The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2 Novel

Chapter 22

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Manager Zero.

The gift she possessed was none other than 'Nurturing'.

'Supporting gift, Nurturing.'

Supporting gift.

This ability to assist players outside of the game was initially overlooked, as it was not considered useful during the tutorial phase.

However, after the tutorial ended and the world fell into chaos, and the grades of gifts began to grow, the supporting gift started to gain attention.

'Among them, Nurturing was considered the highest grade.'

The gift, Nurturing.

Players with this gift can accelerate the growth of other players.

Initially, this ability only provided a 10% experience buff to a few players during the tutorial, so it didn't receive much attention.

Since the experience buff during the tutorial was the same as the Blessing of Growth that guilds could purchase with GP, there was no need to prioritize someone with this gift.

'But things changed after the tutorial period.'

After the tutorial, guilds couldn't purchase experience buffs with GP anymore, and the range of the gift 'Nurturing' expanded significantly compared to the tutorial period.

It was revealed that this ability, which previously only affected experience points, now applied to all areas, including stat growth speed and gift grade upgrades.

It was also revealed that the range of targets who could benefit from Nurturing expanded as one climbed higher in the guild hierarchy, causing this previously overlooked gift to gradually gain attention.

Afterward, it became essential for managers of famous guilds to possess the gift Nurturing.

'And among them, Manager Zero had the highest grade.'

Manager Zero.

She was a figure who stood out even within the American First Guild.

She wore an iron mask that covered her entire face except for her lips, which were covered in burn scars.

'She refused the offer of being healed by the Saint, claiming it was the price she paid for making a deal with a demon.'

Because of this, it was initially impossible to connect Ji Han and Zero.

However, apart from her face, her voice, physique, and actions were remarkably similar to Zero's.

Her unique gestures, as well as her gambling addiction.

'In the first place, there was a reason she was named Zero...'

Manager Zero.

She was a gambler and a gambling addict.

And as is often the case with the fate of gambling addicts, her fortune was always 'zero'.

-Ji Han, Ji Han! I know, I know. You're the Sung JiHan, the gambling expert!

-Tell me. What should I bet on these days?

At a party of the American First Guild.

Manager Zero approached Sung JiHan, who was pretending to be an immigrant, claiming to be Korean as well.

She annoyingly asked him to predict the outcome of a bet.

But even when he made predictions, she had a clear bias.

-Ji Han, yeah. What about this guy? Diego Masid. His SSS-grade gift is called 'God of Soccer'. When should I bet on soccer? Damn... this guy will win, right? If I bet against him, I can make money, right?

-I've told you many times. SSS-grade gifts aren't just given out to anyone.

-No, I'm telling you! Diego Masid will lose! He will lose!

-I clearly said that Masid will win.

-Tch, I know all your win rates. It's 62%. This time, it'll be 38%, and you'll lose!

Whenever Zero said such things, Sung JiHan always ended up winning.

-Shit... that crazy guy will only play soccer. Why is he hitting a cannonball?

-Did you think SSS-grade gifts just come out easily?

-No, I didn't. Next time, I'll win!

-Just don't gamble, okay?

-Hoho, when the world is full of possibilities. It's hard to ignore that...

-Zero, there's only a possibility for you to lose.

-Shut up.

Zero, who ignored all advice and continued to drink vodka, taunted.

But no matter how drunk she was, she never took off her mask and only sighed.

-It's you. Sigh. Why did you become stronger now?

-Yes... If you had been as strong as you are now in Korea, my friend wouldn't have died like that.

-You bastard...

-No, I don't have the right to say such things. I'm a bad woman... Shit...

Zero, who was heavily intoxicated.

She was a serious alcoholic and gambling addict.

If it were a regular company, it wouldn't be strange for her to be fired at any time.

However, the reason she could become the second guild leader in American First Guild was because of her exceptional nurturing ability.

'It was on a different level.'

Even just the experience point buff ratio she provided started at a minimum of 100 percent.

The talents she raised in the second guild alone were like a truckload.

'I have to recruit Zero no matter what.'

The woman in front of her.

Although she had a completely different appearance from Zero, who wore a mask and was covered in burn scars.

Somehow, Sung JiHan felt that she was Zero.

If she just confirmed her gifts, she could be sure.

'But it's impossible to recruit her in my current situation.'

Lee Ha-yeon, the deputy manager of the most successful guild in Korea, who came from a chaebol family.

Compared to her, Sung JiHan was promising but still just a bronze player, so there was no way for her to recruit Lee Ha-yeon into her faction.

'For now, I have found someone with potential like Zero.'

While Sung JiHan was organizing her thoughts like that.

Im Ga-yeong, who was standing in front of Lee Ha-yeon, demanded an answer from her.

"Please answer, Sung JiHan. How can you not be scared of what that girl says every day?"

Sung JiHan calmly replied to Im Ga-yeong, who was looking at her with fierce eyes.

"I saw that phrase in the chat window when I used to run the Sung channel. I said it because you said you were a subscriber."

"...Miss, did you really write that phrase in the chat room?"

"Well, um. I don't know? Let's stop talking about this topic now. Ga-yeong?"

She just wanted to tease her, but it seems like she really wrote it.

Sung JiHan grabbed Im Ga-yeong's shoulder, looked at Lee Ha-yeon again, and smirked.

Unlike a little while ago, when Sung JiHan seemed more relaxed, Lee Ha-yeon's eyebrows twitched slightly.

But she soon smiled as if nothing had happened and opened her mouth.

"You even remember the chat of your subscribers, you're really meticulous, Sung JiHan-nim."

"It's nothing."

"Anyway... The reason I came here is because I want to recruit you into the Isung Guild."

"As a member of the Isung Guild?"

"Yes, Sung JiHan-nim. First..."

When Lee Ha-yeon was about to propose the recruitment in earnest.

Sung JiHan interrupted her.

"I'm sorry, but today is not a good day. My nephew's condition isn't good, so I think I should go now."

"Ah. I-I see."

Was it because she didn't expect Sung JiHan to reject her so decisively without even listening to her?

Lee Ha-yeon showed a momentary look of surprise, but soon regained her composure.

"That's right. If your nephew's condition isn't good, there's nothing we can do. Then..."

She blinked her eyes and looked up at Sung JiHan.

"Can you tell me your phone number?"

"My number?"

"Yes."

As they talked about phone numbers, Im GaYoung's expression behind them stiffened slightly.

Was it because she remembered being harshly criticized for asking Sung JiHan for his number?

"...Come to think of it, I still don't know my own number."

With so much going on, she hadn't even thought about finding out her own number.

She didn't even have a reason to use her phone in the first place.

Sung JiHan glanced briefly at Im GaYoung and gave the same answer as before.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't remember my phone number."

"...What?"

In response to Sung JiHan's answer, Lee HaYeon's smiling face hardened.

"Huh?"

Yoon SeA, who was next to him, also had an incredulous expression.

Why didn't he know his phone number?

"SeA, what was my number?"

"..."

Her uncle casually asked for his phone number.

Sung JiHan really didn't know, but...

"No, there's no way my suddenly smart uncle wouldn't know his own number."

Yoon SeA thought it was unlikely and shook her head.

What could be the intention behind this?

"Is he so reluctant to talk about joining the guild? Or... is it playing hard to get?"

Both possibilities seemed plausible.

"Earlier, my uncle was staring at that person absentmindedly."

Among the two, she cautiously leaned towards the possibility of playing hard to get.

If that's the case, she should help him accordingly.

"I don't know my uncle's phone number either."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course it's saved on my phone. But I happened to leave my phone at home... It's not here."

Yoon SeA put her hand in her pocket and then opened it empty.

In fact, her phone was inside the pocket, but no one noticed.

"Well, I left mine upstairs too. There's nothing we can do about it. If you have a business card, can I have it?"

"...Ah, yes."

He doesn't even remember his phone number, and on top of that, he left his phone upstairs?

Both the uncle and the niece?

Can such a coincidence happen?

...

Lee HaYeon, pretending to be nonchalant, smiled and took out a business card from her pocket.

"Here it is."

When she handed the business card, Sung JiHan looked at Yoon SeA.

"Thank you. Then I'll contact you next time. SeA, shall we go?"

"Yes, Uncle."

Yoon SeA lightly greeted Lee HaYeon and her group and got on the penthouse-bound elevator with Sung JiHan.

Lee HaYeon, who was silently watching them with a formal smile,

The elevator doors closed.

As the elevator doors closed, Sung JiHan let out a sigh as if he had no choice.

"...Huh, you don't know your own phone number?"

To be caught with such a ridiculous excuse.

Is it me, Lee Ha-yeon?

Even though Sung JiHan had expected the recruitment offer to proceed smoothly, he didn't expect things to turn out like this.

"Tsk."

"What?"

"No, nothing. Miss."

"If you have something to say, go ahead. Ga-young."

"I have nothing to say."

Ha-yeon turned around.

Im Ga-young stood there with an expressionless face, but one corner of her mouth kept twitching.

"You have something to say, don't you?"

"Just... I just remembered the way you used to mock me like that in the past. Tsk."

"Ugh..."

Ha-yeon gritted her teeth.

To be mocked for such a ridiculous reason, and to receive laughter from Ga-young as well.

"Just wait and see, Sung JiHan..."

By any means necessary, I will make sure you hire me and make even the sound of "Miss" come out of your mouth.

Looking at the elevator for the penthouse, Ha-yeon's eyes sparkled.

***

Inside the elevator.

"Uncle, but playing hard to get like that. It's... not good."

Yoon Se-ah was giving advice to her uncle as a woman.

"What are you talking about? Playing hard to get?"

"The man who rejected me is the first for you! Wasn't that your intention? Tsk, that's so old-fashioned. It's something that only happens in old dramas. Nowadays, a direct approach is better."

"...How did you understand what I said?"

Sung JiHan looked at Yoon Se-ah with a bewildered expression.

It seems like she's having a big misunderstanding.

"Ahem, this niece of mine is very perceptive. I understood perfectly. Uncle, you can't not know your own phone number."

"But I really don't know."

"Oh, really? 010-384... Isn't this it?"

"Oh! That's right. Was it that number after all?"

As Sung JiHan finally realized, he nodded his head. Yoon Se-ah looked at him with a flustered expression.

"You really didn't know? Your own phone number?"

"Yeah."

"...Should I have told you earlier? Ugh, did I unnecessarily interfere with Uncle's love business?"

"Love? Me and Ha-yeon?"