The world is.

“Where would you like the TV installed?”

Without a doubt.

“Shall we set up the home theater centered around the TV here?”

Money is king!

“The sofa is here! Ah… I think we’ll need to disassemble it to get it through. Or we could call a ladder truck and hoist it in through the window.”

“Ah, just leave it outside. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Are you sure that’ll be okay?”

“Yes, someone’s coming to help me.”

After sending off the sofa delivery men.

He opened the Dimensional Room wide.

Stepped outside and placed his hand on the sofa.

Ppyang!

The massive sofa vanished from the hallway without a trace.

Pat!

Then it reappeared, fitting perfectly against one wall of the living room.

With a single bed and a large three-seat leather sofa, the studio apartment felt cramped once again, with barely room to stand.

But unlike before, there was now somewhere to sit!

“Lea, Maya. You can come out now!”

The two, who had been waiting patiently inside the Dimensional Room, emerged.

“The interior has become remarkably elegant! It finally looks like a residence befitting my Lord!”

“An atmosphere worthy of Your Highness’s dignity. This humble girl is nearly faint with admiration for Your Highness’s exquisite interior design sensibilities.”

All that had changed was the addition of one TV and one sofa.

Well, the fact that the sofa was a full-grain leather one worth several million won was the key point.

The home theater… cost a little over ten million won?

He was surprised it was cheaper than expected.

He had been prepared to spend twenty to thirty million won.

That made him realize all over again just how remarkable a sum seven hundred million won was.

After paying off all those loans, he still had money left in the hundreds of millions.

“Shall we watch a movie to celebrate our new home theater?”

When Shin Jungho turned on the TV, Lea was startled.

“M-My Lord! Was there a smartphone this large?!”

Hmm… It can browse the internet, but making phone calls might be a stretch.

“This is called a TV. Haven’t you seen them occasionally in the dramas you watch so often?”

Maya spoke as though she already knew all about it.

Her eyes sparkling bright with curiosity.

“I got the finest sofa available. Go ahead, everyone, try sitting on it.”

Lea and Maya glanced at the sofa, exchanged looks with each other, then turned back to Shin Jungho.

“How could this humble servant sit before my Lord? I beg you, please take your seat first.”

“I could never commit the discourtesy of sitting before Your Highness. I shall take my seat only after Your Highness has settled comfortably.”

Hmm…

He suspected that wasn’t the real reason they were hesitating.

He felt a fleeting urge to sit at the edge to test the waters, but…

The cleanest solution was to avoid creating conflict altogether.

Shin Jungho plopped down in the center seat of the three-person sofa.

Pukshin!

…Wow.

So this is what a sofa could be.

“You two, hurry and sit down! It’s incredibly comfortable!”

Lea and Maya carefully sat on either side of him.

“It truly is comfortable, just as you said!”

Even on the sofa, Lea maintained perfect posture with her back straight as an arrow.

“It feels as though I am floating in midair. Exceedingly comfortable and cozy.”

Maya, on the other hand, sank deep into the sofa, fully savoring its plushness.

Now then, shall we put on a movie?

With a large screen, why not start with an American superhero film?

The reason he could relax while watching a movie on a premium home theater in a cramped studio apartment.

Was simply because Maya could cast a noise-canceling spell.

Thinking about it like that, a mage’s utility was truly extraordinary.

He could crank the volume to the max and enjoy movies without worrying about floor noise complaints from the neighbors!

Dudududu- daeng- daengdaeng-

Along with the opening logo music of the film studio.

The movie began.

…

After the movie ended.

“My Lord, I was deeply moved by the film! When do you plan to enter the Tower today?”

Lea fidgeted with her Dragon Scale Shield and shifted excitedly.

Hmm, was the genre choice wrong?

Still, he did have a scheduled Tower visit after the movie.

Gathering data on his enhanced Meteor Summoning skill.

When you acquired a new ability, the golden rule was to grind proficiency until you could fully digest it.

He planned to spend at least two weeks figuring it out, and until then, he would keep running the slime section on the 20th floor.

Since he could only test it once a day, the time investment was unavoidable.

But at least he no longer had to climb the Tower while being chased by someone.

So he intended to properly settle in and analyze the Meteor Summoning skill this time.

“Then I’m heading out.”

After confirming both Lea and Maya were ready.

He went straight to meet the slimes on the 29th floor.

Supapat!

Since researching the Meteor Summoning skill was the primary objective, he carved a path through alongside the two of them.

But there was something different from usual.

“Hah! Hah!”

Lea wasn’t swinging her sword.

Pinggeurureureureu!

She was hurling her Dragon Scale Shield like a boomerang.

Lea, you’re a Sword Expert…

Why are you throwing your shield instead of swinging your sword…

The remarkable thing, though.

Peobeong!

Pinggeureureu!

After dispatching the slime, the Dragon Scale Shield executed a nimble midair spin and returned right back to Lea.

She saw that once and copied it?

And beside him, Maya.

Perched atop her wooden staff, she quietly raised her right hand.

Ttak.

She snapped her fingers.

Naturally.

Nothing happened.

“Your Highness, this technique does not appear to be as simple as one might think.”

Maya replied with a bright smile.

…As if that was ever going to work?

* * *

The third round of negotiations between the Superhuman Management Agency and the Russian delegation took place.

Or rather than a third round of negotiations, it was more of a desperate struggle just to secure the right to negotiate at all.

Anatoly Petrov could not return to his homeland like this.

He had already summoned a 55th-floor superhuman to Korea for over a week.

A superhuman in the 50th-floor range earned astronomical income from the Tower.

Of course, rewards weren’t guaranteed every run, but even a modest haul of thirty magic stones amounted to thirty million won.

Leaving such personnel idle for that long resulted in losses that were no small matter.

So he had to make the negotiations succeed, no matter what.

If he returned home empty-handed, his position would simply vanish.

Thus, the conclusion he devised was a free trial event for the Sword of Svyatogor.

Upon investigation, the weapon Lee Seoah had obtained was merely a level 2.

Compared to the level 5-restricted Sword of Svyatogor, it was outclassed from the start.

Yet they were refusing Russia’s national-level weapon over such a trivial acquisition?

There were only two possibilities.

One, that level 2 weapon was genuinely exceptional.

Or two, this was an elaborate ploy — a message saying, “We can’t deal with you under those terms, so come back with a better offer.”

Anatoly suspected the latter.

During the second round of negotiations, he had been too flustered and simply retreated.

But in hindsight, that had been a mistake.

He should have read the opponent’s gambit and immediately presented a counterproposal!

Right.

He had heard that Jung Woojin, Commissioner of the Korean Superhuman Management Agency, was a shrewd negotiator, and this time he had been thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Who could have predicted they would break off negotiations in such a manner?

But since the other side had made the first move and he had been swept along by it, he needed a strategy to turn the tables in one decisive stroke.

That was precisely what this free trial event was!

Five people gathered in the conference room once more.

From the Korean Superhuman Management Agency: Jung Woojin, Han Donggeon, and Lee Seoah.

From the Russian side: Anatoly Petrov and the 55th-floor superhuman Dmitry Nikitin.

“There’s really no need to go this far. I say this out of consideration for Russia’s national-level weapon.”

Jung Woojin declined the free trial offer with a smug smile.

Seeing him act that way after coming all this way was truly despicable, but Russia was the desperate party.

“Haha… Still, since we’ve brought it all the way to Korea, I thought it might be nice to experience Russia’s pride, the Sword of Svyatogor, just once. That way, if you later find yourselves needing it, you could always reach out again, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Hahaha, if you’re insisting that much, we’d love to spare some precious time for a test… but Superhuman Lee Seoah has been quite busy lately, so it’s not easy to carve out the time.”

Anatoly, reading the opponent’s intentions, clenched his jaw tight and produced an item.

“Would this… persuade you to cooperate?”

A Tower Entry Ticket.

An item that was nearly impossible to obtain in Korea these days.

Superhumans could only enter the Tower once per day, so Lee Seoah sacrificing a day was inherently a loss.

But getting to use the Sword of Svyatogor for free plus receiving a Tower Entry Ticket — there was no reason to refuse.

“You’re absolutely certain you don’t mind if the weapon gets destroyed, yes?”

It was already stipulated in the contract, but he confirmed one last time.

“No superhuman in this world could destroy Russia’s treasure, the Sword of Svyatogor.”

Anatoly answered with pride.

It was an object so heavy that even most superhumans couldn’t lift it.

Its durability had been proven through extensive testing.

So a mere 50th-floor superhuman, no matter how hard they tried, couldn’t so much as scratch it, let alone break it.

The two representatives finished signing the contract.

The Sword of Svyatogor passed into Lee Seoah’s hands.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Yes, don’t push yourself. Take it easy and come back safely.”

Even the farewell had changed, thanks to the Grace of Evasion.

Where they once would have wished for a safe return alive.

Now they hoped she would experiment with various tactics inside the Tower.

Being able to freely employ dangerous tactics she previously couldn’t attempt meant that fighting in diverse styles would do far more to elevate her skills as a superhuman.

“Superhuman Lee Seoah, you should use this as well.”

Han Donggeon handed her a One-time Skill Enhancement Ticket.

It meant to finish the job in a single run, since she was going in anyway.

“Thank you.”

Lee Seoah took the items and entered the 50th floor.

Seupat!

With an expensive weapon in her hands for free, breaking through the 50th floor while utilizing it would be killing two birds with one stone.

“Hah!”

As usual, she activated Weapon Burst to push the weapon to its limits.

Tik- tidik-

Unlike Tiamat’s Staff, she felt something catching inside.

Still, its durability was clearly remarkable — the weapon seemed to be holding up well.

Lee Seoah clashed with the boss in that state.

Kwang! Kwaang! Kwakwagwang!

Every time the massive greatsword collided with the golem, thunderous roars reverberated through the air.

After one exhilarating exchange of blows, the skill ended.

“…Shall I push further?”

Lee Seoah used the One-time Skill Enhancement Ticket she had received from Han Donggeon.

Until now, she had deliberately refrained from enhancing the skill because her weapons couldn’t withstand it.

But this greatsword seemed capable of enduring an enhanced Weapon Burst.

“Haaah!”

Tididik! keudeukgeugeugeuk!

Kking!

It sounded as though the greatsword let out an agonizing scream.

Normally, at least a crack would have appeared, but this time there was no visible change whatsoever.

“Alright, let’s do this!”

This time, she would absolutely break through the 50th floor!

Kwakwagwang! Kwaaang! Kwaaaaang!

Lee Seoah unleashed a storm of attacks against the boss golem.

Watching the boss golem undergo a forced weight loss in real time, she sensed that a successful clear was within reach.

Right at that moment.

Jjeojeok!

An ominous sound crackled from the Sword of Svyatogor.

From the perspective of someone who had shattered countless weapons before.

This was a very bad sign.

Extremely bad!

Lee Seoah swallowed her tears.

And abandoned the clear attempt.

Seupat!

“Oh! Superhuman Lee Seoah! Was the clear successful?”

Jung Woojin and Han Donggeon asked with anxious eyes.

Lee Seoah quietly, very carefully, handed back the greatsword and spoke.

“I… don’t think my condition is very good today. I’m sorry.”

“Ah… No, no, that happens. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right day, it seems.”

The atmosphere grew peculiar.

Anatoly found himself harboring suspicions once again as the situation unfolded.

Why did she stop the attempt?

He couldn’t check the Tower conditions directly, but a first-time clear should at least produce magic stones.

So the fact that none appeared meant the clear had definitely not been achieved.

Could it be…

Was she playing hard to get even after trying it firsthand?

The original plan had been for her to experience the Sword of Svyatogor, fall in love with its charm, and reopen negotiations.

Rejecting it like this was a message to show more sincerity.

Anatoly organized his thoughts with a bitter smile.

Right.

Lee Seoah had already had a taste of the Sword of Svyatogor.

She was currently concealing her desire with superhuman restraint, but she would surely reach out again before long.

So now it was his turn to land a blow.

“…I imagine that when we meet next, you’ll find the terms from the second round of negotiations far more appealing.”

In terms of sheer desperation, the Superhuman Management Agency’s Lee Seoah had it far worse.

So this was a contest of who could hold out longer — and that would determine the winner.

Jung Woojin replied with a widening grin.

“The exit is this way.”

* * *

In the car heading back to the hotel.

While pondering how to seize the initiative in negotiations going forward.

Peobeobeong!

A bomb suddenly went off inside the car.

“Wh-What was that!”

The source was the large carrying case storing the Sword of Svyatogor.

The superhuman Dmitry, riding alongside, hastily opened the case.

“Heok!”

“Good heavens!”

Inside the case.

The Sword of Svyatogor lay in pieces, having perished a valiant death.

Anatoly felt the world go dark before his eyes.

His rapidly approaching future.

Looked exactly like that shattered greatsword.