[Translator – Pr?ks]
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Chapter 185: Heavenly City (4)
The Golden Tavern, located in District 9.
The facilities were old, but many residents frequented it. This was because the tavern was the source of all rumors.
“Ugh! I saw it with my own eyes. The Hamorn Guild, they were just taken down. By a newbie, no less.”
“A real newbie?”
“Yeah, a newbie. Straight out of the shelter, they said. And then their badge was activated. What does that mean? It means they were a brand-new newbie who hadn’t even been identified yet.”
“Hmm…”
The drunkard’s words made the people around him gleam.
The Hamorn Guild.
A renowned guild in the Heavenly City.
They ranked 2nd in the District 9 and held a prestigious position within the top 7 even in the upper districts, known for their skills.
Their only drawback was not having a top-tier master like the Seven Lords.
[TL/N: ‘Lord’ could change in the future depending on the context, i.e, what is their exact rank, if someone higher ranked them are present or not etc.]
Nevertheless, they were a formidable guild. But to think that a newbie who had just completed their identification had taken them down!
It would be strange not to be surprised.
“Ahem! The snacks are gone?”
“Hey, lady! Another bowl of corn on the cob here! And some meat too! So, how did that Kim Minwoo guy fight?”
“It was amazing, just like this! As soon as he stretched out his hand, thousands of skeletons started to surround him…”
“Skeletons? You mean the Hamorn Guild lost to mere skeletons?”
“Oh, come on! Stop interrupting! I’m trying to explain!”
“Alright, alright. I won’t interrupt, so tell me.”
“Ahem! So, it was like this…”
The drunkard continued his explanation with gusto.
Starting with mid-tier undead like Specters and Dullahans, following the skeletons.
He told the story of Merhen, who defeated the mages with a single gesture, and Cedric, who faced Amteron.
“In the end, that Amteron guy even used Heavenly Projection.”
“Heavenly Projection?”
“With the possibility of being defeated by a newbie, what else could he do?”
“And then?”
“But, he lost. Completely. That Necromancer, Kim Minwoo, was no joke. How could a Necromancer wield a sword so well…”
The drunkard said with hazy eyes.
The precise coordination of Cedric and Merhen.
The sight of Kim Minwoo actively suppressing Amteron alongside his summoned creatures was simply beautiful.
It was a fantastic battle.
“I was sure of it. He’ll definitely go far. Maybe he’ll become the Eighth Lord instead of the Seventh.”
Everyone chuckled at the drunkard’s words.
It was absurd to talk about the Seventh or Eighth Lord with just the same rank.
However.
“Well, there might be a possibility…”
It seemed they had to leave a sliver of possibility open. The fact that a brand-new newbie who had just arrived in the Heavenly City had crushed the Hamorn Guild proved their overflowing potential.
Just then.
Thump!
A figure stood up, slamming their beer mug on the table.
Despite wearing a jet-black robe, he was so massive that he easily exceeded 3 meters in height. As he removed the robe, the face of a giant wolf was revealed.
Growling, he approached and grabbed the drunkard by the collar, lifting him up.
“Say it again. Seventh Lord?”
The drunkard’s eyes darted around as he kept his mouth shut. Meanwhile, the people in the tavern widened their eyes.
A giant werewolf.
There was a large, horizontal scar across his eye.
It was impossible not to recognize him.
“E-Ermian?”
The Red Flag Guild, ranked 1st in the 9th district.
He was the leader of the Red Flag in District 9. Moreover, his fame was just the tip of the iceberg compared to other aspects.
Ermian.
He was more famous as the younger brother of the ‘Blood Wolf,’ one of the Seven Lords.
Naturally, the drunkard’s eyes trembled as he was held by the collar.
“I-I misspoke! Please spare me just this once!”
“You will tell me what you saw. Everything, without leaving anything out.”
At Ermian’s growling demeanor, the drunkard nodded frantically.
* * *
As befitting the 2nd ranked guild, the Hamorn Guild’s building had a certain charm.
Sitting in the guild master’s seat, Kim Minwoo looked at Amteron.
“Our Hamorn Guild has a total of three hundred guild members in the 9th district…”
“Yeah, well, that’s fine. About the skill you used earlier.”
“Ah, are you talking about Heavenly Projection?”
“How do you use that?”
“You accumulate Merit Points. You completed the recruitment-related quest, right?”
Kim Minwoo nodded.
“Could you say ‘shop window’?”
“Shop window.”
[Merit Point Shop opens!]
[Current Merit Points: 200]
[Items for Sale]
[1. Heavenly Projection Lv1. (100)]
[2. Bronze Sponsorship Certificate (100)]
[3. Silver Sponsorship Certificate (500)]
[4. Gold Sponsorship Certificate (1,000)]
[5. Platinum Sponsorship Certificate (10,000)]
[6. Diamond Sponsorship Certificate (100,000)]
[7. ??]
“Can you see the items?”
“Yeah, I see them. But Heavenly Projection, it only costs 100 Merit Points?”
“Um… it’s not just 100… it costs 100.”
“Huh?”
As Kim Minwoo tilted his head in confusion, Amteron scratched his head.
“Um, how many Merit Points did you earn from this quest…?”
“200.”
“Wow. The rewards for murderous difficulty are indeed substantial.”
“Is that a lot?”
“Usually, a somewhat difficult quest gives around 10 Merit Points.”
“Then it is a lot, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. And… Heavenly Projection doesn’t end with just purchasing it.”
“Then?”
“You need to enhance it to make it usable. See Level 1 there?”
“I see it.”
“My Heavenly Projection level is 10.”
He roughly understood the structure.
‘They also sell Sponsorship Certificates.’
Kim Minwoo also had a Sponsorship Certificate.
[Diamond Sponsorship Certificate]
[Rank: Special]
[A Sponsorship Certificate that seems to grant special privileges when possessed.]
[Effect 1. Allows you to take the test in the ‘Trial Grounds’ when possessed.]
[Effect 2. The test range is up to ‘Diamond’.]
It was an item given by the mid-level angel, Jipael. He took it out and looked at Amteron.
“The Sponsorship Certificates sold in the shop. Are they the same as this one?”
“They are the same.”
“100,000 Merit Points. That must be expensive, right?”
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
“…Very expensive. Simply put, it means the sponsor is incredibly well-off.”
“But why did you mess with me? You have a wealthy sponsor.”
At that question, Amteron scratched his cheek and smiled bitterly.
“It’s better to join a guild anyway, and if the conversation goes well, wouldn’t you be able to join our guild without any conflict?”
“What if I had died?”
“I wasn’t planning on killing you. Instead… I was thinking of persuading you through physical conversation. Hehe…”
“You speak well. But is it really better to join a guild?”
“Yes. How many secrets do you think there are in this Heavenly City, Mr. Kim Minwoo?”
“Well, there must be quite a few.”
“That’s right. Even District 9, with the largest population, hasn’t uncovered all the secrets. It’s a place with various rewards, quests, and hidden pieces. What if the guild helped you with that information?”
“Certainly, growth would be faster.”
“Yes. We can push and pull each other up. Moreover, this relationship will continue not only in the 9th district but also in the upper districts.”
“So the Hamorn Guild is also present in the upper districts?” “Yes. You can think of it as the top guilds having connections in the upper districts. Also, like me, the leader of the 9th district, there are leaders in other districts.”
“Alright. Then what does the guild gain? Increasing its size?”
“A guild is a group. And groups have their own separate shops.”
“Ah, like a guild shop?”
“Yes. The higher the guild, the greater the benefits.”
So that’s why they’re desperately gathering members.
He roughly understood the situation.
And he could figure out what he had to do. Bowing his head and joining the Hamorn Guild here?
‘That’s a bit boring.’
Wouldn’t the guild master naturally receive the most benefits?
“You, come to my guild.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I saved your life. So you have to offer something in return. It’s not difficult, right?”
Amteron rolled his eyes as if perplexed.
“Are you saying… to switch guilds right now?”
“Why? Is it not possible?”
“No. It’s not impossible, but…”
“Then it can be done. All of your guild members too.”
“…The higher-ups won’t stay still.”
“Of course they won’t. What do you think they’ll do from above?”
Amteron pondered seriously.
This is District 9.
The Hamorn Guild is also active in the upper districts.
However, it wasn’t easy to visit the lower districts from the upper districts. There were many sacrifices to be made as one descended.
Moving from the 8th district to the 9th district only required handing over a moderate amount of Merit Points.
But to move from the 1st district to the 9th district?
The cost was unimaginable.
On top of that, there were massive penalties.
If free movement were possible, the 9th district would already be a playground for the guilds of the Seven Lords.
Considering that…
“People from the 8th district might come. No, considering the special nature of the 9th district, even those from the 7th district could come.”
“In other words, that’s the limit, right? Isn’t it?”
“Um… that’s true, but…”
“So, whether it’s the 8th or 7th district, do you think they can handle it if they come?”
“…”
Amteron fell silent.
Could they handle it?
‘I don’t think so.’
That’s how strong Kim Minwoo was.
It was unbelievable that he was just at the trainee level.
“Think carefully. Your guild is far away, and my fist is close.”
“…That’s true.”
Even if they sent a request for support now, it would take ages for them to arrive.
If they refused, they would be beaten to death in the meantime.
“…If we were to join Mr. Kim Minwoo’s guild, what are your plans?”
“It’s simple. The bigger the guild, the better, right?”
“Yes. As long as we’re not just gathering random people…”
“Then the answer is clear. We’ll merge them all.”
“Merge?”
“You said it’s not good to accept just anyone. Then wouldn’t the best option be to merge the existing guilds? They’re already pre-screened talents.”
Amteron’s jaw dropped.
In other words, it meant making enemies of numerous guilds besides the Hamorn Guild.
‘He’s crazy.’
It was also a thrillingly ambitious plan. If they merged just the guilds from 1st to 10th place, the scale would become enormous.
“…If you’re going to do that, there’s something you need to be careful of. The Red Flag. The leader’s sibling here is one of the Seven Lords.”
“Seven Lords?”
“…They are monsters who play in the upper districts. They are also the most famous powerhouses in the Heavenly City. The leader of the Red Flag, Ermian. His older brother is the Blood Wolf.”
“So, will he come looking for you?”
Amteron rolled his eyes.
The Blood Wolf is a monster who plays in the 1st district.
Would a monster like him come here personally because of something happening in the 9th district?
That was uncertain.
Just then.
Murmur!
A murmuring sound could be heard through the open window.
A massive crowd was gathering in the distance. A dolphin-man carrying a giant red flag was visible.
Bam!
The office door burst open.
“Guild Master! It’s the Red Flag bastards! And… all the other guild bastards have gathered too!”
“What?”
Surprised, Amteron looked outside.
As his subordinate said, the flags of various guilds could be seen. Why were those who usually looked down on each other gathered together?
“What is this…?”
“Why do you think they came?”
“It seems it’s because of the news about us. Since the 2nd place guild was defeated…”
The power difference between the Red Flag and Hamorn wasn’t that big.
At least, not in the 9th district.
That’s why they might have united and come together. Indeed, Kim Minwoo was a threatening rookie.
“Did they come to fight me?”
“…Or they might have come to persuade you. In any case, it seems my defeat has given the Red Flag a wake-up call.”
Of course.
That’s why they united and came.
Soon, the werewolf, who had arrived in front of the Hamorn Guild building, shouted.
“It’s Ermian of the Red Flag! Kim Minwoo! I know you’re here! Come out!”
“I’m out. Why did you call?”
His eyes met with the werewolf’s.
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
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