Bargaining at Samdochon
Samdochon, the bridge where the dead cross to the afterlife. Today, as always, countless souls trudged along its path. Namgung Seojun, who had met his end just recently, arrived at the entrance too.
"Hah."
Sighing as he stared at the bridge, he had a grim reaper at his side—dressed head to toe in black: black suit, black shoes, black hair, black tie, even a black watch.
"You've reached Samdochon. Let's get to the afterlife already."
"......Yeah."
Of course, he had zero interest in heading to the afterlife. But running off here would just turn him into a wandering ghost, so Seojun started shuffling toward the bridge, step by reluctant step.
As he drew closer, an unexpected sight unfolded.
"Seeking a new life, a fantastic adventure? Craving fantasy with magic and elves? Reincarnate! We reward good deeds properly."
"Those with merits can reincarnate as nobles. Great deeds? Royalty's on the table! Consult with me!"
"Want to become a god? Come to me! Endure the trials, and you'll be a god in our dimension."
Angels with wings were pitching reincarnation into new worlds to souls about to cross Samdochon.
"If you're interested in reincarnating, just let us know."
One angel handed a flyer to Namgung Seojun as well.
"This is just a total scam flyer..."
Staring at it in disbelief, the grim reaper beside him gave a pitying look.
"Your merit score's too low, so even reincarnating elsewhere won't get you any respect. The flyer's full of sweet talk, but those primitive worlds? Even as a low noble, it'd be way worse than life on Earth."
He'd worked himself to death without much to show, so his merits weren't high.
"On the plus side, your evil deeds are low too, so at judgment, you might reincarnate as a beloved pet dog in a rich household. Then you'd get another shot at being human next time."
"Damn it!"
The reaper was right. Objectively, a pampered dog in a peaceful Earth mansion beat some low-rank noble in another world.
"But me, a dog bastard...?"
He tossed the flyer into a trash bin.
As Namgung Seojun shook off his regrets and turned back toward the bridge, an old angel from a shabby booth in the corner approached.
"I hear you lack special merits but have no evil deeds either. Why not come to our world? I'll give you a great trait personally. Challenge for godhood with it!"
The words "great trait" and "god" shook him.
The grim reaper scowled deeply.
"That's an angel pushing endless hell for a sliver of hope! Steer clear."
Despite the warning, the conversation continued.
"Godhood? For anyone? Even me?"
"Yes, of course. As an Earth native of high caliber, you'd be summoned with respect in our dimension."
"If I become a god, can I go back to right before I died?"
The old angel smiled and continued.
"As a god, you could manifest on Earth and wield influence—even right after your death."
He wavered more.
The reaper sensed trouble and intervened.
"Don't fall for the sugarcoating. Godhood's no easy feat. Most fail—it's impossible for average folks! Someone like you? They'd all crash and burn!"
"Most fail? So some succeed, right?"
Seojun spun it positively, leaving the reaper speechless. The old angel chuckled.
"Yes, exactly. Low odds, but plenty have succeeded. With the inviter status I offer, it's possible."
He pressed the old angel further.
"So how do I become a god?"
"Climb the tower."
"The tower?"
"Yes. Reach the top, and you'll be a god of our world. Then manifest on Earth and resolve all your regrets."
Climb the tower to godhood—anything possible.
Namgung Seojun ultimately stepped into the old angel's tiny booth. The grim reaper sighed heavily and followed.
The old angel served top-grade tea and began.
"Our world is a 100-floor tower created by the main god—not a planet like Earth, but the tower itself is the world."
A vast tower teeming with people, adventures, treasures. Climbers team up, conquering floors to the summit—that's the adventurers' goal.
"But climbing's no easy task. The tower's filled with evil monsters."
The Tower World had endured assaults from other gods. The main god repelled them, but divine power waned inside, birthing monsters that preyed on people.
"So the main god recruits adventurers from other worlds. Those who reach the top gain lesser god status to stabilize the tower."
He turned to Namgung Seojun.
"I'm offering you this chance. Come as an inviter, climb, slay evils, aim for godhood."
Grand words, but boiled down: Slay tower monsters, summit it, become a lesser god, manifest on Earth with its power.
Once the tower explanation wrapped, the reaper pounced.
"That's true enough, but the real issue's the success rate! What's the odds of summiting? Give the exact number."
The guide hesitated.
"About one in ten million summits and becomes a lesser god."
The reaper laughed at Seojun.
"Hear that? One in ten million! 0.00001%! Worse than lotto odds! Even if every Korean tried, only five would make it! Near impossible!"
The numbers drew only a hollow chuckle from Seojun.
Unswayed, the guide pushed harder.
"True, summiters are rare. But you're no ordinary soul."
"Huh? What's special about me?"
Ignoring the chill, the guide smiled.
"Invitees like you get extra traits from me. Two top-tier ones—exceptional!"
Top-tier traits piqued his interest; the angel inwardly cheered.
The Tower World lagged behind Earth. Earth's vast, peaceful population meant high soul caliber. Guides like this one could gift special traits to Earth souls.
"I peeked at your Earth life—no notable deeds."
Namgung Seojun nodded—he was just average, neither saint nor sinner.
"Earth souls' high caliber lets me give two top-tier traits. You could dominate their fields. Sound good? Want to live as the protagonist?"
The rapid-fire temptation raced his mind. Conclusion: worth the gamble.
The reaper saw his eyes and knew.
"Really going for that world?"
"Yeah. I want godhood. Can't pass this up."
After an utterly mundane life, Namgung Seojun craved the protagonist role.
"Plus, my hidden assets... If I become a god, I can tell my family."
His secret crypto wallet—facing eternal loss—needed passing on.
The reaper gave a defeated laugh, out of persuasion ammo.
"Fine, negotiate hard. That desperate guide'll yield a lot."
Seojun nodded at the advice. The reaper stepped back; bargaining began.
"What rewards can you offer?"
"Two top-tier traits."
Seojun shook his head.
"No half-assed deals. Make it worth my time."
"Two top-tier's already a huge loss for me."
His tone firm, Seojun pressed.
"Then I'll head to the afterlife."
As he turned to leave, the guide grabbed his hand.
"Come on, so impatient."
Seojun paused, silently demanding better.
"How about one choosable top-tier trait? Swordsmanship? Swordmaster. Magic? Archmage."
Decent—specific fields avoided duds. Choosable was solid, but not enough. Years of social haggling told him more was possible.
"Offer more."
"Then two random ones extra..."
"Extra?"
"Well..."
They haggled fiercely.
"Fine... One choosable top-tier trait and two randoms. Agreed?"
The exhausted guide conceded; Seojun nodded.
Thus, his transfer as an inviter to the Tower World was set.
With the deal sealed, the guide smiled faintly despite fatigue.
Snagged one today!
Satisfied with the quota, he summoned a massive tome.
"Choose your top-tier trait. All options explained here."
Right on cue, the reaper grinned.
"Tower-bound? One tip: pick 'top-tier intuition'."
"Intuition?"
The guide recoiled.
"Not that trait!"
Ignoring him, Seojun asked the reaper.
"Good one?"
"Honestly, not sure exactly what it does. But..."
"But?"
"A lesser god from there had it. Said he'd never have summited without it. Gotta be gold."
Seojun followed the advice.
"Top-tier intuition, please."
"No! Can't do that."
But he knew his leverage.
"You said one choosable top-tier, right? Intuition."
The guide repeated "no" endlessly, but Seojun threatened the afterlife each time.
As he faked leaving, the guide surrendered.
"Fine. Top-tier trait: 'Intuition'."
Sighing, the guide handed over a slip marked "Top-tier Intuition."
Next: random traits.
"Two random ones now."
The guide set up a roulette with 512 traits and produced a die.
"Roll the die for grade first, then the roulette for trait."
Seojun rolled—the die landed on top-tier? No, upper.
"Grade... upper."
The guide fretted at upper; Seojun spun the roulette.
Click-click-clack...
All three watched intently. It halted on a peculiar slot.
"Big Dick?"
It landed on Big Dick.
"The trait is Big Dick."
◈ Boosts sexual appeal
Relieved, the guide handed the "Upper Big Dick" slip.
"Good trait. Nights'll be fun."
"....."
Amid Seojun's stupefaction, the guide thought it lucky.
Upper worried me, but Big Dick? Phew.
Big Dick wasn't bad—boosted appeal, aiding tower life. Better than a combat trait stacking with top-tier intuition for overkill power.
As the guide relaxed, Seojun grabbed the die again.
"Roll now?"
"Yes, go ahead."
He rolled.
Thud!!
A grotesque rumble—landed on top-tier.
"Top-tier?"
The guide's shock showed; Seojun grinned.
"Spinning the roulette."
The guide nodded; Seojun spun.
But it stopped somewhere unthinkable.
"Intuition?"
The roulette hit Intuition again.
"What?"
"Intuition? Again?"
Same as his chosen Top-tier Intuition!
Unprecedented—top-tier dupe.
"No... no way!"
As the guide floundered, Seojun's "Top-tier Intuition" slip evolved naturally.
Duplicates fused to higher grade.
Now inscribed: "God-tier Super Sense."
"God-tier... a god-tier trait!!"
The guide screamed, realizing disaster.
Gifting god-tier? Reports, reprimands, pay cuts—maybe worse. A massive blunder.