Chapter 20: S-Class House Guard (1)

“If it’s Junseok, it’s possible. An overwhelming clear of the first floor.”

The Director looked at the suffocating Magic Tower collapse counter in the room, as if a burden had been lifted.

“Three years ago. When the Magic Tower rose in Incheon. You were a rookie back then, weren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Time flies, doesn’t it?”

Three years ago.

As the Magic Tower rose in Incheon, people reacted like this:

The inevitable has come.

The moment the Magic Tower emerged in Incheon, 1,033 citizens lost their lives.

It happened after rush hour, making the damage even worse.

The Magic Tower itself was only slightly larger than the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil.

But it had the misfortune of rising not in an empty lot but atop an eight-story apartment complex with about 70 households and nearby villas.

The debris from the collapsed apartments scattered, causing secondary damage.

Nearby low-rise apartments, about 100 households, collapsed like dominos in a chain reaction.

The Magic Tower swallowed the apartments without a trace.

The wreckage of the apartments scattered everywhere.

Survivors wailed, searching for their families amidst the ruins.

The realization hit everyone viscerally: this disaster was just the prelude to something greater.

“Do you think he could become someone like Yoo Junhyuk?”

“To be honest, if he were S-rank, I’d think he could be the second Yoo Junhyuk.”

“But being F-rank, his limits are clear. That’s what you’re saying.”

“When I went to his house right after he cleared the seventh floor, he looked utterly exhausted.”

“Exhausted already at the seventh floor?”

“It was as if he’d just survived a life-or-death crisis. He was catching his breath.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t an S-rank summoned being clear it easily? Of course, it wouldn’t set a new record…”

“That’s true.”

The Director nodded as if he understood.

“You’re saying it’s too early to treat him like Yoo Junhyuk.”

“I think we should observe him a bit more. Even the Sword God only got a security detail starting in the 50th floors.”

“That’s right.”

Expose the real name of an F-rank Junseok?

Provide him with taxpayer-funded protection when he hasn’t even reached the 10th floor?

It was obvious that the news and media would erupt with headlines like, “Are players some kind of nobility?”, followed by controversies over special treatment and wasted taxes.

The hero who cleared the Incheon Magic Tower.

The number one ranked player, the Sword God Yoo Junhyuk.

He climbed the tower at an unprecedented speed.

He mastered every gimmick in the Magic Tower while ascending.

Despite his rapid growth, he devoted himself to helping other players grow.

He shared items.

He scouted players with potential and, in between preparing for the highest floors, never failed to assist with training in the mid and lower floors.

His actions made the front page of newspapers daily.

The government deployed military forces within a 300-meter radius of his residence to protect him.

National Intelligence Service agents and military personnel guarded him closely.

It’s even said that the President declared at an event alongside the Sword God Yoo Junhyuk: “Even if I’m in danger, the Sword God, Player Yoo Junhyuk, must be protected at all costs.”

North Korea attempted to assassinate Yoo Junhyuk 37 times, as confirmed.

It was an open secret that the number of brokers from foreign countries who approached him exceeded three digits.

The player who was cherished like gold or jade.

After countless trials and tribulations, Korea became the third region in the world to clear a Magic Tower.

But among the returnees, Yoo Junhyuk was nowhere to be found.

He sacrificed his life to save everyone in the final moment.

The Sword God gave his life to clear the tower.

In his final moment, he burned himself to reach a new realm.

While clearing the 100th floor, no one witnessed Yoo Junhyuk’s final moments.

Most players had fallen into a combat-incapacitated state and escaped using return scrolls.

Some said Yoo Junhyuk had become a god.

Others called it ascension.

Some even claimed he simply went into hiding to live quietly.

But in truth, that very person was now inside the inventory soul-bound to Choi Junseok.

“The collapse of the Incheon Magic Tower was nothing compared to the potential damage if the Suseo Magic Tower falls.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I know you’ve been working hard lately. Is there anything else regarding Junseok—any support needed or concerns?”

“Other than his flashy way of smashing through each floor…The 10th floor requires simultaneously tackling three branching paths, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, the 10th floor strategy…It seemed difficult to reveal Choi Junseok’s identity to others.”

“So that’s why you made the request.”

“Surprisingly, it wasn’t my idea.”

“Oh? Not your idea? Are you saying the summoned being requested it directly?”

“Yes. The summoned being’s Korean name is Song Hana.”

At the mention of Song Hana, the Director’s previously gentle expression hardened.

“And you proceeded without reporting this to me?”

“My apologies. It was… Song Hana herself who requested it, so I went along with it.”

Song Hana, an S-rank player and a key figure in conquering the Magic Tower.

She was one of the Player Management Office’s secret assets, unknown to the public.

“She said she sensed a connection with Junseok and was waiting in front of my house. It sent chills down my spine on my way to work. Thankfully, she showed her Player Management ID, so we sorted things out.”

I see.

The Director thought that with her divine power, such a feat wasn’t impossible.

Song Hana. 

Good judgment. 

Well done. 

You may leave.

Why is he so calm about Song Hana?

With that question lingering, Kang Jinsu left the room.

The Director recalled information about her.

An S-rank humanoid summoned being.

Alias: Amaterasu.

A Japanese summoned being who, for some reason, fled to Korea.

Blessings, healing, talismans, illusions, barriers, exorcisms, archery, and more.

Her evaluated combat power rivaled single-digit rankers.

She was the perfect person to protect and support Choi Junseok in various ways.

After sending away the technicians who installed the TV, Lee Nayeon was marveling at it, flipping through channels.

A TV and a luxurious sofa.

Of course, these were purchased with the card provided by Team Leader Kang Jinsu.

Choi Junseok was sprawled on the sofa.

Sitting a bit away, Lee Nayeon was watching the TV, gasping in surprise repeatedly.

“Why are you so shocked?”

“That guy. His eye movement is incredibly fast.”

“What?”

“The guy we’re sharing vision with right now. His footwork is different.”

“Hmm…?”

“Could he be moving that fast?”

At that moment, the screen switched, showing a celebrity from a different angle.

Oh… that’s what she meant.

“That’s called a camera angle switch.”

“Hmm. Camera angle switch.

Impressive footwork.”

It’s not like that.

As if explaining to a child, a strange conversation continued with questions about this and that.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang.

Lee Nayeon shot up like a startled cat, staring at the front door.

Then, in a low whisper, she said with slight tension,

“There was no presence.”

She placed one hand on her waist, as if signaling to summon a sword, and nodded slightly.

As if urging him to summon Kim Chunsik’s Longsword from her waist.

Choi Junseok, hearing the voice outside the door, had no choice but to summon the sword without protest.

“It’s the new neighbor from downstairs! I’m here to introduce myself after moving in!”

So far, it seemed normal.

But the next words made it clear this wasn’t an ordinary person.

“I brought some talismans to share as a moving-in gift!”

Wait. Sharing what? Talismans?

“We don’t buy those things!”

“It’s not for sale! They’re free moving-in gifts!”

“No, we’re good!”

“Then I’ll just stick one here!”

“What?”

It sounded like someone putting up a flyer.

That made it even more suspicious.

Choi Junseok licked his dry lips as Team Leader Kang’s voice replayed in his mind.

She’s a bit… eccentric.

Through the peephole, he saw a petite woman.

Her cute appearance could make any man’s heart flutter, but she was earnestly licking a talisman.

“Come on, let’s at least say hello!”

Who’d want to greet someone licking a talisman like that?

So this was what Team Leader Kang meant by being cautious about the new downstairs neighbor.

Still, Choi Junseok opened the door.

Though she seemed odd, he didn’t sense any hostility.

As he cautiously opened the door, the small woman flinched in surprise.

“Oh! You startled me. Hello?”

“Hello.”

Lee Nayeon, still in a sword-drawing stance, lightly pushed up the bridge of her nose with her thumb.

The first impression of the downstairs neighbor was extraordinary.

A short, black-haired woman was licking the back of a yellow talisman.

Anyone watching might think she was licking a yellow ice cream or candy.

But the red symbols drawn on the yellow paper were unmistakably a talisman.

And there was something even more absurd.

How could she so calmly lick a talisman while greeting them?

“What… are you doing?”

“Oh, um, well… slurp… talisman! I’m here to put up a talisman!”

“Uh…”

Where should he even begin to point out what was wrong?

Was licking a talisman to stick it up the right way?

No.

Should he start with why she was putting up a talisman in the first place?

But her eyes were filled with such pure goodwill that it was impossible to stop her.

“Uh… so… I… this is… a moving-in gift! Oh! Right! Want to put it up yourself?!”

A talisman, its back soaked with saliva, came closer.

…

“…No thanks.”

“Hehe, then I’ll take care of it!”

Snap!

She swiftly stuck the talisman on the doorknob and flashed a bright smile.

The moment the talisman adhered to the doorknob, a blue flame whooshed and vanished.

At the same time, a chill ran through the house, like a cold breeze.

“Hehe, done! I’m Song Hana! I escaped from Japan!”

She casually threw in her backstory and circumstances right off the bat.

She was no ordinary person.

Wiping her saliva-soaked hand on her waist, she extended it for a handshake.

Choi Junseok reluctantly shook her hand, feeling awkward about leaving it hanging.

“I’m Choi Junseok. And this is… Lee Nayeon.”

“Nice to meet you both! So… um… can I come in?”

Choi Junseok had no choice but to step aside.

Lee Nayeon, barely containing her hostility, nodded quietly.

She had already relaxed her sword-drawing stance.

“Come in.”

“Great! Let’s do this together! Fellow summoned beings and fugitives!”

Her cheerful words carried a slightly eerie undertone.

It sent chills down their spines, wondering how much she knew.

“No need to be nervous! I’m here to help!”