Chapter 2

◈ Chapter 2. If Education is Needed (1)

After the Arcana flooded into reality.

The symbol of South Korea became the 'Tower of Mages.'

"Yes, I'm standing in front of the Tower of Mages right now!"

"Wow. How tall is that? It just appeared overnight."

"Wait, aren't those supernovas? The ones that threaten the Rankers?!"

The Tower of Mages.

The holy ground of all mages.

A place that played a crucial role even in Arcana.

After the Tower of Mages rose in Seoul.

The impact that followed was indescribable.

[Effect of the Magic Tower? Rankers are flocking to South Korea.]

[Mages of the Magic Tower, "We only seek new knowledge. We desire a friendly relationship."]

[Surge in Magic Tower tourism... 3,000% increase in tourists compared to last year]

"The reason I came to South Korea? Of course, it's because of the Magic Tower. From long-distance teleportation to magic bestowal, the services available at the Magic Tower are quite substantial. So, our Shining Guild plans to stay in South Korea for a while."

The world's best, the Shining Guild, established a branch in South Korea.

Following the Shining Guild, large guilds from around the world also set up bases in South Korea.

The enormous taxes they would generate were a given.

With so many players around, it was natural that the damage caused by monsters would decrease.

The bright future of the Republic of Korea!

However, what came from Arcana was not just the Magic Tower.

Moreover, where there is light, there is also darkness.

'Damn. Am I still just a sidekick even as a player?'

'I wanted to be as successful as them!'

'I'm envious. So envious that I could die from it.'

Yes, the devil was living in that darkness.

"At first, it was hard to adapt. But the more I see, the more I realize that this place is better for our devil race than the Arcana continent. After all, envy, jealousy, pessimism, and all kinds of negative emotions never cease here!"

In such an environment, becoming a high-level devil is just a matter of time.

"Sometime, I'll be like the Demon Kings..."

The low-level devil, Imp, licked his lips with a blissful expression.

He had spotted his prey.

Five players.

"This time, let's go for those guys."

He recalled the ones he had played with and killed yesterday.

Their desperate cries were very satisfying.

These new ones looked even more naive and easier to prey on.

*

Including me, there were exactly five.

'At least it's a good thing.'

After all, there was no rule that only high-level players could awaken.

There were many job postings on the community looking for players of similar levels.

After all, solo play was dangerous.

Moreover, this is reality.

Death means it's over, not just a game over.

"Here it is. The rift."

His finger pointed to the subway exit.

There were quite a few people, probably because it was still rush hour.

If I hadn't quit my job, I would have been there too, right?

Thinking about it, I had already reached the exit.

...This is what the players' field of view looks like.

A rift visible only to players.

A 'barrier' blocking the subway exit was visible.

Office workers were passing through the barrier to the platform.

As you can see, ordinary people were not affected by the rift.

Thanks to this, society can function as it does now.

[Noel's Underground Warehouse]

[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]

[Collapse Progress: 19.8%]

'I can even see the rift information.'

When the collapse progress reaches 100%, the rift will collapse, and monsters will be released into reality.

In the early days after the Great Cataclysm.

When players and knowledge about rifts were lacking, rifts often collapsed, and monsters were released.

The resulting casualties were too terrible to speak of.

Thanks to those sacrifices, current players can tackle rifts without much regulation.

Rifts are like time bombs.

Only players can approach them.

"Judging by the progress, there might be players who entered first. But let's do our best! Let's just smoke one cigarette. We'll enter in exactly 5 minutes."

...I'm a bit nervous.

It's a natural reaction.

After all, I was just an ordinary office worker a few days ago.

Now I have to hunt monsters, something I never expected.

It's natural to be nervous.

'In that case, it's a good thing.'

But that was just a feeling.

After all, I didn't feel the slightest tremor in my body.

My neck was perfectly straight.

My shoulders were not the least bit hunched.

My gaze was clear with confidence.

...It looks like a nobleman getting off the subway.

No one would think I'm a player entering a rift for the first time today.

Let's think positively.

There's nothing good about being nervous.

Besides, isn't this the party I joined to experience my first time?

[Recommended Level: Lv35~40]

My current level is 55.

Even if a Devil Hunter has mediocre stats, with a 15-level difference...

There's no need to be scared.

"Alright, shall we go in?"

"Please take care of me!"

"Let's work hard together!"

It seems 5 minutes have passed.

The party members are boosting their morale.

Three of them are women.

And they are all the same age.

I've eaten my share of rice to survive in the war of sisters, growing up in a neutral country.

I was the one who was favored by my superiors with that experience.

I opened my mouth to liven up the atmosphere.

In a very dignified voice.

"With me here, you have nothing to worry about."

...Wait, who's worrying about whom?!

But I couldn't take back my empty words.

"...Pardon?"

Damn, I can see the party members flinch.

I might turn back from embarrassment, really.

Grandpa, you're my black history.

.

.

.

They say that if you stay still, you'll be halfway there.

It's best to keep my mouth shut.

That was my conclusion.

As soon as we entered the rift, the changed scenery caught my eye.

It was the subway I saw every day on my way to and from work.

But there was an indescribable sense of alienation.

The party leader, Nam Cheolmin, 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 a warm-up and go down!"

As he said, I looked at the escalator.

It's true.

A rusted escalator.

A damp, unpleasant smell coming from the underground.

Occasional howls of beasts.

'Is this Noel's cry?'

Indeed, the subway has changed to match the environment of the rift.

Only players can access the ruined subway station.

Of course, if the rift collapses, the real subway will look like this.

"Let's get our equipment ready."

"Judging by the quiet entrance, it seems another party has already entered."

"Seems so. But there's no need to worry. This is a transfer station, so it's quite large. If we choose our route well, we can hunt without overlapping with other parties."

I'm glad I joined a party.

If I had come alone, I would have been clueless.

I opened my inventory to check my equipment.

'...Should I consider this a good thing?'

Level 55.

While it may be low now, it was quite high at the time.

Equipment was hard to come by back then.

But who was I back then?

A middle schooler with a flair for style.

I vaguely remember investing my allowance to get cool equipment.

Thanks to that flair, my current equipment is quite luxurious.

[Unnamed Blacksmith's Masterpiece: Silver Dagger]

[Grade: Rare]

[Limit: Lv.50]

[Effect: Deals additional damage to Undead and Devil races.]

[Description: A masterpiece by a blacksmith with great skill but lacking in fame.]

This dagger stands out in my memory.

I remember paying a very high price for it at the auction house...

As the description says, it was made by a very famous blacksmith player at the time.

I don't know who, but if they continued playing Arcana, they would undoubtedly be a very famous blacksmith by now.

'The important thing is not that.'

...So, this is the only weapon I have?!

This is a problem.

Silver weapons have very poor durability.

I vividly remember my durability decreasing with each hunt and spending a lot of gold on repairs.

Back then, it was gold, but now it's real money!

I do have a bow, but only five arrows.

And they are all silver arrows.

I can't use silver arrows when I'm worried about durability.

I made a quick decision.

'I should try to avoid fighting as much as possible.'

At least until I get a new weapon.

[You have entered Noel's Underground Warehouse - Food Storage.]

The only new weapons here would be the crude ones used by Noels.

But using those is better than wasting my precious silver weapon.

'Even so, there is a level difference.'

I regretted that judgment as soon as the battle started.

'...Damn you, Lee Ho-yul!'

No matter how cool the silver weapon is.

Was it so hard to have a practical weapon on hand?!

"Rrrr!!"

Human-like, Noel.

The ones in reality are much faster and more cunning than those in Arcana.

They seem to have adapted to the subway.

Using the complex terrain of the subway station, they ambushed us.

Swish!

An arrow flew from a blind spot.

The mage, Seo Jeong-yeon, barely dodged it and shouted.

"Noel archer! They're hiding behind that vending machine!"

It seems their roles are better defined than our party.

I looked at Nam Cheolmin.

'...Is this how parties hunt these days?'

I haven't heard it directly, but Nam Cheolmin's class is clearly a tank.

His large shield and plate armor prove it.

But for some reason.

Nam Cheolmin was not protecting the party but had left the formation.

'I don't know what's going on, but the situation is not good.'

I'm not pulling my weight.

Seo Jeong-yeon, the mage, is our party's only ranged damage dealer.

I looked in the direction she indicated.

Sure enough, there were two Noel archers behind the vending machine.

'They're reloading their arrows.'

Is this my chance?

I thought about it.

Yes, it's a chance.

Noel archers are terrible in close combat.

If I take them down, I might be able to take their arrows.

But my combat skills are also lacking.

Besides, it's been over ten years since I last fought like this.

Click.

But such thoughts were meaningless.

I was walking calmly.

My steps were full of ease.

As if the Noels couldn't even approach me.

I was walking confidently toward the Noel archers.

Yes, my mind was analyzing all the variables and risks.

But my body was honest.

I wasn't the least bit nervous.

Or, to be precise, the confidence of Grandpa was so overwhelming that I wasn't afraid of the Noel group.

"Hey, hey! It's dangerous! You don't even have a weapon...?"

Suddenly, I heard Seo Jeong-yeon's shout in my ear.

But I didn't hear the end of it.

I don't know if I didn't hear it or if she trailed off.

"Rrrr!!"

Two Noels, baring their fangs and showing hostility.

Click.

I approached them easily.

Click.

I punched the noses of the two of them.

The entire sequence of movements exuded not just ease but dignity.

There was not a hint of hesitation in my vision.

I said,

"It seems they haven't been properly trained."

As if scolding a hunting dog.

"I don't like it, but in some cases,"

It was the high-handed attitude of a noble looking down from a great height.

"Punishment is necessary."

...Crack, crack!!