READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 6: 6
6. Weapon Selection
[You have been awarded a 'Lowest Grade Rare Weapon Selection Ticket' as a reward for 1st place ranking in this area!]
[You have been awarded a 'Special Reward Selection Box' as a reward for 1st place ranking in all areas!]
Ryumin opened his inventory after seeing the message.
Two unfamiliar items were inside.
The weapon selection ticket and the reward selection box.
Among them, Ryumin picked up the weapon selection ticket.
'Use.'
A translucent window appeared.
[You can select one of the following rare weapons.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. Sharp Longsword
└ 2. Stiletto
└ 3. Javelin
Sword, dagger, spear.
Originally there were more weapon types, but these were the only options at the beginning.
'This is already more than I could ask for. It's a rare item after all.'
There are 6 grades of items.
Normal, Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, God, etc.
Rare is only the second lowest, but considering how difficult it is to obtain through normal means, it was quite a good reward.
'A beginner would probably choose the sword or the long-reaching spear, but...'
Ryumin moved his hand without hesitation.
[You have selected 'Stiletto'.]
As the reward entered the inventory, an information window automatically popped up.
[Stiletto]
-Category: Weapon
-Grade: Rare
-Attack Power: 15
-Effect: Agility +1
-Durability: 150/150
-Usage Restriction: Novice grade or higher
-Description: It's the best weapon among daggers that beginners can use.
After seeing the information, Ryumin discarded the goblin's dagger he was holding.
It was trash with only 3 attack power and no stat bonus.
'There's no need to keep it since I can't even sell it.'
It would only take up space in the inventory.
Ryumin's gaze turned to the other reward.
It was the special reward selection box that could only be obtained by achieving 1st place in all areas.
Of course, it was a much better reward than the previous lowest grade rare weapon selection ticket, but...
'I'll hold off on using it for now.'
He closed the inventory window without touching it.
He just opened the status window, invested in agility, and turned his attention elsewhere.
As if uninterested in items.
'I wonder if Yongmin is fighting well?'
Ryumin craned his neck in the midst of the pandemonium filled with human and goblin screams.
Since those who passed the round couldn't move outside the pillar, his movement was restricted.
'There he is.'
He could see Hwang Yongmin's huge figure in the distance.
Seeing him fighting desperately while hiding behind others was somewhat reassuring.
'He'll survive this time too.'
Although he knew Yongmin would survive not just Round 1 but up to Round 5, he was honestly anxious about possible variables.
'You mustn't die early. I'll kill you when I no longer need you after using you as much as I want.'
Though he had no remaining grudge after taking revenge so many times, honestly he didn't want to keep him alive either.
'It's still far from over, right?'
Completing the quest early doesn't mean you get sent home first.
You have to wait until half of the participants achieve it.
'It's unexpectedly fair game, isn't it?'
If those who finished early returned first, other participants would be exposed to danger.
They would all still be asleep.
'Nothing is more dangerous than being targeted while in soul transfer.'
What if your body on Earth dies while your soul is in the other world?
Of course, the soul dies too.
At that time, it doesn't matter how strong the player is.
You're just helplessly victimized.
'It's like having your life targeted while in a virtual reality game.'
Perhaps not wanting such danger, the system only returns the passers as a group after the round ends.
That's why Ryumin was waiting blankly now.
'It gets boring waiting at this time.'
This is the problem with coming in first.
"S-save me! Aaaagh!"
"S-stop! Stop it!"
Even amidst the desperate screams of people, Ryumin felt bored.
He had seen it many times before.
The weak are weeded out, and only the strong survive.
'It can't be helped. The only way to escape this death game is to survive the competition.'
It's a reality that Ryumin, a mere human, cannot change.
Shaking his head, Ryumin spoke the activation word to pass time.
'Progress window.'
[All Areas]
└Participants: 1,801,029,290
└Achievers: 3/900,514,645
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└Participants: 10,286
└Achievers: 1/5,143
Looking at the quest progress window, there were 3 achievers in all areas.
It meant including himself, three people had passed so far.
'Since I'm 1st, the others must be 2nd and 3rd.'
On the other hand, there was only 1 achiever in this area.
Just himself.
'2nd and 3rd place must have occurred in other areas.'
Anyway, whether in all areas or this area, it's meaningless if you don't make it into the top 3.
There were no separate rewards given below that.
'Gold comes in as a quest completion reward, but everyone gets that...'
Just then, the number for this area changed from 1 to 2.
Looking around, he could see a man trapped in a translucent pillar far away.
He must have just killed 100 goblins and completed the quest.
'People passing will start appearing soon.'
As expected, quest achievers began to appear here and there.
'The top 3 for this area have been filled too.'
The previously slow pace accelerated, and accordingly, the number of goblins decreased significantly.
'Well, what does ranking matter? What's important is to be within the half that passes somehow.'
Turning his head, he saw a man with a huge build trapped in a pillar.
It was Hwang Yongmin.
'He passed too.'
Panting inside the pillar, he seemed to have struggled quite a bit.
Unlike the passers catching their breath, fierce battles were still raging around them.
"Kyaaah!"
"Uwaagh!"
All kinds of screams mixed, but there wasn't the same chaos as at the beginning.
People had learned their own know-how.
'They might have adapted to this environment where you have to kill to survive.'
Perhaps because of this, the number of goblins noticeably decreased as time passed.
Though goblins might have the advantage in numbers, humans were superior in individual specs, so it was a natural result.
Moreover, players have an advantage since they can invest in stats when they kill goblins.
'The numbers of humans and goblins are becoming similar. It's about time for the angel to step in.'
When quest achievers exceeded 400 and the 50,000 goblins were reduced to 10,000.
The angel who had only been watching intervened.
With an evil smile.
[The numbers of humans and goblins have become somewhat similar? Then shall we replenish the goblins?]
Flap-!
As if spreading her wings was a signal, the corpses on the prairie suddenly disappeared without a trace.
People were naturally bewildered.
"Wh-what?"
"The goblin corpses disappeared?"
"Not just goblins. Other people's corpses disappeared too!"
People were bewildered, but only for a moment.
When goblins appeared en masse everywhere, everyone made sour faces.
[Kyohohoho, I've refilled 50,000 for you. It shouldn't be insufficient for killing. Kekeke!]
"..."
People were probably cursing the angel right now.
"Kill!"
"Uwaah!"
People had to swing their weapons desperately again.
They were too young to die in vain in a place like this.
└Achievers: 1,021/5,143
...
└Achievers: 2,129/5,143
...
└Achievers: 3,533/5,143
As the number of quest achievers increased, goblins decreased exponentially.
Each time, the angel cleared away corpses and added more goblins.
About 5 hours passed like this.
Ryumin, who had been sitting and watching the progress window, stood up as if it was time.
'The achievers will be full soon.'
It was almost time to settle rewards and return home.
Though there was something he had to do before that.
└Achievers: 5,143/5,143
The moment the number of quest achievers was filled.
"Huh?"
"What's this?"
The goblins that had filled the prairie disappeared without a trace.
As if it had all been a dream.
[The passers have reached half.]
The angel said as if regretful.
[It's a shame, but the rest must be eliminated. That's the rule of this game.]
"What? Eliminated?"
"W-wait a moment! Angel! I just need to kill one more! Please..."
That's when it happened.
Those who hadn't achieved the quest scattered like dust.
About 3,000 people.
The remaining 2,000 had been killed by goblins.
Pssst-
People couldn't even scream at the sudden death.
The achievers watching from the pillars swallowed dry saliva at this spectacle.
If they hadn't completed the quest early, they might have been eliminated like that too.
'If you don't make it into the half, you're eliminated without mercy.'
The 10,000 people had been reduced to 5,000.
Sadly, there was no way for Ryumin to save them.
As the angel said, it was the core rule of this damn game.
[Why the long faces, everyone? Shouldn't you be happy you survived?]
The angel tilted her head and shrugged.
[It doesn't matter. You survived. Congratulations. Now you can go home.]
At the word "home," people's expressions relaxed.
They regained their smiles with sighs of relief.
But the angel twisted her lips in a smile.
It was too early to be happy.
[Congratulations on passing Round 1. Try harder in the next Round 2. Keke.]
"..."
They had only just cleared Round 1.
On the 1st of next month, they would be called to Round 2 without exception.
They had only bought a month's time at best.
Realizing this fact, people's faces turned ashen.
[Then shall we settle accounts before going home?]
As the angel spread her wings again, a message window appeared before Ryumin's eyes.
★ Round 1 Results Tally ★
[All Areas]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv5 No Job) 00:10:21
└2nd. Dumb Poops (Lv5 No Job) 00:16:15
└3rd. Sky Horse (Lv5 No Job) 00:17:07
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv5 No Job) 00:10:21
└2nd. Life is a Documentary (Lv5 No Job) 00:23:55
└3rd. Black Dragon on Right Hand (Lv5 No Job) 00:24:43
[Currently 'Black Scythe' is ranked 1st in all areas and 1st in this area.]
[Ranking Rewards - Lowest Grade Rare Weapon Selection Ticket (Already Given), Special Reward Selection Box (Already Given)]
[Clear Reward – 1,000 Gold (Not Yet Given)]
[Clear reward will be given shortly.]
[You have obtained 1,000 Gold as a clear reward! Congratulations!]
[You can purchase items from the shop with the acquired gold.]
[Shop function will be unlocked at level 10.]
Not just Ryumin, but everyone was staring into space.
They were all looking at the tally results.
'Others probably only received 1,000 gold.'
While Ryumin who ranked 1st had ranking rewards, others only got gold.
'Now everyone will know I'm 1st.'
Sure enough, people glanced at Ryumin.
There were envious looks in those gazes, and jealous ones too.
But most sent looks of awe, thinking he was amazing.
The gap in completion time with 2nd place was overwhelming, so even more so.
It wasn't just humans who were surprised.
[To think someone from my area ranked 1st overall... Impressive.]
The angel's attention focused on Ryumin.
[Black Scythe? Answer me.]
"Yes."
[How can you be so strong? Did you get some special rune...]
The angel stopped mid-sentence.
'What a foolish question...'
The angel's question was a clear mistake.
It was like advertising that she couldn't see players' status windows.
Of course, Ryumin knew this fact through his repeated lives.
And that the angel was inwardly flustered.
So he decided to tease her a little.
"Can't you see my rune in my status window?"
It was an innocent question, but the angel didn't falter.
[Of course I can. You think I, an angel, wouldn't know your information? I just asked even though I knew.]
'She's lying.'
Ryumin knew.
That angels had no authority to view players' status windows.
'They only have the authority needed to guide and progress the game, not to know players' personal information.'
He had learned quite a lot of information about angels through his regressions.
So perhaps that's why?
"Angel."
[What is it, human?]
"May I make one request?"
[Request?]
Ryumin could make a bold statement.
"The ranking 1st place reward seems too stingy."
[What did you say?]
"I'd like a better reward."
To dare to try negotiating with an angel.
People watching gaped at this audacious statement.