The First Official Outing

"Why?"

Why on earth would Hong Jehun tell Im Hyunjin to hide her trait? She was a 'Buffer' class Awakened, someone who could shine even brighter in a party.

"He said my ability is something any combat-class Awakened would covet. He warned me that I could be forcibly exploited, or if other countries found out, they might try to eliminate me first just to sabotage our Tower climbing progress."

My mind snapped to attention. It felt like I’d been flicked hard on the forehead.

"But couldn't you just form a party with Hong Jehun, since he already knows the truth?"

She gave a smile that looked fleetingly sorrowful. I didn't miss the flicker of complexity in her expression.

"There's a condition to properly activate my trait. Both of my feet must be touching the ground at all times."

Now that she mentioned it, even just a moment ago, she had been standing rooted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the spot while firing her gun. I’d assumed she was just enjoying a free ride and watching from the back, but... it seemed that was my misunderstanding.

"So, does that mean the option to run away in an emergency is off the table?"

"That's not it! It's better to step back and flee than to break a capsule recovery potion! It's just that my trait's cooldown starts the moment I cancel the casting. And the cooldown isn't exactly short, either..."

A buff that breaks if you move. And a long cooldown that starts the moment it’s broken. It was definitely a trait with heavy restrictions.

"Actually, Jehun-nim did suggest we form a party together first, but if we did that, he'd have to protect me while fighting the mobs, right? I didn't want that!"

She spoke in a calm, indifferent tone, but she looked relieved. The will to not be a burden was written all over her.

"Then, if it doesn't burden the party members, you're open to joining a party, right?"

"Well, obviously! If it weren't for the restrictions, I would have accepted Jehun-nim's offer a long time ago!"

Her tone was firm and full of conviction. I couldn't hide the corners of my mouth from curling upward. Then, a sudden question popped into my head.

"But, Awakened-nim. Your trait came out as A-Grade or higher..."

I didn't know the exact details, but since Hong Jehun had personally recommended her, it had to be A-Grade or higher. He wouldn't recommend someone below A-Grade, who couldn't even enter a guild targeting the Special Floors.

"How do you usually operate in the Special Floors? I'm curious. Wandering Merchants can't enter the Special Floors."

The Special Floors, which could only be entered once a month. Since I had to enter them personally, the Wandering Merchant rabbit couldn't show its face in that zone.

"Bang bang! I just shoot my gun from the back! The stats are fixed anyway, so buffs don't work!"

It seemed she had already tried it. She couldn't have spoken with such conviction otherwise. And at that moment, two sentences flashed through my mind.

Stats were fixed until 50%. Once it passed 50%, the restrictions were lifted.

'This might actually... be the month I can really aim for a clear!'

My heart raced with anticipation. My breathing grew ragged. And finally, I brought up the 'main point' of why I had sought her out today.

"Im Hyunjin-nim. Have you ever heard of the Outlaw guild?"

"Outlaw?"

She tapped her chin as if searching her memory, lost in thought. "Hmm... the only guild name I've heard recently is the Universe guild..."

Whew.

An internal sigh escaped me the moment I heard that name. Honestly, no matter how many times I hear it, it's just... a bit tacky.

But it wasn't too late. Not to change the name 'Universe guild' to 'Outlaw' in people's minds.

"The official name of the 'Universe guild' you know is 'Outlaw'."

"Oh! No wonder! So that's why it had such a cool name!"

Yoon Jinki had chosen the name, but I felt strangely pleased to hear it praised as cool.

"Anyway, how about joining them? I think you're the perfect fit for that guild. I can even write you a recommendation letter if you want."

"But..."

"It's a guild that's aiming to clear the Special Floors, so they'd welcome you with open arms."

Im Hyunjin's eyes went wide, and then she smiled brightly. She clearly remembered it, too. That incident last month in the Special Floors, when the phase shifted and the stat restrictions were lifted.

"And didn't you feel comfortable running with me today?"

"Of course! Today's mercenary rabbit wasn't a bus driver, he was an airplane captain! Thank you!"

She beamed with a brilliance that was almost blinding. Seeing that, I decided on the conditions I would offer her. Priority dispatch service for the Mercenary Rabbit. And if she still hesitated, a 10% discount coupon.

Of course, I didn't say it right then and there. Because the contract had to be signed with Uju, not the rabbit.

The next day.

At the hour when Uju was sitting across from Im Hyunjin at a cafe, waving a priority dispatch coupon and urging her to sign.

Awakened Association.

"The Special Floors have appeared!" Yoon Jinki shouted, jumping up from his seat. His gaze was naturally fixed on Team Leader Oh Wontaek.

"Tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yes. It's set for exactly 8:00 PM Korean time!"

Unlike other floors, the Special Floors could only be entered once a month. It wasn't on a regular schedule; it was entirely random. At the system's whim. Still, perhaps out of a shred of conscience, a signal was given 24 hours before entry became possible.

It would become accessible for only 10 minutes, starting at the exact zero-second mark, and that opportunity had arrived for tomorrow.

"And the contact?"

"He said he'd contact us as soon as he finishes his urgent business!"

The subject was omitted, but both men knew exactly who it was. Kim Uju. Their savior who would be deployed to the Special Floors this month. The one who had caused an anomaly in the domestic Special Floors, which had only ever recorded dismal results outside the rankings. And the very name that would cause a stir in the domestic Special Floors starting tomorrow!

"Since he seems to have prepared everything without a single flaw, I'm sure he'll do well."

His words were calm, but Team Leader Oh Wontaek's expression was filled with firm trust. Anyone looking at him would think he was looking at someone who had already cleared the Special Floors in first place.

Zhuge Qing, with dark circles hanging down to his chin, was scanning his phone with tired eyes. It wasn't the Chinese community he was currently living in, but the Korean community he had abandoned.

And then.

With a knock, the door slid open, and men in black suits stormed into the room. Zhuge Qing slowly lifted his head to look at them.

"Have you confirmed the Special Floor notification?"

"...Of course."

When Zhuge Qing had first arrived in China. China settling into the Special Floor rankings? He thought it would be simple. It wasn't just China; global opinion was that it would be possible this time. Awakened carefully raised by the state. A massive amount of weapons invested based on abundant support. Considering all this, it would have been stranger for China to remain outside the rankings.

Everyone was certain that 'this time would be different.' However, there was one country that shattered that glacier-like, firm expectation like an icebreaker and took the throne... That was Korea.

And from that day on, Zhuge Qing realized. That his own life was being threatened.

When the results of this Special Floor came out.

"...Didn't you say settling into the rankings was a sure thing?"

In the end, China failed to settle into the rankings again. And yet, Korea, which had been lurking far outside the rankings... Korea, which had even had its top-tier enchanter stolen by China this time, had planted itself right on top.

Barely 3rd place? No. They had shattered everyone's expectations and dared to take the throne of 1st place.

For China, it was beyond a blow to their pride; it was enough to burn them to ashes. They had openly poached talent to screw them over, and this is how it turned out? They told them to eat dirt, but they were eating honey instead?

"Perhaps..."

A man with an impressive scar on his face looked at Zhuge Qing with squinted eyes. It was a look of suspicion that one could feel instinctively, even without words. It was a question of whether he had hidden his own ability or qualifications.

But Zhuge Qing felt wronged. At the same time, he was terrified.

"...Since we already matched all the weapons last time, if we reinforce the equipment and accessories this time, we'll be able to aim for it next time."

The men of black bulk who had been more reassuring than anything else. They had instantly turned into the most threatening existence. He, who had been a hero of the people just a moment ago, had instantly fallen into a traitor of the people.

"If you fail next month, you won't get off so easily. Make sure you handle yourself well."

Zhuge Qing knew well that the political situation in China was one where one could be discarded like a worn-out shoe at any moment. Even so, he had chosen to go to China. Because the maximum floor level was higher, he could obtain higher-grade materials than in Korea. And certain items that were socially condemned... he could try making them in China.

And above all, being discarded? He thought he would be an exception. He had been confident, of course. But... in the end, it was a complete failure.

'Why did that Wandering Merchant rabbit suddenly appear in Korea...!'

He blamed all the causes on the rabbit. A country that had been stuck at the bottom of the rankings, not even growing gradually, but suddenly taking the top spot? And the very top at that? It was impossible for just one person to be strong. It was only possible if the overall combat power increased sharply.

Then who was the existence that made that possible? A buffer-class Awakened? No. In the Special Floors, base stats are forcibly fixed. Buffs don't work. They become useless. Then the answer is one of two things. Pushing through with skill power, or forcibly raising stats with items.

Then the answer is obvious, isn't it? The Wandering Merchant rabbit.

In the Special Floors, an Awakened's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠base stats are fixed at 1. But it's only the 'Awakened's stats' that are fixed. External effects aren't invalidated. That's why the floor is where the efficiency of skills and items shines even more. And those items include... elixirs.

Elixirs, which enchanters were reluctant to make because mass production was impossible at once. That's why they were always suffering from a shortage of supply. But the rabbit, which had suddenly appeared, was clearly roaming all over Korea and spraying elixirs everywhere.

Yes. That guy must be the root cause of the current situation.

"Otherwise, there's no way to explain this bizarre phenomenon."

He couldn't even dream that a single overwhelming guy had appeared and was active. Back to the present.

"You must not fail this time."

"Of course. I've matched all the options on the accessories to agility, so you can look forward to it this time."

Accessories originally belong to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠armor. In other words, defense is the main option. However, this time, Zhuge Qing had ignored defense entirely and mass-produced and supplied low-grade armor plastered only with agility options. It was typical Chinese human-wave tactics.

From the beginning, China's strategy for the Special Floors was much more advantageous than other countries. Above all, the number of hits itself was as high as the number of Awakened, so it had to be advantageous. Adding agility to this? The number of hits per second would effectively double. If that happened, they would be able to shave off much more of the boss's HP than by concentrating it on a strong individual.

Special Floors.

An event-type floor that can only be entered once a month, with very sweet rewards. The entry signal is given 24 hours in advance, and it becomes available for only 10 minutes from the zero-second mark.

[Are you well-prepared?]

Team Leader Oh Wontaek's bright voice came through the receiver.

"No."

Contrary to him, my voice was infinitely dark. Tomorrow afternoon was the problem.

[Is there something bothering you...]

"I might have to wander around separately for a while inside."

The gathering zone I'd seen before. If possible, I really wanted to stop by. Because I was curious about what kind of items I could make with the materials obtained from the Special Floor gathering zone!

"So, I've entrusted the sub-leader position to Hong Jehun to lead the team members even if I step away for a moment."

[And?]"

"But Seo Ian doesn't know that fact yet."

[Ah...]

A pair of sighs erupted from the other side of the receiver as if they had been rehearsed. The big sigh was Team Leader Oh Wontaek, and the slightly smaller one was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yoon Jinki.

"So, I think she'll find out about that fact for the first time inside the Special Floors..."

[No.]

"Yes?"

[Absolutely not.]

A cold, decisive tone reminiscent of a detective squad chief. That one word was imbued with his characteristic strong will. A voice that matched his usual impression perfectly. But at this timing?

"Why?"

[Tomorrow's Special Floor will be the official first activity of the Universe guild, no, 'Outlaw'.]

"That's right, isn't it?"

'Official first activity.' Hearing those words made my heart pound for no reason. I felt a strangely fluttering emotion rising up. As if to ruin it.

[But if two guild members fight each other, and in front of everyone else? It will inevitably deal a 'fatal' blow to Outlaw's reputation. For a new guild, that kind of image is 'fatal'.]"

"Ah..."

How much did he want to emphasize it, to put such force into the word 'fatal' and repeat it! That was my mistake just now. I was so focused on raising the Special Floor ranking that I hadn't thought that far ahead.

But it didn't matter. The fact that I hadn't thought that far ahead meant there was no need to think that far ahead.

"It's fine. They might growl at each other for a moment, but I can calm them down quickly. I'm the Guild Master, not anyone else, right?"

I answered confidently.

[Do you have some kind of method?]

"You'll see tomorrow."

I answered triumphantly.

"Anyway, some enchanters are going to come in wearing body cams, right?"

It was a well-known fact. The reason why non-Awakened Association employees could get information as fast as the Awakened. It was exactly that.