Meat tastes best at proper meat restaurants.
Occasionally barbecuing outdoors is fine too, but that’s mostly about the atmosphere.
Fortunately, there was a meat restaurant nearby.
A premium Korean beef galbi specialist.
Looking at the sign outside.
Fresh galbi 200g for 100,000 won.
…Hmm,
A high-end restaurant.
Of course there are places charging 150,000 or 170,000 won, but this place is no slouch either.
Gobang would probably devour over 10kg,
Starting from at least 5 million won?
Did I pick too expensive a place.
But turning back now would be a huge loss of face.
Especially with the summoned beings already muttering “beef, beef” in excited voices.
Ah whatever!
Why am I worrying about useless things?
Consider how much money they earn for me.
They entered the restaurant.
No one looked at them strangely.
In a quiet floor-seating private room.
“Gobang, sit down slowly, slowly, don’t break the floor.”
After pressing the bell to call the server,
“…Um, could we get 20 servings of fresh galbi?”
“20 servings?”
“And 10 bottles of drinks, um, and 4 plates of yukhoe…”
“Yes, yes, understood.”
Whew,
Successfully placed the order.
Got past the first hurdle well.
Though he’d ordered at restaurants before, never this much quantity at once.
20 servings and 4 plates of yukhoe should be enough to start with?
He’d even held his card ready in case they asked if he was ordering too much or if he could afford it.
“Amazing. Summoner Bong, do you come to places like this often?”
“Hahaha, not here specifically but I used to go to similar places every day.”
“Hehehe, so admirable. Such precious beef every day!”
Gobang looking envious, Gyeon Dallae nodding with an “As expected!” look in her eyes.
Like he could have eaten this expensive meat?
He went there to serve and clean grills.
He was a former meat restaurant part-timer.
Quit when he started activities as a player.
“Hah! Eat plenty. I’ll grill the meat.”
Gyeon Dallae startled at this.
“That cannot be! How can Young Master volunteer for such labor? Leave it to us lowly… no, to us.”
“I pride myself on grilling meat better than anyone. So just eat without saying anything.”
“Still…”
“Is this not an order?”
“I shall obey your august command.”
What do they take a former meat restaurant part-timer for.
While chatting pleasantly.
Swish,
The door opened.
Basic side dishes were set down, and charcoal was brought in.
The meat followed.
But,
Huh?
What’s this?
This isn’t fresh galbi.
Marinated galbi came instead.
They ordered 20 servings, but the quantity was much less too,
Hmm…
An awkward situation.
Starting with marinated meat goes against principles.
Isn’t it common sense to eat fresh meat before marinated?
“Summoner Bong, what’s wrong? You look troubled.”
“We ordered meat but got the wrong thing…”
“Gasp! How could this be, what should we do?”
“I’m thinking.”
“But this looks delicious too. slurp!“
Really?
Should we just eat it?
No.
When food comes wrong, it’s a customer’s rightful privilege to complain.
This isn’t even being unreasonable.
“I should call the server.”
“Right. Wrong orders must be corrected. Show them exactly who Summoner Bong is!”
“Give them a thorough scolding.”
Ding dong!
When he rang the bell,
“Do you need anything, customer? Would you like some alcohol?”
“…That’s not it. The meat seems to have come wrong. Could you check…”
“What? Just a moment. Oh? Why did this come here? I’m so sorry. We’ll change it right away.”
Whew,
Got past the second hurdle well too.
New meat arrived.
Meat sizzling on the charcoal grill.
Gone as soon as it was placed.
Barbarian Gobang grabbed 5 pieces of meat at once.
“You wretch… um, how can Sir Gobang take 5 pieces at once, such gluttony is unseemly, with Young Master present… mmph!”
Juhyeok put a pre-wrapped ssam in Gyeon Dallae’s mouth.
“Delicious, right?”
She nodded while chewing.
Kozak too,
“The princess is right about this. That guy, with a name like Meat Shield, seems to be trying to fill his whole body with meat.”
Well, who cares?
If I don’t spend money on this, what else would I spend it on?
2 billion won annual salary, plus magic stone sales, and even getting 1 billion steadily from the Management Office for holy sword rental fees, and if we get rental fees from other countries too?
Could buy a Korean beef farm outright.
“Come on, whoever talks loses. Should use talking time for eating meat. Look at Mr. Gobang. Not saying a word, just putting meat in his mouth.”
It was truly mechanical.
Even grabbing and gulping down undercooked meat.
“Undercooked meat is fine. I digest everything.”
What’s fine about that.
That’s just because he’s a barbarian warrior.
They kept ordering.
Gobang living up to his name as Meat Shield, eating tons.
Super speed.
Almost felt sorry for pressing the order bell so much.
Soon they passed 70 servings.
The restaurant owner came with an anxious expression.
“Um, you’re ordering so much meat…”
Been wondering when they’d come.
He’d been waiting for this moment.
Firmly presenting his card,
“I’ll pay the interim bill. You can charge extra in advance.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
Flex!
This is the joy of spending money.
As they kept eating, the meat started running out.
They kept changing menu items.
Sirloin, tenderloin, rib meat, outside skirt, marinated galbi…
Still not enough, they had meat delivered from other stores and wholesalers.
Still not enough?
No, why are they eating so much?
Already exceeded expected expenditure.
“Um, should we order more?”
“…Am I eating too much?”
Kozak looking disappointed, same with Gobang and Gyeon Dallae,
How could he stop here?
He’d told them to order freely before coming.
Ah whatever, forget it.
“…Wh-whatever, b-blow up the restaurant! Order more!!!”
Ding dong with trembling hands on the bell.
“Yeah! So cool!”
“Truly a magnanimous young master.”
Meanwhile Gobang still steadily eating.
The amount of meat the four consumed that day was about 150 servings.
Perhaps because prices varied by menu item, the total came to 12.68 million won.
Even for the joy of spending money, 12.68 million was too much.
The restaurant owner even gave his business card asking them to come back when filming YouTube mukbang.
What YouTube mukbang.
Would there ever be another visit?
Next time should go somewhere cheaper.
After finishing the meat, they went for a walk, ate dessert, and sang at a coin karaoke.
Later Juhyeok got even more excited.
When was the last time he had experience hanging out with people like this?
Never in the past either.
Time to head back now.
Though each summoned being had different time limits, he dismissed them all in a dark place with few people around.
Juhyeok returned to the officetel alone.
Pulling down his prepared hat low, while touching his keycard to the officetel main entrance reader.
Beep! He went inside.
It should be impossible for an elite player to enter and leave alone without guards, but none of the security guards noticed anything unusual.
Just considered him one of the residents.
There must be police and Management Office staff among them.
CCTV?
That’s only checked after incidents occur.
Ooh, this is thrilling.
Felt like being a spy.
Like a protagonist in a spy movie.
Home really is best.
After eating and drinking heavily, tomorrow it’s straight to floor 33 clearing as soon as he wakes up.
And the next day.
“We ate meat, so let’s get moving.”
“Hah! Power overflowing everywhere!”
“I shall repay your grace with all my spirit.”
“The meat warrior has come.”
Oh boy,
Look at those faces.
Beef oil just dripping, dripping down.
※ ※ ※
The Awakened Management Office was busy from early morning.
Department Head Lee Min-ah and Deputy Chief Jeon Kwang-il anxiously waited for Player Nam Ga-eun to exit floor 65.
Would Player Nam Ga-eun handle this without problems too?
The momentous floor 66 clearing would proceed in three days.
That’s right.
Soon floor 66.
The clearing schedule had been moved up.
Currently about two months remained.
With the holy sword there was no need to rush.
But they decided to clear floor 66 as soon as possible.
Why?
The repeated failures at floor 57 of the Japanese Black Tower had a big impact.
Though they were secretly pleased the protagonist was Yoo Cheol-min, seeing and hearing the despair of the neighboring country in person, how could they be completely unmoved?
Anxiety was rising among Korean citizens too.
The political sphere wanted quick resolution too.
Plus Director Park Kyung-soo’s bold declaration to handle it within a month played a part.
So after long discussion they decided.
Clear early and buy six months of time.
By then sufficient time for Player Bong Juhyeok to enter the 60s.
Just then an inquiry about renting the holy sword came from the American side.
The plan was to quickly clear floor 66, buy 6 months of time, then start full-scale holy sword rental business.
Though rental fees would all go to Player Bong’s account, the sweet rights and interests obtained through negotiations would be the nation’s share.
Might be even more profitable than money.
For various such reasons, quick floor 66 clearing was decided.
Now just needed Player Nam Ga-eun to finish floor 65 clearing.
“When Player Bong Juhyeok enters the 60s, will it be possible without the holy sword?”
“Look at Yoo Cheol-min. Even that incompetent guy cleared up to floor 65 without the holy sword. America’s Player Gerald Watson up to 66…”
“Ah!”
“Think Bong’s talent falls behind Gerald Watson?”
“Not at all. Absolutely not.”
“He’s outside standard specifications. Just wearing a few light attribute items he could probably climb straight to floor 70? A player who cleared the Black Tower with 32 consecutive S++ ranks…”
Suddenly!
Lee Min-ah with a blank expression.
“Wait a moment.”
“What?”
“Team Leader’s words are wrong.”
“What?”
Wrong?
Where?
“It’s not 32 consecutive.”
“What are you saying? Everyone knows he has 32 consecutive clears… Ah!”
Right.
Department Head Lee Min-ah was a player.
Then?
“…Another one came?”
“Yes, just now the 33rd consecutive S++ rank clear record appeared,”
“Hmm, right, yes. I was wrong.”
“Anyway, the fact he’s outside specifications is accurate.”
Suddenly!
Whoosh!
Light gathered,
Spot!
Nam Ga-eun appeared.
After six hours.
“…Ta-da!”
Holy sword in one hand, making a V-sign with the other while brightly smiling.
But showing some signs of fatigue.
Taking out a healing potion from inventory and drinking it.
“Whew, feels like I’ll live. Burp!”
After a refreshing belch,
“Today was slightly tough.”
“…Should we postpone floor 66?”
“I said slightly, just slightly!”
Still concerning when she says it was tough.
Would have been so good if we could enhance her traits just one more time.
“Let’s hang in there a bit more.”
“Yes!”
Well, since she succeeded.
“PR team prepare press materials, start editing the body cam footage.”
Next clearing is floor 66 of the Korean Black Tower.
Just clear this and they gain six months of time.
※ ※ ※
Most countries including Korea don’t force contracts with players.
Left entirely to individual will.
Whether elite team contracts or general contracts.
It’s legally prohibited, and coercive methods could backfire.
But there was a country that forced tower clearing by conscripting players.
That was India, the first country to have tower collapse.
Blinded by magic stones from the tower, the Indian government lured players, confined them in one place, and deployed them for clearing.
Beat them with clubs or sticks if they resisted.
Couldn’t do anything about it.
Even exiting the tower just put them back in the same place.
It worked at first.
Magic stone production surpassed China’s.
But proper compensation would never be given to players.
Lucky if they got three meals a day.
The result?
Indian players either died to monsters in the tower or committed suicide.
That was their only escape route.
Newly awakened Indians hid that they were players.
Simultaneously escaped to other countries.
Numerous naturalizations occurred.
To Pakistan, Malaysia, Europe, China, Japan, even South Korea,
Player numbers gradually decreased.
How could they clear uncleared upper floors.
Finally the Mumbai Tower collapsed.
Only then did the Indian government go “Oops!” and withdraw conscription and pay players proper compensation, but it was already too late.
But one country still maintains forced conscription.
That was North Korea.
How is that possible?
North Korea has no tower.
North Korean players belong to South Korea’s Black Tower.
A huge blow to pride for North Korea which claims to be a sovereign state.
But North Korea turned it into an opportunity.
Since South Korea handles tower collapse defense, they just need to ride along.
What need to climb uncleared upper floors?
The South handles everything.
South Korea had no real options either.
They couldn’t stop North Korean players from entering the Korean Black Tower.
Magic stones North Korean players obtained as rewards naturally became state property.
They praised obedient ones with Communist Party official positions and medals, while throwing rebellious ones in concentration camps to extract magic stones.
For such reasons, newly awakened players in North Korea?
Naturally defected.
A minority to South Korea, majority to China.
Then what about China’s case?
They operated almost identically to other countries.
Players freely active in private sector, players supported and cultivated by the state.
But there was one more type of player.
Forced naturalization players.
Though the Chinese government absolutely denies their existence.
In a room decorated in brilliant gold.
A man sat in a chair reviewing documents.
With a skinny frame and expression utterly devoid of humanity.
So people could only be extremely careful dealing with him.
“Deputy Director. I came at your summons.”
The man called Deputy Director tossed a stack of documents to his subordinate.
“This is…”
“List of Korean elite team affiliated players.”
“What? H-how did you get this.”
“What good would knowing do you?”
“S-sorry.”
The Deputy Director took out a cigarette from a red pack, lit it with a hiss, then,
Whoosh, blew out hazy smoke.
“Pick suitable ones and bring them. Focus on players capable of floor 59 clearing or recent contracts, excluding well-known names.”
“Yes!”
“As always, leave absolutely no evidence. The motherland will deny your existence.”
“Sir!”
The subordinate saluted and left.
Xiao Jun, Deputy Director of China’s Special Intelligence Department, didn’t even give him a glance.
China’s tower climbing progress was floor 58 cleared and challenging floor 59.
Only 48 days remained until the clearing deadline for uncleared upper floors of the Black Tower erected near Shanghai.
If they fail to clear the Shanghai Tower, the worst situation would unfold.
The other two towers would collapse in sequence too.
Three new towers would appear elsewhere.
But among Chinese players managed by the state, there was no talent capable of clearing floor 59.
It had been that way since the floor 56 wyvern section.
China’s choice in this desperate crisis?
Naturally naturalization policy.
But there were several types of naturalization.
Voluntary naturalization, temporary naturalization, and forced naturalization.
They approach talented foreign players and make offers, and if negotiations fail, send elite intelligence teams to bring them in.
Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan, African nations… mainly targeting players from countries weaker than China.
Forced naturalization, no – kidnapping.
It was effective.
They charged up from floor 56, eventually reaching floor 59.
But from floor 59 onward, progress stagnated.
Even the talented players they brought in couldn’t overcome that wall.
So recently they included South Korea among target countries for kidnapping.
Honestly, they should have done it sooner.
They’d watched Japan’s mistake too.
It was absurd.
Deputy Director Xiao Jun muttered mockingly to himself.
“We won’t do anything stupid like Japan. Public naturalization? That’s why they got humiliated.”
Players are mere civilians.
Just kidnap them, torture them a few times, sweet-talk them a bit, then have them stamp naturalization papers and deploy them for clearing.
To Xiao Jun, this was the most effective method.
What if they get caught?
Who would dare touch China?
Maybe Russia or America, but no one else.