Juhyeok came out of White Tower Floor 17.

Then, after summoning all the summoned entities except Blood Wolf,

“Earlier, I asked all of you about the White Tower, didn’t I?”

The summoned entities answered as though they had been waiting for that.

“This old man also looked into it briefly on the other side, but got nothing. Apparently nobody knows what the White Tower is.”

If even the souls on the other side didn’t know, then it was one of two things.

Either they had never experienced it, or it was forbidden.

“What sort of place is it? This humble one is curious.”

Juhyeok explained White Tower Floor 17 one detail at a time.

Starting from the fact that he had been allocated it as an achievement reward, then going into the floor’s environment, the owner menu, the functions of the menu, the costs, and so on in detail.

Everyone’s expressions turned grave.

Because they understood what that floor meant.

In a way, White Tower Floor 17 was also an item.

Since it was real estate given by the tower.

And when an item appeared, there was always a time when it would have to be used.

Even the <Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker> had been like that.

He had thought there would never be a reason to use it.

He had even hidden it from the Mad Demon because he was afraid the Mad Demon might tell him to try using it.

But in the end, a time to use it had come.

Of course, unlike his expectations, it had ended very peacefully,

but in a situation like this, what did it mean that White Tower Floor 17 had been given as a reward?

That it assumed the world was going to end.

“So it’s a shelter.”

“That’s right. Even if the world ends, that place will still be safe.”

“Most likely, if it develops further, self-sufficiency inside it will become possible as well.”

“Haah, I hope there never comes a day when that floor has to be used.”

Nobody looked happy.

Meanwhile, Juhyeok clenched his fist and said,

“I should build a city. I’ve already decided on the name. Juhyeok City!”

But the Mad Demon made an awkward expression.

“...Summoner, isn’t that a little early?”

“For what?”

“For deciding that the world is going to end.”

“Huh?”

Gyeon Dallae also answered quickly.

“The Mad Demon speaks truly. There is still room to spare. Whether there is any need to build a shelter...”

The very act of building a shelter.

It meant concluding that the world was going to end.

In truth, that was little different from exposing weakness of will.

And if the summoner weakened, the summoned entities would have no choice but to waver as well.

“Master Bong Summoner, just trust this Cossack. The world ain’t ending.”

“This warrior has already wagered his life. If it is to protect the summoner’s world, even the extinction of my soul would be acceptable.”

“My lord! This servant shall assist you with utmost loyalty.”

“Sergeant Veronica Caliber, the Republic of Korea is my homeland too. Even if I have to enlist again, I’ll defend my country.”

“WAAAH!”

Even Mari joined in.

Ding-dong!

[Mari]: I’ll protect it, whatever it takes.

Hmm.

It was nice that they were all steeling their resolve for the sake of a weak man,

but—

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I’ve never once thought the world was going to end.”

The summoned entities looked puzzled.

Then why a shelter?

“Just look at the penthouse. It’s packed, cramped, and ready to burst.”

That was right.

And it wasn’t even as though the living room was small.

“When I summon everyone at once, there are nine people living here including me. And one room is occupied by Mari alone.”

He had even thought about buying another house.

But would that really solve it?

“Now that manifestation time has been extended, everyone stays around longer, and in a few days another person is coming too. If I enhance my Trait, the simultaneous summon count will increase as well, and then what? Ten people, twenty, thirty... how are we supposed to keep living in just this penthouse?”

It was obvious that as time passed, it would only get more cramped.

“I-I see?”

Juhyeok grinned.

“I’m going to build a new house on White Tower Floor 17. Complete with basic infrastructure, and then I’ll copy and paste a wide, sturdy house, and build roads too!”

First, he addressed Mari, the shut-in alchemist listening to the conversation alone in her room.

“Mari, I’m going to need top-grade Magic Stones. Is there any way to make them?”

Ding-dong!

[Mari]: With a Philosopher’s Stone, alchemical conversion from high-grade Magic Stones into top-grade Magic Stones is possible

Yes!

Of course she could do it.

Who was Mari?

An LSSR-rank alchemist.

Ding-dong!

[Mari]: Um, but there’s a fixed ratio. Roughly 1,000 to 1.

“...What did you just say?”

One thousand to one?

Then did that mean refining 1 ton of high-grade Magic Stones would produce only 1 kilogram of top-grade Magic Stones?

‘What kind of ratio is that?’

This was going to cost far more than he had expected.

When clearing the seventies only gave rewards of around 6 kilograms of high-grade Magic Stones at a time.

He had declared it boldly, but now that he thought about it calmly, this was not something to take lightly.

Just the high-grade Magic Stones needed for the basic infrastructure, the power plant and wireless network, added up to 30 tons.

And if he wanted to copy and place buildings, roads, parking lots, and the like, that would also consume high-grade Magic Stones.

At this rate, forget converting them into top-grade Magic Stones, even securing enough high-grade Magic Stones would be difficult.

Buying an entire apartment building might actually be cheaper.

‘...Should I give up?’

He glanced around subtly, and everyone was already full of anticipation for the new home.

And as an <alpha male>, there was pride at stake in going back and forth on his word.

There was no helping it.

Juhyeok grabbed Rajix’s short hand tightly.

“Mr. Rajix.”

“WAAH?”

“I need high-grade Magic Stones.”

“WAAH...”

Rajix could mine ordinary Magic Stones out of the ground.

If so, couldn’t he mine high-grade Magic Stones too?

“You can find veins of high-grade Magic Stones, right?”

“WAAH!”

“Is it possible?”

“WAAAH!”

“In huge amounts?”

“WAAAAH!”

Rajix’s eyes gleamed brightly.

Done.

If the cosmic bald farmhand Rajix could do it, then it existed.

Let’s just keep climbing until a high-grade Magic Stone vein showed up.

“For now, starting today, I’m going back into tower climbing.”

Starting with the northern tower.

Its climbing progress was complete through Floor 62, with Floor 63 next to challenge.

Since he could enter 3 times per day, if he started with Floor 63 on the first day and cleared through Floor 74 on the fourth day, that would be a total of 12 floors.

Juhyeok’s current level was Level 75.

He got badges for floors within a 5-level difference.

The floors that awarded badges started at Floor 70.

Floor 70 gave 1 badge, and from Floor 71 onward, 2 badges.

By calculation, that was 9 badges from the North Korea tower alone.

And if on the last day he cleared the existing Republic of Korea Black Tower Floors 75 and 76 as well?

The total badges obtainable would be 13.

‘How many badges do I have right now?’

Cumulative total 93, with 33 physical badges on hand.

And if he added another 13...

‘Cumulative 106, physical 46.’

If the 5-day rotating tower-climbing schedule was completed, the number of perks he could receive would be no less than 3.

‘I’ll check the perks all at once later.’

If he opened 3 perks at the same time, surely one of them would produce something decent.

And the badge award ceremony too, all at once.

He would pin them on without holding anything back.

“Mr. Cossack.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You only join the first run of each day, then head to North Korea.”

“Yes, sir!”

And so Juhyeok started with the northern tower.

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2) Floor 63.]

And began climbing.

*****

The first day of climbing.

From Juhyeok’s perspective, the undead section was low-floor territory.

So no clear-rank notice sounded.

The same was true on the second day.

He completed up to Floor 68.

The third day.

During the second run, a notice sounded to Players affiliated with the Republic of Korea.

[Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S++ on Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) Floor 70.]

ㄴHuh?

ㄴGasp!

ㄴOh!

ㄴNumber Two?

ㄴSo it’s started.

ㄴSo that’s why forced Tower occupation was necessary.

ㄴWho else could possibly clear the undead section of the North Korea tower?

ㄴExactly. Nobody but one person.

ㄴAnyway, we have a numbered Black Tower now too, two towers!

ㄴWhat’s so good about that?

And about 30 minutes later—

[Global Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S+++ on Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) Floor 71.]

A Global Notice that spread across the entire world.

ㄴIt’s Floor 71!!!

ㄴIf it was that easy, why couldn’t those temporarily naturalized Players do it?

ㄴAll they did was whine about being stuck with their nationality for a year.

ㄴOur Republic of Korea’s greatest Player comrade climbs towers with teleportation arts.

ㄴHe hurled pinecone grenades with revolutionary vigor. Long live Juhyeok!

ㄴHuh? Who are the guys up there?

ㄴPleasure to meet you. I’m a Player affiliated with the Republic of Korea Black Tower living in Pyongyang.

ㄴWow! Looks like unification might really happen. Back in the day, I’d have reported you as a commie on the spot.

ㄴBut what’s with “Long live Juhyeok”?

ㄴThat’s a slogan popular in the Republic these days.

ㄴA propaganda slogan?

ㄴThat’s right. It’s an abbreviation of the spirit of Juche revolution.

ㄴNorth Korea abbreviates the weirdest things too.

ㄴAnyway, is life over there decent now?

ㄴThanks to the greatest Player comrade taking over the tower, life has become livable.

ㄴThere is also the grace of Comrade Go Sageuk, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces.

ㄴSoon free travel between North and South will begin, so come visit Pyongyang.

ㄴThey say southern men and northern women, so are North Korean women pretty?

ㄴYou bastard, there’s a face hierarchy here too, got it? If you’re confident, then come on over. I won’t stop you.

ㄴFuck, I should at least go eat some Okryu-gwan naengmyeon.

The next day, without fail, another notice sounded.

[Global Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S+++ on Black Tower NO.2 (Korea) Floor 72.]

ㄴHe’s going again today!

ㄴThis is revolutionary tower climbing!!!

ㄴLong live Juhyeok!

A Global Notice for an S+++ clear on Floor 73 too.

ㄴSo he’s going twice!

Then all the way to Floor 74.

ㄴHoly shit.

ㄴThree times?

ㄴIsn’t three times in one day a record?

The first-ever 3-times-in-one-day S+++ clear.

ㄴIf this ain’t teleportation arts, then what the hell is?

ㄴThe great highest Player comrade climbs towers with cloning arts.

ㄴHe crosses tower floors riding on fallen leaves!

ㄴHe makes rice out of sand!

ㄴWow! These bastards learned theft and turned it into idolization.

*****

The Player Management Office in downtown Pyongyang.

A place converted from a pyramid-shaped hotel whose construction had been halted for ages.

It was more commonly known as the camp.

More than 800 North Korean Players had been imprisoned there.

A place that showed, in the starkest way possible, how North Korean Players were treated.

As soon as it became known that someone was a Player, that person would immediately be taken into custody and sent to the Player Management Office.

Once you were dragged in, you didn’t get out.

Either you died in reality, or you died inside the tower.

Of course, they did feed them three meals a day.

They even gave them the title of revolutionary fighter, and paid some compensation to their families.

But that was all.

They weren’t even allowed to wear equipment, and were forced to climb the tower.

And since they had been parasitizing the South Korean tower, there had been no real worry over Tower Collapse, had there?

There was no way Player protection would be handled properly.

That was why North Koreans hid the fact that they were Players even if they awakened.

They operated in secret, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) avoiding the government’s gaze.

They would climb the tower at night or at dawn, take the Magic Stone rewards, and hand them to stolen-goods brokers in exchange for money.

And if they got caught?

They’d be dragged away as counterrevolutionaries.

What did it matter if high-grade Magic Stones came out of the Republic of Korea tower after the Kabalan clear?

Even if they got them as rewards, everything would just be confiscated.

And in the midst of all that, a Black Tower with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nationality was newly created.

It was no different from a nightmare.

To prevent Tower Collapse, they would obviously be driven to break through the undead section.

All that remained was entering the tower to die.

But then, out of nowhere, an astonishing event took place.

The Tower occupation proclamation by the South Korean S+++ top Player.

At first it seemed like war was about to break out, but it was nothing of the sort.

The situation flowed in a completely unexpected direction.

The nationality changed back to the Republic of Korea.

Chairman Kim Injung proposed an inter-Korean summit.

The Korean Awakening Administration from the South decided to establish a branch in Pyongyang.

And the Players were all released from the camp.

They went home and met their long-missed families again.

Was this a dream, or reality?

Who exactly had bestowed this blessing?

The great Baekdu bloodline Chairman Kim Injung?

As if!

The people of North Korea were not fools.

Everyone had already figured it out.

Comrade Go Sageuk, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, who had risen overnight as the second-most-powerful person in the regime.

It was the result of that person’s active maneuvering.

And today.

Comrade Go Sageuk had come to inspect the Pyongyang Player Cooperative Management Office.

“We welcome the inspection of the Management Office by Comrade Minister of the People’s Armed Forces with our whole bodies! Long live Juhyeok!”

“Long live Juhyeok!”

Go Sageuk, wearing sunglasses,

nodded and said,

“So all the Management Office Players were sent home, right? Soon the South Korean civil servants are gonna come in and take this place over.”

The camp building where the North Korean Players had been imprisoned was scheduled to become a branch of the Korean Awakening Administration.

“Y-yes, the Player comrades have all gone home. There’s nobody in the Management Office but the staff comrades now.”

“Really? You’re not feeding me bullshit, are you?”

The director flinched for a moment, then opened his mouth again.

“Ah, there is still one left.”

“Hm? What, where?”

“N-not a Republic Player. A temporarily naturalized Player comrade brought in from Czechia.”

Go Sageuk glared sharply at the director.

“This is kidnapping, ain’t it? You still haven’t come to your senses!”

“N-no, that’s not it. That one’s a counterrevolutionary, the head of the Black Market Guild.”

“Even if he’s the head of the black market... what?”

The black market.

He had heard about it before.

The Trait Enhancement Rune the United States had brought to repay Master Bong Summoner for rescuing Player Gerald.

Its source had been the Black Market Guild.

Then—

could he just let this pass?

“So he is a counterrevolutionary.”

“Yes! That’s right.”

“Bring him to me immediately! And a translator too. I’ll interrogate him personally.”

“Understood!”

Cossack trembled with excitement.

For all he knew, there might be a Trait Enhancement Rune sitting right there in Dmitry’s Inventory.

A chance to earn merit.

He’d sweet-talk the bastard and strip him clean.

*****

Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2).

The North Korea tower had been cleared up through Floor 74.

The treasures of the necromancer dungeon and the royal palace treasure vault had also been safely secured.

He had received high-grade Magic Stones, and several small items too.

Now tomorrow.

It would be time to clear Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.1) Floors 75 and 76.

The Mad Demon and Meatshield, the two LSSR-rank members, and Cossack returning from dispatch in North Korea would all be joining too.

It probably wouldn’t be difficult, but that didn’t mean he could let his guard down.

During the final ultra-high-difficulty optional mission on Floor 74, a setup had been laid for a linked mission.

The wicked-spirit Nine-Tailed Fox.

It would definitely appear.

The very same fiend that had overpowered thousand-year fox Haeryeong, who had once been Gyeon Dallae’s teacher.

It was certain to be LSSR rank.

And it would not be easy.

That there could be a marked difference even among those of the same LSSR rank was already an obvious fact.

Thousand-year fox Haeryeong had proven that.

To keep even her restrained, weakened, and not yet fully transformed into a wicked spirit, both Meatshield and the Mad Demon had been required.

That the wicked-spirit Nine-Tailed Fox would be monstrously strong was plain as day.

He would have to prepare thoroughly before going in.

So Juhyeok asked Mari, the shut-in alchemist, to make him doping potions.

CLICK,

the door opened,

and the potions and elixirs brewed by the sage were stacked up one by one.

<alpha male>: Thanks as always. It must be a hassle every time.

Mari: Not at all. Ask anytime. I’m making them diligently anyway♬♬♪

She might not be a combat class, but Mari’s role was irreplaceable.

Without her, how was he supposed to make top-grade Magic Stones?

But then—

Mari: Um..., Summoner.

Mari: If a difficult situation comes up while you’re clearing, please call me. I can help too.

Her heart was this kind too.

<alpha male>: All right. I’ll call you.

There probably wouldn’t be any need to.

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