The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

‘What were Nahean’s stats again? Was his intelligence mid-level?’

As we moved to round 1.5, my cheat skills had also slightly improved. Now, I could check the status windows of lower characters even if they weren’t near me.

[Name] Nahean [Level] 1  

[Gender] Male / [Age] 16  

[Intelligence] Mid-level / [Killing Intent] Low  

***  

[Stamina] 540 / C  

[Strength] 1001 / B  

[Agility] 450 / C  

When they revive in round 1.5, their stats reset from the variations in round 1.

The status window was exactly the same as when I first met Nahean.

I looked at Nahean’s camp again.

On the screen, Nahean was sitting on a tree stump as if resting. His expression was dark and he seemed unmotivated.

Although his calm demeanor was concerning, his staying still in one place would make it easy for Unahar to find him.

“After bringing Nahean in and observing him, I might make him the commander of the subordinates group. Of course, if there’s someone with better skills and higher intelligence, I’ll give it to them instead.”

How did Nahean die in the first round? Who killed him?

The search function allowed viewing the records of characters eliminated in previous rounds.

Nahean was murdered. The character who killed him was also listed.

Nahean <- Shemarin

Hmm.

I wanted to help Nahean get revenge, but that would mean betrayal.

Being betrayed is one thing, but betraying someone else is problematic. It hurts my image.

Haha, and what revenge? In a death game, worrying about such things would leave no characters standing.

I’ll train him just enough to survive when he clashes with Shemarin in the future. He can consider that his revenge.

“Go and bring him back. Be kind to him.”

[“I’ll try.”]

“Stay close to Gio to avoid danger. Although it’s unlikely that lower players will attack higher ones, you can’t be too careful. Some might try to capture higher players to prove themselves to other guilds.”

In round 1.5, higher players are almost like NPCs; they can’t kill lower players.

However, if a higher player faces off against a lower player, the higher player might actually be at risk.

There’s no rule saying lower players can’t kill higher players.

There might be some bold characters who use the death of a higher guild character for their own PR.

‘To put it in perspective, it would be like a human daring to kill a god.’

Of course, if that happens, higher players can use their unique abilities to avoid it.

But Unahar, unable to transform into a wolf, is essentially no different from a lower character right now.

That’s why Gio needs to stay close to him as a bodyguard.

I’ve also emphasized to Gio not to reveal his unique abilities to keep his strength hidden.

With both of them having base stats of B and B+, they should be able to survive somehow.

If things get really dangerous, I can jump into the field myself.

After all, one of the three available slots for participation is still open.

[“But Gio is furious, saying a wolf took his deer. He’s asking if he can eat wolf meat.”]

What a ridiculous question. Unahar’s unique ability is turning into a wolf.

“Tell him absolutely not.”

The reason Unahar is acting as a messenger between me and Gio is that Gio refuses to use remote communication, claiming it’s too complicated.

As a result, I can’t even communicate with my guild members directly.

That fool only uses his brain when he feels like it.

[“What if Gio doesn’t listen?”]

“Tell him you’ll report him to Lilith. That should shut him up.”

[“Got it. I’ll bring back good news.”]

After entrusting Unahar with recruiting Nahean, I ended the call.

Watching the two traverse the dense forest became a bit tedious.

With three monitors available, only using one felt wasteful. I should surveil the lower players with the other two.

On one monitor, I set the cameras to cycle through participants from number 1 downward, and on the other, from number 500 upward.

First and last numbers. Is there a reason for these numbers?

Since the best participant was said to be number 298, it must be random.

As soon as the monitors activated, one screen caught my attention.

The fiery red hair of participant number 500 stood out starkly against the green jungle.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.

“…”

For a moment, I felt my heart drop.

I’ve seen countless characters, but this is the first time something like this has happened.

“Unahar.”

[“I’m listening.”]

“I’ll need to use another slot besides Nahean’s.”

A new buzzer had been added to the control panel of the lookout tower, specifically for round 1.5.

The buzzer was named “Head Hunting,” just like round 1.5.

Pressing this buzzer allows you to designate a specific participant, announcing to the entire field that “our guild wants this participant.”

It also enables the guild master to track the designated participant’s location upon entering the field.

Ding-.

[Rudel Guild has designated participant number 500, Akata, as their top priority.]

As soon as our guild pressed the buzzer, a broadcast went out across the entire field.

Unahar’s surprised voice called out.

[“Rudel! Who did you designate? Let Gio and me know!”]

I felt dizzy and tried to speak.

But no words came out, and all I could do was stare blankly at the screen showing the sleeping boy.

I was shocked. No character had ever made me this anxious before.

‘I can’t see Akata’s status window…’

Sweat beaded on my forehead, and a cold sensation seemed to press down on me.

Beep-.

A warning tone rang in my ears as if I were submerged underwater.

Until now, I could see everyone’s status windows. But not Akata’s.

…It seems I’ve become complacent.

I had taken my ability to see others’ status windows for granted as my privilege.

Despite using my cheat abilities and real-world knowledge effectively, I never thought to dig deeper into this.

‘I said I’d find out why I was dragged into this game. Have I been too busy enjoying the game to remember that?’

This one boy character hit me hard, capturing my attention so completely that I couldn’t think of anything else.

I lifted my eyelids slowly and pressed the button in front of me without hesitation.

[Rudel, entering round 1.5.]

I soon descended into the jungle.

* * *

A beast yelped and fell, and the whimpering cries echoed from all around.

“Sorry. My strike missed and caused you unintended pain. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

After his indifferent monologue, a dagger ended the suffering of a whimpering wolf.

The man easily dodged the lunging wolves, fending off successive attacks with his bare fists. The dead wolves rolled in the snow.

He continued to weave through the wolves, kicking them away with powerful strikes. Not a single wolf managed to tear his clothes.

His movements were so flawless and efficient that his face, not even breaking a sweat, seemed almost bored.

With basic stats at S-level, his physical abilities were far superior to those of an ordinary human. To his perception, everything moved too slowly.

Eventually, amidst the fallen, incapacitated wolves, only one man stood.

Beneath lemon-yellow hair, his eyes were deeply set.

His intense gaze gave even his sleepy, blinking expression an eerie sense of intimidation.

Number of wolves defeated: 306.

Even if Jail lay down and did nothing from now on, no one would surpass this number within the remaining time.

‘I just want to sleep.’

Despite having such thoughts throughout the hunt, Jail continued to amass an impressive tally, exterminating the wolves.

Why was he achieving such a remarkable record, wiping out the wolves?

It was because Jail was an extreme safety enthusiast.

Occasionally, while dispatching the wolves, Jail would check his status window.

He would repeatedly verify one line of the 1.5 round rules, fearing it might disappear:

“One participant who achieves the highest kill points in round 1.5 will be given a unique ability and promoted to a higher character. Seize the opportunity to become a full member of a guild within the two-day period.”

‘If I achieve this, at least I can choose the guild I want. One that doesn’t fuss over rankings, a guild with a laid-back atmosphere.’

He had no interest in a strict guild life that required constant fighting.

He just wanted to laze around and sleep in the guild fortress whenever he felt like it.

This was the motivation behind the leopard-like, imposing man massacring so many wolves.

His wish might have been simple, but he was serious about it.

Meanwhile, Jail’s status window was flickering with numerous “Head Hunting” requests from various guild masters.

He found it too bothersome to reject each one, so he ignored them all.

After all, if he became the top in round 1.5, all those requests would be invalidated.

Jail thought to himself,

‘I’ve secured first place, so now I just need to avoid being kidnapped by a guild.’