Chapter 11
Fortunately, Sejin allowed Shinhyuk to wield the hammer.
Strict masters usually select apprentices after careful consideration, but from Sejin’s perspective, Shinhyuk was nothing short of a savior.
When such a person asks to be taken on as an apprentice, it’s only natural to accept and take care of him.
After Shinhyuk officially became Sejin’s apprentice:
“Then let’s finish outfitting Sua’s equipment and head out.”
“Okay.”
“Wow… I can’t believe I’m buying equipment at Oseong Department Store.”
The three of them began shopping for Sua’s equipment in earnest.
And that was the start of hell.
“This is from Carlson Workshop, one of the top one or two workshops in the U.S. The price is high, but the quality is guaranteed.”
“Oh, this is nice. Carlson Workshop—I’m familiar with—”
“I’ll go look around somewhere else.”
“….”
Even after visiting over ten stores, Sua left to check out more shops. Shinhyuk, pale-faced, begged her:
“Sua, let’s just buy everything. Huh? I’ll pay for it all.”
“No. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you can buy anything. And as you said, this is temporary equipment. Why buy so much?”
Sua flatly refused Shinhyuk’s plea, and he had no real counterargument—she wasn’t wrong. He turned to Sejin with a desperate look.
“Hyung, do something.”
“…I also don’t know anything about women!”
Of course, Sejin had nothing to say either.
Ultimately, the two of them wandered like zombies through the department store for another three hours.
“Guess we won’t make it to the workshop today.”
“…Sorry.”
“That’s fine. At least we picked out something decent.”
Since the sun had long since set, visiting the workshop that day was impossible.
“Since it’s getting dark, how about both Sua and you stay over at my place?”
“At your place?”
“Wow, Shinhyuk, what’s gotten into you? You never let anyone in before.”
“People change. So… want to come?”
“Of course. Beats a shack any day.”
“I want to go too. I’ve always been curious about where you live.”
So Shinhyuk decided to invite both Sua and Sejin to his home.
In the past, he hated letting outsiders into his home, even a friend like Sua. But that was before. Now, it was no problem at all.
As soon as the decision was made, the three of them arrived at Shinhyuk’s house in a luxury sedan and were visibly shocked.
“…Wait, didn’t you grow up without being treated like a third-generation chaebol?”
“Wow… a penthouse in Gangnam… this place is incredible!”
His home was a penthouse in Gangnam, on the top floor, over 100 pyeong in size, with more than five rooms. Hosting overnight guests posed no problem.
Shinhyuk shrugged.
“Even if I sold this, it wouldn’t even compare to the mansion my grandfather, uncle, and aunt live in.”
“…I see.”
Sejin, like someone new to Seoul, marveled at the penthouse.
“Your new hyung, right? The one Shinhyuk’s dad approved?”
“Ah, I’m late in introducing myself. I’m Bang Sejin. I do some modest hammer work.”
“Haha, someone my son chooses wouldn’t just do modest work. You’re bound to achieve big things.”
“Thank you for saying so. Please call me Sejin casually.”
“Alright, then. And you can call me uncle.”
“Yes, uncle.”
Inkyun approached with a grin and introduced himself to Sejin.
Initially shy around Inkyun, Sejin quickly warmed up, calling him “uncle,” and Shinhyuk nudged Sua.
“You too, go introduce yourself.”
“Ah, right! Uncle! I’m Sua, Han Sua!”
“Oh, you’re Sua? Shinhyuk talks about you a lot. I heard you got placed in Silver… I guess I need to make a good impression?”
“Hehe, it’s still a Silver rank, not Gold… for a Gold rank, you get proper treatment as a player.”
“True enough.”
Sua, being sociable, quickly became friends with Inkyun. Shinhyuk watched her chatting happily with a gentle smile.
“Since everyone’s hungry, let’s eat first. The night is long anyway.”
“Should we order delivery for a change?”
“Is mom’s cooking not good?”
“…Ahem! Don’t say that! You know how good So-yeon’s cooking is!”
“Then Father, you can eat at home. We’ll order separately—”
“But your friends are here; it’d be a shame to only eat home-cooked food. Chicken? Pizza? What do you want, kids?”
“Honey, after ordering, let’s talk for a bit.”
“S-So-yeon… since when—”
“Yes, I heard everything from start to finish. Quickly order the delivery, Mr. Choi Inkyun.”
Although Inkyun had inadvertently insulted So-yeon’s cooking and broke into a cold sweat, everyone still had a pleasant time.
Pizza, chicken, bossam, jokbal… even considering Shinhyuk’s younger brother Shinwoo eating, it was a huge spread.
“You sure eat like a player.”
“Hehe, to fight well, you have to eat well!”
“But Sua, weren’t you a cleric?”
“Technically, cleric and paladin. I got a dual class after the placement exam.”
“Dual class? Congrats.”
“Compared to Shinhyuk, it’s nothing.”
Sua, training her body as a player, devoured most of the food, and any issues quickly disappeared.
While eating, Shinhyuk and the others chatted lightly.
“Father.”
“Hm? Why?”
Looking at the stretching pizza with a happy smile, Inkyun looked puzzled at Shinhyuk calling him.
“Shouldn’t you start taking a position in Shinwa too?”
“…!”
Inkyun, currently nearly unemployed, lived off monthly allowances, a result of his father Choi Cheolho’s warning: don’t loiter outside, or risk losing what you have. He had never tried to work.
But hearing this from his son sparked something in his heart.
“…What do you think I should do? The eldest handles the guild, the second brother already manages something else. The remaining are the department stores or hotels, but my sister took those. There’s nothing central in Shinwa for me.”
Inkyun was laying out the current situation clearly: the key parts of Shinwa Group were already handled by his siblings.
Shinhyuk added:
“Why would there be nothing? There’s one thing that influences the guild, the department store, and even the hotels.”
“Distribution, you mean?”
“Yes. Maybe it’s too much for the electronics side, but if Father monopolizes the weapons and armor Sejin-hyung makes for the guild and department stores… what would happen?”
“…!!!”
Distribution: not glamorous, but essential. The perfect description fit Shinwa Distribution.
But one key question remained:
“Is Sejin really at that level?”
Could Sejin’s crafted gear be so exceptional that Shinwa’s guild and department stores would scramble for it? Shinhyuk nodded firmly.
“Yes. Gear that would amaze the U.S., make Japan cling desperately, and drive China to tears.”
“…Sounds serious.”
It wasn’t a joke. Before Shinhyuk’s regression, this had actually happened. The U.S. was impressed, Japan begged for the gear, and China lamented not having such talent. Korea, despite its size, had some of the world’s top combat and crafting players: Shinhyuk, Saint Sua, and “God’s Hand” Sejin.
Satisfied, Inkyun nodded.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try. Can’t refuse if my son’s pushing me.”
“Your eyes are blazing, though.”
“Cough. After over ten years of idleness, I’m itching to do something. But if I take over distribution, I’ll need Father’s approval… how do you plan to handle that?”
Shinhyuk smiled.
“After the placement exam, I promised my grandfather to get Sejin-hyung into Shinwa Workshop. If Sejin does exactly what I plan… then Father will grant a wish again, and I’ll ask to oversee distribution.”
“Ha… getting one of Korea’s top companies as a wish from your grandfather—only you could do that.”
“I’m somewhat unique in that way.”
Choi Cheolho always rewarded achieving the impossible: the placement exam, now Sejin. If Sejin achieves a miracle like before, Shinwa Distribution will be the reward.
“In that sense, Sejin-hyung is the most important for this plan.”
“Me? I… I got distracted by the chicken legs…”
Suddenly, Sejin, holding two chicken legs, jolted as Shinhyuk turned to him.
Shinhyuk chuckled.
“I’ll get you chicken legs later. Focus on Shinwa Workshop tomorrow.”
“Shinwa Workshop…”
“Yes. The people who wronged you, claiming to be masters, are all there.”
“But how? Their skills and achievements are undeniable.”
The young man who had been dazed over chicken disappeared, leaving only a revenge-driven Sejin.
Even so, he was naturally concerned about the years of skill the masters had accumulated.
Of course—
“Operation name: ‘Stop Workplace Abuse!’”
“…What’s that?”
Shinhyuk had a full plan. The operation, Stop Workplace Abuse!, began quietly at the dining table of a Gangnam penthouse.
