Chapter 1409: Side Story 18
Chapter 1409 - Side Story 18
(Godly Marksman)
Level: 1
Class: None
HP: 55 MP: 50
STR: 17 AGI: 17 STM: 17
WIS: 17 INT: 17
Fullness: 50%
Special Effects in Possession:
•Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor’s Protection •Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor’s Praise
•Master of the Western Continents’ Praise
Bonus Point: None
The chairmen and presidents left the beginner’s zone after scolding Minhyuk fiercely. Finally, they were free to play however they wanted.
“Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor’s Protection? Praise? And another praise? Are these the ones Minhyuk gave?”
“Ah. That punk. He must have given it to us because he felt sorry.”
“That stinking brat! If he wants to give something to his grandfathers, then he should have given us something to eat. Not these useless things!”
If others had heard them, they would have been dumbfounded. The protection and praise from Minhyuk were not effects anyone could just obtain. It was something that could not be bought even if they had the money. First, the emperor’s protection could raise all their stats by 2% while the praise could increase the player’s attack and defensive power by 10%. The Master of the Western Continent’s praise could also increase the EXP Acquisition Rate by as much as 30%.
The chairmen and presidents finally arrived at Desden Territory after leaving the beginner’s zone. There, their secretaries, who had been waiting for their arrival, rushed to their sides.
“Chairman!”
“CHAIRMAAAAN!”
“Are you alright?!”
“Did you get hurt?!”
“You didn’t overdo it, right?”
“Eyyy. These guys. We told you that there’s no need for you to come here. Young people these days just don’t listen to us.”
Not long after, the secretaries took out the things that they had prepared for them.
“Here, please take these. We have prepared Legendary-rank weapons and armor suitable for novices. Also, here’s one billion platinum.”
These were priceless items for those who were only at Level 1.
The chairmen and presidents tilted their heads in confusion.
“Where did you get that?”
“We began to prepare the moment we heard that the chairmen and presidents wanted to play the game.”
“It seems like you’re all talented!”
“We… bought it with cash.”
The chairmen and presidents were kindly informed of the system called in-game purchases.
“You punk! Why are you spending money on games?!”
They were supposed to have fun and enjoy the game, yet they were playing by paying money?
“But to become stronger faster…”
“Ah. If that’s the case, then we don’t need it. We’re doing this just to have fun!”
“That’s right~”
“Why should we spend money on games~”
The chairmen and presidents had no intention of using their money to play the game. They just wanted to enjoy the process.
‘It reminds us of the old days.’
When they entered the game, they felt like they had returned to their past selves. They had nothing back then and had built their corporations and enterprises from the ground up, brick by brick. Hence, even if it meant that things would be difficult, they were still happy to do it slowly.
The secretaries smiled at them.
“Perhaps the chairmen and presidents are the ones who understand this game the best.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Everyone starts at the same point and will develop and grow further based on their talent.”
“Nonetheless, some choose to spend all their money to buy items and grow faster.”
“Are those punks crazy?”
“Yes. However, the chairmen and presidents can be considered the purest players. After all, you want to grow your characters on your own and take the step-by-step process to grow stronger.”
The secretaries were aware of the hardships and trials that their chairmen and presidents faced in their prime.
“Well, let’s not take any more of your time here. We don’t want to get in the way of your gameplay. Anyway, I hope that you have a fun, enjoyable, and comfortable experience in Athenae, esteemed chairmen!”
Then, the secretaries logged out one after another.
“Hey, did they go? Did they already go?”
“Yeah. They left.”
The chairmen and presidents were all amused. This was normal for people in high positions. For them, being monitored and protected in their day-to-day life was truly normal. However, it did not change the fact that such a situation could leave them feeling suffocated.
“Ah! There’s this notification that’s been ringing in my ears since earlier. What’s it all about?”
[The God of Archery offers you the Class Change Quest: The Way of the God of Archery.]
“You too? I’ve also been hearing something like that since earlier.”
[The God of Marksmen offers you the Class Change Quest: The Way of the God of Marksmen.]
Even Chairman 8, the former assemblyman, received a similar quest.
[The God of Fraud offers you the Class Change Quest: The Way of the Fraud.]
Former Assemblyman Chairman 8 was left dumbfounded. He said, “This notification is quite strange.”
“Why?”
“Ah. Well. It says that the God of Fraud is offering me some kind of class change quest.” Chairman 8 screamed, “I have never told a lie in my life! I am a man of integrity!”
“...”
“...”
Anyway, the chairmen and presidents did not like the noisy notifications that kept ringing in their ears.
***
The gods living in the Land of the Gods had responsibilities. Of course, they all shared a sense of duty to fulfill them as well, as it involved nurturing and cultivating successors who were better and more talented than themselves.
There were two ways to receive a class change quest. The first method was to repeatedly do a special action, just like how Minhyuk changed his class in the past. The second was to receive a god’s offer. This method would only be available if the gods appreciated someone’s talents.
Battle God Brod, who was currently leading the Land of the Gods, received a report while he was handling something in his office.
“That… uhm, Battle God. We are seeking your advice. You see, something happened on earth and we just cannot understand it.”
Several gods approached him. Brod might not be good at everything; however, as the Battle God, he would often offer them solutions to their problems to the best of his abilities.
“What’s the matter?”
Among those who visited him in his office were gods who belonged to the Battle God’s Five Generals in the past.
“Hmm? You offered them the first step to becoming your successors, but their reactions are weird…”
That was strange. Foreigners usually wanted to become gods. Nonetheless, it was tough to achieve. The foreigners even referred to those who became gods as "lottery winners."
“They just finished fighting in the Goblin Defense Battle? Yet you offered them the chance to sit on the throne of a god?”
Brod looked at them in disbelief.
“They scored perfect marks in the Scarecrow Training Grounds? They completed the Goblin Defense Battle with subjugation instead?”
The disbelief slowly morphed into awe. Having a high level did not equate to being strong. Strength obtained through level alone would eventually be overtaken as time went by.
To put it in the words of the foreigners, these people possessed talents that only one in a hundred thousand… or maybe one in a million only had.
‘Maybe they already knew that…’
“Are you worried that they won’t accept your offer?”
After all, the gods truly wanted to get them. Alas, it seemed like they knew their actual value and hoped to make an even better deal with them.
“No. That’s not it. Ah. It’s better if you see it for yourself.”
“???”
The gods cleared the clouds beneath them. The group of elderly men huddled together appeared before their eyes.
[Ah! You punk! If you have something to say, then come here and say it yourself!]
[Class change? What’s that? This punk!]
[Young people these days… If you have something to say, then come and say it personally. Kids only talk with KKatalk these days!]
“Pfft.” Brod stifled his laughter.
The gods had already turned pale.
“At least, they haven’t expressed any intention to refuse your offer yet.”
Then, Brod cleared out a path for them and gave them distinct choices.
“You can either go there and visit them as they requested, or just… leave it as it is.”
Those who would feel like they would regret it would eventually go. Brod believed that they would most likely go and meet the elderly men. Why?
‘Because the gods look like they want to make them into their successors.’
***
The chairmen and presidents put the quests they received on hold for the time being.
“I would never listen to someone who only talks on the phone!”
“Right, right! That’s what I’m saying!”
They were basically on the same page as Brod. Those who would regret it if they did not make this choice would eventually come to them. So, why would they need to go out of their way to come to them?
“How about doing this quest thing?”
“Yeah. I think that’s a good idea.”
Although they had placed the class change quest on hold for the time being, they had heard that this game, called Athenae, was mainly quest-based.
At that moment, an old lady approached them. Old Lady Bella was the NPC who gave the first quest to the players who had just left the beginner’s zone.
“Gentlemen, would you mind lending me your ears?”
The quest that Bella gave was naturally easy. It was something that any novice could complete. The nature of this old lady NPC was set such that Bella would give too much information. In fact, she would give too much information to the point that she would talk about even the most trivial of things.
Bella’s request was related to the evil and vicious territory lord, who often raised taxes depending on his whims. As a result, Bella found it challenging to make ends meet. So, to earn extra income, she would often give quests to collect skins of wild animals in the hunting grounds.
“But I find the wild rabbits to be too fierce…”
[The Quest: Bella’s Request has been created.]
“No! There’s a bastard like that?!”
“Regardless of the place, those politician bastards are really the greatest problem!”
“Grandma, thank you for your hard work. To put it simply, corrupt officials and politician bastards are the root of the problem. No?”
“Ho… Hoho… Is that so?” Bella was flustered.
Usually, the response that she would get would be ‘Alright,’ or ‘I’ll get you the wild rabbit’s skin!’ But this time…
“Let’s go, old friends!”
“At times like this, the best course of action is to beat up that bratty territory lord!”
The most passionate among the chairmen and presidents was ILoveGrandmaChunja.
“Grandma, I will definitely bring down that evil lord. Just trust me.”
ILoveGrandmaChunja or Chairman Min-Tae grabbed Bella’s hands tightly.
‘It seems like spring has come to me again.’
The other chairmen and presidents clicked their tongues.
“It’s been fifty years since Chun-Ja passed, no?”
“That bastard definitely fell in love at first sight.”
“Well, I understand him completely.”
Chairman Min-Tae had never looked at or been attracted to another woman for fifty years. Somehow, he fell in love with Bella at first sight.
“You’re a foreigner. You just came here…”
“Shh.” Chairman Min-Tae held his index finger to her lips. “Just trust me, my oriole.”
“Oh my.”
The people who had been suppressed and persecuted by the evil and vicious territory lord gathered around the chairmen and presidents. Currently, these individuals share a common issue: the suppression and persecution of their lord.
As NPCs, they all had the power to give quests of various levels to players. Quests given to players at Level 1~500 would generally be integrated.
“They’re going to drive out the lord?”
“Who?”
“Those old men.”
“Really?”
Ring!
[Hidden Quest: Driving Out the Lord.]
Rank: SSS
Requirements: The ones who receive the request from Bella and the citizens of the territory.
Rewards: All of the things that the people of Desden Territory will give to those who ask a favor from them.
Penalty for Failure: You will be exiled from Desden Village.
Description: Drive out the evil and vicious lord of the Desden Territory, a small territory on the outskirts of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.
“Earlier, it was just at D-rank. But now it became a Jass[1]”
?”
“Jass?”
“Ah. I see. It’s a Jass because there are three of them, huh?”
To put it simply, it became an SSS-rank quest.
ILoveGrandmaChunja cried out, “Let’s go, old friends! Let’s take down the territory lord!”
They set out toward the lord’s castle.
***
Joy Co. Ltd.’s conference room.
A notification flashed on the screen in front of them.
[A ridiculous and unconventionally ranked quest has been issued.]
They all barked a laugh. It was utterly ridiculous for Level 1 players to go on a quest that required them to drive out the lord of a territory.
“If they do this, then they will be able to obtain great rewards, right?”
A grin appeared on the faces of everyone present.
“Will Level 1 players even be able to do it?”
“They absolutely cannot do that.”
“An unconventionally ranked quest has been triggered because of their ridiculous and unconventional actions. However, that does not mean that they can clear it unconventionally, too.”
Department Head Kim Dae-Il’s expression finally relaxed.
‘Well…’
President Kang Taehoon was different. He looked very anxious. He sputtered, “Speaking of their group of old friends…”
Kang Taehoon was actually close with them.
“They’re the type of people who know how to take advantage of people who look at them in contempt and think that they’re naive and ignorant. They’re just pretending to be naive.”
There was one thing that Kang Taehoon was sure of.
“They’re not the type of people who will make a move without any countermeasures.”
***
The Desden Territory’s evil and vicious lord was named Vermont, who filled his stomach by raising the taxes of the Desden Territory. He did it as he pleased without even submitting any reports to the imperial palace. As for those who tried to leak this information, they had been killed without any mercy.
He had been able to get away with this because, frankly, no one great or amazing would even come to this remote and desolate place. Better a snake’s head than a dragon’s tail. In the Desden Territory, Vermont was king.
At that moment, there was a very unusual report in front of Vermont.
“There’s a group of strange old men calling out the lord’s name and cursing you. They are shouting for you to come out right away.”
“What?”
He grew anxious.
‘Old men?’
“Did you find out who they are?”
“From what I heard, they had just finished the Goblin Defense Battle.”
“Pfft. Puhahahahahaha! What?!”
Sometimes, crazy people like this would appear.
‘A group of old men?’
Perhaps this group of old men was nothing but senile old men?
“This is great. The voices of discontent and displeasure have been getting louder among our people. Since they came here, let’s set an example by killing these old men brutally.”
The fat Vermont opened the gates of the castle. Why were these old men shouting out and cursing him?
“Hoho. You bastard. So, you’re the evil and vicious lord!”
“I have never washed my hands with blood, even when I was still a member of the assembly!”
“Ptew! This punk! He has only learned all the bad things in life!”
“Goodness, these grandpas…”
One of the soldiers stepped forward and handed Vermont an iron mace. Vermont had used this very same iron mace, which was already dyed red with blood, to crush the heads of many people.
Chairman Min-Tae stepped forward. He shouted, “Can’t you hear it? The voices of the people suffering and in pain!”
“Can you hear the sound of my stomach getting full?” Vermont giggled as he stepped forward and raised his iron mace. He swung it straight at Chairman Min-Tae without any hesitation.
***
[ILoveGrandmaChunja: You brat. Come to the territory castle. We’re going to meet the lord of the territory.]
Whether Minhyuk intended to do it or not, it did not matter. The fact that he made a mistake and slighted the chairmen and presidents remained. Thinking that he might be forgiven if he did this for them, he flew toward the Desden Territory’s castle right away.
“Huh…?”
Minhyuk’s eyes almost fell when he saw the lord of Desden Territory swing his iron mace at Grandpa Min-Tae. He intended to make the old man’s head burst open!
Crack!
“G… Grandpa…?”
“Huh?” Vermont hummed. He turned his head to look in the direction from which the voice came. What he saw made his jaw drop open. Then, his entire body began to shake and tremble.
Minhyuk’s blood boiled, his eyes turning bloodshot from anger.
“GRANDPA!!!”
ILoveGrandmaChunja, who was slowly turning gray, smiled deeply.
1. 야스 - Jass; a popular Swiss trick-taking game; This part refers to taking a Weiss where you get a suit sequence of three or more cards ☜