The Obesity Escape Bracelet frenzy was sweeping the nation.

It had been about a week since sales began.

All kinds of internet forums and social media were overflowing with testimonials about miraculous results.

L: I bought it the moment the banner ad popped up. I’m the real winner.

L: I ate ramen last night and went straight to bed, but my face isn’t swollen at all.

L: My body feels lighter, and even my fatigue is gone.

L: If you combine this with exercise, the effect is insane.

L: Wait, are you saying you didn’t do anything and still lost weight?

L: Yeah. I lost weight.

L: The real point is that I’m steadily getting healthier.

L: Same here. I got scared and went to the hospital for tests, but everything came back normal.

L: I admit it. I didn’t believe it at first. But now I do. Please reopen the server and sell more.

L: For unbelievers, only weight gain, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar remain. Long live Rajix Trading!

L: Thank you, Rajix Trading.

L: Fine, I get it—I need to buy it. But why is the server still down?

L: Damn it, you only made 3,000 units? Is Tower metal that scarce?

L: Adamant is a common metal, though.

L: Let me scratch my own lottery ticket too. I want to lose weight and go clubbing.

L: Like losing weight is going to change your face?

L: Whatever, take my money! I’d pay 1 million won a month, not just 500,000.

Cries were erupting everywhere.

It was a massive success.

The real-time reaction could even be checked from White Tower Floor 17.

After all, the internet worked there too.

The one browsing famous forums and social media sites with a satisfied smile was Secretary MacMillan.

“Hohoho... what a spectacle.”

When he had first accepted the suggestion of the shut-in alchemist, Aliamari, he had not expected the reaction to be this explosive.

It was only beginner-level enchantment magic.

And the effect had been deliberately made very weak,

so that it would not put strain on the body.

Besides, what was so remarkable about losing weight anyway?

In the world Secretary MacMillan came from, obesity was not even treated as a disease.

So what if someone put on a little weight?

If anything, it meant they ate well and lived well.

But this was Earth before its collapse—

a world of abundance, overflowing with food thanks to advanced technology.

A society where far more people died from overeating than from starvation.

And then, at just the right moment, an item appeared that solved people’s worries.

With people reacting this passionately, Secretary MacMillan could not possibly stay quiet.

He wanted to boast immediately that he was the one who had made it.

So he went onto a fairly active internet forum and left a post himself.

L: I made this bracelet. It’s cheap trash, so I don’t know why you’re all making such a fuss. You lot look pathetic and pitiful. Though yes, I’m wearing one too.

L: Yeah, sure. It’s late. Go wash up and go to sleep.

L: I’m not lying. This is a special handcrafted item.

L: Whatever. We know you’re just an attention seeker, so stop stirring shit and get lost.

L: I really made it!

L: Prove it.

Hah... these bastards.

Should he show them the entire process from beginning to end?

Secretary MacMillan slowly opened the camera app on his smartphone.

He set it in a suitable spot, took out an adamant ingot, and was just about to activate magic—

“...Hmm.”

He stopped before pressing the record button.

He desperately wanted to film it and upload it, but—

Forget it.

If word got out that he had filmed and posted it, who knew what kind of uproar would follow?

Those idiots would swarm him, saying he was chasing clout, asking whether he had no common sense, mocking him for filming himself, demanding to know whether this even helped the summoner at all... and hurling every kind of criticism imaginable.

Now was not the time.

Someday, the day would come when he would leave his mark on this Earth.

Just then—

“Hey, Laborer Mac, what are you doing right now? Work’s piling up. Get back to it.”

Laborer Mac?

That little—if only he could burn that mouth shut.

There was no helping it.

He had brought this on himself.

Damn it! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The work was piling up.

But making a 9th-circle mage spend every day chanting enchantment spells—what a waste.

If only someone else could do it... Was there anyone usable around?

Triggering enchantment magic was easy.

The 1st Circle was enough.

And 1st-circle magic did not even require formal training—you could artificially create it and teach it.

Wait.

One person came to mind.

An industry insider, and a recently approved monthly-pass holder.

He had not awakened as a Player yet, which made the conditions perfect.

Maybe it was worth asking him.

At Rajix Trading, CEO Jung Dong-hoon felt more worried than happy that the Obesity Escape Bracelet had sold out.

On launch day, the reaction had been lukewarm.

But once word spread, ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the prepared stock had sold out in less than half a day.

They needed to reopen the server and start selling again as soon as possible,

but he was not sure whether enough supply had been secured yet.

The bracelet bodies were produced externally.

They were handed over to Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, delivered to the workshop on White Tower Floor 17, and completed by the residents there.

Should I go and check in?

It was not just for work.

He genuinely enjoyed spending time with the people there—it felt warm and uplifting.

Not long ago, Player Bong had even given him a badge.

There had been applause and cheers.

Apparently, it was for doing a good job pulling something.

Even now, the badge was still gleaming on the chest of his suit.

He had also received a monthly pass.

Jung Dong-hoon called his secretary over the intercom.

“You called for me, sir?”

“Come in, Secretary Oh.”

Oh Jinsuk had recently been transferred from General Affairs to the Executive Office.

That was not only because of Player Bong’s request.

Her HR evaluations had also been good—fast, capable, and widely known as a mood-maker.

“There’s no schedule today, right?”

“Ah! Actually, HG Fashion contacted us. They said they wanted to meet today if possible.”

Meet for what?

They were probably trying to pull strings now that the difference in leather supply had become obvious.

“Tell them I’m busy. Don’t schedule anything else for now. And you can leave early today.”

“Yes, understood.”

Jung Dong-hoon left work as well.

He returned to his apartment, changed into comfortable clothes, and—

“Enter White Tower Floor 17.”

SPOT!

The twin towers of Rajix Trading still stood there in all their majesty.

And then—

“Hey, Mr. Jung!”

“Yes?”

“If you’re here, come help out. We’re short on hands.”

“Ah—understood.”

It was Rajix’s workshop.

Everyone was hard at work, each holding a bracelet and handling the refined Magic Stone process.

This was not easy work.

Especially not for an ordinary person like Jung Dong-hoon.

His hands were slow, powder spilled everywhere,

and because he still was not used to it, he fumbled awkwardly in his haste.

“Tsk, tsk. Mr. Jung, do you plan to make a living like this?”

“Just have Mr. Jung carry the Magic Stone bracelets. What about Mr. Jeon? He’s good at this.”

“We contacted Mr. Jeon too. He said he’d finish up work and come right over.”

Mr. Jung was him—but who was Mr. Jeon?

At that moment—

SPOT!

“Oh! Mr. Jeon is here.”

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil appeared on White Tower Floor 17.

“Sorry I’m late. Oh! CEO Jung is here too.”

“Ah—hello, Commissioner.”

“Good. Let’s work together.”

Jeon Gwangil jumped right into the work.

He was incredibly skilled at it—clearly this was not his first time.

Which made sense.

On White Tower Floor 17, Player abilities manifested fully.

Even basic physical capabilities were on a different level.

“Ohhh, our veteran laborer Mr. Jeon works like a dream. Completely different from Mr. Jung.”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

“I’ll make sure you get a hearty snack later.”

“If you keep this up, you’ll get a permanent residency pass soon.”

“How about a drink with this old man after work?”

“That sounds good.”

Jeon Gwangil was showered with praise.

Meanwhile, Jung Dong-hoon felt a sting in his chest.

A sense of exclusion.

They were both monthly-pass holders,

yet one was praised while the other was scolded for being bad at work.

Hey, I was the one who pulled that insane gacha not long ago... Everyone was cheering.

Had they already forgotten?

That was just too much.

Suddenly, he remembered what Player Bong had said—

that he could awaken him as a Player any time he wanted.

If I became a Player, at least my physical abilities here would improve, right?

He would be able to use an inventory too.

But that meant entering the Tower.

Should he do it? Or not?

Up to the 5th Floor is easy, right?

You just beat up harmless worms that cannot even attack.

But—

No. I can’t.

He had to know his limits.

Once attack-type monsters started appearing from the 6th Floor onward, he would be running for his life.

Above the 10th Floor was completely out of the question.

Forget it.

A Player... who did he think he was?

Then—

Someone quietly approached him.

“CEO Jung. Would you like to talk with me for a moment?”

“Ah! Yes.”

.....

Secretary MacMillan.

The overall project lead of the Obesity Escape Bracelet.

Secretary MacMillan led Jung Dong-hoon to a quiet place.

Then—

“You... have you ever thought about learning magic?”

“...What?”

What was he supposed to mean by that?

“If you master just 1st-circle magic, then instead of stuffing refined powder around like that, you can become elite high-end personnel who simply chants enchantment spells. People need to learn skills.”

“...Uh.”

Magic?

The kind where light comes out of your hands?

“If you do menial labor like that a hundred times, what do you get in a month? One salary. But an elite magic technician just chants spells and the work is finished. That’s where the real sweet money is. Damn right.”

It was tempting.

But—

“I don’t even know what magic is.”

“It’s not difficult. I can make you a 1st-circle mage myself and teach you. You only need to learn one spell.”

“B-but...”

“Your will is all that matters. If you have that, I’ll take care of everything else.”

Jung Dong-hoon fell into deep thought.

The magic Secretary MacMillan wanted to teach him was probably the spell that activated the bracelet’s enchantment.

“Decide quickly. I still need approval.”

“Approval?”

“Our summoner’s approval. That’s the biggest hurdle.”

“Ah!”

What should he do?

If he learned magic, work would definitely become easier.

Should I try learning it?

As Jung Dong-hoon’s heart slowly tilted in one direction—

Suddenly—

SPOT!

Bong Juhyeok appeared on White Tower Floor 17.

“Oh dear, CEO Jung, Commissioner Jeon—I think I got you monthly passes only to make you work.”

“Oh no, not at all! I’m doing this because I want to.”

“I-I’m fine too.”

“Let’s do it together. I’ll help too.”

At those words, the summoned entities all spoke up in unison.

“No. Absolutely not. Summoner Bong ruins everything—just watch.”

“Young Master, labor is the work of lowly servants. A noble should only supervise.”

“The summoner should just have a drink with this old man later.”

“The warrior will do the summoner’s share as well.”

“Master, please just stay by my side.”

“WAAH!”

In truth, the real imbalance lay elsewhere.

China’s situation was growing more serious by the day.

The conflict between the government and the Players, sparked by the bombing investigation at the Beijing Continental Crisis Management Headquarters.

It should not have dragged on for this long.

Under normal circumstances, it could have been resolved through some level of compromise.

But ordinary Players resisted by refusing to supply high-grade Magic Stones to China,

and the Chinese government had no intention of letting that pass.

The biggest problem was the absence of a control tower.

There was no leader willing to take responsibility and make a decisive call.

What had begun as a policy dispute turned into an emotional standoff.

The rift only deepened.

Level 58 ordinary Player Hao Ren met with Level 61 ordinary Player Zhang Wenshi.

Both were core members of the Chinese Players’ Association.

“Zhang Wenshi, I got something as a reward from the Tower yesterday.”

“What was it?”

“Don’t tell anyone. Ever.”

“Understood. My lips are sealed.”

“...A Liberation Rune Necklace.”

“What? That only drops from the 71st Floor and above. You’re only level 58—how?”

“I don’t know. It dropped on the 53rd Floor. I was shocked when I heard the reward message too.”

“Don’t tell me... the restriction’s been lifted?”

“Probably.”

A Liberation Rune Necklace.

An item that allowed a Player’s abilities to manifest in the real world.

If that was now dropping on lower floors—

“For now, don’t tell anyone. Keep it in your inventory.”

“Yeah. One piece alone won’t change anything.”

“Let the association members know too. If a Liberation Rune Necklace drops, tell them to keep it secret.”

Zhang Wenshi’s other identity—

He was the China handler for the Black Market Guild.

His real level was far higher than what was publicly known.

Liberation Rune Necklaces are dropping on low floors in China?

That information was quietly spread among the members of the Black Market Guild.

After that, a large number of Liberation Rune Necklaces began appearing as rewards.

Even weapons and equipment without the Tower-only restriction.

Thanks to the efforts of the summoned entities, enough stock was produced to resume sales.

Just like before—3,000 units.

But Juhyeok was not satisfied.

Why was everyone working themselves to the bone like this?

Something was wrong.

Even Commissioner Jeon and CEO Jung were getting dragged in as labor.

Resting and enjoying life should come first.

Work was something you only did when you got bored.

So Juhyeok gathered the summoned entities and declared,

“From now on, labor hours are strictly limited. Bracelet production is capped at three hours a day. No overtime, no extra shifts. Exactly three hours, then you clock out.”

Chaos erupted immediately.

“Three hours? What can be done in three hours? At least eight hours of labor are necessary.”

“Cossack is correct. Servants are not to be spared—they are to be used.”

“This old man agrees. Three hours is a bit...”

“The warrior demands harder labor.”

“Veronica Caliber says that if the troops idle around, discipline will collapse.”

“WAAH!”

Oh?

“Absolute obedience! Three hours only. Huh? People are supposed to loaf around and enjoy life. If you work all the time, are you even human? You’re a machine!”

He pressed hard, but—

“We refuse.”

What?

Refuse?

“Based on Rule Three, Clause Three, we will continue working.”

“Indeed. On the path for Young Master, there can be no laziness.”

“We’ll work hard and earn money. Supplies are the shortest path to victory.”

“WAAH!”

Seriously—

They were going to use Clause Three for this?

The summoned entities were fired up by the bracelet’s popularity.

Strike while the iron was hot.

Work hard, earn more, and ease the summoner’s financial burden.

At that moment—

Secretary MacMillan hovered around Juhyeok like a dog that desperately needed to relieve itself.

What was he up to now?

Come to think of it, there was a large yellow exclamation mark floating over Secretary MacMillan’s head.

Is he a game NPC?

Is he about to hand out a quest?

“Do you need something?”

“Ah! Summoner, I need permission for something.”

“For what?”

“Well, CEO Jung keeps pestering me to teach him magic... I told him no, but he keeps begging to at least learn a 1st-circle enchantment spell.”

Yeah, right.

It was probably the exact opposite.

This was Secretary MacMillan trying to dump his work onto CEO Jung.

His tireless effort to avoid work.

Admirable. Truly admirable.

“So CEO Jung wants to learn?”

“T-that is correct.”

Juhyeok had previously offered to awaken CEO Jung as a Player.

But CEO Jung had refused—said it was scary.

If he awakened and never entered the Tower, the awakening would eventually be revoked, which felt wasteful.

But a mage?

No need to enter the Tower.

He could just sit here and chant enchantment spells.

“Teach him properly.”

“Oh! Thank you. I’ll make him into a usable 1st-circle enchantment mage.”

Swish!

The exclamation mark above Secretary MacMillan’s head turned into a question mark—then POP! vanished.

Quest complete?

He really was entertaining to watch.

Anyway—

Commissioner Jeon was a Player.

CEO Jung would become a mage specializing in enchantment.

Whether that was a good thing or not—who knew?

In any case, once enough stock had been secured, Rajix Trading resumed Obesity Escape Bracelet subscription sales.

〈Obesity Escape Health Bracelet — Subscriptions Reopened〉

〈First-come, first-served: 3,000 slots〉

The server crashed in ten seconds.

No matter how desperately people hammered F5, the screen would not move.

L: Yes! Subscription successful.

L: Damn it! Why is buying one bracelet this hard?

L: Is it just a bracelet? It’s an Obesity Escape Health Bracelet.

L: Anyone under 100 kg, take your hands off the mouse. Let me live too.

L: You skinny bastards—if I catch you wearing that bracelet, you’re dead.

Old subscribers and new subscribers alike were satisfied.

Of course, there were limits.

As time passed, the speed of weight loss slowed.

It went a little faster when combined with exercise.

Still, the best part was this—

The weight never came back.

Eat, sleep, drink—your weight stayed stable.

And that alone

was already more than enough.