Lately, John Cossack had been taking little digs at Rajix for “having no presence.”

Rajix shut down all the worry and suspicion in one clean blow, like he was daring anyone to keep doubting.

WAAH!

A burst of hot snorting breath—then those short hands planted on his hips.

Yeah. This is a beastkin.

His shoulders shot up like they were trying to pierce the sky.

And honestly? He’d earned it.

Because Rajix was the absolute farmhand.

“Ahh, our finest farmhand—lookin’ sharp. This Cossack believed in you.”

“HURK.”

“Heh-heh-heh, those shoulders are so high you’re about to launch. What is this—are you really gonna fly off into space?”

“HURK?”

At Cossack’s fuss, Princess Gyeon Dallae spoke with a faintly scornful edge.

“Sir Cossack is truly fickle.”

“...What does that mean?”

“You were the one belittling our finest farmhand, saying his presence disappeared. And now you’re suddenly flattering him?”

“No, when did I ever say his presence disappeared?”

“You did.”

“I dunno. Don’t remember.”

“Oh my. Oh my! How shameless.”

Somehow, Gyeon Dallae and Cossack looked like the pair who’d gotten closest.

Anyway, time to finish sorting what Rajix brought.

High-grade Magic Stones were the most.

By weight, it was in the tons.

Next came metal ingots.

Materials—so those would be kept.

There were gemstones too.

Did Earth even have gems like this?

Some were cold. Some were warm.

<Tower-Only Akaran Gem of Mental Focus.>

Effect: If carried in your pocket, an effect of mental focus will appear. It can also be processed and used as jewelry.

Limit: If placed inside Inventory, the effect does not apply.

‘Nice.’

Basically a talisman.

Then there were equipment items, and consumables like potions and elixirs.

He tried checking the info by touching them one at a time—

—but it took forever.

How was he supposed to verify all of this?

Then—

“WAAH...”

“You’ll help?”

“WAAH, yeah.”

“Man... our worker really is the best.”

The sorting standard was simple: items with the Tower-Only modifier, and items without it.

Most of it was Tower-Only. Like 95%.

The remaining 5% had no modifier at all.

Those went into his own Inventory separately.

Everything Tower-Only went back into Rajix’s backpack.

Tower-Only items were valuable supplies for Players climbing the Tower.

But items without the Tower-Only modifier?

‘We can’t let those circulate.’

Liberation Rune Necklaces were already dropping as rewards.

If a freed Player carried a weapon whose options worked in reality—

the world would get dangerous.

‘Instead, Tower-Only items—whose option effects won’t work in reality—I’ll hand over to the Administration.’

He planned to consign-sell them through the Player Shop.

‘And I should tell them not to price-gouge.’

So Players could actually buy them.

If Korean Players improved through gear, the world would get safer.

Before he put everything away—

“If any of you see something you like, take it.”

The summoned entities just stood there, awkward, watching.

So... none.

Come on. Don’t be so picky.

Players would lose their minds over this stuff.

Then a thought hit him.

What happens with repeated missions?

If he went back in again, could he loot the treasure vault again?

But there was something he was even more curious about.

The true nature of Floors 71 and 72.

First question: the mission targets—Vice-Captain James, Captain Pommelle, Necromancer Kate, and her master, Norma.

If the Tower’s rules hadn’t changed, they’d exist on Floors 71 and 72 in every Tower worldwide—Korea, Japan, the U.S.

So in the Black Tower (Korea), were they the True Body?

Or Copies?

Like Kabalan.

Second question.

Floors 71 and 72 had been Meatshield’s world.

Why?

Coincidence? Or inevitability?

Were later floors worlds tied to the other summoned entities too?

If so, were the missions basically meant to resolve the summoned entities’ regrets and trauma?

For example—

Cossack died when he rushed a Sword Master as an assassin.

If a Cossack-linked mission showed up later, he might have to face that Sword Master.

Gyeon Dallae: the imperial palace of the Heavenly Empire.

Rajix: Apophis of the underground labyrinth.

Bardin: a world where God had vanished.

Veronica: the northern front where monsters poured out.

But if that theory was right, there was one problem.

Just thinking about it made his skin crawl.

Mad Demon.

How did Mad Demon die?

A battle that lasted seven days and nights—fighting the Murim Alliance Leader, the Castle Lord of the Four Emperors, and the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult—until Mad Demon finally died.

If that was Mad Demon’s regret and trauma...

‘Don’t tell me the mission targets will be the Murim Alliance Leader, the Castle Lord of the Four Emperors, or the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?’

Just imagining it was horrifying.

That would be impossible to clear.

Even with Mad Demon, it wouldn’t happen.

Tower clearing would end right there.

He didn’t even know whether that would be a Basic Mission or a Choice Mission, but—

‘So LSSR isn’t automatically a good thing.’

How massive were the regrets they left behind?

Could he really handle it?

Nothing was confirmed yet.

The early seventies being Meatshield’s world could still be coincidence.

Either way, he should summon Mad Demon.

Maybe Mad Demon could answer.

“Summoner.”

“Welcome.”

He’d been giving five-star ratings faithfully, but Mad Demon’s summoning time limit stubbornly refused to increase.

Still three hours.

Almost everyone else was close to eight.

Did his stingy early ratings come back to bite him?

While the others prepared the party, Juhyeok and Mad Demon sat and talked.

First question.

Was Necromancer Norma a True Body? A Copy?

Was Norma even human?

“I can answer that much.”

Mad Demon spoke slowly.

“Of course, it was human. In the past.”

“In the past” meant—

“Are you saying Norma is already dead?”

“That’s right. Norma is only a soul collected by the Tower—ghosts of the past pulled from a timeline that already passed. The body was provided by the Tower.”

“Ah!”

“They’re merely content materials. The background, the monsters, the humans—everything inside is a fabricated world.”

So it wasn’t alive.

The body was provided.

Floors 71 and 72 weren’t a real world either—just a processed world created by the Tower.

Then what about Kabalan?

Why did that demon have a True Body and Copies?

“Because a True Body was required to resolve the curse mission. Think of it as a ‘find the Copy and the True Body’ game.”

Kabalan’s curse.

In a sense, that too had been a mission the Tower gave.

“The Tower has some shame. How could it give an un-clearable mission? Kabalan’s True Body was simply a key so Players could complete it.”

“On the other hand, missions related to Necromancer Norma aren’t a ‘find the True Body’ game. Why bother distinguishing True Body and Copy?”

Right. Norma hadn’t been the one to place a curse.

“Most sapient beings you meet from here on out will be Copies. Think about it—placing the same ones across all 145 Towers requires copying.”

If he entered Floor 72 again now...

“The necromancer will be alive and well. Reset. Perfectly fine.”

“And the treasure vault too?”

“...Treasure vault?”

Juhyeok explained what Rajix had done.

“Heh-heh-heh. Admirable. ‘Finest worker’ is truly accurate. But my guess is the treasure vault won’t appear again. Do you think the Tower is that generous? Once is enough. Unless it’s another country’s Tower.”

Oh.

So another country’s Floor 72 might still have a treasure vault.

That was something.

Second question.

Would future floors all be worlds tied to summoned entities?

“Unfortunately, I don’t know. And even if I did, I couldn’t tell you.”

So inhibition was in place.

Makes sense—floor info had been inhibition from the start.

He’d find out by climbing anyway.

That answered enough.

Now it was time to heal.

First, the badge ceremony.

He passed one around to everyone.

Except Rajix.

The cosmic bald farmhand got two.

They’d play through the night, watch the sunrise, and then go home.

And they’d time it so they watched sunrise together.

Tomorrow he also had to visit the Administration.

Because Rajix had caused a big incident.

Even the Subspace Backpack was stuffed full.

He needed to empty it—

so he could fill it again.

*****

After getting home, Juhyeok turned on his phone and messaged Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwangil.

Saying he had business at the Administration.

The reply came immediately.

He ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) washed quickly, got ready, went down to the underground parking lot, and got into Jeon Gwangil’s car.

“Player Bong.”

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. I’m grateful, thanks to you. Thanks to you, Korea is safer.”

“Oh, come on. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

After the formal greetings, they headed for the Administration.

On the way, Jeon Gwangil brought something up.

“Yesterday, the U.S. side requested information.”

Information?

“They plan to clear Floor 70 tomorrow and enter Floor 71 the day after. Not just enter—they said they’ll clear if possible. They asked what the Floor 71 mission is, and whether a holy sword is required...”

So America was moving too.

From Floor 71 onward, the clear deadline stacks.

He could at least tell them that much.

He couldn’t know whether their missions would match exactly.

“For now, the targets are... people. You have to kill humans.”

“....”

Silence in the car.

Then Jeon Gwangil, voice trembling—

“H-Humans? The targets are humans?”

“Yes. The mission is divided too. The Basic Mission is easy, but there are Choice Missions...”

Juhyeok explained Floors 71 and 72 in detail.

“...Understood. I’ll relay it as-is to the U.S. side.”

How would Gerald Watson do?

He’d get the mission to handle Pommelle Mercenary Company members alone...

If he cleared Floor 70, the aftereffects shouldn’t be severe.

And Kabalan had effectively been a sapient being too.

And who knows—some Players might even feel more interest in killing humans.

So high-difficulty might be doable.

But extreme-difficulty?

‘Not sure...’

He could fight 5-circle Necromancer Kate, but her style was to run.

Could he catch her if she flew away at speed?

If he failed to finish her, Floor 72 could change.

She might join up with her master.

That’s what linked missions did.

By the time they arrived at the Administration materials warehouse, Juhyeok said why he’d come.

“I’m here to sell some items.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

Jeon Gwangil’s eyes brightened.

If Player Bong was selling something, it wouldn’t be ordinary.

“I’ll show you.”

Juhyeok did a Designated Summon on Rajix. SPOT!

WAAH!

“...Huh?”

Rajix?

Why did Player Bong summon him here...?

“Welcome, Rajix.”

WAAH.

Rajix greeted him with a short hand—then immediately took off the backpack and flipped it upside down.

“Deputy Commissioner, step back. You might get buried.”

...Buried?

In the next instant—

RATTLE-RATTLE! RATTLE! RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE!

Items poured out.

“Huh!”

Jeon Gwangil jumped back.

My god—

‘What is all this?’

It didn’t stop.

High-grade Magic Stones, metal ingots, elixirs, gemstones, weapons, armor—

He was speechless.

“Please sell them through the Player Shop.”

“...You’re selling all of this?”

“Yes.”

“Then... the price—”

“Set it however you see fit. And make sure you take the consignment fee.”

Juhyeok trusted him.

He’d price it reasonably.

Maybe even sell for more.

“If possible, sell them cheap. And there’s more besides this...”

More?

“I excluded weapons and armor without the Tower-Only modifier. I don’t want those released outside, so they’re in my Inventory.”

Jeon Gwangil stared at the mountain, blank, then snapped back.

“Well done. Items without the Tower-Only modifier must never leak outside.”

Especially with Liberation Rune Necklaces already out there.

“Ah. And take this too.”

Juhyeok handed over a necklace and holy water.

“...This necklace is?”

“A Liberation Rune Necklace. I already had two, and then I got one more.”

“Huh!”

“Have the nation store one.”

“Y-Yes. Yes.”

A relentless barrage.

Right—this was a barrage too.

A mental barrage.

His head went white.

“Check the holy water’s effect and run tests too.”

“Holy water?”

“They said it makes Radiance’s power manifest.”

“...”

“If my guess is right, the holy sword rental business won’t be great. But that’s fine—we can sell items instead.”

Jeon Gwangil had no reply.

Holy sword, hides, ore...

He thought nothing could surprise him anymore, and now he was being knocked out with sheer volume.

Juhyeok spoke to Rajix once the job was done.

“I’m dismissing you. See you at home.”

WAAH!

SPOT! Rajix vanished.

“I should head home too... I’m going to clear Floor 73 in a few days. That’s fine, right?”

“O-Of course. Absolutely. Clear as much as you like. I’ll drive you home.”

Floor 73.

He had to confirm it.

Was the target really the fake hero—King Arius of the Norton Kingdom?

Could Meatshield get revenge?

*****

After dropping Juhyeok off, Jeon Gwangil returned to the materials warehouse.

The mountain of treasure was still there.

How was he supposed to sort this alone?

He raised his phone.

“Team Leader Lee Mina. Come to the materials warehouse right now. You’re with Player Nam Gaeun? Good. Come together.”

A little later, Lee Mina and Nam Gaeun arrived.

The moment they stepped inside—

“...Oh my... Wh-What is all of this?”

“My god!”

They froze.

“Sort by type and verify item information. Player Nam Gaeun, please help too. We’re selling it through the Player Shop.”

“...A-All of it?”

“Instead, pick one weapon or one piece of gear you like. I’ll buy it with the Administration budget.”

Before he finished speaking, the two of them lunged into the pile, checking info.

Exclamations burst out.

Light attribute, dark attribute, flame attribute, frost attribute... all kinds.

And the potions?

Healing Potions were actually the least common.

Most of it was Strength Enhancement, speed-related, magic power enhancement—elixirs like that.

“H-How could... items like these...”

“No way. They’re all clear reward items?”

“Who cleared all of this...”

“Player Bong?”

“Who else would it be? It has to be him.”

Jeon Gwangil didn’t deny it.

If not him, who would do this?

Even while talking, the two of them couldn’t stop checking item information.

They were Players too.

There was no way they wouldn’t want it.

“N-No, this helmet... no, the shoes are better. Should I take these?”

“...Can’t I buy two? One with my own money.”

“I’ll buy three. I’m transferring immediately.”

“I’m replacing everything from head to toe.”

Nam Gaeun’s eyes were blazing.

Lee Mina’s too.

What Player could resist?

The moment these hit the Player Shop, they’d sell out instantly.

No matter the price.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────