The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2 Novel

* * *

Guild Master's Office where Baerun left.

Ihayan looked towards the door and spoke.

"It seems like Baerun is very conscious of you, Owner."

"That seems to be the case. He must be trying to improve his skills and grow."

Baerun, who used to be ranked higher than Sung JiHan in his previous life, didn't act like this before.

This time, he was emitting a noticeable sense of inferiority.

"Well, he was considered one of the most promising talents in the world, right?"

"SSS-grade gifts for him are nothing more than a pearl necklace around a pig's neck."

When Sung JiHan sharply criticized Baerun's abilities,

Ihayan glanced at the Guild Master's Office door once again.

...He's gone?

"When will the rest of the players arrive?"

"They should all arrive by tomorrow or the day after. Oh, by the way. What should we use the training fees we received for loaning the players?"

When entrusted with five players, they receive a total training fee of 250 million GP per month, equivalent to 25 billion KRW.

"With that amount, I can buy an A-grade artifact."

To absorb divine power and gain force, they needed to collect A-grade artifacts from other worlds.

The price of A-grade artifacts started at 2.5 billion KRW, but they couldn't afford to buy them until now due to financial constraints.

"Now I can definitely buy them."

Now that they had money, they had to buy them and absorb as much power as possible.

"Hmm... I'll allocate 20 billion according to my share. Is that okay?"

"No, why bother with the share? It's the guild's money, so you can use it all."

"I can't do that. We'll need operating expenses for the guild."

"Operating expenses... We don't have many expenses right now."

"No. You said you wanted to grow the guild. Feel free to use it."

Since this money was practically all earned by Ihayan's gift,

Sung JiHan set aside 20% for Ihayan to use as he pleased.

"Ah, really... You don't have to go this far..."

Ihayan looked at Sung JiHan with eyes filled with gratitude, unaware of this.

To give him 5 billion KRW to spend.

He's too generous!

"Anyway, now that we have money, shall we try this out?"

"Uh... What do you mean by 'try this out'?"

"I have a sure bet, just like last time."

There's no need to spend all 20 billion on buying A-grade artifacts.

Since there was a sure bet.

"A bet... you say?!"

At those words, Ihayan's eyes sparkled.

Lately, he hadn't been able to properly express his boiling desire for gambling due to being busy with guild work.

But at the mention of a sure thing by Sung JiHan, his hands started itching again.

"Ah... gambling. I decided not to do it... but should I try to break even this time?"

The biggest reason why gambling addicts can't escape the swamp of gambling.

Thinking of "breaking even," Ihayan had already become an excellent gambler.

"Yes. This time, just follow my bet without thinking too much. Got it?"

"Y-Yes! I will trust only you from now on, Owner!"

At Sung JiHan's suggestion, Ihayan nodded firmly.

He had made mistakes by going against his own thoughts and losing money twice.

This time, Ihayan was determined to trust only Sung JiHan.

"Well, that's settled."

This time, I won't make a mistake.

Sung JiHan spoke up in earnest.

"Do you know that the second half of the East Asia League season goes until December?"

"Of course I know."

"Where do you think will win?"

"Um... probably China, right? Japan has become stronger with the rise of the Sword King, but China has always been the strongest."

"No. Japan will win the second half of the season."

"Japan... will win...?"

Haeyeon's eyes widened at Sung JiHan's assertion.

It was understandable that Japan would be in first place.

The power of the Sword King was that formidable.

But winning the entire second half was a different story.

They would be facing China, who had been consistently in first place in the East Asia League.

And Japan would win all those matches?

"China has two players with SSS-level gifts...."

Haeyeon couldn't believe it, but Sung JiHan had never been wrong in what he said before.

So this time, Haeyeon decided to believe and follow him.

"And..."

"And?"

"Korea will lose."

"Lose...?"

"The absence of the Sword King has made a big difference. Who can Korea beat now?"

Korea, without the Sword King, hadn't won a single match in the regional league games in the second half of the year.

But even so...

Not even one win until December?

It's understandable if it's China or Japan, since they are both strong.

But not even against Eastern Russia or Taiwan?

"Russia is concentrating their players' power in the western region, so the eastern region is weaker...."

With its vast territory, Russia was divided into two regions for participation in the regional league.

Perhaps it was because the western region, which included Siberia, was more important than the eastern region.

Most of Russia's outstanding players were deployed in the western region, and the players in the eastern region were somewhat inferior in skill.

So when ranking in the East Asia League.

China was overwhelmingly dominant.

Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Russia were all competing on an equal footing.

But even if the Sword King is absent...

Not even once against Russia or Taiwan?

"That's a bit... hard to believe."

"Well, I don't know if I'll become a national representative, but I won't be able to participate in the second half of the season because my level isn't high enough. Korea will lose."

Sung JiHan asserted.

"So bet on Japan's victory and Korea's defeat for each match."

"So you mean to bet separately for each match?"

"Yes. Later, Japan's victory and Korea's defeat will be a given. The odds may not be high... but if you accumulate them, it will grow exponentially."

Haeyeon nodded.

Even if the odds for a match were only 1.2 times, if you get all 10 right, the money you win will be more than 6 times.

"This time, I must. I'll bet according to the owner's words!"

This time, please, let's not "think."

Just blindly follow!

Haeyeon made that promise to himself over and over again.

* * *

[The Waiting Guild, the world's first growth-oriented guild! Rent is a whopping 5 billion won per month!?]

[The Waiting Guild, with 2 SSS-grade gifts and 3 SS-grade gifts joining. All the players representing the next generation have gathered.]

[Controversy over the 5 billion won rent... Experts evaluate it as a cheap amount. "It will be higher next time."]

When the 5 promising players joined the Waiting Guild,

The media covered it extensively.

It has only been a month since its establishment, but the Waiting Guild is thriving like no other.

Of course, it's not just the guild that is thriving.

[Sung JiHan, rushing to level 40 at an unprecedented pace! Leveling up faster than ever!!]

[Will he be able to reach the Gold Promotion Battle in just one month? His predictions are drawing attention.]

[Sung JiHan, continuing his streak of 1st place records. When will the streak end?]

The guild owner, Sung JiHan.

After reaching Silver, he maintained his consistent performance from the Bronze era...

No, he even showed a more insane performance, completely dominating the league.

-These days, I live for watching Sung JiHanㅜㅠㅜㅜ

-When will he hit Diamond... Please become a national representative quicklyㅠㅠ

-Is the national team on a 7-game losing streak?

-Yeah, Japan has a 7-game winning streak, damnㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh no, the national ranking will plummet; will dungeons be created at this rate?

-But before that, Sung JiHan will join the national team, no worriesㄴㄴ

The Korean national team, with the departure of the Sword King, continues to suffer consecutive losses in the East Asia League.

In the gloomy news that only comes from the Korean Battle.net industry, news related to Sung JiHan was like a ray of hope.

However, as people's expectations grew for Sung JiHan, there were also those whose expressions turned sour.

[Battle.net Management Director Kim Nam-tae reveals his resignation.]

[Speculation of de facto dismissal due to the petition surpassing 500,000.]

"What a nuisance."

The chairman of Daehan Ilbo frowned as he read the article.

Kim Nam-tae, the Battle.net Management Director.

He was not someone who would step down willingly.

Although the position of the management director had been created not long ago, it was a position with considerable power and influence in the Battle.net industry, and only politicians with strong political influence could occupy it.

The person who made Kim Nam-tae, who had been sucking up to the position, resign so easily...

"...There's no one but the president."

In this era, I understand that Battle.net players are important.

But just because of Sung JiHan, who is only in Silver, the president steps in and dismisses a politician...

It was an unbelievable situation, but what could be done now that it had already happened?

The chairman of Daehan Ilbo picked up the phone.

"...Put an apology letter on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper."

"An apology letter, you say?"

"Yes. Why are you asking again? It's about Sung JiHan."

"...Understood. Chairman."

Since Kim Nam-tae had been dismissed, the focus of public opinion would now be on Daehan Ilbo.

He didn't want to just put up an apology letter, but now there was no other choice.

"Contact the Waiting Guild and ask if we can use Sung JiHan as a model for our advertisements. Even if it's just a reservation, figure out a way to make it happen. We need to let the world know that we are not in an adversarial relationship with him."

"Understood..."

Bang!

The chairman of Daehan Ilbo slammed the phone down and gritted his teeth.

He had to put up an apology letter to the player who caused the boycott of Daehan Ilbo, and now he was begging for their advertisement.

What kind of humiliation was this?

"These bastards...! They can't even apologize properly and make a mess like this...!"

The chairman stood tall and confident for a long time.

From the beginning, he vowed not to leave his grandchildren, who had created this situation, alone.

* * *

Mid-September.

Sung JiHan, who had been consistently in first place and reached level 40.

The Battle.net manager was fired, and the Daehan Ilbo issued an apology letter.

But Sung JiHan, who had already lost interest in them, as always, focused only on his own growth.

As usual, as soon as it passed midnight, he logged into the game.

[Welcome to the Silver League - Gangnam Area.]

[This mission is Defense.]

[…….]

"What's this?"

While playing the game, he experienced something he had never experienced before, "loading."

And the system message that appeared when entering the game could also be seen by the Battle Tube viewers.

The viewers were also fascinated by the phenomenon they had never seen before.

- What's this? What's happening again!?

- Does Battle.net lag too?

- Defense should have 10 towers, why is it like this?

- Is there no match? LOL

The Silver League, which shares the same game map as the Bronze League.

The only difference between Silver and Bronze was that a new map, the Gorge, was added due to the addition of Invade.

The map configuration itself was the same as in other games.

But.

[Defense game, assigned to 'One Bridge.']

In the system message that appeared after a long loading time.

They were assigning a completely different map.

-Huh?

-One Bridge?

-Jangpanpa map?

-This is the Gold League map!

One Bridge.

A map used in the Gold League, mainly called Jangpanpa because the game's appearance is similar to the Jangpanpa battle in the Three Kingdoms.

But how did Silver-ranked Sung JiHan get assigned to this map?

The system explained the reason.

[You can no longer find opponents at your current league level.]

[Players will be matched with opponents from higher leagues.]

[As a participation reward in the lower league, you will receive an additional 50% GP & experience reward.]

-Crazy, I didn't know this existed?

-I've been watching Battle.net for 10 years, and this is the first time!

-Ah, if you get first place about 40 times, you play against higher leagues... LOL

-Wow, Silver playing against Gold, LOL

-Will JiHan-nim break his first place record here? TT

A match never seen before.

Sung JiHan was amazed by the phenomenon he had never seen before.

"It's good."

He was secretly pleased.

Especially now that leveling up had become difficult, if they give experience buffs like this, it's a welcome change.

"If I get first place here again... I might be able to earn more achievement points."

With an expectant smile, Sung JiHan entered the Gold Defense game map.

He entered "One Bridge."