Ark Volume 01 - Japtem

by Yoo Seong

  ‘If you mess with me, I’ll definitely repay you.’

  “Please, let’s talk a little. I will apologize. Please?” Andel, who’d logged in within 30 hours, spoke submissively.

  After ignoring Andel’s plea and beating him, he dropped gloves. After killing him two more times like that, Andel became completely naked.

  Although Andel tried begging in the end, Ark didn’t say a single word and silently raised his sword. Then, after he immediately started fighting when Andel logged in, making it impossible for Andel to replace his equipment and finish logging in, he rained regular attacks on him and razed him to the ground.

  Ark killed him six times during his vacation and killed him a total of eight times. Of course, Andel lost his plated armor set and even his sword. Then, from the seventh time onwards, there weren’t any equiped items to drop, so he began dropping japtem inside his bag.

  Andel lost 96 stats and became truly penniless, whereas besides the time when he was waiting, Ark focused on hunting and raised his level by 2 instead. It couldn’t even be called a fight anymore, but it got closer to a one-sided slaughter.

  Finally, as if Andel had completely lost motivation, he logged in after a whole two days had passed.

  Now Andel was forced to choose between recovering 96 stats by catching mice or quitting the game. And no matter what he chose, it was certain that it would make it extremely difficult for him to pass the exam.

  “Alright, it’s not enough yet, but this time I’ll let you off here.”

  Only then did Ark get up from the resurrection site as if he were being generous.

  Ark then turned towards Andel who was slumped with a cowed and despairing face, he growled,

  “If I catch sight of you next time, it won’t end like this. I’m stopping here this time, but if I see you in another place, I’ll kill you until your stats become 1.”

  Andel’s face went white with terror.

  TWO WOMEN

  * * *

  With a flurry of dim lights, a new user was born into New World. Her name was Roco. She was a cute looking female character.

  “Woah, woah, so this is what they call a virtual reality game?”

  Roco looked at her surroundings with round, fascinated eyes. The sky, earth, mountains, fields, everything about the landscape before her was just as, no several times more beautiful than reality.

  Buildings made of stone and wood encircled her. It was just like the sight of Medieval Europe you could sightsee at a theme park.

  Roco carefully raised her foot with an uneasy look on her face, and took a step. Immediately afterwards, whirling her arms and suddenly exclaiming.

  “Am I really inside a unit? Even though moving about isn’t different from reality? No wonder the game fee is expensive. Ah? Is this my face?”

  Roco was running around left and right like a child when her eyes caught her reflection in a glass window. She stared at her stunning appearance, which looked like the X idols she’d often seen on TV.

  She unconsciously let out a laugh.

  “Eheheh, alright. My plastic surgery looks like it’s been done perfectly, so should I get started on this thing called New World?”

  Although she said so in high spirits, Roco scratched her head in confusion.

  “But, what am I supposed to do first?”

  Just then, an elder who had been glancing at Roco from behind spoke to her.

  “Youngin, is this your first time here?"

  “Huh? Me?”

  Since he spoke suddenly, Roco was startled and stepped back. The elder chuckled as he nodded his head.

  “Yes, that’s right. I’m talking to you. What’s your name?"

  “I’m called Roco.”

  “Little Roco, do you perhaps need some help?”

  “Yes, um… for now, please let me ask you a few questions. This is Harun Village, right?”

  “Indeed, this is Schudenberg Kingdom’s frontier village, Harun. I am the village chief, Hansen.”

  “Ah, grandpa Hansen!”

  Roco excitedly jumped up and down as she clapped her hands. Then, as if she was checking him out, she circled around Hansen, looking him over. Hansen stammered with an embarrassed expression.

  “Why, why are you acting like this?”

  “Ah, I apologize. I was just amazed to personally see grandpa Hansen, who I’ve only heard about.”

  “You’ve heard of me from someone?”

  “Yes, Hyun Woo-oppa…. ah, no. I heard it from Ark-oppa.”

  “Ark! Are you an acquaintance of Ark?”

  “Yes, yes. Does grandpa also remember Ark-oppa? I heard he’d come here.”

  “Of course I remember! How could I forget Ark? He was a great young man with proper manners and is considerate of others, which is a trait uncommonly seen in people these days.

  “Right? Right?”

  “Also, his bravery is like none other. There was a time when he saved us from a crisis everyone had neglected. The event is still fresh in my memory. Ah, but what relationship do you have with Ark?”

  At Hansen’s question, Roco blushed and giggled.

  “Excuse me, where do I have to go to meet Ark-oppa?”

  “I wonder? Last time I saw him, I heard he was going to Jackson Castle. However, quite a bit of time has passed since then so I’m not sure if he is still there. Why are you looking for him?”

  “It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen him. Last week, he suddenly took a leave of absence from the mart and hasn’t returned… I thought I might be able to meet him if I came here. I also wanted to try this once, while I had the chance.”

  “Mart?”

  Hansen tilted his head as if it was a term he had never heard of before.

  Roco quickly shook her head.

  “Nothing. You do not need to know. Anyway, how can I get to Jackson Castle?”

  “Surely you’re not going to go right now?”

  “Why not? I can’t go right now?”

  “Ho ho ho, look here, little Roco. Jackson Castle is a place very far away. You’ll have to walk non-stop for days before reaching it. In addition, the road is incomparably rough, and there are countless dangers lurking about. A beginner adventurer like you would become a wolf’s meal before you could even take a few steps away from the village. Since you’re an acquaintance of Ark, I’ll advise you with good intentions. If you want to go to Jackson Castle, you’ve got to gain enough experience first.”

  “How do you gain experience?”

  “If you want, I can introduce to you a suitable job.”

  ‘Ah, this must be what you call a quest!’

  “Yes, then I’ll work.”

  As Roco recalled the stories she heard from here and there, and nodded her head.

  But after she listened to Hansen’s words, she immediately lost her nerve.

  The quest Hansen gave her was none other than defeating what she feared most, mice. Roco, who had agonized over it briefly, set her lips in a firm line and courageously casted her fears away.

  ‘Che, am I an idiot? What am I afraid of? No matter how realistic it may seem to be, this is still inside a game. Even if they were called mice, it will probably look more like Mickey-mouse or Pikachu. It’s a little discomfiting having to crush things as cute as them, but there’s no helping it. Since this is a game.’

  “Yes, I’ll be heading out now.”

  Roco bowed as she smiled cutely and left for the tavern.

  Roco went to the tavern and chatted with Kraydon about Ark before entering the warehouse. In an instant, she screamed at New World’s terrifying realism.

  “Kyaahhh! What, what is this? The mouse here looks bigger and scarier than a mouse in real life!”

  The mice who were previously swarming around the warehouse, focused their attention on Roco. Blood had drained from Roco’s face, and she quickly whirled around.

  “I-, I can’t! Fight these mice…. I, I can’t do it! I’m not going to do it! Mister Kraydon, I wanna come out
! Please open the door!”

  Just then, Roco knocked over a stack of boxes, which wobbled and collapsed, blocking the door.

  Then, a scarlet light flashed in front of Roco’s eyes.

  - You have been attacked by a mouse. Damage 1.

  However, Roco wasn’t even concerned by the damage she had taken.

  A mouse the size of her forearm came right up to her nose and bared its teeth. Rather than the damage she incurred, this was much more frightening.

  With an expression on her face looking like she was on the verge of fainting, she screamed and climbed up the nearby stack of boxes. After frantically panicking, Roco belatedly thought of an escape plan.

  “Oh, tha-that’s right. This is a game. I can just log out. Disconnect!”

  Game or not, she just wanted to flee the warehouse teeming with mice. However, as a brief message window popped up, even her last hope sputtered away.

  - You may not log out during combat. Please try again after finishing the battle.

  “This is ridiculous! It can’t be like this! Save me. Aack! Please save me. Wah~ wah~!”

  Roco bawled her eyes out as she barely managed to push off a mouse crawling up to her with the tip of her foot.

  Unfortunately, in New World, there was no one who would save her even if she continually cried for help. In the end, Roco was trapped in the warehouse, unable to log out or escape. And so she wailed and wailed until she eyes became puffy.

  How many hours has it been? Her throat was too sore to let out another scream. Then a new message window appeared.

  You have learned a new skill.

  Lady’s Wail (Beginner, Active): The wail of a Lady full of sorrows, making even irrational enemy feel guilt.

  In addition, it will make an ally feel inclined to leap into fire for the sake of the Lady. However, this skill will only trigger when the player feels tremendous fear.

  Enemy attack speed, movement speed, and morale decrease by 20% for 30 seconds, and ally attack speed, movement speed, and morale increase by 20% for 30 seconds.

  Mana Cost: 20

  « o »

  At that time, Ark was grinning as he walked down the streets of Jackson.

  “I feel slightly better now.

  The constant irritation that had remained in a corner of his heart about playing the game had disappeared.

  He had no intention of forgiving mistakes. People were quick to forgive those who whined that it was a mistake even after doing something bad, so bad guys didn’t learn their lesson and a just society couldn’t be realized.

  Evil doers had to pay the due price. If you’re wronged, pay them back right away– that was justice. That was Ark’s view on life.

  Ark was finally able to achieve his justice.

  Since Ark endured until Andel logged in if he didn’t after 24 hours, Ark hadn’t slept even a wink for two days. Despite that, he wasn’t even a little tired. Rather, he was so refreshed that he felt he could fly.

  Justice was a good thing after all.

  ‘Now, shall we go and finish the quest now?’

  Ark went to find Raymond’s house with a vibrant expression on his face.

  As soon as Ark went in, Raymond stared at him with a shocked expression.

  “Ah! Y-you… returned. No way… did you bring that mineral?”

  Ark smiled coldly and nodded his head. Then he took out the Blood Crystal and dropped it onto the table with a clink.

  Raymond’s face as he saw the Blood Crystal was filled with horror.

  “You look quite surprised. Are you disappointed I’ve returned alive?”

  “N-no. Wh-why would I?”

  “After all, you must be disappointed since someone you sent as fodder returned safe and sound.”

  “Wh-what are you talking about? Fodder?”

  Raymond denied it as he shook his head vigorously. But he was unable to hide the anxiety in his eyes.

  There was no need to rush.

  With a leisurely expression, Ark slowly drove him into a corner.

  “You said that you went into that cave frequently. If that’s so, then of course you would know of the Golem’s existence. However, up till I went to the cave, I didn’t hear even a single word about the Golem from you, even though you knew it would be difficult to defeat the Golem with my strength. No, you sent me because you judged that it would be difficult for me to defeat it. From the beginning, the reason you sent me was to use me as food for the Golem that was raising the Blood Crystal within it.”

  Raymond was startled and flinched when he heard the word ‘Blood Crystal.’

  “Ho-how in the world did you hear about something like a Blood Crystal…?”

  Raymond quickly avoided eye contact as he mumbled something like an excuse.

  “I-I don’t know what you are saying.”

  “Is that so?”

  Ark shrugged and turned around.

  “I understand. Then it looks like I have to find the Lord and ask him.”

  “Wa-wait a minute!”

  Astonished, Raymond tightly grasped onto Ark’s arm.

  “Wha-what exactly do you want?”

  “Are you admitting that you did it?”

  Ark put on a wicked smile as he made his jab.

  Raymond lowered his shoulders as if in despair and heaved a sigh.

  “There, there was nothing I could do, either. If you know about the Blood Crystal, you must also know that it’s not just mineral. That’s right, the Blood Crystal is a magical mineral storing an ancient power. A long time ago, I held it by accident and was fascinated by that magical power. In the end, in order to cultivate the rest of the Blood Crystal that wanted more knowledge, I ended up planting it in the Golem’s body. And then I used strangers like you. But now, even that has come to an end. How would I have known that someone among the strangers would perhaps know of the Blood Crystal…”

  Once he broke down, Raymond confessed everything in a steady stream.

  As he stared at Ark with bitter eyes, he spoke, “I’ll confess everything I told you to the guards as well. In return, couldn’t you give me just a few days off?”

  ‘Seems like he’s a very stupid person.’

  Ark snorted and was about to refuse.

  Suddenly, he heard a coughing sound from Raymond’s room. Startled, Raymond quickly leapt into the room.

  Ark followed him in and saw a young child coughing, who was obviously very sick, on a small bed.

  With a tearful face, Raymond held the child’s hand.

  “Oh, oh, my baby. Papa is right here.”

  “P-papa… cough, cough!”

  The child broke out into a cold sweat as he coughed violently.

  While staring blankly at that sight, Ark asked, “Are you perhaps…”

  “Please don’t ask anymore questions. It’s all over. In any case, the Golem was crushed while the Blood Crystal was in an incomplete state. No, even if the Blood Crystal was somehow completed, there’s no guarantee that the illness would be cured. I don’t resent you. And if you just wait a few days for me, I’ll be sure to turn myself into the guards. I beg of you. Please allow this hopeless father to watch over this poor child’s last road.”

  As he looked at the beseeching Raymond, Ark was speechless.

  He had no idea why he kept running into this kind of situation.

  Indeed, he could definitely understand Raymond’s feelings. If his mother could completely recover, Ark would do anything. If he’d been in the same situation as Raymond, he would have done the same.

  However, Raymond was an NPC. The dying child was also an NPC.

  He knew. He knew that if he just finished the quest and received his reward, that would be the end of it. But why did he feel such an uncomfortable sensation? Why did he see his mother lying on her sickbed, why couldn’t he bring himself to just turn around and find the guard?

  ‘Dammit…!’

  “Move it.”

  Ark roughly shoved Raymond and grabbed the child’s hand.<
br />
  “You’re okay. You’ll be able to recover your health just as your father wishes. You’ll be able to go outside and run like the other children while freeing the laughter that’s locked inside your chest.”

  It was then, when Ark used his Nursing Skill. The Blood Crystal Ark was holding in his hands suddenly turned to dust and disappeared. Rays of light abruptly emerged from the dust, which was then absorbed by the child’s body.

  At the same time, a dramatic change occurred in the child’s body. The coughing stopped in an instant and color returned to his face.

  Miracle Nursing has succeeded.

  You must convey the sincerity born of the sentiment called nursing to your patient– only then can it truly gain meaning. Sometimes, an illness or the like that cannot be cured with any kind of miraculous medicine or magic can be cured by sincerity.

  Now, children who receive this sincere Nursing will recover completely; as you hoped, they will live vigorously while speaking of you as their benefactor of good deed to many people.

  *From succeeding Miracle Nursing, all your stats have increased by 1 each.

  * You have acquired a new stat, Affection (+10)

  It will raise the success rate and effect of all actions that require affection by its numerical value.

  Stat distribution is not possible, it will increase when you have done a good deed great enough to be talked about by other people.

  * Fame has increased by 50.

  * Your alignment to Good has increased by 50.

  Since you succeeded Miracle Nursing, you have earned the title of Caretaker.

  As a Caretaker, your fame increases and you will receive the praises of many of the sick.

  * As a title-related bonus, all stats increase by 1 each.

  * Fame increases by 50.

  “H-how can this be!”

  Raymond stared at Ark with a bewildered expression.

  However, the truly bewildered person was Ark. He just used it once because he felt sorry just watching, but he hadn’t known that it would yield this kind of result. After staring at the child with dumbfounded eyes, Ark felt embarrassed to look at Raymond who was pouring out tears, so he quickly left the room.