It was so absurd, it didn’t even feel real.

Because not a single person had ever dared to imagine something like this would happen.

A national-team-caliber Player who’d received the government’s full support, achieved the feat of clearing Floor 65, and seized wealth and fame in one hand—naturalized overnight? And to Japan, of all places?

The Republic of Korea fell into chaos.

Especially because what Yoo Cheolmin said at the press conference at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Official Residence was so ridiculous it was infuriating.

The biggest reason I came to Japan is because of Korea’s Tower Player Awakening Administration, which has fallen into complacency.

Even with the Floor 66 clear time limit right around the corner, they had no intention of providing proper support, and the Tower Player Awakening Administration’s executives were absorbed only in political games, neglecting the management of the Elite Climbing Team.

The Republic of Korea’s future was bleak. The only choice left to me was Japan. The saying “Escape is intelligence” was correct.

I don’t regret choosing naturalization. I will accept any criticism. Curse me. And I wish the Republic of Korea the best.

It felt like he was saying it like that just to stir up conflict.

Who would agree with that garbage?

There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know how well Yoo Cheolmin had eaten and lived under the Republic of Korea government’s protection.

The media reaction was sharp.

<Yoo Cheolmin’s vile betrayal and pathetic excuses—citizens also hurl fierce criticism, calling him a traitor and a coward>

<Yoo Cheolmin, who had been expressing difficulty with Floor 66 undead clears—ditches his tail and bolts>

<Disgusting beyond belief. “Support wasn’t proper”? Then why quietly omit the past where he monopolized Trait Enhancement Runes?>

<A black-haired beast that didn’t even know gratitude. Did he really escape because he was intelligent? Looks like he ran because he was stupid>

The Tower Player Awakening Administration, the National Intelligence Service, and the police also became targets of criticism.

<Yoo Cheolmin’s escape—did they really not notice at all? The Tower Player Awakening Administration’s poor operation exposed to the world>

<The National Intelligence Service and police completely defeated by Japan’s intelligence agency’s secret operation—have some shame. Do they have countermeasures?>

<Commissioner of the Tower Player Awakening Administration, Director of the National Intelligence Service, Commissioner General of the National Police Agency—all scheduled to be summoned to the National Assembly audit>

└ That cowardly bastard, is that even a human being? He can’t clear Floor 66 so he makes that kind of excuse and runs?

└ This is insanely annoying. Of all places, Japan?

└ Why is everyone overreacting? If he’d gone to China, you wouldn’t be this worked up, right?

└ China? Same thing. If he went to China, you’d curse China too, you fucking bastard! Don’t start shit here!

└ Hey! If you don’t want to die, shut up.

└ Damn, this is more miserable than losing Korea vs. Japan in soccer.

└ I heard that bastard even took all the items the Tower Player Awakening Administration supplied him—packed them all into his inventory.

└ This is a pride issue. We have to do something, no matter what. Assassinate that Yoo bastard, or declare war on Japan or something.

└ At this rate, aren’t we going to lose the S++ Clear Rank record-holder too?

└ The possibility is plenty high. If even that person goes somewhere else, I’m considering emigrating too.

The TV was nothing but that story.

What happened happened, and you couldn’t rewind it.

Juhyeok cooled down his excitement.

“There was a bigger weak man than me.”

“Oh, come on! Summoner Bong is a weak man? Then all the men of the Republic of Korea are weak men. That bastard is just a pathetic loser dumbass.”

That seemed right.

At the very least, he was confident he was better than that guy.

And anyway, the reason Team Leader Jeon Gwangil requested a private meeting was probably this.

Cossack spoke carefully.

“...If you go into the Tower Player Awakening Administration, it’s obvious what that man will say.”

Juhyeok was guessing the same thing.

“If you comply too obediently, they’ll get spoiled. We have to keep our usual pace. Slowly. Safely.”

That was true.

If you climbed recklessly, you could run into trouble.

“Ignoring it and not going is also fine. We could hide somewhere for a few days, just like that bastard—”

“Hey. That won’t do.”

“Yes?”

Still, there was some affection built up.

“I’ll go and toss them the holy sword. It seems like they need a light-attribute item.”

And while I’m at it, I can sell it and take the money.

“Ahhh, truly Summoner Bong. I am moved. To grant such ocean-deep grace to those useless civil servants.”

Hmph. Over this?

Who am I?

I look like a weak man on the outside, but in truth, I’m a warm-hearted real man.

“But this holy sword is a light-attribute item.”

“Huh?”

“It is a holy-attribute item.”

It’s the same thing.

You said it had the feature that radiance clung to it—

And the ‘ra’ in radiance is basically light, isn’t it.

Anyway.

“Is it good?”

“Yes! Better.”

Then that was all that mattered.

“With this holy sword, you can go up to Floor 67. If a talented person uses it, that is.”

Why only up to there?

“Because it is old and worn. Look at the blade markings. They are all erased, aren’t they?”

“It really is.”

“So the power of radiance is weak. A real holy sword’s radiance intensity is like a searchlight. Undead just melt.”

Meaning it was a broken lightsaber.

Still, he didn’t know when, but someday he’d be going up into the 60s himself.

“There are holy-type summoned entities in that other world, right?”

“They are everywhere.”

“What about their ranks?”

“Saintesses and popes are LSSR rank, but paladins or priests, monks, high clerics, and so on are everywhere from Rare to SSR. They will all definitely carry a holy relic. If you catch even one of them, it’s over.”

He figured as much.

If there were tanks and assassins, why wouldn’t there be healers?

What if his pulls were bad?

What’s the problem?

You just park on a suitable floor and wait until it comes out.

Now, it was about time to get ready to go to the Tower Player Awakening Administration.

*****

Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tower Player Awakening Administration.

The area in front was chaotic beyond belief.

It felt like every media outlet in Korea had gathered here.

Police were blocking access, but every time a person or a car went in or out through the front gate, reporters rushed in like a pack of rabid hyenas.

No wonder Team Leader Jeon Gwangil said he couldn’t come out.

As the car Juhyeok was riding in entered the grounds, reporters swarmed.

“What countermeasures is the Tower Player Awakening Administration taking?”

“Is it true there are rumors Commissioner Park Kyungsoo will be dismissed?”

“Please give us a statement!”

How would I know that?

Thank god the windows were heavily tinted.

From the underground parking lot, he took an elevator up.

Inside the Tower Player Awakening Administration, the atmosphere was unsettled.

Every employee he passed had a face filled with nothing but gloom.

At this rate, would today’s emergency convened meeting even happen properly?

Juhyeok met Team Leader Jeon Gwangil in a quiet office.

“I’m sorry. I asked you to come even though you’re busy.”

“No. I understand completely. I saw the news too. You must be deeply shaken.”

“...Thank you for the comfort.”

Since they’d met often, and his face was familiar, the words came easily.

“The reason I asked to see you, Player Bong, is not for nothing...”

Jeon Gwangil looked like it was hard for him to speak. He swallowed once, then—

“H-How long do you think it would take you to... c-come up into the 60s?”

He knew that line was coming.

He was currently on Floor 29.

If you assumed he climbed upper floors every day without stopping, then in 31 days he’d reach Floor 66—37 days.

With about 80 days left on the Floor 66 clear time limit, someone might think the simple math meant there was plenty of time, but—

He had to say it firmly.

So he steadied his breathing.

Deliberately lowered his voice.

“It will be difficult within 80 days. Even I, when there’s a difficult section, prepare by repeating clears for at least ten days before moving up.”

“...Yes.”

And he drove the nail in.

“It should also be in the contract clause. That upper-floor climbing is solely left to my decision.”

“I’m sorry. I have no face. We only just signed the contract and I’m already saying this. But I’m also in a position where I feel like I have to grab even a straw...”

Ah. That miserable expression.

It softened his heart.

Don’t worry. I’ll get to Floor 66 somehow, he wanted to say, but... what can’t be done can’t be done.

Even if daily climbing was possible in the 20s, what about the 30s? The 40s? The 50s?

Unless Random Summon brought out an LSSR-rank saintess or pope.

“I heard there’s another Elite Climbing Team Player in the 60s besides Yoo Cheolmin.”

“It’s Player Nam Gaeun. But she’s been stalled in the 62s for over 100 days.”

“...That’s a long time.”

“We’re also trying to support Player Nam by searching for light-attribute items. But that bastard Yoo Cheolmin ran off with every last item we secured. If only we’d had those.”

He was a truly, insanely vile bastard.

This was the time.

“Since we’re talking about items, I’m thinking of putting one item up at the Player Shop.”

“What? Uh, d-do you mean, is it light-attribute?”

“It’s not light-attribute.”

“...Ah. Yes.”

Jeon Gwangil looked slightly disappointed.

No matter how it was Player Bong, in this situation, what item was he selling—one that wasn’t even light-attribute—when his head felt like it was going to split open?

“For selling items, go to the Player Shop staff and—”

That was when it happened.

BANG!

A woman burst into the meeting room, throwing the door open.

“Team Leader!”

“Ah! Player Nam Gaeun.”

“You were here. The United States said they’d lend a light-attribute item? I came because I was curious.”

“Mmm, we haven’t gotten a definite answer yet. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? I know you haven’t been able to sleep and you’ve been running around everywhere.”

Nam Gaeun clenched her fist and shouted at Jeon Gwangil.

“Let’s stay strong. If we get discouraged here, how happy would Yoo Cheolmin, that bastard, be? Strength! And from now on, call me Plan A. I’ll take the lead.”

Then she looked at Juhyeok.

“But who is this?”

Juhyeok flinched.

Jeon Gwangil’s expression stiffened.

How was he going to explain this away?

They absolutely had to hide the fact that he was the S++ Clear Rank record-holder.

So—

“...He came to sell an item. It seems like he got it as a Tower reward.”

“Oh! Congrats, congrats! You can just go to the Player Shop, but—aha, you don’t know where it is. Here! Follow me. I’ll guide you.”

Grab!

Nam Gaeun seized Juhyeok’s hand.

Eek?

“Uh, w-wait. L-Let go of this hand.”

“It’s fine. Come on. You should stay strong too, Player. Strength!”

Dangerous.

So this was Nam Gaeun.

It was fascinating beyond belief.

How could a person be this outgoing?

Casually initiating skinship like it was nothing.

Wait.

If he wanted to sell an item for a proper price, he needed to confirm whether it actually worked.

Then there was no one better than Nam Gaeun.

“Uh, um, could you let go of my hand for a moment?”

“Oh my, sorry. I just—acting however I wanted.”

“...It’s fine. But I’ll lend you an item, so, um, try using it.”

At Juhyeok’s words, Nam Gaeun tilted her head.

“Huh? You want me to use an item? I need to know what kind of item it is—”

Swoosh.

Juhyeok pulled the holy sword out of his inventory and spoke quickly.

If he spoke quickly, he wouldn’t stutter.

“It looks very old, but the attribute is holy. The name is Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom. Increased attack power in anti-undead combat, holy flame, steadfast mind, and critical hit chance too—”

She froze for a moment at the machine-gun pace, then—

“W-Wait, please. Say the sword name again.”

“Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom.”

“...Holy sword, attribute is holy?”

“Yes!”

Nam Gaeun doubted her own ears.

She’d heard about light-attribute items plenty, but holy-attribute?

And paladin?

Wasn’t that what you called a holy knight?

Jeon Gwangil was the same.

That was the item he was selling?

If that was a real holy sword...

“It says a gentle radiance clings to the user, so it should be able to offset dark aura. Maybe it’ll be useful up to Floor 67... hahaha, if you’re talented, that is.”

Offset dark aura, something that absurd—

Nam Gaeun finally managed to part her lips.

“Can I check the item information?”

“As much as you want.”

Nam Gaeun took the sword from Juhyeok.

Jeon Gwangil wore an anxious, desperate expression.

“Did you check? I-Is it really a holy sword?”

She nodded.

“Yes. It says it’s a holy sword. The effects and characteristics are exactly what you said.”

“Uh, uh, uh...”

Then he looked at Juhyeok.

“T-Then you said you’d lend it to us, right?”

“Yes. Try using it and tell me what you think. You haven’t cleared Floor 62, right?”

“...I couldn’t.”

“Try it. Right now.”

You wouldn’t know an item worked unless you used it.

And it wasn’t like he could go into Floor 62 himself.

Cossack said it was even better than light-attribute, and said it could go up to Floor 67, so Floor 62 should be nothing.

Just give him a good review afterward.

So he could sell it at a good price.

“I’ll go right now.”

*****

Spot!

Nam Gaeun entered the Tower.

[Entering the Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 62.]

[Your physical abilities have been enhanced to match your level.]

[Traits and combat skills are available.]

The mission, too.

[Floor 62 Mission: Kill 20 dark zombies.]

[Time Limit: Within 15 hours.]

[Clear Condition: Dark zombies 0/20]

[Failure Condition: Death or mission abandonment]

Undead.

Something that should not be alive.

Dark zombies appeared.

A tattered corpse that wasn’t armed, but flashed long fingernails and sharp teeth as it rushed in quickly.

Would it really work?

The item description was accurate.

Because a gentle white radiance was layered over her body and the sword.

But it wasn’t certain whether this faint light could defeat dark aura.

Even dazzling, brilliant light-attribute items had been helpless.

‘I have no choice but to try it myself.’

Nam Gaeun focused her mind and gripped the hilt of the old holy sword tightly.

‘I can do it, Gaeun! Just do it.’

But it was strange.

With radiance clinging to her, dark aura didn’t feel that frightening.

‘Could it be... steadfast mind? Is that what it is?’

She took a step.

“Grrr...”

The dark zombie made an animal sound, wary.

Nam Gaeun moved.

Spot!

Using a swordsman Trait’s distance-deletion skill, she reached right in front of the zombie, then—

She swung the holy sword down from above with all her strength.

SHRRRK!

The moment it cut, she could feel it.

Critical. A proper critical hit.

The holy sword split dark aura.

The raised claws—CHOP!

And even the hard skull.

WHOOSH!

Flames caught on the collapsed corpse.

Even death itself was erased.

[Dark zombie kills 1/20]

“...”

The kill count went up.

She’d killed it in a single stroke.

‘Did I really do that?’

She couldn’t believe it.

Up until now, she’d suffered through every kind of struggle just to kill one zombie.

‘This sword... it was real.’

That man who looked somewhat unreliable, who told her to try it—

Honestly, even after checking the item information, she’d been half in doubt.

This wasn’t something you sold for money.

No—could you even put a price on it?

If it was an item that could stop the Tower’s collapse.

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