Leveraging the Interview (2)
“And we're finally here today! As promised, we'll begin the long-awaited interview with Sandro, which so many users have been eagerly anticipating. Welcome, Sandro! Thank you so much for granting Taitonic TV this exclusive first interview.”
“Nice to meet you. Hello, viewers! This is my first official greeting through a great opportunity like this. I'm Sandro.”
After a brief explanation of the format, recording began, and Kim Seok Yong's tone shifted dramatically—from neighborhood uncle vibes to the familiar professional host everyone knew from TV.
“One-man army! One-man rampage! One-man castle lord! And lately, Special One, right? So many titles have popped up to describe you, Sandro. That's proof of just how much attention you're getting from Tayen users, wouldn't you say?”
“Haha! You're too kind. It was just good luck.”
“If your luck's held out this far, isn't it safe to call it skill by now? Anyway, not just the users but even I'm dying to know more. So, will you help clear up all those burning questions in today's interview?”
“I'll do my best. Truth be told, I used to be just a guildless solo player grinding away normally. I'm already sorry if I can't live up to everyone's expectations.”
“No need to apologize! We're just grateful you're here. We surveyed users on their top curiosities, so let's go through them one by one. First up: How on earth did you end up getting your hands on the Holy Sword that day?”
As expected, the questions poured in relentlessly, starting with the one I anticipated.
“Why restart a new character without changing classes?”
“What does it feel like riding a titan? Could you describe it?”
“What grudge do you have with Taesung that led to you fighting them solo like that?”
They came armed with questions clearly prepared just for this day, and I answered most of them straightforwardly and honestly.
“We don't have anyone from Taesung here to verify your side, but if it's true, I can see why you'd do it. Anyway, this is a sensitive topic, so we'll leave it there. Next question... Oh, almost forgot this one. A lot of people are curious about the Rune Paytona's specs. Any chance you'd share them?”
After my debut as Sandro, I'd restored the Holy Sword's appearance from its disguised plain steel longsword look. As I drew it, the cameraman zoomed in tight.
The blade stretched straight and pure, almost transparently white. A dazzling crossguard blended blue and white lights in perfect harmony. Even the pommel, finished with some unidentified gem... It was so stunningly beautiful—truly deserving of the moniker Sword of Light—that anyone would fall for it.
“That's still a sensitive topic for me. It's closely tied to why I rerolled into a Ma Shil Thief. If Taesung's guild master reveals it, I can't stop that, but until then, I'd like to keep it secret. Sorry.”
“No, that's fine. We're already so thankful for your candid answers so far.”
I openly revealed that I'd mastered Mana Shield too, since its unique damage-taking effects showed up in every fight anyway. Even interviewer Kim Seok Yong was shocked, so I could already picture the forums exploding in debates over this skill tree's value post-broadcast.
“I think that covers most of it. Mind if I do a little promotion at the end?”
“Of course, Sandro. Say whatever you'd like.”
“Thank you. First, check out this achievement?”
Noble Family
B-Grade Achievement
All Stats +5 (For guild members of castle-owning guilds)
I'd sent Kim Seok Yong the link to the Noble Family achievement, a B-grade one that guild members of castle-owning guilds got, boosting all stats by +5.
“Stats say only about 10% of Tayen users join sieges, and even among them, snagging a castle for this achievement is super rare. So! Using my Kaljen Castle capture as the hook, I'm hosting a little event for that 90% who can't participate.”
“An event? By yourself?”
“Yes. For the week until this month's siege starts, every evening at 7 PM for two hours! I'll open unlimited, no-restrictions recruitment to my Homeownership guild at Kaljen Castle's outer village square. Don't miss this chance for an achievement worth 7 levels!”
Taitonic TV had hyped it up since the schedule dropped, so tons of people tuned in. And it delivered, answering heaps of questions and meeting expectations.
But the real shockwave hit from my closing line in the next day's broadcast. Tayen's communities were flooded with posts about me.
A few jealous, envious, or troll posts popped up, but most were positive. I even spotted self-proclaimed fans here and there.
This was the first time in Tayen history anyone shared an achievement like Noble Family. The reason it worked? Its unlock condition was unusually specific.
Conquering a castle is brutally tough. With Tayen's winner-takes-all power dynamics, top guilds hogged them all. Even strong guilds had never touched one of the twenty-odd castles—plenty around, basically.
Hyunjung's Saint Guild was a prestigious name, but they skipped sieges entirely. That alone showed how elite "castle guilds" were.
Conversely, the achievement condition was laughably simple: Just accept the guild master—who already owns a castle—into your main roster.
I'd confirmed it by having Hyunjung quit his guild temporarily, join mine, and test. Solid intel.
Achievement sharing. No castle guild master had thought of it—probably to protect members/secrets or because it wasn't worth the hassle for randos.
But I flipped the script with this massive event, and judging by the buzz, it landed perfectly.
I couldn't outright advertise sales per broadcast rules, but my subtle hint about handing over the castle to a guild bringing specific items made it through uncut. Everyone got the memo: I'd sell Kaljen Castle at event's end.
The item? Great Thief Willipeng's Strange Boots, aka "Great Thief Boots"—a legendary shoe infamous for its two killer unique options. No market listings ever; even allies/friends lined up to buy at full price. Normies couldn't touch it with all the gold in the world.
Most field-drop legendaries were like that. Auction rarities were meh specs or low enchants anyway.
So, I set the sale condition as that item over gold. A golden shot for guilds craving a castle to mobilize their networks.
Over the event week, how many would show with the boots? My personal sideshow.
“Line up straight! No cutting or spacing out—if you don't keep the line moving, no achievement! You there, black-robed mage! Speed it up!”
The square teemed with over a thousand users. Kaljen Castle, usually a ghost town, buzzed like Bernstein Castle's coronation day.
Next to me atop the fountain—directing the line from her stall—was a familiar-ID woman user.
After getting the achievement, use a recall scroll immediately!
Not item sales—the stall sign was pure event instructions.
She was none other than Pink Rabbit, the merchant I'd bumped into finishing pocket money grinds in Gevan Village long ago.
Right after the broadcast, I'd gotten her whisper. I blocked dozens daily now, but familiar IDs like hers slipped through sometimes.
A savvy, polite merchant to the end. That good memory led to a quick chat—and a new helper.
She showed up unasked and ran my event for the full week. Thanks to her, even with the occasional troublemaker, things went smoothly.