Chapter 14 - Don't Worry About Me, Just Solve the Problem Right in Front of You First

"Don't worry about me—solve the problem right in front of you first. It's an important virtue to always think about what your priorities are, Hwang Jae-min kiddo."

No sooner had the nanny my mom had dispatched on her own whim arrived than she started spouting what sounded like either nagging or utter nonsense.

'Where is she?'

I glanced around. But I couldn't spot any woman who seemed to be the one talking to me.

A guy with a healthy mind and body like mine couldn't be hearing things. So it must just be a voice in my head. Kinda creepy.

"If it doesn't look like it'll work out, get lost quick. Can't you see the people waiting behind you are backed up?"

"National Defense? Association affiliate? Ha, even I can't believe my ears. You think that's remotely reasonable?"

"Ah, no. Why is the Speechcraft skill...?"

The woman who'd tempted me for a moment just now gave in to the scouts' urging and left. Even as she walked away, she kept muttering "This can't be right..." and glancing back at me.

The voice came again. Well, with Mom acting as my constellation, there was no reason to be surprised by voices in my head anymore. Still, it was about time for a proper explanation...

Mom?

I stared into empty space with eyes urging an explanation, but there was no response from Mom. Was she still sulking?

What? Logged out? Suddenly?

Ah, got it. Makes sense—with her planning to sponsor me long-term, God Coins are essential. Looks like even over there, you need money for a stable gamer life.

I was nodding along when...

"Hm?"

Amid the chirping scouts repeating offers of signing bonuses and special treatment, I spotted a man turning to leave. A middle-aged guy with a gloomy face. I knew that face.

He must've come as a scout too, but given the fierce competition from massive guilds, he'd probably gotten intimidated and given up early.

"...The habit of pondering what's the right priority, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠huh."

Not wrong. I admit it.

I muttered quietly to myself, then shot to my feet and exited the access module.

"H-Hwang Jae-min-ssi?"

"...!"

The moment I stood, the chattering crowd went dead silent. All those eyes on me were asking if I'd finally decided on a guild.

Yeah, I had. But it wouldn't be the answer they wanted.

"Excuse me."

I approached the man trying to slink away with his dark expression. But he clearly hadn't even dreamed I'd be talking to him—his trudging steps didn't stop.

No choice. I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm talking to you."

That instant.

"...?!"

His shoulder jerked up so sharply I thought he might've had a heart attack. Whoa, nearly startled me too. He turned his head toward me with a creak like a broken machine, pointing at himself with wide eyes.

"M-Me? You mean me?"

"Who else?"

"Wh-What business do you have with me...?"

He had that "no way" look. The scouts clustered behind me, watching the scene, were buzzing with the same vibe. No way? Maybe? Nah, probably not. All without a word.

No point beating around the bush. I threw a straight fastball.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to sign with your Black Lion Guild."

My words echoed through the stunned silence, and everyone's jaws dropped.

Black Lion Guild. Not some massive name anyone would know—not one of those mid-to-small guilds scattered across Korea like pebbles. At least, not yet.

I knew this guild's future. 'Exactly half a year after recruiting that guy, they skyrocketed.'

And I even knew the internal affairs of Black Lion that weren't public knowledge. How could I not? In my first round, it was the guild where I'd worked as a porter.

And above all... 'To find the clue for the Poison Fog Dungeon, this is still the fastest way.'

***

"J-Just so you know, we can't offer the kind of signing bonus other guilds are proposing. Our situation isn't that great. O-Of course, you're way above our league, so we'll guarantee the best treatment we can..."

"I get it. No take-backs or anything, so don't worry."

"R-Really? I overstepped. Sorry..."

How many times was that now? I'd stopped counting after five.

The pathetic uncle gripping the wheel, sweating bullets like he was in the shower, was named Heo Jin-hwan. Scout for Black Lion Guild and a 'Searcher' who secured gate entry contracts.

Now a licensed player myself, I sat in the back seat of the smoothly cruising SUV, heading to Black Lion's HQ.

"..."

I pondered. Should I call out that subtle poking at my sore spot with the "Hwang Jae-min kiddo" bit? Or ask about this "shop" thing she'd suddenly mentioned?

'Arguing with a voice in my head is pointless.'

It'd just tire me out. Go with the latter.

She could read my thoughts annoyingly well anyway, so I didn't even need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to voice it aloud. No risk of Heo Jin-hwan seeing me as some muttering lunatic talking to thin air.

'What does that shop thing mean?'

Felt like a little kid dumped at kindergarten while my parents were away. Wasn't this treatment too much for a new country's adult, Ma'am..?

'So what are shop points used for?'

"Look forward to it," my ass. Stop dodging and explain properly. Quit dangling bait like a snake slithering over a fence.

"Tsk."

I clicked my tongue quietly enough that Heo Jin-hwan wouldn't hear. That's when—

Screech—!

"Oh dear..."

Heo Jin-hwan sighed as the car slammed to a halt. Looking ahead, barricades were densely blocking the road.

Next to them? Armed soldiers were controlling civilian access, guarding a fiercely swirling red gate.

Heo Jin-hwan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Looks like an Outbreak is about to happen... This was the fastest way to HQ. Sorry about this, Hwang Jae-min-ssi."

"No, no. It's not your fault, so why apologize?"

"But..."

"If we have to blame someone, it's the players inside that gate. A red gate not cleared in a week leading to an Outbreak isn't that rare, right?"

I didn't really blame them. Just talking to cheer him up. But his self-reproach didn't fade, so I changed the subject.

"By the way, every time I see something like this, I can't help but think the dungeon system is such a pain. Right? It'd be nice if other players could just get thrown into the gate to clear it quick..."

"Yeah, tell me about it. Once even one player enters a gate, the entrance seals for three days, so no way around it."

"Let's just blame the god who made the dungeons if there is one—for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠setting up such a crap system. Sound good?"

"...That's a good idea."

Heo Jin-hwan's expression finally brightened. Tough crowd.

Unlike the newly warmed-up vibe inside, things outside were tense.

Rrrrrumble—!

'That's done for.'

Mana waves so intense the car shook. At this rate, it'd burst in at least 30 minutes...

Kaboom—!

"Outbreak!"

"Everyone, battle stations!"

"Player support's still far off?!"

...30 minutes? More like 30 seconds.

The resonating gate beyond the barricades tore open. And what emerged?

[Kraaaaargh—!]

"O-Ogre!"

"A Twin Head one, even—!"

A one-eyed two-headed giant burst from the ripped gate with a roar. Twin Head Ogre. Classified as C+ hazard—not to be taken lightly.

But, 'How much was the bounty and byproducts for subjugating a C+ hazard?'

To me, it looked like a jackpot. Sure, C+ wasn't easy, but I'd already beaten the exceptional Cerberus. Plus, the ogre's massive body was covered in gruesome wounds—proof some nameless player inside had fought hard.

Victory had gone to the ogre in the end, though.

"I'll soothe that nameless player's soul."

"Ah! Hwang Jae-min-ssi!"

Ignoring Heo Jin-hwan's shout, I got out, hopped the barricade. A soldier blocked me, but I flashed my brand-new license.

"Whoa, you're a player! Perfect timing!"

The 'Grade: B' stamped boldly on it worked wonders. The relieved soldiers stepped aside without a word, assuming player backup had arrived.

So what the hell were those shop points for anyway? Serious moment, don't deflate me.

One lucky break: Unlike with Cerberus, I already knew how to take down the Twin Head Ogre—from a quick glance at its entry in the bestiary during round one.

If I didn't, I wouldn't have strutted out so boldly.

'First, target the head whose eye isn't bloodshot.'

That one. The right head. It moved viciously, so ideally I'd stay out of range and aim for the eye...

Right then.

"Nice!"

Did it read my wish? The ever-reliable Pandora's Box summoned a bow and arrow that landed lightly in my hands! A black compound bow specialized for large monsters.

Hummm—.

I channeled mana into the arrow on the string. Blue energy swirled round, condensing at the silver arrowhead.

The moment my gaze locked with its single eye in mid-air...

Twang—!

The blue arrow shot off with a sharp whoosh, dead-aimed at the right head's eyeball.

But,

[Kraa—!]

Splat!

Not dumb, it raised an arm and snatched the arrow easily.

'Eyes wide open, but won't hand over the weak spot easy, huh?'

But I hadn't underestimated it. I'd prepared.

Boom—!

[Khack—!?]

The arrow exploded in its grip, scattering small, sharp mana thorns everywhere. Losing its right hand to the blast, blood and flesh sprayed into its eyes—it squeezed both eyelids shut, howling.

Couldn't really call that hitting the 'eye.'

"—I can get in easy! I know that much!"

Whoosh—!

I kicked off the ground in a sprint as the compound bow dissolved into particles. Gripping a single-edged Bowie knife from Pandora's Box in reverse grip, I charged the ogre.

"...!"

The ogre barely opened its left eye and swung its massive flail. But with half its vision gone, the wild swing couldn't touch me.

Bam—!

The falling flail smashed the ground instead. I leaped onto it, dashed up its arm to the forearm, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then kicked off again for a final jump.

And finally,

"Closing your eyes won't help."

I clung to its head. Before its brutish hands could shake me off...

Stab—!

I drove the mana-wrapped dagger into its tightly shut eyelid. A squelching feel traveled up the hilt to my wrist. The blade had pierced the eyeball proper.

[Kraaaahhh—!]

A soprano scream unfit for its ugly mug burst from its mouth. Eye down—one more to go.

'Neck vertebrae!'

Twin Head Ogres weaken at the neck vertebrae membrane after eye attacks. Next target: the core wrapped in that weakened sheath.

Whoosh—!

Hanging from its brutish face, I flipped acrobatically to its nape. Sure enough, through the loosened membrane pulsed a purple core like a heartbeat.

Slash—!

I sliced horizontally, tearing flesh and wrecking the core.

[...!]

No reprieve—it died instantly. And with that,

Thud—!

The house-sized bulk toppled forward.

"Whew..."

I wiped the greasy sweat from my brow and exhaled thinly. Overdid it since morning? Still, the C+ subjugation bounty and byproduct rights were all mine—a solid win.

Man, how much was that worth?

Oh, already? Quicker than I thought. A bit earlier, and Mom could've seen me take down the Twin Head Ogre coolly.

'Check the stat window...?' Out of nowhere?

Why drag out the "Hwang Jae-min kiddo" to piss me off at the end? Looking forward to next time? I don't wanna see you again!

"View."

Grousing, I opened my stat window.

"..."

What was this? Something new at the end.

"I can raise whatever stats I want...? What the..."

Normally, players boost stats via skills, items, and achievement bonuses from dungeon clears. That was the only way to grow stronger.

No RPG-style level-up points to freely allocate. That was universal for all players on Earth.

Or should be.

"..."

But I had it now. A 'Stat Point Distribution' system. Freedom to pick and choose stats like a buffet!

"Of course, Mom! Loved the nanny! Hope we meet again!"

Even I couldn't believe my own LTE-level attitude flip.