CH 7

Chapter 7

[What are the qualifications for joining open recruitment for the ‘Tower of Command’ raid?]

News Anchor: The Korean Dungeon Associate has announced raid schedule at 4 pm on the 21st. They are now accepting applicants for users who meet the qualifications to join the raid. After the Red Lotus guild’s disaster, entry into the has been banned for about three years due to safety concerns. It was classified as a high risk dungeon. Why do you think the government has allowed these raids again?

Reporter: Yes. First of all, did you know that the next dungeon won’t “open” unless you clear the highest grade dungeon in the system? In other words, I think many are making a conscious decision to continue the so-called ‘main scenario quest’. Many countries, for example Japan, are already entering the second season of the scenario quests, but Korea is still stuck on Scenario 1-30 (TN: Season 1 part 30) after the ban.

Anchor: If the decision has been made for the sake of national competitiveness, are there countermeasures in place for the safety of the general User?

Reporter: Yes. The Dungeon Society provides this explanation. They plan to only select qualified users, in advance, to enter the dungeon. According to their announcement, the hard core route must only be challenged by at least 15 users with a minimum level of 80. Solo play or individuals that do not meet the level restriction are not allowed. Normal routes may be challenged by teams of 10 or more with average levels of 50 or higher. All parties MUST include one healer-affiliated class, such as Priest or Bard–someone that can provide emergency medical assistance. In addition, individual emergency recovery kits should include at least 20 intermediate potions.

Anchor: I see. Then from when can we expect to be able to participate in the raid?

Reporter: First, you can apply online on August 30th, starting from 9 a.m. You can easily register through the official application “User Alerts” from the Korean Dungeon Association. The final results announcement will be scheduled to release on September 2nd, at 9 a.m.

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Ah, finally the Tower of Command raid has been sanctioned…

I then finally understood why Bae Jaemin became such a trending topic. He was the only surviving User from the past…and he was planning to join the governmentally approved raid…

I also began to thoroughly read the other articles below.

[Tower of Command, expected earnings exceeding 300 billion won]

[Can a new ‘Rookie’ rise to fame? Prospective rankers buzzing about the opening of ‘The Tower of Command’]

[Popular broadcaster ‘Berserker’ announced his intent to join the raid.]

I began to consume all kinds of gossip.

I also opened the official ‘’User Alerts’’ app…new updates about were uploaded there as well.

At least the normal route…

I carefully read the list of reward items and monster drops given on the first clear of the Dungeon–my hands paused for a while when I saw a familiar item.

<List of acquirable items>

Murky glass beads – 95% chance to drop from normal mode ‘Cursed Poporing’ 1 +

Contaminated Dark Liquid – 95% chance to drop from normal mode ‘Mournful Slime’ +

Fog Flower – 50% chance to acquire when using the skill “gather” in a normal mode trap room. +

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Contaminated Dark Liquid…?

You can get one of those in this Dungeon? Where have I seen this before?

“Lackey Status Window!”

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[Lackey – Servant of ‘Choi Lee-kyung’]

Grade: Low-level Skeleton

HP- 2,500/2,500

MP- None.

Loyalty: Extremely high

Disposition: Dark, evil, gentle, lazy (double check old disposition)

Current Mood: ‘….I always love going on walks….’

…

Evolution – You currently do not possess the required materials.

I grasped the translucent status windows with my hands and trailed through with my fingers. At the very end, my finger stopped.

“Ah!” I exclaimed. Evolution!

That’s right…I saw the name here?

So I pressed the [reinforce] button.

Currently you lack the required ingredients for evolution. Do you want to check for insufficient ingredients?

As soon as I pressed [yes], the list of ingredients needed for evolution immediately popped up in front of my eyes.

[Materials needed to evolve ‘Lackey’ are as follows.]

Low-grade reinforcement stone … 1 (0/1)

Crimson Tail-feather…………………. 20 (20/20)

Honey from a Tilted Bee…………… 1 (1/1)

Dried Frog Skin ………………………. 10 (10/10)

Contaminated Dark Liquid………… 1 (0/1)

It’s here!

I definitely didn’t misremember! I confirmed that ‘Contaminated Dark Liquid’ was present at the bottom of the list.

All this time, no matter how many auctions I searched, the ingredient was missing…I guess it could only be found in . I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry–despondent at my wasted effort and elation that I finally found a clue.

Now that the dungeon is finally open, the ingredient will soon be distributed at the auction house, right?

It would be expensive because it originated from a new dungeon…but it was simply an ingredient not a full “item.” However, I knew I had to delay any expectation that I could evolve Lackey quickly.

When I pressed the  [+] icon next to the material, an image of the item and a more detailed explanation appeared. And so, I began to research the most important and sorely needed ‘Corrupted Dark Liquid.’

The item drops when you kill a ‘Mourning Slime’ without burning it. This viscous fluid with a rotten stench is widely used as a base to make armor, accessories, weapons, and potions with ‘Darkness’ and ‘Curse’ attributes.

Place of Acquisition: Tower of Command, Normal Route.

*This ingredient cannot be traded between Users.

My grin hardened.

What…?

I rubbed my eyes and read the last line again.

This ingredient cannot be traded between Users.

Then…If I want to obtain this one ingredient, I have to personally go to The Tower of Command? There’s no other way to acquire this?

Of course, some items are infamous for being untradeable. Bae Jaemin, from today’s article, was known to be a Ranker in possession of many untradeable items. [The Prayer of Saint Beatrice] seemed to be its name? The rosary shaped accessory was rumored to be an incredibly adaptable item that could not be obtained unless its previous User died or formally transferred the item over.

But, that’s an accessory.

In addition, it’s an extremely high-grade item.

I’m searching for ingredients….Can ingredients be permanently bound to the User? It can’t be sold?

Then…How am I supposed to obtain it?

I became so incredibly frustrated that I flopped onto the bed and gave a short scream, “AHHHHH!” Lackey must have thought I was playing around–he climbed onto the mattress and began horsing around.

I righted myself and began to think calmly. However, no matter how much I contemplated my current situation, I couldn’t think of a solution other than joining the raid.

According to the previous article, the normal route requires at least 10 party members. For a mangy necromancer like me, who already doesn’t participate in ordinary parties, I’ll be turned away if I were to apply.

No, the bigger issue is that I’m level 42, and it takes months to level up to 50…! At this rate, I’m never going to be able to step foot within the Tower; Lackey’s evolution will be nothing more than a pipe dream…

–‘Berserker’ Live broadcast is now starting!

At that time, a notification for a channel I was subscribed to–Busker–popped up. I habitually reached out to delete the notification…when an idea suddenly crossed my mind, and I entered his livestream.