Only I’m the solo player

Chapter 35 – Party Play

—–CROW—– 

“Warrior-bro” is a common derogatory term for challengers with the normal Warrior class.

Currently, the Trial Tower has already been conquered up to the 100th floor, and thanks to all sorts of carry services and rankers, it’s become quite a comfortable environment.

Naturally, rare class advancement routes and strategies have long been established, and you can easily purchase class advancement items at the auction house.

Furthermore, it’s entirely possible to climb floors or prepare for class advancement without advancing through ranker carry services.

Of course, just because you’ve advanced to a normal class doesn’t mean you can’t change your job to another higher class.

However, since mastery skills and proficiency are reset when the class changes, it’s better to advance to a higher class as soon as possible.

Ah, if it’s the same class type, some skill growth is carried over. The problem is not just skill growth.

Depending on the class, the stat increase upon leveling up can differ, so leveling up in a normal class state is a loss in itself.

This is exactly why I hesitated to advance on the 1st floor.

Warrior is the only class that can be advanced to on the 1st floor without any conditions, but it’s a class that limits your potential from the moment you advance.

Moreover, Warrior-type classes often have separate masteries, so very few skills are carried over to higher classes.

In this situation, the meaning of having the normal class Warrior is simple.

No money, no connections, so ranker carry services are always postponed, and for the same reason, there’s no way to quickly advance to another class.

And without the patience to wait forever, you’re a dirt-spoon challenger who had no choice but to advance to Warrior.

Combined with the job performance that’s practically inferior to other Warrior-type classes, the derogatory term “Warrior-bro” was born.

But actually, there are surprisingly many challengers who quickly advance to Warrior to get through the early stages.

Although the potential is somewhat limited, if you get through the early stages and change to another class, there’s no major disadvantage in specs.

The true target of the derogatory term “Warrior-bro” is a high-level Warrior like me.

A route taken by a minority who, even after advancing to Warrior and barely getting through the early stages, still lack the money and connections to quickly change classes.

Those who, even with acquired capital, can’t give up because of the accumulated growth, the so-called “stuck” Warriors.

My background is a bit special, but I’m still a “Warrior-bro” in the sense that I’ve over-grown with a normal class.

But damn it, where did this guy learn to say that to someone’s face?

“What?”

I immediately frowned and asked back. Kim Minhyung, the Paladin, tilted his chin as if asking what my problem was.

Look at this guy, overflowing with confidence.

This guy’s level is 44, 8 levels lower than mine.

It’s quite a big difference, but level isn’t everything when it comes to specs. First of all, that guy is a rare class.

The difference between a normal class and a rare class isn’t huge, but it’s enough to make up for an 8-level difference.

And just by looking, his items seem to be a grade higher than the other two.

Since I’m openly wearing what looks like trash items, he seems to think he has the upper hand due to the difference in items and class.

Now, what should I do with this guy? I don’t know how skilled he is beyond specs yet.

– *Tap, tap.*

I tapped the hand axe on my waist and observed the atmosphere for a moment.  There’s no point in causing a commotion right away.

However, it wasn’t the condescending guy or me who made the first move.

“Hey, how can you call someone who gave up their spot a ‘Warrior-bro’?”

Kim Jinah jumped up and smacked the condescending guy on the head with her wand.

– *Clang!*

Oh, what a pleasant sound.

**

Kim Jinah immediately lowered her head and apologized profusely.

Of course, she didn’t just apologize herself; she also made the condescending Paladin apologize by nagging him.

Of course, the Paladin just bowed his head as if he didn’t know what he did wrong, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Actually, I’ve also teased easy “Warrior-bros” in the community, so I decided to be generous this time.

Let’s just consider him a guy who can’t distinguish between reality and the community.

Judging from the fact that he doesn’t know my name, he doesn’t seem to visit the community often.

Anyway, after that, it was time to briefly decide how we would move in the dungeon.

Since the three of them were a fixed party who had been working together, it felt a bit awkward for me to interfere and assist.

After a short meeting, my position was decided as rearguard protection.  My role is to protect Kim Jinah, the ranged DPS, from the side.

“Wait, wouldn’t it be better for me to do that?”

“You should be tanking at the front.”

“Yeah, we decided to do it the way we always do.”

The condescending Paladin resisted a bit, but since there was no good reason to change positions, he was quickly suppressed.

I can roughly guess why that guy was picking on me.

He probably wanted to show off in front of the girl.  I understand, but next time, there will be no mercy.

[Would you like to enter?]

Since there were other people waiting, we quickly organized our positions and entered the portal.

“Yes.”

What appeared after passing through the portal was a large golden ruin.

**

The overall style of the dungeon wasn’t much different from the Lizardman ruins on the 3rd floor.

The difference was that it looked much larger and had gold decorations attached here and there.

Is that really gold? I wonder how much it would be worth if I peeled it all off and sold it in the outside world.

Of course, you can’t just take items from the Trial Tower after clearing it, but anyway.

“According to the information released on the community, the main monsters here are Golems.”

Kim Jinah explained.  I’ve also fought Golems once before.

The field boss in the 4th-floor desert area was a Sand Golem.

Its whole body was made of rock and sand, so it didn’t seem like my attacks were doing any damage.

It only collapsed and stopped regenerating after I smashed what I assumed was its head three times in a row.

“Have you ever hunted a Golem monster?”

“No.”

“It’s not difficult. If you find the core and destroy it, they’re easy to catch.”

I see. So, the Sand Golem’s core was in its head. I caught it completely by chance.

Perhaps Kim Jinah enjoys explaining what she knows, she started talking about various pieces of knowledge about Golems.

I just vaguely agreed and walked in step with them, and I heard the condescending Paladin clicking his tongue.

“Tsk, you haven’t even hunted a Golem at that level…”

It’s a bit annoying, but it didn’t seem like he was saying it for me to hear, so I just let it slide.

A short while later, the ground rumbled, and a large Rock Golem appeared.

Is it a bit bigger than the 4th-floor Sand Golem?  It looks at least 3 meters tall.

As the Golem appeared, the three quickly moved to take their positions and immediately engaged in battle.

“Hup!”

First, the Paladin, acting as the tank, charged at the Golem with a Shield Bash, holding a large shield.

Judging from the shield shining brightly, it seemed to be the Paladin’s skill. However, it didn’t seem like it was doing much damage to the Golem.

Following him, Kim Jinseok, the Gladiator, drew his dual swords and rushed at the Golem.

The two swords of the same length shone brightly, and a skill was cast. It was a skill that attacked six times in a row.

Judging from the stones making up the Golem being chipped away, it seemed to be doing quite a bit of damage.

While the two melee fighters were drawing the Golem’s aggro like that, Kim Jinah, the mage, cast a spell.

“Magic Missile!”

– *Boom!*

White magic projectiles flew in succession, greatly damaging the Golem’s chest area.

There was a round, red stone embedded in the damaged chest area, which seemed to be the Golem’s core.

The two melee fighters didn’t rashly attack the exposed core and continued tanking while maintaining their positions.

Meanwhile, Kim Jinah’s second Magic Missile was ready, and it was quickly fired, shattering the core.

– *Thud!*

[Guardian Golem’s Rock Fragment]

[Festival Coin]

The Golem collapsed, and the dropped items appeared before my eyes.  I didn’t do anything, but the items came to me.

So that’s why she generously offered to give me the party leader role.  The party leader can take all the rewards.

“How is it, Jinhyuk? What did you get?”

“I got a material and a coin.”

Perhaps coins don’t always drop from killing small fry, Kim Jinah smiled brightly, saying it was lucky.

“More importantly, how are our skills?  I told you we were a decent party, right?”

Kim Jinah, who was drinking a mana potion, suddenly asked.  Is she asking for praise?

It’s true that the way they calmly fought while maintaining their positions was quite good, but as for evaluating their skills, well…

“Yes, you are.”

I gave a noncommittal compliment and brushed off the thought that came to mind.

I can’t say I have good social skills, but I’m not as rude as a certain Paladin, so…

I can’t just openly call them weak, can I?

—–CROW—–