The notice of Kaluminus’s appearance spread across the world.

[World Announcement: Ultra-Extreme Radiant Dragon Kaluminus has appeared.]

└ Huh?

└ What?

└ Eh?

└ Did everyone hear that?

└ Ultra-Extreme Radiant Dragon appearance?

└ If it’s an Ultra-Extreme Radiant Dragon, is that a dragon, by any chance?

└ A dragon?

└ Seems like it. The English-speaking side is calling it something like an Ultra Super Powered Mad Dragon or whatever.

The community went up in flames.

└ If it’s a dragon, then that’s a dragon, right? Why is something like that showing up?

└ Where did it appear? Inside the Tower? Outside?

└ Wait! Didn’t the Floor 89 S+++ clear message ring just a moment ago?

└ What does that have to do with it?

└ Didn’t they clear the 89th floor and go up to the 90th?

└ Holy crap!

People knew too.

The changes that had started from the 70th floor.

Things like the Curse of Kabalan, or Diamat escaping the Tower.

This 90th floor was probably the same.

The worry was that it might affect reality.

└ The top player climbed to the 90th floor without saying anything?

└ Wow. Now they’re just barging ahead. Does that mean they don’t care what happens to the world?

└ Why are you trashing the top player? It’s a floor that had to be climbed anyway.

└ They should’ve prepared before going up.

└ Prepared for what?

└ The dragon. It might show up in reality.

└ So did it show up?

└ Huh?

└ I’m asking whether it showed up.

└ Won’t it show up soon?

Then, all of a sudden—

[World Announcement: Ultra-Extreme Radiant Dragon Kaluminus has been annihilated.]

└ Oh!

└ Wow!

└ Lololol.

└ It died the moment it came out.

└ Even a dragon is just a lizard in front of the top player.

└ Worried for nothing.

└ All you bastards who were freaking out, reflect on yourselves! You thought our top player comrade climbed the 90th floor without knowing anything?

And then—

[World Announcement: You have achieved clear grade S+++ on Black Tower NO.1 (Korea), Floor 90.]

└ Clean. It’s the 90th-floor range from here on.

└ But won’t a dragon video show up?

└ Yeah, I want to at least see what it looked like.

└ What kind of rewards did they get?

└ Only the top player would know that.

That was not all.

Another notice followed—one that would shock the world.

[World Announcement: Restoration of the world outside the Black Tower is underway.]

[World Announcement: The holes created by the Tower collapse are gradually being filled.]

└ What the hell does this mean?

└ The holes created by the Tower collapse are being filled?

└ For real?

└ Hey, hey, India’s going crazy right now. The Mumbai hole! They say it’s vibrating like mad.

└ Same with Mount Fuji in Japan.

The holes were being filled.

The two holes that had been created near Mumbai in India and Mount Fuji in Japan due to the Tower collapse.

Why?

Who had done this?

Who else could it be but one person?

└ As expected, the top player had everything planned.

└ This is why they rushed the 90th floor.

└ Where are all the idiots who were cursing them earlier for climbing the 90th floor too hastily?

└ They’re deleting their posts and running.

└ Is there really no way to find out who the top player is? I’d even lick their toes if I could.

Broadcast stations in India and Japan urgently dispatched helicopters and drone filming teams for synchronized coverage.

Like water filling an empty space, soil filled the holes.

The entire world was stunned, then erupted in cheers.

White Tower Floor 17.

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, who had been speaking with Farmer Duu, also heard the World Announcement about the hole restoration.

... Seriously? What the hell is this?

This place allowed communication with the outside.

So his smartphone had been ringing nonstop.

Calls, messages, SNS.

The Korean Awakening Administration, the Blue House, the U.S. Embassy, the Japanese Embassy.

It seemed they were all trying to confirm the facts.

It was overwhelming.

“Call. Incoming. I’m fine.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Duu told him to answer the phone, but—

“Let’s take it later.”

The restoration of the Tower collapse holes.

It was a huge deal, but what would he even say if he answered right now?

As things stood, he did not know anything yet.

Right at that moment—

SPOT! SPOT! SPOT! SPOT!

Summoned entities entered the Tower in a flurry.

“Yo, former commissioner! Long time no see? Hahaha!”

“Welcome.”

“Oh my, our former commissioner is here?”

“You look more dignified. You must have been busy with public duties.”

“WAAH!”

Everyone looked to be in high spirits.

Was it because of the hole restoration?

SPOT!

Juhyeok appeared as well.

“Player Bong!”

“Oh! Commissioner, it’s been a while.”

“About that World Announcement. The Mumbai and Mount Fuji holes—”

“Ah... but that’s not what’s important right now.”

“Yes?”

“Come this way.”

RUMBLE!

Juhyeok and the summoned entities rushed toward the plaza.

“Dimensional farmhand, hurry up.”

“WAAH!”

Two dragon corpses lay in the plaza.

And right beside them—

SSSSSSS—

SHUUUUK!

Another dragon corpse was being pulled out.

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil’s mouth fell wide open.

It was enormous.

And its hide was golden.

“H-how did you do that?”

“The Golden Monkey Lords took care of it.”

“They’ve all left now, though.”

What did that mean?

And in the meantime—

ZIIING!

Cossack manifested an aura blade and stood atop the golden dragon’s chest.

“I’ll begin the butchering.”

“Careful! Gently!”

“Before that, I’m sorry, but Trainee Baek Danya, please step aside.”

“... Yes.”

“It can’t be helped. If another accident happens, the shut-in alchemist will go berserk.”

Baek Danya and the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal were isolated.

And then the extraction of the dragon heart began.

SLICE, SLICE-SLICE, SLICE!

Cossack carefully made an incision beneath the neck.

After rummaging around inside—

“Extraction successful! A sparkling Ancient Gold Dragon Heart.”

“Ooooooh!”

“Finally!”

“What a fine sheen.”

The number of Ancient Dragon Hearts currently secured was two.

The extracted heart and the reward heart.

“Summoner Bong, please take out the one you received as a system reward as well.”

SSS.

He took the heart he had received as a system reward out of his inventory and placed both side by side on the ground.

“Hmmm.”

“As expected.”

“WAAH.”

“The difference is obvious.”

“The system reward heart looks like a replica.”

“Well, of course! The one taken directly from the body is the real deal.”

“Then the elixir will be made with the extracted heart?”

“Isn’t that obvious? It’s the elixir the summoner will drink, so it has to be the good stuff.”

“I’ll go deliver it quickly.”

Cossack hugged the directly extracted Ancient Dragon Heart tightly to his chest and headed to Mari’s house.

The system reward heart was stored in Rajix’s subspace backpack, since they did not know how it would be used.

Now then, should we do the monthly thing?

The former commissioner was here too, so let’s have a party.

“Ah! What were you saying earlier?”

“I was asking about the World Announcement.”

“Which World Announcement?”

“The one about the holes created by the Tower collapse gradually being filled—”

“Ah! That one? It pops up as an achievement when you clear the 90th floor. Restoration is also underway on that Earth over there.”

I see.

Jeon Gwangil nodded.

Now it was certain.

Since he knew the reason, he had to spread the word.

The sinkholes being restored.

What a relief.

People needed to know that Korea’s top player had made it happen.

Anyway, the feast started now.

They brought back Baek Danya, who had been isolated.

Farmer Duu brought all kinds of vegetables and greens.

Duu’s produce.

This was no ordinary stuff.

It was incredibly fresh and delicious.

Even the meat-loving summoned entities ate more vegetables.

Especially Cossack.

“At this rate, I’ll become a vegetarian. Farmer Duu, please receive the Nobel Prize in Agriculture.”

“Is there even a Nobel Prize for agriculture?”

“That’s how good it is. You could sell this. How about one million won for a box of lettuce?”

Cossack’s business instincts burst out as usual.

No matter how expensive lettuce got, that was ridiculous.

There was no intention of selling it.

There was barely enough for us to eat.

If there was any left, it could be given as gifts.

Gifts, huh.

Let’s hand out one Immortal Peach each.

Everyone worked hard, and the former commissioner was here too.

“This is...”

“It’s a peach.”

“It’s very large.”

“It’s precious. A peach eaten by immortals.”

“Haha, is it really that delicious?”

“I’m not joking. A peach that only grows in the Immortal Realm and here on White Tower Floor 17.”

“... What?”

“A real Immortal Peach.”

Juhyeok’s expression turned serious.

Jeon Gwangil flinched in surprise.

No way.

A peach truly eaten by immortals?

“So I can’t give out many. Just eat one. It’ll help with Tower climbing too.”

Jeon Gwangil had no choice but to believe him.

There was no way Player Bong would lie.

So he cautiously took a bite of the Immortal Peach.

CRUNCH!

Ahhh.

Sweet juice flowed down his throat.

For some reason, his entire body felt warm.

It was unbelievably delicious.

He could not stop.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

He carefully slurped it so the juice would not spill.

Juhyeok quietly watched him.

The effect of the Immortal Peach had already been proven.

On himself and on the summoned entities.

Then what about a player?

For example, mana capacity, or skill power.

I should ask casually later. Whether it had any effect.

The party atmosphere continued to deepen.

Cossack looked drunk even though he had not had a drop of alcohol.

“Old man.”

“What is it?”

“Why haven’t you talked about world conquest lately? Did you give up?”

The Mad Demon fell into thought.

Then—

“That’s right. I gave up.”

“Why did you give up?”

“Because there is no need.”

Then, after downing a glass of liquor in one go—

“Look at our Earth. Does it look like a world at risk of Tower collapse? The holes are already being filled.”

“Hmmm, that’s true.”

“Not just the summoner. Even ordinary Trait players are climbing past the 80th floor.”

“That’s right.”

“All of this is thanks to the summoner leading the way. The effects of world conquest have already been shown, so why bother?”

That was right.

It was not just one person charging ahead alone.

The entire Earth, all nations, were climbing together.

“An incredible feat. Something no one else could replicate.”

“That is why this Cossack always respects Summoner Bong.”

“This mage feels the same. Becoming his summoned entity is truly a source of pride.”

“Me too.”

“This girl as well.”

What was with everyone?

This was embarrassing.

“In that sense, Summoner Bong, are you not getting married?”

Why was this man suddenly bringing up marriage?

It was not even a holiday.

“Are you going to bring up Jinsuk again?”

“Hey, not Jinsuk. Look nearby. Aren’t there plenty here?”

Glance.

The summoned entities looked at Juhyeok.

Gyeon Dallae, Veronica Caliber, Diamat, El, Baek Danya, and Mari, who was probably in her room.

Haa.

What were they talking about?

They were all like younger sisters or older sisters to me.

“There are many benefits to marrying a summoned entity.”

“What benefits?”

“It is easy to get a divorce.”

“You do not even need to go to court. Just revoke their Residency Rights and cancel the summoning—done. You can split without ever seeing each other’s faces.”

There he went again, crossing the line.

“If it gets boring, just divorce, then marry again. You could remarry six times over—”

“Go over there and get some sleep.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Things would be going well, and then he would blurt out nonsense once in a while.

The next day.

Another peaceful morning on White Tower Floor 17.

Mari began brewing the Elixir of Enhancement.

She said refining the dragon heart would take time, so waiting patiently was fine.

Farmer Duu expanded the farm while also tending the Immortal Peaches.

The Immortal Peach saplings were growing rapidly.

Once the peach blossoms bloomed, they would bear fruit—so that too just needed time.

Then what about the other summoned entities?

Everyone was absorbed in their own work.

Juhyeok had something to deal with as well.

The most urgent problem.

Inside the White Tower landmark building.

A cozy lounge space.

There, Juhyeok, the Mad Demon, Cossack, Mackenzie, and Baek Danya gathered.

Juhyeok planned to deal with the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal inside Baek Danya’s body.

Either tame it into obedience, drive it out of her body, or destroy it outright.

He had gathered summoned entities skilled in handling different forms of energy.

He intended to borrow their power.

The Mad Demon’s internal energy, the greatest under heaven across past and present.

The mana of Mackenzie, a 9-circle archmage.

The aura of Cossack, a sword master.

First, the Mad Demon stepped forward.

“Hmmm.”

He took Baek Danya’s slender wrist and sent his energy flowing through her.

Then he frowned, as if something felt off.

“Strange.”

“What is?”

“I sent my true energy through her meridians and searched thoroughly, but I cannot find any foreign presence.”

Which meant—

“Either the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal is skilled enough to evade my senses, or Baek Danya and the Ice Crystal are nearly in a state of fusion.”

This was troublesome.

It meant it was hiding inside her body without revealing itself.

It was the same even when Baek Danya used ice techniques.

As if it knew people had gathered to search for it.

“It is a clever one.”

“Crafty, more like.”

So it really did possess spirituality.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal clearly understood its current situation.

“... I’m sorry.”

Baek Danya looked deeply dejected as she apologized.

“It’s okay. How is this the Young Palace Lord’s fault?”

It was because of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal.

That thing had devoured the Silver Dragon Heart.

But who bore the greatest responsibility?

I caused this myself.

Who had summoned the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal?

The one who had summoned both Baek Danya and the Ice Crystal inside her body was none other than Juhyeok himself.

So he felt responsible.

It had been resting peacefully in the world of souls, and Juhyeok had unnecessarily summoned it, causing it suffering.

He had to resolve this no matter what.

“Let this mage try.”

This time, Mackenzie stepped forward.

He placed a hand on Baek Danya’s head as she lay on the bed.

“Finding!”

The 9-circle archmage began casting spells.

“Mana Refresh! Canceling! Control Power...”

He chanted continuously, but—

“Hmmm.”

Magic also failed to draw the thing out.

Do we have to give up?

At that moment—

“You old men are washed up now. You should be ashamed in front of Summoner Bong. Start preparing for retirement.”

“You bastard—do you have a method, then?”

“I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t. The well-rounded Zhuge Zilong—this Cossack will handle it.”

“What is it?”

Cossack wore a confident expression.

“I’ll approach it with telepathy.”

“... Telepathy?”

“Didn’t people who lived in the world of souls know telepathy?”

“Communication using mental waves?”

“That’s right.”

Mental waves?

“The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal can’t speak with a mouth, so I’ll try communicating through mental waves with the Ice Crystal hiding inside Young Palace Lord Baek Danya.”

It sounded plausible.

The question was whether it would actually work.

“You can do it?”

“Step aside.”

Cossack poked Baek Danya’s forehead with his finger.

“I’ll begin communication now.”

Then—

“Telepathy!!!”

He shouted the skill name.

“Mr. Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal, please come out for a moment and have a chat with me.”

“Sir? Sir?”

What kind of telepathic mental waves were those?

He was just talking.

“Are you really going to act like this? How shameless. You gobbled up the Silver Dragon Heart, and now you’re keeping your mouth shut?”

...

He even threatened it.

“Let’s keep things nice. Ever heard of cutting open a goose’s belly? Want me to slice it open so you die and I die together?”

And scolded it.

“If you’re parasitizing a human body, you should benefit the host. Why are you turning her into a thief? If you had a mouth, you should at least make excuses.”

It did not have a mouth.

“If this keeps up, Young Palace Lord Baek Danya will be disqualified as Summoner Bong’s legal wife candidate. She won’t even become a concubine. She’ll live her whole life as a spinster, guarding an empty room.”

That was when—

TZZZZZZZZ!

“... Eek?”

FWAAAAASH!

Baek Danya’s entire body transformed into a mass of ice.

“It, it showed itself!”

CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!

A terrifying chill climbed up Cossack’s finger from where it touched Baek Danya’s forehead.

“Aaaaaah...”

Cossack’s body rapidly began freezing as well.

Ice energy accumulated over ten thousand years, a Silver Dragon’s heart, and even the energy of the Immortal Peach—it had devoured them all.

This was no ordinary thing.

“GRAAAAAH!”

Cossack did not stay idle.

Letting out a monstrous roar, he poured aura into suppressing the ice energy.

At the same time, the Mad Demon grabbed Baek Danya’s wrist.

“Got you, bastard!”

WHOOSH!

He unleashed his internal energy.

“Come, face me. I’ll erase you.”

TZZZZZZZ!

CRACK, CRACK!

“Ice must be governed by flame.”

WHOOOOSH!

Mackenzie placed his hand on Baek Danya’s head and manifested fire magic.

TZZZZZZZ!

CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!

The war of energies had begun.

“Wow.”

What a formidable Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal.

To struggle evenly against three top-tier existences at once.

It was a deadlock.

Those trying to annihilate it, and the one resisting annihilation.

But the problem was—

“Kuaaaaah!”

Baek Danya rolled her eyes back and convulsed.

This would not do.

“Stop here. Everyone, pull back.”

But—

“N-now is n-not the time...”

“It’s a ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) contest of momentum. Either that thing dies, or I do.”

“Grrk!”

The summoned entities’ hands were firmly attached to Baek Danya’s body.

There was no sign of them letting go.

A war of energies was raging inside her body.

It would only end when someone died.

Who would die?

Baek Danya, obviously.

This is bad. Something terrible will happen.

Do not drag it out—finish it quickly.

So Juhyeok placed his hand on Baek Danya’s body.

At the same time, cold surged into his own body.

But he focused his mind and infused his energy.

TZZZIK.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal reacted to Juhyeok’s energy.

Dragon?

It did not resist—it slowly retreated.

Something felt different.

He felt it.

And at the same time, a thought flashed through his mind.

Is this compulsion?

If it was a spiritual entity attached to a summoned entity?

If it parasitized the soul rather than the flesh?

Could it work?

Let’s try.

... Retreat.

Instantly—

SLIIIIDE.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal withdrew.

TAP! TAPTAPTAP, TAP-TAP!

The other summoned entities’ hands detached from Baek Danya’s body.

At the same time, Baek Danya stopped convulsing.

Huh...?

It listened to me?

No doubt about it.

It had obeyed Juhyeok’s words.

Come out again.

TZZZZ.

Cold gathered around Baek Danya’s body.

Now focus the cold in your right hand.

TZZZZ.

Baek Danya’s right hand turned pure white.

Left hand.

TZZZZ.

Hide again.

SLIIIIDE.

Look at this thing.

It listens really well.

Just like a summoned entity.