Chapter 7
As they reached the central fountain in the beginner's city of "Raythien" after the tutorial, the two continued their conversation.
"So, what do you think you'll do first in an online RPG after the tutorial ends?"
"Well, it's mostly standardized, you know."
With the emergence of the internet and the interconnection of networks, countless online RPGs had appeared. Karpe had easily played over ten RPGs himself.
"You could go to a beginner training ground and hit scarecrows, receive education, or just head outside the village and hunt beginner mobs. Or you could simply follow the main quest."
"All three options are correct. Each has its own path. That's the infinite freedom in Lasair."
It might have sounded cliché, like another reality rather than a game. But there was no denying that it was one of the best expressions of "The Last Savior."
"Well, there's no guarantee that this infinite freedom still exists now, but you know."
"What do you mean?"
Just then.
"Excuse me! Are we going to make a guild among ourselves?"
Not far away, there was a commotion. Karpe instinctively sensed that the commotion was related to what Cheonma had just said.
His steps automatically led him in that direction, where a blonde man with a sheepish look was engaging with a group of newcomers.
"If you join our newbie support guild, 'Mammonism,' you can enjoy the game comfortably..."
"No, we want to play with our friends. We don't want to play under someone else."
"Yeah. Even in Real Fantasia, we worked like dogs under a guild. Are we supposed to do the same here?"
"Hey, calm down..."
"We're calm enough to talk. We'll manage on our own, so you can go on your way."
The newcomers were hostile towards the blonde man, perhaps because they had experienced major setbacks in guilds before, but the man seemed unfazed.
"Hmm."
Karpe spoke in a voice low enough that they wouldn't hear.
"They're aggressively recruiting for the guild. They're even forcing people to join."
"It's been about six months since Lasair was released, right? Half a year is enough time for established powers to start making moves. Especially now that guild wars have been updated, they'll want to fill their ranks somehow."
"Well, it's not necessarily a problem that they're encouraging guild membership."
"The problem is that it doesn't stop at 'encouragement.'"
As Karpe and Cheonma exchanged words, their voices gradually grew louder.
"If you keep acting like this, it might become difficult to play the game in the future."
"Ha! Are you even threatening us now? Why? Are you going to PK us?"
While the freedom in the game was a strong point, excessive freedom could lead to certain users, particularly those in power, exploiting the game.
For example, hoarding essential items and inflating prices, controlling drop hunting grounds, or simply killing off newcomers to discourage them from playing.
"It's bitter. No matter what game you play, there's always a guild like that."
It wasn't just a story limited to The Last Savior. The structure where top players monopolized content and exploited latecomers was all too common in MMORPGs.
And to maintain that exploitative structure, those in power exerted considerable effort. The semi-forced guild recruitment was probably part of that effort.
Just as Karpe sighed and was about to turn away...
"Haha, I think you've misunderstood my intentions a bit. PK? On the contrary, I'm against it. I'm here to protect you. Have you seen the beginner guide that's been posted on Lasair's forums?"
Perhaps it was because his words were unexpected.
The momentum of the newcomers softened slightly.
"The beginner guide on the forums... You mean the best of the best guide?"
"Yes, exactly. If you've read that, it'll be easier for me to explain. You'll find a quest list for level 1, and there should be one called 'Hunt Mutated Antler Deer.'"
Lasair had been released for six months. That was enough time for beginner guides to be posted and gain traction in the gaming community.
"Well..."
"Indeed, there is such a quest in the guide..."
Among them, the guide mentioned by the blonde man was a highly recommended practical guide! It was considered the bible for beginners.
"Is there really a quest like that?"
-There is. Among the starting village quests, it's one of the most efficient.
"Hmm."
The quest that even seasoned players of 10 years confidently asserted as efficient. When such a quest was mentioned, the momentum of the newcomers was visibly dampened. As they hesitated, the blonde man chuckled even more and continued speaking.
"The Mutated Deer isn't actually that strong. Even level 1 players, when grouped together, can easily hunt them. However, the problem lies in where they respawn. They respawn in the only PK-allowed field near the starting town. Have you heard of the Lone-Wolf Pack?"
"Oh!"
"I've heard of it."
"You have? If you go hunting for Mutated Deer without knowing, you'll fall prey to them ten out of ten times."
The Lone-Wolf Pack. Abbreviated as the Lone Pack.
They were a group of indiscriminate PKers who had been wreaking havoc in the starting city for about a month. They hid in the forest near the deer respawn zone and hunted down weaker players as soon as they appeared.
"If you join our guild, we'll take responsibility and protect you from them. Not only that, but we'll also help you graduate from the starting city smoothly. Of course, leaving the guild is entirely up to you."
"Well... I understand what you're saying, but still, joining a guild feels a bit..."
"It's a shame, but if you put it like that, there's nothing we can do. Then, instead, I'll help you with the Mutated Deer quest."
"Oh!"
"Really?"
"You're so kind... We're sorry!"
The initially hostile atmosphere among the newcomers was no longer detectable. However, one of them, who seemed to be the leader, still hadn't let go of his suspicious gaze.
"Wait a minute. You're offering to help even though we're not joining the guild? Why?"
"As I mentioned earlier, our guild is a guild that supports beginners. Our guild leader's guideline is that when beginners do well, the game does well."
"To be honest, it's hard to believe. We've been through so much. It's rare to see an act of kindness without asking for something in return."
"Hmm? When did I ever say I'd help for free? I'll be compensated."
"Oh."
The gaze of the newcomer group quickly changed to understanding. However, they all shared one common question.
"...Compensation? From us?"
"What do we have? Hey, Jin-sik, do you have anything?"
"Do I? I'm just a newbie like you, freshly out of the tutorial."
"I got slaughtered by goblins as soon as I started the tutorial."
That's right. They were the newest of the newbies, just entering the starting city. They had nothing to offer as compensation.
"Could it be, trading the current tutorial?"
"No. What we expect as compensation for our help is what you all currently have."
It was something that every Lasair user would have touched, and most users brought it with them from the tutorial.
"Right, the Gacha Coins."
"Oh... I do have some left."
"I do too. I chose the Backer during my third 10-pull and still have seven left."
"I have three."
After the initial excitement, most users ended up with leftover coins.
"But according to the guide, isn't it just for selling at the store for a few coins in the early stages? Even if you sell five, it's only enough for one potion."
"Money is money when you gather it. And this is actually a secret..."
The blonde man lowered his head slightly, as if revealing a great secret to them.
"We have a member in our guild who has changed to the special occupation of 'Merchant.' With the Merchant's skill [Negotiation], you can sell the same item to NPCs at a higher price. If you gather a large amount of coins and sell them all using [Negotiation]... Guzzle."
*Gulp.*
One of the beginners gulped visibly, undoubtedly imagining money rolling in.
"Well, that's the story. Do you feel less suspicious now?"
"Of course! Man, you're amazing. It's all Jin-ho's fault for doubting. Quick, apologize!"
"...Sorry. You spoke with good intentions, and we just got angry for no reason."
"No, I understand perfectly. Now that the misunderstanding's cleared up, shall we go clear the quest? The Mutated Deer quest usually has a long queue because of their low population."
"Oh, then let's go!"
"Wait, just a moment."
The blonde man looked at Karpe from a distance and chuckled before speaking.
"Would you like to join us too? You probably heard bits of it, but this quest has a really nice reward."
"No. I appreciate the offer, but I don't have any coins..."
"Oh, I see. Enjoy your gaming. Well then, shall we?"
The blonde man ignored Karpe's lack of coins and left with the beginners.
Karpe watched their retreating figures with a bewildered expression, but no one paid him any attention.
Apparently finding it amusing, Cheonma chuckled and spoke to Karpe.
"Now, here's a question. What do you think about that guy's words?"
"Besides being rude... there's a foul smell."
"Good. Smelling foul is at least better than being like your cowardly friend over there."
"So, what part of what he said was false?"
"False? None of it."
"Huh?"
Karpe looked at Cheonma as if to ask what he meant, but Cheonma just shrugged.
"What he said was all true. There's no falsehood."
The fact that Mutated Deer is the most efficient quest at level 1 is true.
The fact that you'll get attacked by the Lone Pack if you perform the quest recklessly is true.
And it's true that the Mammonism Guild prevents that.
The fact that the coins are just junk items according to the beginner's guide and should be sold at the shop for pocket change is true.
Ultimately, it's true that the Mammonism Guild helps beginners.
"It's true that the guild is really good? Like a charity organization?"
"Is there such a thing? They all have their own agenda, so they're doing this annoying thing. It's a good opportunity, so just try it once."
"What do you mean?"
"The Mammonism elites. And those elites' top dogs. You know, those so-called top 10 guilds? You'll see how dangerous they are as you play the game. They'll stick to you like glue throughout the game. They never let any potential threats slide."
"So, this is a chance to stick it to them."
"I love that kind of thing. A lone man fighting against the tyranny of powerful forces. It's like a novel protagonist."
"Then congratulations. You've become a novel protagonist."
Karpe and Cheonma quietly followed the blonde man.
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to rate 5 stars and review in NovelUpdte!