Chapter 6

◈ Chapter 6: Class Quest (1)

The status system in Arcana is quite simple.

Initial stats start at 1 point each.

1 point is given with each level up.

Players can allocate points to the stats of their choice to match their class's characteristics.

I looked at my status window.

[Name: Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 67]

[Stats]

Strength: 21 / Agility: 26 / Magic: 11 / Luck: 1

[Available Points: 12]

Naturally, the Demon Hunter class had no unique stats.

Moreover, the stats were haphazardly allocated.

‘There was no choice in this.’

At the time, there was no clear way to develop a Demon Hunter.

Not only that, but the number of players was also very small.

As a vague class, it was impossible to allocate stats in a clear manner.

‘Well, even now, not much has changed.’

This wasn't due to a lack of knowledge but to keep the possibilities open.

There is a difference in this way of thinking, so it should be fine.

I allocated the points.

[Stats]

Strength: 23 / Agility: 28 / Magic: 18 / Luck: 1

[Available Points: 1]

2 points each to Strength and Agility.

7 points to the relatively low Magic, leaving 1 point.

Originally, I planned to allocate the remaining 1 point to Magic as well.

But for some reason,

the mere 1 point in Luck caught my eye.

『Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo, hereafter Granfel, became a Demon Hunter to avenge his family, the sole survivor of the clan.』

“...”

Why did this setting come to mind all of a sudden?

It was just a setting I wrote down on a whim, but it seemed Granfel had no luck at all.

Was it because his Luck was only 1 point that he faced such a tragic life?

I didn't feel guilty about it.

It would be strange to feel guilty.

After all, I was the one who had to bear Granfel's setting.

So, this was more like sympathy.

[Available Points: 0]

Sympathy for myself, who would suffer in the future.

And sympathy for Granfel's tragic life.

‘This is quite a significant investment for sympathy, isn’t it?’

After all, in Arcana, the treatment of the Luck stat wasn't very good.

Luck was a stat that didn't have the intuitive feel of other stats like Strength.

To put it simply, it had poor cost-effectiveness.

Only non-combat classes, and even then, only a very limited number, paid attention to Luck.

And even then, it wasn't a core stat.

Luck: 2

It was just 1 point, but

Isn't it all in how you think about it?

Think of it as doubling your Luck.

Of course, doubling a poor luck might not make much of a difference.

...

However, the effect of the doubled Luck was immediately apparent.

The next morning.

“...?”

A system message appeared as I opened my eyes.

[Conditions met.]

[Quest has started.]

...A quest?

*

In the days when Arcana was a game,

quests were common.

“Another side quest.”

“Just refuse it. The rewards aren’t great.”

“Your intimacy will drop. How long did it take to build it up?”

“Even if you complete the linked quest, you’ll only get a few potions. I’d rather spend that time hunting. One good drop would earn more than the potions.”

Players would choose quests based on their rewards and difficulty.

But now that Arcana has become reality,

quests have become a privilege for high-level players.

The reason is simple.

There are not many NPCs in the real world who can give quests.

When the Tower of Mages appeared,

the mage NPCs residing in it also appeared in the real world.

Similarly, Arcana's NPCs exist in the real world.

“This is quite a situation...”

“I never thought I’d experience something like this in my lifetime.”

“This is the world of adventurers. The darkness is beautiful, sparkling.”

NPCs, like us, adapted to the Great Cataclysm.

“We can’t just stand by forever.”

“Rift! No matter how I look at it, that’s the cause of the problem!”

“We can’t cause any more trouble in the world of adventurers.”

This means that new quests were given to players to fit the new environment.

However, only high-level players could undertake these new quests.

“Hmm, you seem to lack the necessary training?”

“It seems too difficult for an adventurer like you.”

“That request has already been taken by another adventurer...”

These real-world quests further solidified the gap between high-level and low-level players.

Therefore, it was natural for players to be sensitive to quests.

- Hey, a sudden quest appeared at the rift?!

- Really? Where? I’m heading there right away.

- It’s so sad to rush to a sudden quest. If I had known, I would have quit my job and just played Arcana. Sigh. High-level players are completing linked quests, and top players are starting main quests, but what about us??

...Yeah, that’s the new common sense.

I checked the quest window again.

[Class Quest: Prelude to the Counterattack]

“...A class quest?”

What is this?

Class Quest.

I had no information about it.

At first glance, it seemed to be a quest related to the Demon Hunter class...

Exorcism, training, meditation, etc.

Suddenly, the quests I did in Arcshan came to mind.

‘No, those were just ordinary quests.’

They didn’t have the grand title of “Class Quest.”

Naturally, I didn’t hesitate.

I immediately searched for “Class Quest” in the search bar.

- The top-ranked Paladin, ‘Gyver’.

Class Quest started...

Will the Paladin class be the first to enter the top 10 player rankings?

Expectations are high...

I found the information easily.

Class Quest.

It is a quest given to only one player among many with the same class.

The content of the quest is unknown, but I understood.

I understood why this grand quest appeared to me.

“It seems I’m the only one left.”

[Class Quest: Prelude to the Counterattack]

Last of the Demon Hunters.

Inform the demons that the time for counterattack has come.

─Defeat a demon. (Success)

Yeah, I was the only Demon Hunter left.

That’s why this grand Class Quest appeared to me.

The quest started, as indicated in the quest window, because I defeated the demon, an imp.

...Looking at this, I feel a desire.

Even though I only read a brief article,

the reward for the Class Quest seemed significant.

The fact that the article made a big deal about the start of the quest and the possibility of entering the top 10 rankings is a clear indication.

However, the desire didn’t show.

Of course, it wouldn’t.

For Granfel, all of this was perfectly normal.

Defeating the demon.

Becoming the protagonist of the Class Quest because of it.

The reward I would receive for completing the Class Quest.

Granfel...

No, I accepted all of this as normal.

There was no excitement, no racing heart.

My heartbeat was the same as usual, a clear sign.

I shook my head slightly.

‘My extremely ordinary values are changing.’

It’s as if I’ve become the successor of a great family.

But I have no choice but to accept it.

As a player, and especially as a Demon Hunter, Granfel’s setting was essential to me.

However, I must remember one thing.

“...I’m still too young to be stuck in the past.”

Granfel is just a part of my dark history.

Yeah, a dark history is something to overcome, not to immerse in.

With this resolve, the quest window in my field of vision flickered.

“!”

A new quest objective appeared.

─Train your weakened body.

Suddenly, memories of the Arcshan base came to mind.

‘...Wait, is this quest...?’

This is the cruel and painful quest that made many Demon Hunter players delete their accounts!

I sighed.

It seems the luck boost is over.

But this emotion didn’t show on the surface.

“...I should have invested one more point.”

Poor Ho Yeol.

Indeed, I’m the only one suffering because of this damn setting.

*

Arcshan Base.

The base of the Demon Hunters.

When you say it like that, it sounds impressive, right?

Even I, who was obsessed with style, chose the Demon Hunter class because of it.

But the reality was shocking.

Poor facilities!

A job quest that was no different from manual labor!

NPCs who only shouted and didn’t boost morale!

Of course, there were plausible reasons added.

“Demons prey on human greed. Therefore, Demon Hunters must always be incorruptible.”

“A strong body houses a strong spirit. Want to be a Demon Hunter? Then first, build a strong body!”

“Unexpected death is common for Demon Hunters. Demons also prey on the grief of those left behind, so excessive bonds are toxic. Don’t try to be friends with me.”

...Thinking about it now, it’s a ridiculous setting.

No wonder it wasn’t popular.

But my past self was even more captivated by the Demon Hunter class after hearing this setting.

It meant enduring all kinds of irrationality to finally become a Demon Hunter.

‘...I really had severe middle school syndrome.’

While suffering, all sorts of thoughts come to mind.

“Huff─”

I continued doing push-ups.

My arms felt numb.

[Class Quest: Prelude to the Counterattack]

Last of the Demon Hunters.

Inform the demons that the time for counterattack has come.

─Defeat a demon. (Success)

─Train your weakened body. (In Progress) ▼

‘Shouldn’t something change?!’

It’s a Class Quest.

A quest that only one person can undertake.

But why is it no different from the quests at the Arcshan base from the start?

Moreover, this is real life, not virtual reality.

The aftereffects of the training are my responsibility.

─Train your weakened body. (In Progress) ▲

●20KM run (Success)

●1,000 push-ups (In Progress)

●500 pull-ups (Success)

●300 burpees (Success)

It’s been a week.

The quest objectives are updated daily.

I’ve been completing this training load every day without fail.

Of course, the muscle pain doesn’t go away!

But my complaints only stayed in my head and disappeared.

As if I was waiting for this quest.

I diligently worked towards my goals.

『Granfel’s lofty pride was not derived from his family background. It was innate. An unchanging, heaven-given nature that remained steadfast in the face of any trial.』

So, I had no choice but to be diligent.

I didn’t remember giving Granfel the setting of being diligent or hardworking.

Would it be strange for a middle school syndrome patient to be diligent and hardworking?

All of this is just to protect that great pride.

Shiver─

A clear, windless day.

Even with my arms trembling from pain.

“Today, the wind is blowing quite a bit.”

I could say this so brazenly.

But one thing is certain.

‘...I couldn’t have done it without this pride.’

I couldn’t have lasted even a day.

I probably would have given up on the running long ago.

“The last one.”

...Anyway, well done, me.

Today, I diligently completed the manual labor quest.

A message different from usual appeared.

[Conditions met.]

[Rewards are given.]

With that, I opened the system window.

The inventory was... the same.

Instead, the status window was flickering.

I checked the status window.

“!”

The level remained the same, but there was a change in the stats.

...The Class Quest is worth the hype, isn’t it?