A dark night.
The Namyangju villa.
The summoned beings had all returned, leaving only Juhyeok behind.
Sometimes, time alone was necessary.
Operating the Cheonji Ilwon Technique,
he began his breathing exercises.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo!"
Then, drawing up Blood Jade Energy with his left hand, while gripping the Thunderstorm Cudgel with his right—
Spot! Spapapat!
With Shadow Footwork, he unleashed Honwon Thunderclap Cudgel,
Pachichichik!
Finally, he summoned the homunculi to clean up the surroundings.
Just that alone made two hours fly by.
Training he did at least once a day.
…Not sure if I'll ever need this in real life.
Still, practice had to be consistent.
Since starting martial arts training, his body had become incredibly healthy.
He wasn't tired even without sleep.
Good health was the best, after all.
Juhyeok was still waiting for Gobang.
It took about two weeks for an SSR rank to break through to LSSR.
But two weeks had already passed.
He still wasn't in a summonable state.
Just when exactly…
Well, he'd keep waiting.
Maybe with a drink.
Juhyeok enjoyed alcohol.
Even back when he lived in a shabby semi-basement, he'd buy soju and a few snacks and drink alone.
But alcohol tasted best with company.
Among the summoned beings, none enjoyed drinking except Mad Berserker.
What could he do?
He'd send everyone back and summon them separately for a drink.
But before summoning Mad Berserker—
Juhyeok went into the parked camping car.
It felt unfair to treat only Mad Berserker.
If possible, he could include Mari too.
Among the summoned beings, there were only two LSSR ranks.
When Gobang returned, there would be three—but not yet.
"Designated Summon: Aliamari!"
Hwaak!
Spot!
The moment she appeared, Mari sat down and banged her head against the camping car wall.
Come to think of it, I still haven't even seen her face once.
When would she show it?
Juhyeok quietly closed the car door and stepped outside.
Then he picked up his tablet.
: Hello, Ms. Mari.
: Thank you for summoning me again. And for the 5-star rating too.
She talked so well through the tablet, but—
: It's nothing big, but I was thinking of having a drink with Lord Mad Berserker. Would you like to join us?
: No. I don't want to.
A firm rejection.
: I can't drink alcohol, and the old man scares me.
I see.
Still, it must be boring being alone.
: Should I summon Rajiks for you?
: No.
What a hardcore shut-in alchemist.
Well, with a tablet, she probably wouldn't get bored anyway.
: Um, I can't drink, but I can make alcohol.
Make alcohol?
: Really?
: It's a herbal infused liquor. If I use the Philosopher's Stone, I can speed up fermentation and aging.
That sounded promising.
What would alcohol made by an alchemist taste like?
: Please wait a little. I'll make it for you.
So he waited.
After about an hour—
Creak, the car door opened.
At the same time, a hand emerged, followed by two rather large glass jars being shoved out.
Homunculi deployed.
Cha-cha-cha-chak!
The homunculi carried the liquor bottles over to Juhyeok.
: If you ever want more, I can make it anytime.
: I'll enjoy it.
Was this an item too?
Effect: There's no way to properly describe it, but it's good for men. Even if you chug the whole bottle, there's no hangover. A man's drink.
An interesting effect.
He was curious about the taste too.
"Designated Summon: Mad Berserker!"
Spot!
"Summoner."
"Welcome."
"Thank you for calling me."
"Hahaha, have a seat."
"Drinking outdoors under the moonlight—how serene. The liquor will taste better for it."
He poured a glass first.
Pour—
"Hm? This liquor… the aroma is extraordinary."
"Mari made it for us. She said it's herbal infused liquor."
"Is that so? That foul-mouthed elf has all sorts of talents, it seems."
He lifted the cup and drank.
"…Haa!"
"Fuah!"
What?
How could liquor like this exist?
From the scent alone as it approached his lips, it was different.
A faint floral fragrance, a pleasant aroma that lifted the mood.
But the taste?
Heavy and intense.
The moment it went down, his body heated up.
A wild, surging first impression.
A deep, lingering aftertaste.
A man's drink.
The name fit perfectly.
He should ask her to make it often.
"Impressive. I have no choice but to acknowledge it."
"Agreed."
Drunk on alcohol, drunk on the atmosphere—
"Oh! Lord Mad Berserker."
"Speak."
"Earlier today as well, it looked like you were having a serious conversation with Mr. Kosak. What were you talking about?"
Flinch!
Mad Berserker glanced at Juhyeok.
Unless under special circumstances, a summoned being couldn't disobey the summoner or lie.
Some degree of autonomous action was allowed, though.
As long as it didn't concern the summoner's safety, small lies were permissible.
So Mad Berserker opened his mouth calmly, without changing his expression.
"Hmm, the topic of North Korea came up."
"What did you say?"
"That assassin fellow suggested we deal with the North Korean leadership."
Deal with them?
"Mr. Kosak did?"
"Yes. This old man opposed it. The summoner dislikes such actions—killing people, I mean."
It was true that he disliked it.
"But then he suggested taking over North Korea without killing anyone."
Hmm.
"Is that even possible? Handling North Korea without casualties? He claimed that subduing the leader alone would suffice… Truly a difficult matter."
Oh? That actually sounded like a good idea.
"So I scolded him for spouting nonsense. Hahaha."
"That's not a bad idea."
"Indeed. One must approach such matters carefully. If it leads to war—hm? But what exactly do you mean by 'not a bad idea'?"
Juhyeok thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Mr. Kosak's idea—subduing… no, persuading the North Korean chairman and dealing with it that way."
Mad Berserker blinked.
"…Uh, that's okay?"
"It's a clean solution."
"R-really?"
"We can minimize casualties, prevent a war, and if things go well, even take the tower. It really is like Mr. Kosak."
Mad Berserker looked dumbfounded.
So it was actually fine?
"Ahem!"
Mad Berserker cleared his throat.
"Actually, it was I who proposed it first. That assassin—does he even have the brains for such a plan?"
"…"
"I'm serious."
"…"
Well, regardless of who suggested it first.
North Korea.
They didn't have the capability to clear the undead section from before Kabalon.
Even if they wielded the holy sword.
In the end, it has to be dealt with. Even if I have to use the Tower Stronghold Declaration Loudspeaker.
Let's take the tower—
the badge, the perks, and the treasure vault as well.
"E-excuse me, Summoner. May I ask something?"
"Yes."
"When you say 'minimize casualties,' how many deaths are acceptable?"
"How could there be zero deaths? That would be asking too much."
Mad Berserker was deeply moved.
He grabbed Juhyeok's hand tightly.
"Let's do it. If this is what the summoner wants, we must do it. And there is a way."
"Shall we?"
"After all, what you truly want is to change the nationality of the North Korean Black Tower, is it not?"
"That's right."
"It can be done. It will simply take some time."
Time, he said.
If the tower collapsed during that time, or if the North Korean government did something insane—
"Haah… if only I had the Tower Stronghold Declaration Loudspeaker. It really should've come out as a perk by now."
The loudspeaker?
"If you have that, does it shorten the process?"
"Of course. It wouldn't even take half a month—peacefully, too."
Really?
"I have it."
"…What did you say?"
"Here."
Juhyeok took the loudspeaker out of his inventory and showed it to Mad Berserker.
"Ooooh!"
Mad Berserker beamed.
"Let's do it. I'll do it. Don't worry."
He'd gone and done it.
Now all that remained was to hope, as he said, that casualties would truly be minimized.
Still, Mad Berserker seemed to have changed a lot.
In the past, he might've insisted on wiping out the entire North Korean leadership.
He's watching his step a lot more now, too.
At first, Mad Berserker himself had been frightening.
Even when they shared drinks.
That was why Juhyeok had decided to clash head-on.
He thought it would be one of two outcomes: either he'd be absorbed into Mad Berserker's beliefs, or Mad Berserker into his.
But it was both.
They were influencing each other.
Like a married couple gradually growing alike.
Juhyeok made his decision.
The summoned beings gathered, heads together.
The briefing began.
Everyone clustered around.
Blood Wolf was excluded since he was a dog, and Ms. Mari was still inside the camping car, banging her head—
And for smoother proceedings, one outsider was invited as well.
Kosak stood before everyone.
"Greetings. I am the trusted confidant of Summoner Bong, the flower of unification, the dove of peace, the man everyone knows, the bridge for reunited families—John Kosak."
He bowed.
"Today, we have a special guest attending the briefing. A round of applause for Deputy Director Jeon Gwang-il."
Clap clap clap clap!
Jeon Gwang-il stood awkwardly and bowed.
That's right.
It was Jeon Gwang-il.
At the summoned beings' request, Juhyeok had personally called him.
Asking if he could come to Namyangju.
Jeon still looked dazed, not quite sure what was happening.
"Briefing begin."
A beam projector screen was set up.
When the laptop was connected—pop!—an image appeared.
A map of the Korean Peninsula, with the tower's location marked.
"We are going to take over North Korea. In the short term, change the Black Tower's nationality. In the long term, unification."
What?
Jeon Gwang-il was stunned.
Had he heard that wrong?
Out of nowhere…
He'd been asleep at home.
Then Player Bong said he had something urgent to discuss, so he'd rushed over in his car.
And now this?
Changing the tower's nationality?
Unification, no less?
"The Tower Stronghold Declaration Loudspeaker—this is basically a war-provoking item. If you use it without proper groundwork, it'll be a disaster."
What loudspeaker was he even talking about?
"But if you do sufficient groundwork first and then use the loudspeaker, it can't get more peaceful than this. How we do it is…"
Kosak continued his explanation.
They infiltrate North Korea.
Plant a Mark of Tracking on the chairman.
Every day, they dispatch into North Korea and stick close to him.
Then they patiently persuade him and walk together down the path of peace.
"For smooth achievement of our goals, I, Kosak, plan to assume the position of Minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea. Kyahaha! Comrades, stay alert. Minister Kosak has arrived!"
Jeon Gwang-il's jaw dropped.
This was absurd… or maybe not.
These people weren't exactly normal, after all.
The explanation continued.
And then Jeon Gwang-il realized—
why he'd been summoned here.
This briefing was for him.
This is how things will proceed, so don't be surprised.
Give the government a heads-up as well.
Unification…
It might actually be possible.
Of course, there were countless obstacles.
Politics, economy, culture—North and South were different in every way.
But if those differences were narrowed gradually, over time…
At that moment—
Juhyeok suddenly jumped to his feet.
"Wait, hold on!"
What now?
Everyone's eyes turned to him.
"It—It popped up!"
"…Huh?"
"Gobang—Gobang has…"
"Oh!"
"Is it true?"
"Hoho."
"Finally!"
A message had just arrived.
[The summoned being Barbarian Meat Shield has successfully broken through its rank. Evolution to LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) has been completed.]
Finally!
Gobang is coming. Gobang is here.
From Algobang, he advanced two stages into an SSR Gobang—and now, at last, into LSSR.
And then—ding!
[Achievement: You are the first to upgrade a summoned being to the LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) rank.]
An achievement, too.
Right. This really is an incredible achievement.
What achievement could be bigger than this?
[Achievement reward has been granted.]
[You may now enter the Tower up to three times per day.]
"…"
No, this is a bit…
It was the same before.
When Mad Berserker was first summoned, the achievement reward was two Tower entries per day.
Are all achievement rewards like this?
Well, does the reward really matter?
Gobang is here.
I'm trembling.
How has our Gobang changed?
First, calm down mentally.
"Barbarian Meat Shield… designated summon!"
Fwaaaaaah!
A blinding mass of light.
Papapat!
And then—he appeared.
Shining with LSSR brilliance,
the success story of summoned beings.
It was Gobang.
Name: Gobang
Rank: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
Type: Barbarian Warrior (Human)
Manifestation Time Limit: 4 hours
Satisfaction Rating: Average 5 stars
Resummon Cooldown: 3 hours (applies after dismissal)
"Mr. Gobang?"
"Summoner."
Aaaaaah!
"Welcome back."
"The warrior has awaited this day alone."
His appearance hadn't changed all that much.
Maybe he'd gotten slightly shorter?
Deeper eyes, a sharper jawline, and a magnificent beard.
His soulmate, the Human Holy Sword Lucius Bardin, gazed at Gobang with a deeply moved expression.
Their eyes met.
The two nodded to each other.
Gyeon-dallae also bowed gently, paying respect to Gobang.
"Lord of the Great Plains, congratulations on your safe return."
Veronica and Rajiks snapped to attention as well.
"To the Lord of the Great Plains… salute!"
They raised their hands powerfully.
"Certain victory!"
Thump.
"Hoe!"
Snap!
"Hehehe, Gobang."
"Assassin, you've worked hard in the meantime."
"Oh, it was nothing! …You're not going to flick my forehead or something unbecoming of a lord, right?"
"We'll see."
"…"
Truly, he carried the bearing of a lord.
The briefing was over.
They had secured sufficient information through Jeon Gwang-il, and now all that remained was execution.
They would go on a business trip to North Korea and begin negotiations (?) with the chairman for a long-term unification plan.
There was no need to wait.
They would start immediately.
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower, Floor 1.]
Entered Floor 1.
[Using the Tower-exclusive Exit Ring.]
[Please designate the nationality of the Tower you wish to exit.]
'North Korea.'
[Designation complete. Your next exit will be within a 10 km radius of the North Korean Black Tower.]
At the same time, mission abandonment.
[You have declared mission abandonment.]
[You have failed the mission.]
[Exiting the Republic of Korea Black Tower.]
Swoosh!
To the west, the silhouette of a fairly large city came into view.
Pyongyang.
Two people would be dispatched.
Kosak and Mad Berserker.
Mad Berserker would act as Kosak's temporary assistant.
He didn't need to go, but he volunteered—how could anyone stop him?
He wouldn't cause a major incident, right?
He'd changed, after all.
"Summoner Bong."
"Yes?"
"Please do that quickly."
Kosak's eyes sparkled.
By contrast, Juhyeok looked awkward.
"…Do I really have to?"
"Yes."
There was no choice.
Even if it made his skin crawl,
Juhyeok pointed toward Pyongyang and said,
"Go! Kosak!"
"Yes, sir!"
Kosak dashed off the instant the command was given.
Mad Berserker looked expectant as well, but—
"I won't do it."
"Well, very well."
Spot!
Now, it was time to head out with Gobang.
It had been a long time.
He needed to see how Gobang had changed.
The most suitable floor would be—
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower, Floor 69.]
A place where Dark Liches appeared.
Along with the countless undead they summoned.
Gobang stepped forward alone.
He expanded—swoooosh!
At the same time—
Chrrrrrk!
Tight black armor covered his entire body and head.
"Oooooh!"
"That's amazing."
"Light!!!"
"Hoe?"
Countless undead appeared at the lich's gesture.
Gobang stomped his foot.
Kwakakakakakak!
A tremendous shockwave swept across the battlefield of Floor 69.
Every undead in its path was instantly shattered.
It was as if an earthquake had struck.
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