◈ Episode 2. If Education is Necessary (1)
After Arcana flooded into reality.
Korea's symbol became the 'Mage Tower.'
"Yes, I am standing in front of the Mage Tower right now!"
"Wow. How many meters is that? To think something like that appeared overnight."
"Wait, aren't those supernovas? The ones said to threaten the Rankers?!"
The Mage Tower.
The holy land of all mages.
A place that had played an important role even in Arcana.
After such a Mage Tower had sprouted in Seoul.
The repercussions that followed were beyond words.
[Mage Tower Effect? Rankers Flock to Korea.]
[Mage Tower's Mages, "We Simply Thirst for New Knowledge. We Desire an Amicable Relationship."]
[Mage Tower Tourism Booms…… Tourist Numbers Surge 3,000% Compared to Last Year]
"The reason we came to Korea? It's obviously because of the Mage Tower. From long-distance teleportation to enchantments. The services available at the Mage Tower are considerable. That's why our Shining Guild plans to stay in Korea for the time being."
The world's greatest, Shining Guild, had established a branch in Korea.
Following Shining, large guilds from countries around the world had also set up in Korea.
The enormous taxes they would pay were a given.
With players overflowing, it was natural that damage caused by monsters decreased.
The future of the Republic of Korea growing brighter day by day!
But what had crossed over from Arcana wasn't just the Mage Tower.
Moreover, where there is light, there is also darkness.
‘Damn. Am I still a side character even after becoming a player?’
‘I wanted to make it big like that too!’
‘I'm jealous. So jealous it makes me sick to my stomach; jealous enough to kill.’
Yes, demons were hiding in that darkness.
"At first, it was really hard to adapt. But the more I see it, isn't this place better for us demonkin to operate than the Arcana continent? Envy, jealousy, pessimism—all sorts of negative emotions never cease!"
In this environment, becoming a high-ranking demon was only a matter of time.
"Someday, I'll be like the Demon Kings……!"
The low-ranking demon, Imp, licked its lips with an entranced expression.
It had spotted prey.
Five players.
"Let's go with those guys this time."
It recalled the young ones it had toyed with and killed yesterday.
The sound of their desperate screams had been absolutely delightful.
These ones looked more naive than those brats; they seemed like easy prey.
*Counting me, exactly five.
‘Is that a relief?’
Well, it's not like only high-level players Awakened.
There were many recruitment posts on the forums looking for players of similar levels.
After all, solo play was dangerous.
Besides, this is reality.
If you die, it's not game over—it's simply the end.
It means death.
"There, I see it. The rift."
The finger pointed toward a subway exit.
Perhaps because it was still commuting hours, the crowd was considerable.
If I hadn't handed in my resignation, I would be over there too, wouldn't I?
Lost in such thoughts, I reached the exit before I knew it.
……
So this was how players saw the world.
A rift visible only to players' eyes.
I could see a 'barrier' blocking the subway exit.
Office workers passing through that barrier toward the platform.
As you can see, ordinary people were unaffected by the rift.
Thanks to that, society could continue functioning as it does now.
[Nol's Underground Warehouse]
[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]
[Collapse Progress: 19.8%]
‘So I can see rift info too.’
When collapse progress reached 100%, the rift would collapse and monsters would be released into reality.
In the early days after the Cataclysm.
When both players and knowledge about rifts were lacking, rifts had collapsed and monsters were released frequently.
The casualties from that were unspeakable.
Because those sacrifices had been made, current players could raid rifts without much regulation.
Rifts were time bombs.
Only players could approach them.
"Judging by the progress, some players may have entered before us. Still, let's do our best! Alright, I'll smoke exactly one cigarette. We'll enter in exactly 5 minutes."
……
Am I trembling a bit?
It's an unavoidable reaction.
Because until a few days ago, I was an ordinary office worker.
Now I was about to hunt monsters that were never meant to be in my destiny.
It was natural to be nervous.
‘At times like this, I count myself lucky.’
But that was purely a matter of mood.
Because my body didn't feel the slightest tremor.
An impeccably straight neck.
Shoulders not the least bit hunched.
A gaze sharp with confidence.
……
A noble has arrived at the subway station.
No matter who looked, I probably didn't look like a player entering a rift for the first time today.
Let's think positively.
There's nothing to gain from being nervous.
Besides, hadn't I joined a party precisely because it was my first time?
[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]
My current level was 55.
Even if a Demon Hunter has mediocre stats, there's a 15-level difference……. There's no need to be scared for no reason.
"Alright, shall we head in?"
"Please take care of us!"
"Let's all do our best together!"
It seemed the 5 minutes had passed quickly.
Party members raising their spirits.
Three of them were older than me.
Moreover, those older women were all born in consecutive years.
How many bowls of scornful glances had I eaten since childhood to survive as a neutral country in the war between sisters?
It was with that experience that I had been favored by my superiors.
I too read the room and opened my mouth to lift the mood.
With a very noble voice.
"With me here, you all have nothing to worry about."
……
Wait, who's worried about whom?!
But I couldn't take back words that had already escaped.
"……
Yes?"
Damn, I can see the party members flinching.
At this rate, I'll die of shame, seriously.
Granfell, you damned dark history of mine....
As they say, if you stay still, at least half will pass.
It was best to keep my mouth shut as much as possible.
That was the conclusion I reached.
Soon after entering the rift, a changed landscape came into view.
It was the subway I saw every day on my commute.
Yet I felt an unidentifiable sense of alienation.
Nam Cheolmin, the party leader walking ahead, clicked his tongue.
"The escalator is rusted, so we'll have to walk. Ah, there are quite a few stairs here……. Let's just think of it as warming up and head down!"
At his words, I looked at the escalator.
It really was rusted.
A rusted escalator.
A damp, unpleasant smell wafting from deep underground.
And the occasional howling of beasts.
‘Is this the cry of a Nol?’
As expected, under the influence of the rift, the subway had transformed into an appropriate environment.
Only players could approach the ruined subway station.
Of course, if the rift collapsed, the real subway would probably turn into this as well.
"Get your equipment ready."
"Looking at how empty the entrance is, it seems another party entered before us?"
"That certainly seems to be the case. But don't worry. Since this is a transfer station, it's quite large, you know? If we choose our route well, we should be able to hunt without overlapping with another party."
As expected, it was good that I joined a party.
If I had come alone, I would have been at a loss.
I opened my inventory and checked my equipment.
‘……
Should I consider this fortunate?’
Level 55.
It might be a low level now, but at the time it had been quite high.
Which meant obtaining equipment hadn't been easy back then.
But who had I been?
A chuunibyou who lived for looks and died for looks.
A faint memory surfaced of investing even my allowance to obtain cool equipment.
Anyway, thanks to that devotion to appearances, my current equipment was quite luxurious.
[Nameless Blacksmith's Masterpiece: Silver Dagger]
[Grade: Rare]
[Restriction: Lv.50]
[Effect: Deals additional damage to Undead and Demon races.]
[Description: A masterpiece from a blacksmith with outstanding skill but lacking fame.]
Among them, this dagger remained in my memory.
I had memories of buying it at the auction house for an incredibly high price…….
As the description states, it was equipment crafted by a player blacksmith who had been extremely famous at the time.
Whoever it was, if they had continued playing Arcana, they would undoubtedly be an extremely famous blacksmith by now.
‘That's not the important thing right now.’
……
So what you're saying is, I only have this one weapon?!
This is a disaster.
Silver weapons had extremely low durability.
I vividly remembered durability dropping with every hunt and spending considerable gold on repair fees.
Back then it was gold, but now it means real money going out!
I had a bow, but only five arrows.
And all of them were silver arrows.
When I was already worried about durability, I couldn't afford to use silver arrows.
I quickly made a judgment.
‘I'll have to minimize combat as much as possible.’
At least until I acquire a new weapon.
[Nol's Underground Warehouse
- You have entered the Food Storage.]
The only new weapons here would be crude weapons used by the Nols.
Still, using those would be better than using my precious silver weapon.
‘No matter what, there's a level gap.’
Having judged thus, I regretted it once the battle began.
‘……
Lee Hoyeol, you bastard!’
No matter how cool silver weapons are.
Was it so hard to prepare one practical weapon?!
"Grrrr!!"
Dog-men, Nols.
The ones in reality were much faster and craftier than those seen in Arcana.
As if they had adapted to the subway station.
They used the complex terrain and structures of the subway station to ambush us.
Ssshwik—!
An arrow flew from a blind spot.
Seo Jeongyeon, the mage who barely dodged, shouted.
"Nol archers! They're hiding behind that vending machine!"
Somehow, their role division was more proper than our party's.
I looked toward Nam Cheolmin.
‘……
Is this how party hunting works these days?’
Though I hadn't heard directly, Nam Cheolmin's class was obviously a tank.
A huge shield and plate armor proved it.
But for some reason.
Far from protecting the party, Nam Cheolmin had left the formation.
‘I don't know the details, but the situation isn't good.’
A situation where I might not be able to pull my weight.
The mage, Seo Jeongyeon, was our party's only ranged dealer.
As she said, I looked toward the vending machine.
Sure enough, behind the vending machine were two Nol archers.
‘They're reloading arrows.’
Is now the opportunity?
I rack my brain.
Yes, it's an opportunity.
Nol archers have abysmal close combat ability.
If I take them down, I might be able to steal their arrows.
But isn't my combat ability abysmal too?
Besides, it's been over ten years since I've fought like this.
Clack—
But such worries were rendered meaningless.
I was walking leisurely.
My gait was overflowing with composure.
As if Nols couldn't even approach me.
I walked confidently toward the Nol archers.
Yes, my head was calculating all sorts of variables and dangers.
But my body was honest.
I wasn't nervous at all.
No, to be exact, to be afraid of a Nol horde.
The confidence of Granfell that enveloped me was far too great.
"Ex-excuse me? It's dangerous! You don't even have a weapon……?"
Suddenly, Seo Jeongyeon's shout seemed to ring in my ears.
But I couldn't hear it to the end.
Whether I hadn't been able to hear it.
Or Seo Jeongyeon had trailed off, I couldn't tell.
"Grrr!!"
Baring their fangs.
Two Nols revealing hostility.
Clack—
I approached them lightly.
Clack—
I struck the bridge of their noses with my fists.
That series of movements felt not just composed, but dignified.
In my vision, there wasn't the slightest tremor.
I spoke.
"It seems your discipline is lacking."
As if scolding a hunting hound one raised.
"It does not please me, but depending on the circumstance."
It was looking down from an exceedingly high place.
The attitude of an overbearing noble.
"Punishment may also be necessary."
……
Crack, cr-ack!!