[Player Yoo Jin-hyuk has accepted the conversation!]
[You are summoned to a space somewhere between the player's world and the unspecified entity's world!]
[This is a space where combat is impossible! The abilities of all beings who enter are completely sealed!]
The system, the mediator connecting reality and the Tower, didn't even miss the exception handling for a peaceful conversation.
*Ssshhh.*
It was a bit different from entering the Tower.
Blue spheres gathered from somewhere and surrounded him.
Just as his vision was blocked, the space shifted in an instant.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then turned around.
*Maybe I shouldn't have called them here. I should have just told them to rest.*
The fact that all abilities are completely sealed means that Seira and Carmella, the hero cards of the Collector, can't accompany him either... Huh?
He blinked at Seira and Carmella, who were standing right there.
Why are they here?
"Master, what's wrong?"
"Did you see a ghost? I didn't sense any such energy."
He quickly checked his status window.
[Synchronization Rate: 135%]
It said they were sealed, so why were they still here?
Lowering his voice so no one could hear, he asked.
"Seira. Can you use your abilities right now? Noble Phantasm or skills."
"No problem."
Carmella also nodded, saying the same.
He let out a low hum and rubbed his chin.
*Could it be because it's connected to the Mythical Tower?*
He turned his eyes to the space that was slowly taking shape.
The system must have noticed this.
What kind of reaction would it show?
*Beep!*
[Critical error detected! Failed to seal Player Yoo Jin-hyuk's abilities! Retrying!]
[Failed! Retrying!]
.
.
.
After that, hundreds of retries were attempted in various ways, but the result didn't change.
At this point, he almost felt sorry for the system.
After a long attempt, the system seemed to realize it was impossible.
After a brief silence, a message appeared.
[This is a power beyond the system's domain and authority. It is impossible to seal something that does not exist within the domain. The non-combat status of the space cannot be guaranteed. Mediation is impossible.]
"I won't fight."
He held out his little finger as a promise.
Would the system understand this gesture?
[The system is a neutral entity. As an independent entity, it cannot impose a forced penalty for breach of promise. Since imposing a penalty is impossible, the concept of a promise itself holds no meaning.]
The system defined a promise as something that could be broken at any time.
It felt bleak, but at the same time, very realistic.
He shrugged and opened his mouth.
"Well, given the situation, at least ask them if they still want to talk. They're the ones who requested this."
[To protect the player's personal information, details of the critical error cannot be disclosed to the other party. The 'non-combat guarantee impossible' status, excluding this information, will be conveyed.]
It seemed to have gone to deliver the message.
The system fell silent again.
He leaned toward Seira and Carmella.
"It says it can't impose a penalty even if I just kill them outright."
That was a very tempting fact.
If the opponent wasn't a Tower resident like Konu, but a monster he'd have to fight someday anyway, killing them here might be beneficial in many ways.
Seira nodded in agreement.
"If my master commands, I will cut them down."
Hearing their conversation, Carmella shook her head.
*No wonder the system can't trust promises.*
*Ting!*
Jin-hyuk, who had been whispering, quickly straightened his posture.
*They didn't hear that, right?*
[The other party has accepted the conversation! Space composition complete!]
They must have really wanted to talk.
If it were him, with his terminal paranoia, he would have refused and run away.
*Shoooosh...!*
He squinted as light scattered around him.
The light carried a familiar energy.
It was the divine power he had just felt from Cheon Se-yeon.
The completed space was filled with a very dense divine power.
And the one who requested the conversation was...
*'Kuhuh...!'*
It was disgustingly huge.
All he could see was a massive leg draped over a luxurious chair.
Everything from the waist up was too high to be seen.
The word 'Cosmic Horror' instantly came to mind.
"Welcome, human. I welcome you to my space."
A voice echoed from very high above.
It was a voice that was both incredibly heavy and full of authority.
"Your tone is arrogant. I'll cut you down."
As Seira reached for her sword, Carmella shook her head.
"So that one didn't accept the conversation by taking a risk either. They've appeared in a state that can't be touched from the start."
Looking closely, his form was somewhat blurry.
Upon closer inspection, the chair was visible through his legs.
He looked up and spoke to the being somewhere in the sky.
"I came in person, but it seems you didn't."
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then, laughter that shook the entire space erupted.
How could he not laugh?
A mere human dares to speak to him like that.
But he decided to postpone the punishment for this.
For now, he needed that human's help.
"I ask for your understanding. My true body is trapped in a pit and cannot move. This is the best I can do, pulling out my spirit body like this."
"Then I guess it can't be helped. I'm Yoo Jin-hyuk. And you are?"
"I have many names, but Azrael will do."
"Nice. Azrael."
"I have been watching you. You revived the light of divinity that was on the verge of being extinguished and defeated the remnants of the ancient darkness. I express my gratitude. You saved my children, who would have otherwise withered away."
He was probably talking about Saintra.
But the way he spoke was blatantly 'I am a god!' Could he really be a being from the Bible or mythology?
"There is no need for doubt."
As if reading his thoughts, Azrael continued.
"Don't you know best what kind of being I am? You who serve a god."
Carmella blew out smoke with an indifferent face.
When Jin-hyuk looked at her, she just shrugged.
"As that one says. He is of a caliber worthy of being called a god."
He swallowed dryly.
A real god. It wasn't just about being big.
"Heh."
For some reason, Azrael let out a huge sigh.
"You do not serve a single god. Just how many are mixed up in you? You are not just turbid, but downright messy. And to think you started as a Pilgrim, yet abandoned that path. Just how far have you fallen?"
Carmella curled her lips.
"As expected, the eyes of a god cannot be deceived."
Carmella, who had chosen the Inverted Cross of the Apostate Judas Iscariot and thrown away the path of the Pilgrim.
Azrael seemed to have noticed that fact as well.
"Consider yourself lucky that my true body is bound. If not, I would have annihilated a mongrel like you long ago."
Jin-hyuk turned his gaze with a look of immense relief.
The previous statement had cleanly defined his relationship with Azrael.
They were absolute enemies.
*Ting!*
An alarm went off at an unexpected timing.
[The Epic Promotion Quest for the Sky Reader, Carmella Sirin, 'The Pantheon Who Trampled on Gods' begins!]
A shaman, a priest, a high monk—these are beings who serve gods and borrow their power to read the heavens.
The maximum limit of this ability can never surpass the god who lends the power and reveals the heavenly secrets.
To advance to the next stage, one must trample upon a being with a divine status.
Quest Completion Condition: Defeat a being with divine status 0/1.
Jin-hyuk and Carmella looked at each other after checking the message.
At the same time, they shrugged and smiled at each other.
There was no need to be flustered or feel disappointed.
They had just decided to kill the one sitting over there anyway.
"Azrael, was it? Since this conversation seems like it'll be long, shall we get to the point? Why did you call me?"
"First, I wanted to praise you. You defeated the remnants of evil..."
"Just the point."
*BOOOOOOM!!!*
The entire space shook violently.
Even if his abilities were sealed by the system, he could still do this much.
A brief silence followed.
Having calmed his anger, Azrael continued.
It seemed he didn't want to ruin things.
"I will raise the Tower's rank, just as you did before. All the floors my authority can reach."
*Ting!*
[Azrael has made an offer to Player Yoo Jin-hyuk! If accepted, floors 81 to 90 of the Tower of Despair will be strengthened!]
[Azrael has not disclosed the reason for this offer! It is unknown what effect strengthening and clearing this section will have on the Tower!]
[This is a veiled offer! The player can stop the strengthening of the next floors at any time if they wish!]
[Will you accept the offer of the unidentified divine being, Azrael?]
What!?
His eyes shot open.
He had been having a lot of trouble getting the strengthening tickets for that section anyway.
Because of the rumor that a Runner would strengthen the Tower, just like the last section, the prices had skyrocketed.
Sellers were doing the annoying thing of raising the price even higher whenever the Player Hunter Agency expressed its intention to buy.
And in the midst of all that, this honey of an offer comes along, and he can even stop in the middle.
There was absolutely no reason to refuse.
"If you need time..."
"Accept!"
[Player Yoo Jin-hyuk accepts Azrael's offer!]
[Floors 81 to 90 of the Tower of Despair are being strengthened!]
High in the sky, somewhere beyond Jin-hyuk's line of sight.
A deep smile spread across the lips of the divine being, Azrael.
The moment had finally arrived.
The moment to end this long wait.
* * *
China Player Hunter Agency, Foreign Cooperation Headquarters.
Headquarters Director Lang Feng, who had been staring at the monitor, sneered.
"They're desperate to buy the strengthening ticket."
The official exchange used by all national Player Hunter Agencies.
Here, the Korean Hunter Agency was struggling to secure the Runner's 81st-floor section strengthening ticket.
But it was a futile effort.
Using anonymous accounts, they were buying up every ticket that appeared at a much higher price than what Korea was offering.
Then they would offer to sell it to the Korean Hunter Agency.
At an absurdly, ridiculously high price.
And if they still said they'd buy it? They'd raise the price again and make another offer.
Someone might ask.
What benefit does the Chinese Hunter Agency gain from this behavior?
None at all.
'How dare a fucking small country.'
This was revenge against Korea, which had made a fool of him, of China.
What profit or loss is there to consider in revenge?
Lang Feng leaned back in his chair comfortably.
*Go ahead, struggle all you want. A strengthening ticket that's dried up will show up...* *Ting!*
[Player Runner of the Republic of Korea has successfully made a deal with a being of the Tower! All floors of the corresponding section are being strengthened!]
[This is the first strengthening of the corresponding section! It will be recorded in the Book of Feats!]
*Thud!*
Lang Feng, who had fallen backward, stared blankly at the air.
And a moment later, it slipped out of his mouth.
"...Cào nǐ mā."
A curse that went beyond 'fuck'.
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