The grade itself is impressive, but the fact that he'd been running nonstop for 14 days without a single day of rest was astonishing too.
Under normal circumstances, consecutive daily clears are extremely difficult due to mental fatigue and injuries sustained in the tower. Especially past Floor 10.
Also, injuries.
What happens when a player gets hurt inside the tower?
It carries over into reality exactly as it is.
That's why tower-exclusive healing potions are needed.
It's not that you have to take them only inside the tower.
You can take them outside as well. "Tower-exclusive" simply means they can only heal wounds inflicted in the tower.
Internal injuries, external wounds, poison... every abnormal condition suffered while carrying out missions is all cured.
On the other hand, they have no effect whatsoever on injuries or illnesses obtained outside the tower.
If it worked on those, it would be valued at an astronomical price.
Juhyeok also has 5 healing potions received as mission rewards.
But he hasn't even taken them out of his inventory.
There was no need to. "First, I need to cash out my mana stones..." He'd sold the 5.5kg received up to Floor 10. "After clearing up to Floor 15," The method for selling mana stones is simple.
You make a phone call, and a staff member comes to collect them. "No, more than that, I should stop by the Management Agency first."
He'd been diving in without a single piece of equipment.
He should at least wear simple combat gear.
The Awakening Management Agency has a specialized shopping shop for players.
It might be nice to set aside some time and do some shopping.
Anyway, let's clear Floor 15.
Juhyeok designated-summoned John Kosak.
He's still annoyed that the man wouldn't listen, but he gives him 5 stars anyway. [John Kosak has been designated-summoned.]
"Boom!"
"Have you been well?"
"To think you'd keep giving a full 5 stars to someone like me, guilty of the grave crimes of defying orders and insubordination, I don't know where to put myself, I don't."
"I understand. You had no choice, did you?"
"Ahem. I'm only filled with regret, I am. Someone like me deserves to die twice over."
So he does know how to feel sorry. "From Floor 15 onward, I won't tell you to take it slow. Clear it however you like."
"Wha—? C-can I really?"
"Don't worry about it. Nothing's going to change anyway."
"I'll work hard, I will."
The cat's already out of the bag; what's the point of hiding it?
There's one more reason he's doing this. If he records an S++ clear on Floor 15 as well, he'll achieve 15 Platinum Badges.
Another special reward is likely to be granted.
Special trait enhancement at 5 badges, skill copy at 10. What about 15?
Greed wells up.
The more rewards stack up, the safer he'll be... "B-but Boss S-summoner, sir. I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"From Floor 16 onward, it gets a bit tricky, it does."
"Does it get much harder?"
"The clear itself is easy. But S++ might be difficult... S+ is possible, though." Meaning S-plus-plus would be hard, but S-plus is doable.
"Does S+ also give a Platinum Badge?"
"No, it doesn't. Badges are a reward given only for your best record. Without S++, fat chance, there isn't."
"I see."
That's fine.
He was planning to clear up to Floor 15 and rest for several days anyway.
Rest is necessary.
Because Kosak had been doing everything for him, he'd been forgetting just how dangerous the tower was.
Let's not get careless.
Losing your beginner's mindset leads to disaster.
Thorough self-preservation.
Live boldly and aggressively, and you won't live out your natural lifespan.
Leisurely, comfortably, with a perfectly prepared clear. Floor 16 is tricky, you say?
He might not be able to get a Platinum Badge? "That won't do."
He needs to get Platinum Badges at least up to Floor 20.
Greed for safety can be indulged as much as he likes.
Juhyeok has his plans too.
Make maximum use of the special rewards.
First.
The reward for gathering the first 5 badges.
Trait enhancement, simultaneous summon of 2 possible.
This is the core of his plan.
The cooldown has about 2 weeks left, so he'll wait until then.
Second.
The reward for 10 badges.
The Shadow Steps skill copied from Kosak.
He needs to use the skill repeatedly to raise his proficiency.
Third.
The reward he'll receive for 15 badges after clearing Floor 15 shortly.
Well, he hopes something good comes out.
Last.
Stop by the player shop and pick up some simple combat equipment.
He's practically fighting bare-bodied, after all.
And then he can start Floor 16.
Safety, and more safety.
Live within your means.
That is precisely how a loser survives. "Floor 15 first." [Entering Floor 15 of the Black Tower of South Korea.]
Floors 15 through 20 are goblin worker subjugation.
The point at which humanoid green-skinned monsters begin to appear. Floor 15 has goblin workers, so their combat power isn't great.
The real deal starts at Floor 16. Floor 16 has poison-sting goblin scouts.
Floor 17 has goblin warriors bearing shield and sword.
Floor 18 has goblin assassins lurking in stealth.
Floor 19 has goblin shamans who torment players with strange sorcery.
And Floor 20 requires killing every goblin type that has appeared so far, plus their leader, the hobgoblin.
Countless players die or suffer grave injuries in this stretch.
Only those with talent pass through this section and advance into the 20s.
Even with sufficient information, clearing it is a hassle.
Goblins possess intelligence.
They're even remarkably cunning.
Anyway, let's begin.
Kosak whispered to Juhyeok with a rather tense expression.
"Stay close and follow behind me, you mustn't fall too far away."
The Floor 15 environment is a dark forest.
As they moved inward, a mission popped up. [Floor 15 Mission: Kill 20 goblin workers.]
The mission had appeared.
And simultaneously, the prey came into view.
Chop chop chop chop!
Goblin workers were hacking at trees with their tiny hand axes.
Five in all.
John Kosak whispered quietly.
"We must kill them in a single stroke, we must. If you're careless, they'll run. If even one escapes, it'll bring the others, it will."
"Then should I too—"
Juhyeok drew the kitchen knife he'd brought, tucked at his waist.
"Eh-ing? Put that hideous thing away, you must. You might slice your own hand off."
Quickly stuffing the kitchen knife back in. "R-right? Better not to, huh?"
"Right! But just in case something happens, be ready to cast Shadow Steps."
Swish!
Kosak's body faded.
He began blending into the surrounding environment. "So that's stealth."
It would be nice to learn that too.
Creep, creep.
Kosak, dagger in hand, approached a goblin absently swinging its axe. Shk!
He cut its throat without hesitation.
The goblin worker couldn't even let out a scream.
Blood spilling from its neck.
This time, two at once. Shk! Shk!
Only then did the remaining goblins realize something was wrong.
"Grulk?"
"Krekh?"
They threw down their axes and scattered in different directions, but it was already too late.
The one trying to flee got stabbed through the chest, its heart burst.
"Kyak!"
And the last goblin, desperately fleeing on its short legs... Tsip!
A dagger flew, tearing through the air. "Kik!"
Thwack!
It flew into the back of its head and buried itself. "...Whoa!"
Five vanished in an instant.
"Moving out."
"Hmm, goblin heads don't get ribbon knots, I see?"
"I discriminate by time and place as well. And ribbons are for humans only."
"Okay! Fighting!"
"Hehehe, thank you for the encouragement. I'll work even harder, I will."
The clear was easy.
Goblin workers, the weakest of the goblin races.
It would be different for combat-class jobs, though.
It took longer than before. About 10 minutes to catch 20.
Still. [You have succeeded in the Floor 15 mission.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Reward: 1.5kg of mana stones]
[Reward: Tower-exclusive healing potion (5)] "Oh! Five more healing potions."
10 in total in his inventory. [Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear grade on Floor 15 of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
[S++ clear reward: You are granted a Platinum Badge.]
[You may now challenge Floor 16.]
[You are exiting the Black Tower of South Korea.]
He did it. 15 consecutive S++-grade clears.
15 Platinum Badges.
"Thank you for your hard work, you have."
"Hard work? I didn't do anything."
"Simply remaining safe and sound beside me is a great deed in itself."
"Hahaha."
Embarrassed.
"Let's have pizza today. Eat, watch some TV, and rest up well."
"Yes, sir!"
Time to check the rewards.
First, the mana stones.
The tower-exclusive inventory currently holds 6.5kg of mana stones acquired from Floors 11 through 15.
Selling these through the Awakening Management Agency would fetch 3.25 million won. "Ahh, no wonder I can't stop climbing."
The money earned in the tower over two weeks exceeds two months' wages from two part-time jobs.
No wonder they call Awakening a blessing.
What if he could make it to Floor 20 without trouble?
The daily mana stone reward alone would be 2kg.
Selling through the Agency, that's 1 million won a day.
No fees or taxes attached.
A daily wage of 1
0
0.
He'd be living a 30-million-won-a-month life.
In a word, an absolute jackpot, isn't it?
Safe tower climbing.
Certain and steady rewards.
Preventing tower collapse can be left to the talented elite team.
And yet Team Leader Jeon Gwangil had been calling him several times a day.
Saying he wouldn't force anything, just put his name on the elite team roster and enjoy the benefits.
What a nuisance.
Not a chance.
Where in the world is anything free?
He'd obviously have his nose strung up for it.
Of course, as a citizen of South Korea, it's not that he has no desire to climb the uncleared floors and reduce the threat of tower collapse.
But he's only at Floor 15.
Still a long way off.
Leave it to the elite team, flush with support, currently clearing Floor 66.
Now then, time to check the reward he's been waiting for most.
The special reward granted for every 5 Platinum Badges.
What could it be? [For a cumulative total of 15 Platinum Badges, a special reward is granted.]
[Special reward: An Item Energy Shield Kit has been delivered to your tower-exclusive inventory.] "Energy Shield?"
What's this?
He took it out of the inventory. A modest metal bracelet with no ornamentation whatsoever.
When he put it on his wrist, it fit perfectly.
Effect: Protects the user with a shield that absorbs damage.
Limit: Once the shield absorbs a certain amount of damage, it disappears. Five hours must pass before it can be used again.
Feature: The shield's effect adjusts to match your level.
Good heavens!
How can something be this good?
Precisely what he needed most.
Good thing he collected the badges.
It's practically full-body armor.
Is that all it says?
An item with no qualifiers attached.
There's a rule governing tower items.
If the modifier "tower-exclusive" is attached in front, it can only be used in relation to the tower; if no modifier is attached, it can also be used in reality.
For example, tower-exclusive healing potions are only for wounds suffered inside the tower.
Conversely, mana stones have no such designation, so they can be used in reality as well. "Then what about this?"
Juhyeok recited carefully.
"Energy Shield."
In an instant!
Vmmm!
A transparent membrane of energy enveloping Juhyeok's entire body.
"...Hahaha."
It works.
He'd received a treasure of tremendous value as a special reward.
If he sold this on the market, how much would he get? 1 billion? 2 billion? 3 billion? 'Sell it off right now and quit climbing the tower?'
No.
He'd use it as much as he could, and if a moment of dire need ever came, selling it then wouldn't be too late. "Time to rest a bit, then."
Climbing postponed for the time being.
He could just repeat-clear Floor 15 during that period.
Juhyeok truly rested thoroughly.
Until the random summon cooldown came back around.
Doing nothing but repeat-clearing Floor 15.
And so two weeks passed.
Consequently, no full-scale notice of an S++-grade clear rang out during those two weeks. ※ ※ ※ The Awakening Management Agency, Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Director Park Gyeongsu, wearing a grave expression, was speaking with Team Leader Jeon Gwangil.
"It's already been two weeks, hasn't it?"
"...Yes." Two weeks since the full-scale notice of an S++-grade clear last rang out, with Floor 15 as the final entry. "What's the reason? Why isn't he clearing Floor 16? ...Could he have already cleared it but failed to record an S++ grade?"
The tower's difficulty is not constant.
There are stretches where it suddenly becomes hard.
Floor 66, which South Korea is currently clearing, is one of them.
Even after two months, no thread of a clear has taken shape. Floor 16 is a similar stretch.
The difference between the goblin workers of Floor 15 and the goblin scouts of Floor 16 is a chasm no leap can cross.
"It's not that. I asked Player Bong casually the other day, and he said he hasn't even entered Floor 16. Said he isn't ready yet..."
"What kind of preparing?"
"I couldn't get any details. He only passed along that he's repeat-clearing Floor 15."
"Heh heh, repeat-clearing Floor 15... he doesn't mean to park there forever, does he?"
"W-well."
It's entirely possible. Even playing around on Floor 15 alone, there's no impediment to making a living.
His worry deepens.
An ordinary player wouldn't even have this concern.
They'd simply give up climbing—fine, cancel the contract, done.
But Bong Juhyeok is different. Isn't he the record-holder of 14 consecutive S++-grade clears on Floor 15?
To settle for Floor 15, with that astonishing talent... "Ah, what a disappointment. The heavens are cruel indeed, granting such talent to a player of all things so timid..."
At that moment.
Bzzz.
The vibration tone rang from Jeon Gwangil's smartphone.
"...Hm?"
"What is it?"
"A message has arrived. From Player Bong Juhyeok."
"Wh-what does it say?"
"He says he's coming to the Awakening Management Agency? Says he'd like to use the player shop."
Out of nowhere?
The player shop, you say. "...Player shop? Ah! D-don't tell me—"
A thought flashed through his mind in an instant.
"Team Leader, Player Bong Juhyeok has never used the shop, has he?"
"It would seem not. When we went for his Awakening verification, he was bare-handed as well."
"Hah, then this 'preparing' was actually about obtaining clear equipment."
"That's right. Equipment is expensive, so he must have intended to raise the money through repeat-clears of Floor 15."
Park Gyeongsu's face flushed hot.
"How can anyone be this foolish!"
He was ashamed.
He'd been about to criticize Bong Juhyeok without knowing any of this.
Why isn't the full-scale notice ringing? Did he give up climbing? What a waste of talent. So timid. He'd done nothing but grumble so, without once thinking about the circumstances in which the player was actually clearing the tower.
"When Player Bong arrives, support him with whatever items he wants at rock-bottom prices. No—feel free to give them to him for free."
"Yes! Understood."
Faults exist to be repented.
And without delay, at that.