Jeon Gwang-il, the section chief, was just as shocked.
At first, he didn't even understand why Section Chief Lee Min-ah was so surprised.
He thought Bong Juhyeok's reappearance in less than ten minutes meant he had abandoned the mission.
But then the messages started popping up on his smartphone.
Team Leader, another all-staff notice just went out.
It's an 11-floor consecutive S++ clear record.
The Commissioner has called an emergency countermeasures meeting.
He says to wrap up your business trip as quickly as possible and come back immediately.
Jeon Gwang-il had already called Commissioner Park Gyeongsu and told him that the player Bong Juhyeok was not the S++ record holder… that he'd just sign a basic contract and head back in.
And yet—what was this?
It was this man.
The timid Bong Juhyeok, who couldn't even properly meet his or Section Chief Lee Min-ah's eyes, was the S++ record holder.
Was anyone stupid enough not to see it?
They claimed it was a coincidence, but—
"Coincidence, my ass."
The cleared floors and the timing matched perfectly.
And yet Bong Juhyeok continued to deny it,
"Ah, ah'm not, sir. It's a coincidence. …Ahh, s-sorry, my speech got infected, a-anyway, it's definitely not me."
He stuttered, but brazenly played dumb.
"Are you sure it's really not you?"
"Yes, sir! I mean—yes."
But Jeon Gwang-il was convinced.
Bong Juhyeok was the S++-rank record holder.
He was trying hard to hide it, but his expressions, speech, and gestures gave him away.
"I see."
"…Hahaha, y-yeah, I told you."
"Then since we've confirmed your awakening, we'll prepare the contract. Section Chief Lee Min-ah?"
Quick-witted, Lee Min-ah pulled a contract out of an envelope.
A contract prepared in advance.
One meant only for S++ record holders.
"Th-this isn't a standard contract. It looks like an elite team contract?"
"No. It's on an entirely different level. If I had to put it into words, you could call it an ultra-elite contract."
"..."
"At present, only one player in South Korea receives these benefits—Player Yoo Cheol-min."
Player Yoo Cheol-min.
A name Juhyeok knew as well.
Korea's top player, who had cleared the 65th floor and was currently challenging the 66th.
"Take a look. It includes every benefit the state can offer. An annual salary of 12 billion won, real estate, VVIP protocol and security, even immunity privileges."
"No, why are you giving this to me?"
"Because you've proven you have the greatest talent. Please make your decision. For the sake of South Korea."
It was all ruined.
Because of that damn John Kosak,
Because of those absurd Three Principles of Summoned Beings.
Haah, shit… this has gotten way too big.
A dejected Juhyeok.
Seeing that, Section Chief Lee Min-ah said,
"Mr. Juhyeok, you deserve treatment befitting your talent. Please join the elite team."
She gave him a bright smile as she spoke.
Thump!
Juhyeok's heart sank.
A woman… eye-smiling?
This, he hadn't anticipated.
Juhyeok had almost zero resistance to women.
He needed to get a grip.
If not, he'd be dragged along without realizing it.
So, with a serious expression,
"…I-I won't be a player unless it's a standard contract."
"What?"
"Why would you—?"
Juhyeok mustered his courage.
"I don't like attention. When I get attention, I get stressed, and when I get stressed, I don't want to do anything."
"…Hmm."
"..."
Surprisingly, this was the truth.
It had always been that way.
"So far, climbing the Tower has been pretty fun. I'm taking it seriously. But it's only the 11th floor. The future's uncertain, and I'm not confident yet."
Only then did Jeon Gwang-il realize—
Bong Juhyeok's personality.
Like how a male customer who receives overly friendly service at a clothing store never comes back again.
Or how a regular at a restaurant stops showing up the very next day once the staff start acting overly familiar and chatting too much.
Some people react badly to excessive attention.
For example, an extreme I-type among MBTI personalities.
For now, backing off was the right move.
"…Understood. Then we'll proceed with a standard contract."
"Oh! Thank you."
Juhyeok received the new contract, checked it, and quickly signed.
This was a good outcome.
Someone might ask why he insisted on a standard contract.
Wouldn't it be better to confidently stamp the elite contract and climb the Tower while enjoying all the benefits?
An elite contract comes with obligations equal to its rewards.
Even if you want to quit midway while climbing the upper floors, you can't.
The elite team exists precisely to challenge uncleared upper floors.
And once you join the elite team, you have to record your clears and show them to the public.
That would inevitably expose John Kosak's existence.
But Juhyeok didn't want that.
He wasn't an ordinary summon.
He was a being with his own will and personality.
You should ask him first.
※ ※ ※
Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu could only blink in disbelief at Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il's out-of-the-blue report.
The player Bong Juhyeok he had spoken with earlier today was suspected to be an S++-rank record holder? No—almost certainly?
He asked again and again.
But the answer was always the same.
"Te-Team Leader Jeon, this is completely different from your interim report. On the phone, didn't you say he was a timid player with no will to climb?"
"That's correct."
"Huh? …Then how is he S++ rank?"
"That's also true. He lacks the will to climb and has a timid personality, but he possesses S++-grade clearing talent."
It made no sense at all.
"Explain it in detail."
"Well, you see…"
Jeon Gwang-il explained what had happened just a short while ago.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu asked with a stunned expression,
"…What about the possibility of coincidence?"
Section Chief Lee Min-ah answered instead,
"The timing lined up far too perfectly. It's absolutely not a coincidence."
She was a player herself.
She would have seen and heard it firsthand.
It meant the clear notification and the time he exited the Tower matched exactly.
If so, then he was undeniably an S++-grade record holder—
So why insist on staying with the standard team?
Was he really going to let such incredible talent go to waste?
"Did you explain the elite team benefits in detail?"
"Yes. We went over them repeatedly. We actively tried to persuade him."
"…And he still wouldn't budge?"
What on earth was his intention?
"Could it be he's deliberately trying to raise his value—"
"I don't think so. It may just be his personality."
"So he really is that timid?"
"Yes. Probably."
"Haah… this is driving me crazy."
What should they do?
If someone has no will to climb, then no matter how talented they are, giving up would be the right call.
But if it's S++-grade talent?
"So, the contract?"
"For now, a standard contract is the best option. Approaching too aggressively would only backfire."
"Are you planning to just leave things as they are?"
"Absolutely not. Just watching talent like that go to waste? We have to bring him into the elite team, no matter what."
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu nodded.
"Sounds good… but don't push too hard. If he really is that timid, he might give up being a player altogether."
"Yes. We plan to first figure out exactly what kind of person Bong Juhyeok is. If he has a weakness, we'll dig in there."
"Fine. But this must remain absolutely confidential. Only you, Team Leader Jeon, and Section Chief Lee Min-ah are to know."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"So will I."
The elite contract had fallen through, but they couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
They already knew who he was.
And they'd at least secured a standard contract.
The key issue was security.
Flies might start swarming.
Talented players were coveted assets in any country.
"By the way… do you think he'll set an S++ record on the 12th floor too?"
"Hard to say. It's possible, but we also have to consider deliberate underperformance. He might intentionally drag things out, or make the clear harder."
"To avoid joining the elite team?"
"Or he might just keep clearing with S++. He did say climbing the Tower was fun, at least."
It was ambiguous.
Part of them wanted to confirm whether he truly had S++ talent.
Another part hoped he would stop here, so his existence wouldn't be exposed.
But then, the next day—
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 12th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
Again?
To confirm, Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il called Juhyeok.
"P-player Bong Juhyeok, did you just clear the 12th floor?"
…Yes, that was me. But the 13th floor might be tough.
The following day—
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 13th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
What? Tough?
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 14th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
Three days in a row.
It was real.
At this point, who cared if he was timid?
He was delivering undeniable results.
Commissioner Park Gyeongsu had no choice but to make a decision.
Bring him into the elite team, no matter what.
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il thought the same.
"Should we assign someone to him?"
"No. Special treatment is more dangerous. Too many eyes watching. For now, let's treat him like a standard contractor."
"I agree."
They had to approach carefully.
First, build a relationship of trust.
Even someone extremely timid changes once they get close to you.
"Come up with a way to strengthen your relationship with him."
"The best way is to meet often and regularly."
"Then Team Leader Jeon, handle it yourself."
"Understood."
※ ※ ※
Three days earlier—
The day after clearing the 11th floor.
Juhyeok had summoned Kosak.
Pretending to be angry.
"I told you to take it slow, didn't I?"
"…Yessir. You did."
"And what is this, then? Everything's been exposed."
"S-sorry."
"One more time like that and you get nothing. I'll dismiss the summon immediately."
"Yessir."
Of course, he did feel bad.
Kosak had done it all for his sake.
"Kosak."
"Yes?"
"What would you do if I revealed your existence to people?"
"That's up to you, Summoner Bong. If you tell me to come out, I'll come out."
"Be honest. Would you like it? Or hate it?"
"…Hmm. I'd hate it. Too troublesome."
"Got it."
Come to think of it—
Wasn't Kosak from another world?
If his existence became known, all kinds of people would swarm him.
Where are you from?
What's your name?
Why do you do this?
Better not reveal it.
Things could continue like this.
Then, on to the 12th floor.
[12th Floor Mission: Defeat 20 Icefrost Icicle-Spear Weasels.]
[Time Limit: 3 hours.]
[Completion Condition: Icefrost Icicle-Spear Weasels defeated 0/20.]
[Failure Condition: Death or mission abandonment.]
"Really, gently! Let's do this normally."
If they cleared the 12th floor in an ordinary way, wouldn't the Administration give up?
"Roger!"
Kosak answered crisply.
This time, Juhyeok felt he could trust him.
Unlike the 11th floor, where they'd been surrounded by an overwhelming number of burrowing serpents, the Icefrost Icicle-Spear Weasels were few and far between, barely visible.
They had to move around and search deeper inside.
But the environment of the 12th floor was the problem.
Bitter, bone-chilling cold.
He'd prepared in advance, wearing a padded jacket and scarf, but cutting icy winds forced their way through the gaps in his clothing, slicing into his skin.
If he just stayed still at the Tower entrance and held his breath, it might have been fine…
But they had no choice.
They had to move together.
Because if he were left alone outside Kosak's field of vision, who knew what might happen.
But the deeper they went inside, the more terrifying the cold became.
He'd even prepared hot packs in advance, but they were useless.
Shiver shiver shiver.
His lips turned blue.
Just as he was about to try moving his body to keep warm—
"At this rate, you could freeze to death. I'll finish as fast as possible and take you to a warm room."
Kosak charged toward the scattered groups of Icefrost Icicle-Spear Weasels.
"Please stay here. It'll be over quick."
"No, I'm fine, so take it slow—"
Of course, John Kosak didn't listen.
"I said absolute obedience—"
And in the end,
[Notice: You have achieved an S++ clear rating on the 12th floor of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[Reward: You have been awarded a Platinum Badge for an S++-grade record clear.]
"Fuck."
Fine.
Let's see who wins.
"Phew, now it's warm. Then I'll head out and watch some TV—"
"Dismiss summon."
Spot!
Where do you think you're going to watch TV?
Those who don't obey get nothing.
After that, Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il called.
Asking if he really had just cleared the 12th floor.
Everything was already exposed—no point hiding it.
So he said yes.
The mission to break through traps in the corridor-type environment on the 13th floor, too.
"This one really can't be helped. The mission is to pass through the corridor. It's full of traps. Blades can shoot out of the walls or floor and injure you. I'll quickly destroy the trap mechanisms."
"..."
On the 14th floor cave—
"It's a Giant Eyeball Bat. Its main attack is an ultrasonic wave, an AoE skill. If it goes off, you'll be hit too, Summoner Bong. I'll deal with it before that."
"..."
John Kosak didn't yield even to threats of dismissal.
Principle Three of the Summoned Being.
Seriously, it was relentless.
Juhyeok finally gave up.
Absolute obedience, my ass!
He just wouldn't listen.
Fine.
Do whatever you want.
He was curious how far this would go anyway.
And he didn't want to quit.
His body was already conditioned to it.
With 2.75 million won from selling magic stones earned up through the 10th floor and 2 million won in standard player support sitting neatly in his bank account—
And even 5 kg of magic stones earned as rewards from the 11th to the 14th floors stored in his inventory,
That alone's worth 2.5 million won.
Ahhh!
That meant he'd already earned over 7 million won.
He couldn't even imagine how much money he'd make going forward.
He'd quit his convenience store job, his barbecue restaurant part-time job—everything.
It was better to focus on one thing.
Stopping the Tower climb in a situation like this?
Come on.
He might be timid, but he wasn't that bad.