The next morning.

Day two as a French national.

Today too, he would clear Black Tower (France) instead of Black Tower (Korea).

Juhyeok, like a proper Frenchman, poured himself a glass of wine, spread thick cheese over the baguette he’d bought yesterday, and took a bite.

‘...Hmph.’

His tongue felt rough.

It didn’t go down his throat well.

Wine in the morning was bad enough.

‘And what’s with this bread.’

A Korean Frenchman still ran on rice.

He ate properly, and now it was about time to get ready for the Tower.

SPOT!

The summoned entities appeared one by one.

“Everyone, bonjour!”

“Bonjour, sir.”

“Summoner, strong and powerful morning.”

“Master Bong, were you at peace through the night?”

“Kuul.”

“Huhhng?”

All right, everyone’s here.

Starting today, the real climb in Black Tower (France).

But there was one thing to settle first.

“How should we do entries? We get two per day.”

Yesterday’s two clears.

Floor 61 didn’t count as S++ because of the level gap, but Floor 62 did.

A Global Notice even went out.

So what about today?

Do he do S++ both times?

The moment Juhyeok asked, the summoned entities split into factions.

Start at Floor 67 and push up with S++ both entries every day—finish fast.

Or do one entry as an S++ clear, and the other as repeated exploration to pick up items—climb slowly but efficiently.

They clashed hard.

Cossack and Veronica were the speed faction, Gyeon Dallae and Rajix were the efficiency faction, and Meatshield stayed neutral.

The so-called Tower Song debate.

The pillar of the speed faction, Lord Cossack, insisted.

“Kabalan True Body—that bastard—putting the Copy up front as a puppet boss, while he hides and drops curses, sir.”

“You all know how furious Summoner Bong is, sir. From Floor 67, two floors a day—tomorrow we reach Floor 70, sir. We gotta catch him fast and let Summoner Bong feel relieved, sir.”

He wasn’t wrong.

No holes in the logic. As expected of Cossack.

The sage of the efficiency faction, Gyeon Dallae, countered.

“This is Black Tower (France). And a high floor at that. How many treasures must sleep within?”

“Runes and tickets are strategic items in all but name.”

“One entry as an S++ clear, the other as repeated exploration—if we gather items carefully as we climb to Floor 70, it will become a great strength to Master Bong.”

Wise and prudent.

The foremost shamaness of the Heavenly Empire. As expected of Gyeon Dallae.

Then the speed faction’s saint, Staff Sergeant Veronica, fired back.

“This is a war that has already begun. War is speed. We must climb quickly so he can’t pull anything else, and shove the muzzle straight into his mouth. That is correct tactics. CERTAIN VICTORY!”

The courage of a special-operations staff sergeant.

Her spirit was as bold as her chest. As expected of Veronica.

The efficiency faction’s cosmic farmhand, Rajix—

“Huhhng! Items! Huhhh—explore! Huhh...”

He wasn’t much help.

There were limits cuteness couldn’t overcome.

Even Meatshield, the neutral, spoke up.

“Speed is good, but if we climb two floors a day from Floor 67 and reach Floor 70, the summoner’s level will also be 70.”

“Then floors more than five levels below will not award Platinum Badges. For that reason, this warrior agrees with Gyeon Dallae’s opinion.”

A neutral rebellion.

If that’s the case, the scale tilts toward efficiency.

Does the speed faction get purged?

The speed faction’s pillar, Cossack, glanced around and shifted smoothly.

“...Um. Thinking about it, there’s no need to rush, sir. How long is our Summoner Bong supposed to wipe other countries’ asses, sir? It’s time each country # Nоvеlight # develops its own crisis-management ability, sir.”

Veronica moved just as fast.

“A commander who fails at supply is not forgiven. Advancing after securing sufficient supplies is correct.”

Right.

The objective of clearing Black Tower (France) wasn’t just one thing.

Track where Kabalan’s True Body was, and acquire Platinum Badges.

And Kabalan’s curse, too.

If countries freaked out and couldn’t get it together over a mere Floor 70 boss curse, what would they do on higher floors?

They had to overcome crises on their own.

So Black Tower (France), just like Black Tower (Korea)—the usual routine.

One entry as an S++ clear, the other as exploration.

“Let’s enter.”

[Entering Black Tower (France) Floor 63.]

A cave map with Dark Ghouls—he’d already been through this floor.

He’d even done repeated runs here a few times.

‘The Tower Exit Ring setting is...’

France, one of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations.

Since he’d become French, he’d intended to at least take in the smell of France.

‘Tourism later.’

The world was a mess.

Tourism was only fun when your mind was at ease.

Summon the holy sword too.

SPOT!

“Summoner! Return to the bosom of the Lord God Nigel!!! I, Lucius Bardin, shall guide—”

“Shh!”

Our holy sword sure talked a lot.

Meatshield, enlarged, grabbed Bardin by both ankles.

“Radiance.”

“Light!!!”

Fwoooosh! Bardin flared with light.

“I will initiate attribute absorption.”

Suuuuuck!

Veronica’s magic gun drank in the holy-attribute like a mosquito straw.

Clear start.

Meatshield swung Bardin around like a club and advanced.

It would end in an instant.

Besides Meatshield and Veronica, nobody even needed to participate.

“Light!!!”

WHAM! ZZZZT! CRACK!

The Dark Ghouls tore like paper.

Beaten by the holy sword, pierced by the holy-attribute magic gun.

“Huhhek!!!”

Rollrollroll! Rajix shot forward.

He went after items with eyes burning—

[Notice: You have achieved a Floor 63 Clear Rank of S++ in Black Tower (France).]

[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge will be bestowed.]

Done.

SPOT!

Back to Juhyeok’s penthouse. He’d rest a bit before the repeated run.

He could go right away, but the holy sword was tired.

The holy sword—Bardin—dangling from Meatshield’s hand while Meatshield was enlarged, with face and hair drenched in sweat.

‘Still, his expression looks alive.’

Of course.

Passing judgment upon undead was a holy knight’s calling.

You could even glimpse satisfaction on his face.

He definitely seemed to be enjoying it.

But then—

‘Huh?’

Cossack grabbed a towel and walked toward Bardin, then started wiping down Bardin’s face and armor with great care.

‘Oh...’

They’d gotten friendly that fast.

Well, he was a mad holy knight, but Bardin was still someone throwing his whole body into self-sacrifice in practice.

“Mr. Cossack.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Do you feel that bad for Mr. Bardin?”

“Haah.”

Cossack let out a deep sigh.

“That’s not it, sir. The light feels weaker, sir. The Bardin Holy Sword that worker Rajix repaired is so dazzling it can blind you, but our holy sword here shines less in comparison, sir.”

“...”

“So I thought if I polish him, maybe the light will get stronger, sir.”

Of course.

Cossack having compassion was impossible.

“Gotta wipe it, tighten it, oil it, and use it well, sir.”

He was genuinely polishing with devotion.

So much that the armor started gleaming.

“Our holy sword is absolutely needed when we beat the hell out of the Floor 70 Kabalan Copy, sir. We can’t do without him, sir. You know the holy sword’s original job, sir.”

A merciless, cruel heretic inquisitor.

Current grade: Super Rare (SR).

A job that identifies heretics—so he’d obviously have interrogation skills too.

“If we want to squeeze information out of Floor 70 Kabalan without killing him, we need Bardin’s skills, sir.”

Right.

They didn’t plan to clear Floor 70 in Black Tower (France).

They planned to keep him alive and interrogate him.

Even if it meant losing one badge.

As a Frenchman, he had to keep France’s situation in mind too.

Reaching Floor 70 was already a problem—if he cleared it too, he’d unlock Floor 71.

“Hm. Come to think of it, our holy sword is SR?”

“Unfortunate, sir. If he were SSR, his performance would be insane, sir.”

Naturally.

How could SR and SSR compare?

If he raised the grade, the light would flash brighter.

No need to “polish” anything.

‘Then I need a rune...’

Well, maybe it would come as a perk, or maybe Rajix—whose Search had been strengthened to LSSR—would find one more big fragment.

‘Should I raise our holy sword’s grade while I’m at it?’

He’d watch a little longer first.

Start with repeated missions.

And there was someone more determined than anyone.

“Huhhh...”

The cosmic farmhand aiming for item acquisition.

If he found even one rune fragment, it would be perfect.

And tomorrow, an event was scheduled.

One more badge would bring the cumulative total to 70.

That’s right.

Perk day.

*****

The Élysée Palace in France.

President Macheron was in his office, in a meeting with his aides.

France had become the world’s nuisance country.

Whatever the circumstances, Guillaume Loiret—who triggered Kabalan’s curse—had been a French Player.

There were excuses to be made.

There was no physical way to stop a Player from entering the Tower, and there was no way to know what was inside the Inventory.

Who could have predicted Player Guillaume would enter and use a Tower Jumping Ticket?

And reaching Floor 70.

Each nation’s tower climbing was decided by that nation’s government.

Any country would have been climbing Floor 70 eventually.

So what—France climbed a little early.

And nobody knew in advance the Floor 70 boss would be that kind of thing.

Sure, hiding the depression was wrong, but there were records showing he was advised not to climb for the time being because his condition wasn’t good.

Even so, condemnations poured in from every country.

Approval ratings fell.

Every day felt like walking on thin ice.

The biggest problem was Guillaume Loiret’s death.

Even with depression, he had been France’s top Player.

The clear time limit might be six months, but there wasn’t a single Player who could clear Floor 70 right now.

Not even in the entire world.

So what if France got selected by Kabalan’s curse under those conditions?

Wave one and wave two had excluded France, thankfully—but what about wave three?

President Macheron’s biggest worry:

No Player who could solve Floor 70.

Six months from now—maybe even sooner.

Tower Collapse was effectively guaranteed.

But then what was this?

The Global Notice that had rung out to French Players yesterday.

A Floor 62 S++ clear.

Why would this be in France?

This wasn’t Korea.

For what reason?

What was the cause?

The Élysée went on emergency footing.

And finally, they found it.

“Bong Juhyeok—approved for temporary naturalization for fifteen days at the request of the Korean ADMINISTRATION.”

Documents and a photo were placed on the desk.

“And he has long been suspected of being the true owner of the holy sword. Taken together, there is a very high possibility he is the one who recorded the S++ clear.”

President Macheron picked up the photo, examined it hard, and said—

“But the face is different. From the ones who appeared in the hotel terror incident.”

“Could it be an item that can change appearance?”

“...Hmm.”

Either way, that wasn’t the important part.

What mattered was that he was French right now.

“Can we make Bong Juhyeok settle in France permanently?”

“...That depends on the Player’s will.”

“If we don’t cancel the nationality on paper?”

“There will be severe backlash. Korea might declare war immediately.”

Was war even the problem?

The Black Tower was about to collapse.

“What is Korea’s ADMINISTRATION saying?”

“We asked if he was the S++ clear recorder, but they denied it absolutely. And they said he won’t clear Floor 70, so we can rest easy...”

Ridiculous.

They all knew.

Either way, desire bloomed.

‘We might be able to capture Bong Juhyeok’s heart.’

In the past, it had happened often.

When a Player was recruited short-term through temporary naturalization, those Players usually visited the country in person.

Because the reception was overwhelming.

Naturally.

He was a savior who came to help clear that country’s Tower.

They’d lavish them until they lost their senses, drown them in pleasure and indulgence, and then casually suggest it.

Naturalize permanently.

Move the nationality completely.

Betray like that. Backstab. Take.

Of course, if the gap in national power was too great, nobody dared.

‘Korea...’

Maybe not America or China, but Korea was something they could handle.

Right then—

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Smartphone notifications rang inside the president’s office in the Élysée.

“It’s up.”

“...What is?”

“An S++ clear record for Black Tower (France), Floor 63.”

President Macheron decided.

“Contact the Embassy of France in Korea. Attempt to approach Player Bong Juhyeok.”

It was a chance to save France, now in crisis.

*****

News of S++ clears in Black Tower (France) spread worldwide.

Of course, Korea found out too.

Even the public began to grow uneasy.

After the UAE, now France too?

And with the World Notice, the risk of Tower collapse was growing day by day.

Jeon Gwangil’s worries piled up like a mountain.

He believed Bong Juhyeok, but anxiety was unavoidable.

“This feels like getting dumped.”

“Don’t worry. Love always comes back.”

It was temporary naturalization with a deadline.

As long as Player Bong Juhyeok’s will stayed firm, there was no risk of losing him.

And there was a gift for him as well.

Soon, Minister Majed from Saudi Arabia’s tower climbing management department would crawl over in person, bringing a Trait Enhancement Rune.

And the holy sword rental was supposed to be done by a level 62 Player.

So assuming he cleared up to Floor 67, that was a holy sword rental fee of 50 million dollars plus a Trait Enhancement Rune.

No matter what, Player Bong Juhyeok would never permanently naturalize.

That said, among the first-wave ten countries, there was still one country completely lost.

A country with the shortest remaining collapse time limit.

“Japan is helpless. Looks like America’s turned its back too.”

“The late 50s are an awkward zone.”

“If they ask us for help?”

“Well, on humanitarian grounds, we could temporarily naturalize one of our ELITE TOWER CLIMBING TEAM Players to Japan.” 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“Team Leader Lee Mina?”

“Yes.”

Team Leader Lee Mina was an ADMINISTRATION team leader and a Player.

Her level was 61.

Not long ago, she successfully cleared Floor 60.

“Of course, there needs to be a price.”

“Right. Negotiations with Japan aren’t only about money.”

If they cleared it for them, there was a lot to extract.

For one—there was the recent incident where Japan demanded forced equity transfers from Korean companies.

Japan’s most popular social-media platform was actually made by a Korean company.

The platform’s ownership was split 50–50 between a Korean company and a Japanese company.

But the Japanese government had demanded that the Korean portal-service company hand over its shares by force.

Bastards with no business ethics.

What right did they have to tell a Korean company to hand over its shares?

If Japan requested temporary naturalization, they planned to press that issue first.

“But we still haven’t heard from them. I heard they can’t handle the clear time limits shrinking.”

“They’ll call. If America won’t, where else can they reach out but here?”

“I don’t know. I think Japan is about to make a wrong choice.”

Park Kyungsoo tilted his head.

“What choice?”

“The Kawaguchi cabinet’s approval ratings have dropped a lot. The right-wing base is barely holding them up, but in a time like this, asking Korea for help? If they do that...”

“It’ll fall even further.”

“Yes. They might be prepared to accept collapse. They might even think that’s better.”

Park Kyungsoo agreed with Jeon Gwangil.

In some ways, Japan was a crazier country than China.

*****

In truth, Japan was in a desperate crisis.

Collapse was right in front of them.

Japan’s Black Tower, west of Mount Fuji.

Global Notices were ringing out to Players of Japanese nationality.

[Notice: Japan Black Tower climbing is sluggish.]

[Notice: Collapse Countdown is active.]

[Notice: If you succeed in climbing an uncleared upper floor, the countdown will stop.]

And—

[Notice: Time remaining until Tower Collapse: 23:59:59.]

Japan had only one day left.

A tragedy was unfolding.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────