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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Guild
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The street in front of the [Guild Office] was swarming with people.
It looked just like the middle of a city center on a holiday, with some store's grand opening event in full swing.
"There are so many people."
"It's completely packed."
The closer they got to the building, the more densely crowded it became.
"Top-tier guilds!"
"Nemesis is recruiting!"
And just like that, promoters hawking guilds and hopeful applicants multiplied.
On either side of the [Guild Office], various guilds had lined up with their banners, and people were either heading there on their own or being herded by eager salespeople to receive consultations.
It felt like they'd wandered into some kind of 'job fair'.
"The competition is fierce."
"At least we can tell which ones are worth going to."
"Yeah, crowds are piling up at a few spots."
People had eyes and ears, after all—they could discern which guilds were good and which were popular. And the yardstick for that judgment? Money, of course.
"Shin Hye-ya, did you hear? They say Shinsegae Guild already owns their own guild building."
"Whoa, really?"
"Then should we head that way?"
Taking current prices into account, the cheapest building in the rest area at this stage cost 10,000 points.
They wouldn't have bought some ordinary house, so it had to be at least 200,000 points.
'Not a small sum.'
They'd already bought a building like that?
It was surprising, but if they collected just 100 points per member in dues, they'd cover it easily.
Big guilds at this stage often had up to 10,000 members.
In other words, owning a building was a clear sign of a guild's strength.
"What are the membership requirements?"
"There are seven of us. Can we join all at once?"
That was why all the big guilds owned buildings, and people flocked to them like bamboo shoots after rain. They were so jammed that there wasn't even standing room.
"Please! Take me in! I'll do anything you ask!"
"I'm pretty good in a fight, you know? I've got a fourth dan in swordsmanship despite how I look! Just give me one chance!"
They begged to be let in, competing with each other.
But small fry stood out no matter what.
"Now, now, no shouting. Line up and tell us what abilities you have."
"Hey, ability isn't everything!"
"If you're not confident, step to the back."
The guild reps sifted through the crowd, picking out the gems. And they didn't stop there—they approached indifferent types like us instead of the desperate applicants.
Sure enough, a few men and women approached us competitively.
"Have you joined a guild yet?"
"Yes, thanks for your time."
"Aw, come on, you don't look like you have. Why not hear our conditions?"
Refusing didn't help.
'Empty carts make the most noise, after all.'
The big guilds knew that the weaker ones were the loudest in hawking themselves.
So they invested manpower in scouting real talent—people strong enough that they didn't need a guild.
Like the eleven reps from different guilds now crowding around us.
"Why not all five of you come to our guild together? Normally we'd screen separately, but with my special privileges, I can take you all at once!"
"No thanks."
"Come on, don't refuse so firmly."
"What about us? Valhalla Guild."
"Mythos Guild."
We kept refusing, but our nonchalance—clearly not needing a guild—must have marked us as above average, because they persisted without tiring.
Once they spotted the [Magitech Gear] we were wearing, their eyes lit up, and honeyed words flowed.
"Join us, and we'll give everyone 100 points upfront."
"Depending on your skills, we can guarantee executive positions."
"No, we're good."
When I, the apparent leader, didn't budge, they split up to pitch individually to my women.
Of course, it made no difference.
"100 points? Make it 78 million points if you're serious!"
"Pardon...?"
"No interest, so please leave."
"Pass."
No matter how they sweetened the deal, we didn't flinch. Most slunk away, but one guild with apparent resources made a final pitch.
"Valhalla has a guild building too. See it there? Right across from the dorms—that's ours."
We all looked where he pointed.
'Whoa, that's pricey.'
Prime location and huge size—easily a million points.
Overhearing, other people gawked and surged toward Valhalla.
"Forget them, what about you guys? I wanna join yours!"
"Let me in too!"
The crowd mobbed the Valhalla banner, pleading for membership.
Even amid the commotion, my women didn't spare them a glance. Which made sense...
"It's small."
"Yeah, no lake either."
"...Looks awfully noisy."
"I don't see the point in joining."
Having fully enjoyed leisure at my dorm, they shook their heads at the rest area's puny guild buildings.
'Their standards are sky-high now—no poaching worries.'
Not even 100 million points would move them.
"Take care."
"You too."
"Ah, w-wait! Just hear me out a bit more..."
We nodded curtly to Valhalla and headed back to the guild office.
They looked desperate to talk more, but the mob clamoring for spots blocked them.
"Your dorm ability really is broken, Dickhead."
"Yeah. The best."
"Tch, why's it only on you, Dickhead? Gimme some."
They still fully bought my excuse that the shop's special features and dorm upgrades were part of my [Unique Ability].
'Anyone else would've suspected by now.'
But my crew's abilities were so overpowered themselves.
Their own cheats made my claims believable.
Birds of a feather, after all.
"That said, plenty of shady dealings going on."
Hearing Han So-hee's murmur, I glanced that way.
Scumbags exploiting popular guilds' prestige were visible.
"Please, let me join too."
"Hmm."
They preyed on desperate hopefuls for personal gain.
Main targets: women with mediocre abilities and looks, no chance of passing legitimately.
They tailed rejected women and dangled conditions.
"Normally, that ability wouldn't cut it, but show some sincerity, and maybe."
A guy pointing at a dorm.
Looks weren't always genetic—trials weeded out the obese.
Bodies stayed prime, fueling such propositions.
...Nod.
The woman accepted, vanishing toward the dorms with him.
Even trading her ass, membership wasn't guaranteed.
'Still better off than guys.'
Most men didn't even get an offer. Even if they did...
"Uh... I wanna join your guild too. Got separated from my party..."
"Got it. For your tough break, pay 200 points, and I'll recommend you to HR."
Men just paid cash.
In a way, harsher than the women's deal.
Current rates: 10 points for a whore. This was 20x that.
"H-here."
Lacking seductive bodies, men gritted teeth and paid.
To boost survival odds.
"..."
Watching the spectacle, we'd reached the guild office entrance.
"Dickhead, shall we go in?"
Seeing the desperate masses scrambling to survive, I stepped forward.
"Yeah."
The wooden building's interior was wide open.
A massive room spanning 500 pyeong, reminiscent of a bank.
Opposite the entrance, twenty receptionists handled players, while the rest of the hall buzzed with numbered ticket-holders chatting.
『Ticket Dispenser』
We drew 7354. Quite the crowd.
"Crazy, 131 teams ahead of us?"
"Wow, that's a ton."
We'd wasted time farming in Haran, making us latecomers.
Latecomers usually faced short lines. This backlog...
'Proof of massive guild interest.'
Thud. Thud.
Bored waiting, I wandered over.
"Hey, where you going?"
A billboard on the wall: 20 meters wide, 10 high.
『Guild Rankings』
Guild Rankings
The board was packed with guild names up to 1,000th place.
"Whoa, guilds have rankings too?"
My followers eyed the board.
Ink letters writhed like living things, shifting cells every minute to update rankings.
"What's this ranking based on?"
"Contribution points—aggregates everything guild members achieve in trials and rest areas."
Personal rankings tallied individuals; guild rankings summed members' scores per guild.
"Huh? Doesn't that favor guilds with more members?"
"Exactly."
"Any rewards?"
"Yep, obviously."
"Figures... That's why they bulk up. But why be picky? Just take everyone."
"Member caps per guild level."
Level 1: 100 members.
Level 2: 1,000.
Level 3: 2,000.
Level 4: 3,000.
Upgrades cost money—items too from level 4.
Higher levels meant more perks, so max it out.
"Wait, I saw a guild over 5,000 earlier? They got upgrade items already?"
"Nah, that's a coalition. Looks like one guild but multiple allied acting as one."
"Ah."
I scanned from the top for familiar names.
1. Black Wolf
2. Valhalla
3. Fox
4. Demon Realm Incheon Alliance
5. Empire Hunters
Most unknown to me.
But first place was familiar: Black Wolf Guild, led by Lee Jong-chul from the rest area recently.
Aura buffer like Lim Ah-rin, trademark that propelled him to Grand Lord later.
'Korea's big successes: Black Wolf and Sea God Guild.'
Others fade or vanish.
'Sea God at 327th.'
Normally, they'd recruit the Saintess here and boom, but this round? Doubtful. I'd protect her this time.
...Sea God might join history's dustbin. Even vanish next trial.
'They were one-trick with the Saintess anyway.'
Some might cry foul—you're dooming them.
No guilt.
Why?
'Sea God failed to protect the Saintess's mental state.'
Good leader, but parasites swarmed for scraps.
Saintess pure; surroundings filthy—like the scams outside, baiting with prestige for dirty deeds.
Sorry, but no letting her be used this round.
'Last round, she sacrificed for all.'
This round, sacrifice for her.
Bzzz—
My ticket vibrated. Numbers on the 12th receptionist's board shifted to '7354'. Our turn.
We approached, handing the ticket to the business-smiling clerk.
"Welcome to the Guild Office. How may I help?"
"We're here to..."
Right then—a voice from behind.
"Hey, you five. Yeah, the masked ones."
"..."
A rough crew of twelve sauntered over, eyeing our hands, feet, waists, smirking.
"Nice gear."
Ah, right. Forgot—[Magitech Gear] screams high-end this early.
Had to wear it for set bonuses, but it looked ultra-expensive.
Like flashing level 20 weapons among level 3s.
'Hid faces, not gear aggro.'
Late selection made it trash tier then—no issue expected.
Sales reps eyed us outside, felt off but not this.
'Used to face trouble from girls' looks, not gear.'
Normally mass-released later—no early spotlight. Our fast farm backfired.
'Anyway, player hunters?'
Fight brewing, bystanders fled, creating space now filled by gear-lusters drawing weapons.
"Hand it over nicely. Might spare your lives."
"Dickhead, what now?"
"Dunno."
Crew subtly readied.
Thugs like these? Just kill.
But the leader's face rang a bell.
'Who was it? Familiar.'
Scruffy hair, piercings galore, tattoos.
Stereo delinquent vibe, foreign flair.
He spoke.
"Don't be too bummed. Park Jae-jung'll put 'em to good use."
"Ah."
Got it.
Gear Thief Park Jae-jung.
Infamous. Or rather...
His mom, the S-Rank poison mage doing his cleanup: Black Noblewoman.
Nickname from her constant black mourning garb.
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