A Family Business of Ruin

Once the negotiations were finished, Tae-hyun quickly gathered up the demons and turned them toward Bardo City. If he was going to make a mess, he had to do it while the other demons were making a mess too. If he showed up separately later, there was a good chance he'd get stuck taking the blame alone.

"Right now, the subordinates are roughly..."

Tae-hyun began counting the demons.

Nearly two hundred of them!

Shame about my Tactics skill. If I'd raised it higher, I could've commanded even more.

Tae-hyun's Tactics skill wasn't low by any means. The problem was that each demon he commanded as a subordinate was fairly strong, so the number he could control was naturally limited.

Intermediate Winged Demons, hulking large Intermediate Demons, Intermediate Black Mage demonkin...

The composition was varied.

Tae-hyun spent contribution points to raise the ranks of several among them. He was preparing for the fight ahead.

"Good. An upper-grade Winged Demon and... yeah, this should be enough."

"But... is it really okay to attack that Yang Sung-gyu person like this? Weren't you acquainted?"

Moving among the marching demons, Lee Da-bi spoke to Tae-hyun.

One way or another, she'd ended up on the same ship as him—but looked at from another angle, this was an opportunity.

Wasn't Kim Tae-hyun the kind of player everyone wanted to travel with but never got to?

Of course, this quest involved traveling with demons who were going to smash a city to pieces, which made it a very ominous quest...

But an opportunity was an opportunity.

Lee Da-bi wanted to learn as much about Tae-hyun as she possibly could while she had the chance.

"My father's friend."

"What?!"

You could attack your father's friend over and over like this?

"H-he's your father's friend, and this is still okay?"

"It's fine. It's fine."

"Um... won't your father get angry?"

"Nah, it's fine. I'm going to take him down soon anyway."

"..."

Lee Da-bi stared at Tae-hyun, visibly confused.

He wasn't joking right now, was he?

If nothing else, she could tell one thing for certain.

Tae-hyun had definitely received his family education in some fantasy world.

"More importantly, shouldn't you call in some of the Power Warrior Guild members?"

"Our guild members are kind of... weak... and they don't really listen to me either..."

"..."

When Tae-hyun looked at her with pity in his eyes, Lee Da-bi instantly bristled.

I mean, sure, she understood, but still!

"You should've built a solid organization instead of recruiting people through some pyramid scheme."

"I don't need to hear that from you, of all people. And it's not a pyramid scheme!"

"It's a pyramid scheme."

Tae-hyun said that while checking his items.

Behind them, demons lumbered along under heavy sacks.

All of it was spoils they'd scraped together from Abalab City!

How am I supposed to unload all that? Can't keep carrying it around forever... Ah.

"Rufo."

"Yes?"

"Contact McCraney and tell her to bring over a large merchant vessel."

"To where?"

"Somewhere around Bardo City. Anywhere it can dock is fine."

"...Lord Tae-hyun. The demons are attacking Bardo City right now. If the McCraney Merchant Group's ship shows up around Bardo City at a time like this... what exactly do you think people are going to assume?"

"Obviously it'll be disguised. Pirate ship, whatever—tell her to figure it out and make sure no one notices."

Tae-hyun offered a pirate ship as an example without giving it much thought.

Completely unaware of how that would come back around later.

Rufo, however, still looked uneasy.

"And if she gets caught? I don't think Lady McCraney will agree to that."

"Haha. Rufo. Tell McCraney this."

"...?"

"If she doesn't bring the merchant ship, then when I go make a scene in Bardo City, I'll shout, 'I am Count Kim Tae-hyun of the Atali Kingdom! I am very close with the McCraney Merchant Group!' while causing absolute chaos."

"Why would you do something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that insane?!"

"If we're going down, we're going down together."

Rufo realized Tae-hyun was completely serious.

Lowering his head with a sigh, he moved off to make contact.

Apart from the huge pile of loot taken from Abalab City, Tae-hyun opened his status window to check the spoils he'd extorted from Edaor and Yang Sung-gyu.

There was no time in the world more enjoyable than checking the loot after killing a boss monster.

"...!"

The first Legendary-grade item he'd ever gotten with his own hands.

Tae-hyun swallowed hard.

Even better, thanks to the skill he'd acquired, he could ignore the restrictions and equip the weapon.

Says Edaor might come looking for it... eh, whatever. It's not like he can come back right away.

A demon that had crossed from the Demon Realm into the human world, died, and been sent back to the Demon Realm wouldn't be able to return immediately.

It had a similar effect to the Undead Summoning Magic he'd learned before.

Except this one came with stronger magic—and much harsher penalties.

The Infamy should be manageable since killing Edaor already raised my Fame, and as for Luck... I've got a ridiculous amount to spare anyway.

Tae-hyun used it without hesitation.

This was the time to keep growing, even if it meant taking a few penalties along the way.

I'm seriously lacking in magic skills overall, but for Black Magic—especially the summoning side—I actually made it up to Intermediate.

It felt a little strange to be wildly raising Black Magic skills while holding a class called the Avatar of Archisus.

Now that Edaor was dead and Yong-yong was finally free to move around as he pleased, the dragon took one look at Tae-hyun's status and recoiled in horror.

A vile aura was rising off him in waves!

Whether Yong-yong hated it or not, Tae-hyun grabbed the greatsword and shouted.

"Subordinates! We're heading to Bardo City too! Smash! Burn! Loot!"

"KRAAAAAAH!"

As if responding to Tae-hyun's roar, his demon subordinates bellowed as one.

Lee Da-bi found ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠herself seriously curious.

Unlike her, Tae-hyun was someone who actually appeared on broadcasts.

Shouldn't he be managing his image?

"Excuse me. Doesn't Player Kim Tae-hyun manage his image at all?"

Lee Da-bi grabbed Cain and asked.

Out of everyone here, Cain looked like the easiest target to question.

Cain stared at her like the idea itself was absurd.

"Does that look like the kind of guy who does?"

"But on broadcasts, his image looked really good."

"That's all a scam! A scam!"

Cain eagerly began venting his bitterness.

He and Tae-hyun had both caused just as much trouble, so why was he the trash while Tae-hyun got painted as some righteous hero with a pure heart?

Cain started spilling everything that had happened.

Lee Da-bi found it annoying, but kept her expression carefully under control while listening.

"My, that's awful. That happened to you? And then? What happened after that?"

Cain's confession carried the heartbreaking sincerity of a slave who had escaped from his master.

Listening to him, Lee Da-bi found herself impressed all over again.

I need to manage my guild members like that too!

Truly only choosing to learn the worst possible lessons.

Cain, having no idea what she was thinking, kept rambling on.

When Kim Tae-san heard the news from Yang Sung-gyu, he beat his chest in frustration.

Even Yang Sung-gyu, who was supposed to have at least some brains, had gotten played like a complete fool and pushed around like that. It was maddening.

Kim Tae-san said that and let out a long, heavy sigh.

That brat must be having the time of his life on the way over...

"U-uh! The demons have appeared!"

"?!"

The demon hordes reached the area around Bardo City.

The troops that had split off from Tae-hyun's group and set out ahead of them!

Once the news spread, players had already gathered near Bardo City on their own.

Players trying to defend Bardo City, players hoping to kill demons for experience and rewards, and players who simply wanted front-row seats to this massive quest...

Their reasons varied.

And among them were Kim Tae-san and the members of the Choigang Jizon Mussang Guild.

"The demons are here! Attack!"

"I'm hitting first! Get in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there after me!"

Fights broke out everywhere at once.

The area around Bardo City turned into total chaos in an instant.

"Your skill is truly extraordinary. I wouldn't dare compare myself to you..."

"Yeah. Yeah."

Beside Tae-hyun, Roy flattered him in the humblest tone he could manage.

But Tae-hyun's response was lukewarm.

Why is this bastard reacting so weakly?

Usually, when someone laid it on this thick, even if they pretended to dislike it, deep down they still enjoyed it.

But Tae-hyun showed none of that.

Doesn't matter. As long as I get to Bardo City and watch that bastard get wrecked, that's enough.

Roy's plan was simple: pit the two of them against each other and profit in the middle.

He hadn't been able to get involved when Edaor was defeated, but judging by the result, Tae-hyun's skill really was impressive.

So impressive that the broadcasts might actually have undersold him.

It's only because he hasn't clashed with other rankers directly, but there's no way he'd be outclassed wherever he goes. If I can get him fighting that guy, then definitely...

And if the chance came up, Roy wanted to settle things with Tae-hyun too.

Roy nodded to himself.

Just thinking about what Tae-hyun must've gotten from Edaor made him itch with curiosity.

Come to think of it, when's the best time to deal with this guy?

Roy acknowledged Tae-hyun's combat ability, but dismissed his scheming ability entirely.

In reality, it was the exact opposite.

If they were competing in the art of screwing people over, Roy wasn't even fit to touch Tae-hyun's heels.

Tae-hyun had already figured out exactly what kind of man Roy was.

I could just kill him, sure, but there's probably a better way.

Tae-hyun yawned and fell into thought.

His expression was so peaceful that Roy never once imagined the vicious thoughts running through his head.

"Ah. That'll work."

"...?"

"Nothing. More importantly, Roy. You look like you're a pretty high level yourself. Want to lead some demons?"

"M-me?"

"Why? Don't want to?"

"...I'll do it! I'll lead them!"

Roy rejoiced inwardly.

To hand over subordinates to him like this.

Wasn't that the same as saying he trusted him completely?

Roy had no intention of betraying him yet, but this would make betraying him later much easier.

"Good. Good. A player of your caliber taking command of some demons lightens my burden."

"Thank you!"

Tae-hyun patted Roy on the shoulder and handed over the demons.

Roy never saw it—the wicked smile that flickered across Tae-hyun's face before vanishing.