<The Tower Strategy of a Real Man 20>
Even on South Korea's largest 'Black Tower Climbing Gallery' site, consecutive S++ strategies remain a major topic.
The site attracts many players, though ordinary users flood it too.
└ The orc sections are manageable, but trolls are brutal.
└ I tried it—no joke.
└ Hahaha, how do you handle that insane regeneration? I quit trying to climb past the 30th floor ages ago.
└ Just chop off their heads.
└ You think that's easy?
└ The top comment's right. There was a 25th-floor notice three days ago, but nothing since.
└ Look at the trolls. Honestly, they're hell.
└ Pathetic. They folded on the 26th floor.
└ What pathetic whining? Reaching the 25th is impressive. Has anyone even cleared the 1st floor?
The reason for the three-day silence was simple.
The strategy's mastermind had been busy moving.
But who could've known?
Suddenly!
The forum's comment section erupted.
└ Huh?
└ Holy—!
└ Oh!
└ Wow.
└ What?
└ Hah...
└ For real?
└ Madman. Absolute madman.
└ No way! It's legit!
Comments cascaded down the screen.
Most came from verified player accounts.
└ What's happening?
└ Just dropped—26th-floor S++ strategy.
└ Trolls are trash now. Who said they quit? Eat your words.
└ Who IS this guy? Need to see his face.
└ If his face gets out, he'll eclipse Yoo Cheol-min's popularity.
A new hero emerged.
South Korea's Black Tower 26th-floor consecutive S++ clear.
The ripple effect grew wilder by the minute.
People rode waves of national pride (국뽕), while media outlets scrambled.
Already-famous players flooded talk shows, using their own experiences to hype the S++ achievement.
Corporations moved fast.
Ilseong Group struck first:
<Ilseong Electronics! 2-Week Electronics Mega Sale!>
<Celebrate 26th Floor S++ Clear! 26% Discounts!>
Promising 26% off for 27th-floor S++ clears, 28% for 28th-floor—maintaining the pattern for two weeks.
The stock market reacted.
South Korean equities skyrocketed.
The composite index broke through the stratosphere.
※ ※ ※
Ding-dong!
The doorbell chimed in the new apartment.
Clack!
"Player Bong Joo-hyuk? Your order—10 whole fried chickens."
"Ah, y-yes. Sorry for the trouble."
Mildly seasoned food for Cossack's sake.
He'd boldly tried spicy tteokbokki after his promotion to Ssual, declaring an end to his weak spice tolerance—only to nearly die.
"That's... quite the feast."
"Post-clear hunger hits hard..."
"Hahaha! You should do mukbang streams. Here."
"...Thanks."
The player officetel's concierge service only delivered to the lobby.
Staff handled everything else—laundry pickups, cleaning crews, errands.
Every amenity imaginable filled the building:
24/7 dining, coffee shops, gym, karaoke, laundry, even a pool.
Should've moved here sooner.
Luxury beyond his 25 years of frugal living.
Getting caught during my S++ awakening eval was a blessing.
He'd initially panicked—meant to take standard contracts and fly under the radar.
Should've stuck to farming lower floors.
And why did Cossack have to be so... Cossack?
Curse that third summoning principle.
Yet that slip-up landed him an elite contract—normally requiring bodycam proof of strategies.
Probably the only elite without footage.
He'd expected elite status to mean certain tower death.
Now? Pure bliss.
Do people really change this fast?
Whatever. Classic Han Namja mindset.
He'd just cleared 26F S++: exterminate 20 swamp trolls.
The floor's reputation came not from regeneration, but the mind-breaking swamp itself.
Shadow Step made navigation manageable.
Joo-hyuk even soloed one troll—shattering its pot-like head under Gobang's tanking and Cossack's guard, Honwon Byeokryeok preventing regeneration.
"Good work. Let's eat—"
Cossack and Gobang knelt mesmerized before the 85-inch TV—a quantum leap from Joo-hyuk's old 27-inch.
Girl groups danced across the screen.
"Hello? Earth to assassins?"
No response.
Might as well join them.
The performers' vibrant energy outshone mere fried chicken—until boy groups appeared.
"Oh! Chicken time?"
"I'll eat!"
"Mr. Cossack?"
"Yes-sum?"
"Ever had a girlfriend?"
"Couldn't... No."
Riiiight.
"Assassin's focus mustn't waver."
"Sure, sure."
What focus?
"Why no girlfriend, Summoner Bong?"
Counterattack?
"Elite players can't afford distractions."
"Exactly! Greatness demands sacrifice!"
"R-right! I'd have girls lining up otherwise!"
Their laughter echoed—Han Namjas rationalizing singlehood into victory.
"Anyway... sorry."
"For?"
"Housewarming gift... forgot toilet paper."
"Toilet pa—?"
"Starting 27F tomorrow?"
"Might as well push to 29F."
"Yessir!"
30F waited—Random Summon's cooldown loomed in 13 days.
Clear 29F in three days? Ten left.
Then tackle 30F's 80 trolls and twin-heads with reinforcements.
The remaining ten days?
Grind lower floors. Perfect skills.
※ ※ ※
Juhyuk's mother, Hong Geum-ja, shook hands with Attorney Lee Chang-seok and expressed her gratitude.
"You've worked hard, Attorney. Thanks to you, we won."
"Hahaha! We should have gotten you more compensation, but it's barely 10 billion..."
"No, this amount is enough. I was planning to donate it anyway."
"Are you sure?"
"I intended to donate it from the start."
"Then I won't accept my legal fee either."
There was no need to go to trial.
Public sentiment wasn't favorable either.
The final blow came when the government announced it would replace all public office water purifiers with another company's products, forcing Jinsaemmul Corporation to surrender completely.
"By the way, should I find suitable donation recipients?"
"Please. Focus on orphanages if possible, and list the donor under our son's name."
"Your son's name is...?"
"Juhyuk. Bong Juhyuk."
"Understood! I'll handle it immediately."
They'd secured compensation and apologies from both the abusive client and corporate headquarters,
Yet Hong Geum-ja's expression remained heavy despite the apparent victory.
How could a mother not worry when her son worked as a Player?
All she could do was pray fervently
For his safety against all odds.
Father Bong Cheol-su lay in the VIP ward of Ilseong Hospital.
The luxurious suite featured
A sitting area with premium sofa, caregiver's bed, and spacious bathroom.
This likely explained why second son Bong Min-hyuk came straight from school daily.
"Son?"
"Yessir!"
"Is this your house now? Should I punch your time card?"
"Ha! It's crazy comfortable here! Free gourmet meals for caregivers too. Why wouldn't I come?"
"We're transferring soon."
"I'll stay till then."
That little brat.
Coming to "work" at the hospital for his own comfort rather than caregiving?
Did the punk have no friends?
Then again, considering whose son he was...
Earlier, the eldest son had called.
He sounded fine, which was reassuring.
But the mystery remained - why choose to be a Player?
Had it been Min-hyuk, the idea wouldn't have crossed anyone's mind.
"Father, you can stop worrying about hyung. Elite Players have much lower mortality rates than regular ones."
"Really?"
"They get professional support teams and essential raid items."
The explanation did little to ease paternal concern.
"Turn on TV. Let's check for your mother's news."
"News channel?"
"Yes."
Breaking news flashed:
<South Korea's Black Tower Floor 26 Cleared at S++ Grade!>
"Incredible! 26 consecutive clears?"
"Kids at school won't stop talking about it either."
"Speaking of which, what floor did Juhyuk say he's on?"
"He mentioned the 20s yesterday. No exact number."
"Hmm."
Bong Cheol-su tilted his head.
"You don't think... your brother's the S++ record holder?"
"Sigh Dad, not this again. Eat your meal and talk sense."
"Then Juhyuk signing an elite contract - that's plausible?"
"Well... technically yes. But him being that top Player? He's world-famous!"
"Right? Just thinking aloud."
Though ignorant about the Black Tower's intricacies,
They understood the weight of an S++ rating.
The criteria for Player talent -
Courage, tenacity, unbreakable willpower...
Sadly, none described their Juhyuk.
Some tough guy he was.
The epitome of mediocrity.
※ ※ ※
Black Tower Floor 27.
Mission: Eliminate 20 Ice Trolls within 4 hours.
Like the Swamp Troll quest, environment posed the challenge -
Perpetual snow cloaking jagged peaks where the trolls roamed.
I'd faced similar conditions before.
The cold had pierced through multiple layers then, shocking me to the core.
Early Players struggled most with the freezing temperatures
Until specialized gear became available.
Ding-dong!
Opening the door revealed Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il.
"Player Bong, your requested items."
"Thanks for always going the extra mile."
"Our duty is supporting elite Tower climbers."
"I'll return them after use."
"Good luck on Floor 27."
The Volcano Orc leather set - full armor, boots, and cap -
Was peerless against cold.
Such hide commonly dropped as Floor 24 rewards.
'Then why don't I ever get loot?'
My haul always involved magic stones, occasional healing potions,
Or that energy shield special reward.
Summoning Gobang and Gosak:
[Entering South Korea's Black Tower Floor 27]
Whoooosh
Biting wind assaulted us instantly.
Safe zone's chill seeped into bones,
Yet I felt nothing -
Volcano Orc leather radiated cozy warmth verging on stuffiness.
"Mr. Gobang, not cold?"
"Warriors ignore elements."
"Mr. Gosak?"
"Uhh, Sssssal here! D-d-dak! M-magic repels c-cold! D-d-d-dak! S-see?"
His chattering teeth betrayed him.
"...Need me to remove this?"
"N-no! M-moving w-will h-help! D-d-dak!"
We needed speed.
Accepting the quest,
Gobang ascended snowdrifts like staircases.
If brains matched brawn, he'd be true Ssssal material.
Gosak rampaged wildly,
Assassin becoming berserker against the cold.
'So toasty...'
Like napping in heated-floor rooms.
The gear proved its worth.
'Should move soon.'
At least one kill for formality's sake-
[Ice Trolls Slain: 20/20]
[Floor 27 Cleared]
[Level Up]
[Reward: Magic Stone (2.7kg)]
[Reward: Tower-exclusive Holy Sword of Roland Sanctum's Paladin Commander]
"Huh?"
Already?
My muscles hadn't even warmed up.
[Notice: Achieved S++ Grade Clear on Korea's Black Tower Floor 27]
Platinum badge materialized as Gosak stood
With red cheeks and frozen snot trails.
Snort!
His mucus retreated nasally.
"... ..."
The cold must've motivated record speed.
'Anyway...'
Finally, proper loot!
A weapon no less.
[Reward: Tower-exclusive Holy Sword of Roland Sanctum's Paladin Commander]
The obsidian greatsword's weight strained single-handed grip.
'A brute-force stabbing/blade tool.'
Bloodshed in your face.
"Hmm."
My trusty mace sufficed.
This would be sold later.
