Chapter 631: Then Move Out Quickly

 

Black Tower, 99th Floor

“Our fourth tour spot is Tartarus, the prison of the gods. The guards will eagerly tell us all about the amazing perks of becoming a guard there. But don’t fall for it—it’s all lies.”

Buzzing?! Buzzing?!

[Lies?! Even gods lie?!]

“Yes. In fact, the guards are gods who committed crimes. If we become guards, that guard can be freed.”

Buzzing?! Buzzing!

[Really?! Then I don’t want to be a guard!]

“Exactly. If you become a guard, you won’t be able to leave Tartarus and would never see Sejun-nim again.”

Buzzing… Buzzing…

[That’s scary… I don’t want to go there…]

“Don’t worry. During the tour, we can’t choose a career anyway. And the guards can’t do anything to us.”

Buzzing!

[Got it!]

“The fifth tour spot is the Sanctuary of Forgotten Gods, where deceased gods rest briefly before disappearing. Beware of the caretakers here.”

Buzzing?

[Caretakers?]

“Yeah. They’ll try to lure you with the promise of gaining lots of Divine Power and divine abilities left behind by gods’ remnants, but in reality, you only get a tiny amount of Divine Power, and abilities have only shown up once in a million years.”

Buzzing!

[Then I’ll definitely avoid becoming a caretaker!]

“Yep. And on top of that, they only get 12 hours of vacation for every 100 years they work there.”

Buzzing… Buzzing…

[I feel sorry for those caretakers… I’m really grateful to Herl-nim for telling me this.]

“Exactly. None of the other gods shared this with us, but Herl-nim is really a kind god. Dolkomi, make sure to bring some liquor for Herl-nim when you visit later. He seems to love it.”

Buzzing! Buzzing!

[Understood! I’ll bring a hundred bottles!]

With that, Torong passed on all the insider information he’d learned from Herl to Dolkomi.

While Torong had also technically shared secrets,

[The insider information has been passed on to another.]

[A penalty of 7 billion Divine Power has been added.]

[Total penalty deduction of 7.299 billion Divine Power remains.]

All penalties were transferred to the original source—Herl.

A steep price for being a “kind” god.

“SYSTEM! I’m definitely going to get you impeached!!!”

Herl’s resolve to overthrow the system only grew stronger.

Thud.

The sword dropped to the ground, its blade embedding itself slightly.

“Well done, Sejun-3.”

“Yeah… good job, Sejun-3…”

Squeak…

Sigh…

Sejun and his companions spoke as they looked at the lone sword left behind.

With his time running out, Sejun-3 finally disappeared.

Despite all his training with Pozzi, he hadn’t achieved much on his own. He’d only swung the sword relentlessly.

Sejun felt a heavy sense of regret and a renewed determination to live his life to the fullest.

As he reflected, he picked up the sword embedded in the ground.

[A quest has been initiated.]

[Quest: Sejun-3 wanted to cut through a storm with this sword. Fulfill Sejun-3’s wish by cutting a storm with this sword.]

Reward: The enlightenment Sejun-3 couldn’t pass on.

A quest message appeared in front of Sejun.

“Me? Cut a storm?”

An impossible task, but…

It was Sejun-3’s wish…

He wanted to fulfill it someday.

For now, he’d keep it for later. Maybe someday, when he became truly powerful, he’d be able to cut through a storm.

After bidding farewell to Sejun-3, Sejun and his companions shared a simple breakfast.

Then,

Purr. “Chairman Park, I’ll be off to earn lots of money, nya!”

Squeak!

[Kuengi’s off to work, too!]

After sending off Theo and Kuengi,

“Summon the gate. Let’s go, Kamangi.”

Squeak!

[Got it!]

Sejun headed to the 10th Tower with the Kamangi family in tow.

Another ordinary day began.

He diligently planted Calamity Cultivator and Destruction Devourer seeds.

After about two hours,

Rumble.

[Creation energy accumulated in the 10th Tower has reached 48 million liters.]

[The 8th floor of the 10th Tower has been unlocked.]

[The 8th floor of the 10th Tower has been activated.]

The 8th floor was unlocked.

“Kamangi, come with me.”

Hehehe. Squeak! Squeak!

[Hehe. Okay! Everyone, I’ll tell you the rest of the story later!]

After moving with Kamangi to the 7th floor,

[You have cleared the 7th floor of the 10th Tower.]

[As a reward for clearing the 7th floor, all your stats have increased by 1,000.]

[As a reward for clearing the 7th floor, you have obtained 100 billion Tower Coins and 15 trillion experience points.]

[You have leveled up.]

...

...

.

[Moving to the 8th floor of the 10th Tower.]

After receiving the 7th floor rewards, Sejun moved on to the 8th floor.

“This time, it’s ground again?”

Before him stretched a vast field. Unlike the other floors, however, there were nine transparent crystals in the center.

“What’s this?”

When Sejun placed his hand on one of the crystals,

[This is the place of the Green Tower’s Tower Farmer.]

[A quest has been initiated.]

[Quest: The 8th floor of the 10th Tower requires all nine Tower Farmers to gather and solve a task together. Each Tower Farmer must place their hand on their respective crystal.]

Reward: Unlock the 9th floor of the 10th Tower.

A new message appeared.

“All I have to do is place my hand on it? That’s easy.”

Sejun found his spot and placed his hand on the crystal.

Immediately,

[You have been identified as the Tower Farmer of the Black Tower.]

The transparent crystal turned black.

“So that’s how it works. Orik, summon. Veronica, summon…”

Sejun summoned the other Tower Farmers, had them place their hands on their respective crystals, and sent them back.

Then,

“Only two left.”

Only Ajax and Ophelia were left.

“Summon Ajax and Ophelia. Let’s go!”

After summoning them, Sejun quickly moved down to the 7th floor.

They couldn’t be left together due to Ajax’s rapid growth, which made it dangerous for them to be near each other.

Soon,

[All nine Tower Farmers have placed their hands on their respective crystals.]

[The quest has been completed.]

[As a reward for completing the quest, the 9th floor of the 10th Tower has been unlocked.]

A message confirming the quest’s completion appeared.

[Ajax, the Honorary White Tower Staff, says everything’s done.]

Ajax reported the completion of his task.

“Thanks, Ajax. You can go now.”

After sending them back, Sejun returned to the 8th floor, where only the white crystal remained in the center.

Sejun placed his hand on it, receiving the clear reward, and moved to the 9th floor.

“Whoa. What is that?”

Approaching the giant statue in the center of the temple cautiously, Sejun wondered if it would suddenly start moving.

Then,

-Don’t worry. I cannot move.

The statue, crudely carved to depict a figure praying with its hands clasped, spoke.

“…”

Sejun froze, unnerved.

-Come closer. I am here to verify your qualification. If you are worthy, you may ascend to the final floor of the 10th Tower.

“The final floor? The 10th Tower only goes up to the 10th floor?”

-That’s correct.

“And what happens if I’m unqualified?”

-Then you simply leave.

“You’re not going to kill me if I fail, right? You’re not going to suddenly punch me, are you?”

Sejun eyed the statue with suspicion.

-… You have a vivid imagination. I won’t do that. There aren’t many who make it here, so sending you back is easier for me, too.

“Promise?”

-I promise.

“Really?”

-Yes, really.

“Swear on the Creation God.”

-I swear.

Only after repeated reassurances did Sejun approach the statue.

-Place your hand upon me.

“Yes.”

Sejun placed his hand on the statue as instructed.

-I will now verify your qualification.

Waves of light emanated from the statue’s body, scanning Sejun.

The light not only assessed Sejun’s physical form but also everything he’d accomplished.

How did he establish such relationships?!

The statue witnessed things it could hardly believe.

Its role was to determine how much assistance the subject could receive from other powers in the fight against Destruction.

Normally, it only expected moderate levels of respect from the Nine Great Dragons and minor favor from the gods.

But with what it saw, it was clear Sejun’s influence was vast enough to shift entire realms.

[Affinity with the Nine Great Dragons is at an unparalleled maximum.]

[You have exceeded qualification requirements by a large margin.]

[While you hold no particular faith in gods, you are beloved by them, with a maximum level of affinity.]

[You have overwhelmingly exceeded qualification requirements.]

Sejun surpassed the requirements in every way.

-You are truly remarkable!

The statue exclaimed in admiration upon verifying Sejun’s qualifications.

“So, can I go to the final floor?”

-Of course. Who else but you, Park Sejun?

“Hehehe. That’s true.”

Sejun puffed up with pride at the statue’s words.

-Then I shall grant you your reward for passing the qualification test and send you to the final floor.

“Yes!”

Excited by the promise of a reward, he answered enthusiastically.

[You have cleared the 9th floor of the 10th Tower.]

[As a reward for clearing the 9th floor, all your stats have increased by 2,000.]

...

...

.

[Moving to the 10th floor of the 10th Tower…]

Just as Sejun was about to ascend to the highest floor of the 10th Tower,

[Patrick, the God of Earth, urgently tells you not to come yet.]

“Huh?! Why not?!”

[Patrick, the God of Earth, says that he, Hamer, and Stella are still on the 10th floor.]

“Oh, I see. Then please move out quickly.”

[…]

Patrick was momentarily stunned by Sejun’s response.

[Patrick, the God of Earth, explains that they can’t move out immediately because Hamer and Stella are still working.]

“They’re making Enhancement Elixirs? Well, I guess it can’t be helped. But when did Stella return?”

[Patrick, the God of Earth, says Stella returned from vacation yesterday.]

“Got it.”

After finishing the conversation with Patrick, Sejun reflected.

“I made a lot of progress today.”

He marveled at his own achievements.

In just an hour, he’d cleared the 7th through the 9th floors…

It usually took him over ten days to open one floor, so this pace was incredible.

He should have spent much longer on the 8th floor alone, but time had flown by after that.

Sejun returned to the 1st floor, planted the remaining seeds, and then returned to the Black Tower to have lunch.

As he hummed while preparing lunch,

Soft fluff.

Something furry wrapped around his face.

“Finished early today?”

Purr. “Yes, nya! I earned a lot of money and decided to leave early today! Nya…”

Sejun, chatting with Theo, gently pulled him from his face and settled him on his lap.

Hehehe. Squeak! Squeak!

[Hehehe. Kuengi’s back, too!]

Kuengi entered the kitchen as well.

Theo had an early finish, while Kuengi had finished right on time.

In the afternoon, Sejun usually opened the dimensional gate to Jormungandr’s stomach.

Kuengi’s telekinesis was essential when capturing Destruction Sejuns outside.

The floor could give way again at any moment.

After lunch,

“Alright, join me later.”

Sejun crossed through the dimensional gate alone.

Although the Tears of Destruction didn’t always reach Jormungandr’s stomach, Sejun entered first just in case.

It wouldn’t be good if another being got replicated while entering with him.

“Nothing here today…”

Unfortunately, there were no Tears of Destruction today.

Fireball was keeping things in check outside Jormungandr’s body.

Chitter! Chitter!

The Destruction Devourers approached Sejun, presenting leaves with numerous drops of immature Tears of the Creation God.

120 drops of immature Tears of the Creation God.

“Oh, thanks. Here.”

Sejun immediately exchanged the drops for three bottles of Elixir of Great Growth.

Purr. “Chairman Park, I missed you, nya!”

Squeak!

Squeak!

Theo, Kuengi, and Kamangi soon crossed through the gate, clinging to Sejun.

Then,

Purr?! “Chairman Park, I feel a pull, nya!”

Theo raised his front paw, exclaiming.

“Oh? Where?”

Purr. “This way, nya!”

Theo pointed his paw to where he felt the pull.

It led them to an opening connecting to the outside.

Following the opening outwards,

Purr. “Chairman Park, over there, nya!”

Theo shouted, pointing at a massive Tear of Destruction in the distance.