บท 6: Chapter 6
"Someone with no affiliation placed 1st? Is this for real?"
"Sung JiHan? Who's this guy? Does anyone know him?"
It'd been 10 years since Battle Net began spreading through the world.
Unlike in the beginning, the Bronze League had lost popularity because things became more interesting and fun to watch from Silver onward.
Not even guild officials were interested in tutorial matches.
However, it was a different story if one talked about Gangnam Area 1.
"To think that someone with no affiliation would come 1st in the rankings of Gangnam 1."
"I heard the average stats of the group were quite high…"
The prerequisites to participate in Gangnam 1 were quite high—your average stats had to be over nine, and your Gift had to be at least rank A.
Guild officials believed those were the minimum requirements to place within the top 50 in the tutorial, but that was just an average standard.
Each group that did the tutorial had slight differences.
'The last group was slightly less competitive. Even someone with a C-rank Gift managed to get through it.'
'The competition was quite high this time, though.'
The scouting teams from the top 10 Korean guilds often exchanged information, so they knew most of the Bronze League players that would be participating ahead of time.
League registration started in July; Gangnam 1's Bronze League started on July 31st.
It was expected that the Bronze League that would start in the second half of 2020 would be unprecedentedly difficult.
On top of that…
"I heard that Im GaYeong from the Twin Star Guild would be participating, so I was sure she would take 1st place."
"Four kills is usually enough to get you the top score. Six kills doesn't make sense."
Im GaYeong was a promising Twin Star Guild rookie with an S-rank Gift, and the expectations the Twin Star scouts had of her were so high that they'd said that Im GaYeong was going to finish 1st anyway.
Furthermore, Im GaYeong had shown skills worthy of the expectations everyone had of her.
Four kills…
If it wasn't for the irregular called Sung JiHan, she would have naturally finished 1st.
"It's too bad that we couldn't collect data. Why don't they broadcast the tutorials…? Ugh."
"For now, investigate this Sung JiHan person. The family name 'Sung' is pretty unique, so something should come up."
"Yes, understood."
Most guilds had no data on Sung JiHan, but it was different for the two guilds he had affected.
"I've finished collecting the data…"
The Turtle Guild's Warrior and Archer that Sung JiHan killed had killcams installed—videos that showed the last 30 seconds before they died in third-person view.
"I really… can't believe it."
The scouting leader was impressed.
It was known that the balance was terrible in Battle Net, but…
'How is this possible? Is he really a level 2?'
The Warrior and Archer lowered their heads.
Their abilities weren't bad, objectively speaking; both had an A-rank Gift, and their equipment was the best among B-rank gear.
The Warrior had even been given high-ranking full platemail armor.
'The weapons the urks were using should've been rank F or E at best. To think he'd be able to break B-rank equipment with such bad weapons…'
The speed JiHan showed was also impressive.
Based on what the scout had seen, JiHan's Agility should be at least 15 or maybe even 20.
Of course, his Strength should be around that high too… No, he was able to pierce the armor with such a bad weapon, so it was probably higher.
Just what kind of Gift did he have to be able to show such ability at level 2?
The scout's eyes shone with interest.
'Based on his clothes, he isn't part of any guilds. We must scout him at all costs!'
He'd joined the battle wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants as if he'd just woken up and made six kills from an initially unarmed state. It was quite unbelievable.
The team leader nodded several times and then looked at the two in front of him.
The grass might look greener on the other side, but the guild's promising members had to be comforted.
"Don't be too disheartened. I can guarantee that you are both quite capable. You'll be able to pass next time for sure."
"Ah…"
"Is… is that so…?"
"Yes. Just think of it like… Um, you encountered a natural disaster this time, so it might be better if you participated in the next League. After all, if you stay in the same League as that monster, he might steal your chance to move up to Silver."
Their faces paled at the scout team manager's words.
Being in the same League as that monster?
Just thinking about it was terrifying.
"Then I hope you rest well today."
"Yes…"
"Thanks."
After seeing JiHan's performance, the Turtle Guild's scout team manager decided to take action.
The head of HR's third division took a personal look at the matter.
"Is this the data on Sung JiHan?"
"Yes…"
Do Hyeok-gyu had tried to kill JiHan as soon as it started and ended up becoming the first to die.
He couldn't take his eyes off the executive manager.
'This person is the rumored golden parachute…'
Lee HaYeon, according to the rumors, was still in her early twenties.
She had a beauty comparable to that of a celebrity, and based on her youthful appearance, she should've been a new employee, but she was a woman who had the title of 'Executive Manager'.
There were many rumors circulating about her.
'Woah…'
Do Hyeok-gyu didn't care about those things.
HaYeon frowned when she noticed his stare. "What are you looking at?"
"I… I'm sorry."
"Be careful next time. You may leave now."
'Yes…" Do Hyeok-gyu was kicked out after leaving the USB containing the data behind.
As he left the office, a woman standing behind HaYeon stepped forward, a cold expression on her face.
She was HaYeon's bodyguard.
"Miss, should I kill him?"
"My goodness. Why do you always talk about killing when you haven't killed a single person before?"
"I've killed before."
"Pf, in the tutorial? Let him be. Anyways, GaYeong, come here. Let's look at the person who stole your place."
GaYeong, the Twin Star Guild's promising rising star, had been serving HaYeon since they were young, so her priority was to protect the mistress, but…
"Understood."
She couldn't help but hold curiosity toward the person who'd taken 1st from her.
Both were soon surprised.
"GaYeong, thank goodness."
"What is it?"
"Thank goodness he wasn't summoned next to you."
"I can't deny that…"
People from the Twin Star Guild had thought Hyeok-gyu, the one just kicked from the office, would finish among the top 20.
You could say Agile A was a top-tier Gift for the tutorial, but JiHan had avoided his attacks with ease.
"If, by any chance, you're matched with him, it should be better to avoid him, right?"
"…" GaYeong nodded.
HaYeon looked at her biting her lips.
They'd spent a lot of time together, so HaYeon knew why she was making such an expression.
She'd received an order she didn't like.
'Ugh.'
"Forget it. There's no way you'll lose, so fight and trample on him."
"It's okay, miss. I'll avoid him."
"It's an order. After all, we need to gather more information about him."
"If that's the case… Understood." GaYeong's expression relaxed.
HaYeon laughed and then turned her gaze to the monitor again.
For some reason, JiHan's face seemed familiar.
'I feel like I've seen him before…'
* * *
After returning home, JiHan checked the messages that popped up before him.
[You've finished 1st place in the tutorial.]
[As a reward, experience gained will be increased by 50%.]
[Your level has increased by 3.]
[GP isn't awarded in tutorial mode.]
'I'm low level, so my level's rising quickly.'
Back when he was a ranker in the USA, it would've taken him a month to gain a level.
To think it would increase by three in one game…
JiHan made a satisfied expression and distributed the stat points.
'I should invest the unused stat points in Martial Power…'
Once again, his Martial Power increased immediately.
As his Martial Power reached nine, JiHan turned his eyes to the empty title slot.
He'd obtained a title after finishing 1st place in the tutorial.
[The One Who Conquered the Tutorial - Bronze]
[A title given to a player who came 1st in the tutorial. While in Bronze, all of your stats will be increased by 1, and your experience will be increased by 20%.]
Although the title only worked in Bronze League, it was still useful.
He used the title immediately.
'My Martial Power reached 10.'
He checked his status window.
Name: Sung JiHan
Level: 6
Affiliation: Bronze League - Gangnam Area 1
Martial Power: 10
Magic Power: 6
Class: None (You can choose a class)
Gift: Wanderer's Eye (Rank F)
- Can analyze other players well.
Title: The One Who Conquered the Tutorial - Bronze
Achievement Points: 11,600
The stats had improved slightly compared to when he'd reached level 2, but he didn't have any skills, and his Gift was still ranked F, so he still had a long way to go.
However, it would be enough to have an easy time in the Bronze League.
'I should quickly reach level 25 and pave the way for the budding sprouts.'
Once he reached level 25, he wouldn't have to play every single day—he'd just have to wait for the Silver League promotion match.
'But…'
His class section was shining.
JiHan pressed it.
[You've reached level 5, so you can obtain a basic class.]
[The classes available are the following.]
- Warrior
- Archer
- Mage
- Support
[Which class will you choose?]
'So now it's time for class selection.'
Most people didn't have a class when they first started, and they were given the option to choose one once they reached level 5.
If you belonged to a guild, you could do it even at a lower level by using a Battle Net crystal.
'If it weren't for the Achievement Shop, I would've chosen Warrior…'
In his past life, JiHan was a 'Martial Saint', a special class that was the third evolution of the Warrior.
It was a class that helped develop Martial Power and helped with using martial arts.
Since it was a path he'd taken before, choosing it would allow him to grow more smoothly.
'Considering the class addition slot available in the Achievement Shop…'
He could get an extra class for 10,000 achievement points, so that opened another path for him.
'I should get another unique stat.'
JiHan's hand moved toward one of the four classes.
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