Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Beginner Set
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After Rudika left, Nefti and I were left staring at each other.
"...Um. Good luck."
"Shut up."
I clutched my throbbing head and thought things over.
That assassin Hassan said she'd come by tomorrow. And then I'd have to head up the Sleeping Mountains with her, gather a ton of spicy herbs, and come back down.
"Hm."
I sorted out my thoughts.
Korean convenience stores are packed with insanely spicy stuff. Buldak ramen, super spicy chicken, death-hot variants—all chicken-based, sure, but you start with the spicy noodles and sausages. Oh yeah, they even had that Buldak bream ice cream. No clue whose insane idea that was.
Anyway. I turned around and eyed the shelves of my convenience store.
All we had were candies, bread, and some cream tucked away in the shadowy corner.
Oh, the beans were in my office. Kinda hard to hand those out or sell 'em.
Cream for donuts wouldn't do well out in the open either, and donuts are fried—leave 'em sitting and they harden up fast, no good for eating.
But as a super convenience store nut turned store owner, doesn't every shop dream of shelves overflowing with goods? Looking at these now just makes me sad and pissed.
Time to fill 'em up.
With spicy stuff.
"...Not a bad idea."
No, it's actually great.
The strong punishing some third-rate villain? That's right in my wheelhouse.
Hell, I honestly figured Kelters might come for my neck any second.
But now a powerhouse shows up, shares my goal, and all I gotta do is one thing.
"Exploit her to gain, leverage her to achieve, adapt her to fill the gaps."
To pull that off, I need to think. What can Wolfram do? What's useful? Even if I trip going forward, dodging attacks and picking up gold while getting back up—that's the true rotten player's way, right?
The Sleeping Mountains are Act 2.
And Act 2 is Act 2.
Meaning the rewards are on a whole other level compared to Act 1.
The story's just getting Kelters into his Act 1 kiddie antics, but I'm hitting an Act 2 map? That's a massive edge.
Let's see. Sleeping Mountains. Companion: Rudika. If we peg her as an assassin build, factor in the entry-level monsters.
Hm.
Hmmm...
I'm worried.
Not about Rudika—about my own life.
Act 2 is the game's real deal in every sense.
After wrapping up the tutorial and prologue, it's for players who've got the feel—introducing new concepts like, "Oh, so this is how you tackle it," with those mini-puzzle vibes. That's solid level design.
Of course, it hits you from the start, swarming you with fresh monster patterns.
So.
"Nefti."
"Y-yes?"
"Come with us tomorrow too."
"...Are you telling me to die? The Sleeping Mountains?"
"I'll pay you thirty thousand rin."
"This life is ever yours, my liege."
The Sword of Conviction's price tag was thirty grand, huh.
Whatever. It shouldn't be that tough anyway.
Plus, with Nefti's traits... yeah. It'll work.
"As your employer, I issue two orders, Nefti."
"Speak them, my lord."
"I know it's late notice, but get one thing ready by tomorrow."
"Uh... that's kinda... it's already night?"
"I'll throw in ten thousand more."
"Loyalty, fealty, and devotion. I stake my convictions upon it and shall fulfill your will."
Good.
That's the spirit.
The next dawn.
It was a holiday too, so we agreed to meet in front of the convenience store. Rudika was the first to show.
"Wolfram. Rudika has arrived."
"...Yeah. Got it."
"Then let's head out."
"Wait a bit. One more's coming. Behave."
"Got it."
Rudika sat as instructed.
"Eaten yet?"
"Too busy getting here. It's fine. Rudika can go a week without food."
"......Tch."
I handed her the last black bread, water, and mixed beans to spread on top.
"What's this?"
"Try it. It'll be a solid meal."
I showed her by eating first, and Rudika scooped a heap of cream onto the black bread like a pro, shoving it in. She chewed, swallowed fast, chased with water—done in about a minute. Then stretched.
"How's the taste? Edible?"
Watching her, I asked for a review. Rudika tilted her head, then said:
"Hm? ...Ugh. Good calories. I can fight ten days. Good meal. Thanks, Wolfram."
"...?"
Our conversation never quite synced, but whatever. Hassans were never big on chit-chat anyway.
As we bantered, our third companion arrived.
"My liege, I've brought the item you requested."
"Good work."
"You two are lord and vassal?"
Rudika tilted her head at Nefti's words.
"Contract only."
"Loyalty, fealty, devotion. My convictions lie with him."
"...?"
Rudika tilted her head again, but I ignored it and checked Nefti's delivery.
A massive handcart. Pulled by hand, big enough for six standing easy.
"How exactly do you plan to use this, my liege?"
"Hm."
I loaded the prepped cargo onto it, then beckoned Nefti at the handles.
"Pull me and the cargo to the Sleeping Mountains."
"Pardon?"
"Five thousand more."
"If it aids my liege's maneuvers, 'tis proof of my fealty!"
And so I hopped on the cart, off to the Sleeping Mountains.
Rudika's gaze stung now and then as she strolled beside us.
"...Wolfram comfy?"
"Yeah. Pretty comfy."
"...No, Rudika means your heart."
"......"
But Wolfram's stamina is 2. Can't be helped.
Think of it as better than collapsing right away.
Think about it.
Pfft.
We pooled our strength and reached the Sleeping Mountains.
At this point, Nefti's stamina was like 17, strength 16 or so. Not the type to tire easy.
Anyway. We arrived, hopped off the cart, and prepped base camp.
"Let's check everyone's gear."
Nefti and Rudika nodded, and I dove right into appraising it.
Even without 'Appraisal,' I could judge like a pro—'cause I'm this game's true rotten player.
Nefti had standard newbie knight kit: longsword, shield, wrist guards, leather armor over cloth, greaves, leather boots. All neatly maintained.
And Rudika? Exactly as I'd figured.
"Daggers, huh."
"Yeah. Rudika needs just this one."
A single pitch-black dagger. Nothing else.
Yeah, figures.
My prediction nailed it.
"Gear checked. Monsters ahead. Not like the Eastern Forest with its edible slimes and goblins. This is... a real battlefield."
"Understood."
"Might chafe having a non-combatant like me call shots, but I hired you, Nefti, and came here on your request, Rudika. So I'm in command. Objections?"
"None, my liege."
"Rudika none too."
"First and last strategy: Prioritize protection. Guard at all costs."
"......"
"......"
Don't gimme those looks, seriously.
"Misunderstanding. I'll be hiding by the cart or in the bushes. Orders go to you, Nefti: protect Rudika."
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
Who said protect me?
They eyed my orders skeptically at first, but after the initial monster clash, all doubts vanished.
Before explaining the tactic, you gotta know why the Sleeping Mountains—Act 2's stage—is named that.
They really put you to sleep.
No joke.
Worm-like monsters 【Sleepy】 specializing in sleep magic.
【Mothman】, humanoid-moth hybrids spraying sleep powder from wings.
Entry zone swarms with every 'sleep status' dealer.
Act 1 was brute force; Act 2 tests status ailments. That's the design.
Sadly, not assassin-friendly terrain.
But right now? Rudika's silent, footsteps silent.
She just appears behind and slits throats.
Hassan Style: Throat Slash: Lethal Strike
Critical damage inflicted
"Kieeeek!"
"Kiaaaaaak!"
"Kaaak! Kieeeeeek!!"
Two skills mowed down countless Sleepies and Mothmen.
Poor Mothmen. Just die already.
But their attacks don't miss Rudika entirely.
Can't dodge everything.
Sleepies are easy to evade, but Mothmen spray sleep powder on hit—reflex damage, basically.
Result? We risk sleep status.
Rudika, bare-handed with one dagger, gets sleepy? Then Wolfram dies.
So I pulled the ace: rotten player trickery.
"Never saw that coming. Using it like this."
I smirked at Nefti, sipping bean tea leisurely while guarding me.
That's why I shelled out a whopping forty thousand on her today.
Her Act 1 tank skill from the jump.
"Good thing you attended all your classes."
"Yup. Guardian Formation: Selfless Protection—it's in the first-year basics. But I never imagined this use."
Guardian Formation: Selfless Protection disperses attacks on a target across the user.
Nefti's got it on Rudika right now, active.
Key: status ailments count as attacks.
Not in the description, but they do.
Rudika's too quick for direct hits anyway—just watch reflexes—but Nefti's tanking those.
And Nefti's drinking my prepped mixed beans tea.
Mixed beans are items—throwable, but usually consumed—with early-game sleep resistance, naturally.
Battle summary: Sleep targets Rudika, but countered by Selfless Protection. Nefti blocks with hot tea. Rudika...
"Kieeeek!"
"Kyaaaak! Kueeeek!"
...freely shreds screeching Mothmen from afar.
Peaceful Act 2.
Free ride.
"Getting sleepy."
"Nod off and I dock pay."
"I shan't sleep. A knight falls standing, dead."
"Good attitude."
Rudika swept the field, grinning as she approached. Behind her, heaps of Mothmen and Sleepy corpses.
"Had a blast. Thanks, Wolfram. Nefti!"
"Hm."
Cheers to your way with words, calling that pile "fun."
"Anyway, bagged tons! Time to gather spicy herbs!"
"Was gonna anyway. Nefti."
"Yes, my liege."
"Gather the plants I name from now on. Got it?"
"......Yes."
"Earn your pay. Or I'll cut it."
"This Nefthelian frolics hills and dales, versed in herb-picking. If it serves your will, 'tis joy."
"Good."
Nefti headed off to forage, and I trudged through the corpse mound.
Perfectly clean kills. One throat slash each. Dagger's enchanted for self-repair and crit chance, sure—but skill mastery like this is next level.
Poor Mothmen. Farewell.
"Rudika."
"Yeah?"
"Any gloves drop from the Mothmen?"
"......Hm? Gloves drop? Oh, the ones they're wearing? Yeah."
"Figured. Where?"
"On the exact 51st Mothman I killed! Hang on..."
She kicked through the bodies. No fluids spilling—lucky these were dry ones.
Real relief.
Anyway, not drops on death—loot what they wear alive. Learned something new.
"Here! These gloves?"
"Yeah. I'll take 'em."
"Go for it!"
She handed them over, and I stared at the gloves.
Never thought I'd equip this item.
"What's with those? Never seen 'em."
"Exactly what I need right now."
"Ooh, explain?"
"Simple enough."
I recalled the Gloves of Balance info.
Gloves of Balance
9th Tier Magic Item Effect: Randomly +3 to one stat.
• Does not apply to stats 10+.
Yeah. D/Z's lifeline for total scrubs who can't hit stat 10 by Act 2.
Farming gloves to reach "human rights" baseline of 10.
"That's the item."
I skipped the D/Z bit, just the specs. Rudika's face went weirdly stiff.
"......Stats under 10 even exist? Wolfram always surprises Rudika!"
You'd freak more if you knew all his stats are like that. Strength, stamina, agility, magic, endurance—not human!
Kept that to myself lest she keel over.
Goddamn it.