The First Recruit
The train rattled along the tracks with a steady clack-clack.
I rested my chin on my hand and watched the scenery blur past the window.
Who’s the second teammate?
“Who knows……”
“Master, I’m curious too.”
Lee Jiyoung, seated across from me, jumped into the conversation.
Why did that child tag along?
“We’re a team now. Right, Master?”
The two of them were bickering again, yet somehow they got along surprisingly well.
I hadn’t expected Lee Jiyoung to follow me. The team proposal must have been sudden, yet she’d thrown herself into it so eagerly. Teaching her how to use her unique ability during the tutorial must have left quite an impression.
“So, who are we meeting this time?”
Out with it already.
They had been growling at each other moments ago, but now they were perfectly in sync.
“Kim Youngsoo. A five-year Iron-rank player.”
“Five years and still Iron……”
“He just hasn’t had his moment yet. His ability is in the command line.”
What exactly does ‘command’ entail?
Lee Jiyoung shot Nyx a haughty look.
“Ahem. Listen well, summon. Command-type abilities grant buffs to multiple players at once.”
It sounds useful enough.
“The buff effect isn’t very strong, though. Isn’t that right, Master?”
“More or less.”
At least, not at the present moment.
Kim Youngsoo’s unique ability was Army Command. It specialized in leading large groups and providing buffs. To maximize the buff, he needed at least fifty people moving together—an almost impossible number to gather as a single team during Tower missions. The only times such scale appeared were during promotion matches or once players reached Diamond rank and began competing with other dimensions.
Since it is my contractor’s decision, there must be a plan.
Nyx accepted it immediately. She trusted me far too much.
“I do too. Thanks to Master’s teachings, I’m climbing the Tower.”
Lee Jiyoung reacted the same way. Of course I could act with certainty—I already knew the future. But what basis did a goddess and a human have for placing such blind faith in me? Still, being trusted wasn’t unpleasant. Besides, Nyx wasn’t wrong.
“Anyway, we’re not late.”
We still have some time before arrival, do we not?
“Ah, there’s a reason.”
I smiled awkwardly and recalled my memories from before the regression. Kim Youngsoo had made his name in England. In the original timeline, he would immigrate there at the end of this year or early next year. The problem was what came after: a Gate Break disaster.
Unlike Tower missions, Gates forced players into team-based activity. Large Gates required dozens of people to clear. Once Tower synchronization exceeded twenty percent, player power essentially became synonymous with maintaining public order. Command-type abilities could buff dozens of people just by existing, and Kim Youngsoo’s in particular would skyrocket in value worldwide.
I had to secure him before he left for England.
Our train will arrive at Gumi Station shortly. Please check that you have not left any belongings behind.
“Time to get ready to get off.”
“Yes, Master.”
What should I do to assist?
Just sitting still is helping, Goddess.
We moved quickly and arrived thirty minutes early.
Yes, we were definitely early, yet……
“Are you Player Yu Jinho, by any chance?”
A man in his forties wearing a suit shot to his feet and bowed ninety degrees.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I recognized you from the photo in the article.”
“You’re Player Kim Youngsoo, correct?”
“Yes, yes. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Why had he arrived thirty minutes early to wait for us? And why was he being so excessively formal? Before the regression, he always carried himself with pride—I’d even wondered if he was getting posture correction.
Lee Jiyoung, who had followed behind me, averted her eyes in embarrassment.
“You came quite early.”
“Yes, yes. I had some time to spare, so I arrived ahead of schedule.”
His crumpled paper cup. The straw covered in teeth marks. He was extremely nervous.
We sat across the table from Kim Youngsoo.
“Um, Player Yu Jinho. About the message you sent……”
“As I mentioned, I’m forming a team. I don’t know exactly how the Association phrased it.”
“Ah, so what I heard was correct. That’s a relief.”
Kim Youngsoo let out a hearty laugh. I hadn’t expected him to be this happy about the invitation. Between him and Lee Jiyoung, the contrast with their future selves made the situation feel strangely awkward.
“You may already know, but my unique ability is command-type.”
“Yes. That’s why I contacted you.”
“Are you sure that’s all right? Switching to a command-class job won’t let me contribute much.”
Before the regression, this man had always been arrogant and proud. Environment really did change people.
“I saw an article about you from five years ago.”
“You mean the promotion match?”
“Yes. It was quite impressive.”
Five years ago, the man before me had shone brilliantly in the tenth-floor promotion match—a massive siege battle fought between national teams. With over a hundred participants, Kim Youngsoo’s command buffs reached their maximum potential. The result was an overwhelming victory. At the time, many guilds had shown interest in the key player behind that win.
“That was then.”
Kim Youngsoo laughed, but the story had already become past tense.
“I’m looking at the future.”
“The future?”
“The upper floors of the Tower are unknown territory. We have no idea what missions await us higher up.”
“So you’re saying there might be group battles, and you want to invest in me in advance.”
“You understand perfectly.”
Kim Youngsoo’s eyes filled with doubt. Even I had to admit the story sounded strange—an Unranked player thinking about the future beyond the sixtieth floor and recruiting a command-type player? Still, this reaction was within expectations.
“Take a look at the contract and decide.”
I handed him the team-member contract I had prepared in advance. The terms were identical to the ones I had offered Lee Jiyoung.
“You’re offering ten million won as a monthly salary?”
“I won’t ask for anything else. Anything earned from missions belongs to you, Player Kim Youngsoo.”
“Then what does the team leader get out of this?”
“People.”
Less than a month after the tutorial ended, I had already earned over three billion won. Luck had been on my side, and completing the Black Tiger Team’s request had fattened my wallet. Still, I would earn more in the future, not less. These two unpolished gems would become just as valuable soon enough.
Kim Youngsoo read the contract carefully, his eyes scanning up and down repeatedly as he searched for any hidden clauses.
“……Phew. I don’t understand your reasoning, but there’s nothing here that would harm me.”
“Will you sign?”
“I will, Team Leader.”
He had already changed how he addressed me. The power of capital was truly great.
“When does team activity begin?”
“Tomorrow. Go home today and pack your things.”
“Hmm…… I’ll have to tell my family. I never thought I’d become a weekend husband like this.”
Kim Youngsoo gave a bitter smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched—he was clearly pleased.
“Team Leader, is this…… the end of the team members?”
“Call me ‘ajusshi.’ And feel free to speak casually from now on.”
“Yes. We’ll be seeing each other often, so please speak comfortably.”
The two quickly exchanged greetings. They would be together until the guild was founded, so the sooner they got along, the better.
“Ah, Team Leader, there’s one favor I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“My nephew is a huge fan of yours. Would it be possible to get an autograph?”
Kim Youngsoo’s voice grew smaller with each word. What was he so embarrassed about?
“I was nervous because you called it a favor, but it’s nothing big. I don’t have any paper on me, though.”
“Then please sign my business card.”
I signed it with practiced ease. Before the regression, signing autographs had been as natural as breathing.
After the contract was signed, the two men returned home, saying they needed to prepare for their move to Seoul.
Are there no more teammates you had in mind?
“Not for now. It’s difficult to poach people from other teams or guilds.”
There were other players in Korea who would stand out in my memories, but recruiting them at this stage was impossible.
Heh, a team built by my contractor. I’m looking forward to it.
Nyx perched on my shoulder and smiled contentedly.
Even after returning to Seoul, there was no time to rest.
I have secured several buildings that match the conditions you specified.
“You work fast.”
It’s for Special Task Force Member Yu Jinho, after all.
“Send me the list via text.”
Understood.
The building would serve as team headquarters and, eventually, guild facilities. With my current funds, purchasing a building that met my standards was impossible, so I decided to look for a suitable rental instead.
While scrolling through the list Han Suchang sent, I found a promising option: a former electronics mall. Five stories, roughly 150 pyeong. The first two floors could become a training center, while the rest could serve as offices and living quarters. I immediately commissioned defensive magic arrays for the training floors.
Are you certain?
“About what?”
It seemed you were saving money for another purpose.
“Originally, I planned to acquire a dinosaur fossil.”
Yet you are investing so heavily in others?
“One hand can’t block ten.”
Obtaining the primordial species fossil was good, but gathering allies to prepare for the age of extinction was equally important. Now that things had come to this, once the dormitory construction finished, I would move out of the studio apartment. With a training facility secured, there was no reason to stay near the university.
“Money really does fly out the window.”
My bank balance was dropping rapidly. Earning was hard, but spending was this easy.
The next day, the two arrived in Seoul. Lee Jiyoung and Kim Youngsoo stared in awe at the building still undergoing interior construction.
“Master, is this our team building?”
“Yeah. It’ll take one to two weeks before we can move in.”
Lodging facilities took time to build. Until then, I would have to arrange temporary rooms. The defensive barrier installation, however, would finish within a few days.
“Let’s move to another location.”
“Weren’t we going to do the team briefing here?”
Kim Youngsoo looked flustered.
“Nah, today was just to show you the team building. Now we’re going to train.”
I led the group to the training center we had visited before.
“Oh, you’re back again!”
The owner recognized me once more. Once the barrier construction was complete, I wouldn’t need to come here anymore. I felt oddly guilty.
“The largest size, please.”
“Thank you for your patronage!”
Leaving the owner’s greeting behind, we entered the training center. The moment the entire party stepped inside, the barrier magic activated automatically. This was perfect for training.
“Master, are you going to watch me first today?”
“No. Kim Youngsoo first.”
“Team Leader, you don’t have to address me so formally.”
“We’re family now. This is more comfortable.”
“If you insist……”
Kim Youngsoo stood with a reluctant expression.
“First, share your information with us.”
“Understood. Status Window!”
A translucent window appeared before my eyes.
Just as I remembered. With a little investment, his ability would shine not only in large-scale battles but also in team—and even solo—situations. I organized my thoughts and opened my mouth.