HSF 9
by Emerlyn[Party] Ittorang: [Darkness-Immersed Ring] It’s only rare gradeㅠ
[Party] Jimni: Ugh, it’s spinach.
While Cheong-hyeon was discarding the ring without hesitation, a trade request came from Seo Hee-won. After a moment’s consideration, he accepted, and the trade window showed 999 teleportation scrolls. Just as expected.
[Party] Seohee1: Come immediately when I call you.
[Party] Ittorang: Do you really think I’ll farm for a legendary special ring because of this?
[Party] Seohee1: Yes lol
Indeed. Cheong-hyeon had flipped his firm refusal like turning over his palm. The legendary special ring farm was impossible alone and difficult even with two people, but everything changed with a three people party.
Those determined to obtain a legendary special ring typically hired helpers for a fee or purchased special mobs for over 15 million gold each—a truly costly endeavor.
An opportunity like this, with two free helpers volunteering, wouldn’t come again if he decided to pass up on it now. And what did it matter if he only used that precious legendary special ring for Mystic Mine runs? Some items had value simply in possessing them. Cheong-hyeon had no reason to refuse this excellent opportunity, and they knew it.
[Party] Ittorang: ㅎㅎ Of course, I’ll do it ^^7
[Party] Jimni: Wow!!!!!
Excitedly, Cheong-hyeon reassessed his opinion of Seo Hee-won. Even for a gaming addict chasing a server-first title, helping someone else without compensation for an uncertain period was no small matter.
While Jimni had been kind from the start, it was quite unexpected that the irritable Seo Hee-won would willingly spend his own time helping others.
Furthermore, judging by the number of special mobs he had gathered today, he seemed to have started hunting much earlier than Jimni.
Cheong-hyeon briefly pondered, tapping his desk while considering the information about them leaving Seven for a new guild, their friendly attitude toward him, and the hassle of finding a new guild himself…The deliberation didn’t take long. Having made his decision quickly, he boldly proposed another deal.
[Party] Ittorang: But you have to take responsibility for me.
[Party] Ittorang: Take me with you when you two change guildsㅎㅎ
[Party] Jimni: Wow.
[Party] Seohee1: Where did you hear about that?
[Party] Jimni: I was actually going to ask about that!
[Party] Jimni: After yesterday’s Mystic Mine run
[Party] Jimni: I was planning to kidnap both Ittorang and Capybara.
[Party] Jimni: This is great! Come with us!!
In truth, Doom Slayers didn’t have the best reputation in-game. It was already a difficult class to play, and many unskilled Doom Slayers would die quickly then blame healers for not healing them.
While there weren’t many Doom Slayer players, most encountered in public parties were problematic, leading many to automatically filter them out. Due to this class reputation, it was difficult to join public parties or guilds, which made it quite surprising that Seo Hee-won and Jimni had already considered bringing him into their guild.
[Party] Jimni: But who really told you?
[Party] Ittorang: I promised not to tell, so it’s a secretㅎㅎ
[Party] Seohee1: It must be Tiramisush.
[Party] Jimni: That’s obvious.
[Party] Seohee1: Ugh, should we just leave Tiramisush behind.
Cheong-hyeon was sincerely planning to keep his secret promise with Tiramisush, but Seohee1, who was not suspicious but certain, caught him in an instant. Considering Tiramisush’s usual behavior, it made sense that she would be the first suspect. Although Cheong-hyeon hadn’t deliberately broken his promise, he kept remembering Tiramisush’s pitiful sobbing while insisting he absolutely mustn’t tell a soul. He felt he should at least make a show of damage control to ease his conscience.
[Party] Ittorang: Since everything worked out well
[Party] Ittorang: Let’s forgive Tiramisush this once…ㅎㅎ
[Party] Ittorang: I didn’t tell anyone else
[Party] Jimni: lol lol lol lol lol
[Party] Jimni: Yeah, we can’t really abandon Tiramisush since there aren’t many sub-healers on the serverㅠ
That comment implied they would have left Tiramisush behind if they weren’t a valuable sub-healer. As a Doom Slayer—an abundant DPS role in a minor class—Cheong-hyeon resolved to keep his mouth firmly shut.
With this unexpected help to farm a legendary ring and the opportunity to leave his irritating guild, Cheong-hyeon’s spirits soared. Somehow, he had a good feeling that things would work out well from now on.
* * *
Cheong-hyeon rubbed his throbbing temples. There was something wrong with these people.
The problems began right after finishing the Mystic Mine dungeon. Seohee1 and Jimni suggested starting the legendary special ring farm immediately, and Cheong-hyeon had agreed. At that point, he was still enthusiastic, thinking it was best to start quickly on something they needed get to anyway.
[Server] Ittorang: Buying dark special mobs for 15 million gold each.
He also agreed when Seo Hee-won told him to use a server megaphone to solicit reports of special mobs from others. Although it cost twice his daily Mystic Mine earnings per mob, he felt the need to somehow lighten the burden on Seo Hee-won and Jimni who had volunteered their free labor.
[Whisper] Moonlightl: Special mob at Deep Cave pp
When whispers like this came in, he would immediately use a teleportation scroll to travel to their location, pay 15 million gold, and kill the special mob. Sometimes he would hear comments like:
[General] Moonlightl: Are you farming for a legendary special ring?
[General] Ittorang: Yes.
[General] Moonlightl: Why would a Doom Slayer do that?
[General] Ittorang: I wonder that myself.
While Cheong-hyeon was running around responding to whispers and throwing away gold, Seo Hee-won and Jimni stayed in one place hunting, only calling him to kill special mobs once they’d gathered several. The hunting had been progressing smoothly until they’d been at it for four straight hours.
[Server] Mungkkeu: Buying dark special mobs for 16 million
Someone appeared offering 1 million gold more per special mob than Cheong-hyeon. With special mobs being scarce compared to demand, once this kind of competition started, prices could rise up to 20 million gold per mob.
Cheong-hyeon followed Mungkkeu’s lead and raised his price to 16 million. From a seller’s perspective, they would naturally trade with whoever paid more, so he had no other choice in the matter.
[Server] Ittorang: Buying dark special mobs for 16 million.
[Server] Mungkkeu: ㅋㅋ Dark special mobs 18 million ㅅㅅㅅ
Cheong-hyeon sighed deeply watching Mungkkeu immediately raise the price by another 2 million gold. It seemed Mungkkeu was determined to monopolize the special mobs by continually raising the price.
[Party] Ittorang: That person seems serious about this.
[Party] Ittorang: Should we call it a day?
It was perfect timing as Cheong-hyeon was starting to feel stiff and wanted a break. Seo Hee-won and Jimni, who had started hunting even earlier than him, must be getting tired too. Since it was their first day, it seemed reasonable to wrap things up and continue tomorrow.
[Party] Jimni: Already?
[Party] Jimni: Then let’s stop buying mobs for today and just kill the ones we spawn ourselves.
[Party] Seohee1: Wait.
Contrary to Cheong-hyeon’s thinking, they showed no signs of wanting to stop. After leaving just that message, Seohee1 disappeared. Checking the party window to see what he was doing, Cheong-hyeon noticed the words “In Duel” glowing red next to his nickname.
Dueling was a one-on-one PK system that began when two people in the same field agreed to fight. If you lost or declined a duel, you would lose experience points and the right to hunt in that field.
Did someone pick a fight with him…?
After a short while, a new message from Mungkkeu appeared on the server megaphone.
[Server] Mungkkeu: Sorry for raising prices to monopolize special mobs, I won’t buy anymore so please sell to others.
[Party] Seohee1: He says he won’t interfere anymore. Let’s continue.
[Party] Jimni: lol lol lol lol lol
Now it was clear that he hadn’t been challenged—he had been the challenger. It seemed he had lured Mungkkeu to the same field by offering to sell special mobs, then challenged him to a duel. What happened to make Mungkkeu suddenly back down and flee was unknown.
Since resolving conflicts through duels was part of BioGod’s culture, Cheong-hyeon didn’t particularly feel sorry for him, just slightly disappointed that his plan to use this as an excuse to rest had failed. Reluctantly hunting for another hour, Cheong-hyeon spoke up a second time.
[Party] Ittorang: It’s dinner time, shall we stop here?
[Party] Jimni: Oh it’s already 7.
[Party] Seohee1: Then let’s meet again in an hour.
[Party] Jimni: Ok.
Cheong-hyeon was speechless as he discarded the low-grade special rings that had accumulated in his equipment window. Meet again? They had already been at this repetitive labor for five hours. His body ached from sitting in the same position hunting for so long.
[Party] Ittorang: Aren’t you tired?
[Party] Jimni: No!! I’m fine.
[Party] Jimni: Are you tired, Ittorang ?
[Party] Ittorang: I’m a bit fatiguedㅎㅎ..
[Party] Ittorang: Since this isn’t urgent, how about we take it slower?
[Party] Seohee1: No, we could lose the server first that way.
[Party] Jimni: That’s right! Soon word will spread that a Doom Slayer is farming for a legendary special ring.
[Party] Jimni: If people start paying attention, it could be really dangerousㅠㅠ
While it was unusual for a Doom Slayer to pursue a legendary special ring, Cheong-hyeon doubted it would cause such a sensation. Besides, he couldn’t help but wonder what other crazy Doom Slayer would attempt this.