Chapter 43: The Second Mole

“Is this a freshly made character?”

Luckily, the weight limit wasn't affected, and all my items were safely stored in my inventory.

“But, isn’t this way too slow? Was it always like this?”

Just as I was baffled by how sluggish the movement was, chat bubbles from a flood of players began filling up the screen.

[Guild] Blue: Whoa, it’s the arena.

[Arena ― Global] Koo: What’s this, it’s just a straight copy of the main server arena.

[General] Inspector: Damn, look at all these people.

[General] Woong: <<<<Over here

[General] Ino's Husband: Gentleman can’t come, he went to pick up his nephew.

[Guild] Green: I was shocked when I saw the equipment windowㅡ ㅡ

[Arena ― Global] Underpass: Ugh, it’s so slow.

[Arena ― Global] Squirrel: Yoonjae winrrrrralnangrlaiknarl

[Arena ― Global] Squirrel: Yoonjae winrannari;narri;nangri;nang

[Arena ― Global] Passerby: Stop spamming damn it

[General] Squirrel: ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ So scary

[General] Lonesome: Told you to shut up

While I was getting dizzy from the chatter, another party invite popped up.

[Party] Ro: There are seriously so many people.

[Party] Proposal: Let’s go somewhere less crowded too.

Dragging my sluggish character along, I carefully looked around the map.

Beyond the fence seemed to be a space for ordinary people; I even spotted chairs and other props.

Of course, characters didn’t have a sit function. Naturally, players couldn’t just stand still and behave.

“This is a mess.”

It was total chaos.

Attention seekers were running everywhere or barging into the arena, trying to make themselves noticed.

[Arena ― Global] Protester: Is this even a gameeeeeeee

[General] Sephir: What, I can’t attack yet?

Maybe because it wasn’t set up yet, fortunately, there was no bloodshed (?).

While I was looking at the squawking players with pity, the admin finally entered.

[Party] Proposal: Oh, is it starting now?

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Everyone, please exit the battle zone.

Sadly, the attention seekers didn’t listen.

[Arena ― Global] AnotherFail: ▇▄▅▆▇█▇▅●

[Arena ― Global] AnotherFail: ▇▄▅▆▇█▇▅●

[Arena ― Global] Starlight: Do an event on the main server too!

[General] MyLoveAdmin: Why are events only on Another?ㅠㅠ

[General] Papak: General! Later, Poongwolju-nim will come to cheer too!!!

[Arena ― Global] SojuLover: Heukcheol, pay attention to the main server tooㅠㅠ

[Guild] Hungry: How do you do that lying down thingㅡ ㅡㅋ

[Guild] Green: Isn’t it a Chinese character?

[Guild] INFP: Bro…

[Arena ― Global] NamyangjuCottonFist: There’s going to be a big event on the main server too, right??? I trust you bro??

[Arena ― Global] NextDoorUncle: ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇

[General] WaterSelf: Those people are going to cause trouble;;;

Just as I clicked my tongue at the increasingly noisy chat and the chaos, the protesting users inside the arena were forcibly moved outside the fence, toward the exit.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: For smooth proceedings, some users have been forcibly moved, and all spectator chat will be disabled during the event.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Only participating users are allowed to chat as necessary.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: If there’s any rudeness or disruption, we will mute you, so keep that in mind.

[General] WaterSelf: Okay~~~

[General] Gomae: Yes, yes

Only then, as if it were a lie, the whole map fell silent.

[Party] Proposal: Seriously, humans only calm down when you use forceㅡ ㅡ

[Party] Happy: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Party] Ro: But how are they going to pick the top 1~5? With 20 teams, if it’s a tournament, there’ll be a bye in the second round.

[Party] Happy: Yeah, it’s hard to split the rankings, isn’t it?

[Party] Proposal: Well, I’m sure they’ll figure it out, lol

[Arena ― Global] Admin: We’ll begin the Another 16th Season 3:3 Team Battle Event right away.

“Oh… finally!”

[Arena ― Global] Admin: We have a total of 20 teams. Team numbers will be assigned in order of application.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Each team leader, please check your team number.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: By the way, the format is a bit different from the regular tournament.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: It’ll be 10 rounds―5 rounds―? and our staff will draw the matchups on site in real time.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: When your team is called, enter the arena.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Battle time limit is 3 minutes.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Fight until all members of the opposing team are dead.

It was an unusual way to run things.

I thought they’d have a matchup chart ready, but they said they’d do it live as it goes...

Well, it might be fun, but it’s the Monster World admins we’re talking about.

Honestly, my trust level is...

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Then, we’ll begin right away. First round is…

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Team 5 VS Team 11

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Please enter the arena.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: If you don’t respond when called, you’ll be disqualified.

The curt explanation stirred up the chat window.

“Seriously, would it kill them to just say who’s on each team...”

Without something like a scoreboard, nobody knew who Team 5 and Team 11 were.

At that moment, quick-handed players were already scurrying around the homepage.

[Guild] Woong: If it’s 11, that’s us lol

Woong’s character entered the arena. Following him were Cheonjon and Lich.

From the looks of it, Lich was probably Woong’s co-sub for the week.

I wondered who Team 5 would be, but they didn’t make much of an impression.

Sallyeoneundeulgge, Wildflower, Woodcutter.

They were from the Hana guild, and all three were low level.

[Party] Proposal: Geez, Jelly’s up from the first round

[Party] Ro: Yeah, that means we have to root for Jelly now

[Party] Happy: Yikes...

We all groaned in annoyance, itching to beat up Jelly.

If Jelly wins and moves up, we have a chance to face them, so even if we hated it, we had to root for Jelly’s victory.

As we grimaced, the two teams faced each other inside the arena.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Let me explain quickly.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: I’ll go outside the fence and give the start signal.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Once my chat bubble disappears, you may begin.

True to the low-tech nature of the game, it was a primitive method.

Soon, the admin warped outside the fence.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Start

No sooner did the chat bubble vanish, Jelly’s team rushed forward.

Their common target: ‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’.

Woong, Cheonjon, and Lich latched on like ticks, pummeling him with punches.

Since it was a barehanded fight, there was no fancy control or spectacle to expect from this event, but...

“Ah… Ah.”

I couldn’t help but bury my face in my desk.

Then I pounded the table and burst out laughing.

[Party] Proposal: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Guild] Haema: I can’t take this lolololololol

[Guild] Taki: This just looks so lameㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Guild] Blue: Seriously, those are Rank 2 and 5 characters...

The Cheonjon and Woong characters, once rulers of the field, flailed their skinny arms wildly.

The graphics were clunky and the motions awkward, so it looked like paper dolls waving their arms.

On top of that, whack, whack, whack, crude and pitiful sound effects echoed in the arena.

The other team’s target also twisted his waist awkwardly, groaning “Ugh, ugh,” with simple, pathetic screams.

It was pure comedy, really.

As laughter exploded in chat, the outnumbered character tried to fight back.

But he couldn’t keep up with punches flying in from three directions.

[Guild] Ariel: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ so cute

[Guild] DeathGod: Yup, beating up on one is the default haha

[Guild] Ghost: Lol what is that

Maybe because they hadn’t coordinated beforehand, Woodcutter and Wildflower chased after different opponents.

Meanwhile, ‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’s HP dropped to half in an instant.

Feeling threatened, ‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’ hurriedly tried to escape.

“No! You shouldn’t run that way!”

‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’ ran in the opposite direction from his teammates.

Jelly’s team swiftly adjusted, doggedly chasing their first target.

[Party] Proposal: Did those guys just join for fun?

[Party] Proposal: They’re barely even trying

Woodcutter and Wildflower halfheartedly chased their opponents; they didn’t seem very motivated.

With such sluggish movement, ‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’ died.

The arena was small, and his escape skills weren’t exactly top notch... just getting hit a few times, and his lifespan ended fast.

“Wow, Jelly’s getting an easy win for the first match.”

Once ‘Sallyeoneundeulgge’ died, the other two got even sloppier.

The two running around randomly were picked off one after the other by concentrated attacks.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Round 1, Team 11 wins. Team 5 put up a bit of a fight. Well done.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Team 11, please exit. If Team 5 wants to keep spectating, please leave and re-enter.

Well, Team 5 was so hopeless they didn’t even seem to be trying, so Round 1 wasn’t anything special, but it gave everyone a good laugh and plenty of hype.

[Guild] Bambi: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m losing it, seriously

[Guild] Trauma: It’s hilarious to watch, but if it were me, I’d be trembling, lol

[Guild] INFP: This is nuts

[Guild] Taki: I’m dying, lol

[Party] Proposal: But since everyone’s level 1, the HP is really low

[Party] Proposal: Just a couple hits and you’re doneㅡ ㅡ

[Party] Ro: Yeah, we’ll have to manage our HP carefully

[Party] Proposal: You’ll need some skill for this, huh?

It’s not just about ganging up on someone.

Your teamwork has to be perfect, and you have to be quick-witted too.

To do that, honestly...

“Voice chat is a must.”

Right on cue, Proposal brought it up.

[Party] Proposal: Honestly, voice chat would make this so much easier

[Party] Proposal: But guys, it’s a bit too sudden for us, don’t you think

[Party] Proposal: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Party] Ro: I don’t have a mic, haha

[Party] Proposal: Yeah, Happy probably doesn’t have one either

[Party] Proposal: Even if you do, pretend you don’tㅡㅡ

[Party] Happy: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Party] Proposal: Let’s open our voices slowly, okay

[Party] Proposal: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Of course, it would be more fun among ourselves, but thanks to unexpected shyness, the voice chat plan was scrapped.

Proposal’s way of humorously brushing off the idea with a cautious attitude was kind of cool.

[Party] Proposal: We’ll do fine even without that!

[Party] Happy: We should watch how the others do it

[Party] Ro: Yeah, we’ll have to wait quite a while for our turn

We figured we could watch at least two or three more teams and analyzed the first-round battle at a leisurely pace—when it happened.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Next, Round 2.

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Team 1 VS Team 13

[Arena ― Global] Admin: Please enter the arena.

“Oh. Who is it?”

[Party] Proposal: What the hellㅡㅡ

Ah, wait.

Team 1...

That’s us, isn’t it?

“What the—!”

Frustrated, I jumped up from my desk.

This is definite proof the admin is spying on our chat—my King’s intuition...

[Guild] Blue: Oh, it’s the Three Brothers’ team, lol

[Guild] TeamLeaderKo: Everyone, good luck^^^^^^

[Guild] Ariel: Go win, lol

[Guild] Taki: Who’s Team 13??

[Guild] S: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Guild] TeamLeaderKo: Ackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Why are they suddenly laughing like that, I wondered—just then, a familiar ID burst out from a jumble of colorful characters like a charging bull.

Hope.

“Wow......”

…At this point, it must be fate.