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Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Equipment Raider
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Equipment Raider, Black Noblewoman Hat.
Those two moved like a matched set.
To be precise, it was more like the son stirring up trouble and his mom running around cleaning up after him.
That mom doted on her son fiercely. She was infamous for always exacting revenge if he came home having been wronged somewhere.
'Her poison is even lethal enough that most players drop dead on the spot with high probability.'
That was why she had once been voted the player people least wanted to face. Even [Human Hunter] steered clear whenever she showed up.
She had made her name as an S-Rank like that, but she vanished around the midpoint of the Selection Process.
'She crossed blades with Lee Jong-cheol and got killed, probably?'
No matter how elite an S-Rank player was, they couldn't take on thousands alone. The Archlords had the power to effortlessly slaughter two or three S-Ranks.
That was reality.
'It's also why our pathetic humanity could claim victory against the Destruction Dragon Galegos, the final Trial.'
Numbers were the scariest thing of all, after all.
"Hey, cat got your tongue? You scared or something?"
Park Jae-jung snickered, and his gang burst out laughing along with him. I beckoned them over.
"Come on in."
"What?"
"If you've got the skills, take 'em."
"Ha, this punk's talking big?"
Park Jae-jung grinned and stepped forward.
"You think you've got some game? Huh? Confident in a fight? Too bad..."
[A strange energy binds you.]
[All stats decrease simultaneously.]
I quickly checked his ability, wondering what it was. The power I already half-knew assembled itself into text before my eyes.
Declares a one-on-one duel against the target. Target's stats drop by 20%, while user's stats rise by 20%. Usable three times per day.
Right, that was the ability.
A top-tier skill for one-on-ones.
Used right, it granted a constant 20% stat boost, making it viable even in chaotic melees.
'Of course, unlike [Room of Truth], it lacks binding force, so running away or sniping from afar renders it useless.'
Still, undeniably useful.
"What, gone quiet all of a sudden? Heh heh. Finally realizing you're screwed?"
I silently flexed my fist. Park Jae-jung snickered and advanced. His gang cheered from the sidelines.
"Yo, you gotta feel that skill yourself. It's total panic mode."
"Tell me about it. First time I got hit, felt like it wasn't even my body."
"And Jae-jung's so damn fast? Once it lands, all you see are afterimages."
"Enough, let's wrap this up quick and grab some food, Jae-jung."
They celebrated like victory was certain. Emboldened, Park Jae-jung smirked and strutted up to me.
"Bitch, should've just handed over the gear when I told you to. Humans always wise up and regret after shit hits the fan."
"..."
"This anger? You brought it on yourself. Don't worry, though. I'm a gentleman—I won't kill you!"
Thud-thud-thud!
He closed in fast. All-in on agility; his movements were razor-sharp.
Impressive stats, as expected. Far above average players, so he'd clearly scarfed plenty of stat shards and geared up nicely.
Whoosh!
But that was it. I quietly stared him down. In hindsight, I'd been flexing my fist for a different reason.
"Ha! Just ten hits, that's all!"
...This oughta do it. I swung my fist. It moved steadily, slamming precisely into the side of Park Jae-jung's charging face.
Thwack.
"Guhk...?"
He let out a weird yelp and tumbled across the floor.
"Wha—what?"
"J-Jae-jung...?"
Shocked voices erupted here and there. No surprise—they'd assumed victory, only for their guy to eat a counter and flop in one shot.
I dusted off my hands.
'Nailed the power control somehow.'
Honestly, I'd worried he might die. Flexing was to test if I could hold back.
"How...?"
Sprawled on the ground, he looked up at me in disbelief.
"M-My agility's over 60...?"
That shocked face screamed he'd never taken a counter before.
"You should've sized up your opponent before rushing in."
Who'd he think he was matching with his measly 61 agility?
Even debuffed 20%, mine was 120.
His neck hadn't twisted 360 degrees only because my agility was that high.
If I'd slipped even a little on control, it'd be pretzel-neck right now.
I squatted in front of him.
"Lost?"
"Wh-who says I lost...!"
"Round two, then? Fair warning: no confidence on holding back this time."
Park Jae-jung's eyes trembled.
"So admit it. Lost or not?"
"Damn it."
He spat a curse and muttered.
"Y-Yeah, you win..."
Stubborn to the end—not quite admitting full defeat. Prideful guy. I patted his head.
"Then strip."
"What...?"
"You tried stripping my gear, right? Lost? Cough it all up."
His eyes bulged with rage, lunging weakly, but a solid headshot left him barely able to stand.
His head was probably spinning, vision too blurry to even see my face.
"Don't want to? I'll lop your head off and take it myself."
I reached for my waist sword. He finally gave in, surrendering all his items.
Oh, nice gear—not just the weapon, every piece top-tier.
Minimum Epic, two Legendaries even.
Top 1% stuff easy.
'Trash compared to what me and the party wear, though.'
Time to sell it off good. I handed the loot back; Shin Seo-yeon whipped out a duffel and packed it away.
Meanwhile, his gang approached to drag him off.
"Hold up."
"?"
"Can't just let you go. Strip too."
"Eh...?"
"Tired of repeating. Hand over everything, now."
They balked, but after I thrashed three like Jae-jung, they quieted. I stripped his whole gang bare and sent them packing.
"H-How dare you touch us!"
"Y-You'll regret this!"
They spat villain lines and vanished outside. I waved them off lazily.
'Hurry and tattle to mommy.'
Black Noblewoman. Her poison was brutal—monsters puked blood or melted outright.
One of few soloing boss mobs; stellar against physically resistant ones.
Even Lee Jong-cheol, her killer, regretted it later.
'Luring her in would help big-time with boss fights ahead, even the Destruction Dragon Galegos.'
Of course, only need one dick in our party—me—so ditch the son midway.
Clap-clap-clap-clap!
Applause rang out. Not for schooling punks—just thanks for no mess, no blood in public.
"Min-jun, good work! Hurt anywhere?"
"Nah, fine."
"Dickhead, since when do you step up?"
"Hm?"
"First time seeing oppa move in a Rest Area."
Truthfully, I'd planned to sit it out. But if not me, Shin Seo-yeon would've—and that'd escalate.
Word was Lee Jong-cheol and Noblewoman fell out over that son.
No need to spill backstory, though. I deflected.
"Dunno. Figured if you fireballed here, guild founding's toast?"
"Hah? I got brains for that!"
"Nope, auntie brainless."
"Hey!"
After bickering with Yi Sera, Shin Seo-yeon asked again.
"But letting 'em go like that? Sketchy. Cleaner to just kill."
Good call not leaving it to her. I glanced at the exit where Park Jae-jung vanished.
"Send 'em off mad, they'll gear up for revenge. Loot again then."
"Ah? Sneaky."
"Oppa evil."
I was scheming evil, sure, but the two brats grinning wickedly were worse. Actual demons.
Then Han So-hee muttered.
"Park Jae-jung... no way..."
"What, rich girl knows him?"
"...Not exactly. I recall that name and face in our country's pharma industry."
Ah, yeah—heard that in 1st round too. Pharma chaebol kid.
"Spit it out—yes or no. Same face and name, what's with the maybe?"
"Well... only seen photos, but I think Park Jae-jung's a 3rd-year middle schooler this year."
"What? That was a middle schooler's face?"
Party faces went slack.
Makes sense. He looked at least 28.
"...Kids grow up fast these days—near new human level."
"I'd buy Sera as middle schooler. Thought she was older than me."
Yeah.
After disciplining the rowdies, we stood before the guild office clerk. She asked like she'd been waiting.
"Guild office. How may I help?"
"Here to found a guild."
"Who'll be guild master?"
We exchanged looks. Unanimous: me.
Briefly considered Han So-hee, since leadership doesn't suit me.
'But experienced leaders are best for running orgs.'
Plus, propping her as figurehead would've hurt her pride. Better I suck it up.
"Guild master confirmed. Write the guild name here?"
A blank sheet appeared.
"Guild name—what'd we decide?"
"[Shin Seo-yeon and Kids]?"
"For real?"
"Why not."
"Too self-indulgent? [Auntie and Brats]?"
"Hey! Go badass [Crimson Flame]!"
Crimson Flame.
Shin Seo-yeon loved the word—her signature. Unlike other Named hating nicknames, she dug Crimson Flame Witch.
Of course, assuming others would was delusional.
Predictably, Yi Sera shot it down.
"Cheesy."
"[Blood Flame]!"
"Crusty."
"Hm, [Ark]? As in ark..."
"Rich sis too serious."
"Ugh."
Shin Seo-yeon yelled.
"Hah? Recommend one! What then?"
"Cute one's fine. [Chicks Peep]."
"How 'bout [Flat Sera]?"
Brats bickered again. Saintess timidly raised a hand.
"Um... [Rang-i]?"
"..."
"Sorryyy..."
While they yapped, I pondered.
'Best guild name...'
People pick randomly—cool, cute...
But late Selection Process reveals: using Ancient God names grants huge perks.
'Feels like a worship cult to them, advertising their existence here.'
Issue: which of countless Ancient Gods?
'Perks vary wildly by god's prestige.'
Obscure god? Lame perks.
Prestige god? Massive perks.
And perks match god traits—choose carefully.
'[Taladrath] ain't bad for raw power.'
Master of Noctaviel's dimensional rifts.
Prestigious. His name'd give killer combat buffs.
'But that god's tastes are nasty.'
Cooking players... I shook my head.
'Twins Tyriel and Liriel, then?'
Balanced buffs across combat, gathering, crafting—everything.
'Nah, too scattered. Broad but weak effects.'
One name had lingered in my mind awhile.
By late Selection Process, every player knew it.
Top-tier Ancient God.
'Problem: using god names for perks requires regular sacrifices. Bigger perks, bigger demands.'
Tailored to players, but sometimes absurdly huge.
'Test it; worst case, remake guild...'
Penalty: one-month founding ban on disband.
...Worth risking. I took a breath.
"[Arseina]."
"Arseina?"
"What's that? Sounds like a person's name."
Ignoring chatter, I wrote it in ancient script on the sheet—double-checked spelling, handed it over.
[Guild created.]
[Members: 5]
"Hey! Deciding solo? I wanted Crimson Flame!"
"Peep."
"I-I wanted Rang-i..."
Protests died fast.
A bizarre notification shimmered before us.
[Ancient God Arseina recognizes the organization named after them.]
"Wh-what's this?"
Here we go.
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