Chapter 46: The First Test (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: The First Test (5)
Yoo Jin-ha flinched for a fleeting moment when he caught that smile.
His mouth contorted as if the gaze—one that seemed to pierce through his very soul—made him deeply uncomfortable. However, the expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm, benevolent mask.
Meanwhile, the meeting continued. Kim Tae-yeon, who had been organizing the data, spoke up.
“According to the results, the number of survivors in Korea is approximately twenty thousand.”
“Twenty thousand… is that all?”
Lee San let out a low groan.
Korea’s current population was roughly twenty million. Out of those, only twenty thousand had passed. It meant only one in a thousand had barely made it through. A heavy silence hung over the room as the grim reality of that number sank in.
“What about the situation in other countries?”
“We’ll have to go outside to be sure, but it likely won’t be much different from ours.”
“Are the ones who failed… dead?”
“I’m not certain, but it’s highly likely they aren’t. The Administrator mentioned a penalty, not exclusion. However… at the very least, it will be difficult for them to serve as a fighting force for the time being.”
“I suppose so.”
The Administrator had called this the first test. That meant there would be a second and a third in the future. They needed to prepare.
“We don’t know what the next test will be like. It might demand individual strength like this one, or it might require the strength of a group. Whatever it is…”
“We certainly need to be ready.”
But how were they supposed to prepare?
They groaned, lost in thought. Amidst the contemplative silence, Yoo Jin-ha spoke softly.
“What do you all think about leading the people?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean by that?”
The others looked bewildered. Yoo Jin-ha continued smoothly.
“Exactly what I said. In the end, there are only twenty thousand people who passed the test. They are the ones most likely to become our main force. You all should lead them directly. Mr. Baekdusan’s guild is a good example.”
Baekdusan’s guild operated on the motto of survival of the fittest. The guild members helped each other grow stronger and actively encouraged one another to climb the Tower.
“You all should join forces to create one massive collective. Gather the people, organize them, and guide them. What do you think?”
It was a rational, correct suggestion. Since they were the top players in Korea, who else would lead if not them?
“Hmm…”
“If we do that…”
However, their expressions remained conflicted. The reason was simple: each of them had their own affiliations.
Numerous guilds existed in Korea, and most of the people in this room were the leaders of those guilds. They competed, stood in opposition, and occasionally clashed. Following Yoo Jin-ha’s suggestion required them to cooperate, which meant surrendering the power they currently held.
No one wanted to simply give up their authority. As they hesitated, Yoo Jin-ha spoke with conviction.
“We must set aside personal pride and greed. We are the strongest players in Korea.”
His voice, filled with iron will, resonated through the room.
“It is our role to lead the people and guide them.”
“Hmm…”
“That’s… true.”
They looked ashamed. Yoo Jin-ha was absolutely right. Even as the world was falling apart, they were still hesitating because they couldn't let go of their petty power. It was pathetic.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Some even looked at Yoo Jin-ha with newfound admiration.
Kang Jun-hyeok watched the scene, barely suppressing a laugh. Even the Master of All Weapons muttered in his mind in disbelief.
[Do these fools have no grasp of reality? What on earth are they talking about?]
“Well… then what should we do?”
“I suppose we’ll have to let go of our guilds. To think things would turn out like this after ten years of hard work.”
Lee San looked at Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon.
“Are you two alright with this? You’ve probably put the most effort into your guilds out of everyone here.”
“The same goes for you.”
“I’m a guild leader in name only, so I’m fine.”
“It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of clinging to such things now,” Baekdusan replied.
“Same here,” Kim Tae-yeon added.
The two who owned the largest guilds agreed without much resistance. Normally, they would have fought it, but their previous encounter with Kang Jun-hyeok had stripped away their attachments.
The discussion concluded with an agreement to join forces and form a single organization.
“Then… what about the leader?”
Even if they formed a group, they still needed a head. This was especially true since they were all top players with massive egos. Naturally, their gazes turned toward Yoo Jin-ha.
The strongest player, whom no one could rival. If Yoo Jin-ha became the leader, they could all accept it without complaint. However, Yoo Jin-ha shook his head.
“I have no intention of becoming the leader. I lack the qualifications and the ability.”
“If you say you’re lacking, Mr. Yoo Jin-ha, then I don’t think anyone is fit to lead…”
“Hmm… then how about this?”
Yoo Jin-ha organized his thoughts after a moment of reflection.
“I will be the leader. However, I will not issue any orders to you. I’ll be more of a figurehead. Why don’t you all decide on the direction through free discussion?”
“That sounds reasonable.”
“Let’s do that.”
The people nodded. It was a sensible proposal. Yoo Jin-ha’s words were generally correct—on the surface, they sounded like the right thing to do, leaving no room for criticism.
He’s still the same.
Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Yoo Jin-ha.
Lip service. Picture-perfect words. But they were hollow, empty words with no substance. It was the Yoo Jin-ha he remembered from the past.
As the discussion reached its conclusion, their gazes began to shift toward Kang Jun-hyeok.
“So… what do you think, Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok?”
“If you join us, we will, of course, give you a position in the leadership.”
“As the Perfect Player, it’s only natural.”
They didn't even consider the possibility that Kang Jun-hyeok would refuse. They firmly believed there was no reason for him to do so.
That was why the air froze at Kang Jun-hyeok’s next words, delivered with a sharp sneer.
“You people. Aren’t you all laboring under a massive delusion?”
* * *
“…What do you mean by that?”
In the sudden silence, Lee San finally managed to speak. Kang Jun-hyeok leaned back in his chair.
“Your words are idealistic. That you, the strong, will look after, lead, and nurture the weak. The sentiment is fine. But there’s a problem.”
Kang Jun-hyeok chuckled.
“You are not the strong. You don’t have the luxury to worry about others.”
“W-What are you—”
“Let me ask one thing. Among those here, excluding Mr. Yoo Jin-ha, is there anyone who received an A-Rank or higher in this test?”
“…”
No one could answer. There was no one. At best, they had received a B-Rank. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke indifferently.
“You are the weak. You’re like adolescents who pride themselves on being superior just because they’re a step ahead of toddlers. Who is leading whom? You’ll be busy enough just looking out for yourselves. And above all, forming a group won’t change anything.”
In the past, those who finished this meeting had formed a massive organization. And Kang Jun-hyeok knew the outcome. They had checked and hindered one another just to gain a little more influence.
Power truly has a way of driving people mad.
It might have been different if Yoo Jin-ha had controlled things as a leader, but he was a leader in name only. He held the prestige but took zero responsibility. As a result, the group formed during the first test collapsed without achieving anything. Instead, it only caused confusion and acted like a cancer that ate away at them for years.
“If you want to help others, you can personally take one or two under your wing and teach them. But anything beyond that is meaningless. Use that time to climb the Tower and build your strength. You are all still incredibly immature.”
“…If we are immature, are you saying you aren’t?”
Someone stood up, bristling with anger. It was Kim Gang-hyeon. As a player stronger than Baekdusan—one who had cleared the 30th Floor—he took great pride in his strength. He couldn't help but be enraged by Kang Jun-hyeok’s words.
Faced with that furious gaze, Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
“Yes. You are immature. Let me show you a simple example.”
With those words, his chair flew back. Kang Jun-hyeok lunged toward Kim Gang-hyeon.
Startled, Kim Gang-hyeon drew his weapon. He pulled out a dagger with blinding speed and swung it at Kang Jun-hyeok.
Kang Jun-hyeok lightly twisted his body to dodge and seized the man’s wrist. He pulled back with brute force. Caught in Kang Jun-hyeok’s grip, Kim Gang-hyeon’s body flew through the air and slammed into the ground.
CRASH!
“Cough, hack!”
Kim Gang-hyeon tried to resist, but he was pinned down by Kang Jun-hyeok’s foot. Kang Jun-hyeok drew his Greatsword and slammed it down.
THOOM!
“W-Wait!”
“Hold on!”
People stood up in shock. The Greatsword was embedded in the ground right next to Kim Gang-hyeon’s cheek. His face turned pale.
“…He’s gotten even stronger.”
“Tell me about it.”
Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan muttered dryly, as if they had expected this. From the perspective of those who had already been thoroughly thrashed by him, it was a natural sight.
But for the others, it was different.
“W-What?”
“Huh?”
They hadn't evaluated Kang Jun-hyeok’s strength that highly. While he was an outstanding player who had achieved a Perfect Clear and knew things they didn't, they thought his actual power was still lacking. It was a natural assumption, given that he had only cleared the 7th Floor while they were looking toward the 30th and beyond.
Yet, Kim Gang-hyeon had been suppressed without being able to do a single thing.
A wave of bewildered shock swept through the room. Yoo Jin-ha’s eyes widened.
“This is the proof that you are immature.”
Kang Jun-hyeok sheathed his Greatsword.
“As a result of failing to obtain what you should have while climbing the Tower, you were defeated by me—someone who has only reached the 7th Floor—without being able to do a thing, despite having reached the 30th Floor.”
No one could argue. The movement Kang Jun-hyeok had just shown possessed a speed and power they couldn't even react to.
“So, how about we do this?”
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled broadly.
“In the end, you are all just children who need to be led. You don’t have the luxury of forming groups to lead others. However, if you are educated, build your strength, and grow, the story might change.”
“…Ah.”
“Hmm.”
Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon realized what he was trying to do. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke playfully.
“I will educate you. Of course, I’ll be taking a suitable price for it. What do you say?”