Barbarian Warrior Gobang.
Honestly, when the assassin received a medal first, he felt a bit envious.
Unbefitting of a warrior, he even felt jealous.
But it couldn't be helped.
There was no denying the assassin had earned merit.
Still, to think they'd pin a badge on him too.
How could he not be grateful?
He would repay that trust with faith.
Skeletons empowered by a dark aura.
They were troublesome foes.
Solid bones, and they even wielded weapons.
Let your guard down for a moment, and a blade would slip right in and damage the flesh.
Even a body tougher than steel could be pierced.
That was the terrifying part of the dark aura.
This was a section that required evasive tanking—you couldn't just charge in blindly.
But Gobang had no such thing as evasion.
"KUOOOOOO!!!"
A roar of provocation.
Come at me! I'll take it all!
So as not to disgrace the badge.
Veronica, too, rolled across the battlefield without a moment's rest.
Shoot-and-scoot in prone sniper mode, burst fire in assault mode, and whenever enemies closed in, she swung the rifle butt to secure distance… a full array of tactical maneuvers unfolded.
Pa-shut! Pa-shut! Pa-shut!
The more medals, the better.
They were proof that a commander had acknowledged you as a soldier.
That was how you became top priority for promotion.
Veronica's regrets from her living days weren't limited to never getting enough sleep.
She had earned merit right before dying, yet was killed without a promotion.
A two-rank special promotion had been all but guaranteed.
In the end, she died as a sergeant.
She never even got to see the chevrons of a staff sergeant.
But a badge?
Couldn't that fulfill the wish she never achieved in life?
Gyeon Dallae was drenched in sweat as she devoted herself to the cleansing rite.
Compared to the overwhelming power of holy energy, her ritual was admittedly a bit lacking.
After all, her focus was more on appeasing the dead than suppressing them.
That meant she could only weaken the dark aura—she couldn't deal direct damage.
If, in the next random summon, a Saint or Priest class were to appear…
She might get kicked out, badge or no badge.
At this point, she could understand how Kosak and Rajiks must have felt back then.
You had to constantly prove your worth.
If only to repay the symbol of trust bestowed by the Young Master—the Platinum Badge.
The dance of the shamaness Gyeon Dallae grew even more intense.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Eyes bloodshot, Rajiks dug furiously into the ground.
If there was even a hint of something suspicious, he dug without question.
Just look at this.
The warrior, the magical gunner, the shamaness, the assassin… all frantically hunting skeletons.
Why are they so fast?
At this rate, once the clear is finished, exploration will end immediately.
It's probably not intentional, but…
Either way, they're basically enemies who get in his way.
"Ho-eh!"
Another fragment of a sacred relic acquired.
And a ticket fragment, too.
The next badge is mine.
The higher the floor, the more advantageous it becomes for him.
Because he'll be able to unearth even more item fragments.
Kosak was slightly flustered.
No—what's wrong with these guys?
Since when were they this hardworking?
They were carrying out the mission as if they had no tomorrow.
And it wasn't like their teamwork was off—far from it.
Gobang pulled aggro, Veronica sprayed area damage with rapid-fire small-caliber rounds, and Gyeon Dallae's dance grew ever more languid.
The hunt was extremely efficient.
If anything, things were running more organically than before.
And Rajiks, too.
You could tell just by looking at his face.
He'd found something again.
The most threatening competitor here.
Haa… Rajiks the worker, can't I make a living too?
This won't do.
I need to work harder at stripping the bones.
At this rate, I won't even catch a whiff of a badge.
Left alone, Juhyeok.
He just stood there blankly, holding the holy sword.
Why did I even bring the holy sword?
What was I planning to do with this?
Is it just for decoration?
Well, it does look cool.
Radiant light was enveloping his entire body.
Hmm…
The party's momentum had changed.
Before he could even do anything, the skeletons were already cracking apart, turning into ingredients for bone broth.
Why is everyone like this?
Do you all want the badge that badly?
"Um…"
"Busy! Don't talk to me!"
"Mr. Gobang?"
"KUUOOO!!!"
"S-Sergeant Veronica!"
"Skeleton approaching from the front, skull penetration confirmed, cumulative damage sufficient—requesting finishing blow."
"…Princess?"
"Ho-eoi, hwoi— the flower garden of the Western Paradise is that way."
What is Rajiks doing now?
"Hoeeek!"
Thud—roll—Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
"…."
Ah.
I thought after awakening as a player, I'd escaped being a loner.
Turns out…
That was a misunderstanding.
If this isn't being ostracized, then what is?
Do you want the badge that badly?
You want to pin it right on your chest?
That won't do.
I'm not giving it out easily.
I'll make you beg on your knees for just one—
[You have successfully completed the 63rd Floor mission.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: 6.3 kg of Mana Stones]
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 63rd Floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: Platinum Badge has been awarded.]
So that's it.
[You may now challenge the 64th Floor.]
[Exiting the Black Tower of the Republic of Korea.]
Guess I'll just do repeat clears.
Might as well skin some hides.
Awakening Management Administration.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu and Vice Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il sat facing each other in discussion.
"…Honestly, if it weren't you, I'd never have believed it."
"I feel the same way. If you only heard it described, how could anyone believe it?"
"And control? For players with summoning traits, the hardest part is usually the summons themselves… hmm, should I call them summonees? Anyway, did you have any trouble controlling them?"
"No, at least not so far."
Jeon Gwang-il recalled the events of that time.
When Bong Juhyeok shouted "Summon," a white man appeared.
When told, This is the situation, he said Gobang needed to be called too—and vanished in an instant.
The giant named Gobang was the same.
With his massive body, he shielded Bong Juhyeok and crushed the terrorists.
"At a single word from Player Bong, they moved in perfect unison. What control is there to speak of? They handled everything on their own."
"Unbelievable! Summoning people? And people who speak Korean?"
It was absurd. Human summoning.
Let's say that's possible.
People already summon spirits, golems, and beasts—so maybe humans, too.
But this hadn't happened inside the Tower.
It happened in reality.
Which meant Bong Juhyeok was a player who could use Tower abilities even in the real world.
If that fact became public—
"It'd cause an uproar."
This wasn't a simple matter.
He could instantly be classified as a dangerous individual.
"He's not some villain or criminal type, is he?"
"Not at all. Of course, I was the only witness, but why do you think Player Bong revealed his abilities? It was to save Player Nam Gaeun and the others."
"…What you're saying makes sense, but."
If he had been cruel or selfish, he would've fled alone.
He certainly had the power to do so.
"But would others see it that way?"
Humanity shared a common enemy—the Black Tower.
Ideally, people should unite, show consideration, and stand in solidarity.
But that was nothing more than an ideal.
Competition between nations had only grown fiercer.
Petty and unethical acts were committed without hesitation.
Just look at China's abduction of players.
"Whew… the secrets just keep piling up. I don't even know how to respond anymore—my head's about to burst."
Watching Park Gyeongsu fret, Jeon Gwang-il cautiously made a suggestion.
"What about this?"
"What is it?"
"Player Bong's summons—no, summonees—they're people, aren't they?"
"That's right."
"Then we treat them as people."
"…Huh?"
"We make them citizens of the Republic of Korea."
Park Gyeongsu stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly straightened in his chair.
"Korean citizens?"
"All we have to do is hide the fact that they're summonees, right? Even if their identities are revealed later, people will only know them as Korean players."
"Uh…"
"Player naturalization falls under the jurisdiction of the Awakening Management Administration. We can create new identities flawlessly."
That was true.
Creating an identity wasn't difficult.
They'd done naturalization countless times already.
Players themselves were national assets.
Elite players tackled uncleared Towers.
Ordinary players supplied mana stones and Tower materials.
If a foreign player requested naturalization, they accepted as long as they weren't criminals.
They'd processed many such cases recently.
Defector players from North Korea.
Asylum-seeking players from politically unstable countries.
Immigrant players who simply liked Korea.
A new beginning as a Korean.
Their pasts were completely wiped clean.
Player Bong's summonees would be no different.
What's the problem?
They're people.
"That's a good… no, a very good idea."
"I'll meet Player Bong and suggest it to him."
"Yes, yes—but don't push too hard. Be careful."
Knock, knock.
At that moment, Team Leader Lee Mina entered the office.
"Team Leader Lee, welcome. What brings you here?"
"The 63rd Floor of the Black Tower (Korea) has just been cleared with an S++ rating."
"Ah, I see."
"I contacted him separately. He said he'll challenge the 64th Floor tomorrow and then return the holy sword."
"Understood."
They'd discussed it before.
He said he'd go up to the 64th Floor and then rest for a while.
"He could even do the 66th Floor."
"But wouldn't that make the public anxious? They won't know when the 67th Floor might be cleared."
It was true that they needed to pace it.
They had to use the six-month deadline efficiently.
"Which country has the next reservation for the holy sword?"
"Russia."
"…Hmm. I don't trust those bear cubs."
"Don't worry. They won't dare do anything foolish."
The holy sword was already a global public asset.
If it disappeared or was damaged beyond repair, the entire world would rise up in outrage.
Unless some insane terrorist decided on mutual destruction.
That was why, at the national level, the sword was only loaned—after thorough vetting—to each country's top player.
"And after Russia?"
"Saudi Arabia."
"Saudi Arabia should be fine. Maybe they'll even rent it twice—"
"Hahaha, I'm looking forward to it as well. Player Bong will be pleased."
They could rent it even three times—as long as the rental fee was paid.
Still, there were two of them.
Two copies of the naturalization paperwork should be enough, right?
There couldn't possibly be more.
Juhyeok's penthouse.
Laughter was in full bloom.
Normally, the higher the floor, the harder it should get—but instead, it had become easier.
"Hehehehe, didja see? I'm Summoner Bong's right-hand man, I am!"
"It cannot be helped. This maiden is the Young Master's left arm."
"A warrior is the summoner's sturdy right leg."
"Huh? Then what about Sergeant Veronica?"
"I'm the commander's burning heart, obviously."
"…That's a bit much."
"What about Rajiks the worker?"
"Ho-eh, I'm the summoner's nose."
"The flaring nostrils?"
"I sniff smells instead, hoeeeee."
With that, Rajiks rolled right up in front of Juhyeok.
Clatter!
He spilled something out.
Runes and ticket fragments.
This many?
Looks like he really dug the ground like his life depended on it.
"Ho-eng!"
Want to try fitting them together?
Slide, slide.
Matching pieces snapped together, mismatched ones didn't react—and then, suddenly!
Fwoosh! A flash of light.
[All fragments have been assembled.]
[You have obtained the item: Multinational Tower Access Ticket.]
"Oh!"
At last, a completed item.
He'd earned another merit. Should I give him a badge or not?
"Ho-eh, I'll work even harder."
Rooooll.
Before Juhyeok could even think about it, Rajiks rolled off again.
Looks like he judged that this wasn't enough to earn a badge yet.
Well, if he completes one more, I'll have to give him one.
At this rate, Rajiks might end up monopolizing the badges.
Tomorrow's the 64th-floor clear. After that, I should return the holy sword.
The reservation list for the holy sword is backed up anyway.
And there's also the event scheduled for the 64th floor.
The perk.
It's usually on the 65th floor, but with the Multinational Tower Access Ticket, it's been pulled forward by one floor.
Let's see what comes out.
And then, the random summon.
He still hadn't decided whether to draw or not.
Might be a good idea to discuss it with the summoned ones.
Anyway, after finishing the 64th floor, what should I do? There's plenty of time.
Feels like it's about time to seriously start doing things outside.
Of course, not alone—together with the summoned ones.
At the moment, there were no bodyguards either.
The perceptive Vice Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il had pulled them all out.
He could move around freely.
No need for perception-jamming talismans either.
Gobang had evolved, and in his normal state, he wasn't even two meters tall anymore.
Kosak had a skill that let him freely change his facial features.
Gyeon Dallae looked like an ordinary high school girl when outside.
Veronica would just pass as a foreign tourist.
Only Rajiks was a bit concerning, but…
How about going shopping at a department store?
Buy a few outfits.
Still, there was something he was curious about.
"Princess."
"Speak, if you please."
"If you're wearing real-world clothes when your summon is released, do you appear wearing the same clothes the next time you're summoned?"
"That is correct. The last appearance is automatically saved. And when we come outside again, any changes are applied automatically."
So they don't disappear.
One more thing.
"You said that when a summon is released, you go to the world of souls, right?"
"That is so."
"What kind of place is it? And what do you summoned ones look like there?"
"I shall answer only within the bounds permitted to this maiden."
Gyeon Dallae began explaining point by point.
"It is a place so vast it defies imagination. There, we exist only as souls—as spiritual bodies."
Spiritual bodies. Ghosts.
They were people who had already died, after all.
"Everything becomes conceptual. The items I possess, the clothes I wear—you might think of them like data in a computer game."
Game data, huh.
Well, tower clearing itself was pretty game-like.
That's why awakened ones were called players.
"Can you meet each other there? Us summoned ones, I mean."
"Who knows? It is so vast that… of course, if one truly wished to find another, it would be possible. But is there any real need to do so?"
You'd meet again anyway when summoned.
So, to sum it up:
When summoned ones are released, they're saved in their immediate prior state and return to the world of spiritual bodies.
When summoned again, those spiritual bodies materialize, manifesting in forms no different from living humans.
Got it.
Then let's enjoy it.
The abundant world of Earth.
"Let's pick a day and go out."
"S-So, beef? We eat beef?"
"No. Shopping. Department store… let's buy some clothes."
"The warrior dislikes shopping. But if the summoner says go, I go."
"Oh, I love it. I'll dress up real sharp."
Just in case—
"Let's each put on a perception-jamming talisman. Rajiks, you'll be okay too, right?"
"Rajiks the servant shall appear as a morbidly obese child."
"Ho-eng?"
Since the holy sword rental fees will be coming in back-to-back soon, I shouldn't hold back—spend freely.
Blowing money. I've always wanted to try that at least once.
Come to think of it, having some transportation would be nice too.
With this many people, taking taxis is awkward.
Buy a car?
I do have a license.
Got it near the end of my military service.
A van would be just right. Maybe a 15-seater.
Better to have extra space.
You never know how many more people there'll be in the future.