Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Party Formation
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Just as the angel said, the quest was simple.
There were no sub-quests; just defeat a single boss, and it would be over.
But the players, having been burned before, didn't trust the angel's words at face value.
"The quest is easy? Bullshit!"
"Why else would a boss be called a boss? It's obviously going to be tough as hell."
As soon as the angel disappeared, they started cursing.
By now, everyone knew.
That you could curse when the angel wasn't around, and it wouldn't hear.
That the angel only appeared at the beginning and the end.
[Time Remaining Until Round End: 05:59:53]
As if signaling the quest's start, the timer on the progress window began to tick down.
If you failed to form a team and defeat the boss within the time limit, you would die.
Just then, a message appeared before everyone's eyes.
[Form a 5-person party now.]
[A party can be formed when five people hold hands and simultaneously say the activation phrase, 'Form Party'.]
[Please note that defeating the boss will not count unless you are in a party.]
It was a message explaining how to form a party.
"Looks like we have to form a party first."
"It says it won't count if we kill the boss without a party."
"Hey, want to party up with me?"
"What's your level?"
"Level 20 warrior! Anyone want to party with me?"
People raised their hands, looking for parties.
In an instant, the place became as noisy as a flea market.
Meanwhile, Ahn Sang-chul was astounded by Ryu Min's prophecy.
'Everything is just as the Prophet said. The 6th round was a quest that required forming a 5-person party.'
Ahn Sang-chul glanced at the Black Scythe.
He'd done well to listen to the prophecy and stick with the Black Scythe beforehand.
"Sir Black Scythe. Should we also form our party...?"
"Wait. It's a 5-person party, so it seems we'll need to find one more person."
To form a party, five people had to hold hands simultaneously.
The current group consisted of four people: Ryu Min, Seo Ah-rin, Ahn Sang-chul, and Min Ju-ri.
They were one person short of forming a party.
"Hmm, who should we pick for the last spot?"
"Let's have Sir Black Scythe, the strongest among us, decide."
The others nodded in agreement and turned their attention to Ryu Min.
"Hmm..."
He pretended to think, but in truth, Ryu Min already had a candidate in mind.
A candidate he absolutely wanted in his party.
'I hope that guy is nearby... That way, I can pretend to pick someone random and naturally bring him in.'
As Ryu Min scanned the surroundings, a few players mustered their courage.
"Uh, greetings, Sir Black Scythe."
"Were you perhaps thinking of partying with us...?"
"No. Get lost."
"Ah... yes."
At his firm voice, the players returned with dejected faces.
-He didn't even hesitate before rejecting them. How embarrassing.
-Damn it, I was hoping to leech off the Black Scythe.
-Whoever they are, the guys partying with the Black Scythe are damn lucky.
Their thoughts reached him, but Ryu Min had no interest in such riff-raff.
Besides, he already had a candidate in mind.
'In my previous life, I would have taken anyone. I'm the one doing the hunting, after all.'
Ryu Min wasn't looking for party members to hunt with.
'I just need someone to fill the numbers.'
But in this life, he had designated someone to join him.
Because it was better to nurture someone who could be useful in the future than a complete stranger.
'These are also connections I didn't have before.'
Originally, at this point in time, Ryu Min hadn't interacted with any of them.
Not Min Ju-ri, not Seo Ah-rin, not Ahn Sang-chul.
He had only gotten to know them all later; normally, they would be strangers to him right now.
'That's why I used to accept anyone just to fill the headcount...'
Now, there was no need for that.
Because there were people he needed to grow with.
'That aside, the flies are buzzing around me just as much as before.'
It was the same before; when it came to finding a party, the Black Scythe was always popular.
No matter how strong an impression he gave or how cold-blooded he acted, those who wanted to approach him would.
Players swarmed, mustering the courage to acquire the blue-chip that was the Black Scythe.
This was because partying with the Black Scythe was as good as a guarantee of survival.
"Sir Black Scythe..."
"Get lost."
"Excuse me, if you'd just listen..."
"Not interested. Go."
He turned away everyone who proposed to party up.
As people were repeatedly rejected, the number of those approaching dwindled.
-Fuck, would it kill him to let us join his damn party?
-What a cheapskate! He could at least hear us out before rejecting us!
-This is bullshit. I'll find a better party, just you watch!
-But are those guys next to him already chosen for the party?
-Those guys are lucky. It's like they've already survived.
The disappointed players moved away from the Black Scythe.
The players who witnessed the sharp rejections didn't even dare to try and retreated on their own.
At this point, Ryu Min's party members grew curious.
'Just who does he plan to put in the last spot...'
Ahn Sang-chul was curious, but also felt a sense of regret.
'It would have been great if Representative Ma were here...'
If they had been in the same zone, he would have actively recommended him.
Min Ju-ri was thinking the same thing.
'If Ryu Min were here, I would have actively pushed for him to get the last spot...'
Each of them had someone they wanted to add to the last spot, but since they were in different zones, there was nothing they could do.
Just then, a group approached Ryu Min.
The party members thought it was more riff-raff, but they were wrong.
"Sir Black Scythe. It's good to see you."
He looked at the person who extended a hand in greeting; it was a familiar face.
'Jo Yong-ho?'
Ryu Min lightly shook Jo Yong-ho's hand.
"It's good to see you. I thought you might have been eliminated in the 5th round."
"What? Haha, aren't you underestimating me a bit? A mere 300 orcs are nothing."
It wasn't just a bluff.
Jo Yong-ho had passed the quest safely, ranking 125th out of the 1,211 people who completed the 5th round.
"I was inspired by your fighting back then and finished my hunt quickly."
"Is that so?"
"In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, this friend of mine was able to survive. Man-gi."
Jo Yong-ho stepped aside, and one person stepped forward.
It was Choi Man-gi, who had received first aid from the Black Scythe.
"Sir Black Scythe! Thank you for treating my shoulder back then! Thanks to you, I was able to extend my life!"
"You managed to kill 300 with that body."
"It's all thanks to you, Sir Black Scythe. Thank you so much. You are my savior!"
From the way Choi Man-gi bowed his head again and again, his utmost sincerity could be felt.
Jo Yong-ho spoke to Ryu Min with a friendly gaze.
"Are you looking for a party?"
"I am."
"You have four gathered. Do you just need one more?"
Ryu Min nodded.
Judging by his tone, he didn't seem to want to join the party.
And just as he thought.
"Ah, please don't misunderstand, I'm not asking to join your party. We've already formed ours."
"I wasn't misunderstanding."
He already knew they had finished forming their party.
Because a golden chain, proof of their bond, was wrapped around the wrists of Jo Yong-ho and his mercenaries.
'They had exactly five people, so they must have formed a party right away.'
Then what was the reason they came to see him?
He asked bluntly.
"If you're not here to join the party, why did you come find me?"
"Ah, I wanted to greet you since it was nice to see you, and also to make a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Our party and your party, Sir Black Scythe. How about we form an alliance?"
He read Jo Yong-ho's thoughts to see what he meant by proposing an alliance.
'He wasn't trying to leech off me, but proposed it with the intention of helping in some small way.'
Grateful for the treatment of Choi Man-gi, Jo Yong-ho wanted to be of help to the Black Scythe in any way he could.
"I won't ask to join your party. I won't covet any items or experience. If we see the boss, we will yield priority to you."
"..."
"We simply wish to help, so you don't need to be so wary. I'm serious."
It seemed his silence was misunderstood as him being wary.
Ryu Min opened his mouth to clear up the misunderstanding.
"I refuse."
"What? Why... Ah, are you worried we'll get in the way? Please don't worry about that. We absolutely won't be a burden. If you really think we're a nuisance, we can at least draw the boss's attention..."
"It's not that. I just dislike complications. I appreciate the offer, but I'll decline."
"Ah... is that so? That's a shame. I wanted to be of help..."
Watching Jo Yong-ho smack his lips in disappointment, Ryu Min said suggestively.
"I'll ask for your help when I really need it."
"Ah! You will?"
Jo Yong-ho, who had been sullen, brightened up.
If an opportunity to repay his debt of gratitude came, he could wait for it anytime.
"Then you must tell us next time you need us, okay?"
"Alright."
"You promise?"
"I said I get it."
Upon receiving confirmation, Jo Yong-ho grinned.
"Now that I have your promise, we'll be on our way. I hope we have a chance to meet again. If you need help, just say the word! Well then."
After bowing their heads in unison, Jo Yong-ho's group leisurely disappeared to hunt the boss.
"Sir Black Scythe. It's about time you decided. Who will you pick for the last spot...?"
"I've already decided."
Ryu Min pointed in one direction.
The party members' gazes all followed his finger.
"You, there."
The person who was pointed at flinched in surprise.
"Come here."
He beckoned with his finger, and the person hesitated before walking over.
A small frame, slumped shoulders, a hollow face.
He was a young man with not a single feature that looked strong.
"You've been watching me for a while, haven't you?"
"Ah... yes..."
"The reason?"
"Well..."
The young man fidgeted, hesitating to answer.
Though he knew the reason without being told, Ryu Min waited silently.
"I, uh, I wanted to pa-party with you, Sir Black Scythe..."
There was no confidence in his stuttered words.
His voice trailed off at the end, making it barely audible.
"What's your level and class?"
"Level 23, Warlock."
"Well, something like that doesn't really matter."
Ryu Min, who had spoken nonchalantly, declared as if tossing the words out.
"I'm taking this guy for the last spot."
"What?"
Ahn Sang-chul and the other party members were shocked.
After rejecting all those other players, the result was such an insignificant one?
But the most surprised of all was the person in question.
-S-Sir Black Scythe is making m-me a party member?
Looking at the young man's face, he looked so overcome with emotion that he seemed about to cry.
Seeing this, Ahn Sang-chul inwardly clicked his tongue, but Ryu Min was surprisingly satisfied.
This was because the young man before him was the very person who would become the leader of a religion that worshipped the Black Scythe like a god.
'Forging a connection with this guy, who will become my ardent follower in the future, will be helpful in many ways.'
Ryu Min extended his hand to the future cult leader, [NoPainNoGay].
"Then let's form the party like this. Everyone, hold hands."
The five of them gathered in a circle and held hands.
When they inwardly chanted 'Form Party,' a ring made of golden characters appeared on their wrists.
The Black Scythe's party was formed.