The basic outline of the plan was this.

In principle, we climb one floor per day.

But we clear each floor twice.

The first clear is fast for an S++ Clear Rank, and we don’t peel hides.

Rajix said he could peel one or two, but is there any need to push ourselves?

Instead, on the second clear, we peel hides.

Slowly, escorting Rajix so he can work comfortably.

Then we exit and go out to eat together, laughing and talking.

The day’s schedule ends.

We do that all the way up to Floor 45.

After that, we park there for a while and just hunt.

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea) Floor 42.]

Long-Tail Basilisk—once again, the mission was to kill fifteen.

Since we planned to bunch them up and kill them fast, I watched for an opening to join the fight too.

The moment I casually pulled out the Cold Twilight Golden Mace and the Warm Dawnlight Golden Aegis, the summoned entities started sighing.

“Mm...”

“Aah.”

“Please.”

“SQUEAK....”

Even Rajix.

I get that you’re worried, but a real man inside the Tower never backs down.

I slapped an iron plate on my face—

SWAT! SWAT-SWAT!

“Master! Please restrain yourself!”

“SQUEAK!!!”

The Long-Tail Basilisk has a blade attached to the end of its tail, so approaching from behind is tricky.

But my Shadow Walker, Shadow Step, had already reached a level beyond that.

SPOT! POP-POP-POP-POP-POP!

Even the sound of my movement was different.

There were dozens of shadows I’d left behind across the battlefield—so many you couldn’t tell which was my real body.

Any tail attacks that managed to fly in got blocked with my shield.

CLANG!

My shadows surrounded the Long-Tail Basilisk.

The real me was already standing on top of its head.

Let’s just go straight to the finisher from the start.

If I use it, I can use it again ten minutes later, but looking at the mood here, I’d only get to kill one.

Falling Thunder Flash.

WHIIIP—

The mace dropped onto the basilisk’s head.

A lightning strike from the skill.

Freezing from the weapon.

Its head burned—and froze.

TSSSS! CLANG! CRUNCH!

Its body twitched a few times, then went limp.

That feeling in my hands, something I hadn’t felt in a long time—

[Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S++ on Black Tower (Korea) Floor 42.]

[S++ Clear Reward: You are awarded a Platinum Badge.]

See?!

I knew it.

It ended fast.

It ended the instant I killed one.

I almost didn’t get to kill even a single one.

We all exited together.

After resting at home for a bit—

“Alright! Re-entry, let’s go.”

On the re-clear, we peel hides only.

Until Rajix’s backpack is packed full.

Before, it was six hides because we mixed in other materials, but if we only put hides in, it should fit seven.

We started the repeated-mission clear and killed fourteen.

We also filled the backpack with hides.

But we left the last one.

“Mr. Rajix, ready?”

“SQUEEEAK.”

“Then... let’s begin.”

Meatshield wrapped the Long-Tail Basilisk’s head in a headlock and bound it so it couldn’t move.

GRRRK!

Right after that, Cossack’s blade aura pierced its eyes and turned its brain into mush.

The basilisk sagged.

“Killed it!”

[Long-Tail Basilisk killed 15/15]

[You have succeeded in the Floor 42 mission.]

[Reward: Magic Stones 4.2kg]

“Mr. Rajix, hurry!”

“SQUEAK!”

Meatshield and Cossack quickly got out of the way.

ROOOOLL—

A furball rolled toward the fallen Long-Tail Basilisk corpse.

SHHK, SNIP, SHHK!

He sliced at parts of its body with his knife—

Grabbed the jaw—

RRRIP...

Right at that moment!

[Exiting Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

SPOT!

We returned to the officetel.

Damn it.

We failed to peel the hide in time.

If we’d been two seconds faster, we would’ve gotten it.

“SQUEEEEAK....”

He’s crying again. Crying again.

“It’s practice. For a first practice run, you did great. You’ll do even better next time.”

When I comforted him—

“Servant Rajix, you were only slightly late. Don’t be sad.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve moved out of the way faster.”

“Worker «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Rajix, don’t cry. Did you lose your country? If it can’t be done, you make it doable. Save giving up for when you’re counting cabbages.”

“...SQUEAK.”

There was a reason we were practicing even before reaching Floor 45.

The Floor 45 boss, the Rainbow Basilisk, doesn’t appear until you complete the first mission—killing sixty basilisks of all types.

If you kill the boss, you’ve completed all missions on Floor 45.

And in that short, tiny instant between the mission success message and the exit message—

we have to peel the hide and stuff it into the backpack.

If you’re late, you don’t peel it.

That’s why Rajix was practicing like crazy.

We are absolutely peeling the Rainbow Basilisk hide.

Just looking at the sheen, you can already guess how expensive it’ll be.

Twice the price of normal hide—no, three times or more, maybe?

And the next day.

Floor 43, Iron-Jaw Basilisk.

Same process.

Then the next day.

Floor 44, Spiny-Scale Basilisk.

The hide had spines growing out of it, so it wasn’t just hard to peel—it was hard to process, too.

We only did the first S++ clear and passed.

Now, Floor 45.

We’re here.

We had to get two things at once.

The special privilege and the boss Rainbow Basilisk hide.

Getting the Platinum Badge wasn’t the issue.

We just do what we always do.

But obtaining the boss Rainbow Basilisk hide depended on Rajix.

We’d try on the first clear, and we’d try on the second clear.

If we succeeded, we’d get two hides today.

Rajix had practiced a lot. He’d do well.

[Floor 45 Mission: Kill 60 basilisks of any type and 1 Rainbow Basilisk.]

[Time Limit: Within 13 hours.]

[Completion Conditions: All types of basilisks 0/60, Rainbow Basilisk 0/1]

“Let’s go!”

The clear began.

First, the sixty basilisks.

Meatshield’s aggro, Cossack’s damage, Gyeon Dallae’s buffs.

I didn’t participate in the clear—I stayed glued to Rajix’s side.

Focus. Hyper-focus.

The kill count climbed fast.

We needed time for the boss, so we burned through the small fry as quickly as possible.

Rajix watched the battlefield with a fierce stare.

He looked fully resolved.

Right now, he’d left space in his backpack for the boss’s whole hide.

“SQUEAK!”

He’d peel it in time.

Peel it clean and shove it into the backpack.

“SQUEEEAK!”

In that moment—

Far off, licking its tongue as it walked on all fours, the Rainbow Basilisk, in dazzling colors.

BRRR—

Rajix’s round body trembled slightly.

Then he slowly began rolling in to approach.

ROLL, ROLL, ROLL.

Sometimes he’d stop and measure the distance.

Meatshield and Cossack were fighting hard too.

Killing the boss wasn’t difficult, but they were straining themselves to avoid damaging it.

“Get it! Damn it, you missed.”

“The hide is too smooth. It slips out.”

“Then grab the jaw, the jaw! Grab the lower jaw and upper jaw and pry it open. Stab the throat.”

“Got it.”

Even through all that, Rajix kept rolling toward the battlefield—

ROLL, ROLL.

And I followed behind him like an escort.

If I got too close, I’d get in the way.

I kept the right distance so I could spring in instantly.

Finally, the Rainbow Basilisk’s two jaws were seized in Meatshield’s hands.

Meatshield’s forearms and upper arms bulged.

“Ghhh!”

RIIIP!

Its mouth opened wide.

Rajix’s movement started speeding up.

Accelerating while approaching was way faster than starting from a standstill.

Cossack charged straight into the Rainbow Basilisk’s mouth that Meatshield had pried open.

He shoved in half his upper body.

“Die!”

ZIP!

SHNK!

A dagger loaded with blade aura punched through its palate and clean through to its brain.

“Killed it!!!”

[You have succeeded in the Floor 45 mission.]

That was when it happened.

Rajix accelerated violently.

He shot out like a bullet.

“SQUEEEEEEEEK!!!”

WHIIIP—

Like some blue hedgehog character from a game or anime.

THWAP!

In an instant, he reached the Rainbow Basilisk corpse—

SNIP, SHHK, SHHK!

He cut here and there, shoved his hands into the gap between sliced skin and hide—

“Eek!”

Then he rolled and yanked with blinding speed.

RRRIPPPPP!

A complete separation of inner skin and outer hide.

FLAP!

The Rainbow Basilisk hide flapped like a flag.

At the same time—

SSSSRRRRR—

The whole hide got sucked into the backpack.

It was a success.

Rajix planted both hands on his hips and wore a proud expression.

“SQUEAK!”

Rajix—your swagger is insane.

I threw an uppercut into the air and shouted.

“Rajix is the best! You did amazing!”

ROLL-ROLL—

Rajix ran in and hopped into my arms.

“SQUEEEEAK!”

The other summoned entities shouted and ran over too.

“Well done.”

“Amazing! Fantastic!”

“You did extremely well. The finest servant among servants.”

[Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S++ on Black Tower (Korea) Floor 45.]

[S++ Clear Reward: You are awarded a Platinum Badge.]

[You can challenge Floor 46.]

[Exiting Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

*****

It was a huge success.

We peeled the Rainbow Basilisk hide on the first clear.

All thanks to Rajix.

“Aww, you’re so cute I could die. Let’s suffer just one more time, Mr. Rajix.”

“SQUEEEAK....”

We went in for the re-clear.

The second time was easy.

No—starting now, everything would be easy.

Because we were repeating clears.

Because we wouldn’t be chased by time.

We finished the repeated clear, peeled one more Rainbow hide.

Next?

Now it was time to check the special privilege.

The moment I checked the forty-five Platinum Badges in my inventory, the special-privilege message would appear.

“...Should I do it tomorrow?”

“You can do that.”

“Tomorrow would be too late, right? It’s better to check right away.”

“You can do that.”

“No. Maybe I should do a ritual once—”

“You can do that.”

A jolt.

I glared hard at Cossack.

He flinched and looked away.

You know how nerve-wracking it is, and you’re still doing this?

Your reactions are a mess.

“Master Bong, even if what you want does not appear, what of it? That itself may become a blessing, and on the Floor 50 special privilege you may achieve great fortune.”

As expected of Gyeon Dallae.

She showed the textbook reaction.

If something good comes out, it’s good.

If something bad comes out, you can look forward to the next one, so it’s also good.

“Summoner, I don’t care what it is.”

“SQUEEEAK!”

Let’s check now.

I opened my inventory.

The dazzling glow of forty-five Platinum Badges filled my view.

[You are granted a special privilege for accumulating 45 Platinum Badges.]

What is it?

Please don’t tell me it’s another random box, roulette, that kind of thing.

Just give it to me.

Don’t mess with me—

[Special Privilege: 1 Multinational Tower Access Ticket (One-Time Use) has been granted to your inventory.]

...Huh.

“Is it good? Did something good appear? Trait enhancement, maybe?”

What even is this?!

“Ah, shit...”

[A Multinational Tower Access Ticket allows you to enter any Tower regardless of nationality. However, you cannot enter a floor above your level.]

What do I even do with this useless ticket?

I’d rather get Magic Stones.

I wasn’t even hoping for Trait enhancement.

If only a Summoned Entity Rank-Up Rune had come out, how nice would that have been?

“Ugh!”

Haah... I wanted to see SR Rajix.

I should’ve held a ritual before starting.

“Next Floor 50 special privilege, we absolutely do a ritual first.”

“Y-yes, I understand.”

“Since we got bad luck, next time it’ll definitely be good, right?”

“I believe it will be as you wish, Master. I will prepare with all my effort.”

Don’t be disappointed.

A junk car leaves, a Benz arrives.

There are plenty of chances.

No need to be disappointed.

“Let’s go eat! Let’s go eat!”

“Should I go outside and buy?”

“No. Delivery. And grab beer from the fridge.”

Cossack scratched his head.

“Alcohol during work is...”

“Absolute obedience?”

“One can only.”

“Let’s do two cans.”

“Yes!”

We ordered chicken, ordered pizza, hot dogs, tteokbokki, hot dogs, jokbal... and organic carrots and paprika.

We had a great time.

We just couldn’t laugh out loud together because of the neighbors upstairs and downstairs.

*****

And the next day.

I waited alone in the officetel for someone.

My inventory was stuffed full of basilisk hides to the limit.

Thirty total.

Twenty-eight normal basilisk hides, and two Rainbow Basilisk hides.

DING-DONG!

The doorbell rang.

I opened the door.

“Player Bong. Congratulations on your Floor 45 S++ clear.”

“Welcome. Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, you always start with congratulations.”

“Hahaha, of course. That’s the first thing I should say.”

And one more person came with Jeon Gwangil.

“It’s been a while, Player Bong Juhyeok. Congratulations from me too.”

“...Ah, y-yes, welcome. Um, Section Chief Lee Mina.”

Lee Mina, an Administration employee and also a Player.

I’d called them to hand over the hide stockpile I’d accumulated.

I pulled out whole hides from my inventory one by one.

A massive whole hide slid out of empty air—

“...Wow! There’s Long-Tail, and this one is Iron-Jaw.”

“Yes.”

When I pulled them out, Lee Mina put them into her own inventory.

Section Chief Lee Mina was a talented Player—she worked at the Administration, had cleared Floor 59, and was currently challenging Floor 60.

When she first met me, she was on Floor 55, but she’d cleared four more floors since then.

Because of that, her inventory space was larger than mine.

“Twenty-eight hides? That’s so many. How did you even...”

“No. There are two more.”

Lastly, a silvery hide slid out of my inventory.

“Ah!”

“M-my god!”

An exclamation burst out.

As the hide crumpled and unfolded, a blinding seven-colored rainbow poured out.

Section Chief Lee Mina lost her words.

Jeon Gwangil did too.

Am I really looking at this with my own eyes?

“...R-rainbow Basilisk?”

“Yeah. Sell this too.”

Honestly, it was absurd.

Who would’ve ever thought they’d see the Floor 45 boss Rainbow Basilisk’s whole hide in real life?

Well—by that logic, normal basilisk whole hides weren’t much different, but still.

Section Chief Lee Mina stared at the Rainbow hide with an entranced gaze.

It was unbelievably beautiful.

Crocodile leather was basically trash in comparison.

If I just tore off a tiny bit and made a wallet, that would be so nice.

What if this got released to the civilian market?

For example, what if someone made leather coats out of it?

Not only would it be beautiful, but more importantly, the functionality.

It would be a bulletproof vest all by itself.

Even bullets wouldn’t pierce it.

She couldn’t even begin to guess what the sale price would be.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────