Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ra-hee was considered one of the most promising talents in Hangang Group.

Now that she had even awakened as a Player, some were saying she might become Hangang Group's successor in this new era of the Great Transformation.

However, Ra-hee knew her situation was not entirely favorable.

I can't support every Player with my Skill.

If I recklessly expand the Guild, internal conflict will inevitably break out.

Ra-hee had only awakened recently.

Her <Blessing of Prosperity (S)> was still Level 1.

That meant she could currently use it on only one Player at a time.

Grandfather and Father want me to cultivate a Ranker friendly to Hangang Group.

I need a Player with exceptional potential.

Ra-hee's grandfather, the chairman of Hangang Group, which had already grown into a global conglomerate, predicted a bleak future.

“Before long, the entire world will revolve around Players.”

“We need a high-ranking Player we can trust.”

“Ideally, someone we supported from the very beginning and who can maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with us.”

For example...

A Player with a unique Class who achieved Overflow in his very first Arena appearance.

That was why Ra-hee had watched countless Arena streams as a viewer.

She was searching for the talent she wanted.

In that sense, having that very person sitting before her now was an extremely favorable situation.

I will make this man the first Player of Test Guild.

That man was Do-jin.

Once he contacted the number written on the business card, Do-jin was able to meet Ra-hee immediately.

Good thing I remembered her username.

Despite using the almost comical username "Cheerful Mask," Ra-hee herself was extremely expressionless.

Even so, the contract negotiations proceeded cleanly.

[Contract Period - Three years from the date of signing.]

[Scope of Duties]

[Party A will clear Arenas requested by Party B and provide Magic Stones and Gold to Party B.]

[Party B will provide Party A with login rights to Arenas requested by Party A and the Skill effect of the Guild Representative.]

[Confidentiality]

[Party A and Party B must keep all information regarding Skills and Status Windows learned during the contract confidential.]

[The duration of confidentiality and penalties for violation shall be...]

[Distribution Ratio - 7 Party A : 3 Party B]

[May be adjusted to 9 Party A : 1 Party B depending on the amount of Magic Stones and Gold provided...]

[The Player, Party A, and the Guild, Party B, agree to the following contract, and to verify this agreement...]

[Party A - Lee Do-jin]

[Party B - Test Guild / Representative Choi Ra-hee]

After signing, they each took one copy.

Ra-hee slowly opened her mouth.

“From now on, Test Guild will fully support Player Lee Do-jin. I'll regularly apply the support buff you requested, and if there's an Arena you want, we'll secure the entry rights.”

Ra-hee finished in the same dry tone.

“Assuming you log into an Arena tomorrow, clear the Quest, and prove yourself, Mr. Lee Do-jin.”

Do-jin sat across the table from her and raised the corner of his lips.

“You could make Overflow a requirement.”

“I don't trust contracts with excessively unrealistic conditions.”

Ra-hee's tone was firm.

Her gaze was sharp.

In truth, what she said was perfectly reasonable.

It was already absurd to expect a newly awakened Player to enter Arenas consecutively without resting and still clear them.

However...

Do-jin needed to accomplish at least that much if he wanted to reach his goal.

And although neither the young Player nor the young Guild Master revealed all their true intentions, they shared that thought.

That was why the contract between Do-jin and Test Guild was formed.

“Test Guild is a newly established Guild.”

“Because of that, I can personally decide most of our terms.”

“What would you think of a support Skill directly applied by the Guild Master?”

The negotiations between Do-jin and Ra-hee had been cautious but natural.

It was, after all, a meeting between the world's only Player of his Class, who had made a spectacular debut, and a newly established Guild founded by a potential successor of Hangang Group.

“Then I'll prove myself too.”

“Starting with the next Arena Quest, I'll become the world's number-one Ranker within two years.”

“How about entering Korea's top ten Players first?”

“Even now, if we revise the clause regarding my Skill, I can remove that condition.”

Ra-hee spoke as though generously offering him another chance.

From her perspective, she was still at the stage of observing Do-jin's potential.

A businessperson should always be cautious.

“There's no need to go that far for me, Ms. Choi Ra-hee.”

But to Do-jin, that suggestion was ridiculous.

The entire reason he had decided to sign with Test Guild was <Blessing of Prosperity (S)>.

If he combined his knowledge with Ra-hee's Skill...

And made proper use of that Arena...

Do-jin was confident he could become the strongest.

He had absolutely no intention of clearing only ordinary Arenas.

I've already decided where I'm going next.

The next Arena Do-jin entered would be somewhere far beyond anything Ra-hee or the viewers imagined.

“...What?”

Apparently, the Arena Do-jin named was completely unexpected to Ra-hee.

Of course it was.

Any normal Player who had just cleared an Arena should not even have fully recovered their mana yet.

And the Arena Do-jin intended to enter next was...

“You're going to <Wolf Hunting Ground>? Are you serious?”

“So these are all the new recruits we've got?”

“Yes, Guild Master.”

Team Leader Shin, who handled rookie recruitment, stood politely before Kim Su-ho as usual.

But today he looked slightly apologetic.

He had good reason.

They had missed the newest super rookie.

If Do-jin had at least signed with another major Guild comparable to Cosmo Guild, it would not have felt so ridiculous.

He signed with some bottom-tier Guild I'd never even heard of!

Player-related laws differed slightly between countries.

In South Korea, however, establishing a Player Guild was extremely easy.

As long as the Guild had at least one Player, the Guild Master merely had to visit the appropriate government office and register it.

It was almost as simple as a streamer creating their own internet channel.

Naturally, South Korea was overflowing with countless Guilds.

For example...

Test Guild, which until recently had contained exactly one Player, including its Guild Master.

Now they have two.

Still, Guild Master Su-ho responded generously to this recruitment failure.

Perhaps it was the composure expected of someone who had become the Guild Master of Korea's largest Guild at such a young age.

“Very well. Since we lost the rookie, our Guild will have to make up for it elsewhere.”

“Do you already have an Arena in mind?”

“Yes.”

The young man sitting behind the enormous desk smiled faintly.

He had handsome features fit for the male lead of a popular drama.

His suit looked as neat and expensive as his face.

Even his posture and atmosphere carried the distinctive confidence of the upper class.

It was almost as though he had been born to stand above ordinary people.

Furthermore, every accessory he wore was an Item of A-rank or higher.

His tie pin.

Watch.

Rings.

Even his earrings.

Anyone could tell at a glance how many Arena rewards he had obtained and how many Magic Stones and Gold he had accumulated to sweep valuable Items from auctions.

Working for Cosmo Guild really is the best.

If I follow this man, I won't fail.

Most employees of Cosmo Guild probably felt the same.

Team Leader Shin looked at the System Window Kim Su-ho had selected.

For a moment, the expression of a man famous for maintaining perfect composure stiffened.

“Are you really sending our trainees into this Arena, Guild Master?”

“Yes. It was only a matter of time before we sent them there anyway.”

“...”

Team Leader Shin almost objected, but swallowed his words.

Wasn't this earlier than planned?

Still, the Guild Master's reasoning itself had no obvious flaw.

Unlike their newest recruits, the trainees Kim Su-ho was speaking about had already experienced practically every type of F-rank Arena.

E-rank Arenas were the exception.

Naturally.

Once a Player successfully cleared an E-rank Arena, they were no longer considered a trainee.

They became a full Guild member.

Whether it was Cosmo Guild, another Guild, or the government's Awakening Department, a person generally had to pass through an E-rank Arena before they were acknowledged as a true Player.

Well... the Guild Master's judgment has never been wrong before.

Kim Su-ho's project.

Produce the greatest number of fully qualified Players in the shortest possible time.

If he succeeded, it would certainly spread Cosmo Guild's fame.

No matter how rare or extraordinary a rookie Necromancer was...

One person cannot surpass the strength of an entire Guild.

Team Leader Shin was ultimately only an ordinary person.

The man before him, meanwhile, was the Guild Master of Cosmo Guild and one of the world's leading Players.

Even if the plan seemed reckless.

Even if it seemed premature.

There had to be calculations and intentions that an ordinary person like him could not understand.

Tomorrow, Cosmo Guild's trainees would enter one of the most notoriously difficult E-rank Arenas.

And earlier than originally planned.

Unlike F-rank Arenas, which were almost like sports competitions, actual combat occurred in E-rank Arenas.

In F-rank Arenas, targets merely moved away.

In E-rank Arenas, the targets moved and attacked back.

True, those enemies were not living creatures.

They were puppets.

Even if a Player was defeated by them, they would not actually die or suffer permanent injuries.

Still, humanoid and beast-type puppets attacked and defended with movements so realistic that it was difficult to believe they were fake.

That's why E-rank Arenas are the test that separates true prospects from trash.

For that reason, every Player organization thoroughly trained its members before allowing them into E-rank Arenas.

They wanted as many people as possible to pass.

Yet Cosmo Guild had just decided to immediately send its trainees into one.

Would this really be all right?

“It can't be helped.”

As though he could see directly into Team Leader Shin's thoughts, Kim Su-ho continued speaking without losing his smile.

If someone who was not a close subordinate saw that smile, they might have found it chilling.

“The appearance of the Necromancer attracted too much public attention. Enough to overshadow Cosmo Guild.”

“Considering our next project, that isn't ideal.”

“Ah...!”

Only then did Team Leader Shin realize what he meant.

He hurriedly bowed.

“I'm sorry, Guild Master!”

“It's fine, Team Leader Shin.”

The Guild Master of Cosmo Guild continued speaking with his smile worn like a mask.

“So this time, I'd like our trainees to work a little harder.”

“Enough to place Cosmo Guild at the top of the list for producing the most full-fledged Players in a single season.”

With the appearance of Arenas and Players, an entirely new form of competition had emerged around the world.

Which Guild possessed the best Players?

Governments had also established Awakening Departments and placed many Players under their control.

However, governments had to maintain at least the appearance of neutrality and therefore did not openly participate in Player competition.

Private Guilds had no such restraint.

Their competition crossed not only regional boundaries, but national borders as well.

Which Guild had more high-ranking Players?

Which Guild had set more Arena records?

Which Guild had more streaming fans?

The number of areas in which Guilds competed was practically endless.

Cosmo Guild already stood securely as Korea's top Guild.

But it had no intention of remaining confined to Korea forever.

That was why Kim Su-ho said:

“We'll provide every trainee participating in the E-rank Arena with a D-rank Item.”

D-rank Items.

If they truly wanted trainees with no practical combat experience to easily clear a difficult Arena, giving them even better Items would have been more effective.

But Kim Su-ho would not do that.

If they handed out Items so powerful that clearing the Quest became inevitable, other Guilds would simply mock them.

So he chose D-rank Items.

It was the highest level of support they could provide without becoming a laughingstock.

“Understood, Guild Master. I'll contact our streaming team as well.”

Team Leader Shin had absolute faith in Cosmo Guild's strength.

Their trainees would achieve excellent results, exactly as the Guild Master expected.

However...

Even if a plan proceeded perfectly...

There was no guarantee the outcome would match expectations.