Lucius Bardin.

I thought he was a holy knight, but he was basically a holy sword from heaven.

It was ridiculous.

No, you like being grabbed and swung that much?

Still, it was spectacular.

Bardin, the human holy sword, getting both ankles grabbed by giant Meatshield, shouting “Light!” while sweeping up undead with his whole body.

It really was efficient.

The reach got longer, the full-body spiked armor had plenty of destructive power on its own, and on top of that you had the flail’s secondary hit.

Is he a pervert, or just an efficiency freak taken to the extreme?

Either way, Bardin was an important piece of the team’s power, so we held a badge-awarding ceremony on the spot to commemorate it.

“Because you have greatly contributed to the Tower clear by fearlessly throwing your entire body into the fight with a noble spirit of self-sacrifice, we hereby bestow this badge upon you.”

I pinned the badge to his underwear under the armor.

“My lord! Only give the order. I am my sovereign’s sword.”

Bardin was moved to tears, his eyes shimmering.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. What’s so great about living as a human holy sword?

“Anyway, tonight’s a team dinner. We’re raiding the fridge.”

“Yes, sir!”

I’d summoned Bardin a long time ago, but he was basically a new family member.

We needed to build some camaraderie, too.

‘One of these days, I should catch Mad Demon and do it together.’

The Black Tower (France) clears continued.

The promised temporary naturalization period was 15 days.

Let’s resolve it fast and recover my original nationality.

And so, Day 5 as a French national.

Floor 66 Specter.

Cleared at S++ without a hitch.

Day 6 as a French national.

Floor 67 Phantom Reaper.

An undead monster I was seeing for the first time.

Well, it had the peculiarity of using a long-range dark aura.

“Light!!!”

What’s hard about that?

At least Specters are big.

Cleared at S++ without a hitch.

My level went up, too.

Day 7 as a French national.

Floor 68.

I’d finally made it this far.

A floor where the clear was “completed” with a Tower Jumping Ticket, but no Player had been able to clear it in any real sense.

According to Cossack,

Floor 67 was the last floor you could climb with the holy sword before it was repaired, when the durability was lacking.

From Floor 68 onward, he said it got hard.

Because the Death Knight appeared.

Death Knight.

Just hearing the name, it didn’t sound ordinary.

Of course Dullahan was a knight, too, but it didn’t have a head.

A Death Knight, on the other hand, had its head attached nice and proper.

[Floor 68 Mission: Kill 4 Dark Death Knights.]

[Time Limit: Within 15 hours.]

“Four? That’s a huge drop.”

“Which means each one’s a nightmare, sir.”

Right.

You don’t relax just because the required number went down.

If there aren’t many of them, that means they’re that strong.

Soon, four Death Knights appeared at once.

In front of us, keeping distance from each other.

“Look at that armor, sir. Even if you punch through the dark aura, it’ll be hard to land effective hits because of the raw defense.”

“...Mm.”

And black flames rising off their whole bodies.

The densest dark aura I’d encountered so far.

“The swordsmanship skills aren’t a joke, either. That’s why they’re tricky for close-range Players. Though, it’s not like it’s easy even at range.”

Honestly, I’m a little scared.

Pitch-black armor, bodies as big as Meatshield’s, gigantic greatswords, beastlike gleaming eyes.

Compared to that, what am I?

Ah. The timidness of a weak man I can’t possibly overcome.

At least inside the Tower, I wanted to be an alpha male, but the Death Knights are blocking me.

“...Can you step on Death Knights?”

“Yes, sir!”

“You said it was hard?”

“That applies to ordinary Players, sir.”

“Hah... I was thinking it was about time to show my Blood Jade Steel Aura in real combat.”

Cossack flinched, startled.

“Oh! Summoner Bong, you can just stay still, sir. If you personally step in against some scraps of armor like that, your dignity gets damaged, sir.”

“T-That so? I’m an alpha male by nature, so my urge to step in is like a chimney on fire.”

“Of course, sir. You think I don’t know Summoner Bong is an alpha male, sir? But hold back, sir. Hehehehe.”

Not to be outdone—

“Master Bong, please safeguard your precious body. Such base brawling is the servants’ share.”

“Hoeeeh!”

“Summoner, rest. I’ll do it all.”

If that’s how it is, I can’t help it. What a shame.

I wanted to show off Blood Jade Steel Aura once.

Right then!

“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber!”

“Yes?”

“Leave this operation to me. I will finish the Death Knights in one stroke.”

“Hm.”

As expected of Veronica.

A sharp glint in her eyes.

I could feel the confidence overflowing as much as her chest.

“Yes! I’m counting on you, Staff Sergeant Veronica.”

“CERTAIN VICTORY!”

Veronica thought her chance had come.

A moment where she could meet the Commander’s expectations.

She was a veteran sniper from the northern ranger unit of the Magic Empire.

The ranger unit was the most elite force even within the empire.

But after joining the new Commander’s team, she’d never had a chance to show the true power of a proper sniper.

Just backup roles, or monster pulling.

She endured, waiting.

Waiting for the moment to show the real skill of a Magic Empire ranger sniper.

And that moment was now.

The formation was set.

Veronica in the center, Rajix on the right, Bardin Holy Sword on the left.

Prone firing posture.

First—

“Light!!!”

Fwoooosh! A blaze of brilliant Radiance.

“Executing attribute absorption.”

She aimed at the same time.

A magic gun that, after being promoted to SSR, even had a guidance function installed.

Staff Sergeant Veronica’s magic gun, after absorbing Bardin’s holy-attribute, heated up with blazing Radiance.

ZZZZT!

ZZZZT! CRACK!

“Wow.”

It felt like watching a spaceship fire a super-photon cannon.

And matching that power, the recoil was insane.

Bounce!

The instant she fired, even Veronica’s body in her full-body tights shook.

‘Hm.’

‘Mm.’

‘Khm.’

The heavy round pierced straight through the Death Knight’s dark aura and struck dead center in its chest.

A heavy round that could knock down buildings.

Stuffed full of holy energy through attribute absorption.

With this single shot, it consumed every Magic ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Stone that had been loaded.

Back when Veronica, in her living days, had been deployed to defend the northern fortress—

Heavy rounds were used only for one-shot kills meant to take down gigantic monsters.

For example, a super-giant monster like Jormungand.

But she couldn’t use them freely.

The Magic Stone consumption was too enormous.

But now was different.

Supply Officer Rajix’s endless Magic Stone supply.

So what happened?

BAAANG! The Death Knight just exploded.

It scattered to pieces along with its armor.

You can’t hold back here.

Juhyeok praised her.

“Ap—applause!”

CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!

One down.

“Light!!!”

“WAAH!”

Bardin emitted Radiance to recharge the attribute.

Rajix opened the Subspace Backpack and stuffed the magic gun full of Magic Stones.

Another shot.

ZZZZT! CRACK!

Bounce!

‘Hm.’

‘Mm.’

‘Khm.’

After being promoted to SSR, the number of heavy rounds Staff Sergeant Veronica could fire was three total.

ZZZZT! CRACK!

Bounce!

Three heavy-round shots, three bounces, three hits.

And the last one?

“Light!!!”

WHAMWHAMWHAMWHAM!

It got threshed by the flail.

[Notice: You have achieved a Floor 68 Clear Rank of S++ in Black Tower (France).]

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

There was no hesitation.

How lucky it was to have a proper ranged attacker.

Juhyeok couldn’t help but admire it.

“Dead-eye Staff Sergeant Veronica!”

Even Cossack—

“Bouncy-bouncy Staff Sergeant Veronica!”

The other summoned entities, too.

“Reliable. Sniper.”

“Truly the very model of a heroic woman.”

“Light!!!”

“WAAH!”

With her chin lifted, the magic gun slung over her shoulder, and one leg cocked at a slant, Veronica’s pose was nothing short of art.

*****

Kabalan’s second curse and the Tower Collapse in Japan.

Countries couldn’t help but stay on edge.

Saudi Arabia was in an especially urgent situation.

King Ibn bin Alwahid of Saudi Arabia came on a U.S. news channel in person to issue an apology statement.

The damage to the holy sword was a disaster brought about by Player Nasser’s foolish act. Our Saudi government also bears responsibility for this wrongdoing. We send our heartfelt apologies to the holy sword’s true owner in Korea. We promise to prevent recurrence and provide sufficient compensation...

Right after the apology broadcast, Minister Majed visited the TOWER PLAYER AWAKENING ADMINISTRATION with a Saudi Player.

“I’m sorry. We were foolish. I apologize sincerely once again. And this...”

Slide.

Majed held out a lavishly decorated jewelry case to Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwangil.

It looked like a bribe if you didn’t know better.

“You didn’t have to go this far.”

Jeon Gwangil opened the case.

Inside was a single small stone with letters engraved on it.

“Team Leader Lee Mina?”

“Yes.”

She checked the item information.

Lee Mina nodded.

A signal that it really was a Trait Enhancement Rune.

Yeah. This is how you apologize. That’s Saudi for you.

“Alright. I’ll pass it along.”

“Then the holy sword...”

“Start the rental right away.”

“Th-Thank you.”

The one who would climb wasn’t Nasser, but Nasser’s backup Player—the next Saudi Player, Akram.

Akram was only Level 62.

If Akram wanted to start at Floor 62 and clear up through Floor 67, there wasn’t time to waste.

That was why the rental fee was 50 million dollars.

Seriously, is this real life?

Magic Stones were impacting the energy industry, sure, but oil was still worth a fortune.

The king of Saudi Arabia—the world’s top oil-producing country—was apologizing, and the minister was offering up a Trait Enhancement Rune.

Even Jeon Gwangil couldn’t help his shoulders lifting.

‘If it’s a Trait Enhancement Rune plus a fifty-million-dollar rental fee...’

Bong Player’s permanent naturalization would not happen.

It couldn’t.

*****

Saudi Arabia started clearing again.

And the countries selected for the second wave also rushed into Tower climbing.

A Tower Collapse could not happen.

After witnessing Japan’s Tower Collapse and regeneration site, countries were desperate.

If we collapse, too?

If a regenerated Tower gets erected in the center of a city?

Because it was something that could absolutely happen in reality, not just hypothetically, the anxiety only intensified.

But the curse still wasn’t over.

Things you desperately hope won’t happen always end up happening.

Another World Notice rose.

[World Notice: You still have not reached an average floor of 70. Tower-climbing laggard countries must strive harder.]

[World Notice: We will select 30 countries for the third wave. The selection method is random.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (Republic of Korea) is gradually decreasing.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (China) is gradually decreasing.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (Mexico) is gradually decreasing.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (Nigeria) is gradually decreasing.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (Japan) is gradually decreasing.]

[World Notice: The clear time limit for Black Tower (France) is gradually decreasing.]

.

.

.

Kabalan’s third curse.

The selected countries were losing their minds.

Some countries had been selected in the first and second waves, barely managed to clear, and then got hit again as third-wave targets.

Mostly countries below Floor 60.

The Japanese archipelago fell back into despair.

If it collapses again, Tokyo might vanish.

On the other hand, even the highest-floor country—

France, which had unsealed Kabalan—also got caught in the curse.

The curse that demanded a clear of Floor 70.

*****

China went on emergency footing.

It was included in the third curse.

The Black Tower floor China had to clear was Floor 60.

A floor known to be harder than Floor 61, with a Wyvern Lord and Venom Wyverns.

But China’s top Player’s level was only 58.

Even Floor 59 had been cleared through temporary naturalization by a Russian Player.

And even after buying that time, China’s Players still hadn’t gotten past Floor 59.

This time, it looked like they’d have to lean on Russian Player temporary naturalization again.

The new chairman, Wang Yuan, convened a Standing Committee meeting.

After Chairman Lin Chaoming died of acute cerebral infarction, Wang Yuan had inherited the regime.

That transfer of power was practically scheduled.

He’d even been nicknamed Lin Chaoming’s adopted son.

“Let’s clear Floor 60.”

“...Are you planning to dispatch another special envoy to Russia again?”

“I won’t. They’ll demand land or border resets again. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze.”

“Then where will we seek temporary naturalization... don’t tell me Korea?”

“Hah! Bow our heads to some tiny country like that?”

Then what method?

Wang Yuan wore a salty smile.

“There will be no temporary naturalization.”

“Then how?”

“How did France climb all the way to Floor 70?”

“Well... ah!”

“Tower Jumping Tickets. They can skip up to 5 floors. Our China has secured four of them as well.”

Early in Tower climbing—back when items were pouring out—Tower Jumping Tickets had been distributed in fairly large quantities to each country.

They weren’t hard to obtain.

They were far cheaper than the price of temporary naturalization.

“People say Floor 61 is actually easier than Floor 60. They say you can get through with just holy-attribute items...”

Wang Yuan let the silence hang for a moment, then continued.

“I plan to select three among our Chinese Players who are judged to have at least some talent.”

Tower Jumping Tickets raised level along with the jump.

“With three tickets, China will have three Level 61 Players.”

Murmur, murmur.

The Standing Committee members’ faces lit up.

“If things get tight, we just pressure the Korean government and rent the holy sword. It’s only ten million dollars.”

Right. That method existed.

“There will never be a Tower Collapse in China. I will make sure of it.”

Confidence overflowed across Wang Yuan’s face.

*****

Minister MacMillan, Director Antonio, and Player Gerald were still staying at the Seoul hotel.

They couldn’t even reach Bong Juhyeok, and in the middle of that, another World Notice had appeared.

The White House had also called.

Until the curse ended—or until the undead section was broken through—it would be better to keep staying in Korea.

It wasn’t just America.

Every country trying to clear the undead section squatted in Korea.

“This is insane. A third curse? This time it’s thirty countries.”

“China, with three Towers, worries me.”

“China—do you know what’s funny?”

“How would I know? Out of nowhere.”

MacMillan smiled as if it amused him.

“A little while ago, I got a call from the CIA director. China’s buying up Tower Jumping Tickets.”

“What?”

Antonio’s face turned incredulous.

Tower Jumping Tickets?

“Don’t tell me they’re clearing with those?”

In a way, it did seem better than temporary naturalization.

“It’s like baseball. Intentionally walking the slugger and taking your chances with the next batter.”

“So they’ll reach Floor 61.”

But these were China’s Players who hadn’t even cleared Floor 59.

“They must think Floor 61 is easy.”

“Well, if they rent the holy sword, they’ll probably manage somehow.”

“...Rent the holy sword to Players who boosted their levels by jumping? Has the Korean government lost its mind? I’ll oppose it before that happens.”

“Keep the order. I’ll oppose it first.”

Lending the holy sword to Players who raised their level through a loophole.

Not a chance.

He’d make sure they couldn’t even enter Korea.

At least until America’s clears were finished.

MacMillan vowed it.

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