With the collapse deadline now overlapping,
Climbing the unexplored upper floors wasn't a problem.
But everyone was being careful about the 80th floor.
What if someone went up first and caused an accident?
You could call it a kind of staring contest.
There wasn't much worry.
No matter how easy the 70s were said to be, reaching the 80th floor was still extremely difficult.
And yet, it actually happened.
Two American cultist players took turns clearing the 80th floor.
Players who weren't particularly skilled or talented.
What's more, it was as if they'd come down with amnesia—they didn't even know how they'd cleared it.
In the end, a world announcement appeared.
[World Announcement: The Lord of Monsters, Diamat, manifests outside the Tower.]
This was bad.
The Curse of Kabalon might be reenacted.
Back then, the Japanese Tower had collapsed.
People had even said it was fortunate.
Now?
It was obvious that an incident would occur one way or another.
The U.S. government launched an investigation.
First, they looked into the two players who had caused the situation.
After investigating from every angle, they obtained information from people around them: the two had been bragging about specific items they'd received as rewards from the Tower.
Diamat's Left Hand.
Diamat's Right Hand.
The item modifiers.
The name of the 80th-floor boss that had manifested outside the Tower.
That bastard must have been plotting something.
The United States went on high alert.
Regardless of the cause, American players had cleared the American Tower's 80th floor.
Just like France before, the country could be branded a global troll nation.
Of course, aside from China or Russia, there weren't many countries that would openly curse at the U.S.
But what mattered was face.
What if the world fell into crisis because of America?
American citizens were anxious as well.
How could they stay calm when the 80th-floor boss, Diamat, had emerged from the American Tower?
As a result, Homeland Security Secretary Macmillan spent every day on edge.
If only they could get even a single clue about where Diamat was outside the Tower, it wouldn't feel this stifling.
But they just had to find him.
And then make him pay for recklessly coming outside the Tower.
Modern cutting-edge weapons couldn't be brought into the Tower.
At most, you could carry a handgun that fit in one hand.
But outside?
Missiles, fighter jets, tanks—just roll them over everything.
They'd turn Diamat into a beehive.
If they could find him.
But they couldn't.
"Hoo… just where is he, and what the hell is he doing?"
If a mass-casualty incident happened, it would be the worst-case scenario.
That was when—
Bang!
Someone burst into the secretary's office.
It was Director Antonio.
"…Tsk! My friend, you should knock before coming in. I'm already on edge as it is."
"I came in because it was urgent."
"No matter how urgent—!"
"Then should I step back out?"
"…What?"
Secretary Macmillan studied Antonio's face closely.
'What's this?'
He was grinning from ear to ear.
Something was up.
"Speak. Don't keep me in suspense."
Antonio grinned wider.
"I just got off the phone with Jeon Gwang-il of the Korean Awakened Management Agency—no, their commissioner."
"And?"
"He said not to worry about Diamat."
"…W-what do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. He said to treat it as a happening and move on."
No need to worry?
"D-don't tell me—?"
"Yes. Mr. Bong took care of it."
"Really? You're not joking, are you?"
"Would I joke about something like this? I confirmed everything."
Could he believe it?
Yes, he could.
If the world's top player handled it personally, what was there not to believe?
Macmillan threw both hands into the air and cheered.
The pressure crushing his chest vanished.
"Jesus! God, thank you!"
"You should be thanking Mr. Bong. He cleaned up the mess America made."
"I was planning to. I got his number last time."
Macmillan pulled out his smartphone.
"You probably won't get through. He rarely answers."
"Then I'll send a message. I installed a Korean SNS messenger app recently."
Using a translator, Macmillan carefully composed a message in Korean.
Thank you. For handling Diamat. I will repay this for sure. A great debt. I sincerely hope you will visit. To America.
A moment later—
Ding!
You're welcome.
"Oh! Look at this! He replied!"
"…Good for you."
"Hahaha! Oh, right—was there any other information?"
"There was. Diamat's true identity is…"
The U.S. government moved swiftly.
They couldn't just let this slide.
They had to ease public anxiety.
When the White House informed reporters during a press briefing that Diamat had been dealt with—
<80TH-FLOOR BOSS REPLACED: FROM DIAMAT TO NIGHTMARE, THE BLACK STEED.>
The news broke first in the United States.
└ Can we really trust this?
└ Of course. It's the Korean Awakened Management Agency.
└ But how did they deal with it? They killed it, right?
└ Is there any other way to "deal with" something?
└ Hmm… a Succubus Queen, though. What a waste.
Korean community sites exploded as well.
└ Landlord!!! Bring us a big bowl!!!
└ Today, it's specially served by the Succubus Queen herself.
└ Gojō, didn't I tell you? I said just trust the top player alliance, didn't I?
└ But how'd he do it? How'd he even know where Diamat was?
└ Tsk tsk, you punk, can't you tell at a glance? He found it with clairvoyance, used Shrinking Earth, and sliced it clean!
└ Honestly… that might actually be true.
Long live the world's top player comrade!
Long live Juhyeok!
└ Hey, North Korean player folks. Stop shouting "Long live Juhyeok," will you?
└ My name is Park Juhyeok, and I nearly jump out of my skin every time I see that.
└ I'm Juhyeok too. Lee Juhyeok.
└ I'm Jang Juhyeok.
└ Yeah. Anyone would think the world's top player's name is Juhyeok.
└ But honestly, I am curious. Who is the top player, really? The government must know, right?
└ The U.S. probably knows too. They're just not revealing it to protect his identity.
└ At this point, I seriously want to know who it is.
└ There's nothing good that comes from revealing their identity.
The identity of the world's top player.
Until now, it had never been disclosed to the public.
The Korean Awakened Management Agency had even sent official notices to media outlets, asking them to refrain from covering anything related to the top player.
But now, things were starting to change.
Public interest had crossed a critical threshold.
Who could it be?
If someone found out, it would be a massive scoop.
It wasn't just reporters.
YouTubers, cyber wreckers, and even paparazzi jumped in.
Through their personal broadcasts, they promised one hundred million won, two hundred million won—offering cash rewards to anyone who tipped them off about someone suspected of being the top player.
All kinds of bogus tips flooded in.
Though among them, there were a few reports with extremely high credibility.
Juhyeok's penthouse.
As always, rookie training was Kosak's responsibility.
"In any first job, you gotta start with the dirty work. That's how you earn Boss Bong's recognition and the seniors' affection. You get what I'm sayin'?"
"Y-yes, I understand."
"Good. Then let's start simple—clean the living room. Then do the dishes. There's plenty to do."
Lying flat on the living room floor, the former Succubus Queen, Diamat, began scrubbing diligently with a rag.
"Hueeek!"
At that moment, Rajiks snatched the rag from Diamat's hands and shouted at Kosak.
It seemed to be protesting—Cleaning is my job, why are you taking it away?
"Haah, Rajiks the laborer!"
"Hueek!"
"You're a cosmic head farmhand. Leave stuff like cleaning to the juniors and focus on bigger tasks."
"…Hoeng?"
The Azalea Fairy chimed in as well.
"Master Kosak is right. Even servants have ranks. That incubus is an untouchable slave, while we are servants of a great household. How could we possibly do the same work?"
"Hoeee~"
Hearing the phrase servants of a great household, Rajiks felt pleased.
Besides, how much cleaning could someone do with a flimsy rag like that?
Its own cleaning equipment was far superior.
So Rajiks left Diamat to the cleaning.
On the other hand, someone frowned deeply.
Ding!
A message arrived on Azalea's tablet—from Mari.
She seemed extremely angry.
Azalea tilted her head.
That felt like an overreaction.
She was getting worked up.
Even now, she was watching Diamat through a crack in the door, only her eyes visible.
Anyway, Azalea took clothes from her wardrobe and dressed Diamat.
She hid the tail inside the clothes as well.
The rookie orientation was more or less finished.
Now it was time to enter the Tower.
Juhyeok handed Diamat a rune for rank promotion for defected converts and said,
"Take this with you and go raise your rank."
"…H-huh? Th-this is?"
"At the very least, you need to be SR-grade to pull your weight."
"Ahhh…"
Diamat was deeply moved.
Her soul rank had plummeted by three stages due to the contract termination.
This was a chance to recover at least one level.
"Thank you, Summoner… sniff."
She twisted her body as tears streamed down.
'Ugh.'
Every single action of hers made his heart flutter.
The cleaning, too.
The way she spoke, the way she cried.
It couldn't be helped.
Tempting people was a racial trait of the succubus species.
"…Ahem! S-see you next time."
"Yes~"
"Diamat, unsummon."
Spot!
And then—
"Summon Blood Wolf!"
Spot!
"Hoe!"
Rajiks raised its hand in greeting as the Blood Wolf appeared.
"Grrr, woof!"
The Blood Wolf responded.
The two had truly become soulmates.
Today's plan was another climb to the 77th floor.
Before heading off to break through his rank, Kosak needed to see his father, Hartmann, one last time.
After that, he planned to go on vacation.
He wouldn't see them for two weeks.
A farewell party was in order.
At a blue, sunlit beach.
"Kosak."
"Yes, sir!"
"What are you planning to talk about with your father today?"
"Nothing special. Same as always."
"Like what?"
"About my mother."
"..."
Suddenly, Juhyeok's eyes stung.
Did he even remember his mother's face?
"Any progress in the conversation?"
"It's hard. I keep telling him this is the Tower, that he's a bound soul, but nothing changes at all."
That was how it was.
He seemed to understand, but every time they re-entered, he reset to the same state.
It was pitiful.
How heartbreaking was it?
A son went to kill his father and was instead killed by him, and the father, after killing his son, later learned the truth and went insane.
On top of that, Kosak didn't even remember his mother's face.
Yet he always wore a bright smile.
Wiping away tears in secret.
The Tower climb began.
[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower (No. 2), Floor 77.]
Spot!
But then—right at that moment!
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"…What?"
"Hmm."
"That is…"
The 77th floor.
The prisoners were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, on the sandy beach stood a single man, upright like a totem pole.
Neither tall nor short.
A smooth, bald head with no hair or eyebrows.
And he wasn't even physical.
More like a hologram.
"You are…"
The berserk demon's expression twisted with rage.
"Now I remember. You are an administrator."
An administrator?
[That's right. I am the designer who plans and designs the missions and rewards of each floor.]
In an instant—
An overwhelming killing intent burst forth violently.
All the bound summons were glaring at the administrator.
"How dare you come here."
"How shameless. One day, I will make sure you face heavenly punishment."
"Fuck, you bastard. Where do you think you're glaring? Lower your eyes!"
"O light! I curse you!"
"Hoeeek!"
"Grrrrr!"
It was intense hostility.
Naturally so.
The one who designed the Curse of Kabalon, the mastermind who sent Diamat outside.
The shadowy hand that had threatened the Summoner all along.
How could they stay still?
But why had an administrator appeared before a player?
Was this even allowed?
Swoong—
A crescent-shaped aura rose from the Berserk Demon's hand.
Suuuk! Gobang expanded into a giant form.
Ziiing—Kosak infused his dagger with energy.
All the bound summons entered combat readiness.
[Whoa, whoa. Don't do anything pointless. I'm just an illusion anyway.]
"I know. If you had a real body, you'd already be torn to pieces."
[I didn't come here to fight.]
As he spoke, the administrator designer met Juhyeok's eyes.
[I came to make a proposal. Are you willing to hear it?]
A proposal?
'What kind of snake oil is this bastard trying to sell now?'
[Your progress has been truly astonishing. No matter that you're a summoner, the record you've set climbing the Tower is something that will go down in history.]
'Hmm.'
That part was true.
Though, of course, the bound summons had done most of the work.
[So I'd like to make you an offer. A special reward, for a special player.]
Oh?
A reward?
What is it?
Let's hear it.
[But to receive a reward you desire, there must be a special mission to match, right?]
'…Don't tell me this bastard—'
[So I'm planning to design the 81st floor as something special. If you succeed, you'll receive the reward for sure. If you fail, you get nothing.]
See?
I knew it.
'Scheming bastard.'
Who did he think would fall for this?
[It's a simple law of equivalent exchange. Place the reward you want on the scales. The difficulty of the 81st floor will be determined accordingly.]
Equivalent exchange, my ass.
'What? Put the reward on the scales? Who does he think I am?'
If he thought greed would cloud my judgment, he'd seriously misjudged me.
Safety comes first over greed—
Wait.
'The reward I want… could it be?'
Juhyeok looked at the administrator and asked,
"Hey. Does that mean I can ask for any reward I want?"
[Yes. A rune for trait enhancement, a catalog expansion ticket, a Dragon Heart, the heart of a Demon King… choose whatever you like.]
'Oh?'
Anything?
Then that changes things.
Juhyeok gathered all the bound summons.
"Let's try it. It's a good opportunity."
"But the mission's difficulty will be determined by the reward. We could fall into the administrator's trap."
"If it's a catalog expansion ticket or a trait enhancement rune, it's worth challenging."
"My lord! High risk, high return!"
"What if that risk is beyond what we can handle?"
"Let's think carefully. There's no rush."
Arguments flew back and forth.
Opinions were split, but above all, there was something more urgent.
"I'm going to demand the release of a Tower soul. Sir Hartmann—I'll free you from your binding."
"Ah! Th-that…"
"Oh! That never even crossed this old man's mind."
"Young master… as expected, such a selfless decision."
"Truly admirable, my lord."
"Senior Veronica Caliber, certain victory! Glory to the commander!"
But—
"I oppose it. Please demand a trait enhancement rune instead. Just because of me and my father—"
"Come on! If it's Kosak's father, then he's basically my great-uncle. Huh? Let me show some filial piety too. To my great-uncle."
"..."
Kosak lowered his head deeply.
Juhyeok turned to the administrator and said,
"It's possible, right? Releasing Sir Hartmann's soul."
The administrator flinched.
That was no small request—freeing a soul from the Tower was no ordinary matter.
Mutual consent and causality had been fulfilled.
According to the law of equivalent exchange, the difficulty would skyrocket insanely.
But that alone wasn't enough.
To ensure failure—more!
[Yes, place it on the scales. But will that be enough? You may add one more.]
Oh?
Then why not.
The bound summons gathered, whispering among themselves.
"What about adding a trait enhancement rune too?"
The administrator couldn't hide his sinister grin.
[As many as you like.]
They gathered again, whispering and murmuring.
"Did you see that smile?"
"It's written all over his face."
"If we add a trait enhancement rune, clearing it will be impossible."
"Let's exclude that."
"No, maybe we should exclude freeing his father instead—"
"Shh!"
A decision was reached.
"We'll put only one thing on the scales. Soul release."
[…It's a guaranteed reward. You'll get it no matter what, as long as you clear it.]
"It's fine. I'm not greedy."
[What about 5,000 tons of high-grade magic stones? I'll even give you a massive amount of top-grade ones.]
Huh?
They gathered again.
Whisper, whisper. Murmur, murmur.
"It's fine. We can just mine those."
[Fortune favors the bold—]
"Yeah, well, I'm not bold. I'm a cowardly, low-value man."
[...]
Not falling for it, you obvious bastard!