Juhyeok’s officetel.
The smell of ramyeon filled the air again today.
They said they’d only eat ramyeon for a while.
Ramyeon after clearing floor 34, ramyeon during the rest day after, and now ramyeon again.
When he summoned Gyeon Dallae and Kozak, they went straight to the kitchen and took out a pot.
How could they eat only ramyeon for three days?
When he suggested ordering delivery food, they begged to eat ramyeon for at least five more days.
Saying it would ease their conscience.
If they were going to be like this, they should’ve eaten less back then.
What’s with eating 150 portions between four people? 150 portions!
And I couldn’t even properly eat two portions.
That’s why he refused when they invited him to eat ramyeon together.
Planning to order chicken for himself later.
Currently, only two summoned beings were cooking ramyeon – Kozak and Gyeon Dallae.
What about Gobang?
He couldn’t be summoned.
Because his catalog now read:
[Catalog]: Barbarian Meat Shield (Summoning Impossible)
Summoning impossible…
He’d already asked about it.
About what “summoning impossible” in the catalog meant.
Just yesterday.
In response to Juhyeok’s question, Kozak had scratched his face and answered.
“Grade enhancement is inherently very dangerous. Because it strengthens the soul. So during enhancement, um, there’s a possibility of f-failing and disappearing…”
“Gasp!”
Disappearing?
His heart filled with extreme anxiety.
…Did I give him poison?
But Kozak came back just fine.
“What is this…”
He’d heard something similar from Kozak before.
That it was dangerous if rushed, that he’d do it after preparing properly back home.
But he hadn’t known it was this dangerous.
“Is… is it true? About disappearing?”
“…Even I’m not sure about…”
Sigh.
This is maddening.
But then Gyeon Dallae said,
“Fear not. If truly disappeared, they would be completely deleted from the list. If it shows ‘summoning impossible’ while the name remains, there must be another reason.”
Another reason.
What could it be?
She wasn’t just trying to reassure him, right?
“During soul enhancement, there’s an extremely rare chance the enhancement magnitude could increase dramatically, rising two levels at once. In such cases, they become unsummonable for several days.”
Oh!
His anxiety vanished.
Not something bad, but possibly something good instead.
As expected of Gyeon Dallae, born of imperial blood.
She knew so much.
Zap!
Juhyeok glared at Kozak.
Speaking without knowing for sure.
Scaring him by talking about disappearing.
Kozak avoided his eyes, flinching.
Anyway, Juhyeok had heard of something similar before.
Enhancement content in games.
When you apply enhancement scrolls to weapons or armor, sometimes you get blessed with luck and critically succeed, jumping from +1 to +2.
Called blessed enhancement or critical enhancement.
If this was the cause, it was a huge relief.
“Hehehe, thinking about it, the Princess is right. That guy’s soul is pure, playing in flower fields. Pure souls enhance well.”
He felt relieved.
Wait!
Speaking of two-level enhancement…
“Is Mr. Gobang SSR now too?”
Kozak’s shoulders slumped at Juhyeok’s words.
What would he do now that he’d lost something to pick on?
That was yesterday.
Still in “summoning impossible” state now.
Seemed they’d finished cooking the ramyeon.
Kozak and Gyeon Dallae naturally sat at the table and started eating.
Peaceful.
No shouting to be heard.
If there was one complaint.
Tsk tsk,
Having over 3 billion won in his account but eating ramyeon.
At least their ramyeon cooking skills had improved – now the broth was perfect and the noodles were chewy instead of mushy.
From next time, it wouldn’t be just regular ramyeon.
At minimum abalone ramyeon, octopus ramyeon, king crab ramyeon, truffle ramyeon, jumbo shrimp ramyeon, wild matsutake mushroom ramyeon, A5 Korean beef ramyeon…
I should go grocery shopping later.
For now, let them eat their plain ramyeon.
At least they added plenty of eggs and green onions.
In that sense, tower climbing would be temporarily suspended until Gobang returned.
He’d been planning to rest for a few days anyway.
Juhyeok opened his smartphone and searched the news.
Player Nam Ga-eun’s upcoming floor 66 clear attempt of Korea’s Black Tower tomorrow.
Originally, she hadn’t wanted to announce the schedule for fear of failing like Japan, but the date was set due to Player Nam Ga-eun’s active willingness.
<I’m not afraid. If I fail, I’ll just keep trying.>
<I’ve already figured out the Specter’s attack patterns. I’ve done practice runs before the actual attempt too.>
<I can be confident because of the Holy Sword. Once again, I thank the owner who lent it to me.>
What were people’s reactions?
As a reaction to Yoo Cheol-min’s surprise naturalization, almost all opinions were favorable toward Player Nam Ga-eun.
└ It’s okay even if you fail.
└ Right. Just stay safe. You can try again after recovering your mental strength.
└ You have the Holy Sword. We believe in you.
└ I pray every dawn.
└ Floor 66 is nothing, let’s go straight to 67.
└ Watch the mood above. Floor 67 is still far off.
└ Go go! Fighting!
Some comments seemed like they might be from him.
Oh right! Player Nam Ga-eun said she’d give me an autograph.
Should get it after she succeeds on floor 66.
Need to visit home after a long time too.
Can give her the talisman Gyeon Dallae wrote too.
Suddenly!
Ring ring!
A phone call came.
It was Deputy Chief Jeon Kwang-il.
“Hello?”
- Late but congratulations on achieving 34 consecutive S++ records.
Making a big deal out of this.
There had been a lot of talk.
So-called experts on TV, newspapers, and the internet had predicted S++ clears would become impossible as floors in the 30s marked a turning point with drastically increased difficulty, but he achieved it anyway.
“Player Nam Ga-eun is more amazing than me. How are the floor 66 preparations going?”
- Smoothly. We just borrowed and passed on a light attribute item too. Based on our support team’s analysis, we firmly believe she can clear it. She’s confident too.
“Yes, I believe without doubt she’ll succeed. Please pass on my encouragement.”
- Haha, will do.
It wasn’t just flattery.
She really was an amazing player.
- Oh! There’s something else I need to tell you…
“Yes?”
- About that apartment where Yoo Cheol-min used to live.
Suddenly talking about the apartment.
Could they have found out about Kozak’s visit?
“Ah, why the apartment…”
- It’s currently empty. Since there’s no one to move in, if you’re interested, we’ll just transfer the apartment to you. We can transfer the registry.
“…”
What was this?
Did he hear wrong?
Wasn’t Yoo Cheol-min’s place a penthouse?
Just transfer it meant…
“For free?”
- Yes, though you’ll have to pay maintenance fees separately. That won’t be covered.
The penthouse maintenance fees alone must be enormous but…
What did maintenance fees matter?
They’re offering to transfer the registry.
However,
Should I accept this? Or not?
Had to choose carefully.
This wasn’t just about accepting or refusing right now.
Need to consider everything thoroughly,
“Could you give me some time? I need to think about it.”
- That’s fine. Nothing will change even if you accept the apartment. It’s just a gesture of appreciation for letting us rent the Holy Sword cheaply.
Well,
Was it really just a gesture of appreciation?
Should discuss with the summoned beings.
Then make a decision.
※ ※ ※
After finishing the ramyeon and doing the dishes.
Juhyeok called Gyeon Dallae and Kozak.
“I just received a phone call…”
He explained the details to them.
Then opened his laptop to search for and show them photos of the penthouse Yoo Cheol-min lived in.
All his Korean assets were confiscated as the price for breaking his contract.
This house was one of them.
“Kozak, you know well right? Since you visited once.”
“Yes sir!”
“How was it?”
“Can’t express it in words. So magnificent, there’s even a rooftop garden. Could grow lettuce to eat with beef.”
Gyeon Dallae studied the photos carefully too.
“It looks even better than the palace this girl lived in during her lifetime. It seems fitting for Young Master’s status.”
He thought the same.
But rather than status, he needed a bigger place right now.
Juhyeok now had more family than at home.
After a few more trait enhancements, would there only be three summoned beings together?
How could they all live cramped together in this small place?
“Would you all prefer to keep living here, or move?”
“I’m fine here too. But wouldn’t a bigger house be better if possible?”
“This girl agrees with Sir Kozak’s words.”
“Hmm…”
Actually, he’d decided.
He needed a bigger house.
The penthouse really appealed to him too.
However, his concern at this point wasn’t whether to move or not.
Accept it for free? Or buy it with money?
Not an easy decision.
So when he shared these thoughts,
“In my opinion, I’m against free. Nothing’s free in this world. Capitalism is ruthless. You’ll have to pay the price somehow else.”
“This girl thinks you may accept it. Compared to the grace you’ve shown them, this house is but a trivial price.”
Opinions divided.
Kozak’s argument made sense, and Gyeon Dallae’s points were valid too.
What to do?
Taking it for free felt like it would give him indigestion,
Just buy it properly with money?
The most expensive thing Juhyeok had bought so far was a 40 million won hand shield.
That too with a loan.
That was for survival so excluding that.
He wasn’t originally the type to buy things recklessly.
The shopping gods never descended upon Juhyeok.
When he needed something, he’d access online shopping malls.
If he found something he liked, first save it to cart.
Then search for products with similar specs and add those to cart too,
Compare multiple items like this, consider cost-effectiveness, and select just one product that seemed best among them.
But would he buy it right away?
Had to check reviews.
Why the good reviews were good.
Why the bad reviews were bad.
Consider if they might be viral marketing.
Only after weighing everything would he finally move his mouse to the payment window.
Click right away?
No way!
About to pay, he’d hit back and search online shopping malls again to see if this really was the best choice.
This process had to be repeated several times.
Sometimes it took over three hours just to buy one thing.
After such lengthy deliberation, the items he bought usually cost less than 10,000 won.
He’d trembled even buying 10,000 won items… and now an apartment?
Anyway, this discussion would take a while.
Feeling thirsty, should drink something.
“Let’s continue over coffee. Through the delivery app…”
Kozak said,
“Delivery fee is wasteful. I can go get it. Need to save after eating so much meat.”
“No need, how much is delivery fee anyway.”
“I’m faster than delivery. It’s just up front, won’t take long.”
Well if he insists,
“Here, pay with this card.”
“Yes sir!”
“Take the recognition interference device and entry keycard just in case.”
“Understood. Let me take orders before going.”
※ ※ ※
Kozak left the officetel alone.
A world not yet ruined.
People moving busily.
Cars filling the roads.
Over there, from the abyss filled only with souls,
Just being able to come out with a physical body was already so thankful,
To think he could freely enjoy all these real world goods like this.
Master Bong must live long and prosper.
Beyond human lifespan, like elves or dragons.
Just had to clear the tower diligently.
Among tower rewards were treasures that extended human lifespan.
They should start appearing one by one around floor 80 or so.
Which cafe should I go to though?
Korea had too many cafes.
Enough to trigger choice paralysis,
Plenty just around the officetel.
Don’t understand why they guzzle that bitter coffee like water.
Take Master Bong for instance – iced americano.
Meanwhile, Gyeon Dallae preferred strawberry latte, and himself, sweet and sour grapefruit ade.
Let’s go to the biggest one.
That Star-something cafe.
Most crowded.
Must be delicious since so many people come.
Kozak, carrying the recognition interference device.
Opened the cafe door and entered.
Where was that kiosk?
He knew how to use it.
Saw Master Bong operate it several times during their Seoul trip after eating beef a few days ago.
Could just order directly from staff but should try using this once.
So as he approached the kiosk,
Hm?
Kozak’s eyes caught some suspicious people.
Two men sitting at a table, tapping their smartphones with tea drinks in front of them.
Oh…
An extremely ordinary sight.
But he could sense it.
The thick smell of blood emanating from their bodies.
Well well?
Kozak was an assassin.
He could recognize similar types at a glance.
Instinctively began scanning.
Small scars on their hands.
Must be from handling knives.
And the faint gunpowder smell from inside their jackets.
Guns?
Their ankles were suspicious too.
Probably carrying knives.
And not just one.
In their sleeves, at their waists too.
In this peaceful world, not just one but two people who seemed to have killed at least dozens, drinking tea at a cafe near Master Bong’s officetel?
Could it be coincidence?
No way.
Still, they could be Korean military or national intelligence agents.
Kozak casually shifted his steps.
Passed by the table where the suspicious men sat.
Didn’t even turn his head.
First, leave his unique magical tracking mark.
Swish, swish.
On both of them.
Just as they got up to leave.
Kozak postponed ordering drinks and followed.
As soon as they left the cafe.
Vroom, screech.
A suspicious van pulled up,
Click, the door opened and the two men got in.
Reflected in the cafe window, quite a few people were already in the van besides those two.
Kozak placed a tracking mark on the van too.
Let’s see.
If they show up tomorrow too.
Of course, they might have nothing to do with Master Bong.
But if he judged there was even the slightest connection?
Sneer,
The corner of Kozak’s mouth twisted.
He was smiling but his expression was spine-chillingly terrifying.
Eyes cold enough to freeze.
A red tongue flickered between his lips.
Better prepare lots of ribbons.
Planning to keep this secret from Master Bong.
Because Summoned Being Principle 3, Article 3 had already been activated.
Kozak went back into the cafe and ordered drinks.
Placed them on a tray and returned to the officetel.
Beep, beep beep beep!
Opening the door with an energetic voice.
“Cha! Hehehe, Delivery Kozak is here!”
“Good work. Quick, come sit down.”
“Yes sir!”