Chapter 8 – Newbie players.

After collecting materials and loot from monsters, Ergon begun once again his march towards deeper parts of the forest.

15 minutes later.

(…Something is off.) – though Ergon.

Unlike before, this forest part is filled with monsters and players hunting each other down.

(This part of the forest is filled with the monsters and I finally see other people right now. I should ask some people about info.)

Man then approached the group of the people that just finished fighting against Long Lizard.

"Finally…'uff'…it's…dead." – said male human with the spear.

Ergon approached the spearman from behind and grabbed his shoulder.

"Excuse me."

In the instant the man struggle off Ergon hand from his shoulder. He then stepped back and launched his spear straight at man, the other party member that was using bow shot one of it's arrows at him as well.

Ergon in time used his right hand to grab the spear, he then used his second hand that was holding an axe to cut the projectile in half horizontally way.

"Oi, what the meaning of this?" – asked Ergon with angry face.

"Get lost! This is our spot!" – shouted spearman.

(Spot? Does he mean by farming spot, there should be enough monsters for all the newbies in the forest to farm, so there shouldn't be need for any farming spots in the first place.)

"I just got here and I've been wondering why I didn't saw any people near the forest edges where new adventures train. I want to know why this is happening. If I really wanted to hurt or anything I would not revealed myself, wouldn't I?"

Man together with his party gave each other silent stare and decide to lower their weapons.

"Are you new here by any chance?" – asked female fox demi-human.

"Yes? Why do you ask?"

"…" – party once again stared at each other in silence.

After a few seconds party decided to tell in details what happened to the man.

There are five guild that currently possess a base in Arran town, two of them with belong to high-ranking guilds Golden Cat and Savage Shield. They scouted some promising newbies into their guild and are now hoarding parts near the forest edges so their recruits can level up faster. Because of that many people were forced to go into the deeper parts of the forest in attempt to level up.

"The reason why you probably didn't saw any monsters or players before was probably because they killed all the monsters in area and headed back to the town to sell materials."

"Hmm…Excuse me for the moment then. [Check]."

[Thighs Worshiper – level 12]

"By the look of things your story add up, you are indeed low level. I was wondering why you were struggling against single Long Lizard where normally people with levels between 15-18 farms here." – said Ergon.

"But that doesn't explain why you attacked me in the first place. I'm warning you. I'm level 31 and I can easily get rid of all of you, if you try any tricks."

"N-no! We can explain!" – said girl in rush.

"Because how hard is for us players with lower levels to kill monsters here, some of the people deiced to instead to kill other players when their preys was low on the HP, stealing their preys in process.

Players Killers A.K.A PK. This is term used when player kill another player. When person kills a player assaults and kills another player, they will then receive status known as [Player Killer]. Other players can tell if person is player killers if their eyes are glowing brightly red. If you use [Check] on PK player, it will immediately show their nicknames even if there are hiding their identity with item or skill, their names will be colored red as well.

"Hmm. If you put it that way it would explain a lot, why people are acting so strange and all. I once encountered this so called PK players, they were not a nice bunch."

(Since nobody trust each other here, they not only need to focus on killing monster but watch their back as well to not get killed.)

(But wait. Can't their desperation for my benefits?)

"Hey, are you by any chance staying Arran town?"

"We do, why you ask?"

(Bingo)

"Would you like to help me by any chance?"

A system windows studently appeared in front of each party member faces.

[Quest:

Adventurer Aran is currently busy with his hunting and would like you a favor. He would like you to collect some materials.]

[Object:

Deliver 100 [Long Lizard fangs] and 100 liters of [Long Snake Venom]

[Reward: 2500 EXP and favorability with NPC Aran increased]

[Failure condition: Objects not delivered within 10 days.]

[Penalty : Decreased favorability with NPC Aran.]

[Do you accept. Yes/No]

"!!!" – the group of players were shocked after receiving quest.

Quest is something only inhabitance of this world can give to players. The EXP given by NPCs to players is called "Empty EXP", this empty EXP cannot be absorbed or used by inhabitance of this world, meaning it's completely useless, but this doesn't apply to players. Players can use empty EXP like normal EXP but they cannot aquiver them by basic means, the only way to aquiver them is though quests. When inhabitance of this world get an 1 EXP they will receive 4 empty EXP. Rewards from the quest can have different forms for example : EXP, items, gold, skills or/and favorability with them.

(For me this empty EXP is completely useless, but for you it's something you must have. You need around 1500 EXP to level up around levels 10 to 15.)

The party discussed between them self and decided to accept.

"Thanks for accepting it, friend. I will be staying in the town for quiets some time, so you don't have to worry about finding me."

"No, problem. It was good decision leaving this job in our hands. We won't disappoint you!" – replied leader of the party with excited look.

Ergon waved his hand and left towards deeper parts of the forest.

(Now that I think about it. When I was still a player, I once did a quest for old granny that needed her medicine. I would later found out that old hag scammed me hard, she knew new players didn't know much about how quest works and given players scam quest, I and other players who just began our journey back, didn't know how much you usually receive. She literally trolled so many players and people ended up giving her nickname "Troll Grandma", she made so many players into her slaves without them realizing that.)

Man again begun his march towards the deeper parts of the forest. After walking some distance a number of players and monsters were noticeable smaller compare areas before. Unlike the players located in previous area where group of players were struggling to kill single monster, players here didn't possess that problem since they had similar levels to the monsters

(Both monsters and players here are either level 24, 25 or 26.) – Ergon used [Sneak] and [Check] on players and monsters nearby to

(Most of the monsters here are Goblins warriors that have level 25. By the look of things there are no monsters above level 26 or poison type monster in this area. Since there is no reason for me to stay, here I should probably move to the next area.) – though Ergon as he resumed, he march towards deeper parts of the forest.

Suddenly an sword came flying straight at Ergon from his right. Ergon managed to dodge the attack in the last second.

"You guild f*ckers dare to show your face around these parts?!" – said angry human male that throwed the sword.

"H-hey dude stop-" – the timid dwarf attempted to calm down his friend, but got instead interrupted by him.

"Stop before what?! Not to provoke him or something? Those bastard already stole of our monsters in the first place!"

"P-please, calm down, he is not-" – timid dwarf tried again to calm down his friend but again got interrupted by him.

The angry swordman starter shouting over and over, complaining about the guilds that were present in Arran town.

"CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" – shouted timid dwarf with loud voice.

While shouting dwarf throwed punch right at the swordman crouch.

[Critical Hit!]

"Why?" – said man while falling on his knees.

(Damn, that dwarf snaped.) – though Ergon as he backed away from the dwarf in fear.

"Use [Check] on him you idiot!" – said dwarf with loud voice.

Man then turned his head towards Ergon and used [Check] on him.

[You need to keep visual on the target for 1 minute and 30 seconds to get results.]

"O-oh, you are NPC….em…sorry?" – said young swordman while blushing because of embarrassment.

"For the love of….'Sight'…Look, I'm sorry for our leader over there, he thought you were player that belonged to the guild." – said dwarf with normal voice

"By guild, do you mean Golden Cat guild and Savage Shield guild?"

"?!" – party member were shocked after hearing man respond.

"How did you know?" – asked swordman while getting up on his feats.

"I got attacked minutes ago by other players and they explained some stuff like how their hoarder parts near the forest edges for themselves."

"Oh….I don't mean to be rude or anything, but why were you heading towards deeper parts of the forest anyway?" – asked dwarf.

"I'm planning on hunting monsters near level 30. Why do you ask? Isn't it normal to head towards deeper parts of the forest if you want to level up faster?"

"Well, you are not wrong, but there is a problem you see-" – dwarf tried to explain something but Ergon put his hand in front of him.

"Before you speak, let me ask you a question. The information that you are about to give me is something simple or some sort of bullshit conspiracy?"

"I think it's simple? The Savage Shield guild members just went to the deeper parts of the forest because boss monster appeared there." – replied dwarf.

"Oh thank god." – said Ergon with relief. He was worrying if he have to deal with another form of mystery that would leave him with tons of question.

"Are you okay?" – asked swordsman.

"Well, yes. So you though I was on their side since I'm heading towards them, is that correct?"

"Yes." – replied swordman.

"Okay then bye." – Ergon walked toward the deeper parts of the forest, leaving the group of the players behind, until he suddenly turned around and walked to the group again.

"Question, am I going to get attacked by them by any chance?"

"Well, they can mistook you for the player like we did it, so there is a possibility?"

"Oh for fuck sake."