It was so absurd, it didn’t even feel real.
Because not a single person had ever dared to imagine sothing like this would happen.
A national-team-caliber Player who’d received the governnt’s full support, achieved the feat of clearing Floor 65, and seized wealth and fa in one hand—naturalized overnight? And to Japan, of all places?
The Republic of Korea fell into chaos.
Especially because what Yoo Cheolmin said at the press conference at the Japanese Pri Minister’s Official Residence was so ridiculous it was infuriating.
The biggest reason I ca to Japan is because of Korea’s Tower Player Awakening Administration, which has fallen into complacency.
Even with the Floor 66 clear ti limit right around the corner, they had no intention of providing proper support, and the Tower Player Awakening Administration’s executives were absorbed only in political gas, neglecting the managent of the Elite Climbing Team.
The Republic of Korea’s future was bleak. The only choice left to was Japan. The saying “Escape is intelligence” was correct.
I don’t regret choosing naturalization. I will accept any criticism. Curse . And I wish the Republic of Korea the best.
It felt like he was saying it like that just to stir up conflict.
Who would agree with that garbage?
There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know how well Yoo Cheolmin had eaten and lived under the Republic of Korea governnt’s protection.
The dia reaction was sharp.
The Tower Player Awakening Administration, the National Intelligence Service, and the police also beca targets of criticism.
└ That cowardly bastard, is that even a human being? He can’t clear Floor 66 so he makes that kind of excuse and runs?
└ This is insanely annoying. Of all places, Japan?
└ Why is everyone overreacting? If he’d gone to China, you wouldn’t be this worked up, right?
└ China? Sa thing. If he went to China, you’d curse China too, you fucking bastard! Don’t start shit here!
└ Hey! If you don’t want to die, shut up.
└ Damn, this is more miserable than losing Korea vs. Japan in soccer.
└ I heard that bastard even took all the items the Tower Player Awakening Administration supplied him—packed them all into his inventory.
└ This is a pride issue. We have to do sothing, no matter what. Assassinate that Yoo bastard, or declare war on Japan or sothing.
└ At this rate, aren’t we going to lose the S Clear Rank record-holder too?
└ The possibility is plenty high. If even that person goes sowhere else, I’m considering emigrating too.
The TV was nothing but that story.
What happened happened, and you couldn’t rewind it.
Juhyeok cooled down his excitent.
“There was a bigger weak man than .”
“Oh, co on! Summoner Bong is a weak man? Then all the n of the Republic of Korea are weak n. That bastard is just a pathetic loser dumbass.”
That seed right.
At the very least, he was confident he was better than that guy.
And anyway, the reason Team Leader Jeon Gwangil requested a private eting was probably this.
Cossack spoke carefully.
“...If you go into the Tower Player Awakening Administration, it’s obvious what that man will say.”
Juhyeok was guessing the sa thing.
“If you comply too obediently, they’ll get spoiled. We have to keep our usual pace. Slowly. Safely.”
That was true.
If you climbed recklessly, you could run into trouble.
“Ignoring it and not going is also fine. We could hide sowhere for a few days, just like that bastard—”
“Hey. That won’t do.”
“Yes?”
Still, there was so affection built up.
“I’ll go and toss them the holy sword. It seems like they need a light-attribute item.”
And while I’m at it, I can sell it and take the money.
“Ahhh, truly Summoner Bong. I am moved. To grant such ocean-deep grace to those useless civil servants.”
Hmph. Over this?
Who am I?
I look like a weak man on the outside, but in truth, I’m a warm-hearted real man.
“But this holy sword is a light-attribute item.”
“Huh?”
“It is a holy-attribute item.”
It’s the sa thing.
You said it had the feature that radiance clung to it—
And the ‘ra’ in radiance is basically light, isn’t it.
Anyway.
“Is it good?”
“Yes! Better.”
Then that was all that mattered.
“With this holy sword, you can go up to Floor 67. If a talented person uses it, that is.”
Why only up to there?
“Because it is old and worn. Look at the blade markings. They are all erased, aren’t they?”
“It really is.”
“So the power of radiance is weak. A real holy sword’s radiance intensity is like a searchlight. Undead just lt.”
aning it was a broken lightsaber.
Still, he didn’t know when, but soday he’d be going up into the 60s himself.
“There are holy-type summoned entities in that other world, right?”
“They are everywhere.”
“What about their ranks?”
“Saintesses and popes are LSSR rank, but paladins or priests, monks, high clerics, and so on are everywhere from Rare to SSR. They will all definitely carry a holy relic. If you catch even one of them, it’s over.”
He figured as much.
If there were tanks and assassins, why wouldn’t there be healers?
What if his pulls were bad?
What’s the problem?
You just park on a suitable floor and wait until it cos out.
Now, it was about ti to get ready to go to the Tower Player Awakening Administration.
*****
Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tower Player Awakening Administration.
The area in front was chaotic beyond belief.
It felt like every dia outlet in Korea had gathered here.
Police were blocking access, but every ti a person or a car went in or out through the front gate, reporters rushed in like a pack of rabid hyenas.
No wonder Team Leader Jeon Gwangil said he couldn’t co out.
As the car Juhyeok was riding in entered the grounds, reporters sward.
“What counterasures is the Tower Player Awakening Administration taking?”
“Is it true there are rumors Commissioner Park Kyungsoo will be dismissed?”
“Please give us a statent!”
How would I know that?
Thank god the windows were heavily tinted.
From the underground parking lot, he took an elevator up.
Inside the Tower Player Awakening Administration, the atmosphere was unsettled.
Every employee he passed had a face filled with nothing but gloom.
At this rate, would today’s ergency convened eting even happen properly?
Juhyeok t Team Leader Jeon Gwangil in a quiet office.
“I’m sorry. I asked you to co even though you’re busy.”
“No. I understand completely. I saw the news too. You must be deeply shaken.”
“...Thank you for the comfort.”
Since they’d t often, and his face was familiar, the words ca easily.
“The reason I asked to see you, Player Bong, is not for nothing...”
Jeon Gwangil looked like it was hard for him to speak. He swallowed once, then—
“H-How long do you think it would take you to... c-co up into the 60s?”
He knew that line was coming.
He was currently on Floor 29.
If you assud he climbed upper floors every day without stopping, then in 31 days he’d reach Floor 66—37 days.
With about 80 days left on the Floor 66 clear ti limit, soone might think the simple math ant there was plenty of ti, but—
He had to say it firmly.
So he steadied his breathing.
Deliberately lowered his voice.
“It will be difficult within 80 days. Even I, when there’s a difficult section, prepare by repeating clears for at least ten days before moving up.”
“...Yes.”
And he drove the nail in.
“It should also be in the contract clause. That upper-floor climbing is solely left to my decision.”
“I’m sorry. I have no face. We only just signed the contract and I’m already saying this. But I’m also in a position where I feel like I have to grab even a straw...”
Ah. That miserable expression.
It softened his heart.
Don’t worry. I’ll get to Floor 66 sohow, he wanted to say, but... what can’t be done can’t be done.
Even if daily climbing was possible in the 20s, what about the 30s? The 40s? The 50s?
Unless Random Summon brought out an LSSR-rank saintess or pope.
“I heard there’s another Elite Climbing Team Player in the 60s besides Yoo Cheolmin.”
“It’s Player Nam Gaeun. But she’s been stalled in the 62s for over 100 days.”
“...That’s a long ti.”
“We’re also trying to support Player Nam by searching for light-attribute items. But that bastard Yoo Cheolmin ran off with every last item we secured. If only we’d had those.”
He was a truly, insanely vile bastard.
This was the ti.
“Since we’re talking about items, I’m thinking of putting one item up at the Player Shop.”
“What? Uh, d-do you an, is it light-attribute?”
“It’s not light-attribute.”
“...Ah. Yes.”
Jeon Gwangil looked slightly disappointed.
No matter how it was Player Bong, in this situation, what item was he selling—one that wasn’t even light-attribute—when his head felt like it was going to split open?
“For selling items, go to the Player Shop staff and—”
That was when it happened.
BANG!
A woman burst into the eting room, throwing the door open.
“Team Leader!”
“Ah! Player Nam Gaeun.”
“You were here. The United States said they’d lend a light-attribute item? I ca because I was curious.”
“Mmm, we haven’t gotten a definite answer yet. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? I know you haven’t been able to sleep and you’ve been running around everywhere.”
Nam Gaeun clenched her fist and shouted at Jeon Gwangil.
“Let’s stay strong. If we get discouraged here, how happy would Yoo Cheolmin, that bastard, be? Strength! And from now on, call Plan A. I’ll take the lead.”
Then she looked at Juhyeok.
“But who is this?”
Juhyeok flinched.
Jeon Gwangil’s expression stiffened.
How was he going to explain this away?
They absolutely had to hide the fact that he was the S Clear Rank record-holder.
So—
“...He ca to sell an item. It seems like he got it as a Tower reward.”
“Oh! Congrats, congrats! You can just go to the Player Shop, but—aha, you don’t know where it is. Here! Follow . I’ll guide you.”
Grab!
Nam Gaeun seized Juhyeok’s hand.
Eek?
“Uh, w-wait. L-Let go of this hand.”
“It’s fine. Co on. You should stay strong too, Player. Strength!”
Dangerous.
So this was Nam Gaeun.
It was fascinating beyond belief.
How could a person be this outgoing?
Casually initiating skinship like it was nothing.
Wait.
If he wanted to sell an item for a proper price, he needed to confirm whether it actually worked.
Then there was no one better than Nam Gaeun.
“Uh, um, could you let go of my hand for a mont?”
“Oh my, sorry. I just—acting however I wanted.”
“...It’s fine. But I’ll lend you an item, so, um, try using it.”
At Juhyeok’s words, Nam Gaeun tilted her head.
“Huh? You want to use an item? I need to know what kind of item it is—”
Swoosh.
Juhyeok pulled the holy sword out of his inventory and spoke quickly.
If he spoke quickly, he wouldn’t stutter.
“It looks very old, but the attribute is holy. The na is Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom. Increased attack power in anti-undead combat, holy fla, steadfast mind, and critical hit chance too—”
She froze for a mont at the machine-gun pace, then—
“W-Wait, please. Say the sword na again.”
“Tower-Only Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Roland Holy Kingdom.”
“...Holy sword, attribute is holy?”
“Yes!”
Nam Gaeun doubted her own ears.
She’d heard about light-attribute items plenty, but holy-attribute?
And paladin?
Wasn’t that what you called a holy knight?
Jeon Gwangil was the sa.
That was the item he was selling?
If that was a real holy sword...
“It says a gentle radiance clings to the user, so it should be able to offset dark aura. Maybe it’ll be useful up to Floor 67... hahaha, if you’re talented, that is.”
Offset dark aura, sothing that absurd—
Nam Gaeun finally managed to part her lips.
“Can I check the item information?”
“As much as you want.”
Nam Gaeun took the sword from Juhyeok.
Jeon Gwangil wore an anxious, desperate expression.
“Did you check? I-Is it really a holy sword?”
She nodded.
“Yes. It says it’s a holy sword. The effects and characteristics are exactly what you said.”
“Uh, uh, uh...”
Then he looked at Juhyeok.
“T-Then you said you’d lend it to us, right?”
“Yes. Try using it and tell what you think. You haven’t cleared Floor 62, right?”
“...I couldn’t.”
“Try it. Right now.”
You wouldn’t know an item worked unless you used it.
And it wasn’t like he could go into Floor 62 himself.
Cossack said it was even better than light-attribute, and said it could go up to Floor 67, so Floor 62 should be nothing.
Just give him a good review afterward.
So he could sell it at a good price.
“I’ll go right now.”
*****
Spot!
Nam Gaeun entered the Tower.
[Entering the Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 62.]
[Your physical abilities have been enhanced to match your level.]
[Traits and combat skills are available.]
The mission, too.
[Floor 62 Mission: Kill 20 dark zombies.]
[Ti Limit: Within 15 hours.]
[Clear Condition: Dark zombies 0/20]
[Failure Condition: Death or mission abandonnt]
Undead.
Sothing that should not be alive.
Dark zombies appeared.
A tattered corpse that wasn’t ard, but flashed long fingernails and sharp teeth as it rushed in quickly.
Would it really work?
The item description was accurate.
Because a gentle white radiance was layered over her body and the sword.
But it wasn’t certain whether this faint light could defeat dark aura.
Even dazzling, brilliant light-attribute items had been helpless.
‘I have no choice but to try it myself.’
Nam Gaeun focused her mind and gripped the hilt of the old holy sword tightly.
‘I can do it, Gaeun! Just do it.’
But it was strange.
With radiance clinging to her, dark aura didn’t feel that frightening.
‘Could it be... steadfast mind? Is that what it is?’
She took a step.
“Grrr...”
The dark zombie made an animal sound, wary.
Nam Gaeun moved.
Spot!
Using a swordsman Trait’s distance-deletion skill, she reached right in front of the zombie, then—
She swung the holy sword down from above with all her strength.
SHRRRK!
The mont it cut, she could feel it.
Critical. A proper critical hit.
The holy sword split dark aura.
The raised claws—CHOP!
And even the hard skull.
WHOOSH!
Flas caught on the collapsed corpse.
Even death itself was erased.
[Dark zombie kills 1/20]
“...”
The kill count went up.
She’d killed it in a single stroke.
‘Did I really do that?’
She couldn’t believe it.
Up until now, she’d suffered through every kind of struggle just to kill one zombie.
‘This sword... it was real.’
That man who looked sowhat unreliable, who told her to try it—
Honestly, even after checking the item information, she’d been half in doubt.
This wasn’t sothing you sold for money.
No—could you even put a price on it?
If it was an item that could stop the Tower’s collapse.
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