Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Bad Fate (2)
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"It's a shame to spend the money, but no choice."
Before leaving the village again, Rokan stopped by the general store and bought one item. It was called a "Safety Guard," which allowed him to set up a safe zone in non-combat state.
The pebble-sized orb cost a whopping 30 silver per unit, creating a 2-meter radius safe zone when thrown on the ground during non-combat.
But that was no issue for Rokan right now. Thanks to Blood Chaser buying back all their gear from the auction house before challenging him, he had plenty of spare cash.
"For emergencies."
Besides, he only needed the Safety Guard after using Berserk. Without the aftereffects, he was confident he could smash them even if they brought a truckload.
"The quest will slow down a bit, but it should be fine."
Rokan stocked his inventory with consumables and immediately activated the Rune Book.
* * *
The place Rokan arrived at was a field where a fierce battle had taken place.
He tensed slightly, expecting an ambush upon arrival, but fortunately—or unfortunately—no enemies attacked.
It seemed wiping them out in one go had been the problem. If he'd known, he would've pretended to struggle a bit.
"Those bastards, already scared?"
Muttering curses at absent foes out of lingering disappointment, Rokan started walking anyway.
"I'll see how long they stay frozen."
With the forum post blowing up, there'd be a reaction soon enough.
Smacking his lips, he delved deeper into the forest, where the atmosphere shifted.
This area was home only to powerful monsters at least level 70 and up. Their levels matched the Forest Lizardmen, but their combat power was leagues apart, so Rokan stayed alert.
'This area's still quiet.'
The map was vast, and even skilled players were mostly in the 50-60 range, making it hard to spot signs of others. Distant battle noises echoed sporadically, but paths and hunting grounds rarely overlapped. They were probably hunting their own prime spots.
"Let's see... there it is."
But Rokan was different. While claiming a spot for leveling would've been ideal, he had someone to hunt now.
The Forest Monster, a massive tree beast also called a walking ancient tree.
Tracking it was simple: it left sprouts in its wake.
The effect faded outside a certain range, wilting them, but fresh green shoots marked recent paths—easy to follow.
"Feels like I'm wrecking the ecosystem, but..."
Eyes glued dangerously to the ground, Rokan spotted the trail and dashed toward the direction it had likely gone.
He flew straight at the beast lumbering aimlessly.
"Leaf Attack!"
Boom!
The Orc Clan Battle Axe slammed into the Forest Monster's body, shattering tough bark and spraying sap like a blood fountain. Renowned for high defense, its shell was tofu against Rokan's strength.
"Let's finish this quick!"
Shoulder Charge followed!
His paulron-protected shoulder rammed in, triggering a secondary explosion before regeneration could kick in.
"Strike!"
One more for good measure!
It seemed like blind aggression, but Rokan's combo maximized damage in one burst—the textbook way to tackle Forest Monsters.
Left alone, they regenerated endlessly, sprouting annoying branches.
Hence, the need to overwhelm defenses fast and rip out the "essence."
"Hup!"
Wobble! Thud!
The strategy worked instantly. Yanking the blue core from its deepest innards made the colossal body tilt and wither rapidly.
Hanging fruits shriveled too, but Rokan ignored them.
He could've kept it alive for harvesting like with Forest Lizardmen, but these dropped on kill anyway.
Better to grab drops than waste time on tricky foes.
"Damn, this is why I hate Forest Monsters."
But the fruit didn't drop first try. Quest item or not, drop rate was low.
"Well, keep beating 'em till it does."
Silver lining: as a tree, it felt satisfying to hack.
Slinging the Battle Axe over his shoulder, Rokan moved to the next trail.
If not, grind till it does!
No one knew better than him that grinding was gaming's foundation. Blaming luck? Nah—hunt one more.
"What's next?"
Few Forest Monsters roamed constantly, taking time, but Rokan gathered all quest items easily.
He didn't return to town. Why back-and-forth when he could collect everything for the next stages and clear in one go?
Finally, he recalled the next spot.
"That's right! Clear Lake."
Clear Lake sat in Savage Forest's heart, pristine and pure. Drinking granted a temporary mental boost—later, mages hauled empty bottles to stockpile.
Next targets: prowling monsters, herbs around the lake, and fish within.
Mapping the route with his magic map, Rokan set off.
* * *
"You fucking idiots! Can't catch even that one?"
Midway, an enraged voice boomed—not conversation, but one-sided berating.
Close by, Rokan peeked out of curiosity.
'That guy's...'
The voice belonged to MP Guild's master. Golden blonde hair tied to shoulders—classic showoff customization. But it felt familiar.
'Where've I seen him?'
He'd glimpsed MP's master in his past life, but it wasn't just that.
"What about that forum post?"
"If we ignore it, won't it die down...?"
"Can't you see it's trending? Look at the views! Still spouting that shit? Think kids fear PKers looking like suckers?"
No wonder it was quiet—they'd planned to no-sell it.
But MP's master was right. A deflated PK crew lost its terror.
'Smart one, at least.'
If exposed—or even hinted—they dodged Rokan, normies would forget fearing them.
Could backfire. Rokan's post aimed for that.
So come at me. Willingly or not, clash again, fatten my wallet.
That was the post's hidden intent.
"Piria, no, Master, calm down. I'll handle it somehow..."
"Handle how? Go die and donate gear again, fuck! That guy's no hacker, confirmed."
"Yes, one-on-one inquiry reply: just 'normal play,' nothing more..."
"You fucking idiots! How's that normal? Bribed or too incompetent to ban hacks? Fuck, after all the cash I've dumped here..."
They'd even submitted a ticket. Got the "all clear," no doubt.
As far as Rokan knew, no hack programs ever surfaced in The Lord.
'Piria—shitty name. Pervert?'
Worthless chatter, but Rokan watched longer. Knowing their moves would make countering easier.
"Or make it so! Bait some opinions, stir the mob. Hacker hunts are justice—use your heads!"
'Oh ho.'
Piria, after raging, dropped a surprise. "Make it so"? Didn't expect that ploy so soon—but that's what made it fun. Reverse tourism was peak entertainment.
'Piria... right, that guy.'
The foul glare clicked it. Matched the girly ID and sleazy face from memory.
The dude dating his ex, Im Soo-hee.
Rumored hotshot in The Lord? Apparently true. Early MP Guild threw weight around.
Later fizzled—volunteer/PR stunts backfired, left mediocre.
'Wait, was he the one who dropped the Cloak of Stealth?'
Maybe Im Soo-hee gifted it to him.
Overheard Piria bragging once; only guild master's girl could tote such gear.
'Heh heh! Didn't expect this help.'
Sorry she might be in a spot? Rokan felt zilch.
Im Soo-hee was a faded memory—did she have a mole? Past life beat any scraps of heart to dust; no grudge was a win.
'That was the start, come to think.'
Memory hit: past life, he started The Lord for her.
Pathetic phase—heard she was hooked, so dove in to beg digitally.
She rejected coldly, sicced "oppas" to kill and harass him repeatedly.
That's when Rokan cut ties.
'Yeah, that happened. Wait—were those guys MP Guild?'
Rokan's face twisted viciously. Hurt bad back then—multi-layered agony. Forgot her face, but the pain stuck.
"And send a few to Blood Chaser. Promise full support for murderer count resets and leveling after—but no coming back till that bastard's down!"
Piria went nuclear: transfer elite MP members to Blood Chaser. Tough to rejoin once exposed, but he sensed do-or-die timing for his plans.
'This'll be fun.'
Their levels? Around 70—top-tier now.
Unlike initial 50-60 Blood Chasers, these had solid secondary class mastery, confident controls.
But Rokan wasn't worried.
No gear or titles would match him.
Not arrogance—fact.
'Wonder what faces they'll make after I smash them too?'
A chilling grin spread across Rokan's watching face.