Can You Take Responsibility for Those Words?
The most crucial element in building allies—what is it? Massive wealth? Or overwhelming authority? Neither answer is wrong. Enormous sums of money carry the power to move people, and formidable authority exerts an intangible force that compels action. Humans instinctively tend to defer to those superior to themselves. Whether through money or power, they naturally follow those in a higher position—whether seeking rewards or something else entirely. It is an instinctive, natural submission.
Yet this form of submission carries the risk of shattering at any moment. 『If they encounter someone offering even greater wealth, or a more powerful authority figure』 people will simply shift their allegiance to the new object of submission. Yoo Hanbeom, leader of the Artemis Guild, was the type to crush others beneath the weight of money and authority. He believed his methods were efficient—after all, no one in the country possessed more wealth or power than he did. His presence was like a lion appearing on a plain teeming with herbivores. With such overwhelming strength and authority, betrayal was impossible.
But even for him, unease always lingered. 『What if I one day step down?』 A Unique-grade mage possessing the nation's greatest skill. If he—a one-man army excelling in business, politics, and martial might—were to relinquish the position of Artemis Guild leader, could this system truly endure? At the time, he had shaken his head at the thought. The Artemis Guild maintained its undisputed top rank solely because of Yoo Hanbeom. There was no way the system sustained by his absurd abilities would collapse.
Then Lee Hyunseung's actions struck him like a thunderbolt. 'That brat... he actually knows how to handle people.'
Objectively speaking, Lee Hyunseung was the man who had single-handedly defeated an Epic-grade swordsman. There was no need for him to treat mere F-class students kindly. If he wielded his strength and leveraged his connection to Jeong Eunseo, the F-class students would have no choice but to grovel at his feet. That would have been the natural order of things.
'So he intends to leave no room for betrayal.'
While he could have forced their submission through power and authority for now, the one Lee Hyunseung was opposing was Yoo Heeyeon—a figure possessing far greater strength and influence. In other words, he understood that his own meager power and authority could crumble at any moment. Lee Hyunseung emphasized trust, steadily drawing people to his side through subtle means. Every word, action, and expression he displayed seemed meticulously calculated.
'He also seems well aware that relationships cannot be maintained on trust and faith alone.'
The most foolish approach was appealing to emotions like trust and friendship without offering any compensation. People are creatures driven by profit. If no benefit existed and only loyalty was demanded, everyone would eventually drift away. Yet Lee Hyunseung had first distributed weapons engraved with the SIH+ logo, then declared he would look after his fellow class students—and actually followed through with the performance. The sheer audacity of prepaying custom weapons crafted by the Blacksmith Association president—items difficult to obtain even with money—and then, to firmly secure their loyalty afterward, the playful flick of his tongue.
'Impressive. From the way he kept getting worked up in the F-class representative selection footage, I assumed he was just a brute with superior combat ability.'
During the F-class representative selection, Lee Hyunseung had gathered many allies around him, yet he had also performed numerous unnecessary actions that drew frowns—such as unnecessarily firing signal flares to provoke enemies or hurling insults. That was why Yoo Hanbeom had not expected Lee Hyunseung to possess the intellect for strategy. But observing him directly now, Lee Hyunseung moved as though he understood human psychology. The reactions of the F-class students proved it.
"Thanks, Hyunseung..."
Ryu Namgi. Just moments ago, his eyes had shown he was only prepared to offer a perfunctory expression of gratitude. Now he gazed at Lee Hyunseung with eyes brimming with emotion, as though deeply moved. The same action could elicit vastly different responses depending on how the words were delivered. And Lee Hyunseung's words carried the power to stir expectations and touch people's hearts.
—What I want is trust. That's all. Just don't betray me. In return, I'll fulfill my responsibilities as your leader.
He naturally reminded them of his position at the top. He also imprinted upon them that his actions were taken to fulfill his duties as a leader. While asserting his superior position of authority, he made them recognize it not through coercion, but by emphasizing his responsibilities as their leader. It was easy to infer that not only Ryu Namgi, who had received help this time, but all those who would receive assistance in the future would soon become Lee Hyunseung's steadfast allies.
'An interesting fellow.'
With that thought, Yoo Hanbeom quietly descended toward the meeting room.
-Click-!
The F-class door opened, and Choi Yi-seul called for Lee Hyunseung.
"Hyunseung. Could I speak with you for a moment?"
At the sudden summons, Lee Hyunseung tilted his head briefly, but quickly moved toward the door, curious to hear what it was about.
"What is it?"
When Lee Hyunseung asked, Choi Yi-seul spoke in a quiet voice.
"There's someone who wishes to see you. If you have time, would you mind coming to the meeting room?"
If Lee Hyunseung refused to go to the meeting room, Choi Yi-seul would be placed in an extremely difficult position. However, she did not want to drag him there by force either. That was why she had phrased it in a roundabout way, allowing him to make his own judgment.
"I need to know who it is before I can decide whether to go or not."
At Lee Hyunseung's reply, Choi Yi-seul nodded and said,
"The Artemis Guild leader, Yoo Hanbeom, says he wants to see you."
-Flinch
The moment Lee Hyunseung heard that name, he thought to himself, 'Shit... why me all of a sudden?'
Having played Broad Academy Online, Lee Hyunseung knew Yoo Hanbeom's personality well. That man never wasted his time. If he moved personally, it meant the matter was of significant importance. But what could possibly be so important that the leader of the nation's top guild would personally visit Broad Academy, a place attended only by students?
'Don't tell me he's here for revenge over the Yoo Heeyeon incident?'
Excluding matters involving blood relatives, it was difficult to imagine any reason why Yoo Hanbeom would come all the way here to find him. 'Damn it... too fast.'
One of the reasons Lee Hyunseung had been able to act with such confidence was his belief that the Artemis Guild was currently pouring all its strength into an upcoming subjugation operation, leaving no room for Guild Leader Yoo Hanbeom to concern himself with other matters. While his wife Kim Heera did act independently to some extent, compared to the authority and power Yoo Hanbeom possessed, it was negligible. He had judged that Jeong Eunseo and Kang Seongho would be able to handle that much. But now that Yoo Hanbeom himself had moved, the situation was different.
'If I clash with that monster right now, I'm dead for sure.'
Yoo Hanbeom was a Unique-grade mage on the verge of reaching Legendary. Purely by grade, Lee Hyunseung held the advantage, but the difference in job level was on another dimension entirely. As job level increased, stats and additional skills were gained. Yet Lee Hyunseung's job level was still stuck at a mere 1.
Meanwhile, Yoo Hanbeom's job level was likely somewhere between 30 and 50 at this point. No matter how Legendary-grade he was, if the gap with the rank just below—Unique-grade—was this overwhelming, he would be utterly slaughtered without being able to do anything.
'But I have no choice.'
Regardless of Yoo Hanbeom's intentions, avoiding him here would not be a wise decision. It might actually be better to face him in a crowded place like the academy. If Yoo Hanbeom had gone to the trouble of coming personally, he would find a way to meet Lee Hyunseung eventually even if he tried to avoid him now. Knowing this, Lee Hyunseung nodded and spoke.
"I'll go meet him."
'I need to keep my wits about me. This could be a turning point.'
-Creak
The door to the Broad Academy meeting room opened.
-Thud-!
The door closed naturally, and soon the sound of footsteps could be heard.
-Step -Step -Step
After walking several steps, an enormous mana presence could be felt spreading ominously from afar.
-Glance
Lee Hyunseung raised his head and looked at the man sitting in the lone chair placed there. 'Yoo Hanbeom...' Yoo Heeyeon's father and the leader of the Artemis Guild. With a stern expression and arms crossed, he was scrutinizing Lee Hyunseung. As if observing Lee Hyunseung's reaction, he said nothing and simply watched as Lee Hyunseung approached.
-Glance
'I can't show any sign of being intimidated.'
What Yoo Hanbeom despised most were those who groveled before power. While he kept such people beneath him, he viewed them merely as tools, not as fellow human beings. To engage in any proper conversation, one first had to be respected as an equal. Only then would there be any opportunity to speak. With that thought, Lee Hyunseung ignored his pounding heart and spoke naturally.
"I heard you were looking for me."
At that, Yoo Hanbeom replied with narrowed eyes.
"You obviously know who I am, and since I don't like pointless beating around the bush, let's get straight to the point."
Then, in a low, deep voice, Yoo Hanbeom spoke.
"Was it you, Lee Hyunseung, who stalked our Heeyeon?"
Stalking. The moment he heard that word, past events flashed through his mind. The days of being unjustly expelled, forced to abandon his dream of the magic tower while bearing false accusations, being pointed at and cursed by strangers. The moments of being despised and mocked without reason came rushing back vividly. Lee Hyunseung glared straight at Yoo Hanbeom as he spoke, his eyes bloodshot red.
-Grind
Finally, he said to Yoo Hanbeom,
"I stake my life on it—I did not do it."
"Then you're saying you were framed, and that Heeyeon wrongly accused you."
In that instant, a chilling mana presence began to spread throughout the room.
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"