A short while later.
“Here are the 10 sheets of Goblin Leather you asked for.”
As Dahav handed over the Goblin Leather, Alkas couldn’t hide his shock.
“Amazing! You already collected all 10 sheets?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m already a seasoned warrior.”
Contrary to his confident words, the truth was that it had been quite tough.
“There was even a time I was ambushed and found myself in real danger.”
Luckily, I noticed them coming from afar and managed to react in time.
If not, I would’ve been completely caught off guard.
After confirming the amount of Goblin Leather, Alkas gave a thumbs-up and spoke.
“Alright, I admit it! You’re definitely different from those big talkers who never deliver!”
[‘Training for the Reckless Adventurer’ has been cleared!]
[Alkas’s Favorability has increased by 5.]
[Because you proved your bravery in less than a day, Alkas’s Favorability has increased by an additional 5.]
[Alkas is starting to trust you.]
[You have gained 1,500 experience points.]
[Congratulations! Your level has increased to 7.]
Seeing the message windows pop up, I cheered inwardly.
“Nice!”
Thanks to the unexpected bonus in Favorability, I was now only three steps away from my first goal of reaching level 10.
“Level 10 is where things really start at ASA.”
Just as I was happily imagining the bright future ahead, Alkas continued.
“Ahem, well, this isn’t as an instructor, but as the head of village security, I’d like to make you an official request.”
“The affairs of Eren port are my own. I’ll help however I can, so please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“You truly are a man of principle! It’s just that lately, the Goblin Captains leading the Goblins have gotten far too cunning. The villagers have been suffering a lot because of them. I’ll make sure you’re well compensated, so please, hunt down the Goblin village and reduce their numbers for us.”
Ding—!
[Eren port’s Threat]
- Rank: 6+ grade
- Quest Details: Alkas, impressed by your bravery, has entrusted you with the task of exterminating the Goblins. Destroy the Goblin village where they dwell and bring back 5 ‘Goblin Captain’s Fangs’ as proof by defeating their commanders.
- Rewards upon Completion: 5,000 experience points, Favorability with Alkas +10, Eren port Reputation +5, achievement ‘Goblin Exterminator’, and unlock the linked quest ‘Eren port’s Peace’.
After checking the quest details, Dahav replied with a confident expression.
“Leave it to me.”
“Then I’ll count on you.”
Dahav bowed politely and set off.
***
Since ancient times, ‘numbers’ have meant power.
In that sense, ‘money’ is included under ‘numbers’.
Artifacts, treasures—these have all served as tools or symbols for expanding influence, increasing the size of one’s faction.
And that’s something you can still see today, large or small.
From the loss of strength when a teammate is ejected in team sports, to the childhood days when you felt fearless with friends by your side.
In this way, the power of ‘numbers’ goes beyond simple physical might and has a huge impact on morale as well.
Games are no different.
‘Numbers’ give you a huge advantage in ASA as well.
For example, in a 1:1 fight, as long as you focus on your opponent, you’re not necessarily at a disadvantage.
But in multi-enemy battles, when you have to watch your sides and back, the psychological and physical pressure increases exponentially as the numbers grow.
In other words, 1+1 isn’t just 2.
Sometimes, it can bring out the fighting power of 3 or 4 or more—that’s the advantage of numbers.
And when it comes to a Goblin village led by a commander—a Goblin Captain—it goes without saying.
That’s why the ‘Eren port’s Threat’ quest was considered quite difficult.
“Destroying a village and hunting Goblin Captains, huh.”
It was on a completely different level from encountering one or two in field battles.
“If I go in as I am now, I’ll definitely die.”
Even in most strategy videos, this was a quest that absolutely required forming a Party.
But forming a Party wasn’t easy.
Those with a certain level of skill usually came to Eren port planning to form groups from the start, and those who didn’t were mostly clueless beginners.
In Eren port, finding a proper Party was as hard as picking stars from the sky.
“Of course, I have no intention of giving up.”
Even if I had to follow the strategy videos step by step, I had to earn the rewards from this quest.
“There’s a way, after all.”
It definitely wouldn’t be easy, and there were conditions, but there was a strategy.
Ding-a-ling—!
“Welcome……. Oh, another customer!”
As he entered the Brokerage, Madra greeted him with a bright smile.
“Hello, I’m looking for some items.”
“What do you need? Just say the word! If it’s something, Madra Brokerage is sure to have it! Haha!”
After exchanging greetings, Dahav walked up to the counter, and Madra immediately opened the brokerage catalog.
He started with weapons and armor.
He quickly scanned the list with his eyes.
“Since I set the level restriction to 5 or below, only Normal items show up. At best, there are Magic Equipment.”
To clear a difficult quest, he’d planned to prepare at least with Rare Equipment.
But unexpectedly, the ‘level’ became an obstacle.
“Hmmm…”
No matter how hard he looked, there were no Rare Equipment available.
He had no choice but to be satisfied with buying a few Magic Equipment items that had caught his eye.
“I’ll take the Damaged Goblin Captain’s Dagger, Orc Warrior’s Armor, and the Shoes of Light Step. I’ll buy them right away.”
He wanted to buy other equipment too, but the level restriction was the problem.
“That’ll be 3 gold in total. How would you like to pay…?”
“Just a moment. I still have more to buy.”
The items he’d just purchased were all for dealing with Goblin ambushes.
No matter how good the gear, it was nearly impossible to face 11 Goblins—the so-called Eren port’s beginner-killers—alone.
He tapped ‘Bow’ in the brokerage catalog to search for a main weapon.
“There should at least be a Magic Equipment bow, right?”
As he scrolled through the catalog with an indifferent expression, a bow caught his eye.
Dahav’s eyes sparkled.
The blue text signifying a Rare item.
But that was just a bonus.
“This is actually up for sale?”
His mind racing, Dahav immediately looked at Madra before anyone else could snatch it.
“I want this. I’ll buy this bow immediately.”
“………I shouldn’t say this, but it’s 20 gold. Are you sure?”
It was a bit expensive, but he had plenty of exchanged money, and this item was worth the investment.
He took out 25 gold from his inventory and placed it confidently on the counter.
“I’ll buy it immediately, and please send it to the portal. Also, for arrows, I’ll take the highest quality you have.”
No matter how good the bow, if the arrows are bad, the effect is reduced.
Madra’s face lit up at Dahav’s refreshing purchase, and he bowed 90 degrees in gratitude.
“Thank you so much, valued customer!”
Madra bowed 90 degrees in greeting.
***
ASA produced more stars than you could ever imagine.
But just as in the entertainment world, not all reached the top.
Most fell before they could even spread their wings.
Near the end of the year, that is, around the end of 2038, a player named ‘Fedek’ swept through Eren port.
In the early level 10s, he was called a Super Rookie in Eren port and managed to join one of the top 10 guilds, the Requiem Guild, thanks to his fame. But not long after, there was news of his unfortunate dismissal.
The Super Rookie’s sudden downfall.
At first, most people blamed the Requiem Guild and defended Fedek, but soon the reason became clear.
What he had wasn’t talent, but a single bow.
The bow that earned Fedek the title of Super Rookie and even a scout from a top guild—was now in Dahav’s hands.
[Assassin’s Bow]
- Grade: Rare
- Class: Intermediate
- Equipable Level: 5 or higher
- A Rare Equipment bow crafted in Audas City, where killers gather.
It’s not only an excellent weapon but so rare that unless you’re of a certain rank, you can’t receive it.
It’s often used as proof of status.
- Attack Power: 30~50
- Stat Options: Strength +10 / Agility +10
- Special Options
- Contempt for the Weak – Deals 100% additional damage to enemies level 25 or below.
- Cannot be traded once equipped
It was expensive for a bow that could only be used against monsters level 25 or below and couldn’t be traded after equipping, but it was an overpowered weapon for the early game.
“I can’t believe I got the Assassin’s Bow. This quest is going to be a breeze.”
Of course, since he wasn’t a Ranger class, it would be hard to make a name for himself in Eren port as an archer.
But with the support of the other items he’d purchased, it was definitely doable.
“Alright, let’s start the hunt.”
Dahav drew his bow with a sly grin as he looked at the cluster of green Goblin huts.
With so many arrows nocked, the bow’s body trembled violently.
“Now, fire!”
At Dahav’s shout, the Ghouls who had been waiting touched the tips of the trembling arrows to the torchlight.
Thanks to the oil, the paper wrapped around the arrowheads quickly caught fire.
Once he confirmed they were burning, he hurriedly released the bowstring.
Whoosh—
The arrows arced through the air and struck the huts.
Flames began to spread from the huts where the arrows had landed.
The small sparks quickly engulfed the entire village.
Goblins, who had been resting inside, ran out in a panic with flames clinging to their bodies.
The Goblins scrambled, rushing toward the nearby river to put out the flames.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Dahav’s Ghouls began attacking the Goblins.
True to Eren port’s reputation, the Goblins tried to regroup and counterattack, but failed every time.
Not only were they injured by the fire, but the river water was waist-deep, making it impossible for them to attack properly.
And above all, the arrows flying from a distance were the biggest problem.
Ki-eek—
Every time a Goblin tried to swing its claws, an arrow would strike its elbow, restricting its movement.
“Krrk! As expected, good equipment really is the best.”
Even without any class, Skill, or stat advantage, it was thanks to the Rare Equipment bow, ‘Assassin’s Bow’, that he could so easily pierce the Goblin hides of Eren port.
“Still, am I really this talented?”
Every shot landed exactly where he aimed.
His chest swelled with confidence, but he quickly suppressed his emotions.
“No, no. Overconfidence is poison. I’m only doing this well because of my position right now.”
Because all the Goblins were gathered at the river, he didn’t have to worry about being attacked from behind and could focus on shooting.
Still, contrary to his intention not to let his guard down, Dahav’s heart was pounding.
“This doesn’t make sense…”
No matter how safe the zone or how carefully he handled the arrows, how could he hit every moving Goblin at the exact spot he wanted, especially in a standoff between Goblins and his Ghouls?
On top of that, Dahav was using a bow for the very first time in his life.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
“If I were a Legendary Ranger class, maybe it would be possible.”
No matter how well-made 56 is as a virtual reality, it’s still a game.
Games have Skills, and those Skills provide correction.
But Dahav’s class was clearly Spell Caster.
He was as far from a Ranger as heaven is from earth.
In other words, Dahav was restricting the movements of the nimble Goblins in Eren port’s beginner-killing zone with no corrections at all.
Watching his Ghouls easily dispatch Goblins with the help of his arrows, Dahav swallowed hard without realizing it.
“Am I really…
Not only rich, but talented in ASA too?
Am I some kind of overpowered, broken character?”
Just imagining it made his heart race with excitement, sweat running down his forehead, but his fingertips on the bowstring remained steady as he aimed at his target.
“I can do this.”
Whoosh—!
The arrow sliced through the air, flying toward the chest of the last remaining boss monster in the village, the Goblin Captain.
“Normally, even with the Assassin’s Bow, this would be impossible.”
But thanks to a tiny gap created by the Ghouls’ attacks, the arrow slipped through and struck home with a satisfying sound.
Thwack—!
[You have slain the Goblin Captain and 10 Goblins in Eren port. Mission complete!]
[You have gained 1,500 experience points.]
[You have obtained the quest item ‘Goblin Captain’s Fang’ 1 EA!]
[You have achieved the ‘Marksmanship’ achievement.]
The achievement notification flashed before his eyes.
In that moment, Dahav’s thoughts became certain.
‘Damn, this is awesome!’
Amazingly, he really was a rich, talented player.