Overgeared: Babylon

The dim glow of the hologram screen illuminated Youngwoo's face as he sat at his desk, his fingers tapping restlessly against the wooden surface. His mind was racing, torn between two paths—one that followed the original plot of Satisfy and one that deviated from it entirely. The decision he was about to make could change everything.

On the screen before him was a detailed analysis of the game's mechanics, specifically the penalties and rewards associated with leveling down. According to the original plot, if he followed the path of the protagonist, he would eventually lose levels, dropping all the way back to level -3. But in doing so, he would gain an additional 40 stat points, a significant boost that would make him stronger in the long run.

Youngwoo leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. "If I stick to the original plan, I'll get those extra stat points when I eventually hit level 1 again. That's a huge advantage. But…"

His gaze shifted to another tab on his screen, this one detailing the benefits of obtaining [Pagma's Rare Book] early. The book was a legendary class-changer item. If he got it early, he could start crafting powerful items sooner, gaining not only experience but also additional stat points through the items he created.

"If I get [Pagma's Rare Book] early," he muttered to himself, "I won't have to wait until I'm level 1 to start gaining those stat points. I can start crafting high-tier items right away, which means more stats, more golds, and more influence. Plus, I'll have a head start on mastering blacksmithing."

The pros and cons swirled in his mind, each option presenting its own set of risks and rewards. On one hand, sticking to the original plot was the safer choice. He knew how it would play out, and the extra 40 stat points at level 1 were a guaranteed advantage. On the other hand, deviating from the plot to obtain [Pagma's Rare Book] early was a gamble—but one that could pay off massively if he played his cards right.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And then there's the issue of resources. The book class changes is powerful, but it's not a magic solution. I'll still need materials, tools, and time to craft anything worthwhile. If I rush into it, I might end up spreading myself too thin."

Despite the risks, the potential rewards were too enticing to ignore. Youngwoo's mind raced with possibilities. "If I can get the book early, I can start crafting rare items before anyone else. That means I can sell them for a fortune, or use them to boost my own stats. I'll have an edge over other players, and I'll be able to tackle higher-level content much sooner. There is also Kaela who can teach me about blacksmithing..."

He opened another tab, this one showing a list of items that could be crafted using the knowledge from [Pagma's Rare Book]. He had prepared them for the future when his journey as legend began. Each item came with its own set of stat bonuses, and some even had unique abilities that could turn the tide of battle. The thought of wielding such power was intoxicating.

"And if I can get my hands on those items early," he murmured, "I won't just be stronger—I'll be unstoppable."

Youngwoo sat back in his chair, his mind made up. The risks were significant, but the potential rewards were too great to pass up.

"I'll get [Pagma's Rare Book] early," he said aloud, his voice firm with resolve. "The extra 40 stat points at level 1 are nice, but they're not worth waiting for. If I can get the book now, I'll have more than enough opportunities to gain stat points through blacksmithing. And who knows? Maybe I'll find a way to get those extra 40 points anyway."

With his decision made, Youngwoo began to formulate a plan. He would need to gather information, locate the book, and figure out how to obtain it without drawing too much attention. It wouldn't be easy, but nothing worth doing ever was.

As Youngwoo closed his hologram screen and stood up, a determined smile spread across his face. "Time to shake things up~!" he said to himself, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Kkukuku, Hahahaha~" he laughed, unable to contain his glee. The thought of deviating from the original plot and obtaining [Pagma's Rare Book] early filled him with a sense of exhilaration.

But his laughter was abruptly cut short by a voice from the doorway.

"Oppa... have you finally gone crazy?"

Youngwoo jumped in surprise, his heart skipping a beat. He turned toward the source of the voice and saw his younger sister, Sehee, standing in the doorway. She was wearing her pajamas, her hair slightly messy, and her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"You surprised me," Youngwoo said, placing a hand over his chest as if to calm his racing heart.

Sehee tilted her head, her expression skeptical. "I was going to the toilet when I heard Oppa giggling in your room. You were crazy about the game, so I thought you went crazy in reality. I was worried about Oppa and decided to check on you. Are you crazy? Please say that you're not."

Youngwoo blinked, momentarily speechless. Then he sighed, shaking his head. "...Why are you speaking like that to your Oppa? I'm not crazy."

Sehee crossed her arms, her doubt evident. "Really? Then why are you laughing like a maniac in the middle of the night? It's creepy, Oppa."

Youngwoo's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Hhuhu, look at this~!" he said, gesturing for Sehee to come closer. He held up his phone, the screen glowing brightly in the dimly lit room.

Sehee hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What? What happens to your pho—Heokk!" Her eyes widened in shock as she read what was on the screen. It was Youngwoo's bank account balance, which now displayed a staggering 15 million won.

"Oppa!" Sehee exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.

"What is this? How do you have so much money? Did you rob a bank or something?"

Youngwoo chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Of course not! Do I look like a criminal to you?"

Sehee stared at him, her expression a mix of awe and suspicion. "Actually yes, with your blonde hair, you literally look like a delinquent with a mean face...

Anyway, how did you get this much money? Did you win the lottery? Or... did you sell your organs?" Sehee said with concern, lifting his shirt to check if there were any marks.

Youngwoo rolled his eyes, though his grin never faded. "No, I didn't sell my organs. And no, I didn't win the lottery either. This is all from Satisfy."

Sehee's jaw dropped. "From the game? How? I thought you were just playing for fun!"

Youngwoo shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, though his pride was evident. "Turns out, I'm pretty good at it. I have been completing several quests already, and the gold inside Satisfy can be converted to real money. So that means the more I play game, the more money I can get."

Sehee blinked, still processing what she had just heard. "Wait, so you're telling me you made 15 million won... from a game?"

"Yep, now I didn't need to do labor anymore, huhu~," Youngwoo said, popping the 'p' for emphasis as he laughed that he didn't need to worry about money anymore. "And like I said, this is just the start. Imagine what I can do once I really get going."

Sehee stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Oppa, you're amazing!" she squealed, her earlier skepticism replaced by pure excitement.

Youngwoo stumbled back, caught off guard by her sudden display of affection. "Hey, hey, calm down! It's not that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?" Sehee pulled back, her eyes shining with admiration. "Oppa, this is huge! You're basically a genius! Do you know what we can do with this money? We can finally fix the leaky roof, buy a new fridge, and maybe even go on a vacation!"

Youngwoo laughed, ruffling her hair. "Slow down, Sehee. We're not spending it all at once. I need to reinvest some of it back into the game to keep things going. But don't worry, I'll make sure we're taken care of."

Sehee beamed at him, her earlier worry completely forgotten. "I didn't know you were this smart Oppa, everyone thought you were a waste of space."

"Hey-!"

Sehee cut him short as she continued, "But now you show them that they're wrong, that you can be more successful than any of them."

Youngwoo's smile softened, a rare moment of vulnerability showing through. "Thanks, Sehee. That means a lot."

The two siblings stood there for a moment, the weight of the moment settling over them. For the first time in a long while, things were looking up. And Youngwoo was determined to make the most of it.

***

After Sehee leaves his room. Youngwoo sat back in his chair in silence, staring at his Achievement System, there he looked at the list of achievements he got after clearing some quests in the game.

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[Achievement]

- Rightfully Racist: Kill at least 25 Yatan's Believers

- White Prince: Save a damsel in distress.

- A Master: Get at least 1 loyal follower.

- Treasure Hunter: Collect hidden treasure.

[Reward]

- 15.000.000 won (CLAIMED)

- Custom Mug and T-Shirt (CLAIMED)

A mug and T-shirt with a witty slogan like "I Slay Yatan's Believers Before Breakfast" and "25 Believers Down, Who's Next?"

- Leadership Journal (CLAIMED)

A stylish notebook or journal to help you track your real-life goals and inspire your own "followers."

- Skill {Golden Rule} (CLAIMS)

The Golden Rule skill is the ultimate "I'm-rich-and-you're-not". This skill doesn't just give you money—it makes money love you. You could trip over a rock and find oil, or open a lemonade stand and accidentally start a global empire. With Golden Rule, you're not just rich—you're the main character where the plot armor is made of solid gold.

[Invetory]

- Custom Mug and T-Shirt.

- Leadership Journal

===========================

With his decision made, his system screen flickered to life. The glow of the screen reflected in his determined eyes as he claimed the Golden Rule skill.

"But first thing first, I will need to raise my level to at least 200. The monsters in the northern region where the Northern End Cave is located are no joke."

As Youngwoo finalized his plan, a determined smile spread across his face. He was ready to take on the challenge, and he knew that every step he took brought him closer to his goal.

"This is just the beginning," he said, his voice filled with resolve.