The Wizard in the Game Is Rewarded in Reality

Chapter 45

Baek Dong-wook is entirely occupying the spacious conference room.

“This is tea you can get on the 32nd floor.”

He takes a sip of the tea with a reddish hue. The first taste is slightly fishy, but the aftertaste is profound.

As I drink the tea, Baek Dong-wook asks, seemingly surprised.

“Don’t people usually be cautious of things handed to them by someone they meet for the first time? Especially in the Infinite Tower?”

“Did you poison the tea?”

“No, I did not.”

“Well, even if you did, it doesn’t matter. Cure.”

The surrounding mana glows and permeates my body.

Baek Dong-wook watches the magic with a sense of wonder.

“Usually, to use magic, you have to chant a spell, right? Isn’t that called casting?”

Awakened mages must go through casting to use magic. That is the condition for awakened mages to activate magic.

A true mage can use low-circle magic instantly without casting, but those who became mages through awakening must ‘always’ cast.

Why?

Because they ‘acquired’ the skill rather than ‘learned’ the magic.

“I must be an incredibly, very incredibly outstanding mage. You would know if you had used the things I made?”

“Indeed. The artifacts made by the Tower Master of Kraksha are being used very well. Thanks to those artifacts, the strategy for the Infinite Tower has become much easier.”

“Yet, you still haven’t gotten past the 32nd floor?”

Baek Dong-wook’s expression twists.

Clack.

He places a small metal plate on the conference table.

“What is this?”

“Didn’t you request it? This is the artifact requested by Master Baek Dong-wook.”

“Is it true?”

Baek Dong-wook had requested a healing artifact through the Dark Merchant.

He wanted an artifact enchanted with high-level healing magic, not the low-circle ‘Heal’.

“This is an artifact enchanted with a 5-circle Great Heal. It can be used three times a day. The mana stone used is of high grade. Even if used three times a day, it can be used for an entire year.”

Baek Dong-wook picks up the artifact with trembling hands.

“How much does this cost?”

“How much are you willing to give?”

“As much as you want. It’s an artifact that the Chiu Guild desperately needs.”

“It’s good if you give a lot of money. But as you know, I also have a lot of money.”

Baek Dong-wook nods.

He must also know that I make astronomical income through the Mana Addiction Treatment Center.

“Do you want something else?”

“Want? Can you give me what I want?”

“If it’s within my power, I can give you anything.”

“Not really…”

I trail off, looking at Baek Dong-wook.

“I don’t think there’s anything you can give me. Do you think there’s something I can’t get that Master Baek Dong-wook, or any other awakened ones, can?”

I shrug after looking around.

“I came up to this place, the 31st floor, alone. Can Master Baek Dong-wook do that?”

“…It’s impossible.”

Baek Dong-wook shakes his head.

No matter how great an awakened one he is, he can’t come up to the 31st floor alone.

“And the highest floor of the Tower of Infinity, is it really America that conquered it?”

“That, that means…”

I don’t continue the story.

It’s better to let him imagine on his own.

But shouldn’t I give him a hint for free imagination?

“That artifact.”

“This one?”

Baek Dong-wook tightly grips the Great Heal Artifact. He must be afraid that I will take it back.

“I told you, right? That a high-grade mana stone was used to make it. Has there ever been a high-grade mana stone found in the Tower of Infinity until now?”

“….”

“The mana stone mine on the 29th floor, which America occupies. Only the lowest grade, or if lucky, low-grade mana stones can be mined there. So, where do you think I got the high-grade mana stone?”

I watch Baek Dong-wook, who is in a daze, confused.

After a moment, Baek Dong-wook asks.

“Who exactly are you?”

“The question is wrong. It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is what I want and what Master Baek Dong-wook can give me.”

“I see.”

“Shall we start the real conversation now? First, I’ll take exactly one billion won for that artifact.”

“Really?”

Baek Dong-wook asks with surprised eyes.

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? I’m not someone who lacks money. The one billion won from the sale will be donated to the foundation I run through Dark Merchant. Don’t just send the money, but appear on TV, appear on the radio, and make a big fuss about it.”

“What?”

“People need to know, don’t they?”

“Isn’t that usually something you keep hidden?”

Baek Dong-wook chuckles.

“Why? It’s a good deed. I’m helping people in need with the money I earned through hard work. Isn’t it something to be proud of?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“So make a big fuss about it. That way…”

He wets his lips with tea.

“…the flies won’t gather.”

“What? What do you mean by flies all of a sudden?”

“Come on, Master Baek Dong-wook, are you really Korean?”

“Of course I’m Korean…”

“Then why ask such a question? Who in Korea wouldn’t drool over blind money? If they hear that a foundation worth hundreds of billions, no, trillions of won is being established, they’ll swarm like a pack of dogs trying to stick their straws in.”

“Oh!”

Baek Dong-wook lets out a light exclamation.

“So we need to let them know. This foundation belongs to someone, and if they try to stick their straws in, they’ll end up with IV drips in hospital beds. We need to let them know, don’t we?”

“I see.”

“I don’t mind spending money on the foundation. Hundreds of billions? When will I ever spend it all? Even if I spend ten billion a day, it would take a hundred days to spend a trillion. It’s money I can’t even spend all of, but it’s not the same for others. So I share it. But! I absolutely hate it when people covet what’s mine.”

“Is that why you set such conditions for the treatment center?”

“That’s a slightly different issue, but it’s similar. Anyway, donate and make a big fuss about it. Got it?”

“Yes, I will.”

Baek Dong-wook nods vigorously.

“Good. Now, shall we talk about the next issue? What I want and what Master Baek Dong-wook can give me. It’s time to discuss that.”

Tension flickers in Baek Dong-wook’s eyes.

“Don’t make that face. I don’t want anything unreasonable. And no matter what Master Baek Dong-wook has, I have something better. What I want from Master Baek Dong-wook is this! To work for me, to work in my place.”

“Do you mean to become your subordinate?”

“Ah, it can be interpreted that way. But that’s not what I mean, so don’t misunderstand. Master Baek Dong-wook leads a huge guild. In contrast, I’m alone. The Tower of Infinity is a place with truly infinite potential and value. The one who climbs the tower first, the one who discovers it first, becomes the owner. But unfortunately, there are too many limitations on what I can do alone. So I’m asking for help. Of course, we won’t be equals.”

He narrows his eyes, perhaps trying to understand the meaning behind my words.

“Don’t feel too bad about not being equals. You’ll still gain more. To be equals, the cake I have is much bigger. Do you understand?”

“If I follow the will of the Tower of Kraksha, what can you give me, or rather, the Chiwoo Guild?”

I raise my hand, extend my index finger, and point upwards.

“Conquering the Tower of Infinity? Don’t you want to conquer the highest floor, surpassing America?”

“Of course…”

He would have wanted to say.

But he can’t answer because he doesn’t know the conditions to achieve it.

“Don’t imagine strange things. I don’t intend to set unreasonable conditions. As I said, I’m alone, so I can’t manage all the newly discovered valuable places. So Master Baek Dong-wook, the Chiwoo Guild, and the guilds of Korea will manage them. Let’s divide it fairly, 50:50. Don’t say things like you have more guild members. Just getting 50% will bring you tremendous profit.”

“That’s all good. But is it possible?”

“What? To take over new places?”

Baek Dong-wook shakes his head.

“I mean, the part about conquering a higher floor than America.”

“Of course, it’s possible. Even right now. Want to go?”

“……”

“Haha, just kidding. There must be a lot to prepare, right? I’ll give you exactly one week. Finish preparing for the expedition. The goal of the first expedition is the 36th floor, where America is.”

“The 36th floor.”

“And take this.”

I hand a piece of paper to Baek Dong-wook.

It has the names of several guilds written on it.

“What is this?”

“These are the guilds that will work with you and me from now on.”

There are names of several top guilds, commonly called the top ten guilds, and some guilds that are not as good but are staying on the 31st floor and helping with the strategy.

“Wouldn’t it be better if all the top ten guilds participated? Their power is considerable.”

“No. As I said, I don’t want to work with greedy people who are after my stuff. For your information, the guilds were investigated by Dark Merchant. The guilds listed here are relatively clean. There will be people who try to cling to you using personal connections, school ties, or blood ties. Let me tell you in advance, don’t think about holding hands with such people. If you do…”

I stand up.

“I will let go of Master Baek Dong-wook’s hand.”

Ogre.

The king known as the strongest land monster.

A height exceeding 6 meters, equivalent to a three-story building. The power emanating from its muscular body is strong enough to turn awakened ones into a bloody mess with a single blow.

Its thick hide is difficult to cut even with a sword imbued with aura, and it has magic resistance, so it doesn’t take much damage from spells below the 4th circle.

Kuo-oh-oh-!

Such an ogre.

The strongest land monster, the ogre.

Is screaming and running around in all directions.

Around the ogre’s body, spheres spewing lightning are floating.

After lifting its body with the Fly spell, it is chasing the fleeing ogre.

“Coward, so easily scared.”

It’s true that the ogre is powerful.

But the strategy to defeat it is surprisingly easy to find.

If you can deal damage without entering the ogre’s attack range, you can easily succeed in hunting it.

How do you deal damage from a distance to an ogre with a hide that’s hard to cut even with a sword imbued with aura?

The awakened ones may not know, but I can.

Crackle- Boom-!

A sphere imbued with lightning crashes into the ogre’s back and explodes. The ogre’s body staggers. Grabbing a tall tree nearby, the ogre barely avoids falling and runs away without looking back.

Ziiing-

As I imbue meaning into the rune, the wind gathers. The wind, compressed and compressed again, becomes a sharp blade.

The blade of wind cuts the ogre’s heels as it flees.

Thud-!

I descend near the fallen ogre.

“Certainly tough.”

I am experimenting with magic that can deal damage to the ogre.

Now the experiment is over.

“Well done.”

The magic bullet spins powerfully and digs into the ogre’s eye.

The trembling of the ogre, which was desperately trying to survive, stops.

As my master said, the monsters on the 31st floor are no match for me.