Episode 44
044. The Counteroffer
A faint smile unconsciously crept onto Geumson’s lips.
Yes, he would accept this offer. He would leave behind this tiresome, hand-to-mouth existence and live an ordinary, no, a life more splendid than ordinary, just like everyone else.
Just as golden hands was spreading the wings of his happy imagination—
Click-clack-clack—
The scenery of that day, when dark, precarious skies cracked with lightning, flashed through his mind like a bolt.
A world collapsing helplessly.
A city turned to ash-gray.
And the face of a woman watching it all coldly superimposed over the woman before his eyes.
‘Cha Yu-kyung…’
golden hand’s gaze turned icy cold in an instant.
In his memories, Cha Yu-kyung from the Age of Ruin looked nothing like she did now.
Instead of an elegant suit, she wore a dusty military jacket.
Her perfectly styled hair was pulled tightly back, and her makeup-free face was pale from accumulated fatigue.
She was not a combatant.
But she put in more blood, sweat, and tears for humanity’s survival than any fighter. She was the overall commander of a crumbling human survivor camp.
She allocated the limited food, medicine, and rationed weapons with maximum efficiency, controlled the survivors’ movements, and navigated countless crises with a judgment so coldly rational it was ruthless.
golden hand remembered clearly.
There was a time when a survivor group, isolated by a horde of monsters, sent a distress call.
Everyone clamored to go save them, but she refused flatly.
“If we deploy 100 elite troops to save them, the probability of them returning is less than 30%. However, if we deploy those troops to camp defense, we can maintain the survival rate of the 10,000 people here at over 80%. I choose the 80% for the 10,000.”
The most rational, optimal choice.
But when faced with an extreme situation, people did not follow Cha Yu-kyung.
“What do you know? Have you even played ‘Lepyon’?”
“You have no abilities, right? That’s why you’re saying things like that! Less than 30%? That’s a joke. That’s for ordinary people!”
“Listen, this isn’t something you learn from a book. You have to have played ‘Lepione’ to get a feel for it. How can you command when you know nothing…?”
Cha Yu-kyung—one of the rare unawakened in the Age of Ruin.
Even though she had overseen Mirae Group’s ‘Lepione’ business division, she had never played ‘Lepione’ herself.
That irony held her back.
The unawakened, Cha Yu-kyung.
Her words carried no weight.
No matter how right her words were, those who didn’t trust her…
‘That camp… after they drove Cha Yu-kyung out… it didn’t last a month, did it?’
The collapsed camp.
He saw Cha Yu-kyung then.
She was crying.
She did not revel in the downfall of those who had cast her out. That day, Cha Yu-kyung’s mask shattered. As if her usual cold-blooded demeanor was a false facade, she wept bitterly, her voice breaking.
Her face surfaced in his mind.
‘After that… Cha Yu-kyung disappeared, didn’t she?’
She had given up on the fight.
That was why he was conflicted.
Cha Yu-kyung, more fragile and vulnerable than he’d thought.
He couldn’t decide if dragging her into this game was the right thing to do.
‘But… it’s too wasteful to let that talent go to waste.’
She was the Cha Yu-kyung who had shown the qualities of an outstanding commander.
Her cold, clear judgment and her insight into resources were powers absolutely necessary for the coming Age of Ruin.
So he had to utilize them.
If she wanted to wear the mask of steel again, he intended to protect that mask for her. To prevent it from shattering against the foolish distrust of others like in his past life, he would make that mask even stronger for her.
But to do that…
“Alright. I’ll accept that offer.”
He needed to establish a connection with her.
All things start from small connections.
“Ah, I knew you would. You’re a reasonable person.”
Cha Yu-kyung, who had been confident her offer would be accepted. She didn’t seem surprised at all. After all, there was no fool who would refuse such a groundbreaking condition.
But Geumson’s thoughts were a bit different.
“However, the conditions are a bit different. I have no intention of becoming a full-time employee of Mirae Group.”
“…Pardon?”
A crack seemed to appear on Cha Yu-kyung’s perfectly composed face.
Deputy Manager Kim Min-jun, standing beside her, gaped slightly.
A full-time position at Mirae Group.
This man before them was kicking away that coveted spot, dreamt of by countless elites, as if it were a pebble on the road.
“What do you mean…?”
“I’m not the type to be bound to an organization. Instead, let’s do a contract-per-job basis, like a mercenary.”
Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, Geumson continued. Somehow, the initiative in the conversation had completely shifted to him.
“When Mirae Group needs my abilities, hire me. Whether it’s item crafting, clearing specific quests, or providing information. Pay a fair price for each job. I won’t be a Mirae Group ’employee,’ but its most expensive and reliable ‘external partner.'”
Cha Yu-kyung was momentarily speechless.
His proposal was beyond groundbreaking; it was arrogant. Instead of coming under the group’s control, it meant paying a price each time they needed to borrow his abilities.
But it was also an offer with undeniable appeal. Rather than forcing him into a box and breeding resentment, maintaining a solid partnership might be more beneficial in the long run.
“…That’s an interesting proposal. We’ll consider it positively. So, what are the conditions for us to ‘hire’ you, Mr. Geumson?”
Cha Yu-kyung quickly turned the gears in her head and asked in return.
golden hand spoke as if he’d been waiting for it.
“There are two conditions. First, provide me with solid personal protection. Both in the game and in reality. As you know, many people are going to start targeting me.”
“Understood. I fully understand. We’ll take responsibility for that part.”
“And second.”
Geumson leaned forward, looking straight into her eyes.
This was the core condition.
“Team Leader Cha Yu-kyung, you will play ‘Lepione’ yourself.”
Cha Yu-kyung’s brow furrowed.
She struggled to grasp golden hand’s intent.
Was this some new form of power harassment?
Or was it meant to mock her?
Cha Yu-kyung’s mind grew confused by the absurd condition.
‘Given that he made personal protection a condition, it means he’s not a fool…’
Regardless of the ridiculous condition, her assessment of golden hand’s rose a level. As golden hand’s said, many would seek him out in the future. And among them would certainly be those of poor quality. He was preventing any potential misfortune in advance.
In other words, it meant he had a cold, clear grasp of his own worth. However, the second condition still made no sense.
“Mr. Geumson, if this is a joke, it’s not funny. As you know, I’m in a position overseeing the group’s crucial projects and have no time to devote to gaming. And honestly, I have little interest in the game itself.”
A chill crept into her voice.
But golden hand did not back down.
Instead, he straightened his posture, looked her straight in the eye, and said:
“It’s not a joke. This is the core condition of my contract. If you, Team Leader, do not play ‘Lepyon,’ this contract will be considered null and void.”
golden hand’s eyes were sincere. There was not an inch of wavering or room for compromise within them.
Cha Yu-kyung was bewildered.
Why on earth?
She couldn’t fathom what her playing the game had to do with the contract.
“Could you… explain the reason? I find it impossible to accept.”
“The reason is simple. From now on, I will accept all requests only through you, Team Leader Cha Yu-kyung, within ‘Lepion’.”
“Having our employees visit you directly is also an option though…”
Cha Yu-kyung said with a frown.
But Golden Hand’s logic was, in its own way, solid.
“Then wouldn’t I have to log out of ‘Repion’ to meet them? That’s a bit troublesome. I have work to do in ‘Repion’…”
A somewhat feeble but understandable excuse.
Biting her lip at his excuse, Cha Yu-kyung had to acknowledge it. His words sounded arrogant, yet strangely persuasive. It had been less than five minutes since she promised to ensure he could dedicate himself to ‘Lepione.’
In the end, Cha Yu-kyung could only nod.
“…Alright. We’ll specify that clause in the contract. However, I’d like the playtime to be left to my discretion.”
“Of course. You just need to play consistently. But you must personally enter the capsule and play ‘Lepyon,’ Team Leader. From Level 1, just like other players. For the class, Wizard—”
“Ah, enough! I said I get it.”
Geumson stopped himself as he was about to recommend a class.
Cha Yu-kyung seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but Geumson wore a satisfied smile.
It was the moment the first important stone was being placed to change the future.
[Logging into ‘Lepione’.]
[TIP. All your summoned entities dislike an owner whose eyes wander.]
“What the hell kind of tip is that? What does that even mean?”
The tip that greeted him upon logging into ‘Lepione’ didn’t seem particularly helpful to golden hand. Because golden hand had no summoned entities. Even if he tried to count the Iron Walker, it wasn’t a helpful tip. The tip said “summoned entities”—plural.
“I wonder when I’ll get a useful tip.”
golden hand felt a bit irritable. It was because of the somewhat draining meeting with Team Leader Cha Yu-kyung of Mirae Group in reality.
He had set the condition that she must play ‘Lepione’ herself. Although they had finalized the contract, he couldn’t help the lingering unease in a corner of his heart.
