Chapter 5

Silence filled the room.

Even though we were in different spaces and he couldn’t physically harm me, a chill ran down my spine.

‘Get a grip, Kim Namjoong. You’re the one in control here. If you die, he can’t escape either.’

This wasn’t a case of me needing Lee Woojae—he needed me.

Desperately, too.

Still, I had no intention of caving to his pressure, accepting his proposal, and ending up dead in the Tower.

[Wha… Why?]

His trembling voice mirrored his shaken state of mind.

Why would anyone refuse the offer to be fully supported by the Tower’s top-ranked climber?

I answered quickly, not wanting a misunderstanding.

“Because… I don’t want to die?”

[What?]

“Climbing the Tower can get you killed or seriously injured. It takes time too. I could make way more money just selling stuff in that same amount of time.”

[…]

He said nothing in response, but I could sense the disbelief behind the silence.

His gaze almost made me feel proud. This was the kind of modest life I wanted.

“I don’t want power or fame. I just want a life where I don’t have to worry about money.”

[…Okay. Then what do I have to do for you to help me escape the Tower?]

“…There’s nothing I want, really?”

[…]

“…”

Another suffocating silence.

What was I supposed to say at times like this?

Should I just say I’ll help?

‘No.’

Saying that would make me an easy target.

Whatever he wanted outside the Tower, it wouldn’t be normal—and helping him could easily cost me my life.

I was sorry, but avoiding any involvement seemed like the best option. So I spoke.

“Sorry, but…”

[Wait! Just wait a sec!]

“Even if you say that…”

[No, please! I’m really on the brink of death right now. Please think of it as saving a life—could you please help me out?]

Was this a joke?

Even I knew that clearing the Tower healed all internal and external injuries.

So how was he on the verge of death? Was he some kind of drug addict needing a fix from me?

‘Doesn’t matter. If it’s a no, then it’s a no.’

Whether he was lying or not didn’t change anything. I didn’t owe him a thing.

I had the ability to duplicate money now—there was no reason to play the underdog anymore.

It was time I dropped the ‘powerless’ label.

“I don’t believe you.”

Oops. My voice cracked.

But too late now—I had to stick with what I said.

“It’s common knowledge that any damage is healed in the safe zones of the Tower. Did you think I didn’t know that?”

Nice work, Kim Namjoong. Stood your ground.

‘Now he’ll give up and leave, right?’

Even if he was a VIP customer, there were still boundaries.

Besides, there were plenty of people willing to buy my goods.

I might lack pride, but I’m not an idiot.

But instead of giving up, Lee Woojae replied with a mix of frustration and desperation.

[Come on, why would I lie to you? I’m seriously dying here. My soul’s been damaged, and the Tower’s healing can’t fix it…]

“Even if that’s true, it changes nothing. I’m not risking my life for you. That’s why I want to join a guild that’s safe and profitable.”

[Ughhh…]

I ignored his groans and continued.

“Even if I do climb the Tower, it’s not like I can do it without lifting a finger. Even with your support, if I don’t have the ability, I’ll just die.”

[Argh, fine! I’ll give you everything! Items? I’ll give them all! I’ll make sure you can climb the Tower without lifting a damn finger! I swear, you’ll never be in danger! I’ll do it all!]

…Seriously?

If he was telling the truth, I could become stronger without lifting a finger and earn as much money as I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Still, I should say no. Not because I didn’t believe him, but because I didn’t believe in myself.

“Sorry, but…”

[Lee Woojae has gifted you the item ‘Dragon Kargonov’s Egg.’]

[Lee Woojae has gifted you the item ‘Doppelgänger-Based MagiTech Combat Doll.’]

[Lee Woojae has gifted you the item ‘Auto-Dodge Armor.’]

“…Let’s write a contract.”

They were too valuable to refuse.

* * *

“First, the ‘Second Party’ Lee Woojae guarantees the unconditional safety of the ‘First Party’ Kim Namjoong.”

This wasn’t a standard contract.

It was a soul-bound contract—dangerous and absolute.

It sounded shady, but such contracts were common.

People hated being controlled but loved controlling others.

The more at stake, the more common these contracts were.

“Second, the ‘Second Party’ Lee Woojae shall never act against the will of the ‘First Party’ Kim Namjoong, shall not betray or harm him, and shall not disclose his identity to anyone.”

It was basically a slave contract. But since he was dying, Lee Woojae had no choice but to accept it.

I needed the contract too—what if he betrayed me after I helped him escape?

“Third, the ‘Second Party’ Lee Woojae provides everything necessary for the First Party to climb the Tower. In return, the First Party must procure non-Tower items and medicine for the Second Party as needed. However, if acquiring them is difficult, it may be indefinitely delayed.”

The fact that soul contracts were common meant there was a standard format.

And that meant no loopholes for Lee Woojae.

“Fourth, if the ‘Second Party’ breaks even one of these terms, the ‘First Party’ may terminate all support at his discretion. This applies even if items given by the Second Party cause harm. The contract remains valid even after the Second Party’s soul recovers—until both parties die.”

[Sigh… I can’t believe I’ve been reduced to signing a slave contract.]

A deep sigh from the pit of his stomach.

Well, yeah. The Tower’s strongest was now bowing to someone utterly ordinary—his pride must be in shambles.

But he was only the strongest in the Tower.

No fists fly in the outside world.

“Should we cancel it, then? I can always just join a guild.”

[No, that’s not what I meant. I just didn’t expect things to turn out like this.]

“So you agree?”

[…Yeah.]

“Okay, registering the contract now.”

As I infused a small amount of magic into the contract, it lit up, and a system message appeared.

[Kim Namjoong and Lee Woojae are entering a soul contract. Do you agree?]

“I agree.”

[…I agree.]

“Well, that’s the contract done.”

Now it was time to move on.

I looked at the items he gave me.

“What are these exactly?”

[What else? They’re for you. You’ll be completely safe and can clear the Tower while lying down. You won’t make it to the top floors, but 40F should be doable.]

“What do they do?”

[The auto-dodge armor uses magic detection to avoid attacks. The MagiTech doll is a doppelgänger with about 5% of my power—enough to beat most S-rank Hunters. And the dragon egg? Once it hatches, the dragon will imprint on you like a parent.]

“Wow.”

Each one was worth more than a fortune.

Most Tower items were considered inferior to those enhanced with modern tech—except for high-end ones like these.

The Tower had materials impossible to find with modern tech.

You could try to get them from Gates, but resource availability varied, and you usually had to clear the Gate quickly.

Only someone like Lee Woojae—29 years in the Tower and its strongest—could have obtained these.

[If you need anything else, just say the word. If I have it, it’s yours. Anyway, I’m out.]

“Wait. How do I hatch the dragon egg?”

“I can tell you anytime.”

“!?”

A voice—not from the call, but right behind me.

I turned and saw the doppelgänger Lee Woojae had given me speaking.

He looked like a guy my age, not a Tower veteran in his late 40s or early 50s.

“You… can talk?”

“Why wouldn’t I? No one said I couldn’t.”

“Well, yeah, but… if you’re a copy, why do you talk like the original? Is that a doppelgänger thing?”

“Partly, but it’s also actually me. I can communicate through it like a phone call. Probably works even outside the Tower.”

“Whoa…”

“From now on, I’ll be protecting you. I get to see the outside world, and you get guaranteed safety. Win-win, right?”

“Agreed.”

I had gained so much that it didn’t even feel real.

Sure, I’d landed a top-ranked sucker, but this was beyond lucky.

Even if the doll wasn’t enough, now I had his consciousness beside me.

“But wait—if you could exit the Tower like this, didn’t you not need to make a contract with me?”

“It’s more like VR. Feels real but doesn’t quite feel like real. Just think of it as my soul being linked. Like a Horcrux or something.”

I didn’t get it, but it sounded badass.

“So… why me, then? Why go through all that to contract with me?”

“No one else wanted to. And I wasn’t in a rush before, so I didn’t need a contract. I just needed a copy, maybe.”

Yeah, no one would want a psychotic Lee Woojae clone.

And if it wasn’t a life-or-death situation, a contract like this would be overkill.

Climbing with the clone would’ve been enough.

He added:

“Besides, even if I was in a hurry, you’re the only one who could go in and out of the Tower. Without you, everything—getting elixirs, sealing the contract—would’ve been way harder.”

“True.”

Even with a contract, once the contractor leaves the Tower, all Lee Woojae can offer is brute strength.

They can’t give him more elixirs either.

They’d have to wait and hope someone awakens… and agrees to help.

Come to think of it, I really am impressive.

“So, what now? Climb the Tower first? Or negotiate with the Association President outside?”

“Hm…”

I did sign the contract for money, but I didn’t need cash right now. I had about 700,000 won saved, and payday was coming.

And climbing the Tower wasn’t urgent either. Not with clone-Woojae guarding me.

So the answer was obvious.

“Hey, Mr. Lee Woojae—can this battle doll eat food?”

“Huh? It’s more human than doll, really. Thanks to the doppelgänger base. Why do you ask?”