Perfect Score with a Junk Bow
-Oh.
-Let's hurry.
-This is insanely good.
-Keep streaming till the slimes show up.
Viewers unrelated to the Atsbel quest were hyped and cheering wildly. Hanbit turned his gaze to Yeonwoo.
"Let's go. Ignore the useless messages."
"Ah, got it. But aren't you gonna miss the main story? You know I saved that guy for you, right?"
"Later. Skills first."
"Wait, hold up! I'm coming too!"
As soon as he started walking, Yeonwoo hurriedly followed.
'...A ton of 'em tailing us.'
Walking through the city, Hanbit noticed players following from afar. Quite a few were even from the party they'd formed earlier.
'Been a while since I was here.'
Heading to the entrance area, Hanbit stopped in front of a large wooden house.
"Archery NPC looks the same, huh?"
"Everything else too. It's all about proving your skill anyway."
Creak—
Hanbit pushed open the door and stepped inside. The spacious interior was divided into two sections. One side brimmed with monster materials. The other was living quarters.
"What, you customers?"
[Hunter Rickner]
The burly, muscular instructor looked exactly as he remembered. Standing tall in front of him, Hanbit declared confidently.
"Came to learn archery."
"Yeah? Got any grit?"
-Grit freak incoming.
-Grit(maniac).
-What if you don't? He kicks you out.
-I shot that bow like a mofo.
Viewers poured out their own experiences in chat.
"Got grit. But skill matters more, right?"
"Sharp tongue on ya."
The hunter smirked, amused.
"Test's simple."
Ding—
[Quest]
To learn archery, you must pass the test.
Meet Hunter Rickner's conditions.
Goal: Score above the benchmark.
Rewards: 500 gold, Basic Archery Training Manual (1-rank-?), 1 stat point, 100 EXP
The message popped up with the hunter's words. Hanbit accepted immediately and listened to the rest.
"Shoot the targets in the backyard for points. 30 shots. My perfect score's 200."
"10 points per shot?"
"Spot on. Pick a bow you like from over there and follow me."
He pointed at the wall, then vanished into the backyard. Hanbit turned to see rows of similar-looking bows hanging in two lines.
-Left row, fourth from top, go go.
-Right row, sixth from bottom.
-Info kids only pick the crappy ones.
-No clue lol.
-Even the best one won't break 100. Lmao.
-Fr real, needlessly hard.
"Can't break 100? Even with junk, you'd top that."
-?
-That statement.
-Poking the archer nerds?
-He started it.
Some viewers flipped at the genuine provocation.
Ding—
[NationalArcheryManiacsAssoc has registered a 100,000 won challenge mission.]
[Beat 100 with the second bow from the bottom left. Take it if you can.]
-NationalArcheryManiacs being evil af. Lmao.
-Look at that bow's condition. Lololol.
-Pioneers would shake their heads.
-Just don't take it.
"Oh, how'd you know I set up challenge missions? Thanks for the first one!"
Challenge missions were one of the streaming system's features. Yeonwoo must've added something extra.
[Hwarang has sponsored 10,000 won to the challenge mission.]
[Lol do it then.]
[JooDream has sponsored 20,000 won to the challenge mission.]
[Fail and karaoke?]
"Thanks, everyone!"
The prize money piled up on the registered challenge. By the time the hype died down, the units had changed.
[Challenge Mission]
[Beat 100 with the second bow from the bottom left. Take it if you can.]
[Prize: 335,000 won]
"Whoa, blew past 300k!"
-Whoa.
-Burning 300k on archery?
-NationalArcheryManiacs pays off.
-So how ya beating 100? Lol.
'All rich folks?'
Hanbit let out a hollow chuckle at the amount. Most viewers seemed convinced he'd fail anyway.
"Thanks. This the one?"
Hanbit picked up the second bow from the bottom left. Cracks everywhere, string frayed like it'd been chewed.
-He's really doing it?
-Score zero and they give basic gear?
-NationalArcheryManiacs bastards smh.
-BlackDragon got screwed.
Chat shifted to condolences. Inspecting the bow, Hanbit judged quickly.
'Not unshootable.'
Objectively crappy, sure. But he'd used worse. In countless warzones, he'd tied together snapped bows to fight.
"Let's go."
Grabbing the bow and quiver, Hanbit headed to the backyard. Yeonwoo followed, whispering.
"Bro, you sure? 100's tough even with a good one."
"Gotta. Look at the pot."
Hanbit was dead serious. VR game or not, no skill meant title bonuses were limited. To compare, go back to day one—no drawing the string right.
"Still looks insane."
A long path, maybe 50 meters. Familiar target at the end.
"Ready?"
"Obviously."
The hunter crossed his arms, eyes turning teacher-mode. Hanbit nocked an arrow.
"Whoa, not pumping Agility? You got stat points left."
"Not now."
Stretch—
Hanbit slowly drew the string. Long-lost feel. Heavy tension nailed perfectly. Even the bow's flaws felt real.
Twang!
Arrow flew fast, grazing the target's edge into the dirt.
[0 points]
"Bro?"
-?
-Huh?
-0 points. Lmaoooo.
-NationalArcheryManiacs 1, win.
Viewers panicked at the absurd score floating in air.
"Focus! Stance good, but aim's off!"
The hunter bellowed advice.
Twang!
[0 points]
Second arrow missed too.
"Don't quit! Show grit!"
-Seems legit.
-Magic one-trick. Lol.
-Poor guy, let's bail.
Chat mocked away from Hanbit's view. He tuned into the needed sense.
Twang!
Arrow flew again, hitting off-center.
[7 points]
-Huh?
-Oh?
-Yeah, showoff.
"That's it! Pull it up more!"
Viewers missed Hanbit's subtle shift. Amped focus, he fired again.
Twang!
Sharper, precise. He knew.
Thwack!
Dead center.
[10 points]
***
Thwack!
[10 points]
"Perfect!"
Thwack!
[10 points]
"Excellent!"
The next 26 shots all nailed dead center.
[Total: 277 points]
-Huh?
-What am I seeing.
-Wasn't 100 the mission?
-Hunter said 200 max;
-Ok bugged af.
-Just busts the high score;
-Gonna stop thinking.
"ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY EXCELLENT!"
The hunter clapped Hanbit's shoulder booming, face lit with indescribable joy. He handed over a light green book.
Ding—
[Quest completed.]
[Rewards maxed for excess score.]
[500 gold → 3,000 gold.]
[Basic Archery Training Manual (1-rank-Unique) granted.]
[Stat points 1 → 5.]
[EXP 100 → 700.]
[Level up x2.]
[2 stat points granted.]
[Standard bow and arrows granted.]
-Wtf no.
-Unique again?
-1-rank real?
-Reality crashing... incoming.
-What gear BlackDragon even using? Lv4?
"Uh, BlackDragon bro's on Lv2 gear right now!"
-Lv2?
-And he does that?
-Don't bullshit.
-Just kill Roper.
Chat heated up, refusing to accept. Yeonwoo just grinned.
"Why me tho... Anyway! Challenge success!"
[Challenge mission succeeded.]
[Prize: 419,000 won received.]
[NationalArcheryManiacsAssoc sponsored 10,000 won.]
[Archery's future's yours now.]
-Chching.
-Piled more mid-shoot;
-Archery god era whoa.
"Thanks, everyone!"
"Thanks!"
Hanbit bowed sincerely. How much was that even?
"Bro, prize is yours. All yours."
"What? Split it."
"Nah, prize is streamer rule."
-Facts.
-Respect, upvote.
-Roper knows wassup.
Viewers agreed. Hanbit scratched his head awkwardly.
"BlackDragon!"
Suddenly, the hunter bellowed. Eyes sparkling fiercely.
"Nah, not working under you."
"Wha...!"
Rejected before he finished. Shock widened his eyes, pupils shaking.
This guy flips for archery talent. Quick no was always best.
"See ya."
"Wait... BlackDragon! Work with me, meat's free! Hides too..."
The pitiful voice faded. Once out of sight, Hanbit flipped the book's cover.
[Use? (Yes/No)]
Poof!
Button pressed, book vanished in smoke. Skill list now had 'Basic Archery'.
"See? Not much different."
"What 'see'... results are worlds apart."
-Reality crash brutal.
-Why crash tho?
-Just think different game.
-Lol fr another world.
-At this point, next ep when.
-Fast pace go go.
Murmurs turned to demands.
"Then let's head out."
Hanbit had no plans to dawdle. He started toward the city's opposite outskirts.
"Swordsmanship next, right?"
"Nah. Agility first."
"That one? Pretty useless."
-Real tier 1 trash.
-Ultimate 'move a bit faster'.
-No skill tree.
-Just get mount later.
Opinions on Agility skill were stingy as expected. Proficiency barely mattered, no follow-ups. Not wrong, but its value was elsewhere.
"Essential before swordsmanship."
"Swordsmanship?"
"You'll see. C'mon."
"If you say so... sounds fun?"
Yeonwoo, knowing the quest, flipped attitudes quick. Hide-and-seek, after all.
"But impossible to complete. Can't catch 'em in tag."
He stressed the ridiculous difficulty. Hanbit, knowing best, just smiled and walked.