Park Sang-Hyuk, who had led the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club within the Tower of Ordeal, uploaded a post on the Kwon Su-Hyeok Gallery and then waited, fully aware of the response that would soon follow.

- Hello, long time no see.

He had been a popular figure on Earth, even during his time inside the tower, and within the Gallery, he was especially well-regarded. As a result, replies began appearing almost immediately, filling the thread in no time.

[OP[1] has entered the chat]

[Long time no see, my ASS lol. Didn’t you show up yesterday?]

[Lmao, yesterday already counts as a long time ago.]

[What nonsense. Are you dreaming? I camp here like 20 hours a day, and I swear it’s been about three days. Did I miss something?]

[Nope, it’s been three days.]

[Stfu.]

[Same thing, same thing.]

[So what were you up to?]

[You didn’t go and meet the Gallery owner, did you?]

[Oh damn, that actually sounds possible.]

[Finish the story you were telling last time.]

[The hell you mean, meeting the Gallery owner is way more interesting than whatever crap he was sharing before.]

Park Sang-Hyuk felt an odd, lingering thrill each time he refreshed the page and watched the number of comments climb.

Ah, this feels good.

Once again, he became aware of a simple truth about himself. He really did crave attention. To be honest, he had come to terms with it back when he was still in the Tower of Ordeal.

Although it was somewhat hard to believe now, before entering the tower, he had been rather reserved and preferred to stay out of the spotlight. He had spent most of his days gaming and immersing himself in online communities, places where he felt far more comfortable than in the real world.

With how much effort he had put into gaming, he became rather good at it, to the point where it had shaped his entire identity. Since his world had revolved around it, he wasn’t particularly good at acknowledging others’ abilities, nor did he feel inclined to do so. He wasn’t so maladjusted that he would be called a social failure, but in blunt everyday terms, he was practically a shut-in without direction.

Even after stepping into the tower, his personality had largely remained unchanged for a while. That shifted gradually, of course, shaped by encounters with others and by enduring one trial after another. Through those experiences, he learned what responsibility truly meant. He learned how to recognize someone who surpassed him, and more importantly, how to feel gratitude toward them.

When he eventually returned to Earth and reunited with his parents, they were so struck by his transformation that they shed tears. Having come to understand his past mistakes, he offered them a heartfelt apology and devoted himself earnestly to being a dutiful son, making a conscious effort to repay them in whatever ways he could.

There was one thing Park Sang-Hyuk knew with absolute certainty—his maturation was made possible because of Light Su-Hyeok. That said, realizing all of this didn’t mean his original interests or fundamental disposition had vanished. His hobbies remained, and so did parts of his old self.

A faint grin tugged at his lips as he began tapping at the keyboard.

[Nope, still haven’t met Su-Hyeok yet. I stopped by the Light Su-Hyeok Sect and did some work, then came back.]

[Rip.]

[Man, I was hoping.]

[LMAO work? Since when do you even work?]

[This dude’s insane 😂 He thinks he’s on the same level just because Sang-Hyuk hangs out in the Gallery with him.]

[Fr 😂]

[Basement-dwelling Gallery rat vs top-tier climber.]

Park Sang-Hyuk briefly furrowed his brow, then smiled at the comment defending him and gave a small nod.

Yeah, that is how it should be.

A moment later, he spotted a piece of blatant misinformation and corrected it without hesitation.

[You think rank 400 out of a million is nothing?]

[Uh, his peak rank was 313.]

[Wait, he was top 300?]

[You wanna die?]

[My bad.]

[LMAOOOOOO.]

[Don’t fake his peak rank 😂 Sang-Hyuk’s gonna come for you.]

[But if Sang-Hyuk says he was working, guess the climbers are really busy with stuff, huh?]

[Fr, what were you doing?]

[Didn’t Sang-Hyuk go to Africa, too? Some climbers went there to stop a civil war, right?]

[That and more. They wiped out a bunch of terrorist despots, too.]

Park Sang-Hyuk would have to choose his words carefully. While it was true that he had been involved in something similar, he couldn’t afford to mention it outright. There was no need to rush things.

When he didn’t respond further, the conversation shifted as it often did in online communities, with the topic gradually drifting in another direction.

[I am curious, what do you even do at the sect?]

[Sang-Hyuk becoming the pope now or what?]

[Hell no.]

[I mean, there wasn’t even a pope to begin with. Just branch heads, basically admin for the followers.]

[Light Su-Hyeok hasn’t said anything, so you can’t just do whatever.]

[LMAO I’m buying the Park Sang-Hyuk Pope stock early 😂 If you want him to become pope, upvote. I’ll start.]

The comments flowed as Park Sang-Hyuk expected, so he stepped in at just the right moment and typed out a reply.

[That’s bullshit lol 😂 It isn’t like that. The sect said they wanted to meet Light Su-Hyeok, too, so I went to talk to them.]

[Oh. So it was nothing special then?]

[Nah, nothing special.]

[But if they wanted to meet Su-Hyeok, why did you go?]

[The sect and I are kinda cooperating anyway. They’ve been paying a lot of attention to me, so I went to tell them to wait a bit. Light Su-Hyeok’s coming soon.]

[???]

It struck Park Sang-Hyuk the instant he posted the comment.

Ah, fuck. This is bad.

He knew he had crossed a line.

It had been too long since he had last hopped onto the Community, and the lively response had roused him more than he would have expected. Acting on instinct, he hurriedly deleted the comment and slapped his own cheek once, as if to snap himself back to his senses.

There was no time to hesitate. He immediately sent a message to Kwon Su-Hyeok.

- Su-Hyeok...

Even after returning to Earth, Kwon Su-Hyeok had chosen to keep the Community. The climbers continued to follow his lead, and maintaining a stable channel of communication was a crucial element of that. At the same time, he had also done it out of consideration for the other climbers. That way, this motley collection of individuals from all around the world could remain connected, at least with those they trusted and relied upon.

Of course, only a small number of people were permitted to exchange messages with Kwon Su-Hyeok directly.

A reply arrived a few seconds later.

- Yes.

- Umm, I wasn’t paying attention and ended up saying on the Gal that you’d be appearing soon. I’m very sorry.

- The Gal?

- The Gallery. An online community...

Park Sang-Hyuk waited in silence, his unease steadily growing. Each passing second stretched unbearably long, as if minutes were slipping by instead of mere moments. Even by his own standards, he had acted carelessly and improperly. It bordered on irreverence, and the weight of that awareness pressed heavily on his chest.

With his head lowered, he pressed his fingers firmly against his closed eyes, trying to calm himself. Then, sensing a new message, he lifted his head in a rush.

- Ah, it’s fine. It isn’t really a secret.

- Still, I feel terrible about it. I’m so sorry.

- No, really. It’s fine. I don’t mind if people know.

Kwon Su-Hyeok had reassured him more than once, but Park Sang-Hyuk found it difficult to accept those words at face value. The Su-Hyeok he knew habitually considered others before himself, and often softened situations for the sake of those around him. This was possibly another instance of that same quiet consideration.

The thought did little to ease his conscience.

- I’m sorry...

- Ah, no, don’t be sorry. Do you know how much you’ve helped me, Sang-Hyuk? Both Call and Hakin received help from you this time, and you even coordinated the meeting with the Sect. I’m the one who should be grateful.

- Huh? That just needed to be done.

- Just needed to be done? You helped me out plenty back in the tower, too.

Kwon Su-Hyeok wasn’t entirely wrong.

Because of their name—the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club—many outsiders had immediately assumed the group was into shady business. In reality, however, Kwon Su-Hyeok had benefited greatly from their activities. Due to it, he had been able to acquire far more divinity, more quickly. The praise offered by the club had a way of spreading, influencing others. All in all, their faith and devotion were contagious.

They had also devoted considerable effort to managing the climbers themselves. Whenever conflict arose, the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club stepped in to mediate. When the climbers grew anxious and uncertain, the club reassured them, telling them to place their trust in Light Su-Hyeok. As a climber who had benefited from those efforts, Park Sang-Hyuk had always regarded such actions as only natural, nothing worth special mention. To him, it was simply what needed to be done.

Yet to Kwon Su-Hyeok and Ha Hee-Jeong, the fan club had been an invaluable presence, one that handled countless troublesome matters efficiently and without complaint.

Reading Kwon Su-Hyeok’s message, Park Sang-Hyuk suddenly felt his vision blur. A single tear slid down the bridge of his nose. Receiving acknowledgment from someone he respected and believed in carried a feeling unlike any other. It stirred something deep within him.

He really deserves the title “Light.”

- As expected, Light Su-Hyeok. Best Su-Hyeok. King Su-Hyeok. King god emperor general, His Majesty Su-Hyeok.

- Ah, please save that kind of thing for when I’m not around.

At Kwon Su-Hyeok’s reply, Park Sang-Hyuk let out a small, helpless laugh.

If someone cries and then laughs, something weird is bound to happen.

He entertained the pointless thought, but still found that he couldn’t help but smile. It was for quite a simple reason. Kwon Su-Hyeok’s familiar expression and tone of voice effortlessly came to mind. He really was too kind.

- Haha, sorry about that.

- Also, I think it should be fine.

- Sorry?

- The post you made. That aside, shouldn’t we grab a drink together sometime?

The topic shifted abruptly, but Park Sang-Hyuk didn’t have the presence of mind to dwell on it. It was an offer he could not possibly refuse.

- A drink? I’d love to!

- All right. I’ll contact you later, then. See you then, Sang-Hyuk hyung.

Park Sang-Hyuk froze, mouth slightly open, staring at the message lingering on the screen.

Sang-Hyuk hyung? Sang-Hyuk hyung... Sang-Hyuk hyung...

As he repeated the words silently to himself, he suddenly recalled a moment. It was from the time Kwon Su-Hyeok had conquered the one hundredth floor and returned to the rest area. The climbers, anticipating the coming return to Earth, had thrown endless parties.

The drinking had gone on until morning, and he had been far from sober.

“Su-Hyeok!”

“Yes?”

“Uh, I’m older than you, so it’s okay if I speak casually to you, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I want to get closer to you!”

Park Sang-Hyuk clutched at his hair.

I am a fucking idiot.

He had buried that moment of embarrassment deep in his mind, wondering why he had drunk so much. However, Kwon Su-Hyeok apparently remembered it clearly. Letting out a long sigh, he reflected on that mortifying black mark in his past.

“Wait, no. Maybe not?”

Thanks to that moment, he had been given a chance to grow closer to Kwon Su-Hyeok. If anything, it was not a disgraceful memory, but a personal achievement.

“Haha, this is amazing. Still, first things first.” 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Taking a few steady breaths, Park Sang-Hyuk calmed his racing heart. Once he regained his composure, he turned his attention back to the Community. His gaze settled on the screen with renewed focus.

[Everyone shut up. I’ll finish the story I was telling last time.]

[Sang-Hyuk’s here. You’ve had your fun, now delete the comments.]

[Got it.]

[What do you mean, “got it”?]

[I already deleted everything. No need.]

With that comment, every reply mentioning that Kwon Su-Hyeok was about to appear disappeared.

[What the hell? How’d you do that?]

[Are you a hacker???]

[If anyone screenshotted this and posts it somewhere else, be ready. I’ll leak your identity, home address, and phone number. Even Thor won’t save you.]

[Whoa... guess he really is a hacker 😨]

[And just in case, if any lurking reporters write articles about this, consider your official site nuked. I’m not joking.]

[The confidence is crazy 😳]

[No worries. Think this is called the Kwon Su-Hyeok Gallery for no reason?]

[Yeah, lol it’s full of true believers.]

[Picking a fight with a living god? Even the US wouldn’t dare... you’d have to be insane.]

As Park Sang-Hyuk read through the comments continuing to pile up, he began to understand what Kwon Su-Hyeok had meant. When he said it would probably be fine, perhaps this was what he had been referring to all along.

Could it be that Light Su-Hyeok too... no, Su-Hyeok... no... Light Su-Hyeok is also in the Gallery?

The moment the words “Sang-Hyuk hyung” surfaced in his mind, the way he addressed Su-Hyeok internally became strangely muddled. Titles that had once felt fixed now slipped out of place, overlapping without order.

Even so, the notion that Light Su-Hyeok was a member of the Gallery felt deeply irreverent. Park Sang-Hyuk shook his head inwardly, dismissing the thought almost as soon as it formed.

That can’t be.

Unlike himself, who openly enjoyed attention and interest, Kwon Su-Hyeok didn’t strike him as someone who relished praise and adulation—from the outside, at least. Park Sang-Hyuk suspected that this difference stemmed from Kwon Su-Hyeok’s position. As someone receiving the faith of countless worlds, he likely understood the hearts of believers far better than Park Sang-Hyuk ever could.

I was already flustered because of my mistake.

Looking back now, what he had written on the Gallery had scarcely spread beyond it. He had heard rumors that journalists lingered in such spaces, but nothing like that had ever actually happened.

In truth, no one in their right mind would recklessly post malicious rumors or fabricated information about Kwon Su-Hyeok in the present era. Any intelligence that journalists uncovered was immediately brought under control and, at the same time, funneled straight to the Blue House.

Just as Kwon Su-Hyeok had once quietly observed the Community in the tower, the fact that he occasionally glanced at the Gallery remained a truth known only to Ha Hee-Jeong.

[So hurry up and finish the story already!]

[Fine. How far did I get last time?]

Posting another comment, Park Sang-Hyuk considered what story to tell today. While footage of the trials existed on Earth, the internal affairs of places like waiting rooms or rest areas weren’t publicly known. No matter what he talked about, people listened with interest. Even so, most of the stories he shared inevitably became praise for Kwon Su-Hyeok, regardless of the setting in which they had occurred.

[Well, you have already shared how you and other people on the same wavelength formed the Shadow Su-Hyeok fan club.]

[Kk wait three minutes. I’ll make a new post.]

***

“Phew.”

I changed into a suit and looked at myself in the mirror several times, admiring the clothing worth tens of millions of won. Given the price, the quality was evident at a glance.

I had entered the Tower of Ordeal at twenty-four, so I could count on one hand the number of times I had worn a suit. Even so, this was on an entirely different level from the inexpensive one I had bought upon graduating high school.

Ha Hee-Jeong would likely need a little more time to finish getting ready, so I sat comfortably in a chair. Sitting there in silence, a past concern from my time in the tower surfaced in my thoughts.

How foolish was I?

I had worried about how to make money, but in hindsight, my thinking had been shallow. At the time, I had simply been too focused on the trials themselves. Now that I thought about it, it almost felt as if my mind had malfunctioned whenever the subject strayed beyond combat or trials. After all, it had even taken me a long time to truly open up to Ha Hee-Jeong.

Perhaps my survival instincts had decided that conquering the tower required that kind of narrow focus.

Anyway, whether it was because I had accepted the tower’s power or because I had returned to Earth, my perspective had broadened immensely. If I truly wanted to, there were countless ways to acquire money, and not just through illegal means. Even so, I didn’t intend to earn any directly for the time being.

Even spending time on that feels wasteful right now.

Once I had a bit more breathing room, I planned to provide services like radioactive waste disposal or energy, free of charge. That, too, was for Earth’s sake.

Separately from that, I was currently living such a luxurious life thanks to the climbers. It was something I hadn’t known at first, but one of them was the son of an Arab tycoon. He quietly took care of various conveniences on my behalf, including handing me a card with no spending limit, telling me to use it freely.

He even told me I was spending too little.

Staying in hotels that cost tens of millions of won per night, I indulged in every luxury I thought was reasonable. Even so, hearing remarks like that made it difficult to grasp the scale of their spending habits.

Well, it wasn’t that important.

I heard the faint rustling of movement from the room where Ha Hee-Jeong was. It seemed she was nearly done getting ready.

I should contact them now.

The list of people to invite to this meeting had already been decided. I couldn’t invite too many. Some people would probably feel slighted, but it was unavoidable, as things would become chaotic otherwise.

It wasn’t something I needed to concern myself with.

Things had been the same in the tower. As long as I properly handled the few with real authority, the rest would fall into place on their own.

I sent a voice message to the heads of state whose names were written on the list, “This is Kwon Su-Hyeok. I’ll give you ten minutes, so please get ready.”

1. Original poster. ☜