It was nearly an hour since Player Nam Gaeun had entered Floor 62.

Team Leader Jeon Gwangil waited for the outcome, nerves tightening with every passing minute.

Player Bong Juhyeok had said he’d step into the Player Shop for a moment to sell his Magic Stones.

The more you dealt with him, the stranger he seemed—in a way that made you keep looking twice.

Jeon had asked to meet him in the first place for one reason: to beg him to push into the 60s even a day sooner.

It was obviously an impossible request.

How could anyone climb from Floor 29 to Floor 66 in three months?

Jeon had already braced himself for a first Tower Collapse.

Partly because the Black Tower was tucked away deep in the mountains of Gangwon Province, which meant the damage would likely be less severe than in other countries,

and partly because no one could predict where the second Tower would appear—yet by then, Player Bong Juhyeok might at least have reached the 60s.

And then the man shows up with a holy sword like it’s nothing?

Worse, he’d even looked annoyed, like he couldn’t be bothered, asking what kind of item it was.

Of course, Jeon knew he was worn down—body and mind both frayed to the limit.

‘If he’d brought it just a little earlier...’

Maybe Yoo Cheolmin wouldn’t have naturalized.

No.

That thought was dangerous.

If it had happened earlier, the holy sword wouldn’t have ended up in Nam Gaeun’s hands.

The Administration would have handed it to Yoo Cheolmin without hesitation.

Because he’d been Korea’s official representative Player.

And did that bastard decide to naturalize to Japan on a whim, overnight?

He weighed every angle until he saw an opening—then he ran.

If the holy sword had been in play, he would’ve taken it with him and naturalized anyway. No question.

Because of Yoo Cheolmin, Commissioner Park Kyungsoo was at the National Assembly.

It was the regular session. The audit was in full swing. He’d been summoned on the spot.

Jeon could practically picture the lawmakers tearing into him. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He wanted to tell Commissioner Park Kyungsoo immediately—but right now, nothing had been verified.

‘Holy-attribute...’

Up to now, everyone had assumed dark aura’s natural enemy was light-attribute.

But there was also holy-attribute?

He’d never heard of it. Never seen it.

Even the United States likely hadn’t secured a holy-attribute item.

The undead section of the Black Tower.

From Floor 61 onward, it was nothing but undead monsters.

What had been confirmed so far: Floor 61—mummies. Floor 62—zombies. Floor 63—skeletons. Floor 64—ghouls. Floor 65—dullahans. Floor 66—specters. Floor 67—phantom reapers...

Exactly that far.

The United States was currently attempting to clear Floor 67’s phantom reaper.

And that sword might still be usable up to Floor 67?

If that was true...

How much time could it buy them?

Just then—

Knock, knock.

A careful, hesitant tap at Jeon’s office door.

“Come in.”

Creak.

Juhyeok pushed the door open just enough to slip his head in first.

“Ah, you’re back. Did the Magic Stones sell well?”

“...Yeah. But Player Nam Gaeun isn’t back yet, I guess?”

“Haha. It’s only been a little over an hour. The mission time limit itself is fifteen hours.”

“Taking a while.”

Jeon smiled bitterly to himself.

Compared to who?

Player Bong Juhyeok’s average clear time was around twenty minutes—and he often finished even faster than that.

So sure, to him, an hour might feel like forever.

But still.

That was when—

Fwoooosh!

A burst of light bloomed in the middle of the office.

A Player return phenomenon.

There was no way she’d already cleared, so...

She abandoned the mission?

Even with the holy sword... it didn’t work?

Pop.

Player Nam Gaeun appeared.

She looked drained, her shoulders heavy with fatigue.

“N-Nam Gaeun, ma’am... h-how was it—”

“Just a second. I need a Healing ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Potion.”

She pulled a Tower-Only Healing Potion from her Tower-Only Inventory and chugged it down in loud gulps.

Did she get hurt?

If so, then—just as he feared—

“Hoo...”

Nam Gaeun took a deep breath, steadying herself.

Then she turned, spotted Juhyeok, and marched over—

Hug!

She wrapped him in her arms.

“Eek?”

What—?

“...,”

Juhyeok froze where he stood.

His mind went white, like someone had wiped the slate clean.

“Thank you. Seriously, thank you. If it weren’t for this holy sword, I would’ve failed again. It was incredible—truly the best.”

Jeon jolted, then blurted out,

“T-Then... y-you mean...?”

“Yes. I cleared Floor 62.”

“M-My god... H-How...?”

“Aha! The important thing is an unbreakable will! Tomorrow I’m going into Floor 63.”

Jeon’s eyes flooded.

How long had he carried this weight, day after day?

“But isn’t tomorrow too soon? Mentally, it’ll be a lot.”

“It’s fine. The holy sword’s radiance makes it fine. The dark aura doesn’t even feel threatening anymore.”

“Ah... it was that strong?”

“I’m confident. With the holy sword, I think I can clear Floor 66, too. Honestly, if you remove dark aura from the equation, undead are just ordinary monsters.”

It was hard to argue with that.

“Right—also, I recorded the clear. Review the video.”

“Understood. ...We can release it publicly, yes?”

“Go ahead. As much as you want.”

Meanwhile, Juhyeok was still squirming, visibly uncomfortable.

“...Um. If you’re going to keep talking, could you maybe let go first?”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I was just—so happy.”

Only then did Nam Gaeun release him.

At the same time, she carefully handed the holy sword back.

“I used it well. But the edge got chipped in a lot of places.”

“Hm.”

It really did look worse.

Then again, it had already been an old, worn-out blade.

“...It’s fine. They said it can be repaired, so I’ll send it in.”

Jeon jumped in immediately.

“There are skilled craftsmen in the Player Shop workshop. I’ll have them take a look.”

“And the repair fee?”

“Of course we’ll cover that.”

“At this point, just buy it from me. If you’re going to keep clearing, you’ll need it.”

“Ah, th-that...,”

Buy it?

How did you even put a price on something like this?

You couldn’t.

Jeon had to answer carefully.

Even if it were only usable up to Floor 67, the value didn’t stop at Korea.

Every undead section in the world would be its battlefield.

A hidden card—one that could delay, even prevent, Tower Collapse.

Jeon weighed it quickly.

What should he offer?

An answer surfaced.

“In my opinion... you shouldn’t sell this sword. You should keep ownership of it.”

“...So you won’t purchase it?”

Why?

He’d been planning to sell it and buy a building, maybe.

“Instead, we’ll rent it. One hundred billion won per run.”

“Huh?”

One hundred billion per run?

“There are hundreds of Towers across the world, not just Korea. A few countries have reached the 60s, but most haven’t. We’ll rent it to the countries that reach that range—and we’ll charge them a rental fee.”

Rental fees...

That’s good.

That’s a money spring.

If you can collect that kind of fee, landlord income becomes a joke.

Maybe the saying should be: not “Above landlords is God,” but “Above landlords is the holy-sword owner.”

But he couldn’t handle that operation himself.

“Don’t worry. The Administration will manage the rental process for you.”

“Oh! If you do that, I’d really appreciate it. Then...”

What about Korea?

Free?

Could he even charge his own Administration?

‘No.’

Take what you’re owed.

It keeps the relationship clean.

But charging too much also felt wrong, so—

“...For the Administration rental, ten billion won. This time was free, so starting from Floor 63, ten billion per run.”

“W-What? No, you don’t have to—”

“I’ll charge other countries a lot. Just make sure you advertise it properly. Worldwide.”

“Th-Thank you. Really... thank you.”

Juhyeok felt satisfied, too.

But making this much money...

What was he supposed to do with it?

The thought alone was terrifying.

“Right. There’s exactly one place that doesn’t get to rent it.”

“Of course. I was going to ask you that myself.”

Where would be off-limits?

Japan. Obviously.

“Heh! If Yoo Cheolmin hears about this, he’ll faint, right?”

Nam Gaeun practically vibrated with excitement.

Jeon’s eyes sharpened.

“Before that, I’ll kill him.”

“Wow! Team Leader, that’s insanely badass!”

How did you live after becoming that hated?

Even walking at night would feel dangerous.

Even in Japan.

What did it matter if he was a Player?

Outside the Tower, he was just an ordinary person.

Japan, too, would start sweating blood in the 60s—unless another holy-attribute item appeared, somehow.

Still...

Nam Gaeun had been sneaking glances at Juhyeok for a while now, and it was starting to weigh on him.

“Um...”

“Oh—look at the time. I’ve got something urgent, so I’ll be going.”

If he stayed any longer, he’d be drained in minutes.

And “urgent” wasn’t even a lie.

Seriously.

※ ※ ※

Yeouido, the National Assembly.

The day the Yoo Cheolmin naturalization incident erupted just happened to fall during the audit period.

Every official tied to the matter was called in.

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo of the Tower Player Awakening Administration. Director Park Iljun of the National Intelligence Service. Commissioner General Kim Cheolmin of the National Police Agency.

The lawmakers’ interrogation didn’t let up.

“Are Player Yoo Cheolmin’s claims true? That there was no proper support, and the Administration executives only cared about politics?”

Nonsense.

That bastard had swallowed every special privilege available.

“That is not true. He received the highest annual salary among the ELITE TOWER CLIMBING TEAM Players, Trait Enhancement Runes, and multiple light-attribute items purchased with large sums.”

“Then why did he say that? And why did he decide to naturalize? The result is right in front of us.”

“Yoo Cheolmin simply feared clearing Floor 66 and ran away. If I’m at fault, it’s that I misjudged his character. If I’d known he was that kind of man, I would’ve—long ago—”

“So you admit you were wrong. And because of that wrong, the Republic of Korea is on the verge of collapse.”

Park Kyungsoo clenched his teeth.

“We have Plan B.”

“You mean that female Player who’s been stuck attempting Floor 62 for a hundred days?”

“....”

The National Intelligence Service didn’t escape scrutiny either.

“What kind of security were you even running? When Japanese agents took Yoo Cheolmin, you just stood there and watched?”

Director Park Iljun pressed his lips together.

“There is no excuse. I accept full responsibility.”

“That’s it? We need a plan.”

“We will bring him back, no matter what. First, we’ll contact Player Yoo Cheolmin and request that he cancel the naturalization.”

“And if he refuses?”

“....”

Director Park Iljun paused.

Then his face hardened.

“Then he has to pay the price.”

“...How? Are you saying you would kill him?”

“If necessary.”

“Ha! Director—do you realize where you are, saying something like that?”

Commissioner General Kim Cheolmin stepped in as well.

“The police are also investigating. Anyone involved—whoever they are—we will investigate thoroughly and ensure they face judgment under the law.”

“You should’ve done that from the start. Do you think saying it now reduces your responsibility?”

“I’m prepared to resign.”

It was practically a public execution.

What could they do?

Their failures were plain.

Commissioner General Kim Cheolmin, Commissioner Park Kyungsoo, and Director Park Iljun were all considering stepping down.

Then—

“Commissioner.”

Park Kyungsoo’s secretary, seated behind the witness stand, approached quietly and whispered.

“What is it?”

“A message came from Team Leader Jeon Gwangil.”

Now?

Did he not understand what was happening here?

“I’m busy. I’ll check later.”

“I think you need to check it now.”

“...Huh?”

What could possibly—

Park Kyungsoo took the phone.

A moment later—

“Gasp!”

His eyes widened.

“W-What is it?”

It was long.

And detailed.

But could you trust a wall of text?

Even with lawmakers staring him down, Park Kyungsoo tapped the screen immediately.

“Hello, Team Leader Jeon. ...What you wrote—are you saying it’s true?”

The lawmakers erupted.

“What are you doing? A phone call in the middle of testimony?”

“In this sacred National Assembly—do you think we’re a joke?”

“That’s why your Player naturalized!”

Park Kyungsoo didn’t even acknowledge them.

“You checked the clear video? Yes? Oh—good. You’re saying it’s solid? How long do you estimate? Hahaha. Good. Excellent.”

He raised his voice as if he wanted everyone to hear.

“Repairs are possible? Good. That’s a relief. Then she’s entering Floor 63 tomorrow? Don’t hold back on support—put everything into it. Make sure she manages her condition. And Bong... no. That gentleman—I’ll meet him separately.”

He ended the call, and his expression relaxed completely.

“What was that? What kind of call is important enough to take during an audit?”

“Was that the President calling to dismiss you?”

“Don’t think you can run away.”

Park Kyungsoo smiled.

“I’m not running. I will take responsibility.”

“How?”

“We will clear Floor 66. We do not need someone like Yoo Cheolmin.”

The atmosphere turned even uglier.

“Are you mocking the National Assembly?”

“Have you lost your mind? You think words fix this?”

“It sounds like Yoo Cheolmin shouldn’t have naturalized. It sounds like you should.”

The lawmakers sneered, but Park Kyungsoo only smiled.

“Two hours ago, Player Nam Gaeun of the Administration’s ELITE TOWER CLIMBING TEAM successfully cleared Black Tower (Republic of Korea) Floor 62.”

Out of nowhere?

Park Kyungsoo continued without pause.

“Tomorrow, she plans to clear Floor 63.”

The lawmakers shook their heads, clicking their tongues.

“And within one month!”

Ignoring them—

“We will clear Floor 66. I’m staking my head on it. Not my position. My actual head.”

He declared it without hesitation.

A bombshell dropped into the National Assembly.

Murmurs surged.

Even the reporters whispered, baffled that the Commissioner was spouting nonsense.

Then—

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt...

Reporters’ smartphones started ringing all at once.

“...What?”

“Official—official confirmation just dropped?”

“Floor 62 clear? In one hour and twenty minutes?”

“Confirmed?”

“Clear video? Send it to me.”

The reversal had begun.

The audit hearing, meant to pin responsibility for the naturalization incident, had turned into a stage for a Floor 66 clear declaration.

※ ※ ※

That evening.

Breaking news flooded every media outlet in the Republic of Korea.

In an instant, everything flipped.

<Commissioner Park Kyungsoo declares during National Assembly testimony that he will clear Black Tower Floor 66 within one month>

<Floor 62 cleared! Bodycam footage released>

<The basis for the declaration revealed: a holy sword! A holy-attribute item, no less>

<Player Nam Gaeun rises as the new alternative, shows confidence in clearing Floor 66>

<Yoo Cheolmin? Who’s that? I don’t even remember>

<I’ll prove it by clearing Floor 63 tomorrow—back-to-back! Watch me!>

And in the middle of all that... what was Bong Juhyeok doing?

He set a small table, placed a bowl of “purified water”—no, a bowl of clean water from his water purifier—then called Cossack and Meatshield over.

“Please, please—LSSR! Only LSSR! I need LSSR—Legend Special Super Rare, no matter what!”

Staring at the moon beyond the veranda window, he was praying with desperate sincerity.

“LSSR!”

“Absolutely LSSR!”

“E- Er... e-su, e-su... al!”

“Hey, bastard! Pronounce it right!”

Because his Random Summon cooldown would be up tomorrow.

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