The Unprecedented Player
He opened the door of the container lodging and stepped outside.
A black van was waiting for him.
Team Leader Kang Jinsu of the Player Management Agency, who had also passed out, was now awake.
"You're up."
Team Leader Kang nodded with a smile.
"You must have been startled by our first meeting... I'm sorry."
"Not at all."
"I'm flustered too, since this is my first time dealing with something like this."
Choi Junseok roughly guessed why the man had fainted. He had probably tried to use an emotion skill on someone whose level was vastly different from his own and overloaded himself.
"Please get in."
Choi Junseok gave no response to the somewhat coercive tone.
Team Leader Kang looked slightly surprised, then nodded.
'Not someone to be trifled with.'
He wasn't the type to be swept along by atmosphere and blur the line between superior and subordinate.
'He knows he's in the superior position.'
Young men his age usually wilted under a little pressure, but Team Leader Kang found no trace of that ordinary reaction in Choi Junseok.
"Please get in. I'll take you to a nearby cafe. If I had any ill intentions, I would have acted already. You can relax."
"I wasn't worried to begin with."
"...Because of the summons?"
Choi Junseok merely smiled leisurely and climbed into the vehicle.
From Team Leader Kang's next words, Choi Junseok picked up one piece of information: the two brokers who had visited him yesterday afternoon had not met a pleasant end.
"I hear they were assassins."
"That's right. And you have an excellent memory. He's standing right behind you now."
It was a subtle threat, yet Team Leader Kang simply smiled and nodded without turning around.
"He'll become a fine asset to the Republic of Korea."
"...?"
Choi Junseok couldn't understand why his own summon was being discussed as national power.
Once Team Leader Kang sat beside him, the van pulled away.
"Recently, eight Hamas commanders were simultaneously assassinated in the Middle East religious conflict. All in a single night."
Hamas. He vaguely recalled from the news that it was a faction seeking independence from Israel.
'Why bring this up so suddenly?'
The topic was abrupt, but Choi Junseok listened.
"Officially, it was announced they were killed by an internal bomb, with Israel suspected as the culprit. But that's not the truth."
"...?"
The sudden disclosure of what sounded like national secrets left Choi Junseok uneasy.
"Our informant has identified five American-affiliated player summons as the actual perpetrators. This is classified information, of course."
The van stopped shortly after reaching the roadside.
"Are you saying summons from the Magic Tower are killing people in the real world?"
"We'll discuss the details inside."
They parked openly in front of the cafe. When Choi Junseok got out, he spotted several people in hats or suits loitering nearby.
'Player Management Agency personnel.'
Thinking that the country would have advanced if even half its civil servants worked like this, Choi Junseok entered the cafe.
Indeed... When they said they would treat him, they had essentially chartered the entire place. It was still before closing time, yet there were no customers or staff.
"What is this... Are we here to drink coffee or not?"
Team Leader Kang laughed heartily.
"Security reasons. One of our staff members with cafe experience will come down shortly."
"Aren't you overworking your subordinates?"
He smiled wryly and signaled with his eyes. As if on cue, a subordinate appeared carrying two iced Americanos—clearly pre-ordered via radio.
"I heard you prefer Americanos."
Knowing even his coffee preference was unsettling. It was true, though; he always regretted ordering anything else.
"No. One cafe au lait."
The flustered Team Leader Kang glanced at the counter staff, who looked as though they had never heard the term before.
"...Just drink it."
"Of course. It was a joke."
"Haha. No need to be nervous. If we intended to kidnap you, we wouldn't have gone through all this trouble."
There was an edge to his words.
"We're both busy. Let's get to the point."
After sucking down a long sip of coffee, Team Leader Kang continued.
"I'll be direct. We didn't come here for anything complicated."
Choi Junseok nodded, signaling him to continue.
In summary, there were three requests.
1. Register as a player and enter the official system.
2. For the sake of Korea, join the vanguard team climbing the Magic Tower and dedicate yourself to conquering the 100th floor.
3. The government would provide full support for all of the above.
Team Leader Kang went on.
"We understand why you're hiding your identity to avoid the five major guilds and external assassins, Junseok-nim. But you can't stay hidden forever."
It was a reasonable point. He already knew a limit would eventually come; some floors were physically impossible to clear alone.
"At the government level, we will register you as a perfect F-grade player."
"Meaning only key personnel will know about me."
Team Leader Kang nodded.
"All fine. All fine, except..."
Choi Junseok leaned back in his chair.
"A bit unexpected."
"...In what way?"
"Do you think I turned down America out of patriotism?"
When Team Leader Kang tilted his head, Choi Junseok continued.
"They offered quite a lot. You must have heard the details."
"..."
"When making an offer, there should be matching compensation or benefits, shouldn't there? Just telling me to do this and that while promising vague support... Isn't that a bit too bureaucratic?"
Team Leader Kang's brows twitched before smoothing out.
'What is this player's background? A regressor?'
He activated his emotion skill again.
'Definitely F-grade, level 5.'
A rank the Player Management Agency would never spare a glance. Someone holding a rifle was already considered F-grade firepower. Some F-grades were even weaker than that. And based solely on the skill name, Choi Junseok was weaker than a rifleman.
'Inventory Master?'
What kind of ability was that? He had never heard of anything similar. It was the very definition of an F-grade porter skill. The emotion skill didn't reveal detailed descriptions, but the text alone made it clear it wasn't offensive. Having climbed to the middle floors himself, he knew that much.
The awakening skill name itself screamed weakness, yet the man's presence never wavered.
'How did he set a solo record on the 1st floor and clear the 2nd in two seconds?'
That very impossibility made him terrifying. His identity was impossible to gauge.
'We can't rule out an ability that hides or disguises power.'
"We'll quietly support rent for a regular officetel. At least three rooms, enough for three people."
"That's your answer?"
"It's the maximum the country can offer in recognition of your talent, dedication, and sacrifice, Junseok-ssi."
"This is the maximum?"
"It's the maximum currently permitted. Are you disappointed?"
Choi Junseok nodded without hesitation. He had already rejected jaw-dropping offers from America, after all.
"Korea doesn't operate that leniently, Junseok-ssi. Has this country gone mad? Handing out ten-billion-won salaries, penthouses, sports cars, immunity, and tax exemptions to someone whose abilities haven't been proven? Reality isn't a drama."
Abilities not proven? They simply hadn't confirmed his potential. They probably assumed the record clears on the 1st and 2nd floors were just unknown gimmicks.
Just as Choi Junseok was about to kick his chair back and stand, Team Leader Kang spoke again.
"But! Considering the performance and potential you've shown, we may be able to secure a commensurate promise from above. Top-tier players already receive activity subsidies and dignity maintenance fees from the state, excluding their guild earnings."
His tongue was smooth. This wasn't his first time playing this game—pretending something was impossible, then offering a special deal this one time. Classic sales tactic.
"Junseok-ssi, I understand your impatience, but it's been less than a week since you awakened. In the civil service world, the ink on approval documents hasn't even dried yet."
Choi Junseok didn't care.
"Disbursing national funds requires proper justification and time. Simply setting records on the 1st and 2nd floors isn't enough..."
"From what I'm hearing, you just haven't finished verifying me yet. Isn't that it?"
"...I won't deny it."
It wasn't wrong. Even Choi Junseok didn't know the limits of his power. He only knew it possessed overwhelming firepower capable of smashing through floors. The upper levels were unknown territory even to him. The government's decision to wait and observe was understandable.
"Then how about I set consecutive records starting from the 5th floor?"
"...Pardon?"
Choi Junseok met Team Leader Kang's eyes.
"I'll set records. If I do that, you'll have reason and justification to disburse funds for me, won't you?"
Team Leader Kang chuckled as if hearing a joke. The 5th floor was known as the D-grade graveyard. D-grades who cockily cleared up to the 4th floor alone would die upon meeting the mid-boss on the 5th.
'Oh? Laughing at me?'
"Of course it's possible, but to explain once more..."
"All I need to do is prove it wasn't mere luck. That's the core issue, right? That you can't promise me top-tier support."
"Well... yes."
"I should have gone to America after all. Truly the land of opportunity."
Team Leader Kang shrugged without a hint of guilt.
"If you had, you would never have set foot on Korean soil again and would have been thoroughly exploited."
"It might have been a happy contract."
"We know the fate of players who renounced their nationality and immigrated."
"Is that a threat?"
"It's simply the truth."
Indeed. The Player Management Agency, under the Ministry of National Defense, was not to be underestimated.
"In truth, top-tier players receive excellent treatment in any country. So if you're going to reach the summit anyway, climbing Korea's Magic Tower would be the dignified choice. From the upper floors onward, the government provides direct motivation—high subsidies for rankers and massive rewards for clearing the top floors."
The government wasn't as incompetent as it seemed. They knew it was better to leave players in the competitive private sector rather than manage them directly.
'National certified players receiving steady salaries?'
Who would risk their lives climbing towers and proving strength when they could safely collect a paycheck?
"Understood. Since we're going in circles, let's summarize."
Team Leader Kang nodded slowly.
"First. I will officially register as an F-grade player."
"Good."
"Second. The officetel support must be provided starting tomorrow."
"We'll process it as quickly as possible."
"Third. I will imprint my existence on the entire nation as quickly as possible."
"Good."
Satisfied, Team Leader Kang extended his hand.
"Various policies and shop usage instructions will be explained in detail later."
He then produced a document envelope.
"Your player identification card."
"You've already prepared it?"
"'Swift, accurate, and certain' is my motto."
Choi Junseok accepted the envelope. It contained the F-grade player ID and additional documents such as a sword-carrying permit.
"Ah, what happened to those two American brokers?"
"Ah... there are two possible answers."
"Give me both."
He rolled his eyes upward for a moment before replying.
"Officially, they were listed as missing inside the Magic Tower. The unvarnished truth is they were eliminated for violating the National Security Law."
A predictable outcome.
"It's late. Shall we get going?"
Looking quite satisfied, he stood up. Choi Junseok also felt some gain—he could finally move his family out of the container lodging.
"Ah, and my younger sister likes cake..."
At Choi Junseok's words, Team Leader Kang signaled with his eyes. Two subordinates immediately began emptying the refrigerator and display case, packing every cookie and pastry into bags.
They offered to drive him home with both hands full of snacks, but Choi Junseok shook his head.
"I'll walk. I need to clear my head."
"As you wish."
As Choi Junseok sighed while gazing at the night sky, Team Leader Kang spoke from inside the vehicle.
"Choi Hyeon-cheol."
When his father's name was called, Junseok's gaze sharpened.
"If your father saw you now, he would surely be proud."
'Father would be proud of me?'
The conversation he had shared with his father that night flashed through his mind. Stars had twinkled in the sky then, too. His father had lived without a single regret until his final day.
Suddenly, rejecting America no longer felt regrettable at all.
'If turning my back on everything meant never stepping on my homeland again just for money that might come someday, the losses would outweigh the gains.'
Such a path would have been too shameful to walk with his head held high.
"I'll prove it. I'll show exactly what level of potential I possess."
Team Leader Kang bowed his head.
"Be careful on the 5th floor. With your summons, it shouldn't be dangerous, but you might want to look up strategies."
According to agency statistics, after the 1st floor, the 5th floor claimed the most lives in the lower sections. Just when you thought you had gotten used to climbing, fatal accidents happened.
Yet those words sounded subtly dismissive to Choi Junseok—as if saying someone like him would struggle there.
"And even if you come apologizing later, I won't see you, so mobilize everything you've got."
"...Yes?"
"I'll make such a scene that controlling the media will be difficult. Be prepared."
Team Leader Kang rolled up the window with a half-doubting smile and disappeared into the city.
Choi Junseok's words were realized about four hours later, the moment entry rights reset at midnight.
"Summon."
Congratulations!
You have cleared the 5th floor.
Congratulations!
Hidden reward condition: Achieved the shortest solo clear time.
Clear time: 6 seconds.
Hidden rewards and clear rewards have been granted.
The signal flare announcing the return of the unprecedented F-grade player who had vanished for two days—commonly known as Function.
The next day, television, online and offline news, and every form of media were flooded with reports of Function's return.
As if to say: Can you still maintain that attitude now?
It was Choi Junseok's clear warning to Team Leader Kang.