[The proxy of &$#($* has made an offer to Player Eugene Hyuk!]
[If accepted, an ally will appear to assist the player in combat during the 91st floor section!]
[This offer comes with no conditions! There are no penalties for the player whether they accept or decline!]
Eugene Hyuk lowered his voice so Min So-yul couldn't hear him.
"I don't want to split experience or items."
A brief silence followed.
If the system had a consciousness of its own, it might be thinking right now.
*This guy is still worrying about money even at a time like this.*
[The ally is a figure belonging to the Tower of Despair and a follower of the being you serve!]
Tch. It's a bit disappointing that he's not coming in person.
He raised his head and looked at Min So-yul.
He didn't believe this offer was made purely as an apology or thanks for what happened last time.
There was definitely some ulterior motive behind it.
But even so.
"Alright. I'll accept the Chairman's offer."
There was no need to refuse this offer.
Since the system remained silent, there were likely no tricks or penalties hidden in the proposal itself.
Min So-yul smiled.
"You've made a wise decision. The section from the 91st to the 100th floor is called the Trial Section. It's not just about monsters being strong or weak—all sorts of bizarre and grotesque clearing conditions appear there."
Leaning forward, Min So-yul continued.
"I'm well aware of the performance you've shown so far. I believe you could clear it on your own, but we'll make sure to help you get through it comfortably."
"Good. If possible, convenience is best."
*Gulp.*
Min So-yul pressed her lips together desperately.
She had almost let out a laugh she couldn't hold back.
Eugene Hyuk, sipping his coffee with an innocent face, completely unaware.
She quietly stared at him.
*It all starts the same.*
He was Runner, famous worldwide.
Such an incredible person probably wouldn't even care about something like Cheonil Bridge right in front of him.
But the moment he climbed the Tower of Despair and met the great ally, he would realize.
Just how powerful and absolute the gods they served were in the Tower of Despair.
And how much grace and glory he would enjoy from now on, alongside that being.
And the moment he wished for even a sliver of that in his heart, the moment he got even a taste, it would be over.
No matter how great a Runner he was, he would never be able to escape.
He would end up begging for even greater blessings and favors.
*Heh.*
A laugh escaped her as she looked at Eugene Hyuk, who seemed lost in thought.
She had been a bit nervous since he was a Runner, but he was far more transparent than she expected.
That was probably why she could see right through him.
Even though he had coolly accepted the offer, he was still worrying about whether there was some trick on their side.
*Don't bother with useless effort.*
No matter what he expected, suspected, or prepared, nothing would change.
It would all flow according to the natural order, just as they wished.
"Hmm."
Eugene Hyuk let out a heavy sigh.
He was going crazy from thinking.
*What should I eat for dinner?*
*Should I ask them to make flower crab soup with the ingredients I brought from Famille?*
*Or maybe chicken and pork trotters for the first time in a while?*
*Should I just eat everything?*
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and leaned back in his chair.
*Oh.*
He was startled.
Why was she smiling to herself?
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
He tapped his fingers and looked at Min So-yul.
*When will they let me meet them?*
*The ones who tricked our Jam Mambo.*
He didn't think they'd let him meet them easily, but he wanted to see them soon.
That way, his friend's hunger would be satisfied a little more.
*Ding!*
He checked the KakaoTalk message that had arrived.
It was from Zhu You.
*Oh?*
His eyes sparkled.
She said she had something to show him.
Had she made something?
He should hurry over on the frog.
---
* * *
---
Floor 50 of the Tower of Despair.
*Thud...!*
The leader of the Nether Knight Brigade knelt, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Attack!"
At Eugene Hee's command, over a dozen summoned beasts rushed at the leader.
They stabbed, slashed, burned, and froze, finishing him off in various ways.
Not long after, the leader completely vanished, and a clear message appeared.
"Phew!"
Eugene Hee, the Summoner of the Century with a hidden class, wiped the sweat from her forehead.
*People say summoners just slack off in the back with nothing to do—what's so hard about it?*
That's just ignorance talking.
She had to constantly check the status and situation of her summoned beasts, applying buffs and debuffs as needed.
Sometimes she even had to reorganize their formation.
Even so, did it look easier compared to other regular classes?
Well, she'd admit that was somewhat true.
*Ring! Ring! Ring!*
A smile formed on Eugene Hee's lips as messages lined up before her eyes.
The leader of the Nether Knight Brigade, a three-meter giant who had wildly swung a double-bladed spear.
At first, her knees had trembled in fear, but now that she had taken him down, the rewards were excellent.
And above all.
[Summoner of the Century Player Eugene Hee has leveled up! You can now summon a summoned beast of the next grade!]
This was what she had been waiting for.
"Hehehehe!"
Rough breaths escaped her.
Because every time her grade increased, she had gotten a much stronger entity than before.
She needed to hurry out, wash up, and try summoning.
---
A few hours later.
Eugene Hee, sitting in her yard, frowned deeply.
"Why won't you listen?!"
She shouted angrily at her new summoned beast, Mocha the Nether Slaughterer.
Mocha was a melee dealer summoned beast with a sturdy build who wielded a massive greatsword.
His name sounded cute, like some kind of coffee, but his behavior was anything but.
She had spent over an hour coaxing, soothing, and pampering him, doing everything she could, but nothing worked.
Even now, as the owner yelled, he just stood there with his arms crossed, snorting through his nose.
The other summoned beasts nearby tried to persuade Mocha, but he stubbornly shook his head.
"Just give me one reason why you're being so difficult! Are you going to act like this in the tower too? While everyone else is fighting?"
Mocha opened one eye and conveyed his meaning.
*I'll fight since you're my owner, but I don't plan to follow every order. Why? Because you're weaker than me? And you're not even a martial artist—you don't know the first thing about swordsmanship?*
Eugene Hee pressed her hand to her forehead.
She had been happy without a second thought when she heard they were a race of warriors who worshipped nothingness.
She never dreamed there would be an issue like this with disobedience.
*If you want my recognition, you should learn swordsmanship too? Unbelievable.*
His demands were getting more ridiculous by the minute.
Just because she had a hidden class didn't mean she was all-powerful.
As a summoner, her stats were heavily focused on mana or magical power—how was she supposed to wield a sword?
This was practically a declaration of a work slowdown.
*Vroom, vroom, vroom...!*
"Huh?"
Eugene Hee turned her head.
It was an engine sound that didn't suit the peaceful Guun-ri at all.
*Creak.*
The door opened, and Eugene Hyuk entered, looking at his younger sister.
Maybe it was because she was frowning so deeply.
She looked especially pathetic today.
"What's with that look the moment you arrive?"
"Sorry, old habits die hard. What's wrong with that friend over there?"
Eugene Hee closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
She had ended up showing off a pathetic sight—a summoned beast that wouldn't listen to its summoner.
"It's a bonding process."
"Is that really bonding? You weren't yelling at him or threatening him, were you? What did you say to make him act like that?"
"What are you talking about? Can't you see him standing there with his arms crossed, snorting—... Huh?"
Eugene Hee turned her head and furrowed her brow.
She didn't forget to rub her eyes once.
What was this?
Mocha, who had been acting like he was the best thing in the world.
Now, not only was he standing up, but he was also standing at rigid attention.
He was even sweating coldly.
As if he had seen a ghost.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly acting like this? You're asking who that person is? That's my older brother."
"!?"
Mocha's eyes widened as he was about to say something more.
Eugene Hyuk quietly raised a finger to his lips.
*Shh.*
Startled, Mocha quickly nodded.
"What's going on? Why is he acting like this?"
Eugene Hee turned around, but Eugene Hyuk was already heading into the house, waving his hand dismissively.
"Don't scold him and treat him well. He's the one fighting in your place while you slack off in the back."
"I don't slack off!"
Eugene Hyuk disappeared into the house with a teasing face.
Eugene Hee bit her lip in frustration.
She was already stressed because Mocha wouldn't listen, and now her brother had to come and cause a scene.
Since he made her angry, she'd ask him for some allowance later.
Anyway, what was she going to do about this guy?
"Mocha! No matter how much you don't want to listen to me—... What? You'll listen now? All of a sudden? Just give the orders? You're ready to jump into a pit of fire?"
Eugene Hee scratched her head with a dumbfounded expression.
Even the other summoned beasts wouldn't jump into a pit of fire!
He had been full of defiance, and now suddenly he was this loyal?
What was going on?
*Well... anyway, since he's listening now, nice.*
She reluctantly gave a thumbs-up and followed Eugene Hyuk into the house.
*Phew...!*
Mocha the Nether Slaughterer finally let out a sigh of relief.
He quickly wiped his forehead.
It was the first time since his creation.
The first time he had sweated this much cold sweat.
He shook his head at the other summoned beasts who asked if he was sick.
They were still young entities, so they probably didn't recognize it.
Just how absurdly powerful the person who had just walked in was.
Anyway, that had been a close call.
To talk back to the sibling of such a being—he really needed to listen from now on.
He cleared his throat as he looked at the summoned beasts gathered around.
As a higher-grade entity, he gave them some advice.
If they wanted to live, they should be even more loyal to their master from now on!
---
* * *
---
Back inside the house, Eugene Hyuk looked at the dining table.
Was today some special occasion?
A feast was laid out.
Kim Min-ji, who had been in the middle of cooking, turned around.
"Oh, son? What brings you here without saying anything?"
"I just stopped by. But is it Jin-hee's birthday today? Why are you showing off your skills like this?"
"You don't even know your sister's birthday? My birthday is in the summer."
He stared at Jin-hee, who had followed him inside.
He didn't bother saying that it didn't matter whether her birthday was in summer, winter, or fall.
He was an adult, after all.
"Then why are you cooking—...!?!?"
He almost had his eyes pop out.
He had been wondering why the ribs on the table were moving by themselves.
*Mooomooomoo!*
A chubby, steamed-bun-like hand was reaching up from under the table.
It wasn't the first piece, since the hand was already covered in sauce.
It looked like it was going to devour everything.
"Eugene Hyuk? Why did you stop talking?"
"My throat suddenly got really dry, haha. Where's the water?"
"It's right there."
Blocking Jin-hee and Kim Min-ji's line of sight, he poured himself some water.
"If it's not Jin-hee's birthday, is a guest coming?"
"Oh, this? A transfer student came to Jin-hee's class today, and they said they live in Guun-ri. So I invited them over. I said I'd cook something delicious."
"Don't you only have Min-hee as a friend?"
"What are you talking about? I have tons of friends."
*Ding-dong!*
"Oh, I think they're here!"
Eugene Hee dashed outside.
The sound of the gate opening was heard.
"?????"
As the presence began to approach, dozens of question marks formed on his face.
This was an even more unexpected appearance than the rib thief, Mo Hwang.
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T/N:
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