ALL NOVEL 12.
12.
Main Quest
You have successfully cleared the Clock Tower Ghost Dungeon!
Clear Reward: 500G, 1000 EXP gained]
It’s been a while since I’ve seen the word ‘success’.
When the boss monster, the giant rat, appeared, I was startled because the only exit was blocked, but it was so slow that I could defeat it right away despite its size. Above all, the method of herding mobs and sweeping them in groups was very effective.
[Level Up!
Lv 9 – You have 19 unallocated talent points.]
[Nyang-nyang
You’ve finally reached level 9! Now you can learn ‘Spirit Summoning’, a special skill unique to Teisia.
Spirit Ariel – Healing Skill (50% of summoner’s full HP)
Spirit Jellitto – Shield Skill (200% of summoner’s full HP)
Spirit Balsa-nim – Healing Skill (Summoner’s full HP to all party members except the summoner)
Once chosen, it cannot be changed, so please choose carefully!]
My level went up at the same time… but there was no need to deliberate. I immediately chose Ariel.
When I used the skill, a small blue-glowing spirit appeared and healed me. So this is a self-healing skill that doesn’t require health potions. If I had this before clearing the dungeon, it would have been much easier.
[Whisper/Beombiga: .]
[Whisper/Beombiga: Hello.]
Suddenly, I received a whisper. Looking at the name, it was that kind person from yesterday.
Why did they whisper again? Are they trying to take advantage of me after all? Are they going to demand compensation for helping yesterday? Is this one of those forced acts of kindness followed by a delayed demand for reward?
Suspicious, I just ignored it.
If I don’t reply, they’ll think I’m logged out.
[Whisper/Beombiga: Are you having any difficulties with dungeons or gameplay?]
[Whisper/Beombiga: By the way, I already know you’re currently online]
[Whisper/Beombiga: Whispers can’t be sent if you’re not logged in haha. Do you need any help?]
They were more thorough than I thought. I had no choice but to answer.
[Whisper to Beombiga: No, I’m fine]
[Whisper/Beombiga: Why are you fine?]
[Whisper to Beombiga: Pardon?]
[Whisper/Beombiga: There’s no way you’re fine… You must be having difficulties]
What is this person talking about? I pressed each key firmly as I typed.
[Whisper to Beombiga: Why? Am I supposed to be bad at the game?]
[Whisper/Beombiga: Ah, that’s not what I meant. I just want to help you]
[Whisper to Beombiga: I have no money.]
[Whisper/Beombiga: I don’t need money…]
[Whisper to Beombiga: Then why are you doing this?]
[Whisper/Beombiga: I really just want to help.. I’m sorry for intruding]
[Whisper/Beombiga: If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask anytime. Just type @Beombiga]
[Whisper/Beombiga: Well then, have a fun and exciting time…]
A fun and exciting time…?
I have no idea what kind of person this is.
I didn’t reply, and Beombiga didn’t say anything more.
*
Not long after, another dungeon quest popped up. This time, Mino gave me a quest to go to the cemetery because the Clock Tower ghost was spotted there. This kid is using training as an excuse to make others do his work.
Maybe he sees me as an older brother figure….
It’s understandable that he might feel close to me since I comforted him when he was crying at first.
Anyway, in the cemetery-themed dungeon, ghost monsters appeared, but magic wasn’t very effective against them. When rat monsters were hit by
[General/Gchang: Angryy]
[General/Gchang: ^_^ㅠ,, If you’re in the cemetery dungeon]
[General/Gchang: Want me to help?]
[General/Gchang: Your race’s attacks won’t work well against ghosts,,, You absolutely can’t solo it ㅠ]
I was already irritated from constant failures, and now this English nickname has been following me around.
It’s annoying and bothersome, but I tried to suppress my temper as much as possible and replied.
[General/Angryy: Thanks, but I’ll do it alone]
[General/MinoIsMine: lolololololol]
[General/Gchang: Angryy]
[General/Gchang: If you keep dying, your experience points will decrease and it’ll be hard to level up]
[General/Gchang: I won’t charge for the carryㅠ]
[General/Angryy: I said I’m fine]
[General/Gchang: I’m telling you, Teisia can’t solo that dungeon ㅠ]
So, the ineffectiveness against ghosts is a racial characteristic.
I need to look into this.
[General/Angryy: I’ll manage on my own]
[General/Gchang: …=^= ]
[General/MinoIsMine: lololol Oh this is so damn funny]
[General/Gakjong: Gchang, stop it. It’s painful to watchㅋㅋ]
[General/Gakjong:
[General/TeisiaQueen:
[General/StrongPunchMan:
[General/Gchang: ㅠ Don’t say that. How can someone who says it’s painful to watch immediately shout into a megaphone]
[General/MinoIsMine:
[General/ALLTHEY:
[General/Gakjong:
[General/ALLTHEY:
[General/MinoIsMine:
[General/Aiman:
[General/ALLTHEY:
[General/Aiman:
[General/ALLTHEY:
[General/TeisiaQueen:
[General/NewbieKiller:
[General/Gchang: Stop it ㅠ Enough ㅠ]
[General/Gchang:
People started gathering around Gchang and me. The chat window suddenly filled with messages. Even though I don’t know much about the game, I can tell they’re talking about me.
Was it game etiquette not to refuse when someone offers help?
People approached me, patting Angryy’s head, greeting me, or laughing while holding their stomachs. Windows kept popping up saying people sent hearts, obstructing my view.
[Whisper/ApathyRich: lol Chang Gwi’s ruined guild]
[Whisper/IronScionWion: You sound like a newbie. Are you an alt?]
[Whisper/Arongi: Don’t get close to Chang Gwi’s fu**ed up ruined guild]
[Whisper/IamGorang: Are you really a newbie?]
[Whisper/RainbowRainbow: Concept troll, hi]
[Whisper/99kk00: Newbie is cute]
[Whisper/Poier: What kind of concept troll is this lolol]
Whispers are pouring in too….
I don’t know if these people are doing this out of simple curiosity and fun, but for someone like me with a low stress threshold, it’s unbearable.
Can’t they just accept it when someone refuses, without being clingy?
Like Beombiga did.
Calling newbies cute while touching and patting them as they please, picking fights for fun, each of these things is stressful.
I immediately quit the game and closed my laptop. Then I turned off my watch that had been beeping for a while.
In reality, there’s no status window, so I don’t know how much ‘Sociability’ I have left, but I guess it’s probably about 3 points out of 100. ‘Patience’ is down to 2 points. Instead, the ‘Stress’ category must be at 9000 points out of 100.
Why are there people even in games?
I just want to be alone, as if I’m there but not there… just do things alone.
I want to live alone in the world, and play games alone.
There’s a saying that “Life is ultimately alone,” but contrary to this, a person’s life is always entangled with others. Our lives are designed to constantly face others, even if it’s tiresome.
Only when we die are we truly alone.
This is reality.
Will I ever be able to be alone someday?
Maybe when I die.
There’s no hope while alive. Maybe if a society was formed only of people who are sick of other people, we might be able to live a bit more comfortably. Because we would all avoid each other.
But even that would ultimately be a solitude created by others.
It seems the only way to truly be alone, unbound by anything, is to die after all.
Suddenly, I felt pathetic for having such thoughts because of a game. This is always how my stream of consciousness flows. It always flows towards “How comfortable would it be if I died.”
I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.
*
After lying down for several hours, Jin and Da-bin called me out for dinner in the evening. The menu was pork ribs. I tried to grill them, but Jin and Da-bin absolutely wouldn’t let me hold the tongs.
“Hyung, are you doing well in the game? What level are you?”
“I just reached level 9.”
“Ooh, at that pace, you’ll easily reach 50 within a month. I knew I was right to ask you.”
I’m not sure if it’s really a good pace. It was fine up until now, but it might not be from here on out.
I’m already getting angry again, thinking that people might keep paying attention to me after I log in again. I shouldn’t waste emotions getting angry about something that hasn’t even happened yet. But I can’t help it. It’s my old habit.
“Oppa Ha-un, it seems you find Poi at least a bit fun. You’ve been playing it longer than other things. Isn’t this the first time you’ve done something for two days?”
“It’s not so much that it’s fun, I’m just doing it because it’s Jin’s assignment. Come to think of it, don’t you two take the same class? Da-bin, didn’t you get this kind of assignment?”
“Ah.”