Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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It was the same for Manager Jeon Kwang-il, he was completely surprised.

At first, he didn't even know the reason why Manager Lee Min-ah was so shocked.

When Player Bong Joo-hyuk reappeared after less than 10 minutes, he assumed it was because he abandoned the mission.

However, messages popped up on his smartphone immediately after.

- Team Leader, the server-wide notice rang again.

- It's a record of consecutive S++ clears up to the 11th floor.

- The Director has convened an emergency countermeasures meeting.

- He says to finish up your business trip as quickly as possible and return immediately.

He had already called Director Park Kyung-soo to report that the player named Bong Joo-hyuk was not the S++ record holder... and that he would just quickly get him to sign a General contract and head back in.

But what in the world was this?

It was this man.

The timid Bong Joo-hyuk who couldn't even properly meet his or Manager Lee Min-ah's eyes was precisely the S++ record holder.

Would he not know this unless he was an idiot?

Even though he was claiming it was a coincidence.

'Coincidence my foot.'

The clearing floor and the timing completely matched.

However, Player Bong Joo-hyuk was still feigning ignorance.

"N-No, it's a coincidence. ...Ah, s-sorry, your tone got infectious, a-anyway it's absolutely not me."

Although he was stuttering, he was shamelessly playing dumb.

"Is it really not you?"

"Yep! I mean, no."

But Jeon Kwang-il was certain.

Bong Joo-hyuk was the S++ Rank record holder.

He was trying hard to hide it, but it showed in his facial expressions, tone of voice, and gestures.

"Is that so."

"...Hahaha, I-I'm telling you."

"Then since we've confirmed your awakening, we will prepare the contract. Manager Lee Min-ah?"

Quick-witted Manager Lee Min-ah pulled out a copy of a contract from an envelope.

A contract they had prepared in advance.

Exclusively for the S++ record holder.

"Th-This isn't a General contract, is it. It looks like an Elite Team contract?"

"It is not. It is on a completely different dimension from that. If I had to put a name to it, you could consider it an Ultra Elite contract."

"......."

"Currently in South Korea, these are benefits exclusively received by Player Yoo Chul-min alone."

Player Yoo Chul-min.

A name that Joo-hyuk knew as well.

South Korea's top player who had cleared the 65th floor and was currently challenging the 66th floor.

"Please check it yourself. Every single benefit the nation can bestow is included. An annual salary of 12 billion won, real estate, VVIP protocol and security, all the way to immunity from prosecution."

"No, why are you offering me this."

"Because you have proven to possess the absolute highest talent. Please make the decision. For South Korea."

It was all ruined.

Because of that damn John Cossack.

Because of those nonsensical three principles for summoned entities.

'Hah, fuck, things got way too big.'

Joo-hyuk felt disheartened.

Seeing that state, Manager Lee Min-ah spoke.

"Mr. Joo-hyuk, you are a person who deserves to receive treatment befitting your talent. Please join the Elite Team."

While saying that, she flashed him a bright smile.

Thump!

Joo-hyuk's heart sank.

'A woman... smiling with her eyes?'

He hadn't expected this.

Joo-hyuk's level of immunity towards women was practically nonexistent.

He had to get a grip on his sanity.

If he made one wrong step, he'd be dragged along.

Thus, with a serious expression.

"...I, if it's not a General contract, I won't be a player."

"Excuse me?"

"No, why would you.......?"

Joo-hyuk mustered up his courage.

"Because I hate drawing attention. If I draw attention, I get stressed, and if I get stressed, I don't want to do anything."

"...Hmm."

"......."

It was surprising, but this was the truth.

He had always been like that until now.

"So far, climbing the tower has been on the fun side. I'm doing it earnestly too, but it's only the 11th floor, isn't it. How the future will unfold is unclear, and I still lack certainty myself."

Only then did Jeon Kwang-il realize.

Bong Joo-hyuk's personality.

Like how if you treated a male customer who came to buy clothes at a clothing store too kindly, that customer would never visit twice.

Or how if you struck up a conversation pretending to know a regular customer who came to a restaurant every day, that customer would immediately stop coming from the very next day.

There were people for whom excessive interest triggered a counterproductive effect.

For instance, an extreme 'I' among the MBTI personality types.

It was right for them to back off right now.

"...Understood. Then shall we proceed with the General contract."

"Oh! Thank you."

After receiving and verifying the new contract, Joo-hyuk swiftly signed it.

He defended well enough with this.

One might ask why he insisted solely on a General contract.

Wouldn't it be great to refreshingly stamp his seal on the Elite contract and climb the tower while receiving all the benefits?

With an Elite contract, you had an obligation to work as much as you received.

Even if you wanted to quit climbing to the upper floors, you couldn't.

Because it was a team created for the purpose of climbing the uncleared upper floors.

Furthermore, if he joined the Elite Team, he would have to record clearing videos of himself and show them to the public.

John Cossack's existence would inevitably be exposed.

However, he didn't want to reveal it.

He was different from ordinary summoned beasts.

He was a distinct person in his own right.

He should at least ask him first.

* * *

Hannam-dong, Seoul.

Director Park Kyung-soo merely blinked his eyes at Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il's sudden report.

The player Bong Joo-hyuk he met after receiving the call today was presumed to be the S++ Rank clear record holder? No, he said it was almost certain.

He asked him again many times.

But the answer remained the same.

"T-Team Leader Jeon, this is completely different from your interim report. Didn't you say over the phone he was a timid player with no will to climb?"

"That is correct."

"Huh? ...But you're saying he's S++ Rank?"

"That is also correct. He has no will to climb, and he possesses a timid personality, but he is also the owner of the S++ Rank clear talent."

He couldn't understand it at all.

"Explain in detail."

"That is......."

Jeon Kwang-il explained the events that had transpired a little while ago.

Upon hearing it, Director Park Kyung-soo asked with an utterly baffled expression.

"...The probability of it being a coincidence?"

Manager Lee Min-ah answered that question.

"The timing lined up too perfectly. It is absolutely not a coincidence."

She was a player.

She would have seen and heard it directly at the time.

Meaning the time the clear success message rang and the time he exited the tower were identical.

If so, it meant it was certain he was the S++ Rank clear record holder, but.

Why would he say he wanted to remain in the General team?

Was he trying to let that tremendous talent rot?

"Did you explain the Elite Team benefits in detail?"

"Yes, we informed him repeatedly several times. We appealed to him quite actively."

"...Even so, he remained completely unyielding?"

Just what was his intention?

"Could he be doing this on purpose to raise his ransom......."

"I do not think so. His personality itself might be the cause."

"Then you're saying he really has a timid personality?"

"Yes, presumably."

"Sigh, this is driving me crazy."

What should he do?

If someone had no will to climb, no matter how talented they were, giving up on them was the right call.

But what if it was an S++ Rank talent?

"So what about the contract?"

"For now, the General contract is the best option. Approaching him hastily will only be counterproductive."

"Do you plan to just keep watching him like this?"

"Not at all. How could we just sit and watch such an immense talent? We must unconditionally pull him into the Elite Team."

Director Park Kyung-soo nodded as well.

"That sounds good... but don't approach him too persistently. If he's a truly timid person, he might just give up his player qualifications entirely."

"Yes, we plan to first grasp what kind of person Bong Joo-hyuk is limit. If there's a vulnerability, we will dig into it through there."

"Alright, but we absolutely must keep this a secret. Let it be known only to me, Team Leader Jeon, and Manager Lee Min-ah."

"I will bear that in mind."

"Me too."

The Elite contract fell through, but they couldn't just stand by and watch.

They knew who it was anyway.

Besides, they had succeeded up to a General contract.

The important thing was security.

Annoying pests might try to cling to him.

Because a talented player was an asset coveted by any country.

"By the way, do you suppose he will also set an S++ record on the 12th floor?"

"Who knows. He might, but we must also keep the possibility of him neglecting it in mind. Like intentionally dragging out the time, or making the clear difficult."

"In order to avoid entering the Elite Team?"

"Or he might just keep clearing with S++. He did mention that climbing the tower was at least fun to him."

In truth, it was ambiguous.

He wanted to confirm whether it was a veritable S++ talent, but he also had the desire for him to stop here so that Bong Joo-hyuk's existence wouldn't become known.

However, the next day.

[Notice : You have achieved the clear rank S++ for the 12th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

Again?

To confirm, Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il called Joo-hyuk.

"P-Player Bong Joo-hyuk, is it true that you just cleared the 12th floor?"

- ...Yes, it's me. But the 13th floor might be hard.

The day after that.

[Notice : You have achieved the clear rank S++ for the 13th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

What? It was hard?

[Notice : You have achieved the clear rank S++ for the 14th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

3 consecutive days.

'It was real.'

Now that things had come to this, who cared if he was timid?

He was producing definitive results.

Director Park Kyung-soo had no choice but to make a decision.

Bring him into the Elite Team no matter what.

Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il's thoughts were the same.

"Shall we attach someone to watch him?"

"No. Special treatment is even more dangerous. There are many eyes watching. Let's treat him like a regular general contractor for the time being."

"I think so as well."

They had to approach him carefully.

First was building a relationship of trust.

Even someone with an extremely timid personality would change once you got close to them.

"Try to figure out a method to solidify our relationship with him."

"The best way is to meet him often and frequently."

"Then Team Leader Jeon, you handle it."

"Understood."

* * *

3 days ago.

The day after he cleared the 11th floor.

Joo-hyuk had summoned Cossack.

He deliberately feigned anger.

"Didn't I tell you to do it slowly?"

"...Yes, sir. You did, sir."

"But what is this? Everything is exposed."

"I-I apologize, sir."

"If you do that one more time, no more nice treatment. I'll unsummon you right away."

"Yes, siiiir."

He felt sorry too, of course.

Since he had done it all for his sake.

"Mr. Cossack."

"Yes, sir?"

"What will you do if I reveal your existence, Mr. Cossack, to people?"

"That is naturally up to you, Summoner Bong, sir. If you tell me to strip, I will strip, sir."

"Try being honest. Do you like it? Do you hate it?"

"...Umm, I hate it, sir. It will become a bother, sir."

"Got it."

Indeed.

Wasn't Cossack a person from another world?

If his existence became known, all sorts of people would pester him.

Where did you come from?

What is your name?

Why are you doing this kind of work?

He shouldn't reveal it.

He just needed to keep going like this.

Then to the 12th floor.

[12th Floor Mission : Eliminate 20 Ice Snow Icicle Spear Weasels.]

[Completion Time Limit : Within 3 hours.]

[Completion Condition : Ice Snow Icicle Spear Weasel 0/20]

[Failure Condition : Death or Mission Abandonment]

"Really, gently! Let's go normally."

If he cleared it normally starting from the 12th floor, wouldn't the Management Agency give up too?

"Loyalty!"

Cossack answered refreshingly.

It seemed he could trust him this time.

Unlike the 11th floor where he was surrounded by an immense number of burrowing snakes, the numbers of Ice Snow Icicle Spear Weasels were sparse and couldn't be easily seen.

They had to burn some shoe leather to go deeper inside and look for them.

However, the 12th floor's environment was the problem.

A terribly bitter cold.

Because he knew the information in advance, he wore a padded jacket and a scarf, but the piercingly cold wind whipped through the gaps in his clothes, feeling like it was cutting his flesh.

It would be fine if he just stayed still and held his breath at the tower entrance, but.......

He inevitably had to move together with him.

Because he didn't know what might happen if he was left entirely alone outside of Cossack's field of vision.

However, the deeper they went inside, the more dreadful the cold became.

He brought hot packs in advance just in case, but they were useless.

Shiver, shiver, shiver.

His lips turned blue.

Right at the moment when he was about to try moving his body a bit.

"You might really freeze to death at this rate, sir. I will finish this as quickly as possible and escort you to a warm room, sir."

Cossack charged at a group of Ice Snow Icicle Spear Weasels gathered here and there.

"Please remain here, sir. I will finish this quickly, sir."

"No, I'm fine, so take it slow......."

Naturally, John Cossack pretended not to hear him.

"I, I told you absolute obedience......."

In the end.

[Notice : You have achieved the clear rank S++ for the 12th floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]

[Reward : A Platinum Badge is awarded as a reward for the S++ Rank record.]

'Fuck.'

Fine.

Let's see who wins.

"Phew, it is warm now, sir. Then I will go outside and watch TV......."

"Return Summoning."

Spat!

Watch TV, where?

No nice treatment for someone who didn't obey.

And after that, Team Leader Jeon Kwang-il called.

Asking if it was true he just cleared the 12th floor.

Everything was already exposed, so was there any reason to hide it?

He said yes.

During the mission to breakthrough traps in the 13th-floor hallway environment too.

"We truly have no other choice here, sir. The mission is to pass through the hallway, sir. It is full of traps, sir. Blades pop out from the walls or the floor, so you could get hurt, sir. I will rapidly destroy the trap mechanisms, sir."

"......."

In the 14th-floor cave.

"It is a Giant Eyeball Bat, sir. Its primary technique, the sonic wave attack, is an AoE skill, so if it is cast, Summoner Bong will receive damage too, sir. I will eliminate it before that, sir."

"......."

John Cossack, who never succumbed even to threats of unsummoning.

The 3rd principle for summoned entities.

It was truly persistent, so persistent.

Joo-hyuk ended up giving up.

Absolute obedience my ass!

He wouldn't listen to him at all.

Right.

Do whatever you want.

He was also curious just how far he would go.

He didn't want to give up either.

His body was already tamed.

With the 2.75 million won in sale proceeds from the reward Mana Stones up to the 10th floor and the 2 million won general player subsidy sitting pretty in his bank account.

And even having 5kg of reward Mana Stones he received from the 11th floor up to the 14th floor in his inventory.

'This alone is 2.5 million won.'

Ahhh!

It was basically a matter of having already earned over 7 million won.

He couldn't even imagine how much money he'd rake in moving forward.

He quit all his convenience store and barbecue restaurant part-time jobs.

It was better to focus on one thing.

Stopping his tower climbing in this kind of situation?

C'mon.

No matter how timid he was, he wasn't to that extent.