Chapter 8

Side Quest.

Unlike the La Elta quests, which allow you to choose difficulty levels and level up upon completion, side quests do not grant level-ups even when completed. However, you can still receive rewards without leveling up, such as weapons, items, and even stats if you're lucky.

If your stats and abilities are good, you might be able to choose higher difficulty levels in the next La Elta quest, making side quests just as important as La Elta quests. Some players even focus solely on finding side quests.

Of course, not just anyone can receive side quests.

Side quests are obtained through NPCs, the residents of La Elta, but they won't give you quests unless you have a decent level of familiarity with them. In game terms, you need to build trust, reputation, or affection to receive them.

For example, today.

While standing in front of the quest board doing nothing, a side quest was generated for all players, not just one or two, but all of them at once.

It was as if some event had been triggered.

"Huh? A new quest."

"What is this?"

"Looks like a quest we can do without leaving Varaford?"

"I'll accept it first."

"I'll accept it too. You should always accept side quests with no failure penalties."

People started flocking to the quest board, seemingly having heard the news from somewhere.

Jung Yejun, who was standing at the edge of the quest board, quickly accepted the quest and read the details before it was too late.

Sir Ian has completed his long journey and returned to Varaford.

Find Sir Ian, introduce yourself, and show your interest in monster hunting.

If you're lucky, he might take you on the next monster hunt.

Reward: Strength +2

A +2 to Strength is not a bad reward.

Just for finding someone and introducing yourself, this is quite a generous reward.

Moreover, if you're lucky, it might lead to a follow-up quest.

Perhaps by meeting Ian and increasing your affection, you can receive a follow-up quest.

"Who is Sir Ian? Has anyone heard of him?"

"I don't know much about him."

"It's a very common name. How are we supposed to find him?"

"Did anyone check La Elta.com? They haven't updated the strategy yet?"

There wouldn't be a strategy for a quest that just appeared a few seconds ago.

"Someone must know. Want to check the community?"

"Damn, I haven't met the return conditions yet."

"You should have completed quests earlier."

It's quite amusing how people are rushing to the portal, thinking the information might already be public.

Even if this isn't a real game but reality, can't they stop looking at strategies and try solving it themselves?

Some are even going to complete La Elta quests to meet the return conditions.

Instead of doing that, they should try finding Ian directly!

'That name Ian. I feel like I've heard it somewhere...'

It's a common name, so I must have heard it somewhere.

But it feels like I'm forgetting something...

'Maybe I read about him in a book at the library?'

Jung Yejun loved reading.

From general literature to fantasy novels, he read everything.

Even after becoming a player, he spent a lot of time in Varaford's library, reading books that he couldn't find on Earth.

As a result, although his level was low, he had high-level access to information on La Elta.com due to the information he provided from the library.

"Hello."

"Welcome, Jun. What book are you planning to read today?"

Upon entering the only library in Varaford, the librarian, Mr. Folmer, greeted him.

There were no other staff or librarians, as it wasn't a large library.

"Hold on. Didn't it say that Ian 'returned' to Varaford?"

That means he originally lived in Varaford, right?

Perhaps the residents of Varaford know him.

"Mr. Folmer, do you know anything about Sir Ian?"

"Of course, I do. Isn't that the largest mansion over there? He's the owner of that mansion."

"Really? The owner of that mansion is Sir Ian?"

That huge house belongs to Ian?

I thought the owner was bedridden and never came out.

So, I just need to go to that mansion and introduce myself?

"You won't be able to meet him. He's been away for over a decade."

"No, I heard he returned."

"What? Really?"

"Yes, really. He returned to Varaford. The information is accurate."

It's 100% true, as it's written in the system window.

Mr. Folmer's reaction seems more intense than expected. Is Sir Ian that influential?

The quest description only mentions that he returned after a long journey.

"Jun, would you do me a favor?"

"A favor?"

It's a quest.

This is definitely a side quest. I must accept it.

"It seems you're looking for Sir Ian. If you happen to meet him, can you bring back a story about his journey and tell me about it?"

"His journey?"

"About monster hunting."

Monster hunting.

It was mentioned in the quest window, and this side quest seems to be closely related to monster hunting.

"I plan to compile his journey into a book. Perhaps it will be recorded in history."

"It would be nice for his experiences to be made into a book."

If a story about monster hunting can be recorded in history?

That's ridiculous.

Mr. Folmer isn't a liar, but he sometimes exaggerates.

But this is a good opportunity to increase affection and the chance of receiving a side quest.

While thinking this, Mr. Folmer chuckled and replied.

"This isn't the first time his achievements have been recorded in a book. I'm not sure if he'll like it."

"Really?"

"Would you like to read it?"

Before I could react, Mr. Folmer handed me a book.

I opened it without thinking.

What could be so interesting about a story about monster hunting that it's made into a book...

"Oh?"

***

I don't know what's going on, but the system or the quest board or something hit me pretty hard.

If they don't want to give me a quest, they should just not give it. Why do they need to update and sit there?

When I saw people rushing to the quest board, I returned via the return portal.

Of course, that wasn't a good choice either.

When I came out to avoid the crowd, people were already waiting for me.

"You're back, you're back!"

"Mr. Lee. Did you complete the quest? Let's go to the player awakening test before it's too late."

"Mr. Lee, you need to sign the portal usage record. You used it twice, so sign here twice."

"Can I see your status window? How are your abilities? What do you think of La Elta? Was the quest fun?"

It's like a market.

Before I could react, I signed the paper Park Sung-jung handed me and was put on a minibus.

After being harassed by the noisy researchers, I found myself at the Player Union - Awakening Inspection Office in Suwon.

"Mr. Lee is a regular person."

"I knew it..."

"Wait, no way!"

...I knew it.

Let people finish their sentences!

This is the third test, and the third time I've been classified as a regular person.

I'm used to it now, but the instructor who watched the entire process is making a fuss.

Are you my brother or something?

"Many people saw you use the portal to go to La Elta!"

"But the status window doesn't show. The status window only doesn't show if it doesn't exist, and all players have a status window. If you don't have a status window, you're a regular person."

"But I completed a quest and came out. How can I not have a status window? Mr. Lee, say something."

"Ah. I didn't actually complete a quest."

"See! You said you have a status window... What?"

What fresh nonsense is this, their eyes seem to say.

Don't stare at me like that, it's embarrassing.

I scratched the back of my head and continued.

"I did use the portal, but the quest board didn't activate when I touched it. I just came out without completing a quest. And I don't have a status window."

"..."

"Then when will I get my certification?"

I almost got treated like a lunatic and kicked out.

***

I didn't particularly want to keep it a secret, but the news spread instantly.

Reading the comments, I lost track of time.

- A regular person can freely enter and exit La Elta without a status window? Is this real?

- Is this person special, or can other regular people enter La Elta too?

└This person is special. It was confirmed that others can't enter. That's why they're giving out player certifications now.

- Players and regular people were distinguished by the status window and portal usage. This person has no status window but can use the portal.

└If you lack either, you're a regular person.

└The Player Union will decide.

- Wow, having to complete quests to return to Earth is a burden as your level increases. This is great.

└I'm afraid to go to La Elta because I can't complete quests after reaching level 101.

└Level 101, really?

└It's true, though.

└If you're level 101, I'm Lee Seong-hyun and level 87823521.

- Shouldn't they study this person? Maybe find a way for regular people to enter La Elta or for players to return without completing quests.

└The research institute is useless. They haven't discovered anything significant.

└But the La Elta.com monster guide has become more accurate recently.

└Yeah, it used to be full of nonsense, but it's getting better.

└How can they study a living person?

└Who said anything about dissection? They just want to examine him.

There seems to be some noise about whether I'm a player or a regular person.

Unfortunately, the Player Union concluded that I'm a regular person.

They haven't announced it publicly yet, but they told me.

While being able to travel to La Elta is a unique ability of players,

Since I can't verify my abilities through the status window or improve them through quests, I can't hunt monsters or clear dungeons, so they concluded I'm a regular person.

The news has already spread to the research institute, and it's getting annoying.

I hope no one gives me any work or talks to me when I go to work.

I'll just sleep.

I want to quit.

Quit!

< Chapter 8 > End