BXBX NOVEL Chapter 258: Scout (5)
The Queen.
—What is the Queen like?
She is why the Tower is summoning challengers, and killing the Queen is likely to bring the end of the Tower and is highly likely to be the final trial.
—So what happens if the Queen is killed?
The Tower said it would no longer bring in challengers, and accordingly, everything would go back to normal.
—Go back to normal…?
It won’t bring in challengers anymore. But it didn’t say that all the powers gained from the Tower would disappear. But there is no way to confirm it. Do you not want to lose the power you gained from the Tower?
—No. Rather, I am desperate for that to happen. How am I supposed to kill the Queen?
Regardless of the floor number, this Last Fortress ticket will move a group to the Queen. Up to twelve can enter, and the power of Upper Qigong is needed to kill her.
—What is Upper Qigong?
Being able to see the unseen. Break something that can’t be broken. It refers to the ability to break these kinds of rules. Do you have something like this, too?
—Yes. Seeing the unseen and handling what cannot be handled.
Is that behind the increased range of {Cultivator} or the freedom to switch it on or off?
—I don’t know how you know, but yes. After gaining the ability to deal with what could not be handled, I was able to.
It’s a helpful ability. If my prediction is right, I think it can be applied elsewhere, not just on skills. Will you be my colleague?
—I will. If we can kill the Queen, I think we can prove it.
Prove what?
“That you can achieve anything without magic.”
Looking into Lavan’s unwavering eyes, Yoon-seok glanced away. Although he didn’t lie… there was one thing he didn’t talk about. Other than Cheon-ma, he hadn’t told anyone this wouldn’t end after killing the Queen. Yoon-seok would destroy the Tower after that.
And the reason why he didn’t mention it to anyone was simple.
‘The moment I say that out loud, I don’t know what kind of tricks the Tower will employ.’
“Then what should I do now?”
Lavan, who agreed to help, asked the same question as to the King of Steel. However, there was nothing he could do right now.
“Just continue as you are. Become as strong as you can and survive to the 25th floor.”
“It won’t be easy now. I know there are people like you among the rankers.”
Lavan spoke softly, but it was clear that he would reach the 25th floor alive. Several monsters were among the rankers, but he could counter most challengers.
’Then, there are seven seats left now…’
Following that, Yoon-seok asked Lavan a few more questions and got to know his nickname, Heartsword. According to Yoon-seok’s memory, it was a nickname ranked 14th.
“Wait in front of the fountain in the Union Plaza three days after you reach the 25th floor. If you have anything to deliver before then, please accept the communication request under the nickname Grape Jam.”
“Let’s do that.”
“King of Steel, the same goes for you.”
Yoon-seok looked at the King of Steel, picking his ear with his pinky. He nodded.
“I will.”
That’s what he said, but Yoon-seok felt like he wasn’t listening.
“What did I just say?”
“…Didn’t you say to send a message in front of the fountain?”
“…”
Yoon-seok sighed and explained again. Then he realized that the communication function might not work for King of the Steel.
“But it looks like I will come back here regularly, so when I have something to deliver, I will contact the Royal Palace of Bernille through Ragna Hambledon.”
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll inform the finance minister as well.”
Anyway, the rough arrangements were concluded. However, Yoon-seok wasn’t calling it a day yet. He heard from Lavan, but he hadn’t heard what ability King of Steel had yet.
“Upper Qigong… I think there were a few similar things.”
“Can you tell me if it’s similar?”
“…I don’t remember.”
“…”
“Oh, but there’s that. Break something that can’t be broken. I liked it because it sounded cool at first glance. But I don’t know what’s changed.”
“…”
Yoon-seok was speechless. Well, it was normal to not remember the effects one by one if you had dozens of skills…
“How many skills do you have?”
“Probably three.”
“Probably?”
“I can’t remember.”
’He can’t remember if there are three skills or not…?’
Yoon-seok felt frustrated. This wasn’t even a public hearing, but whenever he asked a question, the reply was, I don’t know.
’How did he manage to come up here?’
Yoon-seok reminded himself to be patient.
’Right, it’s not like he’s saying he doesn’t know with bad intentions…’
It was better to have a bad memory than to be cunning.
Yoon-seok carefully asked if he could return to his waiting room later, record all his abilities, and send them to Hambledon. Although disclosing detailed information was sensitive not just for a duel ranker but also ordinary challengers, if he didn’t do this, the King of Steel wouldn’t be able to explain what ability he had.
“Let’s do that.”
As expected, the King of Steel agreed easily since it was more convenient for him.
“How can a man like him become the king of a country?”
Lavan clicked his tongue disapprovingly. Although he didn’t show it, Yoon-seok sympathized. He could already understand the burdens of this finance minister.
“Anyway, is this the end?”
“Lavan, I have one last question for you.”
“What is it?”
Yoon-seok scratched his nape. It might be a sensitive question…
“What’s your strength and durability stats?”
The stronger the colleague, the better.
Despite his slim body type, Lavan’s muscle strength was Rank SS. Therefore, training using Injection Muscle was unnecessary. However, Yoon-seok smacked his lips, feeling somewhat disappointed.
“…Why do you ask that?”
“If your strength stats were low, I could help.”
“No way, you can boost other people’s strength?”
When Yoon-seok nodded, Lavan exclaimed quietly.
“…You don’t look bummed. No, it’s almost like you’re relieved.”
“…It’s just your imagination.”
“True, I’m sure you’re right.”
Intuition is created in the unconscious mind through experience. That was why Yoon-seok tended to believe his intuition. But he lost the opportunity to build up his strength for free, and he was glad?
It was clear that this was just his imagination.
“Anyway, don’t forget.”
“Sure, I’ll go up to the 25th floor, and three days later, I’ll see you at the plaza.”
Yoon-seok nodded, reassured by Lavan. Unlike the King of Steel, whom he had to keep watching after, he wouldn’t need to be watched.
Whoosh-!
Lavan left, saying he would have to go through an exploration trial for the remaining days until the duel, and Yoon-seok turned to the King of Steel.
“Why did he come here?”
Although they met by chance, and he was even recruited as a colleague… what were the King of Steel and Lavan Vargas originally trying to do here? Yoon-seok was suddenly curious about the reason. However…
“I don’t know.”
The King of Steel didn’t know. It seemed that Yoon-seok showed up not long after he arrived.
“Well, haven’t you been trying to continue the fight you couldn’t last time?”
Yoon-seok wanted to say that not everyone in the world is like him, but he held it in. Instead, Yoon-seok reminded him several times to record and send the information on the tablet when he got back to the waiting room and returned to the Tower.
「Time until the next duel, 356:41:19」
About fifteen days left until the next duel, and about ten before the penalty was over.
’What should I do now…?’
Yoon-seok felt hopeless for the first time. There were a few things left on his to-do list before the duel, but they could be done only when the penalty was over. He went to see the King of Steel during that period, but he still had a lot of time left. Well, it wouldn’t be bad to go back to Earth like this and receive students again, but…
For some reason, he didn’t want to.
’Should I do some sword training…?’
For the remaining ten days until the end of the penalty, he would train with his sword.
’Recently, I think I’ve tried to solve my problems by brute force rather than by the sword.’
Increasing strength. The fullness of a strong body that felt capable of anything and the pleasure of breaking through in a simple, ignorant way instead of a flashy technique. To be honest, it wasn’t that bad, but Yoon-seok’s main weapon was his sword.
‘…I’ve been trying to use the easy way these days.’
Yoon-seok reflected on himself. High stats and Unique Skills out of the norm. Of course, these were undeniably Yoon-seok’s precious weapons. However, Yoon-seok had seen that swordsmanship could transcend these things.
‘If it were her, she wouldn’t have had to solve it with force.’
The King of Steel nullified Yoon-seok’s considerable skills and powers. What was needed to beat him was not a sword but a body instilled with high stats. But what would it have been like if it was Cheon-ma?
‘I’m sure she would have won with just one move.’
It was obvious given how she went against the Heavenly Buddha. For Cheon-ma, her abilities, skills, and powers were the only means to assist her swordsmanship. Nevertheless, the Tower rated Cheon-ma higher than the King of Steel or Lavan Vargas.
*1st Place, Cheonmazl Zone (SSS+)- Moorim.
Suddenly, Yoon-seok was curious. There were a total of thirteen duel rankers in 1st place. And among them, there was no information about the others except Heavenly Buddha, who was using the nickname, Living Buddha.
’But considering that the ranking hasn’t changed since the 20th floor, there’s a special wall between the 1st and 14th places.’
Yoon-seok guessed it wasn’t a skill or ability but something intangible like Cheon-ma’s sword technique. The Heavenly Buddha wasn’t someone who fought simply with skills and abilities either.
’If I want to fight the Queen or the Tower, I have to at least be at their level.’
Yoon-seok was impatient. However, he also knew that he had to go back slowly and find the original reason why he started this.
“…”
Yoon-seok closed his eyes, and he took out the uncomfortable parts that he had avoided and faced them.
‘…I quit sword training because I felt my limit.’
Yoon-seok learned everything he could, absorbing it like a cotton pad soaking in water. But…
At some point, he started to feel the wall, and the wall grew in size every time he crossed, and it became increasingly burdensome to cross each new one.
’Because I’m running out of time.’
It had been less than a year since he picked up a sword. This alone was a great achievement, and if time was a given, he might be able to reach Cheon-ma’s level someday. But there was no time.
The end was slowly approaching, and he had no choice but to meet more and more strong contenders. So Yoon-seok developed himself by focusing on other parts rather than the sword. But…
’Is it time that I lack…?’
If time was a problem, it was right to try to make time somehow. But he didn’t.
He knew it in his gut. Although he came all the way here easily with his born talent… after this, he would need something that couldn’t be explained with talent.
’All right, let’s try it.’
Yoon-seok opened his eyes and drew his sword.
His eyes were shining lively, just like when he first entered the Tower.