Anomalous Play: Guild Expansion
“Ppyoing. I’ll pay you back once I earn it.”
“I… I really don’t have any money.”
“Hmm… In that case… I’ll make my case very sincerely.”
“What is it?”
“Could you please go earn some for me? I’ll wait right here.”
She had a logical position. It wasn’t about dumping the work on me. There was a perfectly sound, flawless logic behind it.
“Ehhhh? Me? Why?”
“I prepared my logic in advance, knowing you’d say that. Let me explain.”
Listen to this and you’ll be shocked. Or maybe it’s so logical you won’t have anything to say? I’ll admit it. I’ll go hunt. Yeah, yeah. Perfect.
I thought it through once more so I wouldn’t trip over my own words. This was brilliant.
“Listen carefully. I did a one-million-won gacha, right?”
“You did.”
“So the stack built up, right? It did, right?”
“I suppose it did.”
“Bingo!! To keep that stack from disappearing, I have to stay right here. Therefore—question! Seon-a, you don’t have money~ That’s right. So Ppyoing will go get it for me.”
Was that too logical? I glanced at the chat.
“Tsk…”
I had nothing to say. They just didn’t understand my logic. That’s fine. As long as Ppyoing understood, it was enough. The viewers didn’t have to.
“You understood, right, Ppyoing?”
“I… um…”
“You understood, didn’t you?”
“I understand, but… why me?”
That was a logical counterargument I hadn’t prepared for. Right. Why did it have to be her? Hmm… It was so logical I couldn’t refute it.
“Got it… I don’t know either. Just do it!! Meeting like this is fate. Give me money. Scratch scratch. Give me money… scratch scratch. I’m sorry… That was rude. Here, take this.”
I tossed the rest of my money at Ppyoing.
“I’ll live constructively from now on. By the way, Ppyoing, could you tell me a good hunting spot?”
In the old days I would’ve whined. Started a power struggle. But the current me was different. Look at me. Viewers… whoa!! What the—? There were actually 4,200 people watching. I needed to show proper decorum. I wasn’t the old Seon-a anymore. Rudeness was unacceptable. I had to be polite.
“I’ll hunt seriously. I’ll earn about ten million won… and contact you, Ppyoing.”
“Did you have a change of heart?”
“Yes. I’m here. Do you have a guild? Want to join Maru Church?”
“I… I applied there and got rejected.”
“Ah…!!”
“So I joined another guild.”
“Ah…!! What a waste.”
Who kept rejecting people like this? I needed to find out. Who was letting go of such good talent!!
“Please follow me. I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you. By the way, Ppyoing, who rejected me?”
“Uh… I don’t remember… They just said the guild was full and turned me away.”
“Ah… the member limit. I’ll have to file a suggestion.”
I typed /guild. The guild window opened—fifty members, completely full. Only fifty slots? That was ridiculous.
“Ahaha. Anyway, come to the plaza.”
“Understood. Can I head over in about five minutes?”
“Why? Planning to beg here some more?”
“…”
Begging? Had my image already become that? Absolutely not. I needed to clarify.
“Right?”
“No. I’m simply trying to give the operators constructive feedback.”
“Ah… I see. Understood. Then send me a whisper later.”
“Yes…!!”
After seeing Ppyoing off, I called an operator.
“Hello. How can I help you?”
“I’d like to submit feedback. First, let me introduce myself.”
I pulled out my Crusader hammer.
“Oh!! A Crusader. Hello. It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I’ve been busy. I have feedback. Please listen. Our guild doesn’t have enough member slots.”
“Member slots?”
“Yes. It says we can only have fifty.”
“Fifty? That shouldn’t be right…”
“Huh? Our guild is full. We can’t recruit anyone.”
“Could you open the guild window?”
I did as instructed.
“It’s open.”
“Now click on Guild Information.”
“Done.”
“Do you see the Expand button below the number?”
“Yes.”
“Try pressing it.”
I pressed the button. A confirmation popped up. Of course I clicked Yes.
“It says I don’t have enough money.”
“Yes. Expanding costs money.”
“How much? Is this on the Notion page?”
“It is. Each click costs ten million won and increases the limit by one member, up to a maximum of eighty.”
“…That’s expensive. I’ll submit feedback.”
“We’ll pass it along to the development team.”
“Thank you. Ah, one more thing.”
I grabbed the operator’s pants before they could leave. There was one more question.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Can only the guild master add members?”
“No, vice-masters can as well.”
“Got it… Thank you. I’ll call you again for more feedback. You’ll come, right?”
“Yes… We’ll consider it positively.”
The operator vanished instantly. Now I had work to do. I’d put off meeting Ppyoing and the hunting spot. First, I needed to assemble the vice-masters. I whispered Ppyoing that I couldn’t come, then messaged Joseph: “There will be a vice-master meeting. Please gather everyone.” After that, I headed to Maru Church.
“Why are you gathering the vice-masters?”
“I have something important to say. A truly crucial agenda. Did you set up a round table or something?”
“We didn’t make anything like that.”
“I’ll request one later.”
“Oh… Understood.”
“Anyway, are all the vice-masters here?”
I entered the cathedral with Joseph. Inside were many faces I’d never seen before. Raming, Maem, Moddeok… Joseph… and two others. Quite a crowd. As expected—our guild was ranked third, after all. Division of labor was only natural.
“Hello.”
“Hello!! I’m new here.”
A bright, energetic voice. Rootja was excellent. I greeted the others as well.
“Please have a seat. Yes, everyone, sit down. I have an agenda to discuss.”
“What’s the agenda? You called us so suddenly… What is it?”
Moddeok asked. I’d answer everything. No need to worry.
“Ah. I’ll explain. You all know our guild can expand up to eighty members, right?”
“Uh… I think so.”
“Good. Joseph, why haven’t we expanded yet?”
“Money… We don’t have any.”
“Got it. Why don’t we?”
“Because we don’t…?”
“We need to earn some. I went to the plaza earlier and saw so many good people. They all said they tried to join Maru Church but got rejected. It’s heartbreaking.”
The room fell silent. Everyone was stunned by my words. Hit a nerve, didn’t I? Where did the money go!! I wanted to demand answers, but I held back.
“So now, everyone, hand over your money. I’ll collect from the vice-masters. Give me everything. We’re using it to increase the member limit.”
I raised my hammer.
“If anyone shows a lack of sincerity in donating, they die.”
“Hek.”
“No, that’s scary.”
“Hahahahaha.”
“She’s terrifying… wow.”
“Uh… huh? Ah. Maru said that. I didn’t. I was just praying quietly and she spoke through me… I was only delivering the message.”
I’d meant to keep that thought inside, but it slipped out. Still, Maru probably thought the same way.
“So give me all your money. I’ll start. I have zero won. I used my last million on a gacha to pull this friend.”
I summoned the Strong Rabbit B-rank. It moved incredibly slowly—walking speed was faster. Its stomach was quick, though. I’d give it to a newbie later.
“So I have no money. Please help expand the guild.”
I paced around on the Strong Rabbit.
Gambling, huh… No. Everything had to be done with spare money.
“I don’t gamble. I’m really going to use it to expand the guild. Everyone, give me money.”
I approached Moddeok.
“Moddeok, hand it over.”
“How much?”
“Everything you have. We’re expanding the member limit. I’m using it right now.”
“Here you go.”
“Oh!! Thank you.”
Moddeok was so ladylike. She gave it immediately. That’s why I collected from her first.
“Twelve million won?! I’ll expand right away.”
True to my word, I increased the member limit by one. Now at 51. Next was Raming.
“Raming, donate.”
“…Here.”
“Thank— whoa!! Twenty-two million won?! Thanks. My friend Raming.”
Now 53… 56… 57… 60.
“Oh, everyone did great. Thanks to you, we added ten members. I’ll give each of you two slots. Pick anyone you like and add them.”
The remaining 9.7 million won…
“How much do you have left?”
Oh no… Joseph asked the sharp question.
“Tsk… tsk… Well…”
“How much is left?”
“It’s… tsk… 9.7 million won…”
“Is that so? Here.”
Joseph scattered money. 300,000 won… exactly ten million.
“We can add one more member.”
“Ah… tsk… I’ll do it.”
“Do it now.”
“Uh…”
The moment of decision had arrived.
What should I do? Run? No. Running would make it look scripted. I had to endure. I needed to show some anomalous play right here.
“I… already expanded the limit. I gave you anomalous play. Did you think I’d run off to gamble? Wrong. I just did it live. You all saw it, right? We really don’t have a script.”