NOVEL WEB Chapter 12 - The Thorn Forest (2)
Episode 12
Episode 12: The Thorn Forest (2)
“Whey.”
Kim Ji-yu hung up the phone and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
It was the swordsman who wanted to become a player more than anyone else.
I can’t tell you how anxious I was, wondering if I was the one blocking that path.
At that very moment, Kim Hyun-soo, the mastermind behind this incident, came into the waiting room.
“What happened? Did you say it well? Tell them to beg no matter what. The other party is the Blue Bear Guild.”
When Kim Ji-yu responded by glaring fiercely, Kim Hyun-soo scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“Did I know it would turn out like this?”
“Why do you have to introduce me to that fucking idiot?”
“no…….”
It was also an extremely unfair thing for Kim Hyun-soo.
I never dreamed that things would turn out this way.
He was just thinking of getting a big sack of beef in return for introducing him to a talented prospect.
“So anyway, what happened? Are you going to borrow it?”
“I don’t know. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. So don’t worry anymore, Oppa.”
“Huh? What do you mean, do what you want! You don’t know that guy, but I see, Oh Woon-hyeok is famous as a loser in that area!”
“That’s okay. He doesn’t say anything nonsense.”
It’s been like that since I was little.
The swordsman she knew was a man who would do whatever he set his mind to do.
No matter what adversity comes your way, you must keep your word.
That guy is such a badass.
He says he never says nonsense.
So I believe.
Without a doubt.
“No, I told you it’s not that simple. I guess it’s because you don’t know much about the player world.”
“You don’t know either, oppa.”
“Ha. What I don’t know-.”
“Aside from News, you don’t know what kind of person he is.”
“That’s true. I guess you don’t quite understand, so let me explain it to you in an easy-to-understand way using an example from the entertainment industry.”
“That’s okay. Do you think I’m a kid? I know everything I need to know!”
“… … .”
Kim Hyun-soo stared at Kim Ji-yu, who had a confident expression.
That’s true.
Kim Ji-yu is not a child.
Kim Ji-yu, whom he had been watching for the past two years, was not a fool who blindly believed anyone’s words.
Rather, he was a child who was smarter than his age.
He was very bold from the moment we first met.
But it’s surprising that such a blind person like Kim Ji-yu is showing such a blind side.
No matter how you look at it, it’s strange.
So, it’s inevitable that there will be doubts.
“… … You said we were just childhood friends. You really?”
“Sir, what the heck!”
“You’re not holding a grudge, are you? Are you just trying to get me to do it properly this time?”
Kim Ji-yu screamed at Kim Hyun-soo’s face, which was more serious than ever.
“Am I you!!!”
* * *
[40,000,000 won has been deposited.]
My bank account suddenly became full.
After sending a thank you message to Jiyu Kim, I went to the official New Earth open market, News Store.
There were a ton of items available as it was used by players all over the world.
To purchase the items you want, you need to make good use of search terms and filters.
I started buying items quickly.
I had enough money and had a rough idea of what I wanted to buy.
[Purchased Mana Ring (Normal)]
[Purchased Vitality Bracelet (Normal)]
[Purchased Tiger’s Necklace (Advanced)] [Purchased
Wizard’s Wing Boots (Normal)] [Purchased
Helmet of Fighting Spirit (Advanced)]
With just a few touches, 40 million dollars can disappear in an instant.
What that means is that the items I purchased are priced at 8 million won each.
This was the case even though most of them were of general grade.
However, the reason why they were so expensive was because all the items I purchased had options that increased stats.
[Wearing the Ring of Mana (Normal)]
[Magic Power + 1]
[Wearing the Bracelet of Vitality (Normal)]
[Vitality + 1]
[Wearing the Necklace of the King (Advanced)]
[Vitality + 2]
[Wearing the Wing Boots of the Wizard (Normal)]
[Magic Power + 1]
[Wearing the Helmet of Fighting Spirit (Advanced)]
[Vitality + 1 Senses + 1]
The options for items were purchased with a focus on vitality and magic power stats.
The Thorn Forest Dungeon is no different from an obstacle course, so you need to have the stamina and magic power to complete it.
And to this extent, it is perfect.
But… … It’s a bit new, but money is good.
‘It’s so easy to increase stats.’
The next day.
I was at the athletics track at Sangchong Stadium.
Rail number 4 you see in front of me.
That’s the entrance to the Thorn Forest Dungeon.
In front of him, there was a line of people willing to challenge the thorny forest dungeon despite its risks.
I stood at the end of the line and waited for my turn.
There were twelve players waiting in front of me.
It seemed like they were broadcasting live, as most of them were talking into the air.
The concepts were diverse.
“Thorn forest? X, just say it. I’ll clear it right away.”
“Brothers! If the sponsorship mission surpasses 100,000 won, that Lightning Man will jump right in!”
“It seems like it will be a very difficult challenge, as it is a dungeon that has not been conquered for 3 years.”
This is why the Thorn Forest Dungeon is so popular as content at level 1.
Since it is an unexplored dungeon, it is difficult, and there is a risk of losing stats every time you challenge it, so it is perfect for drawing aggro.
I also turned on the live broadcast right away.
The title was like this.
Let’s say you keep trying despite the risk of losing stats if you fail, and as soon as you start broadcasting, two viewers come to the channel.
-If you have aggro, you will die.
-hi
The chat came up, but I pretended not to notice and just stayed still.
-Why aren’t you saying anything?
-It’s obvious it’s boring. Bye bye
When I didn’t respond at all, some viewers started leaving, but I didn’t care.
I had no intention of interacting with viewers like other players who do live broadcasts. I didn’t have any peripherals like that.
‘Those who want to see it, see it, and those who don’t want to see it, leave.’
On the one hand, this was also a display of confidence.
Because I’ll be coming back again anyway.
The Thorn Forest dungeon will soon be cleared after three years.
And above all.
There was another viewer I was waiting for.
Oh, you’re here at just the right time.
[Five Clouds Hyuk has entered.]
For the first time, I greeted the viewers with a bright smile.
“You’re right on time.”
* * *
Blue Bear Guild Talent Development Team Leader’s Office.
Oh Woon-hyeok was leaning back against the back of his chair, resting his crossed ankles on the desk, and looking at his smartphone.
It was a live broadcast by Lee Geum-shin.
“You fucking idiot.”
A sneer forms on Oh Woon-hyeok’s lips as he looks at her still confident face.
I guess you still don’t get the point.
Why is the Thorn Forest Dungeon still an unexplored dungeon?
The Thorn Forest was a dungeon that even experts concluded was impossible for a 1-star player to clear.
But you’re making that a bet condition?
It’s like a pumpkin rolling in with its vine.
‘But why is this kid so confident?’
An uneasy thought crossed my mind, wondering if there was something about the swordsman who seemed so relaxed even in the face of a challenge.
But soon, Oh Woon-hyeok shook his head.
That doesn’t make sense.
It would be correct to see this as the young bastard’s slap.
“I will educate you properly, so look forward to it.”
The corners of Oh Woon-hyeok’s mouth curl up in a mean manner.
Oh Woon-hyeok was determined to make Lee Geum-shin a loyal dog who would lick the soles of his feet.
It probably won’t even take three months.
It’s not a big deal to bring down a guy who only believes in his own talent and is arrogant.
I intend to trample on your soul and strip you of everything.
So that he can never raise his head in front of you again.
So that he would never spit on his own words again.
I guess I’ll have to chew it really well.
Dog X.
That’s how you have to raise them.
‘That’s also my specialty.’
The corners of Oh Woon-hyeok’s mouth curled up in a mean manner.
* * *
[Five Clouds Hyuk donated 10,000 won.]
[I bought you a leash. Come under me quickly ♡]
●: Ugh… … . What is that?
therefore.
… … Are you that fucking American?
It gave me goosebumps all over my body.
●: Let’s chase after him and kill him right now!
I would like to do the same, but I have to hold back for now.
You can’t be a criminal.
The only thing that can kill players is the dungeon.
But that opportunity will come soon.
So for now, just focus on clearing the thorn forest.
Woof.
Then a player appeared in front of rail 4 with a cloud of light.
And at the same time, a player who had been waiting behind rail 4 disappeared with a cloud of light.
The failure of the strategy and the challenge are happening at the same time.
“Ha. Brothers? Wasn’t it really chewy?”
A player comes off the rail and walks to the other side excitedly.
“How trivial! I almost got a negative stat!”
After listening to the story, it seemed like he had given up halfway.
Every time you clear a stage, you are faced with a choice.
If you give up then you may be able to get out without losing any stats.
However, if you fail after the challenge, you will get the same penalty as ‘death’ and the same minus stats as mentioned.
-Are you really going to keep challenging yourself?
That’s why my broadcast, where I keep trying even when I fail, attracts aggro.
This actually doesn’t make sense.
Because the more failures and challenges are repeated, the more the player’s physical abilities decline.
So, even the viewers still didn’t believe it.
-You’re so naive lol. You can tell right away that you’re being aggro.
-But why hasn’t this kid said anything since a while ago? Did he accidentally turn on the broadcast?
Current viewer count is eight.
Even though it had been quite some time since I turned on the broadcast, my viewership had not exceeded ten.
-I came in because the channel name was Xshin TVㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-It’s not X-god, it’s a sword god… … .
-Ah… … I see. I thought it was a X-new concept broadcast;;
Still, they play well together.
-Guys, while you’re waiting, watch the tutorial video! Are you really that talented?
-Yeah, honestly, I came back after seeing that too. I’m kind of excited!
I am also receiving the full effect of the tutorial video I uploaded last time.
While I was watching the viewers’ chat, it was soon my turn.
The moment a bright white light appeared before my eyes, I found myself standing in an unfamiliar space.
[01 – ???, Thorn Forest Dungeon]
A white room with a round table in the center.
I looked at the five models placed on the round table. From stage 1 to stage 5, the obstacles I had to overcome were made into small toys.
Each model had a different atmosphere, but they were all forests.
From left to right, as the difficulty level increased, the lush green forest gradually became barren, and by the final 5th stage, it had become an ashen forest with only dry branches left.
●: It feels like my body is going through a process of damage.
The Earth grumbled as it looked into its hand mirror.
It looks gloomy as dark clouds begin to gather over the surface of the earth.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll stop you this time.’
I soothed that earth.
Because I like clear skies better than cloudy ones.
● : Really?
“of course.”
That’s why I made you regress.
I intend to do the same for myself.
● : Pururururun! I’m glad I was with you!
The shadowy expression of the Earth suddenly brightened.
When I see things like this, I see a childish side to him.
Even though it’s 4.8 billion years old.
I chuckled and turned my gaze back to the dungeon model.
The challenges were possible sequentially from stage 1.
“Then let’s start the challenge right away.”
As I turned on the broadcast and spoke to the viewers for the first time, I placed my hand on the Stage 1 model.
The model was a green forest reminiscent of a bright spring day.
Before I knew it, I was standing inside.
A warm, sunny noon.
Green trees swaying in the wind lined the front. In the middle of it all was a gently winding dirt road.
‘5,372 people’.
An unfamiliar number appeared in my head.
The number of players who have knelt in this dungeon over the past three years.
That record will end today.
Because I have a surefire way to clear this thorn forest.
“Phew.”
I took a deep breath and put strength into my toes.