<Tower Climbing Strategies for the Bold 10>
Juhyuk was still shopping at the player shop.
The Adamant Mace purchase was complete.
‘I’ve secured one weapon.’
What about armor?
Honestly, I don’t need to buy any.
The bracelet-shaped energy shield kit protects me from head to toe.
Still, let’s grab a pair of shoes.
Sturdy combat boots.
It’s easier to chat with the male staff.
“These combat boots are made from Basilisk Petrified Leather. The soles use Sect Sectonium steel plates—durable with self-repair functions.”
“Can these go into the inventory too?”
“Haha, absolutely. Everything here is crafted from Tower materials.”
I’m sold.
The design’s decent too.
“How much?”
“Hmm… 3 million won.”
You’ve got to be kidding.
It’s easily worth 30 million won.
No reason to refuse.
They’re selling it at this price?
I’ll take it.
“One pair, size 275.”
“Here you go…”
The boots were mine.
‘Should I browse a bit more?’
There was a potion stall too—probably reselling loot from player rewards.
Armor, helmets, gloves, greaves, belts, knee and elbow guards… they had it all, but nothing I needed.
Ah!
The energy shield.
Incredible, isn’t it?
A unified armor system replacing all defensive gear.
‘As expected of a special perk.’
I considered lingering longer,
‘Time to go.’
I could always return later.
※ ※ ※
Juhyuk rested for four more days.
Slowly, leisurely.
He kept replaying the 15th floor during that time.
It almost made him complacent about staying put.
But he wanted to see for himself—
What awaited when he fully prepared and stepped into the 16th floor.
‘Once the random summon cooldown resets…’
The Platinum Badge.
This thing was a marvel.
Not the badge itself, but but the perk of claiming five at once.
I’d vowed not to be greedy in the Tower, but badges were exceptions.
Clearing the 20th floor would grant the fourth special perk. What would it be?
Another trait upgrade? A real-world usable skill or item?
Either way, just one day remained until the summon.
By tomorrow evening, a new summonee would arrive.
Money hit my account too—earnings from selling the Magic Stone.
After deducting 5 million won for gear, I still had a staggering 13 million left.
‘What to do with this?’
Spend it now.
I sent 2 million won to my father:
What’s this? Win the lottery?
“Savings. Buy a crutch or walking aid since you’re struggling.”
…I’ve had my eye on a fishing rod.
“Who knows when rehab ends? You’ll hook people, not fish.”
It’ll motivate my recovery. I miss fishing.
“Your money. Blame yourself if Mom yells.”
…Fine. A crutch then.
Sent 2 million to my mother:
You didn’t borrow from sharks, right?
“It’s savings.”
(I had taken loans before.)
Lie, and I’ll kill you. You know I mean it!
“Seriously! Use it till you find work. Must be tight.”
Alright. But I’ll write an IOU.
To my sibling:
“200k for tuition.”
B-bro… Can I buy a laptop?
“Get a good one. Approved.”
Thanks!
6 million vanished instantly, but the flex felt good.
‘Only family?’
Juhyuk had plans.
He summoned John Cossack:
“Check this! My future ride once I strike it rich.”
His laptop showed his dream car.
“Disagree. Lightweight cars crumple in crashes. Get flattened by trucks.”
“What’s your pick?”
“Go big! Sturdy frame, aggressive airbags—even in minor crashes.”
Cossack pointed to a CEO-style limo.
“Makes me look ancient.”
“Safety first, Summoner Bong.”
“Ha! Never considered that!”
“Heh!”
Signing with the elite raid team offered free housing and cars.
But nothing’s free—just future debt.
※ ※ ※
The moment arrived.
Tonight’s event demanded preparation—a trip to the bathhouse.
I soaked in the scalding tub, scrubbed every inch with a rough towel.
Hard-to-reach spots? An auto-scrub machine handled those.
I still lacked the courage to ask strangers for back-scrubbing help.
Keep your body clean and avoid impurities.
Maintain purity in both body and mind.
Only then can you summon successfully.
The random summon cooldown is mere hours away.
Time to summon another reliable ally to conquer the 16th floor—then onward to the 20th, no, the 30th floor.
After bathing,
trimming his nails,
and changing into fresh underwear and casual clothes from his bag,
Juhyeok returned home.
Though hungry, he decided to wait.
He’d eat after the random summon.
Who would appear this time?
He needed a good summon.
The higher the rarity, the better.
The unhinged assassin John Cosac was SR, Super Rare.
He’d secured an S++ rank with a flawless, rapid strategy up to the 15th floor.
He’d even claimed the 16th or 20th floors wouldn’t be an issue—just that achieving S++ there would be tough.
If only I could get one more Super Rare...
SSR or Special Super Rare would suffice.
He didn’t dare hope for LSSR, Legendary Special Super Rare.
Before the random summon, he’d summon John Cosac first.
What if someone strange appeared?
[John Cosac has been summoned.]
“Chuung! Greetings, Summoner Bong! Honored to serve you again today!”
“Welcome.”
“Another 15th-floor grind this time?”
“No. We’re tackling the 16th floor.”
“…Ah.”
Cosac’s expression stiffened with unease.
He’d warned before: while clearing the floor was simple, securing S++ might be harder.
He also knew Juhyeok had already tasted the Platinum Badge’s benefits.
Thus, he burned to earn that badge for him.
After a pause, Cosac clenched his fist.
“I’ll give my all! Even if this body perishes in the tower, I’ll secure that S++ rank—”
“Relax. You won’t be alone.”
“Hm?”
“The random summon cooldown’s reset. Let’s summon another.”
“Ohooo! Brilliant! Two’s undeniably better than one!”
Thumbs up.
“Summoner Bong, you’ve planned everything! Did you attend Seoul National University?”
“I’m a high school graduate.”
“Naturally! Heheh! As if SNU could ever claim someone of your caliber!”
“…”
A swift pivot.
Skillful, ego-stroking flattery.
No doubt—Cosac must’ve been a bootlicker in his past life.
But so what? Why are sycophants beloved?
Their honeyed words lift moods, ease stress, and soothe minds.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yessir!”
Steeling himself:
Amen. Hallelujah. Amitabha. Om mani padme hum. Heavenly spirits. Infinite Light Buddha. Abracadabra…
Then—
“Random Summon!”
Whooosh!
Cosac clapped a rhythm.
“Dugudugudugudugu…! What’ll it be?”
Instantly!
A white glow coalesced into humanoid form.
The luminous figure swelled rapidly.
And kept growing.
And growing…
Isn’t it getting too large?
Its head already scraped the ceiling.
Then—
Pop!
The full form materialized.
“Huh?”
“Eeek!”
Human…ish.
A hulking three-meter frame—bulkier than a bear.
Thick muscles.
Fur covering its body.
…Human or monster?
Juhyeok checked its grade first.
Result?
…R? Just Rare.
A twinge of disappointment.
Rare was the lowest tier.
If only it had one more S…
Wait another month for another summon?
No. Rare’s still something. And that size…
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
“Hey, dumbass!”
Cosac launched a dropkick at the giant.
Crash!
Fists flew in a frenzy.
Thudthudthudthud!
“Why’d YOU have to come? Here to ruin everything?!”
Cosac’s abrupt fury.
Surely not just over the Rare rating?
“Die! Croak! What’re you staring at? Kneel, moron!”
Juhyeok couldn’t fathom Cosac’s rage.
The assassin raged like he’d met a mortal enemy.
“Get lost! Useless piece of—!”
Cosac pummeled wildly.
The giant merely scratched his head, enduring the blows in baffled silence.
"It doesn’t hurt. It just tickles."
"Alright! Let's see if you still say that after getting your neck snapped. I'll tie that ribbon real pretty for you."
So I checked the catalog.
<Catalog: The Foolish Barbarian Meat Shield of the Great Plains Tribe>
Name: Unknown
Grade: R (Rare)
Type: Barbarian Warrior (Human)
Manifestation Duration: 10 hours
Satisfaction Rating: None
Resummon Cooldown: 3 hours (applies after dismissal)
A nameless barbarian meat shield.
‘A meat shield? What’s his story?’
But it says he’s dumb? As in, not bright at all?
He certainly looks the part.
A hulking, scar-riddled torso paired with disarmingly innocent eyes.
He didn’t even flinch when Cossack hit him—just stood there, docile as a lamb.
Cossack, now wheezing from exertion, wiped his brow.
“Mr. Cossack?”
“...Huff... Go ahead.”
“Step aside. I need to talk to him.”
“No point. That one’s infamous here—thick as a plank. Can’t even grasp the Three Principles.”
At this, the barbarian stammered:
“I-I know the Principles! Memorized ’em!”
“Recite them, then.”
“Uh... Article 1: Obey the summoner... protect their life... no matter what. Article 2: The summoner’s... uh... values come first, even if conflicts... Article 3 is...”
“See?” Cossack snorted. “Total dud. Just kill him—make him unusable for 100 days.”
Wait, death locks him out for 100 days? I hadn’t known.
“...I’ll handle this.”
“Suit yourself.”
Juhyeok tilted his head at the vacant-eyed warrior.
“Your name?”
“Forgot.”
“Why are you here?”
“Dunno.”
“What about the Tower?”
“...Can’t remember.”
Infuriating.
I skimmed his profile:
Great Plains barbarian meat shield. Peak physical strength—could snap an ogre’s spine bare-handed. But too dim to recall his own name.
Fell for a fraud hero’s lies, became a meat shield against a nine-headed hydra. Survived acid breath long enough to rip out its jaws and necks one by one... until his body melted.
Ah... Such a cruel twist of fate.
Visions flashed through my mind:
The barbarian gleefully snapping a monster’s spine.
Crowds tossing him a moldy crust as “reward.”
A slick-tongued thug conning him into being cannon fodder...
Tears pricked my eyes. How kind must he be to endure such exploitation?
Rare or not, dumb or not—he deserved better.
I gripped his shovel-sized hand. “Welcome. Let’s climb the Tower together.”
“I’ll obey.”
“Name time. ‘Barbarian’ or ‘Gobang’?”
“...Dunno.”
“Pick one.”
“Gobang.”
“Mr. Gobang—I’ll make you happy. Trust me?”
“Gobang trusts Summoner. Will obey.”
I turned to Cossack. “We’re a team now. Let’s work together.”
Cossack, who’d been eye-rolling nonstop, shrugged. “Fine. Looks sturdy enough. I’ll whip him into shape.”
“Great. To the 16th floor.”
“Yes! Hey, Gobang! Why’re you silent?!”
“Yes.”
“Stop parroting me, you oaf!”
And so our “dream team” was born:
A timid player, an unhinged assassin, and a half-witted barbarian.
However chaotic...
...Maybe we’ll manage?
