Chapter 142: All the Other Players are Drooling (1/2)

Many little boats were slowly advancing out of the Grey Fjord Port towards the Fishmen Island that descended from the skies.

Rushing ahead was Edward’s five-person party, long since gaining infamy amongst the players as the quest-crazy demons.

Still, their little boat wasn’t in a good condition.

“Urgh. More and more cracks are breaking over the hull—we aren’t making it to Fishmen Island if this continues!” Jessica yelled in panic even as she hurriedly buffed the others with her spells.

“It’s a miscalculation there—we didn’t expect that many seals around here…” Joe replied even as he used his massive chest armor as a bucket to scoop the water off the boat. “That said, isn’t this boat too weak? It’s breaking just from a seal knocking it.”

“This has to be a test the God of Games has given us. He must be warning us not to let down our guard at any moment!” Edward was reflecting seriously as one who would make the top three amongst the Players as a God of Games’ prophet. “We would be weak if we didn’t think of this situation from the name ‘simple boat’. We would have used ice or some other material to strengthen the hull if we knew, to stop this from happening.”

“I’m splitting some heads if I see those damned seals again!” Helpless, Joe mumbled unhappily.

After all, both Joe and Gou Dan were left flustered and threw away their oars when the boat started leaking. That was why the boat’s only means of propulsion now was Eleena’s familiar Croakatoa, who had a rope tied to him as he swam ahead.

Meanwhile, the girl was sitting at the bow of the boat and encouraging her own familiar with her adorable voice.

“I say…” Gou Dan, who was at the boat stern and scooping water with his helm (his chest armor is leather and can’t hold water) turned to Edward who was using frost spells at the holes leaking water. “We don’t actually have to take the lead every single time, right? Wouldn’t it be enough to have the other Players to… what was the term used in the forums? Frontlining? To scout out the place first?”

As a matter of fact, their party were definitely the ones leading the way whenever the System has a version update, new quests, new dungeons or events such as the unlocking of the boat quest item.

Meanwhile, other Players would stay behind and refer to their tactics and walkthrough, thereby avoiding much detours.

To put it simply, Edward and his party were wading through the river while touching the stones beneath, just as the other Players crossed the same river by touching them…

Naturally, the touching would earn them respect, value and considerable reputation in the eyes of other Players. Still, being the most active rangers amongst the party who had often been the victim of many first encounters, Gou Dan felt rather upset—damn it, they were going bald the way people were touching them to cross the river.

“Even if it is dangerous, we pave the way because our rewards are always the greatest.”

Edward replied, but soon sighed. “You definitely wouldn’t be convinced even if I say that.”

Gou Dan did not reply, but ‘You’re not wrong there!’ was written all over his face.

“My reasoning is simple: If we don’t count the mysterious old man Xi Wei, we might be the earliest acknowledged believers of the God of Games.” Edward mildly said.

“Eh? Wasn’t Princess Leah a believer of the God of Games since she was a child?” Gou Dan asked in surprise.