Chapter 5


    Many Users lived in Hubs close to Dungeons. Certain people, like those who became Users too young, or those that have families to support, live outside…but because skills are illegal outside of one’s hometown, many prefer to live in these unrestricted areas.


    Just look at the city I’m walking in: a Beast Master’s twin headed adder, an Alchemist’s golem, and an Animist’s spirits filled the street.


    As I passed, I looked into a terraced cafe at the side of the road. A woman dressed in a robe, drinking coffee, was chatting passionately with a cat sitting across from her. Seeing the broom floating next to her, I wondered if she was a ‘Witch.’


    Suddenly, a gigantic shadow appeared over my shoulder. When I turned my head, I saw an Alchemist, lounging on a huge golem’s shoulder, plodding through the side alley.


    When I first became a User, these types of sights were shocking…Of course I’ve seen a few broadcasts on YouTube, but the impact of personal experience was iparable.


    The streets and buildings of the Hubs are all modern–the shopfronts popted by many familiar franchises–but the vibe was definitely different. So, as soon as I became a User, I informed my parents that I would be moving out. Soon I was living in a small lodging for about 500,000 won per month.1


    Pressing [Buy a House] on a stele in the Hub’s center will bring up several purchasing options. The smallest and most basic house is a single-story building with a mini garden, two rooms, a bathroom with a bathtub, a living room, and a kitchen.


    These houses aren’t slowly built by outside construction workers. When the payment process ispleted, the lodging is automatically “constructed” in 10 seconds at the location that’s been designated.


    Residential areas must be bought separately; the price varies depending on the location of the house and the surrounding facilities. (In other words, thend prices are also high).


    In addition, storefronts and businesses in this city are also able to be purchased. That’s why there are still big corporate stores and sponsored products in here…


    There were numerous User-run stores selling products with special abilities, as muchrge corporate franchises. Even if you had no money to buy anything, window-shopping was still quite entertaining.


    ""


    In particr, [vor13] is an alchemist’s workshop known for selling supposedly delicious potions and supplements. Users who could afford to drink potions stamped with their logo were probably well off.


    Though these potions may be the same grade as others, the workshop justifies its 1.5x price hike on the high quality taste. The lowest-priced [Low Strength Potion] I usually buy at the auction tastes like a single spoonful of strawberry scented syrup mixed into water, like the vor seeped into the delivery box it came in. Simply put, it tastes like dick 2


    I’ve only tried vor13’s strawberry vored potion once. It really was oh-so delicious–the strawberry scent was strong, as if real minced strawberries were added into the sk.


    The low-quality potion I usually drink slowly recovers HP after 10 seconds. However, vor13’s creations boast quick recovery times, but I couldn’t afford to invest too much money into consumables…


    Next to vor13 stands a small office building with a sign that reads [Yoon Bo-seok’s appraisal]. This business was built by it’s owner Yoon Bo-seok, an alchemist with the [appraise] skill.


    Sometimes high-grade item rewards for dungeons can’t be utilized until they are appraised. Yoon Bo-seok appraises and unseals the items for those that have no resources to do it themselves.


    I heard you can charge quite themission for something like that. Even now, there is a long line of users in front, waiting for item appraisals. Ahh…I also want to obtain an item extraordinary enough to be appraised by Yoon Bo-seok.


    “Excuse me?”


    As I was surveying the city, someone suddenly tapped my shoulder from behind. When I turned, surprised, a heavy-set Warrior wearing a gun turret stood patiently.


    “…Yes?” I hesitantly asked.


    “What is that on your shoulder?”


    Ah…he must be asking about Lackey, who had been imitating a scarf this whole time….


    “This is my servant…” I said, slightly embarrassed. I pulled Lackey down from my shoulders to the ground. Lackey vigorously shook the hem of my pants; perhaps it didn’t want to be moved.


    “A servant? Is it a summon?”


    The man must have been incredibly curious; he wouldn’t cease his persistent questions. Furthermore, the question I had been fearing fell from his lips.


    “What is your ss?”


    I briefly entertained the idea of ignoring him, but I saw a group of men and women staring at him from across the street. They were probably his “party.”


    Ha…


    I tightly grasped Lackey’s hand and swallowed a sigh.


    “Necromancer….” I replied, a half-beatte. Necromancers were often treated poorly or ridiculed. Regarded as shady or useless.


    As expected, the man in front of me donned an odd expression at my words.


    Then, with a slightly dismissive, disdainful voice, he said, “Wow, I’ve never seen a Necromancer before.” He looked over my body as if he’d made some exotic discovery.


    At least he looked a bit sheepish when I stared at him with no reply. The man soon went back to his party shouting, “Hey! I got the answer!” His moring voice rang loud, like church bells.


    I wanted to throw a pebble at the back of his detestable head.


    However, I kept patient.


    It’s not as if he did anything to me…Besides, types like him would usually pick a fight if you were to argue.


    But, the more I think about it, the more frustrated I became. Those bastards, he probably knew the answer from the very beginning and intended to make jokes at my expense. Even so, I didn’t have the courage to confront him. I simply kicked at some stray stones on the way home.


    Before I realized how hopeless Necromancer was, I’d confidently post [Looking for permanent party] in the Ranking Godsmunity forum. No wonder I matched with no one. When I realized that my ss was the issue, I was hopelessly depressed for a while.


    I felt like I became life’s chew toy?


    Of course, I admit I didn’t conduct proper prior research.


    However, Ranking Gods was not originally such an openmunity. Especially in its early days, themunity was filled with highly optimized yers exchanging information. Newbies weren’t weed. It wasn’t until after I joined that themunity became so widespread and famous. After reality had crashed down on me, I stopped advertising for a party and resolved to live alone.


    Sometimes, at dungeon entrances, people would snicker at me behind my back. Perhaps they felt justified in ridiculing someone with no future. When I encounter people within dungeons, I would feel their eyes giving me a once-over. Those gazes would instantly change when they saw my servant, Lackey. I was angry, but I would just further avoid their path. Maybe I have an inferiorityplex; maybe I just don’t want to make a fuss.


    After a couple of these interactions, I even thought about going around with Lackey unsummoned.


    However, Lackey would express his sorrow within his [current mood] disy in his status window.


    ‘Did Master forget me?’ and ‘Please don’t abandon me even if I’m so useless….’


    I couldn’t bear those heart-breaking lines every time I opened his status window. Eventually I started having him summoned all the time. To be honest, I would have been lonely without him. Ever since I came to the Hub, I haven’t had a single friend.


    “Hey, let’s not be so discouraged…”


    [ck-ck…]


    I told Lackey the words I wanted to say to myself. We should cheer up and get ready to go to the dungeon tomorrow. I added a set of spare armor, some potions, and some snacks (for my bored mouth) to the inventory.


    “Should I bring an umbre too?”


    I opened my cell phone to check the weather…


    .


    [Bae Jaemin, ‘I will ovee the pain of three years ago.’ … He will re-challenge the <Tower of Command>]


    [What could have been the cause of the number 1 most-shocking ident of all time, ‘The Tower of Command’?]


    [Bae Jaemin, ‘This time, I refuse to sacrifice anyone.’]


    [Bae Jaemin, ‘A Firmly resolute expression’ ….(Photo)]


    [How will the Red Lotus’ final attack on <The Officer’s Tower> turn out?


    Subtitle: How the survivors of disaster recover from tragedy ( Bae Jaemin’s exclusive interview.)]


    The keywords “Bae Jae-min” and “The Officer’s Tower” filled the real-time search engine. Various links to the Ranker Bae Jaemin were provided.


    The <Tower of Command>…I vaguely remember that a once popr guild had been wiped out during a raid of this dungeon. All except for Bae Jae-min had died. What was the name of the guild…?


    *Popr Searches*


    Bae Jaemin The Tower of Command Re-challenge Red Lotus The Disaster at The Tower of Command Red Lotus Guild Seo Dawon Open recruitment for The Tower of Command raid


    That’s right, they were called the Red Lotus Guild….


    Without rxing, I began to search keywords for the “Red Lotus Guild,” and opened the article with the exclusive interview…