The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2 Novel

"The petitioner has already surpassed 300,000, so I hope the management office will provide a truthful response to the nation... Sigh."

The newly appointed Battle.net management director, Oh Kyu-seung, sighed as he read the official document in his hands.

"No, if we just wait a little longer, he will likely be selected as the national representative. Why is there such a rush for a fire to break out in just one day...?"

Player Sung JiHan.

Among the promising players worldwide, he was receiving the most attention.

His performance was so outstanding that the management office was already considering selecting him as the national representative once he reached Diamond rank.

"Just by looking at his growth rate, it won't be long before he reaches Diamond."

"The live broadcast of yesterday's defeat brought a sense of crisis."

In response to the director's lament, Manager Park Yoon-sik, who brought the official document, cautiously spoke.

"We suffered a devastating defeat against Taiwan..."

"The core of our national team's tactics, the Sword King, went to Japan. There's nothing we can do about it."

The basic strategy of the Korean national team was to defend against the enemy's fierce attacks with a small group of elite warriors while buying time.

It was a method of sniping the enemy's key forces one by one with powerful archers.

Most of the defense was focused on a small number of warriors, which seemed reckless at first glance, but it worked as an invincible tactic as long as the Sword King was present.

The Sword King was so strong that even with a small number of warriors, they could cover the front lines and even break the enemy's warrior formation.

While time was being bought up front, the long-range sniping of the archers was effectively carried out.

However, once the core of the team, the Sword King, disappeared, this tactic crumbled from its foundation.

"Yes... The current representative team is too weak in the front lines. Among the competing countries in Northeast Asia, the Warrior Jin of Korea is overwhelmingly the weakest."

"That's right. Yesterday, we were completely crushed by Taiwan's warriors."

There was a joke that all the talent of Korean players was concentrated only in Sung JiHan.

But it was actually true.

Except for Sung JiHan, the other warriors were all lacking in ability compared to warriors from other countries.

Especially in the Northeast Asia League, which is considered the most intense league in the world, the level difference was clearly evident.

Even when Sung JiHan was still around, this weakness was masked, but after he left, it became even more apparent.

"But isn't it impossible to select a gold player for the national team in the first place?"

"...It's not impossible. When Battle.net first came out, we had national team matches with gold and platinum players."

"That was because there were no players who had leveled up to diamond at that time. It's been 10 years now."

"That's true, but according to the regulations set by our country's governing body, it's not allowed. However, according to the regulations of the World Battle.net Federation, it is possible to participate. That's why it's being emphasized in the national petition."

"If the opposing country selects a gold player as their representative, there's no reason to refuse... There must be regulations... It's a headache."

Oh GyuSeung rubbed his head with both hands.

Selecting a gold player as a national representative, does that even make sense?

Honestly, he just wanted to buy some time.

"If we just delay a little, Sung JiHan will quickly rise to the top league anyway."

The Northeast Asia League for the second half of this year was already a failure.

With yesterday's loss to Taiwan, Korea was practically confirmed to be in last place.

In this situation, being swayed by public opinion and hastily appointing Sung JiHan, he wanted to wait and let Sung JiHan naturally rise while buying time.

But...

"The predecessor was already in a bad position..."

He remembered the former head of the governing body who was ousted after picking a fight with Sung JiHan.

Even though he had a strong influence in the political circle, he couldn't maintain his position after facing public opinion.

"To be honest, selecting a gold player seems premature. If it were platinum, I wouldn't say anything, but gold... And besides, Sung JiHan will quickly rise anyway."

"I also think so. It's a burden for the management office to select gold players as national representatives. Right now, 300,000 people have signed the petition, but once they are actually selected, there will be a strong opposition."

"Yeah, but there's something bothering me. I've worked hard to restore the relationship between the management office and Sung JiHan, so I don't want it to be ruined because of this."

Park Yoon-sik recalled the time when he went to see the guild leader who was clearly frustrated.

After all the hard work, I don't want the relationship to be ruined for no reason.

"But, does Sung JiHan really want to become a national representative?"

"...Isn't it obvious? He's the Battle.net national representative. Isn't it an honor for his family?"

"Although the national petition has surpassed 300,000, there will still be a significant opposition once Gold becomes a national representative. Wouldn't he rather not join the national team now and avoid the rumors and criticism, and aim for a higher position later?"

"Hmm..."

Oh Kyu-seung nodded as if he understood.

"Then, can you find out his intentions?"

"Me, you mean...?"

"Yes. You are the closest to Sung JiHan in the management office."

What does it mean to be close?

I've only interacted with him the most in the management office, but I feel extremely awkward when I meet him in person.

But since the director is asking, I couldn't refuse.

"...I understand."

"And, subtly... if he says he wants to join the national team... not just Gold, but higher. Yes. Ask him if he would consider playing at least at the Platinum level."

I ended up saying more than I should have and took on more work.

Park Yoon-sik regretted bringing up Sung JiHan's story and bowed his head to the director.

"...Yes. I will go and find out."

* * *

On the same day.

Sung JiHan was clearing today's game and logging out.

"I leveled up today, huh."

The game he cleared this time was an invade map.

Since he had progressed to the level where he could clear the defense game played by the Diamond players yesterday, his level had increased significantly.

However, the invade map was not at that level, so the experience reward was slower.

Sung JiHan checked the level-up speed by allocating the remaining points to strength.

"With this level-up speed, I might be able to participate in the October promotion match."

The level required to participate in the Platinum promotion match, which was the goal for players who had just reached Gold from Silver, was 100.

Although it was impossible for a player to participate in the promotion match within a month, the system was giving Sung JiHan experience points, begging him to reach the higher leagues by the 25th, so he felt confident that he could achieve level 100.

"Now that I've reached Gold, the survival and dungeon maps must have changed. I'm looking forward to new maps."

It seemed that in the new maps, he would be able to gain more experience points.

At that moment.

Knock knock-

Along with the knocking sound, Yoon Se-ah's voice was heard.

"Uncle. I have something to say..."

"Oh, come in."

Yoon Se-ah, who came to Sung JiHan's room, had a rather serious expression.

"What's wrong?"

"I was thinking about it while playing games today."

She cautiously began to speak.

"Uncle, I'm going to take the bus. I'm thinking of stopping now."

"Why? Isn't your level increasing?"

"No, it's increasing a lot. I went up two levels today as well."

"Hmm, is there something uncomfortable?"

"Yeah. I don't know how to put it... It feels like I'm not really doing anything. My actual skills aren't improving, it just feels like my level is going up."

Sung JiHan nodded.

He could understand that feeling.

Even in today's game, it was safe to say that Yoon SeA didn't contribute much.

"You can still play two games with Waiting Patience. One game is played with your own skills, do you think that's not enough?"

"Yeah... a little? With this level of skill, I don't think I can win the TOP 100."

"...Were you really aiming for that?"

"Of course. I have to reach Waiting Patience C rank, right? It's much faster to win the TOP 100 than to play 500 games with a 60% win rate."

Yoon SeA confidently spoke.

Sung JiHan chuckled as he watched her.

"Alright. Since you've already met the requirements to upgrade to Waiting Patience D rank. Then come up on your own."

"Yeah!"

"Then I should contact Sophia and disband the party."

"Ah. Y-yeah?"

"Yeah. I don't have to raise you, there's no need to maintain the party."

When Sung JiHan said that, Yoon SeA scratched her cheek.

She had been watching how much Sophia liked being in a party with Sung JiHan.

She felt sorry for causing a fuss because of herself.

"Uh... Uncle, then how about we only have the party twice a week?"

"Why again?"

"Ah. Just because it would be a waste to completely disband the party! Hehe."

Sung JiHan had a rough idea of why Yoon SeA was saying that, but he nodded anyway.

"If luck isn't on your side, you might not achieve a 60% win rate. You have to give her a couple of victories."

Yoon SeA, who now had two rare stats, didn't find a 60% win rate to be an impossible condition.

But Sung JiHan still saw many areas where she lacked.

"Alright. I'll contact Sophia then!"

Yoon SeA left the room.

Not long after, a call came from Lee HaYeon.

[Owner! A guest has come to the management office.]

"The management office?"

[Yes. Manager Park YoonSik came... He said he has something to tell you regarding the national representative matter.]

"Why suddenly the national representative?"

[Um... Don't you know that there's a petition with over 300,000 signatures to make you the national representative?]

"What?"

Sung JiHan was dumbfounded.

How did a petition like that come about, and how did it gather over 300,000 signatures?

"Do I have that many fans?"

Sung JiHan thought to himself as he replied to Lee HaYeon.

"For now, I'll go down to the guild."

* * *

Guild Office.

"...So, the management office is in a situation where we need to provide a response to the national petition."

Sung JiHan listened to Manager Park Yoon-sik explain the background of the recent national petition.

"Did it really get that bad with Taiwan?"

"Well... didn't you watch the game yesterday?"

"Yes. I was busy training."

With the integration attempt of the Three Kingdoms nearing, Sung JiHan only focused on that.

Furthermore, since it was almost expected for the national team to lose, he didn't bother watching it.

"It was pretty bad. Compared to other countries, Taiwan's Warrior camp is relatively weak, so I thought we could at least get one win. But we were completely crushed."

"But even so, how did someone below Gold become a national representative? Isn't the requirement for national representatives to be at least Diamond level 225?"

Diamond starts at level 200.

But even they felt a wall at level 225.

From this point on, the amount of experience gained decreased significantly, and the amount of experience lost upon defeat was much greater.

Unless they were truly skilled, most Diamonds were stuck at levels 200-225.

Among those Diamonds, there were those who surpassed the wall.

Only those players were given the qualification to become national representatives.

"Yes. That's correct. In the case of the Warrior camp, there are a few below level 225 as well..."

"Wait, there were people below 225?"

"Yes. Because there was a shortage of Warrior class recruits..."

"That's pretty bad."

He thought the level of the national representatives would be dismal, but he didn't expect anyone below level 225 to be chosen.

The vacancy of the Sword King is quite large.

"Um... Sung JiHan, what do you think? Do you have any thoughts of becoming a national representative?"

"As a Gold rank player, it's not the right time..."

Sung JiHan was about to express his refusal in one go, but he suddenly stopped.

'Wait. If I become a national representative as a Gold rank player, I could probably earn a good amount of achievement points, right?'

He had already spent over 600,000 achievement points recently and became penniless.

If he became a national representative, there would definitely be an opportunity to replenish them.

'But I can't cause trouble for the national team with my lack of skills.'

Currently, Sung JiHan's level was 70.

There was a vast difference between his level and that of the national team.

If he accepted just to collect achievement points and caused trouble for the national team, what kind of situation would that be?

But still...

"I'll just watch the game from yesterday. Only the Warrior camp."

He was curious about the current level of the national team.

"Yes. It's ready here!"

And so, Sung JiHan watched the highlights of yesterday's game prepared by Lee Ha-yeon.

"Oh no! It's collapsing! It's falling apart! The Korean national team..."

"Just block! Can't they do that?"

"Oh! Another warrior down!"

"...Why are they so bad at this?"

Watching the national team's Warrior camp being trampled by the Taiwanese warriors in an instant.

He realized for sure that being selected as a national representative was not a disgrace at all.