Chapter 9: The Permanent Member

[Party] Happy: Are they insane or something

[Party] Happy: They're trying to recruit us??

[Party] Ro: Probably because Karma is on a real streak this season, haha

Well, like Jiho said, in the current 16th season, two major guilds are neck and neck.

With a big showdown expected in the future, it makes sense that they’d rather recruit us as allies than fight us as lone wolves.

“But I started the 16th season to fight these guys, not to join them for laughs, right?”

My goal is clear. So there’s no reason to consider Hana Guild’s position.

[Whisper] Happy > HanNari: Not interested in joining a guild

[Whisper] HanNari: Ah

[Whisper] HanNari: I see, understood^^

I thought they’d try to persuade me at least once, but they backed off more easily than expected. Well, if they had any conscience, they wouldn’t push the offer.

“After all that crap last season, now they want to play together? Shameless, seriously. Just thinking of all the ridicule I got back then...”

[Party] Happy: Rejected

[Party] Ro: Me too, haha

[Party] Happy: They really have no conscience

[Party] Ro: They even tried to hint if I’d join Karma

[Party] Happy: LOL

[Party] Happy: So what’d you say?

[Party] Happy: Did you say you turned down the last offer too?

[Party] Ro: I just laughed, haha

[Party] Happy: LOLOLOLOLOL

Since we both refused, Hana Guild is probably sweating right now. With Jiho saying nothing, they’re definitely assuming we’ll join Karma.

Anyway, thanks to the shameless offer from Hana Guild, we had a good laugh and took a break. Then we dove back into hunting.

After a couple hours of mindless clicking on the mouse and keyboard—

[World] Admin: Hello. Starting now, in celebration of Another Server Season 16, we’re holding a double EXP event. However, this only applies to parties of 3 or more. All party members must be on the same screen for the bonus EXP to apply. Please keep this in mind.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] FirstSnow: thxthxthxthxthxthx

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] WarriorGod: Thank you, Admin^^

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Beomsik: Thank you!!!!!!

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Sky: Thank you so much, haha

The world chat flew by as soon as the admin’s announcement popped up. I wondered if there were always this many people in the 16th season, feeling both joy and dismay.

“Ah! Everything’s great, but why does it have to be party-only?”

The hunting rhythm that Jiho and I had fine-tuned was now broken. Still, the admin’s intentions were sound. No, they were wise.

Encouraging party play helps prevent overcrowding in each hunting ground. Plus, it softens the tense atmosphere that comes from early competition—a win-win.

[Party] Ro: Can't be helped, haha. Let's find at least one more person

[Party] Happy: That’s fine, but

[Party] Happy: Is there anyone who can keep up with us without breaking the flow?;

That worry hit the mark.

[Romance has left the party.]

[Handaeman has left the party.]

[Self has left the party.]

The limit for most people was about an hour. Our new partner would change every hour, or at best every couple hours.

If we weren’t in a 3-person party, we couldn’t get the EXP bonus, so every time someone left, it was a big stress.

[Party] Miming: guys

[Party] Miming: I gotta go work out

[Party] Miming: I'll stop here

“Again?”

After even our last hard-earned party member left, we couldn't rest even while looking for new ones—our hands glued to the mouse. But...

“Ugh, it really feels like we're losing out.”

Other parties in the same map had at least three people, and some had been grinding for over four hours straight. While they laughed and racked up bonus EXP, we had to settle for the regular rate, feeling cheated.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Proposal: Seniors, got a party spot?

Suddenly, a savior’s cry echoed.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Shinyoung: Us

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Ro: We have a spot

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Happy: Lots of spots

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Dodungnom: To the entrance, let's go

[Party] Happy: Jeez

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Proposal: Oh! Please let me join your party

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Shinyoung: Hmm

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Shinyoung: Then join Ro's party

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Shinyoung: We’re already four, ^^

[Party] Happy: Oh?

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Ro: Thank you, haha

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Shinyoung: Good luck, ^^

Honestly, I’d been envious of Shinyoung’s party whenever we ran into them. But seeing Shinyoung make room for us and understanding our situation, I felt grateful.

[Party] Proposal: Hello~

[Party] Happy: Hello

[Party] Ro: Nice to meet you, you’re a fellow mage, I see, haha

[Party] Proposal: My ranking is super low though T_T

[Party] Happy: Proposal, how long are you planning to play?

[Party] Proposal: Honestly, I feel like I’ll just be leeching

[Party] Proposal: I’ll stick with you guys until you’re done, lol

[Party] Ro: Oh?

[Party] Happy: Really?

“You’re going to regret that.”

Jiho was probably smiling at the monitor too.

[Party] Ro: Let’s not overlap with their party

[Party] Ro: Happy is the tank, so just follow along

[Party] Proposal: Whoa, you’re a debuff build with all-in HP

[Party] Ro: Alright, let's go

At last, the silent hunt began. We grinded endlessly, taking a five-minute break every hour. By the third round, ‘Proposal’ was still following us steadily, showing no signs of fatigue.

“Wow. It's nice having someone who can go for this long. I want to ask how long he’ll go...”

I was afraid if I said anything, he’d say, “I’ll stop here,” so I kept quiet.

Another two, then three rounds passed. Even Shinyoung’s party, who had been farming like maniacs, had left a long time ago. It was past 4 a.m.

“Sun will rise soon.”

With my body clock completely reversed, fatigue began to set in. But since our ‘clock-out’ was at 6 a.m., I rubbed my eyes and forced myself to keep going.

Finally, after six, Proposal left with a smile, and we were able to sleep soundly.

Then it was afternoon again. After quickly grabbing breakfast-lunch, I sat back at my computer. Jiho’s character, usually standing next to me in town, was missing. Since we always partied up even in town, I pulled up the party window at the bottom of the screen. Jiho was in the shop.

[Party] Happy: Jiho, you're here early?

[Party] Ro: You here?

[Party] Ro: I’m just organizing my storage, I’ll be there soon, haha

[Party] Happy: Okay, then I’ll start recruiting for the field party

[Party] Ro: Thanks

“Ugh, I need to sort my storage too, but when? Such a pain.”

In Another Server, where early potion prices are steep, selling off junk loot is a must. Junk loot means money. But since I was still okay for now, I headed straight to the hunting grounds.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Happy: Looking for party, 4 spots open

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Nu: There’s already a full party

“If you’ve got a full party, what am I supposed to do?”

If memory serves, ‘Nu’ is from Hana Guild. A few days ago, they were chatting it up in town with ‘HanNari’—the one who offered me the guild invite.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Happy: Party looking for members, 4 spots open

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Nu: We're the only ones here, so why not go to Mad Field, haha

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Nu: It's bigger over there

“If you want to go, you go.”

Mad Field is short for ‘Demon King’s Sleeping Field.’ It’s the same level as Dragon Field, where we are now. The two maps have different terrain, mobs, drop items, and spawn rates, so it depends on player preference. But because Mad Field has long-range attack monsters, it’s considered a slightly higher-tier map.

Getting hit by the skeleton mage’s magic attack really hurts.

So you need a tank for Mad Field. My character’s too average for that, so Jiho and I always stick to Dragon Field.

Maybe Nu didn’t know our situation, but since it was Hana Guild, it sounded a bit shady.

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Happy: I just prefer it here, haha

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Happy: Party looking for members, 4 spots open

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Nu: It'll take you a while, not many people at this hour, haha

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Proposal: Oh?

I was halfway through typing “Just shut up already,” when the mage Proposal—who had run with us until dawn—appeared at the entrance.

“What, don’t tell me he’s joining that party?”

[Field Where the Hero Sleeps – All] Proposal: Happy, can I join your party, please T_T

“Nice—!”

Oddly enough, Nu went quiet. Proposal hurriedly circled around my character like he’d found his savior.

[Proposal has joined the party.]

[Party] Happy: Hello, lol

[Party] Proposal: Wow, amazing

[Party] Ro: Oh

[Party] Ro: Nice to see you again, haha

[Party] Proposal: I was half hoping you’d be here, but didn’t expect you actually would be, lol

[Party] Happy: Did you even sleep? lol

[Party] Proposal: Yeah, five hours is plenty

[Party] Ro: Good

[Party] Happy: Are you going full grind till dawn again today?

[Party] Proposal: I’ll follow along quietly until you guys log off

Oddly enough, Proposal was on the same schedule as us. After running Dragon Field together for two or three days straight, we started to get close.

[General] Proposal: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[General] Happy: LOLOLOLOLOL

[General] Ro: LOL

By the fourth day, we met again at the field entrance and burst out laughing to greet each other. We grinded together and chatted about all sorts of things.

[Party] Proposal: Ah~ Tanks are pretty unpopular here, huh

[Party] Proposal: Not much to do except take hits, lol

[Party] Ro: But Proposal, you seem to know the game well

[Party] Ro: Have you played before, haha

[Party] Proposal: This is my first time on Another, lol

[Party] Proposal: Played the main server a bit ages ago, but I wasn’t high level T_T

[Party] Proposal: Just got a little taste of it, I guess, haha

Proposal was sociable and lively. Plus, they had a great sense of adventure.

[Party] Ro: Hm, we might be able to get into the desert soon

[Party] Happy: Has anyone gone yet?

[Party] Ro: Looks like people are still farming Mad Field and Ancient City

[Party] Ro: Probably in a few days, someone will make the jump

[Party] Proposal: Oh, exciting! I heard that place is the hottest spot

[Party] Ro: But Proposal, there’s something you should know before we go…

[Party] Proposal: ??? Don’t tell me you’re kicking me out, T_T?

[Party] Ro: Not that, haha. Actually, last season we got targeted by Hana Guild

[Party] Ro: So if we move up, we’ll probably get harassed

[Party] Happy: Yep, PK

[Party] Ro: Are you okay with that?

[Party] Proposal: Whoa, PK?

“Hmm, maybe that’s too much for him? Even newbies know how strong Hana Guild is...”

I felt a bit disappointed. It was rare to find someone whose schedule matched ours like Proposal. From the desert on, it would be real top-tier competition, and with so few of us, it’d be tough.

“Well, too bad…”

[Party] Proposal: LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Party] Proposal: PK?! That’s awesome

[Party] Proposal: So exciting

[Party] Ro: Huh?

[Party] Happy: You sure you’re okay with that?

[Party] Proposal: Hell yes!!!!! Absolutely yes!!!

[Party] Happy: Really?

[Party] Proposal: Isn’t this what makes the game fun, lololololol

[Party] Happy: You pass

[Party] Ro: Good

And just like that, Proposal became a permanent member of our party.