No One Knows How Things Will Turn Out
No one ever knew how things would turn out in life. The blacksmith standing before Tae-hyun nodded repeatedly, hanging on his every word.
"And what else... Oh, right. Play in a party."
"But people don't really invite engineering blacksmiths to parties..."
If regular blacksmiths struggled to find parties, there was no need to even mention engineering blacksmiths. Tae-hyun shook his head.
"You don't have to party with players of other classes. Just form a party with other engineering blacksmiths."
"...!"
"Sure, engineering is unstable, but since you already have the engineering skill, the penalties are naturally reduced. Even if things blow up, you'll take less damage. Plus, your firepower will multiply several times over."
"I never thought of that...!"
Until now, they had only ever thought of setting up shop in cities or castles to sell to other players. They had never considered banding together to venture out into the fields. It was the classic stereotype of crafting classes!
"Go out there hand-in-hand, rain bombs all over the field, and hunt. It'll actually be pretty decent, you know?"
"Thank you so much! I'll definitely try it!"
Instead of begging for help with hunting, he resolved to do it himself. It was an answer that thoroughly pleased Tae-hyun. He nodded with a satisfied expression.
"What's your name?"
"It's Gabriel."
"Alright, Gabriel. Work hard."
Gabriel bowed deeply, turned around, and ran off. Watching him go, the surrounding players began to whisper once more.
"What the? He actually answered a guy like that?"
"Well, Kim Tae-hyun has always had a great personality. Didn't you watch his streams?"
"Even if he's nice, famous players don't usually entertain every single person who clings to them like that. I've never seen any other nice ranker do this."
"Hey, are you seriously comparing those guys to Kim Tae-hyun? He's completely different from those fake, acting bastards. Just look at Cain. He used to be a total troll, but now he follows Kim Tae-hyun around with absolute loyalty. That's only possible because Tae-hyun has a genuinely noble character."
If Cain had heard this, he would have immediately requested a PK duel! But such narratives always worked wonders on the public. It was especially convincing after they had just witnessed Tae-hyun treating Gabriel so kindly.
Then, someone spoke up.
"M-Maybe... if I ask, he'll answer me too?"
"...!"
The first step was always the hardest, but once the ice was broken, greed began to take hold of everyone. Soon, a player who was fairly confident in his own skills dashed out in front of Tae-hyun.
"Mr. Kim Tae-hyun!"
"...?"
"Please join my party!"
The player who stepped forward thought to himself: Confidence is key! Seeing how kindly Tae-hyun had treated that novice player just now, a bold approach might actually be more effective. Confident and proud!
If I can just get Kim Tae-hyun into my party, I'll hit the jackpot!
However, the response he received was freezing cold.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"...Pardon?"
"Who even are you? Do you know me? Why are you acting like we're close?"
"Uh, well, you see, I'm a fan of yours..."
"So what if you're a fan? Do I have to do whatever you say? You want to plant a duel flag?"
A threat that flew out in less than a second! The player wiped the sweat from his forehead, utterly bewildered. This was vastly different from the Kim Tae-hyun he thought he knew!
"..."
Seeing this, the other players who had been about to raise their hands and speak to Tae-hyun quietly shut their mouths. Thanks to that one fearless player stepping forward and getting shut down, they had narrowly avoided public humiliation.
"Whoever said Kim Tae-hyun has a good personality, step forward."
"N-No, that player definitely made a mistake. It's because he approached him so arrogantly..."
"Even so! Did you see that look in his eyes? He looks like he'd murder someone on the spot!"
While the players bickered and murmured among themselves, Tae-hyun walked right through them.
"Mr. Kim Tae-hyun! Over here! Look over here, please!"
"...?"
As he distanced himself from the crowd and headed toward the harbor, a familiar voice called out from behind. It was Woo Jeong-sik.
"If you know me, please wave! These bastards won't believe a word I say!"
Tae-hyun wore a look of utter disbelief, but he gave a brief wave before continuing toward the harbor. Even so, Woo Jeong-sik was triumphant. He had gotten a wave, hadn't he!
"Did you see that?! Did you see?!"
"Didn't he just wave because you asked him to?"
"They didn't really look close..."
The skepticism was not easily dispelled!
"Have you bastards lived your whole lives being scammed or what?!"
The NPCs of the various religious orders were waiting at the harbor. Tae-hyun quickly sized them up.
That paladin armor and sword... they look to be over level 200. Is that a Paladin Commander?
Though they weren't many in number, every single one of them was a high-level NPC. He could guess the difficulty of this quest just by looking at them.
"Whoa. Isn't that the Yata Church's belt?"
"What's that?"
"An expensive item," said Lee Da-bi, who could spot valuable gear from a mile away.
"I heard a few guilds joined the Yata Church in the past and did all sorts of quests just to get that belt, but they failed in the end. Yet that NPC is just wearing it."
"If he dies, can we steal it?"
"...Why are you saying things that Ed-an would say...?"
"Haha. Just a joke."
Although he claimed it was a joke, coming from Tae-hyun, it didn't sound like one at all. Lee Da-bi stared at him with an anxious gaze. She had tagged along because she was willing to risk a single death penalty, but naturally, she wanted to avoid it if possible!
But seriously, he's amazing.
Tae-hyun met high-ranking NPCs—whom ordinary players couldn't even dream of encountering—as naturally as breathing! And that wasn't all. He wasn't treated as just some random adventurer; he was revered as a hero with immense reputation and achievements. That was the truly incredible part. Even now...
"Ptu!"
"..."
Lee Da-bi, who had been looking at Tae-hyun with admiration, froze in bewilderment. The paladins of the other churches spat on the ground the moment they saw Tae-hyun!
Clack!
"Lord Tae-hyun! Please calm down!"
"What is that crossbow for?! You mustn't shoot!"
"I think that bastard just asked me to shoot him."
"He said no such thing!"
"No, I'm pretty sure he did. He sent me a telepathic message. He said, 'Please shoot me with your crossbow!'"
Tae-hyun pulled out his single-shot crossbow. Ed-an, Rufo, and Cain desperately held him back. It was true that the Demer Church, being moderate and pacifistic, wasn't particularly hostile toward Tae-hyun. But the other churches were a different story.
• The Tyran Church has declared hostility toward you.
• The Yata Church has declared hostility toward you.
• The Phytos Church has declared hostility toward you.
• The Demer Church remains friendly toward you.
Aside from the Demer Church, it seemed everyone had a massive bone to pick with Tae-hyun!
"Hmph. To think a lowlife from such a pathetic cult would show up here."
"Utterly vulgar."
The NPCs of the various orders muttered loudly enough for Tae-hyun to hear. Any other player would have endured it. It was only natural for hostile NPCs to react this way! If they just gritted their teeth and completed the quest, the attitude of these dismissive NPCs would eventually change. But Tae-hyun was different.
"I'm leaving."
"!?!?!?!?!?!"
"This is a total mood killer. I'm out."
"W-Wait, Count Kim Tae-hyun!"
Haron of the Demer Church panicked and tried to hold him back. But Tae-hyun coldly brushed his hand away and kept walking.
"H-How irresponsible!"
"Yeah, I'm irresponsible, so I'm leaving."
• You possess the Advanced Rhetoric skill. An additional effect is applied to your threats.
• You possess the Intermediate Threaten skill. An additional bonus is granted.
• The Intimidate skill is active.
• People are highly unsettled by your threat.
Having Advanced Rhetoric meant he could hurl profanities at any NPC and still handle the aftermath. Even if he unleashed a torrent of abuse and then said, "Haha, actually, I wasn't talking to you, but to the ghost behind you," he could get away with it because of Advanced Rhetoric!
"W-Wait! A continental crisis is right before our eyes! How can you just walk away so selfishly?!"
"Well, I'm just a vulgar lowlife from a pathetic cult, so what do you expect?"
He repaid any grudge he accumulated within a minute! The NPCs who had insulted Tae-hyun looked flustered and turned to Haron.
"Priest Haron! Are you just going to let him leave?! Wasn't it the Demer Church that brought the Archisus Church here?!"
"Excuse me, who are you trying to shift the blame to? Who was the one that insulted Count Kim Tae-hyun in the first place?!"
Haron was no pushover either. He hadn't been sent as an envoy representing the Demer Church for nothing. His face instantly stiffened when they tried to pin the blame on him for something he didn't do!
"In any case, we need Count Kim Tae-hyun, so bring him back yourselves! I have fulfilled my duty by bringing him this far!"
When Haron took a firm stand, the other priests whimpered and backed down.
"B-But since Priest Haron brought him, aren't you two close? Please, try to soothe him a bit."
"Y-Yes, indeed. We beg of you."
Tae-hyun didn't look back, but he was listening closely to their conversation. Something's weird.
He had expected the priests who picked a fight to apologize if he threw a tantrum. After all, he possessed Advanced Rhetoric, and they were clearly in the wrong. Furthermore, Tae-hyun's status was by no means low. Still, their level of sheer panic was highly unusual. Tae-hyun called Priest Haron over.
"Priest Haron, everyone here is highly capable even without me. Why are they clinging to me so desperately?"
"Count Kim Tae-hyun. This expedition is not about individual strength, but rather about the harmony and cooperation of each religious order..."
"No, cut the lip service."
Haron instantly slumped!
"They are trying to fulfill the prophecy received from the gods."
"What was the prophecy?"
"It stated that specific religious orders must unite, naming them one by one. And the Archisus Church was among them."
"Ah, so that's why they're freaking out about me leaving?"
For priests who absolutely believed in divine prophecies, failing to fulfill one was unthinkable. They had never imagined that Tae-hyun would throw a fit and say "I'm out" over a single snide remark!
"Count Kim Tae-hyun. I am sure they have reflected deeply on their actions. If they apologize, perhaps you could find it in your heart to accept..."
"Of course, Priest Haron. With a continental crisis looming, how could I let personal feelings ruin such an important matter?"
"Count Kim Tae-hyun! You truly are a hero!"
• Your affinity with Haron has increased.
• Your reputation within the Demer Church has increased.
Once Haron left, Lee Da-bi, who had been listening nearby, spoke in a surprised tone.
"Still, this quest must be incredibly important. I didn't expect you to compromise like that."
"Huh? What compromise?"
"You just said you'd let it slide reasonably..."
"Yeah. And 'reasonably' is what I'm about to define."
"...!"
Meanwhile, the priest of the Tyran Church approached. He offered a hesitant apology to Tae-hyun.
"Count Kim Tae-hyun, I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me and insulted you. For that, I am sorry."
"..."
"Count Kim Tae-hyun?"
"Ah. Sorry. I was thinking about something else."
The priest bristled at Tae-hyun's dismissive attitude, but since he was the one in the wrong, he couldn't say anything.
"So, are we good now?"
"Aren't the other priests going to apologize?"
"They will come and apologize in turn."
"Hmm. Right, I see..."
Tae-hyun extended his hand. The Tyran Church priest, misunderstanding it as an offer to shake hands, reached out to grasp it.
Slap!
"Why are you trying to hold my hand?"
"W-Wasn't that an offer to shake hands?"
"Look at my palm. It's facing upward. What do you think that means?"
"...?"
"What's your budget for this apology?"