“Did it come to you as well?”

Vice Commissioner Han Donggeon nodded at Commissioner Jung Woojin’s question.

“Yes. Thirteen times.”

“I win. I got twenty-five.”

Han Donggeon let out a light sigh at Woojin’s playful response.

“Does this please you?”

Woojin slammed his desk—*Tang!*—and answered.

“Of course it does! When else would I get the chance to ignore that bastard’s calls so freely! Hahahaha!”

He had always been the one dragged along.

When Kim Taemin was still with the Superhuman Management Agency, they had cared for him with utmost devotion, lest anything go wrong. Even after he left the Agency, they had somehow managed to accommodate his demands, bound by a reluctant attachment born of their shared history.

But who could have known?

That the moment Kim Taemin became the unrivaled number one of Seoul Tower, he would reveal his abhorrent true self!

Ever since then, they had no choice but to be dragged along by him.

His ability to package himself was as formidable as his combat skills, making him revered as a hero by the public. It was all too easy to imagine the backlash if they tried to suppress such a figure using public authority.

Moreover, the political and business figures colluding with Kim Taemin were far from few.

That was why they had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill and comply with his demands until an alternative emerged. But as time passed, his demands grew excessive, and being caught between the government and Kim Taemin was killing them.

It was so bad that the government had even considered abolishing the Superhuman Management Agency and using the funds to scout superhumans willing to naturalize.

But now, those unspeakable hardships had been cleanly resolved.

All thanks to a superhuman named Mirinae!

“Mirinae! That person is a benefactor, a benefactor! Not just to me, but to our entire Superhuman Management Agency!”

Had Woojin ever been this joyful, casting aside all pretense?

Han Donggeon smiled bitterly and agreed with his sentiment.

“I share the same thought. We still don’t know who Mirinae really is, but once we discover their identity, I believe we should keep it strictly classified.”

“Of course! If Mirinae contacts you, keep it to yourself!”

As Commissioner, Woojin primarily handled external affairs, while Vice Commissioner Donggeon managed internal matters, large and small. That was why communication with stealth superhumans went through Donggeon.

*Ttok, ttok—*

Knowing who it likely was, Woojin answered immediately.

“Come in.”

The person who opened the door and stepped inside was Lee Seoah, the Attack Team leader and current star of the Superhuman Management Agency.

Tall for a woman with toned muscles, she also possessed a striking beauty that had earned her quite a following.

“Excuse me.”

“Welcome. So, you need weapons for the 50th floor clear?”

Though the Attack Team belonged to the Agency, in a way, the Agency existed to support the Attack Team’s superhumans.

Their relationship was less hierarchical and more like a partnership, with mutual respect. Woojin had personally experienced the bitter sting of having to switch back to formal speech with someone he once spoke to casually. Since then, he had tried to maintain appropriate boundaries in his relationships with superhumans.

“Yes. As you know, there’s no better opportunity than right now.”

The ability to escape at any time during Tower climbing had been established.

Such an opportunity was invaluable for superhumans like Seoah who engaged in close combat.

“We were already planning to visit Germany. To purchase a suitable weapon for you.”

Seoah asked, looking surprised.

“Purchase, not rent?”

Seoah was currently level 5.

Superhumans automatically leveled up each time they passed the boss floors at the 10th, 20th, and 30th floors. Clearing the 10th floor brought them to level 2, the 20th floor to level 3. So Seoah, who hadn’t yet cleared the 50th floor, could only be level 5.

Generally, the higher an item’s required level, the better its performance. Naturally, reaching a higher level and equipping higher-level gear was advantageous in combat.

At level 5, Seoah could use level 5 items, but once she cleared the 50th floor, she would immediately become level 6, making it more advantageous to switch to level 6 equipment.

Considering that, renting a decent level 5 weapon would make more sense—so why purchase?

Woojin smiled knowingly, as if he had read her thoughts.

“We happen to have come into 30 billion won in surplus funds. I figured that much money could buy you a decent level 6 weapon. And while we’re at it, we’ll rent a level 5 weapon as well.”

“Ah…!”

Seoah wasn’t unaware either.

Of what had transpired overnight.

The Excalibur from England, originally intended to be rented to Kim Taemin. A national-level weapon that cost 30 billion won just to rent for a single week.

It would have been wonderful if Korea possessed such an incredible item, but the reality was that they had to beg other nations to lend it to them. And that with guarantees in the trillions of won.

“But is this… really okay?”

When Seoah asked cautiously, implicitly referring to Kim Taemin, Woojin beamed.

“That’s why I have high expectations for you. I know it’s a heavy burden, but I ask that you reach the top floor with this opportunity.”

That was precisely what Seoah desired more than anything.

“As long as I have the right weapons, I’m confident I can do it.”

It would be one thing if only a single person were responsible for the top floor of Seoul Tower.

But if two, three, or four superhumans were waiting in the wings, it would actually be easier to control them.

Because the law could simply enforce compliance.

Kim Taemin had leveraged his status as the sole top-floor climber to collude with certain political factions. Once he relinquished that title, such machinations would end.

Truly, the more he thought about it, the more satisfying it was!

Just then, Woojin’s phone rang.

—Commissioner Jung. Kim Taemin is calling—what should I do?

At his secretary’s voice, Woojin’s lips curled upward as he switched the call to speakerphone.

“Put him through.”

After the call transferred, Kim Taemin’s voice came through.

—Well, well! Our Commissioner sure has been busy! Compared to a few days ago, it’s been remarkably hard to reach you!

Behind his deliberately cheerful tone clung something dark and viscous—a simmering rage.

“What brings this call, Mr. Kim? Didn’t you say you’d be resting for a week due to injuries from the 62nd floor?”

—…Hahaha. While resting, I realized I was being too selfish. Everyone’s busy climbing the Tower, and even though I’m injured, I shouldn’t just sit idly by.

“Is that so? Then by all means, work hard.”

At his openly dismissive tone, the other end of the line went quiet for a moment.

“Mr. Kim? Did you hang up?”

When Woojin asked as if taunting him, Kim Taemin let out a faint groan before continuing.

—…No. So, about the Excalibur rental we discussed last time—it’s proceeding smoothly, I trust?

“Ah! That? That’s been called off.”

—…What did you say?

“My, my. Did you damage your ears in the Tower?”

Woojin continued with a cheeky grin.

“Mr. Kim…”

“Will never have reason to wield Excalibur…”

“Not for the rest of his life.”

Watching Woojin carry on like a foolish old man, forgetting his age entirely, Donggeon wanted to crawl into a hole. It wasn’t just the two of them—Lee Seoah was right there too…!

Still, after all the emotional torment he’d endured, a pang of sympathy arose—perhaps he needed to vent even like this.

Moreover, Seoah silently clenched her fists in a fighting gesture, as if cheering him on—seeing that, Woojin could only grow more triumphant.

—Ha…haha. So the Superhuman Management Agency… treats the hero responsible for preventing Seoul Tower’s collapse… like a worn-out rag…?

Just hearing his voice was enough to tell.

Just how much superhuman patience Kim Taemin was exercising to suppress his fury.

“Ah, you’ve worked hard all this time. Soon, there will be far more heroes responsible for preventing Seoul Tower’s collapse. So please, set down that burden you’ve taken upon yourself.”

Seoah silently threw an uppercut in agreement.

—Khh…heh… But… what if… uncontrollable individuals emerge… what do you plan to do then…? What if someone immediately surpasses the 63rd floor… and climbs all the way to the 70th…?

The implication that he would do exactly that made Woojin snort immediately.

“You needn’t worry about that, Mr. Kim. Oh, would you like to watch TV? A government announcement is coming on at just the right moment.”

When Woojin signaled, Donggeon restored the volume on the muted TV.

—Good evening, citizens. We have a major announcement regarding national security.

—The government convened an emergency cabinet meeting today and passed the following urgent measures.

—First, effective from midnight today, all superhumans are prohibited from attempting the 63rd floor for the next 100 days.

—Second, any superhuman who violates this prohibition will face severe punishment under the National Security Act, up to and including the death penalty.

—We inform you that these measures were unavoidably decided for national security and public safety. We ask for the understanding and cooperation of all superhumans. Further details will be provided through respective ministries…

Midway through the announcement.

*Tuu— tuu— tuu—*

The call was terminated.

“Mr. Kim? Mr. Kim?”

Even knowing the call had been disconnected, Woojin savored the moment as if performing on stage.

“Well, I never thought I’d see the day! But didn’t Mr. Kim seem a bit off to you two? Shouldn’t we conduct a forced search of his residence?”

Donggeon replied with a wry smile.

“That’s enough, Commissioner.”

* * *

Waking up late in the morning, Lea had vanished as expected, leaving only Maya behind.

“Did you rest well, Your Highness?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“What could this humble girl have possibly done?”

“Now that I have both you and Lea, I don’t have to worry about the house.”

“On that matter, please rest assured. No one shall ever discover Your Highness’s Summoning Stone.”

Through the internet and through Lea, Maya had gained a clear understanding of Shin Jungho’s situation overnight.

How dare they…

Who would have the audacity to harm Your Highness!

Had she been there, she would have reduced those heinous wretches to minced meat.

Of course, she understood the circumstances.

Without those mongrels called the Three Emperors, Seoul Tower would collapse, and with it, Shin Jungho’s power would vanish as well.

But circumstances had changed.

With the Grace of Evasion, they now had over 100 days.

Within that time, she need only support Your Highness to the best of her ability and reach the top floor.

And once that happened.

She would surely tear that mongrel Swordmaster Kim Taemin limb from limb…!

Jungho looked at Maya, who had been smiling brightly the entire time, and spoke.

“Thank you. By the way, do you like cake?”

“…I am rather fond of it.”

Maya answered cautiously.

While swallowing hard.

Jungho produced two slices of cake he had brought from the cafe.

The cakes were supplied fresh daily from Jeonjeon Bakery, following a same-day sales principle—anything unsold by day’s end was all Jungho’s to take.

At first, the quantity was so overwhelming that even eating all day on his days off, he’d still have to throw some away. Now, thanks to his earnest plea to bring only small quantities, he typically took one or two, or at most two or three.

Park Soyul had told him to set aside whatever he wanted to eat when the cakes came in, but still—how could a part-timer prioritize his own share first?

“Try it.”

Jungho offered the strawberry cake.

Maya took a modest bite and then.

“It… it is a moving taste! How can a mere cake contain such sweetness, such softness, such a magical miracle!”

A single slice of strawberry cake had completely disarmed Maya.

He had heard from Lea before that summoned beings didn’t need to consume food.

But they could taste, and they experienced satiety.

He had wanted to let Lea try various Korean foods as well, but with one thing after another, he hadn’t had the chance.

Especially since Lea had been guarding through the night, unable to eat anything.

Still, with summoning time now increased to 8 hours, he could summon her during the day as well—perhaps they should all go out for a meal together soon.

Jungho pictured Lea’s radiant golden hair and gazed at Maya’s enchanting purple locks before him.

…Could they go out?

Taking the two of them out for a meal felt like a far more daunting challenge than climbing the Tower.

Well…

Let’s think about it slowly?

*Nyam. Nyam. Nyam. Nyam. Nyam.*

Jungho watched with satisfaction as Maya cut and ate the strawberry cake with an expression of pure bliss, then turned to organizing the events of the previous night.

[Blessed Summoning Stone]

– Owner: Shin Jungho

– Summoned Beings: Lea, Maya

– Summon Count: Twice daily

– Summon Duration: 8 hours

One more summoned being had been added.

One knight and one mage.

Would adding a tanker and a healer create a perfectly balanced party?

Jungho chuckled and shook his head.

There was no guarantee the numbers would increase further, and such neatly matched classes were unlikely to appear.

And more than anything, considering his own skill.

Party balance was.

Utterly meaningless…!

He wished tomorrow would come quickly.

So he could show Maya his wind(?) magic too, couldn’t he?

After time passed and Maya was unsummoned, he summoned Lea.

And after trying to feed her cake as well.

“My… Lord!”

With the corners of her mouth stretched long, trembling all over.

Lea wore an expression of desperately holding something back.

“I shall… stake my life… and devour… this cake… without fail!”

“If it’s too hard to eat, just leave it. I’ll eat it.”

It seemed the cake simply wasn’t to Lea’s taste.