Chapter 7

[You've chosen the Support class.]

[*Warning* This class isn't a good match for the user. Are you sure you want to choose Support?]

A system message popped up with the Warrior class highlighted and asked him why he would make such a reckless decision.

However, JiHan was certain of his decision.

'I don't need the Warrior class right now.'

Thanks to the job bonus, he could get a bit stronger if he chose the Warrior class, but he didn't need to rely on that to make it through the Bronze League.

The power he already had was more than enough for that.

'I need to get the Support-exclusive stat in advance.'

When you changed your class to Support, a new stat called 'Divine Power' appeared.

'Divine Power is the hardest stat to raise.'

There were two ways to increase your stats on Battle Net: You could either invest stat points or train.

'If you train your body, your Strength and Agility will increase; your Magic Power will increase by practicing magic, but…'

It was almost impossible to increase Divine Power through training.

'I must have more than a certain amount of Divine Power to gain the unique stat…'

Things might not work if he spent his precious unused stat points to raise Divine Power, but JiHan knew how to increase it without using them.

'Before I heard the explanation from the Saintess, I thought that Divine Power was a stat that had to be raised through the investment of unused stat points.'

America First's ranked 3rd, 'Saintess', had helped him a lot after he had been exiled and joined them.

'She helped me a bit too much.'

Why was it that the ranked 3rd had nothing else to do? She would often go to where JiHan was training to chit-chat.

- JiHan~ A new steak house opened in front of the guild's building. According to the members who have been there, it seems like it's quite good. Ah, I also want to go.

- JiHan~ Do your stats only increase through training? You should also take some breaks.

- JiHan~ Stop breaking the poor steel doll and play with me.

The Saintess was quite noisy, but he obtained a lot of valuable information while talking with her during their breaks that included the trends among rankers worldwide, their estimated stats, skills, etc…

Among the things they talked about were also stories of the rankers' pasts, herself included.

- JiHan~ Do you know how I became a Saintess?

- No.

- My Divine Power stat was high!

- Isn't 10 the maximum amount you can naturally obtain anyway?

- Fufu… Back in the days of the Tutorial Season, there was an amazing way to increase Divine Power.

The method the Saintess told him about was only valid until the end of 2020.

Considering that it was the end of July, he needed to make use of the method as soon as possible.

[You've chosen the Support class.]

[You've obtained the Support's exclusive 'Divine Power' stat.]

[You've obtained the F-rank skill 'Heal'.]

[You've obtained the F-rank skill 'Power Up'.]

[You've obtained the F-rank skill 'Barrier'.]

Despite the system's advice, JiHan chose the Support class and read over his new skills.

[Heal]

Skill Rank: F

Required Divine Power: 8

- Heals wounds.

He needed at least eight Divine Power to use the skill, but JiHan's Divine Power was five, which was pitiful.

He let out a bitter laugh.

His body wasn't good at anything.

He also needed at least eight Divine Power to use the Power Up and Barrier skills.

JiHan closed the skill window.

'I won't use my points on this.'

Even if he invested in Martial Power, it wouldn't be enough. He couldn't afford to invest unused stat points in Divine Power.

'I can raise Divine Power by using the method the Saintess revealed to me.'

Still, he needed a certain something to use that method—the currency used in Battle Net, GP (Game Points).

His current amount, of course, was 'GP: 0'.

JiHan had just finished the tutorial, so he had no GP.

'I need to earn more GP. I'll focus on that for now, so I should go and explore before the next game.'

He could also obtain GP through cash or the Battle Net's market.

JiHan looked around Yoon Sae-jin's house.

His brother sold most things of use before going to Japan, but if he looked carefully, he thought he might find something worth selling.

'Let's go treasure hunting.'

JiHan started to explore the penthouse.

* * *

[Welcome to the Bronze League - Gangnam Area.]

[The mission is 'defense'.]

UOOOO.

She heard screams echoing from all directions as soon as she was summoned into the game.

GaYeong frowned. 'So this is that infamous zombie map…'

It was a Bronze-exclusive defense map called '10 Towers'.

The mission was simple: four players were summoned on top of each tower, and they had to stop the incoming monsters.

[Protect the crystal and survive the zombie attack.]

[The battle will continue until 5 towers are left.]

GaYeong looked around where she'd been summoned—it was a narrow tower that had a radius of about 10 meters, there were long castle walls that stretched left and right, and behind them was the castle interior, so there were no gaps that zombies could break in through.

'I only need to watch the front.'

Tap, tap.

GaYeong walked forward and looked down.

Countless zombies were walking around and drooling.

'Disgusting…'

That was why she hated the map.

Even though it was just a game, the thought of fighting against filthy zombies made her sigh.

"Haa…"

She sighed and waited for the others to be summoned. She would need a good party.

Flash-!

"Ah… It's this map."

An Archer was summoned.

"Oh, defense?"

A Mage holding an expensive-looking staff was summoned next; he smiled at the other two.

A Warrior, an Archer, and a Mage… they only needed a Support.

'The people summoned so far seem to be good.'

GaYeong quietly looked at the Archer and the Mage. They both had good equipment.

The Archer was equipped with items that were at least rank B and bore the emblem of LK, a large corporation.

The Mage's equipment didn't have any guild emblems, but his gear looked more lavish than what the top 10 guilds provided.

Such equipment likely meant they were competent, but Im GaYeong was concerned about the person who had yet to be summoned.

'The Support is the most important person on this map.'

The zombie defense game usually lasted a long time, so the role of a Support was very important.

If they got a normal person as Support, they would likely be able to get into the five surviving towers.

GaYeong was thinking that when…

Flash.

A light came down, and the Support she'd been waiting for was summoned.

She was astonished.

"Huh…?!"

A man dressed in a black tracksuit who was holding a long metal pole appeared.

It was JiHan, the one who'd placed 1st in the tutorial.

* * *

"…"

The Archer from LK was taken aback.

Even if they were in the Bronze League, they were in the Gangnam area.

To think a Support would bring such ridiculous equipment!

'How disheartening.'

It didn't seem like the round would go well; looking at the Support's equipment made him feel like he'd just stepped on shit.

"Are you the Support?" The Mage bluntly spoke to JiHan while frowning.

"Haa… Pathetic. Look at your equipment. Are you, by chance, a beggar?"

"…"

"This is why one shouldn't play during the Tutorial Season. How come such an idiot was summoned?" The Mage rotated his finger near his head, wondering if JiHan was crazy.

Seeing that, JiHan's expression went cold.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" The Mage seemed bothered by his gaze.

"Haa. Look at him. A newbie who doesn't know his place. I won't participate today," the Mage suddenly said.

At his words, the Archer quickly walked toward him. "Mr. Mage, please. Don't be like that~ Even if the Support's equipment looks like that, since he made it this far, he must be capable."

The Mage glanced at the 'LK' engraved on the Archer's armor.

"Ah, forget it. I can't play with people like him. Do you think I bought all this expensive equipment to carry people like him?"

The Mage's temperament was terrible, but the Archer kept trying to convince him. "Don't be like that… Mr. Support, you should apologize as well."

"Why should I?"

"Ah, but still…"

'Your equipment is too terrible!'

She couldn't say something like that, so she remained silent.

The Mage screamed again. "Woah, look at this bastard! I was trying to let it go after hearing the Archer… But I won't play until this bastard kneels down and apologizes!"

"Kn-kneels? Is… isn't that going too far?"

Kneeling for such a thing?

The Archer looked at the Mage in disbelief.

The Mage sat down, switching to protest mode. "Hey, you bus bastard. You won't get anything if you don't stick your head to the ground."

GaYeong looked at the Mage sitting with his legs crossed.

Starting an argument as soon as he was summoned and cursing people… What a lunatic.

Although he was acting angry, he was clearly smiling.

Only then did she realize who it was.

'The Bronze League's troll Mage, Kim Gyu-hyuk…!'

Kim Gyu-hyuk used to be a promising Mage belonging to one of the top 10 guilds, but after mysteriously failing four consecutive times to be promoted to Silver, his personality turned strange.

He often instigated conflict with those who looked like beginners during team games, and if things didn't go his way, he stubbornly refused to cooperate.

Losing made you lose a level along with other consequences, but Kim Gyu-hyuk didn't seem to care and kept making a fuss.

He was famous as one of the three most annoying players in the Gangnam Bronze League.

'Ah, it's a piece of trash.'

He was a person who looked for trouble with those who seemed weak.

GaYeong looked at him in disgust.

Still, the Mage was one of the most important classes in zombie defense along with the Support, so she also tried to persuade Gyu-hyuk.

Then…

Tap. Tap.

JiHan walked toward him and said, "Okay, then don't."

"What…?"

JiHan grabbed the Mage by the collar. "I said, 'Don't play'."

Whish!

Gyu-hyuk went flying through the air.

He seemed to slow down for a moment as if things were going in slow motion.

"Wh-what the?! AGH!" he soon screamed out.

UOOO-!

He was soon drowned out by the wails of the zombies below the tower.

Crunch. Crunch!

They heard him being devoured.

Flash.

Gyu-hyuk appeared on top of the tower again—he'd used one of the three revivals that were given in the defense game.

"Y-you crazy bastard—!"

Just as Gyu-hyuk was about to curse again, JiHan said, "Ah, you're still alive?"

"What?" He went silent at the unexpected reaction.

JiHan then clapped and grabbed Gyu-hyuk by the collar again.

"Ah. There's revival in Bronze, right?"

"…?"

"Then here you go again."

Kim Gyu-hyuk once again soared into the sky.

"AAHH…!"