Seol Kyung-seok, the marketing manager and sales rep for the domestic pro gaming team Ajin Leopard, was in an exceptionally good mood.
"Things are going so smoothly."
With his salary negotiation coming up soon, if he played his cards right, this deal could even land him a promotion to manager.
All those efforts of constantly reaching out to talented pro gamers and sending gifts during holidays were finally bearing fruit.
Slipping inside—
Seol Kyung-seok walked into the VR room he frequented.
This place was perfect for scouting talent, right in the heart of Gangnam with its heavy foot traffic.
"Mr. Han, got any goods today?"
"Oh, Manager Seol? But you're empty-handed?"
"Come on, don't be like that. If I brought gifts every time, my wallet wouldn't survive. Cut a working stiff some slack."
"Heh heh. Just kidding, man. Come on back."
Following the owner's lead, Seol Kyung-seok headed to the monitoring room.
A bold "Staff Only" sign hung on the door, but for Seol Kyung-seok—with his friendly demeanor and steady stream of gifts that had built a solid rapport with the owner—it was no issue.
"You know the drill. If word gets out, things could get messy."
"Of course. Just checking promo footage. My lips are sealed."
Four 32-inch monitors in front of Seol Kyung-seok were packed with playback footage from the VR room's customers.
"Get to it then. Drinks on me later."
"Yes, sir! Anytime you say."
"Hahaha, I love how loud and clear you always answer."
The owner left the monitoring room.
Now it was time for serious talent scouting.
Most VR room users were low-level, but Seol Kyung-seok's eye—honed from obsessively analyzing rankers' plays—could spot potential from the tiniest clues.
"Same old, same old today."
About 20 minutes in.
After scanning the movements of all 64 players in action, no one stood out.
As usual.
Looked like another bust.
"Pfft. So timid like that? Good luck in the future."
Then, one player's movements caught his eye.
Boldly challenging an orc, only to look terrified—hilariously so.
"...Hmm."
But it wasn't just funny.
Watching further, the movements weren't efficient, yet this player had endured the orc's axe swings for a full three minutes.
"No way?"
Seol Kyung-seok switched the timid player's screen to full view.
To keep observing.
'Could be talent.'
His instincts were tingling.
This player was different.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Whoosh!
"Eek!"
Screeech!
A dull axe grazed past my chest.
So terrified I leaned back with everything I had, somehow dodging it.
Swish—
"Ugh...!"
My eyes met the enraged orc's.
A chill ran down my spine.
'I'm insane!'
How am I supposed to take down a monster like that?!
"Shreek! Shreek! Gruuk!"
Whoosh!
The axe charged again.
I had to dodge.
One hit from that thing would hurt like hell.
Swoooosh!
"Huuuugh!"
Twisting my body just in time, the axe whistled past my ear.
The air-splitting sound assaulted my nerves.
'Attack!'
If I didn't kill it, it'd kill me.
No more dodging.
Seemed like my movements were getting predictable from all the evasion.
My muscles had warmed up in the heat of battle.
No cramps even from intense moves now.
Thud!
Power into my left heel.
Grip!
Tightened my hold on the lance.
"Raaah!"
Thrust—
I stabbed with all my might.
In that instant, a warm, embracing sensation enveloped me.
Splat!
'It hit?!'
The long lance pierced the enemy's chest center.
A bursting sensation tingled through my fingertips.
"Gruuk!"
Thwack!
"Argh!"
The orc's fist slammed my jaw.
First hit I'd taken.
'No!'
Big trouble.
Brain rattled; vision blurry, legs weak.
'Head up!'
Brace for the follow-up.
Grind.
Gritting my teeth, I barely lifted my head.
"...Huh?"
Thud.
Then the hideous orc knelt and collapsed.
Its bloodshot eyes glared at me to the end.
Incredibly, my attack had landed a critical hit.
"Shreek! Shreek!"
"Deal with it!"
Thud!
I kicked the orc warrior's snarling maw.
"Gurk!"
It let out a death rattle.
Luckily, the lance had pierced its heart.
"Huff... huff..."
Panting hard.
Tension released; my legs gave out too.
Thud.
I collapsed in place.
'Crazy VR game...!'
This was too real.
Scary enough to give me a heart attack.
Twitch!
"Eek!"
The orc corpse I'd thought dead convulsed then stilled.
"I-it'll get familiar... suck... exhale... suck... exhale..."
I calmed my racing heart with slow breaths.
[⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙]
[You have won the battle. Sync Rate: 90% ]
Victory popped up a system message in my upper vision.
"...Hmm."
Not ideal.
100% would've been better.
"Time for boss mode."
Silmaria was my livelihood.
To survive infinite competition, I had to keep whipping myself.
'Shock therapy it is.'
Starting the game like this, my fragile heart wouldn't hold. Needed to toughen up first.
Scary, but I'd endure.
I moved to the next test phase.
Worst case? Death.
I needed to get used to dying.
[⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙]
[Switching to 'Boss Mode'. Please select your position.]
Boss meant something uglier than an orc.
Up close, might faint—so no tank or melee DPS.
"Hmm... Real men support. Go!"
Not sure where the manliness was, but I picked supporter and hit start.
Boom!
"Fast."
Mode switched, queue popped instantly.
Top market share game—lots of players testing modes like me.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Reliable allies appeared beside me in light bursts.
'Please be brave souls!'
[⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙]
[5, 4, 3, 2, 1!]
[Game Start!]
Hummm!
Flaaash—!
"Wha? Starts right away?!"
No time to coordinate; game began.
Brilliant light swirled, world shifted.
"Roooaaar!"
Groooowl—!
On the crimson earth, the orc lord bellowed ferociously.
'...How does something look that terrifying?'
Orc lord was horrifying.
I slunk to the party's rear.
"F-fighting!"
I yelled in a shaky voice.
Not scared.
Supporters stay back by default.
"Grrroooaaar!"
Thud thud thud thud!
Orc lord charged.
"Aaaah!"
Its momentum overwhelmed; I screamed involuntarily.
"Shield up!"
The bravest-looking swordsman ordered the tank.
"Uh... uhh!"
Boom!
"Guhhh!"
Orc lord's battleaxe crashed into the tank's shield.
Swordsman stabbed at the exposed armpit.
Squelch!
"Grook!"
"What are you waiting for! Attack!"
"Ugh!"
"Die!"
At the swordsman's shout, other DPS joined in.
"No greed—hit and run!"
"Got it!"
Orc lord's attacks were telegraphed but one-shots.
"DPS, don't take a single hit!"
Key: Melee DPS evade everything; tank predict patterns, defend, counter when openings show.
Otherwise, DPS shortage triggers enrage—orc lord wins.
"But don't stop dealing damage!"
TL;DR for DPS: No hits, constant poke.
That's why support's comfy.
No spotlight, no specific demands.
Big contributions go unnoticed—whatever.
Boom!
"Ngh!"
Orc lord's overhead smashed the shield again.
Splatter! Stab! Squish!
DPS exploited the gap; blood sprayed from orc lord's hide.
"Groooar!"
Furious roar.
Thud!
Then it dug in its heel, raising the battleaxe high.
'Stance is off!'
Head dipped too low.
'Pattern from the guide.'
Not a swing—'Leg Slice' pattern.
Tank predictably angled shield left for defense.
This'd sever the ankle—then we're all dead.
"Grrrl."
Swish.
Crouched orc lord grinned wickedly.
Whoosh!
Massive axe swept low.
Tank's ankle in a flash.
"Drop the shield!"
Skilled swordsman yelled urgently.
Crunch!
'Don't die!'
Reacting, I wrapped orc lord's leg in vines.
Save tank to save myself.
Ssssh—
Like spearing the orc, warmth hugged my chest.
Snap!
Vine yanked the knee back as intended.
"Gwaak?!"
Boom!
"Guh!"
Against its will, 'Leg Slice' slammed the shield awkwardly.
'I saved him!'
Simple vine bind saved the leg.
Good timing could neuter orc lord.
"Haa... haa..."
Overfocused; head spun.
But no quitting.
Fill party gaps to fell the boss.
Gripping my throbbing head, I refocused on patterns.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Gangnam VR room monitoring room.
"..."
Seol Kyung-seok stared intently at the monitor, face grave.
'What is this?'
Surface level, the swordsman with nimble moves was the star.
Party moved on his orders.
But why...
Felt like the center wasn't him.
'Swordsman's play looks perfect, but...'
Swordsman was a ferocious beast unleashing barrages.
Overawed scared party into his puppetry.
'The one tying it together... is the supporter.'
Incredibly.
First-time randos moved like one organism.
Supporter at the core.
Could pass as swordsman's superplay, but supporter perfectly covered his reckless flaws.
'Following swordsman's orders alone, they'd have wiped ages ago.'
Obviously, swordsman's moves weren't amateur.
Honed from multiple orc lord runs—unique style no one else could match.
But that gaps with party; reckless orders ignore it—supporter bridged it.
For example.
Crunch!
'Yes! Like that!'
Tank stumbled off-balance.
Vine shot up, disrupting orc lord's center.
Rare even among rankers to cast such precise magic from the start.
Clang!
Awkward swing hit the shield.
Once? Luck. But clearly supporter skill.
'Face screams total noob though...'
Everything perfect except the terrified expression.
Worried for teammates, pale as a ghost, about to faint.
Crunch!
"Groooowaaar..."
Thud!
After 10 minutes, swordsman's finisher downed the mighty orc lord.
"Took down orc lord..."
No need for other screens.
This was talent.
One screw loose, but awaken it—Ajin Leopard raid starter.
"I'm signing him, no matter what...!"
Continue reading up to 80+ chapter on NovelsHub.org