It wasn’t like Juhyeok didn’t understand what Cossack was worried about.

His Awakening Trait was Summoning.

With a Summoning Trait, rather than fighting directly, the beings you summon handle most of your combat power—that’s the basic combat style.

There’s no need to fight personally.

Especially not for Juhyeok.

He wasn’t some normal Summoning Trait user—he was an irregular.

If he pulled high-rank summoned entities, or increased his simultaneous summon count through a Trait Enhancement Rune or perks, he could climb while basically taking it easy.

‘Still, I have to clear Floor 21.’

From Floor 21 to Floor 25, orcs appeared.

A stretch where casualties had piled up in the Tower’s early days.

Back then, it had been chaos.

Suddenly, the number of missing persons skyrocketed for no apparent reason.

Now, decent items were widely available, and you could easily watch successful clear videos, so almost nobody died here anymore, but...

‘Still, I should be careful, right?’

Even if he’d gained confidence, he had no intention of getting cocky.

‘Who do I think I am?’

That person—somewhere in a parallel universe—who had supposedly had the same Trait and skills as him.

In other words, Cossack’s former summoner.

Had he died because he was incompetent?

No. He’d definitely been stronger than Juhyeok.

He’d probably been wrapped in perks head to toe.

And yet he still died.

His world was ruined, too.

So Juhyeok understood Cossack’s anxiety.

How could he not know why the man kept sighing so heavily?

But I’m still a person.

I just started enjoying the thrill of being a tough guy.

And I learned a skill—so I have to try it at least once.

‘If I persuade him, it’ll be fine. The baseline is absolute obedience, anyway.’

He called Meatshield.

[Barbarian warrior Meatshield of the Great Plains Tribe has been Designated Summoned.]

He called Cossack.

[John Cossack has been Designated Summoned.]

“...Ro-geeer! I’m heeere, sir.”

Why do you look so sulky?

His shoulders looked slumped.

“Did something happen that upset you?”

“...”

Is this because of the attack skill I got yesterday?

Cossack parted his lips and forced the words out.

“...Learning an attack skill might turn into poison, sir. Honestly, even on Floor 20, I was on edge. That was only because they were goblins.”

So I was right.

Getting an attack skill was the cause.

He figured I’d step forward again just to try it, and that could get dangerous.

“I let it go for goblins, but orcs are a no, sir. I apologize in advance. I’ll be committing a sin worthy of death. Summoned Principles, Article Three is activating, sir.”

“...Huh?”

What?

That damned Article Three?

The one where, for the summoner’s life, the summoned entity’s free will can manifest and disobey orders?

“Uh...”

“This is the only way, sir.”

Stay calm.

Like I’d experienced before, Article Three has a wide range of interpretation.

At this rate, I might not even get to hold a mace once.

Even the S++ clears, if you think ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) about it, are tied to Article Three.

Finish the clear before the summoner enters danger.

On top of that, push the summoner stronger by stacking Platinum Badge perks.

He must think my behavior crossed a line.

He wanted to cut off the seed of danger entirely.

“...Are you saying you’ll tie me up or something? With a butterfly knot?”

“How do I tie you up, sir? Meatshield will just hold Summoner Bong safely in place. I’ll handle the clear alone, sir.”

When I looked at Meatshield to see if he was really going to do it—

“...”

He quietly averted his eyes.

So you two plotted this together.

“Don’t do that. Just give me one chance. I’ll take it easy from now on.”

“I can’t trust you, sir.”

Sharp.

Does he have eyes that can judge truth or something?

Fine. Then I have to be sincere.

Sincere. Truly sincere.

Mind control.

He repeated it to himself.

From next time on, careful, careful.

Don’t jump out recklessly.

Hold back.

Put safety first.

Okay.

“Really! I’m staking everything I have on it! I won’t go out first ever again.”

“...For real, sir?”

“But if I just sit there doing nothing, what’s the point? I’ll kill exactly one. Carefully. Slowly. That much is okay, right?”

Cossack hesitated.

“Just trust me once! Safety first! Self-preservation!”

And then—

“If you insist... then fine. But! I’ll guard you safely at your side, sir. If a dangerous situation hits, I’ll intervene immediately, sir.”

“Deal!”

“Roger!”

Whew.

Thank god.

Cossack’s voice sounded firm again.

The persuasion worked.

After weighing levels, armor, skills, and everything else, he’d decided it was safe to a certain extent.

Juhyeok felt relieved, too.

“Alright. Shall we go?”

To Floor 21.

[Entering Floor 21 of the Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

From Floor 21 onward, orcs appeared.

The type was the standard greenskin orc that lived in forests.

Individually, they were stronger than goblins.

But if there was a weakness, it was that they were a bit lacking in intelligence.

“Orcs are stupid, sir. Of course, they’re probably still smarter than Meatshield.”

“I smarter than orc.”

“Yes, yes, shut up.”

They might be dumb, but look at those bodies.

Muscle everywhere.

If an orc ever grabbed me, my limbs would get torn off and I’d die without even getting to use a healing potion.

It was good I’d decided on just one.

“Anyway, Summoner Bong, use Shadow Step well, sir. It’s perfect for fooling orcs. They’ll chase shadows and wear themselves out, sir.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll only kill one, so trust me and leave it to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

After gearing up in the safe zone first—

“Wait a second. Let’s practice exactly ten times before we go.”

Let’s practice first.

The clear only starts once the mission appears.

“You can do it a hundred times, sir.”

Juhyeok held the shield in his left hand and the adamant mace in his right.

Skill, Mixed-Origin Thunderclap Staff—First Form, “Falling Thunder Chases the Soul.”

WHOOOM!

Magic power concentrated into the mace.

The first form was a simple vertical strike.

But the speed and force weren’t simple at all.

FWOOSH!

CRACKLE!

The mace dropped like a bolt of lightning.

‘Is this right?’

One more time.

FWOOSH!

CRACKLE!

He swung it five or six times like that, but—

“Hm.”

Something about it still didn’t satisfy him.

Seeing that, John Cossack said,

“There’s no target to hit, so can you really practice properly, sir?”

“Right? I think I have to use it in real combat...”

“Even so, jumping straight into real combat is too much, sir. A skill only works once you’ve got enough proficiency, sir.”

“Then what do I do?”

“There’s a way, sir.”

Cossack turned his head and looked at Meatshield.

“Meatshield.”

“Speak. Assassin.”

“Get on your knees for a second.”

“A warrior does not kneel to just anyone.”

“Not to me— to Summoner Bong, sir.”

“Kneel.”

THUD!

Juhyeok and Meatshield’s eye level became almost the same.

And then a thought flashed through Juhyeok’s mind.

A feeling.

“...Uh.”

No way you mean—

“Here’s a practice dummy, Meatshield, sir. Swing for the fences and smash him, sir.”

“...”

Seriously, are you out of your mind?

“You want me to hit Mr. Meatshield?”

“Isn’t that good, sir? Even if you hit with full force, it won’t leave a scratch, sir. It’s perfect for practice, sir.”

“...”

“I’m weak, sir... Hehehe.”

Then Meatshield chimed in too.

“Summoner, you hit okay. I not hurt.”

“You heard him, sir. He says it’s fine, so hit just ten times and then we start, sir.”

“...”

I’m going to lose it.

Cossack telling me to hit him, and Meatshield saying it’s fine to hit him.

They’re the same.

So what was Juhyeok’s choice?

Not worth thinking about.

“Let’s go get the mission.”

“Ah—no, even just ten hits—”

“Shh. If you keep that up, I’ll charge in alone.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll shut up, sir.”

Not long after they left the safe zone—

[Floor 21 Mission: Kill 30 forest orcs.]

[Time Limit: Within 4 hours.]

“Shall we start?”

“I go first!”

“I go too.”

Juhyeok stayed behind.

He’d said he’d only kill one. He had to keep the promise.

KRAA! KUAK! KRKNG!

Forest orcs poured out in a line, screaming weird noises.

He remembered something he’d seen on YouTube.

A video where a Player with the same Summoning Trait summoned a golem and cleared.

‘Was that Player level 30?’

While he was recalling it, the forest orcs were getting swept away.

At this rate, I’ll finish without killing even one.

Pick fast.

In that instant—

One forest orc got separated from the pack and ended up alone.

‘That’s perfect...’

Juhyeok made eye contact with Cossack.

Can I take that one?

Nod.

Cossack nodded.

“Okay!”

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

He closed the distance in a single burst with Shadow Step, and—

“Kuak?”

SWAT! SWAT! SWAT!

He made it dizzy with several afterimages, got behind it—

FWOOSH!

He brought the mace down on its crown.

CRACKLE!

CRUNCH!

“Kiii...”

With electrocution and a crushed skull, it collapsed.

“Oh!”

Easy.

Way too easy.

‘One more?’

No.

He could feel a stinging glare on the back of his head.

If Article Three activated, I’d be screwed.

[You have succeeded in the Floor 21 mission.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Reward: Magic Stone 2.1kg]

[Notice: You have achieved a Clear Rank of S++ on Floor 21 of the Black Tower (Korea).]

[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge is awarded.]

The next day, during the desert-orc extermination mission on wasteland terrain, he killed one again.

[Notice: You have achieved a Clear Rank of S++ on Floor 22 of the Black Tower (Korea).]

On Floor 23, in a pitch-black cave environment filled with traps everywhere, during the cave-orc extermination mission—one again.

[Notice: You have achieved a Clear Rank of S++ on Floor 23 of the Black Tower (Korea).]

On Floor 24, on land where bright-red lava flowed, he barely killed one volcanic orc.

[Notice: You have achieved a Clear Rank of S++ on Floor 24 of the Black Tower (Korea).]

‘Tsk.’

Only killing one each time was frustrating.

But for now, he had to earn their trust.

And now, the long-awaited Floor 25.

After resting for about a day—

‘Should I hand over the rune while I’m at it?’

Since Meatshield and Cossack were always together, he hadn’t been able to give it to anyone.

So the next day, Juhyeok called only Cossack separately.

“Roger! I’m here, sir.”

“Good. You’re here.”

“Didn’t you say we were resting today, sir?”

“We were, but... oh! I found this on the way. Take it.”

“Yes, sir? Is it food, sir?”

“No. Check it.”

Like it was nothing—casually—Juhyeok flicked the Summoned-Entity Rank-Up Rune at Cossack.

The moment he caught it, Cossack’s pupils trembled.

“U-uh...”

He held it close to his eyes, even bit it—

And then, suddenly—

“Huuuh?! What is—what is this, sir? R-rank-up?”

“Nice, right? You like it?”

“You... really... you’re really giving it to me, sir?”

“Yes.”

“...That’s awesome, sir. Rank up, sir. I’m moved, sir.”

Is he that happy?

“I’m really happy, sir. I’ll be able to protect Summoner Bong even better now, sir.”

As long as he was in a good mood—

“Do you start the rank-up now?”

“No, sir. If you rush it, it’s dangerous, sir. I have to prepare my mind, too, sir. I’ll go back and do it, sir.”

So it wasn’t something you could just do instantly.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow after you rank up?”

“Yes, sir!”

He’d handle it fine.

“Since you’re here anyway, hang out before you go.”

“Then I’ll just watch TV...”

Cossack turned the TV on with the remote like it was second nature.

Juhyeok was bored too, so he watched with him.

CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!

The channels changed way too fast.

“Let’s watch just one. Just one!”

“Mm. There’s something I was watching, sir. I’m looking for the rerun, sir.”

“Just watch it on replay.”

“Isn’t that expensive, sir?”

“What are you saving that money for! Just watch it on replay—huh?”

That was when.

“W-wait!”

Juhyeok pointed at the TV screen with his finger.

“Why, sir?”

“Go back to the previous channel.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Back, more... stop!”

It was broadcast news.

A woman with a red headband was being interviewed by a reporter.

A very familiar face.

‘...Mom?’

It was Madam Hong Geumja—Juhyeok’s mother.

But why was she on there?

※ ※ ※

Hong Geumja was holding a one-person protest in front of the headquarters building of Jin Saemmul Corporation, a water purifier company.

With a signboard covered in phrases like “Oppose Unfair Contract Termination,” “Improve Treatment of Water Purifier Service Workers,” “Stop Employer Abuse,” and more.

She’d told her family she was going out to look for work, but the place she came to every single day was the company headquarters.

She couldn’t endure it.

Her contract had been terminated unfairly.

She went to a home to replace a purifier filter, and on her way out, they told her to take out the food waste and do the recycling—does that make any sense?

Hong Geumja wasn’t like her husband or her sons.

She slammed right back.

She hadn’t come to run errands—she’d come to do water purifier service work.

But the company told her to apologize to the customer.

Apologize when she’d done nothing wrong?

In the end, what came back was contract termination.

That was why she’d started the one-person protest.

It had been over ten days since she began.

The broadcasting stations and media didn’t seem to have any intention of covering it.

The company probably blocked it.

In the meantime, executives from the company had walked past her, acting like she didn’t exist—only eyes full of ridicule.

Hong Geumja bit her lip hard.

She would never submit.

Right at that moment—

“Are you Hong Geumja?”

A man in a neat suit appeared in front of her as she protested alone.

He offered her a business card.

“Who are you?”

“Thank you for your hard work. I’m Attorney Lee Changseok from Park & Kim Law Firm.”

A lawyer?

And from Park & Kim, at that?

The top law firm in the Republic of Korea.

Famous for representing major corporations, as well as state-owned enterprises—especially for taking commissions from the Tower Player Awakening Administration to provide legal counsel and representation for Players.

So what did it mean that a lawyer like that had appeared here?

Hong Geumja’s face hardened.

“Is the company saying they’ll sue me? Go ahead. I’m not backing down.”

“Hahaha! Not at all. The opposite.”

“...What?”

“Formally sue Jin Saemmul Corporation. Our law firm will represent you for free.”

“...W-what?”

The lawyer’s words were completely unexpected.

Had she misheard?

It was absurd.

If it wasn’t a scam, how could this happen?

“You don’t need to worry. It’s not a scam. This is part of a project for the socially vulnerable. Most law firms do things like this, and... if you come with me to the company, you’ll know soon enough.”

Hong Geumja stared blankly, thinking, then—

“Uh... I don’t really understand what’s going on...”

“Do you have a phone? You can record here. We’ll make it a verbal agreement.”

She truly didn’t understand any of it.

No matter how she looked at it, it didn’t seem like a scam, but—

What do I do?

Do I accept?

“Please trust me. I’ll stake my reputation. And I will win, without fail.”

She agonized for a long time.

Fine. I’ve come this far. It’s do-or-die anyway.

“Alright. I’ll let you be my lawyer.”

“Just as I expected—you’re decisive. Then...”

Attorney Lee Changseok flicked his finger.

“Shall we start with media work?”

“...What?”

In an instant—

Reporters and broadcast cameras swarmed toward Hong Geumja.

“When you answer questions, it’s fine if it’s long—just be detailed. They’ll edit later. Everything you’ve suffered, unfair treatment included—don’t leave out even one thing.”

Hong Geumja had no choice but to nod.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────