Reiji slowly looked Jun-Ho over, her eyes round. So Youre Specter, right? Hm, so this is what you look like.

Gray-nim recognized me right away, he remarked.

So what? Im lazy, so I didnt feel the need to look up what you look like. She scratched her stomach and laid back down, yawning. Im probably not the only one, you know.

What do you mean?

Not the only Administrator that doesnt know what you look like. Though, everyone would recognize your name.

...Really?

The last time Specter had been active was 26 years ago. There had been many Players that had appeared since then that were even stronger than him. Now, he was heavily overshadowed by the light of the Nine Heavens.

Yeah, they should. The world only remembers the best. She pointed at him with her index finger. The first person to defeat a Floormaster and unlock a new floor was you. Specter.

Even if 100 years passed instead of 25, his achievement wouldnt go away. Specter had carved his existence into the world.

Wait a second. Reiji met the Frost Queens eyes. That must mean that the little doll thing on your shoulder is the Frost Queen, right?

L-little? H-how impertinent!

Damnthis is fun. Very fun. Hearing her tone, it was hard to believe that she had been hysterically angry mere moments ago.

Reiji stood up and held out her right hand, inviting him to shake it. Seo Jun-Ho took it unconsciously, and she shook his arm with tremendous strength. He felt like he would melt under the stare of her blazing, enthusiastic eyes.

Specter and the Frost Queen. I dont know about the other Administrators, but Ive always believed in you two.

...Excuse me?

Youve already done it once, havent you? Then, that means you can do it twice. Yeah, twice is nothing. You can do it nine more times Right? She seemed to be more mad than faithful. Hurry up and clear the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors All the way up to the 10th, so I can retire. Ill be rooting for you guys as much as possible.

C-Contractor. This womans eyes are scary, The Frost Queen remarked.

Seo Jun-Ho agreed.

He spoke calmly, I will do my best.

Alright, alright. Im just sorry that I cant help you.

The thought is enough. So, about the report

Huh? Oh, dont worry about that. Ill take care of it. It turns out that there wasnt actually a need to call you up in the first place Reiji cut herself off and started to stroke her chin, muttering, Wait. If I can help you out just a little bit If that will let me retire even a day earlier

She stopped talking to herself and gave an alluring smile. Men would probably fall in love at first sight if they saw it.

Now that I think about it, Ive made a grave mistake. I cant be acting like this as a Floor Administrator. Its too much, right?

Huh? No, well, I wouldnt call it too much, per se He hadnt really lost anything except for five minutes of his time.

But Reiji shook her head vigorously. No, no. Its clearly my fault. Ive done you wrong. I wasted your precious time, didnt I? Goodness. I should probably compensate you for that, shouldnt I? she spoke without fervor as if she were reading from a textbook. She checked something. Lets see. So you have 212,714 Player Points right now?

She placed an arm around his shoulder. 800,000, she whispered.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

...Excuse me?

Ill be opening up the shop soon. There are only a few days left, get 800,000 points before then.

This meant he only had two days, but he didnt protest. Because when he turned his head, he saw that her eyes were burning brightly right in front of him.

Dont you get what Im saying? Just let me compensate you for my error So just do as I say while Im being nice.

... What would it look like if she wasnt being nice? Seo Jun-Ho swallowed down the question.

What is this feeling?

He was getting a reward. Not just any reward, but a gift from a Floor Administrator. He should be happy. He really should be happy, but

Why did he feel like he was being ripped off by the neighborhood bully?

...Ill do my best. All he could do was nod bitterly.

***

What do you think?

Look at that momentum. They could easily cut through a line of bamboo.

Nah, theyre strong enough to at least split a rock.[1]

Guild members were bustling around the large, tidy lounge at Goblins Guildhouse.

Gong Ju-Ha entered the room and pulled out a coffee from the vending machine. What are you guys doing? she asked. When they recognized her, the Guild members bowed respectfully.

Hello, Princess.

Did you sleep well?

It looks like you grew a bit taller overnight.

Do you want to die? She noogied the member who had broached the sensitive topic and gulped down her coffee. So whats going on?

As soon as she asked the questions, the Guild members started chattering like baby birds.

You were pretty into matching at some point, werent you? You would do it all day.

Well, I suppose. Why do you ask? she asked.

Matchings been all the rage these days.

Really? Gong Ju-Has eyes widened. Are there more people because the Administrators shop is opening soon? I already knew that. It always happens.

No, thats not it. A newbie has appeared, but theyre the real thing.

Gong Ju-Ha took another swing of her coffee. So theyre good at fighting? Its not like theyre the only ones. There are a lot of talented newbies out there, she said, unimpressed.

This ones different. Theyve been winning continuously with the challenge system.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

...The challenge system? She vaguely remembered it. She tilted her head. Isnt that the one where it pairs you with people of a higher level than you?

Thats right. Theyve been using it from their very first day, and they even won against a level 120 opponent.

Well, level differences dont really matter past 100.

But theyre level 76.

Pffft! Ju-Ha spat her coffee out. A-a level 76 Player won against a level 120 Player?

Yes.

Isnt it amazing?

Its hard to believe, isnt it?

She tilted her head as they made a fuss. Has something changed since I stopped using matching? Do they give advantages to lower-level participants?

Of course not...

You know how there was the whole issue about there being a bug in the matching system? This guys the one responsible for that.

And you know whats even more surprising? Administrator Reiji posted an announcement herself.

...Reiji? The 2nd floor Administrator?

Yes. Check it.

Gong Ju-Has eyes went wide as she opened the community forums. There was a new announcement post, with a NEW icon attached to its top corner.

[Announcement]

I checked the notorious Player, but it was their skills, not a bug. So stop sending me complaints, you bastards.

Wow Its real.

When it came to the 2nd floor Administrator Reiji, the Players considered it lucky if she opened the Administrators shop. She had lazy written all over her face, but she actually went so far as to make an announcement this time.

She said its their skills, not a bug That means she investigated it, right? Gong Ju-Ha asked.

I believe so. No matter how lazy she is, shes still an Administrator.

...That means the level 76 Player has really defeated a level 120 Player.

And they also have 13 consecutive wins.

Its 27 wins and 0 losses now, actually.

Even though we dont know exactly how many points theyve earned by now, everyone's jealous.

... Gong Ju-Ha was lost in thought. It wasnt actually impossible for a level 76 Player to defeat a level 120 Player. Gong Ju-Ha was confident that she couldve defeated most level 120 Players at level 76.

But Ive never actually tested it. The Matching systems pretty new, after all.

Visit ., for the best no_vel_read_ing experience

Plus, there was only one day left until the Administrators shop opened. Players who regularly participated in Matching would be especially eager to win because it would determine whether or not they could buy the items they wanted.

What weapon do they use? she asked.

Everything, a member replied.

What do you mean, everything?

Apparently, they pretty much use every weapon in the book.

Everyone whos fought against him says something different.

So far, theyve used 23 different weapons. They even used a gun, apparently.

...Whats with that? Gong Ju-Ha muttered. This sounded like a true Specter copycat Oh my god! What if it really is Specter-nim?

She was the only one who had guessed the truth, but the other Guild members shot her down.

Come on, thats impossible.

Hes on the 1st floor right now.

And he should at least be level 80. This guys level 76.

Its not like hes the only one who has mastered multiple weapons.

Ah Youre right. She scratched her head. I just had a thought. What if Specter-nims level was reset to level 1 and he started using the matching system while leveling up?

Thats too much, Princess.

Yeah, I cant defend you for this.

R-right? Embarrassed, she changed the subject. Do we know what skills they have?

I think they have a physical enhancement skill.

Physical enhancement Thats more ordinary than I thought.

Youll eat those words if you actually fight them yourself, a Guild member said, laughing. They laid back in the chair. Ive actually fought them. That guy They were pretty good.

They talk as if they won, but this guy lost 20,000 PP.

Hey, I stayed up all night getting them back. The Administrators shop is opening tomorrow.

...Is the newbie really that strong? Gong Ju-Ha was unexpectedly interested. Her competitive spirit as a professional Player was piqued.

To be honest, I cant imagine you losing. But the same is true for this guy. How should I put this It felt like they had no openings. Simply flawless. It took my breath away.

...Hmm.

Just how strong was this guy for the Guild members to be saying this? Since they were part of the Big 6, they were elites that Gong Ju-Ha had hand-picked from all over the country. Even after becoming professional Players, they were still in the top 0.01%.

These guys have a lot of pride, but theyre praising the newbie so much

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

She was starting to get curious about just how strong this opponent was.

Whats that persons nickname? she asked innocently.

1. The phrase for momentum is changed by one character to read as rockslide