Juhyeok watched the news all the way to the end, his feelings tangled.

He knew she’d been fired, but... she’d been suffering like this, doing a one-woman protest.

“Unbelievable.”

Rage surged up.

And at the same time, guilt.

What good was having two sons?

When something like this happened, they couldn’t even be someone she could lean on—useless, unfilial sons.

And still... how did she even get a lawyer?

Park & Kim Law Firm wasn’t the kind of place you could touch with a few bills.

Cossack seemed to have caught on to how things were moving too.

In a cold voice—

“Summoner Bong.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m gonna go pay Jin Saemmul a visit.”

“...”

Honestly, my resolve wavered.

But—

“Don’t. Watching Mom’s interview, she’s got a solid lawyer.”

“Yes, sir...”

I should send money for legal fees later.

I had twenty-one kilograms of Magic Stones saved up.

In cash, that was around ten million won.

If it wasn’t enough, I’d sell the Energy Barrier Kit if I had to—

Bzzz!

My phone vibrated right on cue.

It was Dad.

He must’ve seen the interview.

Juhyeok. Did you see the news?

“Yeah. I saw it.”

I called your mom too. She told me not to worry. She said she hired a heavy hitter—free, even. Something about supporting the socially vulnerable...

Free?

I’d heard that sometimes big-name firms did pro bono work as part of social contribution.

Maybe the sky really was helping us.

“That’s good. I was about to send money for the lawyer.”

Hahaha. Like you even have money. Anyway, don’t worry about your mom—just do what you need to do.

“I’m not worried. I know Mom. More importantly—how are you, Dad?”

Me? I’m fine. I got a call from Ilseong Hospital today too...

“Ilseong Hospital? Why?”

The orthopedics department is running a hip surgery rehab program, and they selected me. They said the hospital stay and rehab costs are free. So I’m going to be admitted.

What?

Both of us, free. Hahaha. The sky helped us. Your mom and I really are meant to be.

Ilseong Hospital was a major conglomerate hospital.

There wasn’t a better place in Korea.

But I hadn’t even had surgery there.

How did they even have his patient information?

“...This is weird.”

This wasn’t something I could just brush off. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Should I look into it?

The moment I ended the call with Dad, another call came right in.

It was Minhyeok.

Bro! Did you see Mom’s interview?

“Yeah. I saw it.”

Damn... I didn’t even know. I was such an unfilial son.

“Me too.”

So listen—remember the money you gave me before to buy a laptop? I’m gonna send it to Mom. Lawsuits cost a lot, right?

“You sure? You can go without a laptop?”

Heh, it’s fine. I got a scholarship this time. A big one. Enough to pay tuition and buy a laptop. I guess good things happen when I live right.

Look at this kid.

“...What scholarship?”

National scholarship. From the Tower Player Awakening Administration. They hand those out a lot.

At that point, I knew exactly what was going on.

I might be timid, but I wasn’t an idiot.

It wasn’t the sky helping us.

If I checked, I’d know for sure.

※ ※ ※

Mom’s wrongful contract termination lawsuit was being handled by Park & Kim Law Firm.

Dad was being told Ilseong Hospital would give him rehab for free.

Minhyeok was getting a national scholarship through his university.

And all of it happened yesterday and today.

There was no way this was coincidence.

It was obvious who had stuck their hands in.

The Tower Player Awakening Administration.

Park & Kim Law Firm handled Player legal counsel.

Ilseong Group was the company that bought the most Magic Stones in Korea.

And most of all—scholarships from the Tower Player Awakening Administration.

Honestly, it made me angry.

Doing this without even asking me?

Part of me wanted to go demand answers from the Commissioner himself, but—

He was way too high up.

Instead, I contacted Team Leader Jeon Gwangil, who I saw often.

He was the easiest one to deal with out of everyone there.

“Um... this is Bong Juhyeok. If you have time, I’d like to meet somewhere quiet.”

Of course. Have you eaten yet?

“...Not yet.”

Then I’ll come get you. Let’s eat together.

“...Okay.”

How long had it been since I ate with someone?

Recently... never.

No—actually, not even back then.

Eating alone was the best.

I could eat what I wanted, at my pace.

No waiting around for someone else to finish.

The restaurant Jeon Gwangil took me to was a quiet Korean set-meal place with private rooms.

Before the food came out, I carefully brought it up.

“Why did you do that?”

“...Do what?”

“Mom’s lawsuit. Dad’s rehab. Minhyeok’s scholarship.”

“...”

Jeon Gwangil stayed silent for a moment, then spoke.

“Because it was necessary.”

So it was.

“When there’s trouble at home, you can’t not worry. And when you worry, it affects your Tower clears. You can’t perform at your best, and then climbing becomes harder and harder...”

His way of talking felt... oddly familiar.

“Isn’t that kind of support supposed to be for Elite Team Players? I’m on a regular contract.”

In that instant—

Thud.

A contract was placed on the table.

“Then sign with the Elite Team right now.”

So he came prepared.

“...I’m not confident yet. And my talent isn’t even that great.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“...”

I had nothing to say.

Someone who’d cleared twenty-four floors in a row at S++ claiming he had no talent?

That was just lying.

“I’m asking you sincerely. Didn’t you go through that incident with Choi Hoseok? Join the Elite Team and receive proper treatment. Player Bong—you have the right to it.”

Haa...

What was I supposed to do?

“If you sign the Elite Team contract, you’ll immediately receive close protection on par with VVIP. At the very least, nothing like that will happen again.”

Close protection...

“I don’t want that. Having someone stuck to me every day. And I’m not doing Tower clear filming either.”

One of the biggest reasons I’d refused the Elite Team.

Cossack and Meatshield.

And filming.

“The protection can be adjusted. And the filming—do what you want. We won’t interfere.”

“How are you planning to ‘adjust’ it?”

“You live alone in a secure facility. A place that guarantees your privacy. You receive protection only when you go out.”

That was... tempting.

“We’ll also assign bodyguards to your family.”

Ah.

My heart shook.

To be honest, it had been shaking for a while.

That stubborn resolve—never joining the Elite Team—was cracking.

But what could I do?

Wavering, swaying—like a reed in the wind.

That was the Weak Man special, wasn’t it.

“...If I sign, you’re giving us a house too?”

“How many square meters do you want?”

“Not for me. For my family. I’ll live separately, so I want the house to go to them instead—”

“We’ll provide one house for your family, and one for you. Each.”

Wow. Terms I couldn’t refuse.

My resolve didn’t just shake—it collapsed.

“An officetel is enough for me.”

“That’s fine.”

“...For my family, at least four bedrooms and two bathrooms?”

“Yes. We’ll do that.”

He answered so smoothly it almost looked nice.

But... did he already get approval for this?

Could a team leader even do this much?

“Don’t worry. I came with full authority from the Commissioner.”

“...”

“The signature line is here.”

I reached for the fountain pen he offered me like I was possessed—

Then snapped back to my senses.

“W-Wait.”

“Yes? Suddenly...”

Jeon Gwangil looked like he couldn’t believe it.

We were right there.

So close.

“Give me a little more time.”

“...How long?”

“...I’ll decide tomorrow.”

“Very well. I’ll wait.”

Right—since we were meeting anyway.

“I’ve got Magic Stones saved up—”

“Yes. Please hand them over. I’ll collect them.”

I ate.

I handed over the Magic Stones.

Now I had to tell my family what I’d been hiding this whole time—that I’d Awakened.

And also about the Elite Team contract.

Dad’s opinion mattered, but Mom’s approval was the real hurdle.

And I needed to talk to Cossack too.

On top of that, after clearing Floor 25, I’d have twenty-five Platinum Badges—so I had to find out what the perk was.

First, clear Floor 25.

Then talk to my family.

And more than anything, I needed to be sure myself.

After I got home, I agonized all night.

Born a reed, apparently—I couldn’t come to a conclusion easily.

※ ※ ※

The next day.

Juhyeok woke up late after tossing and turning all night.

Today was the day he planned to clear Floor 25.

It was Saturday, so he’d finish in the morning.

In the afternoon... he might have to go home.

Before that, he used Designated Summon on John Cossack.

“SALUTE! Special Super Rare assassin reporting in!”

Looks like he used the rank-up.

Even his appearance had changed a lot.

Bigger frame. Sharper eyes.

Same way of talking, though.

“Welcome back. Special Super Rare Mr. Cossack.”

“Heh heh heh... you not summoning Al(R) Meatshield too?”

So Meatshield’s last name suddenly became Al.

R for Rare.

Al-Meatshield, for short?

“Well... before clearing Floor 25, I needed to talk to you.”

“Of course you do. You can talk to that ignorant Al-Meatshield?”

“Yesterday, I met a team leader from the Administration...”

I told Cossack everything I’d discussed with Jeon Gwangil.

“What do you think? Should I join the Elite Team? Or stay on a regular contract?”

Cossack nodded and answered.

“I’m in favor.”

“In favor of...?”

“Summoner Bong is a national-power-class Player. You should get proper treatment.”

National power class, my ass.

Without Cossack and Meatshield, I couldn’t do anything.

“Can I even handle it? If I join the Elite Team, I might have to clear Floor 60... no, who knows how high.”

“You can. No question. As long as Summoner Bong lives a long time, safely.”

“...So my ability doesn’t matter?”

“Summoner’s safety is your ability.”

What was he even saying?

Why was my safety the point here?

“Where I came from, there were tons of Legendary Special Super Rare summoned entities. If Summoner Bong stays alive and intact, you’ll call them all someday.”

“Ah...”

“They’ll all obey you absolutely. They’ll do whatever you order. As long as it doesn’t violate Article Three.”

I got what he meant.

If a party made up of those monsters formed—

“That’s not all. There are even a few demigod-class monsters that go beyond human rank entirely.”

“...But you can’t summon something beyond rank.”

“Not yet. Later, when your Summoning grows, you can.”

A demigod that transcends human rank.

I couldn’t even imagine it.

That was why I had to stay safe.

“You’ll command a powerful summoned-entity force. A gesture, and they move. Floor 60? 70? Even 100? Easy.”

Right.

It was a matter of time.

“Live safe and long, and keep doing Random Summon every time it comes up. That’s your ultimate move. Your killing blow.”

With the cooldown, that was twelve times a year.

And if Skill Cooldown Reset Tickets dropped, it could be even more.

Of course, if my luck was trash, it’d all be meaningless.

...How long until the next Random Summon?

I checked.

About nineteen days.

If I could enhance my Trait in that time, it’d be perfect.

Cossack kept going.

“But I have one requirement that can’t budge.”

“What?”

“That the decision to climb uncleared floors is fully Summoner Bong’s. No outside interference. That’s important.”

“I make the decision on high-floor clears?”

“It must be written in. If not, some garbage people will scream at you about why you’re not climbing uncleared upper floors. Then you’ll be dragged in without preparation, and... mm.”

He frowned like something painful had surfaced.

“...You can’t be dragged. Anyway—if that condition is guaranteed, getting national support is good.”

Cossack was positive.

“For now, let’s clear Floor 25. Then we’ll find out what the perk is. I can get the Platinum Badges, right?”

He grinned.

“What’s with you! I’m SSR. SSR. Special Super Rare.”

His advice helped a lot.

It was enough of an answer.

Good thing I asked.

Juhyeok then used Designated Summon on the barbarian warrior, Meatshield.

[Barbarian Warrior Meatshield has been Designated Summoned.]

“Good to see you.”

“I... obey Summoner absolutely.”

Then Cossack snapped—

“Hey! Meatshield, you little punk—no greeting?”

“Warrior does not greet just anyone.”

“Hey! I’m SSR! SSR!”

“...”

“There are two S’s in front of R! S! S! R!”

It was strange.

Even the barbarian warrior was shrinking back, avoiding Cossack’s eyes.

“Just an R, acting big.”

“Assassin... bad.”

“Shut up! This is the height difference between you and me, you R punk!”

When the rank gap was two full steps, even a barbarian warrior couldn’t help it.

I almost felt bad.

Next time a Summoned-Entity Rank-Up Rune dropped, I should give it to Meatshield.

Who knew?

Maybe it’d make him smarter.

“Anyway, I’m counting on you today too. I’ll take it easy and... hm, maybe kill two?”

“As you wish, Summoner Bong. This SSR will protect you.”

“Then... even ten?”

“Summoned Principles, Article Three—”

“Okay! ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Three.”

“Just this once.”

Cossack had gotten more confident after his promotion.

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 25.]

The last floor of the orc stretch.

Like Floor 20 was the last of the goblin stretch.

The mission—

[Floor 25 Mission: Kill 100 orcs of any type and 1 Orc Great Chieftain.]

[Time Limit: Within 10 hours.]

[Completion Requirements: All types of orcs 0/100, Orc Great Chieftain 0/1]

Orcs poured out.

Forest orcs, desert orcs, cave orcs, volcanic orcs.

Out of all that, three were mine.

Well... should I just kill three?

And if I had room, I’d casually slip in one or two more.

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