Before the welcome ceremony, they started by greeting one another.

Some had seen her on the 85th floor. Others were meeting her for the first time.

“Right-hand man of Summoner Bong, Blood-Summoned One rank 2. That part’s important, so remember it. I’m second-in-command, right after the laborer. Anyway, I’m the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Sword Master Cossack.”

Cossack started things off.

“A warrior is the summoner’s Meatshield.”

“Pleased to meet you. I am the shamaness Gyeon Dallae.”

“Uh... laborer, rank 1...”

“Woof! Woof!”

One by one, in turn.

“I’m Veronica Caliber. I don’t know whether we came from the same world, but let’s get along from now on.”

“I, Bardin, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) am the lighthouse that illuminates my lord’s path.”

“I am the Mad Demon. You’ve probably heard my name.”

“Uh, I’m the low-presence vampire Jepetto. Really. I don’t have anything to do. I even got shoved aside by a defector. Please remember me.”

“I’m that defector. Dream Demon Diamat. So? Did you sleep well?”

In Mari’s case, she greeted her through a message on the large monitor installed in front.

Ding!

<Mari>: Welcome. If you have questions, send me a message.

Mackenzie made his entrance with all kinds of visual effects and flashy magic.

FLASH! BOOM! BOOM! SPOT! KUUUUUUUNG! FWAAAAASH!

“Wizard Mackenzie Dronach has arrived.”

Jeon Gwangil and Jung Donghoon were also called in briefly from outside.

They would be seeing her often from now on, so it was better to get acquainted.

Even though the one they were greeting was a completely unexpected being—

No, not a being. A golem.

“...I’m Jeon Gwangil. I assist Player Bong with real-world external affairs and legal matters.”

“I-I’m Jung Donghoon. I manage the assets.”

It took a long time.

A very long time.

There were just too many people, each saying a few words in turn.

If you put this group on a variety show, the introductions alone would eat up the whole runtime.

Of course, Magitech Engineer El responded as well.

Expressionless. Minimal. Concise.

“Nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.”

It could seem a little cold.

Was it because she was a golem?

Or had that been her personality even when she was human?

In fact, even when Juhyeok had put the Residency Rights card around her neck after her Designated Summon in the penthouse, her reaction had been calm.

She also hadn’t said much after entering White Tower Floor 17.

But that was fine.

What was wrong with being a little cold?

That was much better than saying something like this:

— Greeting detected. Evaluating response. Executing greeting.

Besides, were the Blood-Summoned Ones here even normal people to begin with?

Every one of them was missing a screw or two.

“Then let’s eat and drink—”

“Summoner.”

“Yeah?”

“May I step over there for a moment?”

El pointed toward the communication tower and power plant on Floor 17.

“You want to take a look?”

“Yes. There is something I would like to examine.”

“Oh, sure.”

“Thank you.”

The next moment—

FWAAAAASH!

Flames burst from the soles of El’s golem body.

TSHHT!

Her body shot forward like an arrow.

In an instant, she was already standing in front of the communication tower.

“Wow!”

“Does she have rockets in her feet?”

“A golem really is a golem.”

“At this rate, she might fire missiles out of her chest.”

“Hm. Hearing that suddenly makes me excited.”

“But why did she go over there?”

“Doesn’t it obviously look like equipment? Of course an engineer would be curious.”

Magitech Engineer El’s inspection of the communication tower and power plant did not take long.

She returned quickly.

“So? Is it related to magitech?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“On the surface, it is styled like engineering equipment... but honestly, even I do not know what it truly is.”

“High-dimensional magic?”

“Not at all. The communication tower and power plant are powers of creation. They do not belong to magic. If I had to describe them, they are in the domain of gods.”

The White Tower’s communication tower and power plant.

They allowed communication not only inside the tower, but also with the outside world, and they made electronic devices function without wires.

Smartphones here always stayed at 100% battery.

Even without a carrier subscription, YouTube, SNS, and online games all worked.

And yet no one knew the principle behind it.

Not even a 9-circle mage.

Not even a magitech engineer.

Come to think of it, when a landmark skyscraper had risen inside this place, even the 9-circle mage Mackenzie had nearly fainted from shock.

Well, whether it was the Black Tower or the White Tower, both of them ignored basic scientific principles all the same.

Better not to think too hard about it.

If even a magitech engineer did not know, how would he?

Maybe someday, while climbing the tower, the answer would reveal itself.

“All right, then let’s eat. El, since you’re a golem... hmm. You can’t eat food, right?”

“Yes. I cannot.”

As expected.

“That’s a shame. It would’ve been nice to eat and drink together.”

“I drink alcohol.”

“...Huh?”

A golem drank?

“For energy replenishment.”

“Oh!”

“Normally I use Magic Stones, but high-concentration alcohol can also supply the energy required to operate my mana core engine.”

So she could take in liquids.

“If I drink too much, I also get drunk. Alcohol affects the golem nervous system.”

Nice.

One more drinking buddy.

Then should they get the party started?

Drinking with a golem.

First, a drink for the star of the welcome party.

Pour.

“Thank you.”

Gulp!

El brought it straight to her mouth.

“Hoho, bold! Knocking back strong liquor in one shot without any snacks!”

“So refreshing.”

“She looks like a real heavyweight.”

“This time, the old man will pour.”

The Mad Demon tilted the bottle and filled her glass.

Again—

Gulp. Ah.

“Ooooo!”

“Back-to-back!”

“Keep chugging!”

Pour.

Gulp.

The old men smiled in satisfaction.

A newcomer who could drink was welcome anywhere.

“Take one from me too.”

Pour.

Gulp.

The Mad Demon, clearly getting excited by this bizarre drinking companion, raised his own glass.

“Don’t be selfish and drink alone. Pour me one too. Liquor tastes better when it’s shared. Hohoho!”

He pushed his glass toward El.

“What, punk? Selfish?”

“...Huh?”

El’s eyes were slightly out of focus.

“This bastard’s ruining the mood—”

“What?”

At first, the Mad Demon froze in shock.

Then his face turned red, then blue.

“T-this crazy bitch—”

At that moment—

— Trouble detected. Evaluating response. Response method determined.

Huh?

The Mad Demon stared at her in disbelief.

“Me? A troublemaker? The nerve—”

Then Magitech Engineer El’s eyes glowed red.

ZIIING!

CRRRRZZZZT!

CLANG!

BAM!

The glass in the Mad Demon’s hand shattered into pieces under El’s eye beam.

Then she picked up the bottle, poured herself another glass, and drank it.

“Don’t drink. I’ll drink alone.”

Even Juhyeok was stunned.

She looked more like the real troublemaker.

“Um, El, behavior like that is dangerous at a drinking table, so please restrain yourself.”

Instantly—

FWOOSH!

El turned her head toward Juhyeok.

— Summoner detected. Evaluating response. Response method determined.

Gulp.

She’s not about to fire eye beams at me too... is she?

But—

Swoosh.

She stepped closer to Juhyeok and gently rested her head on his shoulder.

“Hehehe. I feel good.”

“...”

Well, nothing could be done.

At least she was feeling good.

— Intoxication detected. Evaluating response. Response method determined.

“Zzz...”

At this point she felt more like a drunkard, but this softened, loosened-up side of her was better than that cold, barren demeanor.

It was kind of cute too.

The next day.

Juhyeok woke up in the penthouse, washed up lightly, and entered the White Tower.

SPOT!

El was already awake, looking perfectly fine, chatting with Veronica.

Was she sober already?

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“...Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

“I do. I did not forget.”

“I see.”

Wasn’t she embarrassed?

“It was a perfectly normal reaction. My nervous system was disrupted by high-concentration alcohol.”

“...Right.”

“It was not my responsibility. It was the alcohol.”

“Y-yeah... I guess?”

Her attitude was basically: I was drunk, so it couldn’t be helped.

Her expression was confident.

No—shameless.

“By the way, what were you two talking about?”

“Veronica Caliber and I were discussing the Magitech Empire.”

Magitech Engineer El and magitech ranger Veronica Caliber.

“Did you know each other?”

“No. We are from different worlds. We simply share the commonality of magitech civilization.”

“Ah!”

That made sense.

Even Earth had multiple civilizations.

There was no reason magitech worlds would be limited to just one.

Meanwhile, El was carefully examining Veronica Caliber’s magic gun from every angle.

Could it be modified?

Improved somehow?

“There is no need for modification. It is the latest version and the highest-grade magic gun. Even in the magitech civilization I lived in, only around ten existed.”

“Is that so?”

“In our world as well, sub-light-speed rounds were the ultimate technology.”

As expected of Veronica Caliber’s weapon.

“But it was blocked.”

“Magnus Gigants are also ultimate weapons. However, if there had been three more sub-light-speed magic gunners, the Gigant would not have survived.”

Meaning—

It had only failed because Veronica Caliber was alone.

“Can another magic gun be made?”

“...The latest version cannot. At present, I can only manufacture a lower-performance version.”

“I see.”

So what if it was a lower version?

What mattered was that it could be made at all.

“What about its firepower? It’ll still work on giant monsters, right?”

If even a lower-performance magic gun was effective, then he could make one and lend it out—

For a fee.

To other players.

Like the holy sword in the undead zone.

“It will be effective, if I produce special ammunition suited to the situation.”

“Oooh! You can make special ammo too?”

“I can. The drawback is that it requires a large amount of high-grade Magic Stones.”

So it was possible.

Then the magic-gun rental business could work.

One more question.

“What about building a Gigant?”

“That is impossible. I cannot secure the core components, and they are not parts that can be made by hand. Alone, I do not stand a chance.”

Of course.

Just because one magitech engineer had joined did not mean every magitech product could suddenly be mass-produced.

What a shame.

Wouldn’t it be great if they could build Gigants too?

Just imagining himself piloting one of those manned Gigants.

It was every man’s dream at least once.

“I’ll handle the urgent matter first.”

“Urgent?”

“The mass-production facility for the Obesity Escape Bracelets. The assassin and the mage requested it.”

Ugh, those bracelets again.

Well, if mass production was possible, that was still something.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“It’s fine. The assassin said he would discuss everything with CEO Jung of Rajix Trading and handle the procurement.”

“...”

“You can just rest, Summoner.”

“...”

He was really freeloading hard.

The Blood-Summoned Ones cleared the tower.

The Blood-Summoned Ones made the money.

Other people ran the business.

He really ought to be doing something.

Bong Juhyeok.

Life sure was easy.

Another day passed.

The cooldown on Veronica Caliber’s sub-light-speed rounds ended.

Then it was time to clear Black Tower No. 2 again.

The 84th floor.

So, party selection.

“Melee is excluded again this time?”

“Yes. Please rest comfortably. We’ll be back in no time.”

“Yes, sir!”

Deployed personnel: five.

Veronica, Gyeon Dallae, the Mad Demon, Mackenzie, and Magitech Engineer El.

Honestly, Veronica Caliber alone was enough for the Colossus Condor on the 84th floor.

El was being brought along as a newcomer—

To get experience.

And to show her how this party handled things.

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2) 84th Floor.]

The mission appeared.

The airborne battleship Colossus Condor glided slowly through the sky, while flocks of ice hawks swarmed around it like gnats.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

“Ranger Veronica Caliber, taking aim.”

“Fire when ready.”

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ—

Veronica Caliber’s magic gun blazed white-hot.

BOOOOM!

KUUUUUUUNG!

The shockwave surged forward.

BANG!

The sound came only after the Colossus Condor had already exploded.

CRAAASH!

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWAAANG!

Mission complete.

[World Announcement: You have achieved clear grade S+++ on Black Tower NO.2 (Korea), Floor 84.]

[S+++ Clear Reward: 2 Platinum Badges have been granted.]

Man, Veronica Caliber was brutal.

This was what a proper clear looked like.

Two badges.

Acquired.

They immediately exited.

SPOT!

Juhyeok and the party returned to the penthouse.

“Good work.”

“Should we call in the laborer and keep farming runs—”

“Take it easy. Farming high-grade Magic Stones doesn’t take just an hour or two. I’ll dismiss you, so rest well on White Tower Floor 17.”

“Then what about Black Tower No. 2, 85th Floor?”

The 85th floor.

It had been changed to an Ego Gigant after El recovered her qualifications, but—

“It’s still a Gigant. Won’t it be difficult? Veronica Caliber’s sub-light-speed rounds are on cooldown.”

Honestly, it was a dilemma.

How were they supposed to deal with it?

An autonomous Ego Gigant.

No pilot.

Which meant no soul.

That made Diamat’s dream domain ineffective.

In some ways, it might actually be harder than before.

Then—

“We can enter the 85th floor.”

El said it calmly, as if it were nothing.

“I will handle it. An S+++ clear is possible.”

“...What?”

What was she saying?

Was she still hungover?

“How?”

“Enter, and I will show you.”

Well, then there was only one thing to do.

They had to go.

She sounded that confident.

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.2) 85th Floor.]

They appeared in a ruined desert city.

The mission triggered.

KUUUUUUUNG—

A massive Golem Magnus Ego Gigant burst up out of the ground.

How was she planning to deal with that terrifying giant golem?

“The Gigant will stop soon. For about five minutes.”

“Stop?”

“Yes. And I will stop as well.”

“...Why?”

The Gigant stops.

El stops.

What did that mean?

“I will use a Mana EMP—an electromagnetic pulse.”

Ah.

“It has no effect on living organisms, but magitech golems temporarily shut down. I am also a golem.”

I see.

“Then why get hit by it yourself? Can’t you stop just the Gigant?”

“It is a weapon only I can use. The range must be close, and it self-destructs immediately upon activation.”

“...Are you okay afterward? No side effects?”

A self-destruct weapon was not exactly reassuring.

“It is fine. I have allies now.”

Right.

El was no longer alone.

“The Gigant’s weakness is its mana core engines. Five are connected in parallel behind the chest armor. When it stops, tear them all out.”

So immobilize it, then carve it open.

“Mana core engines are one of the core components of golems. With them, golem production is possible. They are also useful in other fields.”

Really?

That sounded tempting.

“But they are not reward items, so you cannot keep them. Just destroy them.”

El moved forward.

The Ego Gigant noticed her and started moving.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

It charged at tremendous speed.

“Beginning.”

— Enemy detected. Evaluating response. Response method determined.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

El moved.

TSHHT!

FWAAAAASH!

She ran straight toward the charging Gigant.

ZIIING—

Part of her right thigh opened.

CLACK!

A cylindrical rod emerged.

Was that the Mana EMP?

The distance between El and the Gigant closed rapidly.

She was going to get stepped on.

Crushed like an ant.

At less than three meters—

She grabbed both ends of the rod and twisted with all her strength.

Then—

FLASH!

CRACK!

POP-POP-POP-POP!

A violent wave of Mana EMP erupted.

The giant golem froze.

El froze too.

“It really stopped.”

“That was easy.”

“I’ll finish it.”

SPOT!

The Mad Demon leaped onto the Gigant’s chest.

PATPATPATPAT!

ZIIING!

Blood-Jade Aura activated.

CRRRRUNCH!

With prior experience on the 85th floor of Tower No. 1, ripping open the chest armor was not difficult.

Inside were the mana core engines.

Five cube-shaped devices, each about 60 centimeters on a side, arranged in a pentagon.

CRACK!

CRRRRUNCH!

One was ripped out and dropped toward the ground.

“Hey! It’ll break!”

At Juhyeok’s shout, Mackenzie used telekinesis.

FWOOSH!

THUD!

He lowered it gently to the ground.

Then the second.

Then the third, fourth, and fifth.

Then—

[Giant Golem Magnus Gigant 1/1]

[85th Floor mission completed.]

Mission complete.

Those were the core components.

El had said they were useful.

And they were not reward items.

They could not go into a player’s inventory.

But that rule only applied to players.

Heh.

As if there weren’t a way around that.

They had an all-purpose laborer.

“Rajix, Designated Summon.”

SPOT!

“Huh?”

The laborer.

“See those cube things? Put them in your subspace backpack.”

“WAAH!”

FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

Rajix stored the mana core engines.

Rajix really was the best.

No wonder he was number one.

[World Announcement: You have achieved clear grade S+++ on Black Tower NO.2 (Korea), Floor 85.]

[S+++ Clear Reward: 2 Platinum Badges have been granted.]

The clear message appeared.

Then they left the tower.

Naturally, Magitech Engineer El—still shut down—came with them.