Whether to accept it for free.

Or pay a fair price and draw a clear line.

Every choice comes with an opportunity cost.

It was something you learned in middle school social studies.

If the opportunity cost is bigger than the choice itself, then it isn’t the right decision.

But the problem is, calculating that opportunity cost is hard.

Let’s say I take it for free.

Then later, what if the Administration comes begging me for something?

I might not be able to refuse.

Because I’d already received something.

On the other hand, if I pay the proper price and settle it cleanly?

That means spending money I didn’t need to spend.

With penthouse money, I could buy land near Gyeonggi Province, or invest in stocks—there were a million places to use it. Just thinking about burning cash made me feel sick.

At this rate, I’d spend the whole day doing nothing but worrying.

Let’s move in the direction that keeps my mind comfortable.

Juhyeok slammed his fist on the table and said,

“Okay. I’ve decided. I’m not taking it for free.”

“Then?”

“Let’s buy it. If I take it for free, I’ll get an upset stomach. It’s just an apartment—if I want it, I can buy it. Out of my own pocket. Yeah? That way I can sleep easy.”

CLAP CLAP CLAP.

Cossack clapped, genuinely impressed.

“As expected, you’re sharp as a tack. I ain’t never seen someone this decisive.”

Gyeon Dallae nodded.

“A wise judgment, indeed. Drawing a clear line between both parties will surely be of help for what comes later.”

The two of them backed Juhyeok’s big-hearted decision.

Alright! Time to check the price.

I mean, I had three billion won in the bank—no, soon another one billion would come in, making it four billion. An apartment like that was nothing.

I typed the search term into a real estate info site and CLICKed.

And then—

‘What?’

Did I read the number wrong?

I leaned closer and looked carefully.

One circle, two, three, four...

“Hm.”

“What is it? You look pale.”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Nothing, my ass.

The price per 35.5 square feet was—

‘...200 million won?’

The place was about 3,558 square feet.

Which meant the current market price was twenty billion won.

My hand on the mouse started trembling.

‘A-are you insane?!’

Wasn’t this bad information?

No matter how “Han River-view” an apartment was—

But it was solid.

If anything, it was cheap.

A news article right below said a famous online lecture “star instructor” had recently bought a similar home for twenty-three billion won.

Four billion wasn’t even close.

Apartment prices really were all over the place.

As Juhyeok fell silent, Cossack tilted his head and asked,

“How much is it? Can you buy it for, like, two billion won?”

“Sir Cossack. Do you truly know nothing of the world? Two billion won is so much money that the office workers of this country couldn’t save it even if they worked for a hundred years straight. Two billion won for a single house—what are you saying?”

“T-that so? Uh... one billion?”

“It’s still expensive, but for a place like that, it might cost around that much.”

Juhyeok didn’t say a word.

He just closed the laptop and then—

“Now that I think about it, do I really need a big apartment?”

“Pardon? Master, just a moment ago you said this officetel was too cramped, and that you were moving to a bigger home...”

Gyeon Dallae and Cossack looked completely lost at Juhyeok’s one-eighty.

“Whew. That place is too big. Cleaning would be a nightmare. How many rooms is it? And imagine how much dust there’d be in that huge house. I’d wipe the living room once and half the day would be gone. And there’s the heating and cooling costs, too.”

Cossack, quick on the uptake, agreed immediately.

“Aw, damn. Stupid me didn’t think of that. You’re right. Who’s gonna clean a house that big?”

“And they said it even has a yard. If there’s grass, bugs gather, they can come inside, and it’s bad for hygiene.”

“Good grief! Now that you say it, if we’d bought it, we’d have been in deep trouble. Your farsighted wisdom is so bright, I’m impressed again and again. Heh heh heh.”

“Haha. Wisdom, my ass.”

Gyeon Dallae piled on as well.

“To maintain the home’s temperature, ordinary heating and cooling would likely not suffice. Furthermore, the electric bill would be no small matter, and if one wishes to protect the environment, then one must not live in a large home.”

“Exactly. If it’s the environment we’re talking about, that’s me—Bong Juhyeok.”

“Climbing the Tower, and thinking of the environment as well... this girl can do nothing but worry over Master Bong’s devoted toil.”

...Satisfying.

They really were summoned entities who understood my heart.

It’s not like that was the only spacious home in the world.

Fine. I’d just buy some other place worth four billion, not twenty billion.

After the Floor 66 clear, I’d call and tell them—

I wasn’t taking it for free.

But I couldn’t help it.

That penthouse kept sticking in my mind.

Wouldn’t two hundred billion won just plop down out of the sky or something?

*****

The next day.

Seoul, Hannam-dong — Tower Player Awakening Administration training gym

Nam Gaeun, who had pumped her muscles with her pre-raid morning workout routine, sat on the floor and meditated in calm silence.

In her mind, she repeatedly ran through the attack patterns and traits of the Floor 66 undead monster, the specter.

Even if the holy sword was a mandatory item that neutralized an undead’s dark aura, she couldn’t rely on that alone.

How would she create a one-on-one situation?

Which skill should she use, in which situation?

If it comes like this, respond like that—if it comes like that, respond like this.

At last, Nam Gaeun opened her eyes.

She rose and left the training gym.

When she entered the separate room prepared for entering the Tower, Commissioner Park Kyungsoo and Team Leader Jeon Gwangil were waiting for her.

“Player Nam Gaeun. Are you fully prepared?”

“Yes.” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“Then I wish you victory.”

Entering Floor 66.

The life-or-death battle against the undead beast, the specter, began.

And ten hours later.

The Republic of Korea’s Tower-clear progress Status Window changed like this:

[Location] : Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Gangwon Province

[Cleared] : Floor 66

[In Progress] : Floor 67

[Time Limit] : 179 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

It was an achievement wrought by Player Nam Gaeun and the holy sword.

*****

It was a festival.

Player Nam Gaeun and the holy sword did it.

The press and broadcasters flooded the world with special-coverage articles.

The “Most Viewed News” top ten was nothing but the same story in different packaging.

Edited footage of the Floor 66 clear played on TV all day long.

The public reaction was ecstatic.

When Yoo Cheolmin naturalized, it had felt like everything was over—only for it to flip this dramatically.

Korean companies, as if they’d been waiting, all rolled out ads at once.

They must’ve produced them in advance—because the second the success news hit, everything dropped simultaneously.

“Celebrating the Floor 66 clear—66% off, limited items only.”

“If your birthday is June 6, an extra 6.6% off.”

“Online shopping mall—at 6:06, select items for one minute only, buy-one-get-one.”

Major conglomerates worked only the morning shift, then sent every employee home in the afternoon.

So bars and restaurants packed full.

That night, motels had no rooms.

They were completely full.

No, we cleared Floor 66—why are there no motel rooms?

Is it going to get hard to book an OB-GYN appointment in a month or two?

Sure, it was a huge achievement to push into the previously uncleared upper floors...

...but this level of nationwide frenzy was excessive.

So why?

Because of the country right next door.

They were the ones who turned Tower climbing into a Korea-versus-Japan match first.

Of course, in Japanese media, there wasn’t a single line about Korea’s successful clear of Black Tower (Republic of Korea) Floor 66.

Juhyeok enjoyed the situation with a lighter heart.

The weight in his chest eased.

Honestly, I live on this land too.

If the Tower could collapse, I should do something, anything.

But we’d bought six months.

Even if I went slow, by then I should be able to reach the sixties.

Still, watching TV like this made me itchy.

Did I rest too much?

I could start Floor 35 soon, but—

The problem was Meatshield.

With no tank in the party, how do we enter?

Also... is our Meatshield still a long way off?

Nothing went wrong, right?

I should check the Status Window.

And then—

“Oh!”

The words Summon Unavailable next to the Catalog entry for Meatshield were gone.

So I could summon him now?

Perfect.

I had to test it right away.

First, call Meatshield, and summon the others later.

“Barbarian Meatshield, Designated Summon.”

[Barbarian Meatshield has been Designated Summoned.]

My heart pounded.

Had the blessed enhancement succeeded?

HRAAAH!

SPOT!

Meatshield appeared.

“Welcome back, Meatshi—huh?”

Meatshield...

No.

“W-who are you?”

“I am Meatshield. A meat shield who devotes his loyalty to Summoner Bong.”

“...”

Juhyeok just gaped.

What kind of nonsense—

This guy was Meatshield?

It was a clean-cut young man.

Sure, his upper body was bare.

But his height, his build, the size of his head—he was a completely different person.

‘His face is... hm. Maybe a little similar?’

Something felt like it had glitched.

“I thought I would never return. I am always grateful that you call me.”

I felt like I’d walked straight into an absurd situation.

*****

For a while, Juhyeok forgot how to speak and just stared blankly at the man claiming to be Meatshield.

The face that used to be buried in beard was smooth now, so it was hard to be certain, but if you looked closely, it kind of seemed like Meatshield.

‘At least his eyes are Meatshield’s.’

Juhyeok sidled up next to him and measured height.

About 190 centimeters. His bulk had shrunk drastically.

The best way to confirm it was the Catalog info.

Was there anything more definitive than that?

<Catalog : Ordinary(?) Barbarian Meatshield of the Great Plains Tribe>

Name : Unknown

Rank : SSR (Special Super Rare)

Type : Barbarian Warrior (Human)

Manifestation Duration : 7 hours

Satisfaction Rating : None

Resummon Cooldown : 3 hours (applies after Dismiss Summon)

“...”

It’s him.

This is definitely Meatshield.

And his rank was SSR—so the blessed enhancement really succeeded.

Instead, the modifier “Dull” was gone, and “Ordinary” was there.

“You’re really Meatshield, right?”

“No matter what anyone says, I am Meatshield.”

Feels like his vocabulary increased.

His tone didn’t seem wildly different, though.

“Uh, can you recite the Summoned Principles? Article Three?”

“I can. Principle One: The summoned entity protects the summoner’s life above all else. Principle Two: The summoned entity... um, the summoner’s... uh, the summoner’s...”

“Okay, stop.”

He still couldn’t memorize it, but it was way better than before.

‘So he traded bulk for intelligence.’

That was probably it.

‘But isn’t this a loss?’

His intelligence went up only a little, but his body got dramatically smaller.

This was the result of a two-stage rank increase?

Was I supposed to accept this just because his head got slightly better?

That’s kind of disappointing.

It definitely felt unfamiliar.

Anyway, if he was a new man, then introductions first.

Call Gyeon Dallae too, call Cossack too—

HRAAAAH! SPOT! SPOT!

“Thank you for summoni—huh?”

“ATTENTION! SSR Cossack reporti—EEK?!”

With a stranger standing in the room, both of them jolted.

Cossack, face tense, hurried over to Juhyeok in quick little steps.

“S-summoner Bong, did you decide to reveal our existence to other people?”

“No.”

“T-then who the hell is that man? He’s watching the whole summon happen.”

“It’s Meatshield.”

“...Pardon?”

“I said this is Meatshield.”

Silence fell.

Gyeon Dallae, Cossack, Juhyeok—even Meatshield—none of us opened our mouths.

Then, after a moment—

“Come on. You’re messin’ with me. How is that—”

“It’s true. Meatshield was promoted to SSR.”

“...Uh... uh... uhhh...”

He still didn’t look convinced.

I got it.

I didn’t believe it either.

“R-really Meatshield?”

“Yes. Assassin.”

“When you died, who killed you?”

“It was the super-beast hydra.”

“What’s the most recent monster you killed?”

“A Stage-4 minotaur.”

He answered smoothly.

Juhyeok watched Meatshield’s face and asked carefully,

“Um, Meatshield?”

“A warrior always trusts and listens to the summoner’s words.”

“Do you know why your name is Meatshield?”

“I do.”

“Should we... change it, then? I’m worried the name Meatshield might be uncomfortable.”

“Meatshield is the name the summoner gave me. I like it.”

“I’ll rename you.”

“It is fine. I am Meatshield. The meat shield who blocks the way before Summoner Bong like an iron wall—that is me.”

“...”

He really did have a lot more words now.

And again, silence.

Alright. This won’t do.

To break the awkward mood, let’s climb the Tower.

“Let’s climb the Tower. It’s been a while.”

“Y-yeah. That’s good.”

“...This girl believes ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) so as well.”

But looking at Meatshield’s current condition, he didn’t inspire much confidence.

Was I never going to see that overwhelming power again?

I’d planned to climb Floor 35 once Meatshield returned as SSR, but—

Right now, it felt like too much.

I mean, clearing it at S++.

So we played it safe and repeated Floor 34.

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 34.]

“Shall we go?”

Meatshield stepped out to the front like he was pulling the lead.

“I will take point. The rest of you, come with Summoner Bong.”

Why is he acting like that?

With a body that small.

He’s only 190 centimeters tall.

“...I think it’d be better if Cossack goes first. Meatshield, fall back to the rear.”

“Summoner, do not worry. Please trust SSR Meatshield.”

“Hm.”

Fine. Let’s trust him once.

He’s talking that big—maybe he has a plan.

As soon as we received the mission, a Stage-4 minotaur appeared.

Compared to Meatshield, it was almost three times his size.

‘That minotaur could pick Meatshield up with one hand and slam him into the ground.’

Worry piled up like a mountain.

Juhyeok whispered to Cossack.

‘If something happens, be ready to jump in immediately.’

‘Got it.’

In that instant—

“GRAAAAAAAH!”

The small Meatshield roared.

Startled me.

Even if his body was smaller, that booming voice was still the same.

And then.

At the same time, Meatshield’s body began to change.

CRRK— CRRRRK!

With a grotesque sound, bulging muscles surged up across his body.

GRRNNK! GRNK!

His frame swelled bigger.

Like Meatshield used to be.

“Whoa!”

“Damn!”

“Oh my?”

He kept growing.

Four meters? Five?

Almost up to the minotaur’s size.

Every step he took, he grew more.

Outward, and upward.

Grow, Meatshield, Meatshield.

If you painted him green, he’d be exactly that.

Only then, finally—

“Now that’s Meatshield.”

“That’s Meatshield.”

“That is Meatshield.”

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