Chapter 52: A Void Victory

“What’s this? The atmosphere’s different today.”

It was quite unlike the fierce start we had in the last Guild War.

Even though we were sitting comfortably in the center as if it were our own home turf, Hana Guild showed no signs of coming in.

[Guild] Manager Go: Huh?

[Guild] Baegopa: What are they doing ㅡ ㅡ

[Guild] Baegopa: Why aren’t they coming in? lol

[Guild] Bambi: Feels like it’s because of Happy-nim

[Guild] Grim Reaper: Ah, hahaha

[Guild] Manager Go: Did Happy-nim traumatize Mushin or something

[Guild] Green: lmao

[Guild] Trauma: lol?

“Come on, really? You think they’re scared of me?”

I tried to deny it, but honestly, it felt kind of good.

[Guild] Happy: lol

[Guild] Happy: I’ll step back for a bit

[Guild] Happy: It’s no fun like this

[Guild] Ariel: lmaoooo

I tried to act tough as a joke, but Hana Guild wouldn’t budge.

Just like me, the Karma guild members grew awkward and started throwing out more question marks.

—Are they running some kind of high-level mind game?

[Guild] Blue: Are they waiting for us to let our guard down so they can rush in…?

[Guild] Haema: Maybe they’re holding a strategy meeting? lol

[Guild] Proposal: All of a sudden?

[Guild] Gadfly: Isn’t that meeting going a bit too long, though? lol

[Guild] Ghost: What’s up with them, lol

[Guild] Mono: Geez, what a bunch of chickens lolololol

It was so bizarre that even the silent trio from the main server chimed in.

After a moment’s thought, INFP decided to try a bait strategy.

—Sik-nim, Mono-nim, Ghost-nim.

—Come to the center for a bit.

The three hesitated, then slowly made their way to the center.

They were the lowest levels in Karma.

Even as those three easy kills walked boldly around the center, Hana Guild just watched from afar.

[Guild] Mono: Wow, even with tasty-looking noobs like me, they won’t come in?

[Guild] Manager Go: This psychological warfare is crazy

[Guild] Woong: This is ridiculous lol

[Guild] Blue: You never know when they’ll suddenly rush us at this rate

Up until then, everyone took it lightly.

But 5 minutes, then 10, then 15 passed, and it was nearing 20 minutes—Hana still did nothing.

“Uh, isn’t this a bit much?”

As the silence dragged on, even our members began to sense something was off.

As people started to murmur, INFP finally took action.

—Just whispered to Mushin, but he’s AFK.

—Then I whispered Han Nari…

—She says, ‘Just a moment, sorry,’ and nothing else.

[Guild] Manager Go: ㅡ.ㅡ?

—They told us to wait, so let’s give them 5 more minutes.

It was a hard answer to accept.

Our members started expressing their irritation.

[Guild] Baegopa: Are they kidding or whatㅡ ㅡ

[Guild] Baegopa: If they know they can’t win, just forfeit alreadyㅡㅡ lol

[Guild] Ariel: Seriously, it’s not like we’re toys to keep waiting lol

[Guild] Taki: Maybe they’re having another internal meltdown? lol

Well, we weren’t really in a place to talk… Hana Guild was pretty rotten inside, and considering Mushin had rage-quit before, it made some sense.

“But what are we supposed to do? It’s a Guild War.”

Like Baegopa said, if you can’t keep going because you think you’ll lose, just forfeit.

So...

[Mining Field — Global] INFP: Hana Guild

[Mining Field — Global] INFP: What is it this time

[Mining Field — Global] INFP: If you’re going to keep this up, just forfeit

[Mining Field — Global] INFP: GM, if you’re watching, please check this out

Thinking they were probably monitoring, INFP went ahead and summoned the GM directly.

I wasn’t sure the GM would actually respond, but within five minutes, a real GM appeared. A normal wizard character with a bright yellow username, the GM walked into the center and stared at Hana Guild.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: Situation confirmed.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: It’s been 30 minutes since the Guild War started, but Hana Guild hasn’t moved.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: Hana Guild leader, please respond.

Then Han Nari, the vice leader, came running from Hana Guild’s side.

[General] Han Nari: Sorryㅠ

[General] Han Nari: Our guild leader Mushin said he’d be right back but went AFK

[General] Han Nari: We can’t proceed without Mushin’s character, so we keep calling himㅠㅠ

[General] Han Nari: But he’s not picking up now…

“What the…”

No matter how I looked at it, it sounded like a lie.

“They’re just pretending to be AFK to mess with us, aren’t they?”

[General] INFP: Then the co-leader should just log off

[General] Han Nari: The co-leader is out and can’t play right nowㅠㅠ

[Mining Field — Global] Woong: Does that even make senseㅡㅡ

—Jelly-nim, that’s enough.

[Guild] Manager Go: Wow, that’s a really obvious lie

[Guild] Baegopa: This is total BS, seriouslyㅡ ㅡ

[Party] Proposal: We’re not your playthings

[Party] Ro: Exactly

[Party] Cheonjon: Damn bastards

As everyone was venting their frustration, the GM wrapped things up.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: Confirmed.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: Judging that Hana Guild cannot proceed with the Guild War, the 4th round ends here.

“Huh? So does that mean we win?”

[Hana Guild: 1,550 points]

[Karma Guild: 3,150 points]

I smiled slightly at the score that popped up. But then…

[Mining Field — Global] GM: As no battles occurred this Guild War, both Karma and Hana Guilds have 0 kills, 0 deaths. The 5th round will be invalid.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: In addition, Hana Guild’s Guild Dungeon and Item Sale Cards will be revoked.

[Mining Field — Global] GM: Karma Guild, for your wasted time, a small compensation will be given.

“No way… is this for real?”

I was speechless.

Even with some compensation, having 30 minutes wasted only for it to be declared void was just…

[Guild] Cheonjon: Insane

[Guild] Cheonjon: If I’d known, I’d have gone over there and killed them allㅡㅡ

[Guild] Cheonjon: I just sat here watching, and now we look like fools

[Guild] Green: lmao, they just came up with some BS because they knew they’d lose

[Guild] Trauma: This is disgusting…ㅠ

[Guild] Gadfly: Who’s the GM

[Guild] Gadfly: Is it Park? Kang??

[Guild] Manager Go: Judging by this ridiculous solution, I’d say it’s Kang

[Party] Proposal: What’s that about?

[Party] Cheonjon: There’s a GM who’s soft on Hana

[Guild] Cheonjon: Looks like Hana knew Kang was on duty today and played dirty

[Guild] Proposal: ㅡㅡ

Suddenly, Proposal’s words from last time came to mind.

If the GMs split into factions, things would get messy…

“Wow, seriously…?”

Just how corrupt can this game get?

[Guild] Woong: lol, pretty smart

As I shivered, Jelly said that.

Staring at her, I finally realized.

If Jelly were Karma’s leader, we’d have done the same thing.

[Guild] Baegopa: lol, clever move

[Guild] Green: We totally got played~ lol

The other members thought so too. The discomfort didn’t last; soon, most people begrudgingly respected Hana’s trick.

It was a moment when I felt just how dirty the fights among the old-timers really were.

—Irritating as it is, if the GM says so, there’s nothing we can do. It’s not like I can go toe to toe with them.

—So this Guild War is void. Everyone, go back.

In the end, the 4th round of Guild War ended in vain, with no victor.

[General] Jjapda: Huh?? Why’s it void? lol

[General] Petit: From the announcement, looks like Hana didn’t do anything?

[General] Sogogigut: lol, I think I get what happened

[General] Cheongpodo: They look pathetic lol

[General] WaterIsSelf: Ahem! Hmph!

While the regular users who learned the truth mocked Hana Guild, we sharpened our blades for revenge.

[Guild] Gadfly: I’m seriously gonna beat the crap out of those bastardsㅡㅡ

[Guild] Taki: Bro, crush them in the tournament lol

[Guild] Manager Go: Gadfly, you’re disqualified. Gadfly, disqualified.

[Guild] Gadfly: ㅡㅡ

[Guild] Woong: Anyone who loses to Hana in 3v3… lol

[Guild] Taki: For real, our guild’s honor is on the line

[Guild] Green: Losers pay a fine~ lol

[Guild] Haema: Ari, better get your fine ready? lol

[Guild] Ariel: ㅡㅡ

[Guild] Cheonjon: As long as I’m here, that won’t happen^^

The previously tense guild atmosphere had become pretty natural thanks to the shared resentment toward Hana Guild.

It was a bit funny to see us so unintentionally united, but at least for this moment, our spirits were burning bright.

[Party] Proposal: Hey, we HAVE to win!!!

[Party] Ro: lol

[Party] Happy: lol, no question

The day of the showdown finally arrived.

“Wow. My heart’s been pounding all day.”

I’m sure everyone felt the same.

There was still an hour left, but everyone had already gathered in town, chatting excitedly.

[Bizert Village — Global] Baeksuda: Where do we go?

[General] Pineapple: Hold up, need to eat lol

[General] Daram: lkjdalsjfdalkjsd

[General] Daram: xjvklcz,xv,cutjagmslkajdfl

[General] Daram: Free the abongggggg

[General] Lonely: ㅗ

[Bizert Village — Global] WaterIsSelf: The portal opens at 6 on the dot~

[General] Spectator: What, there’s a ton of people here lol

“So many people…”

I’d never seen Bizert Village’s square so packed with characters.

Not even on the first day of the season was it this crowded.

[Party] Proposal: They say a bunch came over from the main server lol

[Party] Proposal: This is nuts lol

[Party] Ro: Looks like there are about 100 people online now ㄷㄷ

[Party] Happy: Even 50 is a lot for Another, but now 100?

[Bizert Village — Global] AnotherRIP: Is this even a game

[Bizert Village — Global] Meeee: You losers, go look after the main server

[Bizert Village — Global] AnotherRIP: Can’t you see all the main server people are leaving??

[Bizert Village — Global] Protester: Is Black Iron making you hold this event??

Some people didn’t seem interested in the event itself, but unfamiliar IDs kept popping up regardless.

Curious, I walked around the village square to people-watch.

That’s when I spotted a crowd gathered in a secluded corner.

Bori. Papak. Majestic. Ham. Daram. Yunjae. Pingpu. Janggun…

“Huh?”

It was that group of newbies I’d seen at the training ground—the friends of True Buffer-nim.

Feeling pleased, I paused for a moment and then realized something else.

“Ham… Janggun…? Ham…ster, Grand…Commander? No way.”

Just to be sure, I checked the event sign-up board on the website.

There were 20 entries, and amazingly, the very last was Ham, Yunjae, Janggun.

“Wow, they’re joining in too. Did they just pick one team to represent them?”

They’d said they were just here to have fun, and it really looked like they were having a blast, which made me oddly proud.

I wondered if they were adapting to the unfamiliar game, but it was just an event anyway.

With a happy heart, I wished them luck and walked past.

[Bizert Village — Global] GM: Hello, this is the GM.

[Bizert Village — Global] GM: The Another Server Season 16 3v3 Tournament event will begin soon.

[Bizert Village — Global] GM: When participants move maps, your character database will be changed.

[Bizert Village — Global] GM: If you log in again now, an event portal will appear in the square.

[Bizert Village — Global] GM: Participants and spectators, please proceed to the waiting area.

As a few parties booed good-naturedly, I quickly relogged.

Sure enough, next to the main portal in the square, a shimmering red portal had appeared.

With my heart pounding, I clicked the portal, and found myself in a round arena with a dirt floor and a wooden fence.

“Wow.”

A brand-new map. As I followed the bustling speech bubbles, a strange sense of speed greeted me.

I opened my status window right away… My character, ‘Happy,’ had been set to level 1 and was now completely unequipped.