Chapter 19: Free Team - (1)
Sanghyun checked the status of the skill he had diligently been improving.
It was notoriously hard to raise the proficiency, to the point where it felt almost disgusting, but every increase brought imnse satisfaction.
Depending on the coefficient linked to the system, when the skill leveled up, its duration or destructive power would change accordingly.
『Demon Bash』
■ Skill Level: Stage 2 (35.3%)
■ Skill Description: Induces a 2.2-second stiffness state on monsters or players exposed to an attack.
With the skill leveling up by one stage, Demon Bash now had a stiffness ti of 2.2 seconds.
Combining it with the 10% duration increase from the 【With Overwhelming Strength!】 title, it effectively reached about 2.4 seconds.
Assuming a monster or player was hit by Demon Bash, it could induce a status condition lasting nearly 5 seconds.
"I need to keep refining it. Higher-level players or monsters probably have high resistance, so it won't work as easily."
Sanghyun always set his sights on the future, not the present.
If he didn’t steadily raise his skill levels now, they would eventually beco useless.
In his past life, countless skills had been neutralized that way.
Thinking back on it was truly devastating.
『Two-Handed Sword Training』
■ Skill Level: Stage 2 (0.1%)
■ Skill Description: Significantly increases adaptability for all swords except daggers and one-handed longswords.
"So, they added ‘significantly.’ Wordplay at its finest."
Sanghyun let out a chuckle at the word significantly being added to the description after reaching stage 2.
Still, even that single word made the skill feel more impactful, which was certainly a gain.
Besides these two, the rest of his skills had not yet advanced beyond stage 1 due to insufficient refinent.
Of course, even reaching this point was already a huge leap forward.
Raising skill proficiency was never sothing that could be done overnight.
It required a long-term plan that could take months.
However, thanks to his diligent use, the skills had improved rapidly.
"Now handling a one-handed longsword shouldn't be difficult either."
Sanghyun gently stroked the longsword placed beside the greatsword in the middle of his living room.
It was a lightweight longsword purchased for training to develop the One-Handed Sword Training skill.
It was a bronze-grade artifact, bought for a fairly cheap price of 5 million won, mainly due to its crude appearance.
"I also got a work smartphone set up, so I can filter calls now."
On the sofa was another smartphone, not ant for casual use but for scheduling dungeon and gate-related appointnts.
It was only for contacting people with genuine value, like Kim Miso and reporter Park Jungmin.
It also served as a tool for managing the duties of Sanghyun’s newly established solo guild, created just two days ago.
The official na of the solo guild was SH, taken from Sanghyun’s initials.
It had already been formally registered.
Aside from the fact that it had only one mber, it was recognized equally in all official guild affairs.
"Whew."
Sanghyun let out a tense sigh as he recalled the plan to attack the Chunui Station Gate scheduled for that day.
Even though he knew every detail about the gate, unexpected variables could still arise.
Those variables were his teammates.
They weren’t a constant factor in his calculations but an unpredictable variable.
Their competence would be quite important.
Although prospects seed positive, complacency was not an option.
He had to stay alert.
First.
Before eting Kim Miso and the team mbers, there was one scheduled task to handle.
eting Park Jungmin, a reporter from The Player’s Journal, a eting that Kim Miso had strongly recomnded.
* * *
"You’re quite handso."
"That’s the first ti I’ve heard that."
"Are you saying no one has ever called you good-looking after seeing you, Mr. Shin Sanghyun? That’s so extre jealousy!"
"I know you’re just being polite, but it still feels nice to hear."
"Not at all! I’m actually pretty honest. I don’t know how to flatter, which is why Kim Miso likes ."
"Either way, it’s nice to et you."
"Likewise! I first learned about you from the Jamsil Station Quest Area incident. And now, you’ve added another scoop, haven’t you?"
"So I’ve heard."
Sanghyun was well aware that the recent video where he taught Choi Youngcheol a harsh lesson had beco a hit on PlTube.
While Choi Youngcheol’s accumulated bad reputation played a role, the video’s flawless buildup and resolution made it even more impactful.
To top it off, ending with Choi Youngcheol’s utter humiliation turned it into an even bigger issue.
"From what I’ve gathered, Player Choi Youngcheol is still receiving treatnt. Though, there are rumors he’s just using it as an excuse to avoid leaving the hospital."
"His wrist probably isn’t in good shape."
Sanghyun spoke indifferently.
He felt no guilt or remorse—not even a gram.
In fact, he thought he had shown remarkable restraint.
If this were the chaotic era of 2040, Choi Youngcheol would have been dead already.
The only reason things felt awkward was because outright targeting another player’s life was still considered taboo in this era.
"Let’s stop talking about others and focus on you, Mr. Shin Sanghyun. Are you aware that you’re currently the number one search term in the player community?"
"I’ve heard rumors but haven’t looked it up myself."
"You’re incredibly popular! You see, most players are ranked by level, right?"
"That’s true."
"But you’ve broken that mold. You’ve disrupted the familiar hierarchy built around levels and numbers!"
"That wasn’t my intention, though."
"Of course not! I understand! But what matters is the impact. People are starting to believe they can break through their limits without being shackled by levels."
Park Jungmin spoke fluently, just as one would expect from a reporter.
Sanghyun understood what he ant.
Don’t be intimidated by low levels. Don’t think of your limits in advance. Don’t believe there’s a tree too high to climb!
It was a ssage suggesting that he had provided both the reason and the spark for such thoughts.
Park Jungmin continued speaking.
"These days, there’s fierce global competition to recruit talented players early. You’re aware of that, right?"
"Yes. I hear promising players can command any price they want."
There was no way Sanghyun didn’t know.
He had seen news reports in the past about the astronomical worth of promising players, often leaving him dumbfounded.
Tens of billions were just the starting point for negotiations.
"According to my confidential sources, there are already four guilds within the country trying to approach you."
"One of them must be Eden."
"The other three are also big nas you’d recognize instantly. And internationally, there are five more guilds interested."
"What?"
"This isn’t just casual interest. They’ve already submitted formal identity verification requests to the Korean Player Union."
"……."
If this information was true, it ant Park Jungmin’s sources reached as high as executive levels within the Union.
Sanghyun had expected so interest from various guilds—any player with unusual abilities would attract attention.
But he hadn’t anticipated formal verification requests to confirm his player credentials.
Once a request was submitted, notification would arrive within three days.
"You should stay on your guard from now on. Many people will start seeking you out under the banner of guilds."
Sanghyun nodded silently.
He could already imagine the situation without needing further explanation.
"Now! Shall we officially start the interview about Mr. Shin Sanghyun’s dreams and aspirations?"
Park Jungmin, the star reporter specializing in exclusives for The Player’s Journal, looked at Sanghyun with an intense gaze.
The touch of a star-maker’s hand.
All of his interest was deeply focused on Sanghyun alone.
* * *
After finishing the interview with Park Jungmin, which had made him lose track of ti, Sanghyun headed straight for the Chunui Station Gate.
He arrived 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled ti to et Kim Miso and the team mbers, but she was already there.
Unexpectedly, soone Sanghyun hadn’t anticipated was with her, drinking tea.
Why is Shin Taeri here?
It was surprising.
Shin Taeri.
Like Jo Jinho, she was an assassin-class player from the Eden Guild, recognized as a top-tier talent and a renowned na.
In the future, she would beco a renowned strategist, particularly skilled in handling the troubleso North Korean Gates that plagued the Korean Player Union.
In his past life, the only ti Sanghyun had seen her up close was before the large-scale gate raid in 2045, when players lined up before the mission.
They lived in completely different worlds, so Sanghyun had no reason to build any rapport with her.
However, she was famous enough that her face was well known to him.
Now, there she was, right in front of him, alongside Kim Miso, staring directly at him.
It didn’t seem like she intended to join them for the gate raid.
Considering the level restrictions, she didn’t et the conditions at all.
"Hello?"
Sanghyun cautiously greeted Kim Miso and Shin Taeri.
Kim Miso stepped between them and spoke up.
"Unnie, this is Mr. Shin Sanghyun I told you about. Mr. Shin Sanghyun, this is Shin Taeri, a famous figure from our Eden Guild. We’re close enough that I just talk casually with her!"
"Ah, it’s nice to et you, Ms. Shin Taeri."
Sanghyun greeted her politely.
If Kim Miso, known as the Goddess of Slaughter, had always piqued Sanghyun’s curiosity in his past life—
Then Shin Taeri, known as the Shadow Assassin, was soone Sanghyun had always admired.
Her restrained tone, the charisma exuding from every step and movent, and her overwhelming presence filled with killing intent.
To add a bit of personal admiration, she felt like a walking fashion spread.
eting soone who was like a celebrity among players this closely felt like a dream.
Living life all over again has its perks.
That thought crossed his mind. After all, he was living his life again.
"Nice to et you. I’ve heard a lot about you. Miso talks about you non-stop."
"Unnie!"
"It’s not like I made anything up."
Despite Kim Miso’s flustered reaction, Shin Taeri’s expression remained calm and unchanging, like a serene lake.
Although she had just passed thirty, her youthful appearance made her look even younger than Kim Miso.
It seed to be thanks to her short hair, styled with a soft wave at the ends, and cute bangs that perfectly aligned with her eyebrows.
She reached out for a handshake first, and Sanghyun took her hand.
Despite her delicate appearance, her palm was covered in calluses, far surpassing Sanghyun’s own.
It felt like shaking hands with soone wearing work gloves.
It was clear she had pushed herself to the extre with her dagger training.
"……."
Shin Taeri stared silently into Sanghyun’s eyes for a long mont.
If Sanghyun had sensed a strong aura from Kim Miso, from Shin Taeri, he felt an intense, chilling coldness.
"Mr. Shin Sanghyun, I can see the ferocity in your eyes—born from trials, hardship, and storms. You’re just like ."
"…Excuse ?"
"I see another version of myself in you."
Though her tone seed indifferent, her words struck Sanghyun deep in his chest.
Did she really see it?
The pain and struggles of being an ordinary player, which had inevitably piled up before his return.
"Mr. Sanghyun, don’t take it too seriously. Unnie likes to joke around like that, haha."
"Ah, no, it’s fine."
"Unnie was curious about you and wanted to et you. That’s why she stopped by. She just can’t hold back when she’s curious about sothing."
"It’s an honor to et you."
Sanghyun bowed his head again.
Showing proper respect on a first eting, even two or three tis, wasn’t excessive.
He genuinely wanted to build a good relationship with Shin Taeri if possible.
She was a player with excellent self-discipline—soone he could learn a lot from.
"Before I leave, I’d like to make one request."
"What is it?"
Unlike Kim Miso’s lighthearted tone, Shin Taeri’s words carried a cold weight that seeped into the bones.
Sanghyun tensed up for a mont.
Shin Taeri was clearly still a powerful force, even now.
"Would you exchange five quick moves with ?"
A sudden challenge from Shin Taeri!
It felt like poetic justice—just after delivering a harsh lesson to Choi Youngcheol, now it seed the tables were about to turn.
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