Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Level 2 Player

Floor 100

Kim Han-ul took Jin-su and Shin Su-a to a building the size of a small building.

“The 1st floor is a common space, and the lodging is above.”

They went up to the 2nd floor.

“You can use this room and this room. The keys are here. Both rooms are PK-impossible safe zones like the Floor 50 lodging, so you can rest assured. First, wash and come down. I’ll prepare a meal on the 1st floor.”

“Thank you for the consideration.”

“Thank you.”

“No. Then.”

Kim Han-ul went down to the 1st floor.

“Jin-su, can we trust that person?”

“We can’t unconditionally trust him. But I don’t think there’s a need to refuse the goodwill right now. It doesn’t seem like he’s trying to deceive us.”

“Okay. Then let’s meet after washing.”

“Yeah.”

Jin-su and Shin Su-a each entered their own rooms.

‘It is a mess.’

Shin Su-a was also in the worst beggar form, but Jin-su was no less. Jin-su leisurely washed his body with warm water.

‘The Daehan Guild is still the same.’

Among the various guilds made with Koreans as the main axis, the group with the largest scale was precisely the Daehan Guild.

On Floor 100, besides the Daehan Guild, there were various kinds of guilds made by players from countries around the world. There were cases of gathering among those of the same country origin or making guilds because race, language, etc., were the same, and there were also guilds made by people whose hearts just matched regardless of such things.

‘Although there are players who act in party units.’

Most belonged to guilds. The reason was the scale and danger of Floor 100 and the long clear time of 10 years.

‘The fact that there is no personnel restriction when challenging the gatekeeper of Floor 100 is also large.’

Those who made guilds believed that if they mobilized large-scale personnel, they could clear the gatekeeper of Floor 100 with minimal damage.

After that, they also thought that climbing the Tower would be much easier if the numbers were many.

‘It’s the biggest misconception.’

The gatekeeper of Floor 100 was Demilich, an undead-type monster.

Demilich summons various undead monsters such as skeletons, zombies, ghouls, specters, death wizards, dullahan, etc. Players who faced the undead large army cheered that their decision to enter as a group was right.

‘It’s a mistake made because they have no experience dealing with undead-type boss monsters.’

Demilich is an undead and black mage who uses black mana, not ordinary mana. Black mana could recover by absorbing death energy spewing from the bodies of the dead and negative emotions like fear or dread.

‘If casualties arise, Demilich can continuously recover black mana.’

Also, it was possible to revive dead players as undead monsters. If other players who witnessed that spewed negative emotions like fear and dread, it recovers black mana again using that as nourishment.

‘At least if all the players are elites, it’s fortunate.’

If not that but a ragtag group full of only riffraff, the numbers rather become a minus and they are wiped out in an instant.

‘Well, since there’s no way to know that on Floor 100.’

Although NPCs leak various information about the upper floors of the Tower, they didn’t leak decisive information like about black mana at all.

As if some kind of restriction was hung on that.

‘There is no absolute truth in conquering the Tower.’

Many numbers can become an advantage or a disadvantage.

‘In the end, to survive in the Tower, one must grow one’s own skill.’

Even if one is lucky and obtains excellent skills and items or meets comrades with good skill and character, if one doesn’t have one’s own ability, the Tower is a space where one cannot survive.

Jin-su who finished showering cleanly changed clothes and went out.

“Came?”

Outside, Shin Su-a was already waiting.

“You came out early. Were you waiting for me?”

“Yeah, going down alone was a bit uneasy.”

“Yeah, let’s go down.”

Jin-su and Shin Su-a went down to the 1st floor.

“Choose what you want to eat.”

Kim Han-ul smiled and held out a menu.

“Wow! There’s kimchi stew and doenjang stew!”

“Since most of the affiliated guild members are Koreans, there is a lot of Korean food on the menu. The ingredients are a bit different from what was eaten in Korea, but the taste is reasonably similar.”

Shin Su-a excitedly chose the menu.

“But the price isn’t written?”

“Since it’s a building exclusive for guild members, points aren’t separately received for lodging and meals. For newcomers who are not guild members, lodging and meals are provided free for a week.”

“The welfare is good.”

“It is on the such side. First, please order. I’ll explain slowly.”

At Kim Han-ul’s words, Jin-su and Shin Su-a ordered the menu.

“Then before the meal comes out, I’ll briefly explain about Floor 100.”

Kim Han-ul unfolded information about Floor 100 to Jin-su and Shin Su-a.

Jin-su, knowing all the information, pretended to be surprised and only responded appropriately.

On the other hand, Shin Su-a was really surprised with eyes wide open and mouth agape.

Floor 100 operated quite systematically. When newcomers climb up, each guild according to turn provides information about Floor 100 along with temporarily taking care for a week.

After that, it was the newcomer’s choice.

Enter the guild that temporarily took care of oneself, enter another guild, or freely live with party members who were together from the lower floors without belonging to a guild, it didn’t matter.

“Why do they take care of newcomers like that? They’re complete strangers?”

Shin Su-a asked with a puzzled expression.

“I know there was a person who established the system of Floor 100 at first. The reason it has been maintained until now is to survive.”

On Floor 100, gathering is advantageous for survival. Also, the larger the scale of the group, the more advantageous.

However, there are players who continuously climb to Floor 101, and cases of dying during hunting also arise. Therefore, if left alone, the scale of the guild has no choice but to gradually decrease.

To maintain the bulk of the guild, newcomers had to be received. Fighting among existing guilds to receive newcomers is mutual loss.

Also, even if forcibly making them join the guild regardless of the newcomer’s will, proper efficiency didn’t come out. Leaving it to autonomous choice produced the best results.

“So this system has continued to be maintained.”

“Really amazing.”

Shin Su-a sincerely admired. Floor 50 also had its own system. But compared to Floor 100, it was no different from a makeshift method.

From Kim Han-ul’s mouth, explanations about the system of Floor 100 and the advantages of the guild flowed without interruption.

‘Only talking about advantages is still the same.’

Jin-su made a bitter smile inside.

Floor 100 is the place where all players of Earth origin gather. Naturally, the scale and population increase overwhelmingly. Moreover, one can stay for a whopping 10 years.

As a result, the system is also much more refined compared to Floor 50.

‘Although that is an advantage in many cases...’

Conversely, the disadvantages also had no choice but to be quite many.

Large scale and many hunting grounds are advantages and disadvantages at the same time. Because the prime land and good hunting grounds are fixed.

‘Small-scale battles between players occur frequently.’

At least if it ends with nerve wars or light small-scale battles, it’s fortunate.

‘There are also cases where emotions reach the extreme and war breaks out.’

Other things are the same.

Many numbers of players?

‘They can cooperate but can also confront.’

Even among those of the same country origin, factions are bound to split. What will happen if people of various races and countries from around the world mix?

‘Guilds also have advantages and disadvantages.’

If humans gather into one and make a group, class, hierarchy, and factions arise. Class and hierarchy are not rationally decided according to ability either. Rather than fairness, connections and factions play a more important role.

‘Groups also force sacrifice.’

There are cases where one has no choice but to do things one doesn’t want to do. There are times when one has to move for the guild’s benefit, not one’s own benefit.

Cases of having to fight with other guilds staking one’s life regardless of one’s own will also arise.

At such times, the ones who become the first sacrifices are those with no power, no authority, and no connections.

‘Money is also important.’

The Daehan Guild provides lodging and meals that guild members can use for free. But that also can be maintained only if there are points.

The ones who earn those points are ultimately the guild members.

‘The guild receiving guild members is also ultimately because players are needed.’

To maintain the possessed buildings, to maintain hunting grounds, to obtain achievements, to win in wars, to obtain points, a supply of new players is needed.

It’s the same as the reason a company recruits employees. If mutually beneficial, it’s win-win. Even if I’m a bit regretful, if there are no other choices, it can become an unavoidable choice.

‘The same on Earth and the same in the Tower.’

There is no utopia that is fair and rational, thinks of the other first, yields, and cooperates.

‘Let alone, here there is no country and no law.’

Naturally, more nonsensical and inhumane incidents occur more frequently and more.

Even if a person with goodwill exists, it was a situation hard to survive long. But Jin-su didn’t think that the guild system itself should disappear because of that.

‘Because this is the best for now.’

All players cannot be satisfied. But what the majority of players can be satisfied with was the current guild system of Floor 100.

Democracy and capitalism on Earth are also not perfect. Numerous disadvantages and problems exist, and nonsensical things occur frequently. But because that is the current best, numerous countries chose democracy and capitalism.

Floor 100 is the same. The guild system was the current best.

“If there is anything curious, you can ask as much as you want.”

At Kim Han-ul’s words, Shin Su-a asked the points she was curious about. Jin-su also threw various questions because he was curious about the current situation of Floor 100.

“Hahaha, that...”

Kim Han-ul kindly answered Jin-su and Shin Su-a’s questions.

‘Image making is really good.’

The speech was also really amazing. Unconsciously, he elevated the Daehan Guild and cut down other guilds.

“For a week, you can use it comfortably thinking of it as your own home.”

Kim Han-ul who finished the explanation said with a smiling face. Jin-su also knew the fact that that kind attitude ends after a week.

‘Because it’s troublesome if they go to another guild.’

They try to plant a good image as kindly as possible.

Once belonging to the Daehan Guild?

‘Right away, they become convenient and good newcomers who are easy to work hard.’

They had to take charge of the most dirty work and the work everyone doesn’t want to do.

However, that standard isn’t applied fairly to everyone. In fact, the reason Kim Han-ul is showing an excessively kind attitude now was also because Jin-su and Shin Su-a are the mage and healer with the smallest ratio among newcomers.

‘If I show my skill, I might receive enormously good treatment.’

Jin-su had no particular intention of belonging to a guild on Floor 100.

The benefits obtainable by showing skill and joining a guild are only about a rat’s tail. On the other hand, the benefits obtainable when not joining were as large as a mountain.

“I’ve asked all the curious things. Can I go sleep now? I’m too tired.”

“Haam! I’m sleepy too.”

At Jin-su’s words, Shin Su-a also chimed in.

“Ah, I had no sense. You must have suffered a lot clearing Floor 99. Please go in quickly and rest.”

Kim Han-ul said while smiling.

“Yes, then.”

“Let’s go sleep quickly.”

Jin-su and Shin Su-a went up to the lodging on the 2nd floor.

‘Then shall I do the settlement.’

Now it was time to check the loot obtained from hunting the numerous Ant Devourers including the Queen Ant Devourer.