Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Second Guild Member (3)
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[You have hunted the Fire Queen's Avatar.]
[Job Quest: Salamander's Dungeon Conquest complete.]
[You have acquired the Fire Dragon Armor Set.]
Leaving the dungeon, Bakeu had finally obtained the equipment he desired.
The set, composed entirely of Epic Artifacts, consisted of armor, a helm, and gauntlets, and it activated a set effect.
‘With the set effect, it should be as powerful as a Unique Artifact.’
But Bakeu knew. Even after clearing this job quest, he couldn't take down the number one ranked tanker.
‘The number one tanker, Valon, has an Epic class and is about thirty levels higher than me.’
For Bakeu, who had a normal class, the wall was far too high.
Just then, as he waited to be warped out, leaving the collapsing dungeon behind him, Bakeu wore a puzzled expression.
‘What? Why am I not being logged out?’
A sudden sense of dread crept up his back. The Fire Queen's Avatar had warned him.
If he didn't speak the blacksmith's name, he might be pursued.
‘Don't tell me…’
Had it trapped him here?
Then, an unexpected notification sounded.
*Tiring!*
[Hidden Piece. Hidden Qualification Test complete.]
“...?”
Bakeu looked baffled. A qualification test?
Immediately, more notifications flashed.
[Despite being in danger, you did not reveal your comrade's name.]
[A tanker is a class that requires the mental fortitude to protect not only oneself but also one's allies.]
[You are more than qualified as an excellent tanker.]
[Congratulations.]
[You can now change your class to the Hidden Class, The Ascendant.]
[The Ascendant is an Epic Class.]
[The more allies you protect and the more achievements you build for their sake, the higher you will climb.]
Bakeu was amazed. The Salamander's Dungeon and the Fire Queen's Avatar had been linked to the tanker job quest from the very beginning.
The Fire Queen's Avatar hadn't asked because it coveted the artifact.
For whatever reason, it might have just been testing Bakeu by asking for the name of someone precious to him.
[You have changed your class to the Epic Class, The Ascendant.]
[The Ascendant can even aspire to become Legendary.]
[All stats will be reallocated, and 200 bonus points will be evenly distributed.]
[Your skills will change, becoming more powerful than before.]
[The Ascendant is a special class that protects those who are precious.]
[You have not yet joined a guild.]
[Joining a guild is recommended.]
“Ha, hahahahaha!”
Bakeu couldn't help but laugh. A Legendary Class. A class superior to any other.
Of course, he had no idea if it would take two years or three to advance to a Legendary Class.
But the merit of his class continuously growing was incredibly appealing.
[Exiting Salamander's Dungeon.]
Instantly warped outside the dungeon, Bakeu's heart pounded.
There was a place he had to go.
[Bakeu: Hyun-soo, where are you? There's something I must tell you.]
Bakeu waited for a reply.
***
Nel was a businesswoman.
Her primary goal was to make Hyun-soo the most famous blacksmith in the country.
She was analytical and possessed a colder sense of judgment than anyone else.
After deciding to create a guild, she had said this.
‘We will operate as a small, elite group at first.’
Most guilds had entry requirements.
The reason for these requirements was to ensure that guild members could interact freely within the guild.
If there was a large level gap, most players wouldn't mingle.
It also made it difficult to achieve the guild's objectives.
Meeting with Hyun-soo to discuss guild-related matters, Nel gave a bitter smile.
“He might change.”
Hyun-soo had told her the story of crafting the artifact for Bakeu. And Nel's biggest concern was this.
“He’s a businessman, isn't he?”
Of course, Nel didn't know him. But she had seen many businesspeople in her life.
Hyun-soo surpassed the level of a goose that lays golden eggs.
His value was beyond imagination.
“He might come to you, Hyun-soo, and suggest creating a guild. With him as the guild master, of course. That would be the most profitable move from a business perspective.”
Nel could only see a businessman through the eyes of one.
More than the relationship between Hyun-soo and this man named Bakeu, she strived to guide Hyun-soo down the right path.
Perhaps it was presumptuous of her.
But it was her way of telling him he needed to be level-headed to become the best.
“He's not that kind of person.”
But Hyun-soo smiled, his expression full of conviction.
Nel nodded.
“Whether to accept him as a guild member is not only up to you, Hyun-soo, but also depends on whether he is necessary for our guild.”
This was a clear fact.
No matter how much she searched for information on this person named Bakeu, nothing came up.
Furthermore, Ares was a world where 99% of players were ordinary, and only 1% were special.
Neither Nel nor Hyun-soo knew what kind of player Bakeu was at the moment.
Of course, there was a high probability that he was one of the 99% of ordinary players.
‘But what if he’s in the bottom 20% of those players?’
Nel smiled bitterly. But she decided not to say any more.
Hyun-soo was smart. But he was still too young.
He didn't know how terrifying businesspeople could be.
If he asked for the guild master position, Nel would stop him herself.
As for joining the guild itself, she would respect Hyun-soo's decision.
‘I don't like businesspeople.’
Nel sighed.
Ironically, while being a businesswoman herself, she disliked them.
However, their conversation was not unpleasant.
No one raised their voice, nor did they force their own opinions.
[Bakeu: Hyun-soo, where are you? There's something I must tell you.]
Just then, a whisper arrived for Hyun-soo.
Hyun-soo replied to the whisper, then smiled wryly.
“He says he has something he must tell me.”
“I see.”
Nel knew how 99% of businesspeople would act.
She hoped he wouldn't get hurt by this.
He was like a beautiful gem. So magnificent, yet perhaps easily broken.
‘Something he must tell you, huh? What would a businessman want to say after finding out about Hyun?’
But Hyun-soo waited quietly where he was, and Nel said nothing more.
Soon, a commotion erupted in a corner of the town.
“What's that?”
“Looks like an unranked player.”
“Look at that armor, it's insane.”
“Whoa. That’s sick.”
Nel wore a puzzled expression.
‘An unranked player?’
Hidden masters who lived their lives concealing their identities.
Sometimes, they could easily defeat officially ranked players.
A characteristic of unranked players was that their character names didn't appear above their heads.
However, just by looking at the artifact he wore, one could roughly guess his power.
A man in armor emblazoned with a blazing flame emerged, parting the crowd.
‘...He's a formidable one.’
He was clearly one of the true hidden masters.
Nel, however, lost interest. It was none of their business.
He has nothing to do with us…
“Hyun-soo.”
“...?”
Nel was taken aback. The man was smiling at Hyun-soo from a distance.
‘That person is Bakeu…?’
Nel had just been thinking. The world had 99% ordinary players and 1% special players.
And she had this thought.
Could the thing Bakeu had to tell Hyun-soo be this?
‘I'm going to found a guild. Join my guild.’
But he stood before Hyun-soo.
“You said you had something you must tell me?”
Nel looked at the man. Standing before Hyun-soo, he slowly nodded.
“Yes, something I must tell you. I received the shield you gave me. It's excellent.”
As he started, Nel thought to herself, *as expected*.
But then…
*Squeeze—*
He pulled Hyun-soo into a powerful hug.
“Amazing, incredible, fantastic...! So it was you! You were the one, the blacksmith who set the world on fire! It was you all along! How could I not have known? Huh!? You brilliant kid!”
Nel's calculated prediction was utterly wrong.
The thing he had to tell Hyun-soo.
“Mister, I can't breathe.”
It was: amazing, incredible, fantastic.
They were all words of support for him.
The man named Bakeu, after letting him go, said.
“Hyun-soo, I know your value all too well. So don't be swayed.”
He spoke with a gentle smile.
“Don't fall for those who try to use you. Believe in yourself and climb higher, farther. This old man will just be here, cheering you on! I'll be hoping for your success. Hahahahahaha!”
Bakeu laughed heartily.
Hyun-soo smiled brightly, as if his own prediction had been correct.
Then Hyun-soo asked.
“Have you joined a guild by any chance?”
“No, I haven't. I did think about asking you to start a guild together, but I decided against it.”
Bakeu smiled.
“I don't want to gain anything by using you.”
And Nel was quick to admit her mistake.
“Hello, I'm Nel, Hyun-soo's manager.”
She naturally introduced herself as his manager. Then, after explaining what she had said to Hyun-soo, she bowed her head.
“I apologize. I doubted your relationship.”
Bakeu wasn't offended by her words.
“You've got a good person with you. Everything she said is correct. She'll be the one to filter out people like that.”
He knew she had said those things because she cared for Hyun-soo.
And he could tell she was someone who wanted to protect him.
Hyun-soo looked at Bakeu.
“But I would like you to join our guild, mister.”
“Hm?”
Bakeu looked puzzled.
It wasn't that he disliked the idea.
He also thought it would be fun to be in a guild with him.
“I want to help you, mister, and I'd like you to help us too.”
And Bakeu nodded.
It wasn't out of any other greed. And he had this thought.
‘If I'm with him, I can protect Hyun-soo.’
Bakeu had pride in himself.
“Alright, I'll protect you. I'm level 311. My class is The Ascendant, a tanker. It's an Epic class, and it can even become Legendary.”
“...L-Legendary?”
The one most shocked was Nel.
He could become Legendary. Among all players, such individuals were extremely rare.
‘Level 311?’
Nel realized the guild was about to recruit a tremendous talent.
And Bakeu had his own expectations.
‘If he's the blacksmith Hyun, is he a Legendary Class? That would be amazing.’
Hyun-soo introduced himself.
“I'm level 80, and my class is God of Blacksmiths.”
Bakeu was stunned. He had never heard of such a class in his life.
After the introductions, Bakeu was the first to extend his hand.
“Let's work well together, Guild Master.”
“I'm counting on you too, mister.”
Hyun-soo grasped Bakeu's hand firmly.
A guild not yet formed.
In that moment, it had just recruited a behemoth who could challenge the number one ranked tanker.