Bong Juhyeok.
A na that beca the center of every topic after the World Announcent.
Juhyeok himself experienced it firsthand.
In reality, in cyberspace like SNS, and even to the point of hearing it at places where people were having company dinners.
For a timid man, it was hard to endure.
That was the very reason he had tried to hide his identity in the first place.
The people he worried about most were his family.
When he called to check on them—
— We’re still fine. What about you? Nothing going on, right?
“I’m... fine.”
— Be careful. When you go out, make sure you’re with people.
“Yes, ma’am! If anything happens, just shout White Tower Floor 17 Entry right away.”
— Okay.
Thankfully, nothing he feared seed to have happened.
Commissioner Jeon Gwangil was personally handling his family’s security.
He really was soone to be grateful to.
‘I should build him a house out of dicinal tonics soday.’
Anyway, today’s schedule was White Tower exploration.
Up to the 5th floor had been unlocked.
Let’s start from the 2nd floor and go in order.
‘How many floors does the White Tower even have?’
And it wasn’t just the White Tower.
The Black Tower was the sa.
He had broken through the 90th floor, but there was no way to know how many floors the Black Tower actually had.
But the mission on the 91st floor.
[The Great Journey Toward Completion – First.]
“Completion.”
Judging from that word, wouldn’t the end be the 100th floor?
One hundred was a number associated with completion in many ways.
If so, there were only ten floors left to climb.
But he had to be cautious.
It would not be easy.
Removal of completion deadlines, ti separation, save functions.
At a glance, it was not a mission that could be finished overnight.
It might even take longer than the ti it took to climb from the 1st to the 90th floor.
Still, the Tower collapse deadline was generous.
There was no need to rush.
First, he would explore White Tower floors 2, 3, 4, and 5 with the blood-summoned entities using the dinsional elevator.
Then he would drink the elixir Mari would soon synthesize.
Ideally, he would like to give it to any of the blood-summoned entities, but who would even drink it?
He would have no choice but to take it himself.
On top of that, he would do one more random summon.
An event to welco a new family mber.
And after living like that for a while, once it started to feel a bit boring?
That was when he would finally accept the first mission of the Great Journey on the 91st floor.
Ah!
A perfect plan.
With that in mind—
“We’re recruiting mbers for the White Tower exploration. Too many people will make things crowded, so those who want to work can work, and those who want to rest can rest.”
As if they had been waiting for it, the blood-summoned entities shot their hands up one after another.
In the end, he had no choice but to take almost everyone.
Those staying behind in the White Tower were the production-type classes: Mari, El, Farr Duwoo, and Blood Wolf.
He piled into the elevator with the selected blood-summoned entities.
When he pressed the button marked with the number 2—
[You have selected the 2nd floor.]
Let’s go!
[The current owner of White Tower Floor 2 has lost ownership rights.]
[Therefore, entry is permitted without the owner’s consent.]
‘...Another floor without an owner.’
That ant they were dead.
Just like Max Kruger, the forr owner of the 1st floor.
[Activating the elevator.]
[Operating cost: 10 kg of top-grade Magic Stones will be automatically deducted from inventory.]
The 1st floor had been free.
But the 2nd floor charged him rcilessly.
‘Top-grade Magic Stones are plentiful anyway.’
He had received 1,500 kg in one go from a balance deal with the Black Tower administrator of Earth No. 675.
After that, he had gotten more as mission rewards in the dragon sections.
‘About 2,000 kg in total.’
[The elevator has arrived at White Tower Floor 2.]
Finally, the 2nd floor.
[The stay duration is 24 hours.]
[The owner of White Tower Floor 17 is temporarily granted ownership of White Tower Floor 2 for 24 hours.]
[All companions of the owner have been automatically registered as residents of Floor 2. Valid for 24 hours.]
[Temporary entry and exit skills for White Tower Floor 2 have been registered for 24 hours.]
SWOOSH.
The doors opened.
And the scenery was revealed.
“Hmm.”
“Huh...”
“This...”
“Haah.”
......
It was a bleak space.
There was nothing.
No natural environnt like rivers or plains, no roads or buildings.
It seed the person who had acquired the 2nd floor had not decorated it at all.
What about the outside world?
Should they check?
“I’ll try exiting.”
“Please go out under a concealnt barrier.”
That went without saying.
“Exit White Tower Floor 2.”
SPOT!
The world connected to the 2nd floor.
It was the sa.
It felt like being dropped into the middle of a desert.
And scattered everywhere were enormous sinkholes.
There seed to be more holes than intact ground.
Juhyeok summoned all the blood-summoned entities.
SPOT! SPOT! SPOT! SPOT! SPOT!
They said nothing.
They only frowned.
“Is there really no one?”
“I’ll launch a drone.”
Then Craccus spoke.
“No need. I’ll take a look around myself.”
Right—dragons could fly.
And quite fast, at that.
“Would you do that?”
Craccus released his polymorph and transford back into his green dragon form.
FLAP, FLAP!
He spread his massive wings and soared into the sky, quickly shrinking into a dot.
“We’ll... rest for now.”
“Yes!”
Rajix brought out chairs and tables.
He even laid out snacks.
After so ti passed—
FLAP, FLAP.
Craccus flew back toward them.
“Greenie’s back.”
He landed.
BOOM!
Then polymorphed back into human form.
“How was it?”
“...It was chilling.”
What had he seen?
“I flew around for a long ti, observing with a dragon’s eyes, but not a single living thing existed.”
“No moving lifeforms, not even plants.”
“Monsters or Towers?”
“None. Just countless holes, dirt, and stone everywhere. Even the seas and rivers were like that. It truly showed what annihilation looks like.”
No monsters.
No Towers.
That ant the world was finished.
It seed to have collapsed even faster than the 1st floor.
“...Let’s go back.”
Before leaving, they held a mont of silence.
For all the life that had once lived in that world.
Juhyeok dismissed all the blood-summoned entities, returned to White Tower Floor 2, and boarded the elevator again.
Back to White Tower Floor 17.
“Phew.”
“Haah.”
“Hmmm.”
Only now did it feel like he could breathe again.
Could the 3rd floor really be the sa?
“...Shall we check the 3rd floor too?”
“Yes. Since we’ve started.”
After resting for about three hours,
they boarded the elevator again, spending another 10 kg of top-grade Magic Stones.
The 3rd floor—
[The current owner of White Tower Floor 3 has lost ownership rights.]
Just like the 2nd floor, no owner.
[The elevator has arrived at White Tower Floor 3.]
The environnt was identical to the 2nd floor.
So much so it felt copy-pasted.
A ruined world.
A world where life had vanished.
“...Fuck!”
It was devastating.
Thinking that this could have been their Earth.
If they had not overco Kabalan’s curse on the 70th floor, they would have ended up like this.
What now?
Stop here?
No—go all the way.
But the 4th floor also had no owner.
[The elevator has arrived at White Tower Floor 4.]
SWOOSH.
The doors opened.
And the sight before them—
“Ah.”
A field stretched out.
And at the sa ti, hundreds of mounds of earth ca into view.
“...Graves?”
“I—I think so.”
“Are there people buried in them?”
But—
“WAAH.”
Rajix shook his head.
“Nope. There’s nothing.”
Empty graves, then?
All of them?
Juhyeok and the blood-summoned entities approached the graves.
In front of each one lay a tal ingot.
And on each ingot was carved a person’s na.
“Tombstones.”
The handwriting was identical on all of them, as if carved by a single person.
It must have been the owner of the 4th floor.
Likely the nas of family mbers, relatives, or acquaintances.
All of them dead.
So they had made empty graves and erected tombstones using the tal ingots rewarded from the Tower.
Floors 1 through 4.
All the sa.
All connected to ruined worlds.
To the owners, the White Tower was not a refuge—it was a space of guilt.
They alone had survived, unable to obtain even 1 kg of top-grade Magic Stones.
What about the that could be issued with high-grade Magic Stones?
Those only appeared after completing the achievent for granting permanent Residency Rights.
Only then were lower-tier options unlocked as rewards.
In other words, you absolutely had to secure 1 kg of top-grade Magic Stones first to even issue trial or rental passes.
What would have happened to Juhyeok if he had not had Mari?
The place where Rajix mined naturally occurring top-grade Magic Stones was on the 84th floor—until then, no one but Juhyeok could have co to the White Tower.
And if he had not even had Rajix?
‘Was it the 87th floor where top-grade Magic Stones first appeared as mission rewards? The floor with the undead dragon?’
Only upon reaching the 87th floor could Residency Rights be registered.
It was incredibly vicious.
The White Tower nu had a Resident List option, yet the ans to actually bring people in were fundantally blocked.
How desperately the White Tower owners must have longed for it.
For the day top-grade Magic Stones would appear as Tower rewards.
Climbing the Tower diligently every day.
Clinging to the futile hope that maybe today would be the day.
Outside the 4th floor was no different.
Completely annihilated.
“This feels awful.”
Not just him—every blood-summoned entity felt the sa.
The remaining floor was the 5th.
If that was the sa too—
‘Should we put it off until tomorrow?’
No.
If the 5th floor was the sa, tomorrow would be just as depressing.
Better to finish everything today.
So even though it was late at night, they returned to the 17th floor and waited.
“Today’s final stop. Please hang in there just a bit longer.”
“We’re fine, but Summoner, your mood...”
“I’m fine too. After this, let’s have a drink together.”
“Very well.”
They boarded the elevator again.
The fourth move.
They had spent 40 kg of top-grade Magic Stones in total.
But there was plenty.
[You have selected the 5th floor.]
But then—
‘This ti there’s no ssage about the owner being absent.’
Then...?
Anticipation welled up.
Could soone actually be there?
The owner of the 5th floor?
Ding!
The arrival chi rang.
And at that mont—
[The elevator has arrived at the White Tower Floor 5 Link Gate.]
What?
[You may travel through the Link Gate to the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Dinsional Traveler–Exclusive Auction House.]
“Holy—!”
“Uh—!”
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes, y-yes, I heard it.”
“This old man heard it as well.”
“WAAH.”
A Link Gate?
A dinsional traveler?
And an auction house—what was that supposed to be?
‘The White Tower had sothing like this?’
Ding!
[The stay duration at the Dinsional Traveler–Exclusive Auction House is 1 hour.]
The door slid open.
And before them appeared a large, oval-shaped, translucent barrier.
‘So that’s the Link Gate.’
What should he do?
Should he go in there?
At that mont, Cossack spoke up.
“Summoner Bong, I’ll go in first.”
“W-wait!”
There was no ti to stop him.
Cossack trudged forward without hesitation.
And then—
CRRRRZZZZT!
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!
The instant he touched the Link Gate, a powerful surge of lightning crashed over him.
“KIIYAAAAAAGH!”
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!
Cossack convulsed like a fish impaled on a spear.
Was he being electrocuted?
“Gasp!”
If he died like this—
“Mr. Cossack!!!”
“GAAAAH!”
“Oh dear!”
“I shall save the warrior.”
atshield grabbed him firmly.
“Guhhh!”
“Kiiyaa—”
They barely managed to drag Cossack back into the elevator.
“What the hell was that?!”
[Only individuals with Dinsional Traveler qualifications may enter the Link Gate.]
“You damn— you should’ve said that earlier!”
But more importantly—what now?
“Are you okay? That must have been frightening.”
Cossack was still sprawled on the floor, twitching.
The shock must have been severe.
Should he drink a healing potion?
“He appears to be on the verge of death. Rather than letting him suffer, would it not be kinder to sever his neck cleanly and send him off in peace?”
Princess... no.
Even if resurrection was possible—
“This old man will finish it.”
“This mage shall incinerate his central nervous system—”
“Shall I just freeze him solid?”
“A small-caliber round to the temple.”
“WAAH!”
“Dinsional farmhand, put the pickaxe away. This is an execution.”
Perhaps the blood-summoned entities’ encouragent worked—
Cossack rolled his eyes desperately and suddenly sprang up.
“I-I’m alive. I’m a-alive. I-I’m Immortal Cossack.”
Thank goodness.
In any case, Cossack did not qualify.
“Then who does qualify?”
All eyes turned to Juhyeok.
“Hmm.”
Who installed the dinsional elevator in the first place?
“...?”
The one with Dinsional Traveler qualifications.
Gulp.
Juhyeok swallowed dryly.
‘Should I try?’
If he got electrocuted—
Juhyeok extended one foot beyond the elevator door.
Carefully, he moved toward the Link Gate.
Hesitant.
Slow.
Tentative.
In—out.
Out—in.
‘...Seems fine?’
Nothing happened.
“Phew.”
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!
The blood-summoned entities applauded Juhyeok’s courage.
Test complete.
The qualified dinsional traveler was Juhyeok.
“...Wait here for a mont. I’ll go in and co back.”
“Please be careful.”
“Don’t go up without .”
“Do you take us for traitors, Young Master?”
Let’s go.
An auction house, huh?
A place exclusively for dinsional travelers.
The items up for auction surely would not be ordinary.
“Hoo...”
He took a deep breath
and stepped into the Link Gate.
WHOOSH!
Juhyeok entered—
and SPOT!
The environnt changed.
“...Wow.”
He was standing in a long corridor.
And lining both walls were rows of locker-like compartnts.
Ding!
[Welco to the auction house, new dinsional traveler Bong Juhyeok.]
[The Dinsional Traveler–Exclusive Auction House may be used once per day.]
So he could co every day—
though each visit would probably cost 10 kg of top-grade Magic Stones.
[A personal auction locker for Bong Juhyeok has been opened. Please follow the arrow.]
An arrow appeared on the floor.
Following it, he spotted a locker among the many—one that glead conspicuously.
‘That must be it.’
Written on the locker:
Amazing.
To think the White Tower had a place like this.
More accurately, this probably was not the White Tower itself.
It was connected to the 5th floor via a Link Gate—
a separate, isolated space.
[You may open the locker. Please check its contents.]
Should he open it?
He grabbed the handle and pulled.
“...Huh?”
Three compartnts ca into view.
There were labels.
The top compartnt was for auction listings.
The middle compartnt was for successful bids.
The bottom compartnt was for barter exchanges.
So this really was an auction house.
The top was for items to sell, the middle for items won,
and the bottom for barter.
[Please place the item you wish to sell in the Auction Listing compartnt.]
“Hmm.”
He did not know how the system worked yet.
Best to just follow instructions for now.
What could he list?
Among his inventory, what had any value?
‘Top-grade Magic Stones, obviously. That should work.’
Juhyeok carefully took out several chunks of top-grade Magic Stones and placed them in the Auction Listing space.
Instantly—
Ding!
[Currency cannot be traded.]
“...What?”
Top-grade Magic Stones were currency?
So trades were conducted using them.
Then what could he list?
His inventory mostly had Magic Stones and equipnt.
Equipnt was out of the question.
He had only kept essentials on him.
Rajix’s subspace bag had tons, but still.
‘This is tricky.’
Nothing to list?
Should he take off his clothes and sell those?
‘...Wait.’
There was one thing.
The most expensive item he owned.
The one-billion-won wristwatch he had been wearing for the reunion scenario.
CLICK.
He removed the watch and placed it into the Auction Listing space.
Ding!
[You have submitted an item for auction.]
[Please set a starting bid.]
How much should he set it at?
It was just a wristwatch, after all.
It could not be worth much here.
[If no starting bid is set, the auction house will assess the item’s value automatically. Do you agree?]
That was fine with him.
“Agree.”
WHOOSH!
The item vanished.
[Auction item registered.]
[Achievent: First to register an item in the Dinsional Traveler Auction House.]
[Reward granted.]
“Oh! Rewards already?”
[An Auction Status Board option has been added to the White Tower Floor 17 owner nu.]
[You may also place bids via the Auction Status Board in the White Tower nu.]
[However, item collection, paynt, and exchanges for successful bids may only be completed at the auction locker.]
So he could check it back on the 17th floor?
[The Auction Status Board can also be accessed here.]
Oh?
[The activation command is ‘Check Auction Status.’]
Let’s try it.
“Check Auction Status.”
Instantly—
Ding!
WHOOOOOOSH!
A flood of hologram-like icons and text floated before his eyes.
Secret Manual: Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Sword Technique
Current bid: 3,478 kg of top-grade Magic Stones
Mineral: True Gold Ingots, 100 kg
Current bid: 2,157 kg of top-grade Magic Stones
Spellbook: Lightning Storm
Current bid: 3,022 kg of top-grade Magic Stones
Material: Dragon Heart
Current bid: 51,567 kg of top-grade Magic Stones
What the hell is all this?
‘They’re even selling Dragon Hearts?’
And the bids were utterly vicious.
He had thought he was pretty wealthy—
‘But I can’t even bid with what I have.’
Even if he emptied Rajix’s subspace bag.
And now he was curious—
how much would his wristwatch sell for?
‘...At least 10 kg of top-grade Magic Stones, right?’
At the very least, it should cover the round-trip elevator cost.
User Comments
0 comments from readers