I'UET was not just a single team.
I'UET was a guild, subdivided into several teams. The team that Ha Jongwon belonged to was the First Team, widely regarded as the strongest team within I'UET. When people thought of I'UET, it was this First Team that came to mind immediately.
And now, the youngest Slayer in history had joined that team. Although not a full-time guild member, she was given the privilege to participate in slayings only on weekends, considering her student status.
Naturally, Hyunseok's influence played a part. He personally asked Sunghyung for this, and Sunghyung agreed to recruit her under special treatment, in exchange for a little help from Hyunseok.
Her age was 19, a third-year high school student named Yoo Minseo.
Ha Jongwon chuckled.
"Wow~ Our Minseo's really moving up in the world!"
Minseo, shyly smiling, didn't say anything, probably because other Slayers were around.
"What's with you? Why the sudden shyness? How ridiculous," Jongwon teased.
"Oppa!"
Though her blushing face was mildly irritating, the Slayers laughed, finding the scene amusing. Indeed, this was a tremendous privilege. Her base salary was the same as that of regular guild members, though she didn't receive performance bonuses. Still, this was remarkable.
Participating in slayings only on weekends, she earned roughly one-third of a regular guild member's monthly income, about 1,000,000 KRW. Almost like an apprenticeship, yet quite a generous arrangement. Even other places' apprentices would envy an apprenticeship within I'UET.
Jongwon smirked.
"Well, considering she has Hyunseok oppa, 1,000,000 KRW isn't much."
He already knew that Hyunseok had secretly hoarded Greenstones from a previous slaying.
Of course, this was illegal, involving some risk. Hyunseok, who normally prioritized safety, seemed to be gradually changing.
Anyway, Minseo participated in slayings at Hyunseok's request. Hyunseok, too, participated, but only in the evenings, given his current status.
Although other Slayers might have had grievances, they didn't complain. Why? Because of the repeated notifications:
[Twin-Headed Orc Slayed.]
[Achievement recognized as Difficult.]
[Bonus Stat +10 granted.]
These notifications warmed their hearts and filled them with hope. Such bonuses were significant, easy dungeons typically offered +3, slightly tougher ones +5.
Accompanying I'UET was also an invaluable experience for Hyunseok. While he admired Sunghyung's personal charm, that alone wasn't the reason he joined the slaying. He wasn't a saint; there were clear benefits for him.
The majority of the loot went to Hyunseok. The 12 other Slayers shared 20%, leaving 80% for him. Originally, he intended to take 100%, but he reduced it to 80%, considering it would be burdensome to claim everything while the others willingly participated.
"I'UET clearly needs me. But conversely, it's good for me to have I'UET as well."
Without I'UET, Hyunseok couldn't have slayed efficiently. The devices to roughly locate monsters weren't available for individuals, only select upper-class teams could access them. Alone, he wouldn't have been able to earn bonuses and rewards so quickly and easily.
He could just stay at the back, take advantage of the aggro drawn by others, and land a single punch for bonus stats and income while enjoying I'UET's lodging and transportation services.
While clearing Twin-Headed Orcs across Korea, he accumulated considerable bonus stats.
'Anyone seeing this stat window would freak out…'
Name: HyunseokAge: 30Height: 181cmWeight: 82kg — BMI: OverweightOccupation: Slayer (5/5)(Twin-Headed Orc Slayer) — Strength +1 (effect offset by Orc Slayer title)(Mayfly Slayer) — Agility +1(Bee Slayer) — Agility +1 (offset by Mayfly Slayer title)(Ant Slayer) — Agility +1 (offset by Mayfly Slayer title)(Orc Slayer) — Strength +1Titles:Merchant — Strength +3 (reached 100 strength)Swift — Agility +3 (reached 100 agility)Sage — Intelligence +3 (reached 100 intelligence)Iron — Stamina +3 (reached 100 stamina)Combat Ability (Remaining Stat Points: 284)Strength: 101 — Affects physical attack; 1 strength = +10 H/PIntelligence: 100 — Affects non-physical attacks; 1 intelligence = +10 M/PStamina: 100 — Affects H/P and stamina; 1 stamina = +40 H/PAgility: 101 — Affects evasion and accuracy; 1 agility = +10 pointsNon-Combat AbilityVitality: 50 — 1 vitality = +1 stamina
All his stats were near 100, with Strength and Agility slightly higher due to title effects. The repeated notifications warned him that such power wasn't compatible with Easy Mode, he was essentially a cheat code.
Remaining stat points totaled 284, deliberately left unused to avoid forced entry into higher modes prematurely. Extracting all benefits in Easy Mode before progressing was Hyunseok's strategy.
Stats were crucial for Slayers. One prevailing theory suggested that Easy Mode trained Slayers uniformly as beginners, without class advancement. Higher mode would allow class specialization based on stat allocation, much like an online game.
Sunghyung reached out.
"Good job, Hyunseok."
"It's nothing. Thanks to everyone fighting upfront," Hyunseok replied modestly.
Indeed, he had done little. Others drew aggro while he delivered decisive punches from the back. His overpowered stats made slaying easy.
Achievements also distributed bonus stats, significantly enhancing the First Team's members. Jongwon's Strength had already reached 70. Even without Hyunseok, they could now hunt Twin-Headed Orcs efficiently. Naturally, they tried their best to stay in Hyunseok's favor.
I'UET had now become indisputably the strongest guild in Korea. While not widely known externally yet, their dominance was clear.
Achievements labeled "Difficult" were nearly impossible for ordinary Slayers, so any guild that could consistently earn bonus stats easily was rare.
Members provided Hyunseok with all rewards and treated him with maximum courtesy because each stat point was more valuable than material rewards.
Hyunseok also gained reliable contacts, collective slaying experience, and could strengthen Minseo and Jongwon, people he trusted most. Additionally, he received most of the items, making it mutually beneficial.
I'UET's backing allowed him to slay without interference, a major advantage. Contacts would also prove useful in the future, something he lacked as a mostly solo Slayer.
Sunghyung added,
"Even if you don't join I'UET, create a guild and register it with the Union."
"I… a guild?"
Recently, Jongwon's Eradication Squad guild had matured into Korea's Union. Though late compared to other countries, it was a positive development. Sunghyung's influence played a major role. He accepted leadership for Slayers' prestige, growing the Union rapidly in just two months.
The First Team joined, reinforcing the Korean Union and fully replacing Eradication Squad's previous identity.
"Soon, slaying without guild permission will be banned. If you get organized, you can get approval immediately. Just meet the minimum requirements, approval will follow. Procedures aren't set yet."
"So we still have to take tests and pay fees for formal approval?"
"That's right."
Though annoying, it was understandable; the government needed accurate Slayer records for taxation.
'If an overwhelmingly strong monster appeared, the government couldn't intervene, Slayers would be essential.'
Currently, Slayers accepted minor inequities. Replacement Slayers were plentiful, and many were content. Even if all Slayers rebelled, the government could still hunt monsters with heavy weaponry, since normal firearms were insufficient but machine guns were effective.
'The Union is preparing for a government clash… I should ask when possible.'
Hyunseok shrugged.
"Let's register, then."
I'UET swept 80% of Twin-Headed Orcs in Korea, effectively eliminating them locally. Regeneration timing or one-time status was unknown. Japan then secretly requested assistance, as Twin-Headed Orcs had appeared there as well. While Japan's Slayers were competent, these Orcs were evidently formidable, worthy of the "Difficult" achievement.
Hyunseok followed Sunghyung's advice and registered a guild. He assigned combat roles to himself and Jongwon, support to Minseo, and healing to Kang Pyeonghwa.
As he walked out, he pondered,
'Twin-Headed Orcs are undoubtedly a Difficult achievement monster.'
To anyone else, they were indeed a strong entity. Achievements indicated a higher grade than ordinary dungeons, making them significant targets.
'And they're appearing faster and faster.'
It had been the same with Orcs. First in Korea, then dungeons, then Twin-Headed Orcs, followed by increasingly strong monsters worldwide. Slayers' growing strength seemed to influence monster appearances.
It felt like an intentional system: as beginners gained experience, progressively stronger monsters appeared, encouraging level-ups. With Hyunseok present, first appearing monsters were the strongest, and I'UET's elevated level contributed to rapid high-tier monster appearances.
(End of Chapter 18)
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