Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Manner Play (1)
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“There’s probably an element of showing off their strength too.”
The reason the guilds had mobilized wasn’t just that. In the midst of actively recruiting skilled guild members, they clearly intended to make recruitment smoother by properly demonstrating their power.
Piria’s misjudgment had turned into an opportunity for the other guilds.
“Well, we’ve taken about as much as we can from them.”
After gauging the overall atmosphere, Rokan decided not to cling to Blood Chaser any longer. Though it was a mess he had started, and there was still plenty left to plunder, the gains were starting to dwindle.
Blood Chaser members, who had been more focused on hunting humans than monsters, had their levels stagnating. Catching them now would only yield experience equivalent to early 50-60 level monsters.
On top of that, they had already died to Rokan once or twice each and dropped quite a few items. If he wasn’t planning to keep hanging around with them anyway, it might be better to shake them off and move on.
“How will the MP Guild respond?”
That left the matter of the MP Guild’s attitude. Would they take the lead in wiping out Blood Chaser like in his previous life, or would they cling to their regrets, stay neutral, or even side with Blood Chaser?
He figured they wouldn’t make the idiotic last choice, but whether they’d give up on him personally was another matter.
“Please don’t give up.”
Of course, Rokan hoped they would keep coming at him. Blood Chaser was no longer worth much, but the items and experience from taking down MP Guild elites had been quite substantial.
Just farming them could get him to around level 80, he figured.
Besides, he owed them in several ways, so ending it like this felt unsatisfying. Making them pay the full price for daring to target him—that was Rokan, the King of Violence’s way.
‘Plus, it’d be a shame to let the preparations I’ve made go to waste.’
But if they didn’t bite, he had no intention of dragging it out. It was still early in the game, and wasting time on trash like them was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Instead of chasing Blood Chaser, Rokan decided to focus on leveling up, haunting the auction house, and collecting Harkin’s diary pages.
[You have leveled up.]
When Rokan, who already possessed combat prowess beyond level 100, got serious about hunting, the levels came quickly.
Most players were still unfamiliar with combat, so even raising 1-2 levels a day put them in the fast category due to the time spent per hunt.
Yet Rokan, already at level 62, casually gained a level every 1-2 hours. The monsters he hunted were on another level.
From the Forest Lizardman habitat to Azure Lake, he swept through every monster in his patrol-like path. It wasn’t as explosive as the early days, but his level shot up in no time.
A level 62 user effortlessly slaughtering mid-70s to mid-80s monsters—his level couldn’t help but rise fast.
‘Hmm, still a bit slow.’
But Rokan wasn’t satisfied. As levels increased, required experience ballooned while gains stayed mediocre.
The experience from level 70 and 80 monsters wasn’t that different. Level 90s were better but time-consuming. Better to massacre 70-80s instead, he judged.
His leveling speed was still quick, but not the explosive pace of before. Others would’ve cursed him out for complaining.
“Time to switch gear soon.”
At this rate, hitting level 100 first—his goal—would be tough. There had to be related achievements and titles; missing them would be a waste.
Two options: hunt stronger monsters or boost hunting speed.
To that end, Rokan decided to upgrade his equipment.
“Hmm, wonder if that’s up for sale.”
Money was no issue. The problem was whether the desired items were on the market. His current magic-grade gear had reached its limit for boosting his combat power.
So Rokan looked for one thing only.
“Oh! There it is.”
[Hawk-Engraved Armor][Magic]
An iron armor engraved with a hawk on the chest. Prioritizing artistic value has lowered its core defensive power and durability.
-Defense: 110
-Durability: 300/300
-Agility +5
-Critical Hit Chance 5%
-Level Restriction: 70
[Savage Forest Lizardman Pants][Magic]
Pants from a particularly feral Forest Lizardman. Imbued with the savage spirit of Forest Lizardmen.
-Defense: 80
-Durability: 400/400
-Agility +3
-Critical Hit Chance 3%
-Level Restriction: 70
[Master Archer’s Gloves][Magic]
Gloves used by one called a master archer. Just wearing them boosts your confidence.
-Defense: 40
-Durability: 250/250
-Bow Mastery +10%
-Critical Hit Chance +7%
-Level Restriction: 70
[Critical Belt][Magic]
-Defense: 40
-Durability: 200/200
-Critical Hit Chance +5%
-Level Restriction: 70
[Explorer’s Iron Boots][Magic]
Boots used by an explorer. Reduces damage and probability from terrain and traps.
-Defense: 70
-Durability: 300/300
-Stamina +2
-Trap Activation Chance -10%
-All Trap Damage -10%
-Level Restriction: 50
Critical hit chance!
Trivial stat boosts or mediocre defense increases wouldn’t help him much, so he sought ways to maximize attack power.
Title’s 20% crit plus items’ 20% crit totaled 40%. Roughly one crit every two or three hits. If his already monstrous attack power doubled...
“They’re all dead.”
He’d sacrificed defense, durability, and stat boosts for this, but Rokan was satisfied. Durability loss was par for the Berserker course, and Lion King’s Sealed Helmet covered defense.
Even without it, Rokan was willing to forgo defense, but with it, he could invest boldly.
“Spent some gold, but... it’s pocket change.”
Trash gear that wouldn’t even warrant a vendor run for others, yet magic-grade prices were steep. Still, nowhere near gold territory.
Rokan bought crit-focused items, filling Arm Shield and Neck Shield with passables. His total still hovered around 300 gold.
And one more thing.
The core of attack power enhancement remained.
[Magic-Reinforced Battle Axe][Magic]
A steel axe made for battle. Magical treatment enhances sharpness and durability.
-Attack Power: 150
-Durability: 500/500
-Level Restriction: 70
1.5 times stronger than the Orc Battle Axe that hit exactly 100 attack. Axes had low drop rates, so auction house picks were rare, but level 70 restriction yielded a decent one.
Reason he’d rushed to the auction house at level 70. Standard was gearing at 50, then 70, 90, 100.
“This should last to 100.”
Rokan, ignoring other options, planned to stick with this set into 100s unless a jackpot dropped—only swapping weapons.
Confidence in his control made it possible.
“Harkin’s diary is short one page. Might as well hunt till it drops.”
He’d acquired three more pages, leaving just one. He wouldn’t grind for it; if it dropped while hunting, fine.
So Rokan restocked consumables and headed back to the hunting grounds.
* * *
“Time to check my loot drops.”
Pew!
Returning to the hunting grounds for that satisfying feel, an arrow whizzed past Rokan.
Thuk!
And embedded in his targeted prey.
“......”
“Ah, sorry!”
As Rokan’s axe hesitated, unsure where to swing, an apology came from behind. They must not have seen him mark the target first.
‘Guess even here’s getting crowded.’
With time passing and Blood Chaser hunkering down from guild pressure, high-level hunting spots were filling up.
Not as fast as Rokan, but parties pushed 5-10 levels higher to catch up on lost progress.
Even Rokan couldn’t help that. If crowded, move to higher levels.
Knowing this, as he eyed another target, another arrow grazed him.
“Ah, sorry!”
Successive steals. Technically not steals since they aggroed first, but turning irritably revealed everything.
‘Look at these bastards.’
Too smirky for genuine apologies, backed by a line of archers and mages.
Most grating: MP Guild emblems on their gear.
The bastards were finally picking a direct fight.
“Leaf Attack!”
“Rapid Fire!”
Rokan turned to gauge their play and re-engage. But archer arrows were faster again.
Boom!
His axe hit empty ground. Without first aggro, he could still get exp and loot via contribution, but their scheme was obvious.
‘Playing it like this, huh...’
A common issue in many games. Ranged classes like archers sniping first aggro on melees’ targets, monopolizing hunts—even quests. Some games ended up with 70%+ archers.
Same principle here. Deliberately stealing all mobs around him to block his hunting. Not what you’d expect from manner-play-preaching MP Guild—but that’s why they did it.
‘No one’d believe MP Guild pulls dirty tricks. Unless they see it themselves, heh.’
They banked on that image.
Any reaction from him? They’d film, edit slyly, post with inflammatory threads on forums.
That’d tarnish his image from the Blood Chaser purge. Maybe paint him as the next big bad after them.
But they overlooked something. Rokan recorded footage as routine.
‘Thought you were the only ones who could do that?’
Casual players wouldn’t think to record, but Rokan, who’d rolled deep in The Lord, did. His top-tier capsule was chosen partly for massive recording capacity.
Useful as evidence, or editable into great content. He’d been filming steadily from the start.
Tutorial perfect clear, advanced training secrets—plenty unshareable, but he’d hoarded plenty of viewer bait, just unedited for time.
‘Including that idiot’s dumb bragging.’
So Rokan felt zero fear. Instead, he started imagining how to cook these fools.