Mackenzie Dronak, a 9-circle Archmage, had his soul wrung completely dry.

There was no way he could continue the run.

So the summon was dismissed.

Back to White Tower Floor 17.

He had finally come to the new home he had dreamed of for so long, but Mackenzie was in terrible spirits.

He felt like he was dying.

Even if this place was paradise.

“Just rest for now. We’ll go harvest some hides and come back.”

“Mm, I’m sorry. I can’t face the Summoner.”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. Burning a few hides isn’t that big a deal.”

Having his weakness exposed had been the mistake.

The shock seemed to have hit him hard.

Honestly.

When ten people all piled onto one person, how could anyone endure that?

This was a merciless battlefield where only the fittest survived—

even the Mad Demon would get torn apart if he showed weakness.

In the end, despite being a 9-circle Archmage, Mackenzie was dropped from the starting lineup and placed on the bench.

“If you go into that house over there, there’s a TV, and the fridge has some simple food, so you won’t be bored.”

“Mmm, y-yes, understood.”

Mackenzie answered in a dejected voice.

“And Mari lives in that house over there, so if possible, don’t get too close.”

“... That foul-mouthed elf?”

“Well, she does swear a lot, but as long as you don’t provoke her...”

“Would it be acceptable to talk with her?”

“Oh dear, I’d rather not let you talk to her at all. But if you really want to, use this...”

Juhyeok handed Mackenzie a tablet.

“This is...”

“Have you used one before?”

“Once, a very long time ago.”

“Then you know how to use it.”

“At least enough to send messages.”

Just in case, Juhyeok explained the basics anyway.

“Don’t blame yourself too much. Just take it easy.”

“...”

But the wind had already gone out of his sails.

It would take quite a while for him to recover.

The ornamental magic that was practically Mackenzie’s trademark didn’t manifest at all.

Fireworks when he was bored, spotlight magic, showers of rose petals—

a man who used to behave as though he were the center of the world had been pushed to the fringes in an instant.

It was pitiful to watch.

Even Juhyeok’s heart ached a little.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely call you when we climb the upper floors.”

“Ah.”

“Then I’m off!”

“W-wait a moment—”

SPOT!

Mackenzie was left alone.

The quiet of White Tower Floor 17.

A landscape that felt like a small town from Earth transplanted whole.

He slowly wandered around and looked at the sights.

He went into one of the houses in the residential district and watched TV.

He opened the fridge and cracked open a cold can of beer.

But it wasn’t very enjoyable.

Even with all five senses restored in a physical body, he had no appetite.

A suffocating feeling.

If only he could at least take part in planning the climb up the upper floors, he might still be of some help—but for now, they were only doing repeat runs.

“Hoo...”

What was this supposed to be?

He had stepped out with such grand dreams.

What was the basic role of a summoned entity?

To climb the Tower together with the Summoner and save the world, wasn’t it?

But everything had gone wrong from the very start.

The very first button had been fastened wrong.

Suddenly, he thought of another summoned entity who was in a position similar to his—

an LSSR candidate who was also just waiting around on White Tower Floor 17.

He picked up the tablet and opened the messenger app.

The friends list appeared.

He changed his display name, tapped <Mari> in the friends list, and invited her into a chat room.

And then—

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Knock knock. You foul-mouthed elf.

Ding!

<Mari>: @#%&! Who the hell are you? Bad luck already—why aren’t you working? Did you screw something up?

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: More or less. I got kicked out because my magic was too strong.

<Mari>: Ha! Attention-seeking bastard. I don’t even need to hear the details. All you know how to do is set things on fire. What use are you? #$&%$!

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Aren’t you in a similar situation to me?

<Mari>: Don’t kid yourself. Do you think I’m the same as some unemployed bum like you? Potion crafting, ultimate mana synthesis—

I’m the one the Summoner trusts and relies on the most!

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: That’s a bit—

<Mari>: Who do you think you are, talking back to me, you insignificant—$%@#!

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Hey, instead of that, how about we marginalized people—

Ding!

—<Grand Archmage Dronak> has been blocked.

“Damn woman.”

...

She really knew how to dig into a person’s heart.

Mackenzie was lonely.

Autumn was coming.

The next day, the hide-collecting work continued.

Juhyeok entered White Tower Floor 17.

SPOT!

As soon as he appeared, the summoned entities swarmed toward him.

The labor market had opened.

“Recruiting for hide collection! Need one tanker, laborers are mandatory... anyone else with time, raise your hand!”

Before he had even finished speaking, summoned entities started shouting, “Me!” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Especially the newcomers, who were burning with motivation—

they wanted to catch the Summoner’s eye and earn some merit.

Mackenzie also bounced in place and raised his hand high.

No matter what, he wanted to make up for his mistake.

But Juhyeok deliberately ignored him.

It wasn’t a punishment.

It was for Mackenzie’s own good.

If he made another mistake when the summoned entities were already in a bad mood—

This time, he might get strung up upside down and mocked.

Juhyeok decided it would be better to let him rest a little longer and get a better feel for things.

“... And Mr. Jepetto, Diamat, yeah, Blood Wolf too.”

Mackenzie stared in despair, unable to believe it.

Now he was being passed over in favor of even a wolf.

SPOT! SPOT! SPOT!

People left the White Tower to go work for the day.

Once again, silence fell over White Tower Floor 17.

Mackenzie stood there alone.

After thinking for a long time,

as if he had finally made up his mind—

This won’t do.

Step by step, he walked toward the residential district.

He stopped in front of one house and said,

“Aliamari, elven alchemist, please help me.”

Mackenzie spoke sincerely.

“I want to restore my honor. My self-esteem has fallen so low I feel like I’m going insane.”

But there was no reply.

“I beg you. If it’s you, there must be some way, right? I want to be of help to the Summoner too.”

Still silence.

“Hoo... at this point, I’d almost rather go back to the Infinite Prison—”

That was when it happened.

Ding!

A message notification rang from the tablet in Mackenzie’s hands.

“... What?”

He hurriedly checked it.

<Mari>: Fine. I’ll help you. I don’t like it, but it’s for the Summoner.

Tap tap tap.

Mackenzie quickly replied.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Thank you for giving me a chance. I’ll become someone useful.

<Mari>: Do you know enchantment magic?

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: A little... it isn’t my specialty, but I learned some of it while making artifacts as gifts for acquaintances.

<Mari>: Really? Then—

Swoosh!

Mari sent a link in the chat.

It was a news article.

He opened it and read.

—The global obese population has surpassed one billion, meaning one in eight people worldwide is obese... Childhood obesity is especially dangerous, even more so than adult obesity, and is a major cause of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension... Global pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop obesity treatments...

Obesity, all of a sudden?

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Why this article? Did you gain weight?

<Mari>: What nonsense are you talking about! Have you ever seen a fat elf?

Then why obesity—

<Mari>: The Summoner needs money right now. He has to buy high-grade Magic Stones.

...

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: I know that too.

<Mari>: Give up on being recognized through Tower-climbing strategy. No matter how hard you try, you won’t beat Rajix anyway.

Every word was true.

No wonder the other summoned entities called him a space farmhand.

<Mari>: Make items and sell them.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: What?

<Mari>: Use enchantment magic to make items that can treat or prevent obesity. Bracelets, necklaces—things like that.

Oh.

<Mari>: They’ll sell extremely well. Obesity is a huge problem in this era. It’s a prosperous world that hasn’t collapsed. Just don’t make them too effective—keep it moderate.

Enchantment magic.

Mackenzie understood the principles and the basic magical formulas too.

An enchantment artifact for treating obesity...

POP!

A lightbulb-shaped glow appeared over Mackenzie’s head, just like something out of an animation.

I can do this.

As long as there were enough materials.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Do you have Tower metal?

<Mari>: There’s a warehouse over there where Rajix stores supplies.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Magic Stones?

<Mari>: Same warehouse. Don’t ever touch the high-grade ones—use only normal Magic Stones.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Understood. One more thing—I need refined Magic Stone powder. Can you make that with alchemy?

<Mari>: I’ll make it.

<Grand Archmage Dronak>: Thank you. I’ll never forget this favor.

<Mari>: I’ll say this again—don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not doing this because I care about you.

Mackenzie immediately began developing the artifact.

An artifact for treating or preventing obesity.

Since it might require many formulas, it would be better to engrave them on a large bracelet rather than a small ring.

A magical formula to promote metabolism is essential...

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Mackenzie sketched rune formulas and patterns on the tablet with a stylus.

It would be good to include a purification function that removes waste from the body, and while I’m at it, detoxification magic and an appetite-suppression function too, right?

If it succeeded, it wouldn’t strain the body—

no, you would actually become healthier while losing weight.

In truth, enchantment magic like this was harder than it looked.

Combat-oriented magical formulas were much easier by comparison.

But he was an Archmage.

A full-fledged 9-circle mage.

This wasn’t just a matter of effort—you needed innate magical talent to pull it off.

His mind spun rapidly.

The blueprint was already taking shape.

Mackenzie went to the materials warehouse on White Tower Floor 17 and took out an orichalcum ingot.

“Fire Hand.”

FWOOSH!

With hands heated by magic, he melted the ingot, stretched it out, and quickly shaped it into a bracelet. Then he engraved magical formulas in intaglio along the inner surface.

He would set a normal Magic Stone in place as a substitute for a gemstone, fill the engraved grooves with refined Magic Stone powder, and finally chant the enchantment spell—only then would a completed artifact be born.

Of course, there would be several failures along the way.

He wasn’t an enchantment specialist, after all.

Still, Mackenzie grinned.

For the first time, he felt he had found his true use.

If he could make this properly, no one would dare look down on him again.

The space farmhand would envy him, the assassin would stare in astonishment, the Mad Demon would seethe with jealousy, and the Summoner would wear a satisfied smile.

Inside the dark warehouse—

SPOT!

At last, a spotlight spell manifested—

one meant for Mackenzie alone.

Today as well, Juhyeok climbed the Black Tower.

He entered the Tower three times a day.

Once for Apophis, once for a basilisk, once for a wyvern.

Sometimes he skipped Apophis and ran the wyvern twice instead.

He gathered a lot.

A very substantial haul.

This should be more than enough.

But lately, Mr. Mackenzie had been quiet.

He had not come out of the warehouse on White Tower Floor 17.

When Juhyeok asked Mari, she said he was making some kind of artifact.

An item, all of a sudden?

Items were practically lying around underfoot in that warehouse.

Well, maybe he was just trying to kill time because he was bored.

Today, Juhyeok planned to go out for the first time in a while.

He wanted to get the Apophis hide appraised.

He could have asked Commissioner Jeon Gwangil to handle it for him, but he decided to go himself.

He needed to see the face of CEO Jeong Dong-hun, the man running Rajix Trading.

Pretending not to know and simply passing by didn’t sit right with him.

When you thought about it, wasn’t that man basically family too?

He didn’t go alone.

At the summoned entities’ insistence, Veronica Caliber accompanied Juhyeok as his escort.

Instead of her combat tights, Veronica Caliber wore ordinary clothes.

Though when Veronica Caliber wore ordinary clothes, they hardly looked ordinary at all.

Together, Juhyeok and Veronica Caliber rode in a car to his own 61-story building on Gangnam-daero.

The first floor housed the lobby, a café, a bank, and a convenience store.

Above that were restaurants, hospitals, pharmacies, various company offices, and even a museum and an art gallery.

Rajix Trading’s headquarters occupied the very top floors.

How would CEO Jeong Dong-hun evaluate the Apophis hide?

He hoped it had real commercial value.

Before that—

“Copy.”

He copied the 61-story building.

It would be nice to paste it into the White Tower.

A building purchased for trillions of won—

it would serve as more than a suitable landmark for the White Tower.

But how much would it cost to paste?

Don’t tell me it’s something like a hundred tons of high-grade Magic Stones...

That would be a problem if it were too expensive.

“Veronica, shall we go in?”

“Yes! Commander!”

“... Rather than Commander, just call me Juhyeok.”

“Understood. Certain victory!”

Juhyeok entered the building.

To reach Rajix Trading’s headquarters, you had to pass through an unmanned access gate at the end of the lobby, and for that, you needed an access card.

I can just call him.

He already had the contact information.

He dialed the number and called CEO Jeong Dong-hun directly.

“Hello, is this CEO Jeong Dong-hun?”

—Uh, yes, yes. Excuse me, but who is this...?

“My name is Bong Juhyeok. I’m currently in the first-floor lobby of Rajix Trading.”

There was a brief silence.

Then, through the phone, frantic noises rang out—THUD! CRAAASH!—followed by:

—Eek?! J-just a moment, please! Aaaah, I’ll run down right away!

The CEO of Rajix Trading, really...

He feels a little... light.

Well, whatever.

Juhyeok waited while strolling around the lobby and looking around.

Then, suddenly—

A strong scent of perfume drifted ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ over from the side.

And then—

“... Juhyeok?”

Someone called his name.

Juhyeok turned his head.

A young woman with long straight hair, tight jeans, and a white shirt came into view.

“Huh?”

He had definitely seen her somewhere before.

Who was she again?

His eyes dropped to the employee ID hanging from her neck.

—Rajix Trading, General Affairs Department: Employee Oh Jinsuk—

“Oh my? It really is you, Juhyeok. Fancy running into you here.”

“J-Jinsuk... is that you?”

Oh Jinsuk.

The girl he had had a crush on in high school.

That Jinsuk was standing right in front of him.

In reality, not in a dream.

Memories came flooding back.

She had been part of the rough crowd, though not to an extreme degree—just the type who liked to have fun.

She would tease him, asking why he was so timid for a guy, and lightly tap him on the head when passing by.

That was how his crush had begun.

But it was all in the past now.

Sure, she had shown up in his dreams a few times—but still.

Yet here he was, meeting Jinsuk in real life.

And she worked at Rajix Trading, of all places.

She probably hadn’t gone to college because of her grades.

Maybe she had gotten in through a high-school graduate recruitment track?

“Wow, you seem a lot taller now. And you look more handsome too.”

“... R-really?”

Well, thanks to the martial arts taught by the Mad Demon, he had grown taller and his skin had improved.

“So what brings you here? Getting coffee?”

“Uh, I-I’m here to meet someone.”

“Who? Ah! That woman over there? Is she your girlfriend?”

“No, she’s not my girlfriend.”

Just then—

Veronica Caliber leaned in close behind Juhyeok and whispered softly into his ear.

“Commander.”

“What is it?”

“That woman... is she Oh Jinsuk?”

“Uh, yes.”

Veronica Caliber glanced Jinsuk up and down.

“Tch. Nothing special.”

“... Shh. She might hear you.”

Still, Juhyeok almost nodded in agreement.

Honestly, she really wasn’t anything special—

at least compared to Veronica Caliber.

Who could beat Veronica Caliber?

Thanks to her, Juhyeok’s standards had shot through the roof.

Even if an idol group’s center showed up, he wouldn’t bat an eye.

Even the succubus Diamat couldn’t compare.

“But you’ve really changed, Juhyeok. I might not have recognized you if we’d just passed each other.”

You too, Jinsuk.

That rough, flashy vibe from high school was gone.

... But do you still smoke?

You do.

You should quit.

You need to think about your health too.

Juhyeok’s sense of smell was sharp.

After all, he trained in martial arts.

The stale smell of cigarettes mixed with her perfume made his high school memories feel even more distant and wistful.