It was a slightly strange Quest window.
For some reason, the text of the Quest title kept changing without pause.
Almost like……
“A slot machine.”
<Quest – Chariot Race>
Grade: D-Grade
Login Limit: 10 Players / Lv.50 or Below
Clear Condition: Ride the chariot assigned within the arena and be the first to complete three laps
Reward: D-Grade Weapon Item (Type changes according to the recipient’s Class)
“Ooooooh! It’s Chariot Race!”
“……Damn it, my money……!”
The Quest had been announced, yet the reaction from the spectator stands was strange.
No one paid any attention to the reward.
The same was true of the makeshift broadcast booth beneath the tent.
-It’s finally here! Today’s Quest has been decided as Chariot Race!
-Sincere congratulations to everyone who guessed correctly! The payout is…… unbelievable, a whopping 1.2 times!
Watching the jubilant Hong Jingu, Dojin looked slightly dumbfounded.
“You’re using the Quest for gambling?”
At the sight of Dojin’s coldly gleaming eyes, Hong Jingu chuckled awkwardly and began explaining.
“This Arena’s been strange ever since it was first discovered, Boss. The rewards are lousy, only a few Players can log into the field, and the Quest keeps changing.”
Hong Jingu continued.
At first, both the government and corporations had lost interest after seeing the meager rewards.
But some Players intrigued by the fact that its Quest changed continued observing the Arena.
Eventually, it had transformed into a gambling den.
“So the Quests repeat?”
“Yes, Boss! Sometimes we get matches like this Chariot Race, sometimes Players fight each other in close combat like a gladiator match…… but broadly speaking, there are three types of Quests.”
Races, duels, and what they called Team Missions.
Players might compete directly, as with Chariot Race or gladiator matches.
They might send out Minions to perform the Quest, like cockfighting or cricket fighting.
Or multiple Players might form teams and compete against one another.
“While they were observing it, some gang boss started using the Arena as a business. As long as you log into an Arena and don’t stream, ordinary people have no way of knowing what happens inside. And then that business hit the jackpot.”
“Well, gambling has probably been one of the best ways to stimulate dopamine since ancient times.”
“Hehe…….”
After correcting Hong Jingu’s euphemistic ‘business’ to ‘gambling,’ Dojin fell into thought.
Player streaming could make money.
But only for Players popular with viewers.
Even a high-Level Player earned almost nothing beyond the Quest rewards if viewers did not like them.
‘Maybe their performances are boring, maybe they don’t have the looks, maybe they caused some scandal and only have haters left.’
Or perhaps they were former or current criminals who could not openly reveal their faces.
And what if there were Players who already possessed wealth and status but had no interest in leveling or clearing Quests?
‘High-ranking figures from politics and business.’
In the end, what Players focused on during the Tutorial Season was making money.
Even Players who leveled up ultimately did so to obtain more Mana Stones and Gold.
Then would Players who already possessed wealth and power really bother logging into Arenas, struggling through difficult Quests, and obtaining Mana Stones and Gold themselves?
‘There’s no reason to. They’d try to acquire Mana Stones and Gold through methods they’re already familiar with.’
Investment.
Trade.
Or taxation.
Methods that had already been widely used in ordinary society.
‘Unless someone is exceptionally interested in clearing Quests or possesses outstanding talent for it, there’s little reason for them to deliberately throw themselves into an unfamiliar world.’
……Dojin could only sigh at just how many reasons Players had found to neglect leveling during the Tutorial Season.
In any case, once he had organized his thoughts, Dojin spoke.
“So this Arena operates with wealthy Players acting as spectators and gambling, while a small number of Players become entertainment on the field.”
“That’s right. I’m telling you, ‘Gambling Kingdom’ is the perfect name for this place.”
“In that case, Hong Jingu.”
When Dojin suddenly called him by his full name, Hong Jingu flinched.
“How do poor Players without Guild affiliations end up here?”
For starters, gambling was illegal in South Korea.
Naturally, the fact that an Arena called the had become a hub for gambling would be kept completely secret from the public.
It was not the kind of place that a young Player like Haewon, who had neither money nor connections, should have known about.
“Hmm. If they’ve got no backing and desperately need money, it’s obvious. This place is overflowing with Players willing to become betting subjects.”
Hong Jingu thought for a moment, then shrugged.
“The big shots who gamble in places like this have plenty of people working under them, don’t they? If those guys just make a round outside……”
They can sweep up whole groups of Players who, for one reason or another, never even met an Awakening Department official and can’t log into Arenas legally.
“Haah…….”
Dojin sighed.
He knew Hong Jingu was not wrong.
“True. Arenas, login slots, and civil servants are all limited, while Low-Grade Players are everywhere.”
“Honestly, Players who follow every law and log in under government supervision are probably only a fraction of the total…….”
Before his regression, I almost became one of them too.
Recalling those bitter memories, Dojin turned his gaze toward the field.
“Then let me ask one more thing.”
“Yes, Boss! Just say the word.”
“I’m going to participate too.”
“……What?”
***
“…….”
Haewon stared blankly at the chariot before her.
The moment Chariot Race was selected as the Quest, a chariot suddenly appeared in front of each Player who had come down onto the field.
Each one was pulled by an intricately crafted horse puppet.
“At this point, wouldn’t a car race just make more sense?”
Haewon looked around the arena.
Nine other Players were challenging the Quest alongside her.
Some had even formed groups of two or three.
‘……What do I do?’
Haewon felt at a loss.
She recalled the words left behind by the bastard who had dragged her into this situation.
-It’s simple. Once the Quest is decided, just go down to the field and do it.
-I’m telling you, there’s nothing to prepare! Just show up!
-You don’t even have to come in first! Just participating gets you 10 Gold!
Ten Gold.
Practically pocket change.
But there was nothing Haewon, who had no power, could do.
Just like always.
She would have no choice but to run an Arena for that tiny amount of money.
“……!”
Driven by the habitual thought that she had to do something, she had answered the message and found herself standing here yet again.
But why am I standing here?
……I already signed a contract with Test Guild.
Dad was hospitalized.
Then don’t I…… not have to do this anymore?
But—as if crushing the question that had surfaced for the first time in a very, very long while, ugly memories rose within her.
-You actually believed that?
A mocking voice.
A distrustful voice.
“…….”
Haewon’s thoughts turned into a muddy swamp.
The teachers and police officers who had failed to help her when she desperately needed it.
Her father, who cursed at her and swung his fists before anything else.
The thugs who whispered sweet words before pulling out knives……
Her mother turning her back and walking away.
TAP!
“……!”
Haewon jolted.
The dark, sticky substance that had been slowly staining her mind black instantly scattered.
A man’s hand rested on her shoulder.
For a brief instant, she remembered her father’s rough hand.
Then she heard a different voice and finally realized it belonged to someone else.
“Hey, rookie. Want to do this Quest together?”
“…….”
Haewon slowly raised her head.
She had not even realized when she had lowered it.
The man before her wore a neat black-and-white suit.
Not a speck of dust seemed to stain it, and merely looking at him made it obvious that he lived in a completely different world from hers.
As his face gradually entered her field of vision, she saw that his features were neat and clean-cut.
Yet the smile on his lips carried a faint hint of caution.
To Haewon, who had spent so long living while constantly reading other people’s moods, that expression caused a slight sense of confusion.
‘……Lee Dojin.’
She barely managed to remember his name.
But she could not think of what she was supposed to call him.
She had never met an adult who looked at her so cautiously while extending a hand toward her.
At the same time, a new notification window appeared.
<Quest – Chariot Race> Login Confirmed.
Form a team with Player Seo Haewon?
Yes / No