Class Quest (1)

Arcana's status system was straightforward. Initial stats all started at 1 point. You got 1 point per level up. Players just allocated those points to stats fitting their class.

I checked my status window.

Of course, Demon Hunter had no class-specific stats. And the points were scattered all over the place.

This couldn't be helped.

Back then, there was no proper build guide for Demon Hunter. Performance aside, there were hardly any players picking it. An ambiguous class meant ambiguous stat investments.

And honestly, not much has changed even now.

This was about keeping options open, not ignorance. That mindset made it fine.

I allocated the points.

Two points each into Strength and Agility. Seven into the relatively low Magic, leaving one point. I'd planned to put it into Magic too.

But for some reason...

That measly 1 point in Luck caught my eye.

"The sole survivor of the family, Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo—hereinafter Grandfell—took the path of the Demon Hunter to avenge himself against that demon."

"......"

Why did that setting pop into my head now? It was just some chuunibyou scribble, but his luck was terrible. A life so full of hardship, you could blame it on that single point in Luck.

I didn't feel guilt over it. That would be weird. I was the one carrying Grandfell's settings.

So this was closer to pity.

Pity for the future me who'd suffer. And for Grandfell's tumultuous life, while we're at it.

Pretty big investment for "pity," though.

In Arcana, Luck wasn't treated well. No intuitive feel like Strength. It was low "cost-performance." Only niche non-combat classes cared, and even then, not as a core stat.

Luck: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠2

Just 1 point.

But hey, double the Luck, right?

Of course, doubling rock-bottom luck might not show...

......

But the doubled Luck's effect showed immediately.

Blatantly.

The next dawn.

"......?"

A system message appeared as I opened my eyes.

......A quest?

*

Back when Arcana was just a game.

Quests were commonplace.

"Ugh, another fetch quest."

"Just decline. Rewards suck."

"But affinity drops. I worked hard to raise it."

"Even chaining them gives like three potions. I'd rather hunt. One good drop covers potion costs."

Players weighed rewards and difficulty, picking what suited them.

But now that Arcana was reality.

Quests became a high-level privilege.

Simple reason: Few NPCs gave them in reality.

The Mage Tower appeared, and its resident mage NPCs with it.

Arcana's NPCs existed in reality too.

"What in the world is going on......?"

"Never thought I'd see this in my lifetime."

"This must be the adventurers' world. How beautiful it sparkles in the darkness."

Like us, NPCs adapted to the cataclysm.

"We can't just watch forever."

"Rifts! That's gotta be the cause!"

"We can't burden the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠adventurers' world any longer."

They offered new quests fitting the environment.

But only high-level players could do them.

"Hm, you look undertrained."

"Seems too much for you, adventurer."

"Someone else already took that request......"

Reality's quests widened the gap between top and low players.

So players got sensitive about quests. Naturally.

......Yeah, that's the new normal.

I checked the quest window again.

"......A class quest."

What the hell?

Class quest. No info on it for me. Seemed related to Demon Hunter, obviously...

Exorcism, training, meditation, etc.

Suddenly, Akkshan base quests came to mind.

No, those were regular quests.

No fancy "class" label.

I didn't hesitate. Searched "class quest" right away.

Info came easy.

Class quest.

Given to only one player per class, out of many.

Contents varied, unknown.

But I got it.

Why it appeared for me.

"Looks like I'm really the last one."

Yeah. Only Demon Hunter left was me.

That's why this grand class quest hit me.

Started because I killed that Imp demon, as noted.

......Looking at this stirs desire.

Just skimming articles, but class quest rewards looked insane.

News just for starting it? Top 10 potential? Hype city.

But that desire didn't show.

Obviously not.

To Grandfell, all this was natural.

Killing demons.

Becoming class quest protagonist.

Claiming the rewards.

Grandfell—no, I accepted it all as natural.

No excitement, heart pounding steady as ever.

I shook my head slightly.

My petty salaryman values are flipping.

Like I'd truly become that great family's heir.

But had to accept it.

To live as a player, Demon Hunter, Grandfell's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠settings were essential.

But remember this one thing.

"......I'm too young to dwell on the past."

Grandfell was just my black history.

Yeah. Black history isn't for immersing in—it's for overcoming.

As I resolved that, the quest window blinked.

"!"

New objective appeared.

Akkshan base memories flashed.

......Wait, this quest isn't...?

The brutal, painful one that made countless Demon Hunter players delete accounts?!

I sighed.

Looks like Luck's buff wore off.

But even that emotion didn't show.

"......Should've invested one more point."

Poor Lee Hoyeol.

Always me suffering from this damn setting.

*

Akkshan Base.

Demon Hunters' stronghold.

Sounds cool to outsiders.

Chuunibyou me fell for it and picked Demon Hunter.

But reality? Shocking.

Crappy facilities! Grind quests disguised as job changes! NPCs yelling instead of motivating!

Of course, they had "noble" reasons.

"Demons prey on human greed. Demon Hunters must always be pure."

"A strong body houses a strong spirit. Want to be a Demon Hunter? Build that body first!"

"Dying unexpectedly is common for Demon Hunters. Demons target survivors' grief too, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no close bonds. Don't get friendly."

......Looking back as an adult, absurd settings.

No wonder it's unpopular.

But past me? More hooked hearing that.

Endured all the BS to claim Demon Hunter.

......Total severe chuunibyou.

Hardships breed weird thoughts.

"Hoo—"

I kept doing push-ups.

Arms numb like paralyzed.

Something's gotta change, right?!

Class quest. Exclusive to one player.

Yet starts identical to Akkshan grind?!

And this was real reality, not VR. Aftereffects on me.

One week today. Objectives refreshed daily.

No skips, digesting that volume daily.

Muscle pain lingering? Obvious!

But complaints stayed in my head, vanishing.

Like someone waiting for this quest.

I diligently met goals.

Grandfell's lofty pride wasn't from family background. It was innate. Unchanging before any trial—a heaven-sent nature.

So I had to be diligent.

No setting of Grandfell being diligent or hardworking.

A chuunibyou being diligent? Weird.

All to uphold that grand pride.

Shiver—

Clear skies, no wind.

Seeing trembling, pained arms.

"A strong wind today."

Blatant denial possible.

Without that pride...

......No way I could've.

One day? I'd quit running early.

"Last one."

......Anyway, good job, me.

Faithfully did the grind quest again.

Then, a different message.

I opened the system window.

Inventory: Same.

Status blinking instead.

I checked it.

"!"

Level unchanged, but stats different.

......Class quest. No wonder the hype.