Calamity and Preparation
Sponsorship donations alone totaled 800 million won.
It was an unprecedented amount, without a doubt.
'Ugh... the fees...'
The sponsorship money ultimately had to be split with the platform.
Since all the guild members had streamed together, they planned to divide it among them as well.
A KakaoTalk message came in from Hye-in.
And then the guild chat.
Hyun-soo could sense it was the consideration from some of the guild members.
And since he'd done most of the hunting himself, he decided to gratefully accept it.
'How much have I saved up now?'
Hyun-soo no longer had to worry about hospital bills.
Burn treatment costs, his father's hospital fees.
Even wrist rehab expenses had been paid off without issue.
Through it all, Hyun-soo had been scrimping and saving every penny.
He checked his personal bank account.
Adding in the soon-to-be-deposited amount, it came to a whopping 2.9 billion won.
The biggest chunk of his savings came from selling Jumong's Composite Bow to Ian.
A call came in from Hye-in.
"You've saved up quite a bit, huh?"
Hye-in seemed to peer right into Hyun-soo's mind.
"Better to buy a car or something useful than let it sit in the bank. Don't forget, you're the first user ever named heir to a king. You deserve to enjoy it."
Hyun-soo's life had changed dramatically in a year.
Piles of medical bills had turned into stacks of cash in his account.
Hye-in meant he had every right to spend it fittingly.
But she didn't know how much Hyun-soo had changed.
"I've already set a new goal."
"Oh, really? What is it? A car? Apartment?"
Hyun-soo now harbored a grand dream.
"Like you said, I'm the first user named king's heir. Think I'll become a king in real life too."
"A king in real life? Money makes you king in reality. That's profoundly meaningful. How do you become a king in real life?"
The rich are kings.
Hye-in sensed it wasn't that simplistic.
After hearing Hyun-soo out, Hye-in was impressed.
"Maybe you really will be the king of reality."
***
A rundown real estate office in Mapo-gu.
"Whew, that seller's one lucky bastard."
Realtor Kim Pil-du sighed.
He poured hot water into his instant ramen and waited.
Around two weeks ago, a building worth 20 billion won had hit the market near his office in Mapo-gu.
Realtors were going crazy for it.
Commission on that would be massive.
But for Pil-du, famous for his honesty—explaining every flaw and even sending away customers—it was a pie in the sky.
'Still, gotta sell it straight.'
That was his creed.
Then.
Ding-a-ling—
A customer walked in.
A tall, broad-shouldered young man in a cap.
"Welcome! Looking for an officetel?"
A customer at the shabbiest realty in the area was good news!
But the young man said something odd.
"Can I see that building up ahead that's for sale?"
"This big one?"
"Yes."
It was that listing.
Pil-du's eyes widened, then he gave a wry smile.
'Haha, a dreamer, huh?'
He occasionally got customers who came "to dream of buying it someday when I'm rich."
"Sure thing. I'll show you~."
"Eaten yet?"
"Nah, I'm good."
Pil-du shook his head at his soggy ramen.
Still, a customer was a customer.
He took the man to the building and explained everything diligently.
Flaws, upsides—he spat enthusiasm.
"You explain it so well."
"Like my own son!"
"Other realtors wouldn't even show it, but you're so kind."
Pil-du got it.
A young guy asking for a 20-billion-won building? They'd shoo him away.
Pil-du tsked inwardly at realtors who fawned only over rich ladies and bosses.
Back at the office.
Pil-du sat before his ruined ramen.
He was about to say:
'Folks like you chasing dreams? That's beautiful! Work hard, and you'll be king of kings—a landlord!'
But...
"I'll take it. This building."
'Huh?'
The landlord had arrived.
"10% down payment deposited."
'Gasp?'
The man signed: Kang Hyun-soo.
'Holy—!?'
All contracts done, the man said:
"Thanks for the great info—smooth deal. Commission incoming. Good work."
And the commission hit his account.
'Whaaat!?'
Pil-du shoved aside his ramen, stunned.
'What does this young guy even do...?'
***
Hyun-soo stepped out after sealing the building deal.
"Congrats, Hyun-soo. That building's value will keep rising. Match the balance by closing date, loan the rest—it's yours now. Haha!"
Hyun-soo had discussed real estate extensively with Hyuk-su before buying.
Leaving the office, he looked up at the building.
Contract timeline was generous.
"Minimal loan, pay as much as possible with my own money."
"Confidence blooming, eh? Perfect for Hyun's Forge HQ as it grows."
Large guilds often bought buildings.
Hyun-soo planned to use this for Hyun's Forge later.
Ending the call, he gazed up.
Becoming king in reality.
That meant becoming a landlord.
Closing in 10 months.
He'd save steadily and pay in full.
His fist clenched tight.
'One more win...'
Emotions surged anew.
He liked this confident new self.
No loans—his own money.
But no complacency.
Hyun-soo always reflected on weaknesses, filling them.
'If I'd been stronger then...'
Hellern raid succeeded, sure.
But thanks to guildmates.
To compensate: one thing now.
'Craft a calamity just for me.'
Heading home for Ares, Hyun-soo paused.
People suddenly buzzed.
"No way, really?"
"Insane..."
"Whoa... massive event!?"
Hyun-soo frowned.
Massive event? Ares.
Hye-in called.
"What's up? Everyone's freaking out. Massive event starting?"
"Exactly. Continent War—the biggest event since Ares launched."
"Continent War?"
Hyun-soo frowned.
"World Ares posted an article. Rewards are special. Might hit you even harder."
Hyun-soo frowned.
'Hit me harder?'
Call ended, he checked World Ares on his smartphone.
Continent War rewards.
'Insane...!'
Hyun-soo was shocked.
It struck him huge, as Hye-in said.
***
One hour earlier.
Lee Se-jin video-called branch heads worldwide.
Purum Corp's long-prepared mega-event: Continent War—a skirmish between two nations' territories.
Before official World Ares announcement, they discussed rewards.
User rewards.
Participants get them, naturally.
Top performer—MVP—gets something extraordinary.
"All good with MVP rewards?"
Video chat with global branches.
Continent War Round 1: Korea vs. China MVP.
Consensus decision.
The three choices, floating top-left:
1. Top-grade legendary artifact of choice.
2. Top-grade legendary skill of choice.
3. New-grade ore and crafting materials.
All insane.
Plus 1 billion won for MVP.
Too much for a game reward?
No way.
Game with 2.5 billion+ players.
Think World Cup winners—billions in value.
Last one: new-grade ore/materials, proposed by China, US, Russia branches, etc.
Se-jin agreed.
"Vote time."
Unanimous approval, Se-jin included.
"Calling World Ares. Official announcement incoming."
Ending the call, Se-jin wryly smiled.
Non-combat classes shine less in territory wars—obvious.
Fancy packaging needed, as they said.
'Issue is whether that bag's nitrogen or full of snacks. Depends who opens it.'
They tossed in new ore like charity.
Never considering Hyun.
Se-jin hadn't either, much.
But.
'What if Hyun-soo user opens that bag?'
It might fill with delicious snacks, not nitrogen.
Se-jin stepped out.
Korea HQ needed to ramp up Continent War prep.
'14 days left?'
Wry smile.
'Hyun-soo user probably saw the rewards by now?'
Se-jin knew: Hyun-soo grasped their meaning best.
***
Hyun-soo's eyes shook reading World Ares.
MVP. Title for the single user with top performance.
1 billion won prize + one of three choices.
Hyun-soo read the rewards.
Others blurred.
Only one stood out.
'What...?'
Utterly ridiculous reward.
But reactions:
Yes—for Hyun-soo alone, that bag brimmed with snacks.
A truth only he knew:
'New-grade ore? That's Transcendent-grade ore.'
One only he could wield.