Chapter 2 : Persistence of a Florist

“Let’s check the compendium… the compendium…”

At the same time he acquired the title, two thick books appeared before him.

But they were only books in form; the information inside could be instantly confirmed via pop-ups.

[Lv1. Epfeltz Flower]

[Observation Progress: 10%]

[A flower commonly found throughout the Luxi Forest.]

[Lv1. Kkaridongle Vine]

[Observation Progress: 10%]

[The most common type of vine in the Terras Continent.]

There were a few more entries, and small explanations were displayed one after another.

“This is satisfying to fill up.”

He was very pleased to have found another purpose to enjoy the New World.

As Jaeho continued filling the compendium, he unknowingly headed beyond the forest.

“Hm?”

He arrived at a clearing so wide it took his breath away.

“Wow…!”

The place was filled with pure white flowers.

From the fully bloomed flowers, dandelion-like seeds sparkled and gently floated through the air, creating a dazzling spectacle.

“These are Epfeltz Flowers too.”

Jaeho confirmed through and cautiously strolled among the flowers.

“Hm?”

At that moment, a single Epfeltz Flower caught his eye.

But it was a little different from the others.

It was still in bud form, not yet blossomed, and it was a bit bigger.

“That’s strange.”

Even with a quick glance around, it was the only one that hadn’t bloomed yet.

“This reminds me of something.”

Back in middle school, there was a flower in the school flowerbed that quietly held its buds.

While all the other flowers around were in full bloom, this one never opened.

Jaeho looked at it with teary eyes, and just as a small change happened… the incident occurred.

That cute flower he had been proud of… was crushed under the foot of a thug.

It was Jaeho’s fault in a way.

Back then, Jaeho was known as someone who could throw a punch, often targeted by girls like that.

It was a memory from a past where both Jaeho and the girls cried.

“Yeah. Even though it’s technically a different flower, this time…”

Jaeho made up his mind.

He would care for this flower here so it could safely bloom and scatter its seeds like the others.

Though he had failed before, this time he would succeed.

Ding—

At the moment he sealed his resolve, a pop-up window appeared before his eyes.

[You have discovered .]

It really was an Epfeltz Flower.

But—

“What’s with ‘That Never Blooms’?”

An ominous, unsettling description.

It even felt like it was calling him a ‘loser rookie’.

Still, when it came to persistence, Jaeho was no pushover.

His father used to shout, “A man has to have… persistence in his collection.”

“A man’s persistence!”

Of course, if his father knew the target was a flower, he’d surely scold him.

***

Jaeho guarded the flower for about an hour.

[Lv1. The Epfeltz Flower That Never Blooms]

[Observation Progress: 10%]

[An Epfeltz Flower that has not yet bloomed.]

“Now that I think about it, this is weird.”

Jaeho found it odd.

If it was the same Epfeltz Flower, it would have been classified as a new species in the compendium.

“Oh, is it a different species?”

The explanation seemed to hide some mystery, sparking Jaeho’s fighting spirit once more.

But just staring at it idly wouldn’t help.

“I need to gather some info.”

He really liked flowers, but had no real experience raising them.

Plus, this was the New World—not reality.

Any clumsy attempt could kill the flower.

Standing up, Jaeho retraced his steps and headed back to the Starting Hall.

“I’ve gone pretty far.”

A small path he hadn’t noticed before led from the Starting Hall.

“If I follow this path a little further, I should reach the village.”

After three hours since logging in, Jaeho finally began playing ‘normally’.

***

When you start the game in Luxi Forest, you arrive first at the small mountain village called Trian Village.

Here, NPCs for tutorial quests and merchants for Newbies exist, but there was one problem…

Trian Village was the village of the Elves.

And in the New World, Elves were hostile to humans.

When Newbies start the game, the usual tutorial quests were predictable.

“‘Here’s this blunt sword, go catch ten squirrels’ or ‘Try swinging your sword at these harmless creatures,’” and so on.

But Trian Village was different.

No, Jaeho was especially different.

“Stop!!!”

Elves blocked him with threatening gestures.

The village was just five minutes away, but Jaeho was stopped by the Elves before even seeing it.

“I heard Elves were hostile, but I never thought it’d be like this…”

“There’s no way to communicate with monsters! Attack!!!”

Wait, wait!

Their judgment was completely wrong!

Monsters?!

“No matter what, that’s a bit much.”

But Jaeho couldn’t think further.

The Elves’ fists were flying right in front of him.

Since starting the game, Jaeho hadn’t done anything except look at flowers.

Naturally, he had no weapons or combat skills…

“…Combat skills?”

At that moment, memories passed by like a montage.

Among them was Wooram trying to make Jaeho a martial artist.

Jaeho’s father worked hard to build his combat abilities!

Swish—

Jaeho’s natural weaving movement cut through the Elves’ fists in midair.

“Huh?!”

Startled by his surprisingly agile movements despite his size, the Elves hesitated.

“Anyway, the base of all my actions is my physical stats!”

Before starting the game, Wansik had said that stats were only supplementary in the New World.

No matter how high your stats, without combat sense you can’t dodge or land hits.

Many people focused on stats to supplement lacking physical abilities.

Conversely, even high-level attacks could be dodged and countered with skill.

Of course, no one just did normal attacks like an idiot.

Only “mouth fighters” said things like that!

But Jaeho was naturally a fighter, enough that his father wanted him to learn martial arts.

Physical, sense, presence (?)

Swish—swish—

The Elves’ fists kept slashing through empty air.

[The opponent continuously evaded attacks from a much higher-level enemy.]

[Evasion rate increased.]

Beep! Beep!!

[Due to level difference with the opponent, damage could not be inflicted.]

“?!!”

That was as far as it went.

No matter how gifted he was physically, attack power was a factor he couldn’t overcome.

“You’re quite agile!”

The Elves praised him in astonishment.

“To think such a monster existed in this forest…!”

Urgh—

Hearing that, Jaeho finally vented his frustration.

“Hey, you brats! What are you looking at to call me a monster?!”

“Huh? He’s talking?!”

The Elves looked genuinely surprised.

“So is he a demon then?!”

Their accusations grew more ridiculous.

“A human! A human! An Immortalion!!!”

[Immortalion]

A term referring to players in the New World.

Unlike NPCs, they do not die.

“Wha…?”

“Immortalion…?”

“Here?”

The Elves exchanged confused looks.

“But where’s the proof that he’s an Immortalion… hmm?”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, the Elves stopped talking and started sniffing.

[Thanks to the title, the Elves’ affinity toward you has increased slightly.]

“?!”

Jaeho’s eyes widened at the unexpected effect.

“So it works like this?”

On the other hand, the Elves showed suspicion at the floral scent around Jaeho.

No matter how you looked at him, his fearsome appearance didn’t match such a delicate fragrance…

Jaeho didn’t miss their timing of hesitation.

“I don’t intend to fight! I’m just here to learn about the Epfeltz Flower!”

“The Epfeltz Flower…?”

Asking about the flower greatly eased the tension.

“The Epfeltz Flower is the most common flower in Luxi Forest… why are you curious about it?”

“Uh… trying to raise flowers?”

That single phrase caused a huge reaction.

“Lying to trick us!”

“No way! He’s definitely trying to deceive us!”

“But that person…”

The Elves were confused, unsure of how to respond.

Jaeho added one more thing.

“More precisely, it’s called ‘The Epfeltz Flower That Never Blooms’.”

“?!!!”

The Elves gasped in shock.

[You survived a battle against a vastly superior opponent!]

[Fame has increased!]

The system announced Jaeho’s survival.

***

“Hi.”

Mei, another newbie who just started playing today, sighed.

Upon waking in the Starting Hall and discovering a monster’s figure, she was taken aback.

“Is this why they say not to go to Luxi Forest?!”

But after a brief observation, she realized it wasn’t a monster.

So she thought it must be a tutorial NPC that always stays near the Starting Hall…

But she didn’t have the courage to speak to it.

She asked for help on the tip board, only to be told it wasn’t an NPC.

Thinking, “Thank goodness,” she headed to Trian Village.

The reason she chose Luxi was simple—she wanted to befriend the beautiful Elves that exist in fantasy.

– Luxi? People say just don’t go there.

– There are so few players in Luxi, I don’t know. Other starting regions have better infrastructure and cities, so no reason to go there.

– Guys, Luxi is amazing! Come all over!

ㄴ That’s a scammer from Luxi. Don’t fall for it.

– As a member of the Jerluck Association, I say this: clear tutorial and early quests well, they give healing potions. Don’t use them until you collect 100, then start ‘Forest Gump’. You have to run nonstop while healing after fights.

– Elves are racist! Don’t go there!

Most reactions were negative.

Still, driven by his affection for Elves, he chose Luxi…

[Tutorial Quest]

[You have arrived at the Elf Village, Trian. However, the Elves here do not welcome intruders.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

Greet the residents successfully.]

[Success Condition: Greet 10 residents of Trian (0/10)]

[Reward: 20 Healing Mushrooms]

It sounded easy, but…

She—and many others in Luxi—would fail this hellish quest.

– Hello.

– (Ignored)

– Hello!

– (Ignored)

[Elf Resident is displeased with you.]

[Affinity has decreased.]

[Affinity cannot decrease any further.]

• I’m not a bad person!

[Elf Resident hates you.]

[Affinity has decreased.]

[Affinity cannot decrease any further.]

[You may be attacked.]

Like many other players, Mei ended up sitting dumbfounded on the roadside.

“Later… You look like a newbie. Do you have any plans to join the Jerluck Association?”

The Luxi ghosts approached her.

Pii-ri-ri-ri—

Suddenly, the clear sound of a flute drew everyone’s attention.

Six or so Elves were returning from outside the village.

Among them stood a tall giant.

“Huh? That’s…?”

Mei recognized him.

The same monster—or rather, person—she’d seen in the Starting Hall.

***

As soon as Jaeho mentioned , the Elves’ suspicion lessened significantly.

Sensing a desperate opportunity, Jaeho launched into a long speech before the Elves.

How much he loved flowers.

And even his desire to open a flower shop!

Seeing that fighting the Elves was a zero-win scenario, he abandoned the idea.

He had to win through words, so he gave it his all.

[The Elves have accepted your sincere feelings toward flowers.]

[Sudden Quest]

[The Elves have been moved by your warm heart.

They realize that beauty is not just superficial and formally invite you to Trian.]

Just then, someone began playing a full flute as they entered the village.

“Well, hopefully this is going well.”