I was confident.
I wanted to shed my pathetic real-life self and live a different life—at least inside the Tower.
I believed I had the ability to do so.
That confidence lasted right up until I entered the 29th floor.
"Gueeek! Guek."
Against the backdrop of a ruined city,
plague trolls wandered around, loitering among collapsed buildings.
'Do I really have to fight those…?'
For a moment, I even considered giving up the climb altogether.
Plague trolls?
That's a sanitized term.
To be precise, they should be called pus trolls—literal lumps of festering pus.
Every step they took, yellowish fluid oozed and dripped from their bodies.
'The 28th floor was heaven.'
Juhyeok was wearing a mask.
Not a regular fine-dust mask, but a proper gas mask—the kind used at construction sites, clean rooms, or research labs.
Even so, the stench still pierced straight through.
"Impressive. Is that a gas mask?"
"…It's just a mask."
The most important thing to avoid when fighting plague trolls is exposure to the bacteria and viruses that cause disease in players.
Once exposed, symptoms like high fever, muscle aches, coughing, runny nose, dizziness, and various other issues appear.
You can drink a healing potion—but if symptoms strike mid-battle?
Since items made outside the Tower are treated as inventory items, he had used it before entering the Tower.
When he asked Gobang if he was going to wear a mask—
"I won't. A warrior does not catch diseases."
"You idiot! It's because your head's too big to fit one anyway."
"A warrior must have a big head. Assassin, you wear it."
Kosak was the same.
"If I wear something like this, I won't be able to breathe properly or move well. And besides, I—"
"You're SS-rank, SS-rank, right?"
"Hehehe."
Gobang went on about warriors, Kosak about being SS-rank.
If they got sick, he could just give them a healing potion each.
No—better yet, could someone who had already died once even catch a disease?
"I feel like I'm going to throw up."
"It's super gross. See those blisters over there? If those pop, the yellow pus just—"
"I don't think I need to hear that."
"Wanna kill them? Three should be manageable."
"…"
Even with a gas mask on, I didn't want to.
If I got splashed with pus—
So I shut my mouth tight.
'I'll just farm repeat missions on the 28th floor jungle trolls.'
The raid began.
Gobang charged forward.
Kosak followed behind.
Thud! Splat! Thud-thud!
As the plague trolls collapsed, sticky yellow pus burst out.
'Ugh, fuck!'
Skipping was the correct answer.
How was I supposed to deal with that?
[You have successfully completed the 29th floor mission.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Reward: 2.9 kg of magic stones.]
Kosak and Gobang stood there, drenched in yellow pus, grinning ear to ear.
"…"
Grotesque. Chilling.
They looked more like plague trolls than the actual trolls.
Wait a second!
Once the mission ends and the clear-grade message finishes, we'll be transported straight home.
Which means all that pus will—
"Summoner Bong! Are we feasting again today?"
Nope. Absolutely not.
My gag reflex surged straight to my throat.
"Hey… I'm really sorry."
"…What are you saying?"
"You can curse me if you want."
"Aw! How could I ever curse Summoner Bong? You're always bright and clever, tirelessly working day and night for the rights and welfare of your summons—"
"Both of you, unsummon."
"…Pardon?"
Pop! Pop!
Kosak and Gobang vanished at the same time.
Ahh!
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
I'm a traitor.
A ruthless employer.
Curse me all you want.
Spit at me.
But it's a new house.
That plague pus would get all over it.
And Mr. Gobang is huge—he'd get a lot of it everywhere.
How was I supposed to go home like that?
I had no choice.
I'd just have to resummon them later.
In three hours? Tomorrow?
'…Tomorrow, I'll prepare a huge feast.'
For now, I needed to go outside, do laundry, and take a shower first.
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear on the 29th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge has been awarded.]
Platinum badges were basically guaranteed now.
It'd feel disappointing not to get one.
Just how many could I collect?
※ ※ ※
Awakening Management Agency, Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Commissioner Park Gyeong-su hummed to himself as he sprayed water onto the leaves of his cherished orchids with a mister.
After that, he carefully wiped down the leaves.
Things seemed to be going well lately.
More than anything else, the successful elite contract with Player Bong Juhyeok.
That was the biggest factor.
He was in such a good mood.
And indeed, Bong Juhyeok had not disappointed.
Even after signing the contract, he hadn't slowed down.
An S++-grade clear record on the 28th floor.
At this pace, even with a generous estimate, he could reach the 40th floor in three months—maybe even the 50s if things went well.
'Still, it's better not to expect too much past the 30th floor.'
Hoping for S++ clears would be unrealistic.
From the 31st to the 35th floors were the Minotaur zone, and from the 36th to the 40th were the Ogre zone.
Massive monsters that couldn't even be compared to trolls were waiting there.
And what about the 40s, where even larger monstrosities appeared?
As long as he kept showing the will to climb, that would be enough.
Just clear them safely.
That was all he hoped for.
Just then—
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock on the commissioner's office door.
"Come in."
The one who entered was Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il.
"So? How did it go?"
"He just cleared the 29th floor with an S++ grade. Players affiliated with the Agency confirmed it as well."
"Heh heh."
There was no hesitation at all.
If a call came in saying he was about to clear the 29th floor, a nationwide announcement followed in less than twenty minutes.
Just how was he clearing them?
He'd heard it was a summoning-type trait, but did he summon a dragon or something?
Without footage, there was no way to know.
Normally, elite teams were required to wear body cams when entering the Tower to record clear footage—but Summoner Bong Juhyeok had been specially exempted.
Because he had personally requested it.
And the Awakening Management Agency was more than willing to allow that much.
"Have you spoken with Player Bong?"
"Yes, I did before coming to report."
"Any unusual matters?"
"Well… he said he probably won't be able to attempt the 30th floor for about ten days."
"Why? Lacking preparation?"
"He said he needs that much time for skill proficiency training."
"I see. Ten days is nothing."
Some people rest for over a month.
It's a big mistake to think all players are as diligent as Bong Juhyeok.
Players who've already tasted money are busy enjoying themselves.
The elite teams are no different.
"Now that I think about it, how's Player Yoo Cheol-min doing these days? Any attempt at the 66th floor?"
"I was just about to report that."
"What is it?"
"He's basically going to clubs every single day. Drinking until he's completely wasted, only going home at dawn—or spending the night with women…"
"Tsk tsk tsk. The security detail must be having a hard time."
Still, Park Gyeong-su understood.
Yoo Cheol-min was the only player capable of challenging the 66th floor—the uncleared upper level of Korea's Black Tower.
All expectations were piled onto him alone.
With his identity already public, the pressure was something no one else could even imagine.
"Probably because the 66th-floor clear isn't going as planned."
"The support team analyzed the footage, and apparently there's been very little improvement."
"Is it that difficult?"
"All he needs to do is defeat ten Specters, but even when the mission timer runs out, the best he can manage is three. Sometimes things go wrong from the start and he abandons the mission altogether."
As undead, their very nature was different from other monsters.
Starting with the mummies on the 61st floor, they constantly emitted something called a dark aura, and just enduring it was difficult in itself.
They weren't the kind of undead you see in games or movies that ordinary people can beat up with their fists.
They were horrifying monsters that gnawed away at the human soul with dark aura.
Park Gyeong-su felt a twinge of unease.
Still, he had to trust Player Yoo Cheol-min.
'He'll clear it eventually.'
The collapse countdown for Korea's Black Tower had about ninety-two days left, as far as he knew.
Half of the original 180-day limit had already passed.
Whether one thought "only half left" or "still half left" made a difference.
But in Park Gyeong-su's view, it was enough.
'Player Bong Juhyeok is still a long way from reaching the 60th floor.'
And the Awakening Management Agency had at least a Plan B.
"What about Player Nam Ga-eun? She's currently challenging the 62nd floor, right?"
"Yes, she's climbing steadily."
Thinking about Player Nam Ga-eun always left him feeling regretful.
In pure talent, she surpassed Yoo Cheol-min.
So far, she'd cleared many floors at A rank.
There had even been A+ and A++ clears.
[You have achieved an A++ clear on the △△th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
Like that.
There were no nationwide announcements, though.
But Player Nam Ga-eun had only undergone one trait enhancement—level two.
Compared to Yoo Cheol-min, who had achieved four trait enhancements, there was a gap of at least three stages.
"Can't we get more trait enhancement runes?"
"Well… enhancement runes have basically dried up on the item market. The drop rate is extremely low."
"I'll see what I can do to track some down."
Even if he did, they would ultimately all be funneled to Player Yoo Cheol-min.
"Oh, right! How's the acquisition of light-attribute items going?"
"From what I've heard, outright purchase isn't possible, but they're at least sounding people out about rentals."
"I see. I'll get a direct report from the item department on that."
"Yes."
Securing light-attribute items for the undead floors was also proving difficult.
Unlike strategy information, item sharing was complicated due to national circumstances.
Especially Tower reward items.
If they just had enough light-attribute items, it would greatly help with the 66th floor.
Light-attribute items had played a major role in Yoo Cheol-min's clear of the 65th floor as well.
They'd already spent a fortune acquiring them, but apparently it was still not enough.
What could they do?
They'd have to find more.
※ ※ ※
The next day.
Juhyeok finished preparing a feast.
The menu was bossam.
Instead of delivery food, he'd bought a large steamer and pork himself and boiled it.
The reason he'd gone to the trouble of cooking personally—
He felt really bad.
"…They're not upset, right?"
"Eh, what do you take me for? Even if you smashed my head with a mace, I'd still go heh heh and smile. Same with Algobang. Want to try hitting him once?"
"Kosak, you mean?"
"No. I mean Gobang."
"…"
The living room table was filled with a generous spread of bossam.
Food, after all, is about sincerity.
He hadn't even been living independently for a full year yet, but bossam was still within his abilities.
"Here! Fresh, steaming-hot bossam."
"Oh! Thank you for the meal."
But Gobang's expression was strange.
Suddenly his eyes welled up, tears shimmering.
"Why are you crying? You can eat pork, right? You ate sweet-and-sour pork just fine."
"Thank you, Summoner."
…Huh?
"No one has ever treated me this well. No one except you, Summoner."
"Uh…"
Why does this feel so heartbreakingly sad?
"I, Algobang, will devote my loyalty. Even if I die, I will make sure the Summoner lives."
"Um… y-yeah. Let's just eat for now."
Juhyeok could guess why Gobang was so emotional.
People had only ever tried to take advantage of the barbarian warrior's lack of intelligence.
How wronged he must have felt.
Well, Juhyeok wasn't all that different either.
The only difference was that after using him, he at least treated him to a generous feast.
That aside—what was Kosak doing?
Wasn't he moved by this heartwarming exchange?
"…."
Not at all.
Kosak was wearing a serious expression as he poked and prodded only the geotjeori kimchi Juhyeok's mom had made.
Sigh. This spice wimp.
"If you're not going to eat it, don't poke at it…"
"S-sorry. It looks so good, and I want to eat it, but I just can't work up the courage."
He was probably remembering the time he passed out after eating tteokbokki.
This was the guy who thought ssamjang was spicy.
"Just eat it with pickled radish and salted shrimp," Juhyeok said.
"…Yes."
He laid a slice of pickled radish on his plate, added a piece of bossam, topped it with salted shrimp, and popped it into his mouth.
"Mmm. I-it's delicious. The harmony between bossam and salted shrimp is incredible."
What a tasteless fool.
He'd never understand the harmony of bossam and geotjeori kimchi for the rest of his life.
"We've cleared the 29th floor now—should we go straight to the 30th?"
"Hmm, we're a bit short, but I'll try."
A bit short?
Why?
"Twin-Headed Trolls have ridiculous regeneration. Their heads are tough too—they don't cut easily even with sword aura. Even if you cut one off, there's still another."
That wouldn't do at all.
He needed an S++ clear on the 30th floor too.
"Then let's put it on hold for now. We'll just keep repeating the 28th floor until the random summon cooldown is back."
"Got it. As long as Gobang shakes the trees well, it's easy."
If the 30th floor was iffy…
"Then how about the 31st floor?"
"The 31st floor too… it doesn't match well with Algobang, so S++ will be difficult."
"Match?"
"Monsters much bigger than Algobang appear. Minotaurs and ogres. Even Gobang would struggle."
"No. Algobang wins."
"Shut it! If I say so, then that's how it is!"
By "big monsters," he meant—
"In a one-on-one, Algobang would win. But if several gang up on him at once, even he'd be in trouble. Aggro will split. And if aggro splits, Summoner Bong might be in danger."
"Ah."
"So we'd have to pull them one or two at a time. That'll take quite a while."
This was what Kosak meant when he said it would be difficult.
Clearing wasn't the issue.
It was getting an S++ grade that was questionable.
How a Loser Conquers the Tower.
If it's ambiguous, you don't climb.
You prepare so thoroughly it feels excessive.
"Then we'll need to summon one more person for the raid."
"That's right. Very sharp and wise of you."
If the rank were high, even better.
"Hm… could we get an LSSR? A Legend Special Super Rare?"
"It's possible. Even if not this time, if you keep pulling, it'll happen eventually."
In the end, it all depended on gacha luck.
Please—let someone decent be summoned.
Someone not insane, not horribly stupid.
Just an average contracted summon.
And so the repeated 28th-floor missions began.
It had been almost ten days since the last nationwide announcement.
※ ※ ※
Japanese Embassy in Korea.
Tomoda, minister-counselor, abruptly stood up from his desk.
A call had come in on his burner phone.
The only person who would ever call this number was the scout broker.
He quietly headed to the restroom.
"Hello?"
—It's me.
"What's the result?"
—The rabbit has decided to leave its old burrow and move to a new one.
"…That's excellent. Truly excellent."
—But you'll need to come and bring him yourselves. Wolves are watching the rabbit closely.
"Tell him not to worry. We'll escort him safely."
Tomoda clenched his fist.
He'd finally done it.
The sudden naturalization of Player Yoo Cheol-min.
Now Japan was safe.
As for Korea—who knew what would happen.