Manager Jeon Gwangil was just as stunned.
At first, he had no idea why Manager Lee Mina was so shocked.
He assumed Player Bong Juhyeok had reappeared in under ten minutes because he had abandoned the mission.
But then the messages started pouring in on his smartphone.
- Sir, another global announcement just went up.
- A consecutive S++ clear record on Floor 11.
- The Commissioner has called an emergency meeting.
- He says to wrap up your business trip as quickly as possible and come back right away.
He had already phoned Commissioner Park Gyeongsu to tell him that Bong Juhyeok was not the S++ record holder—something along the lines of, "I'll just sign the standard contract and head back in soon."
And yet, what was this?
It was that man.
That timid Bong Juhyeok, who couldn't even meet his or Manager Lee Mina's eyes properly, was the S++ record holder.
Unless someone was a fool, how could they not see it?
He was insisting it was coincidence, but "coincidence, my ass."
The cleared floor and the timing matched perfectly.
And yet Player Bong Juhyeok was still dodging the question.
"Ah, Ith wath a coidenth. ...Aah, thorry, thorry—my thpeech got infected, but, but anyway, it wathn't me, definitely not me."
His words were stuttering, but he was brazenly stonewalling.
"You really weren't the one?"
"Ye! No—yes, I mean, no!"
But Jeon Gwangil was certain.
Bong Juhyeok was the S++ rank record holder.
He was trying hard to hide it, but it showed in his expression, his speech, his gestures.
"I see."
"···Hahaha, th-that's what I've been thaying."
"Then, now that we've confirmed your awakening, I'll prepare the contract. Manager Lee Mina?"
The quick-witted Manager Lee Mina pulled a contract out of an envelope.
A contract prepared in advance.
One meant solely for the S++ record holder.
"Th-thith isn't a standard contract, is it? It lookth like an Elite Team contract?"
"No. This is on a completely different level from that one. If you had to put a name to it, you could call it an Ultra Elite contract."
"···."
"Right now, it's a benefit that only Player Yu Cheolmin receives in all of South Korea."
Player Yu Cheolmin.
A name Juhyeok knew well too. Korea's top player, who had cleared Floor 65 and was currently challenging Floor 66.
"Take a look. It includes every benefit the nation can offer. An annual salary of 12 billion won, real estate, VVIP protocol and security, even immunity privileges."
"Then why are you giving this to me—"
"Because you've proven you have the greatest talent. Please make your decision. For the Republic of Korea—"
It was all over.
Because of that damn John Korsak, because of the absurd Three Principles of the Summoned.
"Haah, damn it, this has gotten way too big."
A despondent Juhyeok.
At the sight of him, Manager Lee Mina said,
"You deserve treatment worthy of your talent, Juhyeok-ssi. Join the Elite Team."
And with that, she gave a faint smile.
Thump!
Juhyeok's heart sank. "A woman... smiling with her eyes?" This was unexpected.
Juhyeok had close to zero immunity when it came to women.
He needed to keep his wits about him.
One misstep and he'd be swept away.
So, with a stern expression, he said, "···Unless it's a standard contract, I won't be a player."
"I beg your pardon?"
"What, but why...?"
Juhyeok gathered his courage.
"I don't like attention. When I get attention, I get stressed, and when I'm stressed, I don't want to do anything at all."
"···Hmm."
"···."
Surprisingly, this was the truth.
It had always been that way.
"For now, climbing the Tower is actually fun. I'm doing it sincerely, too. But it's only Floor 11 so far. I can't predict what the future holds, and I'm still not sure of it myself."
Only then did Jeon Gwangil understand.
Bong Juhyeok's personality.
Like a male customer who comes to a clothing store, gets friendly service, and never visits again—claim he's a regular at a restaurant he eats at daily and chat away, and the very next day he'll cut you off.
For some people, excessive attention backfires.
Call it the extreme I of the MBTI personality types.
For now, backing off was the right move.
"···Very well. Then let's proceed with the standard contract."
"Oh! Thank you."
Juhyeok received the new contract, checked it, and signed swiftly.
This much counted as a decent save.
Someone might ask why he insisted on a standard contract.
Why not just boldly stamp the Elite contract, enjoy the benefits, and climb the Tower?
An Elite contract came with obligations matching what you received.
Even if he wanted to quit while climbing the upper floors, he couldn't.
After all, the team existed to climb the uncleared upper floors.
And if he joined the Elite Team, he'd have to record his clears and show them to the public.
John Korsak's existence would inevitably be exposed.
But he didn't want to reveal it.
He was different from ordinary summoned creatures.
He was a full-fledged individual.
He should at least be asked first.
※ ※ ※
Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu merely blinked at Team Leader Jeon Gwangil's out-of-nowhere report.
The player you met today after receiving the call—Bong Juhyeok—is presumed to be the S++ rank record holder? No, you're nearly certain?
He asked again, several times.
But the answer was the same.
"Jeon, Team Leader Jeon, this is completely different from your interim report. On the phone, didn't you say he was a timid player with no will to climb?"
"That's correct."
"I'm sorry? ···And yet you're saying S++ rank?"
"That's also correct. No will to climb, a timid personality—but he possesses S++ rank clearing talent."
It made no sense at all.
"Explain in detail."
"Well, you see...,"
Jeon Gwangil described what had happened just moments before.
Then Commissioner Park Gyeongsu asked with a horrified expression, "···Is there any chance it was coincidence?"
Manager Lee Mina answered the question.
"The timing was simply too perfect. It was absolutely not a coincidence."
She was a player herself.
She must have seen and heard it firsthand.
Meaning the clear-success announcement matched the moment he exited the Tower.
If so, he was unmistakably the S++ rank record holder—so why would he insist on staying on a standard team?
Was he planning to let that enormous talent rot?
"Did you explain the Elite Team benefits in detail?"
"Yes. We informed him repeatedly, multiple times. We actively made our case."
"···And he still wouldn't budge?"
What on earth was his intention?
"Could he be stalling on purpose to drive up his price...?"
"I don't think so. It may simply be his personality."
"So he really is that timid?"
"Yes, most likely."
"Haah, this is maddening."
What do we do?
If he has no will to climb, then no matter how much talent he has, letting him go is the right call.
But S++ rank talent?
"So the contract?"
"For now, the standard contract is the best option. Approaching him too eagerly would only backfire."
"You intend to just keep watching like this?"
"Certainly not. To simply sit and watch talent like that? We absolutely must bring him onto the Elite Team."
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu nodded as well.
"Good. ···But don't come on too strong. If he's truly as timid as he seems, he might give up his player status altogether."
"Understood. First, we plan to figure out what kind of person Bong Juhyeok is. If he has a weakness, we dig into it."
"Yes. But this must stay absolutely secret. Let's say only you, Team Leader Jeon, and Manager Lee Mina know."
"We'll keep it in mind."
"You as well."
The Elite contract had fallen through, but they couldn't just stand by and watch.
They already knew who he was, after all.
And the standard contract had gone through.
The key was security.
Bloodsuckers might come swarming in.
Talented players are coveted in every country.
"By the way, do you think he'll set another S++ record on Floor 12?"
"Hard to say. He might, but we should also keep the possibility of stonewalling in mind. Deliberately dragging out the time, or making the clear look difficult—"
"To avoid joining the Elite Team?"
"Or he'll just keep clearing at S++. He did say, at least, that climbing the Tower is fun."
Honestly, it was ambiguous.
He wanted to confirm whether it was true S++ talent, but he also wanted things to stop here so that Bong Juhyeok's existence never came to light.
And then, the next day.
[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear rating for Floor 12 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Again?
To confirm, Team Leader Jeon Gwangil called Juhyeok.
"Pl-Player Bong Juhyeok, did you just clear Floor 12?"
- ···Yes, that was me. But Floor 13 might be tough.
And the day after that,
[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear rating for Floor 13 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
What? "Tough"?
[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear rating for Floor 14 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Three days in a row.
"It was real."
At this point, who cared how timid he was?
He was producing undeniable results.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu had no choice but to make a decision.
They would bring him onto the Elite Team, no matter what.
Team Leader Jeon Gwangil thought the same.
"Should we assign people to him?"
"No. Special treatment is even more dangerous. Too many eyes on him. For now, treat him like any standard contractor."
"I think so too."
They had to approach carefully.
First, build trust.
Even an extremely timid personality changes once you get close to someone.
"Come up with a way to build a strong relationship with him."
"The best way is to meet him often, and a lot."
"Then Team Leader Jeon, handle it as you see fit."
"Understood."
※ ※ ※
Three days earlier.
The day after clearing Floor 11.
Juhyeok had summoned Korsak.
Pretending to be angry, of course.
"I told you to take it slow, didn't I?"
"···Yeth. You didth."
"And then what is this? It's all been exposed."
"I'm thorry."
He did feel sorry, of course.
It had all been done for his sake, after all.
"Korsak."
"Yeth?"
"What would you do if I revealed your existence to everyone?"
"That'th up to you, Thter Bong. If you thay expoth, I expoth."
"Be honest with me. Do you like it? Or not?"
"···Hmm. I don't like it. It'd be a nuthanth."
"Got it."
Well, he supposed—wasn't Korsak from another world?
If his existence became known, all sorts of people would come swarming.
Where are you from?
What's your name?
Why do you do this work?
Better not to reveal him.
He could just keep going like this.
Then, on to Floor 12.
[Floor 12 Mission: Defeat 20 Frost Icicle-Spear Martens.]
[Time Limit: Within 3 hours.]
[Clear Condition: Frost Icicle-Spear Martens 0/20]
[Failure Conditions: Death or mission abandonment]
"Really, take it eathy! Let'th go normally."
If he cleared Floor 12 normally, maybe the Management Office would finally give up?
"Yeth, thir!"
Korsak answered crisply.
This time, he thought he could trust him.
Unlike Floor 11, which had been swarming with an insane number of burrow pythons, the Frost Icicle-Spear Martens were sparse and hard to spot.
They would have to search thoroughly and head deeper in.
But the Floor 12 environment was the problem.
A brutal, biting cold.
He had known in advance and layered on a padded coat and scarf, but the wind, sharp as blades, whipped through the gaps in his clothes.
It would be fine if he could just hold his breath and stay still at the Tower's entrance, but...
They had no choice but to move together.
If he was left alone, out of Korsak's sight, who knew what might happen.
And the deeper they went, the more dreadful the cold became.
He had prepared heat packs in advance, but they were useless.
Shiver, shiver, shiver.
His lips had turned deathly pale.
The moment he thought about moving his body at all—
"We could freethe to death like thith. We'll finith up quickly and get you to a warm room right away."
Korsak charged at the clusters of Frost Icicle-Spear Martens scattered here and there.
"Here they are. We'll be done in no time."
"No, I'm fine, so take it slow—"
John Korsak, naturally, didn't listen at all.
"I thaid, abtholute obethi—"
And in the end,
[Announcement: You have achieved an S++ clear rating for Floor 12 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
[Reward: For the S++ rank record, a Platinum Badge is awarded.]
"Damn it."
Fine.
Let's see who wins.
"Whew, it'th warm now. I'll go watch TV then—"
"Summon release."
Pop!
Watch TV where?
No mercy for the disobedient.
Afterwards, Team Leader Jeon Gwangil called.
Asking whether he had really just cleared Floor 12.
It was already exposed—what reason was there to hide?
He said yes.
The Floor 13 corridor-style environment, and the trap-clearing mission too.
"There'th really nothing I can do here. The mithion ith to palth through the corridor. It'th full of trapth. Bladeth pop out of the wallth and floorth, tho you could get hurt. I'll dethtroy the trap mechanithmth quickly."
"···."
On Floor 14, in the cavern—
"Pergeticulum eyeth batth. Their main thkill, the thonic attack, ith an area-of-effect thpell, tho if it goeth off, Thter Bong will take damage too. I'll deal with it before that happenth."
"···."
John Korsak, utterly unbowed by the threat of summon release.
The Summoned's Principles, Clause 3.
How vexing. So vexing.
Juhyeok finally gave up.
Absolute obedience, my ass!
The man simply would not listen.
Fine.
Do whatever you want.
He was a little curious how far this would go, anyway.
He didn't want to give up, either.
His body was already tamed.
There was 2.75 million won from selling the Floor 10 reward magic stones, plus 2 million won in standard player support funds, sitting plump in his bank account.
Not to mention the 5 kilograms of magic stones received as rewards for Floors 11 through 14, sitting in his inventory.
"That alone is worth 2.5 million won."
Ahh!
He had essentially already earned over 7 million won.
And he couldn't even imagine how much more he'd make going forward.
He'd quit the convenience store job, the restaurant job—all of it.
Better to focus on one thing.
And he was supposed to stop climbing the Tower now?
Yeah, right.
However timid he might be, it wasn't to that extent.