White Eyes, Detachment Leader
White Eyes—that is, Kang Ji-yeon—had already slipped into the crowd of users the moment Mu-hyuk was summoned as the overall leader.
Ah, damn...!
It was because she remembered nagging at Mu-hyuk just yesterday.
I told you not to regret it...?
Who could have predicted something like this would happen?
Trusting her instinct that she'd face something unpleasant if caught, she did her best to stay out of Mu-hyuk's sight.
At first, she was a bit worried, but as time passed, her mind settled. There were so many users that she figured she wouldn't be spotted easily.
Yeah, it's fine. He doesn't know my ID, right?
Maybe he does.
No, he doesn't.
With that firm conclusion, Kang Ji-yeon let out a sigh of relief.
They set out.
Stopped by the plains to link up with the NPCs.
Mu-hyuk divided them into groups.
Hmm, my little brother's not bad at this.
He actually looked pretty good giving orders.
The groups split into ten teams, and she thought she'd just join one as a member when suddenly he announced they'd form a detachment squad. Kang Ji-yeon's brow furrowed for no reason.
Detachment squad? What's that? Hate it already.
But of all moments, that's when it happened.
"We'll start by selecting the detachment leader. White Eyes user."
Her name was called.
"White Eyes user, please respond."
She never imagined he'd call her, so her mind went blank for a second.
W-what's this!
He knows my ID?
But why now?
To make me detachment leader?
No, no way!
She couldn't respond.
Absolutely not!
But everyone was on Mu-hyuk's side.
"What? Who's that?"
"Why no answer?"
The murmurs stabbed into her ears.
Mu-hyuk spoke again.
"White Eyes user, please respond."
He kept pressing until she answered.
This wouldn't end without it.
Unable to bear the pressure of inconveniencing everyone else, she finally opened her mouth.
"Y-yes..."
"Come forward."
She dragged her heavy feet toward Mu-hyuk. As she got closer, she could see his eyes peeking through his helmet—crescent-shaped and brimming with mischief.
Ugh, uuuugh...!
Her face burned, but she couldn't lash out right now.
How many people were watching?
She couldn't embarrass herself like that, no matter what.
When she was right in front of him,
Mu-hyuk asked the mage to cancel the amplification spell.
"Understood."
The moment the amplification spell lifted, he called to her.
"Noona."
"Huh? M-Mu-hyuk-ah. You know noona can't do stuff like this..."
"Congrats on becoming detachment leader."
Detachment Leader
Leader of the ominous squad of 444. Follow the overall leader's orders and get the job done. Higher execution yields special rewards.
Kang Ji-yeon's brow furrowed.
"You, you... Log out and we'll talk!"
"Hey, you can't say that to me right now."
"Why not...!"
She was furious but couldn't raise her voice.
Kang Ji-yeon's face twisted strangely.
"Detachment activities might get tough?"
"Ugh, shit. Seriously...!"
Then Sung Min-woo approached from the side.
"Hey, noona. Long time no see?"
"Oh, Min-woo."
"Yeah, noona's joining too, huh."
"Y-yeah, kinda happened..."
"But why the detachment..."
"......"
Kang Ji-yeon bowed her head to hide her flushed face. But Sung Min-woo wasn't the only one watching.
"Hey, oppa. Is that your noona?"
"Yeah, my real sister. Noona, say hi."
"Huh? To who..."
Kang Ji-yeon and Ye-rin eyed each other.
"Hi! I'm, like..."
"My girlfriend."
"Eek! Really?!"
"Yeah."
"N-nice to meet you! You're Mu-hyuk's noona. I'm Kang Ji-yeon."
"I'm Ye-rin!"
"You're super pretty."
"Hehe, unnie's gorgeous too!"
"Oh my, thanks."
"Unnie, speak casually!"
"Uh, sure?"
Mu-hyuk smirked at the two.
"Okay, catch up later. Noona."
"Y-yeah...?"
"You're detachment leader now, so take care of it."
"You little..."
"Already appointed. Can't change it."
"Haa."
All she could do was sigh.
Mu-hyuk asked the nearby mage again.
Amplification Magic Applied
He looked at those watching him.
"Truth is, it's very hard for those under level 100 to achieve results. So we'll appoint the 444 lowest-level users as detachment members, in order. The detachment will focus on scouting and exploration, as I said. But it'll be easier for you to outpace same-level users, so please work hard."
Mu-hyuk manipulated the system.
Detachment members appointed. (444)
Users who received the message stepped forward.
"Those who got the message, move to the side."
After forming the detachment separately, they split the remaining lined-up group into teams of 5,000 each.
Just then, a knight sent by Duke Amur arrived with word that they were departing.
Mu-hyuk wrapped up.
"A massive mountain will appear soon. We'll circle it widely and enter up to the mid-slopes. Very strong monsters may swarm from all sides, so stay alert and handle any that appear together."
Finishing, Mu-hyuk turned.
The knight order was moving out.
"Alright, let's go."
They followed behind.
*
Kang Ji-yeon grumbled nonstop beside Mu-hyuk. Ye-rin, now fast friends, nodded along and poked his side.
"Oppa, that was too much."
"Hm, was it?"
"Yeah, unnie hated it."
Mu-hyuk laughed.
No big deal.
Detachment? Nothing much to do, really.
Scouting and exploration?
The lead NPCs would handle that. It was just a prank to tease Kang Ji-yeon.
Of course, they'd need some results, so he'd give orders—but nothing dangerous or hard.
He'd never planned to work low-level users harshly, especially not with his own sister in the mix.
"Oppa, pretty please? I need to bond more with unnie."
"Got it."
"Hehe, thanks!"
Ye-rin rushed to Kang Ji-yeon.
"Unnie, unnie!"
"Yeah?"
"Oppa says no hard tasks!"
"Really...?"
"Yep!"
Kang Ji-yeon eyed Mu-hyuk suspiciously.
"Can't be that easy."
"He never planned tough stuff from the start."
Kang Ji-yeon laughed.
"Sweet kid deep down. I know you asked for it all, Ye-rin."
"N-no."
"I'll treat you next time."
"For real?"
"Yeah, promise."
"Okay, promise!"
Sung Min-woo muttered beside Mu-hyuk.
"Jealous, so jealous."
"Then get a girlfriend."
"Ugh, you punk!"
"Hey? Demoted from team leader."
"Boss, I'll serve you well."
"Good, serve well."
"Yes, sir."
As they bantered, the destination came into view.
"Whoa, that it?"
"Yeah."
The enormous Alpono Mountains loomed. After another hour, they reached the foothills.
"Hold position."
Everyone stopped at Mu-hyuk's word.
"From now, form a large circle around the mountain base. Encirclement style, so 2-3 per small group in a line should work."
Someone raised a hand.
"Yes, speak."
"How do we get orders?"
"Once circled, Team 1 on my right, Team 10 on my left. I'll tell one from Team 1 and one from Team 10, who pass it along. Team 5 gets it from both. Team 5 leader, Mental-nim?"
"Yes!"
"Mental-nim, if both match, follow. If not, wait for the real one. Got it?"
Mental nodded.
Mu-hyuk scanned the others.
"So others move after Team 5. No moving till they do. Follow precisely for results. I trust you. But if an insanely strong monster appears or sudden crisis, team leader's call."
All nodded in agreement.
Primitive, but not bad.
The mountains were too vast for better.
"Oh, and."
One more thing.
"If things go really south, I'll move first. Then act on your judgment. Teams 1-5 right, 6-10 left. When 5 and 6 meet, head mid-slope. Move out."
The 50,000 users marched.
"I'm off!"
"Yeah, good luck."
Team 1 leader Sung Min-woo waved as he went. Best in the center as leader.
"Detachment stays with me."
"Got it!"
The detachment responded.
Low levels, they were intimidated by top ranker Mu-hyuk.
Not bad.
Takes time to encircle.
"Rest easy till then."
Mu-hyuk plopped on a flat rock. Others followed.
"Oppa, crafting again?"
"Yeah."
"Not boring?"
Just a bit more till that skill. How could it be?
"Fine."
"Oppa really is amazing."
Kang Ji-yeon chimed in.
"Ye-rin, didn't know?"
"Huh? What?"
"Looks soft? But he's tougher than he seems."
"Oppa's tough?"
"Yep."
"Hard to picture."
"Want old stories?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm, second grade elementary? One day he came home beat bad. Face crusted, body bruised. Hurt over a month."
"That happened?"
"Yeah, so mad I confronted them. They saw him, looked guilty. Asked why so harsh. Guess what?"
"No idea."
"He didn't whimper once. So they hit harder, longer in anger."
"Ah..."
"Mad then... but anyway."
"Whoa, oppa had that side."
Mu-hyuk smiled awkwardly.
"Was I?"
"Yep."
"Too nice is boring anyway."
He chuckled lightly and picked up the hammer.
Clang!
Crafting mode engaged.
Just a little left.
Master crafting level: only 2 away.