Chapter 45: The First Test (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45: The First Test (4)
Not long after Kim Tae-yeon left, Baekdusan came to find him. He rushed over, bowing his head in profound gratitude.
“Kang Jun-hyeok, you passed as well, I see!”
“It seems you didn’t have any trouble either, Mr. Baekdusan.”
“Goodness! It’s all because you gave me that heads-up! I was prepared, so there were no issues. To think you’d anticipate such a situation… You really are something else, Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok!”
Baekdusan praised him excessively. While part of it was flattery, half of it was genuine.
The test actually happened.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s prediction had been spot on. It wasn't just empty talk; it was enough to give him goosebumps. Kang Jun-hyeok, watching him with a smile, asked, “Was your secretary alright?”
Baekdusan paused. His expression settled as he nodded slowly.
“...Yes. She passed by the skin of her teeth. Thank you.”
Baekdusan offered his thanks with genuine sincerity.
If not for Kang Jun-hyeok’s advice, his secretary wouldn't have climbed the Tower. She might have started in a hurry after the test announcement, but by then, it would have been too late. She would have failed and been eliminated.
“Kang Jun-hyeok, you are her savior. And mine as well. If you ever need help, just say the word. I’ll come running immediately.”
“Instead of doing that, just focus on climbing the Tower. That’s better for both of us.”
Kang Jun-hyeok then asked, “Are you planning to attend the meeting Kim Tae-yeon mentioned?”
“Ah, she already told you. I expect I will. ...Will you be attending as well?”
“I believe I will.”
“O-Oh?”
Baekdusan’s eyes widened. Like Kim Tae-yeon, he had assumed Kang Jun-hyeok wouldn't participate.
“Let me know when things are settled. I’ll be there.”
“Understood!”
Baekdusan nodded vigorously.
* * *
A few hours later.
In the Resting Place of Comfort, there was a small building at the center.
Inside, ten chairs were arranged around a central table. People began to enter one by one and take their seats.
Before long, Baekdusan entered the building and let out a low whistle at the sight of the attendees.
“This is no joke.”
Six people were already seated. Every single one of them was someone Baekdusan recognized.
“Kim Gang-hyeon, Jang Hwa-in… even Gu Hyeon-ji. This is the big leagues.”
They were individuals Baekdusan himself couldn't guarantee victory against. The absolute top players in Korea—the elite few who could be counted on two hands—were all gathered here.
Baekdusan took one of the remaining chairs. A man who had arrived earlier approached him with a beaming smile.
“It’s been a while, Mr. Baekdusan.”
“...Lee San.”
Baekdusan grimaced. The man approaching him was the leader of the Free Guild, Lee San.
“It has been a while.”
Baekdusan’s expression remained sour as he greeted him.
The Verdant Guild, the Baekdusan Guild, and the Free Guild. These were the three major guilds that divided Korea’s influence.
Baekdusan found dealing with the Free Guild particularly bothersome. This was because the Free Guild, as its name suggested, advocated for absolute freedom.
Freedom to join, freedom to leave. Freedom to climb the Tower, or freedom to stay put.
Our guild simply provides an affiliation. You bear all the responsibilities and rights yourself.
Countless people who found both the Verdant and Baekdusan guilds stifling flocked to the Free Guild. As a result, despite being a latecomer, the Free Guild had grown to rival the other two.
From Baekdusan’s perspective, they were difficult to deal with since they had poached so many potential guild members. The fact that Lee San was a stronger player than him also played a part.
A moment later, a woman entered. It was Kim Tae-yeon. Like Baekdusan, she frowned slightly upon seeing Lee San.
“...Mr. Lee San.”
“Both of your reactions are quite hurtful. It makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.”
“It’s not that… but it’s good to see you, Mr. Lee San.”
Kim Tae-yeon gave Baekdusan a brief nod of acknowledgment and took her seat. Baekdusan returned the gesture. Lee San wore a curious expression at their strangely civil behavior.
“You’re both much quieter than usual. You used to be at each other's throats every time you met.”
As leaders of the three major guilds, they met occasionally to discuss various matters. Every single time, Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan would bicker without fail, and sometimes even blows were exchanged.
Since he was usually the one who had to go through the trouble of mediating, their current indifferent attitude was baffling.
Baekdusan replied, “Well, things happened. We’re not on such bad terms anymore.”
“Is that so?”
Lee San wore a mysterious smile. He asked quietly, “I heard a strange rumor recently. Is it because of that?”
“A rumor?”
“That you and Ms. Kim Tae-yeon met someone very special.”
At those low words, Baekdusan’s face tightened. Lee San was talking about Kang Jun-hyeok.
They had tried desperately to hide the information, but since the leaders of two giant guilds were meeting regularly, it couldn't be kept perfectly secret. Lee San asked with a smile, “May I ask what kind of person could possibly make the two of you get along?”
“Are you asking even though you already know?”
“Hearing it directly from the source is a different story.”
Lee San quietly pressured Baekdusan.
Normally, Baekdusan would have felt considerable pressure. Information regarding Kang Jun-hyeok was a secret; if this fact got out, it could potentially break their contractual relationship with him.
However, Baekdusan replied nonchalantly.
“Actually, this works out well. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“...Pardon?”
Lee San was slightly taken aback by his composed attitude.
In the meantime, more people filed in. Eight of the ten chairs were now filled.
Then, one of the remaining two entered. The moment they saw him, the players gasped. Kim Tae-yeon let out a low groan.
“Mr. Yoo Jin-ha…”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kim Tae-yeon.”
A man with a handsome face greeted her with a confident smile.
The Sword Saint, Yoo Jin-ha.
The strongest player in Korea.
No one could dispute that title. Everyone gathered here was a player around the 30th Floor. However, Yoo Jin-ha had reached the late 38th Floor.
He was a top-tier player of global renown, standing in the same realm as Olivia Turner—a level the others couldn't even touch.
Yoo Jin-ha walked forward with dignity and took a seat at the head of the table. His attitude suggested it was only natural, and no one objected. Once seated, Yoo Jin-ha looked at Kim Tae-yeon.
“Well then, Ms. Kim Tae-yeon. Please, go ahead.”
“Yes.”
Kim Tae-yeon stood up.
“First, I’d like to thank everyone for coming. To be honest, I didn't expect everyone to show up.”
“Since it was you who called us personally, Ms. Kim Tae-yeon, of course we had to come running.”
Yoo Jin-ha spoke with a genial smile. Kim Tae-yeon gave an awkward laugh.
“Thank you.”
“...Wait a moment.”
Lee San, who had been quiet, raised his hand. He pointed a finger with a puzzled look. At the end of his finger was an empty chair.
“There is still one seat vacant.”
There were ten chairs in total, but only nine players present. It was only natural to think someone hadn't arrived yet. But Kim Tae-yeon spoke calmly.
“He was delayed slightly due to preparations. Please, come in.”
With those words, Kang Jun-hyeok entered the building.
The players were momentarily bewildered upon seeing him. It was a face they had never seen before. Everyone here was a top-tier player; they appeared on the news frequently and were familiar with one another. They had naturally expected someone they knew, but this was a complete stranger.
Amidst the confusion, Kim Tae-yeon spoke in a trembling but excited voice.
“Allow me to introduce him. This is Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok. He is the renowned Perfect Player.”
* * *
A sudden silence fell over the room.
It was a silence born from the inability to process the weight of Kim Tae-yeon’s words. But it was short-lived. The silence broke, and shock washed over their faces.
“W-Wait.”
“The Perfect Player?”
The announcement for the 1st Floor Perfect Clear had appeared. And following that, announcements for the 2nd, 3rd, and all the way up to the 7th Floor had poured in.
To anyone watching, it was clear that a single individual was achieving a Perfect Clear on every floor. The one and only Perfect Player.
The one who had uploaded the strategy for the 2nd Floor, the one who knew things about the Tower that they didn't. His identity was currently one of the greatest mysteries on Earth.
Quite a few people guessed that the Perfect Player was Korean, as there were those who had cleared the 0th Floor with him. However, because Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon had desperately hidden the information, no one could be certain.
And now, that very Perfect Player had suddenly appeared before them.
It felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck. People were visibly shaken. Kang Jun-hyeok looked at them.
I remember these faces.
He had known them all in his past life. Some he’d had bad blood with, others he’d shared long bonds with. There were those who had died early, and those who had stubbornly survived.
And among them was the one who had been closest to him, the one who had stayed by his side the longest. The man to whom he had yielded the Holy Sword.
Yoo Jin-ha.
[...Oho. That fellow looks quite useful.]
The Master of All Weapons muttered with interest upon seeing Yoo Jin-ha.
Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Yoo Jin-ha, who was sitting at the head of the table. Yoo Jin-ha’s expression was incredibly complex. He looked surprised, yet flustered. It was a very peculiar look.
Kang Jun-hyeok knew exactly what that emotion was.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Kang Jun-hyeok sat in the chair closest to the entrance. Naturally, this put him in a position directly facing Yoo Jin-ha.
“You all gathered here to discuss the future schedule, I believe.”
His low voice echoed quietly through the stillness.
“First of all, I do not intend to interfere in your meeting. Please speak freely, and if you require my opinion, feel free to ask.”
“A-Ah, I see.”
“Right… okay.”
But their confusion didn't dissipate. Their faces clearly showed they wanted to talk to Kang Jun-hyeok more than they wanted to hold a meeting. At that moment, Yoo Jin-ha clapped his hands.
Kiiiing—!
It was a light clap, but the resulting shockwave momentarily rattled them. People flinched and let out soft groans. Yoo Jin-ha spoke with a genial smile.
“I understand everyone is surprised, but we didn't gather here for personal goals, did we? We are here for the greater good of our future. Why don't we compose ourselves and start the discussion?”
“Ah. Yes. Of course.”
“You’re right.”
At Yoo Jin-ha’s words, the players looked embarrassed. They slowly calmed their emotions and began to prepare for the meeting.
“Then… where shall we begin?”
“First, we should confirm the number of people who passed.”
The meeting began.
Paradoxically, however, Yoo Jin-ha—the one who had calmed everyone down—could not take his eyes off Kang Jun-hyeok. Sensing his gaze, Kang Jun-hyeok offered him a thin, knowing smile.