Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Price of Concealment
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Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il was just as shocked.
At first, he didn't understand why Section Chief Lee Min-ah was so surprised. He thought Player Bong Joo-hyuk had reappeared in less than ten minutes because he had given up on the mission.
But then the messages started popping up on his smartphone.
- Team Leader, another global announcement just went out.
- It's a consecutive S++ clear record for the 11th floor.
- The Bureau Chief has called an emergency countermeasures meeting.
- He says to wrap up your field assignment as quickly as possible and return immediately.
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su had already been told over the phone that Player Bong Joo-hyuk was not the S++ record holder... that he'd just sign a standard contract and go in quickly.
But what was this?
It was him.
The timid Bong Joo-hyuk, who couldn't even make proper eye contact with him and Section Chief Lee, was the S++ record holder.
Anyone who wasn't a fool would know, right?
He was claiming it was a coincidence, but...
'A coincidence, my ass.'
The floor cleared and the timing matched perfectly.
Yet Player Bong Joo-hyuk was still dodging.
"Ah, it's a coincidence, y'all. ...Ahh, sorry, sorry, the way of talkin's contagious, so, so anyway it's definitely not me."
He was stumbling over his words, but was brazenly denying it.
"You're really not?"
"Yessir! I mean, no."
But Jeon Gwang-il was certain. Bong Joo-hyuk was the S++ grade record holder. He was trying hard to hide it, but it showed in his expression, his speech, his gestures.
"I see."
"...Hahaha, yeah, that's right."
"Then, since the Awakening verification is done, we'll prepare the contract. Section Chief Lee Min-ah?"
The quick-witted Section Chief Lee Min-ah pulled one copy of the contract from the envelope. A contract prepared in advance. Solely for an S++ record holder.
"Th-this isn't a standard contract. It looks like an Elite Team contract?"
"No. It's on a different level from that. If I had to say, you could think of it as an Ultra Elite contract."
"..."
"Currently in South Korea, only Player Yu Cheol-min receives these benefits."
Player Yu Cheol-min. A name Joo-hyuk also knew. The top Korean player, who had cleared the 65th floor and was currently challenging the 66th.
"Please review it. It contains every benefit the state can offer. An annual salary of 12 billion won, real estate, VVIP protocol and security detail, even immunity privileges."
"No, why are you giving this to me?"
"Because you've proven you have the greatest talent. Please make a decision. For the Republic of Korea."
It was all over. Because of that bastard John Kosak. Because of those ridiculous Summoned Being Three Principles.
'Haa, fuck, this has gotten way too big.'
A despondent Joo-hyuk. Seeing him like that, Section Chief Lee Min-ah spoke up.
"Mr. Joo-hyuk, you're someone who deserves treatment befitting your talent. Please join the Elite Team."
As she said this, she gave him a sweet smile.
Thump!
Joo-hyuk's heart sank.
'A woman... smiling with her eyes?'
He hadn't anticipated this. Joo-hyuk's resistance to women was practically non-existent. He had to get a grip. If he wasn't careful, he'd be swayed. So he put on a serious face.
"...I-if it's not a standard contract, I won't be a Player."
"Huh?"
"No, why...?"
Joo-hyuk mustered his courage.
"I don't like being in the spotlight. Being in the spotlight stresses me out, and when I'm stressed, I don't want to do anything."
"...Hmm."
"..."
It was surprising, but this was the truth. That's how he'd always been.
"So far, climbing the Tower has been somewhat enjoyable. I'm doing it sincerely too. But it's only the 11th floor, right? The future ahead is uncertain, and I'm not confident yet either."
It was only then that Jeon Gwang-il understood. Bong Joo-hyuk's personality. Just like how if you treat a male customer who comes to a clothing store to buy clothes too kindly, that customer never visits again. Or if you act overly familiar with a regular restaurant customer, chatting about this and that, that regular customer suddenly stops coming the next day. Excessive attention can backfire on some people. For example, the extreme I-type in the MBTI personality types.
For now, stepping back was the right move.
"...Understood. Then let's proceed with the standard contract."
"Oh! Thank you."
Joo-hyuk took the new contract, checked it, and quickly signed. This much was a successful defense.
One might ask why he insisted on only a standard contract. Wouldn't it be nice to just stamp that Elite contract seal and enjoy the benefits while climbing the Tower?
An Elite contract comes with obligations commensurate with what you receive. You can't quit even if you want to while climbing to higher floors. Because the team is made to conquer un-cleared upper floors.
Also, if you join the Elite Team, you have to record your clearing videos and show them to people. John Kosak's existence would inevitably be exposed.
But he didn't want to reveal it. He was different from a regular summon. He was a distinct individual with his own personality. He had to ask first.
Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su just blinked in confusion at Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il's sudden report. Player Bong Joo-hyuk, whom he'd met after receiving a call today, was suspected to be the S++ grade clear record holder? No, it was almost confirmed, he said.
He asked several times. But the answer was the same.
"You, 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's correct."
"Huh? ...But you're saying he's S++ grade?"
"That's also correct. He has no will to climb, and a timid personality, but he possesses the talent for S++ grade clears."
He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"Explain in detail."
"Well..."
Jeon Gwang-il explained what had just happened. Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su then asked with a bewildered expression.
"...What is the possibility of it being a coincidence?"
Section Chief Lee Min-ah answered the question.
"The timing matched too perfectly. It's absolutely not a coincidence."
She was a Player. She would have seen and heard it firsthand. It meant the time of the clear success message and his exit from the Tower matched.
Then that meant the S++ grade clear record holder was confirmed, but why did he want to remain in the standard team? Was he going to let that incredible talent rot?
"Did you explain the Elite Team benefits in detail?"
"Yes, I informed him several times. I appealed to him actively."
"...And he still remained unmoved?"
What could his intention be?
"Maybe he's deliberately trying to raise his price..."
"That doesn't seem to be the case. His personality itself might be the cause."
"Then he's truly a timid personality?"
"Yes, probably."
"Haa, this is maddening."
What to do? If he has no will to climb, then no matter how talented he is, giving up is the right choice. But if it's S++ grade talent?
"So the contract?"
"For now, a standard contract is the best. Rushing in could have the opposite effect."
"Are you planning to just leave it like this?"
"Absolutely not. How could we just watch such incredible talent? We must absolutely bring him into the Elite Team."
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su also nodded.
"Good... but don't approach him too persistently. If he's truly a timid person, he might even give up his Player qualification altogether."
"Yes, I plan to first figure out what kind of person Bong Joo-hyuk is. If there's a weak point, we need to exploit it."
"Right. But it absolutely must remain secret. Let's keep it between me, Team Leader Jeon, and Section Chief Lee Min-ah."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Me too."
The Elite contract fell through, but they couldn't just sit and watch now that they knew. They knew who it was anyway. And they'd succeeded in getting a standard contract.
The important thing was security. Flies might swarm. Talented Players are coveted talents in any country.
"But you know, I wonder if he'll set an S++ record on the 12th floor too?"
"Hard to say. He might, but we also need to consider the possibility of him slacking off. Deliberately dragging out time, or making the clear difficult..."
"To avoid joining the Elite Team?"
"Or he might keep clearing with S++. He did say climbing the Tower is at least enjoyable."
It was ambiguous, really. Part of him wanted to confirm if it was truly S++ talent, and another part hoped he would stop here and Bong Joo-hyuk's existence wouldn't become known.
But the next day.
Again?
To confirm, Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il called Joo-hyuk.
"P-Player Bong Joo-hyuk, is it correct that you just cleared the 12th floor?"
- ...Yes, it's me. But the 13th floor might be difficult.
The next day,
What? Difficult?
Three days in a row.
'It was real.'
What did it matter if he was timid? He was producing clear results.
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su had no choice but to make a decision. He must bring him into the Elite Team unconditionally.
Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il thought the same.
"Should we assign someone to him?"
"No. Special treatment is more dangerous. There are too many watching eyes. For now, treat him like a standard contract holder."
"I think so too."
They had to approach carefully. First, build a relationship of trust. Even if he was extremely timid, once they became close, things could change.
"Find a way to solidify your relationship with him."
"The best thing is to meet often, and meet a lot."
"Then Team Leader Jeon, you handle it."
"Understood."
Three days ago, the day after clearing the 11th floor.
Joo-hyuk had summoned Kosak. Pretending to be angry.
"I told you to take it slow, right?"
"...Yessir. You did say that."
"But what is this? It's all been exposed."
"S-sorry 'bout that."
"One more time like this, and there won't be any broth left. Immediate Summon Release."
"Yessir."
Of course, he felt sorry too. It was all done for his sake.
"Mr. Kosak."
"Yessir?"
"What would you do if I revealed your existence to people?"
"Well, that's up to you, Summoner Bong. If you tell me to show myself, I'll show myself."
"Be honest. Do you like it? Or not?"
"...Hmm, not really. It'd be a bother."
"I see."
Well, Kosak was from another world, wasn't he? If his existence became known, all sorts of people would swarm him. Where are you from? What's your name? Why are you doing this?
He shouldn't reveal him. Just keep going like this.
Then, to the 12th floor.
[12th Floor Mission]
📍 Objective: Defeat 20 Frost Icicle Spear Weasels.
⏰ Time Limit: Within 3 hours.
❌ Failure Conditions: Death or mission abandonment.
"Really, gently! Let's do it normally."
If he cleared from the 12th floor normally, wouldn't the Management Bureau give up?
"Understood!"
Kosak's response was crisp. This time, it seemed like he could be trusted.
Unlike the 11th floor, which was swarmed by an enormous number of Burrowing Centipedes, the Frost Icicle Spear Weasels were sparse and hard to spot. He had to go deeper in and search for them.
But the 12th floor environment was a problem. A vicious, bitter cold. He had known the info in advance and wore a padded jacket and scarf, but the bone-chilling, knife-like wind blew in through the gaps in his clothes.
If he just stayed still at the Tower entrance, holding his breath, it'd be okay...
But he had no choice but to move together. If he was left alone outside Kosak's line of sight, who knows what might happen.
But the deeper he went, the more the terrible cold closed in. He had prepared hot packs in advance, but they were useless.
Shiver, shiver, shiver.
His lips turned blue. The moment he thought he should at least move his body.
"You could freeze to death like this. I'll finish this as quickly as possible and take you to a warm room."
Kosak charged at the groups of Frost Icicle Spear Weasels gathered here and there.
"Stay here. I'll be done quick."
"No, I'm fine, take it slow..."
Of course, John Kosak didn't even pretend to listen. "You said... absolute obedience..."
In the end,
'Fuck.'
Fine. Let's see who wins.
"Whew, it's warm now. Then I'll go out and watch some TV or..."
"Summon Release."
Poof!
Where did he think he was going to watch TV? For those who don't obey, there's no broth.
Then he got a call from Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il. Asking if he had just cleared the 12th floor.
It was already exposed, so was there any reason to hide? He said yes.
The 13th floor mission, breaking through traps in a corridor-type environment.
"Here, there's really no choice. The mission is to pass through the corridor. It's full of traps. Blades can shoot out from the walls or floor and injure you. I'll quickly destroy the trap mechanisms."
"..."
In the 14th floor cave.
"Giant Eyeball Bats. Their main skill, sonic wave attack, is an area-of-effect skill, so if that's cast, you, Summoner Bong, might also get hit. I'll deal with them before that happens."
"..."
John Kosak, who wouldn't yield even to the threat of Summon Release. Summoned Being Principle, Article 3.
Damn persistent, so persistent.
Joo-hyuk finally gave up.
Absolute obedience, my ass! He absolutely does not listen.
Fine. Do as you please. He was also curious how far he could go. He didn't want to give up either. His body was already conditioned.
With the 2.75 million won from selling the Magic Stone rewards up to the 10th floor and the 2 million won standard Player support fund deposited firmly in his bank account.
On top of that, the 5kg of Magic Stones he received as rewards from floors 11 to 14 were in his inventory.
'This alone is worth 2.5 million won.'
Ahh! He'd already earned over 7 million won, practically.
He couldn't even imagine how much money he'd earn in the future. He quit his part-time jobs at the convenience store and the charcoal grill restaurant. It was better to focus on one thing.
In this situation, stop climbing the Tower? Eh, no matter how timid he was, he wasn't that far gone.