Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: A Common Setup
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1. A common setup, huh?
"Sorry, but could we talk for a moment?"
"I'm not really in the mood to chat."
"It'll just take a second."
"I don't even want that."
The man glared at Sung-hoon inwardly. If this were the old him—or even three days ago—he might have shrunk back from that look. But things were different now. To Sung-hoon, who had killed living creatures multiple times in the Starting Room, the man's grip on his sword and his threats were utterly un intimidation. No, rather, the man unwittingly took a step back from an inexplicable chill.
But after glancing at the woman behind him, he stepped forward again.
"I heard you just completed the Rat Pack Hunt quest. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me a bit about it?"
He could refuse, or even spread false info here to sow confusion among the crowd. Everyone in the room was pretending to fiddle with their papers while eavesdropping on him and the man. Sung-hoon, about to brush it off simply, suddenly had a thought and opened his mouth.
"I'll tell you, but on one condition."
"What is it? As you can see, I don't have any money."
"I'm not asking for money. Could you tell me your title?"
The man hesitated for a moment. If he'd asked for guild or something, he'd have refused outright. He and his girlfriend together had less than fifty guild left. But a title? It wasn't stats or anything major; it didn't seem like a big deal.
"My title is Brave Survivor."
"Got it. Thanks for sharing."
He himself had gained Cowardly Survivor, while the other had Brave Survivor. Judging by the name, he seemed somewhat trustworthy. Now, the issue was the info. Fake or real? Sung-hoon quickly decided.
"Don't do the Rat Pack Hunt if you can avoid it."
"May I ask why?"
"You'll know if you try it yourself, but catching rats is no easy quest."
"Even so, it's just rats..."
"Dealing with rats isn't the problem. The problem is having to catch them. If you're not prepared enough, I don't recommend it."
Sung-hoon chose to give real info.
There were more than a few people here, and more kept streaming in. If he said it was easy, most would pick Rat Pack Hunt. And sure, some would complete it. Better to give correct advice than spread lies and earn resentment.
'Besides, even if I give the right info, some won't believe it.'
"Hmph, catching rat pups isn't easy? He's full of it."
"Look at the other quests. Better than dogs or wolves, right?"
"That's a lie?"
"Yeah. Think about it. He's bluffing to scare people off Rat Pack Hunt so they flock to Wild Dog Hunt and fail—probably gets a kick out of it."
"Don't fall for that guy's lies!"
Even facts wouldn't convince them.
The reason was simple: the name "Rat Pack Hunt" clouded their judgment. Anyone who's played games knows rats are tutorial fodder. Even non-gamers know rats are weak.
They probably figured rats were way easier than dogs.
And once someone spun a plausible theory, Sung-hoon instantly became the bad guy.
"I'll do Rat Pack Hunt."
"Me too, Rat Pack Hunt."
"Th-this isn't first-come-first-served, right? Rat Pack Hunt for me too!"
Before anyone could stop them, crowds vanished in bursts of light. The vicious cycle didn't end there. Newcomers entering saw people disappearing after "Rat Pack Hunt" and rushed to accept it too. Sung-hoon could have intervened.
But he didn't.
He'd given sound advice; their choice to ignore it was on them.
They still lacked a sense of reality, imagining rats that popped up damage numbers and dropped items when hit.
"Heh heh heh."
Thinking of them as moths to a flame, Sung-hoon chuckled softly. If not for the man and woman still staring, he'd have burst out laughing. Barely suppressing it with a hand to his mouth, he turned away.
"Wild Dog Hunt quest, please."
"Wait! Won't you party up?"
"Parties are allowed?"
"Yes. My girlfriend and I have been together since the Tutorial. I asked around, and quests can be done in parties."
The word "party play" froze Sung-hoon momentarily. Thinking about it, if it followed game rules, parties were natural.
Dogs versus allies. Weighing pros and cons briefly, he shook his head.
'I can handle wild dogs solo. Bringing those two means preparing for betrayal. Plus, the woman seems useless in combat, and it'd reveal too much about me.'
After some time, maybe. But right now, at the game's start, pulling out coat, sword, swordsmanship, potions, food nonstop? They'd suspect him for sure. Maybe even backstab for his wealth.
"I refuse. I'll hunt alone. No Wild Dog Hunt?"
"Ah, right now!"
Wuuuung!
Pure white light began enveloping the surroundings. He could vanish silently, but Sung-hoon unexpectedly spoke up. It was payback to the man for the party play info.
"I'm serious. Do Pest Removal instead."
"Wait..."
Before he could stop him, the man vanished into the light.
Watching this, Lee Young-gi lowered his arm with a sigh. Crowds were pouring in, most picking Rat Pack Hunt. He wanted to pick it too.
But his girlfriend, Park Hye-na, worried him. Dropped into this world suddenly, she was half out of it. During the Tutorial quest, without him, she'd have died fast.
She needed rest, but guild was critical.
Before the Mission Office, seeking an inn-like spot for rest, Young-gi gaped at the hundred-guild nightly rate.
'Thirty guild.'
After buying weapon and basic swordsmanship with base rewards and bonuses, no inn for even a day. Like it or not, missions were survival.
Best while still energetic. Like these folks, fresh. Lamenting or wandering hungry and exhausted before a mission? Worst choice.
"Hye-na. Can you move?"
"Y-yeah. I can."
"Then let's quest. We'll do..."
After brief thought, recalling the vanished man's advice, Young-gi said,
"Pest Removal, please."
"Oppa, if it's because of me, it's fine. We can do Rat Pack Hunt too..."
"No. It's not you. I'm uneasy. We're newbies, right? Bugs should be easier than rats, anyway."
In the end, Young-gi followed the man's words. Even after they vanished in light, people kept entering the Mission Office steadily. And most chose Rat Pack Hunt.
The truth doesn't always prevail.
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