Paper 125 Changing Times
Jihoo was reading a book.
I tried to [understand] the whole thing, but it didn’t work. It was about 30%, but it seemed like it was a newbie book and there was more than I thought.
‘Why do you think it’s fortunate.’
I would have been worried if this was a black magic that anyone could learn, as President Jung Woo-yeon said.
The basic theory wasn’t too difficult.
‘The skeleton’s range of motion is determined by how the bones are aligned. It would be more correct to say that the connection and movement of the joint is normal magic rather than black magic… … .’
In fact, the reason [Refined Magi] is used is that [Warlock] mainly creates undead. Ordinary wizards can also make skeletons if they do their research.
‘Only black magic can do it, and the reason why refined magic is needed is because of the undead after that. It’s a skeleton made of bones and can be controlled with magic, but bones and muscles. nerves and blood vessels. The power of the [refined magic] is needed to extract the movements of the previous life from the brain and soul.’
Jihoo suddenly had a strange thought while reading it.
Could this be replaced with [AI]?
‘Of course, if this is also at the level of the Archmage, it will be able to replace it. The more important factors are [Loading] and [Summoning]. And since the method of extracting [Intelligence] during life is related to the [soul], [refined magic] that is directly involved in the soul is needed.’
Jihoo nodded.
If it has anything to do with the soul, then magic might be more suitable than magical power. This is because Magi’s terrible influence goes beyond the physical realm and reaches the soul.
“OMG! I was wondering what you were looking at, is it black magic?”
“Yeah, just taking a quick look.”
“No, why black magic? [Hey, you two] Isn’t this plagiarism?”
“Where is the copyright on the phrase?”
“Anyway, you said you were making artifacts, so you want to make undead as well?”
“Not necessarily. I’m thinking of making a related artifact.”
It’s not a lie at all.
It was right to create the undead, but it would be all about making them for study or for direct use.
First of all, the goal is summoning and loading. And it was to graft some of the undead crafting to the artifact. And if you can use the corpse of a monster, even better.
“Rather than that, was tomorrow our climb?”
“Yeah, are you going to leave at night after business closes?”
“It should be. We’re going to break through the 7th floor this time.”
Jihoo made up his mind.
It was different from before, when I had a lot of worries about climbing the tower itself. Safety was guaranteed to some extent, and every time I climbed the tower one floor at a time, I gained not only Jihoo’s production skills, but also SP.
I’ve been making a lot of money lately.
It’s all thanks to climbing.
“I brought this.”
“… … uh? Long time no see, this.”
What she handed over was an old book.
Jihoo picked it up and skimmed through the first table of contents.
[Indomitable Tower]
1. Lost Ruins
2. Land of Orcs
3. Cliffs of Scream
4. Temple of Trials
5. Red Desert
6. Black Forest
7. Frozen Sea
8. The Dead Swamp
9. Empty Space – A Hundred Islands
10. Black and White Stairs
11. Entrance to Hell
.
.
.
“I haven’t seen this book in a long time.”
Although the title is simple, [Indomitable Tower Strategy Guide], it is also one of the most expensive books in [Craftsman’s Street].
Early pioneer artisans and pioneer hunters made it themselves. A strategy book created by countless people risking their lives.
Now that the tower is so old, the approximate attack is known. But that’s all up to the ninth floor.
It is impossible to know more than this without this book.
“Are you there too?”
“It is, though I hardly ever see it. Sometimes when I was studying by-products, I only looked for where they came from.”
The price of this book is 200 million won.
It was the minimum credential to proceed with raids on the 9th floor and above, and it was also a measure to prevent reckless raids.
Of course, Jihoo and Lee Heeyeon, some of the pioneer craftsmen, received each one for free. At that time, it was also a must-read book for people living on the street.
It was a time when monsters were pouring out even without climbing.
“… … I heard that this is now worth 1 billion with a premium?”
“It doesn’t.”
Lee Hee-yeon nodded with an expression that showed no greed. No matter how much she likes money, she doesn’t even think about selling this book.
Regardless of the price, it is because it is made with the blood of a precious person.
“Anyway, to go up the 7th floor, you need one flying artifact. It would be nice if there was nothing to use, but just in case you don’t know.”
The 7th floor is named [Frozen Sea]. It was all about the sea covered with white snow. The topography that has risen here and there is also part of the glacier.
And it was also the place where the divine beast called [Blue Whale] lived.
Few people treated the whale as a monster, as the level of force was not measured, and there was no intentional attack on humans.
Of course, its very existence was a disaster. It has been known to come up intermittently to breathe after being in the deep sea, but no one knows exactly why.
At that time, people around him could have escaped or died, but he thought it was an unavoidable disaster.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, and waves of magical power raged like a storm. And if the floor vibrates, you have to run at least 5km to survive. If you’re unlucky and take the wrong turn, you may have to deviate 10km.
But why do you keep quiet?
because you can’t catch it.
There are many who have witnessed them, and if you go up to the 7th floor, you are at least an A-class hunter. Even though it was up to the SS rank, no one could hurt the [Blue Whale].
“It’s not like that. If we met, we would think it would be a disaster and we would have to run away for 10 km.”
“… … Could I possibly live on that installment?”
From nob le mt l. co m
Midge asked, raising her hand.
Jihoo responded with a smile.
“I’ll lend it to you for free. It’s the same party after all.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Did I? I’d say it would do that much. Our boss is a real hogu.”
“Can you hear everything?”
Jihoo glanced at Lee Heeyeon.
He even opened his mouth.
“… … Anyway, we will meet [snowman storm] on the 7th floor.”
“Since we can meet, don’t you mean avoid it?”
“Yes, I will come. What I need is an [energy core of ice].”
[Snowman Storm] is one of the pranks played by the [Ice Spirit]. However, they were so low-level spirits that they couldn’t be called a single ‘spirit’, and could be simply called [Ice Attribute Stones].
It was a material that could only be obtained on the 7th floor, and since the number of hunters climbing from the 7th floor plummeted, it was also a valuable material.
Because the hunter who went up to the 7th floor didn’t bother to get this attribute stone. Usually, we tend to think of the 7th floor as the gateway to the 8th floor.
“I’ll just get that and head to the eighth floor.”
“… … Are you really going to the 8th floor?”
“A real shop?”
Jihoo nodded at the two questions.
Up to the 7th floor, it can still be considered a place where people can live. Of course, it is ambiguous to put the 7th floor on that boundary, but from the 8th floor, real death looms.
“I have something to take care of there.”
SP is second.
If the power of these three is gathered, it is possible.
Collecting [Black Iron] from the [Dead Swamp Area] on the 8th floor and obtaining the [Black Mana Stone]. That was the goal of this climb.
“There are crazy ghouls and Dullahans. Ugh- I don’t think I would really like it.”
Lee Hee-yeon trembled.
Sometimes when I see this kind of look, it seems normal, but it’s also strange. He was accustomed to using the corpse of a monster as a table, but he shuddered when he heard of an infider or an undead he had seen before.
‘Is it natural in a way?’
The monster got used to it, but the corpse would hardly have gotten used to it.
“Yeah, I can’t help it.”
“You really don’t like it?”
“Yes, that’s why I gave you the flying artifact.”
“Wouldn’t it take time to get used to it on the 7th floor?”
“Yeah, I gave you a shotgun to use on the 8th floor.”
“… … .”
“Return the artifact-”
“I will! do it! You crazy boss! The evil boss!”
Employees who listen well are the best.
* * *
Before climbing tomorrow, I had some work to do.
The [Option: Advanced Acceleration] extracted from the corpse of the recently hunted [Bukkake Centurion] and the remaining by-products are divided.
No matter how much you say you don’t need a geothermal man, you have to share what you have to share. Even if Jihoo paid for it.
“Is Jihoo here?”
“Yes, Aunt Miyeon. Because of that monster by-product.”
Jihoo took out the option scroll and by-products from the space expansion backpack.
“Oh~ You saved the options separately?”
“… … yes.”
“Great? What else did you think of this?”
Jihoo answered awkwardly.
I’ve been having trouble with it for a long time. It was that they didn’t ask about Jihoo’s ability.
It wouldn’t matter if I didn’t ask, but it was even more uncomfortable to talk as if I knew everything. But Jihoo didn’t ask.
Aunt Miyeon and Mr. Jiyeol.
The two of them knew what Jihoo didn’t know about his father, but they said they couldn’t answer. Jihoo knew instinctively. The fact that this ability is related to the father.
“Yes, it will be more expensive than I thought, right?”
“That’s right~ It’s another by-product, since it’s a monster anyway, it’s probably all about getting a demon’s price from a demon or going to a warlock, but this option is different.”
Aunt Miyeon seemed to think a little, then opened her mouth.
“Advanced acceleration~ This will sell for 5 billion won? Will you live?”
“Well, maybe that would be better, right? I’m going to buy it from the geothermal guy. What if you don’t need someone else?”
“Buy the rest of the byproducts too. I guess you’d better write.”
“I will. Maybe these days, I’m interested in Magi tablets.”
“Oh~ Is it a tablet now?”
“I realized that I can’t use Magi as it is. Well, if you don’t become a warlock, refined magic will be similar, but I think it’s a little better.”
Aunt Miyeon nodded.
No matter how refined magic is, there is a reason that black magicians only use magic and not other magic.
In order to use once refined magic energy, many conditions are required, and that is that there must be no other magic power in the body.
However, on the contrary, there are many magics that can be used even without magical talent, so it was also suitable for those who lack talent.
Of course, there is also a way to use it without such conditions, and that is to create undead. If you don’t directly manifest magic like magic engineering, not a wizard, you can use refined magic.
‘That’s why it started to appear after two years following the trend.’
The fad was the craze for black magic education.
As expected, there was a lot of talk about education fever in Korea.
“Yeah, it’s good to try.”
“Yes, then I will send the money through my aunt. Would that be better?”
“Right~ I heard you’re going to do well and climb tomorrow?”
“yes.”
“Have a safe trip. Never get hurt~”
“all right.”
That’s how Jihoo got ownership of [Option: Advanced Acceleration] and even got ownership of [Bukkake’s Horn].
‘I guess I’ll have to practice refining magic with this.’
From the 8th floor to the 11th floor, which Jihoo is going to climb tomorrow, is the entrance from ‘death’ to ‘hell’. There are various monsters, from the undead to the monsters of hell, but that’s why they don’t make money.
‘But if you know about black magic, refined magic, and the undead, there isn’t that much gold.’
Well, one of the reasons for the recent emergence of black magicians and black magic general stores in the [Street of Artisans] must have been the by-products of the [Knights of Cold Cold] breaking through to the upper floors.
Also, as other S-rank hunters started climbing the [Indomitable Tower], there must be a reason why more and more people climbed to the 9th, 10th, and 11th floors.
The timing was good in many ways.
The next day, Jihoo was able to reach the 7th floor.