Chapter 12

◈ Chapter 12. The Limits of Patience (2)

The reporters swarmed around.

"Really, it was a close call. Congratulations on your first clear!"

"No one expected you to be the first to clear it. How do you feel about that?"

"Was there anything different about this rift compared to usual?"

The Berserker guild master, Leonie, gave a short answer.

"No comment."

The reporters were taken aback by her response.

"…Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"

Her answer was like kicking away a rolling ball and then smashing it over the fence with a baseball bat!

The level of interest in this new rift was enormous.

Leonie's words could affect the stock price of the Berserker guild.

They could even impact the status of her homeland, Germany.

"I don't understand English? I have nothing to say."

But no comment?

Moreover, her expression was far from ordinary.

She frowned, looking like an angry Pomeranian.

With Leonie taking such a stance, the reporters had no choice but to back off.

They seemed to be looking for other interviews.

"Sis, I get your mood, but…"

"Really, it's a mess."

"Leader, you should have at least said something nicely…"

"Ugh, what an idiot!!"

Leonie screamed in response to the guild members' comments!

She was not happy with the current situation.

After all, the first clear title for the new rift was not achieved by the Berserker guild's abilities alone.

Even when she thought about it again, she couldn't understand it.

Leonie asked the guild member who followed her.

"Did he have any kind of accessory or something?"

"No, if he had earrings or a ring on his suit, it would have been noticeable."

"Damn, how could he be fine?"

The reason the Berserker guild managed to clear the rift first?

It was all because of the man.

An unknown man, whose class was unknown, had drawn all the aggro from the demons!

What kind of creatures were the demons?

They constantly tried to inflict status ailments whenever they got the chance.

"How could he withstand it without any equipment? Seriously."

Illusions, hallucinations, delusions, and more…

Without the buffs from priests or equipment to boost mental strength, one would quickly fall into a status ailment.

Yet, the man remained unharmed despite being targeted by hundreds of demons.

"…Damn, anyway, I'm sorry to everyone. I must have looked like an idiot."

Leonie apologized to the guild members.

If the man hadn't drawn the aggro,

there would have been many casualties in the guild by now.

Due to the charge order she had given.

"Sis, we're crusaders. Crazy bitches."

"Even if we die, it's on the battlefield. That's our motto, right?"

"Leader, don't act so cool. It doesn't suit you."

Yeah, those words gave her a boost.

Leonie, who had been blaming herself, regained her composure.

"…But, where did he go?"

"He talked to some people and just left after we came out?"

"…What? Just left?"

This was really unexpected.

Leonie thought the man would surely act arrogantly in front of the reporters.

After all, he was the one who was dressed in a suit and even wore shoes during the battle.

Given that concept, she thought he would naturally bask in the attention.

'Besides, he did perform well…'

No comment.

Leonie's silence about the first clear was also due to the man.

Without him, they would still be fighting inside the rift.

She had conscientiously given the spotlight to him.

"…But, he just left?"

As the question grew, one of the guild members raised a finger.

"Hey, he talked to some people and then left."

There were reporters with slumped shoulders there.

"Ha. I really let my senior down."

The camera director sighed deeply.

Tap tap—

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder.

"?"

He turned his head and was startled.

What, a goddess… No, it's Leonie?!

She clearly said no interviews earlier?

'I don't know what happened, but… Good, at least I got an interview with Leonie. An exclusive interview! I might even get praised instead of being fired.'

But it turned out the camera director was the one being interviewed.

Leonie asked in English.

"Nationality."

"Excuse me? Me?"

Nod—

"Y-Yoon Jongmin, from the VBC News Department in South Korea."

…Or should it be Yoon Jongmin?

Yoon Jongmin stammered in English.

At times like this, he envied the players.

Players could communicate freely with each other. With the Arcana's characters overlaid, they naturally gained the Arcana's translation abilities.

'I have to somehow conduct the interview in English, right?'

While Yoon Jongmin was pondering this,

Leonie was about to leave.

Yoon Jongmin was in a hurry.

If he lost Leonie too, he would really be in trouble.

He mustered all his strength and spoke to Leonie.

"Please, just a few words! Please!"

His earnestness seemed to have reached her.

Leonie turned her head and replied.

"South Korea isn't just about Gaon, it seems."

"…What do you mean by that?"

Leonie shrugged.

The Ascura Baron's strategy was just beginning.

'I don't want to make a bad impression on that suit.'

There must be a good reason for not giving an interview.

If he said something wrong and ruined their relationship, it would be a big problem.

…This might sound a bit off, but…

'No, I don't mean I want to be close to him.'

That kind of monster.

If he turned into an enemy, it would be unbearable.

So, Leonie kept her words to a minimum.

"No comment."

*

At Gaon's base camp.

Steam rose from the cup noodles.

[South Korea isn't just about Gaon, it seems.]

Taemin and Cheolmin.

The Nam brothers were watching Leonie's interview.

"What, what's she talking about? Is she making fun of someone?"

Nam Taemin was really irritated.

After all, it was a close call.

Nam Cheolmin's joining and his analysis helped Gaon clear the rift quickly.

Unlike Shining, none of the guild members fell into status ailments.

So, he thought they could compete for the first clear.

But then,

"First clear and what? What's she talking about?"

Suddenly, the Berserker guild.

He wanted to know their secret.

So, he watched the interview, but…

"South Korea isn't just about Gaon…"

"He only said that much. He didn't even seem happy."

"Looks like there's something there."

The more perceptive older brother, Nam Cheolmin, continued.

"Seems like they met a Korean player in the rift."

"…What? Who is it? Could it be the Myth guys?"

World ranking 5th, Gaon.

World ranking 41st, Myth.

The gap between the top two guilds in South Korea was clear.

If she was talking about Myth, it would be complicated.

Nam Cheolmin shook his head.

"No, Myth is still clearing the rift. They entered late. They're bringing along the mercenaries they hired."

"Really? That's a relief… No! Who is she talking about, exactly?"

"That's the thing. I don't know."

It seemed like they met a Korean player in the rift, but…

No comment on the important details.

But that was from the perspective of the Berserker guild and Leonie.

Nam Cheolmin picked up a chopstick of cup noodles.

"Receiving this much attention, they can't just sit still, right?"

"Yeah. His mouth must be itching to talk."

"Our job is simple. When that player reveals their identity, we offer good conditions and bring them in. I think the investment is worth it."

The Berserker guild, which cleared the new rift first.

The Korean player recognized by their guild master.

Nam Taemin added,

"Especially if they can mention Gaon?"

Whether an individual or a guild,

It was best to bring them to their side.

The brothers agreed and moved their chopsticks.

Slurp—

"Wow, it was really cold out there, bro."

"What about me, sitting out here? I felt like I was freezing to death."

"No, it was the first time I wanted to go home because of the cold during a raid. I really want to go back to Korea now."

*

It was so cold, I couldn't bear it.

"Move."

As she said to the reporters,

"The limits of my patience."

I really couldn't take it anymore.

From Russia to Seoul, to the Mage Tower.

I headed home as soon as I came out of the portal.

'The high land prices in Seoul aren't for nothing.'

The total time was only about 20 minutes.

The Mage Tower saved me, really.

I couldn't warm up at the base camp like other players. If I had suffered even a little more in that cold, I might have gotten frostbite on my toes.

Shower—

After a warm shower, my frozen body thawed.

I wanted to collapse on the bed right away.

But my body had to cooperate.

I opened the fridge, prepared the ingredients, and made a meal.

No matter how tired I was, I couldn't afford muscle loss.

After eating, I finally came to my senses.

…It was dangerous.

At the edge of the territory.

I realized my shortcomings in that rift.

Hunting monsters with efficient 'Magic' was good.

But even if it was efficient, my mana had its limits.

'My mana regeneration was ridiculously low.'

Of course, that was to be expected.

A class with no outstanding abilities, the Demon Hunter.

No skills for mana regeneration, and I didn't have the equipment for it either.

In the end, I ran out of mana during the battle.

'If there were no other players, it could have been a disaster.'

If I knew who they were, I would have thanked them.

A player who returned after 12 years couldn't recognize other players.

But it made me feel that the world was still livable.

Thanks to them, my level also increased,

[Name: Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 86]

[Stats]

Strength: 25 / Agility: 30 / Mana: 31 / Luck: 2

[Available Points: 6]

'I can't use it right away, but…'

I also obtained new loot.

[Roughly Polished Saber]

[Grade: Magic]

[Level Limit: Lv.180]

[Effect: None]

[Description: It was a decent weapon, but the rough polishing made it dull.]

However, my lack of ability remains unchanged.

But there is no regret.

'Granfel had no sense of humility. He would prove underestimation and turn overestimation into reality.'

Yes, to protect that lofty pride.

A pitiful creature who had to suffer unnecessarily.

That was me.

I checked the quest window.

[Class Quest: Prelude to the Counterattack]

O last Demon Hunter.

Announce to the demons that the time for counterattack has come.

─Defeat a demon. (Success)

─Train your weakened body. (Repeat) ▼

─Hunt a vampire. (In Progress) ▲

●Announce the start of the hunt. (Success)

●Make them feel the fear of being hunted. (In Progress)

Make them feel the fear of being hunted.

The goal was still in progress.

Ascura Baron.

It means my performance was not enough to make him feel fear.

I could understand that, given my realization of my shortcomings.

So…

My gaze turned to the repeat quest.

─Train your weakened body. (Repeat) ▲

●20KM run (In Progress)

●1,000 push-ups (In Progress)

●500 pull-ups (In Progress)

●300 burpees (In Progress)

I need to push myself.

Moreover, with the Ascura Baron's rift strategy starting,

I had no time to waste.

So, I needed to multitask.

Using both body and mind simultaneously.

I witnessed a suitable subject for research today.

Players swinging weapons among the bandits.

Among them, the one who stood out the most was

the player with swords in both hands.

I moved my body, recalling her movements.

'Granfel's talent was not limited to one thing.'

"But, no matter how urgent, cleaning up is a priority."

Clatter—

…First, I'll finish the dishes and then start.