The shopping had been satisfying.
Every built-in wardrobe in each room of the penthouse was crammed full of clothes and accessories the summoned ones had bought.
Well, considering how much money had been spent.
Still, I hadn't quite shaken off yesterday's humiliation.
I'd kicked my blanket so much in my sleep that my legs were sore.
The final, fourth after-party had been something else too.
We'd eaten and drunk like mad at a barbecue place.
Just that one day had cost tens of millions of won.
Yet the bank account barely showed it.
If anything, it felt like the balance kept growing the more I spent.
Not long ago, a Russian player had come to Korea, paid the rental fee, and borrowed the Holy Sword.
Russia has two Towers.
Both are on the 63rd floor, but since each has a different conquest time limit, he only cleared one.
He made a reservation to come back again in two months.
Thankfully, there were no accidents.
The conquest was successful, and the Holy Sword was returned safely.
Ten million dollars deposited into my account.
To Russia, this amount was probably nothing.
The money he'd earned by temporarily changing nationality and clearing three Chinese Towers one after another must have been enormous.
Money increasing at a crazy rate.
Holy Sword rental fees, Tower ore supplied directly to the Administration, and even leather sales that hadn't been paid yet.
Should I buy a building or something?
That wasn't a bad idea.
Much better than just letting money pile up in a bank account.
Anyway, let's try the 65th floor.
The original plan had been to park at the 64th floor.
The perks only went up to there, so there was no intention of forcing further climbs.
The idea was to bond with any new summoned ones, buy a car, and travel around the country.
But I changed my mind.
A big reason was that, thanks to the evil idea from Kosak, I could now use the Inquisitor Lucius Bardin as a Holy Sword.
Just imagining ghouls bursting apart under his radiance gave me a strange sense of pleasure.
So what would a fight with the 65th-floor Dullahan be like?
It's an undead monster considered something of a mid-boss.
There's another advantage to climbing higher floors.
The number of item fragments you can find through Rajiks's exploration increases.
If I don't go up in this situation, how can I call myself a true Tower man?
Before climbing,
Juhyeok called Vice Director Jeon Gwang-il of the Ministry.
— Ah! Player Bong, to what do we owe the pleasure? You even called first.
"Nothing major, but I was thinking of trying the 65th and 66th floors… that's okay, right?"
— Hahaha, of course. If you want to climb, you should. Just please refrain from the 67th floor. As you know, we need to fully use the time limit there.
"Oh, of course I won't touch the 67th floor."
People would panic.
Even when I cleared the 64th floor with an S++ rating, the media went wild.
Saying I should stop, that an uncontrolled genius was dangerous.
"Let's casually leak something while we're at it."
— Pardon?
"Say that I'm not going up to the 67th floor, and that there was prior coordination between the Awakening Administration and Gobang."
— That's…
"Well, everyone probably already knows."
Holy Sword, leather, ore supply.
Anyone with half a brain would have noticed.
That there was a close relationship between the Administration and an S++-rank conqueror.
— Understood. I'll just hint at it vaguely. Ambiguously.
With that taken care of,
First, the 65th floor.
Juhyeok summoned the companions one by one.
Starting with the most senior.
"Chu-uung! The right hand of Summoner Bong, sharp-witted mastermind, top-secret special agent, Kosak reporting for duty!"
He appeared wearing luxury sunglasses bought at a department store.
He really does appear exactly as he was saved.
Next was Gobang.
He was wearing a top-of-the-line luxury suit.
Designer shoes, a tie, and a shining platinum badge on his chest.
"Summoner, Gobang has arrived."
Stylish.
The fit was absolutely perfect.
"But you won't be able to enter the Tower wearing that. If you gigantify, it'll tear."
"It's fine, Summoner. It won't tear."
"…Why?"
"It was saved and registered as my personal equipment. When I gigantify, the clothes expand."
"Ah!"
So I'll be seeing a suit-wearing giant Gobang?
Then came Gyeon Dallae.
"Thank you for summoning me again today."
Jeans, a T-shirt, sneakers.
The perfect Korean teenage look.
What about Rajiks and Veronica?
"Hoeng!"
"Victory! Sergeant Veronica Caliber reporting in at your summons, Commander!"
Both had shopped a lot, but nothing about them looked different.
Rajiks's purchases were stored in his subspace backpack, and Veronica's items were in the wardrobe.
"Then shall we head to the 65th floor?"
To hunt the Dullahan.
We'll summon our weapons inside.
[Entering the Republic of Korea's Black Tower, 65th Floor.]
The environment on the 65th floor was a plain.
So even from the safe zone, you could clearly see the mission area.
It looked like the sea.
Actual waves rolled in—waves of undead.
Terrifying.
A legion-class undead force.
Every undead monster encountered up to the 64th floor filled the vast plains.
And in the middle of the plain, on elevated ground, was a headless knight riding a skeletal horse.
That was the target of the 65th floor.
If you kill the Dullahan, the game's over.
But it's extremely difficult.
To reach the Dullahan, you have to break through a massive undead legion—how do you even do that?
Of course, there is a relatively easy method.
The Dullahan doesn't just stay put on the high ground.
Sooner or later, it moves.
As if trying to play commander, it rides its skeletal horse and patrols the plains in wide circles.
It usually takes about five hours from the start of the patrol to reach the entrance of the mission area.
So if you do nothing and quietly wait, it'll eventually appear right in front of the player.
"If you wait about five hours, it becomes easy. Though the Dullahan is a knight, so its dark aura is quite large in size and range, it also has the disadvantage of lacking a head, making it not too difficult to deal with."
In other words, kill it after five hours.
"Then what about an S++ clear?"
"That would be difficult."
"So it's completely impossible?"
"With a straightforward approach, it is possible. If you break through the undead legion and directly defeat the Dullahan…"
"Hm."
Charge straight through that?
That's dangerous.
Especially for non-combat summoned ones like Gyeon Dallae and Rajiks.
Still, there's a way.
The straightforward method.
We even have the Holy Sword.
"Mr. Rajiks and the Princess should move together with Gobang. Ride on his shoulders."
Gobang had done it a few times before, so he'd be used to it.
But—
"Eh? Can't do that. The Princess is one thing, but our worker Rajiks—if he rolls away, he's faster than Sergeant Bae. Summoner Bong should ride instead."
"Hoe!"
That can't be right.
Children and teenagers go first.
Embarrassing as it is, no matter how much of a loser I am, I can't yield on this.
"What, am I a slug or something? Who taught you Shadow Steps? Huh? Did you forget Air-Walking?"
"Ah, th-that's not what I meant."
"Master, please ascend together with this young lady. A scholar does not run even when it rains…"
"Enough. Do as I say. I'll run, so get ready to sprint."
"…Yes."
Break through the undead legion and kill the Dullahan directly.
A strategy no one had ever attempted.
Well, every clear so far had been like that.
"Let's begin."
Swoooosh! Gobang's body expanded, as if reaching for the sky.
The suit expanded with him, making him look unbelievably cool.
I can't call him a barbarian warrior anymore.
Gobang—the cold, urban warrior.
Yet endlessly warm toward his companions.
"Designated summon: Lucius Bardin."
Spot!
"Summoner! You have been deceived—"
"Shh! Other than manifesting radiance, all other skills are forbidden. O light! No further speech, no struggling."
"..."
Gobang lifted the now-limp Bardin.
"Bardin, manifest radiance."
"O light!!!"
Flaaash!
A blindingly brilliant radiance burst forth.
At the same time, Juhyeok and the others began moving carefully forward.
The moment the mission appeared, they'd sprint.
In the distance, a headless knight—the Dullahan—stood tall atop a horse.
A straight charge. No hesitation.
Anything blocking the way would be smashed apart.
[65th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Dark Knight Dullahan.]
[Time Limit: Within 16 hours.]
[Completion Condition: Dark Knight Dullahan 0/1]
The time limit was fairly generous.
That likely meant the window for an S++ rating was also longer.
"Run!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Gobang took the lead with massive strides.
"Kyahhh!"
"Kak!"
"Kraaah!"
The undead swarmed like a school of piranhas that had found prey.
Whoom! Bang! Bang!
As the human Holy Sword Bardin was swung, the undead shattered into fragments.
"Assault mode. Shotgun shells loaded. Selector to full-auto. Commencing tactical fire."
Pshashat! Pshashat! Pshashat!
Veronica's rapid shotgun fire.
The goal wasn't penetration, but stopping their advance.
The undead struck by bullets staggered backward, step by step.
Kosak followed behind, guarding Juhyeok.
Patpatpatpat!
Both of them using the same skill—Shadow Steps.
"Bardin, radiance."
"O light!!!"
Booooom! Crashashash!
Nothing could stop them.
Gobang charged forward, sweeping away undead like a military snowplow clearing roads.
They couldn't stop even for a moment.
If they did, they'd be swallowed by the undead tide.
How long would it take?
No one knew—this was uncharted territory.
But one thing was certain.
This was the fastest possible method.
"Radiance."
"O light!!!"
Who could stop Gobang?
With Bardin dangling from his hand, he swung him back and forth while striding forward.
Crashashashashash…
Still, the undead kept coming relentlessly.
When they got close, Veronica laid down suppressive fire.
Pshashat! Pshashat!
Kosak's Shock Breaker, momentarily stunning targets.
Tzpirrit!
Jingle jingle.
Gyeon Dallae, riding on Gobang's shoulder, shook her bell, while Rajiks swung his golden pickaxe, urging Gobang onward.
"Huheeek!"
But there were too many.
Endless.
The undead surged like waves upon waves.
"O light!!!"
Crashashash!
"O light!!!"
Something was strange.
No one had ordered Bardin to manifest radiance.
"O light!!!"
He was doing it on his own.
It was true.
Lucius Bardin was shouting of his own accord.
"O light!!!"
Bardin's eyes were bloodshot.
His voice was filled with madness.
His expression was unhinged.
Was he evolving from fake madness into genuine insanity?
Even while being swung around by Gobang, he wasn't idle.
He swung the flail in his hand as well, smashing undead to pieces.
"Th-that thing's a pervert. He added an automatic radiance function himself. He's enjoying this. Ugh, that's creepy."
Enjoying it? In this situation?
"Look at his face. He's smiling, isn't he? He's snapped. His disposition is suspicious."
As if Kosak hadn't made him that way himself.
Pot calling the kettle black.
When would I ever meet a truly normal summoned one?
No, wait. There is one. Our reliable worker, Rajiks.
Juhyeok lifted his head and looked at Rajiks, riding on Gobang's shoulder.
"Huheeek!!!"
Rajiks raised his golden pickaxe high and screamed at the undead horde.
"..."
Is he starting to lose it too? That'd be a problem.
Now the remaining distance was about 100 meters.
Gobang continued charging.
"O light!!!"
Crashashash!
80 meters.
"Master, we are nearly there. Please be careful to the very end."
60 meters.
"Commander! Heavy rounds are ready!"
50 meters.
"Fire them!"
Ziiing!
Pajujuk! Paaaash!
The heavy rounds struck the Dullahan's body.
Its dark aura visibly weakened.
Remaining distance: about 30 meters.
At that very moment—
Rajiks stiffened atop Gobang's shoulder, his fur standing on end.
"Hooeeeek?"
Sniff sniff.
There was a smell.
Something was there.
Right there.
But it was deep.
Digging it out would take time.
The 65th-floor conquest looked like it was about to end—could he dig it out before then?
It was tight.
If he was going to dig, it had to be now.
Even if they came back for a repeat run, there was no guarantee it would still be there.
Once the mission was completed, the floor would reset.
"Hooeeek!!!"
Paat!
At last, Rajiks leapt from Gobang's shoulder.
At the same time—
Rororororororo…
Rajiks rolled across the ground, weaving through the undead.
"Top worker! Have you lost your mind?! Get back here at once!!!"
Gyeon Dallae screamed in horror.
Juhyeok saw it too.
This was dangerous.
"Rajiks!"
Spot!
Using Shadow Steps, Juhyeok chased after Rajiks as undead surged toward him.
Wooooong!
Blood-red Blood-Jade Aura densely wrapped around Juhyeok's arms up to his elbows.
Patpatpatpapap!
Juhyeok's new form moved, leaving afterimages.
Slash! Crack! Shrrrk! Crashashash!
Decapitating undead left and right with Blood-Jade Aura, he shouted,
"Gobang, go for the Dullahan first!"
"A-alright, Summoner."
Rajiks had eyes for nothing else now.
He too was in a frenzy.
Items, items… badges, badges.
A golden pickaxe in each hand.
"Huek! Huek! Huek!"
Thudthudthudthudthudthudthud!
He dug into the ground like a madman.
Juhyeok, Veronica, and Kosak were too busy escorting Rajiks to pay attention to anything else.
Gobang, alone—no, together with the Holy Sword Bardin—faced the Dullahan.
Screeeech!
The Dullahan charged on horseback, wielding a long lance—
Grab!
Catching the Dullahan's lance firmly with one hand, Gobang raised Bardin high and brought it crashing down.
"Light!!!"
A dazzling radiance.
The spiked armor worn by Bardin—
and, on top of that, the combined assault of the flail.
Whirr! Thud! One hit.
"Light!!!"
Whirr! Thud! Two hits.
"Light!!!"
Whirr! Whirr! Whirr….
Thud! Thud! Thud….
Like threshing grain, Gobang hammered the Dullahan down with the Holy Sword Bardin.
Crunch! The Dullahan shattered.
Crunch! The skeletal horse was not spared.
The dark knight Dullahan scattered into dust.
[Dark Knight Dullahan defeated 1/1]
[You have succeeded in the 65th-floor mission.]
[Level Up.]
[Reward: 6.5 kg of Mana Stones]
And then—
"Wheeeng!"
Covered in dirt, Rajiks popped up from a hole he'd dug himself, triumphantly raising a large rune fragment.
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating for the 65th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: Platinum Badge granted.]
[You may challenge the 66th floor.]
[Exiting the Black Tower of the Republic of Korea.]
Spot!
Juhyeok's penthouse.
"Haa…"
"Hoo…"
"…"
"Mm."
"Hoe…"
So it really was this exhausting.
Everyone was spent.
Juhyeok, the summoned beings, and even the Holy Sword dangling from Gobang's hand—
swaying.
Bardin's pale face, unfocused eyes, dented spiked armor—drip, drip—beads of sweat falling.
"Graaah…."
Looks like he's about to die. There's no choice but to send him off.
"Lucius Bardin, summon dismissed."
Spot!
After collecting himself for a moment, Juhyeok looked at Rajiks and asked,
"…Why did you do that?"
"Ho-e, this."
Rajiks handed Juhyeok a rune fragment.
"No, just one rune fragment—huh? What was so urgent about this?!"
You almost died.
You could've mined it slowly during repeated runs.
Still, he had to check the info…
"Gasp!"
The information that appeared in his mind.
"Th-th-this is a good one, right?"
"…This is huge."
No wonder the chunk was so big.
Just one more piece and it would be complete.
And in Juhyeok's inventory were countless rune fragments.
'If even one of them fits….'
Opening the inventory, he poured the fragments out in a cascade.
Gulp—swallowing dryly, Juhyeok tried fitting them together one by one.
Slide, slide, slide…
Then it happened. Sliiide—click!
One rune fragment snapped into place like a magnet.
[You have obtained the Rune of Pseudo-Summoned Rank Increase.]
"Yes!!!"
"Click it is!"
"Congratulations."
"How many is this now? Truly impressive."
Rajiks puffed out his chest proudly.
The badge seemed to gleam with sharp edges.
That makes four now?
"Mr. Rajiks."
"Hoe!"
"Well done."
"Hoeee—"
"However, there will be no badge."
"Hoek?"
Rajiks's eyes went wide.
You can't just praise impulsively.
That sudden action had been extremely dangerous.
If he praised him here, Rajiks might pull something like that again.
"I didn't give any orders—who told you to rush out on your own? Do you want to be unsummonable for 100 days?"
"…Hoe, I'm sorry."
"I was going to ban summoning for three days, but I'll forgive you because of this."
"Hoe."
It hurt his heart, but rewards and punishments had to be strict.
That aside—
"Ms. Veronica?"
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber!"
"Congratulations in advance on your promotion."
"Ah!"
"It's thanks to Mr. Rajiks, after all—"
In that instant!
"S-s-supply officer!"
Veronica suddenly hugged Rajiks tightly.
Rajiks was buried deep in her enormous chest.
At this rate, won't he suffocate?
'…Hmm.'
'…Hmm.'
'…Hmm.'
Anyway, what would her changed look like now?