Chapter 24

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“You rattle off that kind of sh*t and call it a report?”

“I apologize.”

The 4th floor of an old building near Jongno, Seoul.

In a meeting room in the corner, Kim Jae-ha was deeply bowing his head.

“Apologize my *ss. I told you to do at least one thing right, you b*stard who can’t even do one thing.”

Department Head Lee Ho-joong, who was spewing curses right in front of his eyes, was a personnel brought in personally by the president.

Was he a college junior who had worked in game companies for quite a long time.

“You, you punk, you should have been fired and kicked out back then. Do you know how huge the loss you caused the company is?”

“… I apologize.”

“Aren’t you tired of that damn ‘I apologize’? You only know how to cause accidents, you’re just not helpful at all.”

4 years ago.

Kim Jae-ha, who had entered this mid-sized trading company, overflowed with passion.

When about 2 years had passed like that, a game called RP was released, and not long after, the president’s decision came down.

“We are also going to start working on the RP side, so put three people on it for now. Kim Jae-ha, you are unconditionally joining.”

Kim Jae-ha, who had babbled about RP to the company since its release, thus began his new duty.

Thanks to the team running smoother than expected, they were able to generate revenue in various directions.

However, that joy didn’t last long.

“What? Dwarf’s Metallurgy? Isn’t that a hidden skill?”

While exploring the snowfields, Kim Jae-ha coincidentally discovered an achievement and reported it to the department head.

Both the name and the content of the achievement clearly looked different from ordinary metallurgy.

“Yes. However, there are many uncertainties regarding this, and it could become a protracted battle. Selling this information to another corporation would be a far better…”

“What are you getting scared for, you punk! If we properly obtain this, our company’s name will be hung out in the world!”

Making a decision alone, the department head quickly sent the report up to the president.

Although he didn’t know what that content was, the change occurred immediately.

“Draft as many personnel as possible and stick them all on this!”

At the president’s instruction, the hidden skill project commenced with the employees united in one mind.

If they really obtained it, it was certain they could rise on the road to success with just this skill alone.

“The competitors are sticking to us! Search through all the other routes anew!”

However, reality was cruel.

The hidden skill search repeatedly yielded nothing.

Eventually, because all sorts of corporations that caught the scent glued themselves to it as well, even the standing of having discovered it first gradually faded.

“Everyone pull out.”

The project that had dragged on for about 3 months came to an end with a single word from the president.

Due to not gaining any profit whatsoever, the effort and investment accumulated until then vanished entirely into thin air.

The part that wasn’t even funny was that the other competitors also failed to obtain the hidden skill.

“After being so certain! Do you know how much money we threw away?”

The president, who threw the documents on the floor, glared at Kim Jae-ha while panting.

Dumbfounded, he couldn’t say a single word, but the department head stepped forward.

“I apologize. I should have mediated it well, but Jae-ha was so excessively certain it would unconditionally work…”

“Pardon? Department Head, what are you…”

“Won’t you stay quiet? What did you do so well to raise your voice! After how much the president trusted you and supported you!”

Kim Jae-ha perfectly understood the situation.

That the department head over there had been shoving all the responsibilities onto him all this time.

Thus, Kim Jae-ha instinctively realized the reality he was thrust into.

“… I apologize.”

The only words he could say was an apology.

If he hadn’t discovered the achievement.

If he had reported it directly to the president from the very beginning.

If he had somehow stopped the department head’s reckless progression.

The situation definitely could have changed.

Even endless guilt settled in a corner of his heart.

“Hey, what are you zoning out for?”

The department head’s annoyance-laced voice shattered Kim Jae-ha, who had been lost in reminiscence.

He wanted to plant at least one punch and then resign, but the shoulders of a breadwinner were heavy.

“I’m asking what happened with that Black Dragon and Loafer. Did you even exchange words? They’re bastards who even got a hidden skill!”

“It is difficult as of yet, but I have compiled methods to make contact in the report. Please review it.”

“Review my *ss. Is scattering company money into a broadcast for free a method?”

The report held in his hand was already crumpled beyond repair.

The department head’s expression looking as if seeing a disgusting bug.

Firmly suppressing his anger, Kim Jae-ha spoke.

“It is not for free, but an investment. Black Dragon will likely possess even more information.”

“Investment, you bastard, you need to bring something in your hands to invest. You want to burn 1 million won just to float a single meager message?”

“Other corporations are already providing support, and Black Dragon also appeared to be watching with interest. If we miss this now…”

“Hey, Kim Jae-ha.”

The department head cut off the words continuing the explanation.

Approaching right up to his nose, he tapped his stomach with the report and said.

“Stop spouting nonsense and go make contact personally. Whether you dance or put on a show, move your body. Got it?”

“… Understood.”

“You answer ridiculously well.”

Smack!

His annoyance soaring, he threw the papers onto the floor.

“Stupid bastard.”

Ending with those words, the department head left the meeting room.

Kim Jae-ha, who had lowered his head, had no choice but to forcefully grip his trembling fists.

***

“There are still this many.”

Han-bit, who had returned to Edlen again, lamented seeing the still swarming players.

Seeing as how every single one of them was turning their gaze this way, it seemed they had been continuously checking the broadcast.

“Hyung, you’re going to do the main quest now, right?”

Yeon-woo, who was walking alongside him, asked with eyes full of expectation.

It was the same for the viewers as well.

– Are you going to scam your way through the main quest too?

– Yeah, not a chance.

– For this one, even if you know the whole story, you have to do everything one by one anyway.

– The Vares bus ride was sweet though, wasn’t it?

– That Vares is actually…

– Uh-uh, no spoilers.

The chat was plastered with talks about the story.

The name constantly being mentioned there, Vares.

He was a human about whom he had far too much to say, but he had no intention of entering the story just yet.

“Let’s do the story starting tomorrow.”

“Pardon? Why?”

“We have to go to work, don’t we.”

“Ah.”

– It was 2 AM;

– Time melted away softly.

– Why go to work?

– Unemployed 1 Win.

– My commute is screwed too.

Checking the time, Yeon-woo and the viewers couldn’t utter a refutation.

The schedule that continued from after work up to the hidden skill had reached dawn before they knew it.

The time squandered due to Rashten’s selfishness felt exceptionally regrettable.

“It can’t be helped. Are you going to turn the game off now?”

“No, I’m thinking of distributing some stats now.”

“Huh? Really?”

Yeon-woo rejoiced at the welcome news.

Because he had been waiting inwardly for when he would distribute his stats.

“How many points do you have? You have a ton, right?”

“Wait a sec.”

Han-bit immediately popped up the character information.

[Black Dragon – Lv.16]

[Title: None]

Strength: 4

Agility: 4

Intelligence: 4

Stamina: 4

Remaining Stat Points: 51

“… No, looking at it like this, it really makes no sense. Why are the numbers like this?”

– Level 16 with 51 points. Lmaoooo

– Isn’t it insane that he’s already Level 16. Lol.

– Did he hunt while off-broadcast?

– No no, the quest rewards were just crazy.

[Workplace has supported 1,000 won.]

[This is a bit…]

The viewers were shocked at the phenomenal numbers.

Yeon-woo, who was standing with his mouth open, abruptly changed his expression.

“But why did you keep saving them? If you had distributed some stats, it would have been easier when clearing the skill quests too.”

“Just because. I was deliberating a bit on where to use them.”

Han-bit brought out a suitable answer.

However, its essence was quite complex.

‘I don’t make pointless gambles.’

The 4 skills learned in Edlen.

This was the first step for adaptation.

Should one say it was to revive the sensation of the past, acquiring techniques with the feeblest body?

As long as stats influence physical abilities, he had to avoid it at least in the starting phase.

Moreover, there was one more important task.

‘The data collection is also almost at its final stages.’

The task related to RP gear that Lee Min-ho ended up being saddled with.

Han-bit, who offered to help him with it, received a single USB from him.

It was an item containing a special program created by the Research and Development department.

It seemed that detailed data was automatically recorded depending on the RP player’s actions.

And one of the elements that absolutely had to be confirmed was the changes in movement according to stats.

“Well, it’s a relief you got through it well… Anyway, wouldn’t you feel an insane difference if you poured it all into one? If it’s the Wind Spirit, is it Agility? Should we look into it a bit?”

Yeon-woo’s interest shifted to a different direction.

Han-bit, who had been examining his stats, moved his finger toward the + button next to Strength.

Beep.

The number going up upon pressing the button.

Strength had now changed to 5.

“No, hyung! What if you just put a point in!”

– Lol

– Game noob level.

– Meathead issue.

– But seriously isn’t Agility the standard choice here?

– Agreed.

Yeon-woo and the viewers were certain it was a wrong choice.

However, there were things he absolutely had to confirm while concurrently recording data.

“Wait.”

Clench.

Han-bit, who had been continuously gripping the hilt of his sword from a moment ago.

Concentrating on his senses, he nodded his head.

‘It’s exactly about this much.’

The grip strength that changed the moment 1 point of Strength rose.

Most players wouldn’t be able to detect that minuscule difference, but Han-bit was different.

How many times had he swung a sword through 55 playthroughs.

Compared to growing while training his physical body every day, this could be seen as quite a drastic change.

Beep.

Beep.

Han-bit invested a point into the other stats one by one and examined the differences.

Agility, Intelligence, and Stamina; all were sufficient to confirm the subtle differences.

‘… This might actually be possible?’

The absolute prime he had reached in the other world.

If it were reality, at least decades of time would be needed to forge that body.

However, if it’s inside this game that creates changes through stats, he could overwhelmingly reduce that.

No, perhaps he could reach an even higher realm than that.

“Hyung! Wait a minute!”

When he touched every stat, Yeon-woo excitedly tried to stop him.

It seemed he had greatly hoped for him to invest all of it into one.

“Isn’t there anyone who distributes them evenly?”

“There are, I suppose. But you obtained a hidden skill, hyung, so tailoring it to that is the natural progression!”

Yeon-woo’s persuasive voice echoed mournfully.

However, regarding the Swordsmanship of the Wind, Han-bit knew it best.

Of course, showing it once would be better than a hundred explanations.

“I’ll show you. See it with your own eyes.”