Chapter 1.
There are ways to express myself, such as proudly revealing the three characters of my name ‘Kim Seong-han’, but words that express me even better than that would be…
A game master who conquered over 20,000 games (worlds) during 27 years.
A great strategist who has never once fallen out of the ranking in all the online games I’ve played.
A chaotic Casanova who has shaken the hearts of countless beauties and lovely girls.
And such things, I suppose.
A feeling of pride somehow wells up in me.
Truly a perfect life, a wonderful achievement that no one can follow.
Is this what it feels like to stand at the pinnacle of one field?
However, even I had one lacking point.
That was precisely ‘funds’.
‘I have about 30,000 won left?’
No matter how much I save, it’s money that can’t last more than a week.
In games, I was no different from an omnipotent god.
But in the real world, I was an ordinary person who couldn’t easily afford a single meal.
No, a human who was slightly more lacking than that.
However, this hardship was completely ending today.
TREMBLE, TREMBLE, TREMBLE.
The hand holding the lottery ticket trembles as if an earthquake has struck.
If my eyes weren’t wrong, the winning numbers shown on my smartphone screen completely matched the numbers written on the lottery ticket in my hand.
GULP.
Just in case, I read the numbers once more.
3, 9, 15, 17, 25, 3…
I won, I really won!
The prize money was an incredible 2.484 billion won!
Not for a lifetime, but an enormous amount that would allow comfortable living for decades!
With my eyes spinning, I immediately changed clothes and rushed toward the bank.
It happened to be Monday, and since I was a predecessor who had devoted my life to games, no appointments existed.
Only the thought of ‘What should I do with the lottery winnings?’ circled in my head.
‘Should I buy games I had postponed due to lack of money?
Or should I purchase online game skins and season passes?
‘Or should I invest money in my favorite character I’ve grown attached to in mobile games?’
With this money, I could do anything and enjoy anything.
‘Right! Let’s try everything first! Anyway, money is…plentiful.’
But, huh?
Why is my body floating in the sky?
I carefully lowered my gaze downward.
There, a long stretch of stairs gathered together lay below.
Ah?! I see.
‘I must have missed my step on the stairs!’
After recognizing the situation, no other memories came to mind.
……
Only the dizzying pain that shook my mind and the confused heart, and the refreshing blue sky slowly disappearing into darkness.
That’s how I died.
No, that’s what I thought.
***
“#%@*!”
A noisy sound that rings in my ears can be heard.
“4!@$!”
That noise didn’t end just once and continuously awakened my consciousness.
What is this? Wasn’t I dead?
“Trainee 412! Can’t you get up quickly!?”
“Yes!? Me?!”
Huh?! Words are coming out too?
As I was flustered by this unexpected phenomenon, a bronze-skinned man with a heavily frowning face shouted at me.
“Then who else do you think I’m talking about! Get up quickly and join the formation! Otherwise…”
“Yes, yes! I’ll join!”
I don’t know what it is, but sensing an ominous atmosphere, I immediately got up and joined the group running around the training ground.
‘Where is this place, and what is this body?’
To call it my original body, it was too sturdy and well-trained. It felt like I had entered someone else’s body.
An unknown situation that I couldn’t understand no matter how hard I tried.
The moment I was pondering how to act.
“UGH!”
Suddenly, a tremendous headache struck.
And someone’s memories began to replay.
‘I will create my own mercenary group! And I’ll conquer all the labyrinths in this world to become a great hero who saves this world!’
I could instinctively know.
This black-haired man boldly declaring his goals to the orphanage director was himself.
No, the fact that he was Leon, the original owner of the body I was currently possessing.
But quite regrettably, Leon, who dreamed of becoming a great hero, died while receiving training at an academy that trained commanders to lead mercenary groups and elite mercenaries due to excessive training.
And in that body…
…I had possessed it.
It truly couldn’t be more ironic.
Possession.
Who would have thought I’d directly experience a phenomenon I’d only seen in novels or games?
But.
‘I feel like I’ve heard this worldview setting somewhere before…’
The name Leon also feels familiar somehow.
Where did I see this kind of setting?
The pondering didn’t last long before it was resolved.
‘Right! It was a game!’
I had seen a similar story in a mobile game I downloaded recently.
The name was definitely…
‘Roll It! Mercenary Group!’ wasn’t it?
While feeling somewhat relieved that I had entered a familiar game world, on the other hand, anxiety and worry began to creep in.
That’s because this game was notoriously hardcore.
It was a terrible game where even story progression was difficult without making in-app purchases.
A sigh escapes.
Of all things to possess, I had to be possessed into such a terrible game.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have played it with full effort!’
Since I hadn’t invested much time, I got possessed right at the point where I had just cleared Chapter 1.
What can I do?
I have no choice but to struggle and live as best as I can.
‘UGHH! Even trying to think positively, I can’t help feeling my stomach turn…’
I couldn’t even use the winning lottery ticket.
And I even have to do military life again, which I’ve already experienced once, even here!
‘Should I quit the academy right now?’
But to say that…
‘What I gain here is too significant.’
This world was nearly impossible for ordinary people without combat skills to survive in.
A place where you’d often get attacked by monsters emerging from labyrinths.
A place where you’d often get raided by bandit groups.
To live in such a place, the academy wasn’t a choice but a necessity.
‘It can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, let me inherit Leon’s will and create my own mercenary group.’
Something I had already experienced through games.
Even if I couldn’t become the best, I should at least be able to earn enough to eat.
‘Right, since it’s come to this, let me aim for the top spot once.’
The moment I made up my mind.
DING!
A strange message appeared before my eyes.
「Start Package for Novice Mercenary Group Leaders」
– If you purchase now, you’ll receive a Grade 10 Mercenary Group Leader badge that you can get upon graduating from the academy, and a 0214 that only purchasers can use.
And a special benefit! We’ll provide a guaranteed 3-star adjutant ticket! Purchase immediately!
Price: 35,000 won Remaining time: 59 minutes 52 seconds
「Would you like to purchase?
– yes or no
Wh-what is this!?
My eyes tremble.
Why am I seeing the in-game advertisements that I’ve been sick of seeing to the point of grinding my teeth here?
Can only I see this?
Looking at the reactions around me, it seems so. But… there’s no way to purchase it.
As much as I’d like to buy it right away.
Currently, I didn’t have a single penny.
The money used in this world isn’t ‘won’ but ‘clone’.
‘What a shame. If I could purchase this, I could make a smooth start without spending time at the academy.’
It was regrettable to let it go like this.
But it seemed I had no choice but to let it go.
DING!
If only the message that appeared next hadn’t been there.
– Currently available amount: 2.484003 billion won.
“JACKPOT!”
The lottery winnings were right there.
What a relief. I thought I’d have to part with it without spending a single penny.
Now there’s no more…
‘Need to hesitate!’
Purchase! I’m purchasing it!
DING, DING!
「35,000 won has been charged. Remaining amount: 2.48395 billion won」
「You have purchased the Start Package for Novice Mercenary Group Leaders! The purchased items can be used immediately! Please try using the subspace system!」
Following the message that appeared before my eyes, I silently called out ‘subspace.’
Then, familiar to any gamer, a rectangular subspace divided into squares revealed itself.
‘Could this also be?’
“What are you looking at!? Run properly!?”
“Why are you grinning!? If the instructor sees this, you’ll have to run around the training ground 10 more times!”
“Ah! Sorry.”
Performance confirmed.
The subspace also seems invisible to others’ eyes.
Just as the advertisement system said, it really seemed to be something only I could use.
‘I wish they had included other functions like a status window too. But wishing for something like that would be greedy, right?’
Considering that even in the game, you couldn’t directly check character information until you obtained a magical tool called the ‘Potential Measuring Device’, it was indeed too much greed.
But now, I don’t know.
With this game, I might be able to buy it with money later!
WOW!
How lucky!
With this money, it’s not just about making a living.
I might really be able to become the world’s best, just as the original body owner Leon wished.
But wait.
‘Why did the adjutant gacha ticket enter the subspace, but the mercenary group leader certificate doesn’t exist?’
Don’t tell me it was omitted?
That’s when it happened.
“Stop now!”
The training instructor who had been watching the academy trainees from the platform set up outside the center of the training ground issued a command to halt training.
And then said…
“Trainee Leon, come to the front of the platform!”
As I was flustered by the sudden situation.
The training instructor’s shouts continued.
“Trainee Leon! Has Trainee Leon not come out to the training ground!?”
“No sir! I’m here!”
“Move quickly!”
“I’m sorry!”
“AHEM! Trainee Leon will follow this instructor starting now! Do you understand!?”
“Y-yes! I understand!”
What’s suddenly happening?
‘I didn’t do anything wrong!’
“HEH, HEH. He collapsed while running and got marked.”
“What’s he gonna do, is he getting expelled from the academy?”
“KUKUK, that sounds exciting!”
Ignoring the malicious words heard from behind, I followed the back of the instructor walking ahead.
I’m anxious.
Am I really going to be expelled?
The Leon I remembered wasn’t performing that well.
But it wasn’t bad enough to suddenly get expelled like this!?
Then, the instructor walking ahead cleared his throat and carefully spoke to me.
“Foolish student. If you had such a sponsor, why were you receiving training? You could have just received the mercenary group leader badge and left immediately.”
“Pardon?”
“Anyway, congratulations! You’re graduating with this! Should I call you Leader Leon now? HAHAHA!”
Ah, I understand.
‘This is how the effect of purchasing the package is applied.’
Unlike consumable items that would be discarded after one use, things like mercenary group leader badges that require national certification seemed to be provided through clear causation.
“Speaking of which, we’ve arrived! Go into that auditorium, and after the ceremony ends, you should be able to receive the mercenary group leader badge.”
“Th-thank you.”
The instructor who guided me to the auditorium left with a grin.
But a ceremony?
What ceremony is he talking about?
Unable to contain my curiosity, I moved my steps toward the auditorium.
CREAK.
Opening the door and entering, a huge tent came into view.
– 76th Elite Mercenary Academy Graduation Ceremony –
That’s right.
In the auditorium the instructor had guided me to, the academy graduation ceremony was in full swing.
“Then, starting now…”
Just as the graduation speech ended and they were about to begin the important graduation ceremony event.
A person ran to the side of the principal and whispered in his ear.
“Excuse me, Principal…”
Upon hearing those words, the principal cleared his throat and picked up the microphone again.
“HEHE. I’ve unintentionally wasted the time of you graduates. I’m sorry, but before this ceremony begins, could the graduates sitting in the front row please vacate the center seats and move one seat to the side.”
With expressions of not understanding what was happening, the graduates moved their seats one space to the side.
“Thank you for your cooperation, everyone.”
The principal said to the man who had run to him with the news.
“The seat has been prepared. Please escort the special graduate…”
CREAK.
The auditorium door opened.
“That won’t be necessary. Please guide me.”
The principal’s words were trivial.
But the gazes of the graduates hearing this were far from pleasant.
The existence of a special graduate at the Elite Mercenary Academy, an educational institution that trains mercenary group leaders, was…
‘Don’t tell me he bought the graduation certificate by sponsoring the academy?!’
‘We’ve been grinding here for 5 years, and he’s getting a graduation certificate without receiving training even once?!’
‘And with qualifications to become a mercenary group leader too!?’
‘This is unfair! This is wrong!!’
…Because it was an existence that could only be hated.
The graduates’ gazes turned toward Leon, who had just opened the door and entered.
‘What’s this? Did I make enemies with them or something? Why is everyone glaring at me so frighteningly!?’
Even though I hadn’t committed any crime, I felt like I had become a criminal.
Then someone who appeared to be a guide ran over and said.
“Mr. Leon. I’ll guide you to your exclusive seat.”
PHEW, saved.
If I get away from their sight, the gazes directed at me should decrease too.
If possible, to a place where people’s gazes don’t reach…
“…LIKE HELL! Not only is it the front row! It’s right in the center!”
The concentrated gazes increased even more.
I could feel some hostility too. No, a lot of it.
‘What exactly is the reason?’
Ah, is that it?
Looking at the atmosphere, there was only one answer.
‘It seems they don’t like me for buying the mercenary group leader badge with money.’
Thinking about it, it couldn’t be helped.
To graduate from the academy, one had to endure difficult training and tests for over 5 years.
Even with such effort…
‘Less than 50% can receive the mercenary group leader badge.’
But I became a graduate in less than 3 days after enrollment by purchasing a package.
I’m also scheduled to receive a mercenary group leader badge that allows me to organize my own mercenary group.
How I must look in their eyes is obvious.
‘I tried to take the easy way and stepped in deep shit.’
This game also places quite importance on connections with other mercenary groups…
I’ve been marked, very thoroughly marked, by those who will be working together on mercenary jobs in the future.
But I don’t want to suffer for over 5 years either.
What can I do?
I have to endure it.
“HEHE. The welcome for the special graduate is too intense!”
Old man! Does this look like a welcome to you!?
“If you keep doing that, the graduation ceremony won’t end! Everyone please look at me!”
Only then did the hostile gazes reluctantly disappear.
Of course…
GLARE!
…I could still feel the gaze from the seat next to me.
“A lot of time has been delayed! Then immediately! Let’s begin the mercenary group leader badge presentation ceremony along with the adjutant appointment ceremony!”
“WOOOOOOOO!”
The principal shouted in a loud voice.
“Valedictorian Eilon Katadra, come forward!”
