Max Talent Player

On the 1st floor of the D-Tower, I could see the escalator going to the second floor and a few ‘City Foxes’ and ‘Goblins’ nearby. It might be a Tutorial, but a dungeon was a dungeon.

“They’ll be at least one level higher than the monsters outside.”

Sure enough:

City Fox LVL 4

The City Foxes and Goblins were 1-2 levels higher. Some were even 3 levels higher.

Goblin LVL 8

Like I had arranged in advance, I disbanded the party with Sunhwa. In other words, we weren’t sharing EXP.

“Start with all the Goblins you can see.”

If you didn’t touch the foxes, they wouldn’t turn hostile. In higher level dungeons, all the monsters were hostile. But this was the Tutorial Dungeon. This Tutorial might not seem like a tutorial at all, but there was no denying it was easier than a higher level dungeon.

Sunhwa did way better than I expected.

‘As expected… must be the effect of the talent.’

There was a time when she was scared shitless by a baby Goblin, but after just four days together, Sunhwa was hunting adult Goblins just fine.

‘She’s killing them well, even though she’s only level 6.’

A level 6 Player was making quick work of a level 8 Goblin. This had to be the effect of talent.

“Take a break after taking care of that Goblin.”

“Got it.”

Sunhwa got rid of the last remaining Goblin. For reference, the item she had equipped was ‘Worn Iron Gauntlets’. Sunhwa clobbered the Goblin with her fists, all while precisely striking the weak point I’d told her about.

‘She’s doing really well.’

The Goblins’ attacks didn’t register on Sunhwa at all, almost as if she had some kind of special skill or special constitution.

Turning to me, she asked, “Did I do well?”

“Nope. Did you think so?”

Sunhwa shook her head. “I think I’m way worse compared to you, oppa.”

Huh. ‘Actually, that’s true, isn’t it?’

To be honest, the Playing of this child I considered a genius didn’t look all that impressive to me. Was it because she was young or because I was underestimating her?

‘But why am I so good at this?’

I didn’t know why. In any case, there was no mistake—so far, I was Playing even better than Sunhwa. So much so that I had the very rational question of ‘Am I a genius?’

“The miniboss will spawn soon.”

“Yes.”

The miniboss, the ‘Goblin Soldier’, would soon appear. The Goblin Soldier’s level would be displayed as ‘?’, as it would be a much higher level than me. The estimated level was roughly 13. Mine was currently 8.

‘I can do this.’

That was already proven through countless clears. I had seen the VR dungeon Play many times. Of course, that was an artificial VR dungeon based on the recollections of the ‘Fist King So Yoohyun’ and other survivors, but clearing the 1st floor was possible from level 8.

‘No, you have to be level 8 for it to be possible.’

After hunting all of the Goblins and City Foxes here, the miniboss, the ‘Goblin Soldier’, would spawn.

“Good to go again, right?”

“Yes. I think I’ve recovered my stamina as well.”

“Then catch the rest of them.”

When the rest were killed, the ‘Goblin Soldier’ would appear, and we would form the party again before that.

“Run back here right away afterwards.”

Here, near the ATM. I reminded her again.

“Got it.”

Sunhwa carried out my orders to a T. She killed the rest of the monsters, and in doing so, she hit level 7.

“Oppa, I got them all.”

“I know. Run back here.”

Sunhwa ran over, and the two of us hid ourselves behind the ATM on the 1st floor. We were squeezed in together as much as possible. It was a good thing Sunhwa had a small build.

I said quietly, “Lower your head.”

Just then, the entirety of the field momentarily turned grey, almost like someone had pressed the pause button in a game.

* * *

‘Isn’t this a Pause?’

Intermediate Administrators could briefly suspend a field with their individual authorities or with an ‘item’.

‘But this item costs a pretty penny.’

I didn’t know exactly how much, but I heard you had to invest quite a lot of Coins in it. It was a kind of power used by Streamers when they wanted to interfere with a Player, during which the video transmission to the Guardians was turned off.

[A Pause has taken effect.]

[The ‘Nameless Observer’ expresses intense curiosity.]

[The ‘Courageous Lion King’ has begun to take an interest again.]

[Anonymous Guardians have begun to clamor.]

“Player Kim Hyukjin. Are you in your right mind?”

“What do you mean?”

Senia stared at me expressionlessly. Her eyes lacked emotion, but they were rather intense.

“You have acted as if you know everything. Is this situation also one that you have intended?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know what kind of ability you have, but if you have such a power, why in the world are you doing such a foolish thing?”

“Again, what do you mean?”

After staring at me for a moment, Senia slowly continued. “The Goblin Soldier is level 13. It’s also receiving a boss monster stat buff. It is not a creature you can defeat right now. Much less with only two people.”

What the heck? Was this woman always so talkative?

“So you’re saying you would rather not see me die, hm?”

“…”

The reason was obvious.

‘Because I’m a Player who can provide the material to create a hit.’

It was because I made good quality content. If I had to guess, I had to be the person carrying out the most unique Playing out of the countless Players out there, unless there was another regressor who had memorized every Play by heart like I had.

A Player like me was material, content, that a Streamer would be hard-pressed to find again.

“By the way, Senia. Your way of talking is insufferable.”

“… Are you insulting me?”

“Let me give you a tip.”

I knew about the Streamers of the future. I knew about many Intermediate Administrators, as well as many Streamers on Youtube. I knew how they ticked, and even had a rough understanding of how to become a famous Streamer. An expressionless Streamer who spoke with this little eloquence and only had looks going for her wouldn’t be able to survive the fierce competition.

“When the pause ends, make a big fuss. No, wait. Making a fuss would be difficult with your personality. Just explain that it’s a monster I could never possibly catch. That’s the truth, after all.”

This was going slightly off-topic, but Senia was truly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that the thought periodically invaded my mind despite not being the time or place.

‘If she wasn’t able to become famous later despite being this beautiful…’

It meant she had been eliminated, unable to survive the competition between the Streamers.

“Do some directing.”

“…”

Senia continued to stare at me with the same expressionless face as before. She didn’t respond, but seeing as her wingtips were trembling, it did seem that my words had caused a ripple in her heart.

“Then, I’ll successfully kill the monster without dying.”

“You… will kill the Goblin Soldier?”

“Yeah. The Goblin Soldier.”

“You are incapable of doing so. It is impossible.”

“So watch. Watch how I kill it. Isn’t it some great hit material? A real scrub of a Player destroying a frickin’ Tutorial Dungeon miniboss.”

“…”

The more Guardians watching, the better. Famous Streamers were sure to attract famous Guardians, because such Guardians were unstinting in their support to Streamers and Players. 

“Make a deal with me.”

Before I could say anything, Senia quickly interjected. “Player Kim Hyukjin. Your impudence has gone too far. You are level 8. There is a limit to how much disrespect I can tolerate.”

As expected, an Intermediate Administrator was an Intermediate Administrator, through and through. She was someone who could kill me anytime for any offense. Unless it was related to the ‘Commandments’, it was no big issue for an Administrator to kill me. She could have probably split my body into two with a single lift of her finger.

I said, “If you had wanted to kill me, you would have done so already.”

“…”

“But you even used your Pause power to stop me, didn’t you? Could you really bear to kill me? Isn’t that power very expensive?”

“…”

Senia’s wingtips trembled once again. I was sure of it. This woman might be a skilled Administrator, but she was an inept talker. She must have been eliminated from the Streamer competition because she was so inarticulate and only had a pretty face.

“I, a level 8 Player with no real skills, will defeat the miniboss. The Guardians might even strip naked in utter excitement. And you could instantly become an Administrator producing quality content.”

“…”

“It’s not a loss for you, am I right?”

In the end, Senia asked, “What are your trade conditions?”

“For now, what do you think about discussing it after I kill the miniboss? I think the pause time is almost over.”

For the first time since meeting me, Senia betrayed a small frown on her face. For the first time since meeting me, there was a change in her expression. It was as if she were asking, ‘How in the world do you know all of this?’ Naturally, I wouldn’t answer her question, and there was no need to do so.

“I understand. I will watch. Keep this in mind. The Goblin Soldier… is something you could never defeat with your current power.”

At that instant, the ‘Pause’ ended. The monochrome world returned to normal, the momentarily paused time beginning to tick once more.

[All of the field’s monsters have been eliminated.]

[The conditions to spawn the miniboss ‘Goblin Soldier’ have been fulfilled.]

[The miniboss ‘Goblin Soldier’ is spawning.]

‘It’s coming.’

Currently, I was next to the ATM, crouching there with Sunhwa halfway in my arms. Cold sweat ran down my back. I spoke confidently to Senia, but couldn’t help but be nervous.

[The ‘Goblin Soldier’ has spawned.]

[A miniboss zone has been declared.]

The miniboss, the Goblin Soldier, appeared. Soon, it would look around, seeing corpses in the vicinity.

‘It’ll be enraged.’

And I was right.

[The miniboss ‘Goblin Soldier’ expresses its rage.]

And then, the enraged Goblin Soldier would use its most threatening attack as soon as it appeared. Spear Throw—its most dangerous ability. That was an attack I couldn’t take on with my current abilities, an attack that would instantly kill me if it hit me full-on.

Kikikik!

The Goblin Soldier’s scream made a shiver run down my spine.

Schwip–!

There was a whistle in the air. It was hard to put it in words, but it felt like something terrifying was approaching.

‘It’s coming.’

A thud! rang out as the Goblin Soldier’s spear punched through the ATM. Something sharp was protruding a bit a little above where I was crouching.

Drip.

Sweat ran down my brow. I’d only seen the clears; doing it in person was incredibly spine-tingling.

‘First hurdle, done.’

The Goblin Soldier’s most threatening attack was neutralized. The very moment it appeared, it would fiercely hurl a spear towards the Players. This attack was the most terrifying one, which was why we hid, using the ATM as a shield.

[The ‘Nameless Observer’ is astonished by your wits.] 

[Anonymous Guardians are tuning into Channel #19207 in great numbers.]

[The ‘Nameless Guardian’ has sent you a 50 Coin sponsorship.]

I wasn’t able to pay attention to the notices. ‘Hiding next to the ATM was the most effective move in the clears.’

If a Player moved elsewhere, the Goblin Soldier would move as well, coming closer and then throwing its spear.

‘This is the perfect distance for making that bastard throw its spear without moving.’

The place that could also provide cover at the same time was next to the ATM. This hunting spot, determined to be the optimum location through VR dungeons, was the perfect place for blocking the most dangerous attack.

I snuck a glance at the half-transparent Senia.

‘Watch carefully.’

Watch how a lousy level 8 Player kills a miniboss monster.