[The second scenario is now finished! The Visionary Broadcast Stream had ended]
[430 Golds and 450 EXP have been successfully obtained from the scenario!]
[One random skill has been automatically enabled due to the completion of the scenario!]
These messages appeared on the screen before fading away quickly. The survivors rose from the ground, leaving behind a bloody street full of dead bodies of monsters and humans who had not made it out alive. They headed to the buildings where they had their shelter or hangout.
Min-beom checked his screen as he felt the little girl holding his arm tightly. He looked at her and saw her scared and sad expression. He felt sorry for Bon-hwa, who had to face this harsh world.
'She had no choice but to accept the new world they are living in.' He thought and stroked the little girl's hair softly to soothe her. He looked at his attribute screen and saw his low level. The EXP he had earned was not enough to level up from ten.
He looked at his golds on the top corner of the holographic screen. He had 1,005 golds. Min-beom tapped on his stats and saw what he could level up.
'Stamina… Health… Speed… Defense, what should I level up?'
Min-beom wondered as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the screen. He suddenly remembered something important that he had forgotten: his backpack. The backpack he had bought from a merchant.
Min-beom gasped as he looked over his shoulder. He did not feel any weight on his back. 'Where did I leave it…?' He turned to his two companions with a worried look on his face.
"Myung-mi… Bora… do you know where I left my backpack?" He asked, then laughed nervously.
"Uh, we don't know. Don't tell us you lost it, Master!" Bora said, making a soft hissing sound. Myung-mi snorted and folded his arms on his chest as he flew in the air.
"I bet he did lose it!" The small dragon said, showing his disappointment at Min-beom's carelessness.
"I think you left it in the dark alley when you were changing your clothes, Master." Bora said as she moved on the ground, leading them to the dark alley. Min-beom and Bon-hwa followed her, with Myung-mi flying behind them.
When they reached the dark alley, they saw a backpack that was open and messy, with items scattered on the ground.
'Am I still a merchant at this point?' Min-beom thought as he scratched the back of his head. "Look, Master! You lost everything!" Myung-mi said, sounding annoyed.
"Yeah, stop acting like my-" He stopped and coughed. "Stop being like that." He said, rolling his eyes sarcastically as he looked behind them.
"I don't care about these Merchant things anymore. All I want is to level up and… save this world." He said, sighing. Myung-mi and Bora looked at each other.
"Save… the world? I thought you only cared about surviving and dealing items with others." Myung-mi said, surprised.
"That's not like you, Master… But, you've changed a lot." Bora said softly as she slid towards him and wrapped around his shoulder, making him feel her cold scales on his skin. He sighed again.
"My goal is different now."
Bon-hwa smiled warmly at him and said, "That's a… awesome goal, Ahjussi!" She giggled and pulled his sleeve. He patted her head and smiled back at her.
"Thank you, Bon-hwa."
"You two look like father and daughter." Bora said as she made a soft hissing sound. Min-beom shrugged it off with a laugh. He looked at the streets, where he saw some people outside.
"I should loot some things." Min-beom said as he walked out of the dark alley with his companions. Myung-mi and Bora nodded.
"We'll take a short nap." Bora said as she closed her eyes and then vanished. Myung-mi also disappeared.
'They deserve a rest too.' He thought as he walked towards the streets with the little girl.
He heard some panting and clanging of swords in the distance. It seemed like someone else was looting too.
The man in the distance looked familiar to him as he looked closer. Bon-hwa followed him curiously and confusedly. Min-beom stopped and looked at the man who was fighting a loot monster, a Rank F creature [Thunder Bird], a bird-like creature.
The man had dark hair, tanned skin, grey orbs, and a muscular physique, wearing a white shirt under the black jacket with black pants and combat boots. He looks determined and strong, carrying a heavy sword like that.
Min-beom watched as the man defeated the creature with a heavy sword. He was a very strong man. He recognized him as the man who had bumped into him in the last scenario and then winked at him randomly when he left, making him feel like he was hit by cupid's arrow.
He analyzed the man as the holographic screens popped up, showing the man's information. He did not know the man at all, as if he was a new character.
[Name: Choi Ha-Wook]
[Age: 25] - [Level 24] - [Rank D] - [Class: Warrior]
[Vision: The Eight Swords] - [Abilities: Advanced Swordsmanship [Lvl. 3], Sword of Arts [Lvl. 2], Super Strength [Lvl. 3].]
[Companions: The Eagle.] - [Weapon: Common Heavy Sword.] - [Eidolon: Not activated yet.]
[Guild: None.] - [Stats: Stamina [Lvl. 3], Health [Lvl. 2], Defense [Lvl. 3], Speed [Lvl. 2].]
The screen vanished as he shook his head. The man was strong. 'This guy… is a Rank D and same class as the protagonist but he's not the protagonist at all.'
Ha-wook turned around with his heavy sword resting on his shoulder. He saw Min-beom and Bon-hwa and smirked at him. Min-beom raised his eyebrows as he realized that they had been caught watching him fight.
The man approached them carefully and then stopped when he was close enough to them.
"Oh? Were you two watching me?" Ha-wook asked, sounding amused and curious. Min-beom nodded slowly, admitting their actions.
[The character, Choi Ha-wook is curious of what you're doing.] A screen showed up in front of Min-beom and then faded away quickly.
"Something like that…" He mumbled and sighed. Bon-hwa looked at the man with curiosity, her green eyes shining.
"W-Wow! Ahjussi, your sword is so cool!"
The little girl said as Ha-wook stiffened when the little girl called him 'Ahjussi'. "O-oh… Thanks." Ha-wook said, sounding a bit hurt by the Ahjussi.
'Does this girl call everyone Ahjussi or what…?'
Ha-wook turned to Min-beom, his eyes slightly widened in surprise, recognizing him.
"Hey! You're the one I ran into in the last scenario, right?" Ha-wook said, winked at him, making Min-beom flinch slightly. He nodded nervously and smiled.
"Yes! You're the one who ran into me." He laughed awkwardly.
"Ah, lucky I have a good memory, eh?" Ha-wook said as he put his arm around Min-beom, making him a bit nervous.
"Do you want to team up with me?" He asked, winking at him again.
[The character, Choi Ha-wook had shown interest in you.] A screen flashed in front of Min-beom as he dismissed it. "You mean, companions?"
"Yep, companions." Ha-wook removed his arm from him and then patted his head. "So, what do you say?" He said, giving Min-beom a charming smirk.
'Maybe having a companion would help me level up faster…' Min-beom thought as he looked at the ground, then looked at Ha-wook with a nod. Ha-wook grinned and tapped his shoulder.
"Awesome! Come on, let me introduce you two to my other companions, they are friendly, don't worry!"
He said as he crossed the street, entering the building. Min-beom followed him with Bon-hwa, holding her hand as they walked into the building.
[Choi Ha-wook's trust unlocked and increased from Level 1 to Level 2!]
A screen showed up in front of Min-beom as he swiped it away. He sighed, feeling a bit nervous as he saw three people chatting with each other.
He recognized one of them, Dae Jung-Lee, one of the main characters and supposed to be the protagonist's companion. Why was the protagonist not there? The question lingered in Min-beom's mind as he shook it off.
'What if I took his place or someone else did…?'