During the battle against the Kobold Lord, Jaar’s impact had been tremendous.
Without him, the Kobold Lord raid would surely have ended in failure.
If Rough could recruit someone like him as a companion, just how much easier would his future gameplay become?
It would not be easy, given that Jaar was a Named NPC, but it was more than worth a try.
Moreover, Rough thought he had a decent chance.
Because of one question.
‘He definitely said he lives as a wanderer to make money. But why……?’
He had not been playing Dream World Online for long, so there was still plenty he did not know.
Even so, Jaar possessed the highest combat power of any NPC Rough had seen.
Yet someone like him had chosen to live as a wanderer because he needed money.
It was quite puzzling.
‘Wouldn’t he make plenty of money if he joined a major power like a kingdom?’
With skills like his, any faction would welcome him with open arms and offer him treatment to match.
That meant there was some circumstance he could not reveal.
And it strengthened the suspicion that this was why he was living as a wanderer.
Rough decided to use that to his advantage.
“How about joining me?”
“With you?”
Jaar narrowed his eyes.
“There’s nothing bad about it, is there? I think we could be good partners for each other.”
Jaar carefully weighed the pros and cons of Rough’s proposal.
‘During the battle with the Kobold Lord yesterday, the strength of the creature crushing me suddenly weakened. That must have been this man’s ability. If I were with him……’
[Due to your high Affinity, Jaar is giving your proposal positive consideration!]
‘That’s right!’
Rough clenched his fist.
After a brief silence.
Just as Jaar, having reached a decision, was about to speak—
“Sir Jaar, Sir Rough.”
Supply Officer Renof’s voice came from outside.
“Captain Clayp requests an audience with the two of you.”
They had been interrupted at a crucial moment.
Yet Rough was not displeased. If anything, he was glad.
He only needed to think for a moment to understand why Clayp had summoned him.
What else could it be but a reward for their merits?
“Then let’s see the Captain first.”
“Very well.”
***
“Bwahaha! Come in! The heroes of our Forward Base!!”
Clayp warmly welcomed Rough and Jaar.
“You may have already guessed, but I’ve called for you heroes to give you the proper reward for subjugating the Kobold Lord. First, take this.”
Clayp handed Rough and Jaar a heavy pouch each.
[You have obtained 500 Gold!]
‘Oh, 500 Gold?!’
Rough’s eyes widened.
Dream World Online had only recently launched. On top of that, it was hugely popular.
As a result, the value of Gold, the in-game currency, was extremely high.
One Gold was worth a little over ten thousand won.
Five hundred Gold was a fortune worth over five million won.
“Bwahahaha!! It is still too early to be surprised!”
Laughing heartily, Clayp next handed them two luxurious-looking chests.
Inside Rough’s chest lay a sword, neatly placed.
“What is this?”
“It is a sword crafted with all the skill and devotion of Myel’s artisans. It cannot be compared to the swords issued to ordinary knights. Examine it for yourself. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
Gulp.
After swallowing nervously, Rough carefully took out the sword and drew it from its scabbard.
The blade was so clear that it reflected his face.
The sword had a smooth, unadorned body that might have seemed plain, yet it possessed a sharpness and keenness rivaling any famed blade.
[Myel Elite Knight’s Sword Lv. 20]
[Grade: Rare]
[Classification: Equipment Item]
[Durability: 2,000/2,000]
[Attack Power: 112]
[Description: A sword crafted with great care by a Myel artisan. It boasts respectable performance, having been made from good materials by someone of exceptional skill.]
[Special Option: All Stats +5]
[Durability Consumption Rate -20%]
As befitting a Rare-grade item, a faint blue glow flowed from the sword, just as its description stated.
It even came with several Special Options.
‘Wow! How can its Attack Power be over 100?’
It was probably because it could only be equipped from Level 20 onward.
Still, its Attack Power was certainly high.
It lived up to its Grade.
Its value could not even be compared to 500 Gold.
This was the real reward.
“Bwahaha! Looking at your expression, I take it you like it?”
“Wait, are you really giving this to me?”
“You subjugated the Kobold Lord, did you not? This is the proper reward I mentioned before!”
“Wow, I’ll put this to very good use!”
With a broad smile, Rough carefully stored his newly obtained weapon in his Inventory.
He could not equip it just yet.
Pleased with their satisfying rewards, Rough and Jaar left the tent.
Once outside—
“Have you made your decision?”
Rough demanded an answer to his proposal that Jaar become his companion.
He pretended to be calm on the outside.
But inwardly, he was burning with anxiety, his lips parched.
‘Please accept!’
Rough licked his lips as he waited for an answer.
“Very well. I will.”
It was an acceptance.
“For the time being, I will travel with you. I look forward to working with you.”
It came with the condition of “for the time being,” but that was still better than nothing.
[Named NPC, Jaar, has become your companion!]
The system notification confirmed their relationship.
“You made the right choice.”
Now that Jaar was practically his own man, Rough’s manner of speech abruptly changed.
Jaar flinched at Rough’s attitude.
“……Uh, yes?”
“Why?”
“No, nothing. More importantly, are we leaving right away?”
“I suppose we should. They should be able to wipe out the remaining kobolds easily enough without our help. Let’s stop by the nearest village first.”
Had Renof not said so when Rough first arrived here?
That there was a village a half-day’s journey east.
That was where Rough intended to go.
“Very well.”
Just as the two of them, having decided on their next destination, were about to leave the Forward Base through its eastern exit—
“Sir Jaar, Sir Rough.”
Renof called out to them.
“Ha ha! I thought I should give you something before you left.”
Two horses stood beside him, snorting.
“You’ll be traveling a long way, so you’ll need a means of transportation.”
“I’m grateful, but isn’t this embezzlement?”
“Embezzlement? I’m the Supply Officer, aren’t I? We obtained considerable spoils while subjugating the Kobold Lord, so two horses are no problem. Take them.”
With a light joke, Renof handed them the reins.
“Thank you. We’ll put them to good use.”
Taking the reins, Rough and Jaar left the Forward Base amid Renof and the knights’ warm farewell.
[The Tutorial has ended.]
[With the end of the Tutorial, the NPC Adjustment has been removed.]
[You will receive final rewards based on your overall accomplishments during the Tutorial!]
[Your Level has increased!]
[Your Level has increased!]
[Your Level has increased!]
.
.
[You have reached Level 20!]
[The level of your Personal Trait has increased!]
[The level of your Personal Trait has increased!]
.
.
[Your Personal Trait undergoes its first growth!]
[The Achievement System has been unlocked!]
[Collect Achievement Points to purchase special items from the Achievement Shop!]
[The Second Weapon System has been unlocked!]
[The Second Weapon is another weapon that can be instantly switched to and used without passing through the Inventory. Equip a distinct weapon to employ a range of tactics!]
[The Tutorial for Dream World Online has now concluded.]
[We hope you continue to have enjoyable experiences in Dream World Online!]
‘They sure gave me a lot.’
Basking in the lingering satisfaction of his rewards, Rough slowly guided his horse alongside Jaar.
***
“Wow, he cleared the Tutorial and even got a Named NPC.”
Lee Dong-jun, the head of the User Monitoring Room, quietly marveled as he watched Rough’s gameplay.
“Should we maintain Rough’s designation as a Special Management User?”
At Assistant Manager Kim Myeong-in’s question, Lee Dong-jun nodded calmly.
“Hmm, we should for the time being.”
“But where’s Rough headed now?”
“Asente, a port village.”
“Asente. Is there a special event in Asente?”
“Yes, there is exactly one.”
“Really? What is it?”
Lee Dong-jun’s eyes lit up as he examined the data.
“Oh-ho, a Basilisk.”
“Ah, Director. But……”
Assistant Manager Kim Myeong-in trailed off with an uncomfortable expression.
“Assistant Manager Kim? What is it?”
“It is possible that two of the Special Management Users, including Rough, may run into each other in Asente.”
“Rough is heading to Asente. What is the other one doing?”
“They’re hunting monsters on the outskirts of Asente.”
“There are so many users there. What are the odds that those two would meet among all those people? And besides.”
Dream World Online was an enormously vast virtual reality open-world MMORPG created with the aid of AI.
It would not have been an exaggeration to say that it had created an entirely new world.
Accordingly, it contained countless NPCs, field objects, and quests.
And that made a wide variety of interactions possible.
Lee Dong-jun judged that the odds of Rough encountering the unknown Special Management User were slim.
Even if they did meet, it would be even more difficult for them to reach the Basilisk.
“And even if they both reach the Basilisk, defeating it is close to impossible. It wasn’t created for users at the current stage to defeat, was it?”
Calculating every possibility would only make his head hurt.
“But couldn’t a variable arise? Rough has a Named NPC, and the other Special Management User happens to be a Kiting User……”
“What? A Kiting User?”
Lee Dong-jun’s expression became meaningful.
“Hmm, maybe that could happen after all. Keep watching them for now.”
“Yes, Director.”
***
Rough and Jaar arrived in Asente.
Asente was a small port village by the sea.
Its houses looked old and worn.
The sound of waves slapping against the shore added a refreshing coolness to the air.
Fishing boats stood lined up at the pier.
Near the docks, fishermen selling freshly caught fish displayed their wares while buyers crowded around them.
Voices haggling over prices.
And the cries of seagulls and cats lingering nearby in search of something to eat mingled together, making the place as noisy as could be.
Lastly, users who had just finished the Tutorial wandered around, looking this way and that like meerkats.
“So this is Asente. It’s a lively village.”
“What do you intend to do now? Do you have anything in mind?”
“Hm.”
[1. 200 Kills, regardless of race]
[Current Progress: 92/200]
[2. Clear 1 Dungeon, regardless of type]
[Current Progress: 0/1]
As Rough checked the growth requirements for the Rusty Iron Sword, he smiled.
‘I’ll fulfill the remaining growth requirements and see how much stronger I’ve become from the Tutorial rewards.’
“How about we hunt some monsters?”