Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Perfect Beginner's Exploits
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Earth Korea Management Team.
The team leader and staff were gathered together, replaying one user's gameplay footage over and over.
They couldn't see fine details due to New World's built-in mosaic processing beyond basic info, but it was more than enough to shock them.
"No way......"
The developers overseeing New World had praised them in an announcement, saying Earth Korea had produced an amazing user.
The developers were based at Earth's headquarters, whose location was unknown.
Even Earth employees didn't know, thanks to airtight security. One thing was certain: the supercomputer New World managed every server worldwide.
It paid well, had great benefits, handled all in-game issues internally to avoid overtimetruly the pinnacle of work-life balance.
Honestly, they hadn't been too surprised at first when praised for a talented beginner.
They figured it was just someone gifted at games. But reviewing the user's path proved it went far beyond "amazing."
"Could coincidences like this really stack up like that?"
"Exactly."
He suddenly appeared, picked Martial Artist, and became the first to clear Tutorial Stage 5.
Then skipped the usual Hall of Martial Arts for some Abandoned Dojo, cleaned it up, casually knocked out a fully class-changed warrior.
A ghostly old man appeared, granting him a Legendary-grade skill.
"Whoa...... It's hard to even list them all."
Not content with flooring the instructor at the Hall of Martial Arts, he headed to an overlooked village like he knew everything, snagged an Aura Flower effortlessly, and even uncovered its Hidden Theme. A total monster.
"Who the hell is this user?"
"Don't ask me."
Even team leader Oh Jin-su was baffled.
Every coincidence was piling up on one user.
"He couldn't have played before, right?"
Team member Park Ju-ho asked in a trembling voice.
"New World only lets you create one character."
"Even if he made two, this is impossible. First to clear the tutorial, first to find that dojo. Hidden Theme...... Ugh, my jaw hurts."
"Ah! Then someone's tipping him off!"
Everyone turned to Park Ju-ho at the mention.
"Tipping him off?"
"Yeah! Like how fortune-tellers get possessed by spirits and spill everything. Bet a spirit possessed him and told him all this!"
Park Ju-ho's eyes sparkled as he rambled.
He was more into fortunes, palm reading, tarot than MBTI.
He'd even dragged teammates to see psychics.
"......Shut it."
His usual crew shook their heads.
Was this the first time Park Ju-ho spouted nonsense?
"More bullshit? Feeling cushy, huh?"
Oh Jin-su finally smacked Park Ju-ho's head.
Park Ju-ho clutched it in pain, hurriedly adding,
"Ow! Hold on! But that doesn't mean he's an Earth insider, right? Earth or Genesis employees can't even use capsules!"
True enough.
Oh Jin-su had to admit the playstyle was too natural.
Stumbling on things by chance should've shocked anyone, but he moved like he knew it all.
'Is someone really feeding him info?'
Nothing else explained it.
Vrring
Jeong Hoon was resting at home when his phone rang. It was Ha-jin.
"Yeah, what's up?"
Dude! You hear the news?! A Hidden Theme got found in our country!
"Oh? That's surprising."
Jeong Hoon feigned shock, but his lousy acting fooled no oneHa-jin saw right through.
What? Why so lukewarm?
"I am shocked."
Funny. Hidden Theme, man? You just started, so maybe you don't get it, but New World announcing it themselves? Huge deal. They even said they're giving that user a special gift!
"Really?"
That was surprising.
Pre-regression, Jeong Hoon started long after Alessandro found his Hidden Theme.
He'd never heard about a direct announcement or extra gift.
'What kinda gift?'
The Theme itself was a massive boon, so probably nothing extravagant.
As Jeong Hoon pondered, Ha-jin's grin came through the phone.
What? Jealous now?
"You talk like you got it."
Your envy makes me feel like I did.
"Weirdo."
Sorry, but I ate that Hidden Theme.
Of course, he couldn't tell Ha-jin.
Anyway, chilling at home today?
"Yeah. Resting till tonight, then grinding from dawn tomorrow."
Dawn...... You're insane. Got it.
"Later."
Byeee
Jeong Hoon checked the New World homepage.
It mentioned the gift, but no direct contact.
New World never chatted with users anyway. Pass.
Probably waiting in-game upon login.
After two full days' rest, Jeong Hoon hopped back in the capsule.
"You really not regretting it?"
Ha-jin asked from the next pod.
"Told you no. The love calls came to mewhy you moping?"
"Cuz it's Hoyoung."
Ha-jin's guild was bottom-tier mid-rank.
He dreamed of a big one like Hoyoung, but without standout skills, it was a pipe dream.
"Anyway, I'm heading in first."
Psssh
Jeong Hoon's capsule sealed as he logged in.
He spawned in an inn near Lowtown VillageNew World resumed from last logout spot.
You have unconfirmed messages!
A massive popup right on login.
Jeong Hoon tapped it.
Gifting a present to the user who first discovered the Hidden Theme.
Gift adjusted to current user level.
'Figures.'
Jeong Hoon smiled wryly.
Matched to his level? 100 low-end stuff.
Please check your gift.
-Bonus Stats 10
-HealthMana 20 Recovery Potions x20
-Status Ailment Recovery Potions x20
Spot on, as expected.
Hey, free is free.
Jeong Hoon converted all banked achievement points to EXP.
Needed at least level 6 for useful Achievement Shop items.
Focus on fast growth till then.
Level up!
All stats 1.
Bonus stat 1 granted.
Now level 21.
Level 21 with barely any mob grinding.
Ha-jin would've passed out.
Knock. Knock.
"Guest, time to check out."
New World time: 11 AM.
Inn checkout time.
Jeong Hoon's two-day stay needed extra pay for a third.
"Got it. Coming."
No baggage anywayJeong Hoon strolled out empty-handed.
Two days rested at the inn.
'Minor Recovery' buff (3 hours) applied.
That's why pay for the inn.
Minor Recovery
-Type: Buff
-Grade: Normal
-Recovers 0.1 health per second.
-Recovers 0.1 mana per second.
Drains healthmana? Tick 0.1 back per second.
Key for the next dungeon.
Instead of northbound, Jeong Hoon hit a nearby weapon shop.
"Welcome!"
Beginner zone shopgear grades were low.
"Gimme the cheap stuff here."
"Pardon?......This many?"
The shopkeeper tilted his head.
Jeong Hoon wanted five types.
Sword, dagger, bow, staff, knuckle.
"Yeah. Lowest grade. Plenty of arrows. And 20 repair kits."
Repair kits restored weapon durability.
"That much? You'll need some coin......"
The shopkeeper eyed Jeong Hoon's pouch.
Lowest-grade weapons: 10 silver each.
Sword, dagger, bow, staff, knuckle: 50 silver total. 2 gold 10 silver.
Kits: 2 silver each x20 2 gold? Wait, 40 silver 2 gold? No: 20x240 silver2 gold 40? Silver100? Standard: 100 copper1 silver, 100 silver1 gold? But text implies.
Anyway, arrows: 400 for 10 silver.
Total around 5 gold.
Keeper rarely saw users with 1 goldrich ones carried better gear anyway.
"Here."
Jeong Hoon dropped 5 gold casually.
Keeper's eyes curved like crescent moons at the coins.
"Thanks for your business!"
Quick switch-up, merchant style.
Jeong Hoon smirked, stowed weapons and kits.
"Take care."
Funds left: 4 gold 18 silver 6 pennies.
Prepped.
North dungeon needed portal past two fields.
Portal
Massive.
Fit 10 people; users streamed through.
"Line up here."
Nearly 50 users queued ahead.
"Got it."
Jeong Hoon joined the end.
A handsome guy in his mid-20s raged at the New World announcement.
Blond, chiseled Western features.
Arcane Mage who'd broken 500now 502.
Alessandro Braiden.
"Why?! This shouldn't be out yet......?!"
Hidden Theme.
One of New World's secret boons.
And it was meant for him.
Secret quest for the first mage past 500.
Clues led to that Theme.
Cryptic hints, no progress yetbut he'd get it eventually.
Someone scarfed it whole.
"Damn it!"
Secret quest pointless now!
Alessandro clawed at his hair.
"Not over...... Hidden Themes got more."
Clues said multiples.
No clue where, but pure luck probably.
Snag the rest.
Alessandro rushed to his capsule, diving into clues.
Portal destinations: 13.
North had 13 dungeons, thus 13 portals.
Most traveled in 2-3s; Jeong Hoon solo.
Arrived at 'Lv.25 Orc Warrior's Forest' dungeon entrance.
Jeong Hoon's pick: Lv.25 Orc Warrior's Forest.
High difficulty from Origin Villageusually 4-man clears.
Soon, two portals here.
He'd make it so.
Undiscovered dungeon in Origin Village!
-Not me, my acquaintance found it.
Not dungeon portalforest beside? Cave there leads in.
FYI, Lv.38 Vicious Poison Krasha lives inside. Why Origin Village never left: lol.
Jeong Hoon skipped portal, entered forest.
End: actual cave. Pristineno footprints.
Users came for dungeons, not strolls.
'It's in there, huh?'
Caves usually dark, but this glowed oddly bright.
Jeong Hoon ventured deep.
Found a shimmering portal ahead.
That was the dungeon.
'Good level, perfect for skill practice.'