Hailstorm Co. Strategic Planning Department.
General Manager Kim Jeonsu was looking at his screen excitedly.
"…I knew it, I wasn't wrong."
His beard was overgrown and his hair was messy due to working overtime for the last few days. Despite that, there was a bright smile on his face.
"He's really unpredictable, what the manager said was right. He's making the impossible possible."461
Baek Chahyun, the team leader, said, standing next to him. He was clearly younger than Kim but he looked even more worn out than him.
However, the two were each cracking a satisfied smile.
"I can't take my eyes off him. I can't predict a single thing he does. How can he get that amount of achievement at Level 10? You really have to see it to believe it."
"You're right, and this is all thanks to you. Congratulations on your promotion in advance!"
General Manager Kim smiled happily at the flattery.
"A promotion is a given, but he would have gotten there whether I helped him or not. I just made it a bit easier for him."
Kim couldn't stop smiling as he spoke. Seojin's achievements exceeded his expectations by miles.
'He got a few rare achievements, completed a world quest, and earned a perfect score in the Tower of Choice. Phew, no one's ever got to this level even if I fully supported them.'
The old man that Seojin had faced when he first started the game.
It was a system that Manager Kim had planted in a hurry.
He had gone through a lot, like reporting Seojin's progress back in Asgard to his higher-ups, to bring this result.
'It's like a perk for the former top-ranked player, and a ladder to my promotion.'
His promotion! He'd longed for it for what felt like an eternity.
But that wasn't all that made Kim Jeonsu happy.
'I can't believe I can watch his gameplay in real-time!'
He had come to know of Seojin after he became the top-ranked player in Asgard back when he was a game manager there. Back then, reading the logs and records didn't give him the thrill of watching Seojin's gameplay live.
Now?
Seojin was growing up real-time, and the process was much to his amazement, despite his expectations.
"Truly, a surprising individual."
"I'm glad he showed up, even if it's this late in the game. I even considered buying the device personally and sending it to him."
Seojin's title, 'The Hero of a Bygone Era', was not an exaggeration.
Jeonsu couldn't even begin to calculate how much Seojin had contributed to Asgard.
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he extended the game's lifespan by one year all by himself."
While Asgard was the pinnacle of PC games, the problem was that VRMMO games started to be released around the same time.
Numerous PC games lost their existing player bases, and Asgard couldn't just go against the trend.
However…
Asgard's Hidden Content!
Easter Eggs Found in This Dungeon too?
How to Gain the Favor of The Uptight Elven Elder
The results created by Seojin were all posted on the forum's top threads, which singlehandedly managed to stop the declining stock prices.
"It is not easy to satisfy players with simple fixed stories and routes. There has to be a variable. Through that, even hunting becomes interesting, making players wonder what this thing will drop?"
"I understand what you mean."
Even those who say they hate the loot box can't help to be excited the moment they open it.
Of course, abusing it will only harm the game's life, but it also proved that such a strong method is necessary to draw players' attention.
"That's why I like him. He's full of surprises. He just started the game now so his effect is limited, but gossip will only grow bigger. Just wait."
I heard he did that in this way. Why don't we do that too?
Such simple rumors were the best stimulants to inspire players.
"So, this time…"
Kim Jeonsu patted Baek Chahyun's shoulders with twinkling eyes.
"Let's plant someone in there before it's too late, then we'll be able to control him easily enough."
"Understood. When's the deadline?"
"As soon as possible. You know the camera can't follow him when he enters Berne? Damn the development guys. No, the lead project manager. He's the problem."
Kim Jeonsu growled.
The lead project manager whom nobody knew the name of despite his rank.
With the full support of the management, he relentlessly developed the system for the game.
Some of the features were rather unconventional, like the prohibition of developers intervening with players.
"That guy wants us to just sit and watch exploiters and PK-loving asshats ruin our game. Does that make any sense?"
"It seems problematic to me."
"We should monitor them at least. I still can't believe he told us to make an account and stop them."
Kim Jeonsu clenched his fists just thinking about it.
He pointed his finger at team leader Baek.
"Choose anyone and proceed. Someone easy to place the blame on and cut off when the time comes. You know what I mean?"
"Of course."
"There's no room for mistakes."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Baek Chahyun bowed deeply and stepped back.
Turning to his screen again, Kim Jeonsu smiled happily.
'Sit tight. I'll make your game.'
If Kim Jeonsu got himself promoted and Seojin could play with the cheat key and the company's support?
'It's a win-win situation.'
* * *
Dying villages.
That was one of the unique features of Midgard.
Towns, or settlements, were generally nothing more than a quests hub where players could buy and sell things. That effectively meant that players had no control over the town, no matter what they did.
However, in Midgard, settlements changed dynamically depending on how the players played the game. A well-developed settlement could collapse and a small town could thrive suddenly if certain factors were fulfilled.
And Berne was on the brink of falling.
'The town's life percentage raised by one just because I came in. It was probably on the verge of ruin…'
As soon as Seojin accepted the quest, the remaining life increased by another one percent.
It seemed that it was not all that difficult to raise it, as it also decreased quickly.
He'd taken care of the most urgent problem, but the situation was still grave.
Selected: Merhen
You can send a voice message
"Yo, busy?"
-About to be. Use text chat next time, you keep jump-scaring me.
"My bad, the clock's ticking. Need to get a couple things cleared up."
-What is it this time?
"Well…"
Seojin asked his questions as quickly as possible.
Currently, there were many tourists in Berne.
He needed to know whether he could refuse to be recorded if they so much as tried to.
-You need to keep your identity hidden from the online communities, right? So they don't recognize you immediately?
"Yes, I just need to hide my identity."
-Search the in-game auction tab for makeup packs. It can change your face and stuff like that completely."
"It works on NPCS too?"
-It's not effective on NPCs. It was created to be used around other players in the first place. It has its limitations, though… see the item description for yourself."
"Okay, so, how do I hide my class when joining a group or adding a friend?"
-Search up the term 'secretive,' and you'll find it. But it'll look suspicious, so you'd better come up with a good excuse."
"Perfect, thank you."
-Use text chat next time. I'll call you once I see it."
"Okay."
Merhen hung up.
It sounded like he was about to do something important. A raid, maybe?
'I gotta text him next time. We're not playing Asgard anymore…'
Things were different back then.
It had been natural for them to contact each other whenever they had an emergency.
He'd even died chatting while raiding the end-of-game dungeon.
'That's all in the past. Tsk.'
Seojin opened the in-game auction tab first.
Merhen had recommended two items to him.
The first one was a makeup pack that could change the appearance of his character.
Make-up Pack: 5G
* You can play for up to 30 days using a new appearance.
* Your appearance cannot be changed once you have made your selection. Think carefully!
The pack, which could be used for a month, cost 5 Gold.
500,000 won was not petty cash, but considering the effects, it wasn't too bad.
'So, it's a bit like using two cell phone numbers. You can't change the number once you've chosen.'
Seojin typed in the second keyword.
Dozens of results were listed on the auction page once he'd typed the word 'secretive.'
Secretive Warrior: 1G
Secretive Mage: 1G
Secretive…
The usage period was also 30 days, and the price was a little cheaper at 1 Gold.
What bothered Seojin was Merhen's advice, and how he said that using it could look suspicious.
"Even the item description is kinda dubious…"'
The Secretive Mage.
* Helps you pretend to be a Mage.
* Something is sketchy…
'Something is sketchy?'
That must be the problem Merhen mentioned.
Seojin purchased two "Secretive Mage" packages.
"What the…"
It was practically like writing "I'm fake" across his forehead in block capitals.
It was better than nothing, though.
Looking sketchy was far better than blatantly showing off his identity.
Seojin closed the status screen and used the makeup pack.
Choose your character's appearance.
'Let's see, my theme should be…'
Seojin tweaked his face here and there. He chose an ordinary body type and added a few unique traits to his face.
'Narrow eyes and purple hair down to my chin… smiling all the time.'
Seojin was satisfied with his new appearance which resembled the characters he once saw in a manga.
He looked like the type of character who opened their eyes wide and heads start rolling.
'It's best not to mess with this kind of character.'
All of his preparations were finally complete.
Life Remaining: 6%
Seojin clenched his fists as he saw the message.
"Let's get started, then."