Chapter 13
Thud!
The colossal deer fell under Carpe's attack.
[You have defeated the Mutant Deer.]
[Obtained Quest Item: Mutant Deer Horn. Return to the worried farmer to claim your quest reward!]
[Level up! Bonus points awarded.]
"Phew. That's done."
Although Carpe's plans were disrupted by the One Fist group, his original purpose for entering this forest was to complete the quest.
- Well done. Now let's go back to town and collect the quest reward.
"Hmm. It's a bit disappointing now that it's over. There are probably still quite a few members of the One Fist group around."
Aren't they the mobs that spit out items one after another when you defeat them? Carpe wanted to make the most of it, but...
- There's nothing we can do. You saw it too, right? They're all sticking together.
"Yes, you're right."
Whether it was an order from above or not, at some point they started sticking together. Instead of the usual 3-4 member parties, groups of at least 8 people began roaming around.
Even though Carpe was just a rookie in the beginner town, such numbers were definitely daunting. He had confidence in his ability to survive, but he couldn't ignore the possibility of being logged out if things went wrong.
- Since you stirred up the One Fist group, they must be on high alert too. There's no merit in risking danger to hunt right now.
"Yes, you're right."
Carpe's level was only 3 now. There were still 4 levels until the limit in the beginner town. There was still plenty of room for improvement.
"There's no need to rush. So, should we start the guerrilla quest now?"
-No, as I mentioned earlier, there are conditions for when NPCs appear, right? There's no point going now. Sometimes NPCs don't appear for a week even during long intervals.
"Wow. So, if I'm unlucky, I have to wait in the starting town for a week?"
That's a bit annoying.
Carpe glanced at Cheonma with a skeptical expression, and Cheonma gave him the answer he wanted.
-No way. If that were the case, they wouldn't have mentioned it in the first place. When we warped to Layscene earlier, didn't the system clearly say it was June 1st?
"Yeah, that's right."
The date mentioned here referred to the in-game date in Rase, not the real-world date.
-What about the time?
"Let's see, it's... 11:37 AM in the game."
-Just a moment.
Cheonma hesitated for a moment before exhaling heavily and speaking again.
"In 4 hours and 27 minutes from now. The location is next to the church, 5 o'clock direction from the central square we were just at."
"Huh? What's going on? Right now?"
"What else? I calculated the coordinates where the NPC will appear based on the official information."
"...Ah, I see."
So that's what it was about. Carpe asked again, looking puzzled.
"How did you do it?"
"Well, it's not difficult to explain. Do you happen to be good at math? Like, vector high school level and basic calculus at the university level?"
"...No, not really."
"Still, can I explain it to you? It might be hard to understand."
"No, it's okay. And I apologize."
Unexpectedly, Cheonma was a science student. Despite his arrogant appearance, he seemed quite knowledgeable.
Carpe thought to himself as he nodded in understanding.
"Well, the process isn't important to you anyway. Since you won't be doing the quest again. The result is what matters, and I can tell you that."
"Right. Everyone has their own specialization. I'll focus on combat."
"Good, that's settled then."
"Shall we level up while waiting for the guerrilla quest? How do people usually level up in Rase?"
"There are many methods. You can clear dungeons, just hunt aimlessly, or aim for hidden quests. You'll level up quickly no matter what you do until level 10."
"Oh, speaking of quests."
Carpe spoke as he rummaged through the area where the mutant deer's body had disappeared. Unfortunately, no items had dropped.
"Are all the quests in this game like this? Just small quests like hunting mutant deer? Are there no scenario quests or main quests?"
"Main quests? Of course, there are. Like you said, hunting deer is just a side quest."
"As I thought. Who gives out the main quests?"
"They're right in front of you."
"...What?"
Carpe blinked and looked ahead. There, amidst the dense trees, was Cheonma, transparent as ever...
"Huh? Could it be?"
-Yeah. Main quests in Rase are often given by the overseers.
The choice of who to appoint as an overseer was the first crucial factor because of this quest in Rase.
-They're called main quests for convenience, but they're not necessarily related to the game's story. Most of them are quests that help players grow.
The quests given by overseers contribute explosively to the growth of players compared to other typical quests.
"So, every player does their best to increase their favorability with the overseers. Once you get close, they might even give you an extra piece of cake."
"...Why does the game have to include a dating simulation? Anyway, I understand."
Carpe said, his eyes sparkling.
"Then, please give me the quest, Cheonma."
-I can't.
"Why not! You just said the main quests are given by overseers! Are you mad because I called you Cheonma and won't give it to me...?"
"What nonsense. It's not that I won't give it, it's that I can't. You're not at the required level yet."
"Level?"
-Level 10. You can receive your first main quest when you reach that level.
The quests varied greatly depending on who was appointed as the overseer. Some overseers couldn't give quests at first and were frustrated, while others never spoke until the player quit the game.
However, regardless of which overseer was chosen, they would always give a quest the moment the player reached level 10.
"What kind of quest is it?"
-It's the quest to acquire the most essential element in RPGs. Do you know what RPG stands for?
"Of course... Oh!"
In the moment he tried to answer the ridiculously easy question, Carpe realized.
RPG. Role-Playing Game.
A game where you assume a role and complete missions.
In other words...
"It's a job quest."
-Correct. Once you reach level 10, the overseer will suggest which profession to pursue.
It was a very typical class advancement quest where the overseer gives trials, and upon passing them, the player obtains a job.
-It got a bit twisted because of the Mammonists, but the standard play is to level up straight to level 10. Oh, and don't forget to research about the 10th-grade skills.
"Huh? Research? Even though they're 10th-grade skills, what more could there be here? Based on what's been revealed so far, they seem to be powerful enough to tip the balance in any fight."
-I think the same way... But you never know. It's unprecedented, after all. There might be something unreasonable hidden.
"Perhaps, is it possible that everything, just like its name suggests, can be discovered and unlocked?"
"You cheeky bastard."
"Anyway, the immediate plan is set."
Until the guerrilla quest appears, level up, and research skills.
Carpe stood up energetically and said, "Well, Strategy King Cheonma, what's the fastest route to level up in the starting city, Ray Scene? It'd be even better if there are hidden pieces."
-For the conscience-stricken user, there happens to be a hidden piece nearby that suits you perfectly. The closest hidden piece is hitting the scarecrow in the city training ground to death.
"A scarecrow?"
-It's a common cliché. While other players go hunting, if you quietly keep hitting the scarecrow in the novice training ground, eventually the instructor will come over with a smile and say, 'Ahaha! It's been a while since I've seen such a spirited young man!' and give out items and titles.
"...They have that in Rase too?"
-Of course. But you have to hit it quite a lot.
"How much?"
-100,223 times.
"...How much?"
Ten... thousand?
No, even if you hit once per second, it would take over 24 hours!
"I don't think I misheard. But crazy, how did you find that out?"
-After regressing for the third time, I lost my mind a bit... hitting absentmindedly, I found out.
"Even so, did you count while hitting 100,000 times?"
There's a special kind of crazy.
"No, but seriously, 100,000 times is 100,000 times. What's 100,223?"
-What's the difference? It's to mess with those who think there's something special about 100,000 and only focus on hitting it exactly 100,000 times.
"This game is insane. And you, Cheonma, who found that out, are insane too."
-I was truly out of it at that time. Anyway, the reward is quite decent. Shall we go and take care of it?
"...I'll ask for a different route."
-I thought you might say that. Luckily, there's another suitable one. Let's go with that.
* * *
Upon arriving in the city, Carpe first completed the farmer's quest and received the reward. According to Cheonma's explanation, the lower the clear level, the higher the reward gold.
Carpe's level was 3, so he received a decent amount of gold. Along with the notification that the farmer's goodwill had increased, his level also increased by 1.
[Quest completed.]
[Level up! Bonus points awarded.]
Afterward, Carpe stopped by the general store to purchase the items Cheonma had mentioned before heading out of the city.
"It's the opposite direction of where the mutant deer are. The area is bigger than I thought."
-It's a beginner's area, but the map is quite large. That means there are plenty of hidden pieces too.
Numerous beginner users were engaged in tough battles with animals not far from the village.
"Argh! This crazy squirrel! Why is it so fast?"
"Ouch! The rabbit bit my leg. Oh no, I'm bleeding!"
"Yes, got it! Since the rabbit bit me, I bit it back and caught it!"
It was truly chaotic.
Perhaps this was what the beginning of human hunting life looked like.
"...It feels bitter."
-If you didn't have title bonus stats, you might have been rolling around there... Or not.
Ranked second in the world of job change. Even without bonus stats, you wouldn't have struggled against those animals.
While thinking like that, Cheonma led Carpe deeper into the forest near the village.
After some time, they arrived at a clearing in the middle of the forest, centered around a large tree.
"Good. This is it."
"No one's here?"
-There's nothing to gather or fight, so there's no reason for anyone to be here. Now, take out the things I asked you to buy in the village.
Before leaving the village, Cheonma instructed Carpe to buy two items. With the quest rewards and the items obtained from the original gang, there was enough money.
Three acorns and an empty bottle.
Carpe bought them, filled the empty bottle with water from the village square fountain, and then headed outside.
"Take out one acorn and scatter it under that tree."
"Like this?"
Whoosh.
As Carpe threw the acorn under the tree, a large shadow appeared above the tree and darted towards the acorn.
Clang!
[A hidden monster, 'Tyrant Squirrel,' has appeared!]
It was a squirrel of such enormous size compared to the one seen near the village earlier. The Tyrant Squirrel grabbed the acorn, stuffed it into its cheek, and began to scream sharply at Carpe.
"Squeeeak!"
"No, what kind of squirrel is that?! It's bigger than a Jindo dog!"
-It's just a squirrel. With your stats, it would be harder for you to lose even against something like this.
Indeed. It was labeled as 'hidden,' but it was simply an enhanced version of the squirrels that appeared in the beginner village.
For Carpe, who had already defeated a level 35 Goblin Warrior in the tutorial, it wasn't a particularly threatening monster.
"Well. Anyway, since it's a hidden monster, it must give a lot of experience points, right? If I defeat one, I might level up by three?"
-You keep talking about conscience-stricken stuff. Rase prevents power leveling through tricks. Even if you defeat strong monsters, you won't gain more than one level.
"Ah, that's why."
When Carpe defeated a level 35 Goblin Warrior in the tutorial and only gained one level, there was a reason for that.
With determination, Carpe took out the 'Green Skin Slayer' from his inventory, equipped it, and aimed at the Tyrant Squirrel, speaking with a serious expression.
"You've committed a sin by coveting my acorn. You deserve to die."
-...Crazy bastard.
"Hyah!"
Carpe dashed towards the Tyrant Squirrel at lightning speed. And the outcome was just as Cheonma had described.
"Kweeeek!"
[Level up!]
[Your level is now 5.]
[Bonus stats have been awarded. Skill points have been granted.]
Exactly three slashes.
The Tyrant Squirrel couldn't do anything and fell to Carpe's sword without a fight.
...A squirrel was just a squirrel, no matter how strong it seemed.
"Oh. Drop item?"
-Thankfully, it came out in one shot.
As the corpse of the Tyrant Squirrel turned to ashes and disappeared, a large acorn fell to the ground. Carpe picked up the acorn and checked the information.
[Tyrant Squirrel's Acorn]
[Category: Material]
[Grade: Rare]
[A precious acorn from the Tyrant Squirrel in the nearby forest of Leysin. Can be sold to a collector for a high price.]
"Nice."
Just by defeating one monster, he leveled up and obtained a rare material item. Indeed, information was power. The level 0-grade rear supervisor, whom he thought was a failure, turned out to be the strongest rear supervisor!
"With this, the hidden piece here is complete..."
"What are you talking about? We haven't even started yet. Plant the acorn you just obtained in the ground."
"Huh?"
"After planting it, pour the water from the fountain over it. Something fun will happen."
"This isn't the end?"
Following Cheonma's instructions, Carpe planted the acorn and poured water over it. Then, a shoot emerged from the planted spot and rapidly grew into a 4-meter-tall tree.
"Wow."
"Good. That's perfect. Do you see the large hole in the trunk?"
"Yes."
"Place your hand on it."
As Carpe placed his hand on the black hole...
Clang.
[Hidden Dungeon 'The Lair of the Giant Squirrel' has been discovered.]
[Dungeon Grade: Hero ~ Legendary]
[Level Restriction: Level 5 or below]
[Upon the first entry into the dungeon, experience points gained from monsters and item drop rates are increased by 100%.]
[Drop rate of boss monsters is increased by 200%.]
Carpe's mouth hung open in astonishment.
"Are you ready?"
"..."
"Are you ready to sweep through the hidden pieces?"
"...When I read martial arts novels, the cultists were always much better than the righteous sects."
Heavenly Demon Present, Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!
In this place, there was a devout follower of the Heavenly Demon.
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