Jeon Gwang-il came out of Incheon Airport.
Since his precious clients had some business to finish before departing, he had to see them off.
"I'm glad the Holy Sword experience was to your liking."
"To be honest, I wasn't all that pleased with it."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"I rented it twice, and you didn't even offer a discount. That's rather disappointing."
Director Antonio's grumbling, laced with complaint.
He didn't sound like he was joking. He sounded serious.
Disappointment, my foot.
Who tries to haggle over rental fees?
He'd been feeling it for a while now—Director Antonio was truly stingy.
Last time, he offered a Holy Sword rental fee of one million dollars and left people flabbergasted.
Still, thanks to playing along with Gerald, they got the full amount.
He seemed thoroughly smitten with the Holy Sword's effects, throwing a tantrum right in front of him insisting he'd definitely rent it one more time—how could anyone talk him out of it?
"By the way, where did the Holy Sword's owner obtain that item?"
"Well. I'd guess it was a Tower reward. From at least Floor 50 and above?"
"Hahaha, that's a tremendous reward. ...Do they give items like that for an S++ grade clear?"
"I wouldn't know. The Holy Sword's owner isn't an S++ clear record holder anyway."
He was scheming again.
He'd been at it since yesterday.
Subtly probing whether the Management Agency had identified the S++ clear record holder.
Of course, Jeon Gwang-il never took the bait.
"If that's the case, then Director Antonio could just find the S++ clear record holder yourself and ask. And if you happen to find out, please tell me too. We're really curious about who it is as well."
Director Antonio was a persistent man, too.
"Then, if an opportunity should arise... might I be permitted to personally pay my respects to the Holy Sword's owner and offer my thanks?"
"At the airport? The plane's departure time is practically here."
"It's a private jet, so I can go whenever."
"Ah, I see. But the Holy Sword's true owner is a very busy person—I only communicate with them through messages as well. I'll pass along your thanks on their behalf."
Antonio said this with a slight smirk.
"Yes, yes, please do."
He had to be careful.
America was more dangerous than Japan or China.
If Player Bong Ju-hyeok's identity were revealed, how would America react?
They'd mobilize every means at their disposal to take him away.
"Oh, right! Mister Jeon, I heard some good news..."
"Pardon? What news?"
"I hear you're up for a promotion this time."
"How did you know that—"
"I have ears too. Plenty of people have been telling me here and there. Congratulations."
"...Thank you."
Fast with the information.
That's America for you, isn't it?
That's right.
For his contribution to the successful conquest of Floor 66, Jeon Gwang-il was up for a promotion.
He was slated to take the Deputy Director position at the Management Agency that had been left vacant.
"Next time we meet, you'll be Deputy Director."
"Hahaha, I'm embarrassed. Well then, you have your schedule, so travel safely. I have pressing business, so I'll take my leave."
"Yes. See you in a few months."
America was currently conquering Floor 67, where the Undead Phantom Reaper appears.
With plenty of time left, they'd try a few assaults and then inevitably come back.
They've had a taste of the Holy Sword, after all.
They'd send someone else instead of coming themselves?
Anyway, two Holy Sword rentals.
Two million dollars combined.
26 billion won.
He wanted to share this joyous news with Player Bong Ju-hyeok, but he was unreachable at the moment.
They'd spoken on the phone in advance.
He said he planned to meditate for two days.
It was a common occurrence for players.
For those who had to conquer the Tower alone, the most important thing was maintaining one's mental state.
Even elite team members did many things to recover their mentality.
Doing yoga, listening to music, going camping, or working out like Player Nam Ga-eun.
For Player Bong Ju-hyeok, it would be meditation.
Don't disturb him, and just wait until he calls first.
※ ※ ※
Geon-dallae sometimes referred to Kosak and Gobang as "servants."
And now a real servant had arrived?
After the congratulatory send-off and greetings, as soon as the welcome was over, Laxics started with cleaning the house.
"Ho-eo, watch your feet, your feet!"
Laxics rolling around as he mopped the floor.
Couldn't tell whether he was wiping the floor with the rag or wiping the floor with his own body.
A house where a man lived alone was never very tidy to begin with.
Unless one had a compulsive cleanliness disorder, Ju-hyeok's officetel was on the rather messy side.
But in an instant, it was getting organized.
So fast that the house's transformation seemed like a video played at three times speed.
His arms were short, so Laxics used tools.
He organized things with tongs pulled from his backpack.
Pick up an out-of-place item, toss it lightly, and it found its own place.
'Is that a skill too?'
Dusting the shelves, tossing clothes strewn about into the washing machine, rinsing sink dishes with water for the dishwasher, trash into the bin, sorting and bundling paper boxes, plastic bottles, cans, and glass bottles by type.
Geon-dallae marveled.
"Easily the finest servant this maiden has ever seen. Working so diligently without even being told!"
When everything was done, Laxics placed both hands on his hips, puffed himself up proudly, chest out, and admired his handiwork.
"Hu-eng!"
His face brimmed with unmistakable pride.
How could one not applaud?
Clap clap clap clap!
"Remarkable, Mr. Laxics!"
"Splendid. He more than deserves the title of Chief Servant, Madangswae. You should all learn from his example. This maiden shall embrace him."
"Ho-e?"
"He cleaned up everything Gobang scattered. So impressive. A true Madangswae."
"Ho-eng!"
Ju-hyeok had fallen for Laxics.
A madness demon?
If they took one along, it would only want to roam outside talking about world conquest.
Threatening to kill its own comrades and whatnot.
But look at this diligent, well-mannered maze worker, round and fluffy Laxics.
Was there even a comparison?
— Laxics had always been ranked first among workers among maze adventurers. It was no exaggeration to say that bringing Laxics alone cut the difficulty of maze exploration by more than half. Cooking, laundry, setting up camps, herb gathering, mining, tanning, weapon repair... there was nothing he couldn't do. However, during a maze exploration, he was devoured by Apophis, the giant serpent boss of the maze's underground Floor 93.
Even the background lore proved Laxics's greatness.
But it was a shame. From Floor 51 onward, they'd have to part ways.
Just a moment ago, he had gathered separately with the summoned beings except Laxics and whispered among themselves.
"Laxics is cute, but he brings little benefit to climbing the Tower. We shouldn't be cleaning inside the Tower, should we?"
"Cute, but this maiden's thoughts are the same. It would be best to bring him along for thirty days and replace him when the random summoning occurs."
"Laxics is cute. He works well. But he is weak."
That was how the opinions converged.
Bring him only up to Floor 50. For the S++ clear of Floor 51, one more damage dealer absolutely had to be added.
Magic-type or ranged would be ideal.
The basic framework of an S++ clear was kiting. Up to Floor 50, the monsters were terrestrial, so it was entirely doable.
No matter how big and fast they were, if the grown Gobang held aggro tightly while Kosak dealt damage like a madman, with Geon-dallae's buffs layered on top, the clear would be finished in the blink of an eye.
But kiting the flying monsters that appeared from Floor 51 onward was no easy feat.
Because they flew.
Even after landing, they hovered in the air and harassed players.
And if they sensed danger, they'd fly away to escape.
The worst possible scenario was the light-bodied Kosak or Geon-dallae being seized in a wyvern's claws and carried off through the air—and Ju-hyeok was exposed to that danger too—it had to be resolved as quickly as possible.
The conclusion: burst damage.
With magic-types or ranged attackers, they could strike the moment the wyverns descended and sap their strength early, and with just one additional damage dealer, kiting four or five monsters would be quick work.
They absolutely had to draw a damage dealer in the next random summoning.
That was why dropping Laxics from Floor 51 onward was the correct answer.
Unless trait enhancement happened one more time, that is.
But that would be very difficult.
"Shall we try conquering Floor 41 to celebrate our new member's arrival?"
When Ju-hyeok broached the topic,
"Chung! Confident of an S++. Just trust in this S-Rank Kosak."
"There's an S-Rank Gobang too."
"This maiden shall ever attend to the Master with utmost loyalty."
"Ho-eng!"
Laxics also raised his short arms in answer—
What was he going to do?
※ ※ ※
[Entering Floor 41 of the South Korean Black Tower.]
From Floor 41 onward, giant terrestrial beasts appeared.
The environment was a forest thick with short grass and trees.
[Floor 41 Mission: Slay 15 Iron-Armored Basilisks.]
Iron-Armored Basilisk.
A massive reptile that looked like a crocodile mixed with a lizard.
Its size was terrifying too.
Body length of about 7 to 8 meters.
If you met its gaze, your body would freeze.
And then it would chew off your head.
The cause was its paralysis beam.
If hit, you couldn't even flee.
The paralysis beam had to be blocked.
Many players fell victim early on, but now countermeasure items had been invented, making it relatively stable.
But for Ju-hyeok?
A paralysis beam? Nothing.
He had three S-Rank heroes.
Plus one upright man and one cute hamster.
"Come on, let's clear this fast and have a company dinner. A dinner! In that spirit, I'll take three basilisks too. Call? Too few? I'll take four."
Then Kosak shook his head side to side.
"No can do, Summoner Bong."
"What, why not again?"
"Must protect Laxics. Look! How cute is he?"
"Ho-eng?"
"What if he wanders out and gets killed by a monster? Summoner Bong, please protect Laxics."
Now they were blocking him from combat using Laxics as an excuse?
"Then you could look after Laxics, Mr. Kosak."
"Ah, if I'm tied up, what happens to the S++ grade clear?"
"···."
Geon-dallae too:
"This maiden also wishes to protect Mr. Laxics, but she must shake her bell. Master, please entrust yourself to this most important mission."
Truly wicked people.
He'd clearly said he would participate from Floor 41 onward.
'Hah! Shall I summon the madness demon once more?'
Honestly, he was worried about Laxics.
What if he got killed by a basilisk, like he'd been devoured by that giant serpent?
Such a weak, weak hamster worker—he absolutely had to protect him.
But thinking about it quietly again—was this how the summoned beings had felt about him?
'···Hmm.'
Oh, come on! No way!
'I'm a talented upright man, after all.'
In any case, for today only, he'd step back.
Because he was worried about Laxics.
The conquest began.
The sound of Geon-dallae's bell—a buff.
Gobang, his body grown huge, seizing a basilisk's tail with one hand and slamming it around.
Then Kosak's finishing move.
Stabbing the basilisk's head with his dagger and scrambling its brain.
The paralysis beam?
It had no effect at all.
Because Geon-dallae's buff neutralized the paralysis beam and applied a debuff that weakened them.
Kill count rising in an instant.
Ahhh.
Ju-hyeok wanted to join the battle too.
Wasn't he Level 41?
Plus he'd received a whole special perk item set that he hadn't even gotten to use.
Nothing to be done.
To protect the cute worker Laxics...
"Wha—!"
Where did he go?
Laxics had vanished in an instant.
Ju-hyeok blinked, scanning his surroundings.
'He was right beside me just a moment ago.'
Right at that moment!
A white ball of fluff was visible on a dead basilisk's corpse.
'···When did he get over there?'
Spot!
He dashed over with Shadow Steps to where the fluff ball had been,
'···Gone again.'
What a slippery little creature.
A speed Laxics's short legs could never produce.
Some kind of teleportation?
"Ho-eeeeng!"
He heard a sound.
Turning his gaze—
"···Hahaha."
This time the fluff ball was found under a tree on the opposite side.
'What on earth—?'
He couldn't understand why the thing was scurrying around like that.
He ran over again, but it was already too late.
The fluff ball spotted here and there.
Watching how it moved, it rolled along, tumbling.
'Wow! So that's how it moves!'
Roll roll roll roll, roll roll roll roll,
It was too fast for Ju-hyeok to chase.
Well, with a body that round, rolling would be far faster than walking on short legs.
Anyway, since all he did was chase after it,
[Iron-Armored Basilisk slain 15/15]
[You have succeeded in the Floor 41 mission.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: Magic Stone 4.1kg]
The conquest was over.
As always, the reward was only magic stones.
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear grade for Floor 41 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge shall be awarded.]
Spot!
Ju-hyeok and the summoned beings returned to the officetel once more.
"Thank you for your labor."
"You have toiled greatly."
"We finished well thanks to the Summoner."
"···."
Labor, my foot.
He hadn't even gotten to use the item set.
And then,
"Ho-eeeeng,"
Laxics was sniffling, tears streaming.
···Why was he crying again?
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Ho-eng, no."
"Then why are you crying?"
"The conquest ended too quickly."
"Finishing fast is a good thing, isn't it?"
"This is all I could gather. I'm so sorry. Ho-eng."
Gathering?
Laxics rummaged through his small backpack and pulled something out.
Tug!
An enormous single piece of the Iron-Armored Basilisk's hide.
"···Th-that's a hide."
"It is a whole hide."
How did he bring this back?
It wasn't a mission reward.
Even as a reward, they wouldn't give something like a whole hide.
They'd toss you a small scrap of leather at most.
Next,
Tug tug tug!
A magic stone that looked to weigh at least 20kg.
"···."
And then.
Pitter-patter-pour!
Countless blades of nameless grass.
"···Herbs?"
The herbs normally received as mission rewards were a few stalks of dried grass.
These were fresh herbs that seemed to have been gathered just now.
How on earth?
Just a moment ago, Laxics had said "gathering."
'So these aren't reward items...'
He'd gathered them inside the Tower?
'That was possible?'
No way.
If gathering inside the Tower were possible, there'd never be a shortage of materials.
Ju-hyeok realized it.
'I underestimated them far too much.'
The abilities of a worker.
Suddenly, tiny Laxics looked more colossal than Gobang.
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