He safely cleared the 33rd floor with an S++ rank and exited the Tower.
A short break.
Kosak turned on the TV, saying it was time for dramas, but almost every terrestrial channel was flooded with special news coverage.
Nam Ga-eun, Player—65th Floor Cleared Successfully.
66th Floor Challenge Coming Soon.
Kosak exploded in anger.
"What the hell is that supposed to be? What's so amazing about just the 65th floor?! Huh? If that so-called Summoner hadn't handed over the Holy Sword, there's no way she'd have done it! This pisses me off! Pisses me off! Is our record of 33 consecutive S++ clears some kind of joke?!"
Then Gyeon Dallae said,
"Kosak-nim, please don't be so angry. It's just a passing fad. Once the 66th floor clear is over, it'll gradually disappear from the news."
"Oh! Is that so?"
"Yes. In the end, only Young Master's achievements will remain. All the way!"
"Hehehe, you're absolutely right."
Achievements, my ass!
Those are their achievements.
How much of that is even my contribution?
Still, Player Nam Ga-eun was a pure solo player.
Of course, in Tower raids, items are extremely important.
Like people say, gear carries—one high-quality item can completely change the course of a raid.
But a player's personal ability is just as important as items.
Items only shine when you know how to use them properly.
'She really is amazing.'
Honestly, I'm jealous.
Even if I can't be like Nam Ga-eun, I at least want the ability to protect myself inside the Tower.
'But right now, I'm basically dead weight.'
There's no way the summoned ones actually think of me as baggage, of course.
Still, that's how it was on the 33rd floor too.
Overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Phase-3 Minotaur, I couldn't even land a proper mace swing.
'I'll just do what I can.'
Juhyeok decided to challenge the Tower again the next day.
Yesterday was the 33rd floor.
Today was the 34th floor.
Two days in a row.
Republic of Korea, Black Tower—34th Floor.
The mission: defeat Phase-4 Minotaurs.
Now cow heads nearly six meters tall were appearing.
"…Big."
"Super big. You gotta crane your neck way back just to see their heads."
Ah.
Jumping up and smashing their skulls was officially impossible now.
Does that mean the Mixed-Origin Thunderbolt Staff techniques are completely unusable?
They'll only get bigger as the floors go up.
Should I just hunt low-floor orcs and trolls?
Suddenly, I felt depressed.
This damned timidity—this cowardly personality—can it ever be fixed?
While he was lost in thought, the raid had already begun.
Thump thump thump thump!
Jingle jingle!
Charrre—!
Gyeon Dallae's buffs spread across the 34th floor.
Empowered by them, Gobang and Kosak swept through the Minotaurs.
Meanwhile, Juhyeok couldn't bring himself to step forward.
He had sworn firmly—
Outside the Tower, a timid but gentle weak man.
Inside the Tower, a bold, manly alpha male.
But the moment he faced a gigantic monster, that resolve wavered again like a reed in the wind.
'Let's try attacking the legs. If I chip away with small tricks, it'll eventually fall. Then I finish it.'
Well, not exactly the alpha-male way.
Seeing Juhyeok staring gloomily at the battlefield, Kosak stopped mid-fight with a Phase-4 Minotaur and ran over.
"Summoner-nim, are the cow heads too big?"
"Yes. I've hit my limit."
"Don't worry! Who do you think I am? S-S-R, Kosak, will take care of it!"
"…Huh?"
"Just promise you'll only kill one. There aren't many left anyway."
There's a method?
That's tempting.
"Alright. I'll just take one."
"Quick decision. Excellent."
Kosak looked at Gobang.
"Gobang. You gotta earn your beef, right? You ate the most! While others ate one piece, you ate four, five at a time!"
"I… I will do anything."
"It's not hard. Interlock your fingers. No, not like that—like this."
Ah.
I get it.
Make a foothold with his hands.
"Oh! You want me to step on it and jump?"
"Hehehe, Gobang'll launch you up!"
The image formed clearly in his mind.
Step on the platform—whoosh!—fly up, then crash down dramatically and smash the cow's head.
How cool would that be?
'That's genius.'
Kosak was cute no matter how you looked at him.
How does he always scratch exactly where it itches?
Alright.
Let's do it.
"Gobang, please lift me up."
"Understood. Warrior lifts summoner."
Gobang took his stance.
"Here I go."
Dada-dadak!
Juhyeok ran forward.
He stomped hard on the hand-made foothold with one foot while fully extending his knee—
Hyaaah!
He leapt into the air.
Gobang pushed up with all his strength.
Shooooot!
His body shot upward.
A cool wind brushed his face.
A leap that cast off all shackles and restraints.
This is incredible.
I'm glad I tried.
'Yeah. This is what being a real man feels like.'
He kept going up.
Higher and higher—
Higher still…
'…Huh?'
Why isn't it stopping?
How far am I going?
'…I'm screwed.'
Gobang is strong.
But he's not very smart.
Still, he follows instructions exactly.
Since he was told to lift him, he lifted him.
But since no one said how much, he must've gone all out.
And I share the blame.
Inside the Tower, your physical abilities increase according to level.
Strength, agility, mana—everything skyrockets.
Not realizing that, I put way too much force into stepping on the platform.
Even an ordinary human can soar ridiculously high if they step properly on a foothold.
Action and reaction, synergizing.
Because of that—
Shooooooot!
I was still going up.
"Hahaha…"
Juhyeok laughed hollowly.
The situation was so absurd that fear hadn't even set in yet.
'Will I die if I fall?'
Nah, no way.
Level bonuses apply, after all.
It'll hurt a bit.
I've got healing potions too.
He looked down at his feet.
Kosak was dropkicking Gobang.
Apparently, he was blaming him for throwing Juhyeok too high.
'What's wrong with him?'
He's the one who ordered it.
'This suddenly reminds me of the jungle trolls.'
They must've felt like this too when Gobang shook trees.
Gradually, the upward speed slowed.
At last, the ascent stopped.
Now, only the fall remained.
I should've just stayed put.
I had to get greedy and try smashing a monster's skull…
And then—
Shooooooot!
Juhyeok's body began plummeting straight down.
"Oh crap."
Something clenched down below.
At this rate, I'm seriously about to piss myself.
However, contrary to his body's reaction, he wasn't actually that scared.
Gyeon Dallae was already holding her bell, ready to throw talismans, and Gobang had stretched out both arms, taking a stance to catch him.
It looked like Gyeon Dallae would slow his descent while Gobang caught him.
With that massive body, Gobang could probably catch him safely and gently—princess carry style.
But that thought sent chills down his spine.
That shaggy fur, that grotesque chest—being gently embraced like a blushing bride?
'…'
The more he imagined it, the more horrifying it became.
Isn't there a way to land stylishly on my own instead of being caught?
Then a scene from a movie came to mind.
A hero flying with an iron suit, rockets firing from under his feet.
Robots in animation often did the same.
He wished he could fly like that too.
Rockets igniting from his feet—whoosh!—
At that moment!
'Huh?'
What's this?
As he imagined the rocket-ignition scene from movies and animation, energy began gathering around the soles of his feet.
'Oh…'
He knew what it was.
Mana.
Mana was responding to Juhyeok's will.
At the same time, he felt resistance.
It felt like he was falling a little more slowly.
'Don't tell me…?'
Instinctively, Juhyeok activated Shadow Step in midair.
Swat! Swat! Swat!
"Eh?"
He could step.
Shadow Step was working even in empty space.
'So this works.'
Swat! Swat! Swat!
The mana was pushing against the air.
That allowed him, however barely, to place his feet.
Zigzagging through the air—
Swat! Swat! Swat!
No doubt about it.
His falling speed was clearly slowing.
Juhyeok focused all the mana in his body into the soles of his feet.
Meanwhile—
Below, Kosak, Gobang, and Gyeon Dallae stared up in stunned silence.
"Summoner… walking. In the sky."
"I—I'm seeing it too."
Walking in midair… a Shadow Walker?
That's possible?
Kosak recalled something he'd once heard from the leader of the Assassin Guild.
That when a Shadow Walker reached the ultimate stage, they could walk through the sky.
Back then, he'd laughed it off, thinking it was a blatant scam.
And yet—here he was, witnessing it with his own eyes.
Kosak realized it clearly.
"…Our Summoner-nim truly has absurd talent."
"Kosak-nim is correct. Who would have imagined we'd witness midair stepping here?"
Juhyeok was still uneasy.
His descent had slowed significantly, but it was still fast.
Would he land properly?
Could he touch down stylishly?
The ground was now very close.
And at that moment—
One Phase-4 Minotaur beneath him caught his eye.
At the same time, an idea flashed through his mind.
'…Hmm.'
Might as well try.
At the instant of falling, he drew his mace-wielding arm back behind his shoulder.
'Lightning Flash Strike.'
He brought it straight down onto the Phase-4 Minotaur's head.
Screeech!
Crunch!
A Lightning Flash Strike executed in perfect form.
Its power far exceeded expectations.
The Minotaur's upper body was completely erased.
And using the recoil—
He landed lightly.
Tap!
"Huff… huff!"
His breath came all the way up to his throat.
For something like this, that was a pretty good outcome.
'Did I… without realizing…?'
Juhyeok subtly glanced downward.
His pants were clean.
Thankfully, he hadn't pissed himself.
Clap clap clap clap!
The summoned beings rushed over, applauding wildly.
"A-amazing. Dazzling talent! Even I can't do that!"
"Summoner should receive the title of warrior."
"Ah, how can one be so outstanding? This maiden can only tremble before Young Master's overwhelming talent. I beg you to restrain yourself."
Man, this is embarrassing.
"I'm kind of… awesome, huh?"
"Fantastic! Going that high wasn't enough—Shadow Walking in midair, how beautiful! Look at my pants. Aren't they wet? I pissed myself thoroughly."
"You wretch!!! Ah—no, Kosak-nim, how can you be so filthy? You are vulgar beyond measure."
Thanks.
You pissed yourself for me.
Honestly, I was scared stiff.
I thought I'd just flail helplessly and drop straight into Gobang's arms.
But what do you know?
Shadow Step worked in midair.
To be honest, I might actually have talent.
Even I thought my midair Shadow Step was fantastic.
I practically flew.
And that Lightning Flash Strike?
I felt it the moment I used it.
It couldn't have landed cleaner.
Anyway—mission complete.
[You have successfully cleared the 34th floor.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: 3.4 kg of Mana Stones.]
[Reward: Rune of Summoned Being Rank Increase.]
As always, mana sto—wait!
"Huh?"
What's that?
"Gasp!"
A reward, a reward.
Not even a special bonus—
A Rune of Summoned Being Rank Increase dropped as a regular reward?
Is the Tower giving me a commendation for looking cool?
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 34th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[S++ Clear Reward: A Platinum Badge has been awarded.]
[You may now challenge the 35th floor.]
[Exiting the Black Tower (Republic of Korea).]
Pop!
Juhyeok and the group returned to the officetel.
The moment he came out, Juhyeok collapsed onto the sofa.
"Wow…"
He still couldn't believe it.
Opening his inventory to check—
'It's real.'
He quietly called Kosak over.
"Hey, if you use a rank-up rune, can you go from SSR to LSSR?"
"Not a chance. Rank enhancement via runes only goes up to SSR. LSSR is an exception."
I see.
He made his decision.
This rank-up rune would go to Gobang.
"Let's rest for now."
"Yessir!"
"You worked hard, but please—next time, protect yourself properly. This girl felt like her heart was going to tear apart."
"Alright, alright. Let's go out to eat. What do you want?"
He turned on his smartphone and was about to open a delivery app when Kosak stopped him.
"Don't order anything. We need to live on ramen for a while."
"Why?"
"We ate Korean beef, didn't we? Especially that Gobang brat—he can starve for a few days. Do you know how many servings he stuffed into himself?"
As Kosak launched into a heated rant, Gyeon Dallae joined in.
"No matter how well one works, one does not employ a farmhand with a beggar living in his stomach. Ah! Of course, I am not specifically referring to Gobang-nim."
What about you?
How many meat wraps did she cram into that tiny mouth?
Poor barbarian Gobang.
Looking completely deflated, he just lowered his head.
This won't do.
I should give it to him now.
"Gobang?"
"…I will eat less from now on."
"Forget that. Take this instead."
"A warrior can endure hunger. I won't eat it. Summoner should take it—…eh?"
Gobang's eyes went wide.
Looks like he knew exactly what it was.
"Go raise your rank."
"…."
Gobang bowed his head and fell silent.
His shoulders trembled.
'Is he crying?'
He must've held a lot in.
Scolded for eating too much, looked down on for being dumb.
Drip. Drip-drip. Drip.
Tears as big as his body fell onto the floor.
"You're crying again? Don't cry—…gah!"
Suddenly, Gobang grabbed Juhyeok and pulled him into a tight hug.
Because of the height difference, Juhyeok's face was pressed against Gobang's stomach.
Gobang had a lot of fur there too.
His face felt prickly and scratchy.
'…Ugh.'
What is this?
I went to such lengths, dancing frantically in midair just to avoid being hugged—
And now I get hugged here?
Still… can someone this dumb even use a rune properly?
That part is worrying.
※ ※ ※
Park Gyeong-su, Commissioner of the Korean Awakened Management Agency, received an official request from the United States to borrow the Holy Sword.
He accepted immediately and even scheduled the visit.
After Korea cleared the 66th floor—
"They contacted us saying that Player Gerald Watson and Antonio, the Tower Strategy Director from the Department of Homeland Security, will be entering through Incheon Airport as soon as the 66th-floor clear is finished."
"That fast? What's so urgent?"
Jeon Gwang-il had spoken with Antonio on the phone just four days ago.
At the time, Antonio had offered one million dollars as the rental fee for the Holy Sword, and Jeon had flatly shot him down, telling him to think it over carefully and call back.
He knew why.
They were just testing the waters.
Still, this crossed a line.
"Are they planning to clear the 67th-floor Phantom Reaper this time?"
"No. There's still a long way to go. No need to rush the clear."
"Then?"
"They want to repeatedly farm the 66th-floor Specters—to experience the Holy Sword's effects."
Gerald Watson.
America's highest-level player.
Even he had taken nearly thirteen hours to clear the 66th floor.
"What's the rental fee per use?"
"They offered ten million dollars."
"Anything else?"
"They'll lift the anti-dumping regulations on Korean mana-stone steel products."
"Hm."
Well, there's no point discussing it now.
After all, the rental price is up to Player Bong Juhyeok.
"Oh, and one more thing—"
"Hm? What is it?"
"That penthouse Yoo Cheol-min used to live in."
"What about it? Haven't you cleared it out yet? Burn everything he used."
"That's the plan. But Player Bong Juhyeok seems interested in that place."
"Ah…"
Commissioner Park Gyeong-su pondered for a moment.
The penthouse's ownership had been confiscated and incorporated into government assets.
A house…
Bong Juhyeok was qualified.
If not him, then who?
"I was thinking of giving him something extra anyway… a house should be fine."
He had more than enough justification as the owner of the Holy Sword.
The fact that Bong Juhyeok was the one achieving S++ clears wasn't even known to the President.
The fewer people who knew, the better.
However, the report that he was the Holy Sword's owner had gone up.
After all, the rental fee had to be deposited into his account—his identity would be revealed regardless.
"Alright. Clear out everything inside and hand it over to him. I'll take care of upper approval."
"Yes, I'll proceed."
This worked out perfectly.
He'd been feeling uneasy about only giving him a 2-billion-won annual salary and an officetel anyway.