Chapter 2 – If Education Is Needed (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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After Arcana flooded into reality.

The symbol of South Korea became the ‘Mage Tower’.

“Yes, I am currently out in front of the Mage Tower!”

“Wow. How many meters is that? To think something like that appeared overnight.”

“Wait, aren’t those the Supernovas? The ones threatening the Rankers?!”

Mage Tower.

The holy land of all mages.

A place that played an important role even in Arcana.

After such a Mage Tower sprouted in Seoul.

The ripple effect that followed was hard to describe in words.

[Mage Tower effect? Rankers flock to South Korea.]

[Mages of the Mage Tower, “We merely crave new knowledge. We desire a friendly relationship.”]

[Mage Tower sightseeing tours are popular Tourists soar by 3,000% compared to last year]

“The reason for visiting South Korea? Of course, it is because of the Mage Tower. From long-distance teleports to enchantments. The services available at the Mage Tower are substantial. That is why our Shining Guild plans to stay in South Korea for the time being.”

The world’s best, the Shining Guild, established a branch in South Korea.

Following that Shining Guild, large guilds from all over the world also settled down in South Korea.

The enormous taxes they would pay were a given.

With Players overflowing, it was only natural that damages caused by monsters would also decrease.

The future of the Republic of Korea brightening day by day!

But it was not only the Mage Tower that crossed over from Arcana.

Moreover, if there is light, there must also be darkness.

‘Damn it. Even after becoming a Player, my lot is just to be a bridesmaid?’

‘I also wanted to be successful like them!’

‘I am jealous. So jealous that my stomach hurts and I want to kill them.’

Yes, demons were living hidden in that darkness.

“It was quite hard to adapt at first. But the more I see it, isn’t this place much better for our Demon race to act than the Arcana Continent? Jealousy, jealousy, pessimism, all sorts of negative emotions are endless!”

In an environment like this, becoming a Greater Demon would only be a matter of time.

“Someday, I too, like the Demon Kings!”

An Imp, a Lesser Demon, licking its lips with an ecstatic expression.

The guy caught sight of its prey.

It was five Players.

“Let’s go with those guys this time.”

It recalled the bitches and bastards it played with and killed yesterday.

Their desperate wails were very pleasant to the ears.

These ones looking more foolish than those bastards seemed like easy prey.

*

Exactly five including me.

‘Is it still a relief?’

Well, there was no law stating that only high-level Players would Awaken.

The community had many recruitment posts looking for Players of a similar level to themselves.

Because solo playing is dangerous, after all.

Besides, this is reality.

Dying does not mean game over; it means it ends right there.

It means death.

“I see it over there. A Rift.”

The place the finger pointed to was a subway exit.

Perhaps because it was still rush hour, the crowd was substantial.

If I hadn’t written a letter of resignation, I would have been there too, right?

While having such thoughts, I reached the exit before I knew it.

So this is what Players’ vision was like.

A Rift only visible to the eyes of Players.

A ‘membrane’ blocking the subway exit was visible.

Office workers piercing through that membrane and heading towards the platform.

As you can see, ordinary people were not affected by Rifts.

Thanks to that, society could keep rolling like it is now.

[Gnoll Underground Storage]

[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]

[Collapse Progress: 19.8%]

‘I can even see the Rift information.’

When the collapse progress reached 100 percent, the Rift would break down and monsters would be unleashed into reality.

The early days after the Cataclysm.

When both Players and knowledge about Rifts were lacking, there were many instances where Rifts collapsed and monsters were let loose.

The resulting casualties were hard to even speak of.

Because there were sacrifices, current Players could raid Rifts without any particular restrictions.

A time bomb called a Rift.

Because the only ones who could approach it were Players.

“Looking at the progress, there might be Players who entered first. Still, let’s do our best! Now, just smoke exactly one cigarette. We will enter in exactly 5 minutes.”

I am a bit nervous?

It is an unavoidable reaction.

After all, I was an ordinary office worker just a few days ago.

Since I am now faced with hunting monsters, which had no place in my destiny.

It is natural to be tense.

‘At times like this, it feels like a relief again.’

But that was solely just a feeling.

Because not the slightest tremble could be felt in my body.

An incomparably stiff neck.

Shoulders not shrunken in the least.

Even a clear gaze filled with confidence.

A noble has graced the subway with his presence.

No matter who looks, they certainly would not see a Player entering a Rift for the first time today.

Let’s think positively.

Because there won’t be a single good thing from being nervous.

Besides, wasn’t this a party I joined considering it was my first experience?

[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]

My current level was 55.

No matter how mediocre a Demon Hunter’s stats were, the level difference was 15. It meant there was no need to be scared for nothing.

“Now, now, shall we enter?”

“Please take good care of me!”

“Let’s work hard together!”

It seemed 5 minutes had passed quickly.

Party members raising their motivation.

Only three older sisters.

To make things worse, those older sisters were all born one year apart.

How many bowls of tact have I eaten since I was young to survive as a neutral country in the war of sisters?

It was me, who was adored by his superiors using the experience from that.

I, too, tactfully opened my mouth to liven up the mood.

With a very elegant voice.

“You have nothing to worry about since I am here.”

Wait, who is worrying about whom?!

However, I could not take back the words that slipped out.

“Excuse me?”

Damn it, I can see the party members flinching.

I will really die of embarrassment at this rate.

Granfel, my damn dark history.

.

.

.

There is a saying that staying still takes you at least halfway.

It would be best to keep my mouth shut as much as possible.

That was the conclusion I made.

Shortly after entering the Rift, a changed scenery caught my eyes.

A subway scene I saw every day during my commute.

Yet, an unknown sense of heterogeneity was felt.

Nam Cheol-min, the leader of the party who was walking ahead, clicked his tongue.

“The escalators are rusted, so we will have to walk. Ah, there are quite a lot of stairs here. Let’s just go down thinking we are warming up our bodies!”

At those words, I looked at the escalator.

It really is, isn’t it?

A rusted escalator.

A damp, unpleasant smell wafting from beyond the underground.

Even the howling of beasts heard intermittently.

‘Is this a Gnoll’s cry?’

In a way, the subway also seemed to have changed into a fitting environment under the influence of the Rift.

Only Players could access the ruined subway station.

Of course, if the Rift collapsed, real-life subways would also change into this appearance.

“Slowly get your equipment ready.”

“Seeing that the entrance is empty, there must be a party that entered first.”

“That certainly seems to be the case. But, well, there’s no need to worry. Perhaps because this is a transfer station, it is quite large. If we choose our route well, we should be able to hunt without overlapping with other parties.”

It really was a good idea to seek a party.

If I had come alone, I would have been bewildered.

I opened my inventory and checked my equipment.

‘Should I consider this a fortunate thing?’

Level 55.

It might just be a low level now, but back then, it belonged to a quite high level.

Back then, getting equipment wasn’t easy.

But who was the past me?

A chuunibyou who lived and died by coolness.

I vaguely recall investing even my pocket money to get cool equipment.

Anyway, thanks to that desire to look cool at all costs, my current equipment level was on the rather luxurious side.

[Masterpiece of an Unknown Blacksmith: Silver Dagger]

[Grade: Rare]

[Restriction: Lv.50]

[Effect: Deals extra damage to Undead and Demons.]

[Description: A masterpiece of a blacksmith whose skills are outstanding but lacks fame.]

Among them, this dagger remains in my memory.

I remember buying it at a very high price at the auction house.

As the description said, it was equipment crafted by a blacksmith Player who was very famous at the time.

I do not know who it was, but if they had continued playing Arcana, they would surely have become a very famous blacksmith by now.

‘That is not what is important.’

So this is my only weapon?!

This is a disaster.

Silver weapons had considerably poor durability.

I vividly remembered the durability dropping every time I hunted, and a considerable amount of gold being spent on repair costs.

Back then it was gold, but this meant real cash would be flying out now!

There was a bow, but I only had five arrows.

And all of them were silver arrows too.

I could not possibly use silver arrows in a situation where I am worried about durability.

I quickly made a judgment.

‘I should aim for a path where I fight as little as possible.’

At least until I get a new weapon, that is.

[You have entered Gnoll Underground Storage – Grocery Storage.]

A new weapon in this place would just mean the crude weapons used by Gnolls at best.

Still, using that is better than using the precious silver weapon.

‘Because there’s a level gap no matter what.’

I, who judged as such, regretted it as soon as the battle started.

‘Seriously, Lee Ho-yeol, you bastard!’

No matter how cool a silver weapon is.

Was it that hard to pack a single practical weapon?!

“Grrrrrr!!”

Dog humans, Gnolls.

The guys in reality were much faster and more cunning than what I saw in Arcana.

I don’t know if they had adapted to the subway station.

They attacked us by utilizing the complex terrain and features of the subway station.

Swoosh-!

An arrow flew in from a blind spot in our vision.

Seo Jeong-yeon, the mage who barely dodged, shouted.

“Gnoll Archer! They hid behind the vending machine over there!”

Somehow, their role division was proper compared to our party.

I looked towards Nam Cheol-min.

‘Do they do party hunting like this these days?’

I hadn’t heard it directly, but Nam Cheol-min’s class was a tanker no matter who looked at it.

A large shield and plate armor proved it.

But why was that.

Nam Cheol-min, far from protecting the party, had broken formation.

‘I am not sure, but the situation is not good.’

A situation where I cannot earn my keep.

Mage Seo Jeong-yeon was the only ranged damage dealer in our party.

I looked towards the vending machine as she said.

Sure enough, there were two Gnoll Archers behind the vending machine.

‘They are reloading their arrows.’

Is now the chance?

I racked my brain.

Yes, it is a chance.

Gnoll Archers have terrible close combat capabilities.

If I knock them down, I might be able to steal their arrows.

But wasn’t it the same for me having terrible combat capabilities?

Moreover, it has been over 10 years since I’ve had a battle like this.

Click-

But rendering those worries meaningless.

I was walking leisurely.

My walking pace overflowed with composure.

As if Gnolls couldn’t even approach me.

I was confidently walking towards the Gnoll Archers.

Yes, in my head, I was weighing all sorts of variables and dangers.

But my body was honest.

I wasn’t tense in the least.

No, more accurately speaking, to be scared of a pack of Gnolls.

The confidence of Granfel that was overlaid on me was far too great.

“E-excuse me? It is dangerous! You do not even have a weapo?”

Suddenly, it felt like I heard Seo Jeong-yeon’s shout in my ears.

But I could not hear it to the end.

Whether I could not hear it.

Or Seo Jeong-yeon trailed off, I could not tell.

“Grrrrrr!!”

With their fangs bared.

The two Gnolls revealing their hostility.

Click-

After easily approaching them.

Click-

I struck the bridge of their noses with my fist.

In that series of movements, a dignity surpassing composure could be felt.

There was not a single tremor in my vision either.

I spoke.

“It seems you are lacking in discipline.”

As if reprimanding a pet hunting dog.

“I am reluctant, but depending on the circumstances.”

That was looking down from a profoundly high place.

The high-handed attitude of a noble.

“Corporal punishment is also necessary.”

Wh-whimper!!