The path had opened.

Even if it was through the back door.

So what if it was the back door?

If I accepted the mission and received a clear judgment, it was all the same in the end.

“Whitey’s been working hard too. I’m moved.”

“Hmm... the White Tower probably isn’t an ordinary existence. Won’t it get angry if we call it Whitey?”

“It’s a nickname, a nickname! It shows closeness! Isn’t that nice?”

Was that how it worked?

“Anyway, let’s start with the Black Tower on Earth No. 675.”

“All the way to the 100th floor?”

“Absolutely!”

A climb to the 100th floor.

If it succeeded, many things would change.

They said the influence of our White Tower—Whitey—would grow stronger too.

With that power, together with Whitey, we would fully clear the Black Tower on Earth No. 1,001 as well.

“Should we do a briefing?”

“Is there something to brief?”

“There’s quite a bit. Things we need permission for too.”

Permission?

What kind of scheme was he cooking up this time?

“Go ahead.”

Cossack laid out his plan.

I listened carefully.

“...What? Everyone’s okay with it?”

“Yes, sir! Some even like it.”

Well... it should be fine.

There were a few worrying points, but—

“Then let’s proceed with the briefing.”

“Yes, sir!”

No need to rush.

The elevator’s back door was open.

We would make full preparations before attempting the clear.

“Greetings! I am Cossack, the reaper of the underworld acknowledged by Yama himself—Grand Archangel killer, Grand Archangel hunter, Grand Archangel devourer, Grand Archangel specialist butcher, Grand Archangel designated bully, and the Grand Archangel goodbye man!”

The briefing began.

“First, let me say this. Fully clearing the Black Tower on Earth No. 675 is not the end. It is only the beginning of our counterattack.”

I nodded.

The summoned companions nodded along.

“Then is fully clearing Earth No. 1,001 the end? No, it is not.”

Then what?

“Our true objective is advancing into headquarters. Ultimately, we will judge that cunning, vile, despicable, filthy, cruel, immoral, and evil bastard god.”

All the way there?

“But as you know, that fucked-up bastard broke the rules. After witnessing Summoner Bong’s achievements, he got scared.”

Right.

That pathetic excuse for a god.

Of all things, he got scared of a weakling like me?

“We cannot just sit still either. Since things have come to this, we will break the rules too.”

Of course we would.

We already had.

“So we have invited some guests. Summoner Bong?”

I nodded and sent a message on my smartphone.

At the same moment—

SPOT!

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil appeared.

He was not alone.

Alongside him appeared Team Leader Lee Mina, wearing a deeply confused expression.

“Oh! Team Leader Lee is here too. Welcome.”

“...Ah, yes. Yes.”

We had discussed this before.

Commissioner Jeon alone was a bit stretched trying to support me, so we had decided to bring in one more person.

To help with adaptation, we had first issued her access to the residential zone.

Permanent Residency Rights would come later.

Lee Mina was fine. We had met often enough.

She was probably the woman I had talked to the longest in my life.

Excluding the summoned companions, of course.

“We are in the middle of a briefing. Join us.”

“Ah, yes. Understood, Player Bong.”

Then another person appeared.

SPOT!

“Greetings! Dear comrades of the White Tower, I entered the moment I received your call. Long live Juhyeok!”

Chairman Kim Injung as well.

Why were they here?

Cossack—no, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Go Sageuk—spoke.

“Our Summoner Bong’s great journey requires the comrades’ help.”

“With what?”

“Just say the word!”

Specifically—

“We need nuclear warheads. The more, the better.”

“...What?”

Normally, nuclear fission reactions were prohibited inside the Tower.

But from the 91st-floor missions onward?

They were not conducted inside the Tower.

They took place in other dimensions connected to it.

Which meant—

Nuclear weapons were valid.

“So that’s how it is? I will prepare them at once.”

Kim Injung accepted immediately.

“Uh... um...”

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, on the other hand, was at a loss.

“S-sorry, but South Korea does not have nuclear weapons...”

“We are not asking Korea.”

“Then?”

“Ask the U.S.”

“Ah...”

“North Korea’s firepower is too weak. As the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, I find that deeply regrettable.”

Kim Injung cleared his throat.

“Our Summoner Bong is working for world peace. Would it be right to refuse something as trivial as nuclear weapons? Ask for hydrogen bombs.”

It was not wrong, but—

“Nuclear weapons are not that simple an issue...”

“No need to overthink it. If the U.S. refuses, we will ask Russia. We have the moral justification.”

Cossack turned to MacMillan.

“Old man Mac.”

“Yes?”

“Play everything we have recorded so far.”

“From where?”

“Dimensional storage, the Demon Realm, and the administrator’s crimes.”

“Got it.”

MacMillan connected the filming smartphone to the monitor.

The footage began to play.

The longer it played, the wider the eyes of Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, Team Leader Lee Mina, and Chairman Kim Injung became.

“You have all seen it, yes? How much our Summoner Bong is sacrificing for this world.”

Cossack dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve.

He was getting into it again.

“Our Summoner Bong stands against the cunning and treacherous Black Tower. And you are worried about a few nukes? We will handle everything. Just hand them over.”

That was right.

What good were nuclear weapons if they were just sitting around on Earth anyway?

Still, Commissioner Jeon Gwangil looked troubled.

This was not something that could be resolved with a few words.

“Commissioner Jeon.”

“Yes?”

“How do you feel?”

“I still do not fully—”

“I understand.”

Then—

“We will give you copies of everything later.”

“Ah...”

“Edit them appropriately and release everything publicly. The time has come. Once this is public, it will justify the nuclear weapons request.”

Commissioner Jeon Gwangil flinched.

All of it?

As Cossack said, it would create justification, but—

“Are you sure? This could expose Player Bong’s abilities and traits.”

“It’s fine. Proceed as planned.”

My name was already public anyway.

Even my school graduation photo had leaked.

And more importantly—

The purpose of the Black Tower and the masterminds behind it had been identified.

People needed to know.

All people on Earth were victims and stakeholders alike.

“Once people see this, they will understand why nuclear weapons are necessary.”

“Ah...”

This would reveal the identities of the summoned companions.

But—

“So what?”

People needed to know.

That without them, Earth would have ended up like Earth No. 675.

They deserved recognition.

Still, it was polite to ask.

Some might not want to be revealed.

“If anyone is uncomfortable, just say so. We will blur you out or remove you.”

Silence.

No one?

Then—

“I have something to say.”

Cossack raised his hand.

Don’t tell me he wanted to be removed?

“When introducing me, make it absolutely clear that I am Player Bong’s right-hand man. Put it in big subtitles. ‘Civil and military genius, loyal retainer!’ Emphasize that.”

Then the demands poured in.

“I am Meatshield the warrior. The meat shield who protects the summoner.”

“I am Bardin, the god. Introduce me as my lord’s loyal servant.”

“I am El, magitech engineer. Factory manager of the summoner’s company.”

“Major Veronica Caliber, former aide to the commander.”

“I am Gyeon Dallae, chief steward managing Young Master Bong’s household.”

“I am the Mad Demon, the summoner’s guardian.”

“I’m Diamat. The summoner’s concubine.”

...Concubine, my ass.

“Delete concubine. Our Summoner Bong will not be able to marry. Say ‘reformed succubus.’”

The introductions continued.

“I am Crackers, the Ancient Green Dragon. The summoner’s driver.”

“I am the Great Flame Archmage, summoned... hm. Filming Director MacMillan.”

“Summoner. Farming. Food. That is my job.”

“I’m Baekdana.”

“KREEE!”

“This one is Mannyeon.”

Then—

“GRRR!”

“And I am... the dimensional farmhand.”

Blood Wolf and Rajix, speaking after a long silence.

Ding!

<Mari>: I am the summoner’s personal physician.

Even Mari.

As if she had been waiting for this moment.

Good thing no one asked to be blurred out.

Anyway, after all the self-promotion—

“We will continue the briefing.”

Cossack brought the room back to order.

“At this point, what we need to think about is powering up.”

Agreed.

“This is a dangerous mission. We do not mind dying, but Summoner Bong must not. You need to become stronger so we can fight with peace of mind.”

Hmm.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“Basement alchemist Mari?”

Ding.

<Mari>: What?

“How is the great demon heart processing coming along?”

<Mari>: Almost done. But since the materials are limited, Elixirs of Resurrection are impossible. Only Elixirs of Enhancement.

“All five?”

<Mari>: Yeah.

“Excellent. Now, once Summoner Bong drinks all the Elixirs of Enhancement—”

“Wait!”

Not a chance.

You wanted me to drink great demon hearts?

“I’m not drinking them.”

“Um... why not?”

“Because I’m not.”

Dragon hearts were one thing.

But great demon hearts?

No.

What was the difference between demons and humans?

They looked the same, probably genetically almost identical.

Absolutely not.

“There is a reason.”

“Please explain. Otherwise, we invoke Rule Three, Clause Three.”

Oh?

Was that a threat?

So that was how he was going to play this?

Fine.

I would refute it.

“Everyone. Where do you think my power comes from?”

The summoned companions fell silent.

“From player mana? From skills? From internal energy? None of that. The source of my power is all of you—the summoned companions. I’m strong because of you.”

That was true.

“So rather than me, you should be the ones getting stronger. That is how it is supposed to be.”

No objections, right?

“So, one great demon heart elixir goes to Mr. Cossack.”

“Ah, no, sir. I—I...”

“Absolute obedience! This is a special gift I bestow.”

“......”

One taken care of.

“Next drinker, Mr. Meatshield.”

“I don’t need it. A warrior is already strong.”

“You need to be stronger.”

“......”

Two down.

“Mr. Bardin as well.”

“M-my lord, why would a holy knight consume a great demon’s heart?”

“You already accepted the Rite of the Netherworld, so why act shy now?”

“......”

Three.

“And Ms. Diamat. Let’s have you eat a great demon heart and become a great demon.”

“Hm? Is this affection for your beloved concubine?”

“You seem the most compatible. You’re a demon too.”

“......”

Four done.

Rule Three, Clause Three would not be invoked.

The logic was sound.

I excluded the Mad Demon.

He had long since passed the stage where pills would make him stronger.

“B-but that’s four total. One heart remains. Then Summoner Bong will...?”

“No. There is already an owner.”

“...Who?”

Don’t tell me you really don’t know?

“Did you forget Mr. Jepetto? Doesn’t ring a bell?”

“Oh!”

“These people have no compassion, no compassion! Huh? That gentleman was dispatched to the world of souls. He cannot even enter the White Tower, and people feel no pity at all. Isn’t that sad?”

The atmosphere turned solemn.

If we fed Jepetto Royal Blood, gave him the Dao Pill, and then a great demon heart, would he not become roughly on par with the current summoned companions?

“And I don’t need to drink that anyway. I have already gotten stronger.”

That was the truth.

The Elixir of Enhancement made from an ancient dragon’s heart—

Mari had designed it so my body could absorb it slowly.

The absorption was nearly complete now, after roaming through dimensional storage and the Demon Realm.

“On that note, how about I go do some warm-ups?”

SPOT!

I vanished.

Then, one by one, the summoned companions were called out after me.

Aside from Farmer Du-u, who had gone to tend the fields, the only ones left were—

“Hmm.”

“Hrm.”

“Ahem.”

—Commissioner Jeon Gwangil, Team Leader Lee Mina, and Chairman Kim Injung, suddenly standing there awkwardly.

“...Comrades, take care. I need to prepare the nuclear warheads.”

SPOT!

Kim Injung left as well.

Lee Mina still had not fully processed things.

After deciding to accept the White Tower residential privilege, she had heard some explanations from Commissioner Jeon, but still.

This was unbelievable.

Player Bong, with a summoning Trait.

Summoned companions who followed him with one heart and mind.

And some of them were familiar faces.

Cossack, Meatshield, the Mad Demon, Rajix—

Even Chairman Kim Injung?

She knew he had a connection with Player Bong, but “Long live Juhyeok”?

That aside—

“Is it really okay to release this footage?”

“You heard them. They all said it was fine.”

The people involved would be fine.

But the impact on the world?

“It’s okay. It’s time people knew what Player Bong has been doing to prevent Tower collapse.”

“...Ah!”

This was their chance to reveal everything and gain international support.

Including the nuclear weapons Player Bong had requested.

[Entering Republic of Korea Black Tower (NO.1) 88th Floor.]

Juhyeok arrived on the 88th floor.

Why?

Obviously, to clear it.

[88th Floor Mission: Defeat 1 Lesser Dragon, Sand Dragon.]

He planned to show the summoned companions that he was strong even without consuming great demon hearts.

To be honest, even Juhyeok did not know his exact limits.

Level 96, the Elixir of Enhancement made from an ancient dragon’s heart, the sacred energy shower, the Dao Pill, the Rite of the Netherworld, and the Judge’s Hammer.

With all that, should he not be able to take down a Sand Dragon?

What was there to fear?

One hit!

“KUUOOOOO!!!”

A massive body swam through the sandy desert like it was an ocean.

It was huge.

And ugly.

“Hmm.”

When the summoned companions fought it, it had seemed pathetically weak.

“...Did I bite off more than I can chew?”

Too late to back out now.

“Ahem, my throat is a bit dry.”

“WAAH?”

SSSK.

Rajix pulled a drink from his subspace bag.

“No, not that. Mango flavor.”

“WAAH!”

A potion of mental fortification.

“...And others.”

SSSK, SSSK, SSSK.

Potion of courage, vitality elixir, mana enhancement potion, strength boost, speed boost, agility boost...

Gulp, gulp.

Full buff stack.

Then an energy shield kit—

ZIIING!

Protection activated.

Now he finally felt brave.

“Watch closely. I’ll take down the Sand Dragon by myself.”

SPOT!

Juhyeok advanced.

The summoned companions watched his back silently.

“My heart is pounding like crazy. I know Young Master is strong, but still...”

“It’s fine. He will not be hurt even a hair.”

“Still...”

“Look at the thickness of the summoner’s energy shield.”

“Ah!”

“It is denser and sturdier than even my barrier.”

“That is because of the shield effect.”

The energy shield kit’s feature:

Its effect scaled with the user’s level.

In other words, it depended on the user’s mana.

“The summoner’s mana is on par with ours. So is the shield. Could a mere Sand Dragon break through it?”

And one more thing.

“Do you know where Cossack is?”

Come to think of it, he was not here.

When had he disappeared?

“You cannot see him, but I can. He is following right beside the summoner, hidden.”

Then there was nothing to worry about.

They knew it rationally.

There was no way the summoner would lose to a Sand Dragon.

Rule Three, Clause Three had not activated either.

Because it was not dangerous.

Still, the summoned companions grew anxious if the summoner even breathed heavily.

Would he get hurt?

Would he suffer psychological shock?

Meanwhile, Juhyeok took a deep breath while facing the Sand Dragon.

Let’s do this.

He had to change.

A Grand Archangel was coming to kill him.

Ninety days remained.

He did not know what kind of being the Grand Archangel was.

But at the very least, he did not want to run away in fear.

A summoner has pride.

Let’s go.

I’ll kill it.

I can do this.

Gripping the Judge’s Hammer—

SPOT! PATPATPAT! SPOT!

Shadow Step.

“...Where did it go?”

It had been right in front of him.

It must have hidden in the sand.

It was nearby.

Like the Mad Demon, he spread his internal energy out to sense it.

Feel the vibrations.

It felt like becoming a martial master.

Where are you?

Show yourself—

At that moment.

Suddenly.

“AAAGH!”

“Oh! Holy shit, you scared me!”

Reflexively, Juhyeok hurled the Judge’s Hammer with all his strength.

WHIRRR!

The hammer flew.

Then—

THUD!

The hammer struck the Sand Dragon’s torso—

KWA-BOOOOM!

A massive shockwave erupted.

“Oh!”

This hammer was amazing.

Such power from something so small.

Of course it had that much power.

The Judge’s Hammer, saturated with Yama’s touch over immeasurable ages.

Divine power had accumulated within it.

Naturally, it was on a completely different level from ordinary weapons.

And originally, gods did not wield hammers by swinging them.

They threw them.

You saw it in movies too.

And when thrown—

WHIRRR!

CLACK!

“Yes!”

It came back on its own.

Because it was a god’s hammer.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!

The 88th floor echoed with the applause of the summoned companions.