Necromancer Norma’s Dungeon.

Meatshield ran into the superior magical beast Hydra in a place nobody could have predicted.

He knew the moment he saw it.

There was such a thing as a feeling.

None of the nine heads felt unfamiliar.

It was that bastard.

Even if it had grown through necromancy.

Even the superior magical beast Hydra recognized Meatshield.

Because the one who had driven it to the brink of death had been that human.

Meatshield remembered.

Those memories from back then.

The trauma carved into his soul.

Was it because of the pain of his whole body melting from the acid breath?

No. It wasn’t that.

A life that had always been lived while accepting physical pain,

and as a warrior of the Great Plains, what was shameful about dying while facing monsters?

If anything, wasn’t it something to be proud of?

Meatshield’s trauma had a different cause.

The betrayal of comrades he had trusted.

While wandering the continent alone after striking out on his own, he met the party of the hero Arius.

Arius accepted a stupid barbarian like him as a companion.

He was so grateful for that generous heart.

So he traveled all over the continent with Arius.

They completed commissions by hunting magical beasts and monsters, and he shared friendship with the other companions, too.

But it was a misunderstanding.

From the beginning, he had never been their friend.

In the end, he was thrown away.

Barbarian warrior, just turn the superior magical beast Hydra’s gaze.

Then we’ll cut its throat quickly.

Don’t worry about healing spells. I’ll definitely keep you alive.

Meatshield faced the superior magical beast Hydra alone.

That bastard’s vicious acid breath.

Its sharp claw attacks.

But he held out to the very end.

Waiting for his comrades to help.

In the end, Meatshield got pinned by Hydra’s claws, stuck in a position where he couldn’t even run.

He turned back to beg for help—

And the comrades he had always fought with were sitting far behind him, sneering as they mocked him.

What are you looking at? We couldn’t help it.

Nine heads. If we mess up, we’re the ones in danger.

We don’t want to get drenched in acid breath.

Sorry, but take responsibility to the end.

Thanks for everything. I won’t forget you.

Let it burn through all its acid breath and weaken, then we’ll take it.

Arius, you really are a genius.

Can you even compare him to that dumb barbarian bastard?

That bastard was perfect as a meat shield.

That was it.

A barbarian warrior of the Great Plains.

He had been nothing but a meat shield.

Of course he was still a meat shield now.

But the meaning was completely different.

A matured superior magical beast Hydra.

And him, bigger from Enlarge.

This was doable.

Wasn’t he Meatshield, promoted to SSR through the summoner’s grace?

He wouldn’t let even a single drop of acid poison splash.

CHARRRRK!

Acid breath blasting out from all nine heads at once.

Did it think he couldn’t dodge?

But rather than dodging, he advanced.

That was the fighting style he’d used all his life.

Meatshield crossed his arms into an X, blocked the breath, and sprang up onto Hydra’s back.

ZZZZT!

The flesh on his forearms melted away.

A choking, acrid smoke rose.

Even so, skin that regenerated at once.

Meatshield thrust out a powerful hand.

GRAB!

He caught one of Hydra’s heads.

With both hands he gripped its upper jaw and lower jaw,

and tore.

CRRRRACK! CRACKCRACKCRACK!

One neck ripped off—

“CRRROOOAAARRRR!”

The other eight heads roared.

This bastard definitely had a weakness.

The heads were connected, and so it felt pain together.

But he had to hurry.

This bastard also had regeneration.

The head that disappeared would regrow soon.

He grabbed another head—CRRRRACK! CRACKCRACKCRACK!

“KUUUOOO!”

Hydra didn’t only attack with breath.

Slice!

Just now, its sharp claws had carved a long wound across his chest.

“KYAAGH!”

“DIE!”

It was a brutal struggle.

Breath flying in from the remaining seven heads.

If he could dodge it, he dodged. If he couldn’t, he took it.

Was it getting better?

But the other two heads were regenerating, too.

The fight didn’t end easily.

Because it had grown, and he had grown, too.

Meatshield glanced toward where his companions were.

What were they doing?

His summoner, watching with a pained face, stamping his feet in agitation.

The assassin, stepping side to side, ready to spring out at any moment.

Bardin, his soul-bonded buddy, gripping a flail with trembling fists.

Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber, aiming her magic gun in a standing firing stance, eyes sharp.

Princess Gyeon Dallae, kneeling, rubbing both hands together as she offered earnest prayers.

Every one of them was sincerely worrying about him.

If he said a single word here, all of them would charge in.

It was reassuring.

They were his real comrades.

And now—

Meatshield’s trauma was healed.

The scar etched deep in his soul.

Completely.

He could die here and it would be fine.

*****

Mad Demon still hadn’t killed Necromancer Norma.

No—“hadn’t killed” wasn’t quite right.

Mad Demon was just taking it slow, leisurely observing the fight between the nine-headed monster and the barbarian Meatshield.

“Is that the monster you made?”

Necromancer Norma couldn’t answer.

Necromancer Norma couldn’t even open the mouth.

“You believed in something like that and rushed the summoner? Tsk, tsk. Pathetic.”

Mad Demon let out a snort of laughter.

“Hah. No, I get it. With such miserable power, if you want to preserve your lowly life, all you can do is rely on monsters you command.”

Tremble—

Norma’s mouth twitched.

Norma’s face flushed a deep red.

An unbearable agony.

A vicious pain as muscles tore inside the body and bones were crushed.

The punishment this old man ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) like a demon king had inflicted, calling it “splitting tendons and shattering bones”—

Norma couldn’t even twist.

Norma couldn’t budge.

Norma wanted to die.

Wanted to escape this suffering that felt like eternity, all at once.

“I’m bound by inhibition so I couldn’t speak to our summoner, but there’s something I can say to you.”

What the hell was inhibition now?

“The Tower is two-faced. Malice that seeks to collapse the Tower and drag the world into ruin—and another, benevolence that changes the world through the Tower and grants abundance. Those two coexist.”

The Tower?

Did that mean the demon tower?

“Look at our summoner. Why do you think that noble person gained power? Obviously the latter. Because he is a savior.”

By “summoner,” did it mean that kid who looked the weakest?

“Because of that, when the summoner climbs the Tower, it even opens events like this. Kindly, too.”

Mad Demon smiled contentedly, then continued with a slight frown.

“But as I said, the Tower is also a sign of ruin. When malice operates, it will try to eliminate our summoner one way or another.”

“Of course, outside the Tower rather than inside it. In the Tower, the chance of dying isn’t that high.”

His head felt like it would split.

He couldn’t endure like this.

“That’s right. The true trial is outside the Tower. Isn’t it? Dangerous places are always outside.”

Outside?

Then why was I attacked inside?

“Does it hurt? Endure a little longer. I’ll make it comfortable for you.”

When?

“When the monster you made dies, it will be comfortable.”

The superior magical beast Hydra?

Please die quickly.

Necromancer Norma waited desperately for the superior magical beast to die.

But why wasn’t it dying?

That bastard had to die for Norma to die.

If Norma had known it would be like this, Norma wouldn’t have attached dragon bones and scales in the first place.

“It’ll end soon.”

*****

Meanwhile—

HUP-HUP! HWEHUP!

John Cossack spoke while working his side steps hard.

“When do we go in? I’m ready for a cheap shot from behind, from the side, whatever.”

“...Hold on.”

Juhyeok was also measuring the timing.

If Meatshield showed even a little weakness, he intended to dive in immediately.

But Meatshield was still fighting that bravely,

and Meatshield had begged so desperately to face it alone—how could Juhyeok ignore that?

‘If I intervene here...’

Meatshield might be disappointed.

Like he hadn’t trusted Meatshield.

‘But what if Meatshield dies?’

Then Meatshield would be un-summonable for 100 days.

Meatshield wouldn’t be able to come out into reality from the world where only souls existed.

Meatshield wouldn’t be able to eat meat, either.

He’d bought meat—so why couldn’t Meatshield chew it?

If Meatshield couldn’t come out, there would be no meat.

Time flowed, anxious.

Intervene, or trust and leave it.

At that moment—

“Oh! Meatshield just looked at us.”

“...Did he?”

“He’s asking for help. We gotta go now.”

“Uh, um, that, well...”

Haah. Is this right?

The weak man nature rising again, creeping up.

After his heart flipped back and forth about twelve times in a minute—

Juhyeok finally made the call.

“Coffee lady... no, Dungeon DJ Princess.”

“...Speak, and I shall heed.”

“Switch on!”

“I shall play the Heavenly Dao Ritual.”

At the same time—

“The rest of the summoned entities, on the superior magical beast Hydra...”

He didn’t have to finish.

They already understood what he meant.

WHOOOSH!

Bardin burst out like light, flail raised.

“LIGHT!!! MY SOUL-BONDED BUDDY!!!”

SPOT! SPOTSPOTSPOTSPOT!

John Cossack left afterimages with Shadow Step and was already up on Hydra’s back.

“Meatshield, big bro’s here.”

Staff Sergeant Veronica advanced while firing her magic gun.

“Charge-advance mode, block acid breath.”

BAAANG! BAAANG! BAAANG!

Precision guided fire drove her magic bullets into Hydra’s throat every time it opened its mouth to breathe—

And then, slowly.

THUMP THUMP! THUMP-THUD!

CLANG! CLANG-CLANG!

CHARRRK! CHARRRRRR!

Princess Gyeon Dallae walked with leisurely steps, pushing the handcart DJ cart as the Heavenly Dao Ritual melody flowed out.

The superior magical beast Hydra was torn apart by a variety of weapons.

How could it endure?

“GKKKIIIIIING!”

Heads vanished one by one.

At last—

“KKKIIIII...”

Hydra was reduced to only a torso.

[You have defeated the superior magical beast Hydra.]

[Reward(+α) : Random Skill Rune.]

‘Oh!’

Even the +a reward popped up.

Perfect.

‘So I’ll gain one more skill.’

And then Rajix—who hadn’t shown himself at all, no clue where he’d gone—came rolling in.

WAAH!

And with practiced hands, Rajix began skinning the superior magical beast Hydra.

But what about Necromancer Norma?

Was it hard to deal with?

Juhyeok turned his head toward Mad Demon.

Right then—SHHHHHK!

Necromancer Norma’s head burst under Mad Demon’s touch.

For some reason, the necromancer’s expression looked peaceful.

[You have completed all missions on Floor 72.]

[Reward : Liberation Rune Necklace/ Tower-Only Holy-Power Holy Water.]

‘...Huh?’

Another Liberation Rune Necklace.

‘Does this drop that easily?’

They’d said you could obtain it as a clear reward, but isn’t this handing them out?

Tower-Only Holy-Power Holy Water too.

This was his second one.

‘Is it only from Floor 71 and above?’

They definitely said the Liberation Rune Necklace was only from Floor 71 and above.

But the holy water might not be.

Because as a Floor 70 clearing benefit, restrictions were lifted across all floors of the Black Tower for elixirs and potions and other liquids.

Anyway, was Rajix done skinning Hydra?

“HURK?!”

“Oh! As expected, you are the finest farmhand. Your skinning skill has reached a realm.”

“Shame. Should’ve left a few heads.”

“Torso is enough.”

He was done.

So he could take the hide out, too.

[Calculating Clear Rank.]

[World Notice : You have achieved Black Tower (Korea) Floor 72 Clear Rank S+++. ]

[S+++ Clear Reward : Platinum Badge x2 will be awarded.]

[You may challenge Floor 73.]

[You are exiting Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

SPOT!

*****

The moment Juhyeok came out of the Tower, he dismissed all summoned entities.

He asked for their understanding in advance, saying he’d call them again later.

Then in the meantime?

He had to go outside.

He even turned off his smartphone.

A congratulations call might come from Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwangil about clearing Floor 72 at S+++ and all that, but did that matter right now?

Floor 71 had been hard.

Floor 72 had been hard.

For Juhyeok, for Meatshield, and for the other summoned entities.

They needed healing right away.

And for city people, nothing beats the sea for healing.

Valley lovers might be offended to hear it,

but Juhyeok took the camper van and got onto the Yeongdong Expressway.

His destination was the coastal road along the East Sea.

Maybe because it was a weekday, there weren’t many people or cars.

So by evening he arrived at a quiet sandy beach.

There, Juhyeok summoned the summoned entities.

Mad Demon had a short summoning time, so he’d call Mad Demon once the meat was grilled and the drinks were set—

“...The sea?”

“Seeing the blue sea, this girl feels at ease.”

“A warrior likes it as well.”

If Meatshield liked it, then it was good.

“My lord, it has been a long time since I last saw the sea.”

“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber wants to fall asleep on the sand.”

“Waaah...”

Everyone sat on the sand and stared at the ocean.

The night sea growing darker and darker.

The sound of waves, SPLASH... SPLASH...

Taking advantage of the calm mood, Juhyeok asked Meatshield.

“Meatshield.”

“Summoner, speak.”

“...Are you okay? It must’ve been a big shock. Did you overcome the trauma?”

Meatshield smiled faintly.

“I overcame it.”

Thank goodness.

It seemed like nothing was wrong.

“You wanted to handle it alone, but I interfered. You weren’t disappointed, right?”

“Not at all! I only feel sorry for disobeying the summoner’s command.”

“Hey, don’t worry about that.”

“I will not do it again.”

The other summoned entities also wore pleased expressions.

Bardin nodded, and Gyeon Dallae’s eyes glistened with tears.

Meanwhile John Cossack, with a look of contempt—

“Trauma? Your body’s huge, but in this Cossack’s dictionary there isn’t even the first letter of trauma. Got it? That’s the difference between you and me!”

At that moment—

Veronica suddenly sprang to her feet.

Veronica walked up to Meatshield on the sand, then grabbed his head with both hands and hugged him tight.

SQUISH,

Meatshield’s head pressed into Veronica’s chest.

“You did well. I saw a lot of comrades suffering from PTSD when I served. You’re a fine comrade of mine.”

Hm. Kuhm. Um.

Cossack’s eyes spun.

Then Cossack shuffled forward on his knees, face empty, and—

“Staff Sergeant Veronica.”

“...”

“I look very bright on the outside, but I’m an assassin, you see.”

“So?”

“More than anyone, I suffer from PTSD—”

“Get lost!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

One question at this point.

“Meatshield, we killed Hydra, but there’s still something left.”

“Hm? What remains?”

“The fake hero Arius, the King of the Norton Kingdom.”

“...”

Flinch!

Meatshield’s expression changed.

“Of course, I’m not sure. We’ll only know when we go in, but Floor 73’s mission might be linked too. For example... a mission to kill the fake hero Arius.”

At that, Meatshield beamed.

“If a warrior receives such a mission—”

Was he going to say he’d forgive?

Considering Meatshield usually was like, maybe—

And he said he’d overcome the trauma.

“I will show what desperate retribution is. I’ll bind Arius and those bastards into a ball and launch them beyond the sky. Then I will savor the sweetness of revenge.”

“...”

Meatshield had changed in many ways.

Yeah. What’s more uncomfortable than forgiveness?

Revenge is best.

Anyway, healing. Healing!

Staring blankly at the sea, and then staring blankly into a campfire.

A wide table was set out.

Eight chairs.

It was about time to call Mad Demon too.

But before that—

“Rajix, you have that hide you skinned earlier, right?”

WAAH?

“Lay it on the sand. So Staff Sergeant Veronica can sleep on it.”

WAAH!

SHHNK!

Hydra’s massive hide came out of the Subspace Backpack.

It was huge.

Way bigger than Juhyeok’s penthouse living room.

But as he pulled the hide out, a few stones came along with it. When he picked them up, they were high-grade Magic Stones.

“You found these in the dungeon?”

At Juhyeok’s words, Rajix seemed to remember something and went BONK! against his own head.

WAAH!

Rajix fumbled, took off the Subspace Backpack,

then flipped it upside down over Hydra’s hide and shook it.

Then—RATTLE! RATTLE-RATTLE!

“...Huh?”

Stuff poured out.

It didn’t stop.

RATTLE-RATTLE! RATTLE! RATTLE-RATTLE...

‘What is all this?’

An enormous quantity of high-grade Magic Stones, too many to count.

All kinds of metal ingots, potions and elixirs,

sparkling jewels,

and that wasn’t even all.

Weapons—swords and shields, bows and crossbows, staves and wands.

Armor—helmets, chest armor, boots, gloves, greaves.

It piled up.

It piled higher.

It piled up like a mountain.

“Th-This is insane!”

Rajix had looted an entire Necromancer’s Dungeon treasure vault and brought it out whole.

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