The Ordinary Guy's Tower Strategy 4
The next morning.
On his way out for his convenience store day shift, Juhyeok called his father.
"Dad, are you keeping up with rehab? How's your hip bone healing?"
You think it heals overnight? I'm bedridden half the time. Why call? It's not like we live far apart. Just visit.
"I'm swamped. Let's eat out together sometime."
Their family home - also in Seoul - had two rooms, one kitchen, and a single bathroom.
Juhyeok moved out precisely because it was too cramped for two grown sons.
The brothers had shared a room as kids, but adulthood made it unbearable.
No troubles, right?
"What else? Money issues. Ugh, I could really use an Awakening right now."
He tested the waters casually.
What'd you even do if you Awakened? 0.01% odds aside... you wouldn't go through with it anyway.
"Huh?"
How'd you enter the Tower? You're my carbon copy.
"..."
His father remained convinced Juhyeok wouldn't become a Player.
A fair assumption.
They understood each other better than anyone.
"Can't argue that, but..."
Quit daydreaming and visit soon. I want to see your face.
Bong Juhyeok's "safety-first ordinary guy" mentality? Pure family legacy.
But what about the other heir to these genes?
He called his younger brother Bong Minhyuk:
"...Anyway, Minhyuk. If you Awakened, would you enter?"
Are you insane? I'd coast for three months then bail.
"Figures. Typical ordinary guy move."
Says you! You're cut from the same cloth.
"This punk?"
Well... paternal genes don't lie.
Just hang tight. I'll graduate soon, fix our family's situation, and repay you.
"...Smooth talker."
Sorry. And... thanks.
"Yeah, focus on your studies."
Next, he called his mother.
"Mom."
Yes, son?
"Everything okay?"
Perfect! Except getting fired yesterday.
Huh?
"That doesn't sound perfect... What happened?"
Some entitled customer demanded I clean their house trash for a good review. You think I'd take that? Wham! Told them off. Got canned.
"Ahhh..."
Don't fret. I'll find work soon. Worry about yourself, not us. And stop thinking of sending money!
His mother was all boldness and fire.
A born injustice-fighter.
No wonder Dad fell hard for her - his "greatest life achievement" was scoring that first date.
Hmph.
His pride stung.
Those pathetic paternal genes.
...Must've gotten Mom's mix. Definitely!
No doubt.
That's why he'd entered the Tower.
Gotta keep climbing.
With Mom's income gone too now...
Rumor said Floors 1-5 were cakewalks.
0% mortality rate.
Basically tutorial mode.
Reach Floor 5 first...
Continue if manageable.
Quit if not.
※ ※ ※
Days: convenience store clerk. Nights: charcoal grill waiter. Home: Tower raids with John Cosack.
Juhyeok's daily grind.
His plan's success hinged entirely on Cosack.
Hence the constant gratitude.
And those perpetual 5-star ratings:
"Z-zounds! To grace this unworthy soul with full marks..."
"I'd give ten stars if I could!"
"Hehe, pleased to satisfy."
"But Floor 2... What should I—"
"Should? You won't have time. Three-minute clear."
"Hahaha! Music to my ears."
"Hehehe, nice."
Now, before we start.
"Can I ask a few questions?"
"Sure! Ask away!"
"When we first met, you said you came from a place with a lot of people, right?"
"That’s right. There’s a big space where we wait inside."
"How many people are there?"
"Ah, tons. Probably over 300, I’d guess."
So, there are over 300 summonable gacha (loot box-style) characters.
That’s a lot.
Their ranks must vary, of course.
"How do you get out of there...?"
"You need to be summoned. Then you manifest physically, like this."
So, a "call" means being summoned.
"But why the satisfaction evaluation?"
"Higher ratings mean better perks—longer manifestation time, rank promotions, more summon chances. No need to explain further."
"Ah, got it!"
We’ll figure out the details later.
Let’s enter the tower.
Safety first, always.
Greed shortens your life.
[Entering the 2nd floor of the Black Tower (South Korea).]
Mission?
[2nd Floor Mission: Defeat 10 sneaky fat maggots.]
[Time Limit: 2 hours.]
[Completion: Sneaky fat maggots 0/10]
[Failure: Death or abandonment]
Sneaky maggots this time.
"I’ll finish fast and get you home."
"Chicken tonight? Maybe beer too..."
"Thanks."
Whoosh! Poof! Bam! Repeated...
[2nd floor mission completed.]
[Level increased.]
[Reward: 200g Magic Stone]
[Notice: S++ grade achieved for Black Tower (South Korea) 2nd floor.]
[S++ Reward: Platinum Badge awarded.]
’This is insane. Absolutely insane.’
Enter and instantly get S++.
Is it supposed to be this easy?
Too fast.
’Could clear this before my morning part-time job.’
Tower resets daily, like game quests.
Next morning:
[3rd Floor Mission: Defeat 10 icy fat maggots.]
[Level increased.]
[Reward: 300g Magic Stone]
[Notice: S++ grade achieved for 3rd floor.]
[S++ Reward: Platinum Badge.]
Floors 4 and 5 were identical—400g, 500g stones, more badges.
Five badges lined up in my inventory.
’What are these even for...?’
Suddenly!
[Collected 5 S++ Platinum Badges.]
’Huh?’
[Special Reward: Awakening Trait Enhancement.]
"Oh! Trait boost?"
"Status window."
[Name]: Bong Joo-hyuk
[Guild]: Black Tower (South Korea)
[Level]: 6
[Trait]: Summoning (Simultaneous: 2)
[Catalog]: John Cosack
[Trait Skills]: Designated/Random Summon, Release
[General Skills]: Daily Tower Entry, Tower Inventory
[Combat Skills]: None
Noticeable: Simultaneous Summon: 2.
’Can I summon another?’
Breaking records feels this good?
Safer now. John Cosack already wrecks solo.
’Random summon adds one... Oh, right—cooldown.’
20+ days until next random summon.
’Wait, then summon a third... No, I’ll stay back. Two’s enough.’
Perfect.
Take it slow until cooldown ends.
Climb again tomorrow. No hesitation—to the 6th floor.
※ ※ ※
Hannam-dong, Seoul.
Tower Player Awakening Management Bureau.
Director Park Kyung-soo sweated, awaiting the tower-wide announcement.
When today? Morning? Night?
Same person—climbing floors sequentially.
Only tower-affiliated players hear the global notices. Hence the crowded office.
Time passed—
"Gasp!"
"...Again?!"
Director Park urgently: "D-Did it come?"
"Yes. S++ clear for Black Tower’s 6th floor."
"Haha..."
Six straight days of S++ clears.
Who is this?!
’Must be a newbie.’
Grades require floor-matched levels—6th floor needs Level 6.
’Previous best was A-grade. S++ triggers global alerts?!’
A prodigy.
If they keep S++ing all floors... Must find them.
Manage carefully—before another country steals them.
Nationality change = tower affiliation change.
E.g., [Black Tower (South Korea)] → [Black Tower (Japan)] if they switch.
’No! Tighten Korean player regulations!’
(Effectiveness uncertain.)
"I hope the call comes soon."
To act as a proper player, you must register with the management authority.
The call will probably come soon.
※ ※ ※
The tower climb progresses steadily without a hitch.
"Today’s the 8th floor, right?"
"Yep!"
Floors 1–5 are the tutorial, while 6–10 are where beginners shed their rookie labels.
"Let’s do well. I’ll join you soon..."
"I’m here! This isn’t a team effort—I’ll handle it alone!"
"Hmm, but what if Mr. Kosak ends up in danger..."
"Pfft, that won’t happen! But if it does, just curse at me from behind. It’d be my fault for being an idiot anyway."
I’m not sure if this approach is right.
Yesterday was the 7th floor.
The mission: breach a monster horde and retrieve a flag atop a high hill.
It was laughably simple.
The monsters couldn’t keep up with Kosak’s lightning speed.
No wonder—he’s S++ rank with a platinum badge.
The 8th floor?
Upon entering the tower:
[Mission: Eliminate 10 Red Thorn Frog Warriors.]
A swamp where feet sink into murky sludge.
And frog warriors.
Tiny but terrifying.
Unlike the maggots and larvae before, they have mouths and whip-like tongues.
No teeth, thankfully...
Not that I got a proper look.
Whoosh! Crackle!
John Kosak dashes in blinding zigzags.
Swish!
Fwip!
A frog warrior’s tongue lashes toward Kosak.
Slash!
The tongue splits mid-air.
Vrroom!
Kosak’s dagger elongates with sword energy.
Slash! Chop! Shred!
Chunks of frog flesh scatter everywhere.
They never stood a chance against his blade.
Squelch!
Plop!
"Ribbit... ribbit..."
Stab!
Thud!
[Mission Complete: 8th Floor Cleared.]
[Level Up!]
Now level 9 after conquering the 8th floor.
[Notice: S++ Rank Achieved for Korea’s Black Tower 8th Floor Clearance.]
[Reward: Platinum Badge (S++ Rank).]
[Reward: 800g of Magical Stone.]
[Reward: 5 Tower-Exclusive Healing Potions.]
Poof!
Back in Juhyeok’s studio.
"Great work today!"
"I did nothing. What ‘work’?"
"Entering the tower is the real struggle. Once inside, I handle the rest."
So the effort begins and ends at the tower’s entrance.
"Still, it’s too easy. Over in a flash."
Thanks to Kosak, not me, obviously.
"Don’t get complacent. It’ll get tougher, especially past the 10th floor’s midpoint."
Right. Never lower your guard. Juhyeok knows this.
"Am I strong? No—it’s all Kosak." Know your limits. That’s how you survive.
Another sub-three-minute clear today. Maybe reward Kosak? I pull out ₩50,000.
"Plenty of time left. Go out, have fun, eat well—just stay out of trouble."
"Can’t!"
"Why?"
"I mustn’t leave my summoner’s side. I’ll watch TV here."
"Hmm." The absolute obedience rule doesn’t apply. Likely due to Principle One: prioritize the summoner’s life.
"How about ordering chicken?"
"Oooh! Yes!"
I open a delivery app. Let’s review the rewards.
First, the Tower-Exclusive Healing Potions—useless in reality. I’ll give them to Kosak.
Then the Magical Stone: 3.6kg total. Just a handful, dense and compact.
That’s ₩1.8 million if sold. Why hoard it? Need to cash out.
But selling Magical Stones? That’s the real challenge ahead—far harder than climbing towers.
