Chapter 155
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Blessing of the Ancient God
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[Ancient God Arseina has recognized the creation of an organization bearing her name.]
The notification appeared successfully. That meant I had entered the name correctly.
'Not just anyone could pull this off.'
Guild names were written on blank forms, and players filled them in using their native languages.
That's why there were often duplicate guild names later on.
For example, the current number two guild, Valhalla, was one of a kind now, but once foreign factions started merging, there'd be at least four of them.
'Some might even write "Arseina" in Korean or English.'
But that wouldn't earn the ancient god's favor. Only writing it in the language of the ancient gods would work.
[Ancient God Arseina has begun taking an interest in you and your guild.]
At this stage, when no one knew the ancient tongue, nobody would dare borrow an ancient god's name.
[Ancient God Arseina has permitted the use of her name.]
"Huh? An, an ancient god?"
"What the hell is...?"
The party members' eyes went wide. Every one of them looked utterly dumbfounded.
"Dickhead, you..."
"Shh."
Shin Seo-yeon shot me another suspicious glare, but I had no time to play along with her right now.
'...Good, permission granted.'
The real issue started now.
[Ancient God Arseina is reviewing your information.]
[She demands that you offer 70% of your earned profits as tribute each time you visit a rest area.]
"What?"
"70% of profits?"
Shin Seo-yeon shrieked.
"This is insane!"
[Will you offer 900,000 points?]
"Whoa, and it's rounded up to the nearest ten thousand?"
"...No business ethics at all."
Excluding the frozen amount for the lodging upgrade, this meant handing over a whopping 900,000 out of our 1.17 million points. No wonder the party was shocked.
"Yes."
But I accepted.
"Dickhead, are you crazy? Did you take a bullet to the head? You're accepting this ridiculous deal?!"
"O-oppa?"
Shin Seo-yeon rushed over and grabbed my collar, shaking me.
"Cancel it right now!"
She yelled, but I wasn't backing down.
I didn't care what others thought—70% was a steal. I would've agreed even if it was 99%.
And that was because...
[Blessing of Ancient God Arseina]
"Ha, you gave up all that money for some lousy blessing?!"
"Check the details before you freak out."
"Hah! Let's see what pathetic junk it—huh...?"
Shin Seo-yeon's mouth snapped shut.
Next to her, Yi Sera was stomping her feet in panic, wearing the same expression.
The Saintess and Han So-hee just gaped at the air, speechless.
It was understandable.
"Crazy."
It was astonishing. Even I was stunned. Honestly, I hadn't expected this much.
At best, invoking an ancient god's name might net you around +20 to stats.
And that value halved with each additional option.
For a regular ancient god's boon, getting +20 to all stats meant no other options. That was how it worked.
Considering that, this was a jackpot. Not even 70% tribute felt like too much.
I grinned at the party.
"Still think it's lame?"
They all shook their heads dazedly, faces blank.
No complaints here.
'We borrowed the name of the greatest among ancient gods.'
The blessing's effects were packed with late-game powerhouses.
Boss damage was obvious, and elemental resistances became a insane grind in the mid-selection process.
The world turned brutal from there, with monsters slinging attributes left and right. No countermeasures meant death.
'Physical and magic immunity goes without saying.'
Top-three options in the selection process.
They nullified that percentage of damage outright—a cheat you couldn't just stack casually.
In the late stages, people dumped astronomical sums to boost that 10%. Its value was incalculable.
But more than anything, I loved the flat +30 to all stats.
'Stats are king in the ultra-early game.'
In bonus stat terms, +30 all stats equaled a whopping 120 points.
Fixed values, sure, but their presence split early survival rates wide open.
"As expected of Min-jun! I trusted you this time too!"
The Saintess's eyes sparkled.
Han So-hee nodded silently, eyes full of trust.
"Yeah! I trusted oppa too! Oppa is the best!"
Yi Sera beamed shamelessly.
"......"
And finally, Shin Seo-yeon eyed me half-lidded, like her brain couldn't process it.
Makes sense. More than anyone, she and I had known each other over ten years on Earth—from kindergarten onward.
We knew each other too well, whether we wanted to or not.
Down to subtle changes even we ourselves missed.
[Ancient God Arseina is pleased with your decisive choice.]
[■■■'s favor toward you has greatly increased.]
[She will occasionally observe your actions from now on.]
My status screen showed the reduced funds.
[Remaining Points: 8,270,668]
The 8 million was frozen for the lodging upgrade, leaving us with just 270,000 in liquid points.
'We've paid up for this rest area, so no worries there... But from the next one, I need to be careful not to mess up.'
70% of profits meant prepping accordingly. Falling short would turn the blessing into a curse.
Spending had to account for that.
'The silver lining: Arseina doesn't count gear we're wearing.'
Profits counted only when items were sold for cash.
Transferring items to others didn't count either. But free cash from others did.
Reasonable judgment, all things considered.
Name:Kang Min-jun
Level:3
'Let's see—all stats over 200, vitality past 300.'
I'm going full strength, yet vitality outpaces it.
It's so high, physical damage won't kill me until mid-selection.
"My vitality's over 100!"
"Ah, mine too!"
"Argh, thanks to Dickhead, my strength hit 100 too!"
The party's stats ballooned across the board. Han So-hee even crossed 100 in everything but intellect.
Thus, our guild founding wrapped up with everyone satisfied.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yeah!"
But as we exited the building, commotion gathered at the entrance.
And it headed straight for us.
"Bosses! That's the guy!"
"That bastard fleeced Jae-jung and us dry!"
Oh, faster than I expected.
'Did the noblewoman come too?'
I scanned around—no sign.
Not even Park Jae-jung. Sigh, just the small fry.
But their "bosses" looked familiar.
"You punks dare mess with Black Wolf Guild?!"
The one drawing a sword at me, the guy next to him—they all rang a bell. Original members of Black Wolf Guild, the ones I scrapped with at the rest area before.
'Ah, right—Park Jae-jung and the Black Noblewoman were originally in Yi Jong-chul's guild.'
They split after some trouble.
"Uh, huh?"
"Wait a sec, that guy..."
Just as I recognized them, they clocked me too.
They froze, then shifted gazes behind me, counting my robed party.
One, two, three, four, five...
Sudden silence.
"Bosses? Why the sudden quiet...?"
Why do you think?
They'd witnessed Shin Seo-yeon and Han So-hee's insane prowess firsthand. Rumors about Seo-yeon had spread plenty after. They'd hate clashing with us.
"Long time no see?"
"Ah, ha, ha, y-yeah, long time."
I greeted them, and they laughed awkwardly.
Rumors of the top guild cowering before five people would tank their image.
So they proposed a private meet with Yi Jong-chul. I accepted readily.
"You idiots! Who told you to pick fights? How many lives you got?!"
"Ow!"
"S-sorry!"
I glanced at Park Jae-jung's crew getting beaten on the roadside, then forward. Yi Jong-chul, now head of a massive org, smiled awkwardly before me.
"I apologize for my guild's misconduct. Sorry."
He bowed politely first.
I shrugged.
"Honestly, thought we'd throw down."
"Haha, no way. I value my life too."
"?"
I eyed him questioningly, and he lowered his voice.
"I know what you did in Haran. Heard the stories."
"Those tall tales?"
I chuckled, and he grinned awkwardly, glancing aside. Our party was surrounded, chatting with folks.
"Eek! It's really the Goddess!"
"You arrived sooner than expected! Have you eaten?"
Familiar faces—Saintess's followers rescued from Haran palace.
Many joined big guilds like Black Wolf, running errands for us, gearing up with earnings... Smooth integration.
Wealth is power, after all.
Yi Jong-chul must've traced their funds, heard the full Haran saga.
Realizing we were the stars, any fight idea vanished.
"Heard you took down a raid boss."
"Yeah, six of 'em."
"...So that gear you're wearing?"
His gaze flicked to my axe and sword. I nodded yes.
"Ha, figured it wasn't ordinary... Regret it now. Should've paid more attention when you wanted in."
"Plenty of time starting now."
Yi Jong-chul grimaced.
I had no interest in Black Wolf, but he didn't know that—must sting kicking away fortune.
Sure enough, he rubbed his stomach.
"Anyway, guild founding?"
"Yeah, probably small elite ops."
He relaxed a bit—worried about talent poaching, likely.
We glanced at the Saintess as if on cue.
"Join our guild!"
"Teach us, Goddess!"
Already over fifty.
And more followers spotting her, swarming. That number alone was huge—if she started charity drives...
'Suck up all the prime talent in a flash.'
Not just Yi Jong-chul—big guilds everywhere fretting that.
But this round, no exploiting the Saintess. No such plans.
Reassured, he brightened.
"I'll handle Park Jae-jung and his pals. Won't happen again."
"Appreciate it. I'll drop it then."
"Thank you for understanding."
He offered something.
[Orc Shaman's Fang: Item required to upgrade guild to level 4.]
A token of apology—for saving face.
No spare cash for level 3 yet, so I pocketed it.
"See you around."
"Yes, hope next time's on good terms."
Yi Jong-chul bowed slightly.
Black Wolf Guild.
Rapidly absorbing capital region, promoting aura powers, swelling with seekers. Korea's premier guild.
'Never thought I'd see its grand overlord grovel. Live long enough, huh.'
I turned and headed to the party. Park Jae-jung's lot rolled in the dirt midway; I snorted softly.
'But Yi Jong-chul can't rein in Park Jae-jung.'
Round 1 proved it—constant incidents, sparking the noblewoman rift.
Fine by me—collect apologies and goodies each time.
"Dickhead, done?"
"Yeah, let's move."
"Where to?"
General store first, then... Ah, gotta hit that spot.
"Got Varkus and Arkannon?"
"Duh. You've been nagging not to take 'em out, so I've been lugging 'em uneasily. Why?"
Why? Got uses for 'em.