The difference between pay-to-win and free-to-play was crystal clear.
Even at the same level, players who spent money could instantly return to town using a Return Scroll, heal with Potions, and hunt in relatively easy environments thanks to high-quality Equipment, making gameplay much smoother.
On the other hand, free-to-play players had to walk long distances themselves, risk their lives hunting Monsters, or endure backbreaking hardship.
Anyone who’s played a game would relate to this.
ASA was no different.
“It’s not just the same—it’s even worse.”
Since it was a game based on perfect virtual reality, the moment you put on the headset and logged in, you had to see your character not as an avatar, but as your actual ‘self.’
No one likes suffering, and especially with so many realistic inconveniences in disadvantaged areas, even the most stubborn would start spending money on ASA for the sake of their senses’ comfort.
‘Still, if you’re going to spend money anyway, it’s better to get something with a definite effect, or at least a freebie, isn’t it?’
That’s why I chose the infamous Eren Port.
Clang—
The chime from the lantern attached to the door Dahav pushed open rang out, and the young man inside called out with a voice full of discipline.
“Welcome to Eren Port’s number one, Madra Brokerage!”
As Dahav approached the counter where the young man was standing, the youth greeted him as if he’d been waiting.
“What brings you here?”
“I’d like to see the brokerage listings.”
“Yes, right here!”
As the young man showed him the ledger, a system window popped up.
The listings were divided into categories like weapons, armor, accessories, and within each, you could search in more detail.
Dahav, having already decided what to buy, unhesitatingly tapped on the Others tab, then the Materials tab, and entered ‘Corpse.’
Immediately, a list of Monster corpses appeared in the search window.
But as Dahav looked at the brokerage listings, his expression turned to shock.
“Are you all right, sir?”
“Uh, yes, yes, I’m fine.”
Despite his words, his heart was pounding wildly.
And for good reason—the corpses were unbelievably cheap.
“I knew it would be cheap, but why are they this dirt-cheap…?”
As he racked his brain for an answer, a name came to mind.
‘Wilhelm…’
It was because this was before Wilhelm, the first Monster Pioneer, had appeared.
In other words, the true value of Monster corpses had not yet been revealed.
That players were uninterested in corpses was, for Dahav—
He’d already decided to invest, so he’d exchanged ten million won for 100 gold at the exchange, but he’d never imagined that corpses would be this cheap, so it was an even greater windfall than expected.
Excitedly, he checked the list of corpses, but soon ran into a problem.
‘Cheap is good, but there aren’t any good listings.’
Corpses of powerful Monsters were excellent materials for other weapons or armor, so instead of selling them raw at bargain prices, it was more reasonable to break them down and process them first.
Because of that, Nameless Monster and Boss Monster corpses were extremely rare in the listings.
He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed at the result brought on by the absence of Monster Pioneers.
“Still, with this much, I shouldn’t have any trouble growing for a while.”
Just as he was about to buy them all, comforted by the low prices, Dahav stopped himself.
“Come to think of it, there’s no need to buy everything right now.”
His inventory space was limited, and because of the Skill level cap, there were many corpses he couldn’t use yet.
And above all, he had no intention of fattening the merchant’s wallet.
Just like in other games, there were merchants in ASA, and as long as something sold, they’d even hawk pebbles from the street—born salesmen through and through.
“If they realize there’s demand, they’ll definitely raise the prices.”
There was still a year until Wilhelm, the Monster Pioneer, officially appeared, so there was no need to let the merchants’ tricks force him into paying extra.
He revised his original purchase plan and spoke in as composed a voice as possible.
“I’ll take everything from here to here, and in addition, I’ll buy some Needles, Recovery Potions, and a Return Scroll.”
Just in case the merchants caught on, he reduced his original plan to a tenth—a very restrained purchase.
Even so, the young man was startled, but quickly composed himself and spoke.
“Sir, do you enjoy unusual cuisine?”
Instead of answering, Dahav simply nodded, and the young man continued.
“Let me confirm again. You’re buying these corpses, Needles, Recovery Potions, and a Return Scroll, correct?”
“Yes.”
“These items are scattered across various locations… Delivery will take about a week.”
Even three days would have felt like an eternity, but hearing it would take a whole week made Dahav frown.
“Just as I heard, they’re really nasty.”
This was how the company behind ASA, Utopia, made their money.
They sold things as paid options or conveniences that were standard in other games.
Even knowing that, experiencing it firsthand made his displeasure rise, but without hesitation, he purchased the Convenience System.
“I’ll use Portal Service for all three locations and receive them immediately.”
The young man’s eyes went wide as he asked again.
“You want Portal Service for all of them?”
It was a natural reaction.
Portal Service cost a full 1 gold, while the items he’d just bought totaled only 63 silver.
Considering 100 silver made 1 gold, the fee was more than the goods themselves.
Instead of answering, Dahav flicked two gold coins—2 gold—with his fingers and spoke again.
“This should be enough, right? Consider the extra a tip and keep it.”
The young man’s eyes sparkled, and he bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
“Thank you for your patronage! My name is Madra, Madra Ilrobich! Sir, I look forward to serving you again!”
“Likewise, Mr. Madra of good fortune.”
***
You know how people say things like, “Studying was the easiest thing,” or when you hear a model taxi driver’s driving tips, it all sounds so easy that you think you could do it too—but when you actually try, you realize how daunting it is?
This was exactly one of those situations.
“Wilhelm made it look so easy… But how am I supposed to stitch these together?”
Because he bought fewer items than planned, he had leftover funds and was able to rent a small, private workshop where he could maintain secrecy—everything was going well, except the gameplay was much harder than expected.
Moreover, he had to rely only on the scattered fragments of memory that surfaced now and then, making it all feel overwhelming.
“Still, I’m sure I at least need to pick up the Needle and use the Skill…”
He carefully took out a Needle from his inventory and called out the Skill name.
“Rebirth.”
As he chanted the activation phrase, a system window appeared, making his earlier worries seem pointless.
[Would you like to receive system assistance for the Rebirth Skill?]
[If you receive assistance, only Masterwork-grade products will be produced.]
“So I was worrying for nothing…”
Dahav trailed off, eyes fixed on the message, and hesitated for a moment.
“If I remember right, crafting results could be: Grand Failure, Failure, Success, Masterwork, and above that, classified as Achievements.”
In short, it meant you couldn’t create works of Achievement grade or higher.
But the choice didn’t trouble him for long.
He was a complete beginner, so there was no point in overthinking this.
“My goal for now is just to make something.”
He selected the cheapest and most plentiful corpses from those laid out on the floor.
[You will use the Rebirth Skill with system assistance.]
[Please select the part to use for sewing.]
[You have selected: Dreadman’s Head, Troll’s Torso, Mighty Orc’s Arm, Damaged Lycanthrope’s Leg.]
Suddenly, his view changed.
The corpses and body parts he’d laid out were now connected by transparent, blue lines, and a translucent hand began to move as if guiding him.
“So I just have to follow along?”
He moved his hand with the Needle, following the thread lines and the guiding hand.
As he passed the final line, a notification appeared.
Ding—!
[Grand Failure! ‘Shabby Ghoul’ has been created!]
[Your skill is absurdly lacking compared to the materials! Try harder!]
—
[Shabby Ghoul]
- Level: 1
- Race: Undead
- HP: 120
- MP: 0
- Stats: Strength 12 / Agility 6 / Vitality 12 / Willpower 0
- Command Cost: 3
※ Special Notes
- Troll’s torso effect: Ghoul’s regeneration increased by 5%.
- Due to severe damage to the Lycanthrope’s leg, the creature now limps.
- Compared to the quality of the materials, the player’s skill and Skill level are so low that the result is much worse than the original corpse.
—
Looking at the stats of the servant Monster created through Rebirth, Dahav couldn’t help but sigh.
“Khh…”
It wasn’t that he was happy to have avoided the worst, but it wasn’t something to be disappointed about either.
“Still, I’ve learned a lot.”
After all, making something was the main goal, and thanks to that, he’d gained useful information.
“For now, no matter how good the materials, they’re wasted with my current skill.”
Given Dahav’s stats, level, skill, and max mana, that much was clear.
Even if he used two Ghouls made from these materials, he wouldn’t be able to maintain them for long due to mana consumption, and would be limited by command capacity.
After organizing the information he’d gathered in his head, Dahav moistened his lips and called out the Skill name again.
“Rebirth”
As he selected the corpse to use for the Skill, the thread lines he’d seen before appeared in his view.
For the second attempt, he paused before moving his hand.
“I can’t just follow the guide lines clumsily.”
Instead of just moving his hand and Needle, he focused on the angle of his wrist and the direction of the Needle, moving exactly as the guide lines showed.
Swish, sizzle—
Sweat poured down his body from the intense concentration required for this delicate work.
But Dahav ignored it and continued stitching in the silence.
After ten minutes, then an hour, as the sweat on his forehead finally dripped down, Dahav’s hand with the Needle also stopped.
“This one worked!”
He could tell instinctively.
And just as expected, a message window appeared.
Ding—!
[Congratulations! Success! ‘Savage Ghoul’ has been completed! Your skills are still lacking, but your passion and determination have overcome your inexperience!]
—
[Savage Ghoul]
- Level: 1
- Race: Undead
- HP: 250
- MP: 100
- Stats: Strength 25 / Agility 15 / Vitality 25 / Willpower 10
- Command Cost: 5
- Active Skill
Leap: Consumes 25 to jump high. - Passive Skill
Cooperation: When attacking the same target as a party member or ally, damage increases by 10%.
※ Special Notes
- Dreadman’s head effect: Inherits the Dreadman tribe’s ‘Cooperation’ trait.
- Troll’s torso effect: Ghoul’s regeneration increased by 10%.
- Lycanthrope’s leg effect: Gains the Leap Skill, but due to severe damage, the creature now limps.
- Compared to the quality of the materials, the Skill level is still too low to display full power.
—
“There’s this much of a difference?”
The overwhelming stat difference compared to the Grand Failure was enough to make his eyes light up.
“If it’s like this…”
With so many materials, there was no reason to use a Grand Failure.
Moreover, as a reward for success, his Dexterity stat had increased as well.
Dahav immediately grabbed another material.
“Rebirth”
Dahav’s hands began to move busily.
***
A short while later.
Outside the east gate, walking across the green plains, Dahav’s face bore the happiness of a dog after a bath.
“Ahh… So this is how warm the sunlight outside feels.”
Because he’d succeeded in just two tries, he thought maybe he had talent or that this would be easy.
But that was just the realm of ‘luck,’ one of the most important factors in ASA.
From that point, in ASA, he spent six hours—in real time, two hours—stitching Monster corpses.
“Still, in the end, I managed to make both of them successful.”
But using the Rebirth Skill was only the very beginning of being a Monster Pioneer.
“Now, time to really enjoy myself.”
With his heart pounding in excitement, Dahav cracked his neck and focused on a spot in the plains—on two Goblins.