Even on the country’s largest “Tower Climbing Gallery” site, the consecutive S++ clears were still a huge issue.

A site Players visited all the time—of course, it was also packed with regular people.

└ The orc section is one thing, but trolls are going to be hard.

└ I’ve done it. It’s no joke.

└ Heh heh heh, how are you supposed to handle that terrifying regeneration? I gave up climbing in the thirties a long time ago.

└ Just cut off the head.

└ Like that’s easy?

└ I think the comment above is right. A sitewide notice popped for Floor 25 three days ago, but nothing since.

└ Guess it was a fluke. Honestly, trolls are hard.

└ What a letdown. He collapsed on Floor 26.

└ “Letdown,” my ass. Clearing Floor 25 is already insane. Has anyone here even cleared one floor?

The reason the global notice hadn’t rung for three days wasn’t anything special.

The star of the clears had been busy moving.

But who would know that?

In an instant—

The comment window suddenly turned frantic.

└ Huh?

└ Holy—!

└ Oh!

└ Wow.

└ What?

└ N-no way...

└ Seriously?

└ He’s insane. He’s insane.

└ Oh my god! It’s real. It’s real.

Comments streamed in, one after another.

Most of them were from IDs that had Player verification.

└ What is it? What happened?

└ It just popped. Floor 26, S++ Clear Rank.

└ So trolls are a complete joke too. Who said he collapsed? Reflect on yourself.

└ Who the hell is it? I want to see his face.

└ If his face gets out, he’ll be more popular than Yoo Cheolmin.

A new hero’s appearance.

Black Tower (Republic of Korea), 26 consecutive floors cleared at S++ Clear Rank.

The reaction only grew louder.

People went wild on a patriotic high, and the press and broadcasters moved fast.

Players whose faces were already known went on TV talk shows °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to tell stories, comparing their own clears while loudly explaining just how insane an S++ clear really was.

Big corporations moved quickly too.

Ilseong Group fired the first shot.

<Ilseong Electronics! Two-week Big Sale on Electronic Home Appliances!>

<In Celebration of the Floor 26 S++ Clear! Discounts starting at 26%!>

If Floor 27 got an S++ clear, it would be 27%. If Floor 28 got an S++ clear, it would be 28%.

They were saying they’d run it for two weeks.

It even affected the stock market.

The Republic of Korea’s stock value spiked sharply.

The composite stock index shot up like it didn’t know the sky had a limit.

※ ※ ※

DING-DONG!

The doorbell of the newly moved-in home rang.

CLICK!

He opened the door.

“Player Bong Juhyeok, your delivery is here. Ten fried chickens, correct?”

“Ah... s-sorry to trouble you.”

Less-spicy food for Cossack.

He’d boldly eaten spicy rice cakes, insisting that if he’d been promoted to Special Super Rare (SSR), he couldn’t stay weak to spice forever—but he failed spectacularly and came back from the brink of death.

“Still, that’s a huge amount of food.”

“Mm, after I finish a clear, I get insanely hungry...”

“Hahaha. You could be a mukbang YouTuber. Here you go.”

“...Thank you.”

Resident-tailored service for the Player officetel.

Delivery could only come as far as the first-floor security desk.

Bringing it up to each unit was the officetel management staff’s job.

They handled all kinds of little errands too.

Dropping off clothes at the cleaners and picking them up, sending cleaning staff if you needed cleaning.

Living in an officetel where Players gathered—there were benefits everywhere.

Every facility was inside the building.

Restaurants where you could solve three meals a day, a coffee shop, a gym, a coin karaoke room, a dry cleaner—there was even a swimming pool.

‘I should’ve moved in sooner.’

He’d never lived this kind of luxury once in his twenty-five years.

‘Getting caught as an S++ clear during the Awakening evaluation was a god-tier move.’

At first, he thought it was the end of the world.

He’d only aimed for a regular contract, so he planned to just clear quietly and leave—and then he got caught.

How much did he regret it?

He should’ve done repeat missions instead of clearing a new floor—then he wouldn’t have been caught.

And why did Cossack have to run around making a scene like that?

That damned Summoned Principles, Article Three.

But that incident became the trigger that led to an Elite Team contract.

Normally, he could never sign a contract like this.

Body-cam recording was mandatory.

Elite contracts were decided based on clear footage.

He was probably the only person who’d ever signed an Elite contract without filming.

‘I thought Elite Players were in such insane danger that they’d die inside the Tower soon.’

But now, he loved it.

Could your heart really flip that hard?

Well, so what?

That was how weak men were.

He’d just finished a Floor 26 S++ clear a little while ago.

The mission was exterminating twenty swamp trolls.

Floor 26 had a reputation as a brutally hard mission too.

Because of the swamp troll regeneration?

No.

It wasn’t that.

The swamp environment itself drove people crazy.

Of course, since he had Shadow Step, it was comparatively easier.

Juhyeok killed one too.

Under barbarian Meatshield’s tanking and Special Super Rare (SSR) Cossack’s protection, he smashed a swamp troll’s skull.

Maybe it was because of Mixed-Origin Thunderclap—because the swamp troll didn’t even have time to regenerate.

“Since you worked hard, chicken—”

In the living room, Cossack and Meatshield were kneeling neatly, fully absorbed in the TV.

“...Heh.”

“...”

A music chart program.

Bright girl-group idols danced and sang on-screen.

“Hey. Hello?”

They didn’t even acknowledge him.

And honestly, it made sense.

In Juhyeok’s old one-room place, he’d had a worn-out twenty-seven-inch TV.

The new officetel had an eighty-five-inch TV.

The picture quality and the size weren’t even in the same universe.

It was basically experiencing a new world—he could understand it.

“...Aren’t you going to eat chicken?”

Ugh.

They weren’t any different from three-year-olds obsessed with kids’ cartoons.

Juhyeok set the chicken down in the corner and watched TV with them.

‘They are pretty, though.’

Bright teens and twenty-somethings wore nice outfits and showed exciting dances and songs—would anyone care about chicken in front of that?

But then the girl group ended, and it became a boy group’s turn.

Like a lie, the two of them lost interest.

“Oh! Fried chicken!”

“I eat again.”

Now chicken finally existed to them?

“Cossack?”

“Yes?”

“Do you have a girlfriend? Or—did you have one?”

“I... couldn’t— No. I didn’t.”

Sure.

“Anyway, dating is not allowed. ...If you date, the tension you keep razor-sharp gets loosened. It is an assassin’s fate.”

“Sure, sure.”

Razor-sharp tension?

He had no idea who that was supposed to describe.

“But Summoner Bong—why do you not have a girlfriend?”

A counterattack?

Fine. He’d hit back.

“...Because it’s the fate of an Elite Player. If I date, m-my indomitable will might weaken.”

“Oh! You are similar to me. People who do great things always lack time for dating.”

“R-right? If I hadn’t Awakened as a Player, I would’ve had a girlfriend.”

“Heh heh heh heh!”

“Hahahaha!”

A weak man always won through self-justification.

A mental victory.

“That said, I am sorry.”

“For what?”

“It is a housewarming, but I cannot even buy you a roll of toilet paper.”

“Toilet paper, seriously—”

“Oh! Tomorrow, do we go straight to Floor 27 as well?”

“Since we already touched Floor 26, let’s keep going straight to Floor 29.”

“Yes, sir!”

Floor 30 would be on hold.

Because the cooldown for Random Summon was getting closer and closer.

Thirteen days left.

If he finished through Floor 29, ten days would remain.

Floor 30—eighty trolls and a twin-head troll—he would clear it by calling one more person.

Then what would he do with ten days?

Repeat comfortable, easy floors and grind skill proficiency.

※ ※ ※

Juhyeok’s mother, Madam Hong Geumja, shook Attorney Lee Changseok’s hand and thanked him.

“Attorney, you worked hard. Thanks to you, we won.”

“Hahaha! We should’ve gotten you more in damages, but it’s only 1 billion won...”

“No. This money is enough. I’m going to donate it anyway.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“I planned to donate from the start.”

“Then I won’t take my attorney’s fee either.”

It didn’t even have to go to trial.

Public sentiment wasn’t good.

Most decisively, when they said they’d replace the water purifiers in government offices nationwide with another company’s, Jin Saemmul Corporation threw up both hands and surrendered.

“Oh! Should I look into a suitable place to donate?”

“Please. If possible, focus on orphanages—and put the donor name as my son’s name.”

“Your son’s name is...”

“Juhyeok. Bong Juhyeok.”

“Yes! I’ll handle it immediately.”

They got compensation, got apologies from both the abusive customer and the headquarters—

It should’ve been something to celebrate, but Madam Hong’s expression wasn’t very good.

How could she not worry when her son was active as a Player?

All she could do was hope.

That nothing happened, and that he stayed safe.

Dad, Bong Cheolsu, was hospitalized in Ilseong Hospital’s VIP room.

It was a luxurious hospital room.

A reception room, a high-end sofa, a guardian bed, a large bathroom.

Maybe because of that, the second son, Bong Minhyeok, came straight to the hospital after school every day.

“Son?”

“Yes!”

“Is this your home? Want me to stamp your attendance?”

“Haah! It’s too comfortable. And the guardian meals are free too. The food is insanely good.”

“You’ll be moving soon.”

“I’ll stay until then.”

That punk.

He wasn’t coming for caregiving—he was commuting to the hospital because it was comfortable?

Does that kid not have friends?

He understood.

Whose son was he, after all?

A moment ago, he got a call from his eldest son.

Relief, because he seemed safe.

Still, no matter how he thought about it, it was a mystery.

Why in the world did he say he was going to be active as a Player?

If it were Minhyeok, he wouldn’t even have considered the idea.

“Dad. You can stop worrying about my bro. I looked it up. The death rate for Elite Players is much lower than for regular Players.”

“Is it?”

“They have professional support teams. They even provide items that are essential for clears.”

Even so, worrying couldn’t be helped.

“Turn on the TV. Let’s see if Mom shows up in an article.”

“The news channel?”

“Yeah.”

Right then, a breaking headline came on.

<Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 26 S++ Clear Rank Success!>

“Incredible. How do you even do twenty-six in a row?”

“At school, everyone talks about that every day too.”

“Hey—what floor did Juhyeok say he was clearing?”

“When he called yesterday, he said he was in the twenties. I don’t know the exact floor.”

“Hm.”

Bong Cheolsu tilted his head for a moment.

“Your brother isn’t the S++ Clear Rank record-holder, is he?”

“Come on, Dad, you’re doing it again. Just eat your food. You have to say things that are possible.”

“Then Juhyeok signing an Elite contract is possible?”

“Huh? It is. That’s true too. ...Still, there’s no way it’s him. That’s one of the most famous Players in the world.”

“Right? I just said it once.”

They didn’t know Black Tower well,

but they at least knew how incredible an S++ Clear Rank was.

The conditions that measured a Player’s talent.

Bravery and fighting spirit, stubborn grit that didn’t quit, a heart that didn’t break...

Unfortunately, not a single one of those applied to their son Juhyeok.

A “strong man,” my ass.

He was a textbook weak man.

※ ※ ※

Black Tower, Floor 27.

The mission was to kill twenty ice trolls within four hours.

Just like the swamp troll mission, the environment was the problem.

He had to kill ice trolls on a rugged peak covered in perpetual snow.

He’d done a mission in a similar environment before.

The cold had pierced even padded jackets and shocked him.

When Players first cleared ice trolls, the thing that gave them the most trouble was the cold.

Later, items were made, and it became comparatively easier.

DING-DONG!

He opened the door at the sound of the doorbell.

“Player Bong, I brought what you requested.”

It was Team Leader Jeon Gwangil.

He’d come to hand over the item Juhyeok requested to borrow.

“You take care of me every time—I don’t know where to put myself.”

“Not at all. Our job is to support Elite Players so they can clear the Tower.”

“I’ll use it well and return it.”

“Then good luck on Floor 27.”

What Jeon brought was a one-piece leather armor made from volcanic orc hide—boots and a cap included.

Nothing was better than this for blocking cold.

Volcanic orc hide sometimes came as a reward while clearing Floor 24.

‘Then why do I never get reward items?’

Day after day, it was Magic Stones, and sometimes Tower-Only Healing Potions.

Even the Energy Barrier was something he got as a perk.

Let’s go.

He called Meatshield and Cossack.

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 27.]

WHOOOOOOO—

The moment he entered, an icy wind howled.

Even though it was a safe zone, you could feel the chill.

But he wasn’t cold.

The faint heat coming from the volcanic orc hide was so warm it almost felt hot.

“Meatshield, aren’t you cold?”

“A warrior does not feel cold.”

“Cossack?”

“Mm. I am Special Super Rare. Special Super Rare. Ch-ch-ch—c-cold like this, I will... drive it off with magic.”

His teeth were clacking mercilessly—it looked like he was freezing.

“...Do you want me to take it off for you?”

“Gah! N-no. If I move, it will... get better.”

They needed to finish fast.

He accepted the mission—

THUD THUD THUD THUD!

Meatshield climbed the snow mountain like it was nothing.

If Meatshield were actually smart, he’d be the real Special Super Rare.

Cossack went berserk.

As if trying to beat the cold, assassin Cossack sprinted around like he’d lost his mind.

‘Oh, it’s warm.’

It felt like a warm heated-floor room, like being under a blanket.

He might even get sleepy.

A good item really earned its value.

‘Should I start moving?’

At minimum, he had to kill one.

That was when—

[Ice Troll Kills 20/20]

[You have succeeded in the Floor 27 mission.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Reward: Magic Stones 2.7kg]

[Reward: Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom]

“Huh?”

Already?

No, he hadn’t even warmed up.

[Notice: You have achieved S++ Clear Rank on Floor 27 of Black Tower (Korea).]

[S++ Clear Reward: You are awarded a Platinum Badge.]

Cossack’s cheeks were red, and his nose was running.

“Heh heh heh.”

SLURP!

The snot that had been hanging out shot back up into his nostril.

“...”

Looks like he wanted to end fast because of the cold.

Just how cold was he?

‘That aside...’

An item finally dropped.

A weapon item, no less.

[Reward: Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom]

It was a black sword—

‘A two-handed sword.’

Even holding it in one hand felt heavy.

‘It’s just stabbing and cutting like an idiot.’

He’d have to see blood right in front of him.

“Mm.”

He already had a solid mace—so why bother.

He’d dispose of it later.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────