Vanguard's Bold Invitation
The place the scout led us to was some massive building. Just looking at it was enough to crush your spirit with its overwhelming grandeur.
“If you haven't eaten...”
“We ate our fill, so cut to the chase.”
“Ah, got it!”
Master and I had chugged down so much of those liquids that our stomachs were stuffed.
“Ah, could you wait just a moment? The team members just arrived...”
“Fuck.”
“I'm sorry! We had no intention of making the Sword Saint wait.”
Keeping a guest waiting was bad manners already. Making the Sword Saint wait? I wouldn't dare. Her strength was plain as day from the number hovering over her head.
“Who the hell's late?”
Master was pissed enough that she didn't even finish her sentence, just muttering under her breath. The air grew icy from the killing intent radiating off her.
“Sorry. That was me.”
Right before things could explode, the office door flew open and someone burst in, panting hard. She'd clearly run here—in full armor, no less.
A player. Level 30s made her mid-tier. She could've sprinted up the stairs faster than the elevator in a building this tall.
“I was out for a quick workout, that's why I'm late.”
“Hey! I told you I might have a meeting today...”
“Whatever. Sticking to my daily routine matters too.”
Even I could tell she was rude as hell. Surprising that Master put up with it. But looking closer, she had the looks for it—decently pretty face, expensive gear, young too. Early 20s maybe?
“My name and level are floating over my head, so I'll skip that. Senior, I'm the raid leader for Acacia Guild's 4th Team. Position: frontliner.”
“Oh.”
Surprisingly, Master seemed to like her style.
Not my thing.
Her face was okay, nothing special. Then again, Master's beauty was on another level—anyone next to her would pale. But maybe it was that confident attitude? The tense vibe from earlier had eased up.
“Park Hyunwoo-ssi, I've heard all about your exploits. Seeing you with a sword, you're a frontliner like me. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, that's right.”
“Straight to the point: I like you. Not in a guy-girl way, but as a teammate I can trust at my back.”
Huh? What the hell was she basing that on?
“Hard to say that when you see my height.”
“Everyone says the same crap. That you're too short for party play. Total bullshit not worth hearing.”
That must've hit the right note with Master too. She smirked, satisfied.
“Obviously. Players are all about levels and traits. High level makes you king. Skill? Physique? Lowbies whine about that shit.”
As Korea's top-leveled player, she really believed in levels.
“If someone who hit LV.35 solo in months joins our party, we'll grow even faster.”
“Uh... what do I have to go on here?”
“Give me a chance to prove it.”
Sigh... tangled in something annoying. I had been looking for a party anyway. Goblin Plains were crawling with them—tough even with Valkyrie.
“Take it, Hyunwoo.”
“Master?”
“You need a stable party to climb. I ran a fixed one back in the day. Mostly solo later, but...”
Hmm. If Master insisted, sure. But something felt off. She wasn't the type to greenlight this.
Change of heart?
Who knows. Can't read minds.
“Great. Start tomorrow then.”
“Yep...”
Felt like something weird was brewing. Hard to predict, as always.
After the Sword Saint and her disciple left, in the office.
Park So-young popped the cork on her favorite wine and poured a glass.
“Finally!”
Celebrating snagging hot prospect Park Hyunwoo.
“Holy shit, we can just recruit him like that? Insane. Shouldn't have pulled an all-nighter...”
“Yeah. Lucky break, right? If your stunt hadn't worked, it'd be more than a write-up.”
Acacia Guild and other big ones all wanted Hyunwoo. LV.35 in months solo, plus Sword Saint's one-and-only disciple—unprecedented hype.
So they'd analyzed him endlessly in meetings for weeks. Figured out what he wanted, his tastes. Planned to scout in days.
“Sometimes life's safer going straight instead of roundabout, yeah? That's what I did.”
“Anyway, dodged a bullet. For real...”
Sword Saint's rep in the industry was a nightmare. Stealing her disciple seemed impossible.
“And I didn't do it alone. Right, Chae-young?”
Ra Chae-young just sipped her wine nonchalantly.
“That Hyunwoo guy's way shorter than I thought. Wonder if he can handle frontliner.”
Frontliner took the deadly hits up front, charged bosses first. Not for the faint-hearted—bravest took it.
“He probably swords better than me.”
“Huh? Level aside, one trait shouldn't be a dealbreaker.”
“Not level. Just watching him move screams pro.”
Experts spot experts. Talented Ra Chae-young clocked his skill.
“Why else would the bosses push so hard? That height with those moves? Monster talent.”
“Oho... I specced office drone traits, so I wouldn't know. You sword more, makes sense.”
More than that. Hyunwoo looked green and full of openings, but he was a warrior ready to fight anytime.
If I'd drawn, he'd have jumped me instantly. Enemy or not.
Like a massive chainsaw. Once revved, slices thick logs like butter.
...And cute too.
Seeing tiny Hyunwoo stirred something odd. Fairy-tale sprite vibes—pure, flawless skin, every gesture adorable.
Face like he lives on dew. Sigh... can he survive Babel?
Luck carried him so far, but Babel was brutal. Battle-hardened Chae-young suddenly worried.
Did this innocent guy deserve to climb higher? High levels bred psychopathy. He'd fall too.
...I'll protect him.
She resolved it, but luckily? Her worry was pointless.
“Nooo! Stop! Haaate it! S-sorry! M-Masterrr!”
“Hoo! Hoo!”
“Mating press nooo...! Don't crush me all over!”
Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!
Four straight mating presses. Even tougher Hyunwoo collapsed from the insane pounding.
“Heeek... Heeek...!”
“Up. Not done.”
“No moooore... Master, pleeease!”
“Told you, not done.”
Hauled up by force, slammed down like a dildo. Hyunwoo begged for mercy, but Ryu Ga-eul ignored it.
“Hyunwoo, what's your favorite thing?”
“...You, Master.”
“Specifically?”
Ryu Ga-eul's hobby: video recording. Tenth time already. Six were Hyunwoo getting railed doggy and howling.
“Hold ID straight, Hyunwoo. Show address and face clear. Yeah?”
“...Yes.”
“Good. Hyunwoo, what's your favorite?”
“S-sex. Sex with you, Master. Love it most.”
“Right? You love it so much we do it daily.”
“Yes. Love it that much. Every day.”
Ryu Ga-eul grinned satisfied, approaching again. Seeing the condom in her hand, he despaired, head drooping...