The next afternoon.
Juhyeok returned to the Awakening Management Agency's Player Shop.
He had agonized over it all night.
Should he do this properly, or not?
Since he'd already jumped in, it wouldn't hurt to at least check the extent of his talent.
Honestly, he thought he knew why he was like this.
Monsters were scary.
Not just because of how they looked—if things went wrong, he could lose his life.
But after encountering them again and again, that fear had faded a lot.
And with every level-up, his combat ability increased. There were bonus rewards, dependable companions too.
Juhyeok's timidity stemmed from difficulties with interpersonal relationships.
The fear people inspire and the fear monsters inspire are fundamentally different.
There's no need to read a monster's emotions.
What good is knowing how a monster thinks of you?
You don't have to watch a monster's mood and adjust your behavior.
Are you going to be friends with a monster?
You don't have to worry about what it likes or dislikes because you want to get closer.
It's not a relationship where you agonize over how to phrase a message, rewriting it again and again, considering special characters and emoticons.
You don't have to wonder why the "1" won't disappear, or why it disappeared but you still got left on read.
Monsters are simple.
They're scary, sure—but when you meet them, they're just something whose head you have to smash.
Is climbing the Tower social life?
Of course not!
That's why, at least inside the Tower, he could shake off his timidity.
He could do it.
A real man of the Black Tower.
If he was going to do this properly, an energy barrier alone wasn't enough.
As the floors went higher, monsters' attack power would increase another notch. If he got cocky and relied only on the barrier, he could end up paying dearly.
'Where was the place that sold shields again… ah! There it is.'
Used together with an energy barrier, it would be perfect—there'd be synergy too.
'By the way, there are a lot of people today?'
When he'd first come here, there hadn't been a single customer.
Players shopping for items all over the place.
'Let's buy it quickly and go home.'
On the way to the armor shop,
Juhyeok recalled Kosak's advice from yesterday.
You'll gradually start to enjoy combat.
Your confidence will grow.
And with it, the danger will increase proportionally.
Every word was right.
But it was truly contradictory.
He was scared, yet he wanted to fight again.
You never know in this world.
Who would have thought he'd change like this?
His father would be shocked, his younger sibling would gape in disbelief.
'I've really grown a lot.'
That timid loser.
Living thinly and cautiously had been his life philosophy.
But it was too late to turn back now.
Juhyeok's mind was completely filled with the brief battle against the Goblin Assassin.
'I want to try it again.'
He understood Kosak's concern.
Kosak had said he'd had a former summoner.
But that summoner had died.
Kosak had probably witnessed the summoner's death with his own eyes.
The guilt of not being able to protect his previous summoner.
The firm resolve to protect this summoner no matter what.
That might be why he overreacted whenever something seemed dangerous.
'I want to go along with it if I can, but…'
He was sick and tired of living timidly.
This was a chance to change.
'Why can't I be confident?'
From now on, things would be different.
Spreading his wings wide, from loser to real man.
That's right!
Yesterday's Juhyeok is gone.
There is only today's Juhyeok.
Juhyeok strode up to the armor shop with a brave, confident gait.
"Welcome. Player, please tell me what you're looking for."
"…Y-yes?"
A shop clerk.
And of all people, a female clerk.
"Uh, well, um, that is—"
"Hehehe, if you don't know the equipment's name, you can just point with your finger."
"A, a shield…"
"Oh? You're looking for a shield? Shall I pick one out for you?"
"…Y-yes."
Ugh, he couldn't meet her eyes.
A real man, my ass.
"How about this one? It's a large square shield made from an orichalcum–sectonium alloy. Big, isn't it? It also has an automatic self-repair function, so you don't even need maintenance."
"…T-the price?"
"Just one hundred million. As you know, we're only charging for the materials."
"Uh, th-this is too heavy for me, and t-too expensive… I mean, if this is the only option, I guess I have no choice."
This is driving me crazy.
Why can't I get my words out?
"Aha! This should be just right. It's a round hand shield made from an adamant–sectonium alloy. It's small and light, and it also has a self-repair function."
Oh!
This was perfect.
A circular shield, a little over 30 cm in diameter.
A small hand shield you use by slipping one arm through the grip.
He loved it at first sight.
It went so well with the mace that you could call it a matching set.
"…The price?"
"Forty million won."
"I-installments…"
"That's fine. We can also deduct it from the proceeds of your mana stone sales."
"…I'll take it."
"Yes!"
The installment payment was done through a palm-recognition device.
Beep!
He finally bought it.
At last, everything matched.
A mace in his right hand.
A hand shield on his left.
'It'll take time to pay off the installments, but…'
Well, he'd pay it off soon enough.
Still, talking to the clerk was way harder than fighting a goblin.
He quickly moved toward the exit.
Time to go home.
Going home was resting.
But at that moment!
"Hello."
A man spoke up to Juhyeok.
Who was he?
"You're a Player, right? Haha, I'm a Player too."
Of course he was.
Anyone who could come here would either be a Player or an Agency employee.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Choi Hoseok."
The man suddenly offered a handshake.
Turning it down would be rude, so Juhyeok took his hand.
"…Bong Juhyeok."
"Hahaha, so it's Juhyeok. I come to this shop every day, but since it's my first time seeing you today, I wanted to at least get acquainted."
"Ah, y-yes. This is my second time here."
"I see. If you don't mind me asking, what floor are you on? I'm currently climbing in the 30s."
High level.
"…Umm, I'm in the teens."
"Ah, then you must not have been a Player for very long. If you run into any difficulties while clearing floors, feel free to ask me. I'll answer anything."
He was quite friendly.
With his gentle-looking face, he seemed kind enough.
Probably an E-type by nature.
That's why he was so easygoing even with someone he'd just met.
"Ah, not yet."
"Really? Then ask anytime. I'm here often. Hahaha."
"Y-yes."
"Then, see you again!"
Choi Hoseok waved as he walked away.
The bold interpersonal infiltration skills of a social butterfly.
Seeing it firsthand right in front of him was nothing short of astonishing.
'At that level, he probably has a girlfriend too, right?'
Jealous.
※ ※ ※
Since he was already out, he decided to take care of dinner too.
He was planning to take a break from climbing today anyway.
The places he usually went for solo meals were fixed.
Fast-food joints or soup restaurants.
He stopped by the gukbap place near his home.
A steaming bowl of pork gukbap, piled generously with chives, salted shrimp, spicy paste, and perilla powder—he polished it off without trouble.
By the time it got dark, Juhyeok returned home.
After a quick wash,
"Status window."
[Name]: Bong Juhyeok
[Affiliation]: Black Tower (Republic of Korea)
[Level]: 19 LV
[Trait]: Summoning "Simultaneous summons: 2"
[Catalog]: John Kosak / Savage Meat Shield
[Trait Skills]: Designated Summon / Random Summon / Dismiss Summon
[General Skills]: Tower Entry (once per day) / Tower-Exclusive Inventory
[Combat Skills]: Shadow Step
He felt satisfied.
When had he climbed this much?
Level 19—he could now challenge the 19th floor.
Alright, shall we begin the persuasion process?
Juhyeok took out the mace and round hand shield from the Tower-exclusive inventory and held one in each hand.
Then, from the catalog list, he gave John Kosak and Gobang five-star ratings each.
"Designated summon, John Kosak."
[John Kosak has been designatedly summoned.]
"Chu! Thank you for the five-star rat—uhhh?"
Juhyeok stood proudly, holding the mace and shield.
His eyes burned with determination.
John Kosak understood even before Juhyeok could say anything.
He collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
"Huuhhk… in the end…"
The appearance of Summoner Bong was an expression of conviction.
A declaration of his will to do this properly in the Tower.
"D-do you really have to do this?"
"I'll be as careful as possible."
"My previous summoner said that too."
"Don't worry. I'm a loser—if it gets tough, I'll give up immediately."
Kosak wiped away his streaming tears with the back of his hand.
"Please promise me. No charging ahead at the front."
So heartfelt. Truly heartbreaking.
Juhyeok put the mace and shield back into his inventory and firmly grasped Kosak's hand with both of his.
"…I promise."
"And if it gets dangerous, escape by sacrificing me and Gobang."
"Umm… okay."
"It'd be better to sacrifice that Gobang bastard instead of me, if possible."
That depends on the situation.
"Are we going right now?"
"No, let's start tomorrow."
"Then I'll watch TV or—huh?"
At that moment!
John Kosak suddenly tilted his head.
Then, with a cold expression,
"Summoner Bong."
"What is it?"
"Do you perhaps have someone you're in a grudge relationship with?"
"A grudge? Of course not. I've never done anything to earn someone's hatred."
"There's someone outside. Killing intent is overflowing."
Killing intent?
Who?
At that instant!
Grrrk, grrk—
The sound of the front door handle turning.
It sounded like it was being forced open.
"…Hide for now."
"Yes!"
Swoosh—
Kosak disappeared.
And then—
Bzzzing!
A transparent energy barrier wrapped around Juhyeok's body.
Finally,
Clack!
The door opened.
"Hey there? Hehehehehe."
"…What is this? Why are you here—no, how do you even know where I live?"
"I had a bit of trouble tailing you."
Juhyeok clenched his fist tightly.
※ ※ ※
Choi Hoseok, a level 33 Player, was interested in something other than climbing the Tower.
His other job was that of a self-proclaimed item broker.
He acquired usable items and sold them to those who wanted them.
How did he get the items?
By clearing the Tower?
Not a chance.
You take them from people who already have them.
First, he scouted prey at the Player Shop.
He didn't pick just anyone.
Only those who looked easy at a glance.
The kind of losers who probably spent their school days being bullies' errand boys.
And today, he'd found a perfect target.
Someone who'd freak out just from having a knife pointed at him.
What's more, it was a jackpot.
The bracelet fastened around the guy's wrist.
That was an item.
Even at a glance, it didn't look ordinary.
He had deliberately approached him in a friendly manner, even going so far as to shake hands.
While shaking hands, he carefully checked the wrist—and as expected, it was an item.
If that bracelet didn't have the modifier "Tower-exclusive" attached to it?
He could name any price he wanted.
Even if it did, it didn't really matter.
The guy himself had said he was clearing floors in the teens, so at best he was only around level 10-something.
Honestly, even if he were level 50 or 60, so what?
Outside the Tower, he was just an ordinary civilian.
So the moment Bong Juhyeok left, he got on his motorcycle and discreetly tailed him.
He followed the taxi Juhyeok took, watched him eat at a restaurant, and eventually found out where he lived.
As long as he wasn't part of an elite team, it was fine.
If something happened to one of them, the state would come after you.
And then you'd be fucked.
But he wasn't.
An elite team member wouldn't be living in a dump like this anyway.
Waiting for a moment when no one was around,
Click—
He picked the lock with a master key,
Then entered with a handgun pulled from his coat.
In a world like this, getting a gun wasn't difficult at all.
With a suppressor attached, even if he fired, no one would notice.
"Hehehehehe."
A grin spread across his face.
The guy was still wearing the bracelet.
There'd definitely be equipment in his inventory too.
First, he'd make him cough it all up through torture and threats.
Killing him would come after.
Dump the corpse inside the Tower and that was the end of it.
Ridiculously enough, a Player's corpse went into the Tower-exclusive inventory.
Because Players belonged to the Tower.
"Don't make a sound! If you so much as squeak, I'll put a bullet through your head."
At Choi Hoseok's threat, Juhyeok's eyes widened.
"Take off the bracelet and open your inventory. You see this gun? It's got a suppressor, so it won't be loud. If you don't like guns, I've got a knife too. I'll slice you up like sashimi."
No!
Why would you say something like that…?
That's practically suicide.
"Decide. You gonna try enduring torture? Or are you gonna put the items down and live?"
Please!
Juhyeok's hands and feet trembled violently.
His heart pounded wildly.
An extremely dangerous situation.
Him?
No way!
Not when he had an energy barrier.
The one in danger was that man, Choi Hoseok.
So—
"Hoseok-ssi."
"Shh! Stop the bullshit and open your inventory! Take off the bracelet too."
"…It's not too late even now. Put the gun away and go back. You won't die. I promise you."
"What kind of bullshit is that? You want me to put a bullet in your knee instead?"
Ah—
It was basically over.
Choi Hoseok was already dead.
His head would be cut off, tied with a butterfly knot like a ribbon.
But what about the body?
What would he say to the police?
Just then—
Sss—
Something pale flashed across his vision.
"…Huh?"
Suddenly, the gun vanished from Choi Hoseok's hand.
"W-what?"
Choi Hoseok looked bewildered.
Where did the gun go?
He'd been holding it—
In that instant!
Crack!
A violent pain exploded at the back of his head.
"Ghk!"
What was that?
"…F-fuck, was there another one?"
He was sure there'd only been that guy in the room.
His consciousness blurred.
Choi Hoseok collapsed forward.
Thud!
Juhyeok stared in shock.
What kind of twist was this?
'He didn't kill him?'
Swoosh—Kosak appeared.
Ah!
What a reliable assassin!
He had followed Juhyeok's request not to kill anyone so perfectly.
"You did great! That was amazing, Mr. Kosak. Subduing him without killing him!"
"…Y-yes?"
"Hahaha! Stunning him—truly praiseworthy. Five stars is far too stingy. I want to give you fifty—no, five hundred points."
"Hehehe, i-is that so?"
Kosak discreetly slipped the neck-cutting dagger and butterfly-knot ribbon he was holding back into his coat.
Originally, he'd planned to knock him out first so blood wouldn't splatter in Summoner Bong's room, then lay down plastic sheets or newspapers on the floor and get to work.
"T-this one, I'll take him outside and dispose of him—"
"Just leave him. We'll call the police."
"T-there's no need for that. If I carry him out and leave him far away—"
"It's fine. Reporting it is the easiest."
Kosak glanced regretfully at the unconscious Choi Hoseok.
That bastard had dared to try to murder Summoner Bong.
He should be killed.
His head should be cut off and decorated nicely with a ribbon.
Such a waste.
So what if a little blood splattered?
He should've just cut him instead of knocking him out.