The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

The Connect game had long been without proper Player vs. Player (PvP) content. There were unofficial tournaments, like the First Academy recruitment exams, but these had long since devolved into content meant primarily for beginners.

Naturally, people were curious.

-How strong are the rankers really?

It had been a year since the official Connect rankings were established. The criteria had been somewhat disclosed. Levels, skill proficiency, contributions via quest completions, reputation, and so on. This meant that rankings weren’t solely based on strength.

Moreover, experienced players understood a common point.

-As levels increase and get closer to the max level, the gap between top rankers narrows.

This was expected. In the beginning, levels and proficiency rose easily, but later, it became incredibly difficult, as if hitting a plateau. Connect was no different.

Currently, the average level of the top 300 high rankers was 65. Kim Ilwoo, ranked second overall, was at level 68. Just a mere 3-level difference.

Additionally, from ranks 5 to 50, all players were level 67. This meant that, in terms of levels, the gap between top-tier players was practically non-existent.

‘Of course, Bae Dohyun is a bit of an exception.’

Level 70. He was the only player to have reached level 70, maintaining a 2-level lead over the second ranker.

However, Kim Leesung, the guild master of the New Star Guild, did not put much weight on this fact. What had become increasingly clear was that—

-Bae Dohyun was a special target of the First Knight Order’s management.

Unlike other Purple Guild members, he rarely appeared in regular or group quests. Why?

Because he was monopolizing the highly lucrative quests that the First Knight Order provided exclusively for him. Analysts speculated as much. The rate at which he leveled up would have been impossible without such benefits.

‘In other words, he’s like their mascot.’

First Knight Order was showcasing that the number one player was with them, receiving special care. Thus, Kim Leesung didn’t think Bae Dohyun possessed anything extraordinarily unique.

‘He’s probably either a Connect Company affiliate or has some shady connections.’

However, this didn’t mean he underestimated him. The few videos of Bae Dohyun’s gameplay showed he wasn’t without skill.

But that was it. The level of skill Bae Dohyun displayed was something predictable for a player at his level. It wouldn’t have been much without the fanbase he developed early in the game.

Kim Leesung wasn’t alone in this belief.

“Leave it to me. I’m confident I can win.”

This came from Cho Minchan, a representative of the New Star Guild and ranked 93rd overall. Though his level was 66, he was brimming with confidence. Cho Minchan had connected to Connect three months later than the initial players.

Despite this, thanks to his extraordinary talent and the support of the New Star Guild, he rapidly grew in strength and eventually entered the double-digit rankers’ bracket.

‘If I had joined three months earlier, that top rank would be mine.’

In reality, he was a human weapon, holding a 5th dan in Kendo, a 4th dan in Hapkido, and more than 20 dan combined in various martial arts. He had also served in the military as a Special Forces operative and had been recruited by the New Star Group for his current position after a stint in private security.

But while Cho Minchan was brimming with confidence, Kim Leesung remained the rational strategist.

“Cho Minchan, Park Kyungbaek, Lee Sangwoo, Kang Dohun, Lee Jaehyun. You’re up. Show that fool what reality is.”

“…Understood.”

Although Cho Minchan wore a disgruntled expression, he eventually bowed his head. No matter his rank, Kim Leesung was his superior. Kim Leesung bared a smile at Bae Dohyun.

‘What an idiot. Did he really think we’d respond to a one-on-one duel like knights from a fairy tale?’

Perhaps some of the knights would frown upon such tactics, calling them dishonorable.

But what did that matter?

As they said, players were nothing more than lowly mercenaries.

‘Victory is all that counts.’

Even if Bae Dohyun decided to flee upon seeing five opponents, it wouldn’t matter. Running away after boasting about a duel would be amusing enough.

‘And if he takes the bait, even better.’

As announced, every player now faced penalties for dying. Losing one’s life meant diminished levels and skill proficiency, not to mention being locked out of the game for several days.

Critics might condemn the five-versus-one match, but many would cheer if the top-ranked player fell.

‘Either way, we don’t lose.’

The five players Kim Leesung had sent were all rankers above level 60. No matter how strong the top player was, he couldn’t possibly beat five high-ranking players single-handedly.

In the community, it was a widely accepted belief that there was almost no difference in skill among the top 500 rankers. While a one-on-one might be possible, a single player couldn’t take on two other top rankers and win—a conclusion reached by various guild assessments.

‘A hasty generalization.’

Kim Leesung was unaware that he had fallen into a common logical fallacy.

*

Murmurs spread. Five players rode towards Bae Dohyun from the Zeredu family’s ranks. The soldiers didn’t understand the situation at first, but they caught on when the five players aimed their weapons at Bae Dohyun.

“Boo!”

“Cowards!”

While the guards on the walls jeered, the soldiers of the Zeredu family fell silent.

“Is this really alright?”

“Aren’t they just lowly mercenaries? We should be grateful they accepted the duel.”

“Well, yes, but…”

The head of the Zeredu family, Kudre, showed interest rather than concern.

As a merchant, he appreciated Kim Leesung’s choice. But the knights wore disapproving looks.

‘This doesn’t seem right.’

Still, the situation was already unfolding. They waited to see what Bae Dohyun would choose.

“If you turn back now, we won’t pursue you.”

Cho Minchan pointed his longsword at Bae Dohyun.

“There’s no need to spare him. Let’s just take him down here.”

“We’re already going to be called cowards, why let him go?”

But the others seemed to think differently.

“Shut up! Don’t you have any pride?”

“…”

‘If you had a problem with this, you should have spoken to the guild master. Why complain now?’

Suppressing the discontent of his guildmates, Cho Minchan spoke to Bae Dohyun again.

“I’ll keep it short. Leave quietly, and we’ll meet again on the battlefield.”

In his mind, he was thinking of preserving Bae Dohyun’s dignity and proving his skill in a fair fight….

“My name is Bae Dohyun! Is there not a single knight in the Zeredu family with the guts to face me? If you have no will to fight, pack up and leave now!”

Bae Dohyun shouted fearlessly, as if no one stood before him.

‘This bastard…!’

Fury welled up in Cho Minchan at being treated as if he were invisible.

“Attack!”

“Kill the bastard!”

“Let’s see how good you really are!”

All five New Star Guild members charged at Bae Dohyun at once.

And then light flashed.

“Rolling Spin… Guh.”

“Power Smash… Gah!”

“Urk.”

Without much exertion, five yellow mana spears from the tip of Bae Dohyun’s spear pierced their hearts.

Thud. Thump.

The skills they were about to unleash didn’t even get to activate and vanished in vain.

From a distance, it was hard to see, but each of them had a small dagger embedded near what could be assumed to be their lower abdomens.

‘Idiots.’

Bae Dohyun clicked his tongue inwardly. If they had planned a five-person assault, they should have included archers or mages, not only close-combat fighters.

At least then he would have had to swing his spear a few more times. Binding their bodies temporarily with invisible psychokinesis and morphing his mana spear to finish them off wasn’t difficult at all for Bae Dohyun.

“My name is Bae Dohyun! Is there no one among you who can swing a weapon properly?”

His impassive voice echoed across the battlefield.

“H-how…?”

Kim Leesung stared at Bae Dohyun with his mouth agape, unable to believe what he was seeing.

“Is that even possible? All five of them were rankers!”

“Did anyone see what happened?”

Restlessness spread among the players. After all, the five that had just fallen effortlessly were some of the best rankers among the over a thousand players present.

On the other hand, the soldiers of the Zeredu family were not amused.

“What was that? If they were going out there, they should have at least swung their swords properly.”

“These mercenaries’ skills… What were they even doing out there?”

“Wouldn’t it have been better to just send out our knights?”

He cast a sidelong glance at the place where the players were and clicked his tongue. And the head of the Zeredu family, Kudre, was outraged….

“What idiotic fools! What a disgrace!”

Clang!

He flung the teacup he had been drinking from on top of the carriage, raging furiously.

“Bertio! Get out there and bring me that bastard’s head! Now!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Knight Bertio, who had been standing near the carriage, quickly adjusted his armor and spurred his horse onto the battlefield.

Although he was a beginner-level Expert, he was among the top five knights in the Zeredu family’s order.

“Come at me, you scoundrel!”

He shouted as he charged, wielding his spear.

“My name is Bertio! A knight of the prestigious Zeredu family’s Jexa Emerald Order! How dare a mere outsider claim to be a knight! I will teach you some manners!”

Whirl, whirl, whirl!

Bertio twirled his three-meter-long spear with ease, showcasing his skill.

“Come at me!”

Fwoosh!

Bertio infused his spear with a blue mana sphere and called out confidently. And in the next moment.

Bang! Crash!

With a heavy impact, Bertio was unseated from his horse.

‘… What just happened?’

Gasping for breath, he quickly regained his stance, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Hoho. An armor user, I see? I hadn’t expected that.”

Bae Dohyun looked down at him leisurely from his horse, resting his spear on his shoulder. Despite the humiliating situation, Bertio couldn’t afford to relax.

If not for his power armor, he might have ended up like the mercenaries who’d been taken down in a single strike.

“People say the Brenan Republic is wealthy, and they weren’t wrong. To give power armor to someone with such limited skill. Such a thing is unthinkable in the Luven Kingdom, tsk tsk.”

“You dare insult me! A savage outsider who can’t even handle armor!”

Bertio lunged with his spear, attacking Bae Dohyun. Unlike before, he was now utilizing the full output of his power armor, showcasing his true skills.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The force and speed behind his spear strikes were indeed formidable compared to his initial attack. Seeing this, Bae Dohyun also grasped his spear with both hands and seriously met Bertio’s attacks.

Then, Bae Dohyun’s hands began to demonstrate the Greer Marquisate’s spear technique, 『Fury Wave (A+)』.

Thwack! Bang! Babababam!

One minute was enough.

Caught in the net of a yellow mana sphere, Bertio couldn’t even stand properly, like a drunken man, and was beaten unilaterally.

The protective field of his power armor shattered like glass, scattering into the air, and Bae Dohyun’s spear had pierced Bertio’s heart.

“Waaaah!”

For the first time, a great cheer of victory erupted from atop the fortress walls. And from the Zeredu camp, “Kill that bastard! Get out there and kill him now!”

Following Kudre’s command, 4,000 troops began rushing towards Bae Dohyun.

The full-scale siege had begun.

(To be continued)