Korean Awakening Administration.
Commissioner Jeon Gwangil and Team Leader Lee Minah were in the middle of a conversation.
“Here’s the list of countries and players who’ve reserved the magic cannon.”
“Oh? Hand it over.”
Jeon Gwangil read the report and noticed sothing.
“Japan also applied to reserve the magic cannon for the 81st Floor.”
“Yes, it seems they succeeded in clearing the 80th Floor this ti.”
“Hm.”
After a mont of thought—
“Put Japan on hold. Notify them that reservations are fully booked for the next three months.”
How shaless, trying to borrow the magic cannon.
We’ve been indulging them far too much.
With the 90th-floor raid this ti, the grace Player Bong Juhyeok bestowed upon India and Japan—along with the gaps filled after the Tower’s collapse—
Everyone knows it.
That it was Player Bong Juhyeok who did it.
Isn’t repaying a favor basic courtesy?
But all they did was hold a press conference to say thank you.
Trying to end it with lip service?
Looks like they’re trying to sweep it under the rug.
“China handed over Baekdu Mountain, at least.”
“Japan’s always been like that anyway.”
No repaynt, no magic cannon rental.
Sa goes for India.
They must think the Korean Awakening Administration is a pushover.
That’s a big mistake.
“And the cylindrical rods Player Bong gave us—did you send them to the lab?”
“Yes, we commissioned the Daejeon Research Complex.”
“And the U.S.?”
“We’re planning to hand over ten to the U.S. Forces Korea base. They’ll ship them to the mainland.”
The item Player Bong requested research on.
So speculated it might be a battery that stored energy.
Others thought it could be related to the true nature of the Black Tower.
Then it had to be researched with top priority.
And they needed to ask the U.S. as well.
“Oh, right! Is the car ready?”
“The off-road electric vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“It’s prepared in the warehouse, but what about registration? It’s not insured either.”
“That’s fine. No need. It’s not being purchased for driving purposes.”
Normally, acquisition tax, registration, and insurance were all handled at once when buying a vehicle, but those steps had been skipped.
If it stayed in the warehouse, Player Bong would co and take it anyway.
“By the way, Team Leader Lee.”
“Yes, Commissioner.”
“Are you interested in trying a new experience?”
“...A new experience?”
Jeon Gwangil stepped closer and whispered discreetly.
“Living in the Tower for a month.”
Did she hear that wrong?
“In the Tower?”
“Yes. The Tower.”
“Ugh, what are you talking about? How do you live in a Tower for a month?”
“It’s not the Black Tower.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s the White Tower.”
Team Leader Lee Minah looked completely confused.
What was a White Tower?
She had never heard of it.
“It’s hard to explain in words. You only understand once you receive Residency Rights and experience it yourself.”
What were Residency Rights now?
Jeon Gwangil continued explaining.
“In our Administration, I’m the only one who knows about the existence of the White Tower. Of course, I can handle it alone, but I thought it would be good to have one more capable hand.”
“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about...”
“If you’re interested, just let know anyti.”
“But! You’ll need to steel yourself ntally. Once you know this, you won’t be able to leave the Administration until the day you die.”
“...Alright. I’ll think about it.”
He had already discussed it with Player Bong.
At least up to Team Leader Lee Minah, it seed wise to open access to the White Tower.
She was a capable employee he could trust with anything during ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) his absence.
Even Chairman Kim Injung in the north had received one-month Residency Rights.
Team Leader Lee Minah was more than qualified.
A dinsion traveler–exclusive auction house.
Never in its history had it been this active.
Nearly all dinsion travelers were glued to the auction status board.
The cause was singular.
Items listed by an Earth dinsion traveler.
The bidding competition was so fierce it practically exploded.
Wristwatches, laptops, tablets, ga consoles, smartphones, and more.
Miracle items that could never be found in other dinsions—nothing even similar existed.
Everyone wished for one thing.
Please, let win a bid.
But the problem was the final price.
Between 800,000 kg and 1,000,000 kg of top-grade Magic Stones at minimum.
How many dinsion travelers could afford such an astronomical amount?
Only the veterans.
Which was why the dinsion auction house was their league alone.
There was no actual place for dinsion travelers to communicate, but—
If there were a free ssage board, conversations would probably look like this:
You bastards, please stop outbidding on my item.
The veterans are the real problem. They just jack up the prices—are newbies like us supposed to starve?
So what? If Earth items get cut off again, who’s taking responsibility?
Exactly. You have to bid like every mont is the last chance.
We’re just asking for a fair shot too.
Don’t worry. I won’t bid on the sa item as you. Just wait.
And wait until when?
This ti again, an electronic device was knocked down for around 1,000,000 kg of top-grade Magic Stones.
Newbies and broke dinsion travelers couldn’t even bring themselves to press the bid button.
Then, a completely new item appeared in the dinsion auction house.
Mount: ZV 900 Electric Off-Road SUV
Starting bid: 3,000 kg of top-grade Magic Stones
A car?
Not a toy, but a real, rideable vehicle?
It was the first of its kind.
Dinsion travelers who had only heard rumors of such Earth items, but never seen one, couldn’t help feeling bewildered.
But those who knew, knew.
People who had experienced Earth dia through tablets, ga consoles, and laptops.
And thus the bidding war began.
Centered around veteran travelers who knew exactly what a car was.
*****
White Tower Floor 17.
Juhyeok had just taken the elevator to visit the dinsion auction house.
He collected the storage ticket containing the top-grade Magic Stones from the winning bid and listed a new auction item.
This ti, it was—
A latest-model electric SUV that ran smoothly even on terrible roads.
He used a special storage ticket for the dinsion traveler–exclusive auction house, received as a perk.
The usage was simple.
First, he approached the car stored in the Korean Awakening Administration warehouse and held the storage ticket in his hand.
[Would you like to store the ZV 900 Electric Off-Road SUV in the ticket?]
When the ssage appeared and he thought, store it—
SSSRK—
It vanished.
Effect: The ZV 900 Electric Off-Road SUV is stored inside. Tear the ticket to summon the electric vehicle.
Feature: The ticket itself can be traded.
That was what it turned into.
After that, he just put the ticket into his pouch and registered it at a locker—done.
This one should sell for a decent price too.
Honestly, he had thought it was impossible.
Planting a World Tree even once on White Tower Floor 17.
Twenty billion kilograms of top-grade Magic Stones.
How could anyone possibly gather that?
But now, it seed feasible.
It was only a matter of ti.
Let’s share this good news with the summoned entities—huh?
Why were those guys gathered over there?
Cossack, Baek Danea, Mannyeon, and Rajix.
“Now, watch closely. Dramatic presentation is important. If you just pull it out from the start, there’s no impact.”
Cossack stood out front, gesturing exaggeratedly as if demonstrating sothing.
“At first, you just walk. Step by step. Do nothing. Huh? Just walking.”
The summoned entities sat quietly, watching his performance.
“Then the Great Demon gets flustered. Huh? What is this? What’s going on? Why’s he walking toward ? Huh? Huh?”
His signature one-man, two-role acting.
“After you overwhelm them with presence, you thrust this forward and shout!”
With a solemn expression, Cossack placed a hand inside his robe—then yanked it out like lightning.
“The Reaper has arrived!!!”
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!
Applause from the audience.
So that’s it.
The Underworld identification token received from Yama.
So now he was practicing possession as a Reaper?
“Repeat after . The Reaper has arrived!!!”
Then Baek Danea tried.
“I, I’m the Reaper... um, ar-arrived!”
“Disqualified!”
Next was Mannyeon.
Spinning the Underworld identification token around—
“Kyaruruk, kyaruk!”
“Disqualified!”
Last was Rajix.
TANG!
SPINNN—
He did a sorsault—
SWISH!
Struck a hero landing pose, thrusting his short arm holding the token forward!
“Waaah!”
Ooooooh!
“A-amazing!”
Admiration spilled out naturally.
Our farmhand really can do anything.
“Pass!”
“Waaah!”
Anyway, they really knew how to ss around.
Noticing Juhyeok, Cossack hurried over.
“Summoner Bong, what did you think of the show?”
“Well, it was cool, but is all that really necessary?”
“Aigo, this is all training. You gotta practice a lot to use it properly.”
Still, wasn’t it a bit excessive?
Well, considering Cossack’s personality, it wasn’t that surprising.
“In that sense, Summoner Bong.”
“...What?”
“You also received a hamr from King Yama, didn’t you?”
“So?”
“You should practice too. You might not be able to use it when it really counts.”
He had a point.
Co to think of it, I’ve never used it even once.
Should he try it now?
Juhyeok took the Judge’s Hamr from his waist.
“Think of as a Great Demon and try using the hamr.”
Cossack crossed his arms, wearing an arrogant expression.
“From now on, I am Great Demon Cossack.”
Yes, yes.
Great Demon Cossack.
It suited him quite well.
But... how do I use this thing?
It was Yama’s hamr.
Then maybe imitating Yama would work.
Juhyeok raised the hamr toward Cossack.
Then he swung it through the air with a sharp motion.
“You yourself have confessed your sins!!!”
How was that?
Pretty cool, right?
At that very mont—
WOOOOONG.
Juhyeok’s energy surged forward through the hamr.
“Huh?”
A pale, whitish energy burst from the hamr and passed straight through Cossack’s body—
“...Ugh?”
At the sa ti,
a video began floating above his head.
“Ah!”
So that was how it was used.
A function that showed the target’s accumulated sins as a visual record.
It also seed to have a binding effect.
“U-ugh... I c-can’t move.”
Let’s see.
The fact that Cossack was bound and a video appeared ant he had committed a sin.
What on earth did he do?
The contents of the video.
The background was White Tower Floor 17.
What?
It looked like what had happened last night.
After returning from the Tower, when everyone was resting.
The video played quickly.
The Mad Demon sprawled out, watching a martial arts movie on a large monitor, getting drunk.
The alcohol was strong liquor, the snack a few pieces of chocolate.
Beside him, Cossack watched the movie too, crunching popcorn.
Then it happened.
Cossack slowly stretched his hand toward the Mad Demon’s chocolate snack.
Like he was about to steal it.
Snack theft? Is that really a cri?
No.
The video continued.
Cossack picked up a piece of chocolate and put it in his mouth.
He rolled it around, sucked off the chocolate coating, and finally spat out the almond inside.
No way...
Cossack then quietly placed the almond—left over from the chocolate—back onto the Mad Demon’s snack plate.
The heavily drunk Mad Demon grabbed the almond from the plate and—
CRUNCH, CRUNCH!
He’s insane. Completely insane.
And it wasn’t just once.
He committed the cri repeatedly, taking advantage of the Mad Demon being completely absorbed in the martial arts movie while drunk.
What should they do about this?
If the Mad Demon found out, it would be a disaster.
At that mont—
“You damn... I’ll kill you...!”
Too late.
The Mad Demon had already approached, his face bright red as he watched the video floating above Cossack’s head.
“You bastard!!!”
The summoned entities sward over.
“How utterly shaless!”
“No need for further words—death penalty!”
“I also vote for execution.”
“Cut off his head.”
“How about burning him alive?”
“A firing squad is also ready, with sub-light-speed rounds.”
Cossack’s eyes darted around rapidly.
“Hehehehehe.”
Scratching his head awkwardly—
SPAPAPAPAPAP!
He fled at light speed.
But he didn’t get far.
The Mad Demon turned a cold gaze toward Veronica Caliber.
“Veronica Caliber.”
CLICK.
The sound of Veronica Caliber loading the magic cannon.
“Firing a small paralysis round. Homing function activated.”
BZZZING!
THUNK!
WOBBLE!
POW!
A direct hit square in the back.
“Kgh!”
THUD.
Cossack collapsed.
atshield grabbed his legs and dragged him back.
The Mad Demon glared fiercely at Cossack and spoke to Juhyeok.
“Summoner, I request a judgnt.”
“...A judgnt?”
“Yes. As a judge, please deliver a fitting punishnt.”
A judgnt...
What should he do?
Like Yama, maybe?
“Criminal Cossack shall be—”
...
What would be good?
Ah, whatever.
“He is sentenced... to a forehead flick.”
In an instant!
Cossack, who had been lying down, sprang upright.
“...A forehead flick?”
CRACK!
atshield cracked his fingers and grabbed Cossack’s head.
“W-wait! It’s a misunderstanding! I don’t rember anything!”
Sorry, Cossack.
Why did you even do that?
“Hold him from both sides!”
“Aaaah! S-spare —!”
He won’t die.
Kind atshield will control his strength.
THWAAACK!
KWOOOOM!!!
Nope.
That was a solid hit.
atshield’s thick finger struck Cossack square on the forehead.
An explosive sound echoed throughout White Tower Floor 17.
“Kkgh...!”
Cossack’s eyes rolled back as he toppled over like a log.
THUD.
Ah...
Sorry.
But why did you do it?
You should’ve just stolen it outright.
Just then—
STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP, STEP.
Farr Do-woo approached Juhyeok, moving his three legs in turn.
“Summoner. Crop report. Immortal Peach tree. Blooming soon.”
“...What?”
What was he talking about?
Do-woo pointed with one of his six arms.
Juhyeok followed his gaze.
“Oh!”
“Hahaha.”
“T-that is?”
“Huh.”
The Immortal Peach tree planted in the White Tower.
A mystical, auspicious aura wrapped around the entire tree.
Sothing was happening.
When he went closer to look—
A dragon?
At so point, round buds had ford on the branches of the Immortal Peach tree.
Flower buds?
And they were growing.
Dozens of buds, swollen and full.
Flowers.
They were preparing to bloom.
Immortal peach blossoms of the Immortal Realm.
How beautiful would they be?
“Sufficient energy absorption confird. Fruit formation expected after blooming.”
The people here didn’t know this, but—
The Immortal Peach tree was different from ordinary trees.
It grew only on immortal energy.
And in its entire lifeti, it blood only once.
Juhyeok and the summoned entities stared at the tree, entranced.
Even Cossack, who had been unconscious, got back up.
At that mont!
One of the buds—
SSSSUK—
Swelled rapidly—
POP!
It burst open, spreading beautiful petals.
And then—
SHASHASHASHASH!
An intense wave of immortal energy swept over the entire White Tower.
“...Ah!”
That’s right.
Immortal energy.
The wave generated by the bursting bud surged into Juhyeok’s body and the bodies of the summoned entities.
Their bodies filled completely with immortal energy.
The sensation was so wondrous it was hard to stay conscious.
It felt even better than chewing and swallowing a single immortal peach.
Like taking a full-body shower in immortal harmony.
And that was from just one bud.
Then—
POP!
The second bud burst.
Another spreading wave.
Another immortal-energy shower.
POP!
The third.
POP! POP! POP! POP!
The Immortal Peach tree’s buds burst one after another.
Immortal harmony surged like a storm.
White Tower Floor 17 filled to the brim with immortal energy.
Mari, who had been inside the house, ca outside at so point to bask in it.
All the summoned entities cried out in amazent, experiencing the unexpected shower of immortal energy.
POP-POP! PAPAPAPAPANG!
At this rate, it was like consuming a hundred immortal peaches.
Yet amid all this, one person stood completely dazed, unmoving.
“...Mad Demon?”
No answer.
Instead, around him—
WOOOOOO.
A vortex of true energy.
The Mad Demon entered a state of enlightennt.
Sitting cross-legged, eyes half-closed, lips tightly sealed—
WOOOOOO.
...
The Mad Demon advanced.
To a higher realm.
And that wasn’t all.
Mackenzie spread his arms wide, wearing a faint smile as he accepted the dense immortal energy.
Then Cossack, Veronica Caliber, Gyeon Dallae, atshield, Bardin, Rajix, Crackers, Diamat, Baek Danea, Mari, Elle, the giggling Mannyeon, Do-woo... even Blood Wolf.
And Juhyeok?
He was no exception.
Immortal energy of harmony.
Whether mana, inner power, aura, or demonic energy—
A mystical force that lted all types of power into one.
POP! POP! PAPAPANG! PAPANG!
The Immortal Peach flower buds continued bursting without pause, scattering immortal energy.
Everywhere—
Was immortal energy.
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