Chapter 95. Guild Buff (1)
It made sense.
“Si, Kim Shimun-nim? Are these all golems… right?”
More than a dozen golems.
And not just any golems, but ones made entirely of mithril, at work in various places.
“Yes. They’re golems.”
The first thing that came to mind for Park Jinwook upon hearing the answer was:
‘How much did all this cost?’
Money.
Although mithril wasn’t as rare as orichalcum or adamantium, it was still one of the three major supermetals of the Arena, commanding a high price.
‘Well, for someone with Kim Shimun-nim’s wealth, it’s not surprising.’
He’s a brother who could make Lee Yujeong, the next head of Holy Trinity, and Kim Shihyuk, the future leader of the association, freeze in their tracks.
And that alone would be more than enough. Not to mention, he is the only producer in the world of the Arena disease cure. The sales report for the cure he held could barely be fathomed by an ordinary individual.
‘Mithril golems are just about right for Kim Shimun-nim’s scale.’
With that thought, Park Jinwook nodded and handed over the documents he brought.
“Here are the sales reports for the cure for this month.”
“Thank you. But you didn’t have to come all the way here. It would’ve been fine to just email them to me.”
“Ha-ha! But for the first month’s sales, I had to deliver them in person. Plus, I have something else to discuss.”
“What is it?”
As Kim Shimun tilted his head in curiosity, Park Jinwook continued.
“All the guild recruits you mentioned last time have entered Korea. They’re ready to go through the membership process immediately.”
“Ah, that’s what it was.”
Empty slots in the guild. After enlisting his party members into the guild, Kim Shimun had separately asked Park Jinwook to fill the vacancies.
‘Can’t let those slots go to waste.’
The uses for a guild receiving the World Tree’s buff were endless. Of course, the base approach was to charge for membership.
“And, Kim Shimun-nim?”
There was another purpose.
“We’ve also extended an invitation to those from the Continental faction as per your request.”
Only two of them, but still.
Park Jinwook instinctively lowered his voice and whispered, “Just as you predicted, both of them came. Honestly, I was quite surprised. They’re famous for not getting along, so I never thought they’d come together…”
At that, “That’s good to hear.”
Kim Shimun, as if he had expected this, “Please call them in.”
Nodded with a slight grin.
* * *
Ranker’s Palace.
The most expensive building in South Korea.
“Hmph. For a bunch of small country folks, they sure have splurged.”
A fat man who had just entered the entrance grunted disinterestedly.
“Kang-hyung, do you not know who the owner of this place is? You should refrain from making such remarks…”
A pleasant baritone voice. A tall man matching the voice cautiously spoke, yet
“Ha! You dare to command me? You?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Shut it!”
The fat man’s eyes darted about as he snapped back.
“Riding on the coattails of the guild master has made you lose sight of yourself.”
“Kang-hyung, you’re misunderstanding. I just…”
“Blathering on and on!”
The fat man’s voice grew louder. Kang Hwawi glared at the taller man with an irritated voice.
“Seo Wiryong, you should know your place soon. You’ve heard the news about the duel, haven’t you?”
“…Yes.”
At the mention of the word “duel,” the tall man named Seo Wiryong’s face darkened. It wasn’t without reason.
“You must have also heard the rumors that the Spear King has won, right?”
“Yes.”
The immense constellation of a guild master of the Continental Guild.
Any guild member with a certain position couldn’t be unaware of the changes occurring there.
It was the same for Kang Hwawi and Seo Wiryong, the promising talents of the Continental Guild.
“The Spear King will soon take the position of the guild master. Then, those you’ve been pushing forward will also be…”
Before Kang Hwawi could finish his threatening statement, “Oh my. Sounds like something interesting is happening?”
A thin, smooth voice rang out. Did they recognize the owner of the voice?
“That voice!”
Kang Hwawi’s face contorted even more.
He quickly turned his head to glare at the source of the voice.
“Oh dear, how unpleasant. Hey, wild Boar-ssi, won’t it be better if you don’t look at me with such an ugly face?”
“Shut it! Riko, what are you doing here?”
“Ha. You’re as stupid as ever.”
The woman with the thin eyes, Riko, responded with a smile as smooth as her voice.
“Me, the winner of the Japanese Gold Debut match, why wouldn’t I come here?”
“Hmph! You, a winner? It paints a pathetic future for that vile island.”
“Oh my, we think alike? I also see a disgusting future for the Continental.”
Riko didn’t lose out, layering her words with scorn. While looking down at Kang Hwawi, her slender eyes glanced sideways at the tall Seo Wiryong.
“Really… even the Spear King lacks discernment. To overlook such a fine man.”
Did they realize what she meant?
“That woman!”
Kang Hwawi’s eyes, buried in flesh, suddenly sparked with fury.
At the same time, whoosh. A faint blue aura surrounded Kang Hwawi’s hefty fist. It was a manifestation of Ki, indicating him as a high-level player.
“I’ll smash that damned mouth of yours!”
With a leap, Kang Hwawi propelled himself off the ground. Despite his hefty build, his body soared through the air with ease. It was undoubtedly a threatening charge.
“Ha! A pig trying to look down on others.”
Riko sneered, with already several sharp throwing stars in her hand. The shurikens, filled between her fingers like sunflower petals, “I’m going to turn that fat face into a beehive~.”
Riko swung her arm at Kang Hwawi, intending to strike.
Except, click.
“That’s enough, Riko.”
A long sheath blocked her hand before she could.
On the other side, “Hold it, Kang-hyung.”
“Damn it! Seo Wiryong! How dare you interrupt me?!”
Seo Wiryong had swiftly caught up with Kang Hwawi to restrain him.
Riko sighed, glancing at Kang Hwawi who was bellowing loudly, “I don’t like it, stirring up trouble like this.”
She casually shook her hand, gathering the shurikens she held. Then, she turned around.
“Why did you stop it? Yuto.”
She glanced at the owner of the sheath, a neat-looking schoolboy wearing a uniform. Holding a sword almost half his height, Yuto answered emotionlessly, “Because I had to.”
“That wild boar need to be educated, it’s only right.”
“That changes if it affects me, though.”
“Why would it affect you?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Yuto’s expressionless eyes looked at Riko.
“We came here for the guild buffs.”
“I know that much.”
“Then you know who owns this building.”
Ranker’s Palace.
The owner of this colossal building was a globally renowned Korean ranker. Naturally, Riko, a promising talent from Japan, was well aware of the building’s owner. Yuto continued, emotionless.
“Kenshin-nim dislikes unnecessary disturbances. Especially if someone who’s come to join his guild causes trouble…”
“Enough, enough. We’re joining for a just cause, and you have another reason, don’t you? You fanboy of Kenshin-nim.”
“Riko.”
“Remember to add ‘nuna’ when you address me.”
“You’d receive respect if you acted your age. Aging on the outside doesn’t count.”
Yuto snorted emotionlessly.
“This damn brat.”
Riko’s temples throbbed, but that was it.
“Seo Wiryooooong! You really…!”
“Well, it seems like the plan worked out more or less, so let’s call it here, as you said…”
She smirked as a shout came from the opposite side.
“Your noble Kenshin-nim dislikes disturbances, right?”
She squinted at Yuto.
“…”
A crack appeared in Yuto’s impassive façade.
He looked at Riko with a hint of disdain in his eyes.
“Disgusting, Riko. Truly disgusting.”
“Is this what they call the complexities of adulthood? If Kenshin-nim drives those troublemakers out, the spot might open up for us Japanese, right?”
“Starting with the plan to exploit Kenshin-nim’s emotions is already distasteful. Disgusting.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, fanboy~.”
Riko waved her hand nonchalantly as she walked away.
Yuto, shaking his head slightly at her and then glancing at the still-shouting Kang Hwawi, muttered, “Stupid pig.”
He shook his head again and followed Riko.
* * *
“I’ll be back, so take care and continue with your work.”
The mithril golems, shining brilliantly, perhaps due to the influence of the Philosopher’s Stone, saluted in unison.
“Guys.”
Their somewhat cute appearance made Kim Shimun chuckle as he left the laboratory.
When had she arrived?
A clear, beautiful woman stood at the door.
“Orabeoni.”
“Yujeong.”
There stood Yujeong. Seeing Kim Shimun, her lips curved up gently.
“You seem to be in a good mood?”
“Uh? Oh! It’s because of the golems. But when did you get here? Have you been waiting long?”
“No. I just arrived.”
“Is that so?”
Kim Shimun nodded and moved forward. Yujeong matched her steps with him.
“Are you researching golems nowadays? Just a while ago, senior Jinwook was startled to see a mithril golem.”
“That’s right. But those are one-time use, and I’m working on creating a separate production golem.”
“A production golem?”
Yujeong’s eyes widened at Kim Shimun’s words. And for good reason.
“Isn’t that something only diamond-rank alchemists can create?”
She knew, as a top-tier arena player, just how much investment went into making a summoned golem. It devoured so much money and materials. And that it was a realm not just anyone could delve into. Shimun replied with a nonchalance that contrasted the complexity of the subject.
“Typically, that’s true, but in reality, if you roughly grasp the concept or the principle, it’s not that difficult.”
-Beep!! Not again, not again! That’s something not just anyone can do, you monster, oppa!
The Philosopher’s Stone piped up immediately. However, Yujeong, unable to hear the Stone’s words, simply nodded in response to Shimun’s answer.
“I see. It’s said that mages can’t perform magic without reaching a certain state, even if they know the spell. I guess alchemy is different.”
Shimun just continued walking down the corridor, nodding his head without much reaction. Then, he suddenly stopped.
“Oh right. Yujeong, speaking of which, I haven’t seen Malsuk around lately?”
Go Malsuk had been living temporarily at Ranker’s Palace until she could find a place of her own. She had been conspicuously absent since her return from the black market.
“Um… she’s been doing the same as you, orabeoni. Focused on training and arena battles.”
Yujeong replied with a subtle expression. Yet, “Is that so? Well,”
Shimun nodded, showing no particular reaction.
“I’ve been holed up in the lab too much myself. So, Malsuk isn’t coming to the meeting?”
A sense of relief washed over Yujeong at his words.
“No, she said she’ll attend. She mentioned wanting to keep tabs on the promising talents from various countries.”
“Really? She said that?”
“…Actually, she said she wanted to remember some impressive faces.”
“Haha! That’s so like Malsuk.”
As they exchanged these words, they had unknowingly arrived at the reception room of Ranker’s Palace.
“You’re here?”
“Have you arrived?”
“Are you here?”
Kim Shihyuk, Park Jinwook, and Go Malsuk, who had arrived earlier, greeted them.
Behind them, “That woman is known as the Unbreakable Saintess, right?”
“So she really did step down from being the master of the Holy Trinity Guild to join this one.”
“With a growth buff like that, it’s no wonder. But aren’t there other rankers here?”
“Probably got blocked by Sword Saint. We’re here instead since they said no rankers.”
“The effect of the growth buff must be solid, then.”
The room filled with promising candidates eagerly seeking the guild’s growth buff. Each one radiated an extraordinary aura. Perhaps due to being next to a ranker like Yujeong, their attention naturally drifted towards Shimun.
“But who’s that guy next to the Saintess?”
“Must be a friend of Sword Saint or the Night Hunter.”
“I know that guy. He’s the winner of Korea’s Gold Debut, right?”
“What? That guy?”
“Hmm~ He’s handsome. Totally my type.”
A few recognizing Shimun set off a buzz among the hopefuls. A Gold Debut winner. Given that most of them had similar championship experiences, their interest was only natural. Kim Shihyuk then addressed the increasingly rowdy crowd.
“Please keep it down.”
Silence quickly descended in the reception room. Kim Shihyuk scanned the quiet hopefuls before announcing, “We’ll begin with the guild membership process now. When I call your name…”
“Hold on. I have an objection.”
Interrupting the silence and Kim Shihyuk’s speech, the voice belonged to a somewhat short and chubby man. After glancing at the documents handed by Park Jinwook, Kim Shihyuk turned to the man who had raised the objection.
“You’re a reinforced player from the Continental, right? What’s your objection?”