Chapter 669
About a minute before Chun Yoosung used the item.
Outside the Tower, a large-scale fundraising event was underway.
Major European guilds, prestigious nobles, and various influencers had gathered in one place—ostensibly to raise funds and manpower to conquer the Tower of Trials.
With humanity’s cause at stake, everyone was expected to participate actively.
Naturally, the Rosenberg family, a prominent European lineage, was among them.
Click.
The hotel’s interior buzzed as a blonde woman in a sky-blue dress appeared.
The men and women gathered here had all tried to look their best, but none could compare to Teresa.
“Wow. Look over there.”
“Oh ho. It’s Teresa.”
“The saint who saved Amsterdam, isn’t she?”
“Fitting of the Rosenberg family, which has produced heroes who have saved the country for generations.”
“But she hasn’t been particularly active since then. I heard she left the Sion Guild midway, and she doesn’t seem to belong to any particular place.”
Questions and whispers rose, then melted away in the face of Teresa’s bright, innocent smile.
If there were such a thing as the most desirable bride, Teresa would undoubtedly be at the very top of the list.
That was, until music completely out of sync with the venue’s high-class atmosphere began to play.
[Ta-da-dam-dam! Ta-da-da-dam-dam-dam!]
A childish, boisterous tune drowned out the orchestra’s beautiful melody.
“W-what is that?”
“Who started something like this?”
“What are the security guards doing? Why haven’t they shut off that bizarre music? How much did we spend on security…!”
The flustered guests erupted with complaints.
Confusion piled higher as no one could explain what was happening.
But for one person—
A status window was flashing in front of Teresa, one that explained everything.
[A comrade is in danger. The Veteran Corporation strongly requests your assistance.]
“Jinhyuk…ssi?”
At the word “danger,” Kang Jinhyuk’s face came to mind first.
She’d heard he was going to explore the 30th-floor ruins with Chun Yoosung, but she never imagined the two of them would end up in a dangerous situation.
This was no time to leisurely attend a charity event.
However.
Teresa’s face turned pale as she read the conditions for accepting the request.
A terrible nightmare from the past resurfaced.
-Magical Princess Pinkresa
-Laurencia’s adolescence has been going on for over 20 years.
-Amsterdam’s Veteran Special Forces Pink.
-I love you Pink Ranger, etc.
Hundreds of nicknames had appeared.
From news outlets and V-tubers to SNS comments.
Even advertisements she had never authorized.
She had become the center of public attention.
Countless memories she wanted to die of embarrassment from—though she never said it out loud.
But.
She had erased everyone’s memories with the Fountain of Oblivion…!
And now she was about to step back into that swamp of nightmares.
‘Crazy… crazy.’
Teresa’s neck flushed crimson.
Just recalling it made her legs feel weak.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t even be something to consider.
But right now, the life of the most precious person was on the scales.
Kang Jinhyuk’s life versus a dark history that would be passed down through the Rosenberg family for generations—down to her children.
“……”
The deliberation didn’t last long.
[The target responds to the call.]
[Teresa’s attire is being customized.]
“Teresa…ssi?”
“Yes?”
“U-uh…”
People’s mouths fell open.
“M-my daughter…”
“Glug.”
Teresa’s family members collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth.
And so.
Protecting justice and love—
“I-I’ll go!”
Veteran Corporation Pink was summoned to the Tower.
—
Heh heh heh!
Kang Jinhyuk grinned wickedly as he saw a beam of light falling in the distance.
Judging by that, Chun Yoosung must have used the special item, [Passionate Warrior].
That guy.
He always hesitated once, even though he’s definitely going to use it.
Honestly, he probably secretly welcomed situations where attention focused on him like that.
He felt a little sorry for Teresa, but it was fine—she chose it herself, not because she was forced.
Maybe there was a closet exhibitionist hiding behind that innocent face.
On the other hand—
“That direction is…”
Clemence’s eyes narrowed as she fought with casual ease.
The west side of Yotleaam Canyon.
The route Gregory and Gensuke had taken to search for clues from the Primordial Beings.
They’d tried to hide their tracks and move secretly, but their location had been found so quickly.
“No wonder those tentacles were so disgusted. With our handsome oppa and comrades?”
“We’ve done plenty that makes us look bad. If you know, why don’t you back down now? Then I won’t take your lives.”
“Oh my. It’s a kind offer, but what to do? I was honestly a little surprised you found the two of them, but that doesn’t mean the result will change. Those two reached the pinnacle in their own harsh worlds before returning. You should give up on hope.”
Well, that was probably true.
Gregory—who returned after rampaging through a blood-soaked world of vampires.
Gensuke—who reached the pinnacle in a world where ambushes rained down even when you ate or went to the bathroom.
Among the Returnees, they were certainly top-class.
But.
“Well. I think you’re the one who should give up on hope…”
Kang Jinhyuk smirked.
“Our members are elites who survived in an even harsher group.”
The worst difficulty in the world.
Enduring without getting cut off from the Veteran Corporation was something only the realest of the real could achieve.
“It’s no use talking all day. We’ll see who’s right later.”
Clemence stepped onto her staff.
Then she soared high into the sky.
[Clemence activates the 10th Circle ‘Deep Horizon Pain’!]
[Livolt activates ‘Reina Daylight’!]
[Casting time is 5 minutes.]
Two incantations began.
A great spell cast by a great mage—one that took several minutes.
It had the disadvantage of a long casting time, but once completed, it would be a one-hit kill.
‘So she’s relying on dolls to buy time.’
Well, there were an absurd number of undead guarding Clemence.
But.
Because they weren’t using all their cards at once—trusting in that overwhelming force—this side had room to breathe and squeeze out every advantage.
Sparks flared in Kang Jinhyuk’s eyes.
[The ‘Eye of Gluttony’ has pierced through all the protective Barriers surrounding the target.]
[Details of the copy conditions have been unlocked.]
As expected of a great mage who dominated a world, she had stacked layer after layer of walls to counter any possible mental attack.
Maybe it was a habit—mages were physically fragile, so survival always came first.
That was why he hadn’t been able to check the most important copy conditions until now.
But he’d found a gap using the Ancient Barrier.
Alright.
Then, shall we take a look?
The [Unique Holy Spear ‘Forgotten Empire’], which let its owner use the dead as subordinates, was a prize he wanted badly.
If he could summon powerful enemies he had defeated so far, its utility would be endless.
Kang Jinhyuk recalled the named monsters, boss monsters, residents, and Divinity he had faced since entering the Tower.
There would be restrictions on proficiency, but eventually he would be able to command a vast army of the dead.
To face the Primordial Beings—and the ultimate enemy above them…
‘I’ll definitely add it to my collection in the Infinite Library.’
No matter what conditions appeared, he would achieve them.
His resolve burned.
But the moment he saw the status window that followed, his steely determination crumpled like paper.
[Copy Condition: To copy the abilities of Clemence, the Sorceress of Pain, you must be able to deeply empathize with and understand ‘pain’ just like her. Awaken to the essence of pleasure with her. If you do so, you will be able to copy one of the Unique Holy Spears, Unique Abilities, or skills that Clemence possesses. (However, the range that can be copied will vary depending on the magnitude of the pain and the reaction of the target who felt the pain.)]
Kang Jinhyuk’s expression collapsed as he read it.
Damn it.
He read it again, hoping it was a hallucination, but the letters didn’t change.
Sure, there was a saying: if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
The problem was whether it made any sense to enjoy pain more than that pervert.
He regretted not choosing the [Copy Free Pass Ticket] instead of Medrey as his reward.
But it was already too late.
The die had been cast, and now he had no choice but to act accordingly.
Crackle!
Pzzzt…!
Two sparks converged.
A terrifying storm of Mana—so intense it felt like it could pierce the atmosphere—was bearing down at any moment.
It would hurt like hell if he took that head-on.
To deliberately accept the attack, to “enjoy” the pain without using resurrection through [Blessing of the Stars] or [1 Second Invincible]…
Even thinking about it again, the Tower’s system was not normal.
“Contractor! What are you doing? Why aren’t you attacking already!”
Alice screamed, her voice strained.
She couldn’t spare him—she was holding off thousands alone—but she knew what had to be done now.
“Attacking before the casting is finished has the highest probability of success, yeah.”
Frey chimed in.
But.
Kang Jinhyuk stood still, waiting for the enemy’s attack to arrive.
An action that could only look incomprehensible.
However, there was always a rational reason behind everything he did, so no one said anything further.
And at that very moment—
“It’s over!”
With Clemence’s shout, two lights flashed.
Kwakwakwakwakwa!
The spell shot forward in a straight line and swallowed Kang Jinhyuk whole.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWAKWANG!
A tremendous shockwave followed.
—
“Contractor!”
Alice screamed.
Kang Jinhyuk, struck by the light without activating anything, had collapsed.
But her fear didn’t last long.
She saw him—staggering, forcing himself back to his feet.
Thank goodness.
Alice let out a long, relieved breath.
Right then—
“Ah… eung.”
Kang Jinhyuk bit his finger and made a suggestive expression, as if he’d felt something he absolutely shouldn’t have from that attack.
“……”
Alice stared at him with pure contempt.
Could you not look at me like that?
It’s not like I want to do this.
Damn it.
He couldn’t exactly say the copy conditions were like that.
The frustration was driving him insane.
“……”
Even Frey seemed to be looking at him the same way.
At this rate, he was going to be branded as the world’s biggest pervert.
Kang Jinhyuk forced his trembling hands and feet to calm down.
Let’s just accept it.
He’d already been branded anyway.
At least he’d gotten the ability…
……Huh?
Kang Jinhyuk’s pupils widened again as he checked the status window.
[The empathy score for pain has not reached the highest level.]
[In the current situation, it is only possible to choose one of ‘Unique Ability’ and ‘Skill’.]
Halfway.
He still had a long way to go to obtain the Unique Holy Spear.