Fourteen consecutive S++ clears.

The rank is impressive, sure—but it’s also shocking that he ran nonstop for fourteen straight days without taking a single day off.

Normally, daily consecutive clears are extremely difficult because of mental fatigue and injuries taken inside the tower.

Especially once you get past Floor 10.

And then there are injuries.

What happens when a Player gets hurt in the tower?

It applies to the real world exactly as-is. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

That’s why you need Tower-Only Healing Potions.

You don’t have to drink them only inside the tower.

You can drink them outside, too.

“Tower-only” means they can only heal wounds suffered in the tower.

Internal injuries, external injuries, poisoning... every status ailment you suffer while doing a mission gets treated.

On the other hand, they have no effect at all on injuries or illnesses acquired outside the tower.

If they did, their value would be insane.

Juhyeok has five Healing Potions he got as mission rewards.

But he hasn’t even taken them out of his Tower-Only Inventory.

He never needed to.

“I still need to cash out the Magic Stones...”

He sold the 5.5 kg he got up through Floor 10.

“After I clear through Floor 15...”

Selling Magic Stones is simple.

You call, and the assigned staff member comes to collect them.

“No—before that, I should stop by the Administration once.”

He’d been charging in with zero gear this whole time.

He should at least put on some simple combat clothing first.

The Administration has a professional Player Shop for Players.

Sometime, it might be good to make time and go shopping.

Anyway, let’s clear Floor 15.

Juhyeok Designated Summoned John Cossack.

He was annoying because he never listened, but he still gave him a 5-star Satisfaction Rating.

[John Cossack has been Designated Summoned.]

“Yes!”

“You’ve been well?”

“Even though I committed the grave crime of insubordination and rebellion against your orders, you still give me a perfect 5 points every time. I do not know where to put myself.”

“I understand. You couldn’t help it.”

“Yes. I am only sorry. A person like me deserves to die twice over.”

So he did know he’d done wrong.

“From Floor 15 onward, I’m not going to tell you to go slow anymore. Clear comfortably.”

“...Yes? I-it is fine for me to do that?”

“Don’t worry about it. Nothing’s going to change anyway.”

“I will do my best.”

Since it was already blown, what was the point of hiding?

And there was one more reason he was doing this.

If he recorded an S++ clear on Floor 15 too, he’d have fifteen Platinum Badges.

There was a high chance another perk would drop.

A Trait Enhancement perk at 5 badges, a skill-copy perk at 10—what about 15?

He wanted it.

If perks stacked up, he could be safer...

“B-but, Summoner Bong. I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“From Floor 16, it gets a little ambiguous.”

“Does it get much harder?”

“Clearing itself is easy. But achieving S++ may be difficult... S+ is possible.”

Meaning S++ might be hard, but S+ was doable.

“Do you get a Platinum Badge at S+?”

“You do not. The badge is only a reward for the highest record. If it is not S++, there is no chance.”

“I see.”

That’s fine.

He was planning to clear through Floor 15, then take a few days off anyway.

He needed rest.

All this time, Cossack did everything, so he’d forgotten how dangerous the tower really was.

Don’t get careless.

If you lose your beginner’s mindset, you’re screwed.

Strict self-preservation.

If you live bold and aggressive, you won’t live to old age.

Slow and relaxed—

With a perfectly prepared clear.

Floor 16 is ambiguous?

You might not get a Platinum Badge?

“That can’t happen.”

At minimum, he needed Platinum Badges through Floor 20.

There was nothing wrong with being greedy when it was greed for safety.

Juhyeok had a plan, too.

He would maximize the perks.

First.

The perk he got from his first 5 badges.

Trait Enhancement—Simultaneous Summons: 2.

This was the core of the plan.

The cooldown still had about two weeks left, so he’d wait until then.

Second.

The perk he got at 10 badges.

Shadow Step, the skill he copied from Cossack.

He needed to train it by using it repeatedly.

Third.

The perk he’d soon receive at 15 badges for clearing Floor 15.

Well—he hoped something good came out.

Last.

Stop by the Player Shop and get some basic combat gear.

He was basically bare-handed.

Then he could start Floor 16.

Safety, and more safety.

You have to live within your means.

That was how a weak man lived.

“First, Floor 15.”

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 15.]

Floors 15 through 20 were goblin-worker extermination.

The point where green-skinned humanoid monsters began to appear.

Floor 15 was Goblin Workers, so their combat power wasn’t that high.

The real stuff started on Floor 16.

Floor 16: Goblin Scouts that shoot poison needles.

Floor 17: Goblin Warriors holding shields and swords.

Floor 18: Goblin Assassins that hide with Stealth.

Floor 19: Goblin Shamans that torment Players with bizarre sorcery.

And Floor 20: every goblin type seen so far, plus the leader—a Hobgoblin.

In this stretch, countless Players die or take severe injuries.

You need talent to pass this segment and push into the twenties.

Even with plenty of information, it’s annoying to clear.

Goblins have intelligence.

And they’re extremely crafty.

Anyway, let’s begin.

With a tense expression, Cossack whispered to Juhyeok.

“Stay close and follow. You must not fall too far behind.”

The environment on Floor 15 was a dark forest.

As they moved deeper, the mission popped.

[Floor 15 Mission: Defeat 20 Goblin Workers.]

And at the same time, the targets came into view.

CHOP-CHOP-CHOP-CHOP!

Goblin Workers were hacking at trees with small hand axes.

Five of them.

Cossack whispered quietly.

“We must kill them in one burst. If we hesitate, they will run. If even one escapes, it will bring the others.”

“Then I’ll—”

Juhyeok pulled out the kitchen knife he’d brought on his belt.

“Hm? Put that ugly thing away. If you are careless, you will cut your hand.”

Juhyeok shoved it back in quickly.

“...R-right. It’s better not to, right?”

“Yes! But if something happens, be ready to cast Shadow Step.”

SSSHK.

Cossack’s body faded.

He started blending into the surroundings.

“So that’s Stealth.”

It would be nice to learn that too.

Step. Step.

Cossack approached one goblin—swinging its axe like crazy—with a dagger in hand and—

SLASH!

He cleanly cut its throat.

The Goblin Worker couldn’t even scream.

Blood poured from its neck.

This time, he took two at once—

SLASH! SLASH!

Only then did the remaining goblins realize what was happening.

“Grrk?”

“Kkek?”

They threw down their axes and scattered in different directions, but it was already too late.

He stabbed one in the chest, bursting its heart.

“KRAHK!”

And the last goblin—using its short legs to flee desperately—

FWHOOSH!

A dagger tore through the air—

“KIK!”

THUNK!

—and lodged in the back of its head.

“...Wow.”

Five of them vanished in an instant.

“Moving.”

“Hm. Goblin heads don’t get ribbon bows, huh?”

“I also choose time and place. And ribbons are only for humans.”

“Okay! Let’s go!”

“Hehehe. Thank you for the support. I will work even harder.”

The clear was easy.

They were the weakest among the goblin species—Workers.

It would be different for a combat-class Player, but still.

It took longer than before.

About ten minutes to kill twenty.

Even so—

[You have cleared the Floor 15 Mission.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Reward: Magic Stone 1.5 kg]

[Reward: Tower-Only Healing Potion (5)]

“Oh! Five more Healing Potions.”

Ten total in his inventory.

[Notice: You have achieved Clear Rank S++ on Floor 15 of Black Tower (Korea).]

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

[You can challenge Floor 16.]

[Exiting Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

He did it.

Fifteen consecutive S++ clears.

Fifteen Platinum Badges.

“Good work.”

“What work? I didn’t do anything.”

“Remaining safely beside me is also a great feat.”

“Hahaha.”

He felt awkward.

“Today, let’s eat pizza. Eat, then rest while watching TV.”

“Yes!”

Time to check rewards.

First, Magic Stones.

Right now, his Tower-Only Inventory held 6.5 kg of Magic Stones earned from Floors 11 through 15.

If he had the Administration sell those too, that was 3.25 million won.

“Yeah. With this, there’s no way I can stop climbing.”

In just fifteen days, he’d earned more money than two months of wages from two part-time jobs.

No wonder people called Awakening a blessing.

If he made it to Floor 20 without trouble?

Just the daily Magic Stone rewards would be 2 kg.

If the Administration sold them for him, that was 1 million won a day.

No commissions, no taxes.

Daily pay of 100.

A life of 30 million won a month.

In other words, absurdly sweet.

Safe tower climbing.

Reliable, steady rewards.

Stopping Tower Collapse was the job of talented elite teams anyway.

But Team Leader Jeon called him several times a day.

Swearing he wouldn’t force him—trying to lure him into putting his name on the ELITE TOWER CLIMBING TEAM “just on paper” so he could take the benefits.

It was unbelievably annoying.

Not a chance.

There was no such thing as free in this world.

It was obvious he’d get roped in.

Of course, as a ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) citizen of the Republic of Korea, it wasn’t like he had zero desire to climb uncleared floors and reduce the threat of Tower Collapse.

But he was only on Floor 15.

He was still far away.

Leave it to the heavily supported elite teams pushing Floor 66.

Now—time to check the reward he’d been waiting for.

The perk granted every 5 Platinum Badges.

What would it be?

[You will be granted a perk for accumulating 15 Platinum Badges.]

[Perk: Item Energy Barrier Kit has been granted to your Tower-Only Inventory.]

“Energy barrier?”

What is that?

When he took it out of his inventory—

It was a plain metal bracelet with no decoration.

He put it on his wrist, and it fit perfectly.

<Energy Barrier Kit>

Effect: Protects the user with a barrier that absorbs damage.

Limit: After absorbing a certain amount of damage, the barrier disappears. To use it again, 5 hours must pass.

Feature: Barrier effectiveness is adjusted to match the user’s level.

No way.

How could something be this good?

The exact thing he needed most.

It really was worth collecting badges.

And that wasn’t all.

It was an item with no modifier.

There was a rule with tower items.

If a modifier like “Tower-only” is attached, it can only be used in relation to the tower.

If there’s no modifier attached, it can be used in the real world too.

For example, Tower-Only Healing Potions only work on wounds suffered in the tower.

On the other hand, Magic Stones have no “Tower-only” modifier, so they can be used in the real world.

“Then this, too?”

Juhyeok murmured cautiously.

“Energy barrier.”

In the next instant—

VMMMMM!

A transparent film of energy wrapped around Juhyeok’s entire body.

“...Hahaha.”

It worked.

He’d received an absurdly valuable treasure as a perk.

If he sold this on the market, how much would he get?

1 billion? 2 billion? 3 billion?

“Should I sell it right now and quit tower climbing on the spot?”

No.

He’d use it until it became burdensome—and when that moment came, it still wouldn’t be too late to sell.

“I should rest now.”

Put climbing on hold for a while.

During that time, he could just repeat-clear Floor 15.

Juhyeok truly rested.

Until the Random Summon cooldown came back.

Only repeating Floor 15 clears.

And fifteen days passed like that.

So for fifteen days, the system-wide notice for S++ clears didn’t chime even once.

※ ※ ※

Seoul, Hannam-dong—Tower Player Awakening Administration.

With a grim expression, Commissioner Park Kyungsoo was talking with Team Leader Jeon Gwangil.

“It’s already been fifteen days, right?”

“...Yes.”

Fifteen days since the system-wide notice stopped chiming—after Floor 15 as the last S++ clear.

“What’s the reason? Why isn’t he clearing Floor 16? ...Did he already clear it, but fail to record an S++?”

Tower difficulty isn’t consistent.

Sometimes a brutal segment appears out of nowhere.

The Floor 66 currently being challenged in the Republic of Korea was like that.

Two months had passed, and they still couldn’t find the thread.

Floor 16 could be a similar segment.

The gap between a Floor 15 Goblin Worker and a Floor 16 Goblin Scout was like a wall you couldn’t climb.

“That’s not it. A few days ago, I casually asked Player Bong, and he hasn’t even entered Floor 16 yet. He said he’s not prepared...”

“Prepared for what?”

“I couldn’t get details. He only said he’s repeating Floor 15.”

“Ha. Repeating Floor 15... he isn’t planning to park on Floor 15 forever, is he?”

“Well... I don’t know.”

It was entirely possible.

Even if he only played on Floor 15, he’d have no problem eating and living.

The worry kept growing.

If he were a normal Player, there’d be no worry.

You’d just assume he quit climbing, cancel the contract, and that would be that.

But Bong Juhyeok was different.

Wasn’t he the record-holder for fifteen consecutive S++ clears?

With that ridiculous talent, to settle down on Floor 15...

“Ugh. This is disappointing. Even the heavens are heartless—giving talent like that to a Player with such a timid personality...”

That was when it happened.

BZZZT.

A vibration buzzed from Jeon’s smartphone.

“...Huh?”

“What is it?”

“A message came in. From Player Bong Juhyeok.”

“W-what does it say?”

“He says he’s coming to the Administration. He wants to use the Player Shop.”

All of a sudden?

The Player Shop...

“...Player Shop? Ah—d-don’t tell me?”

A thought flashed through his head.

“Team Leader Jeon. Player Bong Juhyeok—he hasn’t used the shop even once, has he?”

“That seems to be the case. Even when we went to confirm his Awakening, he was bare-handed.”

“Haa. So that ‘preparation’ was actually him trying to buy clearing gear.”

“Yes. Equipment is expensive, so he was probably repeating Floor 15 to gather money.”

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo’s face burned hot.

“How can I be this stupid!”

It was embarrassing.

He was about to complain and criticize him without even considering what kind of situation the Player was in.

Why aren’t the notices chiming? Did he quit climbing? Such a waste of talent. He’s timid.

All he did was whine—without once thinking about the reality of how Bong Juhyeok was clearing the tower.

“When Player Bong arrives, support whatever item he wants at a dirt-cheap price. No—just give it to him for free.”

“Yes! Understood.”

You just need to regret your mistake.

Before it’s too late.

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