Chapter 25

Ch.25 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

For some reason, Seo Gyeoul asked me not to disband Monster Guild. And to honor that request, I couldn’t join a new guild.

‘Actually, even if that wasn’t the case, there’s not much merit in it for me… joining a guild itself.’

Being part of an organization has the advantage of receiving various support. But it inevitably restricts your freedom of movement.

‘But I don’t need support or anything like that.’

Because a good adult does well on their own.

In reality, joining a guild is practically the same as putting shackles on my ankles.

‘But people want to recruit me somehow, and I’m in a position where I need to use that whole game to my advantage.’

So the alternative I came up with.

‘I’ll make them recruit me as an external director.’

That way, I’d have my name on the roster in name only, while being guaranteed freedom from responsibilities, duties, and affiliation to that guild.

Of course, a ‘normal’ external director isn’t that kind of position.

But that’s just how the world works, isn’t it?

‘I just need to negotiate well.’

And to do that, I had to prove my worth—that I was someone who could be that brazen.

Because in the Player world, skill is everything in the end.

That’s why I chose the White Gate, and proved it by achieving the first-ever feat of blocking all waves.

And this is the result.

“Dokkaebi, Ma Eun-mok.”

“The superior of the employee you rejected, Park Jae-gwang of Seonyang.”

“I’m from Crow Guild…”

“I’m the Guild Master of Skull Guild…”

“From Haetae Guild…”

Enthusiastic auction participation requests.

Everything was going according to my plan.

Of course, there was a minor discrepancy.

“…I, I, I’m a Grade 9 civil servant from the Gate Management Agency… My name is Kim Pyeong-on.”

“Name’s Joo Geon-ryul.”

Right.

It was unexpected that Joo Geon-ryul would come to Korea in person to meet me. But I could guess the reason.

‘He must have been pretty pissed off after hearing that I beat him in the Record Casket…’

Since the Record Casket was introduced in the second exam, Joo Geon-ryul had maintained his unshakeable first place. But he lost that position—and not to another class, but to a despised Tamer.

‘I’d probably want to at least see what kind of bastard it was too.’

That’s why he’s been staring at me so uncomfortably since earlier…

Surely a high-level Player wouldn’t personally harass a low-level user like me, right?

‘Well, that’s one thing.’

The young man with a blank expression standing next to the hulking Joo Geon-ryul.

A man with an unusual name who introduced himself as a Grade 9 civil servant from the Gate Management Agency.

Kim Pyeong-on.

If my memory serves me right, he’s the civil servant who helped me enter the White Gate.

‘But why on earth…?’

Let’s say Joo Geon-ryul is here out of curiosity about me.

But I don’t understand why that guy is getting involved in this game.

‘Seeing as he says Gate Management Agency, Seo Gyeoul must definitely be behind this…’

I have no idea what she’s thinking.

She doesn’t think I’m going to join the Agency, does she?

‘Nah, she wouldn’t be that crazy… Tsk, anyway, I need to proceed with the auction.’

I’m also curious what stakes these new variables will put down.

I looked around at everyone and shouted loudly.

“I will now begin the auction!”

“What method will you use to proceed?”

“It’s simple. Just state your affiliation and place your stakes.”

As soon as I finished speaking, each guild began moving busily.

They started taking out the down payments they had prepared.

Watching this, I shouted loudly again.

“Any stakes are fine, as long as they have value to me! Of course, money is one of the valuable things to me.”

Though it’s not essential.

As soon as I finished speaking, the guild masters raised their hands and began placing their stakes.

“Jirisan Guild, down payment of 500 million!”

“Sindansu Guild, 630 million!”

“Skull Guild, down payment of 780 million!”

“Haetae Guild, 900 million!”

Starting from 500 million, the stakes began rising at a terrifying speed.

Naturally, I wasn’t satisfied.

After all, the down payment Seonyang Guild had proposed for rookie recruitment was 400 million. But now I had even cleared the White Gate.

‘If we’re only counting cash, it should be at least double that.’

Small and medium guilds have tight budgets.

Then one guild made a big move.

“Crow Guild, down payment of 2 billion.”

A man dressed in black from head to toe muttered in a low voice.

Then everyone gathered in the plaza began murmuring.

“Gasp… Not 1 billion, but 2 billion?!”

“Those damn Crow bastards are as black on the inside as they are on the outside, with no business ethics.”

“Right? Even if you raise it, there should be a limit. Don’t they know that raising the price like that makes the market fluctuate?”

Murmur, murmur.

Despite people’s criticism, the Crow Guild Master remained unmoved.

“…”

Like a shadow.

But his head whipped around at another man’s shout.

“Seonyang Guild, 5 billion!!”

It was that crazy Park Jae-gwang.

The amount he shouted perfectly represented his nickname.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

The atmosphere was completely different from when Crow Guild made their offer.

There couldn’t be any guild brave enough to complain to Seonyang, one of the two major guilds.

Except for one place.

“How vulgar. Our Dokkaebi Guild would like to propose something other than money. Would that be acceptable?”

“Yes, of course.”

It was Ma Eun-mok, the second son of Yaksha Family Head Ma Geon-woo.

“I think you’ve heard about our youngest sibling.”

“…”

A sense of unease crept in.

If it’s ‘her,’ he means Ma Geon-woo’s late-born daughter.

Her name is ‘Ma Seol-ah.’

Selected as one of the world’s ten most beautiful women by a British newspaper, and just starting to make a name for herself as a Player.

“We’ll arrange an engagement with our Seol-ah. This has already been discussed with Father.”

“…First, thank you for the proposal.”

Ma Geon-woo knows I’m an old man who underwent regression.

And yet he wants to match me with his late-born daughter. What kind of brain structure does one need to have to come up with such a plan?

I want to crack open that crazy old man’s skull and take a look.

“Wow… I’m so jealous.”

“If it were me, I’d give up on the 5 billion.”

“Hey, man! That’s obvious. It’s not just Ma Seol-ah—you’d become a son-in-law of the Yaksha Family! Don’t you know that converts to way more than 5 billion in monetary terms?”

People murmured more noisily than when they heard Seonyang’s proposal.

At the same time, they looked at me with expressions that said they were dying of envy.

‘This crazy old man…’

I squeezed my eyes shut, then desperately looked at the other auction participants.

With a pleading look asking them to please make a new proposal. And salvation came from an unexpected place.

“Tian Dun Guild, Joo Geon-ryul.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

One word from one of the Three Venerables had enough weight to silence everyone at once.

And everyone was curious what kind of proposal someone of that caliber would make.

“I hear you’re an excellent Tamer?”

Joo Geon-ryul said indifferently, looking at Geri and Freki standing behind me.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“My stake is that I’ll roll up my sleeves and personally help you tame a Yinglong.”

“…”

Yinglong.

A Magic Beast with an Eastern dragon body and large wings attached.

It only inhabits high-rank Gates and is one of the strongest Magic Beasts you can count on your fingers on Earth.

Their power was so renowned even within the Tower.

‘A low-level taming a Yinglong? That’s guaranteed express leveling.’

But I have a question. Why specifically a Yinglong?

If it’s for a bus driver, it doesn’t have to be a Yinglong. They’re inefficient as bus drivers.

Because they’re so strong that they’re hard to tame.

‘There are plenty of other Magic Beasts, so why that troublesome Yinglong?’

Once you reach Joo Geon-ryul’s position, your political acumen grows whether you want it to or not. Even if you’re just a monster with nothing but strength.

There’s no way such an old monster would make that proposal without some ulterior motive. Which means.

‘Hmm… Aha! Now I understand why Joo Geon-ryul suddenly died in a Red Gate back then.’

He had raided a Red Gate inhabited by Yinglong in the past. And the boss that comes out of that place, the Named Monster, must have been that particularly powerful ‘one.’

‘If he encountered that one, I can understand why Joo Geon-ryul got beaten…’

And making that proposal means he wants to use me for the Red Gate raid.

My ability to be the first to clear a White Gate.

Either way, to prevent Earth from being destroyed, I’d eventually have to help Joo Geon-ryul.

Plus, if it’s ‘that one,’ taming it would be quite satisfying too.

‘It’ll be very helpful when climbing the Tower.’

My heart was almost leaning toward Joo Geon-ryul.

I began to wrap things up to finish the auction.

“I’ve gratefully heard Joo Geon-ryul-nim’s proposal. Then, is there anyone else who would like to make a proposal?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Since there doesn’t seem to be anyone else who wants to speak, I’ll now—”

Who could possibly make a stronger proposal than Joo Geon-ryul? No one could place higher stakes.

So just as I was about to end the auction, someone muttered in a mosquito-like, creeping voice.

“…I, I’ll offer a position as a visiting professor at Ark Korea Branch.”

‘What? Who is it? Who’s saying such crazy…’

Ark.

It refers to the world’s only Player training institution.

‘You want me to babysit snotty kids?’

I turned my head toward where the sound came from, and that Grade 9 civil servant from earlier was watching the surroundings and gauging my reaction.

“I think I heard you wrong, could you say that again?”

“…I said I’ll offer a position as a visiting professor at Ark Korea Branch.”

“Ah, yes…”

Was his name Kim Pyeong-on?

Whether he’s living up to his name or not, he’s spouting crazy things calmly.

When I searched my memory, I recalled that around this time, the Korea Branch Academy was established.

‘But he wants to invite me as a visiting professor? It’s definitely Seo Gyeoul’s proposal… Ah, so that’s why.’

Now I understand why Seo Gyeoul asked me to maintain the guild.

It would be easier to recommend someone for a professor position if they at least have the title of Guild Master.

‘Anyway, putting me in that position? Ugh…’

Would I do that if I were crazy? I’m already dying from lack of time with every minute and second being precious—where would I find time to deal with snotty kids?

“Ah, I…”

“Yes, I’ve heard your proposal well.”

I cut him off without listening further.

Then I was about to check for any more auction participants and announce the results.

“Then, to announce the auction results—”

At that moment, someone whispered to me via Jeoneumpa.

『In return, she said she could recommend you as an ‘Animal Caretaker Advisor’ at the Incomprehensible Magic Beast Research Institute. That’s what Section Chief Seo said. If you agree, just nod.』

‘…Huh?’

Animal Caretaker Advisor at the Magic Beast Research Institute…

For an ordinary Tamer, it would be a dream come true. Of course, it’s quite a sweet proposal for me too.

But that’s not what surprised me.

That person called Kim Pyeong-on.

He’s more than ten steps away from me.

But he whispered.

‘…He used Jeoneum?’

Experiencing Jeoneum naturally brought back an old connection.

A friend who became a traitor—Sword Saint Sa Ja-hyuk.

— You want me to teach you how to use Jeoneum? This is hard to explain in words… It’ll be hard to learn too. You’ll figure it out on your own so just tell me? Geez, what a personality. Ah, fine. So, you take your Gi—ah, for you it should be Magic Power. Draw out your Magic Power like a thin thread and make it reach the other person’s ear. Then convey words through the vibration of that thread.

— How is it? Does it seem difficult just from the explanation… Wait, how did you do it? You just did it and it worked…? No, does that even make sense… What? Are you asking if there were people who used it naturally without learning it before? If someone’s Gi-sensitivity is insanely sharp, it could be possible… Good grief! Where would there be a monster-like person like that?! If such a person exists, please bring them before me. I’ll make them my top disciple. Got it?!

‘Someone whose Gi-sensitivity is insanely sharp…’

I ruminated on the bitter memory while trying to draw out my Magic Power as thin as a thread.

Then, for the first time in a while, a new skill appeared.

[Converting user’s enlightenment into a skill.]

[Skill ‘Jeoneum Lv.1 (B)’ acquired.]

Once it became a skill, manipulating Magic Power became a bit easier.

I looked straight at Kim Pyeong-on and used Jeoneum.

『Where did you learn Jeoneum? Do you happen to have any connections in the Dosan Geomlim dimension?』

Then he looked shocked and flustered, sending Jeoneum in a surprised voice.

『I just happened to be able to use it somehow. I only found out it was called Jeoneum when the skill name appeared. Then how on earth did you learn Jeoneum, Kang Si-woo-ssi—』

『That’s a secret. So you’re saying you learned it on your own?』

『…Is that a problem?』

『By any chance, is your class in the Warrior-Musа lineage?』

『Yes, how did you know?』

‘…There was another person like this besides the Three Venerables?’

Why didn’t someone with this kind of potential make a name for themselves in the past?

Now that it’s come to this, I’m completely revising my plans.

『Call Seo Gyeoul right now. And tell her I’ll accept the proposal if she transfers Kim Pyeong-on-ssi to Monster Guild.』

『Ah, transfer ‘Kim Pyeong-on’-ssi to Kang Si-woo-ssi’s guild… What? Me? What do you mean…』

『If it’s not that proposal, I’m definitely going to accept Joo Geon-ryul-ssi’s proposal. Just relay it like that.』

『But…』

When I glared at him, Kim Pyeong-on reluctantly picked up his phone and called somewhere.

‘Come to think of it… that person stuttered when talking verbally, but he’s perfectly fine when using Jeoneum?’

What an unusual person.

And I like unusual people.

“…Yes, I understand.”

The call was short.

And a brief Jeoneum came through.

『Wait, is this really okay? Recommending voluntary resignation for a civil servant…』

As soon as I heard his words, the corners of my mouth lifted.

I’ve only raised Magic Beasts into monsters until now, but this time I should try raising a person into a terrifying monster too.

『Nice to meet you, Kim Pyeong-on-ssi. Welcome to joining Monster Guild.』

After conveying that via Jeoneum, I shouted loudly to the crowd.

“I have decided to accept the proposal from Kim Pyeong-on-ssi of the Gate Management Agency.”

“…!?”

“Not the 5 billion?!”

“That bastard, is he crazy?!”

“No way, if it were me I’d take Ma Seol-ah…”

Naturally, everyone gathered in the plaza fell into confusion.