Chapter 7: I Decide My 3-Star (2)
Chapter 7: I Decide My 3-Star (2)
There’s a term called "Newbie Carrying."
In Korean, the slang for "carrying" a newbie—nyu-deul-bak—is derived from a rather lewd word, but in the gaming world, it’s often used with a slightly different nuance.
When veteran players see someone just starting a game, they find it impossible to hold themselves back.
It’s not that they’re literally getting an erection, but seeing a newbie struggle through the game makes them itch to help.
Whether it’s "pocket-stuffing" them with items, hovering nearby to give unsolicited advice, or just dragging them into their own guild to power-level them—veterans, brimming with years of accumulated strategy and know-how, find a strange sense of satisfaction in raising a newbie.
I am one of those veterans.
And among the natural 3-star characters in this world—or the 1-stars who are late bloomers—there are definitely those who could be called "newbies."
Oppa will raise you.
Countless methods flood my mind.
If I mobilize all those strategies, I could surely grow them into the equivalent of a Max-Leveled 5-star character in the blink of an eye.
—It is all thanks to Lord Ruji that I have grown this much. From now on, I dedicate my loyalty to you.
—Ah, ahh...! I-I should be the one repaying you, but for you to make me this happy...! Ahh, I’m starting to have such wicked thoughts...!
—...Just for this moment, may I call you "darling"?
"Khhh...!"
Just thinking about it makes me feel like I’m going to lose it.
I’m really going to carry some newbies.
I’ll raise them, then devour them.
Since I have the power to make it happen, it’s definitely possible.
However...
"Hieek...!!"
The moment people see me, they recoil in horror and scramble out of the way.
No matter how many subordinates I have trailing behind me, it’s a pretty shitty feeling to see people looking that terrified of me first thing in the morning.
Just how much of a piece of shit was this Ruji bastard?
There’s a limit to being a delinquent. Why the hell are they looking at me like I’m not just a thug, but some kind of serial sex offender?
The only crime I’ve actually committed so far was telling a maid to lift her skirt.
This is really too much.
Is it because of the image change?
Do I look too much like a blond delinquent?
I just came out wearing a white suit, the kind Ruji usually wore, so why are they this scared...
"Ah."
Right.
This is a class-based society.
In this city of Fermaton, I am essentially a king. It’s only natural for people to bow their heads in fear when the king makes an appearance.
Let’s just think of it as the Joseon Dynasty.
A medieval society with a strict hierarchy.
I’m not just some nobleman; I’m the equivalent of a sovereign ruler. Somewhere out there, there’s probably a "regressor" who got his head chopped off for the crime of lèse-majesté just because he stood around blankly while the King passed by.
I’m on the opposite side of that.
Even if they don’t prostrate themselves every time I pass, it’s only natural to step aside for a man of power...
"Hiiiieek!!"
"......."
What is this?
It feels like I’m a tattooed thug driving a multi-million dollar supercar into the city, watching the drivers in the next lane lose their minds.
I knew my power was significant, but I didn't expect it to be this extreme...
"Young Lord Ruji Fermaton, what brings you here so early in the morning...?"
"Hmm?"
While I was lost in thought, a massive man stepped forward and bowed at the waist.
"...Guild Leader Bernhard?"
He had the look of a bear.
A man with white hair, a white beard, and an eye patch over one eye.
Among the 3-star characters, he was the one responsible for the "cool old man" vibe. He wasn't a "human rights character" or even a "provisional citizen" tier unit, but he survived on pure badassery alone.
He was also the head of the Adventurer's Guild.
"Yes, that is correct. You... have changed your hair quite boldly. Did something happen...?"
"I just changed it..."
Ruji.
How did this brat used to talk to the Guild Leader?
"...I just felt like a change. To shift the mood."
".......Pardon?"
"Is there a problem?"
Basically, Ruji was a rude brat.
However, the K-Confucian Man inside me couldn't tolerate speaking so flippantly to an elder who was much older than me.
"Is it that strange?"
It’s definitely not because he’s bigger than me, or more muscular, or because he has the strength to shatter castle walls with a two-handed hammer larger than himself in battle. I’m definitely not intimidated.
"A-Ah, no. It suits you well. I can feel a spirit from you, much like that of a powerful warrior."
Once again, I felt the weight of Ruji’s power.
To think this man, who used to bark so loudly at the players, would be this polite to me.
I should treat him well from now on.
Adventurers are the ones who sustain Fermaton’s economy.
Even if I don’t personally assign them tasks, they go into the Infinite Labyrinth on their own to farm magic stones and subjugate dangerous beasts.
It’s because of this Guild Leader that the Adventurer's Guild functions properly.
He doesn't die until the end of the main story, so I should stay on his good side.
It would have been better if he were a woman, though.
"I came out for a bit of an inspection. And I also have a 'request' for the guild."
"...A request?"
"Yes. A request."
Everyone’s ears perked up.
The Fermaton retainers following me were surprised, and even the Guild Leader’s eyes widened with interest.
"What kind of request would bring you here in person?"
"I am looking for several gems. I wanted to let it be known that if anyone finds them while exploring the Labyrinth, Fermaton will provide a massive reward."
Actually.
Requesting gems from the Adventurer's Guild like this was risky in many ways.
—Gems that Fermaton is looking for?
—Then they must be incredibly valuable, right?
—How much is Fermaton offering? If the Empire or the Kingdom offers more, I’ll sell them there instead!
Just by showing interest, the value of the gems I was looking for would skyrocket.
A situation might arise where even the name of Fermaton wouldn't be enough to pressure them.
So, I came up with a plausible excuse.
"Whether it’s magic stones or gems, I plan to have jewelry made for my future wife."
"Your wife...?"
"Indeed. I intend to have gems cut that are worthy of the mistress of Fermaton. Well, as for the specific details of the request, we can discuss them further inside... Hmm?"
In front of the guild entrance.
A mysterious figure in a white robe was huddled on the ground.
My heart skipped a beat, thinking it might be a corpse.
"What is that?"
"Ah... my apologies. That person has been sitting in front of the guild building like that since last night. Apparently, they lost all their belongings after entering the Labyrinth..."
"Tsk."
Fermaton Castle has quite good security.
Theft is rare, and lost items are often returned to their owners.
However...
Even a Goddess can't do anything about "Zen Loss."
The Infinite Labyrinth is like an otherworldly dungeon; if you don't secure the items you find and bring them out, they vanish forever.
In-game, it was represented as losing items from your warehouse, but I guess this world really isn't a game.
"But why are they just sitting there?"
"They lost all the money they had for an inn, and even the equipment they need for the Labyrinth. They’ve been protesting like that, asking to be let into a party even as a porter."
"Hmm."
What can a newbie adventurer do after suffering a Zen Loss?
If they had money saved in a bank, they could buy a shortsword for hunting or a pickaxe to mine magic stones.
Poor thing.
I shouldn't hand out sympathy recklessly, but this was a perfect opportunity.
Just like how I changed my hair, this was the perfect chance to show that Ruji Fermaton had changed.
—Wait, Ruji is carrying a newbie...?
If they suffered a Zen Loss in the Infinite Labyrinth, they clearly weren't a high-level adventurer.
I didn't have to just give them gold; I could give them an advance on a "request" or assign someone to help them.
Or I could create a "Farming Corps" and send them along.
There are many ways to carry a newbie.
"Hey."
I approached the newbie in the white robe.
"What are you doing here?"
"......Who are you?"
It was a woman.
But her voice sounded familiar.
It was definitely a voice I’d heard while playing the game. It wasn't one I heard often, but it was definitely a voice belonging to a main-story-tier character.
"Ruji Fermaton."
"...A-Ah?!!"
Startled, the woman scrambled to her feet.
The hood of her white robe fell back, revealing her face, and my heart nearly stopped.
Blond hair and golden eyes.
Her eyes were puffy, likely from crying all night, but her beauty was like that of a moon goddess. I felt myself momentarily dazed.
"I-I'm sorry! My Lord!"
"...There’s no need to be sorry, but it’s a bit problematic for the guild if you’re just sitting here like this."
"Ah..."
"Let’s go inside first. Guild Leader, could you prepare a place for us?"
"A-Ah, of course. Right this way."
The Guild Leader opened the door and gestured inside. I signaled for the woman to follow and trailed behind the Guild Leader, trying my best to stay calm.
Why? How?
The questions swirled, but...
Thank god.
I had just found one of my death flags.
The woman’s name was Laura.
She was a 1-star character, but she was the woman who could grow stronger than anyone else.
She was the "Player Character (Female)."
The protagonist’s avatar.
...A total newbie.
"......Slurp."