Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Second Clash
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“We won!”
“We killed him!”
“That bastard, serves you right!”
The Hers Guild members shouted at the top of their lungs. Spewing vulgarities, some even spat or kicked at the spot where Yuseong’s avatar had vanished.
However, only the regular guild members engaged in such behavior. The elite guild members gathered among themselves.
“Good work.”
Hers said to the elite guild members.
“You too, Guild Master.”
“Only DoReMi died, right?”
“Yes.”
Many regular guild members had died as well, but the death that mattered to Hers was that of the axe-wielding warrior player named ‘DoReMi’.
“Sorry. We couldn’t provide proper backup…”
The two guild members who had covered DoReMi during his retreat bowed their heads in shame.
“It’s fine. The opponent was just that skilled.”
“Yeah, that guy was a real pain in the ass.”
“I’ve never seen anyone pull off a last stand so artistically.”
There had been players among those they’d taken down who put up a desperate final struggle. That’s why they’d been on high alert.
Yuseong’s skill had simply surpassed their vigilance.
“What kind of freak is that guy?”
“Still pisses me off that he called us out, but I get why the regulars couldn’t handle him.”
Having clashed with him once, they knew Yuseong was a real monster.
Even amid their relentless assault, he’d held firm.
Originally, they’d planned to prevent him from using potions or reloading his gun entirely. That alone would neutralize a gun user.
But he’d stubbornly swapped magazines and chugged potions. Of course, their pressure had worked to an extent—he’d barely managed any potions and only just reloaded.
Even that was impressive enough.
“The bastard just wouldn’t die.”
“That guy’s armor isn’t anything special, right?”
“It’s the most expensive armor you can get around here, but it’s still nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Back when he fought us before, he was only using fancy arm guards. When did he upgrade everything? Isn’t he supposed to be broke?”
“Must’ve looted some of our guild members and made a bit of cash.”
“That’s pretty shitty.”
“But it’s still just local-level gear. Not like it let him tank boot-to-plate that long.”
“The bastard’s skilled, I’ll give him that. Defense and evasion both.”
“Yeah, even under that barrage, he deflected my spear tip with his armor like some lunatic.”
“But we won.”
Hers declared.
“No matter how amazing the guy is, no matter how superior his physical prowess, anyone who challenges our guild around here ends up like that. The ones mocking our guild will shut their mouths now.”
He glanced at the spectators watching from a distance.
He’d bet over 99% of them had been rooting for Yuseong. Hers knew full well that most Arc players hated guilds monopolizing hunting grounds.
But he felt no shame. If they were jealous, they could do it themselves.
‘Loser scum.’
Pathetic bugs who belittled others’ achievements and took glee in their misfortunes. Just looking at them made him want to puke.
In the end, they’d won.
“Let’s head back. Now we watch how he moves next.”
“Gonna log him out for good?”
“Depends on him.”
Hers shrugged.
“He’s tasted bitterness now, so if he gets the message, surrenders, and leaves the area, we might let it slide. But if he keeps strutting around here, what choice do we have? We’ll have to keep spanking the idiot until he learns.”
The guild members burst into raucous laughter.
“Anyway, let’s go. We’ll be stuck in the city for a while, so bear with the boredom. Once this is over, I’ll hand out fat bonuses.”
The guild members’ faces lit up at Hers’s announcement. Who in the world didn’t love money? Not a single one of them.
“Hope he walks right back into Verhill like today.”
“As dumb as he is, he won’t pull that again.”
“If he wasn’t dumb, he wouldn’t have come at us in the first place.”
“True enough.”
But none of them thought Yuseong would return to Verhill again.
If the war with him dragged on, the key would be tracking down his guerrilla tactics and crushing him.
It wouldn’t take long, though, before they realized their predictions were off.
* * *
The battle in Verhill between Yuseong and Hers Guild had ended in victory for Hers Guild.
Even those who’d sent hopeful glances his way due to his prior wins could only think, ‘As expected,’ upon hearing the result.
- Honestly, it was reckless.
- How’s a solo player supposed to beat a guild when he’s not overwhelmingly higher level? Just common sense outcome. -ㄹㅇ He did great pushing Hers Guild around this long.
That was the prevailing opinion.
Even with the predictable result, interest in the Yuseong-Hers Guild war hadn’t cooled.
-Wonder what happens next?
-Hers Guild looks dead set on finishing him. They even put a bounty on him. Just tip off his location for cash.
-They’ll pay more for his respawn village info. That bounty’s even higher.
-They’re serious.
-Yuseong might have to quit the game for real? He better hide well.
But as always, Yuseong shattered expectations once more.
-Yuseong showed up in Verhill again!
-????
-???????
-Is he actually insane?
* * *
A village a short distance from Verhill. Surrounded by steep cliffs with a narrow entrance, it remained unknown to players despite being nearby.
By the well in that small but fully equipped village, a figure suddenly appeared.
It was Yuseong, slain by Hers Guild. He inspected his body here and there in wonder.
‘Is this what death feels like?’
Even a fake game death, his first experience with it was strangely fascinating.
But he didn’t dwell on the sensation long.
‘Let’s check how much my Attention rose.’
The biggest reason he’d gone through with this reckless plan—even by his own admission—was to spike his Attention at the end.
The results were quite satisfying.
Attention - 85,030
The gains from the recent battle plus all the Hers Guild members he’d taken down so far.
‘At this rate, 100,000 won’t be far off.’
On second thought, maybe not.
‘Once the war with Hers Guild ends, my Attention gains will slow again…’
Feeling a twinge of regret, Yuseong checked his Status Window overall.
‘Huh?’
His level had gone up.
He’d gained plenty of levels hunting Hers Guild members, but progress had stalled lately. Probably because the level gap between him and them had narrowed.
‘Did killing that guy do it?’
The elite Hers Guild member he’d taken out in his final struggle. Nothing else explained the surge. Even factoring in exp loss on death, this was a clear win.
‘…This changes things.’
Yuseong weighed the pros and cons.
Pros: Exp gains and Attention rise. Cons: Random money and item drops on death.
But money and items could be stored in personal vaults at banks in every city or village.
Sure, there was a fee, but better than dropping everything on death.
He couldn’t store equipped gear, but stuffing his inventory with junk solved that. Per the strategy guide’s advice.
Indeed, this death had only cost him useless junk.
Plus, as that nameless Hers Guild member said, Yuseong’s items were all purchasable with cash—nothing rare.
The conclusion was clear.
‘Better to keep fighting.’
Big rewards, minimal losses.
‘Alright, let’s go!’
No reason to hesitate. Yuseong finished prepping for battle and left the village.
His destination: Verhill once more.
* * *
Hers stared in disbelief at the plaza before the gates.
The plaza, built for the convenience of those meeting at the gates, was furnished with tables and chairs.
A familiar man sat in one of those chairs.
Yuseong.
The one they’d killed just yesterday. The one they’d thought would never set foot in Verhill again after realizing the power gap.
They’d planned to hunt him down to teach him a lesson, never imagining he’d stroll back in so casually.
“…Let’s ask him first.”
No need for talk between them, but he had to know.
“What the hell made you come back?”
Yuseong stood.
“Any other reason?”
He jerked a thumb toward the gates. The intent was obvious.
Let’s go outside and fight.
“Are you sane?”
“Perfectly sane.”
Hers’s mind reeled.
‘What’s his game?’
Yesterday’s battle. Yuseong had put up an impressive fight with his skill, but defeat was defeat.
That gap wouldn’t vanish overnight. Unless he was a total lunatic, there had to be some scheme.
‘No, maybe he is just crazy.’
Didn’t someone say the world was wide and full of crazies?
‘His looks scream unhinged too…’
The gaunt eyes visible under his helmet flickered with eerie blue glints now and then. Even self-assured Hers felt a chill.
But Hers shook it off. Whatever Yuseong’s angle—scheme or madness—the answer was the same.
‘Fight.’
Backing down here out of caution? The swarming spectators would spread their humiliation across the internet.
Objectively, they had no reason to lose.
“Ready yet, Guild Master?”
An impatient voice from behind.
A warrior gripping his weapon despite being inside the walls, itching to kill Yuseong. DoReMi, the sole elite Hers Guild member Yuseong had killed.
Seemingly furious at dying in such an advantageous spot, he’d been openly hostile toward Yuseong since respawning.
Hers nodded. Then he said to Yuseong,
“Let’s go.”
Yuseong and Hers Guild headed out of the city.
Like yesterday, Hers Guild spread out to encircle Yuseong as they moved.
Yuseong, having no intent to flee, strolled leisurely at the encirclement’s center.
It almost looked like they were escorting him, not surrounding him.
As they passed the gates, they stayed vigilant for a sudden strike and retreat inside. But nothing happened.
Yuseong just kept walking casually.
A bit away from the gates, Yuseong and Hers Guild stopped.
“This far enough?”
Even as he asked Yuseong, Hers wondered what the hell was going on.
Yesterday, they’d been bloodthirsty killers. Today, they were negotiating whether to fight.
‘Feels off.’
He couldn’t shake the unease.
But Hers cleared his mind.
‘Killing this bastard ends it!’
“Do whatever.”
Yuseong replied, shaking his gun.
No more words needed. To dispel the unease fast, Hers issued the attack order and swung his sword at Yuseong himself.
Thus began the second direct clash between Yuseong and Hers Guild.