The press conference Suho had requested was prepared and delivered by the government with lightning speed.
A hotel press conference hall where not only domestic reporters, but media from countries all over the world had been gathered.
The announcement that followed skillfully blended the statements the government desperately wanted him to recite with the content Suho had prepared.
“Esteemed top Admittees of the world.
With the appearance of an 83rd-floor Tower in Korea, the Republic of Korea now faces an unprecedented crisis.
I believe none of you Admittees are unaware of the dangers posed by a Tower exceeding the 75th floor.
For this reason, we need the cooperation and assistance of the world’s S-ranks.
The high-grade Towers already appearing in countries across the world have reached a level that no single nation can resolve alone.
I believe this is the time for us to join forces and help one another.
The threat of high-rise Towers is not merely Korea’s problem, nor the problem of any particular nation. It is a threat that may come to my country, to your country, at any time.
Without global unity and cooperation, this disaster will only grow…”
That much was the government’s requested statement,
the kind of thing any Admittee in the world would listen to with indifference.
And next came the main point Suho had prepared.
“My abilities are insignificant; I am only a support, at best.
That is why, despite a problem arising with my country’s Tower, I feel great anguish that I cannot climb it together with you.
Therefore, I have decided to make the fullest use of what I can do and contribute to the conquest of Korea’s 83rd-floor Tower.”
He paused for a moment and exchanged glances with those gathered in the hall.
With an exceedingly solemn gaze, he swept his eyes across every corner of the conference room, emphasizing that what he was about to say was the truth.
“For the nine S-rank Admittees who wish to participate in the conquest of Korea’s 83rd-floor Tower, the government will provide the finest support and rewards it has prepared. All of you fully deserve those rewards.
However, separate from that, I would personally like to offer the following benefits as an expression of my gratitude and support.”
A holographic image prepared in advance appeared in time with Suho’s words and gestures.
“I will spare nothing of everything I have obtained recently through item collecting.
First, I will provide ten high-grade regeneration potions per person, which raise the body’s overall condition to its peak.
Second, I will provide five high-grade healing potions per person, which can heal almost any external injury,
and third, I will provide two high-grade disease-curing potions per person, which can cure almost any disease.
Fourth, I will give each person two S-rank Etheriums, which can be equipped to items to increase attack power or defense power and dramatically raise basic combat values.
And lastly…”
As Suho’s announcement continued, the jaws of every reporter present seemed ready to drop.
Because a list of items that could not be obtained even if one completely scraped the global OnTower auction house clean was pouring out of Suho’s mouth alone.
“Lastly, the fifth is the [Anti-Aging Potion]. Yes, the medicine that prevents aging, which all of you already know. It is a mysterious elixir that immediately restores the body’s condition to the prime of one’s life and extends lifespan by ten years. Unfortunately, I possess only one bottle of this. Therefore… after the conquest is complete, I will select and give it to the one among the nine Admittees who worked so hard and contributed the most. As for the method, we will discuss it so that it can proceed as fairly as possible and announce it at a later date.”
Suho raised his hand, placed it over his chest, and bowed deeply.
“I thank you for your resolve and courage. You are the shields of the world, true heroes.”
Papapapapapapat—
Papapapat—
Flashes burst from all around, and soon questions began pouring in from reporters of every country.
* * *
Suho went into the subspace warehouse and, just as he had announced, began packaging one box each as a set containing ten high-grade regeneration potions, five high-grade healing potions, two high-grade disease-curing potions, and two S-rank Etheriums.
Since there were plenty of tasteful wooden boxes he had made in the subspace warehouse workshop as woodworking practice and to pass the time, he packed them neatly inside and sealed them well.
In addition to the nine overseas S-ranks who would visit for the Tower conquest, he also finished preparing boxes for the other three Korean S-ranks, excluding Danbi and Taeung. They, too, would be working hard in a difficult Tower.
And he prepared Joshua’s, Thomas’s, Danbi’s, and Taeung’s boxes separately.
Inside them, he placed twenty highest-grade regeneration potions, ten highest-grade healing potions, two highest-grade disease-curing potions, and five S-rank Etheriums each.
I don’t like my people getting hurt.
After all, one couldn’t help but favor one’s own.
* * *
After Suho’s bombshell declaration, the Tower Management Agency became busy once again. But this time, the bustle was of a different kind.
“How many have come in?”
At the question from Director Kim Gyusik of the Management Agency, an employee held out a data file.
“Currently, 642 S-rank Admittees have applied to enter the country and participate in the conquest.”
“642? Did you say 642?”
“Uh… yes, that’s correct. Exactly 642.”
“Huh… insane… roughly 71 to 1, then… What is this, a civil service exam…?”
Kim Gyusik let out a hollow laugh.
The S-ranks of allied nations who had refused to budge no matter what rewards the Korean delegation offered had rolled up their sleeves after a single press conference from Suho.
It was an absurd situation where they were even writing self-promotional statements about why they absolutely had to participate in the Tower conquest and what abilities they possessed.
“Send the applicants’ information to Admittee Jeong Suho. Tell him to make the final decision on their end.”
The fruit earned through Suho’s power—it was time to return it to him.
* * *
Among the world’s population of 9.1 billion, there were approximately 1,800 S-rank Admittees.
Ordinarily, Admittee awakenings occurred at a rate of one in ten thousand,
and S-rank Admittees appeared at nearly one in five million.
Countries with large populations naturally had more awakened Admittees, and more S-ranks as well.
However, since Tower conquest could not be made mandatory, not all of them climbed Towers, and quite a few lived in other ways, either in the light or the shadows.
In developing nations where Admittee management systems had not been properly established, side effects occurred, such as governments being swayed by the violence of Admittees. And a small number of countries that had effectively become anarchic amid collapsed order had met their end due to Towers collapsing one after another.
Because the existence of those with transcendent power always meant that “a different order than before” was in effect.
In any case, among the S-rank Admittees active in Tower conquest, those who were not yet bound to a particular Tower rushed to submit applications for Korea’s 83rd-floor conquest.
The world’s S-ranks surged in like a tsunami.
“642 people?”
“That’s what the Management Agency says. Here are the lists by country and other information. Take a look.”
Suho held out a tablet to Joshua, Thomas, Danbi, and Taeung. It was packed with names and information.
“Ha, Isabella Wilson? That haughty woman isn’t the kind of person who’d participate in something like this.”
Thomas muttered in disbelief as he scrolled down the screen.
“Lucas, too… There certainly are many unexpected people…”
Joshua also murmured with a low sigh.
“I guess there are some amazing people here.”
Taeung, who did not know much about overseas Admittees, peered at the screen.
“They are amazing. Amazing in terms of ability, yes, but more than that, I’m surprised because fundamentally arrogant people are on the applicant list.”
Joshua returned the tablet, while Thomas still had his head buried in it, repeatedly exclaiming, “Wait, this guy? Huh, this bastard too?”
“Well… if they heard those rewards and didn’t apply, they’d be the crazy ones.”
“It was enough to make their eyes roll. But really, didn’t you offer too much? Those incredible items are… such a waste. It’s not as if you can obtain them infinitely, Suho…”
Even while listening to Taeung and Danbi scold him, Suho merely smiled.
‘Haha, actually, I can get them infinitely. Those are nothing but a speck of dust, really.’
The words rose all the way to his throat, but he held them back.
The world’s S-ranks rushing in competitively just because he had offered those few things were almost becoming cute to him.
“It’s fine. That much… I can get again soon.”
Suho gave a vague excuse and looked at everyone.
“And I prepared what you’ll use separately. One class higher.”
“Whaaat?”
“Oh…”
“Suho! If you keep giving us things like that, we’ll get spoiled.”
“Kiki, that’s a good habit.”
Not only Danbi, who waved her hands while expressing a burden she did not truly feel, and Thomas, who cackled as if to say, That’s our leader, but no one showed any sign of disliking it.
Because what Suho said he would give them was that tremendous.
“There are so many applicants that the competition rate is roughly 71 to 1, but I don’t know much about Tower climbing or conquest. So please narrow them down for me. The four of you can become in-depth interviewers together and choose the appropriate people to climb with you. I think you can select them after considering their abilities, personalities, and so on.”
“Very well. We’ll have to create a sixteen-member dream team.”
Joshua, rarely, raised the corners of his mouth.
* * *
“Wahaha! Wait, wait! Winky, slowly!”
With Suho on his back, Winky leaped up and soared more than ten meters into the air before gliding.
However, since the gymnasium space was not very wide, he could only fly in a large circle.
As if disappointed that he could not show off more tricks, Winky landed on the ground again and sat flat on the floor.
“Hoo, thanks.”
There were various flight-related items, including the [Skyfall Boots] that reduced fall damage, so riding on Winky’s back posed almost no practical danger. Still, the creature was so excited that it made Suho a little uneasy.
As soon as Winky settled on the ground, Suho quickly hopped off and went around to Winky’s front to stroke his head.
Winky rumbled, krrr, krrr, purring in delight.
Having grown nearly as large as an Indian elephant, Winky could now fly even with both the huge Taeung and Suho on his back.
Even so, while only his size had grown, he still had the same cute face.
It was as if only his size had been enlarged from when he was a cub. Of course, his wings had become much larger than back then.
Since Suho had never entered a Tower, every time he saw Winky, it felt strange and fascinating to encounter such a large monster in person for the first time.
“Wow, it’s amazing no matter how many times I see him. He’s this big, and yet he still isn’t fully grown…”
Suho muttered as he stroked the feathers at the nape of Winky’s neck.
“Oh, don’t even get me started. Adults are seriously terrifying. They’re not boss mobs for nothing.”
Taeung, who had been cleaning Winky’s sleeping area, shook his head.
“How big is a fully grown one?”
“Hmm… their wingspan should be about thirty meters? Or maybe even more?”
“Eek… Th-then Winky is still a griffin elementary schooler.”
“He’s barely a kindergartener. There, done, you rascal! Try to keep it a little cleaner.”
As Taeung stepped back holding a pole with a large brush attached, Winky lightly flew up and perched on the cleaned rock.
Because griffins had the habit of sleeping only atop rocks, Suho had specially installed that boulder for him.
It was a massive rock that looked to weigh well over 300 tons.
In truth, if not for Suho, Taeung would not even have known where to begin when it came to making Winky a bed.
“It really is a relief. That Winky follows you so well, Suho…”
Taeung said, gazing at Winky with a wistful expression.
“To be honest, when I first got that guy, I thought my Tower climbing was over. There was nowhere I could possibly leave him… Well, I could just not do Tower conquests, but then I wondered how I’d make money. I needed to earn money to feed him.”
“Haha… Well, whether it’s people or beasts, it seems they all follow the person who feeds them.”
“That’s true.”
In reality, Suho had fed and raised Winky all this time. Taeung’s finances could not handle the cost of Winky’s food.
“While you’re away, Taeung, I’ll come check on him every day. I’ll feed him plenty of Etherium too. And I’ll clean every day.”
“Thank you. Really. That’s so reassuring. If he were just a fierce beast like a lion or tiger, I could at least look for somewhere to leave him…”
“Haha… Wow, now that I think about it, do you suppose there might be someone else like you somewhere, Taeung? Should I open a monster-pet hotel while I’m at it?”
“Whoa… as if there’d be another lunatic like that…”
“Hahaha, come on, a lunatic? It could happen! Do you really think there isn’t anyone else in the whole wide world who formed a bond with a monster in a Tower? Someday, I hope the day comes when we can ride this guy and go outside. The whole world would be turned upside down. Haha.”
Suho became lost in his own pleasant imagination, but Taeung was horrified.
“Absolutely not! Admittees from all over the world would probably come running to raid him… You must never take him outside.”
“I know, I know. I was joking. Anyway, this gymnasium is too small now, so that’s a big problem. The new house will probably take quite a while to build… Sigh.”
“…I feel bad for him. It really would be nice if he could fly around freely outside.”
Taeung agreed with Suho’s words.
The indoor gymnasium Suho had hurriedly built for Winky was currently the size of a multipurpose gymnasium, forty-five meters wide, twenty meters long, and fifteen meters high, but for Winky, it was small in many ways.
If Winky had been a land-type monster, he might have managed well enough, but because he had to fly around with that enormous body, he often ended up bumping into things here and there.
The gymnasium, which had been quickly constructed by a building company with H-beams as the main framework, looked ordinary on the outside,
but out of concern that the H-beams might not withstand Winky and could bend or collapse, Suho had reinforced the building by wrapping it in another layer of “Endurant,” one of the Cheonyangwon items with excellent ability to absorb and disperse impact.
“Oh, right! Taeung, do you think Winky might be able to enter the Tower? He was originally born there, after all.”
“Ah…? I’m not sure. I’ve never thought about that…”
“If you can bring him to a Tower, that would be incredible. If it works, he probably wouldn’t count against the entry limit either, and Winky could chew up and swallow most monsters on his own.”
“Uh… I don’t know if that’s possible…”
Taeung rolled his eyes for a moment, then smiled.
“If… that works, then up to around the 50th floor, the raid party could just laze around and camp. Hah.”
“Oh? Really? Winky, did you hear that!? Let’s hurry and grow big and strong!”
When Suho raised both arms toward Winky, who was curled up atop the rock, and shouted, Winky spread his large wings in response.
He was still a big, adorable fellow.