Shouting Duel at the Center of a Dead Game

Immediately after the system's words that the test would begin in one hour, the system turned hazy like smoke and disappeared.

And, shining letters floated in its place.

[Select a weapon.]

Then a list appeared before my eyes. Weapons such as the sword, spear, and bow that I had seen on the 2nd floor appeared.

'Oh? Come to think of it…….'

The hoe I had brought from the 2nd floor had disappeared from my arms at some point.

"Oh, what came up?"

Jo Seong-cheol said in a surprised voice, and Hong Su-ah also said while looking at the empty air in front of her.

"That's right. As you all know, the dagger is the best."

"Is that so? Well, I guess Miss Genius is right."

A white dagger was already in Hong Su-ah's hand. I guess a weapon is held in your hand as soon as you choose it.

"Oh."

Hong Su-ah, who was looking at the weapon, said.

"It's amazing. A weapon with the goddess's blessing, its durability doesn't decrease in this stage."

"Its durability doesn't decrease? Is that a big deal?"

"Yes."

Hong Su-ah nodded.

"In 'Last Savior', the weapon system is almost the same as reality. The blade gets damaged and it gets dull. So you have to get it repaired regularly to use it properly."

Meanwhile, I, who had heard those words, was lost in thought.

'Infinite durability.'

Cavallo Island, infinite durability, and achievements.

After thinking for a very short time, I chose a weapon.

─Whirr.

As soon as the selection was over, a white weapon was held in my hand. A handle with a smooth texture, and an end with a sharp blade, a middle that draws a gentle curve.

It was a hoe after all.

"……Hae-il?"

Hong Su-ah looked at the hoe in my hand.

"A hoe……?"

"Ah, yes."

I said with an awkward smile.

"I thought it was a dagger because it's short, so I chose it."

"Ah……."

I could see pity in Hong Su-ah's eyes.

"It's okay. It can happen."

Of course, I didn't choose it wrong.

I personally like the hoe, but the hoe on this Cavallo Island has a different meaning.

'It's the most efficient weapon.'

When I think of the hidden pieces on this island, I can assert that there is no weapon as good as the hoe.

When I looked at the hoe in my hand, a phrase popped up.

[Hoe for Beginners

Attack Power +5 (When slamming down +15)

─Blessed by the goddess, durability does not decrease in this stage.]

'Good.'

And after a while, Lee Ji-yeong and Hong Byeong-hyeon also chose their weapons. Lee Ji-yeong chose a long sword, and Hong Byeong-hyeon chose a spear.

"Alright then."

Hong Su-ah stood in front of the four of us and clapped her hands.

"I'll tell you what I know about this island. Everyone, please focus."

'Hoo.'

In the game, the Madeira Archipelago is a place located in the southernmost corner of the continent. I wonder, how much does Hong Su-ah know about this island?

"First of all, the monsters that appear on this island are ants. Worker ants, soldier ants, and the boss is the queen ant."

So far, she's right.

"First of all, worker ants travel alone, but there's something to watch out for. If you let them live and send them back, they'll chase you with a bunch of other worker ants, so you have to catch them unconditionally if you touch them."

"But……."

Hong Byeong-hyeon raised his hand.

"Why do we have to do this so hard?"

"……Huh?"

Hong Su-ah frowned slightly. Then Hong Byeong-hyeon shrugged as if wondering what the problem was and continued.

"No, since I don't think I can get 1st place anyway, isn't it more profitable to just hide and rest?"

"What are you……."

"That's right."

Lee Ji-yeong also opened her mouth.

"And you know what? As far as I know, in 'Last Savior', you only get experience if you get the last hit? Why aren't you talking about that?"

Then Hong Su-ah frowned slightly and answered.

"I was going to talk about that next anyway. The experience distribution is in order of getting the last hit……."

"Ha."

Hong Byeong-hyeon interrupted.

"Are you kidding me? Determining the order and getting the last hit in the middle of a mess? Ah, I see now."

Hong Byeong-hyeon looked at Hong Su-ah and raised one corner of his mouth.

"Because you're the best at this game, you're trying to use us to hoard all the last hits, right? How petty."

"What are you talking about? When did I ever do that……."

"Or."

Lee Ji-yeong narrowed her eyes and glared at Hong Su-ah.

"Why else would she explain it to us so kindly?"

"No, it's because we're a team."

"Team? Who said that?"

Lee Ji-yeong didn't listen to Hong Su-ah. And she looked at Hong Byeong-hyeon and said.

"Instead of being dragged around and used by this woman, how about we just go separately?"

"That's right."

"No, suddenly why…… I'm just trying to help with good intentions."

Hong Su-ah seemed flustered by the sudden situation. But I could tell from Lee Ji-yeong's raised corner of her mouth.

'Hong Byeong-hyeon and I made a deal in advance.'

Hong Byeong-hyeon and Lee Ji-yeong had been whispering something to each other since a while ago. If you look at the perfectly matching chemistry between the two people as if they were acting, it was certain.

It seems that they didn't like the fact that the initiative was with Hong Su-ah. You can tell by the inconsistent excuses they're making.

"The two of us are going to move separately."

Lee Ji-yeong said firmly. And she looked at me and Jo Seong-cheol and asked.

"What about you two? Are you going to be used? Or will you come with us?"

Jo Seong-cheol looked back and forth between Hong Su-ah and Lee Ji-yeong, hesitating. Then he said as if he had made a decision.

"……There's one thing I know after living this long, there's no such thing as kindness without a reason."

And he looked at Hong Su-ah and said with a bitter expression.

"Miss Genius, I'm sorry. It's…… a bit hard to believe in pure kindness."

And then he went and stood on Lee Ji-yeong and Hong Byeong-hyeon's side. Hong Su-ah stared blankly at that scene for a long time and lowered her head.

"……Okay."

Hong Su-ah seemed to not believe this situation that was happening in front of her eyes. At that time, Lee Ji-yeong looked at me and asked.

"What are you going to do, Hae-il?"

It was a difficult problem.

On one side was the political trash duo and the balding man, and on the other side was the rogue with her head lowered.

But the trouble didn't last long.

***

[Starting the test.]

The hazy barrier that surrounded the beach disappeared. And Lee Ji-yeong, who was looking at the path leading into the forest, turned around and said.

"Let's try not to run into each other if possible."

Behind them were none other than Hong Su-ah and me.

"Ah, let's do that."

When I said that while picking at my ear, Lee Ji-yeong glared at me for a moment, then turned around and moved her steps between the trees. Hong Byeong-hyeon and Jo Seong-cheol followed her.

Hong Su-ah was looking at their backs and opened her mouth.

"Um, Hae-il."

"Yes."

"Did I really do something wrong?"

Her emotions were felt in her drooping shoulders and lowered voice.

"I just…… wanted us all to do well together. What did I do wrong……?"

It was a pitiful voice. I shook my head and said.

"There are people who can't trust the kindness of others. Let's not worry about it."

"……Yes."

Of course, I am also included among those people.

'A rogue showing pure kindness?'

What a load of garbage.

Thanks to the company commander, who did all sorts of petty things even for a single vacation pass, I had become immune to such tricks.

Nevertheless, there are two reasons why I stayed by Hong Su-ah's side.

One, there are many achievements that I can't complete alone. So I need a colleague anyway, and one who knows the game is better than three who don't know the game and are only numerous.

Two, emotions were visible.

When I checked her emotions with the Evil Eye, red was prominent in Lee Ji-yeong. On the other hand, blue was prominent in Hong Su-ah.

Considering that blue is visible in Hong Su-ah even now, it is probably the color that is seen when feeling dejected or sad.

The fact that she's a rogue is a bit of a problem, but if you think about it, she's a beginner, not a rogue, 'right now'.

"First."

I looked at Hong Su-ah and said.

"Let's start too. And shall we talk a bit while we go?"

"Yes?"

"We're connected by fate, after all."

Hong Su-ah looked at me for a moment as if she was dumbfounded and nodded.

"Yes."

According to the system, I can't level up any more even if I catch monsters here. So what's important are the achievements, and how Hong Su-ah 'is as a person' is important to the way these achievements are broken.

'I wonder, is she a rogue with the possibility of repentance?'

I looked at the dagger Hong Su-ah was holding.

***

A freshman at Korea University, Hong Su-ah, was born bright. Born as the youngest in a family with four older brothers, she grew up receiving a lot of love since she was a child, and a gentle smile became natural for her.

With a pretty face, good grades, good personality, and good athletic sense, she had no "shortcomings". If there was one problem with her, who had grown up properly without any complexes, it was trust.

The belief that of course others would be the same as herself.

It wasn't the first time that this kind of reaction had come back when she showed kindness. But even if it's not the first time, it's still hurtful.

"I see."

Han Hae-il, who had heard Hong Su-ah's story, said. Then Hong Su-ah cut the bushes in front of her with her dagger and opened her mouth.

"Why does this kind of thing happen? Is it my problem?"

She was genuinely curious.

"I didn't have any intention of deceiving……."

Then the man who was the only one who stayed by her side, Han Hae-il, scratched his head with the hoe handle and answered.

"Let's stop talking about that. They were people who wouldn't have helped anyway."

"……Yes."

Hong Su-ah pouted her lips and looked at Han Hae-il.

'He's a strange person.'

In fact, the person who seemed to be the least helpful among the other four was Han Hae-il.

He dozed off while receiving a blessing, and he came over all messed up after catching a goblin. On top of that, he chose the wrong dagger and ended up holding a hoe.

'……I'm thankful that he stayed, though.'

That was about the extent of Hong Su-ah's thoughts about Han Hae-il.

At that time, Han Hae-il asked.

"But how did you end up becoming a dagger rogue?"

"Yes?"

When Hong Su-ah asked back, Han Hae-il stared at Hong Su-ah and asked.

"It's just, girls usually like mage or archer builds. I was just curious."

"Hmm."

After thinking for a moment, Hong Su-ah opened her mouth.

"To beat my brothers."

"Brothers?"

"Yes."

Hong Su-ah nodded.

"I have four older brothers above me. But there are only two capsules in our house. My brothers are usually really nice to me…… But they weren't like that in the game."

Hong Su-ah smiled and continued.

"We all started 'Last Savior' together, but there was one rule. Only the 1st and 2nd place in the duel could use the capsule that day. When I looked for a way to somehow beat my brothers, there was a strategy that the dagger rogue was the best in duels."

"Ah, so a rogue…… you were a rogue because of that?"

"Yes."

Hong Su-ah shrugged.

"I was good at the game. I would have been undefeated if it wasn't for that bug user, AoDaiAshichi, at the end."

"I see. But do you have any thoughts of switching to another build besides the rogue?"

"……Yes?"

Hong Su-ah didn't understand what Han Hae-il was saying. As she was worrying about how to answer,

"Shh, there."

Han Hae-il blocked Hong Su-ah with his arm and pointed somewhere. When Hong Su-ah looked that way, she could see an ant between the bushes.

"You see that, right?"

Han Hae-il put strength into the hand holding the hoe. Then Hong Su-ah also clenched her dagger tightly and answered.

"Yes."

"Catch it."

"Yes, let's then together…… Yes?"

Hong Su-ah looked at Han Hae-il with a dumbfounded expression. But Han Hae-il said with a confident expression.

"It looks a bit scary when I see it in person."

"……Ah, okay."

Hong Su-ah seriously began to wonder what kind of person Han Hae-il was.

***

About ten minutes later.

─Rustle.

The ant's antennae were cut off by the dagger, and then the dagger was stabbed into the shell that had been cracked.

"Kkieeek!"

The ant struggled, but Hong Su-ah put strength into the hand holding the dagger and pulled it straight out.

─Crack.

The ant, falling while spraying fluid, could no longer move.

And a phrase popped up before Hong Su-ah's eyes.

[Defeated a worker ant.]

[Bonus experience is increased by the Lever of Causality.]

[Your level has increased.]

"Huff, huff……."

Hong Su-ah, taking a moment to catch her breath while looking at the phrase, looked at Han Hae-il.

'Wow, seriously…… how can a person be like this?'

It was quite a fierce battle. There were wounds all over Hong Su-ah's body. But Han Hae-il only threw stones a few times at the ant, he wasn't helpful at all in the battle.

'What the hell kind of human is this?'

Meanwhile.

Han Hae-il also thought while looking at Hong Su-ah.

'One thing is for sure.'

Han Hae-il intervened to a minimum to check Hong Su-ah's skills. And he was able to be convinced after seeing Hong Su-ah's battle.

'Rogue Hong Su-ah, she was hiding her trait.'