A dark night.

The Namyangju villa.

The summoned entities had returned, and only Juhyeok remained.

Sometimes, he needed time alone.

He circulated the Heavenly-Earth One-Origin Art.

Started breathing exercises.

“Hoo. Hoo. Hoo!”

Then he drew up Blood Jade Energy with his left hand, raised the Primordial-Unity Thunder Rod with his right—

SPOT! SPAPAPOT!

With Shadow Step, he unleashed the Primordial-Unity Thunder Rod.

KRAK! KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

Finally, he called out the homunculi and had them clean up the surroundings.

Even that alone made two hours disappear in an instant.

Training he did at least once every day.

‘...Not sure if I’ll ever need to use this in real life.’

Still, he had to practice consistently.

Ever since he started training martial arts, his body had become extremely healthy.

He didn’t even get tired without sleep.

Health was the best, wasn’t it?

Juhyeok was still waiting for Meatshield.

The time it took to break through from SSR to LSSR was about two weeks.

But two weeks had already passed.

It still wasn’t in a summonable state.

‘Just when...’

Well, he’d keep waiting.

‘While having a drink.’

Juhyeok enjoyed drinking.

Even when he lived in a shabby semi-basement, he’d buy soju and a few snacks and drink alone.

But alcohol tasted best when there was someone to drink with.

Among his summoned entities, no one enjoyed drinking except Mad Demon.

What could he do?

He’d send everyone back, then call Mad Demon separately and have a drink.

Before calling Mad Demon—

Juhyeok went into the parked camper.

It felt unfair to treat only Mad Demon.

And if he could include Mari, he would.

Right now, they were the only two LSSR among his summoned entities.

Once Meatshield returned, it would be three, but not yet.

“Designated Summon: Aliamari!”

FWAAAH!

SPOT!

The moment Mari appeared, she sat down and bashed her head into the camper 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 went back out.

Then he picked up the tablet.

<alpha male> : Mari. Hello.

<Mari> : Thank you for calling me again. And for the five-star rating too.

She talked so well through the tablet, but—

<alpha male> : It’s nothing big, but I’m going to have a drink with Mad Demon. Do you want to join us?

<Mari> : No. I don’t want to.

A firm refusal.

<Mari> : /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ I can’t drink, and the old man is scary, so no.

I see.

Still, she must get bored alone.

<alpha male> : Should I call Rajix for you?

<Mari> : No.

What a shut-in alchemist.

Well, she had the tablet, so she probably wouldn’t get bored.

<Mari> : Um, I can’t drink, but I can make alcohol.

Make alcohol?

<alpha male> : Really?

<Mari> : It’s a medicinal herb infused liquor. If you use the Philosopher’s Stone, you can speed up fermentation and aging.

He was looking forward to it.

What would alcohol made by an alchemist taste like?

<Mari> : Wait a little. I’ll make it for you.

So he waited.

About an hour passed.

CREEEAK—the door opened.

At the same time, a hand came out and shoved out two rather large glass jars.

Homunculi, deploy.

TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!

The homunculi carried the jars over to Juhyeok.

<Mari> : If you ever want more, I can make it anytime.

<alpha male> : I’ll enjoy it.

Was this an item too?

<Sage-Brewed Medicinal Herb Infused Liquor>

Effect: There is no way to describe it, but it is good for men. Even if you chug the whole bottle, there is no hangover. It is a man’s alcohol.

An interesting effect.

He was curious about the taste too—

“Designated Summon: Mad Demon!”

SPOT!

“Summoner.”

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for calling me.”

“Hahaha. Sit.”

“Moonlight outdoors... tranquil. The alcohol will taste good on its own.”

He poured a glass first.

GLUG,

“Hm? This alcohol...? The aroma is not ordinary.”

“Mari made it for us. She said it was medicinal herb infused liquor.”

“Is that so? Still, for a foul-mouthed elf, she has quite a few tricks.”

He lifted the cup and drank.

“...Hah!”

“Whoah!”

What was this?

How could alcohol be like this?

Even the scent when he brought it to his lips was different.

A faint floral fragrance—an aroma that lifted his mood by itself.

But the taste?

Heavy and intense.

The moment it went down, heat rushed through his body.

A rough, sweeping first bite.

A thick aftertaste that lingered.

A man’s alcohol.

The name fit.

He should ask her to make it from time to time.

“Impressive. I have no choice but to admit it.”

“Agreed.”

Drunk on alcohol, and drunk on the atmosphere.

“Ah! Mad Demon.”

“Speak.”

“Earlier today too—looks like you were having a serious conversation with Cossack. What did you talk about?”

Mad Demon flinched.

Mad Demon watched Juhyeok’s face.

Unless it was a special situation, he couldn’t disobey the Summoner, and he couldn’t lie.

Of course, a bit of autonomous action was allowed.

Small lies, as long as it didn’t affect the Summoner’s safety.

So Mad Demon’s expression didn’t change at all as he spoke calmly.

“Mm. North Korea came up.”

“What did you say?”

“The assassin said we should deal with North Korea’s leadership.”

Deal with?

“Cossack did?”

“He did. This old man opposed it. You dislike that sort of thing. Killing people.”

It was true he disliked it, but—

“So he said we should take over North Korea without killing people.”

Mm.

“No, is that even possible? Handle North Korea with no casualties? He said we only need to subdue North Korea’s leader... That’s truly not an easy thing, is it?”

Huh? That sounded like a good idea.

“So I scolded him and told him not to talk nonsense. Hahaha.”

“That’s a decent idea.”

“It is. We must approach cautiously. If it triggers a war—...Hm? What do you mean it’s decent?”

Juhyeok thought for a moment, then said it.

“Cossack’s idea—subdue the Chairman... no, persuade him and handle it.”

Mad Demon blinked.

“...Y-you think it’s decent?”

“It’s clean.”

“R-really?”

“If we minimize casualties, we can prevent war too. If it goes well, we can even take the tower. It’s very Cossack.”

Mad Demon looked stunned.

It was decent?

“Ahem!”

Mad Demon cleared his throat.

“Actually, that was my idea first. Does that assassin even have the brains for it?”

“...”

“I’m serious.”

“...”

Well, whoever suggested it first didn’t matter.

North Korea.

They didn’t have the ability to break through an undead section from before True Kabalan.

Even if they held the holy sword.

‘In the end, we have to solve it. Even if I have to use the Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker.’

Let’s take the tower.

The badges, the perks, and the treasure vault too.

“W-well, Summoner, I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“When you say minimize casualties... how many can die and it still counts?”

“How could nobody die at all? That’s greedy.”

Mad Demon looked moved.

Mad Demon seized Juhyeok’s hand and said,

“Let’s do it. If you want it, we have to do it. And there is a way.”

“Should we?”

“In the end, what you want is to change the nationality of the North Korea Black Tower, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“We can do it. It’ll just take some time.”

It would take time.

If the tower collapsed in the meantime, or if the North Korean government did something insane—

“Hah... If only we had the Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker. It should have come out as a perk sooner.”

The loudspeaker?

“If we have that, does it get faster?”

“Of course. It wouldn’t even take half a month, even with a peaceful method.”

Really?

“I have it.”

“...Hm? What did you just say?”

“Here.”

Juhyeok took the loudspeaker out of his Inventory and showed it to Mad Demon.

“Ohhh!”

Mad Demon’s face lit up.

“Let’s do it. I’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

He’d gone and done it.

Now all that was left was to hope casualties stayed minimal, just like Mad Demon said.

Still, Mad Demon had changed a lot.

In the past, he might have insisted on slaughtering all of North Korea’s leadership.

‘He even seems really conscious of my mood.’

At first, Mad Demon himself had been terrifying.

Even when he drank with Mad Demon, it had been like that.

So Juhyeok decided to collide head-on.

He thought it would be one or the other—either he’d get soaked in Mad Demon’s beliefs, or Mad Demon would get soaked in his.

But it was both.

They were influencing each other, giving and taking.

Like a married couple slowly growing alike.

*****

Juhyeok made the decision.

The summoned entities gathered, heads together, discussing.

The briefing began.

Everyone clustered together.

Blood Wolf was a dog, so excluded, and Mari was inside the camper with her head against the wall.

And for smooth progress, he’d invited one outsider as well.

Cossack stood before everyone.

“Hello, yes-sir. I am Summoner Bong’s trusted confidant, the flower of unification, the dove of peace, who doesn’t know this man, the stepping-stone of separated-family reunions, John Cossack.”

He bowed.

“And today, a special guest is attending this briefing. Applause for Jeon Gwangil.”

CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!

Jeon Gwangil rose awkwardly and greeted them.

Yes.

It was Jeon Gwangil.

At the summoned entities’ request, Juhyeok called directly.

Could he come to Namyangju?

Jeon Gwangil still looked dazed, like he didn’t know what was happening.

“The briefing begins.”

A projector screen was set up.

When the laptop connected, POP! the screen appeared.

A map of the Korean Peninsula with the tower’s location marked.

“We will take over North Korea. Short term, change the Black Tower nationality. Long term, unification.”

What?

Jeon Gwangil was dumbfounded.

Did he hear that wrong?

Out of nowhere...

He’d been asleep at home.

Then Player Bong said there was something urgent to discuss, so he’d rushed over, driving as fast as he could.

And now what was this?

Changing the Black Tower’s nationality?

Unification, even?

“The Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker is actually a war-trigger item. If you use it with no groundwork, it’s a disaster.”

What was the loudspeaker?

“But if you do enough groundwork and then use it, nothing could be more peaceful. How we do it is...”

Cossack’s explanation continued.

Infiltrate North Korea.

Plant the Mark of Tracking on the Chairman.

Get dispatched into North Korea every day and stick right next to the Chairman.

And then guide him properly, advancing together toward peace.

“For smooth achievement of our objective, I, Cossack, plan to be appointed as North Korea’s Minister of the People’s Armed Forces. Kyaa! Comrades, be tense. Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Cossack is here.”

Jeon Gwangil’s jaw dropped.

That was impossible... or maybe it wasn’t.

These weren’t normal people.

The explanation continued.

And Jeon Gwangil realized why he’d been called here.

This briefing was for him.

Don’t be surprised when this plan starts.

Tip off the government too.

‘Unification...’

Maybe it really was possible.

Of course, there were countless obstacles.

Two Koreas with different politics, economies, and cultures.

But if they narrowed the differences little by little over time—

Right then!

Juhyeok sprang to his feet.

“Hold on!”

What now?

Everyone’s gaze snapped to him.

“It—it popped up!”

“...Yes?”

“Meatshield, Meatshield...”

“Oh!”

“Is it true?”

“Hahaha.”

“Finally!”

A message just came in.

[The summoned entity barbarian meat shield has succeeded in breaking through ranks. Evolution to LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) is complete.]

Finally!

Meatshield was coming. Meatshield.

From Meatshield, promoted two stages to SSR Meatshield, and now at last to LSSR.

And, ding!

[Achievement: You have promoted a summoned entity to LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare) rank for the first time.]

An achievement too.

Yeah, that was a huge achievement.

What achievement could be bigger than that?

[Achievement reward will be granted.]

[You can now Enter Tower 3 times per day.]

“...”

No, this was a bit...

It happened before too.

When he first summoned Mad Demon, the achievement reward had been Enter Tower twice a day.

‘Are all achievement rewards like this?’

Well, who cared about the reward?

Meatshield was back.

His heart was pounding.

How had Meatshield changed?

He needed to brace himself.

“Designated Summon... barbarian meat shield!”

FWAAAAAAH!

A dazzling halo of light.

PAPAPOT!

And he appeared.

Shining as LSSR—

A success myth of summoned entities.

It was Meatshield.

<Catalog: A barbarian warlord of overwhelming charisma who rules the great plains>

Name: Meatshield

Rank: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)

Type: Barbarian warrior (human)

Manifestation time limit: 4 hours

Satisfaction evaluation: average 5 points

Resummon cooldown: 3 hours (applies after dismissal)

“Meatshield?”

“Summoner.”

Aaaaaah!

“Welcome back.”

“The warrior has waited for this day.”

His appearance hadn’t changed much.

Had he gotten a little shorter?

Deeper eyes, a sharper jawline, and a magnificent beard.

Lucius Bardin, the human holy sword and his soulmate, stared at Meatshield with an emotional expression.

Their eyes met.

The two nodded to each other.

Gyeon Dallae also lowered her head gently and offered respect.

“Lord of the Great Plains, congratulations on your safe return.”

Veronica and Rajix snapped to attention too.

“Regarding the Lord of the Great Plains... salute!”

They raised their hands high.

“CERTAIN VICTORY!”

Jiggle.

“WAAH!”

TAP!

“Hehehe, Meatshield.”

“Assassin, you’ve worked hard.”

“Ah, worked hard, my ass!... You’re not gonna flick foreheads or anything undignified for a lord, right?”

“We’ll see.”

“...”

He truly had the bearing of a lord.

*****

The briefing ended.

Through Jeon Gwangil, they’d secured enough information, and now all that remained was execution.

They would go on a business trip to North Korea and begin negotiations for long-term unification with the Chairman.

There was no need to wait.

They’d start the operation immediately.

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower Floor 1.]

He entered Floor 1.

[Using the Tower-Only Exit Ring.]

[Please designate the nationality of the tower you wish to exit.]

‘North Korea.’

[Designated. The next exit will be within a 10km radius of the North Korea Black Tower.]

At the same time, he withdrew from the mission.

[You have declared midway withdrawal.]

[You have failed the mission.]

[Exiting the Republic of Korea Black Tower.]

Swoosh!

To the west, the outline of a fairly large city came into view.

It was Pyongyang.

Two people would go on the business trip.

Cossack and Mad Demon.

Mad Demon would serve as Cossack’s temporary assistant.

He didn’t need to go, but he volunteered—how could Juhyeok stop him?

He wouldn’t cause a big incident, right?

He’d changed too.

“Summoner Bong.”

“Yes?”

“Hurry and do that for me.”

Cossack’s eyes sparkled.

Juhyeok’s expression, on the other hand, was awkward.

“...Do I really have to?”

“Yes.”

He had no choice.

Even though his limbs curled up from embarrassment—

Juhyeok pointed toward Pyongyang with a finger and said,

“Go! Cossack!”

“Yes, sir!”

The moment the order fell, Cossack deployed.

Mad Demon wore an expectant expression too, but—

“I’m not doing it.”

“What... all right.”

SPOT!

Now, it was time to go clear with Meatshield.

It had been a long time.

He needed to see what had changed about Meatshield.

The most suitable floor was...

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower Floor 69.]

A place where Gatekeeper Lich appeared.

And a place where countless undead it summoned showed up.

Meatshield walked forward alone.

With Enlarge—swoooosh!

At the same time—

SHRRRRAAAK!

Tight black armor covered his entire body and head.

“Ohhh!”

“That’s cool.”

“Light!!!”

“WAAH?”

At the lich’s gesture, countless undead appeared, too many to count.

Meatshield stomped a foot.

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK—!

A tremendous shockwave swept across the Floor 69 battlefield.

Every undead in its path shattered into dust.

It was like an earthquake had hit.

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