by Yoo Seong
“Even if it was true, shouldn’t it be released long before now? Why didn’t you help us until now?”
“Yes, I recovered 40 minutes after we entered.”
“40 minutes…..then you tricked us to receive 3 hours’ worth of experience and loot for free……”
Slayer’s eyes trembled. Ark sighed and said.
“I admit it. I deliberately tricked you. But it was for the two of you.”
“What? You say that now……”
“The two of you, don’t you have something in mind with Melina-nim?”
Slayer and Leon closed their mouths at his words.
“I knew it. It was the reason why I stayed in the background. It was in order to give you two a chance to appeal to Melina-nim. Doesn’t it seem cooler if 2 people deal with all the monsters? So far the two of you have been enough. This time is also the same thing. I didn’t use my skills and strength in order to make it look like the two of you defeated the Thanatos. So I deliberately only helped when Slayer-nim was in danger.”
It fact that wasn’t the only reason. One of the conditions of his occupation quest was to rescue his colleagues! Ark knew that it was possible to win against the Thanatos if he fought. He needed to increase the number of times he saved a colleague. And he had to make sure Melina didn’t sense it. So it was possible to convince Slayer and Leon with those words.
“Amway, I was very impressed that the two of you helped me for 3 hours without a word of complaint. So I made up my mind. I will do my best to make sure you two have a good impression with Melina. We fell into the intermediate layer so I have no choice but to enter the battle. But I’ll only do it if the situation deteriorates and the two of you need help.”
“Uh……”
“Well we were originally planning to enter the intermediate layer……”
Slayer and Leon looked at each other.
“This might be a chance. The two of you came down to this layer to save Melina-nim. Therefore Melina-nim is feeling guilty inside. If you show the two of you struggling against the Thanatos then she will receive a better impression of you.”
These words ended the indecision.
“Certainly…..okay! Like Alan-nim said, this is an opportunity given by the heavens!”
“Yes, if we have Alan-nim then the intermediate layer won’t be a problem!”
In fact, Slayer and Leon had no other choice. It would be hard for them to escape the intermediate layer if they kicked Ark out of the party now. And Ark also used compelling words to convince them. This was to relieve any bad feelings if he ever met those users again!
“We misunderstood!”
“Thank you in advance!”
Slayer and Leon firmly grabbed Ark’s hand. However they were unaware that this was the beginning of a nightmare. In far, Ark had calculated it carefully before making his suggestion. Since then Ark only helped Leon and Slayer when they were barely surviving. Thus they were in danger many times……
“Alan-nim, it is dangerous! It is up to the guardian to protect his colleagues! Ugh!”
Slayer poured out his heart into protecting them. If they protected their colleagues then of course Melina would be impressed! Every time there was a battle, their health and mana would reach the bottom. That was also Ark’s desire. Ark’s purpose was to find the ruins. He hadn’t discovered in the upper layer so Ark had descended to the intermediate layer. There was no time to investigate the area thoroughly.
‘But it is different when they run out of health and mana.’
It meant they needed to take a break after the fight. While their health and mana were recovering, it gave Ark time to look around. Therefore Ark intentionally made sure that his health and mana fell to the bottom in every battle. He took care of any dissatisfaction by saying.
“I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy in battle……”
“It’s nothing. This happened because of me. Thank you for trying hard.”
Melina felt guilty so she was okay with everything.
“Did you hear? Melina-nim apologized to us. It is important to give an impression of a hard fight. Our favourable image is rising.”
“Huhuhuhu. Thank you. Settling it this way…..”
Melina had surrounded herself with 2 wolves. They would smile happily every time their bodies became tattered in the battle. Ark controlled the party from the back and could search the intermediate layer. However, it had been 2 hours since entering the intermediate layer. It was a total of 5 hours if he added the hours spent in the upper layer so Slayer was getting tired. No, he was trying to make a good impression on Melina.
“Let’s end it here and look for the exit. Now we know we can hunt in the intermediate layer so the group will gather to continue tomorrow.”
And just as they found the exit.
Bark bark bark! Bark bark bark!
A monster dog once again came running. There were 10 Thanatos chasing behind it!
“Heok! D-dammit! Another one of those dogs! No! If we get caught then we’re dead! Run!”
Slayer screamed and ran away from the exit. This situation repeated a few times. The monster dog seemed to sense whenever they would find an exit and would use the Thanatos following it to herd them deeper into the dungeon.
“A curse! This hunt is cursed!”
Slayer and Leon grabbed their heads and screamed. However they failed to notice something. The monster dog always appeared after Ark went to the toilet.
‘Huhuhu. You won’t get any chances to exit.’
Ark laughed as he looked at the gasping Slayer and Leon. The hell hound merciless drove the Thanatos towards them. Ark used the hell hound to herd them towards places he hadn’t searched yet. This was all to achieve Ark’s goal! In New World, he once stayed all up night for two days in order to find an item he desired. Ark valued this before getting a good sleep.
‘This is a spacious dungeon so it would take quite a while to investigate. I’m sorry but I’m still not finished. They should at least stay until I finish searching the intermediate level.’
Slayer was the one suffering. But this was a game so he wasn’t concerned about his condition.
“Pant pant pant, that monster. Why is it doing this to us?”
The frustrated Slayer wheezed with a spiritless face. But he still had some spirit left. The upper layer only required 2~3 hours but the intermediate layer was several times larger. And there weren’t a lot of parties here so it was overflowing with Thanatos. Thus they were like zombies by the time 15 hours had passed. Meanwhile Ark and Milan had rested before entering so they weren’t as tired!
“I-it isn’t possible anymore.”
“No! There are no tents. If we go to sleep then we’ll die!”
Slayer flopped down on the ground and Leon grabbed his collar while yelling. The tent was an item where users could safely enter hibernation mode while in dungeons. However, the village was right near here so Slayer and Leon hadn’t bothered preparing tents.
“I, I……I really can’t hold out anymore. My eyes feel like it will fall out. I’d rather die.”
Slayer and Leon had been playing the game for more than 15 hours before meeting Ark. They only played an average of 12 hours a day but they held out because of Melina. Yet another 15 hours had passed. It was a total of 30 hours! They couldn’t concentrate on the battle anymore. But Ark didn’t allow them to abandon it halfway through.
“Gather your spirits! If you fall down here then we’ll be in trouble! Slayer-nim, Leon-nim, shouldn’t a man protect Melina-nim until the end? Do you want to leave Melina-nim by herself in a monster infested dungeon? The more difficult and painful it is, the more you two will shine in her eyes! That is a man!”
“Ohhh…..I’m a man……”
Slayer and Leon moved their zombie like bodies at Ark’s encouragement. But Melina’s eyes were looking at Ark.
‘At first he didn’t fight properly so I thought he was brazen to enter the party….. It was inconvenient……but he didn’t
show any dissatisfaction with the situation and even encouraged his colleagues……he also isn’t patronizing like Slayer-nim and Leon-nim…..yes, I gain energy every time I see Alan-nim.’
Rather than Slayer and Leon who fought to attract her attention, Melina was more impressed by Ark who encouraged his colleagues. But another pair of eyes were looking at Ark differently.
‘I know it! That monster that pulled the Thanatos! That’s right, it is similar to the dogs that Hyung-nim produced on the way here! The person controlling the dog is clearly Hyung-nim. Hyung-nim is keeping the party here to look for the ruins. When I think about it, I also couldn’t rest for one day while searching on Mt. Fargo. Then we can only leave this dungeon after searching through this entire layer?’
Milan knew. The horror that the level 80 Slayer and Leon couldn’t imagine! The level 150 Thanatos hadn’t appeared because of the hell hound. This was all Ark controlling it from the rear!
“Scary! Hyung-nim is a scary man!’
—————————————————————
“Damn, I’m in trouble. It is difficult!”
A man with slicked back hair muttered impatiently. His name was Bain. He had joined the large company Laius when he was young and is success meant he was now the director of one of the major projects. The place he recently became interested in was Mt. Fargo. Compared to other areas, there were a large number of monsters that had gallstones.
‘According to the latest theory, the gallstones are formed from high density energy accumulating in the body of the monster. In order words, it means there is a source of high density energy nearby. If it is a lot higher than other areas……lode! A lode of energy might be hidden!’
Development and maintenance of a civilization required energy. After the humans entered the universe, it lead to a revival of different energy sources. It was the same for the Rama and Aschulat. Thus the galaxy was now struggling from a chronic lack of energy. That’s why there was a war as soon as resources were found in the Bellin constellation.
‘In other words, it will become money. Now swords and guns are part of the primitive age. The important thing is energy. The person who controlled the energy would dominate the universe. If I can find the energy lode at Mt. Fargo then I can be promoted!’
Bain managed to convince the company to build a research centre here. However, they had explored for a fortnight and still hadn’t found the energy lode.
No, it was becoming increasingly possible that the energy lode didn’t exist.
“This is serious. I’m the one who established the research centre here and drove the project. If an energy lode doesn’t exist here then I’ll be held responsible. In the worst case situation I might be stripped of my position! N-no! I’m still young! I can’t be unemployed at such a young age! If I can’t find the lode then I should at least find something else!”
Bain held his head and frantically worried.
“Director-nim!”
A guard came running in and shouted.
“This is an urgent report! A high density energy reaction was detected on the radar searching the area!”
“High density energy reaction? A lode? Yes? Is it a lode?”
“No, that is……”
Kwa kwang, kwa kwang, kwa kwang, kwa kwang!
The ground shook like an earthquake was occurring.
Space 7
Enemy Unknown
‘…..Sheesh!’
Ark clicked his tongue. The interior of Mt. Fargo was divided into three layers. Ark and his companions moved from the upper layer to the intermediate layer underneath it. And the dungeon was inside a mountain so naturally the layer became wider as they descended.
‘It is impossible for me to move to the lowest layer even in a group. But I should take this opportunity while I have companions to fully explore the intermediate level.’
Ark determined. And he used the hell hounds to lure the Thanatos and herd the group back inside the dungeon. Unfortunately the timing matched up to when 3 other parties were at the exit.
“Please help! I’ll give you a gallstone if you help us!”
The breathless Slayer uttered an SOS! He made an alliance with the 3 parties and they disposed of the Thanatos and hell hounds.
‘Damn, only 2~3 more hours and I would’ve explored everywhere in this layer……’
It was a very regrettable thing for Ark.
“I’m alive!”
“Now I’m able to sleep!”
The zombie like Slayer and Leon burst out as they exited the dungeon. Melina also quietly cheered.
‘It is easy to understand why those two guys are eager.’
Ark initially couldn’t understand Slayer and Leon when he first joined the party. This was a game. Most of it might be the power of science but there were plenty of pretty women. Melina wasn’t extremely pretty compared to others. Now he could understand why Slayer and Leon were crazy about her. She had wandered the intermediate layer for 20 hours and hadn’t complained once. Of course, the party was in the intermediate layer because of her so she wasn’t in a position to complain. But she had clearly reached her limits. Yet she still listened to Slayer and Leon’s silly jokes and laughed sincerely. Men went crazy over little things like this.
‘Is this the end for today?’
Ark looked at the party and said to them.
“Everybody is tired so let’s return to the village first.”
“Yes, let’s go quickly.”
Ark suddenly took the role of the leader in the party. Ark aggressively pushed Leon and Slayer when they were tired so now they were used to listening to him. And Slayer who was the actual leader had panicked in the beginning.
‘I couldn’t search everywhere but the income isn’t bad.’
He gained 2 levels and reached level 82 thanks to steadily hunting the level 150 Thanatos. And the Thanatos also dropped at least 80 gold. It was shared among the party except for Milan so every person got 20 gold. This wasn’t bad but there were some separate loot.
-Gallstone
Item Type: Reinforcement Materials
It is a special material that acts as the catalyst to fuse two weapons or two equipment together to improve the performance. The improvement will depend on 3 conditions, the materials used, the skill of the artisan and the rating of the gallstone.
However, if the gallstone is used to strength the same item more than 3 times then the probability of success will fall.
Gallstone! It was the reason why users gathered at Mt. Fargo. This time they obtained 9 gallstones. There were 3 lower class and 6 intermediate class.
“It is quite vague……”
“Slayer-nim and Leon-nim have already strengthened their equipment a few times? Then you’ll need intermediate level so let’s split the intermediate between the two of you. I’m willing to receive the 3 beginner ones.”
Ark neatly organized the situation. It was natural for intermediate class to be higher than lower class. If he looked at the price then it was quite a bit of damage. But Ark conceded it easily. There was still tomorrow. He was going to make sure that they cleared 100% of Mt. Fargo’s dungeon with this party. The bizarre love triangle between Slayer, Leon and Melina made the group easy to steer.
“Then let’s stop here today and I’ll see you in 6 hours.”
“Huh? 6 hours?”
“We need at least 10 hours……”
“What use is sleeping that long? It is better to earn more money. Right now there aren’t a lot of users yet but that will change once this area becomes a formal sector. The users will grow exponentially and it won’t be easy to find Thanatos anymore. After we become accustomed to the intermediate layer tomorrow, we should go down to the bottom layer.”
“B-bottom layer?”
“Slayer-nim and Leon-nim both gained 2 levels on this hunt. If both of you are this strong then it will be
fine to descend to the bottom layer.”
“I agree.”
Melina smiled at Ark and nodded. Her words made the situation simple.
“I understand. 6 hours…..yes, we’ll meet here in 6 hours.”
The party disbanded and just as they were about to shut down the connection.
Kwa kwang, kwa kwang, kwa kwang, kwa kwang!
The ground shook like an earthquake was occurring.
“What, what the? This is?”
Ark wasn’t the only one confused. All the pioneers in the village made exclamations of confusion at the sudden roaring sound. Their eyes looked at a huge rocket that had plunged into the village. Several rockets had fallen all over the village like meteorites.
“W-what is that? What’s going on…..?”
“Is the Laius company doing something?”
The pioneers murmured to each other. Suddenly a huge number of shadows started flowing out from a rocket lodged in the ground. They were people approximately 1 metre and wearing black rags? Aliens? No, their species didn’t matter. The important thing was the weapons in their hands! There was huge scythes, machine guns and RPGs!
“What, what the? These guys are?”
“S-space pirates? Space pirates are attacking!”
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
At the same time there was a burst of heat from the village entrance. The people wearing black rags started to rampage towards the pioneers.
“Ugh, those bastards! Fight! They’re all enemies!”
The pioneers also took out their weapons. However the number of people wearing black rags wasn’t a joke. They numbered more than the people gathered in the village! The few pioneers at the entrance of the village were trampled by the black rags entering. This wasn’t a formal sector so it didn’t have any defensive facilities. Once the black rags entered, the scattered pioneers couldn’t fight properly and were soon defeated.
“T-this is ridiculous!”
“We’re supposed to sleep! Let’s just die!”
Slayer and Leon grabbed their heads and screamed. But the black rags wouldn’t understand their circumstances. There was a scream and the black rags appeared right in front of Ark’s group. Ark shouted in a desperate tone.
