Commanders Assemble
He had been quite a famous user in the past, and he still was now.
"I'm Gepen."
"Ah, yeah. Mu-hyuk here."
"I watched the video. It was great."
"Pardon?"
Mu-hyuk tilted his head in confusion.
"What video...?"
Sung Min-woo jumped in.
"You didn't know? One of your videos got edited and uploaded, and it's blowing up big time."
"When?"
"Right after you logged out yesterday?"
"Oh yeah? I was just chilling straight through, so I had no clue."
"It's no joke. That video put Amor Serus's Spear back in the spotlight too."
"Ahh..."
Gepen stood there awkwardly, listening to their exchange.
"You hadn't seen it, huh."
"Yeah. So, what's up?"
"I bid on Amor Serus's Spear too, but unfortunately, I didn't win it."
"I see."
"Then I spotted you here, Mu-hyuk. I was hoping maybe you could enhance gear for me."
"Hmm."
Mu-hyuk's main job wasn't blacksmithing. He'd avoided taking enhancement commissions so far. Accepting reservations meant consciously setting aside time, and once he started, the requests would keep pouring in.
Of course, there had been exceptions like the Black Guild, so flat-out refusing wasn't straightforward.
Shouldn't be a problem, though.
Gepen had a solid reputation.
Even before his regression, Mu-hyuk had come across info about him now and then—no negative stories at all.
Taking a reservation and crafting for him wouldn't be so bad.
Hope things go my way.
Mu-hyuk pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Let me think it over a bit."
"Understood. That's more than enough."
After sending Gepen off, Mu-hyuk opened his settings system.
The video, huh.
He tapped the homepage button, and a holographic browser window popped up.
Heading straight to the hot issues board, he instantly spotted the video Gepen and Sung Min-woo had mentioned.
It was auto-playing at the very top.
Oho.
It opened with Mu-hyuk's early days.
When was that again...?
Nostalgic memories flooded back, bringing a smile to his face.
That was tough.
Fewer than ten skeletons were hunting monsters. Their movements were sluggish and utterly pathetic-looking. But watching them, Mu-hyuk felt nothing but joy.
Soon, a more grown version of Mu-hyuk appeared, with more skeletons too.
About twenty.
It was brute-force hunting, overwhelming small monster groups with numbers.
But as time passed.
Bit by bit, inch by inch, the growth was captivating.
Clips of him cooking and focusing on enhancements popped up here and there.
That's when the video really ramped up. Skeletons evolved, unleashing all sorts of skills.
The editing and camera work improved too, drawing viewers in effortlessly.
Impressive...
Who made this? Just then, a familiar face flashed by.
Ah, Lee Han-gyu. Figures it'd be him.
The guy who'd messaged about producing a video and even signed a contract. Mu-hyuk had totally forgotten about it, so the surprise hit harder.
This quality...
It felt like an unexpected gift.
I'll give him a call when I log out.
He closed the homepage, smile lingering.
"You see it?"
"Yeah."
"Awesome, right? I was shocked when I first saw it."
"Me too. Really impressive."
"Right?!"
"Oppa, you just watched it now?"
"Yeah, kinda stumbled into it."
"I almost called you about it but held back."
"Why?"
"You went out to rest properly for once after so long."
Her words carried genuine care.
His heart warmed.
Mu-hyuk stroked her hair.
"No need to hold back next time."
"Hehe, got it!"
After chatting about the video, they dove back into work.
Clang, clang!
Just as the Troll King's leather armor hit +7...
"Hey, they're coming!"
"Whoa, whoaaa!"
A sudden commotion shattered his focus.
Mu-hyuk turned.
It was a sight worthy of spectacle.
Led by Duke Amur, knights, priests, mages, and elite soldiers marched in orderly ranks.
They were geared for a war where death was on the table—worlds apart from the players' mindset.
Their sharp aura made onlookers swallow hard involuntarily.
"Insane..."
"Whoa, crazy. How many are there?"
"This is nuts."
There were plenty of mercenary players too.
Back in school.
All students gathered: around two thousand.
Maybe three or four thousand at most.
The memory of a packed field—now multiplied at least twentyfold. Overwhelming numbers.
"Wonder if command will work smoothly."
"They'll split up."
"Yeah, can't drop everyone in one spot."
The dispersed forces would infiltrate Kai'on Continent from multiple points.
Lost in thought, a knight approached and called Mu-hyuk.
"Duke Amur summons you."
"Ah, got it?"
He glanced at Ye-rin.
"Be right back."
"Okay!"
Following the knight to Duke Amur. A few players, including Mu-hyuk, were already chatting with him.
"Ah, there you are."
"Yes."
"So, like the gift?"
Probably the reward box.
"Loved it."
"Just the beginning. Expect more."
"Understood."
"That said, numbers exceeded expectations. So, I must ask you—and everyone here—for a favor."
"A favor...?"
The gathered players tilted their heads.
Of course, Mu-hyuk had already guessed.
Commanding players, huh.
Those exact words came from Duke Amur's mouth.
"All of you are top-notch. We'll split into groups soon—each of you take one."
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean?"
"Lead them as commanders."
As expected.
Mu-hyuk could've accepted readily, but full command was no easy task. He probed subtly.
"I'm not qualified for command."
"Is that so? You others?"
The rest looked hesitant too.
Some accepted immediately.
"I can do it."
"Good man."
"Me too!"
The acceptees withdrew.
"Hmm, still thinking?"
"Yeah, not sure."
"Then I'll assign one aide each. He'll advise you. Still no?"
Just as hoped.
Commander.
The prime spot for skimming player contribution points.
Knowing rewards scaled hugely, he couldn't abandon top ranks. Acceptance was obvious—but one snag: focusing on command limited personal action. The Red Shortsword of the White Horse Army would gather dust.
Need to raise those stats.
Right on cue, Duke Amur's offer.
Perfect.
For Mu-hyuk, ideal.
Delegate to the NPC aide, move freely, farm stats with the dagger.
"I'll do my best!"
The other players nodded too.
"I'll give it a shot."
"Me as well."
"Thank you all. Details when we reach the Northern Sea."
"Got it."
He returned to his spot.
*
A smile crept across Hwang Yong-seok's face.
"Talking commanders."
"Is that so."
"Best for racking contributions—they accepted right away."
"Well done."
No reason to refuse.
"Higher shot at first place."
"You'll take it regardless."
"Damn right."
"So, confirmed now?"
"Doesn't seem so."
"Probably at destination."
"Likely."
"I'll plan player leadership strategy."
"No mistakes."
"Of course."
Hwang Yong-seok closed his eyes at his aide's reply.
"And thus...!"
Duke Amur's speech dragged on.
Finally, it ended.
He ordered advance.
"We march!"
Hwang Yong-seok rose; all S Guild members shot up.
A Gangster Necromancer summoned warhorses. They trailed leisurely at the rear.
Ahead, Mu-hyuk's group rode skeleton warhorses too.
"How long till we arrive?"
"Takes a while."
"Hmm, guess I'll browse the homepage."
"Me too!"
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Kim Ji-yeon giggled over the site.
Mu-hyuk reached for his settings to kill boredom when someone sidled up.
Turning, he saw spearman Gepen and his crew.
"Mind if we travel together?"
"Ah, sure. We're all going the same way anyway."
"Thanks."
Then FireBear poked his head in.
"Nice to meet ya! FireBear here!"
"Mu-hyuk."
"Heh, know that. Rank 2—whoa, surreal meeting you."
"You guys are rankers too, right?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"Caught your videos."
"Ooh! Total fated connection!"
FireBear's outgoing vibe eased greetings with the rest.
Five total.
Spearman Gepen, tank FireBear, archer OneShot, healer Petal, and mage Nuke.
Three guys, two girls.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Likewise. Looking forward to it."
Final greetings done, Gepen went quiet.
Hmm, must be curious.
But not time to answer yet.
Groups might split.
If same group, he'd take the enhancement reservation then.
The more contributions Gepen earned, the more Mu-hyuk got too.
Selfish? Sure, but that's the incentive.
He shook off the thought, opened settings, and logged into the Illusion homepage to pass the time.