MDPS 24

Chapter 24

My Dark Past is Too Strong

Management Contract (1)

We climbed the Tower of Records and arrived at the Guild Master’s office.

“Would you like something to drink?”

That was Team Leader Lee Jungyul.
On the way here, we exchanged greetings and I learned his name.

“No, I’m fine.”
“Ah… yes.”

Team Leader Lee sat down with a somewhat sour expression.
Don’t look at me like that. What if I just gulp it down without knowing what it is?

Well… judging from the atmosphere, they seemed cautious of me, but not hostile.
So instead of beating around the bush, I got straight to the point.

“Then, let’s check the conditions first.”
“…Good. I’ll speak plainly.”

Guild Master Jeon Myeongil gave a signal to Lee Jungyul.
Jungyul handed me a document envelope.
At the top of the papers inside were the words: “Adventurer Contract.”

“We would like to recruit you, Oh Hyunwoo.”

…That’s fast. I like it.
But, recruitment huh…?

The Adventurer Management Association is a government agency.
In other words, they’re asking me to become a civil servant.

“Well, I’m not sure yet.”
“More precisely, we’d like to recruit you as an adventurer under the Republic of Korea. We’ll guarantee the maximum support the state can provide. The detailed conditions are here…”

Jeon Myeongil slid the contract to me.

Rewards for conquering and systemizing guides to the Tower.
Guarantees of family safety, housing, pension, tax exemption, and various national benefits.
Even my family’s future would be secured. Not a bad deal at all…

— “Certain activities may be subject to state supervision or restriction.”

…But that clause bothered me.

Of course, even with private management, there’s still oversight and restrictions.
But the issue is: I’d be working under someone’s faction.

‘Would Hertiana or Caligo meekly accept the fact that I started working for this government?’

And would Oh Hyunwoo himself want that?
Ha! Not a chance.

Lucifer bows to no one.

The terms weren’t bad, but… I had to stick to my original plan.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline.”
“…What? Ahem. If it’s about money, we can negotiate. We can add further benefits. If something’s lacking—”
“Working under the government directly… seems inconvenient.”
“Ah…”

Jeon Myeongil’s face twisted slightly.

“…Has another country approached you already?”

That question revealed what he feared.
Fortunately for him, I had no plans to leave the country.

Sure, there’s my family to think about, but more importantly—

‘Why would I abandon such a goldmine of a land?’

Why go abroad?
The Tower of Records, workshops, labyrinths, and all the infrastructure of the Legend Seven are here.

As long as I could maintain independence and act freely, I’d thrive just fine.
Of course, I didn’t need to lay out all my thoughts for him.

“As you can see from SNS, many people want to meet me.”
“…Naturally. Then, even if it’s not us, how about a domestic company contract? Tell us what you need—we’ll ensure it doesn’t hinder your activities.”

Bingo. That’s what I wanted to hear.

“Staying domestic is fine. But it may be in a different form than you expect…”
“Ah! Yes! Please, tell us!”
“First, limit public information about me as much as possible.”
“Of course. If you wish, we can also assign guards.”
“I’d prefer my family’s safety guaranteed instead. I can protect myself, but it’s hard to safeguard those around me.”
“Yes, we can purchase housing around your residence and assign the nation’s best security personnel. That will be in the contract as well. Anything else?”

What I needed most now were: capital and people.
People to handle non-combat tasks for me, and money to employ them.

And the method I had in mind was—

“I plan to form a guild.”
“A guild…?”

Jeon Myeongil paused, thinking.
He probably guessed my intention.
It wasn’t complicated.

I would focus on conquests with guaranteed autonomy.
The guild would support me and shield me from external pressure.
The government would support the guild to ensure everything ran smoothly.
And in return, I would stay in Korea.

For the government, just me climbing the Tower already made it a “profitable deal.”

Understanding the implication, Jeon Myeongil’s eyes gleamed.

“Then, what can we do for you?”
“I need sponsors for my guild.”

At that, Jeon Myeongil and Lee Jungyul whispered among themselves.
Soon after, they nodded slightly.

“Understood. We’ll compile a list and send it to you as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
“If this is settled, you’ll remain in the country?”
“As long as the terms are right.”
“…We’ll narrow it to sponsors who can provide full support.”

Then Jeon Myeongil bowed deeply—almost a perfect 90 degrees.
It felt a bit overwhelming.

I waved my hands, helped him back up, and asked one last question.

“By the way… that official guide. Who’s writing it right now?”

At my question, Jeon Myeongil avoided my gaze.
Even when I turned to Lee Jungyul, he just smiled vaguely.

“…At least, it’s not written by the Association.”

That alone told me enough.

‘Just as I thought.’

The government-issued guides technically worked, but something was always… lacking.
Clearly, they were designed to slow down adventurers’ progress.

And who would want that?

Those nations that had already conquered the Tower and now sought to project their excess power abroad—
the “Adventurer Powerhouses.”

The guild members here couldn’t say it aloud, lest they be accused of “profiting off human lives.”

“Alright. I think I can guess who’s behind it. From now on, replace the domestic guide with the one I provide.”
“Yes, once verified we’ll replace it immediately. Ah—how do you want us to handle the sponsorship process?”
“Keep it private, please.”
“Understood. Then shall we head down together? We can escort you home.”
“No, I’ll go alone today.”

After exchanging farewells with the three of them, I left the office.

And then, someone came to mind.

‘Sponsors, huh. Why does that brat keep popping into my head?’

That young man I met at the Adventurer HQ—the one who wept while clutching my guide.
What was his name again… the youngest grandson of Taepyeong Group?

‘No way…’

I chuckled at the absurd thought.

Taepyeong Group’s youngest grandson, and owner of the Archive of Unknown Adventurer Guides, Son Taeha—
he received an email from Guild Master Jeon Myeongil.

“So the super rookie from today… is looking for sponsors?”

Son Taeha was the CEO of Ascend Management, a new adventurer management company.
He had just been preparing to recruit adventurers when this news arrived.

“Hey, Son Taeyeon. What do you think?”

He asked his sister, Son Taeyeon, an adventurer belonging to the Radiance Guild.

“What about?”
“That rookie.”
“Well… doesn’t seem like a fraud. Probably skilled.”
“What are the odds he’s the author of those ‘guides’?”
“You’re still chasing that person?”

During the early Cataclysm, there was a mysterious veteran adventurer from Korea.
Taeha worshipped that man’s guides—few though they were.
At the time, no one paid attention. But those who knew, knew:
Every single guide he wrote was correct.

“The rookie’s guides on SNS… they’re different.”
“It’s only up to the 10th floor. Isn’t that too little to judge?”
“No, it’s enough. That precision—you’d think he ran those floors hundreds, thousands of times. Can’t you recognize our senior’s ability?”
“When did he become your ‘senior’?”
“My instincts say it’s him. I’ll bet everything! I’ll sign him no matter what!”

At his outburst, Taeyeon smirked.

“You think you can? Besides, he’s not looking for recruitment but sponsors. He’ll want big guilds, not your tiny new company.”
“You don’t get it. Rising stars always get recognized by someone like me!”
“With that brain, how do you even run a company…”

Taeyeon sighed.

“I’d be better than you at this.”
“What? Did you eat something weird?”
“Who was it that followed a cringy edgelord gamer during middle school?”
“…I told you not to bring that up.”

Under her deadly glare, Taeha backed down.

“Sorry. Anyway, give me real advice! Doesn’t it look worth betting everything?”
“…Well, his performance speaks for itself. He’s no ordinary talent.”
“Exactly. I have to sign him—no, even if he signs me, it’s worth it.”
“…Do whatever you want. I need to get going—95th floor raid.”
“Yeah, take care. Don’t get hurt.”
“Mm. Good luck with the sponsorship.”

Soon after, Taeha submitted a sponsorship application to Jeon Myeongil.

‘Please, please, please—just give me a chance to meet him!’

‘Wow… didn’t think they’d send the list this quickly.’

The Association’s processing speed was impressive.
Only two days, and they had already narrowed down the sponsorship candidates.

‘Does that mean I’ve already made this much impact?’

But interestingly, all the candidates were domestic companies.
Surely foreign ones had noticed me too.

‘They’re clearly intent on keeping me bound to Korea.’

Well, that was a cute little trick.

The documents contained the list and their conditions.
Major corporations, guilds, management firms.
Some offers were tempting, but many had obvious strings attached.
For example: long contract periods clearly designed to wring everything out of me.

‘Not bad. At least they’re honest about it.’

But then, one company stood out with bizarre terms.

“Ascend?”

Ascend Management.
Their contract was wildly unconventional.

‘Can a deal like this even exist?’

Their condition wasn’t just sponsorship.
They were offering me 51% ownership and full management control of their company.

‘Did they send me the wrong draft?’

I reread it several times—it was still absurd.

So I looked up the company head.

“…Well, well.”

Among CEOs typically in their late 30s to 50s, there was one youthful face.

Son Taeha.
The youngest grandson of Taepyeong Group.

Seeing his face, I was sure.

‘So it was him. I can’t believe he actually applied.’

I immediately called Jeon Myeongil.

“Guild Master.”

• Yes!
  “Among the list you sent, there’s someone I’d like to meet.”

• Who should we contact?
  “Ascend. Ascend Management.”

Blood Palace Audience Hall.

Step. Step.

Wearing a crimson tailcoat, with pale skin and red eyes,
the true master of the palace and creator of the Vargh, Carmar de Labl, surveyed the hall.

“So quiet.”

No Vargh had come to greet him. That unsettled him.
But then he spotted something scattered on the floor—
and froze.

‘…The Vargh died?’

Since the Blood Palace was built, a “true” Vargh had only died twice.
Once, at the hands of the arrogant man called Lucifer.
Reviving that shredded Vargh had taken an eternity…

“Interesting. Seems there’s another amusing human in this dimension.”

Carmar wandered deeper into the hall—
and found a puddle of strange green liquid.

As he reached for it, the ominous fluid leapt like it was alive.
He instantly burned it away with heat.

Only one lunatic used such substances.

‘Caligo…! That madman was here? He’s not dead?’

Carmar clenched his teeth.
Originally, he had only planned to check on the Vargh and leave.
But now, his plans changed.

‘If it were just a human, I’d let it go… but if you are involved, Caligo, then it’s different.
You’ll pay for touching my creation!’