Vol 1 Chapter 16

However, the guys still maintained that there was no problem since NPCs weren't even people. Rather, their response that it was more absurd to beat up a user over a mere NPC led to the expected outburst. People gathering around were murmuring. Kapros smirked.

Just hearing this made it clear who was in the wrong. Where did the idea that it was okay to commit crimes against NPCs come from?

In previous games, NPCs mostly stayed in one place, were fewer in number compared to users, and had limited activity ranges. However, in Mist, NPCs made up more than half of the world. NPCs had jobs almost no different from users, and there were countless NPCs freely wandering the continent. Moreover, there was information that all other races, though no one had seen them yet, were all NPCs.

Treating beings with artificial intelligence and activity levels of a completely different dimension from before as mere stupid toys was to underestimate Mist. Those guys shouldn't have caused trouble in a square with many people watching. Even if we knocked them down again in this state, there were already people who seemed to be recording videos, so the evidence would be clear.

It was appropriate to ask by using Kion-hyung's personality. The Kion-hyung Kapros had seen so far, while appearing to get excited easily and act without thinking, was actually someone who couldn't stand injustice more than anyone else.

'This way, we've created evidence for now...'

Kapros first calculated the gap between the seven of the opponents and the two of them.

He hadn't completely mastered the 2nd circle yet. He had no weapon for self-defense. Kion-hyung boasted excellent speed, but due to the characteristics of the priest job, he couldn't expect tremendous damage. If only he could use 1st circle magic with just activation words... What Kapros wanted wasn't to fight evenly and win here, but to crush them so they couldn't even crawl up.

As he pondered, looking at them with cold eyes, a good idea suddenly occurred to him.

"Is there really a need to fight right now?"

When Kapros suddenly said this, not only the guys but even Kion-hyung gave him a look as if to say, "What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Kar. You're not suggesting we avoid this, are you? I didn't think you were like that..."

"No, so wait and see."

After pushing hyung away with a cold word, Kapros opened his mouth with a friendly smile towards the guys.

"But it's too sudden. Is just beating us once enough? How about the losing side quits the game altogether?"

He raised the stakes high. The guys frowned and started discussing among themselves, and the murmuring from the surroundings grew louder. Kion-hyung's eyes also widened.

"You..."

"Hyung, you might be surprised, but this is..."

"That's right! If we're going to do it, it should be to that extent! Let's get rid of those pig-like bastards so we never have to see their faces again!"

Before Kapros could finish saying, "I have a plan for this... I'm sorry," Kion-hyung, who had instantly flared up, wrapped his arm around Kapros's neck.

"Hahahahaha! Not bad! To think you'd come up with such an idea!"

Thinking that it would still take a while to fully understand hyung's impulsive personality, Kapros expressionlessly continued to be shaken with hyung's arm around his neck. After a while, the guys, seemingly judging that they had a higher chance of winning, confidently stepped forward.

"Alright! Let's do it! Just getting revenge for our friends isn't enough for us either."

"Forget revenge for those perverts, we'll make you all pack up your capsules and sell them secondhand!"

The beginning was already half-forgotten in everyone's minds. People have a simple side, and once a competition is set up, they often forget the cause before they know it.

When the atmosphere seemed to have settled like that, Kapros stated the main point.

"But since it's a big match, I think we need enough preparation time. How about a week in real time?"

"A week? ...Fine. Agreed."

The one speaking seemed dissatisfied, but soon nodded after the guys behind him said something.

"You choose the location."

At Kapros's words, the guys gathered their opinions once more, then confidently said to meet in the eastern field before disappearing. As the matter concluded, the spectators also began to disperse.

"Kar. Why did you say a week? I'm fine with right now."

Kion-hyung asked curiously as Kapros headed towards the shopping district first.

"To prepare."

"Prepare?"

"Yes. It's my principle to make sure those who pick a fight with me first can never even look at me again."

Hyung, who would normally have agreed, remained silent for a moment before ruffling Kapros's hair.

"I see. You savage... It's scary to even think about picking a fight with you..."

Kapros started calculating in his head how to properly end this fight.

"We can't say our forces completely surpass theirs yet."

Kion-hyung nodded at Kapros's words.

"By the way, I don't really keep up with the user side, so who's known as the highest-level mage currently?"

"Well... From what I know, as we're entering the third week since opening, almost all those who challenged the mage class have given up and aren't seen anymore."

So it was like that after all. It's natural, since it would be difficult to cast even one spell without considerable concentration and stubbornness.

"...In that sense, I think you might be the best mage in Mist right now. I haven't seen any other mages yet, but I know that kind of monstrous control can't be done with an ordinary mindset."

The best mage. It was a nice thing to hear, but it was too early for Kapros, who hadn't even reached the 3rd circle yet. He shook his head.

"No. I will be in the future, but not yet."

Hyung grinned back at the smiling Kapros.

"Ambitious, aren't you? My goal is to see the end of this job too."

Smiling like that as they walked, they finally stopped in front of the weapon shop they had been aiming for. Seeing the swords displayed inside, Kapros took a deep breath as he felt his chest tightening again, and opened the door. He was in a state of having made a very big decision.