TRC 10

TRC

Posted by James, Released on October 10, 2025

Chapter 10…

Once again, I got into a taxi with the nighttime surcharge.

“I should really get my own car or something.”

I really needed to start earning money soon.
After going home, that thought only solidified.

“I don’t expect to become filthy rich, but at least I should earn enough to let Mom live comfortably for the rest of her life.”

There were many ways to do that—
and maybe this time, I’d finally get the chance.

Screech—

The speeding taxi stopped at the address that Seo Gyeoul had sent me.

The place was cordoned off with fences, guarded by soldiers and police.

“Looks worse than I expected…”

Judging by the tense atmosphere, the situation clearly wasn’t good.
I walked up to the gate and identified myself.
Moments later, Seo Gyeoul came out to meet me personally.

“I’m sorry for calling you out as soon as you got home.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. I was having a nice dinner with my mother for the first time in ages when you dragged me out. Felt terrible about it.”
“I apologize. I’ll make sure to repay you for this.”

Ever since the Player Test, Seo Gyeoul’s demeanor seemed a little different—
a little more polite, maybe.

Not that anyone else would notice; to others, she’d still look like a cold, emotionless doll.

“Well, that’s just how she is.”

I looked at her blank expression and replied casually,

“Forget about the favor. So does this make us even for you sneaking me out last time?”
“…Ah. I suppose it does.”

We chatted as we walked toward the temporary command post—no time to waste on something this urgent.

“By the way, I haven’t even had time to form a guild since the test. Am I even allowed to take on assignments right now?”

I remembered her saying that I’d need to create a guild before I could officially take jobs, even though I’d passed the test with an A+ rating.

Her reply surprised me.

“That’s why I went ahead and made one for you.”
“…Huh? You made my guild?”
“You were only going to use it for this case anyway, right? I remember you asking if that was really necessary.”
“Well, you’re not wrong…”

It was true. I never planned to actually run a guild—it was just a means to an end.
After thinking about it rationally, her actions made sense.

“Actually, that saves me a lot of hassle. If I’d done it myself, I’d be running all over government offices getting a thousand documents signed… yeah, no thanks.”

I shook my head, grateful in spite of myself.
Then I remembered something important.

“Wait, what’s the guild name?”
“‘Monster Guild.’ I named it after your class, Tamer.”

…Not bad.

Considering my nickname—“Beast Tamer”—it was actually a perfect fit.
Maybe this woman wasn’t so bad after all.

With that settled, it was time to talk about the current situation.

“So, how bad is it?”
“Bad.”
“…”

Yeah, never mind. Forget the nice impression I just had.

“Didn’t you already know? You said it yourself before—our manpower’s stretched thin, and the workload keeps piling up.”
“Wait—”

I opened my mouth, but she kept talking.

“Everyone else is dispatched to other urgent missions. That’s why we called you. The higher-ups fully trust Player Rank 1, Kang Siwoo.”
“…Wow. I’m just so honored.”

So my guess was right.
The people suppressing news about me were the ones sitting at the top of the hierarchy—
the same people who’d be powerless old men once the system collapsed.
But for now, their authority still meant something.

“Fine. I’ll use them while I can—and dump them when the time comes.”

Because when the world turns upside down, those same people would be nothing but parasites getting in the way.
Still, Seo Gyeoul wasn’t one of them—she was competent and reliable, even if cold.

She spoke solemnly, as if unveiling something significant.

“We’re not heartless enough to dump everything on you alone, Mr. Kang.”
“…Of course you aren’t.”

Right as I finished, we arrived at the command post—
a few shipping containers joined together into a makeshift building.

Two sentries stood guard at the entrance.
One of them, apparently the senior, recognized Seo Gyeoul.

“The person you mentioned has already arrived.”

Seo nodded and opened the door.
Inside was an elderly man waiting at the desk.

“Making an old man wait—is that any way to treat your elders?”

A wiry old man with white hair and beard sat upright, exuding quiet authority.
His presence alone made it clear he wasn’t someone to underestimate.

“…”

I knew that face.
Among the three clans that made up the Goblin Guild, the most aggressive of them all—

“Ma Geonwoo…”
“I don’t recall being your friend, boy. Watch your tongue.”

Even in his old age, his sharp eyes burned with energy.

“…My apologies, Clan Master.”
“Hmph. At least you know your manners.”

Clan Master Ma Geonwoo of the Yacha (Night Demon) Clan.

“But why the hell is he here instead of climbing the Tower?”

The Goblin Guild’s main force was supposed to be scaling the Tower, competing with Miyamoto Daichi’s faction.
If one of their three pillars was here, that meant they’d paused their expedition—
and that meant the current incident was serious enough to warrant it.

“A terrorist attack that bad…?”

The Followers—those cultists—were dangerous, sure.
But for Ma Geonwoo himself to show up?
That didn’t add up.

I was still puzzling it over when he raised a white eyebrow and asked,

“You the one?”
“…Sir?”
“The one who beat up Joo Gunryul during the Player Test. That was you, right?”

Ah. Now I get it.
So that’s why this old man came all the way here.

Great. Just great.

“…Yes, that was me.”

The old man suddenly burst out laughing and slapped my back—hard.

Whack! Whack! Whack!

“Hahaha! Finally! Someone’s avenged me in my old age!”

His strength was absurd; my insides rattled, and I swear I tasted blood.

After laughing his fill, Ma Geonwoo threw an arm around my shoulder.

“You married yet?”
“No, sir.”
“Good! Excellent! Hahaha!”

…Why was my being single such good news for him?

Wiping his eyes, he signed the papers on the table and handed them to Seo Gyeoul.

“All right, Miss Bureaucrat, I’ll accept the contract.”
“Told you he’d like it,” she said calmly.

I looked between the two of them, bewildered.

“Wait, what? What contract? What did you two decide without me?”
“A real man doesn’t need explanations! Let’s move!”

Before I could protest, Ma Geonwoo grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.
His grip was so strong I couldn’t even resist—
not that I’d have much chance against someone at least fifty levels above me.

“…”

As I was being hauled off, I glared back at Seo Gyeoul.
She just waved, expressionless.

“Seo Gyeoul! I swear I’ll—”
“Come now, hurry up!”

The world twisted like folded paper—
and the next moment, we were somewhere else.

We’d teleported straight to the Blue Gate site—
the one being used as a magic farm, now occupied by the Followers.

“Did this old man just use teleportation to drag me here?!”

I straightened my rumpled clothes and hair, silently staring at him.

“Don’t mind me. Just do what you agreed to with that civil servant.”

Under my persistent glare, he finally confessed.

“Tch, fine. I heard there was some rookie who’d fulfilled my lifelong grudge, so I came to see him. The girl, meanwhile, wanted to make sure you’d be safe. So I told her—if you’re worth protecting, I’ll protect you.”

“What, so I’m a kid who needs a babysitter now?”

I understood the logic—
a new super rookie, someone who might represent Earth someday.
They wanted to keep me alive and nurture me into a veteran.
This mission was probably part of that plan.

But still—

“Just because I get it doesn’t mean I have to like it. Who do they think they’re controlling?”

Grinding my teeth, I drew my karambit.
Now that I’d unlocked its hidden form, it glowed faintly with light.

[‘Crimson Crescent’ Karambit]
Rank: Uncommon
Description: A pair of karambits made from the fangs of a demonic bat. Hidden power has been awakened.