Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Gawain's Temple
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Camping out like this was a world away from what they’d done inside the Labyrinth dungeon.
A proper campfire, hot water bubbling in a pot, and all sorts of bedding, including the soft, fluffy sleeping bags they’d received from Loxley.
Choi Yu-ra, who had taken off her shoes and coat and slipped into her sleeping bag with only her face peeking out, widened her eyes.
“Loxley gave you that kind of advice?”
The conflicting rumors about Players and the subtle advice that it might be better not to reveal their status so openly.
Seong Yu-jin, sitting by the campfire and drinking warm milk, nodded.
“I don’t think he’s entirely wrong. But I also don’t think it’s a good idea to just hide it unconditionally.”
Since the world's view of Players was so divided, there was little to gain by actively revealing their status. But on the other hand, hiding it wasn't the best solution either.
Kang-seok, sitting by the fire like Seong Yu-jin, added.
“That’s right. Unless the people of this world are on a witch hunt for Players, there’s no need to lie about it. A clumsy attempt at deception could just make us lose their trust. And Loxley wasn't saying to hide it completely, just not to be too obvious about it.”
There was a world of difference between not going out of your way to reveal you were a Player and getting caught after claiming you weren't one.
As Seong Yu-jin said, unless there was an actual witch hunt against Players, there was no need to create unnecessary misunderstandings and distrust.
“Actually, I’m more concerned about…”
“About what?”
When Kang-seok trailed off, Choi Yu-ra immediately pressed him.
Kang-seok thought for another moment, then looked at Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra before speaking.
“From now on, I think we need to be careful about revealing our origin games.”
“Our origin games?”
Seong Yu-jin tilted her head. Kang-seok let out a long breath before answering.
“A Player’s abilities depend on which game they came from. Of course, there are individual differences, but you can’t ignore the systemic gap.”
They all came from Blood, but there was a clear difference in the combat abilities of Kim Kang-san, Kim Nam-yeong, and An Jae-min.
It wasn't just because Kim Kang-san had better equipment than Kim Nam-yeong and An Jae-min.
But before discussing individual differences, the focus had to be on the differences between the games themselves.
“Take us, for example. It’s funny for me to say it myself, but… in one-on-one combat, my mobility, as you once said, Yu-jin, is practically cheating from the perspective of people from other games.”
“It really is ridiculous.”
Choi Yu-ra nodded in agreement. Even to her, who came from an FPS game, Kang-seok's movements were literally ‘cheating’.
He was fast and could maneuver in mid-air, so in terms of mobility alone, he might be the best among all existing Players.
Kang-seok gestured toward Choi Yu-ra with his chin.
“You too, Yu-ra. The Gigantes Descent.”
The Gigantes Descent Choi Yu-ra had used in the fight against the Abomination. A unique feature of Gigantes Down, not found in other FPS games.
“The Kron consumption is massive, and you can only use it once or twice a month, but the Gigantes is definitely a powerful weapon. Putting everything else aside, its sheer size and weight are immense.”
Of course, the Gigantes wasn't invincible. As proven in the fight with the Abomination, its durability wasn't that great, and its offensive weapons were quite limited.
In truth, though he hadn't told Choi Yu-ra or Seong Yu-jin, Kang-seok was confident he could win against Yu-ra's Gigantes even with his bare hands.
Even so, the presence of the Gigantes was formidable. It was hard to say how it would fare later on, after Players had grown stronger, but it was a skill that would undoubtedly be immensely powerful in the 'early stages'.
Kang-seok paused to organize his thoughts before speaking again.
“We haven't met many Players yet, and we don't know the full potential of each game. But I don't think all games are created equal.”
“Because this is reality, not a game?”
It was Seong Yu-jin. Kang-seok nodded.
“That’s right. This world isn't a new game that mixes several others. It's reality, so there’s no need for it to pursue perfect equality between games. Besides, each game has different strengths and weaknesses. Your tanking skills, Yu-jin, are something that Yu-ra and I, from other games, can't even imitate. But conversely, you can't summon a Gigantes like Yu-ra or use an air dash like me.”
Each game has clear advantages and disadvantages. What one can do is also different.
The reason Kang-seok was saying this wasn't simply to discuss the differences between games.
Choi Yu-ra understood.
“Aha, so just by knowing a Player’s origin game, you can guess their general abilities and skills.”
Anyone who knew both that Choi Yu-ra was a Player from Gigantes Down and what the game Gigantes Down was would naturally think of the ‘Gigantes Descent’.
You can know your opponent’s abilities.
You can know your opponent’s weapons.
Seong Yu-jin swallowed nervously.
“Kang-seok, are you saying we should be wary of other Players?”
“We’ve been lucky so far.”
Kang-seok didn't deny it. In a calm tone, he voiced the thoughts he'd been holding back.
“Kang-san and Han-yeong, whom we met in the Labyrinth, were both good people. Yu-ra here is too.”
“Hey, I’m… okay, okay. I won’t say anything stupid.”
Choi Yu-ra, who had been about to make a playful comment about being a 'bad girl' or something, quickly changed her tune when she saw Kang-seok's serious expression. Kang-seok looked past Choi Yu-ra and directly at Seong Yu-jin as he continued.
“But there’s no guarantee it will always be that way. You know what I’m talking about, right?”
“Yeah.”
Seong Yu-jin nodded, her expression grim.
His words were based on the premise that in this unknown world, Players might not cooperate but could instead turn against each other.
Kang-seok slowly closed his eyes. He didn't like it himself, but the conversation wasn't over yet.
“When we get to Gawain’s Temple, there’s a high chance we’ll meet other Players. They said the number of monsters has been higher than usual for a while now, and Loxley also mentioned hearing rumors about a Player being spotted near the temple.”
The Players they would meet from now on.
Unknown beings whose abilities, let alone their intentions—good or evil—were a mystery.
“You get Kron for killing monsters. And Players can trade Kron and time with each other.”
This was the most basic system that had been revealed so far.
And taking it one step further.
A thought he had deliberately buried until now.
“So, what happens if a Player defeats another Player?”
Seong Yu-jin’s pupils dilated. Choi Yu-ra shot up in her sleeping bag.
“PK? Kang-seok, are you seriously talking about the possibility of PK?!”
PK. Player Killer. The act of intentionally killing another Player.
In a game, it was something that could be accepted, one way or another.
There were even games that encouraged PK, after all.
But it was different here. PK was no different from murder.
You get Kron for defeating monsters.
So what happens if you defeat a Player?
Could you perhaps take all the Kron that Player had?
“I don't know. We can't test it, and I have no intention of testing it. But not everyone will feel the same way.”
Loxley had told them rumors of Players who had committed serious crimes like rape, murder, and arson.
Those who had already done such things to the people of this world would surely be capable of doing the same to other Players.
“I’m not saying we should suspect every Player we meet from now on. As we meet and cooperate with others, there will be times when we reveal our origin games, and we might even become allies with good people we truly connect with. I’m just saying we shouldn’t let our guard down.”
Don't reveal your origin game so easily.
At that fundamental premise, Seong Yu-jin’s shoulders slumped. As if trying to lighten the incredibly heavy mood, she forced a smile and spoke.
“I guess I can’t go around saying crazy things anymore.”
The first thing she had said when she and Kang-seok first met, and when they encountered Kim Kang-san’s group.
Recalling the old memory, Kang-seok smiled along with Seong Yu-jin.
It was a smile mixed with bitterness and regret.
Choi Yu-ra looked back and forth between Seong Yu-jin and Kang-seok and grumbled.
“What’s this, an inside joke between you two? Some kind of lovers’ secret code? Let me in on it so I can laugh too.”
But Seong Yu-jin, showing no intention of explaining, brushed off her knees and stood up. Kang-seok followed suit.
“Should we get some sleep? Who’s on first watch?”
“It’s Yu-ra. You’re second, Kang-seok.”
Seong Yu-jin said as she slipped into her sleeping bag. Kang-seok also put down the cup he was holding and got into his.
“Well then, we’re counting on you, Yu-ra. Don’t fall asleep on us.”
“Good night, Yu-ra.”
At their perfectly coordinated exchange, Choi Yu-ra puffed out her cheeks. She crawled out of her sleeping bag and sat by the fire, muttering.
“Hmph, whatever.”
From inside their respective sleeping bags, Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin smiled.
***
Waking to the morning dew, the party quickly prepared to set off again. If they hurried, it seemed they could reach Gawain’s Temple by noon.
“Good thing I asked for a map.”
Kang-seok had received four different maps from Loxley. After checking the distance to the temple once more, he brushed himself off and stood up.
Choi Yu-ra was already on her feet, but she was still nodding off sleepily. Seong Yu-jin, meanwhile, skillfully hitched the horse to the cart.
“There’ll be a nice stable at the temple. Just a little longer, Alphonse.”
She had already named the brown mare they’d received from the Keyman Company. As she gently stroked its mane, Alphonse snorted cheerfully, as if in reply.
Perhaps because it was still early morning, Kang-seok's party were the only ones on the wide, well-paved mountain pass. Though the incline was gentle, it was still an uphill road, so they slowed their pace slightly.
“I hope we meet a production-class Player at the temple. It’d be even better if they have a good personality.”
Choi Yu-ra muttered as she trudged along. Seong Yu-jin, walking slightly ahead, glanced back.
“So you can ask them for bullets?”
“There are actually a lot of games with things like magic bullets. I heard Beast Hunter has weapons that are a mix of guns and bows.”
Just as Choi Yu-ra said, there were plenty of fantasy games that featured bullets imbued with magical abilities, like cryo rounds or incendiary rounds. And in most of those games, you could craft your own ammunition. The same went for the firearms themselves.
Kang-seok, walking on the other side of the cart while looking at the map, nodded without taking his eyes off it.
‘He’s right. Come to think of it, there’s no reason to stick only to weapons from Gigantes Down.’
Kang-seok himself and Seong Yu-jin were using Durandal and Almas, ‘weapons of this world,’ not ones from their respective games. In Choi Yu-ra’s case, her FPS ability to see a crosshair meant she could probably display similar marksmanship with any ranged weapon. After all, her main weapon at the moment was a crossbow.
“You have the money to trade?”
Kang-seok asked, folding the map. Choi Yu-ra blinked for a moment, then her shoulders slumped.
“I was going to offer Kron… but I’m running low on Kron myself.”
She had earned a fair amount of Kron from the Abomination subjugation quest, but she had also spent just as much.
Since she had to constantly spend Kron to buy more remaining survival time, it wasn't easy to accumulate it.
Seong Yu-jin turned to face forward again and spoke over her shoulder.
“We can’t be sure, but if there really is a Player who’s completely specialized in production, their only way to earn Kron besides combat would be through trading, right? So wouldn’t their exchange rate be better than ours?”
The reason even party members couldn't easily trade Kron was because of the enormous loss rate. With a loss rate of a whopping 50%, it was incredibly difficult for any trade to even happen.
A Player specialized in production has a lower loss rate for trades.
It was a fairly plausible assumption.
“Well, if we really do meet a production-class Player at the temple, all our questions will be answered…”
Kang-seok trailed off, suddenly falling silent and narrowing his eyes. Choi Yu-ra and Seong Yu-jin also strained their ears, listening to what was ahead.
“You hear that?”
Choi Yu-ra said, and Seong Yu-jin nodded. Without a word, all three of them drew their weapons almost simultaneously.