Episode 24
024. Just Promise Me One Thing
Before other kingdoms or factions realized Golden Hand value, the Aerok Kingdom had to secure him first. Ravi intended to move personally for that.
Although it seemed she had other ulterior motives, that wasn’t important now. How to keep the Outsider Golden Hand bound—that was the most important thing.
While Ravi and Clock were whispering, Geumson was organizing the tools he had used for crafting. He seemed ready to leave. Seeing this, Ravi poked Clock’s side urgently. Reluctantly, Clock moved.
“Ahem… excuse me, Successor-nim?”
Clock cautiously opened his mouth. His voice was filled with respect for Golden Hand, the creator of an Ego Golem.
“If… if it’s alright, could you stay at our Neman Village branch? Of course, we promise the best treatment! We will definitely support material costs and research funds! No, if you wish, we can even transfer the atelier’s title to you, Successor-nim!”
Clock was making an absurd proposal to Geumson, an Outsider. Of course, the Golden Hand of the past. If he had been the Golden Hand who simply played Lepione and made a living through streaming, it would have been a tempting offer.
An NPC in Lepyon making such an offer, and the promise to transfer ownership of the atelier itself, would have been ample streaming material. But now, it was not an attractive proposal at all. As if reading his expression, Ravi anxiously intervened.
“Tsk! I told you, they’ll just get on the bad side of those old fogies! Step aside!”
Seeing Clock’s proposal wasn’t working, Ravi stepped forward directly. Without a moment’s hesitation, she proposed to Geumsom.
“You’re leaving, right? Like other Outsiders.”
Golden Hand nodded at her words. Before he could say anything else, Ravi quickly made a new proposal.
“Would you be interested in meeting His Majesty, the King of Aerok Kingdom, with me? With my authority and that Ego Golem, I can arrange an audience. How about it?”
Ravi proposed an audience with the King of Aerok Kingdom. Golden Hand eyes widened at that. It was certainly an attractive proposal.
For Golden Hand, a player, creating a connection with the King was like having a highway paved for his activities within Airok Kingdom. Moreover, this was still the early stages of Lepione. There likely wasn’t a single player who had contact with a kingdom’s king yet. Meaning, he would secure a position far ahead of other players. However.
“Sorry, but that’s a bit too early for me.”
Golden Hands flatly refused Ravi’s proposal. It had been a surefire offer for her, so Ravi was greatly surprised.
“What? You’re refusing this? Why? No, it’s an audience with His Majesty! He might bestow an incredible reward if he sees the Ego Golem you made!”
Ravi wore an expression of disbelief, but Golden Hands seemed to have his reasons.
‘I’m only level 20 right now. If I meet the King now… I won’t be able to refuse any quests—no, commands—he proposes.’
Meeting the King was good, but they weren’t on the same level. If Golden Hands met the King now, he would merely become a puppet carrying out the King’s orders. There was no right to refuse the King’s quests. Moreover, he wouldn’t be able to accept other quests until he completed the King’s.
Of course, if he could complete the quests, the rewards would be substantial. After all, the proposer was the absolute ruler of the Airok Kingdom. High risk, high return. But currently, he was in no position to handle the risk. If his level and abilities were a bit higher, it might be worth attempting, but not now. At least not yet.
“My abilities are still insufficient. I wouldn’t want to show a shameful appearance before His Majesty.”
Golden Hands refused tactfully. At his attitude, Ravi wore a regretful expression but soon nodded.
“For an Outsider… you think deeper than expected. You don’t let greed lead you. Good! I like it! It’s a pity, but if that’s how you think, I can’t help it. Instead, just promise me one thing.”
She held out her pinky finger.
“Someday, when you’re truly in need of help, just once, answer my call. Of course, I’ll make sure the reward is solid. How about it?”
It wasn’t a bad proposal. Golden Hands also didn’t want to sever ties here with Ravi, who had been friendly enough to propose a meeting with the King. Golden Hands hooked his pinky finger with hers, making the promise.
“Alright, I will.”
[You have made a ‘Secret Promise’ with magic Engineer Ravi.]
[In the future, upon answering her call, you can receive a special reward.]
“Great! Well then, take care, Super Ace! Oh, and!”
Ravi left a final piece of advice for the departing Golden Hands.
“There will be those who show favor to you as the Successor… but don’t trust them all. My words… understand?”
Golden Hands responded by waving his hand instead of words. Watching Golden Hands recede, Clock also shouted with a regretful expression.
“Please visit Neman Village again anytime! We’ll always be waiting!”
Golden Hands left the village with Iron Walker, leaving the two behind. The peaceful scenery of Neman Village slowly faded into the distance behind him.
Psht—
In the corner of a shabby one-room apartment, a capsule unit. Its door opened, revealing a haggard-looking Golden Hands inside. He emerged from the capsule.
Crrrrack—
Perhaps because he had used the capsule for too long, his body was stiff. Stretching, a sound like a scream burst from each vertebra in his back. However, hearing that sound, Golden Hands spoke with a refreshed expression.
“Ah, I’m dying, seriously.”
Although Golden Hands had just left Neman Village, it seemed plans for the next step were already flashing through his mind.
But those thoughts couldn’t last long. Because the sound from the TV he had absently turned on caught his attention.
[Breaking news! Just moments ago, ‘Reversed Heaven’s Greatsword’ Kang Moo-jin, the player solidly holding the #1 ranking in the domestic Lepyon server, has reportedly broken through the level 100 barrier for the first time on the server!]
The anchor’s excited voice flowed from the TV screen alongside flashy graphics. Golden Hands stared blankly at the screen, opening a cup noodle lid. He listened to the anchor’s continuing words while waiting for his three-minute dinner.
[Ranked #1 in the Korean Lepyon server, player Kang Moo-jin has become the first on the server to break through the level 100 barrier! Let’s take a look at the footage!]
The screen changed, showing a scene in slow motion of a massive warrior in majestic armor roaring. Above his head, the number ‘Lv. 100’ shone in golden light, bursting with flashy effects that filled the screen. Simultaneously, chat messages scrolling up insanely fast.
└ Wow, insane! Finally, level 100!
└ Kang Moo-jin! Kang Moo-jin! Kang Moo-jin!
└ This is national pride! Kya! Open the “Do You Know” club after so long! Add Kang Moo-jin here!
└ Wait, how is he already level 100? Is that even possible?
└ Probably power-leveling, spending real money, and cycling through party members?
The anchor’s voice grew even more heightened while showing Kang Moo-jin’s personal streaming footage.
[Player Kang Moo-jin’s achievement of level 100 this time transcends individual glory, serving as a triumphant feat proving that the Korean server has ascended to the ranks of the world’s strongest! Experts say this achievement will elevate the status of the Korean server…]
It was a joyous occasion. But Golden Hands muttered while stirring the noodles with his chopsticks.
“Status, my foot…”
Golden Hands reaction, contrary to public sentiment. He knew. While it was true Kang Moo-jin had reached level 100, the process hadn’t been smooth. Just as Golden Hands worried, the anchor’s expression changed subtly as they delivered the next piece of news.
[Oh, no! Some unfortunate news has also been reported. It’s been revealed that during the final raid to achieve level 100, Kang Moo-jin’s primary weapon, ‘Storm’s Conductor (Unique)’, was destroyed. In response, Kang Moo-jin’s side stated they will take a break for a while to reorganize. This was Kim Hyeon-sang from ‘Daily pion’.]
The screen cross-edited scenes showing the shattered fragments of the greatsword, Kang Moo-jin’s dazed face, and so on. Seeing this, Golden Hands clicked his tongue and muttered bitterly.
“I told him not to use that piece-of-junk sword.”
Kang Moo-jin, a comrade-in-arms with whom Golden Hands had run a few raids in his past life. They weren’t close, of course. Back then, Golden Hands was practically a mercenary, and Kang Moo-jin was always the shining hero at the forefront.
But Golden Hands acknowledged his skill. However, his eye for equipment was terribly poor, which was his one flaw, if you could call it that.
It wasn’t just a matter of taste. Kang Moo-jin was always obsessed with visible numbers, the so-called ‘specs’. The hidden potential of items, synergy with other equipment, and above all, essential values like ‘durability’ that could withstand extreme situations were always secondary.
‘Well… I can’t put all the blame on Kang Moo-jin.’
Kang Moo-jin at level 100. He was akin to a pioneer carving out the unknown territory of Lepione with his bare body. Unlike low-level play with active information exchange, there were no guides for high levels. Kang Moo-jin had no choice but to accumulate data through direct clashes, breaking, and shedding blood himself. The numerous failures he experienced became priceless milestones for those who followed.
But the real problem was.
‘You died too soon. Kang Moo-jin…’
A bitter memory surfaced. Even after Lepione became reality, Kang Moo-jin was the first to charge out.
He should have been stopped.
