The Japan sightseeing trip was set.

Before leaving, Bong Juhyeok stopped by his family home.

“What, nobody’s here?”

His father, Bong Suchul, looked at him with a sulky expression.

“Am I not a person?”

“That’s not what I meant...”

“Your mom went to a gathering, and Minhyuk went to school.”

Fine. Having only his father here was enough.

He just needed to hand over the Healing Potion and go.

“Take this.”

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It’s called a Healing Potion... Keep it as a household medicine. If your hip still hasn’t healed, drink it right away.”

Bong Suchul tilted his head.

A Healing Potion was something he’d heard of too.

“Son, are you messing with me because I’m not a Player? That only heals injuries you get inside the Tower.”

“This one’s different from a Tower-Only Healing Potion. It works on wounds you get outside too.”

“Really?”

“If you’re skeptical, you can cut your finger a little with a knife—”

“Yeah? Give me your hand. We’ll test it right now.”

“...My finger?”

“Then should I chop my finger off?”

Chop a finger off?

ZZZIIING!

Before he knew it, the energy barrier activated.

“Anyway, I’m busy, so I’ll get going.”

He’d delivered the Healing Potion, and there was still a lot to do.

Getting to Tokyo was simple.

No passport. No flight reservation.

Still, there were things to prep.

International roaming, exchanging yen, a change of clothes... the usual.

So the trip would be tomorrow afternoon, with Mad Demon coming along too.

If he went to Japan, he should at least drink some sake.

With a drinking buddy who actually fit his vibe.

*****

That night.

Using the cover of darkness, Japan Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Matsumoto Junichi advanced on Tokyo with an escort unit.

Fifty mobile armored vehicles prepared in advance. Twenty tanks. Twelve attack helicopters. And over five thousand heavily armed Japan Self-Defense Force ground troops.

A coup was a speed battle.

Take the capital as fast as possible, detain senior government officials, and seize the press and broadcasters.

‘It’s basically already succeeded.’

The proclamation ceremony for the new Great Japan would be held in front of the Tokyo Black Tower.

Together with the crowds who supported him.

*****

Minister MacMillan, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary who had returned after finishing the Korea schedule, received the news of the Japan coup while asleep at home.

“What? ...My God!”

What kind of lunatics were these?

How long had it even been since Kabalan’s curse ended?

ZZZIIING! A phone call came in at the exact moment.

A summons from the White House.

He threw on clothes and rushed over. When he arrived, President Lloyd, aides, the CIA Director, and the Secretary of State were already in an emergency meeting.

“Good to see you, Mac.”

“Am I late?”

“No. We just started.”

They were discussing the progress of the Japan coup and possible responses.

“It’s too late to stop the coup. Matsumoto Junichi must have prepared thoroughly. The National Diet has already been occupied.”

Who could stop the army once it pushed in?

The Japanese police had only been mobilized for traffic control—helping the military move smoothly.

“What about Acting Prime Minister Usuda?”

“We can’t confirm at the moment, but the best assessment is that Acting Prime Minister Usuda is dead.”

“And the cabinet ministers?”

“No one resisted. Some even expressed support, siding with the coup.”

“Then we should consider it a success.”

“Yes. A military regime will be established.”

What a strange country.

Even with a Black Tower erected in the heart of Tokyo—steel at the throat—they were pulling a coup.

“What about the Korea–Japan temporary naturalization contract?”

“With a coup happening, you have to assume it’s over.”

President Lloyd asked with a puzzled expression.

“Then what are they going to do about clearing the Tokyo Black Tower? The curse is over, sure, but it’s still a Tower that has to be cleared. Are they going to come begging us again?”

The CIA Director answered.

“This is information obtained from a Japan Self-Defense Force senior officer. Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Matsumoto Junichi acquired an item called a Level-Up Rune...”

“Hm? What’s that?”

“An item that raises your level randomly from a minimum of 1LV to a maximum of 5LV regardless of Tower floor. It seems he intends to use it to clear.”

“There was something like that?”

President Lloyd turned to Minister MacMillan.

“Mac, what is that Level-Up Rune item?”

“I’m hearing about it for the first time as well.”

If even Minister MacMillan, who oversaw Tower climbing, didn’t know, then—

“We need to secure it too. Get one.”

“Yes. I’ll look into it.”

An item that raises only your level regardless of floors...

“Judging by the effect, it seems better than Trait Enhancement Runes.”

Minister MacMillan shook his head.

“Well. I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“First, level isn’t everything.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the top Korean Player who naturalized to Japan?”

“I remember. Yoo... what was it?”

“Yes. At the time of naturalization, the level was 66. But that person failed the Floor 57 clear.”

“Ah!”

President Lloyd’s face said he understood.

“There are quite a lot of cases like that. The higher you go, the more mentality, talent, equipment items, and skills matter.”

“Still, a high level helps.”

“That’s true. I just wanted to say level isn’t everything.”

Minister MacMillan continued.

“On the other hand, Trait Enhancement Runes are extremely efficient. They strengthen signature skills. And the number of new skills you can learn is enormous.”

“Finish skills, ultimate skills—those can only be learned through Trait Enhancement. You don’t learn them just because your level rises.”

“And decisively, even if you raise your level, it’s useless in the undead section. Even four Trait Enhancements couldn’t do anything.”

Right.

President Lloyd nodded as if convinced.

“Because of the Dark Aura.”

“Yes. In the end, they’ll have to hold a holy sword. But will they be able to borrow one?”

“Korea will never lend one.”

If Acting Prime Minister Usuda had signed a Korea–Japan temporary naturalization contract?

Japan would have bought time to cultivate its Players, and borrowing a holy sword for the undead section would have proceeded smoothly.

“Well, we’ll keep watching the Japan situation for now.”

For America, there was something more important than a coup.

“What do you think, Mac? Shouldn’t we be mining high-grade Magic Stones too? The companies are going crazy, and so are the donors.”

The benefits tied to clearing Floor 70.

High-grade Magic Stones, item restrictions loosened, and even items without the Tower-Only modifier were said to drop.

“Gerald Watson is also positive. Gerald Watson approved of clearing Floor 70.”

“Good. If we’re doing it, let’s do it fast.”

Floor 70 was something they would have to climb someday anyway.

Rushing it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

But the real interest of American powerholders wasn’t high-grade Magic Stones.

Information was spreading that Healing Potions without the Tower-Only modifier were appearing.

And that wasn’t all.

What if elixirs and spirit medicines also dropped without the Tower-Only modifier?

Health and immortality were every human being’s dream.

Clearing Floor 70 might reveal a thread of that.

*****

Finally, travel day.

The moment he woke up, Juhyeok washed up and finished getting ready.

Bong Juhyeok’s first overseas trip of his life.

There was no way his heart wouldn’t race.

He had once gone to China using a Tower Exit Ring.

But that hadn’t been for sightseeing.

This was, for all intents and purposes, his first real experience.

He summoned all the summoned entities.

They needed to put their heads together and make the travel plan.

He excluded the magical beast Blood Wolf—this was a trip for people.

“We gotta exclude restaurants with lines. Who waits that long?”

“The warrior will stand in line.”

“Ho—?”

“Miss, I searched on a tablet. This place is a hotspot.”

“My lord, when you take photos, do not worry about lighting.”

“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber! I will separate the magic gun and pack it in the suitcase.”

Everyone chimed in, one noisy line at a time.

They’d basically decided where to go, so last—

“Mad Demon, Designated Summon.”

FWAAASH!

“Summoner.”

“Mad Demon.”

“You’ve come back home. So the outdoor sleeping is all over?”

“Yes. I’m going to try somewhere else.”

“Where...?”

Juhyeok explained the Japan travel plan to Mad Demon.

“Ho. A good thought. Cooling your head once in a while isn’t bad.”

“You’re coming with me, right?”

“...Even I? I don’t mind, but I wonder if it’s unbecoming.”

“Come on, it’s not unbecoming. It’d be great if you came. Ha ha ha.”

The summoned entities nodded too.

They’d caught Kabalan together, camped together, and thanks to that, Juhyeok had gotten fairly close with Mad Demon.

“Instead, wear this.”

Juhyeok handed Mad Demon a luxury suit set he’d bought at a department store, plus dress shoes and a fedora.

“Earth’s clothing?”

“It’ll suit you.”

“If the summoner tells me to wear it, then I should.”

Mad Demon didn’t refuse.

He went to another room to change, then came back out—

“Wow.”

Admiration slipped out on its own.

White hair with a fedora, a neatly tied necktie, and dress shoes with a suit.

He looked like a stylish senior model.

Like he could do a photoshoot.

And it wasn’t only Mad Demon.

Bardin stored the spiked armor he’d been wearing inside Rajix’s Subspace Backpack and changed clothes.

“Then shall we go?”

[You are entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea) Floor 1.]

He entered Floor 1, then—

[You are using the Tower Exit Ring.]

[Please designate the nationality of the Tower you wish to exit.]

‘Japan.’

[Designated. Your next exit will be within a 10 km radius of Japan’s Black Tower.]

At the same time, he abandoned the mission.

[You have declared mission abandonment.]

[You have failed the mission.]

[Exiting Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]

SPOT!

Juhyeok and the summoned entities appeared inside a collapsed building beside the Tokyo Black Tower.

They were extremely close.

Close enough to call it right next to it, but since they were inside a building, there were no people.

“Alright, let’s go out.”

They stepped outside and headed toward the busy district.

And right then!

“...Huh?”

KRRRK, KRK, KRRRK.

Something huge was passing in front of them.

“Uhng?”

“WAAH?”

“Hoo.”

No, why is that here?

KRRRK, KRK, KRRRRRRK...

A heavy body, caterpillar treads crushing asphalt as they rolled, a massive gun barrel.

“A tank?”

“It’s a tank.”

“Why are there tanks in Tokyo...”

“I don’t know either.”

And it wasn’t only tanks.

Armored vehicles with mounted heavy machine guns were moving in a line through Tokyo’s streets.

Behind them, soldiers marched with rifles and medium heavy weapons in hand.

“Ah-ha, they’re filming a movie.”

“Dynamic Japan, for real.”

“Good time to sightsee. We even get to watch movie filming.”

They all had anti-recognition talismans attached, so nobody paid attention to them, but—

“If it’s movies, that’s Cossack, right? A master of method acting, realistic stunt acting, subtle emotional lines that squeeze out tears in five seconds, a serious handsome actor—Cossack. Hehehehe.”

“If it is historical drama acting, I am confident. What actress would dare follow after this girl?”

“The warrior just needs to paint the body green and it’s ready.”

“If it’s martial-arts films, I can do that.”

“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber. In military films, I confidently believe no one suits them better than me.”

“Saint Bardin. I will handle the lighting. O light!!!”

“HURK?!”

What was wrong with everyone?

They came to sightsee.

But it didn’t look like a film shoot.

And from somewhere nearby, shouts rose up.

Extras?

There were an absurd number of them.

People wearing headbands with the Rising Sun painted on their foreheads, holding banners and pickets, screaming at the top of their lungs.

Everyone looked worked up, swinging fists and shouting as they walked.

“...What are they saying?”

“Great acting. Looks real.”

“Ho-e,”

No. This felt wrong.

Translator?

With AI these days, all you needed was a smartphone for automatic translation.

Even the letters on a picket would display in Korean if you aimed the camera.

So he launched the translation app.

We absolutely oppose the humiliating Korea–Japan temporary naturalization contract.

Let us protect the glory of the Great Japan Empire!

Dissolve the incompetent Japanese cabinet and rebuild Japan!

Tokyo citizens support the Japan Self-Defense Force’s loyal decision.

“....”

It wasn’t movie filming.

“That’s a right-wing protest you only hear about.”

“Ah-ha, anti-Korea guys?”

“Probably.”

And then—

Kill the Joseon bastards.

Rape Korean women.

Occupy Takeshima.

Expel the resident Joseon bastards.

Declare war on Korea.

The more he listened, the worse it felt.

Tanks. Armored vehicles. Armed soldiers.

Juhyeok searched the news on his smartphone.

He didn’t even need to dig.

The moment he searched Japan on the portal site, headlines popped up.

<Japan, Japan Self-Defense Force coup erupts.>

<National Diet occupied in an instant.>

<Japan Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Matsumoto Junichi declares coup success>

<New Japan founding event announced in front of the Tokyo Black Tower.>

“...A coup?”

What the hell?

He’d come on a trip with his heart fluttering, because it was travel day...

‘Do I have to go back?’

In that instant—BWOOOOONG!

A storm of qi churned like a vortex.

Mad Demon.

His whole body shone with crimson aura.

Blood Jade Steel Aura.

A weapon in and of itself.

His face was set hard.

Killing intent seeped out, faintly, subtly.

“Um... Mad Demon?”

“What is it.”

“What are you trying to do, drawing up your qi like that?”

Mad Demon looked at him with icy eyes.

“Kill the Joseon bastards, rape Korean women, declare war on Korea—after hearing words like that, how could anyone endure it? It’s no different from telling me to kill the summoner.”

Gulp. Juhyeok swallowed dryly.

“If they’ve picked a fight, it’s only right to answer. Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up neatly.”

“...”

If Mad Demon moved, Tokyo would turn into a sea of blood.

“Could you just shut your eyes and pretend you didn’t see it?”

Mad Demon’s anger had already hit the ceiling.

“In this situation? My Three Principles, Article Three has already activated.”

This was bad.

Trip or no trip, a massacre was about to break out.

There was no choice.

First, send him back—

“Sorry. Mad Demon, Dismiss Summ—”

Before he could finish—

“W-wait!”

SSSSS—Mad Demon’s pressure faded.

“...I’ll try to hold back.”

He returned to normal.

No need to Dismiss Summon.

But then—

“These damn bastards!”

Again—BWOOOOONG!

Mad Demon flared red-hot.

“Mad Demon, Dismiss Summ—”

SSSSS.

Mad Demon relaxed. Then a moment later—

“I really can’t just leave th—”

BWOOOOONG!

“Mad Demon, Dismiss Summ—”

SSSSS. Back to normal.

But then—BWOOOOONG!

“Mad Demon, Dismiss Summ—”

SSSSS. A battle of reading the room. BWOOOONG!

“Mad Demon, dis—”

Mad Demon was determined to do something.

Juhyeok was determined to stop it.

The other summoned entities watched the stare-down with excited faces, like they were placing bets on who would win.

Mad Demon seemed to get tired.

After a few rounds, the storm of qi finally quieted, and the Blood Jade Steel Aura covering his body disappeared.

“Hoo, summoner.”

“...Yes?”

“I have a request.”

A request?

“If it’s something I can do—”

“If I swallow this down, I think I’ll get anger sickness. It could even become catastrophic backlash.”

Come on. Catastrophic backlash?

“Just let me blow off steam. I won’t manifest Blood Jade Steel Aura.”

Then—tap tap, tadadak, tap tap!

Mad Demon struck pressure points on his own body.

“I’ve suppressed my ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) internal power. I’ve arranged it so I can only use about one pun of my true qi.”

One pun was 1%.

Would that be okay?

“I’ll go hit them a few times. One hit per bastard.”

“Hm.”

Honestly, Juhyeok was angry too.

They’d postponed the Tokyo Black Tower Collapse by lifting the curse, and now what? Kill Koreans?

“...Really only one hit each?”

“I swear it on the name of Mad Demon.” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

To hell with it.

“Go blow off steam. Hold back your hand.”

Mad Demon brightened at the permission.

“Oh! Thank you. I won’t kill civilians. I swear it.”

Cossack glanced at Juhyeok.

“Can I go too?”

And it wasn’t only him.

Meatshield, Veronica, and Bardin too.

“The warrior is going too. Just one forehead flick.”

“Staff Sergeant Veronica Caliber. Crowd-control operation ready.”

“My lord, please permit the wrath of the divine.”

Even Rajix—using short arms—tadak-tadak, patted his body, imitating Mad Demon like he was striking pressure points—

“WAAH!”

What is he doing now?

Mad Demon raised a hand to stop them.

“You protect the summoner. Do not interfere. I’m already short on food.”

“...Yes.”

“Ho-e.”

And so Mad Demon walked toward the anti-Korea protest site.

“It’s been truly a long time since I’ve moved my body.”

A luxury suit that screamed money, a fedora on his head, black dress shoes—step, step.

“Hello there! You vermin!”

He boomed out a single line.

“It’s a Joseon bastard! A Joseon bastard came!”

The organizer, shouting into a microphone, pointed at Mad Demon and screamed.

“Catch the old Joseon bastard! Hang him!!!”

The crowd surged forward.

“Hohoho, you little bastards.”

Mad Demon waved a hand forward like swatting flies.

The first person charging in got launched into the air.

THUD!

“Kuh?”

RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE!

Teeth poured out like corn kernels.

And so Mad Demon—who had suppressed his power down to about 1% of his true ability—

“Let’s play until you’re satisfied.”

Dropped right into the middle of the anti-Korea crowd.

That was only the beginning.

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