Discipline in the Ranks
Just before they could take action, the Kairon users launched their attack.
It was the first defensive battle.
"Tanks and ranged users, pair up in twos and head up to the walls!"
The users followed Mu-hyuk's command.
Of course, grumbles arose here and there, but since these Kairon users weren't particularly strong, they repelled them without much trouble.
After wrapping up the battle, Mu-hyuk gathered all the users together. It was to address those voicing their complaints.
"I'm truly sorry about having to spend a full week here. I've been thinking about what I could do to make it up to you, and luckily, something came to mind."
"Something appropriate...?"
"How about I enhance one weapon per person? What do you think?"
The users' eyes widened a bit.
"W-Weapon enhancement?"
"Yes. It'll take a while, so +7 should do it. If your weapon's already +7, we can do armor or a shield instead."
At this point in the game, even that was no small feat—it was a windfall, no exaggeration.
Naturally, no one refused.
"Woooah!"
"You're the best, the absolute best!"
"Thanks a ton!"
Mu-hyuk smiled at their reactions.
"Oh, and if anyone isn't satisfied, please step aside."
A brief commotion followed, and about twenty users moved to the side.
"Do you have complaints?"
Someone answered Mu-hyuk's question.
"Of course. You think one weapon's enough? At least two."
"Right, yeah."
"We're stuck here for a week—least you can do."
"Hmm, you know only a handful of blacksmiths can even reach +7 right now, right?"
"We know."
"And most users are thrilled with +4 or +5?"
"Sure, but you can do it, Mu-hyuk."
"Even I need a good chunk of time for +7."
"C'mon, be a little more generous. We're stuck here a week because of you."
"Sounds difficult."
"Why play coy? You know how it is."
"Know what...?"
"What's the point of sticking around? We'll just bicker. Just do two items to +7, clean and simple."
"......"
"Otherwise, complaints will keep popping up."
"Everyone else seems fine."
"They're just pretending. Anyway, two per person?"
Further persuasion was pointless.
"You won't listen. Fine. Then I'll make it so you don't have to stay here a week because of me."
"Pardon?"
"What does that...?"
"All twenty of you here. By the commander's discretion, I'll transfer you to other mercenary units. Your contribution points stay the same, so fight hard elsewhere."
The users waved their hands frantically at Mu-hyuk's words.
"W-Wait a sec!"
"Sadly, seems my capacity's limited."
He smiled coldly and manipulated the system.
Users ‘Alkara’, ‘Pattern’, ‘Ssaorabi’... a total of 20 users have been removed from the ‘Mu-hyuk Mercenary Unit’.
He then glanced at the nearby knight.
"Sending them to other units—possible?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Understood."
While they stood dumbfounded, the matter was swiftly resolved.
"H-Hey! What the hell is this all of a sudden?!"
"Even you, Mu-hyuk...!"
Mu-hyuk tilted his head at the twenty users.
"You're the ones who said you didn't want to stay a week."
"Th-That was just... we meant we'd stay if you did two items!"
"I said that'd be difficult."
"C'mon, this is too much!"
Mu-hyuk sighed.
"You're already removed. Just go."
There was no reason or need for further talk. It was just a waste of time.
"I have nothing more to say."
He turned away from them and looked at the waiting mercenary users.
"Alright, got some time now, so I'll enhance your items. We'll go in the order you're standing, yeah?"
"Y-Yeah, whatever works for you, Mu-hyuk."
Mu-hyuk took weapons from the users in the first row.
"Right here."
"O-Okay!"
Making +7 wasn't that hard, really.
+8 was the time sink.
Mu-hyuk focused and enhanced the weapon.
Standard enhancement, of course.
Pure attack power boost.
Clang, claaang!
The enhancement level shot up in a flash.
"Dagger was +3. Demon Sword user?"
"Y-Yes!"
"It's +6 now. Hang tight a bit longer."
"Got it!"
Luckily, it hit +7 without a hitch.
"Good luck."
The demon sword user's hand trembled as he took the dagger.
"U-Uh... Insane...!"
Other users crowded around him.
"How is it, Demon Sword?"
"Jackpot. Look at this crazy attack power...!"
"That high?"
"Yeah! Base 200, plus over 300 more!"
"Holy crap, for real."
As they chattered excitedly, Mu-hyuk finished another +7 weapon.
This one's owner was Kim Chang-sik, the user who'd chewed out the others in Mu-hyuk's stead last time.
"Brother Kim Chang-sik."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He checked his weapon and couldn't hold back a grin.
"Heh, excellent."
Mu-hyuk moved to the next weapon.
Clang, claaang!
Then, the twenty booted users approached.
"M-Mu-hyuk..."
"Um, excuse me..."
They looked a bit servile, realizing their mistake.
It was a chance for a free +7 weapon—leaving empty-handed must sting.
"......"
Mu-hyuk ignored their calls, naturally.
They'd already been sent away.
No reason to heed those whose greed had soured things.
"Mu-hyuk...?"
No response this time either.
The twenty users.
The man leading them furrowed his brow sharply.
"Ugh, forget it. He's a real jerk. Let's just go!"
"B-But..."
"We're kicked out anyway!"
In the end, the twenty slunk away dejectedly.
Mu-hyuk never spared them a glance.
They should've accepted the goodwill when it was offered.
Truth be told, he owed the mercenary users nothing—no one would complain if he did zilch. Dissatisfied users could just leave.
Still, he'd extended kindness to avoid pointless squabbles and as a nod to those who'd fought alongside him.
But Mu-hyuk wasn't one to extend that to those mistaking kindness for entitlement.
"Phew, finally quiet."
Sung Min-woo felt the same.
Those guys must've really gotten under his skin.
"They were annoyingly loud. Right?"
"Games are like that."
They—and Mu-hyuk too—
ultimately moved for their own gain.
Claaang, clang!
Anyway, all unstable elements were gone now.
Just endure the week.
*
Time flew faster than expected.
Five days already.
They'd fought several defensive battles successfully, protecting the small city.
Now, resting after another victory.
Of course, Mu-hyuk had been busy every day.
The old "comrades"—really, fleeting mercenary users—who'd tried killing him to reset the zombie shaman trial logged in daily, so he had to hunt them consistently.
And to placate the others, he kept making +7 weapons.
Clang, claaang!
Deep in work today when Yura approached. She waited until he paused before speaking.
"Tomorrow's the broadcast. Everyone knows, right?"
"Oh, yeah?"
Mu-hyuk halted at her words.
Already?
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Kim Ji-yeon chatting nearby looked surprised too.
"Time flies, huh."
"They say time's fastest once it's gone."
"True. I still feel like a high schooler."
"What? You're not... uh."
"Hey!"
"S-Sorry, kidding. I'd buy high schooler. Totally."
"Wanna die?"
Sung Min-woo backed away from Ye-rin's glare.
"Joking, y'know? I still feel twenties."
"Pfft, you?"
"Means time's racing by."
"Fair."
As they bantered, Sung Min-woo slyly asked Yura about the recording.
"It came out great."
"Ooh, yeah? No devil editing?"
"Devil editing?"
"Y'know, making us look awful or dumb on purpose."
"No way. Nothing like that."
"I trust you."
"Don't worry."
Mu-hyuk, the subject, showed little interest.
Illusion's World wouldn't do tacky edits, from what he'd seen.
Clang, claaang!
Instead of fussing, he poured into enhancements.
Enhancement level rises.
Enhancement: 100%
Title effect increases enhancement success rate.
Enhancement successful.
The weapon that had failed repeatedly finally hit +7.
"Finally."
He handed it back to the waiting owner.
"Here."
"Thank you, Mu-hyuk!"
"Mm, next..."
Pondering the next weapon, Bandal suddenly came to mind.
Ah, almost time, right?
He might be waiting for contact. On a whim, Mu-hyuk chatted Bandal.
He ended the chat and eyed the weapon before him.
This one next.
A short spear.
Short spear.
He pulled the shaft down, examined the blade closely.
Red dots rising like smoke.
"Hup!"
The hammer swung without a millimeter's error.