It was so absurd that it didn't even feel real.
Because no one could have possibly imagined that something like this would happen.
A national team–caliber player who had achieved the feat of clearing Floor 65 with the government's full support, and who had seized wealth and honor in one hand, naturalizes overnight? And to Japan, of all places?
South Korea was in chaos.
In particular, Yoo Cheolmin's remarks at the press conference at the Japanese Prime Minister's official residence were so petty it was jaw-dropping.
- The biggest reason I came to Japan is Korea's Awakening Management Agency, which has fallen into complacency.- Even with the deadline for clearing Floor 66 right around the corner, they had no intention of providing proper support, and the agency's executives were too busy playing politics while neglecting the elite team's operations.
- South Korea's future was bleak. The only choice left to me was Japan. They say escape belongs to the intelligent, and they were right.
- I have no regrets about choosing naturalization. I will accept any criticism gladly. Curse me all you want. Then, I wish South Korea victory.
He's saying it that way to deliberately provoke conflict, it seems.
Who would agree with remarks like that?
Everyone knows how lavishly Yoo Cheolmin has been feasting in the bosom of the South Korean government.
The Awakening Management Agency, the National Intelligence Service, and the police were also targets of criticism.
└ That cowardly bastard. Is that even human? He can't clear Floor 66, so he makes up excuses like that and runs off?
└ This is so infuriating. Of all places, Japan?
└ Why is everyone overreacting? If he'd gone to China, you wouldn't be this worked up, right?
└ China? Same thing there. If he'd gone to China, we'd be cursing China instead, you damn bastard! Where do you get off stirring the pot!
└ Hey! If you don't want to die, shut up.
└ Ugh, this feels even worse than losing a Korea-Japan soccer match.
└ I hear that bastard took all the items the agency gave him in his inventory too.
└ This is a matter of national pride. We have to do something. Either assassinate that Yoo bastard, or declare war on Japan.
└ Aren't we about to lose the S++-grade clear recorder too?
└ The possibility is definitely there. If even that person goes somewhere else, I'm considering emigrating too.
The TV was nothing but that story.
What's done is done, and there's no taking it back.
Ju Hyeok calmed his agitation.
"Turns out there's a bigger loser than me."
"Oh my! If you're a loser, Bong Summoner-nim, then all the men of South Korea are losers. That bastard's just a pathetic, wretched moron."
That seemed right.
He was confident he was at least better than that guy.
That said, this was probably why Team Leader Jeon Gwangil had requested a one-on-one meeting.
Kosaku cautiously spoke up.
"…Um, if you go to the agency, it's obvious what that man will say."
Ju Hyeok had a hunch too.
"If you meekly go along with it, he'll get spoiled. We have to keep going at our usual pace. Slowly, safely."
True enough.
If you push too hard going up, problems can arise.
"It would also be fine to just ignore him and not go. If we hide somewhere for a few days like that bastard did—"
"Ay, we can't do that."
"Huh?"
We've built up some goodwill, after all.
"I'll go drop off the holy sword and come back. It seems to need a light-attribute item—"
Might as well sell it and make some money too.
"Aaaah, as expected of Bong Summoner-nim. I'm moved. To bestow grace like the Red Sea parting upon useless public servants."
Heh! Just this much, and—who am I?
I may look like a loser on the outside, but in truth, I'm a stand-up guy with a warm heart.
"But this holy sword is a light attribute, Bong Summoner-nim."
"Huh?"
"It's a holy attribute."
Isn't that the same thing?
They say it's imbued with radiance—isn't the "radiance" of radiance the same "rad" as in light?
Anyway.
"Is that okay?"
"Yep! Even better."
Then we're good.
"With this holy sword, one could go up to Floor 67. If wielded by someone with talent, that is."
Why only that far?
"Because it's old and worn out. Look at the engraving on the blade. It's all faded, isn't it?"
"It really is."
"So its radiance is weak. A genuine holy sword's radiance is as bright as a searchlight. Undead melt right away."
In other words, a broken lightsaber.
In any case, someday—no telling when—he too would have a day when he climbed into the 60s.
"There are holy-attribute summonable people in that world, right?"
"Tons of them, packed in tight."
"What grades?"
"The saintess and the pope are LSSR grade, but holy knights, priests, monks, high priests, and so on range from Rare up to SSR. They're guaranteed to be carrying at least one holy relic, so if you get lucky with just one of them, it's over."
Figured.
There are tanks and assassins—how could there be no healer?
What if the gacha fails?
What's the problem?
You just park on a suitable floor and wait until one shows up.
Time to start getting ready to head to the agency.※ ※ ※
The Awakening Management Agency in Hannam-dong, Seoul.
The area in front of it was congested beyond description.
It looked as though every media outlet in Korea had gathered.
The police were holding back the crowd, but every time a person or car entered or exited the agency's main gate, reporters swarmed like mad wolves.
No wonder Team Leader Jeon Gwangil couldn't come out.
When Ju Hyeok's car entered the agency grounds, reporters came rushing in a wave.
"What measures is the agency taking?"
"There are rumors of Director Park Gyeongsu's dismissal. Is that true?"
"Please say just one word."
How would I know that?
Thank goodness for the heavily tinted car windows.
He took the elevator up from the underground parking lot.
Inside the agency, the atmosphere was gloomy.
Every employee he passed looked utterly despondent.
Would today's emergency meeting even go properly at this rate?
Ju Hyeok met Team Leader Jeon Gwangil in a quiet office.
"I'm sorry for calling you here when you're so busy."
"No, I completely understand. I saw the news too. You must be heartbroken."
"…Thank you for the consolation."
As expected, having met often enough to be familiar, the words came easily.
"The reason I asked for Player Bong is none other than—"
Jeon Gwangil seemed to have trouble getting the words out. Gulp. After swallowing briefly—
"C-could I ask how long it would take for you to c-climb up into the 60s?"
I knew that was coming.
Currently on Floor 29.
Assuming he climbed an uncleared upper floor every day, that would be 31 days, and 37 days to reach Floor 66. With about 80 days left until the Floor 66 clear deadline, a simple calculation would suggest ample time—
But he had to be firm.
So he steadied his breathing.
And deliberately lowered his voice.
"It'll be difficult within 80 days. I also have hard stretches, so I prepare by repeating clears of a floor for at least 10 days before moving up."
"…I see."
At the same time, he drove in the wedge.
"It should be in the contract terms as well. Climbing the upper floors is left entirely to my decision."
"I'm sorry. I'm ashamed. It hasn't even been that long since we signed, and I'm already saying this. But I'm grasping at straws here—"
Ahh, that sorrowful expression.
His heart was weakening.
He wanted to say, Don't worry. I'll somehow make it to Floor 66, but… what can't be done, can't be done.
Right now, being in the 20s, he could climb every day. But the 30s? The 40s? The 50s?
Unless he pulled an LSSR-grade saintess or pope from a random summon.
"I heard there's one more player in the 60s on the elite team besides Yoo Cheolmin."
"Player Nam Gaeun. But she's been stuck in the low 60s for over 100 days now."
"…That's a long time."
"We've been searching for light-attribute items to support Player Nam as well. But that bastard Yoo Cheolmin ran off with all the items we had secured. If it weren't for that…"
Wow, what a total son of a bitch.
Time to throw it out there.
"Come to think of it, since we're on the topic of items—I'm thinking of putting an item up in the Player Shop."
"Wha— oh, oh, could it be light attribute?"
"It's not light attribute."
"…Ah, I see, I see."
Jeon Gwangil was slightly disappointed.
Even if he was Player Bong, what item could he be selling in this situation, and it wasn't even light attribute? His head was killing him.
"For the item, you'll need to go to a Player Shop employee to sell—"
That was when.
Bam!
A woman burst through the meeting room door.
"Team Leader!"
"Ah! Player Nam Gaeun."
"There you are. They say the US will loan us a light-attribute item? I was curious about that."
"Hmm, we haven't received a definite answer yet. I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing, Team Leader? I know you've been running around here and there without even sleeping—"
Player Nam Gaeun clenched her fist and shouted at Jeon Gwangil.
"Let's stay strong! If we get dispirited here, just imagine how happy that bastard Yoo Cheolmin will be. Strength! Oh, and from now on, please call me Plan A. I'll lead the charge."
Then, looking at Ju Hyeok—
"By the way, who is this?"
Flinch!
Jeon Gwangil's expression froze.
How should he finesse this?
The fact that he was an S++-grade clear recorder absolutely had to be hidden.
So—
"…He came to sell an item. Probably something he received as a tower reward."
"Oh! Congrats on the item drop! You'd go to the Player Shop, ah, you don't know where it is, right? There! Follow me. I'll show you the way."
Grab!
Nam Gaeun took Ju Hyeok's hand.
Yipe?
"Uh, wait, j-just let go of my—"
"It's fine. Follow me. Stay strong too, Player-nim. Strength!"
This is dangerous.
Is this person Nam Gaeun?
It was nothing short of astonishing.
How could a person be this outgoing?
Freely doling out skinship without reserve.
Hold on!
Either way, to sell the item at its proper price, he'd need to confirm whether it worked.
And in that case, there was no one better than Nam Gaeun.
"Uh, um, could you let go of my hand for a moment?"
"Oh my, sorry. I just grabbed without thinking."
"…It's fine. Actually, I'll lend you an item, so, um, why don't you try using it?"
Nam Gaeun tilted her head at Ju Hyeok's words.
"Sorry? You want me to use it? I'd have to know what kind of item—"
Swoosh!
Ju Hyeok pulled the holy sword from his inventory and spoke rapidly.
The faster you talk, the less you stumble.
"It looks very old, but its attribute is holy. The name is the Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Holy Nation of Roland, Tower Exclusive. Against undead, attack power increases, plus the Flame of Sanctification, Unshakable Mind, and even increased critical rate—"
Momentarily staggered by the rapid-fire delivery—
"W-wait a moment, please say the sword's name again."
"The Holy Sword of the Paladin Commander of the Holy Nation of Roland, Tower Exclusive."
"…The holy sword's attribute is holy?"
"Yep!"
Nam Gaeun doubted her own ears.
She'd heard plenty about light attributes, but a holy attribute?
And a paladin, at that?
Wasn't that another word for a holy knight?
Jeon Gwangil was the same.
That item was this?
If that was really a holy sword—
"They say a subtle radiance is imbued in the wielder, and it should be able to offset the dark aura. It could probably be used up to Floor 67… hahaha, if one has the talent, that is."
Offset the dark aura? Such nonsense—
Nam Gaeun barely tore her lips apart.
"May I check the item's information?"
"By all means."
Nam Gaeun took the sword from Ju Hyeok.
Then Jeon Gwangil, his face full of desperation—
"Did you check? A r-really holy sword?"
She nodded.
"That's right. It says holy sword. The effects and traits are exactly as he said."
"Ooooh."
And then, looking at Ju Hyeok—
"Y-you said you'd lend it to me?"
"Yes. Try it out and tell me your impressions. You haven't cleared Floor 62 yet, right?"
"…I haven't."
"Try it. Now."
You can't know if an item works until you use it, after all.
He couldn't enter Floor 62 himself, and Kosaku had said it was better than light attribute and would hold up to Floor 67—so Floor 62 was nothing.
He just hoped she'd give a good review afterward.
That was how he could sell it at a good price.
"I'll go and be right back."※ ※ ※
Flash!
Nam Gaeun entered the tower.
[Entering Floor 62 of the Black Tower of South Korea.]
[Physical abilities have been enhanced to match your level.]
[Traits and combat skills are available.]
And the mission.
[Floor 62 Mission: Slay 20 Dark Zombies.]
[Time Limit: Within 15 hours.]
[Clear Condition: Dark Zombies 0/20]
[Failure Condition: Death or mission abandonment.]
Undead.
Something that should never be alive.
Dark zombies appeared.
Though unarmed, tattered corpses bared their long claws and sharp teeth as they charged in fast.
Would it really work?
The item description had been accurate.
A faint white radiance overlayed her body and the sword.
But she wasn't sure this faint light could overcome the dark aura.
Even the dazzling, brilliant glow of light-attribute items had been helpless.
'I'll just have to try it myself.'
Nam Gaeun steeled her focus and gripped the handle of the old holy sword tight.
'You can do it, Gaeun! Just give it a try.'
But how strange.
With the radiance enveloping her, the dark aura didn't seem so frightening.
'Could it be Unshakable Mind? Is that it?'
She took a step forward.
"Grrrr,"
A dark zombie growled, watching her warily like a beast.
Nam Gaeun moved.
Flash!
Using the Swordsman trait's gap-closing skill, she closed the distance right in front of the zombie—
And swung the holy sword down from above with all her might.
Shraaak!
The instant it cut, she could feel it.
A critical hit, properly triggered.
The holy sword cleaved through the dark aura.
The claws of the thing raising its arm—Shlack!
And its solid skull along with them.
Whoosh!
The collapsing corpse even caught fire.
Even death itself was annihilated.
[Dark Zombie Slain 1/20]
"…."
The kill count had gone up.
Killed in a single stroke.
'Did I just do that?'
She couldn't believe it.
She'd suffered every hardship imaginable just to take down a single zombie until now.
'This sword was the real deal.'
A sword given to her by that somewhat sloppy-looking man.
Honestly, even after checking the item's information, she'd been skeptical.
This was not something to be sold for money.
No, could a price even be placed on it at all?
If it was an item that could stop the tower's collapse.────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────