After her encounter with Arien last night, she hadn't come to see Newbie for several days.
"This exam is going to be the hardest one ever. So think it over."
Leaving only that declaration behind, she hurried off somewhere.
"Ugh..."
"Another sigh? Cut it out! You're in the same boat as the dog—there's nothing we can do about it!"
"But..."
Her retreating figure still lingered in his mind.
"Anyway, if it weren't for Arien, we wouldn't have even gotten to see the guild."
"Hmph! We could've made it here somehow, even just the two of us! It's just... we got help from that guy, so we got here 'a little' faster."
"So you're not denying it?"
"Well, it's the truth, after all. Still, don't send him a message. It's kind of tacky."
His shoulders twitched just as he happened to be tapping his friend's message window.
Partly because Axel had hit the nail on the head.
"How can you be so insensitive?"
The old-timer who had grabbed his shoulder flashed a warm smile, then...
"Ugh, ugh!"
"Since I made a mistake, I guess I deserve a reward—no, a finishing move, right?"
"Wait, wait... just a second!"
"Phoenix Piledriver!"
With those words, the veteran grabbed the newbie and, with a flashy wrestling move, slammed him into the ground.
The newbie was driven into the floor like a scene from a comic book.
No, I'm not joking—his entire upper body really did sink into the ground like in a gag manga!
The veteran offered him some advice.
"We told you, didn't we? Don't check your status screen in the NPC neighborhood! And you can't even talk to the tutorial fairy!"
"Ugh, ugh-ugh! Ugh!"
"Ah, wait a second."
This time, he grabbed the newbie's leg as if pulling up a radish and yanked him right out.
"Sorry, sorry, what did you say?"
"I thought it was a back alley, so I figured hiding would be fine..."
"No way! The outside world isn't that easy!"
He grabbed Excel—who'd been caught trying to help the newbie—by the back of the neck and shook him.
"Plus, you've got that little friend by your side, so it's even harder."
"Are you talking about Excel?"
"Me?"
At their question, the veteran snapped his fingers.
"Exactly! The tutorial fairy is such a special being that she stands out. So, if you want to hide your identity..."
In this way, one by one, the veterans kindly helped the newbie prepare for the exam, along with a survival guide for the outside world.
Truly, they were thorough from start to finish.
At the newbie's request for some intense exam prep help, the entire Veterans' Association was in an uproar.
"Y-you guys! Calm down a bit!"
"Me! I'm helping too!"
"You damn bald bastard! Are you trying to monopolize the newbie all by yourself?!"
"That's right! At least let some hair grow on your conscience!"
"Ah, no, just get in line first! We need to assign roles, don't we? And you, the one who mentioned hair earlier—come here! If you get caught, you're banned from using the training equipment for 24 hours!"
"T-that's...
That's too much!"
Thousands upon thousands of bodies, clad only in underwear, stood on 24-hour standby for a single newbie.
Wherever the newbie went, they had to be in training mode.
The bigger problem was...
"Did you hear? The old-timers are training this new recruit?"
"Huh? Didn't those guys just spend all day grinding away in the corner? What's going on?"
"I heard this new recruit is taking the Pilgrim Exam?"
"Oh, really? A guy who's been here less than a month?"
"Yeah! And apparently, they're training him by making him travel all over the city."
"Ah! So that's why! We gotta go check it out!"
"I'm coming too!"
And just like that, the newbie became a limited-time sensation during exam season.
Thanks to that, he ended up getting attention wherever he went.
In contrast to the newbie's grueling training, the satisfaction levels of the veterans training him were sky-high.
These guys, who usually spent their time either sparring or bragging about their stats, even held a contest to see who could train the newbie the best.
However, every conversation ended the same way.
"He learns so fast, doesn't he?"
"You're right. It's not just that he learns quickly—his ability to apply what he learns is incredible."
"Really?"
"I'm telling you! When I cast a debuff that slowed him down, he actually moved in a way that made his actions even harder to predict!"
Just as they said, the newbie was an incredibly quick learner.
That was thanks to one characteristic of Newbie that they didn't know about.
Having streamed countless games for a long time under the theme of being a perpetual beginner, he had naturally become familiar with almost every game.
On top of that, since he had to experience and enjoy the game to the fullest within two hours, he had to master all sorts of strategies and tricks.
Thanks to that, he was soaking up all the know-how of the veteran players.
"Aren't we raising a surprisingly formidable monster here?"
"You never know. Who's to say he won't actually become a Pilgrim, leave the guild, and wipe out the Seven Apostles?"
"Hahahaha! That's taking it a bit too far!"
They didn't know.
That the Newbie's true goal was exactly what they were joking about.
That it might actually happen.
*
"Why did you let Old Man Gma approach Newbie? Why did you have to involve the Seven Apostles and the bug, too?"
"Well, Newbie has the right to know, doesn't he?"
"Did he really need to know?"
At Arien's words, Vald frowned, looking displeased.
"Do you realize how contradictory you're being right now? Didn't you clearly say you didn't want to lock the newbie up in prison?"
"If you put it that way, Lord Vald said it too. Freedom without power is licentiousness."
Arien gave off an air as if she were about to get into a huge fight with Vald at any moment.
"What's the problem in the first place? Didn't that old fogey appoint you as the chief supervisor for this exam? Then it's even easier! You just need to thoroughly crush the newbie leader, right?""What if they lose all hope of ever leaving?""Then that's the ending, isn't it? As long as they live happily with us, that's all that matters.""How can you say that so easily? To a rookie who jumped into this hell to save us for the first time in decades!""Veterans should guide a rookie's path, but they mustn't push them down a specific path. That is the duty of veterans—no, of us seniors.""...""I know it's frustrating. But listen. That's the whole point of raising a rookie. So you should trust the rookie a little, too.""I do believe. That he'll save us.""You're so worried because you don't believe, aren't you?""Ugh... really!""Just trust him." As if realizing they couldn't communicate any further, she turned and walked away.Whispering to her retreating back, Vald said,
"Just like Shalie trusted you... Maybe he'll finally grow up this time."
*
Two weeks flew by.
The newbie, who had been tormented by the Old Guard Guild, had somehow arrived at that place called the Pilgrimage Test Site.
"W-what is this..."
"Is this the entire test site?"
They were definitely supposed to be led underground. ..
There was another city down there.
It wasn't just a haphazardly dug-out space; it was an exact replica of the guild above.
A so-called "clone city."
It was a masterpiece created by the Master Architect and the architect players who had supposedly built every single guild building.
It was a skill level befitting those who had played block-building games like Minecraft or SimCity since they were babies, eating baby food.
It was almost a waste to use it merely as a testing ground.
Especially now, for fewer than a hundred test challengers.
"There are fewer people than before..."
"You're right. I heard most of them volunteered just to get a close look at the newbies."
"Well, I'm actually here for the same reason. Honestly, who's really going to try to go outside these days?"
The participants standing nearby whispered to each other.
Sure enough, they were all glancing sideways at the newbie in the center.
Regardless, the newbie, along with Excel, went over the information the veterans had given them.
'There are three tests in total.'
"That was the first one, right?"
"Yeah, that's it. They're trying to get you all worked up right now."
Just then, a very familiar voice rang out.
A voice of an unknown age that was both welcoming and nerve-wracking at the same time.
With those unwelcome words, she declared the start of the trial.
At the same time, the gathered players entered the portal in front of them one by one.
[You have entered the random teleportation portal]
[You will be transported to a random location within the portal's range!]
Whoooosh! Aaaargh!
As Newbie and Excel opened their eyes at the same time, they found thousands of examiners in plain clothes walking around like ordinary citizens.
'Are all of these people supervisors?'
Perhaps it was only natural.
After all, why else would the Pilgrim summon those who had ventured outside the guild?
Because the Pilgrimage Path mostly led to martyrdom—that is, death.
And in this Seeker World, death was not mere death, but eternal torment.
That was why they couldn't just send anyone out, and naturally, the Pilgrimage Trial was treated as more important than any other trial.
The first test, the Adaptability Test, was simple.Find the path leading to the next test without revealing that you're a player.Of course, it was filled with countless obstacles and challenges. "Oh, how cute~!" Just like the examiner dressed as a noblewoman right in front of him.She approached Excel, making a big fuss. "What's your name, Ann?"
"Ah, my name is Excel."
"Is that so? Such a soft little thing, yet your name sounds so strong, hehehe!"
With those words, she pinched Excel's cheek.
Instantly, the veins on Excel's forehead began to bulge.
'Please, hold it in!'
Fortunately, Excel wasn't a fool.
"Umm? Uuuum? Umm?"
"Your pet is so cute~! Can this pet talk? I heard humanoid pets can speak just as well as parrot pets?"
A very blunt question.
"Ah, ahaha! Excel can't talk!"
"Oh, really? That's too bad~. "
"Haha! Well, we'll be off then!"
Luckily, the first attempt went off without a hitch.
After that, the newbie asked the examiners playing citizens questions while recalling the methods the veterans had mentioned for how NPCs distinguish players.
"Um... how do I get to the garden? I'm looking for the garden famous for being the most beautiful in the city."
"Ah, the garden! If you're looking for the most famous one, the garden at that flower shop over there is quite famous!"
This was another challenge.
Before the test, each contestant received a clue leading to the next testing area.
The clue the newbie received was this:
[The Most Beautiful Garden in the City]
They had to find their way by asking questions about the clue to the examiners posing as NPC citizens.
It was a test where they had to converse to get what they wanted without revealing that they were players.
It was practically like filming a spy movie.
"Ugh, Aaaargh!"
"Wait, just waaaait!"
Even then, screams could be heard from several places.
They were the death throes of challengers who had been caught as obvious players.
'Come to think of it, they must be feeling pain... This test is scarier than I thought...'
If caught, death was certain.
Instant death might actually be a blessing.
Even in such a situation, there were always some challengers who couldn't assess the situation.
There was one right next to the newbie right now.
"Oh, I found him! The rookie everyone's talking about! Just a quick photo..."
Come on, he's not a celebrity or anything.
Just as the newbie saw another challenger open their status window to take a photo...
"H-he's a player! He's gesturing in mid-air!"
One of the supervisors playing the role of a citizen pointed a finger at him.
At that moment, an examiner playing the role of a Devotee, who had been watching from the spire like a ghost, dropped to the ground.
Thud!
"Wait, wait! That's... I mean, this is—!"
"Execute. Spear of Judgment!"
The examiner playing the Devotee showed no mercy.
As he reached out into the air, a spear of light made of magic was summoned.
Pwoosh! Pwoosh-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka!
"Guh, guh-huh..."
The spear of light pierced straight through the stomach of the unfortunate challenger.
The sound of bones shattering and flesh being crushed was so intense it made one wonder if this was even a game.
It would have been better if he'd died instantly...
"Why, why... won't you die... just... just kill me..."
As the challenger lay impaled like a skewer, the examiner approached.
The little kid lifted the spear, which was stuck in him, as easily as if he were holding a cotton candy.
The challenger thrashed about like a fish on a harpoon.
The examiner vanished along with him.
The two who had nearly been photographed right next to him just stood there, staring blankly at the scene.
'So that's what happens if you get caught out there.'
It was a truly spine-chilling lesson.
In any case, the path the newbie discovered led to a flower shop.
The examiner playing the role of the shop owner, who was waiting there, greeted the two warmly.
"Hello, customers! What kind of flowers did you come to see?"
"Ah, well... I heard the garden here is beautiful!"
"Of course! My garden is the best in the city! But why don't we look at the flowers for you first?"
"Ah, well..."
Ugh, what should I say?
I can't exactly say, "Can we use the secret portal over there?"
That's when Excel stepped forward.
"Ooh! Ooooooh!"
Excel made a big fuss and pointed at a certain flower.
"Ooh! You've got quite the eye, Pet! Rainbow tulips! Shall I get those for you?"
"Ah, yes! My girlfriend really, really loves rainbow tulips! Hahaha!"
"Oh, how romantic! Just a moment! Let me grab a basket and some ribbon!"
With that, the examiner—playing the role of the florist—winked approvingly and headed into the back room.
Ah, I guess I passed!
"Good job, you're the best, my best pet!"
"Uuuuugh..."
Excel muttered discontentedly.
Anyway, the two of them entered that place called the garden.
Sure enough, a secret portal was hidden among the roses in the flower shop's garden.
The two of them stepped into the portal, red rose petals swirling around them.
Their beautiful entrance was completely overshadowed.
Wiiiiiiing!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Crackle! Crack! Crack!
Swoosh! Swoosh! Sssssshhh!
The second testing ground was utterly brutal.