Episode 26
#26
Time passed, and Ulsan’s reconstruction was swiftly accomplished.
The number of people coming to the training center gradually increased, and at the request of Gang Inhan and Sin Yua, I occasionally attended meetings to expand the training center based on their opinions.
“Representative, we’ve shortened the training period a bit. Honestly, there are many survivors who could go hunting right now without any problem.”
“Thanks to that virtual magic beast summoning feature, there was no need to keep the training period at ten days.”
At Gang Inhan and Sin Yua’s words, I nodded and spoke.
“Yes, then let’s shorten the training period. And…… honestly, there’s no need to report every little thing to me. You two are the ones in charge of the training center, after all.”
“Oh, come on, we still have to report this kind of thing.”
“That’s right, Representative. Still, aren’t you the real owner?”
At those words, I smiled with a troubled expression and said,
“It’s all because I can trust you two and leave it to you. You’re already busy, so it feels a bit wrong to take up your time. So from now on, I won’t attend meetings. Don’t call me unless it’s an important matter. Understood?”
Gang Inhan and Sin Yua, realizing the meaning behind my words, simply smiled.
To be honest, those kinds of matters could be handled on their own without needing to report to me every single time.
Anyway, time passed like this, and when about two months had gone by, another meeting was held.
They said they had something important to discuss, so I attended the meeting.
“Representative. Honestly, I think we can scale down the training center a bit now.”
“To be exact, the survivors coming here are gradually decreasing. I don’t think a single person will come in a few months.”
“What? Already?”
It hadn’t even been two months since the training center started, had it?
In response to my words, Sin Yua opened her mouth with a dumbfounded expression.
“Han Cheol, you don’t know how large the training center is right now, do you?”
“Uh…… I have a rough idea.”
“It’s probably bigger than you think.”
“Really? What about the buildings?”
“We’re using nearby schools as training centers. It…… has expanded much more than the Representative expected.”
I hadn’t expected them to work this hard.
If they had told me, I would have built a few buildings for them; to think they would expand the training center on their own.
“But you’re saying you want to scale down?”
“Yes, we think it’s about time.”
Well, it was expected.
Ulsan’s population was limited, so most people would graduate from the training center given time. But this was too fast even if it was early.
Had the training center really grown much larger than I expected?
“That’s why, Han Cheol. We’re thinking of slowly starting to earn Points too.”
At those words, I looked at Sin Yua.
Curious about what opinion she would offer, I looked at her and asked,
“Do you have a method in mind?”
“Yes, it would be a waste to leave the training center we built as is.”
“We increased the number of instructors while expanding the training center. If we leave it like this, they’ll all be at risk of losing their jobs.”
What were they getting at?
I smiled with an interested expression and looked at the two of them.
Soon, Sin Yua looked at me with a serious face and spoke.
“We’re thinking of creating a guild.”
“A guild?”
“Yes, we plan to establish a guild for hunting magic beasts. Of course, I don’t think we’ll need Han Cheol’s support in that process.”
“We’ve already finished discussing it with the instructors. We plan to create relevant departments and teams, hunt magic beasts, and earn Points.”
Not bad.
No, rather, it was a decent opinion, so I smiled.
Because they were thinking of earning Points without necessarily wanting my support.
However, there was one thing that worried me.
I asked the two of them,
“How are you planning to distribute the Points?”
Points naturally went to the survivor who did the hunting.
Then wouldn’t the concept of wages disappear and cohesion be lost?
Since there would be no need to join the guild to hunt magic beasts.
At my words, Gang Inhan scratched his head awkwardly, and Sin Yua also gave an awkward smile.
Just from their reactions, I could tell they were still thinking about it.
“Haha, actually, we called Han Cheol to discuss this very point.”
“No matter how much we think about it, a good method doesn’t come to mind.”
“Ah, is that so? Hm…… I can’t speak for other things, but I think we can solve the cohesion problem.”
“Really?”
“I shall listen attentively, Representative.”
Honestly, there was a method, but it made sense that they wouldn’t know.
Because it was a feature that should have disappeared originally.
I spoke to them,
“You made a group during the second trial of the Seonghwajeon, right? That was actually a system feature.”
“What? A feature?”
“Yes, it’s originally an unnecessary feature. That’s why the Proxies didn’t explain it separately in detail. You know the reason, right?”
“Ah! It’s because of the King’s Edict Jewel.”
At those words, I nodded.
In a world with a King, things like groups were unnecessary, so there would be many who didn’t know.
It was a fact that only someone like me, the protagonist who destroyed the King’s Edict Jewel, would know.
“If you become the group leader, you can adjust the point ratio of the magic beasts hunted by group members.”
“What do you mean by adjusting the ratio?”
“Well, simply put, if you adjust it to 5:5, half the Points from the magic beasts hunted by group members will go to the leader. Think of it as that kind of structure.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, put forth conditions and send group requests. Free cafeteria use, free bathhouse use, free virtual magic beast training, and even lodging. The conditions are sufficient, so just adjust the ratio to 10:0 on impulse and treat it as a wage concept. Ah, of course, the ratio I just mentioned is merely my opinion, so please adjust the detailed ratio as you see fit.”
“But…… wouldn’t that be a loss for you, Representative?”
“Yes, just as you said, I don’t intend to take a loss. So please share some of the Points you earn that way with me.”
“Huhu, that certainly works then.”
When I grinned, the two also laughed, perhaps because the problem was solved.
“By any chance, have you thought of other ways to earn Points? Even with that, it seems like there wouldn’t be enough Points to pay as wages to the guild members.”
“Yes, we’ve thought of something separately. We’re thinking of earning Points with magic beast byproducts.”
“Byproducts?”
“Yes. To be exact, items received as rewards through Constellation Requests.”
Ah! So they’re thinking of receiving reward items from Constellation Requests using magic beast byproducts?
“I see you’re thinking of opening something like a Constellation Request exclusive shop.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The rewards obtainable from Constellation Requests were precious.
The items themselves were rare and could not be obtained in ordinary shops.
“We plan to keep the decent items as guild property and sell the rest to survivors.”
“We’re also thinking of scouting survivors who are currently hunting magic beasts separately.”
“Yes, if you do that, the guild should be able to operate to some extent.”
I nodded and spoke to the two of them.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Then I can entrust each of you with one Gate. You know I’m monopolizing the Gates, right?”
Currently, there were six Gates in Ulsan, and survivors who graduated from the training center were coming and going through two of them.
Those two were the relatively lower-grade Gates among them.
The remaining four existed for my Point farming as well, but I had judged them too dangerous for survivors to challenge and prohibited entry.
However, the elites who served as instructors at the training center should be fine.
However, the two had strange reactions.
Their faces seemed to be holding back laughter at my words.
Soon, Gang Inhan burst into laughter and opened his mouth.
“Haha! A monopoly, Representative? Only you think that.”
“No one in Ulsan would think that. Do you know what Han Cheol is called among the instructors right now?”
“Huh? What?”
“The Guardian Deity of Ulsan.”
“Heh…….”
That was quite an embarrassing nickname.
I cleared my throat and continued.
“Ahem— Anyway, I said you don’t need support, but I think I need to give you some to feel at ease. I’ll lend each of you 100 Alte units. Try running things well.”
“Yes. Thank you, Representative.”
“We’ll pay you back as much as we received, Han Cheol.”
At those words, I grinned.
Since they said they would earn Points on their own, it seemed no further support was needed.
Come to think of it, what had they decided on for the guild names?
Curious, I asked the two of them,
“Have you both decided on guild names?”
“Uh, um…….”
“I have.”
“What is it?”
“Yua Guild.”
“That’s nice. Mr. Inhan, have you decided?”
“Uh…… I just decided on Gangin Guild too.”
They had simply attached their own names, yet they strangely suited them.
I nodded at the two and opened my mouth.
“Yes, then do your best. Contact me if anything happens.”
* * *
Time passed again, and a month went by.
I spent my time leisurely at the Sky Island during that period.
When I earned Points, I strengthened my body at the Tower of Enhancement, and I spent my days leisurely taking walks around the Sky Island.
Also, there was nothing to do on the ground, so I had no reason to go down these days, but even aside from that, I had a hobby I was deeply immersed in lately, so I couldn’t go down even if I wanted to.
“Oh man, this is incredibly frustrating.”
Currently, I was in the Sky Island’s workshop.
It was because of a feature added to the workshop upon reaching Level 50.
Namely, the feature called item enhancement and fusion.
Honestly, I couldn’t help but be a little surprised when I first heard the explanation from Noa.
Literal enhanced items.
Enhanced items were items that only survivors with blacksmith-class skills could create, or items obtainable solely as rewards from Constellation Requests.
I was surprised to hear that making them was currently possible at the Sky Island, and broken longswords were scattered around me.
“Tsk.”
Most of the enhancements attempted over the past month had ended in failure.
Part of it was because I aimed too high.
Since I had money to spare, I was trying to see if I could at least reach +10, but most ended in failure at +7.
To be honest, +7 was still amazing.
The odds were so atrocious that I had only succeeded in reaching +7 with ten weapons over the past month, and only three reached +8.
Of course, I broke them all out of greed, but.
Still, I hadn’t given up and was challenging it.
The goal was +10.
To succeed by breaking through that crazy 5% enhancement probability, I was breaking swords again today. And then, as if my prayers had been answered.
“Hoo…… please, let this one succeed.”
[Custom Longsword +8]
The longsword I produced was emitting light.
It was a +8 longsword.
Moreover, it was a +8 longsword that came out after six days.
Exhaling from the tension, I gently placed the longsword on the workshop table.
[Would you like to enhance? (YES/NO)]
“Enhance it.”
[1,000,000 Points will be consumed.]
[Enhancement begins.]
Hwoooong!!
The longsword began emitting light once again.
It was a blinding light that filled the entire workshop.
I simply prayed.
Please let the enhancement succeed.
I just closed my eyes and waited for the enhancement to succeed.
The next moment.
Badabada-bam!
[Enhancement successful.]
“Alright!!”
A fanfare sound effect rang in my ears.
The enhancement had succeeded.
Moreover, I had reached +9 for the first time.
But it wasn’t over yet.
My goal was +10.
Honestly, I was a bit hesitant.
My hands trembled as I placed the sword on the table again.
Still, having come this far, I wanted to try challenging it.
I took a deep breath, placed the sword on the table again, and started the enhancement.
[10,000,000 Points will be consumed.]
[Enhancement begins.]
Brilliant light filled the surroundings once again.
A quiet silence fell, and cold sweat trickled down my cheeks from the tension.
My hands were clenched tight.
There had been many dangerous situations until now, but I had never felt tension like this in any situation.
And time passed in the serene silence.
One minute felt like ten minutes.
My hands gradually began to tremble.
The next moment.
Badabada-bam!
[Enhancement successful.]
“Huk!”
Thud!
At the sound, I involuntarily fell back onto my rear.
I succeeded.
With a +10 longsword.
And at that, an ordinary longsword without a grade had succeeded in reaching +10.
“…….”
I was so surprised I couldn’t speak.
I had said I was doing it half for fun, but to think it would really succeed.
I slowly got up and looked at the longsword before me with a blank face for a moment.
A longsword emitting brilliant five-colored light.
Along with the brilliant five-colored light, there was floating text.
[Custom Longsword +10]
+10…….
It was clearly a true +10 longsword.
‘If I enhance one more time from here…….’
Thinking that, I immediately shook my head.
No, I shouldn’t be greedy beyond this.
+11 was literally an achievement level.
Since I had to break through a 1% enhancement probability to succeed, it was a level impossible with mere enhancement.
At the very least, I needed an item that increased the success rate, so if I enhanced like this, failure was certain.
I carefully lifted the enhanced sword.
Somehow my emotions were running high, and I felt unable to control my excitement.
Should I say I wanted to test this sword?
I immediately grabbed the sword and lightly swung it.
That moment.
Hwoong! Clang!
“!?”
I was at a loss for words at what happened.
I had merely swung lightly through the air, yet a huge blade line was carved into the distant wall.
Soon, Noa’s voice was heard.
[A portion of the workshop building has been damaged.]
[Initiating restoration.]
Along with Noa’s words, the line carved into the wall gradually filled in and began to restore.
No, I was surprised by the building’s unexpected feature too, but I was more dumbfounded by the sword’s power.
I had expected it, but to think it would be at this level…….
Enhancement wasn’t simply a feature that increased a weapon’s durability or made the blade sharper. To be more precise, it was like that up to a certain level, but beyond that level, enhancement exhibited power no different from supernatural abilities.
Since even this ordinary longsword without a grade showed power close to supernatural abilities the moment it reached +10.
I couldn’t help but let out admiration.
As I was looking at the enhanced sword with fascinated eyes for a moment, Noa opened her mouth.
[Master, Survivor Gang Inhan is looking for Master.]
“Huh? Me?”
What is it?
He wouldn’t call unless it was something important.
I nodded at Noa’s words for now and spoke.
“Got it, I’ll be right there.”
* * *
Moving directly from the Sky Island to Gangin Guild’s guild master office, Gang Inhan, who had been attending to work, sprang up from his seat with a bright face and welcomed me.
“Ah! Representative. You’ve come.”
“Yes, it’s been a while. More importantly…….”
I looked at Gang Inhan for a moment and surveyed the guild master’s office.
What should I say…… it had changed incomparably from a few months ago.
His appearance, with handsome features and a neat suit, was to the point I wouldn’t recognize him from when I first saw him.
And that wasn’t all.
The guild master’s office was no joke either.
It was decorated with an interior giving off a modern feel, truly like some company president’s office.
Was this what they meant by the seat making the person?
I smirked and opened my mouth toward Gang Inhan.
“You’ve become successful since I last saw you.”
“It’s all thanks to the Representative. Please, have a seat first. I have something important to discuss.”
At those words, I nodded and sat on the sofa in the center of the guild master’s office.
Gang Inhan politely served me a cup of coffee and opened his mouth.
“It’s nothing else; a cooperation request has come in.”
“What? A cooperation request? From where?”
Gang Inhan took a sip of coffee for a moment, then opened his mouth with a serious face.
“The King of Yangsan has requested help.”