can your senses be so dull. Yes. I can even hear the guy’s breathing? Just not answering.”
Not answering even after hearing.
No way, is she a cat?
Knowing clearly that she’s being called and spoken to, but not even perking up an ear, like that feeling of a cat.
“She doesn’t even listen, quite a useful ability.”
To Choi Junseok’s sarcastic words, Yoo Junhyuk calmly answered yes.
“It’s an amazing ability. An ability that will shine more in high floors. Though no use below mid-floors.”
It didn’t seem like simple nonsense.
“And above all, you might show me the next realm I desire.”
“I have no intention of becoming a sword.”
“Of course. You can’t become like that either. Do you think becoming one with the sword is easy?”
The dizzying words of the sword fanatic continued.
“The technique I only vaguely looked up to as the next stage of sword-god unity. Sword control. I see that possibility in you.”
No way… Is dropping the sword by summoning it considered sword control?
“Any man dreams of becoming one with the sword and flying in the sky, right? I thought everyone does.”
“Normally, no?”
“Is that so?”
Choi Junseok nodded while seeing his body scattering into light fragments for return.
A nod of certainty that he’s truly a madman.
Who in the world would dream such a thing.
If it’s just flying in the sky, maybe, but.
“Don’t mock. No one who mocks someone’s dream becomes great.”
“I didn’t laugh.”
“Good then. My dream since young was to become the world’s best sword.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…… Never mind. You achieved your dream, congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
Hwaaak..
When he opened his eyes, it was the open space near home where he stood when entering the Magic Tower.
The zombie blood on Choi Junseok’s body had disappeared without a trace.
“Amazing system, huh.”
Items that can be money are treated as possessions and don’t disappear if dissected and put in the bag.
Injuries received inside the Magic Tower also don’t heal.
But amazingly, other dirties, blood and filth, etc., were wiped clean.
“Though awakened, not becoming a sudden rich man.”
Returning without anything to make money, whether A-rank hidden skill or whatever, the regret was the same.
Need to bloom the new life soon.
He wanted to be filial.
Earn hard and diligently, want to send the smart younger sister to university too.
Make Mom and sister buy what they want freely.
Mom who worked with painful body.
Now all healed. But still, better not to see working if possible.
Above all, sorry to the younger sister who matured quickly without puberty.
She must need her own room, but didn’t show it.
As soon as school ends, part-time job.
After part-time, come back and solve workbooks alone then sleep.
When other kids are into cosmetics, celebrity goods, diet at this age.
Seeing sister studying with discarded or unused workbooks from friends, felt like dying of guilt.
Want to give family a better tomorrow.
But after gaining power, cleared 2nd floor but.
Nothing to gain as profit.
But it’s okay.
Climbing just started.
If I reveal myself hastily for a few million won.
Choi Junseok knew well what government and guilds are.
Having rolled miserably at the bottom of player world, he saw and heard bone-chillingly more than anyone.
Now, excited that his potential exploded, cause trouble, reveal himself everywhere?
Of course, government and various guilds will welcome with open arms.
While hiding a leash behind.
Not only become target of government and guilds to exploit ability.
It’s no different from riding a rollercoaster to the afterlife.
Hastily reveal appearance without checking how much power, what extent possible.
High possibility to become like that.
Always, human’s enemy is human.
If don’t clear Magic Tower within 300 days, sinkhole occurs?
Do players seem to desperately rush in that period?
Not at all.
Choi Junseok sneered.
All players he saw didn’t want the Magic Tower cleared.
No?
Rather, they think it would be good if a couple more appear in capital center.
Why?
As world’s sense of crisis heightens, their position changes to heroes.
Humans are such beings.
Resources and attention gather toward them.
As days pass, people’s criticism of government heightens.
Desperately, all sorts of support and appeasement pour to 5 major guilds and players.
World praises and looks up only to players.
Their exploits decorate news front page and YouTube thumbnails fully.
Internet and reality alike, spotlights shine only on them everywhere.
Then who would clear the tower for whose sake?
The one who saddest about demon king’s death is not demon king’s aide but the hero.
Players in countries without Magic Tower are simple unemployed.
By any chance, if Suseo Magic Tower disappears.
If Magic Tower appears in uninhabited corner?
Naturally, national interest fades as matter of course.
So rather, many players inwardly think.
The southeastern capital must be devastated.
It’s obvious they hope Suseo Magic Tower collapses to highlight their necessity more.
Humans are selfish beings.
Choi Junseok knew that.
In such players’ physiology, suddenly out of nowhere, F-rank rookie with no blood, regional, school ties appears alone?
What 5 major guilds and player officials choose is one, obvious.
Find and kill.
Isn’t it the simplest and truly convenient solution.
How to appease that guy, what to give, where how much to offer, what ability, what weakness.
Further, if can appease how to utilize, how the 5 major guilds’ landscape changes with his appearance.
Rather than invest time and energy calculating and headache.
Just treat as originally non-existent and kill.
From their position, extremely rational choice, isn’t it.
Humans are such beings.
Choi Junseok knew that.
Literally, if reveal appearance, lucky if even alive.
In famous guilds, under name of protecting guild members and players, gun possession is legal, isn’t it.
Stories of rival guild spies stabbing knife in back inside Magic Tower are commonly seen and heard world.
Once start climbing Magic Tower, money earns quickly.
Always important is safety first.
But actually important is ‘how to earn safely’.
Choi Junseok different from other ordinary people rushing to immediate profit.
Above all, Choi Junseok had confidence.
Though can’t use facilities under government supervision like magic stone exchange.
For buying and selling various monster parts, long knowledge and experience accumulated as porter.
Wasn’t he unrivaled in farming and bringing down tower items.
That’s why could participate in mid-lower expedition up to 34th floor without combat ability.
Though from 35th floor, not included in climb due to team member limit.
Magic Tower’s logistics and supply, material procurement and retrieval
In this area, Choi Junseok could boast he’s Korea’s best.
“I’m back.”
“Son’s here?”
Seeing warm Mom’s smile and expressionless younger sister, Choi Junseok resolved.
These two at least, no matter what
Three mouths to feed including his.
Resolve to protect this no matter what.
Such Choi Junseok’s resolve and will subtly permeated to the inner summon too.
Thought just a simple H-nam.
Lee Nayeon’s eyes slightly surprised and half-opened, feeling that thought and sense similarly.
Sejong’s Player Management Office.
Right after 2nd floor 1st place clear record changed.
In less than 10 minutes, emergency at Player Management Bureau.
“Upgrade emergency level from stage 2 to stage 1! Emergency stage 3!”
“Emergency! Emergency! Super emergency! Function appeared!”
Function.
The name Player Management Office gave to Choi Junseok.
Meaning F(x)-rank player from function.
In one day, unknown identity player given nickname by management office.
First in Republic of Korea player history.
Usually nicknames given to famous rankers mostly.
But even that, mostly use nicknames people in society gave.
Management office directly giving alias like code name, first in history.
When Choi Junseok leisurely telling family at home what saw on 2nd floor.
Barricades busily opening and closing repeatedly in front of Player Management Office.
Buuuung!
As if venting resentment for last all-nighter.
Luxury sedans and military Retonas passing inspection accelerate rapidly and enter in line.
The high-rise building of Player Management Office all lights on.
As if lighthouse lantern, illuminating all directions.
Reason all floors bright is due to unprecedented F-rank player’s appearance.
Not only bureau chief, related department vice ministers gathered.
Some of them even less than an hour after leaving work.
Reason they did overnight hard work.
That too due to function’s activity.
This gathering same.
Before materials prepared in Player Management Office conference room.
Meeting atmosphere already started.
“Function?”
“Yes. Function. It’s him for sure.”
“Function… Resumed activity right away?”
The surprised one was presidential office chief of staff.
“Unexpected.”
“Yes. Cleared 2nd floor in shortest time.”
“Hup?!”
“Is it true?”
“Yes. It is.”
Because thought 1st floor hidden reward was the goal.
Thought would thoroughly go underground again.
But cleared 2nd floor right away.
That too, not quietly, but dramatically announcing himself to all.
“Does 2nd floor have solo hidden reward condition?”
“No, vice minister, there wasn’t.”
“Heh…….”
“Just for show? And registered anonymously?”
“Yes.”
“Crazy bastard.”
“No. Such move isn’t simple. Details in later briefing.”
Conference room door opened vigorously.
“Function again?”
Meeting attendees nodded.
As soon as one clicked tongue and sat.
Vigorously!
“What! What’s up? Function?”
Briefing ahead, management office staff setting water and snacks nodded.
“Yes. That function bastard.”
“Damn, going crazy.”
He slapped forehead with palm, eyes rolled back.
For about 5 minutes after, couple more people entered door asking for function.
After most who should come seated.
Preparing briefing, Player Management Office’s grade 1 chief analyst pushed up glasses with middle finger and said.
His first words were out of everyone’s expectation.
To them thinking would say function cleared 2nd floor in 2 seconds or something.
What they heard was.
“News that America secretly dispatched brokers to find function.”
“What?!”
“Contact from US Player Management Bureau?!”
“No. Info from NIS.”
Meaning info from unofficial route.
“Heh….
America is sending love calls to function.”
It was the sigh of NIS Security Office 3 director in the conference room.
“What the hell·
Climbing just few days, America salivating. Korean government trembling.
Korean 5 major guilds eyes ablaze searching, at that very moment.
Code name function. Strongest F-rank player, real name Choi Junseok.
He was getting back smack from Mom.
“I! Whether player! Or whatever! Don’t know! But dangerous things! Don’t! Do! I said!”
“Ah! Ouch! Ah! Mom! Not dangerous! I’m really strong!”