"Oh ho ho! Just like studying raid strategies by watching videos, the first step to learning anything is observing!"
With those words, Bald led the newbie to the Gladiator Arena.
They were using what had originally been a 1-on-1 PvP arena as their training ground.
Just like a boxing ring, there was a ring there, and two veteran players were preparing for training.
The veterans' fighting style was definitely different from what was seen elsewhere.
The two reached out to each other and shouted with all their might.
"Set 1 equipped!"
"Set 5 equipped!"
With those words, a light shone from the bodies of the man and woman, who had been dressed in underwear and swimsuits.
With a brief flash of light, their bizarre appearance vanished without a trace, and a man clad in magnificent crystal heavy armor and a woman draped in a flowing silk dancer's costume plunged into battle.
A crystal spear and a curved sword danced in perfect harmony.
"Weapon Change! Weapon Special Skill: Royal Drill Blade!"
The female player holding the curved sword opened her inventory and swapped her equipment in an instant.
The curved sword in her hand vanished in a flash, and a golden rapier appeared in her grasp.
It was so fast it made one wonder if this was what they meant by "faster than the eye."
Having switched weapons, she lunged forward, thrusting the rapier with all her might.
The rapier spun like a drill as it closed in on the male player.
"Equip shoulder armor! Equipment effect 'Blessing of Eun-narim' activated!"
In response, the male player switched his shoulder armor and generated a green energy shield to block the rapier thrust.
The entire battle unfolded in this manner.
The newbie realized one truth.
They weren't just walking around naked because they were perverts.
To them, gear wasn't simply something you put on once and fought in.
Not only the stat bonuses from the gear, but also all sorts of special effects and skills inherent to the equipment itself.
They switched gear at the right moments to use all of these with complete freedom.
It was as if they were utilizing every effect and stat on their gear to the fullest.
"Do all of you fight like this?"
The stunned newbie asked.
At those words, Bald, who had been watching with a disapproving look while crossing his arms, laughed.
"Hahahaha! Of course! But those two have been getting a bit sluggish lately, haven't they? I'll have to give them a piece of my mind later. Since there aren't many fights around, they've gotten out of practice! Hey, hey? Look at that! They missed the weak point right in the middle of it! Hey! Get rid of that 'old-timer' label, you lot!"
Is that what you call slow? Is that what you call missing a hit?
He stood up as if he couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"Ugh, I've had enough! Don't watch any more—it's an eyesore! I'd be a hundred times better off training them myself. Alright, Newbie, don't copy that. I'll teach you something else first!"
With that, he hurriedly took the newbie and led him away.
Leaving behind a sense of inexplicable disappointment, the place he brought Newbie to was completely different from before.
Earlier, it had been an American-style boxing ring, but this place looked more like a Japanese-style kendo dojo.
There, he pulled something out of a drawer.
"Well, it was here... but since it's been so long since a new recruit arrived...
"There! Found it! Luckily, there was just one left!"
With those words, he hurriedly handed the item to the newbie.
It looked like a jeweled bead.
However, it emitted a somewhat ominous noise.
"Surely it's not because of a bug? Come on, come on! Don't be scared! It's safe. We all use it."
As a newbie already accustomed to bugs, there was no reason to refuse.
[You have received a gift: '%@%#Stat %@#Converter%@#'.]
"Does it convert stats?"
"To be precise, think of it as a reset."
"Reset?"
"So our Newbie Champ isn't the type to read the terms and conditions, huh? You shouldn't do that!"
"Ah, sorry. Appraise item."
Ding
[!#@!Stats!#@Converter]
[Description: This Orb of Destiny will open the door of opportunity whenever you wish to embark on a new path.]
[Effect: Upon use, resets the 'Health,' 'Strength,' 'Agility,' 'Intelligence,' and other stats you've allocated. Reset stat points can be reallocated.]
[Usage Limit: Once per day]
"Why is this here?"
"Why? Just imagine if our Newbie Champ were wearing heavy armor and wielding a massive hammer. Do you think he could take down that guy sniping from way over there?"
"Oh..."
Stats determine a player's combat style itself.
Just as high Strength makes you a muscle-bound warrior, and high Agility makes you a nimble assassin.
They were training themselves to be able to switch even that style whenever they wanted.
"Usually, people like us carry around about three just in case of emergencies. But for a newbie like you, one should be enough. More isn't always better."
"Yeah. Just one gives me a headache."
"It's actually fun once you try it!"
"I'll give it a shot. Come to think of it, where is Arien?"
Now that I thought about it, something felt off.
Of course, as a rescuer, the job is done once you save someone, but it was because I hadn't been able to find her even when I looked for her the night before.
"Ah, she must be really busy. The Pilgrim Selection is in two weeks. She has to serve as an examiner for the Pilgrim trials."
"Pilgrim Selection Day? Wait, what even is a Pilgrim? I think I heard Arien mention it briefly."
"Ah, ah! Sorry, our little newbie. Newbies don't know anything about how the guild works! Don't worry! I'll explain everything to you step by step!"
His explanation was very simple.
"Want to step outside the guild for a bit? Then take the test! Pass the test, and you become a Pilgrim who can go out into the world! That's it!"
Summed up in just three lines.
"But why are they called Pilgrims?"
"Well. Usually, the ones who want to leave the guild are the ones who set out on a pilgrimage to find a way to escape this world. Or they're just crazy."
"So, do you and the old-timers not go on pilgrimages?"
It was a remark that hit the nail on the head.
With power like that, they wouldn't be afraid of the kingdom or the Devotees or anything.
For the first time, he wore a bitter expression.
"Because we realized we can't."
"Huh?"
"Well, that's just how it is. When you're young, you act like you can do anything, but after facing a few storms and getting older, there comes a time when you know your place and have to bow your head."
Hearing Vald say something like that felt a bit awkward to the newbie.
It was like seeing a cousin who's always been cheerful and bright suddenly get drunk and start crying.
"Waaah! No, no! I can't be this hopeless in front of Newbie-chan!"
"Honestly, I want to be hopeless."
"Hahaha! It's just that you and this old-timer can't do it..."
He pointed his finger at Newbie.
"I didn't say our Newbie-chan couldn't do it, did I?"
"How could I possibly do something even a century-old veteran—who switches between the armory and skills at the drop of a hat and fights so flashily—can't do?"
Newbie just couldn't imagine it.
He actually felt like escaping this world, but looking at the reality of the situation, it seemed impossible.
Of course, that didn't mean he was going to back down.
"Then, could I take the Pilgrim's Exam too?"
"You asked at just the right moment. As I said, every word a newbie says makes my heart flutter!"
Hmm… That wasn't the answer I was hoping for.
Anyway, he shoved the newbie.
Whoosh! Bang!
"Whoa!"
It wasn't just a shove—he was sent flying over 10 meters away.
"Well, since you've talked so much, how about we test just how strong our little Newbie is? And as a bonus, we'll boost our little Newbie's self-esteem!"
With those words, he crossed his arms and shouted.
"Equip! Set 12!"
Whoaaaaaah!
A flash of light erupted amidst a storm.
In the spot where the perverted bald player had stood, there was now Vald, dressed in a Joseon-era general's uniform the kind Admiral Yi Sun-sin might have worn.
Unlike the typical red attire seen in historical dramas, the silver fabric embroidered with gold thread and the flowing cape were striking—but above all.
Bzzzzzz...
Looking at that crescent blade, with its faint metallic tremor, he almost resembled a white-robed Guan Yu.
"Alright, the test is easy! Come over here! If you succeed, the Pilgrim's Trial will be easier than eating Level 0 tteokbokki!"
"O-okay!"
As soon as the newbie agreed, Vald launched the first attack.
"White Dragon's Storm! Imperial Guard!"
With those words, a gust of wind swirled around him, centered on the crescent blade.
It looked like a buff, but Newbie didn't have time to think about that.
Whatever it was, he had to run.
"Eight Trigrams Sword Technique! Sword!"
With those words, three transparent wind blades flew toward Newbie.
Newbie dodged them, recalling the massive cage that had once flown toward him.
As he rolled to the side, a wind blade that had barely grazed his collar sliced through the wall.
"How's that! It's still easy since it's the first strike, right? Bagua Sword Technique: Kun!"
With those words, six short but swift wind blades flew toward him.
Newbie wanted to run away as fast as he could, but he patiently watched the trajectories of the wind blades.
Fortunately, thanks to the quick but short sequence, he was able to dodge them without trouble by twisting his body this way and that.
Having swiftly dodged the six strikes, he picked up speed again.
"Usually, people make a mistake trying to rush here. Excellent! Then now... Bagua Sword Technique! Kan!"
"Whoa! Don't use that!"
With those words, the newbie suddenly launched a counterattack.
"...Huh?"
"Yaaaaah!"
In an instant, the newbie began hurling every item in his inventory!
Bald's aim wavered at the unexpected counterattack.
A wind blade that was clearly impossible to dodge at a glance flew uselessly upward.
"Damn! What a fun tactic! But I still have one left! Bagua Sword Technique! Li..."
"I told you not to!"
With those words, the newbie threw his sword.
"Ugh!"
The sword spun around, grazing Vald's cheek before flying off to the side.
Thanks to that, his final skill was cut short.
Thud!
"How's that? Hah, hah..."
"You didn't just throw items around randomly because...?"
"Well, if I'd thrown just one or two, you would've just dodged them and attacked, right? So I tried to block your line of sight entirely."
"Whoa..."
Bald was inwardly stunned.
'That split-second judgment and ingenuity... That's not something you can get just from training.'
He had seen plenty of people who used all sorts of outlandish tactics.
To him, throwing items to distract an opponent was a rookie's move.
But that was only true when facing opponents who frequently used those tactics.
It wasn't easy to use a tactic he'd never tried himself at just the right moment.
And it was even harder for a newbie who didn't know a single thing about standard combat methods.
"How's it going?"
"Hmm~. Hmm... I'm not telling."
"Huh?!"
"Who knows? Maybe if you give this bruise on my cheek a little kiss, I'll tell you."
"No, come on!"
"Hahahahaha!"
He playfully turned his back and simply gave a thumbs-up.
Anyone could tell that was the highest praise.
*
After sending the newbie off, Bald walked back into the alleyway, still wearing only his underwear.
Arien was leaning against the wall there.
Without exchanging greetings, the two got straight to the point.
"Anyway, I've issued a warning to those guild masters as you asked, so they won't interfere."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it! I don't want my precious Newbie-chan to become a puppet of the guild masters either."
In any case, the Old Guard Association was a powerful organization to which nearly 90% of the guild's strongest fighters belonged.
No matter how much the Master Council ruled the guild, they never dared to touch the Old Guard Association.
If anything, it was the Old Guard who would have gone after the Masters.
"So, how are you doing, Newbie?"
"Truly amazing..."
"Don't fidget with your fingers while saying that, okay?"
"Ah, sorry, I got carried away without realizing it..."
Even as Arien, the guild's top insider before being a member of the 1 Million Rescue Squad, he was a difficult person to deal with.
Still, if there was a powerful ally who would take the Newbie's side, these guys were the best.
"Of course, if Newbie-chan becomes our savior like you say, that would be absolutely wonderful. But I'd rather not have him fall under the guild's control either. Every player has the freedom to walk their own path."
"I brought him here to save him, not to lock him up in another prison."
"But freedom without power is just licentiousness."
Bald knew better than anyone.
That freedom without power is the easiest thing to trample underfoot.
The experiences he'd gone through back when he was a casual player who enjoyed peace—someone who had absolutely no interest in getting stronger, let alone leveling up.
Those experiences remained as scars, teaching him a lesson.
"That's why I asked you, Bald, and the Association for help. Well, you probably would've kidnapped me anyway."
"Hehehe! Isn't that right?"
"I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry. At least within the guild, we'll guarantee your safety. You just focus on this Pilgrim's Trial. Who knows… maybe our little newbie will even take it on."
"Yes, thank you... Wait... What did you say?!"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down."
"No, what on earth...!"
The night between the two, which had seemed like it would end there, began to stretch out a little longer.