Chapter 21 (2/2)

The clock on his phone displayed 12:56 PM - he only needed one hour and 25 minutes to complete a 6-hour mission.

He only walked in the direction dictated by his innate ability, so he didn't encounter anything that could've been called 'dangerous'. Clearing the mission took a bit longer than he'd liked, because it was his first time attempting it. However, he figured that as soon as he became familiar with it, he might be able to finish the maze in less than one hour.

Seol nodded his head, now convinced. He then returned to the noticeboard in a hurry to rip up the mission parchment for the maze once more.

And so, he proceeded to vanish and return to the plaza several more times.

After he completed the mission that nominally needed six hours to complete six more times, a couple of unexpected problems rose up.

The first problem was that the number of attempts remaining had decreased quite noticeably. This was because the other survivors witnessed Seol continuously completing this particular mission; they figured that it must've been easier than they initially feared, and one or two people began trying their luck. After all, for a regular survivor, 100 Survival points amounted to one-tenth of their aim, so the allure was indeed great.

And the second problem was….

”Euhck….”

A sharp pain momentarily bore through his brain. Seol had no choice but to halt his hands from ripping up another mission parchment. There was no need to even mention what this pain signified. He was all too acutely familiar with it, after all.

It was a warning. Or, perhaps, an omen.

He had been using 'Nine Eyes' for over six hours straight now, so it wasn't all that surprising for his brain to cry out in anguish.

'But, I still need to do a few more….'

The level of pain wasn't all that great, if he thought about it.

However, back in the past, back a few years ago when he proceeded to ignore similar warning signs…. He ended up wallowing in the harsh reality of losing his ability and suffering the consequences of it.

'Now that I think about it, my whole body kind of feels fatigued, too.'

No matter how important evolving his ability was, if the ability itself was lost through recklessness, then that would be the worst way to waste his time, ever. He didn't want to repeat the mistake of losing his ability ever again.

In the end, Seol returned the mission parchment back to the board, and decided to take a break in his room upstairs.

Seol woke up from his slumber feeling completely refreshed. Not only his head, but his entire body felt alive and rejuvenated. His body, which did feel a bit heavy - although not to the extent of feeling like a mountain - felt quite normal now.

Maria explained that there was definitely a reason why expensive rooms cost so much. There were dozens of rooms in the Neutral Zone but their pricing varied to quite a ridiculous degree.

According to her, the cheap rooms were only good for sleeping, but as the price increased, the environment found in the rooms gradually became more 'beneficial' towards the survivor trying to rest there.

More importantly, Seol's room was one of its kind in the whole Zone. Even if he rested as long as everyone else, he'd get to enjoy the effects of a rest that seemingly had lasted for several times longer.

The phone's display now showed 11:12 PM.

'I slept for around five hours, huh.'

Seol pulled out the convenience store food from the bag. He could eat for free in the restaurants, but he couldn't waste the time going there to order and eat. While chewing on a sandwich, he organised his thoughts.

'The efficiency is too poor.'

Including the break, he spent 11 hours to earn 600 Survival points. If he earned 1200 points in 24 hours, then in a month, that would be 36,000 points. He might be able to somehow afford two Ambrosias at this rate, but….

'The problem is with the remaining number of attempts.'

Seol knew very well that it was impossible to go and repeat the same mission over and over again. He also needed to consider those people who would try to follow whatever he painstakingly chose to do next as well.

Seol felt the distinct need to revise his strategy. The two prerequisite conditions of 'short time requirement/high rewards upon completion' were non-negotiable, but he thought he could forego his safety. No, he had to forget about it. Why? Higher the danger, higher the payout, that was why.

Honestly, he was very much tempted by what was on offer at the VIP store. Besides, he was told that once he left, it'd be exceedingly difficult to return to the Neutral Zone, too. So, he earnestly wanted to at least drink the Divine Elixir as soon as possible.

He wondered whether he should visit the other stores, too. But, he just shook his head in the end. Really now, he couldn't afford to waste a single point, so what was there for him to possibly buy?

However, he couldn't neglect making thorough preparations. So, Seol pulled his bag closer and began inspecting its contents.

'Let's see…. The quill pen of flowing consciousness is… not for combat. And this Mirror of Understanding is for…. d.a.m.n it, it's only useful against the Deceased!'

There wasn't a mission to get rid of the walking dead in the Tutorial, nor would the survivors be given such a mission in the first place, so why….

Fortunately, though, he possessed a box full of spell b.a.l.l.s. He only needed four of these b.a.l.l.s to take care of that terrifying Gaeg-gwi, so he was sure of these coming in handy in the near future.

Seol extracted the familiar combination of Poison Fog, Ignite, Spider Web, and Hydrochloric Acid and put them in his pockets. Then, he headed towards the ground floor.

The hour may have been late, yet there were still twenty-plus people loitering around the plaza. Even the second place Odelette Delphine and Hao Win could be seen among them as well.

When the 'first place' Seol made his entrance, both of them turned around to meet him as if they had a prior agreement. However, Seol was too preoccupied with earning more Survival points, so he failed to notice their actions. He simply poured his attention on the noticeboard.

”Excuse me.” (Odelette Delphine)

Just as Seol's gaze headed upwards, Odelette Delphine called out to him.

”Uhm, yes?” (Seol)

Seol tilted his head slightly. She was fidgeting with a strand of her brown hair - unlike the first time he saw her, she seemed to be in a slight bind over something.

”Did you know? Do you perchance remember Mister Tong Chai?” (Odelette)

”Mister Tong Chai, you say…. You mean, the man wearing a turban?” (Seol)

”Yes. He was the fifth place finisher. That man…. I think he has met his doom.” (Odelette)

”….Met his doom? He's dead?” (Seol)

A survivor who managed to ama.s.s more than 1000 points during the Tutorial died already? Now that was something Seol couldn't just gloss over.

”That one. I think he died while attempting that mission.” (Odelette)

The mission parchment Odelette pointed at was the very same mission Seol was repeating earlier in the day.

”Indeed, there is a warning that you might die, but…. Why do you think he'd dead?” (Seol)

”It's been six hours since he disappeared, but he hasn't returned yet.” (Odelette)

”Mmm. I'm not so sure about that…. No matter what, to say he died while attempting something as simple as this Normal difficulty mission is a bit….” (Seol)

Odelette's expression became complicated when she heard his words.

”Something as simple…. I see. Well, will you be attempting the same mission again?” (Odelette)

”Ah, no. I was thinking of trying my hands on a different mission this time.” (Seol)

Seol s.h.i.+fted his gaze back to the noticeboard. Odelette Delphine stood there licking her lips for a little while longer, before opening her mouth again.

”Can you spare some time to share a cup of tea with me?” (Odelette)

Although her suggestion didn't sound so bad - meeting a girl possessing an amazing beauty late at night - Seol had something far more pressing to attend to first. He needed to select a new mission and attempt it at least once.

”I apologise, but there is something I really need to confirm first…. If it's not too much trouble, can I take a rain check?” (Seol)

Seol spoke while considering the fact that she was a foreigner. After listening to his formal rejection, Odelette formed a wistful expression.

”I guess it can't be helped, then” (Odelette)

She turned around to leave.

Seol resumed checking the board out - then, he thought what if, and activated his ability.

Most of the mission parchments placed lower down on the board didn't emit any colour, but as he raised his gaze upwards, he saw yellow, vermillion and crimson, in that ascending order.

'Does that mean missions found higher up on the board are harder?'

Seol then stared in disbelief at the mission parchment dyed in deep crimson colour located at the very top of the board which proudly boasted the mission reward of 172,800 points. However, his gaze spotted something odd nearby and stayed there. Among the sea of orange, there was one mission parchment dyed in yellow.

'1000 Survival points as the mission reward?'

The difficulty was one step above the 'Slightly Hard' - 'Hard'. Remaining attempts? 15 out of 15. Most importantly, there was no time limit, either.

As he looked up at that piece of paper, greed filled up Seol's expression.

< 21.=”” a=”” star=”” s.h.i.+ning=”” again=”” (1)=””> Fin.