Bad Blood (2)
“Quest? Is there even a quest inside Bernstein Castle's main keep that a regular player could handle? It's all stuff aimed at castle guild members, isn't it?”
“There's Montena's pouch quest in Gevan Village, right? He says he got a superior healing potion from it and came looking for Raymond. Not sure if it's legit, though...”
“Superior healing potion? Oh, that quest item that gives a unique accessory? Whoa! I saw that screenshot and got hyped, bought and opened 500 pouches myself, and nada! You're bullshitting, right? That thing never drops—it's insanely rare!”
“The timing is suspicious, sure, but it's true. Guess I got lucky today or something. Came to claim the reward, and I had no idea the coronation was happening.”
“Hmph... It's not something that drops easily, but let's say it did, like you claim. So why show up right now to trade it in? Who shows up minutes before the coronation starts and demands entry for that? Doesn't it sound more like you're here to cause trouble, and now that access is restricted, you're making up some bullshit excuse on the spot?”
Il Do Yang Dan kept grilling me with his arrogant tone and rude informal speech from start to finish.
This asshole—on streams, he's always smiling, polite, well-spoken... total concept. Meeting him in person? He's a straight-up thug.
I was a bit thrown off by the gap between his streaming persona and this aggressive attitude, but I quickly gathered my thoughts and fired back.
“You're right—showing up on coronation day, right in the busy lead-up, was my mistake. But even if you're the Bernstein Castle guild owners, isn't blocking access to in-game quest NPCs going too far? I'm just a lone thief character with no interest in crashing the coronation. Isn't this overkill?”
“Ha! Overkill? Watch your mouth, punk—getting cocky now? You don't look low-level, so you know who I am and you're still pulling this shit? Hold up! So if you're telling the truth, you're saying you've got the superior healing potion right now?”
“Yeah, for real. Why's a ranker like you so suspicious? Just open a trade window—I'll show you!”
I started moving toward Il Do Yang Dan, who was standing a short distance away, ready to prove it with a trade window on the spot.
“Hey! Stop right there! Come any closer, and my sword's coming out!”
“...What?”
“Must've misunderstood me. When did I say show it in a trade window? If you really have it, drop it right where you're standing. Prove to everyone here it's real, and I'll personally get you inside the keep.”
“What the hell? I can just show it in a trade window—why would I drop an expensive item like that on the ground?”
Even for a ranker, this rude bullshit was crossing lines. Who did he think I was, a sucker? Was I nuts enough to drop it?
“Haha! Look at this guy, losing his cool. Who're you calling bullshit, you little shit? You're fucking crazy!”
“Why? You spew informal crap at me, but I can't clap back? No other players around, so you've been full asshole mode from the jump!”
I'd dealt with noobs being dicks in games before, but this level of malicious rudeness? It'd been ages.
So yeah, I lost control for a second.
“Whatever! Don't wanna drop it? Fine! What ballsy idiot causes a scene right before a coronation... turns out you're just a chickenshit pussy.”
“Whoa, the rudeness... No, seriously, why make me drop it on the ground when a trade window works? It's risky!”
“Hey, what about our risk? Why should we let some nobody into our coronation keep? Can't prove it? Quit whining and fuck off. Got it?”
“Damn, Il Do Yang Dan... never pegged you for this no-manners, lowlife trash. Fine. I'm out! Too gross—I'll trade later!”
His nonstop rudeness and nonsense finally boiled me over, and I spat venom right back.
I'd genuinely admired Taeseong guild's skills and raid clears on streams before...
No more Taeseong streams for me, even if they start with 'Tae'. Gross—ptui!
Anyway, no matter how much he provoked, there was no way I'd drop the superior healing potion like some lunatic.
I turned to leave, resigned—then his enraged voice boomed from behind.
“No manners? Lowlife? Gross what? This fucker's lost his mind! Hey... stop right there.”
“...What?”
“Solo no-guild scrub should've known better and fucked off. What makes a solo player mouth off harder than a top-tier guild exec? Even if I burn one of my two hit-list slots, I'll make you pay today.”
Player kill-on-sight system: Share hit lists of grudges (personal/guild), PK indiscriminately on sight. Major guilds run their own.
Hit list. The word slipped from Il Do Yang Dan's glaring lips, eyes bulging.
A system where guilds share grudge lists and PK targets on sight. Big guilds all ran their own.
Damn, knew his hothead ass would push me to quit one day. Should've just turned and left quietly instead of mouthing off...
Maybe 'cause I'm a worthless NEET IRL, but in-game, getting dissed sometimes made me snap back verbally.
It worked thanks to gaming anonymity. Problem? Past targets were nobodies—no fallout. This time? Way out of my league.
“Hit list...? C'mon, no need for that harsh talk. Sorry—I let my pride get the best of me. I apologize.”
Couldn't trash my character over this petty shit. Games let you rage like a maniac, but also apologize quick as hell.
“Nah. I might've misjudged. You could be a legit quest guy... but now I'd look like the villain.”
“No, you're not. Who'd call Il Do Yang Dan a villain? Not me, for sure.”
“No, no. Makes me look like I'm bullying a solo player. So yeah, dropping the quest item to prove innocence seems right. Do that, show everyone, and I'll apologize and let you in myself.”
Dunno if he's naturally a dick or I caught him on a bad day... but it felt like he was venting on me.
Otherwise, a ranker and top guild exec wouldn't act this unreasonably.
“Hm, that's tricky. Coronation day's hectic—I'll come back when it's quiet. See ya.”
“Hey, where you going? Wasted all this talk just to bail? So 'innocent,' but chickening out? Think someone's gonna steal from your feet? C'mon, watch this!”
With that, Il Do Yang Dan unequipped his sword and dropped it at his feet.
Legendary
A stunning longsword gleamed on the dry stone floor, vanishing back into Il Do Yang Dan's inventory moments later.
Never seen a unique drop before—let alone my first real legendary like this.
“See? Easy, right? I can drop my legendary sword anytime.”
“N-no. No need to prove innocence that way, right? I'm outta here!”
“Whoa? Leaving like that ignores me completely. I even dropped my sword personally, and you just walk? Wanna quit the game for real? Haha!”
Clear as day: treating me like a mark, scheming. He wanted that potion dropped bad—steal it or screw me somehow.
Too late to ignore or log. With that dick attitude, he'll hit-list me for sure...
Thought it through fast... trapped.
I scanned around carefully one last time, then decided.
Plaza center's still packed. But here, controlled—zero players moving...
No nearby players to snag it. Stealth/invis users the worry, but item pickup blocked in those states anyway.
“Fine, apologies don't work on you? Alright, man up and I'll drop it. Plenty watching you—1 second enough? One time only—check good and keep your word.”
“Yeah, yeah! Chicken but not total pussy, huh? Fun guy after ages. Heh.”
“Fuck... ugh, whatever. Dropping!”
His smug vibe grated to the end, but to dodge the hit list, I dropped the potion.
Gave it a 1-second breather, then bent to grab it—
Provocation Aura!
Il Do Yang Dan suddenly targeted me with the common aggro skill Provocation Aura.
Mainly for monsters in raids/fields, but on players, it forces a brief gaze-lock—great for interrupting escapes or attacks.
“Knew it! Knew you'd pull something!”
Hoped he'd let it slide, but nah—not just checking.
Distance was decent, though—Provocation alone couldn't stop me grabbing it.
Judged that instant, ditched the pickup, and dove sideways without hesitation.
Air Bomb!
Boom!
Sure enough, a knockback wind spell hit where I'd stood—dodged by a hair.
“Wh-what?! That bastard! How'd he know?!”
Il Do Yang Dan bellowed, but no time to respond.
Even if Air Bomb knocked me, he was too far to rush and snag first.
Meant he had backup to grab it for him—nearby, out of my sight till now.
Stealth. Or invis character lurking.
Shadow Step!
That thought flashed—that's when I sensed an invisible thief teleport behind me with the familiar skill.
He'd dropped stealth during the Provocation/Air Bomb chaos, prepped to snatch.
Rankers are rankers!
Not planned, so ad-hoc team—but seamless, fluid teamwork.
Any slip, and he'd have beaten me to it.
If I were a normal thief!
But I read it perfectly, took the one path to evade.
Click.
Grabbed the potion—thief's hand grazed past just behind.
Almost lost a millions-won item to these thugs.
“You thug bastards! Suspected it, but rankers pulling this shit...?”
Charging!
My furious shout cut short.
Charging knight class skill from rushing Il Do Yang Dan—sent me flying.
Splat, thud!
[Received 2,274 physical damage from Il Do Yang Dan.]
[Fell into 2-second knockback status abnormality.]
Charging's just a dash with status effect—not huge damage coeff.
But one hit shaved a third of my HP—I crumpled pathetically before him.
First taste of a ranker knight's Charging—leagues beyond any knight I'd faced. Different caliber.
“Whoa... what the hell is this guy? Three of us, and he still fucks it up?”
A agreeing voice chimed in at his disappointed grumble.