Beijing, China.
The highest Standing Committee meeting was held again today.
But the atmosphere this time was completely different from before.
It was very warm and cheerful.
The reason was that Wei Quan had returned with good news.
"Wei Quan, is it really true?"
"Yes. I did it. I finally got Player Bong Juhyeok's confirmation."
The heavy machine gun reservation was secured without providing nuclear warheads.
And on top of that, he had built personal ties with Bong Juhyeok.
"Hahaha! Well done. Then when did he say the rental would be possible?"
"The Awakening Administration will contact us soon. They said they'll coordinate the timing and make an announcement."
Good.
If Bong Juhyeok promised, the Awakening Administration would follow suit.
"This is a victory for our diplomacy. We should raise a toast."
"We shouldn't stop here. We need to strengthen the relationship even more."
"At this point, wouldn't it be fine to provide a few nuclear warheads?"
"Hm."
"Of course, just for appearances—use it as leverage to invite Player Bong to China."
That was a decent idea.
If the current leadership could publicly display close ties with Bong Juhyeok, it would greatly help stabilize the regime.
"Wei Quan, handle it as you see fit."
"Yes, understood… ah!"
As if something had just occurred to him, Wei Quan spoke to Chairman Jin Xiupeng and the Standing Committee members.
"I met a distinguished individual while I was in Korea. I'd like to introduce them to all of you."
Introduce someone?
"Who?"
"They'll be arriving here shortly."
"What?"
Chairman Jin Xiupeng was startled.
Had he misheard?
"H-here? As in, coming here?"
"Yes!"
Wei Quan replied calmly, as if nothing were strange.
"H-hey, do you even know where this is?"
"Of course. It's the Chairman's office, isn't it?"
"And you're saying an outsider is coming in here?"
"Hahaha, that person can go anywhere."
What on earth was going on?
Jin Xiupeng couldn't make sense of it.
Had Wei Quan lost his mind?
Did he even understand what he was saying?
"… So who exactly is this person?"
"The Queen."
At that moment!
Bang! The door burst open.
"Hi, everyone?"
A young man and woman of unknown identity walked into the office.
Jin Xiupeng and the Standing Committee members could only stare blankly.
They really appeared—
inside the Chinese Chairman's office.
Jin Xiupeng wasn't even curious about their purpose.
What he truly couldn't comprehend was—
'How did they get in?'
This was the most heavily guarded place in all of China.
'What about the guards?'
They didn't seem to have been stopped.
If they had, there would have been a commotion—but there was no noise at all.
"Isn't anyone outside? What are you all doing?! Do you have any idea where this is, letting outsiders—!"
Jin Xiupeng shouted, pointing at the pair.
Then, the moment he looked straight at the woman's face—
"… Huh?"
What was this?
Jin Xiupeng slowly lowered his raised hand.
Suddenly, the world looked different.
…
Love, joy, peace, happiness, consideration, tolerance, trust.
Every kind of positive emotion.
A sense of bliss filled his chest to the brim.
In such a beautiful world,
why had he spent his life scrambling over a handful of power?
The one who should guide his life was standing right there.
If he just believed in her and followed her, everything would be resolved.
"Q-Queen?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Why did you come only now?"
"You're right. I was a bit late, wasn't I?"
It wasn't just Jin Xiupeng.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
One after another, the Chinese leaders dropped to their knees.
Kosak clicked his tongue.
"Wow, as expected of a great-demon-class succubus. The skill is solid."
"I didn't even use a skill. I was just standing here."
"Then why are they acting like that?"
"Because I'm too pretty?"
"Silence. You can't even win Summoner Bong's heart."
"… Don't say things that hurt."
A great-demon succubus queen.
At this level, she didn't even need to activate a skill.
Her mere existence was enough to enchant people.
Diamat swayed her tail and walked forward.
Then, in a sticky, sweet voice—
"Kids, can you do me a favor?"
"A-anything you say, Queen."
"From now on, dedicate China to my master, Bong Juhyeok. Serve Master Bong Juhyeok as your emperor—"
Instantly!
"Hey!!! What do you think you're doing?"
"Why? Isn't taking the whole country much better than just nukes?"
"What's the point of taking China? Too many people, just big. It'd only annoy Summoner Bong."
"Hm."
"Just issue an order to move the nuclear warheads. Gather them in one place so they're easy to take."
"Got it."
Then—
"You heard me, right? Please. I need nuclear weapons. Give them to me."
"W-we will provide them."
For a great demon, it was ridiculously easy.
Just meeting eyes was enough.
Kosak grinned.
Even if he couldn't cut off heads this time—
So what?
One major threat to Summoner Bong had just been completely eliminated.
...
The impact of the newly released video still hadn't faded.
Terrestrial TV networks organized special programs, focusing on Bong Juhyeok's challenge of the great mission.
An anchor looked at footage on the screen and questioned a panel of experts from various fields.
"It's almost confirmed that Player Bong Juhyeok's trait is Hero Summoning. What do you all think?"
The panelists nodded as they answered.
"I think so too. It's Hero Summoning."
"My son plays a hero-summoning RPG. Why wouldn't such a trait exist in a tower raid that's basically a game?"
"From that perspective, Player Bong Juhyeok is very lucky."
"Do we even need to debate it? Traits are gacha. Pull well and you win. It's luck."
Players live and die by their traits.
But not everyone agreed.
"Thinking of it as pure luck is a big mistake."
"And why is that?"
"Traits aren't assigned randomly at awakening. They're closely related to the player's innate personality and talents."
"Ah, so Bong Juhyeok already had that talent?"
"Of course. Traits aside, players absolutely need talent."
"Exactly. Even without his trait, Player Bong Juhyeok is extremely strong. That's talent."
Indeed.
The video of him soloing the 88th-floor Sand Dragon was still famous.
After opening with Bong Juhyeok's story,
came the highlight of today's program.
"No matter what, people can't help but be curious about Player Bong Juhyeok's summoned heroes. Let's watch a clip and talk about it."
Rajiks appeared on the TV screen.
"The most popular hero."
"Cute, isn't he? Do we need any other reason?"
"My daughter's phone wallpaper is a picture of Hero Rajiks."
"Hahaha! Same here."
In fact, this program wasn't about Bong Juhyeok's exploits.
It was about a global online poll for hero popularity.
And the hero who took first place was Rajiks.
"As far as we know, he's a worker. Extremely capable—called a dimensional farmhand."
"Hahaha, 'farmhand' might be a bit much."
"He was already well-known, wasn't he?"
"That's right. The Pyongyang nuclear terror incident, rescuing the Japanese prime minister, and so on."
"Then let's move on to the next hero."
Second place?
"It's this person."
"Oh! That's unexpected. I thought it'd be someone else."
"She's a soldier hero named Veronica. Her rank is major, and she uses firearms."
"I can see why she's popular."
"Yes, especially among men—she's said to surpass even Rajiks in popularity."
"To be honest, I voted for Major Veronica myself."
Then third place.
"Here it is."
"Oh! That's surprising. I expected someone else."
"He goes by the nickname 'Gobang,' also known as the 'meat shield.'"
"That name is a bit…"
"But he's extremely macho. I looked up the footage—his destructive power is insane."
"Look at those lats. That's real combat-compressed muscle."
"And his rugged look is handsome in its own way."
Thus, the rankings were set.
1st Rajiks, 2nd Major Veronica, 3rd Gobang.
The mid-tier?
Gyeondallae, Diamat, Baek Dana, Mannyeoni, L, and Mari—in that order.
Gyeondallae's bold demeanor earned her significant popularity.
Most of the mid-tier was occupied by female blood-summoned beings.
If Diamat had appeared in front of people in person instead of only through videos, she would have unquestionably taken first place.
Baek Dana and Mannyeoni were popular as well.
The way they worked together made them look like twin sisters.
El, being a golem rather than human, and Mari, the shut-in alchemist whose face was never shown, ended up at the bottom of the mid-tier.
And the lower tier:
Mackenzie, Dragon Craccus, Jephet, Bardin, the Mad Monk, and Kosak.
They were all more or less the same.
Blood Wolf and Dou were excluded.
They hadn't appeared in the videos.
The blood-summoned beings became the talk of the town.
Their popularity kept rising.
Businessman Jung Dong-hoon didn't miss the opportunity.
After immediately calling Juhyeok to get permission, he began producing figurines.
White Tower, 17th floor.
Juhyeok went to the auction house again today.
Just like always, he collected the Chema earned through auctions and listed new items.
These days, final bid prices weren't what they used to be.
The items were still popular, but prices had fallen to half.
As expected.
Since he had been vacuuming up Chema by himself, dimensional travelers' pockets had dried up.
Barter items also began appearing occasionally.
Especially tablets and smartphones loaded with content, or handheld game consoles.
Juhyeok wasn't someone who never spent money.
Anything listed by other dimensional travelers that looked useful, he bid on and stored in the warehouse.
Weapons, equipment, magic books, martial manuals, elixirs…
Even if not immediately useful, they might come in handy later.
Chema piled up steadily.
Tickets of all kinds and colors filled his inventory.
The ultimate goal of the auction was the World Tree.
Just thinking about it made his chest swell.
Right side: the Seondo Tree.
Left side: the World Tree.
Turning the White Tower's 17th floor into a mythic-grade forest.
However, the price of a World Tree sapling alone was two billion kilograms of Chema.
Still far off.
A very long way to go.
Lately, Mari had been quietly hopeful.
The World Tree—mother and identity of the elves.
If it took root in the White Tower, it might cure her chronic social anxiety.
In any case, only one floor remained.
Parallel Earth No. 675, Black Tower, 100th floor.
Preparations for the raid were progressing smoothly.
Supplies were stocked—and even nuclear weapons had been replenished.
After the nuclear weapon usage settlement video was released, more countries sent additional nuclear weapons.
Some even painted their national flags on the warheads.
They seemed extremely proud that their nukes were being used to clear the Black Tower.
But recently, another topic had taken over.
The blood-summoned popularity poll.
Kosak, Diamat, and Craccus had just returned to the White Tower after finishing their assignment in China, automatically unsummoned and recalled.
It was only then that they learned the results of the popularity poll.
"At least I'm not last. I'd say that's a solid showing."
Craccus smiled in satisfaction.
"Fifth place? Hm. Meaningless. I need to be first in my master's eyes."
Diamat looked indifferent.
Kosak, on the other hand, reacted violently.
"… D-does this make any sense? I'm dead last! This is blatant rigging!"
The Mad Monk sneered at him.
"Rigging my ass! Who'd like someone with killing intent pouring out of his eyes? Be grateful you got any votes at all."
Glare!
Kosak's eyes gleamed.
"Killing intent? That's not something you should be saying, Bloodbath Grandpa."
"You little—"
"What I can't understand is Gobang."
What's wrong with Gobang?
"That blockhead got third place? Third? Rank three?!"
Gobang replied calmly.
"I believe a warrior is qualified."
"Qualified? What qualifications do you have?"
Gyeondallae answered with a serious expression.
"In fact, this lady took the time to investigate the voting data."
"P-please tell me. Was it rigged? Did they mobilize agencies?"
"It was a fair vote."
"… Yes?"
She turned on her tablet and showed Kosak the voting breakdown by age and region.
"Sir Gobang received many votes overseas. Especially explosive support from fitness enthusiasts."
…
That was true.
Gobang's dense, battle-honed muscles.
The dream physique of gym-goers.
"And women as well. He's tall and classically handsome."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Everyone except Kosak.
"Craccus, Bardin, and Jephet also have considerable visual demand."
A dragon, a paladin, and a vampire—hard to argue.
"Old Man Mackenzie made sure to brand his name in the latest video. He gained support from movie fans."
"Ahem!"
Spot!
A spotlight shone over Mackenzie's head.
The dignity of tenth place.
"The Mad Monk appealed to the elderly demographic."
Showing off senior power.
"On the other hand, Sir Kosak lacks defining traits. In both looks and ability, he's rather… ordinary, isn't he?"
Staggering.
Kosak collapsed as if struck at the core.
Thud!
Oof.
That must have hit hard.
"… If Farmer Dou and Blood Wolf were included, I wouldn't have been last."
Would that really be the case?
Seeing him like this, Rajiks toddled over and patted Kosak's back.
"Fueeeeh…"
Aaah!
The warmth of consolation from Rajiks—ranked first both as a blood-summoned being and in the popularity poll.
"Go away. Dimensional farmhand. I want to be alone."
That didn't help at all.
Time passed quickly.
It was time to wrap things up.
What about China, which had stubbornly refused to hand over nuclear weapons until the end?
Breaking news from China exploded.
People were baffled by China's sudden reversal.
Juhyeok knew exactly why.
He was the one who kept sending Kosak, Diamat, and Craccus to China whenever he had time.
Those succubus skills must've gone hard.
Calling her "Queen," handing over nukes and everything else without hesitation.
The Chinese leadership, completely enthralled by a great-demon succubus.
Well, what could you do?
Principle 3, Clause 3.
"The popularity poll's last place—this Kosak—will go collect the nukes from China."
"… Go ahead."
"Popularity poll first place Rajiks must go along too."
"Okay."
Once again, Kosak, Diamat, and Rajiks were sent on a business trip to China.
They returned with subspace packed full of Chinese nukes.
"Let's go."
For now, reconnaissance.
The primary goal of this climb was to identify the nature of the mission.
Juhyeok was currently level 100.
With four trait enhancements, he could summon up to 20 beings.
The random summon cooldown would soon be up.
It would be nice to add one more blood-summoned before entering.
The problem was the Archangel.
That thing was coming soon as well.
Clearing the 100th floor quickly to boost the White Tower's influence was the best move.
There wasn't even a shred of worry.
He had the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's golden-hair clone, and the Transcendent Summon skill.
Rumble.
Juhyeok and the group boarded the elevator.
The back-door 96th-floor button that had existed before was already gone.
And the 100th floor they were climbing today—
"There is no button."
"Do we enter the normal way?"
"What if we get blocked again?"
"The White Tower's Whitey will handle it. Or the popularity poll's ranks 1, 2, and 3 will figure something out."
"…"
Looks like the popularity poll's effects would last a while.
Either way, let's enter properly.
They rode the elevator down to the 1st floor.
Stepped outside into the world of Earth No. 675, and recited the entry skill.
Spot!
[Entering Black Tower 100F of Earth No. 675.]
Arrival.
The environment?
A lush green hill.
And atop it, a modern single-story building.
Ding!
[You have reached the final stage of the Great Journey.]
The final stage.
[Welcome to the Black Tower Administration Office of Earth No. 675.]
The 100th floor was the control room.
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