Chapter 39
Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: If You Don't Come, I Will
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It had happened just a moment ago.
‘Guide this man to the storehouse.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
As Lee Shin followed the lord's knight to receive his reward, the nearby users realized why their own rewards had been so meager.
‘…So it was him!’
It was because Lee Shin had monopolized nearly all the contribution points!
They wondered how it was possible for one person to hoard such a massive amount, but it had happened right before their eyes.
Thanks to him, the rewards that should have been distributed evenly among the other users had all gone to Lee Shin.
The users wept inwardly.
Most of them had prepared extensively for this quest.
They had rented expensive equipment, bought consumables, and scraped together all the support they could get from their guilds.
All of it was an investment aimed at hitting it big on a territory quest like this.
And typically, such an investment would more than pay for itself upon the quest's successful completion.
But…
‘…I’m so screwed.’
‘What kind of third-place reward is this?’
This time was different.
Far from breaking even, their losses were staggering.
When you factored in the time lost on top of the financial damage, it was even worse.
“Hoo…”
“Damn it. All because of that one guy.”
The users glared resentfully at Lee Shin.
But there was nothing they could do.
It was already over.
If it had been during the quest, they would have done their best to interfere, but what could they do now that it was finished?
‘Tsk.’
In the end, most users decided to cut their losses and leave quickly.
But a few users had a different idea.
“Hey. Everyone, gather up.”
It was a group of looter players.
Having come as a party from the start, they took note of their target's numbers.
“Looks like two of them, right?”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen anyone else with them.”
A party of just two.
Considering most of the top-ranking contributors had been in parties, it was an incredibly small number.
In a way, it was even more impressive that they had achieved their rank with just two people, but right now, that fact only served to egg them on.
“…Should we kill them when they come out?”
The suggestion was made instantly.
Since they all shared a similar disposition, the decision was made in a flash.
“Of course, we have to take it.”
Besides, the reward Lee Shin must have received was far too tempting.
An item handpicked from the lord’s personal storehouse couldn't possibly be of low value.
“Alright. So where do we kill him? We can’t let the knights or soldiers see us.”
“I know a good spot.”
“Where?”
“There’s a secluded area on the way out of the lord’s castle…”
The plan came together seamlessly.
They quickly formulated a strategy and waited for Lee Shin to appear.
Just as they planned, Lee Shin soon appeared before them.
“…! There he is.”
Lee Shin emerged without a hint of suspicion.
The corners of the users' mouths curled up.
‘Are we going now?’
‘Yeah. You two block the back alley.’
‘Got it.’
As if they had done this many times before, the users moved with practiced ease.
They blocked their target's path from the front and back, then closed in.
‘Hand it over.’
‘What do you think, asshole? The gear you got.’
‘If you don’t want to die and have us take it…’
Up to this point, they were full of confidence.
Naturally.
After all, they had a huge numerical advantage.
But…
“You want my gear?”
Their target was strangely composed.
He even had the audacity to ask them back.
“Why should I?”
“…You don’t grasp the situation, do you?”
The user thought his opponent was just bluffing.
It happened sometimes.
Since it was a fairly large territory, the guy probably thought, ‘They wouldn’t actually kill me, would they?’ and was calling their bluff!
But…
If that was his gamble, he had miscalculated badly.
They had committed Player Kills inside territories countless times before.
“You think we can’t do it just because we’re in a territory?”
They were already used to this.
Of course, their infamy would rise even if they succeeded in the PK, but that didn't matter.
To be precise, they didn't care.
They became looter players in the first place because they didn't care about such things.
‘…’
Lee Shin could read the distinct atmosphere unique to these looter players.
They tended to focus more on what they could gain rather than worry about what they might lose.
That’s why Lee Shin liked users like them.
‘Interesting.’
Their high infamy meant they dropped a lot when killed, and it was amusing how they swaggered around with an infamy level that was nothing compared to his.
It was good for both entertainment and profit.
“…Are you laughing?”
The opponent frowned as Lee Shin suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
But Lee Shin ignored his reaction and spoke with a smile.
“Go on.”
“…What?”
“Do what you were going to do.”
But Lee Shin, who had been smiling, suddenly dropped his expression and fell silent.
His entire demeanor changed so drastically it was as if a different person had taken over his body.
“…!”
The users flinched, startled, and subconsciously rubbed their arms.
Then, Lee Shin spoke flatly.
“If you don’t come, I will.”
“What…?”
the user asked back, bewildered.
But instead of answering, Lee Shin charged forward as he had warned.
*Thud!*
A charge.
First Secret Sword, activated.
“…!”
The looter players’ eyes widened at Lee Shin's action.
‘A first strike?’
The implications were huge.
The one who attacks first gains far more infamy.
Regardless of who started it, they would be saddled with the bulk of the blame.
The fact that he didn't hesitate meant he either already had high infamy or was experienced in PK.
‘So he’s a PKer too!’
No wonder he was so calm.
They had briefly worried he had some ace up his sleeve, but it turned out he was just used to this kind of situation.
The user’s lips curled into a smirk.
‘This is… a jackpot!’
A fellow PKer meant high infamy, and he had even taken the first strike for them.
If they played this right, they could get a ton of items with almost no increase in their own infamy.
He sent a whisper to the warrior user who was now Lee Shin’s target.
‘Just let him hit you.’
—What? Why?
‘Let him have the first strike, then we counter. It’s not like he can one-shot you, right?’
It was a strategically sound suggestion, so the warrior nodded and slightly lowered his sword.
An opening intentionally left with the thought of just taking a light hit.
…The problem was, to Lee Shin, that opening looked absolutely massive.
‘…’
Lee Shin’s eyes grew cold.
He calmly allocated his skills.
First, a single-target debuff.
Mark of the Wicked.
Next, using his charge skill, he instantly closed the distance and got inside his opponent’s guard.
Pretending to thrust his sword, he kicked the opponent’s leg before he had a chance to react.
*Crack!!!*
“…Ugh?!!”
The opponent staggered.
He reflexively swung his sword, but…
Lee Shin easily dodged it, then slammed the reverse-gripped dagger in his other hand into the man’s head.
[A critical hit has landed!]
[Your vision blurs from the intense impact.]
“Keuk!!”
His vision blurring, the user staggered heavily.
The attack had landed squarely on a vital point, and the shock was immense.
It was a powerful enough blow to shave off 40% of his health.
His opponent was stronger than he had ever imagined.
‘…But it’s fine!’
Still, it was manageable up to this point.
Warriors had plenty of self-healing skills.
He thought his allies would buy him enough time to fall back and recover.
But he was wrong.
Instead of backing off, Lee Shin continued to stack damage during the brief window while his opponent was disoriented.
*Stab! Stab! Stab!*
[A critical hit has landed.]
[A critical hit has landed.]
[A critical hit…]
[…]
[A fatal blow! Your health is…]
“What is this?!”
He doggedly evaded the interference from the others, focusing his explosive damage on just one person.
From the perspective of the one standing still and taking the hits, it was a terrifying sight.
And it didn't even end there.
Paralysis Poison!
Just as the user was finally regaining his senses.
Lee Shin perfectly timed the paralysis skill embedded in his ‘Ring of the Poisoned Needle.’
[Target is afflicted with the ‘Paralysis’ status effect.]
[You are temporarily unable to move.]
“You thought it was over?”
“…!”
Then, he unleashed another torrent of damage on the user, who was once again frozen stiff.
The result.
“This has to be a bug…!”
“Don’t talk nonsense about bugs.”
*Stab!*
[A critical hit has landed.]
[…]
[You have killed a user.]
[You have acquired experience.]
[Your infamy has increased.]
The warrior died on his feet.
It was the result of taking every single attack without ever breaking free from the status effects.
Of course, Lee Shin had used up many of his skills in the process, but this was all part of his calculation.
Looking at the enemy party’s composition, the warrior he had just killed was the only one who could serve as a frontline.
The rest were either mages or rogues—all squishy classes.
With Lee Shin’s control, they were classes he could easily devour.
“…Don’t panic!”
Even though their warrior died in an instant, the users didn't panic too much.
To be precise, they were startled, but not so much that they forgot what they needed to do.
This was where their PK experience proved to be a clear advantage.
“It’s still fine!”
“His skills are on cooldown. Attack!”
Calm situational judgment.
Followed by a barrage of attacks from all sides.
It was a flawless response.
But.
[Evaded.]
[Evaded.]
[Evaded…]
“……??”
“……?”
Due to a pure difference in physical stats, not a single attack touched Lee Shin’s body.
Instead.
*Swish!!*
Lee Shin’s silent blade cut through a dumbfounded opponent.
***
It didn't take long for Lee Shin to deal with all the users.
He systematically cut down the users rushing him from all directions, one by one.
The result.
*Stab!*
[You have defeated an enemy.]
[You have acquired experience.]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 100! You can now enter the Arena.]
[You have murdered a user!]
[Your infamy has greatly increased.]
[Egg of Malice incubation time…]
[The incubation time for the Egg of Malice has been depleted. You can now hatch the Egg of Malice!]
“Hoo.”
Lee Shin let out a satisfied sigh.
He had finally reached level 100!
On top of that, he had shortened the remaining incubation time for the Egg of Malice.
Thanks to the looter players showing up right on time, he had saved himself a lot of trouble.
‘This worked out well.’
Lee Shin cleared away the mess of messages and picked up the dropped items and gold pouches.
The gold was decent, and…
‘Hmm?’
A whopping eleven pieces of equipment had dropped.
That was an average of 1.5 items per person!
‘That’s a lot.’
It was due to the drop rate penalty being significantly reduced as he leveled up, combined with the fact that his opponents were all experienced looter players.
The higher a player’s infamy, the more goods they dropped upon death, increasing exponentially.
Lee Shin let out a cheerful whistle.
But.
“……”
“……?”
Arthur wore an uneasy expression.
“What is it?”
At Lee Shin’s question, Arthur spoke cautiously.
“One of the people you just killed… I think I might know him.”
“You know him?”
“Yes.”
‘…Is he saying it’s an acquaintance?’
But if that was the case, he was barking up the wrong tree.
Lee Shin was the kind of person who would kill even a party member’s acquaintance without hesitation.
“So.”
Lee Shin said, his face hardening.
Arthur quickly waved his hands.
“No, no! He’s not an acquaintance of mine. Besides, that guy’s a foreigner.”
“Then what is it?”
“I think it’s this person. Here…”
“?”
Arthur shared his screen with Lee Shin.
On Arthur’s screen, a video from Avala Online was playing.
“Hmm?”
In it, he saw the face of a user who looked incredibly familiar.
It was one of the users Lee Shin had just killed.
“!”
Arthur explained.
“He’s a YouTuber from overseas. Do you know him?”
“No. He’s not in the rankings.”
“His name is Jeras. He’s pretty famous.”
“…Famous?”
Lee Shin tilted his head.
“At this level?”
“Uh… he’s kind of a special case. He used to play FPS games and just recently switched over.”
“Ah.”
“Anyway, that’s not the problem…”
Arthur trailed off, but Lee Shin could easily guess what he was going to say.
He was worried about what would happen if the guy uploaded a video to his own channel.
Arthur knew very well how sensitive Lee Shin was about his identity.
“Are you okay with this?”
Lee Shin silently scrolled down.
As the screen moved, a list of videos Jeras had uploaded appeared.
[Is there a way to make a million gold a day? Just loot it!]
[(Satisfying!) What happens when an FPS pro pretends to be a noob and joins a looter party?!]
[I accidentally dropped a million gold near a looter party.]
[Equipment? I don’t buy it.]
[…]
“Ah…”
As expected of someone from the hardcore FPS scene, Jeras’s main content revolved around PK and teaching others a lesson, rather than quests.
Lee Shin let out a smirk.
‘So that’s his style.’
His worries vanished as if washed away.
A player with this kind of personality would never upload a video of himself being miserably defeated in a 1-on-7 fight by some unknown user.
No, he wouldn’t be able to.