Chapter 40
[Requesting spectators for battlefield participants…]
After a brief loading time, the map changed. It was shaped like a Colosseum, with audience seating surrounding a circular stage in the center. Fxxa and Baekdu appeared on opposite sides of the stage, and a short cinematic played with the crowd cheering.
While the participants had time to prepare, using all kinds of buff items, the once vast audience seating area shrank. Sinu, SaltySalt, Hwasan, and Shotgun sat huddled together, able to look down at the circular stage.
[The duel will begin soon!]
A countdown starting from 5 appeared on the screen. Just as Shin Wooseok rested his chin on his hand, a notification popped up in the corner of the screen indicating a voice call request. After checking who was calling, he accepted without hesitation.
“Did you finish eating?”
“Yes. You’re playing SOG right now, aren’t you?”
A voice that still felt like it was tickling his ears came through. Recently, since Girmu had been busy hunting and participating in events with several Grace guild members, it had been a while since they’d had a voice call.
“Yes. Are you logging in right away?”
“I’m downloading the patch files now. I’m planning to look at the event page while it updates.”
“Girmu-nim is becoming a veteran player now.”
“Haha… Ah, is this what you were talking about? ‘Find the Gold’?”
“Yes. Take your time looking it over.”
Girmu went quiet, seemingly concentrating on reviewing the event details. Only then did Shin Wooseok turn his attention back to the PVP that he’d momentarily ignored due to the call with Girmu.
[Guild] Shotgun: Wow, Baekdu hyung is winning
[Guild] SaltySalt: But it’s close so might be decided by score?ㅇㅅㅇ
Baekdu and Fxxa had joined Grace around the same time, and their specs were similar. Even their control levels were alike. And that wasn’t all. The two had similar ambitions when it came to PVP rankings.
However, the timing of their ranking efforts differed dramatically. While Baekdu lived in the Battlefield of Courage during his job transition period after quitting, Fxxa was a user who visited the battlefield in their spare time after work.
[Guild] Sinu: Fxxa will win
[Guild] Hwasan: ?
[Guild] Sinu: When did Baekdu hyung get hired at his current company
[Guild] Hwasan: A little over 2 years ago
[Guild] Sinu: Yeah exactly
[Guild] Hwasan: Ahㅋㅋㅋ okayokay
Unlike PVE, the meta in PVP changed in shorter cycles. Compared to Fxxa, who clocked in to the battlefield daily, Baekdu’s PVP meta updates were bound to lag behind.
‘Plus there’s the issue of hands getting stiff after a long break.’
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the 3-minute mark of the match, after the “Song of Courage” buff was applied, the situation between the two reversed.
Fxxa started chipping away at Baekdu’s HP using the cunning meta that was currently trending in the battlefield. Baekdu was too preoccupied with having his skills repeatedly canceled to properly manage his HP, and as a result—
[Fxxa has defeated Baekdu!]
[The victor receives the Token of Courage.]
At the nail-biting timing of 4 minutes and 47 seconds, Fxxa claimed victory.
[Guild] Fxxa: Good job’ㅅ’
[Guild] SaltySalt: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋFxxa-nim only uses emoticons when in a good moodㅇㅅㅇ
[Guild] Fxxa: ^ㅁ^b
While Fxxa was expressing joy over the victory, Baekdu was like an active volcano, just one step away from erupting.
[Guild] Baekdu: This is so f***ing frustrating
[Guild] Baekdu: Why the hell is this annoying sweet potato meta popular????????
[Guild] Baekdu: In PVP, skills should be popping off everywhere, not… where did the binding cooldown disappear to? What a broken game
[Guild] Fxxa: This season’s Song of Courage effect includes skill delay reduction and attack speed increase^v^
[Guild] Fxxa: +Don’t hold back on using cooldown reduction runes^ㅇ^
[Guild] Fxxa: But it’s only meta from 3 minutes to 4:59, so you need to finish before 5 minutes ㅠ The Courage’s Blessing effect at 5 minutes is really tough~(ㅁ~)
[Guild] Baekdu: Is the a**hole who made this meta an idiot?
[Guild] SaltySalt: The old man who lost to trends wailed…ㅇㅅㅠ
[Guild] Baekdu: I’m quitting my job soon
[Guild] Hwasan: For real?
[Guild] Shotgun: That’s a crazy overreaction
As always, meta is only unfair and frustrating for those who fail to keep up with it. Shin Wooseok clicked his tongue and turned his attention back to the voice that was starting to speak again.
“I just finished reading everything. So to summarize, it’s a treasure hunt on an island within a time limit, right?”
“That’s right.”
“It seems difficult…”
“What aspect?”
“It’s not just a simple treasure hunt, there seems to be a lot going on. Especially the secret shop, raiders, and tag system—I don’t really understand them.”
“From what I’ve heard, people are guessing the secret shop is similar to the merchant system that visits guild central castles.”
“Ah, really?”
“Yes. But… you’ve never seen a guild merchant, right?”
The Dalkeum guild where Girmu once was active would have had a small central castle due to its low level. That would mean merchants wouldn’t visit them.
“No…”
“It’s nothing special. Guild merchants have limited stock for their items. So guild members buy what they need first, then charge an entrance fee to let other users enter the central castle.”
“Ah, I know about that.”
“Hmm, yes. I don’t think the secret shop will sell treasures, but I suspect they might sell items that can help against raiders.”
“Wow… you’re right. That makes sense.”
“But if it works like guild merchants as we suspect, then that means there are limited quantities, so after finding a decent amount of treasure, it might be safer to look for the shop.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
Of course, we’d only know for sure once we use a ticket to enter the island. And even that entrance was only possible at 15:00, 18:00, and 21:00 daily, so we couldn’t gather information yet.
“I wonder if the raiders might be other users rather than NPCs or monsters?”
“That’s what many people are speculating. Because of the event name.”
“The name? Ah…”
“They don’t usually include roles performed by NPCs or monsters in event names. If raiders were monsters, they would have named it ‘Protect the Treasure.'”
The event was named <Find the Gold! Steal the Treasure!>, but there was no explanation about the stealing role on the event page. So there was a high probability that the raider role would be given to other users as a random event while ticket holders were searching for treasure.
There was a reason the drop rate for golden tickets was so low.
“So that’s why you were talking about PVP.”
“But, well, unless they’re planning to turn the event area into a lawless zone, I don’t think it will be regular PVP, right?”
“…I hope so.”
Girmu’s voice was full of sincerity, mixed with a sigh. Was it because they lacked confidence in PVP or felt burdened by it? Such worries were only possible because they were unaware of what was happening in-game right now.
“How much longer is your update?”
“It’s finished, I’m logging in now!”
[Friend – Girmu has logged in.]
So they are. Shin Wooseok briefly scanned the guild members immersed in PVP and casually asked:
“Have you thought about who you’ll take as your companion?”
Hwasan and Shotgun’s match ended with Hwasan’s victory, and now the battle between Hwasan and Fxxa was reaching its climax.
The momentum was so evenly matched that even Shin Wooseok couldn’t predict who would win this time. He thought it would be good to start preparing and began adjusting his equipment presets.
“Ah, about that…”
Girmu seemed to trail off, then brought up something Shin Wooseok had completely forgotten.
“Remember when I told you to take responsibility in a different way?”
“…Pardon?”
Responsibility? Where did that conversation come from? Quickly retracing his memories, Shin Wooseok’s lips parted slightly.
‘During the bird-brain incident?’
But why would that responsibility be mentioned now…?
“That responsibility—would you mind paying it now by accompanying me?”
Though surprised by the unexpected development, there was no reason to refuse. The meaning of responsibility had changed significantly from what was discussed before, but that wasn’t a problem.
“I know you already have a ticket… Ah, of course, I’m asking you to use my ticket.”
Did Girmu know? How many people were currently fighting in the arena hoping to be chosen by him.
“I think I can do well if you come with me, Sinu-nim.”
They could say such innocent things because they didn’t know. But he didn’t particularly want to reveal the truth either—that was his honest feeling.
“Of course I can.”
“Really?”
“In my opinion, there’s no one better than me… I was worried you might be thinking of someone else.”
“What? Haha!”
Shin Wooseok, having been directly chosen by the newbie he’d been carefully looking after, felt relieved and immediately closed his equipment window.
“I really love that well-founded confidence of yours.”
That was fortunate. Others would grimace and call it obnoxious.
[Guild] Hwasan: Sinu what are you doing
[Guild] Hwasan: Accept my PVP request
[Guild] SaltySalt: Sinu who wanted to PVP first is now AFKㅇㅅㅇ??????????
[Guild] Shotgun: Scared????????????
[Guild] Sinu: I forfeit
[Guild] Hwasan: ?
[Guild] Baekdu: What??
[Guild] Fxxa: Excuse me????
Shin Wooseok used the “boasting” emote toward the astonished guild members.
[Guild] Sinu: Already been chosen ㅋ
[Guild] Sinu: See ya
Sinu gracefully exited the Battlefield of Courage after declaring his forfeit, and the Grace members finally understood the situation.
[Guild] Baekdu: Then what were we all doing here?
[Guild] Fxxa: Just,, people who played PVP
[Guild] Hwasan: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[Guild] SaltySalt: Sinu forfeited but why does it feel like Hwasan hyung lost?ㅇㅅㅇ…
[Guild] Shotgun: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋfor real
*PVE: Player Vs Environment. A mode where users face monsters that move according to the developer’s settings.
*Meta: Refers to currently dominant strategies or trends.
*Attack speed: The speed at which attacks are performed.
*Preset: Saving settings such as camera position, equipment, skill shortcuts, etc., customized to one’s preferences.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
