Juhyeok was still shopping in the Player Shop.
The adamant mace: purchased.
“Now that I’ve got a weapon…”
What about armor?
Actually, he didn’t need to buy any. The bracelet-type energy shield kit protected him from head to toe. Still, he decided to get one pair of shoes.
A sturdy pair of combat boots.
The male employee made it easier to ask questions.
“These combat boots are made from basilisk petrification leather. The soles are composed of hard, self-repairing sectonium steel plates,” the employee explained.
“Will these fit in my inventory too?” Juhyeok asked.
The employee chuckled. “Of course! They’re all made from materials from the tower.”
Juhyeok was thoroughly impressed. The design looked good too.
“How much?” he inquired.
“Hmm, 3 million won,” the employee replied.
You’ve got to be kidding me. These should cost at least 30 million won. No need to refuse. If they’re selling at this price, why not buy them?
“I’ll take a pair. Size 275, please,” Juhyeok said decisively.
“Here you go…”
With the shoes purchased, Juhyeok wondered, “Should I look around some more?”
There was a place selling potions too. Apparently, they bought rewards obtained by Players and resold them.
Besides that, there were armors, helmets, gloves, greaves, belts, knee and elbow guards… they had everything, but nothing else he needed to buy.
Ah!
The energy shield.
How amazing it was.
An all-in-one armor that unified all protective gear.
“This really is a special benefit,” Juhyeok mused. He had intended to look around more, but…
“Let’s head out.”
If he needed anything else, he could always come back later.
***
Juhyeok rested for about four more days.
Taking it slow, at his own pace.
During that time, he continued to repeatedly conquer the 15th floor.
It made him want to settle there.
But he wanted to confirm something.
When he entered the 16th floor after completing all preparations,
What results could he achieve?
“Once the random summon cooldown is over…”
The Platinum badge.
It was quite the item.
Not the badge itself, but the special benefits given every five floors.
Initially, he had decided not to be greedy when starting the tower climb, but the badge was different.
If he conquered the 20th floor, he’d receive the fourth special benefit. What could it be?
Another characteristic enhancement would be nice, or perhaps a skill or item usable in the real world.
Anyway, just one more day until the random summon.
By tomorrow evening, a new summonee would appear.
Money had been deposited into his account too.
It was the proceeds from selling the magic stones.
After subtracting the 5 million won spent on equipment, the balance was a whopping 13 million won.
“What should I do with this money?”
Spend it right away.
So, 2 million won was given to his father.
“What’s this money for? Did you win the lottery?” his father asked.
“I cashed out a savings account. You must have trouble walking, so buy a crutch or a walking aid like the elderly use,” Juhyeok replied.
“…You know, I’ve had my eye on a nice fishing rod,” his father hinted.
“We don’t know when your rehab will end, and you’re thinking about fishing rods? You’ll catch people instead of fish.”
“If I buy one now, I might recover faster. You know, because I’ll want to go fishing.”
“Do what you want. But if Mom scolds you, I know nothing about it.”
“…I guess I’ll buy a crutch,” his father conceded.
2 million won to his mother as well.
“You didn’t borrow from loan sharks, did you?” she asked suspiciously.
“I told you, I cashed out a savings account,” Juhyeok insisted. He had borrowed from loan sharks before, though.
“If you’re lying, you’ll die by my hand. You know my temper, right? I don’t care if you’re my son!”
“Come on! Have you been deceived that much? Use it until you find a new job. Your living expenses must be tight.”
“Alright. But let’s say it’s a loan. I’ll write you an IOU,” she compromised.
To his brother with the same genes:
“I’ve deposited 2 million. Use it for your tuition,” Juhyeok messaged.
“H-Hyung, this much money… Can I buy a laptop?” his brother asked hesitantly.
“Sure, if you’re buying one, get a good one. You have my permission.”
“Thank you so much, hyung!”
6 million won disappeared in an instant, but Juhyeok felt good about flexing like that.
But was it only for his family?
Juhyeok had a plan for himself too.
He summoned John Kozak and showed him:
“Look at this. Nice, right? I’m going to buy this car when I make money later,” Juhyeok said, showing a picture of his dream car on his laptop.
“I object. Such a light car is dangerous in accidents. It’ll be flattened if it hits a truck.”
“What kind of car do you think is good, Mr. Kozak?”
“Definitely a big car! Choose a large vehicle with a sturdy frame and airbags that deploy mercilessly even in minor collisions.” Kozak advised. He then pointed to a large limousine, the kind a company chairman might ride in.
“But that makes me look too old,” Juhyeok protested.
“Is that a problem? Your safety is paramount, Summoner Bong.”
“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that. Hahaha!”
“Hehehe!”
In truth, if he signed a contract with an elite conquest team, they’d provide both a house and a car. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. It would all be debt.
***
The time had finally come.
This evening was an important event.
So Juhyeok went to the public bathhouse.
After soaking in the hot bath, he scrubbed his entire body with an exfoliating towel. For his back, which he couldn’t reach, he used an automatic scrubbing machine. He didn’t yet have the courage to ask another person in the bathhouse to scrub his back.
Cleansing his body and avoiding filth.
Keeping both body and mind pure.
That’s how to get a good summon.
The random summon cooldown was just a few hours away. With one more reliable figure summoned, he’d conquer the 16th floor, then aim for the 20th, no, even the 30th floor.
After finishing his bath,
Trimming his finger and toenails,
Changing into fresh underwear and casual clothes he’d brought separately in his bag,
Juhyeok returned home.
He was hungry but decided to wait.
He’d eat after the random summon.
Who would appear?
He needed a good summon.
The higher the grade, the better.
The deranged assassin John Kozak’s grade was SR, Super Rare.
He had achieved S++ conquest up to the 15th floor with ultra-fast, perfect conquests.
In fact, he said conquering even the 16th, no, even floors in the 20s wouldn’t be a problem.
It would just be difficult to record S++ grades.
“If just one more Super Rare of any kind could come…”
SSR or Special Super Rare would be good too.
He didn’t even dare hope for LSSR, Legendary Special Super Rare.
Before the random summon, he first did a designated summon for John Kozak,
But, what if he got a weird person?
[John Kozak has been summoned by designation.]
“At your service! Greetings, Summoner Bong! It’s an honor to be called upon again today.”
“Welcome,” Juhyeok responded.
“Are we repeating the 15th floor mission again this time?”
“No. Let’s go up to the 16th floor.”
“…Oh.”
Kozak’s expression hardened, looking troubled.
He had mentioned before.
While the conquest itself would be easy, achieving an S++ grade might be difficult.
Kozak knew that Summoner Juhyeok had already tasted the special benefits of the Platinum badge. So he wanted to help him earn more badges. After pondering for a while, Kozak clenched his fist and declared:
“I shall do my utmost. Even if this body perishes in the tower, I will definitely achieve an S++ record…”
“Don’t worry. You won’t be alone,” Juhyeok reassured him.
“Pardon?”
“The random summon cooldown has reset. Let’s summon one more.”
“Ohoho! How ingenious! Indeed, two are better than one,” Kozak exclaimed, giving a thumbs up. “You had it all planned out, Summoner Bong. Did you perhaps graduate from Seoul National University?”
“I’m just a high school graduate.”
“Of course you are. Hehehe, as if a mere Seoul National could have you, Summoner Bong,” Kozak quickly recovered.
“…”
A quick change of attitude.
Appropriate and pleasing flattery.
It was certain.
Kozak must have been a sycophant in his past life.
But what’s wrong with being a sycophant? Why are sycophants loved? That’s because they only say pleasant things, improving your mood, relieving stress, and benefiting mental health.
“Then I’ll give it a try,” Juhyeok announced.
“Yes, sir!”
Composing himself,
Amen, hallelujah, Amitabha, om mani padme hum, heaven and earth spirits, Amitabha Buddha, abracadabra…
And then.
“Random summon!”
Whoosh!
Kozak provided a drumroll beside him.
“Drum roll please… what’s the result?”
Suddenly!
The white light gathered and transformed into a human shape.
The human form of light grew rapidly.
It kept growing.
Kept growing and growing…
“Isn’t it getting too big?” Juhyeok thought nervously.
Its head had already reached the ceiling.
And then,
Pop pop pop!
The figure finally revealed its complete form.
“Huh?”
“Eek?”
It was indeed human.
But with a height of about 3 meters.
A build larger and thicker than a bear.
Thick muscles.
Hair all over the body.
“…Is this human or monster?” Juhyeok wondered. Juhyeok first checked its grade.
And?
“…R? So it’s Rare,” he thought.
Slightly disappointing.
Rare was the lowest grade.
If it had just one more S…
Should he wait another month and do another random summon?
“No, Rare is fine. Besides, its size is quite impressive,” Juhyeok reasoned.
Just then.
Whoosh!
“Hey, you dumb bastard!” Kozak suddenly yelled. Leaping into the air, Kozak launched a flying kick at the newly summoned giant human.
Wham!
Then, raining down punches,
Thwack thwack thwack thwack!
“Why did you have to come here of all places? Are you trying to ruin someone’s life?” Kozak shouted.
Kozak’s sudden outburst.
Surely he wasn’t acting like this just because it was Rare?
“Die! Perish! How dare you! Look at those eyes! Crush them, you bastard!”
Juhyeok was utterly confused. He couldn’t understand why Kozak was acting this way. Raging as if he’d encountered a mortal enemy.
“Just get out of here! Get lost! You’re completely useless, you bastard!” Kozak continued his tirade. As Kozak raged and punched, the giant just stood there awkwardly, scratching his head.
“It doesn’t hurt. It’s ticklish,” the giant mumbled.
“Oh yeah? Let’s see if you say that after I cut off your head. I’ll tie a pretty ribbon for you.”
So Juhyeok checked the catalog:
+++
<Catalog: Stupid Barbarian Meat Shield of the Great Plains Tribe>
- Name: Unknown
- Grade: R (Rare)
- Type: Barbarian Warrior (Human)
- Manifestation Duration: 10 hours
- Satisfaction Rating: None.
- Resummoning Cooldown: 3 hours (applied after summon release)
+++
Barbarian meat shield.
He didn’t even have a name.
“Meat shield? What kind of story is behind that?” Juhyeok wondered.
But it said he was stupid?
Doesn’t that mean he’s not very smart?
He certainly looked that way.
A huge body covered in scars, but eyes that looked incredibly innocent.
He didn’t even resist as Kozak hit him.
A very cowed attitude.
Kozak, tired from hitting, was panting heavily.
“Mr. Kozak?” Juhyeok called out.
“…Huff huff, yes, what is it?”
“Please step aside for a moment. I’d like to talk to this person.”
“There’s no need. He’s a famous one. Known for being stupid in this field. He can’t do anything alone. He probably doesn’t even know the Three Principles,” Kozak scoffed.
At that moment,
“T-that, I know Three Principles. Memorized hard,” the giant stammered.
“Then recite them.”
“Uh, First is summoner’s obedience… uh, absolute life. Second is summoner’s, um… v-value to prioritize conflict. Third is…”
What nonsense is this?
“You see? That’s the kind of guy he is. You drew a dud! We should just kill him and make him unsummonable for 100 days.”
So he can’t be summoned for 100 days if he dies?
That’s news to me.
“…I’ll handle this myself,” Juhyeok said firmly.
“Yes, sir.”
Juhyeok turned to the barbarian warrior who was standing there tilting his head in confusion and then asked, “What’s your name?”
“Don’t know. Forgot,” the giant replied.
“Do you know why you’re here?”
“D-don’t know.”
“What about the tower?”
“…Don’t know. Can’t remember.”
This was frustrating.
Looking at the detailed description:
-The barbarian meat shield of the Great Plains tribe, with top-tier physical abilities, possessing strength to break a giant ogre’s waist with a bear hug technique. But he was extremely stupid. He even forgot his own name.
-Eventually, he fell for a fake hero’s deception and was chosen as a meat shield in a battle against the super-beast Hydra. While fighting the nine-headed super-beast Hydra, he was hit by acidic breath but didn’t die. Instead, he tore off its jaw. Even while being hit by the breath, he kept ripping off heads, again and again, but eventually died as his body melted from the accumulated acid breath damage.
Ah…
How could his fate be so tragic?
“So that’s why he was called a meat shield,” Juhyeok realized.
Scenes flashed through his mind like a movie. The barbarian warrior breaking the waist of a humanoid monster with an innocent expression. Happily accepting a moldy piece of bread from people as a reward for defeating the monster. Falling for the sweet talk of a shifty-looking rogue and meeting his fate as a meat shield…
Tears welled up in Juhyeok’s eyes.
How kind must he have been to live his life being taken advantage of by people?
Who cares if he’s just Rare?
So what if he’s stupid?
Juhyeok took the barbarian warrior’s hand, as large as a pot lid, and said:
“Welcome. Let’s climb the tower together.”
“I’ll do whatever I’m told,” the giant replied simply.
What should he call him?
Let’s pick something from the catalog.
“Let’s give you a name first. Do you like Yaman or Gobang better?”
“…Not sure.”
“Just pick one. Yaman? Or Gobang?”
“Gobang,” he decided after a moment.
“Alright, Mr. Gobang, I’ll make sure you’re happy. Do you trust me?”
“Me Gobang, trust summoner. Do what’s told.”.
Then, turning to Kozak, Juhyeok declared, “Mr. Kozak, Mr. Gobang and I, we three are comrades from now on. Let’s do well together.”
Kozak, who had been rolling his eyes incessantly, suddenly changed his tune, “Oh my, if you say so. Now that I look at him, he seems like a reliable meat shield. I’ll do my best to teach him and make him into a proper person,” Kozak said with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“Great, then let’s enter the 16th floor right away.”
“Yes, sir! …Hey, Gobang! Why are you just standing there? Aren’t you going to answer?”
“Yes, sir,” Gobang replied meekly.
“Don’t copy me! You bastard!”
A timid wimp player, a deranged assassin, and a dimwitted barbarian named Gobang.
What a chaotic party.
While Juhyeok felt slightly uneasy, he thought to himself:
“…Still, we should manage somehow, right?”