The Hidden Powerhouse

After that reply, I brought down the merciless hammer a few more times, and the rumors about Paddak 3's—my—strength gradually began to die down.

"As expected, this is why people need power."

I nodded to myself and looked straight ahead. The Meeting Plaza, unlocked as a reward for clearing the 10th floor, the final stage of the tutorial. Just as the name suggested, it was packed with an enormous crowd.

Centered around a massive System structure floating in the middle of the plaza, countless awakened beings of various races mingled with otherworldly visitors. Next to an Earthling in modern tactical gear, a Murim practitioner in traditional robes haggled over goods. Elves with pointed ears used the Tower's System to display potions, skill books, and byproducts from upper-floor monsters in holographic windows for trade. The lively noise from every direction was almost deafening.

"Of course, the most eye-catching thing is still……"

As I walked, I glanced at Seol Yeon-hui walking beside me. She looked as if she had never imagined she would encounter the head of a major faction inside the Tower, let alone in the Meeting Plaza. Hunters, other races, and even the Murim street thugs who had been trying to extort money all scrambled away in panic, clearing a path.

"……This is convenient."

While walking along without a single thought, a sudden wave of anxiety hit me. With all this attention, wasn't my real face being completely exposed to the countless users in this plaza? That would be a serious problem.

"Um…… Palace Master. Can other people see my face normally?"

At my cautious question, Seol Yeon-hui tapped her fan against her chin and studied my face carefully before shaking her head.

"Of course not. It seems you have two layers of spells—one obscuring recognition and another interfering with perception. Even if people stare right at you, they'll quickly look away or fail to remember your features."

"Ah, that's a relief…… Could you tell me how I look to you, Palace Master?"

"……"

At my question, she slowed her steps slightly, then suddenly leaned in close to my face. A faint scent of plum blossoms and a chill of cold energy brushed against my nose.

"Well. It's much better than when your face was completely hidden behind that black fog earlier. You look rather presentable, actually."

She smiled playfully over her fan and added in a teasing tone.

"At this rate, I'm getting more and more curious about your real face. Don't you think?"

"R-Right."

Startled by how close she was, I took a step back. As I awkwardly scratched my cheek and averted my gaze, she let out a small laugh, clearly amused.

"If I'd known Paddak was this cute, I would've approached the others a little sooner."

"Ahaha…… Paddak 1 was pretty cute too, actually."

"Oh? You're acquainted with Paddak 1 as well?"

"……Ahem. From here on, I'll keep my mouth shut."

We continued chatting about trivial things as we crossed the plaza. After walking for a while, we arrived at a grand and magnificent building at the very back of the plaza, standing in stark contrast to the lively atmosphere around it. Its majestic entrance was supported by enormous marble pillars. This was the Temple of Choice, where those who had finished the tutorial decided their affiliation.

"I'll see you off here. Go inside and choose carefully."

Seol Yeon-hui stopped and turned to face me. She leisurely opened her fan, gave me a meaningful look, and nodded slightly. Her gaze carried an unspoken pressure, as if she fully expected me to choose the North Sea Ice Palace.

I swallowed dryly, nodded, and stepped through the temple's massive doors.

Inside the temple, it was deathly quiet, unlike the outside. The space was so empty that only the sound of footsteps ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠echoed. When I stood before the round altar in the center, a massive System window unfolded before me as if it had been waiting.

I crossed my arms and stared intently at the holographic window. Should I pick the Republic of Korea and safely leech off government support? Should I go to Lillian's Magic Tower, which had given me wind magic? Or should I choose Seol Yeon-hui's North Sea Ice Palace, which had been openly pressuring me until just moments ago? Or perhaps head to the elves to make use of the spirit affinity I'd licked off the dirt?

"Which one would let me slack off the most and suck up the most honey……"

Ah, I guess I have choice paralysis too. Thinking about Seol Yeon-hui waiting outside made me feel a bit guilty. But picking the Ice Palace right away felt like a waste.

"Is this why they say you shouldn't take in black-haired beasts? Anyway."

Besides, if I chose a Murim faction, Lillian from the Imperial Magic Tower would pester me endlessly, and the other races' alliance might lose interest in me altogether. So the safest option was still the Republic of Korea. Government oversight was annoying, but if I made clever use of my Paddak authority, I could leech off some support funds while fattening my own pockets from behind the scenes. I'd still hold a decent amount of control.

"……Yeah, home is still the best. The K-bureaucrat meta is the answer for sucking up honey."

I shrugged lightly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and reached out toward the Republic of Korea option floating in the holographic window. But at that moment—

Ding.

An all-too-familiar yet somehow alien, heavier System notification sounded, and the selection window vanished. In its place, a massive message window completely filled my vision.

"Huh?"

I pulled back my outstretched hand. Skill unlock? Was it that skill with the lock icon sitting in a corner of my skill window since awakening?

Before my confusion could settle, the red light faded and golden text began flowing smoothly across the holographic window.

"……"

I stared blankly at the floating text, reading it over and over. My mouth opened and closed several times without a single sound escaping. Only after about five minutes did I finally come back to my senses.

"……This is actually insane, System."

This wasn't just about sucking up honey anymore. A 10% increase to Tower climbing rewards was already an eye-popping benefit, but extending the countdown to the dimension's collapse? By a full 30 days? That was exactly why all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the humans and otherworldly beings out in the plaza were fighting desperately against the Tower's monsters every single day—because of that damned countdown.

Yet with just a few waves of my hand in the air to select factions, those factions would be pushed 30 days further from destruction. In other words—

"I'm basically a walking savior for humanity and other dimensions."

This was crazy. What if the existence of this skill leaked out? Just imagining it made my head spin. The Korean government would designate me as National Treasure No. 1, lock me in an underground bunker, and keep me imprisoned for life under the guise of protection. The orthodox and unorthodox factions of Murim, along with the Demonic Cult, would wage a bloody war to kidnap me. The Empire and the Elf Alliance would try every means possible to recruit me. And Seol Yeon-hui, who had just said she'd wait outside, might freeze me into an ice block and display me in the middle of the North Sea.

I hated troublesome things. Titles like "savior of the world" only suited hot-blooded shonen manga protagonists. For a capitalist materialist like me who only wanted money and a comfortable life, it was nothing short of poison.

"Haa…… In that case, I really need to hide my identity even more thoroughly."

I unconsciously glanced around. The temple was completely empty, not even an ant in sight, but I couldn't shake the creepy feeling that someone might be watching from the shadows.

"……No, calm down."

I took a deep breath to steady my pounding heart. Fortunately, I wasn't being forced to choose three factions right away. The choice was entirely up to me.

"Being able to choose three factions means…… I can leech off three places at the same time."

Even amid the anxiety, the calculator in my head was spinning rapidly. If I used the insane benefit of extending the destruction countdown as bait, how much coin and permanent traits could I squeeze out of the leaders of these major factions? Of course, only under the condition that my identity as Paddak and my real face never got exposed.

I slowly scanned the list of factions floating in the air once more. Unlike before, the names on the list now looked like powerful cards of authority in my hand.

First, I needed to figure out how to handle that ice witch waiting outside with her fan fluttering.