A Wimp's Tower Strategy Guide Chapter 125
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I had guessed as much.
A mission called catching foxes.
Gyeon Dal-rae suddenly moving proactively on the 74th floor.
So I had speculated it would probably be a linked mission related to her.
My speculation was right.
But to think it would be in this way.
Background explanation of Gyeon Dal-rae.
Princess of the Heaven Empire and the head shrine maiden of the Imperial Shrine.
From a young age, she showed a talent for talisman arts, techniques, and spells.
Therefore, she grew up learning exorcisms and mastering arts by serving the greatest Manshin of the time as her master.
'Then that Nine-Tailed Fox is the Manshin?'
There is no mistaking that.
Because there is a nametag floating above her head.
- Grade : LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
- Type : Nine-Tailed Fox (Divine Beast)
A background explanation too.
- The Great Manshin Hae-ryeong of the Heaven Empire's Imperial Shrine was actually a Nine-Tailed Fox. Like all divine beasts, Hae-ryeong's dream was ascending to heaven. To become a Yokai Immortal, she had to go through a very harsh and difficult-to-endure process called training.
- Hae-ryeong mingled and lived together with humans. She advanced toward ascending to heaven while realizing the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. However, training is a difficult thing. She had to constantly be plagued by temptation. The desire to consume human livers.
- If one falls to temptation, they become an evil spirit yokai. An evil spirit thirsting for fresh human livers and getting intoxicated by power; however, Hae-ryeong's will was firm. She never fell for the temptation.
- While doing so, an accident occurred. While she absented herself, a rebellion broke out in the Empire. The uncle murdered the nephew and ascended to the imperial throne. Furious at that, her beloved disciple Gyeon Dal-rae unleashed a death curse at the uncle who became the emperor, and she ended up dying due to that karma.
- It was a sorrowful matter. The death of her disciple, it felt like her chest was tearing apart. Ascending to heaven or whatever was all vain. She left the secular world and went into seclusion. Free from all thoughts and ideas, her ties to the secular world became faint, and she grew closer to ascending. Right around the time she almost reached the very edge of ascending to heaven, an incident ended up erupting.
- Overpowered by her comrade and another Nine-Tailed Fox, who failed to overcome the temptation and became an evil spirit yokai, she was forced to consume a human liver. And she sealed herself. In order not to become an evil spirit, that is.
It's a heartbreaking matter.
That Nine-Tailed Fox is correctly Gyeon Dal-rae's master, the Manshin.
Well, it's a childish expression, but should I say a good Nine-Tailed Fox was done in by a bad Nine-Tailed Fox?
And to think she ended up being frustrated right before ascending to heaven.
Joo-hyuk told Gyeon Dal-rae in detail why Hae-ryeong had become like that.
"I think I understand. Once one has tasted a human liver even once, shaking it off is an impossible task. So Master probably sealed herself, who was changing into an evil spirit."
Then what about the Three-Tailed, Five-Tailed, and Seven-Tailed Foxes?
"They are the disciples of the evil spirit Nine-Tailed Fox that made Master Hae-ryeong like that. They must have installed a formation at Master's residence and were monitoring her."
Anyway, the time here on the 74th floor is also after Gyeon Dal-rae died.
Perhaps a world where the lingering attachments she left behind are projected.
Gwangma also let out an exclamation of grief.
"Just how lamentable would it be, for a thousand years of training to turn into bubbles in a single moment."
Joo-hyuk's heart also ached.
The ultra-high difficulty optional mission is killing Hae-ryeong, who is a Manshin, a Nine-Tailed Fox, and Gyeon Dal-rae's master.
He absolutely did not want to complete the mission.
So what if he gets that a bit.
Looking at it one way, it isn't even a failure.
He completed up to the basic mission anyway.
Gyeon Dal-rae collapsed in a state of being at a loss.
Just how much must she be grieving?
"Is there no way to help her? Like stopping the progression of the evil spirit..."
"Understood. This seat shall take a look. To see if there is something I can provide help with."
Gwangma walked over with long strides.
To the place where the Great Manshin Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong was bound.
Gwangma stopping his steps.
A line drawn under his feet.
He must not advance any further.
The flow of an unknown, mighty energy could be felt.
A danger signal according to instinct.
If he crosses or steps on this line, he will not be able to avoid a fiasco.
'It doesn't apply only to the floor.'
Although it is invisible to the eyes, it affects both the empty air and underground.
That is, he cannot go flying, nor can he go through the ground.
With the Summoner watching from behind, it seemed he would only crumple his dignity after declaring it boldly.
"Sir Gwangma, what are you doing, sir?"
Cossack running over trippingly.
"Did you step in poop, sir? That is why you should have been careful, sir, I will go first and untie the knot bound on Nine-Tailed Fox-nim..."
"No! Do not step forward."
But it was already too late.
Cossack was exactly one step ahead of Gwangma.
Thus he ended up stepping on the line at last.
A bizarre feeling coming up from under Cossack's feet.
At the same time his entire body became powerless, an unprecedentedly mighty force pushed Cossack away violently.
Pushed by the force, Cossack shot toward the basement wall like a bullet.
He crashed into the wall just like that.
How strong was the force that the hard granite stone wall caved in.
"Assassin, are you alright?"
Gobang hurriedly ran over and pulled out Cossack who was stuck in the stone wall.
"S-Summoner Bong... sir."
Paruru, Cossack groaning while having a spasm.
"I, am dying, sir. It has been fun in the meantime... keuk!"
And then he snapped his head to the side and lost consciousness.
The summoned entities flocking over in droves.
"Did he die? Was he killed in action?"
"It looks like he is right before dying, though?"
"Do not lose consciousness! You die if you fall asleep."
"Healing potion! Quickly, quickly."
No, how absurdly does someone become like that just from stepping on a line?
Gwangma and Gobang were composed.
"An assassin does not die."
"Would he die from that extent? Now if his head was detached, perhaps. He is exaggerating his pain too much."
Eyy-ssi. I was startled.
"He will probably wake up if this warrior gives him a flick on the forehead."
Cossack springing his upper body up.
"Heok heok, ah, I had a nightmare, sir. A dream where I die stepping on a line, sir."
To think so, is this dodgeball? Squid Game?
Gobang also tried challenging the line-stepping.
However, he was pushed by the unseen force and ended up stuck in the wall as well.
"Master must have personally installed the formation. So that no one could approach."
Great Manshin Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong who sealed her own body.
A forbidden zone set by an LSSR grade.
You get in big trouble if you invade it.
"Let's give up and exit at this point. Challenge it again after resetting later, or. Or skip here and clear the 75th floor."
Her heavily sunken voice,
This is making me anxious,
I can guess what she is trying to say.
"This girl shall go to Master. I must send Master off comfortably before she turns into an evil spirit."
"...Eyy, that won't do. You saw what happened to Mr. Cossack, and Gobang too, don't you see why Sir Gwangma stopped?"
Even so, Gyeon Dal-rae smiling faintly.
"Do you not know whose disciple this girl is? A shrine maiden has a shrine maiden's own ways."
"This girl knows Young Master's intentions as vast as the sea and river, but sending Master off comfortably is a duty this girl must absolutely perform."
What should I do about this?
"It is not that I do not know Young Master's benevolent heart, but please, I implore you to fathom this girl's intent."
"I understand. Let's try it."
"I am grateful for your grace."
The summoned entities stood by behind Gyeon Dal-rae.
So they could catch her safely when she bounces off.
Just what method will Gyeon Dal-rae use to cross the forbidden zone?
Her dance moves began.
A bell in one hand, a knife in the other.
Raising her heels and lightly taking one step forward on the balls of her feet.
Stretching her arms and exhaling her breath.
Drawing them back in again and inhaling her breath.
The sorrow (æ¨) of losing her parents, the sorrow of losing her younger sister, the sorrow of her master becoming like that.
In the manner of a sorrowful Salpuri exorcism, Gyeon Dal-rae advanced step by step.
Sometimes with mincing steps, sometimes with long strides,
Spinning her body like a top, and gently waving her outstretched arms,
Joo-hyuk and the summoned entities were also mesmerized.
An SSR-grade shrine maiden.
Dance moves that move the heart.
This is precisely Gyeon Dal-rae.
"A woman's charm isn't just large breasts, sir."
Are you just realizing that now?
They couldn't help but marvel.
Everyone was captivated by her dance moves.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Gyeon Dal-rae had already crossed the line.
However, nothing happened.
Pa-jik! Pa-chi-ji-jik!
Rather, the magic formation broke at her footsteps.
The sound gradually diminished as well.
Finally arriving in front of the bound Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong.
As she hurriedly tried to detach the bound golden ropes and talismans.
The Great Manshin Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong opened her eyes.
She properly made eye contact with Gyeon Dal-rae at last.
"Dal-rae-ya. I knew you would come."
"Who else is there except you to cross here?"
Hae-ryeong's voice was calm.
Even though she was facing her dead disciple.
"You have begun a new life. In another world."
"H-how knew you that?"
"When my soul is bound to the tower, how could I not know."
Hae-ryeong looked at Joo-hyuk.
And politely bowed her head.
A meaning asking him to take good care of her disciple.
Joo-hyuk also bowed his head in return.
"Dal-rae-ya, are you disappointed learning of my true identity? I apologize."
"It does not matter. No matter who my Master is, you are my eternal Master."
Hae-ryeong comforted the crying Gyeon Dal-rae.
"Now set me at ease."
"...Is there no other way?"
"You know too, don't you. Just how severe the price of defying the Will of Heaven is."
"It is not your fault, Master."
"No. It is my fault. Foolishness is also a sin."
Gyeon Dal-rae trembled her hands.
That she has to kill her Master?
Watching this, Joo-hyuk and the other summoned entities feeling sorrowful was the same.
"This is not going to work. Exiting the tower. 74th floor ultra-high difficulty optional mission is a failure!"
"This warrior also agrees."
"It is a wise choice. My Lord."
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber, a rapid retreat is the driving force for advancing."
"I implore you to grant my Master's wish."
Words asking him to kill her.
"That is the path for my Master's sake."
I knew these words would come out, which is why I said let's exit right away.
Could I not know why Gyeon Dal-rae is acting like that.
Tower clear mission completion?
Because she doesn't want to turn her Master into an evil spirit.
She intended to send her off as a human.
The best possible method.
And the right path as well.
Even so, is the human heart something that can always be rational?
Thereupon Gwangma stepped forward.
Walking steadily to the front of Hae-ryeong.
"This seat shall do it for you. No matter what, it would be better than ending your life by your disciple's hands, would it not?"
Hae-ryeong also wearing a gentle smile,
"You are a frightening person. So I feel at ease."
"Hahaha, truth be told, I am an old man who cannot even cross the magic formation you have set up."
"Because your field is different. If you had just a little more time, you would have broken through a magic formation like this in no time."
Those are not wrong words.
Analyzing the flow of energy was merely tricky.
"In that sense, let us detach the golden rope and talismans. No matter what, I hate using my hands on a bound person."
Golden rope and talismans.
The things Hae-ryeong tied herself with to control the evil spirit's power.
"Do not do so, please use your hands in this state; if this girl's power is opened up, you will get hurt."
"Do you think I? Would not be able to handle you?"
"I am someone who has trained for a thousand years. Moreover, if the evil spirit's madness is added..."
"This seat also takes pride that my madness is top-tier."
Hae-ryeong chuckled with a pik.
"It is not just you. The person you serve, and my disciple, that cute-looking child... can you fight me while protecting all of them?"
Gwangma also laughed while facing her.
"It is embarrassing, but I won't do it alone. There's a usable shield over there. It's 2 on 1. Do not complain later that it's cheap."
Hae-ryeong simply could not understand.
It'd be enough to just leave her tied with the golden rope and comfortably use his hands.
"Just what is the reason for acting like this?"
"I'm telling you to die well, ascend to heaven. Ascending to heaven is also a kind of death, severing the ties to the secular world and going up to another world."
Hae-ryeong's trembling eyes.
"Is there anything that doesn't work out if you put in effort? At any rate, you did grasp the very edge of ascending to heaven, did you not."
"Does one ascend to heaven just by dying comfortably? You must sever the ring of lingering attachments yourself."
Then looking at Joo-hyuk,
Meaning asking for permission.
Honestly, Joo-hyuk is anxious too.
Will they really be able to win?
The mission to eliminate the Millennium Fox Nine-Tailed Fox.
The reason this is difficult is having to break through the magic formation and enter.
It's easy if you just enter.
Because the Nine-Tailed Fox is bound by the golden ropes and talismans.
But if they detach them?
The Nine-Tailed Fox that trained for a thousand years will become a crazy evil spirit and run wild.
Will subduing it be possible?
Even within the same LSSR grade, there is a distant difference.
Even comparing Gobang and Gwangma right now shows that.
A Millennium Fox Nine-Tailed Fox that became an evil spirit, huh.
It gives me chills just thinking about it, but.
Eh, let's just go for it first.
If I don't trust the summoned entities, who do I trust?
Joo-hyuk's permission dropped.
Gwangma grabbing and ripping off the golden ropes binding Hae-ryeong's body with his hands.
The golden ropes broken from Hae-ryeong's body,
"Open up your power as a Nine-Tailed Fox. Run wild to your heart's content. And subjugate the evil spirit within your heart. For that is the path leading to ascension."
From behind her back, massive 9 tails spread out like a fan.
Hae-ryeong's distorting face.
A gigantifying body, pitch-black fur springing up rustlingly, sharp fingernails and toenails jutting straight out, and a mouth tearing up to under her ears.
Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong who had become an evil spirit.
She was finally released from her restraints.
Facing him, Hae-ryeong wielding fingernails of bluish Aura Control.
Seo-geok! Gobang's forearm was sliced clean in half.
Along with the pitch-black armor and thick skin.
However, seu-reu-reuk,
The skin sticking back together again as if nothing happened.
Gobang's LSSR-grade super regeneration acquired from the rapid regeneration upgrade.
Taking one attack with his body and firmly hugging the physical body of Hae-ryeong, who had become an evil spirit Nine-Tailed Fox, from behind.
Hae-ryeong's 9 tails turned into spears and relentlessly stabbed Gobang's torso.
Gobang also seemed to be having a hard time enduring.
His face, which was always expressionless, distorted heavily.
"Endure just a little bit."
Gwangma placing his hand on the head of Hae-ryeong, who had changed into an evil spirit.
"Snap out of it. You trained for a thousand years, yet can you really not turn back a mere single mistake?"
Gwangma's energy going in through her head.
In addition, Gyeon Dal-rae too.
The past appearance of Hae-ryeong left in her memories.
A warm, benevolent, and thoughtful Master.
She cannot stay still.
She has to do something.
In the end, the task she could do was solely a Salpuri exorcism to unravel it by putting all her sorrow into it.
Gyeon Dal-rae's dance began.
The quick-witted Rajix took out a portable orchestra equipment from the subspace backpack and flipped the switch.
The resounding sound of drums.
The rhythm of a Salpuri exorcism.
Holy Knight Lucius Bardin also did not stay still.
Emitting a brilliant radiance never seen before with his entire body,
He shone like the sun.
Hae-ryeong's struggle.
Gobang's body became a wreck.
But he didn't let go of Hae-ryeong.
He hugged her even more strongly.
Gwangma also drew out all the energy in his entire body and controlled the evil spirit's power.
Please snap out of it, and thus regain the power of the Imperial Manshin like the past.
Joo-hyuk also could not stay still.
Do I have to just watch like this?
No matter how much of a real man I am, this isn't right.
So he walked steadily towards Hae-ryeong.
"Commander, you must not."
What do you mean I must not!
He also learned Gwangma's martial arts.
Turns out he's practically his disciple.
Operating the Heaven and Earth One Origin Art, he covered his own hand over Gwangma's hand resting on Hae-ryeong's head.
Joo-hyuk's energy was added to Gwangma's energy.
The two people pressing down the evil spirit's energy together.
Gyeon Dal-rae's continuing dance moves, the prayers of Cossack, Sergeant Bae, and Rajix, Bardin's radiance.
Everyone prayed with one heart.
Then, a change occurred.
The 9 tail spears that were continuously stabbing Gobang lost their strength and drooped down.
Hae-ryeong's pupils, which had been torn completely vertically, returned to their original state.
Hae-ryeong regained her senses for a moment.
To think she went on a rampage and ran amok like crazy just from taking off a single golden rope.
Was a thousand years of training merely this extent?
Was eating a human liver by an external force such a huge sin?
It's not just because she ate a liver.
In the end, it was because she couldn't cut off her desires.
The thirst for power, the greed to advance to a higher place.
Come to think of it, isn't the purpose of ascending somewhat similar?
The selfishness of looking down on the world and ultimately wanting to win the freedom of the soul and physical body.
It's all an event caused due to that.
What ascension when she couldn't even throw away her greed?
A thousand years of training had all been an illusion.
She only wasted time.
Her disciple Gyeon Dal-rae returned alive from death to save the world and is trying hard like that, yet what is she doing?
She has no face to look at her disciple.
And she felt miserable.
The ruined Heaven Empire.
The suffering of the common people caused by that,
However, saying she would sever the ties to the secular world, she went into seclusion.
It was an irresponsible behavior.
She should have stepped forward for a slightly better world.
Regret and self-reproach, a dreadful sense of loss.
In the midst of that, her disciple's dance moves entered Hae-ryeong's eyes.
The Salpuri exorcism she passed down.
'How can it be so beautiful.'
A disciple who lost her parents, lost her one and only younger sister, yet did not yield and persevered even when trapped in the space of the bottomless pit, and now dances for a great cause.
If there was anything she contributed to the world, it was right then raising that child.
At last, her heart became at peace.
Now it seems that even the one remaining piece of lingering attachment is disappearing.
When lingering attachments disappear, the ties to the secular world are also severed.
Together with a brilliant light, the soul of the Millennium Fox Nine-Tailed Fox Hae-ryeong,
Ultimately undid the tower's restraints.
And advanced to ascension.
[Completed all missions on the 74th floor.]