Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Non-Regular Employee
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Aila, who had been staring intently at my staff, clenched her fists against her chest and asked in a voice brimming with excitement, as if she couldn't contain her pounding heart.
"So, what kind of evolution did it go through!?"
"Evolution?"
"Yes! It went from silver to gold! Something super rebellious must've been added, right? It's gold, after all! Gold's more expensive than silver!"
"...Aila sunbae-nim. Isn't gold usually softer? As a weapon material, gold's probably just for ceremonies."
"Th-that's... Ah. Ahem. Nefti. Listen well. Gold is soft! That's common sense!"
"Yes. Common sense."
"But shattering that ingrained common sense is true rebellion! Rebellion doesn't judge the world by common sense!"
"Ah, I see..."
"Got it!?"
Nefti shot me a glance as if begging for mediation, but I had nothing to say in response.
More importantly, Aila had a point.
The Silver Ring of Hegemony had become the Gold Ring of Hegemony.
I wondered what effects it had gained. Checking revealed...
Oh.
Better effects than expected.
Opening the party composition screen showed...
The party synergies... were trash, no two ways about it.
It was like the party screen was whispering, "This is a pickup group, sir. What did you expect?"
But forming a party purely for efficiency was worth rethinking.
It's easier to give orders to people who get along. Take this expedition: Eve, Aila, Regina, Sylphia, Isolde. I threw them in and it was chaos—I had to micromanage every step.
Honestly speaking.
In that fight, with Eve losing her mind after Erhel messed her up, suppose Erhel's shadows ambushed those five the next day with the Black Flag. Would they all have survived? I doubt it.
That's why the system rates my contribution high.
In team games, the one who calls shots well is the unsung hero.
So, conclusion: My party will run on Absolute Cool Hit Guy Young-jin's handpicked members.
The synergies even say it: Nothing, so it can be everything... So what if synergies suck? Buddies eat together, hit karaoke... You don't make friends based on specs!
"So, what changed?"
"Not much changed for me. ...The benefits this staff gives 'us' have."
"'Us'?"
"Yeah. Our focus and reaction speeds went up."
They're my party members now, so time to level up the info I share.
No bullshit here—I'd explain minus the system part.
"I can have five around me. Or rather... five total can register with this staff for benefits. When I head out on expeditions, I'll form teams around it. ...Anyone uneasy or uninterested in joining, speak up anytime."
No one budged.
"Questions?"
"Me, sunbae-nim."
Milmyu stepped up first.
Of course. Sharp kid—her question would nail it. I nodded, and she asked seriously.
"Aila sunbae-nim called it a pentagram... No, could be hexagram now. Hmm, one increase means maybe twice, up to seven? Can I take it that way?"
"Yes."
"Got it. It can grow more. Then, sunbae-nim... Can you freely add/remove those close aides? Or is there a limit?"
"Once a month. But why ask?"
We all tilted our heads at her oddly pointed first question.
"...Then can the order be rearranged? Can the first star of the pentagram change?"
Everyone but me flinched.
I had no idea why it mattered, but... whoosh. The air froze solid, or so it felt.
"Chirpy..."
"I'm not saying I'll do it. I just want to know if you can, Wolfram sunbae-nim. Entirely up to your will. Can the number one spot change?"
Hmm. Possible? Drag and drop party members—easy.
"Yes. Once a month."
"...My question was weird."
Eyes gleamed around the room.
"I see. 'This month,' Aila sunbae-nim is number one."
"Mm. Ahaha... Which means every month, someone becomes the last star."
"Seems plenty possible, depending on Wolfram sunbae-nim's choice."
Nefti, Rudika, and Milmyu eyed Aila, who huffed and nodded.
"Good. Yes. Very good. If I preach rebellion but won't allow others'... I'd just be another entrenched elitist trash. Come at me. Rebel and claim the top!"
Boom! Something exploded behind Aila—or seemed to. Everyone steeled themselves.
What the hell just happened?
...They're competing for first star?
Kids?
No. Yeah, kids.
Can't keep up with sensitive mid-teens. I'm twenty-nine mentally, but a decade's a chasm. I was like that once...
Whatever. Not important.
"Anyway, you four plus me makes five fixed. That last spot matters. Who fills it... Probably rotates. Recommendations?"
"One more here..."
"Too crowded."
"...Hmm."
They glanced around, silent.
None?
Fine.
Time to wrap up.
There it is. In the original, emblems classified save files.
No real function—just a mark.
Hmm. Here.
My first and most-used emblem.
I hit yes. Then, tap tap.
"Oh my."
"This is."
The staff glimmered faintly. Six rays wove through the air, forming and landing on the table.
A gorgeously crafted golden-maned wolf badge.
Ah, so that's how it works. Packs it as the staff's doing, not the system.
I picked up the center one, pinned it to my chest. The empty wolf eyes glowed blue. Everyone followed suit, their wolves matching their eye colors.
"We're in the same boat now. On my name, I swear: No matter what, I won't abandon you."
They nodded eagerly, and the meeting ended.
One badge remained on the table, unclaimed.
Its colorless eyes stared at me, as if seeking its owner.
Next day.
I barely slept, agonizing over the last party member.
Everyone had issues. Candidates: Felicia, Eve, Regina.
Emily's non-combat. Elphirane can't join. Zolf... no exploiting grad students.
Erhel's safest, but demon prince with a demon? Black magic accusations and holy spears through the hull—not ideal.
Felicia's solid. Mage, stacks buffs with Aila. But if she slips on demon gate duty... chaos.
Regina Cielra...
"Not Regina."
Process of elimination. Scratch Regina.
Jewel Sword Isolde's mineral melee, but no thanks.
Next...
"Ugh. Hate to think it."
Light attribute like me, extra mage buffs.
This game's broken OP character.
"Eve von Loengrin."
Her?
Best choice?
Yeah?
Too iffy on my gut for Eve right away—putting her on hold.
Anyway, store's slammed today.
Before wrapping yesterday, Milmyu suggested: "Once a month, Wolfram sunbae-nim picks the number one star." Unanimous.
They left plotting strategies, leaving me busy.
And empty stores mean customers.
"Wolfram here?"
"Eve."
"Yes."
"What's up."
"Here for compensation talk."
Eve entered with Sylphia, sat down.
Normally: Buy or GTFO. But compensation? Might grab drinks.
I brought three unasked. Eve blinked, then scoffed in disbelief.
"Good service."
"For money talks, it's standard."
"Sure. But... no goods or cash."
Drinks away?
I narrowed my eyes; she clicked her tongue.
"Obvious. Student council's broke. Handing over treasures? Disaster."
"...Knight or mage division treasures? Riot."
"Exactly. No goods or money. Understand?"
"Then what?"
"As before. Fall festival stall spots."
"Weak."
"Two. You pick first."
"And?"
"Plus no taxes this semester. Best offer."
She shrugged.
Not bad.
"Deal."
"Yes. ...What's with the badge?"
"Mm? Symbol for my like-minded group."
"Who's in? Can you say?"
"Aila. Nefti. Milmyu. Rudika."
"Ah. Those folks? Fine. Anyone else?"
"One spot open. Scouting."
Eve eyed me sharply.
"...Am I a candidate?"
"No way. I like sleeping."
"Wise. I'm not your subordinate. ...Equals, maybe."
"Same. You under me or vice versa? Sleepless. Light's student president and third-rate villain in one group?"
"Nope. So, perks under third-rate villain you?"
"Hmm. Focus boost, reaction speed up."
"Potions?"
"No. Magic effect on allies. Those two for now."
"Neat skill. Divine artifact, huh."
"...Ah."
Eve sipped her drink. A strange gasp came from elsewhere.
Sylphia Evergreengrove stared hard.
"Interested?"
"Wh-who said they wanna boost note-taking with focus and crush Isolde with reactions?!"
Ah, gotcha.
That's her inner thoughts.
Sylphia Evergreengrove.
Wind attribute, melee. Fits synergies.
Swordsmen and warriors share class for checks.
"Interested?"
"...Ngh, interest... none!"
"If truly none, we're done."
"Ugh... M-my loyalty...!"
Ah, I see. Got it.
I dangled the badge before Sylphia, waving it. She pretended not, but eyes tracked it.
Sylphia. Sylphia...
Graduating in half a year anyway. Synergies too.
Decent first part-timer?