Chapter 10

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How are you doing?

“... Is Randolph really the Phantom?”

Three people gathered at a cafe in Gangnam Station: two identical, burly men and a beautiful woman.

They continued their conversation at a corner table, sipping coffee and talking despite the noise around them.

“It’s certain. Without extensive game knowledge, it’s impossible to score higher than Gracia in the class section, even if you don’t know the main quest 1.”

The woman said.

As she said, the top-tier classes cannot be obtained by skill alone. Overwhelming luck and knowledge that surpasses even that luck are required.

If he’s not the Phantom, those scores are incomprehensible.

“The five-year ghost player Phantom has finally appeared. There will be chaos.”

“Can we make contact first?”

The two identical men spoke heavily.

The woman shrugged.

“How? We couldn’t find him even after years of searching.”

“That’s because Phantom wasn’t a real player until now. Now that he’s a real player, there must be a way.”

“Then, should we try ‘phishing’? The secret auction house must be open, right?”

“Phishing...”

“To get first place in Main 3, you need a lot of powerful items. Of course, he would use the auction house.”

Phishing. A slang term used by players.

It involves placing high-quality items at low prices in the secret auction house and attaching the ‘Twin’ ability of a talisman to find the location.

The ‘Twin Talisman’ option allows you to know the location of the other talisman, even if they are far apart.

Inexperienced players would buy items from the auction house at low prices and end up being tracked and killed or robbed, both in the game and in reality.

“But isn’t that a low tactic used by ‘massacres’ and the like?”

“Phantom would know all the options of the talisman. He wouldn’t miss it.”

The two identical men both opposed the idea.

Phishing is a low tactic used by massacres who hunt inexperienced players.

Even if he used it, Phantom wouldn’t miss it.

Only inexperienced players who don’t know the name of the talisman would fall for it.

But the woman clicked her tongue.

“Still don’t know Phantom? He’s the one who went to kill the Demon King. Even though he failed, didn’t you see his execution when he started the Great Expedition?”

Many people had already identified the character Wilhelm as Phantom.

And Wilhelm was truly a madman.

Despite numerous obstacles and the collapse of various forces, he initiated the Great Expedition.

He failed despite possessing eight unique items, but Wilhelm’s achievements were of a level that would be remembered in the history of Pangea.

A true legend.

“If there’s a phishing item in the secret auction house, I’ll buy it. If you want to try, go ahead. He’ll kill everyone who comes in. That’s the Phantom I know.”

The woman’s eyes sparkled.

‘A Phantom fan.’

Thinking the same thing, the two men simultaneously scratched their heads.

“What do we do after making contact?”

“Of course, we have to invite him to our guild.”

“Would Phantom join our guild, which has nothing?”

“We have to try. Of course, Phantom is probably an incredible person in real life too... but we’re better than other madmen.”

Most Pangea players are crazy.

They can’t distinguish between the game and reality and commit murders as casually as eating a meal.

Some of them have successfully rehabilitated their image due to the previous ‘collapse’ phenomenon, where monsters appeared. However, the root remains.

“By the way, what kind of person is he? A CEO of a large company? Ah, he’s probably the son of a wealthy family, right?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled as she imagined.

The two men shook their heads at her.

*

<<‘Side Quest - Sanctuary Exploration’ has been completed.>>

<<Exploration rate 100%! An unbelievable number even when seen with your own eyes!>>

<<You have perfectly cleared the desert sanctuary for the first time.>>

<<You have obtained the ‘Teleport Book’.>>

<<You have obtained the achievement ‘Sanctuary Conqueror (First)’.>>

<<Experience has accumulated, and you have leveled up!>>

The moment I achieved a 100% exploration rate of the sanctuary with Dramut.

The completion of the side quest and the rewards were listed.

“Wow!”

I marveled at the rewards.

A Teleport Book and a first-time achievement.

When I picked up the thick blue book, the relevant description appeared.

『Teleport Book (Epic)

A magical book that transports you to a location you have fully explored.

Casting time: 30 seconds, can be used once a day.

Current waypoints registered: Desert Sanctuary』

This book allows you to return to a dungeon or location once you have achieved a 100% exploration rate.

There are warps that can teleport you to different regions, but they are limited, you can’t move to the exact location you want, and they are expensive.

This epic item solves all those problems.

‘I can get a million gold for this.’

A million gold. The price to buy a large mansion in Pangea.

‘If I put it up in the secret auction house, there might be quite a demand.’

The secret auction house, activated by ranking in the top of Main Quest 2.

A place where all players can trade anonymously.

I don’t plan to sell it, but I’m curious how much demand there would be if I put it up.

The Teleport Book is a ‘super rare’ item with fewer than 20 copies.

‘And the achievement...’

‘Achievements’ are only obtainable by overcoming various trials and adversities. You have to accomplish something worthy of being called an achievement in Pangea.

If recognized as an achievement, your reputation will skyrocket. With increased reputation, you can gain titles or build friendly relations with named NPCs who only respond to those with specific reputations.

Most importantly.

‘Level 3.’

Finally, level 3.

I level up each time I complete a main quest.

But it’s not fast. In fact, it’s too slow.

‘The system increases the required experience based on talent. My required experience is probably at least ten times the average.’

Normally, you should be at least level 4, and as high as level 5, by the time you complete Main Quest 2.

But I’m still at level 3, which means my required experience is unrealistically high.

Because I have too many talents.

‘But in exchange, the max value has been broken. The value per level is now fixed at 12. It seems to be due to the hidden trait...’

Of course, there are advantages.

Advantages that are beyond imagination and far outweigh the increased experience.

‘Status window.’

Repeating the status window, a parchment appeared before my eyes.

<Status Window>

Name: Randolph

Class: Heir of the Stars

<Stats>

Level: 3

Strength: 36 (+5) Health: 36 (+5) Agility: 36 (+5)

Intelligence: 36 (+5) Spirit: 36 (+5)

... Every time I level up, all stats increase by exactly 12.

If someone saw this, they would probably yell, “Stop using bugs!”

It’s an impossible number with normal play.

‘I understand that all talents are maxed out, so my stats increase to the max value every time I level up. But the max value should be 10.’

Stats increase randomly based on talent and experience when you level up.

The maximum increase per level is 10, and you need to reach the peak to have 100 individual stats at level 10.

To go beyond that, you need to transcend.

But I increase by 12, and all stats do.

‘At level 10, I will have two-star stats.’

I will have the stats that require two transcensions at level 10. There’s no such thing as a more broken setup.

Moreover, all stats are increased by 5 due to the class trait ‘Star Possession Effect’.

In five years of playing Pangea, this is the first time I’ve seen such a scene.

Once might be a coincidence, but twice is a pattern.

‘One of the hidden traits I’ve never seen before is related to this.’

I stroked my chin thoughtfully.

Thirteen hidden traits. Three of them are new to me.

【Big Eater】, 【Great Sage】, and 【Heavenly (天上)】

I don’t know exactly what they are, but one of them is probably directly related to this phenomenon.

I can only figure it out by experiencing it.

In any case, I’ve gotten everything I can from this sanctuary exploration.

‘Shadow Cloak, Fairy Queen’s Tear, Teleport Book.’

Just looking at them makes me smile.

None of them can be discarded.

All are raid boss items with extremely low drop rates.

Especially the ‘Fairy Queen’s Tear’ is a must-have talisman. It’s an extremely rare item that grants special options to equipment.

“Monster!”

“A giant sea monster has appeared in the sanctuary!”

Perhaps because we spent too much time exploring the sanctuary.

Warriors started entering the sanctuary and discovered Dramut.

“We need to get out before the High Priest and the Queen arrive.”

Isabella’s expression hardened.

The number of warriors is increasing. We need to get out before the sanctuary is sealed.

“Dramut, cause chaos.”

Swoosh!

Dramut moved at my command.

Even if he doesn’t want to, he has no choice but to obey his master.

As Dramut started causing chaos, I slowly picked up the Shadow Cloak.

“Use it together.”

“Pardon?”

“We need to leave the desert before a tracking team is formed. To do that, we need to leave without being noticed.”

“Ah.”

To slip away quietly during the chaos in the sanctuary, this is the only way.

If soldiers spot me or Isabella directly, things will get worse.

Isabella entered the cloak.

“Get closer.”

“... Yes.”

Isabella’s eyes trembled slightly.

We then stuck together, sharing the cloak, and quietly began to leave the sanctuary.

*

The warp to leave the desert.

It takes about half a day to activate.

“Don’t worry. The curse is lifted.”

Due to the curse, Isabella couldn’t use the warp.

She couldn’t leave the desert forever.

But now, with the blessing of the stars, she can use the warp.

“I trust... you.”

Isabella nodded.

At the end of the desert, the opposite side is a black cliff. Only endless darkness fills the view.

Isabella’s eyes were filled with a mix of desperation and urgency.

The only way to reach the next area was through the warp.

This part is the same as the game. The regions are not connected.

In any case, it’s too late for Isabella to return. The Queen must have already noticed and sent search and tracking teams.

“I need to communicate with the stars until the warp activates.”

“I will protect you.”

Isabella showed a vigilant expression, understanding my meaning.

Communicating with the stars.

It means logging out.

But this place is not safe. If I log out, all kinds of beasts, monsters, or tracking teams might follow.

I’m entrusting my safety entirely to Isabella.

If I had chosen the Guardian Talisman instead of the Fairy Queen’s Tear, I could have set a safe zone. But I have no regrets.

The Fairy Queen’s Tear is an excellent talisman.

‘At least it’s a hopeful start.’

Before me, a golden carpet leads to the Royal Road.

Considering the connection with reality, growth in Pangea is extremely important.

If more Pangea monsters invade Earth in the future.

‘... The Demon King. He might also descend.’

A monster that even Wilhelm couldn’t defeat might appear in reality.

That chilling destruction.

Sitting down, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

‘Log out.’

<<Logging out...>>

<<Please place your character in a safe location.>>

<>

<<Log out complete.>>

*

Shower!

I shave while taking a shower.

After finishing the shower, I dry my body with a towel and dry my hair.

“Phew, refreshing.”

How long has it been since I had a shower and a shave?

The shower feels incredibly refreshing. I wish I had taken a shower earlier.

‘... I really lived like a shut-in.’

Sighing at the state of my room as I exit the bathroom.

After all, I’ve been living without contact with the outside world for over a month. I just lived carelessly without proper cleaning.

Going out to fight the giant mantis doesn’t count as going out.

Shut-in. But I can’t stay depressed and holed up at home forever.

Even though I quit my job, I can’t keep living like this.

“Let’s clean up.”

Just as I decided to clean the room,

Ding!

My phone vibrated with a notification that a message had arrived.

Picking up the phone from the desk and checking the message,

I couldn’t help but frown.

—Big brother, how are you?

... It was a message from my ex-girlfriend, who broke up with me for lack of ambition.