Billions Borrowed, Levels Soaring
Why the hell is this your money, you bitch? Not many people know this, but being able to borrow massive sums of cash is a tremendous talent.
I have the ability to borrow money from Master, so that makes me pretty damn impressive.
"You sure you can pay this back? I do have a ton of money, but even for me, 100 billion is a stretch."
"Isn't 100 billion pocket change for you?"
"I blew a shitload yesterday because of that mess. Next month might be tight…."
Got it. But the money's already transferred from Master's account into mine.
"I'll pay it back within a month."
"Wha—that possible?"
"Of course. Easy peasy."
Of course it's impossible. Lotto jackpots are around 3 billion, right? Win first place three more times, maybe. Not that miracles like that happen to me. Never have, never will.
"I've never lied to you, Master."
Probably a few times. She doesn't seem to know, though….
"Alright, 100 billion in cash, transferred exactly. I keep saying it—pay this back, no matter what."
"Yep!"
"What if you can't? Almost let this slide without settling it."
"Tch…."
Smarter than I thought. Figured she'd let it slide coolly.
"You know how I'll pay you back, right?"
"…Well, yeah, that's true."
But there's one thing Master doesn't know. Whether it's 2 billion or 100 billion, it's all the same worthless amount to me. With my current abilities, I can't repay either. Unless I get lucky with a unique item drop and sell it.
"Since we're at it, how about lending me around 300 billion?"
"No way. I don't even have that much liquid cash."
"Aren't you the richest player in Korea?"
"Highest level, not richest."
"Same difference. Bet you could make it back quick just running Babel a bit."
Master shot back with an exasperated look at my words.
"True, I can make money fast, so that's why you're borrowing, huh?"
"How many times do I have to say it? Yes, I can pay it back."
Absolutely can't.
"You really don't trust me, do you?"
She'd be right not to. What I'm about to do is basically like shoving the money into an incinerator and lighting it up.
"Fine, let's see your plan then."
I can show that much.
First, out of the 100 billion that hit my account, I spent 3 billion on gear that boosts EXP gain. Most of what I'm wearing now is borrowed from Master, but this has slightly lower defense—superior overall because of the EXP bonus.
"That's it?"
"Nope."
Next, 2 billion on EXP-boost potions. 10 billion for 100? No wonder alchemists rake in the most cash. Still, I bought them all. 200 should be plenty.
"What about the rest?"
"Buying return stones."
"…You're planning to buy out every stock in the country?"
"Yeah."
When I revealed my intent to sweep up every last return stone with the remaining tens of billions, Master looked horrified.
"No, but is that even feasible…?"
"Why not?"
"It is, but it's inefficient. No real need to…."
"There's every need, Master."
Return stones' big perk: usable mid-combat. Lets me cherry-pick high-EXP monsters, kill 'em, and bail.
"How do you hunt just one and leave? Aggro pulls the whole swarm—they'll overwhelm you."
"My item trait covers that."
"…It does?"
"Yep."
Unlike Master's worries, I have the item to make this work. That's how I level differently from other players.
"By my estimates, I'll hit level 50 in a month."
"Levels for sure, but the money?"
"Ah, that'll… I'll fill you in later."
"Hm. Attitude shifted the second you got the cash."
Master's instincts are annoyingly sharp. Totally unnecessary.
"Don't worry. I've got this."
Of course, I don't actually. Saying you're confident of a perfect score on a test doesn't make it happen.
Returning amid the controversy, Park Hyunwoo put on an unprecedented show.
Netizens reacted like this:
Of course, such articles were swiftly controlled and vanished by some powerful entity. In the digital world, even massive ripple effects were powerless against transcendent AI programs.
Anyway, Hyunwoo began realizing his vow in a shockingly effective way.
"Let's start. Everyone, pile buffs on me. Focus mezzes. Chae-young? Blink in and grab some aggro. Better no variables."
Having swept up every return stone overseas too, Hyunwoo distributed them to his party and began EXP farming on floor 50.
"Wretched fools doomed to die miserably, your time of reckoning has come."
The 50th floor boss was the Thousand-Man General under the Demon King's legion commander. Fitting a monster commanding a thousand troops, it towered over 11 meters, wreathed in blazing aura. The colossal beast spewed fire from its maw and stomped, shattering the ground and launching nearby monsters airborne.
"Buffs!"
"Already on!"
"Weakening Arrows, now!"
Party roles had shifted dramatically.
Before, it was party hunts centered on Hyunwoo. Now, it was Hyunwoo's solo show, with others adapting around him. Even the archer dusted off Weakening Arrow, unlocked at level 10 and unused since.
"Intruders, pay the price for trespassing—in hell."
"Fuck off."
Weakened by the arrow, the boss activated Valhalla simultaneously.
Valhalla
Demon! Judgment Day is upon you!
"Valkyries? Why are you here…."
Die, you hellish scum!
Two valkyries and Hyunwoo's joint assault, plus his buff-stacked physical prowess, dropped the boss in under five minutes.
"Everyone, use return stones."
"Yes…!"
The party bailed via return stones, then re-entered Babel.
"Is this really okay? Feels like stealing EXP."
"Right? He's barely doing anything and taking it all."
Repeating the bizarre cycle—sucking up EXP at insane rates, bailing, re-entering—they gained a full level in just one day, filling half the EXP bar besides. Watching it, Hyunwoo's party deflated.
Free EXP for nothing.
"We're lucky. Just stick to the Sword Dragon and suck honey."
"Who was thinking of quitting when the article dropped?"
"…But we stayed, in the end?"
The Sword Dragon's blistering pace soon fueled internet headlines. Like pre-Babel days when celebs' every move was news, his leveling speed was spotlighted as natural.
Before long, the Sword Dragon's image shifted—from tragic player who killed in excessive self-defense to freakishly fast leveler.
"That's my disciple. Worth every penny."
Watching it all, Ryu Ga-eul grinned with satisfaction. The more he shone, the deeper the conquest thrill when she finally fucked him later.
"Already 49?"
"This much is a breeze."
"But when you paying back? Heard you take clear rewards as EXP only."
"Someday! Just wait a bit. Master, why rush me?"
Borrow billions, and the creditor's no longer top dog.
The debtor without means to repay becomes the boss.