Damned System

Chapter 80. Laying the Foundation (5)

“I… have no complaints. Such opportunities don’t come by often, and I was the one who asked for your help first. I’ll be imposing a bit longer on you.”

As An Kijun mentioned, this was indeed an opportunity.

They had gathered as much mana in 2 hours as Yang Hyewon’s party would usually require two to three missions to collect.

Of course, the process was challenging but not unbearable.

Their bodies had all become accustomed to it.

K was maintaining a steady pace that the players could endure.

An Kijun had realized this early on, which is why, unlike Kim Yul, he followed along without a word of complaint.

‘Oh, how embarrassing.’

Normally, An Kijun would grumble incessantly, so he should have noticed the odd silence sooner.

He simply thought he was being cautious because it was his first time meeting K.

‘Get yourself together.’

Kim Yul didn’t want to miss the opportunity to strengthen his connection with K.

While Kim Yul was resolving himself, K and An Kijun exchanged words.

“Then let’s keep going at this pace.”

“Yes, yes.”

“By the way, you can speak comfortably to me. You’re older, aren’t you?”

For a moment, Kim Yul tilted his head.

‘Did I mention Kijun’s age?’

No, they never did.

Glancing at An Kijun, his visible discomfort confirmed he hadn’t mentioned it either.

So, how did K know An Kijun’s age?

‘Did he investigate?’

Before Kim Yul could fully ponder the question, An Kijun responded nervously.

“Uh… then you speak casually too. It’s awkward if I’m the only one.”

“If I talk casually, it’s easier for me.”

Once they established their terms of address, they resumed hunting.

A pace where the intervals between battles were short and there was almost no rest.

Thanks to K finding the next monster as soon as he killed one, it was possible.

‘He must definitely have some sort of detection magic.’

Even after purchasing both Invisibility and detection, he still had more mana than Kim Yul.

The rate at which K’s mana increased was incomparable to others.

‘Most others would barely have considered buying one skill by now.’

Yet, K had two confirmed ones already.

By tirelessly grinding, he was bound to gather mana quickly.

‘Maybe I should buy a detection one too…?’

No, I should save steadily and buy the attribute stone first.

That way, I could use higher-ranked magic as well.

Kim Yul turned off the shop entirely to avoid impulsive purchasing.

And then, as they killed, killed again, and killed some more, immersing themselves in a different kind of hunting for tens of minutes.

Kim Yul wiped the sweat from his face and hoisted his sword, twitching slightly.

Every time he turned his head, the monsters he saw were now all dead and sprawled out.

“What’s this, why is it so quiet? Did we catch all the nearby monsters?”

“Looks like it, it’s suddenly become calm?”

Rubbing his trembling arms, An Kijun exchanged looks with K while responding to Kim Yul’s words.

Before An Kijun could directly question K, Kim Yul interjects.

“The 1-star indicated here, was it originally level 3? Is it normally like this here?”

The missions from levels 1 to 2 were grouped under a beginner’s section.

You had to gather 1000 mana there to use the gate leading to the stronghold.

“It’s about time the Connection appears.”

“Connection? What’s that?”

K was staring intently at a seemingly empty area.

“When you entered here, a mission window popped up, right?”

“Yes.”

“The part marked as Messeo.”

Kim Yul and An Kijun simultaneously opened their mission windows.

**MISSION**

「Purification of Polluted Land ★ (03-211)」

Exterminate all enemies within a certain range and destroy the Messeo.

– Messeo (0/1)

「Rewards」

Choose one of the following rewards:
– 60 mana, 3 reputation
– 30 attribute mana, 6 reputation

No sooner had they confirmed the details, K spoke with a casual tone.

“It’s a bit dangerous there, so let’s rest here and go in.”

“How long?”

“20 minutes, refill your mana.”

“Okay.”

Kim Yul immediately responded while approaching K.

“What exactly is Messeo?”

K glanced at him and replied with a soft sigh.

“Something that has to be eliminated whenever seen.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

For some reason, K’s voice seemed a bit heavier.

“How dangerous—”

“Aren’t you going to drink the potion?”

Kim Yul hurriedly emptied the potion under K’s urging. Though he tried to gauge the atmosphere, the situation made it hard to ask the question again.

Ultimately, he decided to steer the conversation in a completely different direction.

“What should we eat in Habon afterwards? I saw some restaurants when moving toward the main gate. I asked the locals yesterday about where’s good.”

K shook his head with an uninterested expression.

“Some other time. There’s little time to spare if we want to move on.”

“Move on? Are you heading back to Earth?”

“No.”

Before Kim Yul could even ask where he was heading, K opened his mouth first.

“Talking about food makes me crave jjamppong.”

Now he was outright blocking the conversation.

‘Makes it impossible to ask more.’

Though Kim Yul clicked his tongue inwardly, he casually responded to K’s words.

“Spicy soup is great, but I’d vote for a hot pot loaded with Spam.”

At first, he thought the ongoing discussion about food was merely blocking future questions.

However, as the conversation stretched a bit longer, the underlying intention began to surface.

While still exchanging words about delicious food, An Kijun finally asked K with a question regarding a certain locale.

“There’s a branch of that restaurant in Huam-dong too. Have you been, by any chance?”

“Ah?… Occasionally.”

K’s simple question, not too long, brought about a sense of incongruity.

‘Huam-dong?’

Why specifically mention a branch located there?

Kim Yul was not the only one who harbored the doubt.

“But doesn’t that place have locations elsewhere too? Why mention Huam-dong…”

“Because that’s where you live.”

“… Who does?”

“You do.”

K’s monotonous answer left An Kijun’s expression rigid.

“Ah.”

And soon, a faint laugh reverberated alongside K’s murmured words.

“I didn’t know you hadn’t mentioned it. My mistake.”

Kim Yul chuckled inwardly, shaking his head.

Never, in all his life, had he heard someone lie in such an obvious way.

No, it appeared as if he intentionally let it slip.

‘And, the earlier age talk confirms it. He did investigate An Kijun.’

It made sense why K instantly accepted the hunting invitation and arranged a meeting.

His real agenda was to give a warning to An Kijun for contacting someone close to him.

‘This implies he also might go after Kijun’s family, should it come to that.’

Kim Yul sighed as he tasted the bitterness in his mouth.

‘Such a sly fox.’

It seemed K especially treasures the facade of family.

Unlike himself, perhaps.

‘I should avoid his family area, even by chance.’

Making that resolution, Kim Yul looked askance at K’s profile while eating his purification pills.

‘Never sees him eat purification pills.’

They’d been hunting monsters for nearly three hours.

Both Kim Yul and An Kijun absorbed nearly a thousand mana and ate purification pills religiously.

But K didn’t. Could he be a Beta like Ahn Hyewon, who has innate purification?

‘Or perhaps, more fitting as an Alpha, seeing his fearless demeanor.’

The known information about the difference between the two ranks was simply that purification traits were either non-growth or growth types.

‘I still don’t exactly know how they differ, though.’

Surely, an Alpha would be better since it’s a higher grade.

He was tempted to ask about it, yet hesitated.

K’s repeated blocking of questions so far caused that.

But, if he backed down because he received a few refusals, he wouldn’t be Kj from his codename.

‘You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.’

If K answers, that’s great; if he ignores me, I’m no worse off.

To also ease up the tensed atmosphere with An Kijun silent all the while.

“Are you not eating purification pills? Need some?”

Offering the white sphere in his hand, K laughed and replied.

“I took the promotion test.”

“Oooh, higher rank?”

No denial as he deliberately phrased his comment to tease out information.

K just shrugged his shoulders and gestured towards a purification pill.

“If you have to keep managing it, isn’t it inconvenient?”

“Still, I’m pretty leisurely with it. I can endure until 50, after all.”

There were quite many players who, with chaos values reaching 20, would snarl like madmen.

In that sense, Kim Yul rarely caused trouble due to his chaos values.

At most, it led to him being excessively irritable.

“Was your whining earlier because of chaos value?”

“Can’t say it wasn’t.”

“How much is it now?”

“Around 38?”

“Take this chance to lower it significantly. Earned plenty, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

Kim Yul, seamlessly continuing the conversation, discreetly swallowed hard.

‘Alpha is really rare.’

Only about 200 out of the first batch of players took the promotion test.

Of the second batch, with tutorial periods shortened from five to two days, 1839 took it.

And only a fraction of them even reached Alpha.

‘Combining both first and second batch players, around a hundred might ascend to Alpha?’

Hence, only a very tiny minority—0.1% of 100,000 players—could ascend to Alpha.

With that rarity alone, there was no harm in getting to know him better under good conditions.

‘Frankly, based on conditions alone, being with K’s party seems better than with Bunny nuna.’

This resembles the decision of whether to become a trainee at a big agency, different from becoming one at a small agency with no major artists.

Of course, making it through the agency depends solely on individual effort…

But which agency one joins significantly affects how easily they can scale the heights of success.

But regrettably, K doesn’t organize parties.

If he decided to recruit party members, his renown alone would attract quite an interest…

‘Why might that be? He doesn’t seem to lack social skills.’

He can handle non-serious jokes and doesn’t seem daunted by interacting with people.

His sense of clear mission and ability to involve others to achieve it were apparent.

This means he isn’t someone who struggles with team play.

Though he handled complaints a bit authoritatively…

‘That, in turn, implies he has charisma, right?’

Fundamentally, K seemed equipped with a decent amount of leadership qualities.

Which is why Kim Yul thought he must enter K’s party if he ever forms one.

‘Not that I dislike Bunny nuna or anything, but…’

This felt like a gut instinct.

Just like during trainee days, whenever there was that one individual—

Someone whom you’d instinctually think, if debuting with them, life’s upcoming challenges would lighten.

K was that kind of person, and Kim Yul sincerely wished to be part of K’s party.

Although K adhered to solo play and continued his unique path…

‘If I can’t be a party member, I should at least be a friend.’

As An Kijun exchanged greetings with K and subtly established a competitive atmosphere.

‘Remember, K and I barely communicated to set up this meeting.’

If he continued doing nothing, K might grow even closer to An Kijun.

Kim Yul contemplated how to align himself within K’s circle.

Then suddenly.

“You never fail to impress.”

K exhaled a hollow laugh as he murmured.

“What?”

Keeping a close lookout, Kim Yul immediately responded.

“Why suddenly?”

Instead of kindly explaining, K lazily tapped his fingers resting on his knees, lost in thought.

But not getting an answer wouldn’t deter Kim Yul.

“What exactly are you thinking?”

Prodding his face slightly forward as he repeated his query, K finally turned to face him.

Caught in the gaze of K’s eyes, Kim Yul momentarily stiffened, his shoulders shivering.

For an instant, it was as if he glimpsed a blue glint within the brown depths.

‘Surely, wasn’t it before…’

Suppressing a sudden dry swallow, Kim Yul slightly leaned back his face.

For a moment, he wondered if he had unwittingly incited K’s anger, causing him to watch his manners.

Fortunately, somebody else had caught K’s ire.

– K: Just pondering how to trounce those bastards.

Understanding the unexpected message window took no time.

Within a few minutes, the vague outlines of strangers emerged from between the dense trees and thickets.

Damned System