Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 18

The only one shocked wasn’t Kim Suae.

Jung Chulmin was just as stunned.

“Ahn… Ahn Suho is climbing the Tower of Trial?”

He pinched his cheek, wondering if it was a dream.

But it wasn’t.

Perhaps because of that?

Jung Chulmin couldn’t help but grin, his mouth curling up to the sky.

After all, he too had seen Jo Jin-hwi’s exclusive report.

“Could it be that our association will finally welcome a truly unprecedented talent…!”

Even imagining it thrilled him.

And it wasn’t just anyone—it was Ahn Suho.

If he joined the Korean Hunter Association, they’d have a recruit at the SSS level, no less.

However, a part of him grew worried as Suho’s success continued.

The Korean Hunter Association’s benefits were so meager that they couldn’t easily recruit such a colossal talent.

At that moment, Jung Chulmin’s phone rang.

The caller was the vice president.

Seeing the caller’s name, Jung Chulmin narrowed his eyes for a moment.

The vice president, along with the president, was one of the people Jung Chulmin didn’t like much.

But, personal preferences aside, it was a call from a far superior officer, so he answered.

“Yes, Vice President.”

The vice president preferred to be called “Vice President” rather than “Deputy President.”

He felt it had a better ring to it, though it wasn’t a big deal.

As it was his superior’s preference, everyone followed suit, including Jung Chulmin.

When Jung Chulmin answered, the vice president’s voice came through the receiver.

– “Where are you now?”

“I’m in Pangyo.”

– “Did you go out because of the Tower of Trial?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

– “You know Ahn Suho, right?”

How did he know that?

After a moment’s hesitation, Jung Chulmin replied.

“I’ve only met him in passing; we’re not close personally.”

– “But you know him. That’s good. I want you to be responsible for bringing Ahn Suho here.”

Hearing that, Jung Chulmin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What?! You want me to bring him here to recruit him for the Korean Hunter Association…?!”

– “What? No, the president just wants to take a photo with him.”

“Oh…”

Of course.

So that’s why he called out of the blue.

Jung Chulmin’s face twisted in frustration.

But regardless, the vice president continued speaking.

– “Just get it set up so he can take a picture with the president. You can come up with any excuse to call him in.”

“…Yes.”

After he finished, the vice president hung up.

For a moment, Jung Chulmin felt like throwing his phone, but he held back.

“This is why all association executives should come from hunters…”

The Korean Hunter Association, as a government organization, had prominent positions—the president and vice president were filled by career politicians.

The current president had served five terms as a congressman, while the vice president had served four.

While he didn’t have a problem with congressmen holding executive positions, these officials were non-awakened civilians, making them lack understanding of the industry and creating frustration by focusing on desk-bound administration.

This was also why the Korean Hunter Association struggled to attract quality hunters.

– “I know hunters are incredible! But what? Why pay so much for civil servants?”

– “Is this a business?”

– “Do you think taxpayers’ money exists to pay your high salaries?!”

– “The country would fall without hunters? Then what are the guilds for? Are we ruined because we don’t hire hunter civil servants?”

It was always like this.

Shaking his head, Jung Chulmin walked back toward the Tower of Challenge.

Regardless, he needed to come up with a good excuse to summon Suho.

***

[ You have cleared the 48th floor. ]

[ A new record has been set for the Tower of Challenge. ]

[ The system rewards you with 5 bonus stats for your outstanding achievement. ]

[ If you challenge the 49th floor, your achievements will continue to be broadcast outside the tower. ]

How much time had passed?

Suho finally stood before the portal to the 49th floor, said to be the last.

Before challenging it, Suho checked his status window.

“Status window.”

[ Ahn Suho ]

– Lv : 39

– Class : Healer

– Strength : 95

– Stamina : 95

– Mana : 91

– Perception : 39

– Bonus Stats : 5

Level 39.

And a stat total much higher than what would be typical.

He had gained stats with each level and received 5 bonus stats every 10 levels.

However, the bonus stats given for setting a record on each floor contributed most to his current status.

“It’s thanks to rewards like these that Jang Pyungho was able to become a powerhouse.”

Did Jang Pyungho become a giant just because of a single pocket-space ability?

Not a chance.

He started smuggling later on.

Initially, he didn’t have the credentials to enter the big leagues with just the pocket-space ability.

So, he used the stats he earned from the Tower of Trial to build his hunter reputation gradually.

Once his name grew, he then entered the smuggling business in earnest.

After investing all his bonus stats in mana, Suho stepped toward the portal to the 49th floor, where Jang Pyungho had failed.

[ Ahn Suho has begun his trial of the 49th floor. ]

The view shifted.

Then.

“Graaaawr!”

[ The Tower Dragon uses Fear. ]

[ You fall into a state of fear. ]

[ Your body is paralyzed. ]

The Tower Dragon—the 49th-floor gatekeeper and the master and final boss of the Tower of Challenge, whom Jang Pyungho could never defeat—appeared.

Seeing the Tower Dragon, Suho couldn’t help but smile.

He had always hoped to see this creature just once.

“Finally.”

He observed the information displayed above the Tower Dragon’s head.

– Tower Dragon Lv.49

A level-49 Tower Dragon.

In the Tower of Challenge, where only those under level 20 could enter, the Tower Dragon was a creature that only Jang Pyungho had ever faced.

As a warrior who once pursued martial prowess, Suho felt his blood boiling.

Of course, he knew how to defeat the Tower Dragon.

Jang Pyungho, while imprisoned, had revealed quite a bit.

After his moment of awe, Suho immediately used Cure to escape the fear state.

[ Cure is activated. ]

[ Fear is dispelled. ]

Fortunately, Cure removed the fear status.

It must have been due to his skill level rising with each level.

Suho’s Cure was currently at Level C.

Every 10 levels, players received a new class skill and saw all their class skills upgraded by one level.

Suho began to circle the perimeter of the floor.

With the change in floor came a change in the battlefield; the 49th floor resembled an open colosseum with a massive stone tower in the center.

The Western-style dragon, the Tower Dragon, clung to the stone tower like a lizard.

As Suho moved unscathed, the enraged Tower Dragon roared once again.

“Graaaawr!”

But this time, the fear effect didn’t work.

The fear effect from the Tower Dragon’s roar could sometimes be resisted after experiencing it once.

“How strong is this thing that Jang Pyungho couldn’t defeat it?”

Suho took slow, deliberate steps, then suddenly sprinted toward the Tower Dragon.

Just then, the Tower Dragon swung its forepaw, striking the stone tower. Suho leaped as he heard a resounding thud.

The ground erupted with sharp pillars where Suho had stepped.

The Tower Dragon’s “Ground Claw” skill, just as Jang Pyungho had described.

“Just as expected.”

The Tower Dragon used Ground Claw several more times, but now that Suho knew how to evade it, he dodged with ease.

He quickly closed the distance and leaped once more.

Tat! Whoosh!

Using the rough surfaces of the stone tower, Suho launched himself into the air.

With his Strength stat above 90, his jumping ability was incredible.

Mid-air, Suho reached the same level as the Tower Dragon’s eyes.

The excited Tower Dragon opened its jaws to attack, but Suho twisted his body, barely dodging the maw by a hair’s breadth.

Crunch!

The Tower Dragon’s teeth clashed as it bit at empty air.

Taking advantage of the moment, Suho stepped onto the dragon’s molar and leaped again.

Then.

[ Your understanding of Jump has significantly increased. ]

[ The system assesses your talent. ]

[ Congratulations! You have acquired Jump (B). ]

Suho had acquired the Jump skill.

It wasn’t surprising.

This phenomenon was only natural for Suho.

If anything, he was surprised.

“I hadn’t learned Jump yet?”

No matter.

Learning it now was enough.

With Jump skill-enabled, his leap height greatly improved.

Kicking off the stone tower again, Suho finally soared high enough to look down on the Tower Dragon.

“They said there’s a reverse scale on top of its head, right?”

There was a reason he had climbed this high without attacking.

He was looking for the reverse scale, a dragon-type monster’s most common weak point.

This information came from Jang Pyungho, but it was also general knowledge Suho had.

Then, amid the dark blue scales, he spotted one that was teal.

“There it is.”

He’d found the reverse scale.

Meaning he now only needed to attack it.

Suspended mid-air for a few seconds, Suho felt gravity pulling him back down and began his descent, aiming himself at the Tower Dragon.

Crack!

The accelerated blade slammed into the Tower Dragon’s scale.

But, as expected of the Tower Dragon.

Its scales were tough.

Testing it out had been worth a try, but it was no use; Suho quickly withdrew.

His beginner’s sword was battered beyond repair, practically unusable.

Then.

[ The Tower Dragon goes berserk from the attack on its reverse scale. ]

[ The Tower Dragon uses Dragon Fear. ]

“Graaaawr!”

Enraged by the damage to its reverse scale, the Tower Dragon roared wildly.

There was no way to avoid it; the effects appeared immediately.

Dragon Fear was on a different level from regular fear.

[ You fall into a state of fear. ]

[ Your body is paralyzed. ]

[ You fall into a state of auditory hallucinations. ]

[ You cannot hear. ]

A deluge of status debuffs.

As his vision blurred and a ringing noise filled his ears, Suho raised his hand and shouted.

“Enter!”

[ Entering Subspace House. ]

Shwaa!

As the system announcement sounded, Suho’s left hand gleamed, and his figure vanished.

Left alone, the Tower Dragon went on a rampage.