The Tyrant Squirrel's Nest
Thud!
A massive deer collapsed under Carpe's attack.
You have defeated the Mutant Stag.
Quest item 'Mutant Stag's Antler' acquired. Return to the worried farmer to claim your quest reward!
"Phew. It's over."
The bandits had turned the tables, but Carpe's original reason for entering the forest was to complete the quest.
-Good job. Now head back to the village and grab that quest reward.
"Hmm. Now that it's time to leave, I kinda feel like sticking around a bit longer. There are still plenty of bandits out there."
They were generous mobs that spat out items with every kill. From Carpe's perspective, he wanted to squeeze every last drop out of them, but...
-No choice. You saw how they're grouping up, right?
"Yeah."
Whether it was an order from above or not, at some point they started moving in packs. No longer in groups of 3 or 4, but at least 8 or more.
No matter that Carpe was the top dog in beginner city limits, that kind of number was a real burden. He was confident he could handle it without dying, but he couldn't ignore the risk of a slip-up leading straight to logout.
-You've stirred up the bandits' nest, so they're on high alert now. No merit in risking it just to hunt right this second.
"Right. Makes sense."
Carpe's level was barely 3 now. Seven levels to go until the beginner city cap. Plenty of room to grow stronger.
"No need to rush. So, guerrilla quest time from here on out?"
-Nah, like I said earlier, the NPC spawn conditions are fixed. You go now, there won't be one. Sometimes the cooldown's a whole week with no spawns.
"What? So if I'm unlucky, I have to sit in the starting village for a week?"
He really didn't like the sound of that.
Carpe shot Cheonma a hopeful look, and Cheonma gave him the answer he wanted.
-No way. If it was that bad, I wouldn't have mentioned it. When you warped to Leisin earlier, the system said June 1st, right?
"Yeah."
This was referring to the in-game date, not real-world time.
-What time is it?
"Lemme check... Game time's 11:37 AM."
-Hold on.
Cheonma grumbled for a moment, let out a big "Hoo!" sigh, and spoke.
-In 4 hours and 27 minutes. Location's next to the church at the 5 o'clock position from the central square.
"Huh? What'd you just do?"
-What else? Plugged the official formula into the calc for the NPC spawn coords.
"..."
So that's how it worked. Carpe stared in disbelief and asked again.
"How'd you do that?"
-Eh, not hard to explain. You good at math? Vectors, high school calc, basic college integrals?
"...Nope."
-Still wanna hear it? Might be tough to follow.
"Nah, I'm good. And sorry for the ignorance."
Cheonma-hyung was a STEM guy after all. With that build, he looked more like a drill sergeant from some sports college.
Carpe bowed his head inwardly.
-Doesn't matter if you get the process. You're not doing another quest anyway. Just take the result I give you.
"True. Everyone's got their specialties. I'll stick to smashing faces."
-Perfect.
"While we wait for the guerrilla quest, wanna level up? How do you usually level in RaSe?"
-Plenty of ways. Clear dungeons, grind mobs nonstop, or hunt hidden quests. Up to 10, anything works fast.
"Oh, that reminds me since you mentioned quests."
Carpe rummaged where the mutant stag's corpse had vanished. No item drop, disappointingly.
"Are all quests in this game like this? Just minor ones like hunting mutant deer? No scenario quests or main quests?"
-Main quests? Of course. The deer one's just a side quest.
"Knew it. Who gives the main quests?"
-Right in front of you.
"...Huh?"
Carpe blinked and looked ahead. Just dense trees and Cheonma's translucent form...
"Wait, no way?"
-Bingo. In RaSe, main quests mostly come from your Patron Spirit.
That was the prime reason why which Patron Spirit you drew mattered so much.
-We call 'em main quests for convenience, but they're not tied to the game story. Mostly quests that boost your growth.
Patron Spirit quests contributed explosively to player growth compared to normal ones.
-That's why everyone busts their ass to raise affinity with their spirit. Get friendly, and you might snag extra crumbs.
"...What kinda game makes you sim-date your guardian god too? Anyway, got it."
Carpe's eyes sparkled as he continued.
"Gimme a quest then, Cheonma-hyung."
-Can't.
"Why not! You just said main quests come from Patron Spirits! Don't tell me you're sulking 'cause I called you Cheonma..."
-Shut up. It's not that I won't— I can't. Your level's too low.
"Level?"
-Level 10. First main quest unlocks then.
Quests varied wildly by Patron Spirit. Some couldn't give them early and drove players nuts; others never spoke up even at endgame.
But no matter the spirit, the moment you hit level 10, a quest dropped without fail.
"What kind?"
-The quest to acquire RPG's core element. Know what RPG stands for?
"Duh... Oh!"
He almost answered the obvious question, then it hit him.
RPG. Role-Playing Game.
A game where you take on a role and complete missions.
In other words...
"Job quest, huh."
-Correct. At level 10, your Patron Spirit suggests a job path.
Your spirit sets a trial, you pass it, you get the job. Classic job change quest.
-The Mammonism jerks threw a wrench in it, but the standard play is grind to 10 nonstop. Oh, and don't slack on researching that 10-star skill.
"Research? It's a 10-star skill— what more is there?"
Even the known effects seemed plenty busted already.
-I thought so too... but who knows. First 10-star ever. Could be some insane hidden stuff.
"Like, maybe it really unlocks anything you figure out?"
-You cheeky bastard.
"Anyway, plan's set."
Level up till guerrilla quests, research the skill.
Carpe jumped up energetically.
"Alright, strategy king Cheonma. What's the fastest leveling route in starter city Leisin? Hidden pieces a bonus."
-Perfect hidden piece for a cheeky player like you— right nearby. Closest one's beating the training ground scarecrows to death.
"Scarecrows?"
-Classic cliché. While everyone else hunts, you silently wail on scarecrows. Instructor smiles warmly, approaches: 'Haha! Haven't seen grit like yours in ages!' Dumps items and titles on you.
"...That exists in RaSe?"
-Yup. But you gotta hit 'em a lot.
"How many?"
-100,223 times.
"...How many?"
Ten... thousand?
Even at one hit per second, that's over 24 hours!
"Not hearing things. How the hell'd you find that out?"
-Third regression, I lost my mind... Zoned out pounding away and counted.
"You counted to 100k?"
What a freak.
"Wait, 100k's one thing, but 100,223? What's with that?"
-To screw over smartasses like you who stop at exactly 100k expecting something.
"What a psychotic game. And you're crazy for finding it."
-I was crazy then. Rewards are decent though. Wanna try?
"...Other route, please."
-Knew it. Got a good alternative.
Back in town, Carpe cleared the farmer's quest first and claimed the reward. Per Cheonma, lower clear level meant higher gold payout.
At level 3, he got solid gold. Plus a farmer affinity up notice and another level.
Quest completed.
After, he hit the general store for the item Cheonma recommended, then headed out of town.
"Opposite direction from the mutant deer spot. Area's bigger than I thought."
-Beginner zone, but the map's pretty wide. Lots of hidden pieces too.
Countless newbie players waged tough battles against animals not far from the village.
"Hya! You crazy squirrel! So damn quick!"
"Ow! Ouch! The baby rabbit bit my leg. Ugh! Half HP gone!"
"I... I did it! Rabbit bit me, so I bit back and killed it!"
Pure chaos.
Probably what humanity's first hunts looked like.
"...Kinda heartbreaking."
-Without your title bonus stats, you'd be rolling with 'em... Nah, you wouldn't.
World rank 2 in the arena. He'd crush those animals even without bonuses.
Cheonma thought that as he led Carpe deep into the woods near the village.
After some time, they reached a clearing centered on a massive tree.
-Here.
"No one's around."
-No gathering spots or mobs, so no people. Pull out what I told you to buy in town.
Before leaving town, Cheonma had him buy two things. Quest gold and bandit junk covered it.
Three acorns and an empty bottle.
He'd filled the bottle at the town square fountain before heading out.
-Toss one acorn at the base of that tree.
"Like this?"
Whoosh.
The moment Carpe flung the acorn, a huge shadow from the tree dove at it like lightning.
Hidden monster 'Tyrant Squirrel' has appeared!
This squirrel dwarfed the ones near town. The Tyrant Squirrel snatched the acorn, stuffed it in its cheek, and shrieked at Carpe.
"Squeeeeek!!!"
"What squirrel is that? Bigger than a Jindo dog!"
-Still a squirrel. With your stats, losing'd be harder.
Yeah. 'Hidden' or not, it was just a beefed-up beginner village squirrel.
Not much threat to Carpe, who'd already goblin warrior'd the tutorial.
"Phew. Hidden monster means big EXP, right? One kill for like 3 levels?"
-Cheeky again. RaSe blocks power-leveling exploits. Even strong mobs give at most +1.
"Ah, that explains it."
Only +1 from a level 35 goblin warrior in tutorial. Mystery solved.
Jeonghun smacked his lips, pulled 'Green Skin Slayer' from inventory, equipped it, aimed at the Tyrant Squirrel with a serious face.
"For coveting my acorn... You're done."
-...Psycho.
"Hya!"
Carpe charged fast. The fight ended as Cheonma predicted— anticlimactic.
"Squeeeeel!"
Level 5 reached.
Bonus stats awarded. Skill points awarded.
Exactly three slashes.
The Tyrant Squirrel crumpled without a fight.
...A squirrel's a squirrel, no matter how tough.
"Ooh, drop?"
-Lucky, one-shot drop.
As the corpse ashed away, a giant acorn remained. Carpe picked it up and checked.
◈ The cherished acorn of the Tyrant Squirrel from the forests near Leisin. Sells for a high price to collectors.
"Nice."
One mob, level up and rare material. Info is power. His dud 0-star spirit was turning out to be the strongest!
"Hidden piece here done..."
-What? We haven't even started. Plant that acorn in the ground.
"Eh?"
-Water it with the fountain water after. Something fun'll pop up.
"Not the end?"
Carpe planted and watered as told. A sprout shot up, ballooning to a 4-meter tree in seconds.
"...Whoa."
-Good, it worked. See the big hole in the trunk?
"Yeah."
-Put your hand on it.
Hidden Dungeon 'Great King Squirrel's Nest' discovered.
Carpe's jaw dropped.
-Ready?
"..."
-Ready to sweep every hidden piece?
"...I always liked the demon cult more than the righteous sects in wuxia novels."
Cheonma Hyun-se!Man-ma Ang-bok!
One devout Cheonma-worshipping cultist stood here.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw