Chapter 202

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 202

Chapter Title: First Guild Member

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 I explained the situation to Shin Seo-yeon.

"Ah?"

Fortunately, as someone optimized for the selection process, Shin Seo-yeon quickly began adapting to her own power.

"Be careful, extra careful."

Nod.

In truth, controlling this power wasn't all that difficult.

As you exert force, there are sections that feel like hard limits, one after another in sequence.

Each time you push past them with more force, your strength grows stronger and stronger. So for daily life, if you always keep those limits in mind, you can live as if your power is only at 10.

'Still, it took me more than two days to train that control.'

Swish, swish. Shin Seo-yeon picked up a home run ball with her chopsticks and swiftly passed it from one side to the other. At first, they burst under the pressure of the chopsticks, but suddenly, not even crumbs fell.

'Whoa, adapting to the power in less than five minutes? Impressive.'

Usually, once strength surpasses 100, people start struggling to control it.

She's definitely on another level.

"Seo-yeon, you're amazing."

"Heh, see? That's the kind of woman I am."

Of course, humility was nowhere to be found.

"Min-jun oppa, don't we need to do it too?"

"Like Ha-na said, we should practice adapting just in case."

"Yeah."

True enough. You never know when I might form a [Bond] with someone. Still, no need to do it right now. We've just arrived at the rest area, and there's plenty to do.

"We'll practice later when we have time. Now go wash up. Dismissed."

"Ah, then I'm first for this bathroom!"

"I'm taking that one!"

"Argh! I'm screwed…!"

Shin Seo-yeon, who had been first, lost her spot to Yi Sera. But what was truly impressive was how perfectly she controlled her strength even as she jumped up from her seat.

'No worries about Shin Seo-yeon collapsing the house.'

"Seo-yeon, what about your stat shards?"

"Huh? We already exchanged and absorbed them all."

"I see."

The rewards, which had been increasing by 100 points each time, jumped by 600 in an instant. There were various reasons, but the biggest was that the previous trial's difficulty had been that high.

'Right after guild creation, the trial difficulty spiked, so everyone must've been scrambling.'

But humans have dominated Earth as the ultimate apex predators through group living since ancient times. Survival rates for players united under a guild banner were higher than expected.

Proof of that was this:

The population, which had been dropping by hundreds of millions each trial, only fell by 50 million this time. This is why humanity is formidable when united.

'Of course, human hunters are still rampant, so plenty more will die….'

Once the era of human hunters ends and the age of abundance arrives, deaths will plummet noticeably. That's why it's called the age of abundance.

And first place again.

Honestly, it would be weirder if I wasn't.

I took down the mountain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guardian dragon and devoured over a thousand bonus stat shards. In human hunter terms, it's like killing a million people for their shards.

'An achievement no one else could pull off.'

'Distribute all the stats first.'

Then a notification appeared before my eyes.

Money earned from the previous rest area.

Money from selling Dracalon scales.

After deducting a million each to the three women and expenses for feeding the dracos.

Arseina demanded about 51 million points.

'70% is a hefty cut.'

But considering her blessings, it wasn't a bad deal.

I hit accept.

Immediately, the points drained away, and a pleasant warmth enveloped my body.

Thaladrass is flexible, but Arseina strictly upholds promises. Fall short even slightly, and she'll revoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blessings and unleash curses.

So never break promises with her, no matter what.

'Now, what to do next… Ah, time to fetch Kumora.'

She's probably freaking out right now, wondering why I haven't kept my promise.

If this were Bersia's sanctuary, that notification would pop up. But as a lesser god, she lacks authority to send such messages anywhere. Even as a messenger god, no dice.

I pulled out the letter envelope and summoned Kumora instantly.

Splat!

"Kyaaang!"

The envelope spat her out like saliva, and Kumora appeared mid-air, screaming as she tumbled down. She looked somewhat clumsy up close—flailing around, she lifted her head, spotted me, and scanned the surroundings like a startled cat.

Then Han So-hee emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, and Kumora hid behind her.

Grab.

But instantly, she was caught, stripped of her clothes forcibly, and dragged to the bathroom.

"E, eh? S-So-hee?"

"Hold still. You need a bath."

The two went in, and the Saintess came out alone, tossing Kumora's clothes into the Fresh Core.

I wondered if it was necessary to clean those primitive rags, but the Fresh Core was impressive. They emerged sparkling like new, looking quite decent.

With that came a notification.

150 stat shards, 5 mid-grade mana stones, Bersia's shoes, Bersia's priest robes, Jewel of Flickering.

The air ripped open wide, and items rained down.

Rumble rumble rumble.

"Huh?"

"What's that noise?"

Oh no, so much for eating alone.

Stat shards are just stones, but with the racket, the living room was piled high. Shin Seo-yeon and Yi Sera peeked out from the bathroom at the sudden commotion.

"Hey, Dickhead!"

"Yeah, yeah. Wash up and come out. Saintess?"

"Y-Yes!"

"I have a promise with Eun-jeong, so when everyone's out, can you tidy up here?"

"Sure, go ahead without worry!"

The Saintess pecked my lips and waved. Fresh from the bath, she smelled wonderfully of shampoo.

'Alright, shall we head out right away?'

Outside, the sun was dipping toward sunset. With ten minutes left, I thought we'd wait, but Lee Eun-jeong was already there.

"Out early?"

Nod.

Grief from losing a comrade. Still etched on her face. Makes sense. Even if she grew up in a world without human rights, she wouldn't be as numb to death as me.

'Or maybe not. Irrelevant.'

Yi Sera, Han So-hee, Shin Seo-yeon… Born in Korea yet unfazed by death. Environment matters, but personality more so.

Anyway.

"Let's go to your lodging."

"My lodging?"

"Yeah."

Lee Eun-jeong hesitated slightly, then said with a girlish face,

"It's… not fully cleaned."

"That's fine. Better if it's not cleaned."

"What does that…"

"Come on, let's go in."

The reason unclean is better is simple. I connected a portal from my lodging and started customizing Lee Eun-jeong's.

"Eun-jeong, you probably don't have specific room preferences, so I'll design it my way."

"Huh? What do you—"

Rumble rumble rumble rumble.

The lodging shook like an earthquake and suddenly expanded, making Lee Eun-jeong's eyes go wide.

'Eun-jeong needs some healing. No, I'll handle the healing; let's focus on getting her used to 21st-century modern vibes.'

Not ultra-luxurious like Shin Seo-yeon's antique style, but sleek and modern, half cyberpunk.

Thud! Thud! Rumble rumble rumble!

"Wh-What?"

The transformed lodging resembled a hotel lounge—clean, with a massive window dominating one wall. Beyond it stretched vast clouds.

The interior and furniture screamed sci-fi: pure white base, cyan and purple lighting, bluish LED rails glowing like neon signs.

"What is this…"

Lee Eun-jeong looked like she'd landed in another world.

'This atmosphere would be alien to someone born and confined in North Korea.'

Amid her wonder, she gravitated toward the window.

"…Is that outside real?"

"Yep."

Lodgings allow theme selection; hers was the open sky. The view mimicked flying high above endless clouds below.

"Beautiful… It clears the stuffiness in my heart…"

Nod.

She'd lived in a perfect control zone, always dark and oppressive. No wonder she hated confined spaces. Maybe even her lodging felt burdensome, hence arriving early.

"Like it?"

"Yes, I love it."

Lee Eun-jeong linked arms with mine, beaming happily. When I puckered up, she pressed her lips to mine without hesitation. No resistance there.

"It'd be even prettier outside."

"Can we go out into that sky?"

Lee Eun-jeong looked at me expectantly.

"Haha, no. This way."

I took her hand and opened the door linked to my lodging, revealing the hallway and living room.

"Ah, Eun-jeong's here!"

The Saintess, sorting stat shards alone in the living room, waved with a smile.

"Huh? How?"

"This is my lodging. Everyone connects their doors to mine when they arrive at the rest area."

"Oh…"

I led Lee Eun-jeong to the balcony. A cool breeze blew, unveiling a vast lake backed by expansive snow-capped mountains.

"Not bad, right? Like your room."

Nod!

"Can we go out?"

"Of course. But first…"

I stopped her from hopping down. As her eyes widened, I invited her to join the guild.

The first guild member recruited after creation. Lee Eun-jeong blinked, clenching and unclenching her fist.

Arseina's Blessing boosted all her stats by 30, and she felt it. Agility nearly doubled, impossible to miss.

"Wh-Why is this?"

"It's an effect that comes with joining our guild."

"!!"

"What do you think?"

"…I had no idea joining a guild had effects like this. If I'd known, I'd have made one ages ago."

Guilds don't inherently give such effects, but I didn't elaborate. She'd lost a comrade; her head was probably a mess.

"Here, take this."

I gave Lee Eun-jeong the [Magic Engineering Set] too. She'd been in plain clothes, getting zero item bonuses.

With the set, her stats skyrocketed.

She looked shocked, sensing her newfound strength.

Honestly, her stats were middling pre-guild, but now she fit our party perfectly.

"Finally, your new weapon."

"H-Huh?"

I unhooked the axe from my belt and handed it to her.

"Th-This?!"

The hopeless axe from the city guard captain in [Altar of Sacrifice]. A fake modeled after the coachman's [Butcher's Oath]. But its effects were top-tier.

'100% Strength bonus damage. And throwable.'

Paired with [Throwing God], which boosts all throwing abilities by 300%, the synergy would be insane.

Burst damage rivaling Shin Seo-yeon's [Primordial Flame].

Sustained DPS would lag, but no player could match her single-hit burst. Not even me—I'd need [Balrog's Breath] for equivalent.

"Like it?"

Lee Eun-jeong hugged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me tightly, face tear-streaked.

"I love it…!"

"This is your home now. Live with us."

Overwhelmed beyond words, she buried her face in my chest. I patted her back; the Saintess joined, stroking it too.

"Eun-jeong, you're here?!"

"Really?"

"Eun-jeong! Come here! I'll show you what I mentioned last time!"

Yi Sera dashed out naked, transformed into [Cyberpunk Street Fashion] mid-stride, and pulled Lee Eun-jeong to the railing, slipping headphones on her.

"!!"

"Good song, right?"

Blue lake, distant snow mountains, lush greenery, fresh air, serene vibe.

And a friend her age, same height.

Plenty to forget her grief.

'The two skinny shorties dangling from the railing are kinda cute.'

Anyway, Yi Sera can handle Lee Eun-jeong. They already clicked.

'Hope Eun-jeong doesn't turn into a Yi Sera clone.'

Worrying, but whatever. She's Lee Eun-jeong.

"Oh, right, good timing. Take one each."

"Huh? What?"

I handed out the remaining five letter envelopes, one apiece.

"Remember your dracos? Summon them outside."

"Whoa, really okay?"

"Ooh!"

"But is it fine?"

Han So-hee voiced concern. Guessing it, I replied,

"No problem. Just feed them well."

"Still, bringing them here—any point? Can't take them back out."

Fair, since they didn't know pet systems yet.

But dracos are unique mounts available only now.

Compared to small, weak, or nasty-tempered alternatives, dracos are S-Rank worthy.

'Miss them now, and the trial zone vanishes—no more envelopes.'

No need to explain fully, so I groped Han So-hee's butt and said,

"They'll be useful later. Bring 'em without worry."

Nod.

"Dickhead, my draco died. What now?"

"I'll summon one. Multiple at the end, remember?"

"Oh, thanks!"

I need to confirm if dracos can actually be kept here. But success means ranching beyond farming.

'Call it a pasture.'

With Kumora, successful draco ranching could fetch big bucks.

Boosting humanity's survival? Bonus.