"I like finding them, but I don't plan on doing it myself. I don't mind if others take them. Ah, I might do it if it's a weak class though."
"You pervert. Well, I'll try it first and help you when you start. Honestly, you need a lot of help when you play like that."
"Thanks."
"Did you go to university? How's the atmosphere after being away so long?"
"Yeah. The kids who recognized me didn't seem to like me."
"Well, that's because of what you did."
"No, what did I do?"
Tyler grumbled. He was genuinely innocent.
==
"Gasp. That person. Isn't that the senior?"
"Huh? Jiyoung, who is he?"
"It's better not to get involved with him. They say he's really weird."
"Why? Did he hit people? Was he a bully?"
"No, it's not that..."
After entering university, classmates formed groups and became close. The thing college students who had just shed their teenage years did most was gaming, and they also enjoyed playing games together.
At that time, a famous game company, Flame Storm, released a new FPS game that became incredibly popular.
With various characters clashing in intense battles, it was bound to be popular.
And among the players, Tyler was exceptionally skilled.
"Headshot. Headshot. Headshot."
Winning 3v1 fights was basic for him, and,
"A healer killing a DPS?!"
Even killing damage dealers as a healer. Tyler's plays were good enough to be featured in website videos.
"Hey, but why choose a defensive turret-building character in an offensive situation?"
There were warning signs even then, but his classmates didn't notice.
The incident happened at an internet café. A classmate who was desperate for ranking asked Tyler to play together.
They thought it would be easier with his help.
But that was a mistake.
"Tyler... why are you picking Hanju...?"
Hanju was an archer character, using just a bow while others carried bombs, guns, and robots.
Perhaps because of this, she was notorious for being the weakest. It was so bad that teammates would threaten to leave if someone picked Hanju.
"I've been trying her out lately, she's fun."
"Change, you idiot! Pick something else!"
"Who are you to order me around?"
Tyler was the type to become more defiant when told what to do. He coldly refused.
Meanwhile, the chat was exploding.
"Why the hell is this bastard picking Hanju!"
"Change from Hanju!!"
Then the game started. Tyler earned all gold medals except for healing and killed enemies left and right, but the overall skill difference was too great. They ultimately lost.
"You, you! I asked for your help!"
"I did help. Don't you see the gold medals?"
"If you'd picked something else, you would've done even better!"
"That's just hindsight. I didn't underperform, I did the work of almost three people. If we lost, it's because of your skill level."
"You bastard...!"
The enraged classmate charged with raised fists.
And got beaten like a dog by Tyler.
==
"Um... so he's a bad person because he picked a weird game character?"
"No, look at what he did after!"
"Didn't the other person attack first? And they're the one who asked for help?"
"Well, yes... but anyway, he's weird. It's better to avoid him since nothing good will come from getting involved."
"??"
Sohee tilted her head, not understanding her friend's words. She had taken a break right after admission and just returned.
"He doesn't seem that weird..."
==
"Anyway, I'll just prove I can get top grades and start gaming again, so wait three months."
"Did someone reserve the top spot for you? Hey, Korea University isn't some place just anyone can succeed at..."
Choi Sangyoon said laughingly.
"You might end up starting a year later."
"We'll see about that."
After the first semester ended, Tyler easily claimed the top spot in his department.
==
"Finally, it's here."
Tyler nodded as he looked at the capsule in the middle of the spacious room. Unlike the first one, Fantasy Online 2 required proper equipment.
'That must mean it's more realistic.'
His mother had allowed him a vacation after seeing his grades. Of course, he'd have to work hard in the second semester too, but she would leave him alone for a while. She was someone who kept her promises.
[Please set your character name.]
"Kim Tyler."
[We will scan your appearance. Please select your starting point.]
"Huh?"
He hadn't expected there to be different starting points. Tyler whispered to his friend, Choi Sangyoon.
"Sangyoon. I just arrived and I'm creating my character."
"Oh, really? I'll come help!"
"No, it's fine. It's more fun to do it alone at first. But there are too many starting points, any recommendations?"
"If you check the guide sites, they'll tell you the Kingdom of Dungleland or Kingdom of Erangs is good for beginners."
"I asked the wrong question. Instead of places good for beginners, which place is absolutely not recommended?"
"That would be the Kingdom of Zaltz, but... Hey, are you going to do that from the start? Don't do it! The Kingdom of Zaltz is really hell! At least get on track first before doing that!"
[Whisper has been disconnected.]
"Starting point: Kingdom of Zaltz."
[We will guide you to the Kingdom of Zaltz starting point.]
==
The guide site, Fantasy Online 2 Mania, was bustling as always. With hundreds of millions of people accessing it from around the world, there were naturally many users.
"I'm a beginner and chose the Kingdom of Zaltz without knowing anything. What should I do?"
This was a post that made it to Today's Best. The replies below were kind.
"There's no death penalty at low levels, so somehow get to level 10 by dying or completing quests. Then you can change to a normal class even there, and after that, somehow beg the NPC carriage driver and go to another kingdom. You know NPCs can be handled with friendliness or money, right?"
This was the best answer.
Below were innocent questions from beginners.
"Why not the Kingdom of Zaltz?"
"Among the various kingdoms, Zaltz's job facilities and such are quite inferior. There's no reason to suffer there needlessly."
"Plus, the Zaltz starting point isn't near a city but in a mountain village. They call it a city, but honestly, it's a mountain village. It offers no help, but the surrounding monsters are brutally strong. The rabbits there even do double side kicks!"
"The person above is exaggerating. How can a rabbit do double side kicks?"
"If you don't believe it, try making a character in Zaltz! Don't talk if you haven't tried it yourself!"
==
"Oh. So this is how it feels?"
Tyler was impressed by the feeling, which was more definite than expected. This was close to reality. It was a whole different level of sophistication compared to previous virtual reality.
He clenched and unclenched his fist, looking around.
It felt like a somewhat small city with few people. The facilities generally seemed poor, and the view was blocked by mountains all around.
And the faces of the players walking around...
Were gloomy. They were people who realized too late that they had chosen wrong.
"Very good. Very good."
Tyler felt his desire for challenge bubbling up. Yes, this is exactly what makes it worth doing!
Hunter August is a fierce-looking but kind man. If you find him, he will teach you the basics that beginner adventurers should know.
Reward: 1 Gold.
"...?"
After curiously touching the quest window with his hand, Tyler closed it.
"Tutorial? Why bother?"
The basic equipment was already in his inventory anyway. It was beginner's basic equipment.
'Check character window and go straight to hunting.'
The character window appeared.
──────────────
Level: 1
Class: Unemployed
HP(Health): 100
MP(Mana): 100
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Wisdom: 10
Luck: 10
Bonus Stats: 0
──────────────
'Hmm. These are truly beginner stats.'
Plus, the Class: Unemployed somehow bothered him. Don't they usually write Class: None? Why specifically use the irritating term 'unemployed'?
'Are they telling me to change class quickly?'
Tyler checked his items.
Unemployed's Shabby Longsword: Durability 10/10. Attack Power 5.
A sword belonging to an adventurer who finally left their room after spending time doing nothing. Better than not holding anything.
"..."
The developers' malice was evident no matter how you looked at it.
"Well... doesn't matter."
Tyler walked toward the city gate. Though called a gate, there was just a wooden fence instead of magnificent walls.
Even the soldier standing guard looked somehow lazy.
There were always beginner monsters near villages like this.
'I'll gain some levels by hunting them, then think about how to develop.'
How should he develop to become notorious as the biggest pervert?
Tyler walked on while pondering this.
Outside the gate, rabbits were playing in the grass. Tyler smirked.
"Though having rabbits as beginner monsters every time seems a bit lazy."
With these words, Tyler rushed at a rabbit. An attack with properly applied center of gravity hit the rabbit.
Thwack!
And the rabbit counterattacked.
With a double side kick.
Thwack!
"?!?!"
Half his health was gone. Before the shock could fade, the rabbit raised its adorable fist toward Tyler.
Tyler hurriedly dodged. Even though he was surprised, his control hadn't left him.
'What kind of rabbit is this?!'
Punches and kicks. It was absurd to see movements typical of skilled fighters being performed by a city-front rabbit. Plus, the rabbit seemed fine despite being hit.
Tyler smiled again.
"Yes. This is how it should be fun! Come at me! Hahaha!"
The guard at the gate yawned and shook his head.
He knew there were many strange people among new adventurers, but this was his first time seeing one like this.
Someone laughing happily while fighting a rabbit.
"That was a good fight."
Tyler looked down at the fallen rabbit while catching his breath. Personally, it felt tougher than fighting the rogue ranker who had been in the top 20.
[You have leveled up.]
"Oh. Already? Just from one rabbit?"
──────────────
Level: 2
Class: Unemployed
HP(Health): 110
MP(Mana): 110
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Wisdom: 10
Luck: 10
Bonus Stats: 5
──────────────
"Hmm..."
Tyler fell into thought.
'The bonus stats were definitely for beginners only, right?'
He knew that after choosing a class, stats would grow according to that class when leveling up. But before choosing a class, you had to distribute stats yourself. According to the class you wanted.
Most people got their class before level 10, or at latest before level 20.
There were people looking for rare classes or hero classes that were better than normal classes.
However, those were hard to find and weren't shared. Since you couldn't keep chasing something undiscovered forever, most people compromised eventually, except for a lucky few.
"At times like this, I should ask Sangyoon."
"If you disconnect the whisper on your own one more time, I'm blocking you."
The first thing he heard was his friend's serious threat.