Floor 72 — Necromancer Norma's workshop.
On an altar etched with a pentagram and ritual arrays,
Player Gerald was writhing.
He couldn't move, and he couldn't speak.
The time limit for the clear had long since expired, yet he hadn't been expelled from the tower.
Wasn't there supposed to be an automatic exit once the time ran out?
And yet, a full day had passed, and he remained bound to the altar.
'…Why did it turn out like this?'
The Floor 72 clear.
Just as expected, it had been easy.
Just like the mission on Floor 71.
He completed the basic mission.
Chimeras weren't difficult to deal with.
But then came the additional optional mission.
That's where things went wrong.
Suddenly—ding!
A system message appeared.
[The mission has been changed.]
Changed?
What changed?
[From the additional optional mission onward, this will be a Conditional Clear.]
A conditional clear.
[If you do not wish to proceed, you may exit the tower at this point.]
[Upon success, you will receive ten times the amount of high-grade mana stones and a 100% chance of additional clear rewards.]
He had heard about this.
Information Director Antonio had gotten from the Korean Awakener Administration.
If a "Conditional Clear" mission appears, abandon it immediately and leave the tower.
He had to choose.
Leave after completing only the basic mission,
Or proceed with the additional optional mission, even if it was a conditional clear.
The answer was obvious.
Had he come all this way just to do the basic mission?
From the start, he'd entered planning to do the additional missions—at least up to high difficulty.
Even if he gave up on the ultra-high difficulty.
And the rewards?
How could anyone resist that?
So he proceeded.
But then—
[The conditions for the Conditional Clear have been met.]
[Necromancer Kate and Necromancer Norma will join the additional mission.]
'What?'
[The high-difficulty and ultra-high-difficulty optional missions will now proceed automatically.]
[Midway abandonment is not possible.]
No abandoning midway?
Chimeras appeared simultaneously.
And on top of that, a woman and an old man appeared, each with nameplates floating above their heads.
"So it was you? We were just about to go hunt you down with my master, and you came to us on your own?"
So this was how it worked?
Letting Necromancer Kate escape on Floor 71 came back to haunt him on Floor 72?
He fought desperately.
He poured out every skill he had.
But it wasn't enough.
And now he was in this state.
No abandoning midway.
Which meant that if he failed the clear, he'd be trapped in the tower.
"How does it feel?"
Necromancer Kate whispered into Gerald's ear.
"You're curious, right? I'll tell you what's going to happen to you."
She sneered.
"First, we'll extract your soul. Your soul will be used to strengthen our precious Hydra, and your body… I'll personally turn it into a Chimera."
Extract his soul?
Turn him into a Chimera?
"Well, children's pure souls work best, but… you ruined that. You'll have to pay the price. It's a filthy soul, but we'll still make good use of it."
How dare fakes try to do this to a real human?
Things created for the sake of tower missions—
NPCs, if you compared them to a game.
"Honestly, I liked you."
What a joke.
Just kill me already.
"We saw it in our village, remember? The day you slaughtered those mercenaries without hesitation."
So what?
"Villagers died, old men died, mothers protecting their children died, even kids who were already grown were killed—and you didn't even blink."
So what about it?
It was a mission.
A mission the tower gave.
"Normally, a proper adventurer saves the people first. But you didn't. If necessary, you would've killed the villagers yourself, right?"
…What?
"I like villains. Despicable, cruel, selfish ones. Maybe it's because similar people are drawn to each other."
What was this?
How dare an NPC lecture a human about morality?
'If it were the real world, I would've saved the people first.'
How could you compare living, real humans to the tower's content targets—
'…Huh.'
A sudden question crossed his mind.
Were these really just manufactured humans?
Beings that talked like this, mocked him, confessed(?) things, and debated good and evil—were they really fake?
Gerald recalled what had happened in the village on Floor 71.
The stench of blood the moment he opened the door, the screams of people.
Villagers were slaughtered by mercenaries, children were kidnapped.
A mercenary bastard raising his sword to kill a woman; a child dying while trying to protect his mother.
Looking back, it had been horrific.
What had he done back then?
He'd just watched.
Because the mission was what mattered.
'…Damn it!'
Even if they were fake, that wasn't acceptable.
He should've saved the people first.
A wave of guilt crashed over him.
Gerald's mind was breaking.
"Kate, do it now. He's ready."
"Yes, Master."
Kate placed a round object into Gerald's mouth.
The Soul Extraction Orb.
[Intruding into America Black Tower (NO.1) Floor 72.]
Juhyeok appeared on Floor 72.
He immediately summoned the summoned companions.
The moment she appeared, Gyeon Dallae spoke.
"My lord, is this not Floor 72? Could it be another treasure vault?"
"We already looted it once. There's no way there'd be items."
But then—
"Hoeh, there are."
"…Huh? There are?"
Right. Of course there were.
Juhyeok explained in detail to the summoned companions why they had come.
"As expected, you appear here and there like lightning. France before, and now America. You truly roam the world, Summoner Bong. Hehehe."
Well, somehow—
"Welcome to the America Black Tower Seventy-Second Floor, sir."
"…"
What?
Why is your English so good?
"First, let's go check. Whether it's really Gerald, and if it is, whether he's alive. If he is, we need to get him out."
"Yes, sir!"
"I shall clear the path."
One slot left.
Then he'd summon the Blood Wolf too.
"Hoeeeh!"
"Grrr!"
Rajiks brightened.
The Blood Wolf wagged its tail.
Looks like those two had become soul-bonded companions as well, just like Gobang and Bardin.
The Mad Demon strode forward without hesitation.
He was so fast it was hard to keep up.
No mission prompt appears.
Of course.
This was a floor another player had been clearing.
He had merely intruded.
Before long, a massive cavern within the dungeon came into view.
Necromancer Norma's workshop.
But then—
"Oh? And who might you be?"
It was Kate.
She immediately grasped the situation.
So they hadn't managed to catch her on the 71st floor.
"Sergeant Verobe."
"Target locked."
Ziiiiiing!
Pajujuk!
Splash!
"W–What is this?!"
Puh-uck!
By Sergeant Verobe's hands, across three towers, in three splashes—
Kate died three times.
"Mad Demon."
Spot!
The Mad Demon was already gripping Necromancer Norma's head.
Crunch!
The supermagic beast Hydra, too—
Pajujuk! Kwaak! Skerererk!
Smashed by a flail, sniped by a magic gun, hacked apart by Kosak's blade, and finished off by the Mad Demon.
And at that very moment—
Something caught Juhyeok's eye.
Someone who looked like a player was lying atop the necromancer's altar.
He stepped closer.
"…Gerald."
It was him.
And his face was deathly pale.
As if he were already dead.
Was it too late?
Juhyeok pressed his ear to Gerald's chest.
A faint heartbeat.
"Hoo…"
Thank goodness.
Even a little later, and—
Juhyeok shook Gerald.
"Hello? Mr. Gerald? Or is it Watson?"
Gerald slowly opened his eyes.
…What?
But he couldn't speak.
His tongue was stiff and numb.
His mind still not intact.
"Oh right. You don't know Korean."
Even in his hazy state, Gerald was confused.
Who was this suddenly appearing Asian man?
A hallucination?
In any case, his consciousness returned for a moment—but he couldn't endure it.
Thud!
Gerald lost consciousness again.
"Uh—why did he pass out again?"
Kosak hurried over.
"I'll try waking him up."
Slap, slap!
Smacking Gerald's cheeks—
"Hey, Gerald, wake up! Wake up! Open your eyes! What's the matter?"
"…"
This guy's English has been good since earlier.
But still, no response.
What do we do?
Then—
"Hoeng!"
"Grrr!"
Rajiks appeared riding the Blood Wolf.
Judging by his expression, he'd looted another treasure vault.
As expected of the cosmic great bandit.
Anyway, it looked like they needed to leave the tower.
But nothing happened.
Kate was dead, Norma was dead, the Hydra was dead.
If the clear was successful, shouldn't they be ejected?
Hmm…
He could guess why.
This was a floor whose clear time had already expired.
Gerald had recklessly charged in and ended up like this—there was no way it would be judged a successful clear.
It's become a closed floor.
Then how do they get out?
[Would you like to exit the intruded floor?]
"Oh!"
As expected of the system.
Everything had its procedures.
Juhyeok lifted Gerald into his arms.
"Exit!"
Spot!
The Cheongdam-dong penthouse.
Gerald was carefully laid on the bed.
He still hadn't regained consciousness.
By now, some color should've returned to his face, or at least some sign of waking—
But instead, he looked worse by the minute.
His complexion growing paler.
At this rate, wouldn't he die?
Should I take him to a hospital?
No.
If it were a normal illness, he'd have gone immediately—but this was magical damage.
There was nothing a doctor could do.
I need to call an expert.
First, send one back.
"Dismiss Blood Wolf."
Spot!
The Blood Wolf vanished.
Juhyeok entered the room where Gerald lay.
"Designated summon: Aliamari."
Spot! Mari appeared.
Despite it being her third summon, the alchemist Mari was still crouched in the corner, her head pressed against the wall.
"Mari?"
She flinched!
Seems even hearing a human voice was hard for her.
She couldn't speak. She couldn't listen.
Severe. Very severe.
So the conversation began on the tablet.
Tap tap tap—typing on the keyboard.
Five stars were mandatory.
Even if she was a foul-mouthed keyboard warrior.
Mari scooted across the floor, pushing herself with her hips.
As if she didn't want to show her face even to her summoner.
With her back turned, she sat on the bed and carefully examined Gerald.
It seemed social anxiety didn't apply to unconscious people.
Sure enough, a red orb was lodged inside Gerald's mouth.
Juhyeok did as instructed.
Crunch! The orb shattered.
Oh!
As expected—instant diagnosis at a glance.
And even a prescription.
Mari filled a sheet of paper with the names of herbs.
Would they have them?
"Rajiks."
At the call of his name—
Rumble, rumble—the cosmic farmhand rolled into the room.
"Hoeng?"
Juhyeok showed Rajiks the list of herbs Mari had written.
"Can you get these?"
"Hoe, I have them already."
"Oh!"
Looks like he'd been growing herbs on the side all this time.
Honestly, among tower materials, herbs were the least profitable, so Juhyeok hadn't paid much attention.
Rajiks laid the herbs out beside Mari.
As Mari accepted them—
Being LSSR-ranked, she really had an eye for things.
Shrrk!
A table appeared in front of Mari.
Being a production-type, she must've carried subspace items.
The potions were completed quickly.
All that remained was to administer them.
And then—
Should I call Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il about now?
Juhyeok called Jeon Gwang-il on his smartphone.
Jeon Gwang-il ran like a madman through the underground parking lot of Juhyeok's penthouse.
His mind was half gone.
His breath came in ragged gasps.
Not because he'd been running—
But because he was shaking so badly.
Someone was at Player Bong's place?
Gerald?
What kind of insane nonsense was that?
If it hadn't been Player Bong saying it, he would've shouted exactly that.
But who was it coming from?
How could he not believe it?
If it was true, then by what means?
He'd heard an explanation.
Something about a tower intrusion ticket, entering America's Tower Floor 72, and so on—
Details later.
First, he needed to see it with his own eyes.
Jeon Gwang-il pressed the doorbell in front of the penthouse's private elevator.
"I-I'm in front of the elevator now."
The door opened automatically.
Whoosh! The elevator shot upward.
Ding!
The moment it arrived at the penthouse, the doors opened, and he rushed straight through the front entrance.
"Player Bong."
"That room over there. He's still asleep, but he should wake up soon."
"Ah—yes, yes."
He hurried over, flung the door open, and went inside.
"…Gasp!"
It really was Gerald.
How could he not recognize him?
They'd spoken many times while arranging Holy Sword rentals.
Suddenly—
"Ugh…"
A groan escaped Gerald as he regained consciousness.
As he lifted his upper body, his eyes met Jeon Gwang-il's.
"Gerald?"
"…Deputy Commissioner?"
They just stared at each other blankly.
"Why are you here, Deputy Commissioner?"
"W-Well, that is…"
"This is inside the tower— …Huh?!"
Whether an explanation was even possible was another question.
Washington, D.C., United States.
The living room of Gerald's mansion.
People filled the room.
But the atmosphere was heavy and bleak.
No one spoke.
Director Antonio wore a look of utter despair.
If only this were all a dream.
Gerald had left a message saying he was going to clear Floor 72 and entered the tower.
But he still hadn't come out.
Even after far more than a full day had passed.
The United States had lost its greatest player.
A hero who had successfully cleared two towers for his country.
"Steel yourself. What's done can't be undone—we must prepare for what comes next."
Macmillan spoke with the same grim expression.
"There was nothing we could do. How do you stop a player from entering the tower?"
"No. This was a failure of oversight. I was careless."
Players who entered the tower and cut down terrifying monsters with ease.
Judging them as strong just from appearances was a grave mistake.
In truth, they were endlessly fragile beings.
That was why staying by their side and managing their confidence and mental state was so important.
And Director Antonio believed he had failed at that.
"I'll take full responsibility. I'll step down from my position."
"Tsk. If you step down, then I'll—"
At that moment—
Ziiing!
Antonio's smartphone rang.
But this was not the time for a phone call.
If he ignored it, it would stop ringing.
Yet—
Ziiing! Ziiing! Ziiing…
It kept ringing.
It would stop, then ring again.
Ziiing! Ziiing!
…Who the hell is it?
He checked the screen.
Jeon Gwang-il, from the Korean Awakener Administration.
Probably calling to offer condolences.
Even though he knows what situation we're in.
But—
Ziiing! Ziiing! Ziiing! Ziiing!
"…What the fuck!!!"
Anger boiled over.
Had he lost his mind?
Why keep calling like this?
Antonio answered the call.
"What is it? Why are you calling?"
He snapped, irritation dripping from his voice.
"Do you even know what's going on right now? You should know better—who? Gerald? In Korea? And why is that such a big deal— …Huh? W-Wait a second!"
Had he heard that wrong?
"…W-Who is in Korea?"
Everyone's attention snapped to Antonio as he held the phone.
"Gerald?"
Gerald?
"Our player Gerald Watson? America's top player—that Gerald—in Korea? Are you sure?"
What kind of absurd statement was this?
They had CCTV footage.
Gerald entering the tower.
And he hadn't come out for over a day.
"Antonio, what are you talking about?"
Macmillan asked, and Antonio raised a hand, signaling him to wait.
"I-If this is a joke or a prank, I swear I'll kill—evidence? Y-Yes, p-please send it now."
At that moment—
Ding!
A message notification rang.
A photo.
A man who looked extremely healthy.
Gerald.
No doubt about it.
Standing next to him was Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il.
Was it really Gerald?
"…My God!"
What was this?
Why was he in Korea?
But was that even important right now?
Director Antonio shot to his feet.
"…Thank God! He's alive! He's alive!"
"Really? Let me see!"
"Wait a moment. …Deputy Commissioner Jeon? Can I speak with Gerald? Yes—please put him on."
"Put it on speaker!"
And shortly after—
A thunderous cheer erupted, loud enough to shake Gerald's mansion to its core.