It had been a grand journey.

Starting with the Floor 36 clear, climbing higher every single day, he finally achieved the feat of Trait enhancement on Floor 40.

The smiles never left the summoned entities’ faces.

Cossack looked like he’d finally set a heavy burden down.

“In my life, I, Cossack, have only wet my pants twice. Once was when Summoner Bong walked on the sky, and the second time was...”

“CLICK?”

“That’s right! CLICK! I soaked it.”

“Hahaha. No way you actually did. That’s just a figure of speech.”

“...”

“W-wait. Seriously?”

“...Hehehe.”

Then Meatshield chimed in.

“I saw it with my own two eyes. Assassin’s pants were wet.”

At the same time, Gyeon Dallae’s thunderous scolding exploded out.

“You wretches!!! ...Haa. Sir Cossack and Sir Meatshield, do you ever think before you speak? How could you say such filthy things, in the name of safety! In any case, it is certain that Master’s earnest wish moved the heavens.”

The rite must have been the deciding move. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

He’d put more devotion into the rite than the clear itself.

And the sight of Gyeon Dallae riding the blade back then had been so reverent that—

“This one is ashamed. It was only shallow skill. If proper musicians had accompanied us instead of a speaker, there would have been no need to spin any wheel.”

Meatshield, as if he wanted to boast about his own achievement too, said—

“I propped the sword well. That’s why Princess balanced well on the blade.”

And of course Cossack couldn’t be left out.

“If you want it desperately, the whole universe helps you. That’s truth. I wished with everything I had, day and night—Summoner Bong, please, let him get Trait enhancement.”

It was satisfying.

When you work together with one heart and one will, even the impossible becomes possible.

Everyone’s yearning had made a miracle.

“It was really thrilling. When Summoner Bong threw both arms up and shouted CLICK! that’s when my lower half just went slack and—”

“Sir Cossack, please!!!”

“Hehehe.”

When the roulette pointer was on the verge of slipping into the next slot—

CLICK!—and the wheel shifted 0.5 cm to the right.

‘God, I almost pissed myself too.’

So that’s why gambling addiction is dangerous.

Anyway, the result was good.

Very good.

So tomorrow, Floor 41?

Nope!

He was going to rest for a while.

The most recent Random Summon had been Gyeon Dallae.

That was on Floor 30, right?

And after that, they’d sprinted straight to Floor ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ 40.

They’d taken breaks here and there, clearing and resting and clearing again, so more than twenty days had flown by.

Which meant there were fewer than ten days left until the next Random Summon.

Exactly nine days.

Until then, he was going to laze around and eat.

“In that case, beef call?”

“Slurp—ah, we should save money. I’m not hungry even if I don’t eat. Hehehe.”

“Hahaha. Then chicken call, for the first time in a while?”

“CAAAALL!!!”

Right then—

DING-DONG!

The doorbell rang at Juhyeok’s officetel.

“Shh!”

Who was it?

He checked the intercom screen.

‘Mm...’

It was Jeon Gwangil.

Then the summoned entities...

‘Do I need to dismiss them?’

Man, if only he lived in a big house.

If he did, they could just go into any room and lock the door.

Quick-witted Cossack stepped forward.

“Just dismiss us!”

“Should I?”

“Yes!”

“It is time for us to return.”

“Summoner, watch yourself.”

So—

“Dismiss Summon, all.”

POP POP POP!

After confirming they were gone, Juhyeok turned on the TV and cranked the volume, then opened the front door to greet Jeon Gwangil.

“Welcome.”

“Hahaha. Congratulations on clearing Floor 40 at S++.”

“Oh, come on.”

“People are going insane right now. The Floor 66 clear got completely buried.”

Ha.

It was a problem if he kept getting famous.

He didn’t know how long he could keep his identity hidden, but still.

“The reason I came today is because I have something to give you...”

“The penthouse? I already told you I won’t take it for free.”

“Not that.”

Jeon Gwangil set a 007 briefcase on the table with a THUD and opened it.

“This.”

“...Huh? A toy?”

“It’s real.”

What came out of the case was a pistol made of silvery metal.

“No, why are you giving me a pistol?”

“For self-defense. If someone suspicious approaches, shoot them. Without hesitation.”

“...Shoot? You’re telling me to just shoot on sight?”

“We’ll take full responsibility. You won’t be arrested, you won’t be indicted, and you won’t see a courtroom.”

“...”

He was saying they’d give him immunity privilege.

“There was an attempted Player kidnapping not long ago. Thankfully, the heavens helped and it became nothing, but there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“Ah! So that’s what it was. But I don’t even have a firearms permit.”

“It’s fine. We handled it legally.”

Juhyeok lifted the pistol from the case.

He’d served in the military, but it was his first time holding a pistol.

“That goes into your inventory too.”

“Oh! Then—”

“Yes. It’s made of Tower metal.”

Tower metal.

Maybe that was why—it was incredibly light.

‘Should I try putting it in, just to see?’

He attached the magazine—

CLACK!

And then into his inventory... huh?

“...It won’t go in.”

“Mm. You have to remove the magazine for it to go in.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

“Gunpowder isn’t a Tower item.”

“...”

Then why even make it out of Tower metal?

Even a normal pistol and bullets can be brought into the Tower as possessions if a Player carries them on their body.

“We made the barrel from Tower metal because we thought the effect would be better.”

“Did it get better?”

“To some extent.”

That was why you couldn’t bring heavy firearms into the Tower.

What did it matter if the body was Tower metal?

You couldn’t mount shells or rockets.

“For now, I’ll keep it.”

“Right. And security will probably be strengthened even more. You may find it inconvenient to move around.”

What?

No, that wasn’t happening.

“The contract said ‘loose security,’ didn’t it?”

“But given the circumstances—”

“I’m an exception. No matter what. I’m going to move soon too. Somewhere with no interference.”

“W-wait. Please reconsider. For Players, the Tower isn’t what’s dangerous. Outside the Tower is more dangerous.”

That was true, but...

‘I’ll have to show him.’

The time had come.

He’d been hiding it, but now he was going to reveal it—fully.

Just how safe he really was.

“There aren’t many people safer than me.”

“...Yes? What do you mean?”

“I’ll show you.”

Juhyeok murmured quietly.

“Energy Barrier, activate.”

And then—

BZZZT!

Starting from Juhyeok’s bracelet and spreading across his whole body—

A milky, translucent barrier wrapped around him head to toe.

“Gah!”

Jeon Gwangil flinched so hard he nearly jumped.

How many times was he going to be shocked because of Player Bong?

“...I-is that an item? One without a Tower-Only modifier?”

“Yes. I got it as a clear reward. It generates a barrier that works outside too. It’s very sturdy—maybe it can even block bullets.”

Jeon Gwangil nodded without thinking.

‘The holy sword, that barrier item... if you clear at S++, the reward items really are different.’

Tower items that could be used in the real world.

Most clear rewards were materials.

Magic Stones, metals, herbs, leather, monster bones—things that could be applied in reality.

But because they were clear rewards, the quantities weren’t large, so herbs were used for research, and metals/leather/bones tended to be sold as materials for crafting Player items.

Still, it wasn’t only materials.

Sometimes, finished items dropped too.

Jewelry that cleared the mind, swords that sliced steel like radish, protective items that shielded the target like that.

You couldn’t put a price on items like these.

This was a world where a famous painter’s work or a piece of ancient art could trade for 400 million or 500 million dollars.

If it was that barrier item, it would be at least a billion dollars.

A billion dollars?

The moment its existence became known, Arab tycoons and American billionaires would come hauling sacks of money.

“T-that item—hide it. Absolutely. Don’t sell it either.”

“Come on. Why would I sell this? It’s my lifeline.”

“Good. You made the right choice.”

Now that he’d shown it—

“Please keep the security loose. No, don’t assign bodyguards at all.”

“Mm... I’ll make the suggestion.”

Jeon Gwangil left.

And three hours later—

He summoned the summoned entities again.

“Alright, alright—let’s rest. No clears for a while. If you need anything, just say the word. Should I order chicken first?”

“Call.”

“Call.”

“CLICK!”

And they ate well and played well.

Going out sometimes, too.

For a full week.

*****

The American Player Gerald Watson entered Incheon International Airport with Director Antonio.

An uncountable number of bodyguards surrounded them front, back, left, and right.

There weren’t many people in the airport.

For someone as famous as Gerald Watson, reporters should’ve been camped out.

But the truth was, even the press didn’t know.

They didn’t know when Gerald would enter.

It had been kept absolutely secret.

“Hurry up, Antonio.”

“We’re using it today anyway, so relax.”

“If you knew how long I’ve waited for the day I can take revenge on that damn dark specter, you wouldn’t say that.”

“Revenge? You cleared it in the end!”

“Look at Korea’s Player Nam Gaeun. Ten-hour clear. What am I supposed to do with my pride?”

Director Antonio chuckled.

Gerald had a point.

How hard had Floor 66 been?

The time limit was closing in, the specters’ dark aura made attacks barely land even if you wrapped yourself in light-attribute equipment, and killing a single one took over two hours.

After that, they’d reinforced their items and shaved the time down and down, finally clearing it with the time limit fully used—

And they’d had to do that awful floor twice.

West and East.

But a holy sword?

Apparently it took ten hours to kill specters with just one light-attribute item and a sword.

“What are you doing? Run!”

“Oh, come on.”

The best Player in the world.

But maybe because they were young, they had that impulsive streak.

Near the arrivals exit, security vehicles and a bulletproof car for Gerald were already waiting.

The kind of car they said the U.S. President rode in.

They’d airlifted it in on a U.S. Air Force transport plane before entering.

Gerald and Antonio rode to the Administration.

Team Leader Jeon Gwangil came out to greet them.

“Welcome. Mr. Watson, Director Antonio—my name is Jeon Gwangil.”

“Nice to meet you. Just call me Gerald, and show me the holy sword first.”

“Hahaha. Were you that eager?”

“Y-yeah. Hurry.”

Jeon Gwangil guided them to his office.

“Where is the sword?”

Tsk.

With that impatience, they couldn’t even talk about anything else.

“The rental fee hasn’t been deposited yet.”

Director Antonio stepped in.

“We were going to do it here. Where should we send it?”

“To this account...”

“Hmm. The account name is the Administration. Not the owner.”

“Yes. We’re acting as proxy.”

Antonio’s expression looked disappointed.

He lifted his smartphone and tapped a few times.

“Transfer complete.”

Jeon Gwangil tapped his phone too.

“Yes. Confirmed.”

Then he opened the large safe set into the office wall.

“It’s here. Please check the information first.”

Gerald snatched the sword up in a hurry.

“Oh!”

The sword’s information appeared in their mind.

Increased damage to undead, Steadfast Mind, Holy Flame, Critical Hit Increase, and also...

Radiance.

The downside was that the sword looked worn.

And it was extremely large and heavy.

Though it would feel different inside the Tower.

“Can I enter right now?”

“You must follow what’s written in the contract. If you lose it, or if...”

“Don’t worry. That will never happen.”

Gerald put the holy sword into their inventory.

SPOT!

And Gerald vanished in an instant.

They’d probably moved to the U.S. West Tower or U.S. East Tower.

Regardless of where a Player was, Tower entry was determined by nationality.

*****

[Entering Floor 66 of the Black Tower (America (NO.2)).]

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

[Trait and combat skills may be used.]

Before pulling out the holy sword, Gerald equipped their light-attribute gear first.

FWOOSH!

A brilliant light shimmered over Gerald’s body.

So bright it could blind you with the naked eye.

Then they pulled out the holy sword too.

WOOOONG!

A gentle light layered over it.

‘So this is Radiance?’

It was fascinating.

A faint Radiance was swallowing up the dazzling light of the light attribute.

It really was different.

Preparation to clear.

The magic swordsman Gerald cast spells.

“Strength. Haste. Barrier.”

[Floor 66 Mission: Kill 10 dark specters.]

[Time Limit: Within 15 hours.]

In the distance, gray, translucent birds flew around.

They were huge.

Almost like pterosaurs.

And because they were big, the range of their dark aura was wide as well.

Physical attacks didn’t work at all.

Only light-attribute attacks could deal even a small amount of damage.

After clearing Floor 66 for the first time, Gerald had sworn they would never do a repeat clear.

And yet here they were, breaking that vow with their own hands.

Let’s find out.

Whether this sword could really smash those bastards in one blow.

First, the pull.

The magic swordsman Gerald raised a hand and cast a skill.

“Magic Bolt!”

ZIPP!

One specter was hit by the Magic Bolt.

WHIRR!

It stopped flying, then turned and changed direction toward Gerald.

WHIRRRRR!

The specter charged with its dark aura.

It was the biggest undead monster Gerald had faced so far.

So big it felt overwhelming even without the dark aura.

And it was a flying monster.

“Sharpness.”

After magically enchanting the blade to make it sharper—

Gerald slashed down across the creature’s left wing with a blade skill.

SHHK!

The tip of the specter’s spirit wing was cut off.

WHIRRRRRK!

Losing its balance, the specter thrashed wildly in the air, shrieking and convulsing.

Charging in at a time like this was dangerous.

So Gerald stayed back for a moment—

The specter perched on the ground, then took off again, stubbornly chasing Gerald.

Gerald still kept escaping.

Firing off spells here and there.

‘Now.’

This time, the opposite side.

SHHK!

The right wing was cut almost in half.

After stripping away its mobility—

Gerald attacked in earnest.

Cutting its tail, cutting its legs, stabbing its torso, and finally—

Its head.

CHOP!

The specter that had been writhing went still in an instant.

FWOOOSH!—it even burned.

‘...This is ridiculous.’

Is this really Floor 66?

To kill one this fast—

Had it been about twenty minutes?

With the sword in hand, the dark aura was basically nothing.

It was even fun.

‘One rental won’t be enough.’

Looks like I’ll have to delay departure.

I’ll pay another ten million dollars and rent it one more time, no matter what.

It wasn’t even for clearing an uncleared upper floor.

Twenty million dollars just to test-drive the holy sword.

But for Gerald, it wasn’t a waste at all.

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