Fundamentals Matter
Nam Taemin's face twisted like the famous painting of the same name.
“……Aaaargh!!”
Screaming out of nowhere. No monster in sight. Had he triggered berserk or something?
“What the hell, Nam Taemin? What's with the sudden outburst?”
“Bro, did you eat something bad?”
“I told you not to scarf down that cup ramen earlier……”
The guild members' faces filled with bewilderment. The one who noticed his emotional shift was, as expected, blood thicker than water—his brother, Nam Cheolmin.
……Hoo. Yeah, I called it!
The tireless push to recruit Lee Hoyeol, clinging to that thread of hope. The two had been conquering the Yusra Archipelago, figuring no news was good news.
But what was this scene unfolding before them?
“H-how is this possible?!”
The Lion Heart Knight Order. Leading those monstrous NPCs into view!
They might have softened the blow if they'd given up early. But now, any lingering hopes were cleanly shattered.
Taemin. We've got no choice but to go with Plan B.
True to form as an analyst, Nam Cheolmin made a swift call.
His Plan B was straightforward.
Friendly relations at best. At worst, avoid outright hostility. If we can't handle them, don't poke the bear.
Nam Taemin nodded.
“……Yeah, seeing it up close really tests my anger management.”
A greatsword as tall as a man and a one-handed sword. Different sizes, but just like Harcon Kingsguard, Nam Taemin swung his blade.
Which was exactly why he could gauge it. The sheer gap in levels.
The berserker from the neighboring island felt it too.
“Eek?!”
The weird yelp came from Leoni.
“……Sis, is that some new aegyo you're trying out?”
Shut your trap. She wanted to snap back, but shock left her speechless.
A berserker's instinct knew only battle. Leoni reflexively sized up the odds.
……Full assault? Ambush? Gang up?! No matter what……
Harcon Kingsguard. She couldn't imagine beating that old monster.
Leoni scratched her head furiously.
“Argh, damn it!!”
This was the final island. Without the island's treasure, she'd vowed to go full rampage.
“This is cheating!”
The Lion Heart Knight Order? Since when did they pop up like this?
At this rate, forget the treasure—they might not even snag kill contribution on a named monster.
Thud, thud—Leoni trudged on with a deadpan expression.
“……Huh?”
Her short stature. Her field of view was narrower by comparison. Leoni spotted it a beat later than the others.
A man among the knights in gleaming plate armor. Silver hair, impeccably suited in sepia. Hoyeol.
“I knew it had to be him.”
Shining.
“How's some Korean punk pulling this off?”
Tianxia Tongyi.
Whirr—Even helicopters overhead.
No need to distinguish anymore. In that moment, all eyes turned to Hoyeol and the Lion Heart Knight Order.
……
Let's see. Had I ever drawn this much scorching attention in my life?
That alone was enough to make anyone faint from shock.
“At least they've maintained the minimum decorum.”
Yet I welcomed that immense focus with satisfaction. It drove home the point once more.
“A meaningful advancement.”
This brazenness……! How could such words even come out now?
I'd grill myself if I could. But I had no choice. I wasn't oblivious.
I could tell the silence and stares weren't exactly flattering.
Even swapping perspectives, it made perfect sense.
If it were me, I'd be shocked too.
Some random player leading the empire's strongest, the Lion Heart Knight Order, right before the island's treasure? Yeah.
Caution's only natural.
But.
I'm going nuts too……!
My alliance with the Lion Heart Knight Order. Hadn't it started from a misconception?
More precisely, from their overestimation of me.
What kind of looks were they giving that version of me now? Pondering wouldn't reveal it.
But one thing I could swear to.
They'd never guess I'm just level 166.
What if the bubble burst? Would they brand me a fraud later?
I might've fidgeted endlessly. Back then.
But now, I stood tall. Not just Grandfell's influence.
I'd been struggling, always. That unyielding struggle kept me afloat. I had faith in it.
Undervaluation demands proof. Overestimation? I'll make it reality, come hell or high water.
……Lately, it felt like I was inching toward Grandfell's chuuni script.
Didn't matter. A dark history isn't for immersion—it's for overcoming.
Grandfell was just my past self, after all.
A lonely battle no one acknowledges.
But right now, it didn't feel lonely. Harcon was right there, playing along.
“Impressive discipline. Your doing, Sir Hoyeol?”
He was outdoing me, but whatever. Time to focus on the enemy ahead.
The Yusra Archipelago's final named monster.
Tension rippled as it revealed itself. True to its name, it started hot.
Rumble—!
“……Feel that? The ground's shaking!”
“Earthquake?”
“No. It's erupting. Volcanic explosion!!”
The players shouted. Spot on.
Boom—!
Smoke billowed from the island's central mountain, red lava spewing forth.
A named monster was a named monster. Something beyond levels.
“No sweat. Stick to the plan.”
“Everyone got fire resistance gear?”
“Anyone off cooldown? Buff me once?”
No panic, no flailing. They'd checked the update notes.
Lava Giant Crucian Carp. The name screamed preparations.
“This bodes ill.”
Harcon's brow furrowed. Arcana NPCs checking websites? Unthinkable. Even if they did, prepping wouldn't be easy.
I spoke up from silence.
“No need for worry, Sir Harcon.”
No bluff. Fire resistance gear? Buffs? Why bother with magic at hand.
I checked my mana.
A bit regenerated—about 80% total.
Worth holding back instead of draining the brooch. For the final island, plenty for spells.
I finished.
“I wouldn't lead you without countermeasures.”
*
Today Arcana. Experts ranted on the broadcast.
Gaon's feats had the studio buzzing. Hoyeol's interview—blunt or arrogant? Irrelevant now.
“With feats like this, he can say whatever! Proud of you, Lee Hoyeol!”
A dam breaking. The panel basked in the afterglow—briefly.
The named monster emerged. Flashy entrance.
“Worthy of a named. Altering the terrain.”
Aerial shots captured the shift. Lava surging, blanketing the island.
Experts voiced concerns.
“……Tricky.”
“Movement's restricted.”
“Hope the players prepared.”
But the environment wasn't all. Swimming through lava like water.
Splash—!
The beast thrashed, splattering magma everywhere. Players struggled on feed.
“……Buffs saved us from heavy losses.”
“Annoying as hell. Won't even fight.”
“Just fleeing, chipping away at players! Crucian carp! Fish acting this sly?!”
“Expert, it's carp, not goldfish……”
“Same difference! Both fish scum!”
Even they snapped. Situation dire. Worst: it had no interest in fighting.
Churning lava blocked melee. Ranged? It hid, minimizing damage.
Panelists concurred cautiously.
“This drags on.”
Then. Prediction shattered. Feed zoomed.
Silent watchers gasped.
“W-wait! The lava's parting?!”
*
Levels were the ultimate metric. But matchups mattered just as much. Like now.
“Hard to approach, Captain.”
Harcon at 600. A 420 named? No issue—if reachable.
One opening, he'd fillet it.
“If only a gap…… But no intent.”
Matchup. Environment and temperament.
But for me? Different story.
I eyed the lava. Exploration.
Not a skill. Like scattered rocks. No inefficient steps needed.
All thanks to Grandfell's lore.
Not as familiar as stone, so no creative tweaks. Fine. I wasn't alone.
I cast. Simple positional interference. Mana-heavy for unfamiliar material, but feasible.
Meaning.
Whoosh—!
The lava parted.
Harcon to me: “Foolish to doubt you even briefly, Sir Hoyeol!”
Shocked, that legendary knight. Players' awe? Natural.
“This guy's insane……!”
“Splitting lava now?!”
“What skill even is that?!”
Magic: creative, unlike rigid skills. Took days for Grandfell's mind to grasp. Explaining? Futile.
So to Harcon: “No need to climb stairs this time, Sir Harcon.”
Stoic yet quipping amid chaos.
Harcon drew his blade, smirking. “Can't ignore such courtesy!”
Lion Heart charged through the parted lava. Pure admiration.
Whoever's party—reliable bunch.
But my job wasn't done. Mana left? Maximize it. In the party, contributions meant XP and loot……!
Can't burn too much. Sustain the parting till knights were safe.
Limited mana.
Tiny mana meant interfering with the familiar: stone.
Why I claimed matchup edge.
Parted lava cooled fast, forms shifting.
……No helping it.
Vowed no nitpicking fights. Yet, elementary science again.
Cooled lava? Basalt. Still rock at core. My go-to.
Exploration, interference, manifestation. Swift, mana-light.
Crunch—!
Dozens of stone spears floated.
Whoosh—! I launched at the lava carp's flank.
“……Insane!!”
“For real?!”
“W-what are we witnessing……?”
Their stares? Irrelevant now. Magic pulling from nothing—my way.
I said calmly: “Direct hit.”