When humanity climbs to the 71st floor of the Black Tower, many things change.
Most notably, the benefits granted.
A kind of reward celebrating the effort of overcoming the Curse of the 70th-Floor Average and making it this far.
High-grade mana stones, increased item drop rates, a drastic reduction in Tower-clear difficulty, and stacking Tower-collapse deadlines.
As a result, the world becomes a little safer.
Players steadily grow stronger as well.
But there is another purpose to the Tower.
Trials for the world and for players.
Without trials, the Tower would have no reason to exist.
By driving players to climb to the 80th floor, it releases Diamat into the world.
The Succubus Queen—the ruler who governs incubi and monsters.
Like the incubi, Diamat is different from ordinary lords.
She is not a physical-type but an intelligence-type.
Cunning, selfish, and adept at plotting schemes.
A trial designed to infiltrate the world, sow discord among nations to provoke wars, reduce the number of players, and ultimately lead to Tower collapse.
The Tower pushes players to step onto the 80th floor as quickly as possible.
Because, as time passes, players who only grow stronger continue to exist in the world.
Players who summon one helper every month, raise their ranks, and monopolize all kinds of Tower-given items.
Before such a player grows even stronger, the door to the 80th floor must be opened quickly.
To that end, two items were distributed as Tower rewards.
The function of these items is simple.
They beguile a player's mind, instilling a convincing belief and will that they must climb to the 80th floor.
They may not even realize they are being brainwashed.
The infiltration happens subtly, through dreams.
Diamat's Right Arm and Left Arm ensure Tower conquest under any circumstances, leading the player to the 80th floor.
And the moment the 80th floor is reached, Diamat's Right Arm and Left Arm are automatically destroyed.
The climb succeeds.
Diamat observes the world through the memories of the player who reached the 80th floor.
And the very first thing she does after escaping the Tower is polymorphing into a form indistinguishable from a human.
Then she looks for a place to hide.
A major city would be best.
Somewhere densely populated.
I need to lie low for now.
Why?
Because now is not the time to act.
After observing the world, the situation was the worst possible.
If she rushed in recklessly, she'd be dealt with before accomplishing anything.
If I'm discovered, it's over that very day.
From the memories of the player who climbed the 80th floor, she learned where the summoner player of this world is, and what he's been doing so far.
This is insane. A crazy summoner!
Unbelievable.
A player who consecutively clears the Black Tower's 76th floor at the highest rank.
How many Platinum badges must he have obtained?
How many privileges has he received?
At this point, the beings he summons must number at least six.
One of them might even be the same rank as herself.
Only then would consecutive highest-rank clears up to the 76th floor be possible.
You expect me to handle that monster alone?
No matter how she thought about it, it was impossible.
To be honest, she didn't even want to come out.
But by the laws of the Tower, she had no choice but to manifest outside.
Those stupid administrators.
How badly did they manage the Tower?
They raised a player into an outright monster and then tell me to give him a trial?
Is that even possible?
They should have told me in advance.
They screw up, then dump the cleanup on me.
For now, she would endure in absolute silence.
Even if the Tower imposed restrictions, it couldn't be helped.
Better than being discovered by acting rashly.
As slowly as possible.
Diamat quietly closed her eyes.
And mulled over the information she had gained.
No matter how she looked at it, he was a lunatic player.
Not only conquering his own Tower but also other nations' Towers at the highest rank.
Even Kabalon's curse—which had caused destruction in other worlds—was overcome with minimal damage.
He had even succeeded in forcibly occupying a Tower peacefully, without war.
She didn't know exactly who he was, but he lived in a country called South Korea.
Then where should her base be?
Conditions had to be met.
A country easy to hide in.
Yet one that could still exert direct influence on South Korea.
She would choose an appropriate place and establish a hideout.
But she wouldn't begin any operation immediately.
She would wait until an opportunity arrived.
When the first world announcement rang out, the world grew tense.
Everyone couldn't help but recall Kabalon's curse.
So it seemed.
The final world announcement:
The Lord of Monsters Diamat (True) manifests outside the Tower.
The boss of the 80th floor had emerged into the world.
That fact alone should have been the worst possible threat.
So what would happen?
A curse? Physical attacks?
Yet nothing happened.
Days passed, and still nothing.
Could it end as a mere incident?
The world remained quiet.
Thanks to that, the United States barely avoided disaster.
If anything had exploded, they would have been lambasted mercilessly.
No more videos were uploaded by the cult group that had threatened to climb the 80th floor.
Juhyeok met Jeon Gwang-il at the Management Agency.
"Director Antonio told me that the FBI has apprehended the ones who threatened the 80th-floor climb."
Wow.
The FBI.
"They traced back the upload routes of the YouTube videos."
Just like in movies and TV shows—the U.S. federal investigators lived up to their reputation.
"So they really were a cult?"
"Well… there's something strange."
"What is it?"
"They arrested two player suspects, but they claim they don't remember how they cleared the Tower, or why they climbed to the 80th floor at all. They say they don't remember anything."
"They don't remember? Not even information about floors above the 77th, or what Diamat looks like?"
"Yes. Nothing at all."
Hmm.
It was one of two things.
Either they were playing dumb and lying through their teeth—
Or they really had been possessed by something.
"The investigation is ongoing, so we'll have to wait and see. Antonio said he'd share anything unusual if it comes up."
They'll handle it well.
They're experts in that field.
Still… what about Diamat?
If she manifested, shouldn't she be taking some kind of action?
What if she's hiding somewhere, plotting something?
It was extremely unsettling.
Like having a boil on your backside.
Something that needs to be popped as soon as possible.
"Where do you think Diamat is?"
"Since it was the U.S. Tower, we suspect she might be in the United States—but that would be too obvious. So we're searching thoroughly. The U.S. government is also monitoring closely for any abnormal phenomena."
Well, if nothing happens, that's for the best.
"Oh, right! What about the Awakening Rune?"
"Ah… I'm embarrassed to say, but I…"
Hm?
"Then, Director, you're a player now too?"
"Yes. And I also signed an elite contract."
"Uh…"
I didn't know whether to congratulate him or not—but could I really just let it slide?
"Rajiks, designated summon!"
Spot!
"Hoeng!"
Rajiks raised one hand high and greeted us.
"Mr. Rajiks, our Director here became a player."
"Huh?"
"So let's give him a present. You've got items without Tower-exclusive modifiers in your subspace bag, right?"
"Hoee."
"Give him the full set. From head to toe."
Jeon Gwang-il panicked.
"N-no, you really don't have to do this—"
"Hey now. Just put them in your inventory. You need to climb the Tower safely."
"…Mm."
The Director climbing the Tower.
Would someone write a novel titled Make Way, the Director Is Climbing the Tower! or something?
Now that Jeon Gwang-il himself had become a player, he understood.
Especially for close-combat types, how important items were.
So in the end, he couldn't refuse.
Kosak went to work at the North Korean presidential residence again today.
Meeting Chairman Kim In-jung privately.
"Chairman Kim, nothing unusual going on?"
"…N-not anything major, but…"
"What is it? You don't look good."
"Those Chinese bastards are pulling tricks."
"What? Where at?"
Kosak's gaze turned icy.
Kim In-jung hurriedly continued.
"Even today, those Chinese bastards demanded to meet the Minister of the People's Armed Forces, and threatened that it would be better to stop the current North–South reunification efforts…"
"Hah. They've really got some nerve. Alright, I got it."
China.
The country that would hate Korean reunification the most.
Of course they wouldn't stay quiet.
Kosak himself didn't care.
If they came at him, he'd welcome it.
The problem was Chairman Kim In-jung.
If something went wrong while Kosak was away?
Everything they'd done so far would be wasted.
"Don't worry. While I'm gone, I'll send a bodyguard to protect you."
"A b-bodyguard?"
"Yeah. One bat."
A bat?
"I brought him with me. Open that window over there."
Kim In-jung rose awkwardly and opened the window.
Flap-flap-flap!
A bat flapped its wings and flew into the room.
"…An actual bat? That thing is going to protect me?"
Then—
Pabat!
"Gah!"
Kim In-jung couldn't believe his eyes.
The bat suddenly turned into a person.
With a pabat, it transformed into a pale, handsome man wearing antique Western-style clothes and a cloak.
"W-what…?"
Who was this man?
No—was he even human?
"He looks human, but he's actually a vampire. Sucks blood like a mosquito."
"Gah!"
A vampire—an actual bloodsucker?
"Hey, Comrade Jepet!"
"Why… yes?"
"Say hello. This is the human we're going to protect from now on."
Jepet signaled with his eyes.
Kim In-jung also bowed his head in return.
"So don't go sucking his blood indiscriminately."
"I won't suck it… It looks tasteless…"
"That's right. Even if I'm a vampire, I wouldn't suck that."
Kim In-jung felt oddly offended.
What's wrong with me?
"And I'm sending one more person—Sergeant Bae."
Sergeant Bae?
"A South Korean soldier?"
"He is a soldier, but not of this world. Don't mess with him carelessly—you might end up with a hole in your head."
"I-I understand."
"And is the position of Minister of State Security vacant?"
"Yes, we haven't appointed anyone yet."
"Put our Sergeant Bae in that position. It'll be even safer then."
Looks like they'll need to rotate shifts.
It'll be a hassle for Summoner Bong, but for now, it can't be helped.
It won't last long.
Once China gets overturned, things should settle down.
"Always be grateful to the one I serve. You're alive only because he allows it."
"…"
The Minister of the People's Armed Forces, the old man he'd met before, and now this bat-man vampire—
They all served one person.
He even knew the name.
They shouted manse so blatantly that anyone who didn't know would have to be an idiot.
In truth, Kim In-jung had long since lost his desire for power.
To do anything, he'd have to deal with people like these.
Was that even possible?
Not a chance.
He just had to do as he was told.
That was the only way to stay alive.
Juhyeok repeatedly cleared the 76th floor with his remaining blood-summoned beings.
Rajiks would mine high-grade mana stones for a sufficient amount of time, then they'd complete only the basic mission and exit.
High-grade mana stones seemed to be treated like treasure-vault items.
Even after a reset, they didn't respawn.
Well, that was fine.
There was always the North Korean Tower.
With that much mining, reaching 20 tons didn't take long.
A power generator was also constructed on White Tower, Floor 17.
Now all that remained was to buy livable housing and register residents.
Mari, the shut-in alchemist, began top-tier synthesis using high-grade mana stones.
In the middle of all that came a request from Kosak.
Apparently, there was a need to guard Chairman Kim In-jung of North Korea.
So Sergeant Bae and Jepet were put on rotating guard duty.
North Korea aside, where on earth was the manifested Diamat?
Was it really going to end with just a manifestation?
There was no way that was all.
Time passed quickly.
By now—
Our princess should be coming back soon.
And finally, that day arrived.
Gyeondallae's entry in the catalog changed to Summon Available.
Juhyeok called in all the blood-summoned beings.
Rotating duties were temporarily suspended, and everyone gathered in one place.
"It's time for the princess to arrive."
How would she have changed?
"Princess Gyeondallae, wouldn't she become a nine-tailed fox like her master?"
"No way!"
"Does she rank up from princess to queen?"
"Ho-e?"
"At the very least, she'll appear as a supreme shaman, a great mudang."
"I hope her personality has softened."
"If she's LSSR rank, one scolding from her voice alone might make our ears bleed."
We'd find out once we saw.
"Gyeondallae, designated summon!"
Fwaaaash!
Anticipation filled the air.
Did she succeed in her rank breakthrough?
Spot—she appeared.
"Gasp!"
"Huh?"
"Oh!"
"Ho-e?"
Juhyeok's eyes widened.
"…Princess?"
Was it her?
It seemed like it was… but—
She had changed a lot.
Her appearance, her clothes, and even her height—
She got bigger.
Before, she had been a heavenly.
Put her in a school uniform and she'd have looked like a Korean high school girl.
But not anymore.
Her youthful look was gone.
Gyeondallae appeared as a mature woman.
"She's ready to be married off."
"…"
No idea whether a blood-summoned being could even marry, but—
"Sergeant Bae better stay sharp. Our princess isn't to be underestimated either."
"…Still a long way to go."
"I sense sacred qi. On par with radiance—Light!!!"
Name: Gyeondallae
Rank: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
Even the catalog title had changed.
From Supreme Shaman to Fairy Maiden.
She really did look like a fairy.
After all, she was floating about 30 centimeters above the ground even now.
"Is she a ghost?"
"She's a fairy."
"Oh! The feathered robe."
"A fairy shaman would be quite efficacious. I should ask her for a reading later."
She was flying—Dallae.
Levitation Gyeondallae.
A fairy maiden with a winged robe.
Gyeondallae seemed to fly toward Juhyeok—
No, she actually floated through the air and bowed.
"This humble maiden has returned."
"…Uh—w-welcome back."
Having returned as a mature adult woman, she was not easy for a lifelong single loser to deal with.
"W-was it… hard…?"
"Thanks to your concern, I completed the breakthrough safely."
She continued with a captivating smile.
"Furthermore, this maiden has gained the ability to offer meaningful assistance, however small, in helping Young Master accomplish his great endeavor."
Of course.
She was an LSSR fairy maiden now.
"This maiden, while strengthening her soul, encountered someone within her consciousness."
Who?
"My master Haeryeong, who ascended and became an immortal, and another immortal besides."
Another immortal?
"He was an immortal named Danju, and he taught this maiden talisman arts."
Oh!
Talisman arts taught by an immortal?
How impressive must that be?
"However, while this maiden was in the other world, did anything unusual happen in this one?"
"Plenty. Some pretty absurd things, actually."
"…Such as?"
Juhyeok explained everything that had happened in the meantime.
"Diamat… A demon that should remain within the Tower has emerged outside. She must be captured."
"But we don't know where she is."
"This maiden has one method."
A method?
"Among the talisman arts I learned from Immortal Danju is one called the Tracking Talisman."
A Tracking Talisman.
A celestial talisman art that can locate the whereabouts of a specific target.
However, it wasn't omnipotent.
You needed information about the target.
At the very least, a face, overall appearance, or basic identity.
If you had a unique aura, hair, or other bodily material, even better.
In that case—
"We'll need to climb to the 80th floor. Diamat's copy should be there."
"Indeed, you are wise."
There was little difference between a copy and the true body.
Use the copy to activate the Tracking Talisman.
And then use it outside the Tower—
That should reveal where the true Diamat was hiding.