He had been confident. Wanted to live a different life in the tower, at least, escaping his pathetic reality. Thought he had the ability to do so too. Until entering floor 29, that is.
“Kueeeck! Kueck.”
Against a backdrop of ruined city. Plague Trolls wandering sluggishly through collapsed buildings.
Should I kill those things or not?
He considered abandoning the climb entirely.
Plague Trolls? “Plague” was the sanitized term. They should properly be called Pus Trolls, literally walking pus balls. Dripping yellow discharge wherever they went.
Floor 28 was heaven compared to this.
Juhyeok wore a mask. Not your typical fine dust mask, but a gas mask used at construction sites, clean rooms, and laboratories. Even so, the unbearable stench penetrated completely.
“How cool! Is that a gas mask?”
“…Just a regular mask.”
The most dangerous aspect of Plague Troll encounters was their bacteria and viruses that infected Players. Exposure led to fever, muscle pain, coughing, runny nose, dizziness, various symptoms. Healing potions worked, but what if you got infected during combat?
Since outside items needed inventory registration, he’d worn it before entering the tower.
Asked if Gobang would wear one…
“Won’t wear it. Warriors don’t get sick.”
“You bastard! Your head’s too big to wear one anyway!”
“Warriors need big heads. You assassin should wear one.”
Kozak too.
“These make it hard to breathe while moving. And well…”
“You’re SS-rank, right?”
“Hehehe.”
Gobang with his warrior obsession, Kozak with his SS-rank obsession. Just give them healing potions if they get sick. Wait, can already-dead people even get sick?
“I feel like throwing up.”
“It’s super gross. See those blisters? When they pop, yellow pus just…”
“I’d rather not hear about it.”
“Want to kill some? Three should be manageable.”
“…”
Even with a gas mask, he didn’t want to. What if he got splattered with pus? So he kept his mouth shut.
Better stick to floor 28 Jungle Trolls for repeat missions.
The clear began. Gobang charged forward. Kozak followed.
Thwack! Thwackthwack! Thwackthwack!
As Plague Trolls fell, sticky pus burst out.
Ugh, fuck!
Pass was the right choice. How could anyone handle that?
[Floor 29 Mission Complete]
[Level Up]
[Reward: Magic Stone 2.9kg]
Kozak and Gobang grinning, covered in yellow pus.
“…”
Grotesque and creepy. They looked more like Plague Trolls themselves. Wait!
After the mission and rank clear messages, they’d teleport home. Then all that pus would…
“Summoner Bong! Feast today too?”
No way. Nausea rose to his throat.
“Um, I’m really sorry.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You can curse at me if you want.”
“Oh my! How could I curse at Summoner Bong? Always bright and clever, tirelessly working for summoned beings’ rights…”
“Both dismissed.”
“…Huh?”
Pop pop!
Kozak and Gobang vanishing simultaneously.
Ah! I’m sorry. Really sorry. I’m a traitor. An evil employer. Curse me all you want. Spit at me.
But it’s a new home… Plague pus would get everywhere. Plus Gobang was huge, he’d be covered in it. How could they return together?
No choice. He’d have to resummon them later. Three hours? Tomorrow?
…Let’s prepare a feast tomorrow.
First, need to do laundry and shower outside.
[Notice: You have achieved S++ rank for Black Tower (Korea) Floor 29 clear]
[S++ Clear Reward: Platinum Badge awarded]
Platinum badges were standard now. He’d feel cheated without one. Wonder how many he could get?
※ ※ ※
Seoul Hannam-dong Awakening Management Office.
Director Park Kyung-soo hummed while spraying his precious orchid’s leaves with a mister. Then carefully wiped the leaves. Things seemed to be going well lately.
Above all, successfully contracting Elite Player Bong Juhyeok. That was the biggest achievement. He felt so good about it.
Indeed, he hadn’t disappointed. Didn’t stop after contracting either. S++ rank clear record through floor 28. At this rate, conservatively speaking, he could reach floor 40, no, maybe even 50s in three months.
Still, better not expect too much past floor 30.
Expecting S++ rank clears would be unreasonable. Floors 31-35 were Minotaur territory, 36-40 Ogre territory. Monsters incomparably larger than Trolls waited there.
What about the 40s with even bigger beasts?
He’d be satisfied if they just showed continued climbing will. Just hope they complete clears safely.
Suddenly!
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocking on the Director’s office door.
“Come in.”
Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il entered.
“How did it go?”
“Just completed floor 29 with S++ rank. Our office’s Players confirmed it too.”
“Ho ho.”
Unstoppable progress. He’d call to announce starting floor 29, and within 20 minutes the completion notice would ring. How was he clearing them? Heard something about summoning characteristics, but surely he wasn’t summoning dragons? Without video, no way to know.
Originally, Elite teams had to wear body cams when entering the tower to record clears, but Summoner Bong Juhyeok was specially exempted. He’d requested it himself. The office could certainly allow that much.
“Did you talk with Player Bong?”
“Yes, before reporting to you.”
“Anything unusual?”
“Well… he said floor 30 clear won’t be possible for about ten days.”
“Why? Insufficient preparation?”
“Says he needs that time for skill practice.”
“I see. Ten days isn’t much.”
Some took over a month off. Thinking all Players were as diligent as Bong Juhyeok would be a big mistake. Players who’d tasted money were busy playing around. Elite teams were no different.
“By the way, how’s Player Yoo Cheol-min? Any attempts at floor 66?”
“I was about to report that.”
“What?”
“He’s practically living at clubs these days. Drinking himself senseless, coming home at dawn, or having one-night stands…”
“Tsk tsk, must be tough on the security detail.”
But Park Kyung-soo understood completely. Floor 66, the only Player capable of climbing Korea’s Black Tower’s uncleared upper floors. Bearing everyone’s expectations. His identity public, that pressure unimaginable to others.
“Must be because floor 66 isn’t going as planned.”
“The clear support team analyzed the footage – he’s barely making progress. At best killing 3 out of 10 Specters before time runs out, or failing from the start.”
As undead, they were fundamentally different from other monsters. Starting from floor 61’s Mummies, they all emitted “Dark Aura” – enduring that alone was challenging. Not like game or movie undead that normal people could punch to death. Terrible demons that devoured human souls with Dark Aura.
Park Kyung-soo grew slightly anxious. But he had to trust Player Yoo Cheol-min. He’ll clear it eventually.
Korea’s Black Tower collapse countdown had about 92 days left. Half the 180-day limit gone. Whether you saw it as only half left or still half remaining was perspective.
Park Kyung-soo thought it was enough. Player Bong Juhyeok is still far from floor 60, The Awakening Management Office had Plan B.
“What about Player Nam Ga-eun? Currently clearing floor 62?”
“Yes, climbing steadily.”
Player Nam Ga-eun was such a shame. In pure talent, superior to Yoo Cheol-min. Had cleared many floors with A rank. Even achieved A+ and A++.
[You have achieved A++ rank for Black Tower (Korea) Floor XX clear]
Like that. Though no public announcements rang.
But Nam Ga-eun’s characteristic enhancement was only once, stage 2. At least three stages behind Yoo Cheol-min’s four enhancements.
“Can’t we get more Enhancement Runes?”
“Well, Enhancement Runes are completely dried up in the item market. The reward rate is too low.”
“I’ll try asking around.”
Though even if they found some, they’d all go to Player Yoo Cheol-min.
“Oh! How’s the Light attribute item procurement?”
“From what I hear, outright purchase isn’t possible, but they’re discussing rental options.”
“Alright, I’ll get direct reports from the Item Department on that.”
“Yes sir.”
Light attribute item procurement for undead floor clears was also struggling. Unlike clear information, item sharing was difficult due to national circumstances. Especially tower reward items. If they just had enough Light attribute items, it would help with floor 66. They played a huge role in Yoo Cheol-min’s floor 65 clear. They’d bought many at high prices, but still not enough, he said.
What to do. Have to get more.
※ ※ ※
Next day.
Juhyeok finished preparing the feast. The menu: bossam[1]. Instead of delivery, he got a large steamer and boiled pork himself.
The special reason for cooking personally: He felt too guilty.
“…You’re not mad, right?”
“Eh heh, what do you take me for? Even if you smashed my head with your mace, hehe, I’d smile. Gobang too. Want to try hitting him?”
“Hit Kozak?”
“No, Gobang.”
“…”
The living room table was laden with bossam. Food is all about sincerity. Though independent less than a year, he could at least make bossam.
“Here! Hot, fresh bossam!”
“Oh! Thank you for the meal.”
But Gobang’s expression was strange. Suddenly tearing up, eyes brimming.
“Why are you crying? Can’t eat pork? You ate sweet and sour pork just fine.”
“Thank you, Summoner.”
Huh?
“No one’s ever treated me this well except Summoner.”
“Uh…”
Why is this getting so emotional?
“I, Gobang, will serve with absolute loyalty. Even if I die, I’ll ensure Summoner lives.”
“Um… yeah, let’s eat first.”
He could guess why Gobang was moved. People only tried to take advantage of the barbarian warrior’s low intelligence. How hurt he must have been.
Well, he wasn’t much different. Just that after using them, he at least provided lavish feasts.
Speaking of which, what was Kozak doing? Getting emotional from this heartwarming conversation?
…
Not at all. Kozak was seriously poking at mom’s fresh kimchi with a grave expression.
Ah, this spice wimp!
“If you’re not going to eat, stop playing with it.”
“S-sorry. It looks so delicious, and I want to eat it, but I just can’t find the courage.”
Must be remembering fainting from tteokbokki. Kozak, who found even ssamjang spicy.
“Just eat the radish with shrimp paste…”
“…Yes sir.”
Placing a slice of radish on his plate, with bossam and shrimp paste in one bite.
“Mmm, d-delicious. The harmony of bossam and shrimp paste is amazing.”
Such a taste-blind fool. He’d never know the perfect harmony of bossam and fresh kimchi.
“Now that we’ve cleared floor 29, should we go straight to 30?”
“Hmm, slightly lacking but I’ll try my best.”
Slightly lacking? Why?
“Twin-head Troll’s regeneration is no joke. Their heads are tough too, resistant to blade energy. Cut one head, still got another.”
Absolutely not. Need to get the badge on floor 30 too.
“Then let’s hold off. Just repeat floor 28 clears until random summon cooldown returns.”
“Yes sir. Just need Gobang to shake trees well.”
If floor 30 was iffy…
“How about from floor 31?”
“Floor 31 too… bad matchup with Gobang, so S++ would be hard.”
“Matchup?”
“Much bigger monsters than Gobang appear. Minotaurs and Ogres. Even Gobang would struggle.”
“No, Gobang wins.”
“Shut up! If I say so, it’s so!”
Meaning large monsters.
“One-on-one, Gobang might win, but several at once would be tough. Draws aggro. If aggro draws, Summoner Bong might be in danger.”
“Ah.”
“So we’d need to pull one or two at a time, which takes time.”
When Kozak said difficult, he meant this: Clearing wasn’t the problem. Just S++ rank clears would be tricky.
The Wimp’s Tower clearing method: Don’t climb if uncertain. Prepare until it feels excessive.
“Guess we need to summon one more person.”
“Exactly. You’re so bright and wise.”
Higher rank would be perfect.
“Hmm, could we get LSSR, Legend Special Super Rare?”
“Possible. Even if not this time, keep summoning and eventually.”
Anyway, depends on summoning luck. Please let it be someone decent. A normal summoned being – not crazy, not too stupid.
And the floor 28 repeat missions began. Almost ten days had passed without public announcements.
※ ※ ※
Japanese Embassy in Korea.
Consulate Tomoda suddenly jumped up from his work. Call on the burner phone. Only the scout broker would call this phone.
Quietly in the bathroom.
“Hello?”
- It’s me.
“The result?”
- The rabbit will leave its old nest for a new one.
“…That’s excellent. Really excellent.”
- But you’ll need to escort it. Wolves are watching the rabbit.
“Tell them not to worry. We’ll escort safely.”
Consulate Tomoda clenched his fist. Finally done it. Player Yoo Cheol-min’s shocking naturalization. Now Japan was safe.
As for what would happen to Korea… who knew?