Chapter 7

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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That evening.

Returning home after work, Han-bit plopped down on the chair in front of his desk.

“The day is too long.”

What he did at the office today was mostly spying.

The problem was that even when looking at the blueprints being worked on or listening to conversations mixed with technical jargon, it was difficult to understand.

At least thanks to his mentor Lee Min-ho secretly giving him the materials he organized, his efforts didn’t completely go to waste.

“Why are there so many messages?”

Having been frantic since morning, he only checked his smartphone now.

However, there were over 100 accumulated messages from Yeon-woo.

Giving up on reading them, Han-bit quickly finished showering and eating.

“I’m logging in.”

After sending the message, he closed his room door and headed to bed.

Wearing the still awkward gear, he lay down comfortably and turned on the power.

“Oh, it’s on.”

His vision changed alongside a rapidly finished loading.

The sensation inside the game was still fascinating.

“Hyung!”

Yeon-woo, who had entered in advance, approached raising his voice.

It was a considerably urgent face.

“Sorry. I didn’t see a single one of your messages. I was really busy today.”

“That’s fine, but please just look at the viewer count for now!”

“Viewer count? Did you already turn on the stream?”

– Oh, is this guy Black Dragon?

– When are you going to find the hidden skills?

– How do you clear the Atsbel quest?

– Please explain your false ping about Bomb Slimes.

– Please push through the main quests fast too. I feel like I’m getting dizzy;

– Take a seat. This is a common newbie broadcasting room.

The number 5,512 visible at the bottom of the chat window.

As the viewers increased, the chat became much faster.

Because there were so many people harboring curiosity, the expectations were equally large.

“What’s this? Why did it increase so much?”

“A lot of posts went up on the community during the day. People usually ignore attention-seeking posts, but it seems the hidden skills and Atsbel quest worked well.”

“Why the hidden skills? They just appeared on the recommendation list.”

“I’m telling you their mere existence is awesome! We don’t even know what kind of hidden skills there are! Everyone’s going crazy just seeing the icons!”

“… Really?”

Han-bit was surprised by the unexpected favorable factor.

To think just showing some recommended skills and receiving a single quest would bring this much reaction.

He hadn’t even cleared it yet.

– Agreed.

– They are all icons I’m seeing for the first time. Lol.

– So how do you clear the Atsbel quest.

– I’m asking what Bomb Slimes are.

– Because of that trash Julio, I couldn’t even get it.

– Utter trash.

‘Was there quite a bit of a shock?’

To people starting in Edlen, Julio was a kind NPC, and Atsbel was a thief.

Han-bit’s progression completely flipped that textbook-like stereotype.

In the end, the players were scammed by Julio as well.

‘He’s a nuisance even in this kind of world.’

Even if there were people who effectively broke through, the victims were numerous.

Shaking his head at the pathetic nature, Han-bit opened his quest window again.

[Quest]

You have uncovered Atsbel’s deep concern.

Try to find a way to treat the illness her mother is suffering from.

Might you obtain something around Edlen?

Objective: Obtain the correct cure.

Reward: 2,000 Gold, Atsbel’s Fireball Magic Book (Rank 1 – Hero), 3 Stat Points, 500 Experience Points.

It was a very simple and clear objective, but finding information about the medicine was considerably difficult.

Knowing that fact very well, Han-bit had spread the information about the cure yesterday.

“Nobody has cleared the quest yet, right?”

“That’s why I kept sending you messages. Though there were more reactions saying it was bait in the first place.”

– Yeah, I didn’t believe it.

– Anyone can tell it’s a lie. Lol.

– Just messed with Bomb Slimes for no reason.

– Seriously explain yourself.

The information regarding the cure wasn’t fully accepted by everyone.

Han-bit had expected it himself, but he also held a small sense of expectation.

“Weren’t there any unique attempts?”

“Unique attempts?”

“There are a lot of creative people out there. I thought they would’ve twisted it this way and that.”

“… Is there anything to twist or not twist regarding monster hunting?”

[InnerThoughtsVillain has supported 1,000 won.]

[Loafer: What the hell is this bastard saying?]

– But seriously what is he saying?

– I told you the info and everything is all a lie.

– Look at him stalling time. Lol.

– Strong recommendation if Black Dragon wants to run away.

People were gradually leaning towards the opinion that the information was false.

Watching that as if it were entertaining, Han-bit grinned and said.

“Then I’ll show you how to get it.”

***

Han-bit immediately headed for the main gate of Edlen’s city walls.

Just as the crowd gradually increased, Yeon-woo walking together with him approached closely and said.

“Hyung, I think this might get a bit annoying?”

“What will?”

“Look over there.”

He signaled with his eyes, pointing towards a group of people clustered on one side.

Over there, a few groups were separated, engaged in a heated debate.

“Isn’t this quest basically at the level of banging your head against the wall?”

“We only have the information spread by that Black Dragon guy, you know. Even though nobody cleared it over the whole day.”

“Why believe some nonsense spouted by a newbie? What could you even get from a Bomb Slime.”

Countless people had rushed to the quest after seeing the broadcast and community posts.

As seen in the chat window, it seemed there were quite a few players who hadn’t learned Fire attribute magic.

“Hey, isn’t that a Ranger over there?”

“A Ranger? What bullshit are you spewing?”

“Huh? It’s real!”

The gaze of the once noisy people concentrated towards the entrance.

There, a crowd of dozens was entering the city together.

– A real Ranger?

– Crazy. Lol. Why is the vanguard here.

– You mean they moved because of the Atsbel quest?

– Hmm, is it that good?

– It’s that good, you ret*rd.

“… It really is a Ranger? Hyung, even the vanguard has come.”

Looking at the chat window, Yeon-woo swiftly turned his gaze and acted surprised.

It was an unfamiliar word to Han-bit.

“What is the vanguard?”

“They are rankers within the top 10,000. It’s officially displayed on the system by combining their level and story progression.”

“10,000 people? Isn’t that too many?”

“Out of 300 million players worldwide, 10,000 is an incredibly small number. Korea doesn’t even have 500 of them.”

Yeon-woo firmly shook his head in denial.

Certainly, when framed on a global scale, the sheer feeling is different.

Because he had also seen articles stating simultaneous connections were in the tens of millions.

“Such a person hasn’t learned magic?”

“They probably skipped it because of the magic proficiency. Wanting to push through the main story quickly by focusing on their primary skills.”

One man wearing gleaming gear at the very front of the crowd.

The golden bow slung on his back caught the eye distinctly.

‘It’s the Golden Bird’s Bow.’

Han-bit also knew well the shape of the brave bird engraved like a sculpture on the bowstave.

Because it was a work made by an artisan of decent enough skill.

“That person hasn’t cleared the quest yet either, right?”

“He likely just arrived in Edlen now? The vanguard is extremely busy, after all. Since there are many people affiliated with corporations too.”

“Affiliated?”

“By contracting with corporations aiming to clear RP, they receive full support. Though in return they have to pour a tremendous amount of effort into strategy progression for the story.”

– Life truly turns around if they clear it.

– For real, a hit-or-miss business.

– I heard top vanguards command whatever asking price they want.

– That place is an insurmountable wall, though;

With the game company putting up the ownership of RP as a reward, the value of the vanguard couldn’t even be measured.

If one such figure came all the way down here, it was natural that a commotion would occur.

Step.

The group of Rangers disappeared deeper into the city along the main street.

Their attitude seemed accustomed to the gazes of players.

“Hey, Black Dragon is here too, though?”

“You didn’t turn on the broadcast? He was just saying earlier he’d show us how he clears the quest himself.”

“Where does that confidence come from?”

After the vanguard disappeared, people’s gazes shifted to Han-bit.

As expected, it seemed there were quite a few competitors among the viewers aiming to dig out information.

“Should we try following him then?”

“Ah, I’m telling you it’s a lie. The fact that he even discovered the quest was sheer luck anyway. Stop wasting time and just follow me.”

“True, there’s no point in listening to a newbie blabber.”

The majority of players left showing disbelief.

Those remaining were also busy discussing among themselves.

There seemed to be almost no players who looked like they would tail Han-bit.

“Seems like it won’t be that annoying?”

“… I guess so.”

Seeing the gradually disappearing players, Yeon-woo scratched his head.

Of course, there might be people genuinely following them, but that wouldn’t pose much of a problem.

Looking around, Han-bit said to him.

“Let’s get going soon.”

“Ah, yes. We’re going to the forest, right?”

“No? We’re going to the sea. I need a fishing rod.”

“… A fishing rod?”

– The sea?

– What about the Bomb Slimes?

– Isn’t fishing lifestyle content? Why are you doing that.

– Fishing is no fun;

Everyone fell into a state of puzzle.

Because it was Black Dragon himself who said to catch Bomb Slimes to obtain the cure.

But suddenly mentioning fishing.

It was natural not to understand.

[Julio has supported 1,000 won.]

[Everyone, don’t believe him. This person will hit someone’s head with that fishing rod.]

– Please f*ck off.

– Go to prison or something.

– I sentence you to 20 years.

– I couldn’t get the Atsbel quest because of that trash bastard.

– F*cking bastard.

– May all your hair fall out in prison.

“Pfft.”

Fake Julio, who began receiving insults like crazy.

Laughter naturally leaked out at that sight.

Because that guy deserved to suffer in whatever form anyway.

“Hyung, so what about the fishing rod? You know Bomb Slimes aren’t in the sea, right?”

“Oh, really? They’re not in the sea?”

“Hyung!”

At Han-bit’s playful counter-question, Yeon-woo almost looked like crying.

Because if the information about Bomb Slimes was false, it was effectively at the level of having to shut down the broadcast.

Reading that worry, Han-bit leisurely stretched.

“It was a joke, a joke. I’m just going to get a fishing rod and then go to the forest.”

“… You’re not going to use it as a weapon, right? Even if we’re going for entertainment, we still have to clear the quest. I have a Level 1 sword, so please at least use this.”

“The thing is…”

Trailing off, Han-bit stole a glance at the chat window.

Then he approached Yeon-woo and said in a low voice.

“It is something like a weapon, yes. Because I have to fish out the Bomb Slimes.”

“What is that?”

– What are you whispering about again.

– Authentic viewer-bullying broadcast. T-T

The viewers poured out complaints about the inaudible noise.

The core of this quest lay in the secret hidden within the Bomb Slimes, but naturally, he had no intention of revealing it.

If he did, someone would have emerged having cleared it already.

Moreover, tricking the viewers was more fun than expected.

Grinning, Han-bit moved his steps and said.

“Let’s go. To the port.”