Convenience Store 24: The Tower of the End 1st - Chapter 92



Only Krnovel

Episode 92 Pioneers! Clear the 51st floor, the lonely snowfield! (2)

Jewel of Birth

Description: The origin of jewels, the jewel of birth that gave birth to all jewels. However, it is now consumed by intense anger and resentment, and its power seems to have almost disappeared.

Content: Birth is a blessing and the starting point of possibilities. When using this gem, unknown possibilities will be born.

‘Hmm, so what happens if I use this gem?’

The description was quite grandiose, but isn’t it just like a random box where you don’t know what will happen?

‘It’s a reward, so I guess I can use it… … .’

It is true that I am needlessly worried.

‘Let’s put the jewels aside for now and look at the title.’

The first person to reach the 51st floor

Description: This is a title given to the first person to successfully conquer the 51st floor of the Frost Queen’s lair.

Content: When holding this title, Agility increases by 10.

Splendid Solitude

Description: I was born blessed, and was born alone in a cursed fate. I am the only one and the last of the kingdom. My destiny and kingdom will shine brightly even today.

Content: When alone, all stats increase by 5.

Limitations: This effect does not activate if there are allies nearby.

‘Wow… what is this?’

I was happy that the ‘first person to clear the 51st floor’ got 10 points of agility.

I was astonished when I saw the detailed abilities of the brilliant solitude.

‘This is a stat of 5, but if you’re alone, your ability value will increase by a whopping 25!’

25. At first glance, it seems like an insignificant number.

However, if you convert that into levels, it is no different from going up 25 levels vertically.

‘Although the restrictions are a bit disappointing, this title is definitely useful! It will be especially helpful to pioneers, right?’

Although it is said that it does not activate if there are colleagues around.

Circumstances and fate don’t always smile on me.

And especially pioneers on the field have to take even greater risks.

‘There’s no guarantee that you’ll always have a companion by your side. But having this title will definitely help you out in times of danger. Well, that aside… … .’

I sat at my desk, lost in thought.

‘It’s certainly a happy thing to have cleared the 51st floor. It’s a happy thing, but… … How much time did I gain with this strategy?’

I don’t know.

Did you manage to conquer the 51st floor this time, and now you have a little more free time?

Or maybe it’s the same or maybe the period has been shortened?

‘How many more floors can I climb in the remaining time? How many floors do I have to climb to be within the safe range? How many floors have the other towers reached? Oh, if only I had some information.’

Even if we try to guess and assume something, there is too little information.

I would like to grab the manager by the collar and make him spit out the information.

It is also true that the probability of seeing the managers in the first place is extremely low.

‘… … It’s vague.’

I really feel the lack of information.

‘There is no way to meet the manager… … .’

Even if you are lucky enough to meet a manager.

There’s no way that manager is like Barbatos, right?

‘Yeah. Barbatos was a bit strange. In fact, it’s normal for him to keep his mouth shut like Gehanna. Now that I think about it, I still don’t understand why Barbatos told me that information.’

I turned my head and stared blankly out the window.

It’s a night of joy, but also deep worries.

* * *

3 days later.

Hahahahahaha-

A pleasant laughter rings out across the clear blue sky.

“Here! Who didn’t get a beer?”

“Here, take some cookies!”

The faces of the people gathered in front of the convenience store had brighter smiles than ever before.

“Our sponsor is really great! All this for free!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

The pioneer members enjoyed their food with smiles on their faces.

“Ugh… … I’m jealous… … .”

“Will it not be our turn?”

“Look over there. We’re closed today. Damn it… .”

The raiders just looked at the sight with envy.

I smiled at them like that.

‘Days like this are meant to be enjoyed!’

Today is a happy day to celebrate clearing the 51st floor.

No matter how much a country loves money, it is not so heartless as to receive money on a day like today.

‘Well, I put a limit on frozen food and ice cream.’

Frozen foods and ice cream are foods that can only be obtained through the VIP system.

If you release such things carelessly, their rarity will decrease.

That’s why I only put out the products that I had previously sold as a celebratory gift.

“This is life!”

“A glass of beer after finishing the raid! Wow! This is a delicacy!”

Of course, the pioneer members were quite satisfied with that alone.

“Sponsor! Sponsor, have a drink too!”

“Haha, I’m fine. Today is not my day. Just seeing you guys enjoying yourself makes me happy. Eat as much as you want!”

I was chatting with the members for a bit.

I quietly approached Lee Ji-soo.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“What’s the big deal? I just did what I had to do. Is that any better?”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering if it was okay to give away products like that for free.”

I looked at her and chuckled.

“Sometimes you have to go out to serve. I’m not that kind of rude person. By the way, was there anything difficult?”

“The hard part… … . Other than the weather, it wasn’t that hard. Sometimes I felt like eating ice cream though.”

“You may eat it. Could you please collect the wood-patches of the clan members?”

At that moment, Lee Ji-soo’s eyes sparkle.

“Are you going to upload mine too?”

“Haha, well. Didn’t I upgrade you to Bronze-Palace for defeating the cult leader before?”

“That’s that, and this is this.”

I nodded to her question.

“Of course, that’s separate. Anyway, if you bring me the pattern, I will review the achievements and reflect them.”

“Did you all hear that?! Bring me the pack right now!”

After a while.

I looked at the wood-patterns of the pioneer members one by one.

Wood-pattern of the dark ghost

Achievement List

[Gather information from Yeti village: 5 points]

[Sweep away the Jewel Residents who have become ghosts in the snowfield: 10 points]

[First time exploring the Frost Queen’s Palace: 10 points]

[Deal with the Frost Queen’s Knights: 5 points]

.

.

.

[Required points: 525/500]

[Score exceeded, promotion to the next level possible.]

Let’s take a look at the wood-pattern of the dark ghost.

The achievements that the evil spirit had accumulated so far appeared before my eyes like a message window.

‘This is, well, what should I say. Even though I made it, it’s really amazing every time I look at it.’

It’s amazing to be able to see at a glance all the achievements that the dark spirits have built up over the years.

Besides, this achievement was something only I could see.

‘To other people, it’s just a really ordinary wooden board, nothing more, nothing less.’

Let me smile wryly.

“Oh, what do you think? Do you think I can get promoted to Bronze-Palo too?”

The evil spirit looked at me with trembling eyes.

I could barely contain my laughter at the sight.

‘It’s a rare sight to see the famous assassin so nervous.’

He had single-handedly annihilated members of dozens of clans, but he was acting so restless over a single piece of wood.

The white hairs scattered among the black hairs make me feel even more sad.

“Are you curious?”

“Of course I’m curious! I really worked hard just to see this, didn’t I? I didn’t run around in that heavy snow for nothing!”

Let the evil spirits earnestly appeal for their own merits.

I looked at him and smiled.

“It seems like you’ve definitely worked hard, as you’ve taken the lead in exploring and gathering information.”

“……hmm?”

The waves that had settled on his forehead rippled gently.

“How did you know? Were you on the 51st floor?”

“Your achievements are all recorded here. Didn’t I explain this to you before?”

“… … Yeah. I think so, but it’s strange… … .”

“Anyway, congratulations. You’ve met the requirements, so I’ll upgrade you right away.”

[Would you like to upgrade the Dark Knight’s Wood Patch to a Bronze Patch?]

When I nodded.

Pass-

The color of the wood-pattern gradually becomes the same color.

“Take it.”

“Ohhh!”

The dark ghost accepted the bronze patch with sparkling eyes.

Suddenly he starts swearing at the saint.

“Hey, you bitch! Look at this! You think you’re the only Bronze-Pad owner? Now I’m a Bronze-Pad owner too!”

Then the saint glances at us and shouts with a potato chip in her mouth.

“… … It’s getting worse.”

It’s a heartwarming sight.

That attitude where they feel competitive with each other and want to go higher.

Because that was exactly the mindset that the raiders needed.

“Hahahahaha! Anyway, my heart is always broken! Now that I’ve become a Bronze-type, I can buy more frozen food, right?!”

“Haha, of course! Come in and choose comfortably.”

After a while.

“Hoo, hoo… … .”

A ghost with a very excited expression came out of the convenience store holding a steaming Sunel chicken.

Then he sits down next to his clan members and says:

“You too, upgrade to Bronze-Pad quickly!”

“Miss, don’t eat it yet! I’ll buy some for you too!”

“Okay, next one! I’ll upgrade you!”

After upgrading the wood-patterns of all members of the pioneers to bronze-patterns.

In front of each member were frozen foods they had bought.

‘It looks good.’

Since the number of frozen items to purchase is limited, they are trying to share different menu items.

What a beautiful camaraderie.

While I was smiling happily at my clan members.

Lee Ji-soo taps me on the side.

“Please give a toast.”

“yes?”

“Everyone is waiting.”

“ah.”

‘I was wondering why everyone was waiting without eating.’

I cleared my throat a few times and then raised the can of beer high and shouted.

“Congratulations on conquering the 51st floor, and let me say a word. For the pioneers’ endless spirit of challenge!”

“For!”

The party began after my speech.

Everyone enjoys drinking and eating and has a great time.

“Oh, what’s going on? Can I join in?”

In addition, halflings including Gus, the leader of the turret country, secretly attended.

The atmosphere on the scene became almost semi-festival.

* * *

That night.

‘Oh… … .’

I came home half-drunk.

It seems like the heat that was so hot just a moment ago is still vivid.

‘It was fun.’

Although I wasn’t directly involved in the adventure.

It was quite enjoyable to have a drink with others while listening to their vivid experiences.

‘Plus, I received a lot of different things.’

They’re not like grandmas or grandpas from the countryside.

I remembered how they kept offering me things like Yeti skins or miscellaneous gems and equipment they had found on the bodies of jeweled villagers.

But I didn’t necessarily accept them.

‘It would be better to just sell those and use the money for the clan’s operating expenses.’

Maintaining a clan and conquering new floors costs a lot of money.

Consumable materials, costs to purchase good items, etc.

Because all of those things were necessary for the maintenance of the clan.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I rejected all items.

‘Let’s see. Ah, here it is.’

I took a single plant stem out of the bottom of the bag.

‘It looks strange.’

At first glance it looked like an ordinary vine.

The leaves and stems were covered in a thin layer of ice, looking like glass that could shatter if touched.

Winterer

Description: A parasitic plant that grows only in the Frost Palace. It is said that it grows only in cold environments and absorbs nutrients from jewels.

Contents: It seems that it can be used in various places such as making potions and catalysts.

‘Alter has eyes to see.’

Alter, the guardian of nature.

He was a clan member who I also liked because he had a nice personality.

“A broken heart! Look at this! I found this by chance under the Frost Palace. Doesn’t it look amazing? I’m going to plant it on another floor. Of course, there’s a high chance that it’ll dry out, but who knows? I want to see the sight of plants from each floor planted in one place. What do you think? Amazing… .”

And then he proudly took out this plant and showed it to me.

“Oh, it looks good. Give me one too.”

“Huh?”

I immediately reached out to him.

“Yeah, yeah… … . I brought a lot just in case.”

“Really? Then just give me a few more.”

“Uh, yeah… … .”

Of course, I quietly gave him a chocolate bar while he was looking gloomy.

Our deal was concluded very neatly.

‘Rather than that, how should I raise this?’

I thought about it for a moment, then took the winterer and went to the refrigerator.

bang-

‘If I do this, I won’t die right away, right?’

Since you say you like the cold, the environment inside the refrigerator would be perfect for you.

I’ve almost finished packing my bags after the winter break.

I sat down on the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

‘I hope everyone will get together for this dinner and work hard to conquer the competition.’

Of course, I will have to find new paths and possibilities for myself.

‘Today… let’s rest a bit.’

* * *

The next day, in the afternoon.

I left all the outside schedule to my clone and went into the tower.

‘It would be nice to discover something new, something that could speed up the raiders’ raiding speed.’

I’ve been going up to the top every day these days.

You fall onto a new floor, a floor that hasn’t been opened yet.

I also thought that it would be of great help in the strategy.

‘however…….’

I looked out the window with bleary eyes and thought.

‘What the heck is this place?’

It is a space where everything is white.

Not even the smallest shred of life, let alone the common house or the natives, is visible.

Could that be the reason?

Tick, tick, tick-

I could clearly hear a small, irregular noise coming from somewhere.

‘I don’t remember seeing a floor like this on YouTube. Could it be another floor that hasn’t been conquered yet?’

Of course, there may be places that have not yet been revealed to explorers.

However, it seems more likely that he fell into an undisclosed floor, like the 53rd floor dimensional corridor.

‘I’ve never seen a floor this empty before. But… … How can there be this much nothing?’

Usually there should be something.

‘uh?’

Just then, something caught my eye.

‘What is that?’

Something placed in the middle of a pure white space.

It looks like something square, but it’s far away so I can’t see it well.

‘It looks like no one’s here anyway, so I’ll go out for a bit.’

I carefully opened the door and went outside.

Then, let’s get closer to it, which was in the middle of the space.

Tick, tick-

The unidentified metallic sound was heard a little more clearly.

‘It looks like a bulletin board.’

Why on earth is there something like this in a space like this?

I looked closely at the bulletin board.

[1 – Tower of Silence.]

[2 – Tower of White Light.]

[3 – Tower of Journey.]

.

.

.

The bulletin board had the names of numerous towers listed in order.

Tick-

Sometimes, a clicking sound would be heard and the position of the name would change.

‘This is… … .’