Chapter 295
"If I lose, I'll give up the chance to be the first to enter the shop?"
Someone asked.
"Yes, I will."
"Why? What's this about?"
Bernard, who was at the back, muttered to himself, bewildered by Seojun's sudden statement.
He must be curious about the intention.
At most, it's just one day. Just by holding out for one day, you could get rewards, and since it's highly likely the entire history book is cooperative, no one would put up strong checks.
Even if it was a slip of the tongue, there was no need to come out like this.
So they'd be curious.
Seojun was well aware that his current action was irrational.
So to proceed smoothly with his plan, he needed to create a reason.
"And so, if I win."
Creating such things was Seojun's area of expertise.
"Hand over your points."
The points he would gain in return would most reasonably explain the cause of his actions.
"Ah!"
A sigh came from the crowd.
Seojun can be the first to enter the shop.
And the fact that being the first to enter the shop is given as a reward probably means the shop items have a purchase limit.
If there's a purchase limit, it's highly likely each item is expensive and has a significant effect.
They wouldn't put a purchase limit on a common 5-point recovery potion and let you enter first as a reward.
To get the most and best items, what you need is points.
Of course, Seojun was overflowing with points, but not everyone knew that.
"Points... That makes sense."
"How much does he want? It's probably a lot."
"Hey. Are you going to fight using Dueling?"
Dueling.
It's one of the systems in Train.
You could think of it as similar to the various mini-games in the divine nation of Athiers.
Each city has systems with such special functions; in the city of magic and engineering, Train, it's Dueling.
When the applicant pays 5 points, a dueling quest message is sent to participants in the city.
It's safe to consider it a player-created quest.
The message states the content of the match, the reward for victory, and the cost for defeat.
The content of a duel could have various conditions, but the common part is that you cannot kill the opponent.
If you're pushed to the brink of death, the system automatically ends the fight.
Using this Dueling, many interesting incidents had occurred in previous history books.
Like luring someone with a juicy reward duel, then surrendering at the last moment and wearing a mask to kill them in the city.
Or like some community of dark duelists who resolve everything with duels, there were times when anything that happened during a history book was solved with Dueling.
It had been quiet in this history book, likely because there was little cause for conflict in Train.
But now Seojun brought up that Dueling.
"So how much is that cost, Seojun? If it's like 20 or 30, they'll just tell you to go in first."
Bernard approached Seojun and asked.
Seeing that other participants were curious, he stepped forward since he at least had an acquaintance with Seojun.
Seojun slowly turned his head, as if answering everyone, and said.
"I don't want much. Just enough to earn an additional 3 points on top of the 5-point fee I pay."
"Oh? So if you lose, you pay 8 points?"
"That's right. As a risk for eliminating a competitor, it's light. It's not like dying."
There's no other risk. Only 8 points.
Even if a loss adds points for Seojun to sweep the shop, that's only 3 points, very little, so isn't it worth it?
Of course, since Seojun's original goal was to accumulate a lot of data, it was a choice to draw in more participants.
"But I heard you have a mask?"
Bernard said with a grin.
"Surely you don't think I'm doing this to kill anyone, Bernard. I'm the overwhelming number one."
"That's true. So, shall I give it a go too?"
Bernard had also come to Train once to perform a material quest and had just earned the opportunity to enter the shop.
Most people here likely had at least dipped their toes into the quest, even if they hadn't thrown everything into it.
Seojun cheerfully responded.
"Come on, Bernard. Let's see your level."
"Alright, quickly create the duel window."
Seojun headed to a building on the outskirts of the central square that went underground to use the system, and the participants followed.
There would be participants who wanted to watch.
This underground facility, usually used as a shelter, was the reason people always gathered in the central square.
Having been frequently used since the previous history books, they just hung around the square with this underground facility.
On the neat underground space's wall, several things resembling modern display panels were attached, and Seojun went near them and started fiddling.
In the game's setting, it was a scientist's laboratory with high-level magitech engineering comparable to Cressit.
A sturdy space only usable by heroes unless in an emergency.
Then, a quest message popped up for all participants.
A quest where Seojun had set everything from the title.
[Lose if hit even once]
==
Victory condition: Win if you land even one hit.
Defeat condition: Reach 80% HP or lower.
Cost
On victory: 1 day banishment from Kael's Train
On defeat: 8 points deducted
==
"Mm? Lose if you get hit even once? If it's like this, doesn't it become too much of a one-shot gamble relying on luck?"
"No. Look at the defeat condition. We lose if our HP drops by 20%."
"What? Then? Wait a moment."
Amid the murmuring people, Seojun spoke.
"Who is the first challenger?"
Challengers.
In a single moment, Seojun turned the professionals gathered there into beings beneath him.
***
"There's a reason the Boss set it up like that."
Bangju giggled.
- Challenger what the lol lol lol
- Losing if hit even once is a bit over the top lol
- It's a mindset of really not losing lol lol lol
"Yes. Because if he gets hit even once, his identity gets exposed and he loses anyway! Hahaha! Better to provoke and make them lose their composure, that's advantageous!"
Of course, it was a hopeless situation.
Why on earth did he fight?
"Anyway, the Boss won't lose."
- Bangju, are you out of your mind? It says he loses if hit even once?
- Yeah, he won't get hit even once
- For real, doesn't seem like he'll get hit
- No way the pros...
"Ah. The pros seem really angry. The other amateur artisan participants too! The atmosphere is strange."
- How could they not be?
- It's outright disregard, so they'd be pissed
- If he hadn't said challenger lol lol lol no, even if he didn't say it, the conditions are super cheeky
"They're not saying anything, but they're showing displeasure with very cocky expressions. Bernard, who was talking! He's not fighting. The first to accept the quest is Spain's Doma! He says he'll give a proper lesson!"
Although Bangju didn't think Seojun would lose.
"But really, why on earth is he fighting? He's already overflowing with points. Could it be play? The Black Hand's play life?"
- Really, there's no reason other than play lol lol
- The participants don't know he has a lot of points, so they accept it as a reason, but we don't
- To enjoy the thrill of getting exposed if hit even once? Crazy pervert Boss sheesh lol lol lol
- It's to see the pros' level! Since he's the Black Hand!
- No, where is there a Black Hand like this lol lol lol
"As expected, only play explains it. Boss. I really can't understand. Is he trying to deceive because he became the Black Hand?"
- When he assassinated yesterday too lol lol lol he basically asked to be recognized
- There's never been a Black Hand like this before.
- He just walks differently. This is the true way of the Black Hand.
- But that walk is just a bit incomprehensible lol lol
- What if he really loses...
"What if he really loses? Look at him dodging Doma's attacks leisurely. Let me be clear, Seojun-nim's skill is real. He even won 2 against 1."
- That's true. Because Doma is getting wrecked in real time right now
- It can't be helped that a human can't beat a monster
- And if he loses here lol lol then just massacre everyone at that moment, what's the problem?????? I seriously don't know
"That's right! If he loses and his identity is exposed? Then he just kills them all!"
If that actually happens, Seojun's chances of winning?
Even Bangju sees that as low. An extermination squad must never be formed now.
They needed more stat increases and a more favorable positioning.
Anyway.
"Ah, he wins! The 20% HP seems like the Boss's intention to hold as many duels as possible to squeeze out points. It's the third point copy season."
After a while of just dodging Doma's attacks, Seojun switched to offense, and it happened within 20 seconds.
Doma was helplessly beaten.
- Point copy lol lol
- The pros are all flustered
- Why is it so one-sidedly losing?
"Ah, really ominous words are coming out!"
[Can I challenge again?]
[After you fight the others.]
[Got it.]
"Doma! He acknowledges it and accepts the stance of a challenger!"
- Kya!
- The skilled ones recognize it best
- After fighting directly, they'll all acknowledge it
[This time, fight me.]
[Good.]
"The atmosphere among the crowd has changed! From displeasure to interest and curiosity!"
You could tell just by glancing.
The atmosphere had changed.
Now it's a proving ground for skill.
Whose skill?
"Next is France's Toma!"
Deterministic skills blocked with invincibility frames, basic skills blocked with overwhelming technique.
The skill gap seems quite severe.
"Purely in terms of physical ability, he is truly the strongest. No one can say otherwise!"
Bangju might know it, but still.
Still, for those who tried to dismiss Seojun, results began to emerge that made them unable to look away.
"Next is Bernard! That makes 6 points copied!"
- But man, the point earning is really stingy
- The Boss is walking a tightrope lol lol the situation is comedy
- Current situation the pros see: a heartwarming mood of admiration acknowledging the skill despite the cheekiness
- Current situation the Boss sees: Wow, I'm not getting caught? Am I a genius?
Even though it was light duels where only 20% is shaved off, in that sense, the element of basic physical ability is bound to be emphasized even more.
Moreover, Seojun had the condition of not getting hit even once.
It was even better that the pros weren't completely defeated.
After five more fights, the atmosphere completely acknowledged Seojun, and the duels ended.
"Wow, 15 points copied!"
No, I thought it was over.
Bangju, the viewers, the pros.
[Alright, then shall we do two at a time now?]
But Seojun still needed to accumulate more data.
So, while risking the pros suffering humiliation from an amateur, he created another reason for them to fight.
[2 against 1. For each fight, I'll bet all the points I earned while winning so far. Since I won five times, start at 40 points. Instead, I'll raise the cost just a bit. Since if I win, I take it all anyway.]
- The Boss is used to being the villain...
- Actually he's really just a villain
- What kind of Black Hand is this lol lol
- Isn't this a high-level sales tactic? Make them pay a little at first, then gradually make them pay more points?
- Casino meta daebak
[Hey, Sir Kael. Ha. Instead of this, how about we properly fight with 100 points on the line?]
[Oh? Let's do it right now.]
- It really was casino meta lol lol
- Suckers, come on in lol lol
- By bankrupting everyone, the history book... The Boss is really a genius...