It used to be like that.
Rank-ups for summoned beings, rank breakthroughs, and even the place where dead summoned beings had to wait for 100 days in an unsummonable state—
all of that used to happen in the World of Souls.
But now, everything had changed completely.
The White Tower's 17th floor handled all of it.
First, the case of the blood wolf.
[Woof woof woof!]
"…Ho… hoe?"
It didn't have a physical body.
You couldn't touch it.
Its body was a faint, spiritual form.
That was why even its barking sounded like telepathy.
Was there a way to restore it to normal?
Juhyeok pulled a rune out of his inventory.
It was his first time using this item.
How do you use it?
'Runes are usually eaten, right?'
But could this even be eaten?
He casually tossed it over.
[Woof! Grr, sniff sniff.]
The blood wolf came closer and gulped down the resurrection rune.
Even though it was a spirit body, it somehow managed to eat the rune.
[You have used a Resurrection Rune on the catalog-affiliated Blood Wolf.]
The result?
Hwaaaaah!
Clusters of light—similar to when a summoned being was first called—appeared everywhere and rushed toward the blood wolf.
Ts-papapat!
The light gathered in one place, and the previously blurry spirit body gradually became clear.
[The 100-day unsummonable status of Blood Wolf has been lifted. Designated summoning is now possible.]
"Oh!"
It lived.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
Now it wasn't speaking through telepathy—it was barking normally.
"Hoe!"
The two rolled around together, making a huge fuss.
A heartwarming sight.
Don't ever die again.
'Why is my nose stinging all of a sudden…'
Then—
Ding! A notification chimed.
Don't tell me—
[Achievement: You have revived a catalog-affiliated summoned being that died in combat for the first time.]
"Yes!"
If it's a first, there should be a reward.
[Achievement reward will be granted.]
"Bring it on!"
[You may now enter the tower up to 4 times per day.]
"…Take that reward and shove it."
Damn it.
Isn't that a bit too cruel?
'How is that any different from forcing an office worker to work overtime every single day?'
They should've given a White Tower–related reward or something.
Four tower entries per day, my ass.
Anyway, one thing was taken care of.
Next—
Be Officer's rank breakthrough.
Those with experience would know.
Lady Dallae had already gone through it.
"How do you usually do a breakthrough?"
"In the World of Souls, you wear the badges bestowed by Young Master and swallow the breakthrough rune."
"Ah."
"The moment you consume it, you'll fall into a suspended state where you can't move or speak, so…"
So?
"You'll need a quiet place. Somewhere you won't be disturbed."
A quiet place, huh.
Juhyeok made a suggestion to Veronica.
"Be Officer, how about the top of the 61st floor?"
"Senior Officer Veronica Caliber! I like it. I'll break through and get promoted just like a skyscraper rising straight into the sky."
"Sounds good."
"I'll smash that condor bastard to pieces. Victory!"
"Victory!"
And so, Be Officer began her rank breakthrough at the top of the White Tower's 61st-floor landmark building.
Closed-door training began.
The estimated breakthrough time was two weeks.
And when Be Officer returned, the random summoning cooldown would be back as well.
"So what do we do?"
"…Hmm, we rest."
"We'll make bracelets."
Ugh.
"Those damn bracelets, bracelets… we're going to spend our whole lives making bracelets."
When Juhyeok snapped irritably,
"It's all for Summoner Bong's success. Where else would you find a summoned being as loyal as me?"
True enough, but still—
"To be honest, even that Mad Demon geezer would slack off and drink alone if Summoner Bong weren't around. A total wage thief."
What?
He drinks alone?
Without inviting anyone?
That's kind of hurtful.
But the Mad Demon, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
"Summoner."
"Yes?"
"How many resurrection runes do you have?"
"Two or three. Why?"
"So that means you can kill someone two or three times."
"Who are you killing—"
"There is such a fellow. A mongrel who constantly provokes this old man's killing intent."
It was obvious who he meant.
"I'm very curious. What happens if a summoned being dies on the White Tower's 17th floor?"
At that, Kosak exploded.
"Mad Demon, have you lost your mind? Resurrection runes should be conserved! You can't just waste them. Are you getting senile? If you're that curious, try it on yourself."
Ziiing!
The Mad Demon manifested crescent-shaped energy.
"Let's experiment right now. If I cut off your head, will it stay attached, or separate?"
"Eek?!"
Spot!
Kosak ran away.
Spapapat!
The Mad Demon chased after him.
'At this rate, someone might actually die one day.'
Because resurrection runes existed.
United States Department of Homeland Security.
Minister Macmillan was speaking privately with Director Antonio in his office.
Their expressions were grave.
Because of what they were discussing.
"So you're saying that thing is dropping in the lower floors of the Chinese tower. Below the 71st floor."
"Yes. That's why black-market guild members are moving into China as well."
"Hah! Even the black-market guild? Those idiots still haven't learned."
"It's a Liberation Rune Necklace. Any player would covet it."
Something unusual was happening in China.
Liberation Rune Necklaces were appearing in the lower floors of Chinese towers.
Originally, they only dropped from the 71st floor and above.
Only state-sponsored elite players could obtain them.
But the lower floors?
There were even rumors that a player in their 30s floor range had received one as a reward.
Most ordinary players were low-level, under level 60.
But there were a lot of them.
No one even knew the exact number.
Many players operated without registering.
If this was true—
"We won't even know who got how many."
"That's a problem."
"Yes. It'll become a major social issue. It could be used as a tool for crime—imagine someone wearing that and robbing a bank."
Robbing banks would be the mild scenario.
"Does the Chinese government know?"
"They must. Whether they've prepared countermeasures is another matter."
And of all places, China.
It was well known that tensions existed between the Chinese government and ordinary players.
For now, ordinary players were helpless under state authority.
But if Liberation Rune Necklaces were secured?
That meant acquiring the physical power to resist public authority.
If things went wrong, it could turn into a catastrophe.
Worse still, the black-market guild had caught the scent.
There was a real chance it could spread worldwide.
"We can't just sit back."
"Right. This isn't just China's problem anymore."
As they spoke, Macmillan noticed something odd on Antonio's wrist.
A bracelet?
Not a watch.
What kind of man wears accessories?
"Antonio, what's that bracelet?"
"Oh, this? A friend gave it to me."
"I'm starting to question your sexual orientation. Want to come out while you're at it? I wouldn't mind."
"Seriously? Wearing a bracelet makes me gay?"
"This is America! The land of macho men! Anyway, who gave it to you?"
"Chief Jeon Gwang-il. He sent it by air delivery."
"…What?"
Wait.
A bracelet, sent as a gift by the head of the Awakening Administration?
Don't tell me—
"…Is that the Escape from Obesity Bracelet?"
"Bingo! You know about it too, Minister?"
"How could I not? So? Does it work?"
"It's incredible. I lost weight, and my blood pressure and sugar levels dropped."
"R-really?"
"Why would I lie? I think I know who made this."
Macmillan nodded unconsciously.
Of course.
Who else but Mr. Bong?
But the quantity was far too large to be a simple tower reward item.
Maybe the manufacturing method itself had been rewarded.
"Sell it to me. I'll pay double."
"I can't."
"Just get another one."
"I'll have to ask again once the validity period expires anyway."
"Please, can't you sell it?"
"You called me gay earlier. Why don't you contact them yourself, Minister?"
"Grr… fine."
Minister Macmillan himself had an imposing build.
Naturally so.
He was American.
The adult obesity rate in the United States was around 40%.
That meant 4 out of 10 adults were obese.
As a result, the U.S. obesity clinic market was the largest in the world.
Naturally, news of Korea's Rajiks Trading Company's Escape from Obesity Bracelet had reached the U.S.
L: Wow! Really? It actually works?
L: Watch YouTube. That's all anyone's talking about.
L: …I still can't believe it.
L: It's real. I experienced it myself.
L: How?
L: I live in Korea. I got lucky and bought one.
L: Any news about selling it in the U.S.?
L: Production can't keep up… I'll have to go to Korea and buy one.
L: No, the place that needs it most is the U.S. Go to a supermarket right now.
L: Koreans don't even need it. Obesity there is considered normal in America.
It wasn't just the United States.
The entire world had begun paying attention to Korea—
to Rajiks Trading Company, to be precise.
Overseas buyers visited Korea.
They began probing into the possibility of exporting the Escape from Obesity Bracelet.
But Rajiks Trading Company hadn't even considered exports.
They couldn't keep up with domestic demand as it was.
Juhyeok came home for the first time in a while.
To show his face—and because there were things he needed to tell his parents.
"Everyone's here."
"We've always been here. You're the only one who's been gone."
"Is that so?"
True enough.
"Anyway, since our money-making son is home, we should treat him properly."
"Bring out a full spread."
"Yes, yes."
How long had it been since they'd all sat around the same table like this?
Of course, a grown son visiting home too often could also be a problem.
After eating together, they sat in the living room and watched TV.
Just then, a news segment about the Escape from Obesity Bracelet aired.
"That bracelet is obviously a scam. Tsk. I can't believe people still fall for stuff like that."
His father, Bong Su-cheol, clicked his tongue.
Min-hyuk snorted in amusement.
"Dad, you really don't know anything. It was proven real ages ago. There are tons of reviews saying it works."
"Reviews can be faked."
"What about sales numbers?"
"Those can be manipulated too. It's sold online."
"…Is that so?"
"Anything I can't get is fake."
"Ahh."
Tsk.
Juhyeok clicked his tongue as well.
"If you want one, just say so. Calling everything fake."
"Then can you get me one? No matter how impressive you are, a bracelet like that… probably impossible, right?"
Was he being underestimated?
At that moment—
Ding!
A notification chimed on Juhyeok's smartphone.
"What is it, hyung? Loan spam?"
"No, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security is asking me to get him a bracelet. This kind of request is awkward."
"…What kind of nonsense is that?"
"It's real. I'll show you."
Juhyeok showed Min-hyuk the message from Secretary Macmillan.
Secretary Macmillan (USA):
Mister Bong! I would be extremely grateful if you could secure just one bracelet for me. Please. My physician has been warning me lately due to my increasing weight.
Min-hyuk read the message.
With a dumbfounded expression.
"A U.S. cabinet minister texting in Korean… and you expect me to believe this?"
"Yeah, I know."
Honestly, he wouldn't believe it either if he were in their shoes.
"Alright. I'll give each of you one. I actually prepared them in advance."
Swish.
He pulled bracelets out of his inventory.
"Here. Take them."
"What is this?"
"The Escape from Obesity Bracelet. Put one on each."
"What…?"
The family examined the bracelets from every angle.
At first, they thought they were knockoffs—but on closer inspection, they weren't.
They were exquisitely made.
And identical to what they'd seen on TV and social media.
Which meant—
"I-is this real?"
"Yes. I swear on the honor of the Bong family."
"Oh!"
"My goodness… this precious thing?"
His mother, Chong Geum-ja, stroked the bracelet with wide eyes and asked,
"But where did you get it? I heard you need incredible luck to buy one, no matter how much money you have."
"Do you know which company makes these?"
"Rajiks Trading Company."
"That Rajiks Trading Company is my company."
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Th-that's impossible…"
Juhyeok grinned smugly, stretching his lips wide.
"Do you know where Rajiks Trading Company's headquarters is?"
"…Ah."
"Really?"
The family already knew that the 61-story building on Gangnam-daero belonged to Juhyeok.
"And actually, I'm the world's top player."
The living room fell silent at Juhyeok's shocking declaration.
"I'm serious. You don't believe your son?"
"…."
Everyone was struck dumb.
"You see, I drink with Chief Jeon Gwang-il, I'm close friends with North Korea's Minister of the People's Armed Forces, I exchange greetings with Chairman Kim In-jung, and—right, you saw the message from the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, didn't you? That really is him. I even got a thank-you letter from the U.S. president."
The reason his family couldn't respond was simple—
it all sounded plausible.
Their son claiming to be the world's top player…
Judging by his expression, he wasn't joking.
It had happened before.
When he first awakened and claimed he'd signed an elite contract, they thought it was nonsense—until it turned out to be true.
When he later claimed to be the owner of the Holy Sword, they'd scoffed again—only to find that was true as well.
So now, this declaration of being the world's top player.
Could this also be…?
Their eyes wavered.
He understood.
It must be a lot to take in.
But what could he do?
They were going to be even more shocked going forward.
"By the way, during the Pyongyang terror incident—did you see the live broadcast where someone who looked like a hamster showed up and went swish and solved everything?"
Of course they had.
The footage was still circulating everywhere.
"Alright. Brace yourselves."
What?
"Designated summon: Rajiks!"
Spot!
"Hhoeng?"
Rajiks appeared in Juhyeok's family home.
"Oh my goodness!"
"Aaaah!"
"I-it's a hamster! A giant hamster!"
Time for introductions.
"Mom, Dad, this is Mr. Rajiks. Rajiks, this is my family."
"Hhoe!"
What was this adorable creature?
The family still couldn't close their mouths.
"Designated summon: Kosak."
Spot!
"Salute! Bong Summoner's right-hand man, the greatest errand-runner of this era, the 17th-floor workshop foreman who sniffs out wage thieves with sharp eyes—Kosak reporting in!"
Who was this guy now?
"Kosak, this is Minister of the People's Armed Forces, Ko Sa-geuk."
Quick on the uptake, Kosak rolled his eyes and grasped the situation.
"I am the Minister of the People's Armed Forces of the Republic, armed with Juche revolutionary spirit. I dedicate this body to the infinite glory of the great Bong bloodline! Comrade Juhyeok's father and mother—manse! Manse! Manse!"
There he goes again, overdoing it.
He might as well summon everyone.
"Greetings. I am KenDallae, who serves Young Master."
"A warrior is the shield that protects the summoner. A pleasure."
"Heh heh, this old man is called the Mad Demon. The summoner's blade."
"O light!!! Bless the Bong family!"
"I'm Mackenzie. A mage."
The number of people suddenly increased.
The living room was packed.
It felt like a bustling marketplace.
A so-called minister shouting manse nonstop,
a white-haired old man with a terrifying gaze,
a fairy maiden in winged robes bowing as if she might take flight,
a giant whose body kept growing larger,
a man glowing with light,
an elderly Westerner setting off tiny fireworks over his head under invisible spotlights,
a red-furred dog,
a pale vampire,
a seductive succubus…
It was dizzying.
Utter chaos.
The family stood frozen, trembling.
What… are these people?
They're scary.
Meanwhile, Rajiks—
Rumble rumble rumble—rolled around the house.
"Hhoe!"
Swish swish scrub scrub.
He was cleaning enthusiastically.
So thoroughly that not a speck of dust remained.