“Appraiser…? What the hell is that?”
Rough tilted his head to the side.
“A completely unexpected Class just popped up.”
He was dumbfounded.
Keen Insight. Delicate Touch.
Judging by the names alone, they seemed far removed from combat.
Still, it was too early to be disappointed.
“It’s a Hidden Class, so there has to be something to it. Let’s take it slow and check.”
Rough opened his Skill Window.
A new Class tab, which had not been there before, had appeared in it.
At the very top of the Class tab was a Mastery Skill.
[Basic Appraisal Mastery Lv. 1]
[Rank: Low]
[EXP: 0.00%]
[Description: When identifying an object with no owner or an item in your possession, there is a certain chance that your EXP and Stats will increase. The more information you identify, and the higher the Rank of the item identified, the greater the EXP and Stats obtained.]
When a Warrior changes Classes, they gain a Skill called Sword Mastery.
An Archer gains Bow Mastery.
Masteries were core Skills that improved proficiency with a Class-exclusive weapon, Attack Power, Accuracy, and more.
Flex’s extremely high Attack Power was a good example.
His excellent weapon, high-damage Skills, and buffs all played a part.
But the Gun Mastery unique to his class, Marksman, had also contributed.
In Rough’s case, Appraisal Mastery took that role instead.
“Rather than weapon proficiency, it raises my Stats. That doesn’t sound like a bad trade-off.”
It would make him an all-rounder rather than someone specialized in one area—
a character capable of handling every weapon proficiently.
DDO had a wide variety of weapons, as well as its Second Weapon system, so this might actually be better.
Rough slowly checked the rest of his Skills.
Appraiser’s Keen Insight had a chance to grant one special option per owned piece of equipment.
Delicate Touch allowed him to borrow someone else’s Skill for a certain amount of time.
There was a condition stating that it only worked on Active Skills, but that was still incredible.
Active Skills alone were more than enough.
Sensitive Senses improved item options upon acquisition and increased the success rates of all chance-based systems.
Finally, Elegant Combination could combine two items or Skills into a higher Rank.
Naturally, the items or Skills used in the combination would disappear, and there was a chance of failure.
Every Skill came with conditions.
Even so, there was no denying how overpowered they were.
After checking them all, Rough’s eyes sparkled.
“These should have great synergy with my Personal Trait, shouldn’t they?”
Appraisal Mastery increased the amount of EXP and Stats gained the more information he checked, or the higher the Rank of the information.
With his Personal Trait, Rough could identify almost all information about an item.
It meant he could become stronger faster than anyone else.
The same was true for Delicate Touch, which let him borrow Skills.
‘If my Personal Trait grows further, I think I’ll be able to change a Skill’s damage multiplier. Not just mine, but an enemy’s too.’
If that happened, he could borrow an enemy’s Skill and return it with even greater power.
It would be an utterly insane performance.
The Hidden Class, Appraiser.
Even at a glance, the number of ways to use it was limitless.
“Let’s test it out.”
Rough first checked his current condition.
“Status Window.”
[Rough]
[Lv. 51]
[Class: Appraiser]
[Title: Savior of Asente]
[Classification: Player (Human)]
[Affiliation: None]
[Disposition: Neutral]
[HP: 1,680/1,680 MP: 630/630]
[Strength: 52 △▽ Agility: 49 △▽]
[Intelligence: 33 △▽ Luck: 42 △▽]
[Charisma: 15 △▽]
[(Hidden) Personal Trait: Advanced Status Window Lv. 21]
[Remaining AP: 28]
[Total Combat Power: 5,032]
“Compared to the Tutorial, I’ve changed so much I’m practically unrecognizable.”
With a satisfied smile at his Status Window, Rough began testing his Class Skills.
He first identified an object lying beside the road.
[Tree]
[Description: It is a tree.]
An exceedingly common object.
The amount of EXP gained from Appraisal Mastery was minuscule.
Still, there was no reason to feel disappointed.
He had quite a few rare items in his possession.
Rough next identified the equipment he was wearing.
At the same time, he used Keen Insight, the Skill that had a chance to add a special option.
[You have identified all information about the Epic-rank equipment, Sarin Armor!]
[You have identified all information about the Rare-rank equipment, Giant Beast-Slaying Sword!]
[Basic Appraisal Mastery has leveled up!]
[Basic Appraisal Mastery has leveled up!]
.
.
[Strength has increased by 1!]
[Agility has increased by 2!]
[Level has increased!]
[Appraiser’s Keen Insight has succeeded! A special option has been granted to Sarin Armor!]
Every time he identified equipment information, Appraisal Mastery’s Level shot upward.
And it was not just the Mastery Skill.
His Stats and Character Level rose as well.
He had even gained a special option.
He had grown stronger simply by standing still and checking item information.
Rough was dumbfounded, yet certain.
“At first, I thought I might have to throw everything away and restart as a Launcher, but I hit the jackpot instead. So that’s why it’s a Hidden Class.”
By using Appraiser alongside his Personal Trait, he would be able to grow even faster than he did now.
“I think I’ve checked the Skills enough. The Ranking System also unlocked when I changed Classes, right?”
Rough checked the Rankings.
DDO had three types of rankings:
Level, Guild, and Achievement Points.
He had no interest in anything other than Level.
[25,778th: Rough]
“For a five-digit rank, that’s not too low.”
Rough nodded and examined the top rankings.
There were a few familiar names within the top 100.
Kiting, with whom he had defeated the Basilisk.
And Flex, whom he had befriended while clearing the Ruins of the Fallen Kingdom.
There was not yet a huge Level gap between players in the top 100 and players like Rough, whose rank was in the tens of thousands.
The game had only recently opened, after all.
But that gap would grow uncontrollably as time passed.
Especially for the five Beta Testers who held the title of First Pioneer, including Kiting and Flex.
Using their Closed Beta experience and talent to the fullest, they would gradually distinguish themselves from the rest.
The two Beta Testers Rough had encountered were proof of that.
Even in the early days of the game, both possessed outstanding control and high Combat Power.
What was more, among the other Beta Testers, there might be someone who had changed into a Hidden Class like Rough himself.
“But I’m no pushover either.”
The Hidden Class, Appraiser, and his Personal Trait, Advanced Status Window.
Rough alternated his gaze between the Class and Trait written in his Status Window.
“With these two, I think I can take on even the most exceptional Beta Testers.”
***
Inside Necton Up’s User Monitoring Division.
“Director, with Rough as the last one, every specially monitored player has now completed their first Job Change.”
Assistant Manager Kim Myung-in reported to Director Lee Dong-jun.
“Really? What did Rough change into?”
“Appraiser.”
“Appraiser? Appraiser, Appraiser… Isn’t that a Hidden Class?”
Repeating the word with narrowed eyes, Director Lee hurriedly checked the internal data.
DDO was an enormous game with an overwhelming amount of information.
Even the core staff involved in its development could not possibly know every detail about it.
“The Job Change Book drops when the Ruins of the Fallen Kingdom is cleared. But how did he clear it before changing Classes? It should have been designed to be possible only after a Job Change.”
“He challenged it after forming a party with Flex, another specially monitored player.”
“He got involved with another specially monitored player again? Does Rough have some kind of luck buff?”
“I think Rough is just very lucky. From the beginning, he got a Personal Trait, then rare items while partying with specially monitored players, and now even a Hidden Class.”
“Hmm. No.”
Director Lee firmly shook his head.
“You know the saying, ‘casting pearls before swine,’ right?”
“Yes, of course, Director.”
“If you think about whether another player would have handled that Personal Trait as well as Rough did, I don’t think so. Honestly, getting the Personal Trait was luck—but everything after that was purely his own effort and talent.”
Unlike Assistant Manager Kim, Director Lee held Rough’s talent in high regard.
As he continued examining the Appraiser’s Class traits, he let out a quiet exclamation.
“Like the other specially monitored players, Rough has excellent Class synergy too. And there’s no need to even discuss his potential.”
As Rough had suspected, Appraiser and his Personal Trait complemented each other exceptionally well.
They were practically made for one another.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what these specially monitored players do. The main story is about to begin in earnest, so make sure you check and record anything unusual immediately.”
“Yes, Director!”
***
“Ugh…”
Namgung Jun frowned as he read a post on the company intranet.
It was a notice regarding the announcement schedule for interns being converted into full-time employees.
After looking away from his monitor, Namgung Jun craned his neck and glanced at the other interns seated nearby.
Each of them showed traces of unease.
Even though it was a conversion internship, becoming a full-time employee was not guaranteed.
It was understandable.
“Hmm.”
Tap. Tap.
Namgung Jun drummed his fingers against his desk as he considered it.
‘What should I do? Should I quit? If I’m going to quit, now is the right time.’
He stood at a crossroads.
Should he leave the company and focus solely on DDO?
Or should he leave DDO as nothing more than a hobby?
Choosing DDO was not necessarily a foolish decision.
For one thing, he seemed to have some talent.
The proof was his ranking, which sat in the tens of thousands.
Considering that DDO had hundreds of millions of players, he was currently in the top 0.00… Well, anyway.
He was easily high enough to be called a Ranker.
What about making a living if he quit his job?
That was nothing to worry about.
DDO had been open for less than a month, yet during that short time—
hadn’t he already earned an enormous amount of Gold?
Moreover, the value of the items Namgung Jun obtained was rising day by day.
The price of Gold had stopped soaring, but it was still steadily increasing.
If he tried to juggle his job and the game, he would gradually fall behind and eventually lose both rabbits.
He had to give up one of the two: the company or DDO.
Deep within Namgung Jun, a desire stirred.
It was an old dream he had once had to bury because of unavoidable circumstances.
His heart began to pound violently at the thought that he might be able to fulfill the dream he had failed to achieve back then.
‘Maybe I should call that guy for the first time in a while.’
Calming his racing heart, Namgung Jun headed to the company rooftop.
He called Junyeop, a popular internet streamer and his best friend of fifteen years.
As someone with a large following, Junyeop had a keen eye for trends. Namgung Jun planned to ask him a few questions.
Ringgg—
Ringgg—
After several rings—
Click.
A sleepy voice, as though he had just woken up, came from the other side of the phone.
“Yeah, Jun? What’s up?”
Although his surname was Namgung and his given name was only one syllable, he was used to this casual teasing. He had endured it since his school days.
“What the hell? You’re still asleep? You bastard, do you know what time it is—”
“Try being a streamer, asshole. Your day and night are bound to get flipped around.”
After opening with light banter and exchanging greetings, Junyeop got to the point.
“Anyway, why did you call?”
“I wanted to ask something. And I thought I’d check whether you were still alive while I was at it. You got a minute?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Have you played DDO?”
“Is that even a question? I started the moment it opened! I’m still playing it like crazy.”
Junyeop made a big fuss.
“Does your wife play too?”
“My wife? Of course she does. She’s been enjoying it properly—camping, farming, wandering around to find scenic places, and taking screenshots. That kind of thing is hard to do in real life.”
“I see. What do you think DDO’s future looks like?”
“Hm. In my opinion, it’ll become more than just a game or entertainment. I think it’ll turn into a social phenomenon. You know how a popular title normally stays relevant for over a decade? DDO is on another level.”
The unusually serious tone made Namgung Jun serious as well.
“That much?”
“Everyone’s playing it, so streamers who broadcast DDO and have lots of viewers are already getting advertisements. I heard the pay is no joke, either.”
If Junyeop was right, DDO’s Rankers would soon possess incredible influence.
“But why are you suddenly asking this? Are you thinking about streaming DDO too?”
“Me? Streaming? No way. I’m just considering quitting my job and playing DDO full-time.”
“If you’re not at least Rough or Kiting’s level, just keep working.”
At the sudden mention of his own nickname, Namgung Jun flinched.
“…Hm?”
“What do you mean, ‘hm’? Don’t you visit the forums? The World Message about killing the Basilisk caused a huge uproar. If you’re going to quit your job, you need to be at least that good.”
“Oh, really?”
After speaking with Junyeop, Namgung Jun’s heart gradually tilted toward quitting.
“Actually, you don’t even need to be that good. Give it a shot. You still haven’t let go of the fact that you had to give up being a pro gamer. And you’re good enough.”
“Playing with a keyboard and mouse isn’t the same as using a capsule. Forget it. Anyway, thanks for the advice. Let’s grab a meal sometime soon.”
“Huh? Yeah, sure. See you later.”
After ending the call, Namgung Jun reached a conclusion with renewed certainty.
‘I should quit. I think I can quit.’
Returning to the office, Namgung Jun immediately sought out his team leader.
“Um, Team Leader.”
“Why?”
“I think I’ll only be able to work until the end of this month.”