On the fields of the 17th floor of the White Tower,
someone was running around.
Barely dressed properly, holding a handful of wildflowers in one hand,
letting out bright, cheerful laughter.
"Kyaaaah! Kyaah!"
It was the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal.
Having obtained summoned status through Juhyeok, Man-nyeon—
the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal—
was simultaneously registered in the catalog.
Name: Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal
Rank: LSSR++ (Legend Special Super Rare++)
Type: Essence (Spirit Being)
It was far more impressive than expected.
Two plus signs after LSSR.
Which made sense.
A spirit being that had accumulated freezing energy for ten thousand years.
On top of that, it had shared the energy of enlightenment that Baek Dana consumed.
It was also granted permanent residency rights on the 17th floor of the White Tower.
Baek Dana had been in the middle of dressing her inside the house when she couldn't hold back and ran outside.
"Kyaah!"
"Man-nyeon, put some clothes on."
"What are clothes?"
"You wear this."
"Okay! Kyaah!"
Man-nyeon ran freely across the wide fields.
How happy must she be?
She finally had a body that could move by her own will.
"She's completely gone wild."
"But she's cute."
"She can finally move on her own—does dignity really matter?"
"How stifling it must have been. A spirit with personality and spirituality, yet unable to speak or move by her own will."
It was a relief that she was happy.
But there was a problem.
Perhaps because the body was new, she couldn't yet control her cold energy.
Everywhere she went, traces of ice were left behind.
Moisture in the air froze and fell in chunks around her body.
White frost footprints remained on the ground.
When she touched the surface of the reservoir Du-u had made—
Krrrrk!
It froze solid.
Du-u, the most mild-mannered among the summoned, frowned deeply.
"Farm. Sacred trees. Access prohibited. Risk of frost damage to crops."
"Kyaah!"
Innocent Man-nyeon.
Even though she had lived ten thousand years as an ice crystal,
today she was no different from a newborn child.
This wouldn't do.
At this rate, Du-u's farm would turn into an ice field.
"Miss Man-nyeon! Come here!"
"Yeees!"
Whoosh!
She ran over—
Hug!
And clung to Juhyeok.
Ah—
cold. Very cold.
He gently pulled her away.
"Man-nyeon, go easy on the cold."
"Okaaay!"
Ssssh.
The cold energy faded from her body.
"And don't go near that tree over there."
"Okaaay!"
At least she listened well.
It felt like suddenly having a daughter before even getting married.
He felt satisfied.
It was the right choice to accept her.
Even if the 100-day suspension of random summoning was a shame.
Come to think of it, he felt a little sorry for the souls waiting in the other world for random summons.
Things like this kept happening unintentionally.
…
"Um, Master."
Jephet spoke carefully, watching Juhyeok's expression.
"Hm? Yes, Jephet?"
"Um… before I take the Blood Crystal, could you send me on a dispatch assignment to the world of souls?"
"A dispatch?"
"Yes. I think the souls might feel frustrated."
"Ah."
Jephet was still SSR.
They had been preparing for him to take the Royal Blood Essence—
the Blood Crystal—hoping he might break through to LSSR without a breakthrough rune.
But he wanted to delay that and go on dispatch instead.
To tell the souls about Juhyeok's recent situation.
"There's no need to go. If you're dispatched, you won't be able to enter the White Tower for at least a month."
"I don't mind. More than anything, I want to go."
Right.
He understood.
Rather than delivering news, there was probably another reason.
At least in the world of souls, Jephet would be a social butterfly.
Here, surrounded by so many outstanding summoned beings, his presence was basically zero.
If that's what he wanted, Juhyeok would allow it.
"Hm. Alright, I'll exile you then."
"Thank you."
"Not now. Later."
"Yes, sir!"
And then—
Spot!
Someone appeared in the White Tower.
"Huh?"
A middle-aged man stood awkwardly, wearing a fishing bag, his face full of fear.
"…Dad?"
His dad had entered the White Tower.
The original weak-man himself.
"O-oh, Juhyeok."
"Did you come to go fishing?"
"Yeah. Staying home got boring."
"Good timing… but the reservoir's frozen."
The reservoir Man-nyeon had frozen earlier.
It still hadn't melted.
Suddenly—
His father looked at the frozen reservoir and brightened.
"That's even better."
"Huh?"
"We can do ice fishing."
True.
Ice fishing had its own charm.
"And besides fishing, I wanted to have a drink of makgeolli with my friend Du-u."
"Ah!"
"Your mom made some seafood pancakes too, so I brought them."
Sounds delicious.
Pancakes with makgeolli.
At that moment, Gwangma approached quietly.
"Master Bong."
"…Y-yes? Me?"
Bong Su-cheol looked at Gwangma in surprise.
He was still scared of Gwangma.
Even though he was friends with Du-u, a farmer with three legs, six arms, and four eyes.
Understandable, though.
"This old man wonders if he might share a drink of makgeolli with Master Bong…"
An invitation to drink together.
Gwangma seemed to want to befriend him.
After a brief hesitation, Bong Su-cheol nodded.
"W-well… sure, then together—"
"Hahaha! Thank you. As expected, Master Bong is broad-minded."
"Yes, yes. Anyone who wants to drink, come along."
"This mage as well…"
Then Gwangma said,
"Man-nyeon."
"Yes?"
"Could you chill this makgeolli a little? Just enough to make slush ice."
Baek Dana quickly stepped in.
"I'll do it."
"…The Young Palace Mistress herself?"
"Anytime. Alcohol, water, food—I'll cool it nicely for you."
In truth, Baek Dana had begun feeling a sense of crisis.
Her role was starting to overlap with Man-nyeon's.
She needed to do something to stay in the summoner's good graces.
Swish.
The makgeolli bottle became lightly frosted.
Thus, Juhyeok's father went off to drink quietly with Du-u, Gwangma, and Mackenzie.
Now what?
He had listed a gaming laptop in today's auction, so the result could be checked tomorrow.
Was there really nothing to do?
There was.
Drink the enhancement elixir Mari had carefully made.
I wonder if it'll hurt.
You see it in martial-arts novels—
someone eats a divine medicine, writhes in agony, muscles twisting, bones cracking, until they pass out.
That's scary.
Better ask Mari.
Ding.
That was a relief.
Mari wouldn't lie.
He trusted her.
"Any other precautions?"
Somewhere safe…
Where safer than the 17th floor of the White Tower?
More specifically, the landmark's summit—the closed-door cultivation site for rank breakthroughs.
Never thought I'd use that place myself.
Since he thought of it, he'd take it now.
When Juhyeok said he was heading to closed-door training at the landmark's summit,
the summoned beings rushed over.
"I'll stand guard."
"I'll stay by your side."
"Lieutenant Veronica Caliber, perimeter security ready."
"Hoah!"
What, is this a life-or-death situation?
"I'm going up alone. If you insist on waiting, wait in the lobby."
"But—"
"Don't come up."
They had all done it alone themselves.
Even Rajiks had climbed up bravely on his own.
Closed-door cultivation was meant to be done alone.
Thus, Juhyeok reached the top of the building.
I copied and pasted it while drunk, but…
It really was well built.
Useful in many ways.
And the view was great.
He could see the entire 17th floor at a glance.
Roads stretching in all directions.
A plaza with Gigant and dragon corpses.
Residential areas surrounding it.
Du-u's farmland.
His father and the summoned ones drinking makgeolli together.
Man-nyeon still laughing as she ran across the ice field.
The landmark's summit was furnished cozily like a home.
It was the rank-breakthrough site, after all.
Bathroom, shower, bedroom, living room—everything except electronics.
Spotless, thanks to the diligent dimensional farmhand.
First, a shower.
Purification was basic courtesy.
After bathing, he ate the celestial peach he'd brought.
Gyeondallae said it carried harmonizing energy that enhanced medicinal effects.
Finally, sitting on the bed, he carefully drank the enhancement elixir—
slowly, without spilling.
Gulp, gulp.
He drank it all in one go.
Strawberry flavor.
Mari even cared about the taste.
Is it working?
She said it'd make him sleepy.
He lay down and waited.
Hmm.
When would the drowsiness hit?
Nothing felt different.
Maybe he should try sleeping deliberately.
Juhyeok closed his eyes.
Then—blink!—
he opened them again.
What?
She said it'd make him sleepy.
But instead, his mind felt clearer and clearer.
Strength overflowed through his body.
Was something wrong with the potion?
Then—growl.
He was hungry too.
Is there something to eat?
Juhyeok got up from the bed and walked to the refrigerator in the corner of the cultivation room.
He grabbed the handle and opened it—
Bang! Crunch! Crack!
"Huh?"
The refrigerator door had been ripped clean off.
The door panel was in his right hand.
"What the hell…?"
Was the refrigerator some cheap secondhand junk?
It wasn't made of cardboard.
Wait.
No.
The refrigerator itself was perfectly fine.
Could this be…?
Juhyeok lifted the broken refrigerator with one hand.
Whoosh!
It came up far too easily.
"Whoa!"
Only now did he realize.
It was because of the enhancement elixir.
The effects had kicked in immediately after drinking it.
Juhyeok stirred the internal energy within his body.
Blood Jade Force—activated.
Uuuuuung!
A vibrating energy surged,
and a red, blazing force condensed over his entire body.
"Hahahaha!"
The force was thick and vivid.
Power overflowed.
The internal energy he learned from Gwangma,
the player's innate mana,
the enhancement elixir,
and the harmonizing effect of the celestial peach—
Multiple energies had fused together.
He punched into the air.
Shush! Shush! Shush!
Explosive sounds as the air split apart.
Taking off his shirt and standing before the mirror—
Thick chest muscles.
Sharply defined abs.
Holy shit… is this really my body?
Even fear seemed to vanish.
At this level, wasn't he a real man now?
Confidence surged.
It felt like he could do anything.
Then—
Time to climb.
To the 91st floor.
Now I can finally pull my weight, huh?
Of course, if it got dangerous, he'd run.
With this sudden jump in ability, even running would be much faster.
While I'm at it, Shadow Footsteps—
Spapat! Tsupat! Sseupat!
Almost on the level of a blink spell.
If he ran, who could catch him?
Extremely satisfied,
Juhyeok left the closed-door training room and went downstairs.
The summoned ones would find it strange.
Why did he come down right after going up?
As expected—
"Gasp!"
"Oh!"
"Ah!"
"Hoho."
"Hoah!"
The summoned beings jumped in surprise.
But then—
"S-s-s-Summoner Bong!"
Kosak's face filled with emotion.
"Summoneeeeeer Bong!!!"
Dududududuk!
He charged over at terrifying speed.
Hey—what's with this guy?
Why the sudden fuss?
"I missed you!!!"
Missed me my ass.
It hasn't even been that long.
He even spread his arms wide, trying to hug him.
…
Ugh, gross.
Juhyeok instinctively pushed the charging Kosak aside with one hand.
Whirr!
Booooong!
"Ghk!"
Pushed by Juhyeok's palm—
Kwaaang!
Kosak slammed into the wall.
"…Oh."
The summoned ones' eyes went wide.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
They even applauded in admiration.
"Nice shot!"
"Excellent."
"Well done."
"A truly refreshing shove."
"True energy moves on its own in response to will. You've reached the stage of Intent-Energy Integration."
"Hoaaaa…!"
Even Kosak, who had been embedded in the wall, came running back—
Spapapap!
"Whew, guess an elixir really is an elixir. Thought I was going to punch straight through the wall. Hehehe."
…Is he really okay?
"Um… sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"This Kosak is deeply moved. To see such a transformation."
Is that so?
"It was worth waiting."
"This old man feels relieved at last. I was worried sick."
"Even the homebody alchemist must've been anxious."
What?
"It hasn't even been an hour."
"Yes?"
"I checked the effect and came right back down."
"What are you saying? It's been a full week since you entered closed-door training."
"…What?"
A week?
"Seven days passed?"
"Yes!"
Did I fall asleep when I closed my eyes?
I opened them right away.
"…Time really flew."
"That's right. We wanted to check on you, but Elder Gwangma said not to approach during closed-door training."
"This old man stopped them. Careless interference could disrupt the flow of energy."
I see.
That explains why I was starving.
"Young master, even to this girl, your achievement looks extraordinary."
"Ah, well. A little."
"You've grown stronger. This old man can finally rest easy."
"That's right. No more getting beaten up wherever you go."
"Hey, not that much."
Gotta stay humble.
No matter how strong I got, could I really compare to the summoned ones?
Anyway, now that I'd taken the enhancement elixir,
it was time to start my real job.
Tower climbing.
"Shall we start preparing to climb the 91st floor?"
"We obey your command."
We were planning to climb Earth's Black Tower.
We'd already confirmed that stepping on the 91st floor caused no immediate issues.
First, though—
the dimensional auction house.
Travelers had probably been waiting for items.
I hadn't listed anything for a full seven days.
That was basically lost profit.
This time, should I list that?
The multiverse.
Worlds as numerous as grains of sand on a beach.
Yet worlds that actually had dimensional travelers—
only a tiny fraction.
Just a handful of sand.
And even among those worlds,
not every traveler could use the auction house.
Simply traveling wasn't enough.
You had to establish meaningful achievements in the dimensions you visited.
Exterminate monsters.
Save large numbers of lives.
Contribute academic knowledge or technology that advanced civilization.
Only then did you gain auction house access.
After that, travelers exchanged goods through auctions,
mutually developing their civilizations.
Even auction houses had tiers.
Not all dimensional travelers were equal.
Old veterans.
And newbies who'd only recently qualified.
The difference between them was stark.
Their financial power wasn't even comparable.
No matter what items newbies listed, veterans wouldn't even bid.
At most, they'd bid once, cancel, and toy with them.
Why list a Dragon Heart?
Just go kill one and extract it yourself.
But recently, a storm had swept through the auction house.
A storm brought by a novice traveler from Earth.
Earth goods.
Luxury wristwatches.
Tablets.
Various foods and alcohol.
Even laptops.
And then—suddenly—no more listings.
Why?
It had stopped like this before.
Did the Earth traveler die?
Or lose interest in auctions?
Anxiety spread.
Veteran travelers stared obsessively at the auction boards every day.
But the last item listed seven days ago—a laptop—was the end.
Travelers who failed to win bids beat their chests in regret.
If only they'd pooled all their top-grade mana stones back then…
Aaaah.
Trying to control prices had ruined everything.
And then—
Game Console: Play Switch OLED Handheld Console, 128GB
(Large quantity of games stored)
Starting bid: 1,000 kg of top-grade mana stones
The long-awaited Earth item appeared.
And it was something new.
"Gasp!!!"
The Great Sage Lumos sprang to his feet.
"A-at last."
Former Martial Alliance Leader Geum Cheolmyeong cheered.
"UAAAAAAH!"
Former Emperor Joseph raised his arms in triumph.
Immediately, bidding became even fiercer than before.
Veteran dimensional travelers threw caution aside, spending recklessly.
Tap tap tap tap! Tap tap tap tap tap tap!
Less than an hour later—
Current bid: 1,054,078 kg of top-grade mana stones
It had already surpassed one million.
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