Chapter 172 – Molang Fantasy (10)
[Chapter 9 – Section 5] I Reflect
I don’t think it was wrong to want to make money easily.
Still, I had sworn to myself not to end up like my father—greedy to the point of death—and yet here I was, ruined in the exact same way? Self-loathing and despair wrapped around my entire body.
‘I really wanted to die back then.’
The atrocities committed by the specter borrowing my body were things that, if done in reality, would have earned me about a hundred life sentences.
It’s just a game, so it’s fine?
That’s right. Legally, there’s no fault. But could I really bear the lifelong condemnation and finger-pointing from people?
Absolutely impossible.
What would my future child think, seeing their father’s pathetic images and videos floating around the internet…
(Calm down. The smart imperial princess is handling the cleanup perfectly. The fact that you don’t have a game account was the decisive factor. Photos and videos circulating online are being swiftly deleted with cooperation from various agencies.)
“Huu…”
The one difference between my father—who was just as much of a fool—and me? Whether there were people around to help during the hard times.
That was it.
(Your girlfriend did call once to ask if you were really in the game, but I brushed it off well by saying no.)
Sun-young…
(We contacted the cooperating agencies—including the government—to express thanks, and she just held a press conference a little while ago. The news that Kang Moon-soo is staying as a VIP in the Holy Roman Empire did spread, but by emphasizing once more that you haven’t even touched a login device, even the conspiracy theories vanished.)
Cleanup: perfect!
I owed yet another debt to the senior—who, because of me, had to make calls pretending to be close with strangers and even hold an annoying press conference.
(Benevolent god.)
Yes! Even if you dyed the Central Plains red with blood, Senior is undoubtedly a benevolent god!
Because you cleaned up my nearly ruined life. Across Kang Moon-soo’s short existence, that was the most despairing experience of all.
(You can’t become a benevolent god just by saving a frustrating rookie… Anyway, don’t worry about the witches. I’ve already settled the debt.)
How?
(You’ll find out when the time comes. It’s better if you don’t know right now.)
Yes.
What could possibly be lacking for witches who manipulate the world with hypnosis? I was honestly curious what the senior had used to repay the debt.
(I didn’t touch your precious bank account, so don’t worry.)
“Ahem!”
I wasn’t worried.
(By the way… it looks like the end is finally in sight.)
“The end…”
While engaging in self-reflection, I had been diligently collecting achievements.
[Washed 10,000 dishes.]
[Delivered 1,000 packages.]
[Ran 100 errands.]
[Caught 10,000 rats.]
……
Before my aptitude test results from P came out, I would gratefully take on any job offered.
But after becoming a shaman, I gradually grew arrogant and stopped looking down at the bottom.
“Good work.”
Jingle!
The modest pay handed to me as a reward for completing the part-time job.
The empire’s loyal subjects tactfully added a little extra, but it was still modest.
“Thank you!”
Yet right now, it felt more precious than any money deposited in my bank account.
Ding!
The notification sound I had been ignoring all this time actually sounded welcome for once.
Why?
[Guarded the checkout counter for 100 hours.]
The final achievement to cap off the Necromancer class—sealed away cleanly while filling the remaining 20,000 points—had been added.
[Title] Son of the Dragon King (B)
[Level] 361
[Class] Perfectly Molang Greedy Necromancer (6th Job)
[Achievements] 1000002
[Aptitude] Priest
It was a bit absurd that filling the last 20,000 took longer than the previous 980,000.
So, what about 7th Job Advancement?
The choices I could select began to appear one by one.
[Plunderer]
[Hypocrite]
[Seeker]
“…That’s it?”
Only three options.
[Plunderer]
Steals a random portion of the achievements and level from targets you personally kill. Efficiency decreases if achievements overlap or the target’s level is lower.
The ability to trample others and use them as fertilizer for your own growth! A class perfectly suited for users walking the path of evil.
(Suits you perfectly.)
You’re joking, right?
(Did that sound like a joke to you?)
“……”
I looked at the next option.
[Hypocrite]
Sacrifices levels to instantly kill beings below 6th Job Advancement with acute heart attack. Users permanently lose their avatars.
“Wow?”
The ability was terrifying.
(So it permanently shuts the mouths of those who curse you? A power that perfectly fits the term ‘Hypocrite.’)
Yeah.
It lets me eliminate annoying people without getting blood on my hands.
(Frustrating junior. This seems to suit you too? What do you think?)
“Ugh…”
It was tempting, that much is true. But I can’t forget my goal.
Ranuvel the 10th.
It would be less useful than Necromancer against top-tier users immune to it and a witch confirmed to have 7th Job Advancement.
“Next…”
I moved on without regret.
[Seeker]
Acquires experience points proportional to the achievement points earned. Levels raised through achievements are added independently to the main level.
“Hoo…”
Even I, who had no interest in games, knew that the higher your avatar’s level, the harder it becomes to level up.
It’s practically common knowledge, right?
This rule applied to the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy> without exception. Just as you had to pour your entire life into it to reach 6th Job Advancement, the 700-level range was a realm only for those who had long abandoned reality!
Even among people like the convenience store owner who had completely handed over the store to part-timers, only a tiny fraction had reached it.
(You thought you could beat a guy like that boss?)
“……”
I already know how much of an idiot I am from sections 1 through 4, so stop tormenting me.
(You’ve already decided, huh.)
“Yes.”
Without waiting for more options, I proceeded to 7th Job Advancement.
***
Old-school RPGs were extremely user-friendly. They were designed so that if you were level 100, you just needed to kill level 100 prey.
You’re level 100, so enemies are level 100 too!
It sounds trivial, but this is a critically important setting that determines the foundation of the game.
“Die!”
“Kweeeek~?!”
“Kweeeek~?!”
Hunting grounds don’t always offer 1v1 situations. There are dangerous variables like 1v2, 1v3, or even 1v10, which is why leveling up is actual labor, not a game.
But isn’t that a bit weird?
I’m level 100, fighting two level 100 prey—and I win.
You’re level 100, I’m level 100.
If levels are the measure of combat power and they’re equal, combat power should be equal too, so you should never win a 1v2. But users don’t despair even when surrounded by same-level enemies.
In other words,
“Easy peasy~”
“……”
“……”
Levels are the same, but the actual combat power between users and prey differs.
Dressing it up nicely, it’s consideration for users… but it means ignoring the basic premise that levels measure combat power.
It treats users’ intelligence as low enough that they have to overlook the core foundation of growth-based games.
(Junior. You’re rambling.)
Yes.
On the other hand, the developers of the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy> respected users as intelligent cultural citizens.
What does that mean?
If user and prey levels are the same, so is combat power!
It’s so obvious, yet almost every game except <Molang Fantasy> treats users like idiots.
“Kraaang…!”
“No breathing room!”
“Kweeeek~?!”
In the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy>, which holds users’ intelligence in high regard, if I’m level 100, I shouldn’t go to a level 100 hunting ground teeming with level 100 prey—I should head to a level 70 ground.
Just as I had fun in the graveyard as the ‘Soul Hunter’ specialized in specter hunting, there are many ways to bridge the level gap. But generally, you go to lower-level grounds for safety.
(Junior…)
Yes! I’m wrapping up!
“Now this is starting to feel fun.”
“……”
“……”
Currently, my surroundings were filled with the corpses of level 710 monsters slightly higher than me.
Poof—
Poof—
A few seconds later, the bodies turned to dust and vanished.
[Challenged strong enemies 100,000 times.]
[Defeated strong enemies 100,000 times.]
[Killed strong enemies 100,000 times.]
……
An overwhelming win rate in the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy>, where 1v1 against same-level opponents gives only a 50% chance of defeat!
It wasn’t possible because I had some insane talent.
[Title] Challenger King (A)
[Level] 698(+114)
[Class] Seeker (7th Job)
[Achievements] 1148135
[Aptitude] Priest
“The experience is insane.”
The system gives less experience when hunting weaker prey below your level, and more when hunting stronger ones—the opposite.
There isn’t a single user in the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy> who doesn’t know this, but that doesn’t mean anyone rushes at strong enemies.
Death rate over 50%.
Two or more? 100% death!
And if you die mid-hunt, you lose levels and equipment. No matter how good the experience from defeating a strong enemy is, if the loss outweighs the gain, it’s meaningless.
(So, happy now?)
“Yes!”
I’m currently level 698, but thanks to the ‘Seeker’ class ability correction, +115 levels are added independently.
In other words, level 813.
Even though my aptitude is non-combat and level efficiency is lower, I have no trouble handling level 710 monsters.
“Kraaang!”
“Kraaaang!”
Even when they cowardly gang up, they’re just decent prey for someone 100 levels higher.
“Die…!”
“Kraaaaang~?!”
“Kieeeeng~?!”
And yet the experience and achievements are still counted as defeating ‘strong enemies’ higher level than me.
(If I were you, I’d be hunting level 810 monsters.)
“Sniff.”
I admit it. I’m a coward who can’t fight, so I only advance through hunting grounds and prey 100 levels below me.
(Haha! You’ve grown a little.)
“Ah, yes.”
I learned that greed beyond one’s limits ends badly.
Etched deep into my bones!
Every time I think back to facing the convenience store owner, I still get chills… Huh?
“Huh?”
“Hm?”
This is a level 710 hunting ground.
In the virtual reality game <Molang Fantasy>, it’s a top-tier hunting ground only accessible to the chosen children (rankers).
I had taken off my frustrating helmet for a moment since no one would recognize my face here, but…
“Impersonator!”
“It’s the impersonator!”
“Calm down. This is the 700s. No way a level 360 belongs here.”
“Then is it a different impersonator?”
“Being popular sure is tough.”
The convenience store owner and his guildmates stared at me with wary eyes.
(They said rankers frequent this hunting ground, and it was true.)
You could’ve told me that earlier.
“It’s you.”
Shing—
The convenience store owner approached me with burning hostility.
“What do you mean…?”
“The one I met before was way too weak, so I thought something was off. As expected. You’re the bastard impersonating Kang Moon-soo the athlete—my part-timer, right?”
“…I think you’ve got the wrong person.”
“Cut the bullshit and come at me!”
Whoosh~!
The boss drew his flaming sword and charged with terrifying momentum.
“Jeez…”
Let me say it again: this game respects users, so levels are never faked.
I moved too—
Tap.
“Huh?!”
“Excuse me, passing through.”
I tripped the convenience store owner’s leg, knocked him down, and ran away.
If I’d fought properly, it would’ve been my absolute victory!
With the overwhelming physical stats of my avatar, I could’ve crushed him flat.
(Self-esteem recovered a bit?)
“…Yeah, I guess so.”
If I have no talent for fighting, I’ll just crush them my way.
Because I’m a shaman.