Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Ending the War
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yuseong and Hers sat facing each other in one of the rooms inside a house owned by Hers.
He had briefly suspected it might be a trap, but after recalling the strategy guide's assurance that no harm could come to him inside a privately owned house in the city, he entered without worry.
"Let's end the war. That's what you mean, right?"
At Yuseong's question, Hers hesitated for a moment. He still hadn't fully let go of his pride. But soon, he let out a sigh and spoke.
"Yes. Let's stop fighting now."
Yuseong didn't respond. Hers watched him anxiously, lost in thought.
'Let's stop fighting...'
Honestly, Yuseong wasn't thrilled about it. The skyrocketing attention and levels from this war had been extremely satisfying.
But he wasn't without concerns.
'Money's getting tight.'
The cost of ammo alone was impossible to ignore. He burned through 100 or 200 rounds every time he went out. Potions and equipment repairs added up too. And there was no income coming in.
He had picked up as much money and items as possible from the fallen Hers guild members to replenish his stock, but it still wasn't enough.
It wasn't just game gear—his real-life expenses were covered by in-game money, a curse of his situation.
If things continued like this, after one battle with the Hers guild, he'd have to hunt for days just to break even.
And if he unluckily ran into the Hers guild while hunting and couldn't, or if that happened more often, the financial pressure might break him first.
'Strategy guide, what should I do?'
When in doubt, the strategy guide was always the best.
【How about demanding compensation?】
'Compensation?'
【He said let's end the war, but the Hers guild's attitude is no different from surrender. They're begging you to stop attacking. So, player, you can demand whatever you want.】
'Like what?'
【Money or items, for starters.】
Yuseong's ears perked up. Money went without saying, and items could be sold for cash. If they were useful, he could equip them himself.
'How much could I get?'
【Best to ask Hers first. They've probably calculated a rough amount already. Ask what they can offer in exchange.】
"What can you offer as compensation?"
Yuseong repeated the strategy guide's words verbatim.
"We're thinking 10 million won for now."
"10 million?"
The staggering number caught Yuseong's interest. His finances were already strained. Getting 10 million would solve his immediate problems.
But soon, realization dawned, and Yuseong's face twisted.
Seeing this, Hers sighed inwardly. It was clear Yuseong wasn't taking the offer positively.
'Did I lowball it too hard?'
His reputation was already in ruins, item costs had piled up, and guild members' levels had dropped—they needed a lot to recover. So he'd aimed low on compensation. But Yuseong clearly wasn't satisfied.
"Th-then how about 30 million won?"
It tripled in an instant. But Yuseong's frown didn't budge.
As the guild master who once ruled Verhil like a mid-sized company CEO, Hers wondered why he was enduring this humiliation, but he held back.
To keep his lifestyle going, he had to make this negotiation work.
How much more should he offer? Hers pondered.
But Yuseong was frowning for a completely different reason.
'Won?'
Real-world money—a laughably irrelevant concept in this game. Utterly useless to Yuseong.
Whether 10 million, 100 million, or a billion, it held no value to him.
'Better to keep the war going.'
At least that would boost his attention and levels.
Then the strategy guide advised again.
【Demand game money.】
"If you're paying, make it game money."
"Pardon?"
Hers reflexively questioned it.
"Is that a problem?"
"N-no, of course not."
Paying in game money benefited Hers too. Arc's currency traded at premium rates compared to other games, but still not equal to real cash.
'He just didn't like the cash offer?'
Yuseong's relaxed expression suggested as much.
Hers racked his brain again.
'Game money would be to our advantage, value-wise.'
But since it was worth less, he'd need to start in the billions. That would strain the guild heavily.
'We have guild funds, but we burned through a lot in this battle.'
And how much exactly? If Yuseong demanded 10 billion upfront, even Hers couldn't pay.
Then Yuseong spoke.
"Pay 30 million gold right now, then 10 million gold monthly for the next year. And hand over all the item crafting materials your guild owns. Those are my terms."
The strategy guide's advice again.
"Hmm..."
Hers fell into thought.
That totaled 150 million gold. A heavy burden, but only 30 million upfront, with the rest monthly—manageable with some breathing room.
The issue was the crafting materials.
'Those have real value...'
From common ones easy to find to rare valuables stockpiled for elite guild gear. Some bought with cash.
Less valuable than finished items, but the quantity made the loss significant.
Still, cheaper than continuing the war.
'No reason not to.'
It just hurt. Gut-wrenchingly so.
But Hers swallowed the pain.
"Deal."
"The 30 million gold and materials now."
"Then let's head to the bank."
Hers led the way. They walked to Verhil's bank, drawing curious stares. No one in the area didn't know these two.
Word of Hers's call to end the war had likely spread too.
The gazes felt like mockery to Hers, hardening his face. Yuseong, following casually, made the power dynamic obvious.
The stares vanished once they entered the bank.
This bank had a separate space for players' convenience. The wide counter like the building's facade was empty except for them.
Hers opened the guild warehouse at the counter. The materials to hand over appeared.
Seeing them, his stomach boiled again. He regretted it instantly—wanted to back out.
But he couldn't. Hers squeezed his eyes shut and sent everything to Yuseong's bank storage. His hand trembled on the final 'Confirm.'
But it wasn't over. Money remained. With shaking hands, he transferred the gold too.
"That's everything, right?"
Hers gritted his teeth, voice laced with fury. Yuseong just nodded nonchalantly.
He knew the anger in Hers's tone. The calm demeanor only fueled Hers's rage more.
"I expect the 10 million gold on schedule."
"Don't worry. We don't want more trouble. And you—don't attack our guild again unless you want losses."
"Fine."
Yuseong turned away. With emotions already maxed out, no point in more talk.
"Wait!"
Hers stopped him before leaving the bank.
"Just one question. Did you really think you could win against us, so you pushed the war that hard?"
A question that had haunted Hers since deciding to surrender.
Did he leverage his physical prowess to believe he could win and press relentlessly? Was it just escalating conflict from simple clashes? Or something else?
"No."
"Then why keep the war going?"
Pride? Bad mood? Just a game?
But the answer was beyond Hers's imagination.
"Because I wanted attention."
"...What?"
Hers blurted involuntarily. Yuseong offered no explanation and left the bank.
Hers stood dumbfounded. Then he collapsed into a nearby chair, strength gone.
"Ha, haha...!"
Hollow laughter escaped. A solo player, low-level, fighting a strong guild like Hers desperately—just for attention.
"What the hell? We got wrecked by some attention whore?"
And that whore achieved his goal perfectly. Hers buried his face in his hands.
"Fuck, shouldn't have asked."
Maybe this question was his biggest regret of the war.
* * *
Outside the bank, Yuseong saw players surrounding it.
"Hey, he's out!"
They buzzed at his appearance, swarming him. Even bold Yuseong flinched a bit.
"What happened with Hers inside? What's the war status?"
Obvious streamer NPC.
Yuseong kept it brief.
"No more fighting. Got money inside."
Curt response. But enough for players to grasp.
"So, Hers guild surrendered and paid reparations? Right?"
The excited voice brimmed with thrill. Yuseong's tone screamed annoyance.
But the content hooked them.
"Yes."
Cheers erupted. Admiration for the solo who crushed a guild.
More questions followed, but Yuseong ignored them, pushing through.
No one blocked him—guards would intervene for forced stops in the city.
He slipped through the crowd easily and logged out in a quiet spot.
Even after he vanished, talk of Yuseong continued.
Soon, news of Hers guild's surrender and Yuseong's victory spread rapidly online.