However, not many still meant they did exist.
If it was a master at the level of the one hiding above the entrance of Nangnang Tavern yesterday, shaking them off or facing them head-on would be....
'It might not be easy.'
They were someone with perfect Concealment Arts to that extent. Of course, it was something he couldn't know without fighting, but it was a definite fact that they wouldn't be easy to deal with.
On top of that, if the unknown territory of Yeon Yeong-ha was added....
'I need to become stronger.'
To become a hero of the Martial World, he needed to become stronger. No, to 'pretend' to be a hero, he would have to become even stronger by another level. Only then could he become the CEO of this safari called the Martial World, and enjoy a feast with predators whenever needed.
If a few of them burst out of the safari, that would be even more welcome and nice....
And above all, they would be more delicious.
Abusing.
Though not exactly the same concept, it would probably be similar. Though Dong Bong-soo didn't know it well, he sensed that what he aimed for was very similar to that.
Abusing typically refers to the act of a gamer unfairly obtaining benefits through multi-account manipulation, such as operating sub-accounts in addition to their main account.
In this New Murim Online, the only gamer was Dong Bong-soo himself. Naturally, there could be no sub-accounts—though there might be more, for now it was reasonable to assume there weren't.
However, like regular gamers, there existed numerous NPCs that moved with will. And depending on the circumstances, he could use them as he pleased, or induce them to perform certain actions.
If that was the concept....
An NPC ranch would definitely be a type of abusing.
If such a thing were possible in some actual existing game, wouldn't that truly be a revolutionary concept?
Growing NPCs.
Then an NPC ranch would certainly qualify as a form of abusing.
It was a very unreasonable system, but for Dong Bong-soo, the 'solo gamer,' it was a truly advantageous system, and it had now become his goal.
Abusing, abusing, abusing....
But as Dong Bong-soo continued thinking about abusing, his brain suddenly began turning faster.
The word abusing embedded itself deep in his mind and overlapped with yesterday's situation.
Hunting, assassination, assassin, abusing, unfair gain....
Various keywords rose and fell here and there in Dong Bong-soo's head, creating one concrete idea.
'I see. That method is also possible.'
Hunting.
Right, must one only hunt?
Wouldn't becoming prey like yesterday also be a good hunting method?
'Becoming prey, becoming prey, becoming prey....'
It was the first time in his life, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Moreover, if he intentionally orchestrated such a thing?
Rather, if he set a trap and waited for enemies?
Or, if enemies came looking for him and died on their own without him having to search?
Dong Bong-soo's mouth opened slightly, and his snow-white teeth emotionlessly revealed their wicked true nature to the air.
He....
Dong Bong-soo had discovered a new loophole in New Murim Online.
If he used 'this method,' prey would endlessly come to him and die. They would become experience points and raise skill proficiency. Furthermore, in that process, the image of 'fake hero' would solidify even more.
Execution of this would be possible with just a bit of investigation.
Click.
Dong Bong-soo put down his chopsticks on the table, ending his meal. The review of yesterday's battle was also finished with that. In the process, he even gained new enlightenment.
The Martial World had become even more....
Precarious.
Dong Bong-soo pushed the table aside and stood up.
Afterward, as he always did, he trained Inventory Divine Art.
The things worn on his body rapidly changed.
Sword, saber, axe, spear, shield, iron armor....
Various weapons and armor appeared and disappeared here and there on his body.
Now items were retrieved and stored very naturally, but it still wasn't completely satisfactory. It was still only possible to take out or put in items as a whole; 'partial retrieval'—partially pulling out or putting in items—was impossible.
It seemed possible, seemed possible, but didn't work.
If partial retrieval became possible, he could adopt much more diverse combat styles. Like drawing a sword from its sheath, he would be able to draw a sword from anywhere on his body....
Dong Bong-soo continued practicing. Meanwhile, he shifted his thoughts to future events and plans.
First,
What kind of variable would the small connection with Eul Ji-tae bring?
He couldn't be certain, but it would return as a positive effect. He'd felt clear goodwill from him. Though it was difficult to predict what the result of that goodwill would be, it definitely wouldn't be bad.
Also.
What kind of change would the discovery of Jong Ji-hang or the encounter with Yeon Yeong-ha bring about?
For the former, if he didn't particularly step forward, nothing special might happen.
But the meeting with Yeon Yeong-ha, or rather confrontation, would continue whether he liked it or not—though in truth, he didn't dislike it that much. Though it was only a single meeting, both their instincts sensed they were existences that couldn't tolerate each other.
'Either I die.'
Or that thing dies—one of the two would have to disappear from the Central Plains for the encounter to truly end.
It's troublesome if there are two hunters in one hunting ground. Especially if they regard each other as the ultimate prey, even more so.
To catch him, it would reveal itself here, at the Murim Alliance.
Though he'd bluffed to prevent careless probing, in the end, it would certainly try to catch him. Perhaps that time... might be the last day he must end New Murim Online.
Therefore, that thing's next move was obvious.
'Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament.'
There was a high possibility that it had come here from the very beginning in order to participate in it. If not for that, it was not the type of monster that would have appeared here at all. That creature called Yeon Yeong-ha.
Moreover, as of yesterday, it would be even more desperate for the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament.
It had seen the Murim Alliance badge on Dong Bong-soo's chest.
'It probably believes for certain that I will participate in the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament.'
It would try to hunt him somehow at that tournament.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Dong Bong-soo expelled about ten weapons from his body at once and continued his thoughts.
'If it can mobilize assassins at that level who attacked me yesterday...'
The force backing that thing would not be insignificant either. However, there was an overwhelmingly high chance that this force was not affiliated with the Murim Alliance. If they were, there would have been no reason to spend the night in a place like a tavern.
If there had been an opportunity for that type of monster to explore other prey inside the Murim Alliance, there would be no reason to just throw it away, right?
Dong Bong-soo analyzed Yeon Yeong-ha step by step one by one.
Certainly, it was a different type of non-human from himself, but he continued thinking about Yeon Yeong-ha's actions by comparing them to his own. And from yesterday's events, he grasped that thing's type to some extent—how it differed from himself.
That thing... she had told him her name for no particular reason and even gave a 'peculiar hint' about it being their third meeting.
Just this alone showed it was an existence vastly different from himself.
Though hunting was an important hobby for Dong Bong-soo, for her, the thrill felt during the process seemed far more important than the hunt itself. Otherwise, there would have been no need to say such things.
Perhaps she regarded all events that occurred in that entire process as something like a game.
From one short, intense meeting, Dong Bong-soo grasped many things about Yeon Yeong-ha. This small difference might become an important factor that would determine the outcome of the confrontation that would occur between them later.
Though no one yet knew how it would turn out....
In any case, a staring contest, or rather a battle of wits, had begun with the monster called Yeon Yeong-ha.
There was absolutely no way to escape or avoid it before one of them died. When predators' eyes met, the one who looked away first became prey. Without looking away, one must find the other predator's opening. If there was no opening, one had to kill the other predator even by creating one, to be able to do the next thing.
There were other methods too, but it didn't seem necessary to consider those yet.
Dong Bong-soo thought that far, then set aside thoughts about Yeon Yeong-ha for now. And he also stopped training Inventory Arts.
Before he knew it, the clothes he'd been wearing initially were draped on his body.
[The activation conditions for Spirit Eyes have been met, and Spirit Eyes will automatically activate.]
[An enemy with more than a 10-level difference from you has approached within 20 meters. 19, 18, 17...]
Tiring-tiring-tiring, tirirririring...
It was because some unknown master had approached near his room.
The distance gradually narrowed, and before long someone's shadow flickered right in front of his room.
Naturally, Dong Bong-soo wasn't surprised at all. Anyway, it was obvious who the master visiting his room at this time would be.
The possibility was one of two.
'Either Eul Ji-tae.'
Or if not that.
Creak.
As the door opened.
A middle-aged man with bushy, long hair and a beard—so much so it was hard to tell when they were last cut—entered. His gait was rough and crude, yet somehow looked light.
The expected person.
It was a familiar face.
However, the points that deviated from Dong Bong-soo's expectations were: instead of dirty clothes, clean blue garments were draped on his body; his face also seemed cleanly washed, and instead of the usual iron smell, a faint iris scent emanated.
"Hey, we finally meet again. I didn't come looking when you didn't show up, so I was thinking the Divine Metal had become mine."
Soldier Eccentric.
The person who would have brought a new weapon.