Chapter 18: Chapter 28 – Major Guild Meeting II
Six major guilds.
It is the general name for the six guilds representing the current Republic of Korea.
Ranking No. 1 [Mystic Eyes]
Ranking 2nd place [Bronze Shield]
Ranking 3rd [Vegetation]
Ranking 4th [Mechanic]
Ranking 5th [Draft Master]
Ranking 6th [OP]
Our group is ranked 3rd and is the top guild among the 6 major guilds.
However, in the case of 6th place, it is settled in the Golden Tower, so outsiders, including me, do not know its actual situation.
The previous 6th ranked guild was a guild that managed money, and they pushed it out, so I'm guessing it had something to do with it...
No, that information is not a problem now.
No….
"Someone please explain why I am being dragged to such a summit!!!"
Rumbling~!
We are traveling in a limousine for the first time in our lives. They've even been on a roll just now, so they're taking me there, covered in sweat.
What kind of situation is this?
"Calm down. Seong Yeon is not the kind of person who moves without any reason. There must be a reason for everything."
"Do you know the reason?"
"Vaguely. But I don't know the true intention. She may think that even a degenerate like you can be of use."
"It's hard to make it sound like you don't know!"
Rather, it seems like this fake cross-dressing maid has decided to call me a pervert.
It's a damn title.
The bra incident is all my fault, so not being able to refute it is the worst part.
"Calm down. Am I going to take you there for no reason?"
"I know that, but it's so sudden. How can I calm down if you don't explain anything?"
"Hey, trust me. You didn't regret that thing I introduced last time, like I promised, right?"
"Ugh! What am I to say like that!? It was awesome, but-!"
"Ah. Don't go into detail because there's Ceres. Anyway, it was perfect, right~? Huh,~?"
Seong Yeon smirked.
Fuck!!
She claims that she introduced him to a good girl.
"It's good. I really like it. All I can say is that it's the best."
"Really?"
But I was in no position to be a dog to her.
As I said, it was the best meeting, so it was safe to say that I had used up all my life's luck.
I never thought my childhood friend would become Cupid. I've been exposed to a weakness for the rest of my life.
"Then that's it. Just trust me this time."
Then she hit her chest.
For some reason, she looks very serious in her suit. Ceres is still the only one wearing a butler's uniform and leather armor, so it's very burdensome.
"Is it really okay to go like this? Don't we have to decorate it to fit the atmosphere of the conference?"
"Don't worry, everyone is wearing their usual clothes."
"Really? If you get criticized like this, you really get angry?"
"Even if it's okay."
"Trust what Seong Yeon says. If you follow what she says, you will gain 100 out of 100."
"Do you know that Seong Yeon gets a little blind when things happen?"
"Everyone has their own circumstances. I don't know what it is, but it seems like you have also received grace from Seong Yeon, so please follow along."
"Damn!!"
There is no one on my side.
However, like Ceres and Seong Yeon said, I am nervous.
If it had been a problematic outfit in the first place, Ceres would have been outraged.
I'll tell you everything when we arrive, but don't be too nervous. There isn't one, right?
'Why did you drag me into that situation? Is this an intention to use a friend's chance to show off? I feel so burdened by that.'
My first goal is to accumulate savings at the top and have a comfortable retirement in the future.
Skill rank up is the stepping stone... Are you planning on pushing my back?
Do you feel like you should climb a little higher at this point?
"Don't be nervous. They're all good people. They'll probably welcome you there, right?"
"Really?"
"It's true."
"Is it true? I don't think everyone is interested in such a pervert because they are good people."
"Ceres~!"
An anxious noise came from next to me, and I tackled her. Seong Yeon got angry and kicked her in the shin, telling her not to do that.
They look so good together, so why aren't they dating?
" That's why don't be too nervous and just get some fresh air."
"I have something to drink. Let me know if you're thirsty."
"Do you have any burdock tea?"
"Yes, there is. But you have unique tastes for your age."
She put her hand into the small refrigerator in the limousine and handed over 500 ml of burdock tea.
What is this? Why does this exist?
The top branch convenience store didn't have this, so I ordered it outside every time.
"Seong Yeon likes it, so we always keep it in stock."
"Really? Wow, you have terrible taste too."
"I don't want to hear anything from you~!?"
Even though we are friends, there are strange places where we overlap.
After admiring that relationship, I rolled down the car window and looked outside to cool my head, as Seong Yeon suggested.
Unlike the bright vehicle, this place was nothing.
'Unlike Brass Tower, this area is ugly.'
The limousine that was driving through downtown Seoul suddenly arrived at a place that was nothing but an empty lot.
A land of nothingness, as if a nuclear explosion had occurred. There is almost no infrastructure except for the huge golden tower built in the center.
'I never thought a soldier would even control it.'
A gray partition with the words [Prohibited Area] spread out widely around the tower. The road leading to the tower is controlled by soldiers. Security was loose, as only a very small number of people crawled into this place, but it was very scary to see everyone holding guns.
'This is the golden tower. According to information, the government and the guild have joined forces to control the inside.'
Weird. It's a combination that couldn't be put together in the first place.
The guild is a group of outlaws who escape government control from the moment they enter the tower. The government's influence also stands at the feet of each guild within the tower.
That's because they are a group of crazy thugs who, if they surround themselves with Aurors, can slaughter people on the spot shooting guns and missiles and overthrow the country.
Are those bastards self-sufficient in the tower and acting as rankers? Are they going to break through the government's regulations and make dangerous weapons and drugs? There are so many murders in there that the government is going to grind its teeth...
"It's the government that's so anxious to hold off leash dogs and those bastards. Why are they holding hands with each other?"
"Humans are socialized animals. Even though they have talent as hunters, there are very few people who physically oppose the law. Most men, including you, got into trouble in the military."
"I left halfway through."
"Before that."
Because that's the law.
Moreover, in a world where those who are stronger than you reign proudly as rankers, there is no one who would dare to step forward. It's not a game; you only have one life here.
"Wait a minute."
It's even weirder when she says it like this, isn't it?
The government is trying to increase the number of hunters by deploying reserve forces. And now we are even collaborating.
Something is wrong.
"Did you notice?"
"Something is happening to the point where the interests of the government and Hunter are aligned... Is that what you're saying?"
"That's right. As you can see, the situation is serious. It has become difficult for each guild to manage the tower, and in the worst case, they are expecting a collapse of public order. Now, they want to overcome the situation even by joining hands with the disobedient ones."
"What about the collapse of public order? Isn't it possible that the tower is flowing backwards!?"
"Not yet, but in some cases it could happen."
"Are you crazy?"
North Korea was in an uproar because of that. One country ruled that the tower should not be touched because it was sacred, but it was destroyed when monsters flowed back.
The tower is a disaster full of gifts.
A time bomb that, if defeated, will provide humanity with technology that will advance, but if there is no corresponding skill, it will become a national disaster. Part of the aftermath was from when disaster struck each country in the first place and when the tower appeared. It is especially vicious that something similar to a god exists within the tower.
"Hey. Aren't you going to explain in detail?"
"For now, I will explain it when everyone is gathered together. That way, it will be easier for you to understand, and you won't have to explain it twice."
"Fuck, it's a secret again! Again and again!"
Just as I was about to scold her, the limousine stopped.
Soldiers approached beyond the window.
I looked at them wondering something, and it was obvious that everyone was more nervous than me.
"Stop. Stop. This is a prohibited area."
"Ordinary vehicles are not allowed to access. What business do you have here?"
"Oh, excuse me. My name is Seong Yeon, the guild leader of [Vegetation]. I'm here to attend the guild meeting today."
Even with that tension, a smile spread across her face as if she had been kneaded with a rolling pin after Seong Yeon's greeting.
"Seong Yeon! I was waiting for you!"
"You don't need to take out your ID. This is right after the order came from above. Come on, let's go right in."
"Thank you."
They sent a message through the walkie-talkie attached to their arms and opened the tightly blocked entrance.
The road leading to the tower has been opened.
"What, don't they do an inspection or something like that when you go in?"
"What test?"
"It's my first time coming here today, and they just let me in without even looking at my ID."
"Everyone knows there's no need for that."
"What if they let out a bad guy like that? For example, a criminal who is drunk on Auror enters the tower. Don't things like that often happen?"
"There are a lot of things like that to begin with. Even if those kids go into hiding, what happens in the tower doesn't flow outside. It's not like they can't go in just because you block them, so honestly, it's a meaningless test."
The guy who enters the tower = Hunter
Those who block = ordinary soldiers
In other words, it was said to be a meaningless wall from the beginning.
"Damn. If that's the case, why are you building the wall, and why are you checking?"
"That? At best, it's just a partition. It's a different nuance because it's erected to 'block information inside from flowing out' rather than to prevent people from entering."
Does this mean that the mainstream is information control rather than blocking access?
What on earth is happening inside the Golden Tower?
"It would be better to just close your eyes."
"Why?"
"This tower is very dazzling when you first see it."
"…"
When I looked to the side, Ceres had already closed her eyes.
How dazzling is it? The moment I uttered those words, gold as shiny as a dog surrounded my vision.
Flash!
"Aaaaah!!!!"
"If you listen to Seong Yeon's words, you will have rice cakes even in your sleep. Do you understand?"
"Shut up! Don't try to time it, so you can scratch whenever you get the chance!"
"What a sick man."
Oh fuck! What a shitty place!
As well as the harsh outside scenery! There is nothing I like from the beginning, really!
'Kuh, is this noise marketing?'
Thanks to this, I became curious about what kind of fucking place this place was, and as soon as my vision returned, I focused my aura on my eyes and looked clearly at what kind of hell this place was.