The Bamboo Spear Brigade
Tae-hyun suddenly grew curious and asked, "Do you happen to know her?"
If Yu Je-geon was the son of such a wealthy family, wouldn't he know Yu Ji-soo's face? Besides, they shared the same last name.
"Huh? Who is 'her'? Is she someone I need to know?"
Wow, this guy really is a nobody...
Tae-hyun looked at Yu Je-geon with pity. Seeing as he didn't even know Yu Ji-soo, he must not be anyone important.
"Do you happen to know Yusung Group? Like Yusung Electronics..."
"Haha. How could I not? My father is Yusung Electronics' President's..."
"Oh?"
"...alumnus."
"...Isn't that basically a stranger?"
Tae-hyun also had many alumni, but he didn't feel particularly close to them.
"In this day and age, being alumni is a huge deal, Sunbae!"
"Ah. Right. Well, if you say so..."
Tae-hyun was starting to feel genuinely sorry for Yu Je-geon.
"Ah! Sunbae!"
Yu Ji-soo recognized Tae-hyun and ran over, her face bright with joy. She ran up to Tae-hyun, glanced at Yu Je-geon, and wore a puzzled expression that clearly said, Who is this guy?
Meanwhile, Kim Ye-ri greeted Tae-hyun.
"Hello. How is my brother doing?"
"Yeah. Your brother is as consistent as ever."
"Haha..."
"Hahaha!"
They understood each other with just a glance! When it came to Cain, the two could communicate silently.
Ji-soo briefly looked at Je-geon, then turned back to Tae-hyun.
"Sunbae. Have you heard the news?"
"?"
"There's a way for you to not have to come to school. You can just stay home the whole time!"
"Uh, that sounds a bit weird?"
Kim Ye-ri tilted her head. To anyone else, it sounded like she was plotting to lock Tae-hyun away.
Yu Je-geon seemed to think so too, as he chimed in.
"Sunbae. I think that person is a bit strange."
"I think you should watch your step for a while."
"?"
Je-geon stood there, utterly bewildered, unable to grasp Tae-hyun's meaning. Ji-soo glared at him, but Je-geon was fundamentally oblivious to social cues.
"So, Ji-su. What is this method to avoid coming to school? Bribing the professor? Or kidnapping them?"
He's clearly thought about this a lot, Ye-ri thought to herself. The options had slipped out of his mouth far too naturally.
"N-no, not that kind of method... It's this."
Ji-soo handed over a document.
Alternative Credit Approval through Startup Club Activities
Scanning through the dense, complex text, the gist of it was that if one established and ran a startup-related club, they could receive equivalent academic credits!
"Oh... that's nice, but isn't establishing a startup club putting the cart before the horse? Running a club or going to school, there won't be much difference."
In fact, a club might be more of a hassle. You had to create it, manage it, and constantly produce results.
"No! It's totally doable!"
"?"
"You're already running a gaming team, aren't you? We can just package it as that!"
"Does... that work?"
"Just leave it to me. I've researched everything!"
Ji-soo declared confidently. She had already finished the preliminary investigation. Tae-hyun's gaming team, Team KL, was a highly profitable business that perfectly fit the criteria outlined in the document. If anything was lacking, Ji-soo could easily pull some strings.
A club with Sunbae! Ji-soo clenched her fist. A strategy that helped Tae-hyun while getting her exactly what she wanted!
"Sounds fun! Count me in too."
"?"
"??"
Ji-soo and Kim Ye-ri stared blankly at Yu Je-geon. Ji-soo's glare was particularly murderous. Don't outbid me on the Sunbae I already bid on, her eyes screamed.
Of course, Je-geon was completely oblivious and continued excitedly. "Sunbae, having me will be a huge help. As you know, I've studied imperial leadership, so leading a club like this is child's play. I shall be your Zhuge Liang."
"Uh, sure. Right."
Tae-hyun brushed him off with a half-hearted reply.
Ji-soo leaned in and whispered quietly to Tae-hyun. "What's his name?"
"Yu Je-geon."
"Does he play Pan-On too?"
"Probably?"
"I see..."
You're dead!
A clear, resolute intent radiated from her.
Tae-hyun shook his head. "Imperial leadership or whatever, you really should watch your step for a while."
"?"
Tae-hyun was grinning from ear to ear at the thought of reducing his once-a-week school attendance even further. But Cain was the one to shatter his joy.
"Kim Tae-hyun. You know, those celebrities who wanted to play together last time... They set a time to celebrate the tournament. They said they'd come to Mora City... Is that okay? Huh? It's fine, right? Hey, surely this much is fine?"
Listening to Cain's pathetic pleading, Jeong Su-hyeok and Choi Sang-yun shook their heads.
"I think you should just run away."
"Cain, run."
Whiplash!
Tae-hyun's head snapped around, his good mood instantly evaporating. His glare looked exactly like Ji-soo's earlier glare.
You're dead!
"No! Seriously! I couldn't help it!"
"Can't you ever say no? Huh? Huh?"
Tae-hyun grabbed Cain's head, and Cain desperately made excuses.
"They're all celebrities, how could I refuse... I stutter whenever I see people like that."
"......"
It was an excuse that touched the hearts of everyone listening.
"And... Ha-yeon asked me too! How could I say no to her!"
Tae-hyun let go. "...You win, Cain."
"?!"
"Yeah, how could you refuse that?"
"Exactly. If you miss this chance, who knows when you'll ever get a girlfriend."
Even Su-hyeok and Sang-yun stepped up to encourage Cain. But Cain felt strangely insulted.
"Wait. Saying 'who knows when I'll ever get a girlfriend' is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Let's be understanding. He might literally remain single for the rest of his life."
"I understand, Sunbae-nim."
"Hey!"
While Cain was off fetching the celebrities, Tae-hyun began researching his skills.
The first recipe... How on earth was he supposed to use this?
If it were anyone else, they might have given up and moved on, but not Tae-hyun. Tae-hyun's gaming life was defined by figuring out how to exploit bizarre and unusual skills!
"Da-bi. Do you happen to know anyone... who is Level 1, has no intention of leveling up, and is completely trustworthy?"
Even as he said it, Tae-hyun felt it was a stretch. How could such a rare condition be met?
"Ah. Are you talking about those perverts?"
"...?!"
There were people like that?! Tae-hyun was shocked. And Da-bi called them perverts? If the Guild Master of Power Warrior called them perverts, what on earth did they do?
Da-bi tilted her head and asked, "Weren't you talking about the people in our guild? The ones who maintain Level 1."
The Power Warrior Guild had various sub-groups. With so many members, it was only natural.
📢 The Ad Squad! The oldest tradition in Power Warrior! Guaranteed sweet income!
🥺 The Beggar Squad! If you're confident you can look the most pathetic, join us!
🗡️ The Dagger Squad! Only the brave chosen by Kim Tae-hyun may enter!
🤫 The Bomb... Shh. This is a secret just for you, so come quietly. We are the— Wait, who are you guys?!
Among these sub-groups, there was the "Level 1 Club."
"There is a reason for suffering. It is because of levels. Possession breeds obsession; discard your level, and suffering disappears!"
Level 1 was theoretically a level that suffered absolutely no death penalties. Maintaining Level 1, these guild members proudly toured all of Pan-On.
— "You can't come in here. No, I said you can't! You wanna die?"
— "Hey everyone! This guild member is a thug! He's hitting people! Hey! Hit me! Go ahead! Only your Infamy will go up!"
Their motto was "Live happily with nothing to lose."
"Da-bi. If I give them this item, do you think they'll like it?"
"They'll absolutely love it. But more importantly, what is this trash item even...?"
Even Da-bi, a merchant, was shocked by this unique trash equipment.
"Gather all of them. And get more volunteers from the Dagger Squad!"
The Level 1 Dagger Squad! This was the birth of the wicked Bamboo Spear Brigade that would strike terror into the hearts of rankers in the future.
"I need to go quickly and craft..."
Tae-hyun planned to stop by the capital briefly to check the situation, then head back to the Valley of Despair and Sorrow. Hunting with celebrities? Cain could handle that!
But as soon as he arrived in the capital, someone came running from afar, crying.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
"???"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I... I did nothing wrong! *Sniffle*!"
It was Yohas, drenched in tears. He grabbed Tae-hyun and started wailing.
"What's wrong with him?"
"He served a minor god like Phytos, so of course this would happen!" Galakpad barked from the side.
Normally, Yohas would have snapped back ("How dare you insult Phytos!"), but seeing him like this, he must be completely broken.
"Your Majesty! Please speak to Lord Phytos again! There must have been a misunderstanding!"
"Huh? How can I... Ah."
Tae-hyun finally remembered the lie he had told.
I'm, uh, someone recognized by Phytos!
[Carbanog chastises you for being too cruel.]
You were happy about it back then too...
Of course, Tae-hyun had no ability to speak to Phytos. If he tried, wouldn't Phytos just curse him? After all, Tae-hyun had been stealing and using another denomination's skills...
"Yohas!"
"Yes?"
"Lord Phytos will surely cool his anger someday. Until then, why don't you stay with the Archisus Church?"
[Carbanog looks at you as if saying, 'How can a human be so shameless?']
Tae-hyun ignored the rabbit.
"The Archisus Church... you say?"
"Yes, yes. Once Lord Phytos's anger cools down, he'll take you back."
Of course, if Phytos found out Yohas started believing in Archisus, his cooling anger would explode all over again!
"...But..."
"No 'buts'! Yohas, think about it carefully!"
Supreme Eloquence
Tae-hyun began instigating with his Devil's Tongue!
Subtly badmouthing Phytos, subtly praising the Archisus Church, saying "To throw away a talent like you, Phytos must be blind~" as he coaxes him in!
[Carbanog feels extremely sorry for Yohas.]
[Carbanog thinks, 'If he were my angel, I would never have left him like that!']
An hour later.
"...Then, just this once..."
"Great! Sign here!"
"?!"
[Yohas, the Fallen Angel of Phytos, has joined the Archisus Church!]
[Successfully recruited a magnificent angelic race into the denomination. The reputation of the Archisus Church spreads far and wide!]
[The Phytos Church is appalled by this blatant provocation!]
Haha. They're the ones who kicked him out, what are they whining about?
Tae-hyun didn't even blink. Why pick a fight over something they threw away?
[The faith of the Archisus Church spreads further.]
[With an extremely low probability, other angels may begin to worship Archisus.]
"Yohas. I shall grant you a position."
"For someone kicked out of the Phytos Church to receive a position... wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?"
Yohas worried needlessly. The Archisus Church was far from such petty jealousy and politics!
"Haha, don't worry. First, what you need to do... what were your skills again? Ah, right. First, managing the Angel's Forge, managing the stables, managing the Tailor Guild..."
"Am I to choose what I can do from among these?"
"Huh? No. Those are all your responsibilities."
"......"