Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Let's Be a Sucker! (1)
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[Warning! 10 days remaining until the 705th wave.]
A pixelated window blinked before my eyes.
I crossed my arms and stared at the familiar phrase.
‘The interval is incredibly short this time.’
Not even four full days had passed since I cleared the last wave.
I thought back on the cycle of monster invasions on the Lord's Castle so far.
There had been a gap of nearly a month between the 703rd and 704th waves.
The other waves had also given me some time to breathe.
‘Not that I can complain. This isn't a game, after all.’
In the original MonMonMak, I could just play whenever I wanted.
But the MonMonMak linked to my current status window made that impossible.
Leading the charge by teleporting directly into the 704th wave had once again reminded me that this was stark reality.
“Still, I hope this wave is a little less intense.”
[The Sage agrees with you. The monsters of the Lord's Castle have not yet recovered from the injuries sustained in the last battle.]
The Sage chimed in from the side.
It was right.
Thanks to Idic, the monsters belonging to the Lord's Castle, especially those who made up the bulk of my forces, had narrowly escaped death.
‘It should be manageable as long as no troublesome monsters show up.’
If there were no high-ranking monsters with the Absolute attribute or Void monsters, the castle's long-range interception alone should be enough.
Assuming the analysis of the Void attribute was completed before the wave.
Even if a Void monster appeared, it would be a fight worth fighting.
[Activating the Spire of the Half-Dragon's Gaze to check the wave composition information.]
Soon, information on the 705th wave appeared.
I had been greatly surprised when I checked the information for the last wave.
And this time was no different.
[705th Wave Information - Slime King (2-Star), Slime Queen (2-Star), and many other Slime-type monsters]
“...Slimes?”
I narrowed my eyes.
This was a different kind of surprise than when I had first seen Idic.
Slimes, slimes? Were they the slimes I was thinking of?
I racked my brain for any other possibilities.
‘No, they're just simple slimes.’
Despite the grand title of "King," its stats were a pathetic 2-stars. Its only trait was Regeneration.
They were indeed the slimes, the lowest-tier mobs looked down upon not only in MonMonMak but in reality as well.
Just in case, I glanced at the Lord in the Audience Chamber.
But no particular exclamation mark appeared above her head.
“A horde of 2-star slimes...”
Compared to the 704th wave, the difficulty was like the difference between heaven and earth, even beyond that, between heaven and hell.
Even back in the crappy game days of MonMonMak, the slime wave was easy enough for most newbies to clear.
“This actually makes me more anxious.”
[The Sage somewhat agrees with your opinion.]
The status window version of MonMonMak was full of variables.
Even if it was a wave composed solely of slimes, who knew what kind of twisted restriction would be placed on it, or what monstrous buffs the slimes might have.
It was at that moment.
[The Spire of the Half-Dragon's Gaze displays a new piece of missing information.]
Missing information?
With a puzzled expression, I tapped the pixelated window.
[All monsters in the 705th wave will gain the ability 「Absolute Regeneration」 due to the effects of 「Interference」.]
Sure enough, an unexpected variable was added.
While Absolute Regeneration, an ability I'd never seen before, was a concern, my eyes were fixed on the word before it.
“Interference...?”
Interference.
That meant an external force had intervened in this slime wave.
“Sage, can you analyze it?”
Snort!
[The Sage informs you that it is impossible to grasp the concept of 「Interference」 with this information alone.]
The Sage shook its body.
I fell silent, lost in thought.
Perhaps the abnormally fast wave cycle was also related to this Interference.
“Absolute Regeneration.”
This trait, which I was seeing for the first time, was also a problem.
In MonMonMak, Regeneration was a common trait.
When damage was taken during combat, there was a certain probability of health being restored.
However, the prefix "Absolute" was the issue.
Just like the Absolute attribute, I had never seen a normal trait with the word "Absolute" attached to it.
They were all just twisted, monstrous things.
“If they were just regular slimes, they'd be manageable with just magic cannons or acid shell interceptions.”
Now I had to consider various variables.
It could have an absurd effect, like fully restoring all lost health at regular intervals.
Slimes were already notoriously tenacious due to their regenerative abilities, second to none in that regard.
[The Sage has considered all variables and concluded that the probability of the Lord's Castle falling to the slime wave converges to zero. However, it warns that the wave defense could become a significantly prolonged battle.]
“Right, that's the problem.”
As long as there wasn't a buff like "increase attack power by 100 times" in addition to Absolute Regeneration, the Lord's Castle wouldn't fall.
However, there was no telling how long it would take.
This was no time to be complacent. As always, I decided to do my best for this wave.
‘To do that, I'll need to acquire a monster that can nullify regeneration abilities.’
Nullifying regeneration.
It appeared quite often in MonMonMak, but it was one of the rarer abilities in reality.
But I had a reliable informant who would bring me information on anything I asked for, one way or another.
I picked up my smartphone.
“No, I should go see him in person after all this time.”
I put it back down and stood up.
Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've seen our prospective eunuch's face.
‘I hope he's properly handling the things I asked of him.’
Though it was more of a threat disguised as a request.
I needed to properly check if he was up to any strange business behind my back and how the work was progressing.
* * *
“Goddammit!”
In the magnificent Heukgyeon Guild building in Cheongdam-dong.
Inside, a man whose nether regions were being held hostage was roughly tearing at his hair.
On the 32-inch monitor behind the nameplate [Ju Jisan, Head of the Heukgyeon Guild], a post from an online community was displayed.
It was the very same community site where nasty rumors had spread back when he was flying high as a "Sponsor Guild," nearly causing him to beat up his secretary.
This time, too, a post about the Heukgyeon Guild had been published on the community.
However, its content was quite a bit different from before.
OP - What was that guild called again, the one that gives out items to powerless, exploited newbie Hunters these days?
⌎ Ah, you talking about 'that guild'?
⌎ If it's a guild that gives items to newbies, it's gotta be 'that guild' lolol
OP - My friend called me crying, said he got potions and gear from them for a cheap price; he was really struggling, so I was genuinely happy for him ㅇㅇ But he won't tell me the name lol
⌎ Ah, back in the day, just mentioning 'that guild' would get your post deleted instantly;
⌎ That was the old days lolol They've completely changed since switching to that VIP sponsorship system
⌎ The hope of all newbies, the true 'Sponsor Guild'! You're talking about the Heukgyeon Guild, my friends!
⌎ They're really committed to the concept, holy shit;;
⌎ lolololololol
“No, don't! Don't say it! Don't say it's us doing the sucker's work!”
Ju Jisan shrieked as he furiously scrolled the mouse wheel.
“Secretary, find the bastard who wrote this... ah.”
He frantically looked for the secretary who used to be by his side, only to clamp his mouth shut.
He remembered that his secretary, whose debt had been forcibly paid off, had left without a second thought.
In other words, there was no one left in the Heukgyeon Guild who would work like a dog for him.
“Sh-shit...”
And so, Ju Jisan scrolled down with a tearful face.
OP - Ah, so it's Heukgyeon? But wait, isn't that the same Heukgyeon that used to be called those black sons of bitches?
⌎ Yep yep, Heukgyeon completely changed after they switched to the VIP sponsorship system and got rid of their old Hunters.
⌎ They've become the true 'Sponsorship' Kings~
OP - How exactly did they change?
⌎ For starters, they provide stuff like potions to inexperienced newbie Hunters for dirt cheap.
⌎ Yeah, I heard they also lend out equipment almost for free to Hunters who don't have a guild or got abandoned by small-time guilds.
⌎ lol They're not the Black Dogs (Heukgyeon) anymore, they're the Big Suckers (Heugu) now ㅇㅇ But they only give benefits to Hunters who diligently go on expeditions, so whatever.
OP - Wow, for real, they're suddenly managing their image; They used to be complete black sons of bitches;
⌎ Yep, so their public image has shot through the roof lately; They're rated higher than most small-to-mid-sized guilds.
⌎ They've become the Dark Knight, just like their guild name suggests lolololol
⌎ Heukgyeon! Heukgyeon! Suckers! Suckers!
OP - So the Heukgyeon Guild was a good guild after all; Maybe I should start working hard on expeditions and build up my record to get some sponsorship too.
“Don't get any! Go away, argh!”
Ju Jisan finally stopped scrolling.
Countless more posts followed below, and over 90 percent of them were praises for the Heukgyeon Guild.
But that in itself was a fatal blow to Ju Jisan, the head of the Heukgyeon Guild.
“The money I earned by sucking the blood, sweat, and tears of others for the past few years...”
It was only natural for their public image to improve.
Hunters who belonged to small guilds but were always ostracized and went on expeditions alone.
Or the fledglings who had just set foot in this world.
He was lending them potions and equipment almost for free.
Of course, this was by no means something Ju Jisan was doing of his own volition.
“The VIP... that damn VIP...”
—I want to grow this Heukgyeon Guild into one that stands shoulder to shoulder with the three great guilds. To do that, we must first revamp our image, don't you think?
It had all stemmed from that proposal by Kim Hanul.
He had naturally tried to refuse, but the authority of a VIP was a terrifying thing, and in the end, he had no choice but to tearfully reinvent himself.
Selling the potions he had bought from Kim Hanul for 1.5 times the price to these fledglings for practically nothing.
Into such a thoroughly kind and wonderful sucker guild.
Ju Jisan had desperately tried to hide the guild's "good deeds," but in this day and age, rumors spread faster than light, and it was not something that could be hidden simply by trying.
“My money... my money is leaking away...”
Thanks to that, the sponsorship request calls, which had numbered only about one a day when he started the "kind sponsorship" at the VIP's tear-jerking command...
Now came in such droves that his phone was practically on fire.
This community post would probably spread and make things even crazier.
“How do you delete this post? Why doesn't this community have a contact number for its staff! Or a customer service center!”
Ju Jisan yelled, pressing his nose to the screen with a bewildered expression.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
Knock, knock.
—Sir. You have a visitor.
It was the voice of a guild office worker he had barely managed to keep by doubling their salary.
“What is it, dammit! I'm busy right now! Tell them to wait downstairs, I'll be there after I delete this!”
It's probably just another useless bum hoping for a kind sponsorship!
He shouted with a rough voice, thinking just that.
—Uh, well... It's the VIP...
“I may be busy, but a visit from our VIP must be treated with special care. Why are you asking such pointless questions! Show him in at once!”
The sucker Guild Leader was quick to change his tune.