Chapter 7: The Coin Collectors
After the tutorial ended, the two picked up their conversation at the central fountain in the beginner city of Leisin.
—Alright, in an online RPG, after finishing the tutorial, what's the first thing you think you'd do?
"That's pretty standardized, yeah."
Ever since the internet emerged and networks connected the world, countless online RPGs had flooded the market. Carpe himself had played more than ten without breaking a sweat.
"Head to a beginner training ground to whack some scarecrows, get some lessons, or just charge out of town to hunt low-level mobs. Or maybe follow the main questline."
—All three are right. No matter what you pick, there's a path forward. RaSe has infinite freedom, after all.
It was another reality, not just a game. A clichéd line, sure, but nothing captured Last Savior better.
—Though, no guarantee that infinite freedom's still around now.
"Huh? What do you mean by...?"
That was when it happened.
"Hey! We're gonna make our own guild, just us buddies, okay?"
A commotion broke out nearby. Carpe turned to see the newbie group they'd passed earlier arguing with a man.
"Ah."
Carpe instinctively knew. That racket was tied to what Cheonma had just said.
His feet moved on their own toward the scene, where a mild-mannered blond man was smiling at the newbies.
"If you join our beginner support guild, Mammonism, you'll have a super smooth start to the game..."
"Look, we get what you're saying, but we wanna play with our friends. We don't wanna game under anybody."
"Yeah. We slaved away under a guild like dogs in Real Fantasia too—now you want the same here?"
"Hey, calm down a bit..."
"We're plenty calm. We'll handle ourselves, so why don't you head off on your way?"
The newbies seemed scarred from bad guild experiences, hostile toward the blond man. But he didn't seem fazed.
"Hmm."
Carpe muttered under his breath, low enough they wouldn't hear.
"They're pushing recruitment hard. Grabbing anyone who tries to leave."
—RaSe's been out for half a year, right? That's when entrenched powers start flexing. Especially with guild wars updated—they're desperate for bodies.
"Recruiting itself isn't the issue."
—It's that it doesn't stop at 'recruiting'.
As Carpe and Cheonma bantered, the voices grew louder.
"If you keep being this stubborn, it might make the game tough going forward."
"Ha! Now it's threats? What, you gonna PK us?"
High freedom was a huge strength in games, but too much could let power players—the entrenched elites—abuse it.
Like hoarding essential items to jack up prices, monopolizing drop farms, or straight-up slaughtering anyone they saw until they quit.
"Kinda bitter. Every game has guilds like that."
It wasn't unique to Last Savior. Early birds claiming content and exploiting latecomers was MMORPG gospel.
And those elites poured blood and sweat into keeping that structure intact. This half-forced recruitment was probably part of it.
Carpe sighed at the sight and turned to leave—
"Haha, seems like a misunderstanding. PK? Nah, the opposite. I'm here to protect you guys. Seen the newbie guide on RaSe IpVen?"
The unexpected pivot softened the newbies' edge.
"The IpVen newbie guide... that Best of the Best one?"
"Yep. If you've read it, this'll be easier. It lists must-do quests at level 1, including 'Mutant Antler Deer Hunt'."
RaSe had been out six months—plenty of time for newbie guides on the community sites.
"Uh..."
"Yeah, the guide does mention that quest..."
The one the blond mentioned was the overwhelming top-recommended, ultra-practical compressed guide. The newbies' bible.
"That quest's really a thing?"
—It is. One of the most efficient starter village quests.
"Hmm."
A quest even this 10-year vet called efficient. Mentioning it deflated the newbies. As they hesitated, the blond smiled even warmer.
"Mutant deer aren't that tough. A level 1 party of three or four can take 'em easy. Problem's their spawn spot—the only PK-enabled field near starter town. Heard of the Monkey PK Crew?"
"Ah!"
"Figured. Newbies hunting deer cluelessly get wiped every time."
Monkey PK Crew—ranged PK squad terrorizing starter city for a month. They hid in woods near deer spawns, picking off weaker players.
"Join us, and we'll shield you from them. Plus, help you graduate starter city smoothly. Quit anytime, no strings."
"Hmm... we get you, but guilds still feel off."
"Fair enough. Then how about I just help with the mutant deer quest instead?"
"Oh!"
"For real?"
"Sorry, didn't realize you were this nice!"
The initial hostility vanished. But one newbie—the apparent leader—still eyed him suspiciously.
"Hold up. You're helping without us joining? Why?"
"Like I said, we're a newbie support guild. Helping noobs thrive helps the game—that's the guild master's motto."
"...Hard to buy. We've been burned too much. Free favors are rare."
"Huh? When did I say free? There'll be a price."
"Ah."
The group's eyes flashed 'knew it'—but then shared a common doubt.
"...Price? From us?"
"What do we even have? Hey, Chang-sik, got anything?"
"Like I'd have stuff? Same as you—just out of tutorial."
"Got goblin-killed right at the start."
True—they were fresh-off-tutorial noobs. Nothing to offer.
"Cash transaction?"
"Nah. What we want for helping is what you're all holding right now."
An item every RaSe player had touched, most carrying extras from tutorial.
"Your gacha coins."
"Ah... yeah, we have those."
"Me too. Picked Patron Spirit on my third 10-pull, got 7 left."
"Three for me."
Unless you'd yelled 'gacha!' to the end like Carpe, most had leftovers.
"Guide says sell 'em early for pocket change. Five gets you barely a potion."
"Pennies add up. And secret time..."
The blond leaned in conspiratorially.
"We got a 'Merchant' class guy. His Haggle skill sells items to NPCs for more. Pool coins, haggle-sell in bulk..."
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard, visions of gold dancing in their heads.
"That's the deal. Doubts cleared?"
"Totally! Man, you're awesome—we almost missed out 'cause of Jinho's suspicion. Apologize!"
"...Sorry. Good intentions, and we snapped."
"No worries. Misunderstandings happen. Now, quest time? Deer are sparse—long queue."
"Yeah, let's go!"
"One sec."
The blond spotted Carpe a bit away and smiled.
"You too? Sounds like you overheard—the rewards are juicy."
"Nah, thanks, but no coins on me..."
"Got it. Enjoy. Alright, everyone, let's roll?"
Confirming no coins, the blond ignored Carpe and left with the group.
Carpe stared, dumbfounded, but no one glanced back.
Cheonma chuckled.
—Okay, quiz time. Thoughts on Shithead's pitch?
"Rude aside... reeks of scam."
—Good. Means you're smarter than those idiots.
"So, what's the lie in his spiel?"
—Lie? None.
"Huh?"
Carpe gawked; Cheonma shrugged.
—Everything Shithead said is true. No lies.
Deer quest top efficiency at level 1? True.
Blind questing = Monkey Crew ambush? True.
Mammonism shielding you? True.
Guide calling coins junk—sell for pennies? True.
Thus, Mammonism helping newbies? True.
All true.
"What? So they're legit? Charity?"
—As if. They got motives for the hassle. Perfect chance—feel it out.
"Feel what?"
—RaSe's elites. The pinnacle: top 10 guilds. How insidious they are.
They'd cling forever. No threat left unchecked.
—So, why not shit on their banquet this once?
"Love that vibe. Lone wolf vs. mega-power abusing lackeys. Novel protag stuff."
—Congrats. You're the protag now.
Carpe and Cheonma quietly tailed the blond.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw