Almost an hour had passed since Player Nam Ga-eun entered floor 62.
Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il anxiously awaited results. Player Bong Juhyeok said he’d visit the Player Shop briefly to sell magic stones.
The more he dealt with him, the more fascinating he found him. Initially requested meeting him to beg for quick advancement to the 60s floors.
Obviously unreasonable. How could anyone climb from floor 29 to 66 in three months?
He’d resigned himself to the first tower collapse. Being in rural Gangwon-do meant relatively less collapse damage than other countries, And by the second tower, wherever it appeared, Player Bong might reach the 60s.
But then he casually brings out a holy sword? Even acted annoyed when asked what item it was. Though that was partly from mental exhaustion.
If only he’d brought it a little earlier…
Maybe Yoo Cheol-min wouldn’t have naturalized. No. That would’ve been terrible.
Then Nam Ga-eun wouldn’t have gotten the holy sword. The office would’ve given it to Yoo Cheol-min. As Korea’s official representative Player.
Besides, that bastard didn’t decide on Japanese naturalization overnight. He’d calculated everything before moving. Would’ve definitely taken the holy sword to Japan too.
Because of Player Yoo, Director Park Kyung-soo was at the National Assembly. Immediately summoned during regular parliamentary audit session. Probably facing intense questioning from lawmakers.
Wanted to tell Director Park immediately but nothing was verified yet.
Holy attribute… Always thought Light attribute was Dark Aura’s natural enemy. But Holy attribute existed too? Never heard of or seen it. America probably hadn’t secured Holy attribute items either.
Black Tower’s undead section. Floor 61 onward, all undead monsters. Known floors: Floor 61 Mummies, 62 Zombies, 63 Skeletons, 64 Ghouls, 65 Durahans, 66 Specters, 67 Phantom Reapers… That’s it. America was tackling floor 67 Phantom Reapers.
Yet this would work through floor 67? If true, how much time could they buy?
Suddenly!
Knock knock, A careful knock on Jeon Kwang-il’s office door.
“Come in.”
Peek, Juhyeok poked his head through the door gap first.
“Ah! You’re back. Sold the magic stones well?”
“…Yes, but Player Nam Ga-eun isn’t back yet?”
“Haha, barely over an hour. The mission time limit is 15 hours.”
“She’s taking too long.”
Jeon Kwang-il laughed bitterly inside. Compared to whom? Player Bong Juhyeok’s average clear time was 20 minutes, often much faster. So for him, over an hour seemed long.
Just then.
Flash!
A light burst appeared in the office center. This was a Player’s return phenomenon. Too early for completion… mission abandonment? Did the holy sword fail too?
Pop!
Player Nam Ga-eun appeared. Looking quite tired.
“P-Player Nam Ga-eun, h-how was it…”
“Just a moment, let me drink a healing potion.”
She gulped down a tower-exclusive healing potion from her inventory. Injured during the tower clear? Then as expected.
“Whew.”
Nam Ga-eun took a deep breath. Then turned to look at Juhyeok, quickly approached, and…
Wham!
Hugged him.
“Eek?”
What?
“…”
Juhyeok froze in place. His mind went blank.
“Thank you so much. Without this holy sword, I’d have failed again. It was amazing!”
Jeon Kwang-il started at her words.
“Then p-perhaps?”
“Yes! Cleared floor 62!”
“G-good heavens! H-how…”
“Yeah! What matters is an unbreakable spirit! Entering floor 63 tomorrow.”
Jeon Kwang-il burst into tears. How much he’d suffered all this time.
“But isn’t tomorrow too soon? Must be mentally exhausting.”
“The sword’s radiance makes it fine. Dark Aura barely threatens anymore.”
“Ah! That effective?”
“I’m confident. With the holy sword, even floor 66 seems possible. Honestly, without Dark Aura, undead are just normal monsters.”
True, but.
“Oh! I recorded clear footage, please review it.”
“Will do. …Okay to make this public?”
“Go ahead. As much as you want.”
Meanwhile, Juhyeok kept fidgeting.
“…Um, if you’re going to keep talking, could you let go of my arms first?”
“Oh? Sorry. Just too happy…”
Nam Ga-eun finally released Juhyeok. Carefully handed back the holy sword.
“Used it well. But the blade’s quite damaged in places.”
“Hmm.”
Definitely looked that way. Was worn-out to begin with.
“…It’s fine. Um, they said it could be repaired, so I should get that done.”
Jeon Kwang-il jumped in quickly.
“The Player Shop workshop has many skilled craftsmen. I’ll ask them.”
“Repair cost?”
“We’ll cover it, of course.”
“Just buy it then. You’ll need it for future clears.”
“Ah, t-that…”
Sell this? How could money buy it? Impossible to value.
Must answer carefully. Even assuming it only worked through floor 67 as he said, Korea wasn’t the only target. All the world’s undead sections were targets. A hidden card to prevent tower collapse.
Jeon Kwang-il considered it deeply. What offer to make?
Answer came quickly.
“I think you should keep owning this sword rather than selling it.”
“…Won’t you buy it?”
Why suddenly? Was planning to buy a building with the money.
“Instead, we’ll rent it. 10 billion won per use.”
“Huh?”
10 billion per use.
“Hundreds of towers exist worldwide besides Korea’s. Some are in the 60s, but most haven’t reached there. We rent to countries as they climb. Charging rental fees, of course.”
Rental fees. Sounds good! This was like a money tree. Rental income would make building ownership income look pathetic. Not a building owner but a holy sword owner?
But I couldn’t handle it directly.
“Don’t worry. The office will handle rental procedures.”
“Oh! Thank you for that. Then…”
Free for Korea? Could he charge his country’s office?
No. Should charge them. Makes relationships smoother.
But not too much,
“…I’ll charge the office 1 billion. This time was free, so from floor 63, 1 billion.”
“What? N-no, you don’t have to.”
“We’ll charge others more. Just advertise well. Worldwide.”
“Th-thank you. Really thank you.”
Juhyeok felt satisfied too. But earning so much money, what use would he use it for? He’s already feeling scared.
“Oh! One place absolutely no rentals.”
“Of course! Was going to ask that anyway.”
Where would it be banned? Definitely Japan.
“Hah! That bastard Yoo Cheol-min will faint when he finds out!”
Nam Ga-eun couldn’t hide her excitement.
Jeon Kwang-il’s eyes sharpened.
“We’ll kill him first.”
“Wow! Team Leader’s so intense!”
How could he live with such hatred? Must be scary walking at night. Even in Japan.
What if he’s a Player? He’s normal outside.
Japan would experience their blood running dry in the 60s floors too. Unless another holy item appeared.
Meanwhile, Nam Ga-eun’s constant glances were making Juhyeok uncomfortable.
“Um…”
“Oh my! Look at the time. Have busy things, so I’ll go.”
Stay longer and he’d lose energy. But having busy things wasn’t a lie. Really!
※ ※ ※
National Assembly Building, Yeouido.
Yoo Cheol-min’s Japanese naturalization scandal broke right during the parliamentary audit season. All responsible officials were summoned.
Director Park Kyung-soo of Awakening Management, Director Park Il-jun of NIS, Commissioner Kim Cheol-min of Police and among others were summoned to the building.
Soon after, the assembly members fired questions.
“Are Player Yoo Cheol-min’s statements true? Regarding insufficient support and executives only caring about politics?”
Ridiculous claims. From someone who’d milked every possible privilege.
“Absolutely false. He received the highest salary among Elite team Players, characteristic Enhancement Runes, and numerous Light attribute items purchased at great expense.”
“Yet he says otherwise? Didn’t he choose naturalization? The results speak for themselves.”
“Yoo Cheol-min merely fled from fear of floor 66 clear. If I’m at fault, it’s for poor judgment of character. If I’d known he was that kind of person, earlier…”
“So you admit your fault? And that fault might destroy Korea.”
Director Park gritted his teeth and answered: “We have Plan B.”
“The female Player stuck on floor 62 for 100 days?”
“…”
NIS couldn’t escape either.
“How were you handling security? Just watching while Japanese agents took Yoo Cheol-min?”
Director Park Il-jun bit his lip. “No excuse. I accept full responsibility.”
“That’s your answer? We need countermeasures.”
“We’ll bring him back somehow. First planning to contact Player Yu about canceling naturalization.”
“If he refuses?”
“…”
Director Park Il-jun paused briefly. Then seriously:
“He’ll pay the price.”
“…How? Are you suggesting assassination?”
“If necessary.”
“Ha! Director! How dare you say such things here.”
Police Commissioner Kim joined in: “The police force are investigating too. Anyone involved will face thorough investigation and legal judgment.”
“Should’ve done better from the start, no? Think saying this now lessens responsibility?”
“I’m prepared to resign.”
Almost like public flogging. What could they do? Their fault was clear.
Not just Police Commissioner Kim, but Directors Park Kyung-soo and Park Il-jun were considering resignation.
But then,
Director.
Park Kyung-soo’s secretary quietly approached the witness stand and whispered.
What?
Message from Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il.
Why now? Surely knew what was happening.
Too busy, check later.
Should check now.
…Huh?
What could it be?
Park Kyung-soo took the smartphone from his secretary. Then,
“Huh!”
Eyes widening,
“W-what?”
A long message. Detailed content. But could text alone confirm?
Even with Assembly members watching intently, Park Kyung-soo immediately touched his phone.
“Hello, Team Leader Jeon… the message content, is it true?”
Assembly members raged.
“What are you doing? Phone calls during testimony?”
“In the sacred Assembly! Are we a joke?”
“No wonder your Players naturalize!”
Park Kyung-soo ignored them.
“Checked the clear footage? Yeah? Oh! Sufficient? How long you think? Hoho, good! Good!”
Speaking loudly for all to hear.
“Repairs possible? Yeah? Great. Then straight to floor 63 tomorrow? Spare no support, ensure good condition with all our might. And about Bong… no, that person, I’ll meet separately.”
Hanging up, Park Kyung-soo looked completely relaxed.
“What is it? What important call interrupts an audit?”
“Dismissal call from the President?”
“Think you can run?”
Park Kyung-soo smiled and said:
“I won’t run. I am taking all the responsibilities.”
“How?”
“We’ll clear floor 66. We don’t need players like Yoo Cheol-min.”
Immediately, the atmosphere worsened.
“Are you mocking the Assembly right now?”
“Are you crazy? You think words can fix everything?”
“Seems you’re the one who should naturalize instead of Yoo Cheol-min, Director.”
Despite the lawmakers’ mockery, Park Kyung-soo just smiled and replied:
“Two hours ago, Elite team Player Nam Ga-eun cleared floor 62 of Korea’s Black Tower.”
Out of nowhere?
Director Park Kyung-soo continued, “And tomorrow she’ll attempt floor 63.”
He’s finally lost it.
Assembly members shook their heads and clicked their tongues.
“And within one month!”
Ignoring their reactions,
“We’ll clear floor 66. I stake my neck on it. Not meaning my position. My actual neck.”
He declared boldly.
Director Park’s bombshell statement dropped on the Assembly. Murmuring. Press gallery reporters whispered about his nonsense claims.
Suddenly!
Ring ring ring ring…
Reporters’ smartphones rang simultaneously.
“…What?”
“O-official announcement dropped?”
“Floor 62 clear success? In just 1 hour 20 minutes?”
“Confirmed?”
“Clear footage? Send that to me.”
The reversal began.
The audit meant to assign blame for the naturalization crisis became a floor 66 clear declaration venue.
※ ※ ※
That evening. Breaking news erupted from every Korean media outlet. The situation flipped instantly.
<Management Director Park Declares Floor 66 Clear Within Month During Assembly Testimony>
<Floor 62 Cleared! Body Cam Footage Released>
<Clear Declaration Basis Revealed. Holy Sword! Holy Attribute Item>
<Player Nam Ga-eun Emerges as New Hope, Shows Confidence in Floor 66 Clear>
<Yoo Cheol-min? Who’s That? We Can’t Even Remember>
<Will Prove With Floor 63 Consecutive Clear Tomorrow! Watch>
And Bong Juhyeok?
Setting a small table with purified water, summoning Kozak and Barbarian Gobang:
“Please please, LSSR! Only LSSR! Must get Legend Special Super Rare!”
Praying to the moon through the veranda window.
“LSSR!”
“Must be LSSR!”
“L-S-S… R!”
“Bastard! Pronounce it right!”
Because the random summon cooldown would end tomorrow.