Balrog…
He was the first strong demon he’d met when going from the 8th Hell to the 9th.
Except for the seven archdukes, there wasn't anyone stronger than him. But after fighting once against KangWoo, he’d promised him eternal loyalty.
'He was a persistent one.'
He was someone so simple and hot-tempered that he wondered if his brain was full of muscles, but he was one of the subordinates he cared the most about.
"First, let's get out of here..."
"Hahaha! Understood!"
KangWoo tried to grab the man who had lost his consciousness.
"Hyeungnim, let me carry him."
TaeSoo picked up the man, placed him on his shoulders, and walked toward the gate. Although that man was also quite big compared to others, as TaeSoo picked him up, he looked like a kid.
'He definitely looks like a monster.'
KangWoo smirked after looking at TaeSoo, who looked like a monster carrying its food around.
* * *
"Thank you very much!"
As soon as they made it outside, Kim TaeHyun bowed to KangWoo.
"I'll definitely grow out of being an RSA and pay back today's favor!"
"RSA?"
"A Rogue Should shut up and apply the Bandage. KangWoo, bro, no one wants to form a party with a rogue. Because its position in a party is ambiguous, no one wants you in their party regardless of whether you're a damage dealer or a tanker."
"I see…"
KangWoo nodded.
After bowing down with a determined look, TaeHyun turned around and walked off.
KangWoo smiled while looking at his back.
'It's a good thing when people owe you favors.'
That was a lot better than mindlessly creating enemies.
Who knows, maybe Kim TaeHyun would really break a rogue's limits and become a high-level player.
'Although the chances are low.'
But still, he had nothing to lose.
KangWoo took his eyes off of Kim TaeHyun and looked at TaeSoo.
TaeSoo was looking at him with sparkling eyes.
He felt as if he had a very well-trained bear next to him.
'The problem is what should I do with him.'
Judging by what he’d said, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to shake him off easily.
"What level are you?"
"I'm level 12. I've recently done the second awakening."
"Hmm... You didn't receive the basic education?"
"Since I got a C-rank attribute as my first awakening, I immediately began hunting."
"Oh, I see."
Getting a C-rank as the first awakening was incredibly high.
KangWoo looked at TaeSoo with interest.
"So what ranking is your second attribute?"
"Fufu, for the second awakening, I got an A-rank attribute."
"…"
KangWoo's eyes shone while looking at TaeSoo, who answered with great confidence.
'He's more talented than I expected.'
Even if you got a B-rank attribute in your second awakening, you were considered a talented player.
But he had gotten an A-rank. It was a rank that exceeded expectations.
'No wonder those guys were struggling with him.'
They'd struggled with him because, despite his level being low, the ranking of his attribute was quite high.
"Why didn't you join a guild? With that ranking, I'm sure you'd be able to join any you wished for."
"I was looking for one, but I don’t think I’ll join any."
"…?"
TaeSoo clenched his fists while looking at KangWoo with intense eyes.
"Your sense of justice has moved me! I, Kang TaeSoo, want to follow hyeong from now on!"
"Hmm..."
KangWoo crossed his arms and snorted while looking at TaeSoo shout.
'Not bad.'
At first, he’d thought that TaeSoo was just someone bothersome, but after hearing the rank of his attribute, he’d changed his opinion a little bit.
Although he wouldn't be of great help right then, he was someone who was worth investing in.
'The chances of someone who got a high-ranking attribute on the second awakening, getting one that's even better next is very high.
It was possible that he may get an S-ranking attribute or maybe even better.
'It wouldn't be a bad idea to have him as a subordinate.'
Since he was used to moving alone, in reality, he didn't need someone with whom to fight.
But the story changed if it was someone who listened to his orders.
Two people could do more than one.
Having someone who could do the bothersome things was a good enough reason to have a subordinate.
'And also…'
* * *
KangWoo could feel strong loyalty coming from TaeSoo.
The most important thing for a subordinate wasn't strength.
The most important thing was a non-changing loyalty, it was the certainty that your subordinate wouldn't try to stab you from behind.
In that sense, having a subordinate like TaeSoo would probably be very helpful.
'Now that I think about it, Ms. Seol-ah is going to reach the second awakening soon, too.'
He thought that Seol-ha, who was a healer, and TaeSoo, who was a tanker, would be able to form quite a good party.
"Okay, I'm going to guide you from now on."
"Woah! Thank you, KangWoo brother."
TaeSoo shouted with an excited voice and sparkling eyes.
"Then should we go invade the Andras guild's hideout immediately? Haha, I'll protect you with my life."
"No, I'll go to the hideout of the Andras guild alone."
"Oh… Wh-why?"
"TaeSoo…"
As KangWoo called his name in a low voice, TaeSoo shrugged his shoulders.
KangWoo kept talking in a low voice.
"You almost died while fighting against two Andras members, right?"
"Y-yes…"
"Do you think you'll be able to defend me?"
"…"
TaeSoo couldn't say anything after hearing the facts. He had a sullen look on his face.
He also knew very well that, right then, he couldn't be of help to KangWoo.
KangWoo put his hands on the disheartened TaeSoo.
"It's okay."
"Hyeongnim?"
"You're just starting. If you're weak, you just have to get stronger, right?"
TaeSoo's face recovered vitality after hearing KangWoo's words.
"Yes! That's right! My story hasn't even begun yet!"
"That's right."
"Haha. I'll soon become strong enough to be your shield!"
KangWoo smirked and nodded after hearing TaeSoo's shout.
"I trust you."
"Hyeong, give me your phone number. I'll come running if you ever need me."
"Oh, yeah, I wanted to ask you a favor."
"Just tell me, hyeong."
TaeSoo answered excitedly after hearing the word “favor”.
"In a few days, someone I know will finish basic education. I want you to form a party with that person and level up."
"Ho… Could you tell me what type that person is?"
"She's a healer."
"Then it's me who wants you to ask. Getting a damage dealer is relatively easy, so I think I'll be able to create a good party."
TaeSoo nodded while making his characteristic good-person smile.
"Okay, then I'll contact you later."
"Are you going to the Andras guild’s hideout right now?"
"I'm not sure..."
KangWoo looked at the unconscious person that was on the ground.
If he used the man who was wielding the sword, he would easily be able to get to the Andras guild's hideout.
'Facing the Andras guild isn't going to be a problem.'
Maybe if it were one of the big guilds that controlled Korea, the story would be different, but the Andras guild was a mid-sized one. KangWoo would probably be able to face them with his current strength.
After he’d completed the third awakening, the seal of the Ten Thousand Demon Core had gotten weaker. And with that, he’d gotten a power that one would never imagine belonging to a level 20 player.
Not only that, but KangWoo's strength couldn't be measured only by his level and stats.
He had the fighting skills he'd polished for ten thousand years.
Even while fighting against an opponent with higher stats, he could overwhelm the other person.
'The problem is how am I going to get inside without being discovered.'
It wasn't that he didn't have an Authority that allowed him to hide his presence…
But hiding for a long time from players, who had senses more developed than normal people, wouldn't be easy.
'If they discover me, I might lose the opportunity to find out more about the ceremony.'
If that happened, the reason why he was investigating the Andras guild would disappear.
"Hmm…"
KangWoo was thinking about it with his eyes closed.
"Ugh, where am I…?"
At that moment, the man who had been unconscious stood up while trembling.
He had recovered consciousness at the perfect timing. KangWoo grabbed his neck.
"Coff!"
"There's something I want to ask you. You can kindly answer me, right?"
"Coff! Oof!"
"If you understood, nod."
With his face blue, the man nodded.
"Coff! Coff! Coff!"
"What's your name?"
"M... My name is Kang CheolHo."
"Okay. CheolHo, you said before that you had to take those two players alive. Right?"
"…"
After hearing KangWoo's question, CheolHo tried to avoid his gaze with his mouth closed. He could feel cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"I… I don't remember."
"Really?"
KangWoo kicked him in his face as if it were a football.
Slam-!
"Coff!"
"How about now? Do you remember something?"
"Ugh..."
"Do you need more?"
"N-no...!"
The man shook his face with a pale look.
TaeSoo looked at KangWoo, who was interrogating with skill worthy of an artisan, with his mouth wide open.
"Th-that was… to use that person as an offering."
"Offering?"
"Yes."
"For the so-called ceremony?"
Kang CheolHo nodded with a stiff expression on his face.
KangWoo subconsciously let out a feigned smile.
"You guys are crazier than I imagined."
He wasn't sure about the details of the ceremony, but considering that you had to offer a person who was alive, it was probably an archaic type of ceremony.
"Hmm."
After learning that the Andras Guild members were crazier than he had originally imagined, KangWoo fell into thought.
"An offering..."
Suddenly, a thought crossed KangWoo's mind.
A smile appeared on his face.
KangWoo turned his head to Kang CheolHo and spoke in a low voice.
"I wanted to ask you a favor."
