An S-Rank Tower signifies the emergence of monsters that only someone at the level of an S-Rank Awakened can possibly handle.
At the same time, entering an S-Rank Tower is inherently deadly unless you’re S-Rank or close to it. For most, stepping inside might mean instant death.
There are a total of four S-Rank Towers in South Korea. Including the Korean Peninsula as a whole brings the count to five, with Mungyeong Saejae being the closest in proximity and the least exposed to others’ attention.
‘I never thought I’d end up here.’
Even as an Awakened, one might expect to start with the dungeons inside F-Rank Towers. The idea of challenging an S-Rank Tower right from the start seemed absurd.
Is it madness?
Yes.
Someone might ask why one would risk their life like this.
The answer lies in the incomparably valuable rewards awaiting those who succeed in clearing it.
The rewards aren’t limited to the Tower Coins granted by the system after clearing a Tower.
Clearing an S-Rank Tower comes with a notable “achievement”.
This could become a powerful bargaining tool when negotiating with various organizations in the future.
If you’re wondering why someone would risk their life for an S-Rank Tower, it’s simple: to protect Elaine.
Screech.
The car comes to a halt.
While lost in thought, the car had already reached its destination.
“This is it.”
“This just looks like a roadside stop.”
“We can’t drive further. They’ve blocked the access road.”
About 1 kilometer ahead lies a military base.
Normally, vehicles could go as far as the parking lot for visitors to the cultural heritage site at Mungyeong Saejae.
However, the S-Rank Tower, which gleams even in the dark, has restricted access within a 5-kilometer radius.
“Can you see it?”
“Yes.”
Elaine leans toward the window from the backseat. Even with the window closed, the white ivory tower piercing the darkness is impossible to miss.
Towers usually float at a fixed point like holograms, their height akin to a typical skyscraper.
However, S-Rank Towers are exceptions. They rise as high as famous landmarks like Lotte Tower or Namsan Tower, visible even from afar.
This one is no different from the other S-Rank dungeons in places like Ganghwa Island, Jeju Island, or Dokdo.
“South Korea has multiple S-Rank Towers. Besides the ones on islands, the city-located Towers have been cleared, except for this one.”
It’s not that South Korea’s S-Rank Hunters are incompetent.
On the contrary, their individual abilities are remarkably high compared to S-Rank Hunters in other countries.
Evidence of their prowess lies in the seven successful clearings of S-Rank Towers in various cities.
So why has this Tower remained uncleared?
“…Three months ago, an S-Rank Hunter who was attempting to clear this Tower died.”
It was a disaster.
“That reduced the number of S-Rank Hunters in this country from five to four. Since then, they’ve taken a break, needing time to recover mentally.”
“So this is the place where a comrade fell in battle.”
“Yes. It’s dangerous. Can you climb it… alone?”
I gripped the car’s gear shift and pulled it into reverse.
“It’s not too late to turn back. We can head to Seoul or even go down to my hometown. Though I don’t have a house there, we could stay at a hotel for a while and regroup.”
“No.”
Elaine’s eyes showed no hesitation.
“I can do this. Besides, I believe your ‘skill’ will guide me to even greater heights.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. To be honest, it might be better if you give me commands rather than me fighting on my own.”
“…”
Elaine gestured toward the smartphone in the console box.
“Just as you trust me, I trust you too. I have faith in your… ‘control prowess’.”
“That’s not exactly a compliment, but in this situation, it’ll definitely help.”
The preparations were complete.
Once at the entrance, we’d confirm everything again.
Using the emergency escape function wouldn’t be a problem.
“Elaine, should I come with you?”
“No. Please remain here, Master.”
Elaine shook her head firmly.
“Once I clear the Tower, we’ll need to leave the scene immediately.”
“Right. Clearing the Tower will undoubtedly draw attention. A suspicious vehicle lingering nearby would definitely catch their eye.”
“…You could head somewhere completely different too.”
Elaine pointed at the car’s navigation screen.
“I’ll handle the clearing. Meanwhile, Master, you could drive to the coast or somewhere far away….”
“That might hide my presence, but I can’t do that.”
CCTV or other surveillance might record my movements in the area.
Still, me being here isn’t without purpose.
“Elaine, as strange as this sounds, we’re connected no matter how far apart we are. Isn’t that right?”
I pointed to the app on my smartphone.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“As long as I’m nearby, I can give you commands inside the Tower, right?”
“Didn’t you test it earlier at the highway rest stop? You checked my status and even recalled me using the Summoning app.”
“Right.”
The Summoning app installed on my smartphone bridges the connection between Elaine and me, not through signals but via mana.
It’s probably sending signals using magic instead of radio waves, but thanks to this app, I can know Elaine’s status.
I’ve already witnessed Elaine ascend a dungeon before.
While scanning through all the community reactions, I clearly witnessed Elaine ascending the Tower through the app on my smartphone.
To the rest of the world, it might seem like Elaine simply entered the Tower and returned. But I alone saw her battles.
“Master, just in case…”
“If someone comes asking questions, I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
I replied, reclining the car seat and holding up my smartphone.
“It’s fine. If we clear the Tower, even if they figure out something, we’ll adjust accordingly.”
In fact, that’s what I’m hoping for. If we truly succeed in conquering an S-Rank Tower, that’s when getting noticed becomes a desirable outcome.
And I’ll be the one to decide who gets to step on my trail and hold onto my collar.
“Please, Elaine. I don’t mean to pressure you, but at the very least, you’ll need to climb as far as the point the last group reached and defeat the mid-boss. That’s the only way I can survive too.”
There’s a very significant reason for going to such lengths.
“This might sound petty, but it’s a huge deal for Koreans.”
In the era of Hunters, the government pays close attention to S-Rank Awakened.
Their influence only becomes significant at the S-Rank level.
Until then, even A-Ranks remain under the sway of the state to some extent.
That’s because two of the S-Rank Awakened here are officially affiliated with the government.
And this country…
“If I’m forced to re-enlist, I might have to live separately from you.”
Awakened individuals are compelled to fulfill their duty to protect the nation and its citizens.
“The higher-ups will treat you and me as separate entities.”
Even if I am someone who commands an S-Rank summoned being.
* * *
[Meanwhile, somewhere in Seoul. Inside a bunker meeting room.]
“Minister, what’s the status of Awakened registrations so far?”
“As of 2:31 AM, approximately 645 individuals have self-reported their Awakening.”
“645 out of a million.”
The President’s low voice caused the assembled ministers to exchange uneasy glances.
“Not everyone has reported yet, right?”
“Correct.”
“Has the Awakener Management Committee said anything?”
“Well…”
Flash.
Suddenly, light flickered across the large screen at the front of the meeting room.
[Excuse me.]
On the screen appeared a woman with long black hair.
[This is the Awakened Management Committee. I’m attending the National Emergency Response Meeting as the acting chairperson.]
The ministers, many old enough to be her parents, swallowed nervously.
It wasn’t out of admiration for her beauty but the instinctual unease of observing a predator from behind glass.
“Alright, [Onyxiana], what is the Committee’s stance?”
[We believe that, as of this morning, the ‘Awakener Mobilization Act’ should be repealed, suspended, or replaced with an emergency special law.]
“Absolutely not!”
A man in military uniform, rather than a suit, shouted.
“In a national emergency caused by Towers, and especially with this sudden surge of unregulated Awakened Hunters, we cannot grant them special privileges. The existing personnel will revolt!”
“Hmm….”
The President lightly tapped the table with his finger.
“Do you believe the [Awakener Mobilization Act] should be abolished? The law requiring Awakened individuals to serve six months of national defense duty?”
[If I may.]
Onyxiana, the S-Rank Hunter participating through the video conference, spoke.
[Out of the 645 self-reported Awakened, fewer than 30 are men in their 20s or 30s.]
“…”
[Moreover, most of these cases weren’t voluntary. They were reported because the Awakening occurred in public places like military bases, bars, or PC cafes.]
“Hmm…. Even so.”
The president opened his mouth slightly.
“The individual of interest… [Maid] is a woman in her 20s, so she wouldn’t be subject to conscription, would she?”
* * *
“Don’t worry, Master.”
Elaine said with a radiant smile.
“As long as I’m here, you won’t have to re-enlist.”
“Thank you. Truly. And if they still try to force me back even after clearing an S-Rank Tower…”
I pointed eastward.
“…Let’s go to America.”
