Convenience Store 24: The Tower of the End 1st - Chapter 76



Only Krnovel

Episode 76: The Raccoon of the Twilight Desert (2)

‘Oh… So, in order to make the 36th floor your own paradise, you’re going to block the raiders’ entry and exit?’

I burst out laughing because I was so dumbfounded.

Have you ever seen such a useless person in life?!

‘This is truly unbelievable.’

Honestly, it doesn’t matter what the players who have given up on the strategy do on the lower floors.

It wasn’t my job and I had no intention of getting involved.

However, it is a separate story whether the private desires of the raiders interfere with my plans.

‘Paradise? Heaven on earth? Yeah, I guess it’s okay if you’re not interested in conquests. I don’t mind increasing the number of believers. But at least you shouldn’t interfere.’

This side is trying its best to conquer the top.

Isn’t he just doing this for his own selfish desires?

‘Whew, I guess I should talk to Lee Ji-soo first.’

* * *

The next morning.

I left all the work and authority of the cafe to my clone, went to the Elasium on the 28th floor, and immediately communicated with Lee Ji-soo.

[I haven’t been able to communicate much these days, so I’m contacting you just in case something happened.]

[What happened… … . Something happened, but it’s nothing to be too concerned about. Don’t worry.]

[Really? I guess something happened.]

Let me ask a question like I don’t know.

Lee Ji-soo’s voice flows out from the sky orb.

[There’s something going on on the 36th floor, but it’s not a big problem in clearing the area.]

Let me explain step by step what Lee Ji-soo already knew.

I asked her, pretending to be a little surprised.

[So, you’re saying that the cult leader who lives on the 36th floor is blocking the road, but is there a way to fix it?]

[It’s okay because there’s a raider with teleportation abilities. Of course, we don’t know what’s going on inside their base, but unless they’re idiots, they probably won’t bother to fight us.]

‘Hoo… … So, this isn’t something that should be of much concern to players or clans of the level of Lee Ji-soo.’

I kind of understood it.

But even though I think it’s fortunate, something still feels uneasy.

‘So does that mean that clans that haven’t secured a teleporter will continue to be tied down?’

There aren’t many raiders who can move through space.

No, rare would be a more accurate word.

If that’s the case, then most raiders, except for a few, will not be able to go beyond the 36th floor.

‘It doesn’t really matter as long as it doesn’t cause any major problems for the pioneers, but is that okay?’

Since I started selling card packs on the top and introduced the VIP system.

The number of raiders determined to conquer the tower has increased significantly.

‘Tsk… … .’

It was a little annoying though.

I suppressed my emotions and continued speaking calmly.

[I understand. But there won’t be any problems with distribution, right?]

Supply is a really important factor in strategy.

Even though there are indigenous peoples at the national level and each has their own culture.

Whether their culture was familiar to humanity was a separate issue.

‘Because there’s no way a layer that uses things like bugs, minerals, and wood as food would sell things like bread.’

That’s why you need to supply supplies to people who are relatively familiar with humans and raiders, or who have similar cultural spheres.

Among the highest floors conquered so far, the 35th floor was the easiest to replenish.

‘The 45th floor is a good place to settle down and stay for a while, but it is not a good floor for distribution.’

[No problem. I told you, this incident won’t have much of an impact on us.]

[I see. That’s good.]

[Why? Does it bother you?]

[A little bit. Even if the pioneers say that there is no problem with the strategy, it is not the case for other strategy players.]

Due to this situation, most raiders who climbed above the 36th floor will have difficulty replenishing their supplies.

Merchants who do business with raiders will also have difficulty obtaining supplies.

‘It’s like a blood vessel has been blocked.’

Because of one selfish guy, X-God, so many people have been harmed.

but…….

If you really think about it calmly, isn’t this also a result of the thorough logic of power?

‘After all, power is justice.’

It is an undeniable fact that the pseudo-religious leader is trash.

But what is needed to condemn his wrongdoings is not law, but force.

If he has no power, no matter what wrong he may do, his actions will eventually become justice.

‘The logic of power is that it can be broken with greater power, but it is difficult for me to move straight to the 36th floor.’

Besides, they say that it doesn’t have any influence on the activities of the pioneers.

There was no reason to destroy the false religious leader.

At that time.

[Unexpected.]

Lee Ji-soo says as if it’s unexpected.

[Unexpected?]

[Well, I thought you weren’t interested in the situation at the top, other than selling products. But the pioneers are like that too… … Anyway, if you find it annoying, deal with it.]

[… … Are you talking about the cult leader?]

In the video that was clearly shown on the broadcast, Lee Ji-soo said, “It is difficult to subdue the cult leader alone.”

That’s why I thought it wouldn’t be easy to deal with the cult leader and turn things around.

[Why are you so surprised? Did you really think we would lose?]

[Is that possible? However, I’m worried that if the fight goes on too long, it might affect the strategy.]

Beyond the orb, Lee Ji-soo’s small laughter could be heard.

[It’ll be over in one day.]

[Then please handle it. After all, the fewer variables the better.]

[Okay. But by the way, does this also apply to points? Like if you kill the Desert Raccoon, your level goes up from Wood to Bronze.]

I chuckled at her question.

[Of course, it will be reflected in the points. In addition, two frozen bags will be added as a special reward for the subjugation.]

[… … Two bags?! Got it! I’ll contact you right away!]

Soon all communication with her was lost.

I looked at the orb and thought.

‘I don’t understand English. You said on TV that you were hard to deal with, but was he just pretending to be weak? But there’s no reason for that… . . . ‘

* * *

“who is this?”

Lee Ji-soo answered quietly to the question posed by the saint next to her.

“Shop owner.”

“I’m just asking out of genuine curiosity, what’s your relationship?”

“We just help each other. To be exact, I’m the one who receives more help.”

In fact, it was much easier to create pioneers thanks to the many conveniences he provided.

“Really? I thought there was something else. Anyway, what are we going to do? This is a trick by the 100% balanced scale clan. You know that, right?”

“I guess so.”

“If you turn floor dealers into enemies, it will be a headache?”

The saint’s words were most fitting.

A floor dealer who transports and sells goods from the 1st to the 35th floor.

Their influence was widespread within the tower, so there was no need to cause friction.

So, didn’t she just blurt out a weak word so that the floor dealers around her could hear it?

But things have changed.

“They say you get points for defeating desert raccoons, should I just skip it?”

“……okay?”

“If I do well, I think they’ll upgrade the wood patch to a bronze patch? And they’ll give me two bags of frozen food as a reward for the subjugation.”

The saintess instinctively wipes away the saliva that is about to flow out at the word “freezing.”

“I have to. Alter! Alter!”

The man next to her picks his ear at the saint’s ominous scream.

“I didn’t hear anything.”

“Be quiet, and make some roads! If you subdue the desert raccoons, you’ll get two bags of frozen food per person!”

“……oh?”

The man adjusts his grip on the cane he is holding and smirks.

“Your patron is very generous. But can you subdue him? If you want to catch him, you have to catch him before he hides and kill him.”

“What are you worried about when there’s a guy right next to you who specializes in that? Just hurry up and make a road!”

“Oh, yes.”

Whew Whew Whew-

A bluish aura spreads around the man’s body.

And as the energy gathered around the staff, the man slammed the staff on the floor.

That moment.

Quadddd …

In a desert that was practically barren, a huge tree trunk begins to grow.

The tree trunk, which had been rising as if it would shoot straight into the sky, collapsed in one direction.

thud-

You fall down a giant sand hole and onto a seemingly solid wall.

“Okay, that’s it. Praise me.”

“Is it safe?”

The saint asked, tapping the tree trunk.

The man smiles bitterly.

“If you still can’t get enough, make a few more.”

“Enough.”

Let’s go up the tree trunk and walk towards the castle wall.

“Huh? Let’s go together!”

Other members of the pioneers also hurriedly chased after her.

* * *

Same time.

Gooooooo-

Into a splendid palace rising above the barren desert.

The voices of two men echo occasionally.

“I guess the work is finished perfectly?”

“Haha, of course. Since the path in front of the stairs leading to the 37th floor has also been blocked, we can say that the 36th floor has been successfully isolated to some extent!”

“You are indeed the leader. You are very good at handling things.”

I wonder if you don’t hate the sweet words from the other person.

The leader smiled with satisfaction.

“If you’re going to do it, you have to do it properly. Isn’t that right?”

“You are right. We will continue to actively support the establishment of the new world of the cult leader.”

“… … Really? Is that so?”

Lee Moon-joo’s eyes shine coldly.

“Then, instead of just supporting us from behind, how about we make this official announcement to the world?”

“Haha, that’s because the higher-ups don’t like taking such risks. Instead, we’ll send you even more supplies than we have now.”

“Instead, please block the road as firmly as you can now?”

The man who saw the leader’s snake-like smile also smiled and nodded.

“Yes. It’s hard to stop capable raiders, so I think it would be enough to leave them as they are now and tie down only raiders whose levels are high.”

“That’s not too difficult for me. But, sir, I have one question for you.”

“Ask me anything.”

“What on earth are the scales of balance thinking?”

Lee Moon-joo continues speaking.

“Isn’t it beneficial for the Balance of Scales Clan and the various floor dealers that raiders are active?”

A floor dealer is.

These are merchants who go back and forth between each floor, purchasing various goods and selling them on other floors.

For merchants, the more sales routes the better.

It was true that I was curious as to why he had asked me to block his way.

“Because that’s what our higher-ups want.”

“I’d like to hear more details. Don’t you want to continue to have a good relationship with me?”

“… … .”

The man, who had been thinking for a moment, sighed and spoke.

“Did you know that there’s been a craze going on recently about conquering towers?”

“A craze for conquest? Tsk tsk, if you follow me sincerely and obey me and wipe the dust off the road to heaven, you will be happy, but you are doing foolish things again.”

“The cult leader may not be aware of this since he mostly works here, but something called a card pack has been released into the tower.”

“… … A pack of cards?”

When Pastor Lee Moon-joo gave him a puzzled look.

The man explained it to him step by step.

“Oh! So you have a card with your own abilities? Is there a merchant who gives you those? Puhahaha! That’s really awesome, really awesome! By the way, Mr. Merchant, do you have my card too?”

“I’m not sure about that. Anyway, as a result, many raiders are showing signs of trying to move upstairs.”

“I see, that’s what it was.”

Only then does Lee Moon-joo let out a thick laugh as if he finally understood.

“The scales of balance don’t like customers going up! Right?”

The influence of the balance of scales is enormous.

The raiders who joined their clan were still going through the various floors today, gathering supplies.

They are bought by the balance of the scales and sold to other layers.

The scales of balance could already be considered part of the tower.

“Yes. As the number of raiders operating on the lower floors decreases, our influence will also decrease accordingly.”

The floors affected by the balance scale are floors 1 to 35.

From that point on, it becomes difficult to manage the environment of the floors, and a large number of ‘level’ raiders are needed.

However, recently, there has been a craze among raiders to climb up to the upper floors because of the ‘wood pack’ and ‘card pack’.

That was not a good wind for the balance of scales.

The more raiders there are in the lower floors, the easier it is to raise and sell more resources, and the greater the influence they can have.

That is, the more raiders there are in the lower floor, the stronger the power of the balance scales becomes.

“I understand. If the believers abandon their land and go into the wilderness, the country will do its best to stop them.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“My shoulders are getting heavier. Isn’t that right?”

Lee Moon-joo shakes his shoulders as if they are sore.

“My shoulders are so heavy, I don’t know when I’ll collapse. Puhahaha!”

“… … .”

“Do you need to look at me with such harsh eyes? Just ask for a few more things. It’s nothing much. I have a duty to lead more sheep to heaven, and it’s a little disappointing that I can’t do that.”

“… … I will send a few raiders whose identities are unclear.”

Sometimes, raiders go missing.

Few people cared, after all.

“Good.”

The leader’s eyes gleam sinisterly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the mental education. Oh, by the way, if we’re going to do it, I’d like to ask the goddesses to do it.”

“… … That’s right.”

At that moment, the two men were smiling at each other with satisfaction.

“I can’t listen to this anymore. You’re really fucking annoying.”

Didn’t a saint suddenly appear next to the leader, wielding a mace?

“What, what? What are you, four years old! My summons are here… … .”

“It’s a creature, it’s a plague, and historically, this has been the cure for perverts like you.”

“Okay, wait a minute… … .”

The saintess said before the leader could even say anything.

He then brought the mace down on his head.