Chapter 573

〈 Chapter 573: Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 03 〉

“Are you out of your freaking mind? Doing this on a live broadcast? There’s no one around to arrest anyway.”

The man crushed the cigarette he was smoking into the ashtray. Just like the burning stub, his spirit was rotting away.

“Mr. Ha, this might get tricky…”

The man scratched his head furiously while keeping a close eye on the chat window. Despite the meager number of viewers akin to Horogwan Locusts, starting off in double digits within mere hours of going live was certainly an unusual occurrence.

‘This will explode later for sure.’

Recalling the personalities of the two, it was clear that this would be a chaotic broadcast where they’d spoil instead of engage with aggro-inducing individuals and do as they please.

“…Am I gonna end up writing a report?”

Fortunately, with an emergency escape route prepared, there wasn’t much concern, but the man didn’t want these rare outsiders getting dragged back inside.

“No, no. They’re probably just nervous, that’s why they turned on the broadcast. If others are watching, they won’t dare cause too much trouble.”

An overly-worried man and a highly cautious woman make for unpredictable lovers. The man, who had watched over them, understood their actions well, but the company must’ve been in an uproar.

Ding-dong.

The man opened his smartphone and made a call. The other party answered immediately.

“Hey, Cheonghwa. How’s it going?”

[Manager, we’re screwed. Ever since we turned on the broadcast, our management team is on 24-hour alert.]

“That so? Drop it. You’ve worked hard. Don’t make things bigger and drag me into the boardroom. Handle it yourselves. Got it?”

[Of course… But Manager, nothing bad will happen, right?]

The man’s voice was filled with unease.

[Didn’t they say ‘even stones should be tapped before crossing’? Why the sudden broadcast?]

“They tap stones then fly off. There are many reasons…”

Like subtly flaunting their love to the outside world.

Or wanting to communicate with others through the broadcast.

Or silently protesting by asking someone watching to protect them.

“Fifty days of peace was enough. Isn’t your job supporting them during their DLC without any accidents?”

[Isn’t it because everything was quiet for fifty days until the emergency struck? Manager, where are you now?]

“Me?”

The man was walking along the Jeju beach. The strong wind whipped his bright yellow coat.

“What does it matter? Are you gonna call me when something happens? Leave it alone. My project is elsewhere, not here.”

[Then why were we dispatched here…?]

“Love your colleague, love the country. If your colleague screws up, you share responsibility. Hang up. Good work.”

Click. The man ended the call unilaterally and whistled. Fortunately, there was no one around.

“Those game-streaming newlyweds wouldn’t skip DLC… huh?”

Prrrrt! The man froze upon hearing the trot ringtone from his smartphone. Seeing the caller, he crouched behind a low stone wall shielded from the wind.

“Yes, yes! I’m answering!”

[Hey. Do you know what’s going on?]

Caught off guard by the irritable tone, the man gulped.

“A, ah no. This is news to me… Should I warn them with a call?”

Even though the caller was a divine-like existence beyond even the man’s control—while the man was merely a branch president, the caller stood above the entire group as its chairman.

[Nah, that’s not the main issue…]

And yet, this superior asked him awkwardly,

[…So how do you subscribe to something?]

“……”

Small pebbles tumbled against the stone wall in the strong wind.

* * *

The protagonist of the original story has several names.

Xian. White. Hibiscus. Default name Xian. Players can change this name, and this person is the commander destined to save humanity.

And his past name was Baek Cheonghwa.

Once known as “Mugungwha Boy” by Sun Icheol, he was an S-Rank Hero who lost all his magic power due to the Pyongyang incident and became a promising young man living a new life in America.

He graduated top of his class in the non-ability section of the American Hero Academy’s command division and came to Korea as a dispatched commander at the request of Oracle, a Round Table hero and acquaintance, to scout promising recruits. That was the start of the story and background of the protagonist.

That’s the story of the blond Western male named Xian.

But fittingly for DLC, the protagonist’s current jobs have expanded.

“Hmm, wow, the protagonist has diverse jobs?”

“Hero, Hunter, Mercenary…”

“Why isn’t Villain included?”

“Otherwise, the story wouldn’t progress. What if they become a direct subordinate to a villainous organization leader? One wrong move and they might help Seongju destroy the world.”

“That can’t happen.”

A villain protagonist in a story about saving the world? That sounds more like a dark hero. Chang-yeom had already discarded the “blond Western male” option and flicked her fingers over the three options while asking me.

“Does choosing this change anything?”

“You’ll find out by trying it yourself.”

Cheongnyeon nodded at my words and opened the topmost Hero option.

§□□□□□□□§

<Hero>

You are a seasoned veteran hero in the field. However, after sustaining knee injuries from a monster attack, you find it difficult to fight on the frontlines and decide to open your own Hero Academy to nurture future generations.

# Combat Power: C.


Originally an A-Rank ability, but significantly weakened due to deep wounds.

# Magic Power: B.


Outstanding talent once marked you as an A-Rank prospect, but unfortunately, you remain at B-Rank.

# Prestige: A.


Despite being a B-Rank hero, your accomplishments rival those of any A-Rank. Known by seven out of ten people, your reputation will be a valuable asset for running the academy.

# Funds: D.


Most of the money earned from hero activities went towards treatment and academy establishment. You might fall behind on rent payments.

<Special Traits>

[Hero]: Slightly increases hero recruitment probability. Drastically decreases villain recruitment probability.

[Field Commander]: Increased leadership skills. Significantly reduces the chance allies disregard orders.

[Buddy Chance]: Various support from fellow heroes based on probability.

§□□□□□□□§

“This is…”

“Like Park Ra-on becoming a commander.”

“I thought the same thing!”

There are quite a few heroes who get injured in the field and aim to cultivate the next generation. Like Park Ra-on’s case, some return to heroism to reclaim their glory days, but this feels more like Ra-on giving up that glory and embarking on a path to train new heroes.

“Hmm… So what happens to the Mugungwha friend?”

“Hmm. Probably changes similarly?”

[NurimaruSeaweedSoup]: Yes! Each job changes completely. Sometimes it’s a total overhaul.

“Thank you, NurimaruSeaweedSoup.”

This is why broadcasting is good. This level of input is less like interference and more like a helpful guideline for making choices.

“I’ll figure out whether it’s Mugungwha or Ggae-nari while playing.”

“If you choose Hero…”

Both Cheongnyeon and I chuckled ambiguously at the Hero choice. Neither of us had the disposition of a hero.

“The D-Rank funds… We can manage somehow if we earn early on. Initial teammates won’t care about money.”

“I like this part most.”

I was drawn to the [Field Commander] trait. The idea of reducing the chance orders aren’t followed gave me peace of mind.

“At least this way, there won’t be trolls.”

“Instead, we’ll have to be super careful about reputation and image. Even a slightly underhanded act could turn fans into haters.”

Ohhh~

Mr. P is sharp!

Based on viewer reactions, the Hero playstyle aligns with Cheongnyeon’s prediction—a pure hero who sticks to the righteous path. Having a history of heroics means easier connections with fellow heroes, but considering the villains lurking in Sun Icheol’s hellish Korea, it’s a job requiring constant vigilance.

“But at least we roughly know who’s easy to recruit here, right?”

“Current heroes. Although hero academies don’t exclusively train heroes…”

“Let’s check the others first. Hunter.”

§□□□□□□□§

<Hunter>

You were a promising member of a famous hunter guild. As a hunter who hunts monsters for cores and byproducts to earn money, your guild collapsed overnight due to an overwhelming monster. Now, you must lead a new hunter guild as its leader.

# Combat Power: B.


As a hunter, you possess combat skills that hold their own anywhere.

# Magic Power: C.


Though lacking in raw magic power, you compensate with extensive knowledge of and combat techniques against monsters.

# Prestige: B.


You took pride in being part of a fairly renowned hunter guild, but that pride crumbled overnight. Whether you can regain it depends on you.

# Funds: C.


You inherited the guild wholesale, so you have adequate capital and facilities. However, regular monster hunts are necessary to sustain the funding stream.

<Special Traits>

[Hunter]: Slightly increases hunter recruitment probability. Slightly decreases hero and villain recruitment probabilities.

[Hunter’s Eye]: Low chance to identify weak points during monster raids.

[Adventurer]: Various bonuses during dungeon purges based on probability.

§□□□□□□□§

“With 2025 as the baseline, hunters definitely established themselves by then. But dungeons…?”

“Likely cube-created otherworldly places. Like the Horogwan Locusts.”

“Ah, those kinds of dungeons.”

Indeed, whether the dungeons mentioned here are the ones Cheongnyeon and I know well or actual fantasy-style dungeons remains to be seen firsthand. With B-Rank funding, having a solid foundation means hiring people and using resources efficiently.

“So lastly, mercenary.”

§□□□□□□□§

<Mercenary>

You are a freelancer mercenary who awakened special abilities but chose neither the hero nor hunter paths. Taking on any job for money, you formed and trained a mercenary unit under contract with a famous group.

# Combat Power: A.


With extensive combat experience from dabbling in various fields.

# Magic Power: D.


Lacking innate magic power, you heavily rely on tools to leverage your A-Rank combat skills.

# Prestige: D.


Operating under the mindset that receiving payment suffices, you’re somewhat known in mercenary circles but largely unknown to the general public.

# Funds: A.


You’ve saved enough, and the contract deposit is substantial. However, failing to meet the contract terms would result in penalty fees impossible to bear.

<Special Traits>

[Mercenary]: Slightly increases villain and hunter recruitment probabilities. Drastically decreases hero recruitment probability.

[Embodiment of Capitalism]: Temporary ally contracts possible based on financial power.

[Black Market]: Various bonuses when using the black market based on probability.

§□□□□□□□§

“Extremes…”

“Truly a mercenary. I have a vague idea who they contracted with…”

“Right? But there are three possibilities, right? One is this, one is that. The remaining one…puhuhu.”

Cheongnyeon drew numbers 7, then 10 with her finger, finally slashing her hand across her neck. Certainly, if the former two were behind the contract, it might be unclear, but given the short and fragile pride of the latter, it could be a dangerous deal.

“Whichever we pick, each has pros and cons… Ah, feedback incoming. Everyone, do the initial members differ based on selection? Talking about the starting trio, the starters.”

[Hitoriluv]: They said giving advice results in counter-advice or spoilers?

“For this extent, you need to tell us so both me and my husband can prepare mentally before choosing.”

Cheongnyeon puffed her cheeks showing dissatisfaction. While mentioning her husband brought giggles and chatter from viewers, I decided to let it slide.

[Hitoriluv]: Is the broadcaster really not going to spoil?

“I promise. Just tell us the starting lineup.”

[Hitoriluv]: Only Yuna is fixed. The rest is a secret. Puhuhu.

The viewer teased us. Judging from others’ reactions, apart from Yuna, the other heroines seem to vary.

Possibly joining are Park Ra-on, Kim Nori, or another heroine. It could also include male heroes, or perhaps the Kim-Park duo simply joins with different roles based on the chosen job.

“Ultimately, it comes down to which job we select.”

“Think lightly. No matter what you do, adapting accordingly works.”

I reassured Cheongnyeon and pondered. Which choice would be best?

“Since whatever we do doesn’t matter, why don’t we leave it to you all?”

I decided to follow Cheongnyeon’s choice, and she opted to leave it to others.