A chilling silence settled over the Director’s Office at the Tower Disaster Control Headquarters.
Director Jeong Jin-hyeok sat at his desk, busy reading documents, while Lee Do-hyeon, Leader of Field Team 2, stood tensely before him.
Jeong Jin-hyeok had summoned the man only to leave him standing there for a long while. At last, he spoke.
“Team Leader Lee. Why did you do that?”
His gaze remained fixed on the documents.
“I am sorry, Director.”
“No, that is fine. I am not doing this to receive an apology. I am simply, genuinely curious. What were you thinking?”
Lee Do-hyeon might have felt more at ease if Jeong Jin-hyeok had simply cursed him out and kicked him in the shins.
Jeong Jin-hyeok’s characteristically dry, chilling politeness pressed down on Lee Do-hyeon head-on.
“You intended to advertise to everyone that our country still has not located the VVIP, did you not? That is right, is it not? There is no other explanation for why you dressed so neatly, went all the way to the plaza near the Tower, and asked questions everywhere.”
“I was shortsighted. I thought it would be easier to obtain help there, and before I knew it….”
It happened just as Lee Do-hyeon began offering an excuse that was not truly an excuse.
[An EX Grade clear record has been confirmed on the ‘2nd Floor’ of the Tower of the Republic of Korea.]
[Through the contribution of the Awakened who achieved the Feat, the duration of the ‘Bounty of the Swamp’ blessing currently applied to the Tower of the Republic of Korea is extended by 24 hours.]
A universal Tower announcement appeared simultaneously before both men, each of whom came from the ranks of the Awakened.
Only then did Jeong Jin-hyeok lift his gaze from the documents and look at Lee Do-hyeon.
“You saw that, did you not?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Then I am sure you understand.”
Jeong Jin-hyeok smiled and rose from his chair.
“As you must be busy as well, Team Leader Lee, let us end our discussion of the past here.”
He headed straight to the office entrance, grasped the doorknob, and opened the door.
It was an unmistakable order to leave.
“What are you doing? You should go and work.”
“Yes, then….”
Lee Do-hyeon followed the direction and moved to leave the Director’s Office.
But just before he could withdraw, the door clicked shut again.
One of Jeong Jin-hyeok’s hands still gripped the doorknob tightly.
“…?”
“Please do this properly, Team Leader Lee. I am sincerely begging you. We truly cannot allow the safe to be robbed in the master bedroom of our own home.”
“Yes. I will find the VVIP and redeem myself.”
As though he had been waiting for those words, a smile spread across Jeong Jin-hyeok’s lips.
“Naturally, you must.”
His eyes were not smiling.
***
The world was turned upside down once again.
[Breaking News] Unprecedented ‘Blessing Extension’—Another EX Grade Appears in the Tower of the Republic of Korea!
[Tower Issue Analysis] ‘EX Lord’, Unknown Rookie’s Stunning Reversal… Not an Established Climber?
[Economy] Blessing Launched by ‘Bounty Lord’… Awakened-Related Stocks Erupt in ‘Pillars of Fire’ Day After Day
Breaking news reports poured out without pause. Relevant channels and even general broadcasters worked themselves into a frenzy, competing to cover the story.
Naturally, the Awakened of the Republic of Korea were the most excited by this wholly unexpected gift.
【Trending】INSANE BREAKING NEWS! Bounty extended by a day!!!
- Comments
Anonymous 1: The greatest GOAT in Tower history.
Anonymous 2: Wow, another EX? Before EX Lord appeared, I didn’t even know EX Grade existed. Their performance is just insane, lol.
Anonymous 3: The 2nd Floor??? I had a feeling, but the Bounty Lord really isn’t a veteran. They’re an elite newbie. No, is there even anything on the 2nd Floor that could produce an EX-Grade clear? What the hell did they do, and how, lol.
Anonymous 4: Does this mean the 3rd Floor gets EX tomorrow too? Infinite extensions, here we gooooo!
└ Anonymous (OP): Oh, they have to do it. Have to do it. Absolutely have to, lol.
So much traffic flooded in that the servers crashed intermittently, but even that could not cool the festive mood.
A blessing that affected an entire nation and an EX-Grade clear record were no longer mere incidents.
This day had demonstrated that they could continue, and analyses poured out suggesting that they might even be sustained indefinitely.
It was truly the arrival of a rising supernova.
The fervor crossed the cold sea and appeared on the radar of the two countries that collected Awakened more aggressively than any others in the world.
“This means a new variable has appeared on the Korean Peninsula besides K―1. The chances? Who knows? We failed with K―1 because of that individual’s fierce patriotism, but… there is no guarantee this newcomer will be the same, is there?”
The United States’ ‘Tower Anomaly Response Agency (T.A.R.A)’, commonly known as TARA, was the first to move.
They designated the person behind this phenomenon as Priority Zero, surpassing ‘K―1’, previously their highest-priority recruitment target on the Korean Peninsula. The ‘K―0’ Acquisition Operation was subsequently elevated to their top priority.
At the same time, China was not a nation that would sit idle and merely watch.
China’s ‘National Tower Safety Bureau’ also focused its attention on this rising star in Korea.
“Ah… How can such a prodigy be trapped in a corner of the peninsula instead of the great nation…? Regrettable. Regrettable indeed. Use my old friend in Korea to learn the price. Whatever price is demanded, it must be paid. This is a talent who must be brought into the bosom of the great nation.”
Private organizations were no different from government agencies.
Now even ordinary people who were not Awakened had begun talking about the ‘EX Lord’.
The identity of this person and how long the EX Grade announcements would continue had become the favorite topic over drinks.
Even ordinary people were this interested.
Naturally, the Awakened communities of every country held heated discussions day after day about the Tower of the Republic of Korea, the EX Lord, and the Bounty Lord.
Only three days.
Only three days had passed since an EX Grade first appeared in the Tower’s history.
In that brief span, the world’s gaze had converged on the Republic of Korea—no, on a single point named Si-hyeon.
***
At an undisclosed location in Seoul stood a safe house overlooking the Han River.
Inside its elegant, classically furnished interior, Jeong Jin-hyeok was meticulously brewing tea for an honored guest.
Jeong Jin-hyeok was known within the Tower Disaster Control Headquarters as both an object of terror and the Ironclad Monarch. The person for whom such a man was taking this much care was none other than….
“You must be tired after coming such a long way, Director.”
The strongest in the Republic of Korea. The Sword Saint, Shin Yu-seong.
“Not at all. Naturally, I should be the one to come. This is the home of Mr. Shin, who is busy with public and private affairs because of his Tower climbing, is it not? Even if my subordinates volunteered, I would ask who they thought they were to take my place. I am delighted to come myself. You need not worry about that.”
Jeong Jin-hyeok wore a smile that felt slightly different from usual.
“Here, please try it. Today’s tea leaves are excellent.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Shin Yu-seong nodded lightly and accepted the teacup.
When he took a sip, warmth and bitterness enveloped the tip of his tongue, followed by a delicate sweetness.
The taste brought an involuntary smile to his face.
“This is becoming a real problem. I knew nothing about tea, but whenever you visit, Director, you personally bring rare tea leaves and serve me such excellent tea. Thanks to you, I have developed quite a taste for it.”
Jeong Jin-hyeok smiled warmly at Shin Yu-seong’s lighthearted complaint.
“Ha-ha. I am deeply honored to hear you say that, Mr. Shin. It is a great privilege.”
Beginning with tea, the two spent some time sharing their thoughts on recent events.
By the time the tea had cooled considerably and no more steam rose from the cups, Jeong Jin-hyeok broached the true purpose of his visit.
“Mr. Shin, is there anything we can do to help with clearing the Highest Floor… or any difficulty you are facing?”
Jeong Jin-hyeok carefully set his teacup on the table.
He forced himself to smile, but his fingertips were trembling faintly.
The movement was all too clear to Shin Yu-seong, who sat across from him.
‘Of course he is worried. The clear has never been delayed this badly before.’
Failure to clear the Tower meant that half the population of this country would lose the places they called home.
Shin Yu-seong understood Jeong Jin-hyeok’s concern.
No, in truth, Shin Yu-seong himself understood it better than anyone.
“There is no need to worry. Everything is perfect. Once I obtain the Frost Giant's Heart, it will end the very next day.”
“Whew… That is a relief. Hearing you say so puts my mind at ease, Mr. Shin.”
Only then did a comfortable smile return to Jeong Jin-hyeok’s face.
To someone else, it might have been only a single statement, but that statement was enough.
All the more so because they had come from Shin Yu-seong.
“If not for those 7 days… it would have been difficult. Even now, the thought makes my blood run cold.”
Jeong Jin-hyeok had never imagined that Shin Yu-seong would bring it up first.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
“It is true that the time helped, but ultimately, you are the one climbing the Tower, Mr. Shin. The Tower went too far this time. Please do not let it weigh on you.”
“Ha-ha, is that so?”
Shin Yu-seong merely laughed at Jeong Jin-hyeok’s effort to comfort him, but his feelings remained unchanged.
‘This should count as a failed clear.’
Ultimately, it was something he could not have accomplished without help.
He could only be grateful for the miracle bestowed upon him by an unknown junior.
“Ha-ha. To think that junior was actually a rookie only now climbing the 2nd Floor.”
“Indeed. The 2nd Floor, of all places. Even after seeing it, we could not believe it and rechecked several times. Still, that announcement improved our situation. It narrowed the candidates considerably to rookies who became Awakened on the day of the kidnapping.”
Instead of answering Jeong Jin-hyeok, Shin Yu-seong slowly nodded.
His gaze turned toward the Tower rising outside the window.
“Do you think that person is still climbing the Tower?”
“Judging by the timing, the day before yesterday was the 1st Floor, and yesterday was the 2nd Floor… Would that not be so?”
“Then today will be the 3rd Floor.”
TAP.
Shin Yu-seong set down his teacup.
“Thank you for the tea, Director.”
“…?”
Shin Yu-seong then rose as if something urgent had occurred.
“I know it is rude to dismiss a guest after inviting him into my home, but we must end here for today.”
Following the flow of their conversation, Jeong Jin-hyeok realized why Shin Yu-seong had risen and answered with a smile.
“Not at all. Thank you for giving me your valuable time. I will take my leave.”
“Yes, then.”
Jeong Jin-hyeok bowed politely and withdrew.
Curiosity spread across Shin Yu-seong’s face once he was alone.
‘What kind of person could they be? What sort of person keeps accomplishing such unprecedented things…?’
A junior who might one day see the same view he did.
It was only natural that Shin Yu-seong would be curious.
‘…Shall I check for myself?’
***
‘This has caused an uproar.’
I had expected it to some degree.
I knew people would be thrilled that the Bounty buff had been extended.
But the reaction went far beyond that.
It was the only thing on the news.
‘Ah, I can’t let them get used to this.’
For some reason, it felt burdensome.
I might have made people wonder whether the Bounty buff would continue forever like this.
Yet someday, I was bound to disappoint those expectations.
‘I think I’ll keep challenging the trials… but as for whether I can keep clearing them, who knows.’
I intended to give up whenever it looked as though I might die.
No matter how sweet a trial’s reward was, could it be worth more than my life?
If trials could not be abandoned midway, I would never have attempted one in the first place.
‘They don’t even show me the trial details before I accept, and then I can’t give up midway? I can’t sign an insanely unfair contract like that.’
Still, the returns were certain. The rewards from the 2nd Floor had proved that.
The base reward, ‘Gaze's Favor’, had long since entered my stomach.
I had also received one equipment item as an additional reward.
[Tooth-Studded Scrap-Iron Crown]
Grade: Rare
Category: Helmet
Description: A dented steel helmet decorated with the fangs of various beasts.
Its crudeGoblin workmanship imitates a crown, making its appearance unsightly, but a coarse and savage air of authority clings to it.
Special Effects:
[False Majesty]: Adds an intimidating presence, increasing control over allied summoned creatures.
[Tyrant's Discipline]: Increases allied summoned creatures’ Status Ailment Resistance.
I had not expected anything, yet it was Rare Grade!
It was the helmet worn by the very creature that had survived the rockfall.
I planned to sell it and use the money to supplement the commission fee for crafting ‘Veil of the Swamp’.
It was exclusively for Summoners, so it was not something I could use.
‘But since I don’t want to register as Awakened, even finding a trading broker is a chore.’
I had identified the largest private brokerage.
It was the very place whose item prices I had already relied upon.
‘I should visit tomorrow or the day after.’
My finances made it difficult for the moment, but once I had some breathing room, I intended to assemble my equipment piece by piece.
‘It’s not a small sum, so I don’t know when that’ll be… but someday.’
Finally, there was one item left.
This one was of unknown identity.
[Unidentified Black Page]
Grade: ???
Category: Miscellaneous
Description: A page made from a strange material resembling either tough parchment or an old piece of shed snakeskin. Nothing is written on it. (Currently Owned: 1)
‘Even its name says it’s unidentified….’
Still, I at least knew that I should continue collecting them.
The words Currently Owned alone suggested that if I kept gathering them, they might transform into something useful.
‘This bastard of a Tower doesn’t give me anything nonsensical when it decides to reward me. I know that much.’
Before its restoration, Nocturne had been such a thoroughly rotten sword that no one would have taken it even for free.
This scrap of paper might be completely useless now, but there was no telling what it might become later.
“All right, shall we go?”
I was already prepared.
Today, I intended to challenge the 3rd Floor and its trial to see whether the Tower would continue giving me these scraps of paper.
“The 3rd Floor Waiting Room.”
A portal immediately appeared before me.
I marched proudly toward the portal leading to the 3rd Floor Mission Area.
In the blink of an eye, I arrived at the 3rd Floor Waiting Room.
By now, I was fairly accustomed to this.
But something unfamiliar greeted me.
‘…!’
The scent did more than sting my nose. If I kept smelling it, my nose might end up crooked.
It was an overwhelmingly delicious scent on a completely different level from everything I had smelled until now.
The Skill, ‘Delicious Scent’, was signaling frantically.
‘How can there be a scent like this on the 3rd Floor…?’
It smelled like a winter forest, like the air at dawn when the first snow fell.
The nature of the scent was not the problem.
That merely told me what kind of person someone was. The problem was its depth.
It was as if I had been enthralled. No, I was enthralled, and my feet moved on their own.
I followed the source of the scent.
My footsteps stopped a short while later.
Some distance away from the crowd, someone stood quietly alone.
Their hood was pulled so low that it concealed most of their head, and they even wore a triangular mask that looked as though it belonged in a cartoon, completely hiding their face.
‘That’s the person.’
Aside from the mask, their clothing was so ordinary that it could not be described as anything but ordinary.
But the scent was different.
That person’s scent swept across the entire 3rd Floor.
It was like an enormous typhoon that erased the presence of everyone else.
The eye of the storm was this calm.
The fact that such an unprecedented scent existed on the mere 3rd Floor made me wary, yet it also filled me with curiosity.
That shadow.
What could I possibly obtain if I stepped on that person’s shadow?
‘That person doesn’t know who I am or what it means for me to step on their shadow.’
Not step on a shadow with a scent like that? It would haunt my dreams for the rest of my life.
My deliberation was brief, and my action swift.
Pretending nothing was amiss, I blended into the crowd and approached the person.
Like an ordinary passerby.
One step, then another. The closer I came, the more violently my heart pounded.
It was almost loud enough for them to hear.
The distance narrowed, and the instant the shadow lay beneath my foot…!
‘Now!’
I stepped on the shadow as naturally as though it were merely part of my continuing stride.
No, I tried to.
But my foot refused to lift.
At that moment, goosebumps rippled across my entire body.
A piercing gaze stabbed into the side of my face.
An overwhelming presence bore down on me as though it could see through every intention I harbored.
I could feel it with perfect clarity.
The other person was looking at me.
‘I’ll keep walking and look for another opportunity….’
Just as I had that thought, a soft voice sounded behind me.
“So it was you.”
It smelled of winter.
Behind me.