Decision to climb to the 80th floor.
Then we'll have to go up starting from the 77th, 78th, and 79th floors.
What kind of mission will it be?
Do the summoned ones know?
They're people who have experienced towers from other worlds.
If they weren't bound by restrictions, they would know most of the Tower information for each floor.
However, they didn't know anything about the 77th floor.
That's because missions aren't fixed in the 70s.
The mission changes depending on which summoned being the summoner calls.
For example, if Juhyeok hadn't summoned Gobang, the 71st, 72nd, and 73rd floors would have been completely different.
Because Gobang was there, because Gyeon Dallae was there, the tower's missions were custom-designed.
So you only find out about the 77th floor once you actually climb it.
Whether it's a summoned-being–themed mission, or a place completely unrelated.
Then what about the 80th floor?
No one had ever made it to the 80th floor.
They had already fallen apart before then.
"We had absolutely no problem climbing," he said.
"Then?"
"The signs of destruction appeared in other countries."
"Ah!"
The Mad Demon continued, his expression bleak.
"The tower isn't just one, is it? What good is it if only we do well? The trouble doesn't start inside the tower—it breaks out outside. I tried my best too, but there were limits."
Wars erupting everywhere.
Would players really be safe?
The collapse begins with the towers of weaker nations.
"The towers collapse in a chain. Like giant spikes, they pierce the surface and drive deep into the earth. And once they're driven in deep enough… the world itself turns into a tower."
He had heard this from Kosak before.
A collapsed tower terraforms the Earth.
Then the boundary between the world and the tower disappears.
In other words, even without a Liberation Rune Necklace, players can use their power in reality.
Because the world itself becomes the tower.
"Monsters manifest and pour out, players die both inside and outside the tower… and when new players awaken, what can they do? Their levels are too low."
This was why the Mad Demon had suggested world conquest.
Deal with it before the towers collapse.
"There may soon be a situation where we have to frequently use the loudspeaker to declare tower occupation, so we must prepare. I'll help, even at the cost of my life."
If things went wrong, Earth could meet the same fate as other worlds.
That was why Diamat had manifested outside the tower.
There was no way it had come for nothing.
It wasn't trying to do something inside the tower.
It was plotting something outside the tower.
Dealing with Diamat was essential.
The real one—not a copy.
What would be the point of clearing copies and going up to the 81st and 82nd floors?
The original would still remain somewhere on Earth, outside the tower.
"Let's climb."
Let's find the original through the copy.
"I shall prepare."
"If we just take down the real Diamat, we'll rest easy after that."
Kosak nodded vigorously as well.
"That's right. Don't do anything at all. No random summons either."
This time, they planned to climb the North Korean tower.
They had already cleared up to the 74th floor, so they'd start from the 75th.
And pick up some platinum badges while they were at it.
Total badges accumulated: 106.
After recently attaching three badges to Kosak,
There were 17 physical badges left.
Not many remained.
At this rate, they might not even be able to hold a badge award ceremony.
That aside—
"Princess."
"Yes, please speak."
"We'll be re-clearing the 75th and 76th floors… You can rest if you like. We can handle it ourselves."
Because she'd have to face her painful past again.
But—
"Your gracious consideration leaves this girl at a loss for words. However, it is already a past long gone. Even if I face it again, it will have no effect on me."
Ah!
Our brave Gyeon Dallae.
"Rather, it will be fastest if this girl steps forward. Please do not worry."
Alright.
Let's entrust it to her.
To Fairy Rsssal.
Total party members, including Juhyeok: ten.
The stay-at-home alchemist, Ms. Mari, was excluded for now.
The explosive-type homunculi hadn't been replenished yet.
They'd grab some potions before going in.
Juhyeok climbed the North Korean tower.
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2), 75th Floor.]
The 75th floor.
A place he had already experienced.
The palace of the fallen Celestial Empire.
Wandering soldier and warrior-bound spirits.
And the guardian army captain who committed high treason, Heukchisoo, along with the agwi Gyeonsul.
A floor Gyeon Dallae had carried alone.
And that was even before her rank breakthrough.
Now that she had returned at LSSR rank—
Floating in midair, Gyeon Dallae advanced smoothly.
The lower-grade bound spirits couldn't even flee and simply vanished.
The guardian army captain Heukchisoo as well.
'Princess? Really…?'
Srrrk—
'Gyaaaah!'
There was no need for conversation.
When a fairy manifests, how could mere vagrant spirits stand?
The agwi Gyeonsul was the same.
When he ran into Gyeon Dallae in the palace hall—
Srrr—
'My niece. Huh? …How? H-how in the world?'
He staggered back in utter panic.
'D-don't come any closer! P-please…'
In the end—pop!
The agwi Gyeonsul vanished like a bubble.
[World Announcement: You have achieved S+++ Clear Rank on the 75th Floor of Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).]
You have obtained 2 Platinum Badges.
And immediately after—
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2), 76th Floor.]
The most difficult enemies on the 76th floor were, of course, the twin nine-tailed foxes Yeochi and Yeopae.
"Summon the stay-at-home alchemist?"
"No. We'll do it ourselves. We've got Princess Rsssal, and Mr. Chepet too."
"Oh! Jepet and Yeochi! They're a good match. We'll stick the guy who wanted Spring Summoner's liver with the girl who wanted Bong Summoner's blood."
Kosak shot Gobang a look.
Bang!
Gobang kicked Jepet's butt, who was standing there blankly, sending him toward Yeochi.
"Kehk!"
Whoosh!
Jepet went flying.
Yeochi, who had been lying down, sprang up and slashed down with blue claws—
Tsshit!
But—
"Eek?"
Poof!
Jepet transformed into a bat and dodged.
At the same time, the three-, five-, and seven-tailed foxes leapt down from the waterfall.
The real battle began.
"Gobang, hold the subordinate foxes with taunts. The rest of us focus on Yeochi."
This had been discussed in advance with Gyeon Dallae.
How to handle the run without the bomber Mari.
For now, focus solely on Yeochi.
And if Yeopae appeared from the cave behind the waterfall?
Tss-pipipit!
Shwaaaak!
"Kyaaaah!!!"
A gigantic beast burst through the cascade.
But—clang!
A yellow talisman shot from Gyeon Dallae's hand.
Neither slow nor fast.
Flying along a strange trajectory—
Snap!
It stuck to Yeopae's body like a magnet.
"Stay right there and don't move!"
It was a Binding Talisman.
An effect that completely immobilized the target.
This was the talisman art of Rsssal Gyeon Dallae.
Not just the effect, but the skill of snapping a talisman onto the target—stick!—that was impressive.
Was it only a Binding Talisman?
Several more talismans flew toward Yeopae.
Exorcism Talismans.
Talismans meant to banish demons.
They flew over and stuck to Yeochi as well.
Yeochi was getting dogpiled by the Mad Demon and the other SSR summoned beings.
Once Yeochi went down, Yeopae was next—and then the subordinate foxes.
The clear didn't take long.
[World Announcement: You have achieved S+++ Clear Rank on the 76th Floor of Black Tower NO.2 (Korea).]
Still no sign of Rajiks or the Blood Wolf.
Did they harvest a lot of high-grade magic stones again?
Three tower entries per day.
The third was the 77th floor.
[Entering the Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2), 77th Floor.]
Spot!
From here on, the real journey began.
Today, up to the 77th floor.
Tomorrow, 78, 79, and 80—all in one go.
They'd check the perks in bulk later, like before.
What was the environment of the 77th floor?
Shwaaah, shwaaah.
A wide sandy beach stretched out.
It was a seaside shore with crashing waves.
"Oh! Smells like the ocean."
It felt like coming to a beach resort.
Honestly, they should hurry up and catch Diamat and go on vacation.
"Let's go to the beach too."
"Good idea. We gotta buy swimsuits first."
Right.
Swimsuits first.
Juhyeok casually slipped a hand inside his clothes and checked his abs.
He felt a rugged washboard.
'Not bad.'
The result of daily breathing exercises.
At this level, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
He could picture it.
The summoned beings swimming, surfing, running along the beach, batting around beach balls.
'Hmm.'
They had to go.
Everyone buying swimsuits.
Anyway, let's get the mission first.
Looking around, this place seemed like an island.
If they went inland from the beach, the mission would appear.
Sure enough—
Ding!
Missions popped up in a row.
[77th Floor Basic Mission: Eliminate 24 Alto Island Prisoners.]
[77th Floor Additional Optional Mission: Eliminate 11 Alto Island Long-Term Prisoners.]
[77th Floor High-Difficulty Optional Mission: Eliminate Gillian, Leader of the Alto Island Prisoners.]
[77th Floor Extreme-Difficulty Optional Mission: Duel with Hartmann, the Ruined Swordmaster of Alto Island.]
It was an island.
And prisoners?
A prison?
"This is Alto Island."
Kosak jolted at Juhyeok's words.
"D-did you just say Alto Island?"
"Yes. Do you know it?"
No way—
"Holy crap. Alto Island is a prison located in the middle of the open sea. Only the most vicious criminals of the Empire are locked up there. It's famous."
The fact that Kosak knew the place meant—
'From the 77th floor onward, this is a floor meant for Kosak.'
Kosak seemed to realize it too.
Tilting his head, he said,
"That's strange. I don't have any special backstory. Sure, I was raised as an assassin, but it suited me well and I never regretted it. Well, I did die after pushing myself too hard, but…"
Kosak's background:
—John Kosak was considered a burden among the members of the Cruel Assassination Guild. His end came from a single failure. He died miserably while attempting to assassinate the Empire's strongest Swordmaster.
Then—
"Was the one who killed you Swordmaster Hartmann?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"The extreme-difficulty optional mission is a duel with the Ruined Swordmaster Hartmann."
"Whoa! That's surprising. That guy was once the greatest Swordmaster in the Empire. Why was he ruined and locked up here?"
"No idea. Either way, it says we have to duel him."
Kosak frowned slightly.
"I died by his hand, but honestly, I don't hold any grudge at all. It was just an assassination request. Taking a Swordmaster assassination job in the first place was idiotic. It was all my fault."
No regret. No resentment.
Then why did it appear as a mission?
That was when—
People suddenly came running across the beach, wielding swords or spears.
Each had a nameplate:
Their movements were anything but ordinary.
They looked stronger than the mercenaries from the 71st floor.
"A warrior wonders—why keep prisoners alive?"
"Yeah. If they're that vicious, why not just execute them?"
"It's because they're nobles. Under imperial law, nobles can't be killed casually. So they dump them here and let them die on their own."
Ah.
So all those bastards were criminals of noble birth?
"Nobles usually live outside the law. But if they've been locked up here, just how bad do you think they are?"
It showed.
Their eyes were different.
"Meat's here. And there's ten of them!"
"H-hey, there's a woman too."
"Eat the woman slowly."
"No, you can't eat the woman."
"Let's catch the men first and roast them."
"If you want to eat longer, you gotta boil them."
What the hell?
Eat?
"…They're talking about us, right?"
"Looks like they've been on the island so long they turned into cannibals."
At that moment—
Something caught Juhyeok's eye in the beach sand.
Human skulls, rib bones, leg bones, scattered about.
They'd clearly eaten plenty already.
Those insane bastards.
"…Let's hit them."
"Yes, sir!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Executive Bae's magic gun spewed fire.
Pa-juk! Pa-juk! Pa-juk!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Perfect headshots.
Prisoners dropped.
"W-what is that? …A crossbow?"
"Scatter! Don't bunch up! Zigzag!"
"Mage! Take out the woman first!"
"Didn't you say not to kill the woman?"
"Kill her first, then do whatever!"
Spot!
Kosak dashed forward like lightning.
"Light!!!"
Shwaaak!
Bardin followed close behind.
"Ho-eh!"
At Rajiks's command, the Blood Wolf joined in as well.
Twenty-four prisoners?
They didn't even get a chance to run.
In less than ten minutes, they were completely wiped out.
Basic mission complete.
Next—
[Would you like to continue with the additional optional mission?]
[If you refuse, you will exit the tower with mission success.]
'Continue.'
In the center of the island stood an old brick building.
Probably where the prisoners lived.
And then, eleven humans appeared.
They were wearing armor and proper equipment.
They were stronger than the regular prisoners, sure—
But then—
They rushed in,
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Beaten like dogs.
"Gyaaah!"
"Y-you bastards!"
"S-spare me—"
"Do you know who I am? I'm from a baron's family—khuk!"
Slash! Slash! Slash…
Kosak finished them by cutting off their heads and even tying ribbons to them as he did.
"They eat human flesh. They need to be put down."
Rewards appeared, but they weren't particularly good.
Just ordinary equipment items.
The high-difficulty optional mission.
A towering giant of a man emerged from inside the building.
Nameplate, info, background description.
Rank: SSR++. Top-tier Sword Expert. Gillian was the third son of a count's family. He had been imprisoned on Alto Island for raping and murdering multiple women, then resorted to cannibalism, and so on and so forth.
A bastard that made heaven and earth furious.
He was definitely strong.
He looked to be a full three meters tall.
But when Gobang approached after enlarging his body through gigantification—
"H-huh! W-wait! L-let's t-talk—"
Gobang's fist came crashing down like lightning onto Gillian's crown.
Crack!
Splat!
That was the end.
The high-difficulty optional mission was cleared as well.
Now, the final extreme-difficulty mission?
The group entered the building.
It was quiet.
Inside, there was nothing except furniture like a bed, scattered clothes, and human bones.
Where was Hartmann supposed to be?
"There's a locked door here. A sturdy padlock," Kosak said.
"Let's open it."
"Yes, sir!"
Click!
When they opened the door, a staircase leading downward was revealed.
'A basement?'
Gobang took the lead.
The Mad Demon followed.
And then they saw Hartmann—with a nameplate.
Half-naked.
His head hung low, both arms bound in chains and nailed to the wall.
Metal hooks hanging from the ceiling pierced through his collarbones, restraining him.
Blood and pus flowed from the wounds.
His legs were the same.
Shackles were fastened to his ankles and knees.
His flesh was already rotting.
It was horrific.
So much so that dying outright might have been kinder.
Rank: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)
Type: Human (Knight)
Naturally, an LSSR rank.
And the background description—
Swordmaster Hartmann was the Empire's strongest swordsman, enjoying both wealth and fame. He entered a marquis family as a son-in-law, married a beautiful young lady, and even had a son. He believed happiness would last forever.
But that was when his misfortune began. His son, only three years old, went missing. Despite the marquis family estate being heavily guarded, the child vanished without a trace. Hartmann searched desperately, but to no avail. He fell into despair, and from the shock, his wife took to her bed, wasting away until she died.
With his family destroyed, Hartmann left the marquis household and lived alone, tending to his wounds. The best way to overcome pain was to immerse himself in work—so he joined wars for the Empire, winning battle after battle and raising his name high. Twenty years passed like that.
Then one day, an assassin secretly infiltrated his bedroom. Was this the first or second time such an attempt had occurred? He cut the intruder down with a single stroke. The assassin was dead. But the face looked familiar. Where had he seen it before?
The same hair color and eyes as his own. A terrifyingly similar face shape, nose bridge, jawline, and even familiar moles and scars on the body… It couldn't be. It must not be. Hartmann investigated the dead assassin. And he learned the truth. The assassin was the son he had lost long ago. From that day on, Hartmann became a ruined man.
"…"
Juhyeok doubted his own eyes.
'What kind of nonsense is this…?'
A secret of birth?
I am your father?
Could it be some assassin other than Kosak?
But as the background explanation ended, scenes flashed through his mind.
It was Kosak.
Hartmann's son was Kosak.
Whoa.
His mind went completely blank.
What was he supposed to say?
"Summoner, what exactly was the extreme-difficulty mission?" the Mad Demon asked.
Juhyeok forced his mouth open with difficulty.
"…A duel with Hartmann."
"A duel, huh. Does that mean we must kill him?"
"No! We mustn't kill him. Absolutely not!"
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Well, that's because…"
What should he do?
Hide it?
No.
It was better to reveal it than conceal it.
"Mr. Kosak."
"Yes?"
"P-please don't be shocked and listen carefully to what I'm about to say. The truth is, Hartmann is…"
Slowly, carefully, without leaving out a single detail, Juhyeok explained Hartmann's background.
By the time he reached the final part, Kosak's mouth hung wide open.
An expression of utter disbelief.
"I-is this some kind of trashy soap opera?"
The other summoned beings fell silent as well.
"Then this guy is…"
Kosak's lips finally parted with great difficulty.
"…Dad?"
At that sound, Hartmann lifted his head.