A security meeting at the U.S. White House.

President Lloyd, along with their aides and officials, was watching the sinkholes in India and Japan being filled through a large screen.

Several months ago, they had watched live as the Black Tower near Mount Fuji in Japan collapsed.

And now that thing was being filled back in?

When the restoration process was replayed at ten times speed, it felt even more real.

The sinkhole pushed upward from the inside, and the hole began to narrow.

President Lloyd of the United States clicked their tongue at the astonishing sight.

Then they looked at Secretary MacMillan.

“Because Player Bong cleared the 90th floor, right?”

“Yes. The causal relationship appears to be exactly that. The Korean Awakening Administration says so as well.”

“Player Bong does all the hard work, and India and Japan reap the benefits.”

“Well, when has that ever not been the case? What country doesn’t owe Player Bong a debt?”

“True. Even for us, Player Bong is practically a benefactor.”

That was right.

Ever since Player Bong appeared, the very perception of clearing the Black Towers had changed.

Starting with the rental of the holy sword, and all the feats he had pulled off afterward.

Thanks to that, the fear of Tower collapse had disappeared.

Now the Black Towers were nothing more than mines that produced high-grade Magic Stones.

“Are Japan and India just keeping quiet and wiping their mouths clean?”

“Well. There hasn’t been any particular reaction yet.”

“Still?”

“They probably know they have to do something, but they don’t have a sense of how to go about it.”

“I can understand that. A few bucks wouldn’t even come close.”

Not long ago, China had handed over half of Mount Baekdu to North Korea as the price for export approval of magic-sealing talismans.

North Korea, as if it had been waiting for this moment, immediately declared unification.

“Shouldn’t Japan hand over Tsushima as well? It’s not especially useful land, and it’s closer to Korea than to Japan anyway.”

Secretary MacMillan agreed.

“They repaired the hole torn into the mainland and even saved the Japanese prime minister’s life. Something like Tsushima is nothing.”

Then what about India?

Well, if they didn’t have land, they would just have to make up for it with money.

Then, as if something occurred to them, President Lloyd let out a small chuckle.

“But what do we gain by talking about compensation when we aren’t even one of the parties involved? We can’t exactly say, ‘Give this,’ or ‘Hand that over,’ and if they dig in their heels and refuse, that’s that.”

“They won’t be able to refuse.”

“Why?”

“Commissioner Jeon Gwangil of the Korean Awakening Administration isn’t an ordinary person. He’ll make sure to get something out of them.”

“More than anything, Japan and India will have to clear the 81st floor soon.”

“Ah!”

That was right.

Who was the superior party and who was subordinate had already been decided.

Wasn’t there precedent?

China and Japan had once dared to provoke Korea and nearly ruined themselves.

“You said dragons won’t appear on the 89th and 90th floors of Black Towers owned by other countries, right?”

“Yes. Apparently, something like gigantic skeleton dragon-tooth soldiers will appear instead. Commissioner Jeon Gwangil told us himself.”

“So it’s easier?”

“Compared to dragons, it’s child’s play.”

How grateful that was.

He climbed up on his own, taking care of monsters that were otherwise impossible to clear.

The U.S. government was also planning to hold a press conference soon.

It would express gratitude for the efforts of the top player who had contributed to world peace.

“Are you going to announce it vaguely again as ‘the top player’ this time too?”

“Yes. Keeping his identity hidden is still the basic policy.”

“Honestly, we know who he is, but having to keep calling him just ‘the top player’ makes my mouth itch.”

The reality that they couldn’t say the top player was Bong Juhyeok.

“He still doesn’t want to be revealed.”

“If he were revealed, it would be total chaos, right?”

“It’s beyond imagination. The media, broadcasts, SNS... they’d swarm like hyenas.”

“Yeah, that would be horrifying.”

“Commissioner Jeon Gwangil will handle it well.”

“Still, we need to be prepared for the moment Player Bong Juhyeok’s identity is revealed. Especially focusing on security.”

“Yes. We’re preparing.”

There was no eternal secret in this world.

Someday, everyone would know.

That the world’s greatest player was a twenty-five-year-old young man from Korea named Bong Juhyeok.

White Tower Floor 17.

The landmark lounge.

He really had not expected this.

He had thought only Baek Danya was a summoned entity, but to think the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal was included as well.

A buy-one-get-one deal.

One plus one.

“Heh heh. Even this old man didn’t know such a loophole existed.”

“You can tell just by looking, can’t you? The Ice Crystal also has a soul, and since it has a soul, it qualifies as a summoned entity.”

“But it isn’t even human.”

“Couldn’t it have acquired a personality while parasitizing Baek Danya?”

That might be the case.

“Now I finally understand why the Ice Crystal appeared in reality.”

When you looked at it closely, it was simple.

“Two souls, so two bodies must be created as well. When the body was formed during summoning, the physical form of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal must have been created together.”

Either way, it meant the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal also possessed the qualities of a summoned entity.

He wanted to talk in more detail.

With the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal, that is.

At that moment—

“... Um, Summoner.”

“Yes?”

Baek Danya, who had escaped her frozen state and regained color in her face, spoke to Juhyeok.

“The Ice Crystal wants to talk to you.”

“Really?”

Perfect timing.

“How?”

“If you hold my hand and infuse qi into me—”

“Ah-ha!”

That meant they could communicate through qi and qi, just like earlier.

When Juhyeok extended his hand, she clasped it as if interlacing fingers.

Then she slowly raised her energy.

At that moment—

I want to go out.

“H-huh?!”

It was not heard as a voice.

It was as if the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal transmitted its will telepathically.

This one is too weak. She can’t handle me. That’s why it’s suffocating. Make me a body. Like a human. Then I’ll move into that body. I’ll behave myself. I’ll do everything you tell me to. I’m confident I can obey you, Summoner.

WADADADA—

Its intentions poured out all at once.

He felt dizzy, but he understood.

If he made it a body, it would move into it?

Wouldn’t a golem work?

So he summoned El and asked.

“Making a golem takes a long time. However.”

“However?”

“If it’s a homunculus...”

“Mari is a skilled alchemist. She should be able to synthesize a homunculus the size of an adult human.”

Mari’s alchemy skills were top-notch.

So he asked her.

Ding!

<Mari>: I can do it♥♡

Oh!

<Mari>: It’ll take a lot of various materials. A dragon corpse too.

As for materials, use as much as needed.

And so, the plan to separate Baek Danya and the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal began.

If the separation succeeded, what would happen?

Would it be recognized as a summoned entity?

He would only know once the separation succeeded.

Anyway, this was the best possible outcome.

He would gain an invincible ice-attribute summoned entity capable of freezing even dragons.

Though, of course, the greatest achievement was that Baek Danya would be freed from the pain of seizures.

Rajix Trading was spreading across the world.

At first, it was nothing more than a company that sold bags made from Tower leather, but now the company had grown explosively thanks to its obesity-escape bracelet.

No company that made computers, smartphones, or semiconductors could surpass Rajix Trading’s revenue.

The company was overwhelmingly busy.

From entry-level employees to the company president.

Oh Jinsuk had not seen CEO Jeong Donghun’s face in a long time.

He spent more days at the Pyongyang Black Tower factory in North Korea than at the Gangnam headquarters.

Oh Jinsuk was on the phone with Jeong Donghun on her smartphone.

“CEO, approvals are piling up. What should we do?”

—Uh, uh, I’m still in Pyongyang.

He meant he would not be coming back for a while.

—Jinsuk, you should head home for today too. I don’t know if we’ll be able to meet tomorrow either, but if not, we’ll handle approvals remotely.

“Yes, CEO.”

Oh Jinsuk left work early for once.

If the CEO told her to go, she should go.

Since things had turned out this way, she made plans with a friend.

Lee Eunyoung, her high school classmate and best friend.

Among her classmates, Eunyoung was the only one she still kept in touch with.

After graduation, everyone had been too busy making a living, and they had naturally drifted apart.

Among her friends, she was the most successful.

She was working in the secretarial office of Rajix Trading, which was becoming the best company in South Korea.

Honestly, even she thought it didn’t make sense.

She had joined as a general affairs intern with only a high school diploma, and now she was working as the CEO’s secretary?

She knew the reason.

There was no doubt Juhyeok’s influence was at play.

Just who was Juhyeok, really?

He was clearly an elite player.

She had once subtly asked CEO Jeong Donghun about Juhyeok.

Not directly—she had danced around the subject.

But every time, CEO Jeong Donghun changed the topic and brushed it off.

There was something there.

He seemed uncomfortable even mentioning Juhyeok’s name.

And every time, the same thought crept into her mind.

Could it be the person she was thinking of?

The top player, that is.

So she decided not to ask any further.

If she wasn’t careful, the National Intelligence Service or the Korean Awakening Administration might come looking for her.

“I need to watch my mouth.”

Lost in these thoughts, Oh Jinsuk arrived at the bar where they were supposed to meet.

“Jinsuk!”

“Oh, Eunyoung. Did you wait long—huh?”

Oh Jinsuk’s expression twisted instantly.

There were several people there besides her friend Eunyoung.

“Yo, Jinsuk!”

“Long time no see. You’ve gotten prettier.”

“Come on, sit down.”

They were people she knew from high school.

No—calling them friends would be generous. They were just classmates from the same school.

They were real troublemakers.

The kind who had done every bad thing imaginable back then.

And she had heard, through the grapevine, that they still had not gotten their act together even now.

She’s still hanging out with guys like this?

It seemed Eunyoung had kept in touch with them.

Should I just leave?

Her mood was completely ruined.

She had planned to have a nice drink for once—maybe even hit a hunting bar afterward.

I’ll just sit for a bit and go.

So Oh Jinsuk sat down.

“I heard about you. Jinsuk, you made it big, right?”

“Made it big? Hardly.”

“Come on. Is that just any job? You’re the direct secretary to the CEO of Rajix Trading.”

“Well, I’m still just a salaried employee...”

One guy in particular was trying way too hard to act friendly.

She knew him well.

He had been infamous back in school—of course, for all the wrong reasons.

Was his name Jang Wanseop?

“So anyway, why did you come today—”

Why are you here, making things uncomfortable?

I didn’t really want to see you.

“You know I stay in touch with Eunyoung pretty often, right?”

No.

I found out today.

“I told her. Said I wanted to see you.”

“... Why?”

“Haha. I awakened.”

Awakened?

Jang Wanseop wore a face full of pride.

Did he call her here just to brag?

“You mean... you’re a player?”

“Yeah. Level 15 right now.”

“Oh. I see.”

Even guys like this awaken, huh.

Well, awakening didn’t screen for personality.

“I heard about you from Eunyoung, and I had something I wanted to ask.”

“What?”

“Do a lot of Korean Awakening Administration people come to your company?”

“... Yeah.”

Of course they did.

Given the nature of the business, they worked very closely together.

Oh Jinsuk herself received calls from the Korean Awakening Administration almost once a day.

She had even spoken directly with Commissioner Jeon Gwangil before.

“Jinsuk, I’m not bragging, but I’ve got quite a bit of talent.”

Don’t tell me—

“So put in a good word for me with someone you know at the Administration.”

“What kind of word?”

“Like... that there’s this guy with enough talent to get an elite contract.”

Now she understood why he wanted to meet.

He wanted an elite contract.

Through connections.

Pathetic bastard. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Granted, she herself had ended up in the executive office thanks to Juhyeok’s influence—but still.

“Then, Wanseop, why don’t you just send your raid body-cam footage to the Administration? That’s how everyone gets contracts.”

“I already sent it. But I haven’t heard back yet.”

At that, the others chimed in.

“It probably got lost during processing. They didn’t even review it.”

“If they’d seen Wanseop’s footage, it would be an elite contract for sure.”

“Seems like you need connections to get in there.”

“Yeah, that’s how government offices are in this country.”

“Jinsuk, put in a good word for Wanseop. You’re close with Administration staff, right?”

What nonsense.

Would the Administration really ignore a talented player?

Talent, my ass.

He had probably been cut immediately during review.

Even if she were in a position to help, she wouldn’t.

Then Eunyoung spoke up.

“Oh! Jinsuk.”

“Yeah?”

“Now that I think about it, didn’t you once say there was someone from our class who awakened as a player?”

Oh no.

Oh Jinsuk’s heart dropped.

That’s right.

She had casually mentioned it to Eunyoung once.

“You said you saw him in the lobby and were shocked, remember?”

“Uh, well... did I say that?”

“Who was it again? The surname was unusual... Ah! Bong! Bong Juhyeok, right?”

The expressions on Jang Wanseop’s face—and his friends’—turned incredulous.

“What? Who? ... Bong Juhyeok?”

“You mean that loser Bong Juhyeok?”

“That guy awakened?”

“I don’t know the details. Jinsuk said it.”

“Hah! This is interesting.”

No.

Don’t.

It can’t be interesting.

“Kekekeke. Bong Juhyeok is a player...”

“That guy going into Towers and hunting monsters?”

“Funniest thing I’ve heard in my life.”

“I can’t picture it at all. That Bong-shuttle doing what?”

This was bad.

Oh Jinsuk was inwardly panicking.

“Hey, does anyone here have Bong Juhyeok’s phone number?”

“I do. If he hasn’t changed it, it should still work.”

“Call that bastard. Let’s see if he really awakened.”

“Now? He probably won’t pick up.”

“Hmmm.”

What should she do?

Should she warn them not to do anything stupid?

“Then let’s just make an excuse.”

“What kind?”

“Send out a group text—say we’re having a class reunion.”

“Eh, he still won’t come. He’s a total coward.”

“So what if he doesn’t? We’ll just have fun ourselves. Try it.”

“Should I?”

“Yeah. If he comes, we mess with him. If he doesn’t, we celebrate Jang Wanseop’s awakening.”

“Hehehe. Alright. I’ll send it.”

Oh Jinsuk let out a deep sigh.

She couldn’t say anything.

If Juhyeok really was the top player—

If those bastards summoned him and tried something—

If the Administration caught wind of it and launched an investigation—

Her life could be ruined.

Their lives.

And hers.

Fuck. I shouldn’t have come out.

She thought her life was finally going smoothly.

This was the greatest crisis of Oh Jinsuk’s life.

What should she do?

White Tower Floor 17.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal Body Creation Plan.

They began work immediately.

The sooner, the better.

They started dismantling the Silver Dragon corpse that would be used as material.

First, peeling off the hide and skin.

Claws, talons, bones—all needed to be harvested.

If Mari successfully synthesized a human-sized homunculus using those alchemical materials, a new body would be completed just like that.

The dismantling did not take long.

The materials were transferred to Mari’s workshop.

By the way, Mari really had way too much on her plate.

Elixir of Enhancement production.

And now a homunculus to house the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal.

Ironically, Juhyeok himself had nothing to do.

He was planning to halt Tower climbing for a while.

So he was having an unexpected midday drink with the Mad Demon, Mackenzie, and Duu.

Then—

Ding!

A notification rang from Juhyeok’s smartphone.

He opened it.

Seeing his slightly startled expression, Cossack rushed over.

“Summoner Bong, what’s wrong?”

“I got a text.”

“A foreign text? From someone saying they miss you and are flying to Korea, asking you to pick them up at the airport?”

This guy!

Do I only ever get texts like that in your mind?

“It’s a reunion text.”

“... Yes?”

“My Taechang High School, 21st graduating class reunion.”

“W-what?! R-really?”

“Yeah.”

“Whaaaaaat!”

Cossack screamed at the top of his lungs, his face flushed with excitement.

“Emergency! Emergency! Summoner Bong’s class reunion has appeared! A reunion!!!”

The summoned entities swarmed in.

“I, Cossack, have been waiting for this day!”

“... Why?”

“If you succeed in life, the class reunion route is a classic cliché, isn’t it?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared the entire scenario.”

Then he looked at Rajix.

“Dimensional farmhand!”

“Huh?”

“Go wash the Bentley first. And prepare a wristwatch worth about one billion won.”

“Huuuh?!”

Why were they making such a fuss about my reunion?

I hadn’t even decided whether I was going yet.