Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Clash at the Gates
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Yuseong pushed through the surrounding crowd and immediately began replenishing his ammunition.
‘The more the better this time.’
If a battle broke out outside the city, who knew when he’d be able to return. He might even end up leaving Verhill entirely.
‘Of course, that’s assuming we can even get out of the city.’
Yuseong glanced back casually.
Two NPCs were sticking close behind him. Anyone could tell they were from the Hers Guild.
Unlike before, when they’d at least pretended to keep their distance, now they were openly tailing him.
‘They’ve declared war, huh.’
It wasn’t just the strategy guide that had allowed Yuseong to shake them off in the slums.
The guide gave him a complete map of the slums’ layout, but since the Hers Guild had opted for tailing him, he’d been able to start the escape with some distance between them.
‘Still, maybe I should give it a shot.’
The difference between being watched and not was clear. For now, he headed toward the slums to try shaking them off the old-fashioned way.
“Keuk-keuk!”
“Kekekeuk!”
The watchers let out creepy chuckles.
‘They’ve got something up their sleeves.’
Sure enough, the slums were crawling with unfamiliar faces. People whose alert demeanor stood in stark contrast to the ragged, listless slum dwellers. It would’ve been harder not to notice.
“Why’d you have to mess with us, huh?”
“Quit wasting your time and just accept the terms. It’ll make things easier for all of us.”
The watchers mocked him. Yuseong didn’t respond.
He turned away from the slums. His next stop was the shop.
The watchers didn’t follow him inside. They couldn’t. The system teleported him to a private space the moment he entered the doorway to avoid crowds, so they couldn’t enter the shop after him.
They waited out front and closed in again once he emerged.
When he came out of the armor shop, Yuseong looked different.
His low-level light armor was the same, except for one part—his arm guard, which had changed.
The silver metal reflected the light, proudly displaying its sturdiness.
“Steel arm guard, huh. Spent some real money on that.”
“But just the arm? Didn’t have enough for the rest?”
“That beggar’s famous for it, y’know. Probably blew every coin on food instead of armor.”
“A beggar who’s also a pig? Hopeless case.”
Just as the watchers jeered, Yuseong’s appearance was downright bizarre. But he ignored them this time too.
‘Preparations are complete.’
No reason to hesitate. It was time to act.
Taat!
Yuseong suddenly broke into a sprint. The watchers immediately gave chase.
“This guy’s such a pain in the ass!”
“You really think you can shake us off?!”
Whatever the watchers yelled from behind, Yuseong kept his eyes fixed straight ahead. He dodged through the crowd and raced down the road.
The city gate came into view before long.
NPCs stared at them. Some flinched and backed away, while others watched with keen interest.
Among them was a suspicious group.
‘There they are.’
Five NPCs burst out from near the gate. They had to be Hers Guild members.
‘Seven in total, including the ones behind.’
If dozens of NPCs had swarmed the area, he would’ve turned back into the city immediately. But it didn’t look like that would be necessary.
‘Strategy guide. Any hidden Hers Guild members?’
【At least among those visible in the player’s current field of view, the confirmed Hers Guild members are just the seven you’ve spotted.】
Perfect.
Yuseong charged straight through the gate. The Hers Guild members spread out to encircle him as they moved in tandem.
‘They won’t attack at the gate.’
Probably worried about hitting other NPCs.
Yuseong didn’t fire his gun either. If they could leave the gate area without a fight, that suited him fine.
It wasn’t just the Hers Guild chasing Yuseong. A few player-like NPCs tagged along too.
‘What are they?’
【Likely just spectators.】
‘No need to worry about them, then.’
As long as they weren’t enemies.
“Out of the way! We’re not responsible if you get caught in the crossfire!”
Once they were away from the gate and the crowd thinned, one Hers Guild member bellowed.
People hurriedly scattered. In an instant, no one was left within a certain radius around them.
Tak!
A Hers Guild member who’d been running ahead to tighten the encirclement stopped. The sword he drew flashed in the sunlight.
“Die!”
He charged at Yuseong. The other Hers Guild members drew their weapons and closed the net.
Yuseong’s eyes scanned everywhere. He drew his gun too.
He aimed at the guild member in front.
Taang!
“Euk!”
The bullet struck the target’s head dead-on. His head snapped back, and he staggered wildly.
But six enemies remained.
Whoosh!
A chilling sound came from behind. Turning, Yuseong saw two daggers—likely thrown by his watchers—flying at him.
Yuseong swung his left arm.
Kaang! Kaang!
The daggers ricocheted off with a metallic clang. The impact stung a bit, but no injury.
‘Not bad.’
[Steel Arm Guard Forged by a Skilled Blacksmith]
Defense: 38
Durability: 86
Required Strength: 41
Set Effect: Defense +5
He’d splurged on the highest-defense armor piece available at Verhill’s shop. Naturally, it was pricey.
With all the ammo he needed to stock for the war, buying full armor sets was out of the question.
So he’d compromised: armor just for his arm, to use as a shield. It meant giving up the leather armor set bonus.
But it was worth it.
Tang! Tang! Tang! Tang! Tang!
He fired at the Hers Guild members pressing in from all sides. But he held fire on the two watchers.
The eerily precise bullets made the other guild members hesitate. The watchers, unscathed, sped up instead.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Everyone knew Yuseong’s pistol was a six-shot revolver. Reloading was a pain, leaving him wide open now.
Of course, they knew about the idiots who’d tried to bait him into emptying his clip, only to get wiped out by a single sword.
But that was against equals.
Yuseong’s estimated level was much lower. And they had the numbers.
All things considered, charging now was the right call.
The watchers were agility-focused thieves. They closed the gap in seconds.
Gripping fresh daggers, they watched Yuseong’s next move.
Would he draw a sword for close combat? Reload? Pull another gun?
None of the above.
“Huh?”
“What?”
The watchers’ eyes involuntarily flicked upward. Yuseong had tossed his Eonir revolver into the air.
Who throws away their weapon? Caught off guard, they froze.
They saw the Eonir revolver soaring upward, crossed by two falling objects.
The daggers he’d deflected.
Chak!
Yuseong snatched the first dagger and hurled it back at its owner. He did the same with the second.
“Keuk!”
“Ugh!”
Unprepared for their own daggers, the watchers frantically deflected them.
System-assisted skills and stats made it possible—moves no real-world physique could match.
But assistance had limits. They couldn’t block Yuseong as he rushed in right behind the daggers.
Pueok!
Yuseong’s drawn sword stabbed mercilessly into a throat.
“Eouk!”
The target flailed his dagger wildly, but Yuseong blocked with his left arm. He dropped the sword, pulled a beginner single-shot pistol from his inventory.
Taang!
“Aak!”
Headshot. Amid the chaos, the stabbed one tried yanking the sword from his neck.
Arc’s system didn’t allow instant death from vital hits like head or throat.
But weapons embedded in the body continuously drained HP. He needed to pull it out and chug a potion fast.
Yuseong didn’t allow it.
Pueok!
“Ugh!”
A kick sent him tumbling.
“You bastard!”
The other watcher swung his dagger. Yuseong, ever vigilant despite attacking, dodged easily.
He caught the falling Eonir revolver, retrieved his sword, and retreated.
“You okay?!”
He shouted to his partner. But the fallen watcher didn’t answer.
“Hey!”
He called again. The response was the watcher’s body dissolving into light.
Dead. The Hers Guild members froze.
Even with Yuseong’s impressive physicality, the level gap was huge, and they had the numbers.
Yet barely after the fight started, one of their own was gone.
Yuseong opened his revolver’s cylinder to reload. His eyes never left the Hers Guild members.
“One down.”
His mutter sent chills through them.
* * *
“…What the fuck is that guy?”
The words slipped from a player watching Yuseong’s clash with the Hers Guild from afar.
It was a sentiment shared by every spectator.
The conflict between Yuseong and the Hers Guild was hugely entertaining for players operating around Verhill.
Some had even set up camp near the gate, where their first fight was most likely.
After all, the two best shows in the world were fire-watching and fight-watching.
Naturally, when the battle erupted, tons of players followed along gleefully.
The guy who’d flipped off the Hers Guild so boldly was the hottest name in low-level brackets—no exaggeration.
Famous for soloing extra bosses with crap gear, top-tier physicals.
But few bet on his victory.
His opponent was a guild. Sheer numbers were a threat, and even if Yuseong had leveled explosively, he couldn’t catch top Hers Guild players in this short time—that was the consensus.
The ones waiting at the gate were among the guild’s higher levels. Those in the know bet even harder on Hers.
Still, with Yuseong’s skill, it’d be one hell of a fight.
And it was spectacular, just as predicted.
Except the outcome was the total opposite.
“Shiiibaaal!”
A Hers Guild member swung his sword. High-level stats made it devastating.
But his panicked face killed all that momentum.
Taang!
Merciless gunshot. The swinger flinched. He spat curses and flailed wildly.
No way Yuseong would get hit by panic swings. He evaded leisurely, toying with him.
Uncharacteristic for a ranged gunner. Another shot rang out; the head snapped back.
That was it.
Thud!
The foe collapsed. No need for more panicked swings. His body dissolved into light.
Silence blanketed the battlefield. No one remained around Yuseong. The one just killed was the last of the seven Hers Guild members.
“…He really won.”
“…Who the hell is this guy?”
The spectators’ stunned murmurs seeped into the quiet field.