Korean Awakened Management Agency.
Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il and Team Leader Lee Min-ah are in the middle of a conversation.
"Here's the list of countries and players who've reserved the magic cannon."
"Oh? Hand it over."
Jeon Gwang-il read the report and noticed something.
"Japan also applied to reserve the magic cannon for the 81st floor."
"Yes, it seems they succeeded in clearing the 80th floor this time."
"Hm."
After a moment of thought—
"Put Japan on hold. Notify them that reservations are fully booked for the next three months."
How shameless, trying to borrow the magic cannon.
We've been indulging them far too much.
With the 90th-floor raid this time, the grace Player Bong Juhyeok bestowed upon India and Japan—along with the gaps filled after the tower's collapse—
Everyone knows it.
That it was Player Bong Juhyeok who did it.
Isn't repaying a favor basic courtesy?
But all they did was hold a press conference to say thank you.
Trying to end it with lip service?
Looks like they're trying to sweep it under the rug.
"China handed over Baekdu Mountain, at least."
"Japan's always been like that anyway."
No repayment, no magic cannon rental.
Same goes for India.
They must think the Awakened Management Agency is a pushover.
That's a big mistake.
"And the cylindrical rods Player Bong gave us—did you send them to the lab?"
"Yes, we commissioned the Daejeon Research Complex."
"And the U.S.?"
"We're planning to hand over ten to the U.S. Forces Korea base. They'll ship them to the mainland."
The item Player Bong requested research on.
Some speculate it might be a battery that stores energy.
Others think it could be related to the true nature of the Black Tower.
Then it should be researched with top priority.
And we should ask the U.S. as well.
"Oh, right! Is the car ready?"
"The off-road electric vehicle?"
"Yes."
"It's prepared in the warehouse, but what about registration? It's not insured either."
"That's fine. No need. It's not being purchased for driving purposes."
Normally, acquisition tax, registration, and insurance are all handled at once when buying a vehicle, but those steps were skipped.
If it stayed in the warehouse, Player Bong would come and take it anyway.
"By the way, Team Leader Lee."
"Yes, Commissioner."
"Are you interested in trying a new experience?"
"…A new experience?"
Jeon Gwang-il stepped closer and whispered discreetly.
"Living in the tower for a month."
Did she hear that wrong?
"In the tower?"
"Yes. The tower."
"Ugh, what are you talking about? How do you live in a tower for a month?"
"It's not the Black Tower."
"Pardon?"
"It's the White Tower."
Team Leader Lee Min-ah looked completely confused.
What's a White Tower?
She'd never heard of it.
"It's hard to explain in words. You only understand once you get a residency pass and experience it yourself."
What's a residency pass now?
Jeon Gwang-il continued explaining.
"In our agency, I'm the only one who knows about the existence of the White Tower. Of course, I can handle it alone, but I thought it'd be good to have one more capable hand."
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about…"*
"If you're interested, just let me know anytime."
"But! You'll need to steel yourself mentally. Once you know this, you won't be able to leave the agency until the day you die."
"…Alright. I'll think about it."
He'd already discussed it with Player Bong.
At least up to Team Leader Lee Min-ah, it seemed wise to open access to the White Tower.
She was a capable employee he could trust with anything during his absence.
Even Chairman Kim In-jung in the north had received a monthly lease right—Team Leader Lee Min-ah was more than qualified.
A dimension traveler–exclusive auction house.
Never in its history had it been this active.
Nearly all dimension travelers were glued to the auction status board.
The cause was singular.
Items listed by an Earth dimension traveler.
The bidding competition was so fierce it practically exploded.
Wristwatches, laptops, tablets, game consoles, smartphones, and more.
Miracle items that could never be found in other dimensions—nothing even similar existed.
Everyone wished for one thing.
Please, let me win a bid.
But the problem was the final price.
Between 800,000 kg and 1,000,000 kg of top-grade magic stones at minimum.
How many dimension travelers could afford such an astronomical amount?
Only the veterans.
Which was why the dimension auction house was their league alone.
There was no actual place for dimension travelers to communicate, but
if there were a free message board, conversations would probably look like this:
You bastards, please stop outbidding me on my item.
The veterans are the real problem. They just jack up the prices—are newbies like us supposed to starve?
So what? If Earth items get cut off again, who's taking responsibility?
Exactly. You have to bid like every moment is the last chance.
We're just asking for a fair shot too.
Don't worry. I won't bid on the same item as you. Just wait.
And wait until when?
This time again, an electronic device was knocked down for around 1,000,000 kg of top-grade magic stones.
Newbies and broke dimension travelers couldn't even bring themselves to press the bid button.
Then, a completely new item appeared in the dimension auction house.
Mount: ZV 900 Electric Off-road SUV
Starting bid: 3,000 kg of top-grade magic stones
A car?
Not a toy, but a real, rideable vehicle?
It was the first of its kind.
Dimension travelers who'd only heard rumors of such Earth items, but never seen one, couldn't help feeling bewildered.
But those who knew, knew.
People who had experienced Earth media through tablets, game consoles, and laptops.
And thus the bidding war began.
Centered around veteran travelers who knew exactly what a car was.
White Tower, 17th floor.
Juhyeok had just taken the elevator to visit the dimension auction house.
He collected the ticket for the winning bid's top-grade magic stone storage and listed a new auction item.
This time, it was—
A latest-model electric SUV that ran smoothly even on terrible roads.
He used a special storage ticket for the dimension traveler–exclusive auction house, received as a perk.
The usage was simple.
First, he approached the car stored in the Awakened Management Agency warehouse and held the storage ticket in his hand.
[Would you like to store the ZV 900 Electric Off-road SUV in the ticket?]
When the message appeared and he thought store it—
Srrrk— it vanished.
Effect: The ZV 900 Electric Off-road SUV is stored inside. Tear the ticket to summon the electric vehicle.
Feature: The ticket itself can be traded.
That's what it turned into.
After that, he just put the ticket into his pouch and registered it at a locker—done.
This one should sell for a decent price too.
Honestly, he'd thought it was impossible.
Planting a World Tree even once on the 17th floor of the White Tower.
Twenty billion kilograms of top-grade magic stones.
How could anyone possibly gather that?
But now, it seemed feasible.
It was only a matter of time.
'Let's share this good news with the sub-summoned beings—huh?'
Why are those guys gathered over there?
Kosak, Baek Danya, Man-nyeon, and Rajiks.
"Now, watch closely. Dramatic presentation is important. If you just pull it out from the start, there's no impact."
Kosak stood out front, gesturing exaggeratedly as if demonstrating something.
"At first, you just walk. Step by step. Do nothing. Huh? Just walking."
The sub-summoned beings sat quietly, watching his performance.
"Then the great demon gets flustered. Huh? What is this? What's going on? Why's he walking toward me? Huh? Huh?"
His signature one-man, two-role acting.
"After you overwhelm them with presence, you thrust this forward and shout!"
With a solemn expression, Kosak placed a hand inside his robe—then yanked it out like lightning.
"The Reaper has arrived!!!"
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Applause from the audience.
'So that's it.'
The Underworld nameplate received from Yama.
So now he's practicing possession as a Reaper?
"Repeat after me. The Reaper has arrived!!!"
Then Baek Danya tried.
"I, I'm the Reaper… um, ar-arrived!"
"Disqualified!"
Next was Man-nyeon.
Spinning the Underworld nameplate around—
"Kyaruruk, kyaruk!"
"Disqualified!"
Last was Rajiks.
Ta-eng! Spiiiin!
He did a somersault—
Swish!
Struck a hero landing pose, thrusting his short arm holding the nameplate forward!
"Hoeeehk!"
Ooooooh!
"A-amazing!"
Admiration spilled out naturally.
Our farmhand really can do anything.
"Pass!"
"Hoee!"
Anyway, they really know how to mess around.
Noticing Juhyeok, Kosak hurried over.
"Summoner Bong, what did you think of the show?"
"Well, it was cool, but is all that really necessary?"
"Aigo, this is all training. You gotta practice a lot to use it properly."
Still, isn't it a bit excessive?
Well, considering Kosak's personality, it wasn't that surprising.
"In that sense, Summoner Bong."
"…What?"
"You also received a hammer from King Yama, didn't you?"
"So?"
"You should practice too. You might not be able to use it when it really counts."
He had a point.
'Come to think of it, I've never used it even once.'
Should he try it now?
Juhyeok took the Judge's Hammer from his waist.
"Think of me as a great demon and try using the hammer."
Kosak crossed his arms, wearing an arrogant expression.
"From now on, I am Great Demon Kosak."
Yes, yes.
Great Demon Kosak.
It suits you quite well.
'But… how do I use this thing?'
It was Yama's hammer.
Then maybe imitating Yama would work.
Juhyeok raised the hammer toward Kosak.
Then he swung it through the air with a sharp motion.
"You yourself have confessed your sins!!!"
How was that?
Pretty cool, right?
At that very moment—
Wooooong.
Juhyeok's energy surged forward through the hammer.
"Huh?"
A pale, whitish energy burst from the hammer and passed straight through Kosak's body—
"…Ugh?"
At the same time.
A video began floating above his head.
"Ah!"
So that's how it's used.
A function that shows the target's accumulated sins as a visual record.
It also seemed to have a binding effect.
"U-ugh… I c-can't move."
Let's see.
The fact that Kosak was bound and a video appeared meant he had committed a sin.
'What on earth did he do?'
The contents of the video.
The background was the White Tower, 17th floor.
'What?'
It looked like what had happened last night.
After returning from the tower, when everyone was resting.
The video played quickly.
The Mad Demon sprawled out, watching a martial arts movie on a large monitor, getting drunk.
The alcohol was strong liquor, the snack a few pieces of chocolate.
Beside him, Kosak watched the movie too, crunching popcorn.
Then it happened.
Kosak slowly stretched his hand toward the Mad Demon's chocolate snack.
Like he was about to steal it.
'Snack theft? Is that really a crime?'
No.
The video continued.
Kosak picked up a piece of chocolate and put it in his mouth.
He rolled it around, sucked off the chocolate coating, and finally spat out the almond inside.
'No way…'
Kosak then quietly placed the almond—leftover from the chocolate—back onto the Mad Demon's snack plate.
The heavily drunk Mad Demon grabbed the almond from the plate and—
Crunch, crunch!
'He's insane. Completely insane.'
And it wasn't just once.
He committed the crime repeatedly, taking advantage of the Mad Demon being completely absorbed in the martial arts movie while drunk.
What should they do about this?
If the Mad Demon found out, it'd be a disaster.
At that moment—
"Y-you damn… I'll kill you…!"
Too late.
The Mad Demon had already approached, his face bright red as he watched the video floating above Kosak's head.
"You bastard!!!"
The sub-summoned beings swarmed over.
"How utterly shameless!"
"No need for further words—death penalty!"
"I also vote for execution."
"Cut off his head."
"How about burning him alive?"
"A firing squad is also ready, with sub-light-speed rounds."
Kosak's eyes darted around rapidly.
"Hehehehehe."
Scratching his head awkwardly—
Spapapapapap!
He fled at light speed.
But he didn't get far.
The Mad Demon turned a cold gaze toward Major Bae.
"Major Bae."
Click.
The sound of Major Bae loading the magic cannon.
"Firing a small paralysis round. Homing function activated."
Bzzzing!
Thunk!
Wobble!
Pow!
A direct hit square in the back.
"Kgh!"
Thud.
Kosak collapsed.
Gobang grabbed his legs and dragged him back.
The Mad Demon glared fiercely at Kosak and spoke to Juhyeok.
"Summoner, I request a judgment."
"…A judgment?"
"Yes. As a judge, please deliver a fitting punishment."
A judgment…
What should he do?
Like Yama, maybe?
"Criminal Kosak shall be—"
…
What would be good?
Ah, whatever.
"He is sentenced… to a forehead flick."
In an instant!
Kosak, who had been lying down, sprang upright.
"…A forehead flick?"
Crack!
Gobang cracked his fingers and grabbed Kosak's head.
"W-wait! It's a misunderstanding! I don't remember anything!"
Sorry, Kosak.
Why did you even do that?
"Hold him from both sides!"
"Aaaah! S-spare me—!"
He won't die.
Kind Gobang will control his strength.
Thwaaaak!
Kwooooom!!!
'Nope.'
That was a solid hit.
Gobang's thick finger struck Kosak square on the forehead.
An explosive sound echoed throughout White Tower, 17th floor.
"Kkgh…!"
Kosak's eyes rolled back as he toppled over like a log.
Thud.
Ah…
Sorry.
But why did you do it?
You should've just stolen it outright.
Just then—
Step, step, step, step, step.
Farmer Duwoo approached Juhyeok, moving his three legs in turn.
"Summoner. Crop report. Seondo tree. Blooming soon."
"…What?"
What was he talking about?
Duwoo pointed with one of his six arms.
Juhyeok followed his gaze.
"Oh!"
"Hahaha."
"T-that is?"
"Hoe."
The Seondo (Immortal Peach) tree planted in the White Tower.
A mystical, auspicious aura wrapped around the entire tree.
Something was happening.
When he went closer to look—
'A dragon?'
At some point, round buds had formed on the branches of the Seondo tree.
'Flower buds?'
And they were growing.
Dozens of buds, swollen and full.
Flowers.
They were preparing to bloom.
Immortal peach blossoms of the Immortal Realm.
How beautiful would they be?
"Sufficient energy absorption confirmed. Fruit formation expected after blooming."
The people here didn't know this, but—
The Seondo tree was different from ordinary trees.
It grew only on immortal energy.
And in its entire lifetime, it bloomed only once.
Juhyeok and the sub-summoned beings stared at the tree, entranced.
Even Kosak, who had been unconscious, got back up.
At that moment!
One of the buds—
Suuuuuk—swelled rapidly—
Pop!
It burst open, spreading beautiful petals.
And then—
Shashashashashash!
An intense wave of immortal energy swept over the entire White Tower.
"…Ah!"
That's right.
Immortal energy.
The wave generated by the bursting bud surged into Juhyeok's body and the bodies of the sub-summoned beings.
Their bodies filled completely with immortal energy.
The sensation was so wondrous it was hard to stay conscious.
It felt even better than chewing and swallowing a single immortal peach.
Like taking a full-body shower in immortal harmony.
And that was from just one bud.
Then—
Pop!
The second bud burst.
Another spreading wave.
Another immortal-energy shower.
Pop!
The third.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The Seondo tree's buds burst one after another.
Immortal harmony surged like a storm.
White Tower, 17th floor filled to the brim with immortal energy.
Mari, who had been inside the house, came outside at some point to bask in it.
All the sub-summoned beings cried out in amazement, experiencing the unexpected shower of immortal energy.
Pop-pop! Papapapapang!
At this rate, it was like consuming a hundred immortal peaches.
Yet amid all this, one person stood completely dazed, unmoving.
"…Mad Demon-nim?"
No answer.
Instead, around him—
Woooooo.
A vortex of true energy.
The Mad Demon entered a state of enlightenment.
Sitting cross-legged, eyes half-closed, lips tightly sealed—
Woooooo.
…
The Mad Demon advanced.
To a higher realm.
And that wasn't all.
Mackenzie spread his arms wide, wearing a faint smile as he accepted the dense immortal energy.
Then Kosak, Major Bae, Gyeon Dallae, Gobang, Bardin, Rajiks, Crackers, Diamat, Baek Danya, Mari, El, the giggling Man-nyeon, Duwoo… even Blood Wolf.
And Juhyeok?
He was no exception.
Immortal energy of harmony.
Whether mana, inner power, aura, or demonic energy—
A mystical force that melted all types of power into one.
Pop! Pop! Papapang! Papang!
The Seondo flower buds continued bursting without pause, scattering immortal energy.
Everywhere—
Was immortal energy.
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