Chapter 32 (1/2)
The gist of Odelette Delphine's offer was just as Seol suspected: she wanted hi froht that the coht out
Hao Win was the Warrior of the group, Leorda and Tong Chai were the Archers, Delphine was the Sorcerer, and the last person Seol wasn't fa that missions rated ‘Hard' and ‘Very Hard' had the cap of six participants max, it was as if they had deliberately left the final spot for Seol
If things remained the same as before, Seol wouldn't even hesitate to say yes Not only did this teaet friendly with, Seol hi that the time had come to find reliable comrades as well
However, the situation was different now Seol had to amass 82,000 points as quickly as possible
‘I'd be able to earn that much points even if I join this team, but…' (Seol)
Obviously, he didn't want to sacrifice himself unconditionally He wanted to fix Yun Seo-Rah's aret himself some proper equipment; he also wanted to buy more Elixirs from the VIP store, too
In other words, he wanted to have his cake and eat it Others ive up on any one of his desires
In the end… he had to decide
”I'm truly sorry, but… At the ” (Seol)
There was a way for his he wanted If Seol‘Hard' h points to cover the cost of the Cereet equip him off for this, but this was the best scenario Seol could think of
”Hing”
Maybe she didn't expect him to refuse her, Delphine looked crestfallen
”Hmm…” (Hao Win)
Hao Win seemed as if he was not ready to accept Seol's answer just yet
”I ae your skills, but the difficulty of the ‘Very Hard' h about You alone will not be enough” (Hao Win)
”Yes, I know” (Seol)
”You say you know, yet… Ahh, is it because you do not like the co to for a team yet And, to be frank, I quite like the look of this tea missions with you, actually” (Seol)
”Then, why the refusal?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win gazed at Seol with a questioning pair of eyes His expression showed how confused he was, and he continued to study Seol for a bit longer, before tilting his head
”Now that I've taken a proper look, I see that you haven't bought any equipine you were able to earn a massive amount of points by now… Did you invest them all into your abilities?” (Hao Win)
”No” (Seol)
Seol shook his head right away He never planned to buy abilities froood equipot turned on its head before that could happen, though
”I a - if I didn't see incorrectly ato do another Hard mission, were you not?” (Hao Win)
The question was sharp and on point Just like his stare was
”You have exhausted one mission completely, but as for the others, you only did the on” (Hao Win)
”………” (Seol)
”You could have finished them all, but left them behind in consideration of other survivors At least, that's what I thought until now” (Hao Win)
”Mister Win!” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine glared at Hao Win Judging fro to pick a fight with Seol
”Sounds like you are saying that this young ree” (Tong Chai)
Tong Chai stood up for Delphine
”I'ainst the decisions already taken But, honestly speaking, I never really understood us also planning to perform each Hard mission six times and move on to the next one The Neutral Zone is a place of competition Should it not be, ‘first co Chai)
”I' a hard ti hi his hand around in a show of frustration
The first person to suggest Seol's inclusion to the teaorously championed for it was none other Hao Win
Her team was indeed the best in the Neutral Zone on paper However, they still had their share of issues In short, they lacked offensive power
For the ti, the teauard, while the two Archers kept the enemy movements in check And, Delphine would sweep theic from the back With this tactic, they were exposed to coh the ti
However, new ‘clear conditions' were added to ‘Very Hard'on their backfoot and passively defending all the time would not work anymore New conditions, such as ‘a one to take the initiative and attack
So, Hao Win argued that they would not be able to co until now He passionately argued that they needed this youth's attack power
So, as this Hao Win questioning the youth like this?
”If you're a lone wolf type, I will respect that However, I don't think you're one You athered a sizeable points tally by now, yet besides the spear, you haven't invested the to hoard the else” (Hao Win)
Certainly, from the third person's perspective, Seol's story did sound rather odd when soe bits like Hao Win had
Seol let off a soft sigh
”Just as you said it, I had quite a few Survival Points” (Seol)
”Had… A past tense?” (Hao Win)
”I spent most of it in the VIP store Of course, I left some behind to buy new equip to buy, but then,happened?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win's attitude had softened ever so slightly
”There's a situation, and I need to earn a lot of points as quickly as possible” (Seol)
Although this wasn't a story he should go around advertising, Seol felt that he owed these people an explanation So, he told theht are amount of Survival Points
He hadn't had anyone to share his troubling thoughts with for a while, so when this opportunity presented itself, he ended up pouring outto Seol's situation, everyone blinked non-stop and stared at him Especially Hao Win, who looked totally dazed as if someone punched him in the face out of the blue
”You had that kind of situation…” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine sounded very sympathetic
”Mm I understand your situation But, is there a reason for you to help that person out in the first place?” (Tong Chai)
Tong Chai asked Seol, sounding slightly confused
”Unless she was your fa, perhaps But, to spend 82,000 points for someone froree?” (Tong Chai)
Seol scratched his head, unable to answer right away
He had various reasons Besides Ki him, it was also a chance to test out the Golden Commandment as well Of course, he also wanted to help her out, too… In any case, there was no need to tell these people absolutely everything
”I received her help during the Tutorial, and… It's hard to say why I just can't stop thinking about it” (Seol)
”You can't?” (Tong Chai)
”Yes It is a bit of shame, too…” (Seol)
Seol
”Only if I kneas going on a little bit sooner, things wouldn't have gotten this worse…” (Seol)
After hearing Seol's whisper, Hao Win's body shuddered ever so slightly He drew his chin inward and quietly studied Seol for a while It was as if he was looking at the youth in a new light
”Who is this person you're trying to help?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win asked him Compared to before, his voice and softened quite considerably
”Her name is Miss Yun Seo-Rah…” (Seol)
”Yun Seo-Rah… Definitely a girl, then?” (Hao Win)
”Yes” (Seol)
”I see That hy…” (Hao Win)
Hao Win let off a short groan and finally lowered his legs from the table
”Oh, by the way, I don't think I've heard your name yet” (Hao Win)
”Seol… My naazed at the darkened coise for my earlier behaviour Looks like I spoke too preht you didn't really associate yourself with anyone… I had no idea you had that kind of circuht Don't y?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win suddenly offered his hand Seol reached out and shook it after being slightly bewildered by this gesture Hao Win quietly nodded his head, and then, spoke up again
”I understand” (Hao Win)
”…Pardon?” (Seol)
”Only if you knew sooner… The words of lingering attach similar myself” (Hao Win)
Hao Win sounded rather lonely, then
”Please, stop telling us that annoying love story of yours!! Please!” (Odelette Delphine)
”Huh? But, did you not sympathise with me when I told you the story for the first time?” (Hao Win)
”That's for once or twice, you know! If you bring it up again today, it'll be for the seventh time!!” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine crumpled her expression and covered up her ears
Seol alternated his gaze between the two, feeling rather pleasantly surprised He thought their relationshi+p was simply a cooperative one, but it seemed to be a lot more friendlier than expected
Hao Win licked his lips as if he was unhappy about the o of Seol's hand
”Listen, friend How much do you need for that Ceremony?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win asked Seol out of the blue The youth quickly calculated in his head
”43,720 points” (Seol)
”43,720? …That ht be doable” (Hao Win)
What did he mean by ‘doable'?
Before Seol could ask, Hao Win clapped his hands once and drew the attention to himself
”Let's see I know that we've prepared various things to entice this young man into our team… However, why don't we do it this way?” (Hao Win)
”What way?” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine asked in curiosity, causing Hao Win to point at the noticeboard
”First of all, we invite him into our team Then us six will clear Hard missions” (Hao Win)
Delphine tilted her head, but still listened Hao Winand pleasant personality, but he was never one to speak without thinking deeply about a subject
”Except, we hand over our share of rewards to this youth” (Hao Win)
”What did you say?” (Tong Chai)
”Bullsht” (Leorda Salvatore)
Tong Chai strongly objected Even Leorda, who had been keeping quiet until now, spat out his opinion in a cold voice
”If you were planning to do whatever you want, why did you even for Chai)
”What the? Didn't we agree that, in order to attempt ‘Very Hard' missions, we need this youth's ability?” (Hao Win)
”But, you changed the story, did you not?” (Tong Chai)
”Listen to me My point is this - either we cooperate, or compete” (Hao Win)
Hao Win then pointed at Seol
”This friend here, Mister Seol, needs Survival Points for his personal reasons He will do whatever it takes to earn the ready to attempt the Hard missions just now?” (Hao Win)
”So, what about it? We can also do those missions, no? All we have to do is recruit another skillful Warrior” (Tong Chai)
”It's not the matter of skills As far as the Very Hard missions are concerned, the positions of our team and this youth match up just fine, but for Hard ether” (Hao Win)
”I can't figure out what you're trying to say here” (Tong Chai)
”Think about it Think about how long we need to clear one HardChai's expression hardened visibly Finally, he realised what Hao Win was trying to say
Everyone here could re speed Not only that, all by hiht now If we fail to pull this young man in now… How many more times e be able to complete Hard missions, I wonder?” (Hao Win)
”Hmm…”
”At a h?” (Hao Win)
”Even if that's true, I feel that ouldn't be losing out tooChai)
”Indeed, we'd be able to still earn so you are mistaken about, Hao Win” (Leorda Salvatore)
Leorda abruptly cut in
”As you say, if Seol beco for us However, I can not agree with your assertion that only after he joins our team, we'd be able to attempt Very Hard missions” (Leorda Salvatore)
”That's the same story for this friend, too” (Hao Win)
Hao Win didn't even flinch as he lightly rebuffed the argument
”Indeed, there is no doubt that our team is the best in the Neutral Zone However, this friend here is the top survivor in the Zone He is unmatched Unrivalled You think he won't be able to form his own team? Or you think no team out there elcome him with open arms?” (Hao Win)
If their team failed to pull Seol in, then later on, they would have to coained his fah his unbelievable actions, it'd be a lie to say they weren't feeling the pressure
”So, the conclusion is this 43,720 points? Let's think of it as contract signing fee If we divide the cost a ourselves, it's what, around 8,700 per person? That much, ill be able to recoup very quickly as soon as we start doing the Very Hardfor was to recruit Seol to their tea team later down the line
”Think about it carefully Just co one Very Hard mission with 50,000 points nets over 8,000 points for each of us” (Hao Win)
”Very good” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine spoke up with an enthusiastic voice
”In order to earn bigger profit later, invest now, is that it? I can agree to that I enjoy corab onto this opportunity This fellow here, I've had my eyes on him for quite some time, you see” (Odelette Delphine)
”So she says What about you?” (Hao Win)
Hao Win looked at Tong Chai, and the latter man slowly closed his eyes Leorda did the same as well Since the tea as the scale having tilted to one way already
”Oh, and about the contract fee ere planning to give him” (Hao Win)
As if he hadn't finished yet, Hao Win continued
”With the exception of our Priest over here, let's lend 2000 points each to Seol I'm sure you all have that ht ere finished with discussing the signing fee?” (Odelette Delphine)
Delphine hurriedly spoke up after sensing that Tong Chai was about to blow his top
”Look, after he goes through that Cere to his naet some proper equipment if he were to attempt Very Hard missions with us?” (Hao Win)
”Even still…” (Odelette Delphine)
”I' the points away Besides, Seol will be taking the vanguard position from now on, so can't you extend your favours just a little? By equipping this friend with best armour available, the odds of our survival also increases, no?” (Hao Win)
”Really, you don't knohen to quit!” (Tong Chai)
Tong Chai angrily stood up He then glared at Seol, as just sitting there with an innocent look on his face
”No need to say any Chai)
”Excuse me?” (Seol)
”Hao Win over here is a man ill live and die by his principle That's why he's saying all these things, but I'm different I understand your situation, but I do not see the reason why I need to go out ofChai)
Seol slowly nodded his head
Actually, even he thought Hao Win's conditions were too good to be true If he were able to ing everything for himself, and better still, he'd be able to monopolise the rewards as well
On top of this, they wanted to lend hi to buy equipment sooner or later anyway, so it was difficult to see this as hi them a debt
”However, I do understand souments That is why, you should display your skills to us We have heard all the rumours, but I need to see it with my oo eyes ConvinceChai passionately stated his case
Prove hirasped the spear and stood up fro at him until now, to flinch and back off
”H, hold on” (Tong Chai)
”I didn't htChai)
Tong Chai pointed at the mission noticeboard
”Oh” (Seol)
”Keheu aChai)
Tong Chai left the lounge
While waiting for the turban-wearing e smile etched on his face
”Why?” (Seol)
”M out of your way to help ressing to this point Seol lacked the ability of eloquent speech, and so, could only marvel at Hao Win's sleek persuasion skills But at the same time, the youth couldn't understand the reason why After all, the Chinese man was someone he'd never even talked to prior to this day
”Well… I'…” (Hao Win)
The end of Hao Win's words trailed off, which was quite unlike hiuys like you A ers for the woman he loves! Actually, I wish to cheer you on, you see” (Hao Win)
Seol nearly spat out the drink he was drinking, right then
”L, love?!” (Seol)
”Hoing out with her” (Seol)