Level Up Inquisitor [EN]: Chapter 8

The Believer of Ru (3)

“…Who are you?”

Aile asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

Judging by the equipment the man wore, his level seemed quite high. But there was no logical reason for a high-level player to be in this area, nor any reason to stop a beginner on their path.

*He might be one of those griefers who PKs [Player Killing] beginners.*

But the man answered as if he had been anticipating the question.

“Nice to meet you. I am Migafen from Digtanus.”

At his words, Aile’s wary expression shifted.

He hadn’t heard the name Migafen before, but he knew of Digtanus.

It was a guild rapidly gaining recognition, based in the city of Dubel.

*Could he be… a guild scout?*

Aile’s mind raced.

Given the guild’s reputation, there was little concern about indiscriminate PK or unsportsmanlike conduct. And there was only one plausible reason why a guild of that size would approach a level 4 beginner unprompted.

Recruiting promising talent.

In a game like Warlord, where guild competition was fierce, securing skilled players was a constant challenge. Thus, many guilds sought to expand their ranks by supporting newcomers.

Especially in Warlord, where individual skill significantly impacted combat, identifying potential early on was relatively straightforward. By providing support and fostering relationships from the start, they gained an advantage in the recruitment race against larger, more established guilds.

And his hunch proved correct.

“I’m glad you’ve heard of our guild. I’ve been observing your monster hunts from a distance, and I’m impressed. How about joining Digtanus? We can offer you substantial support.”

Whether genuinely impressed or simply employing a recruitment tactic, Migafen approached him with enthusiasm.

But Aile shook his head before the offer could be elaborated.

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”

He was, undeniably, a latecomer.

Joining a guild would undoubtedly provide numerous benefits.

They would supply essential consumables like healing potions, assist with hunting, and grant access to a network of players for assistance.

Most importantly, he would receive a degree of protection from the ever-present threat of PK.

Generally, PK players avoided targeting members of large guilds, as it could lead to unwanted repercussions.

But Aile couldn’t join a guild.

“Ah… have you already been scouted by another guild?”

“I’m not affiliated with any guild.”

“Perhaps a secondary character…?”

“No.”

“Then there’s no issue! We have over 90 guild members who are level 110 or higher. Playing alone can be dangerous, but we can protect you. Why not take a tour? I’m confident you’ll reconsider once you see our guild headquarters.”

Even after being turned down, Migafen persisted.

Aile clicked his tongue and posed a question.

“I’m an Inquisitor. Would that be acceptable?”

“An… Inquisitor? So, you’re a believer of Ru…?”

Migafen’s eager expression abruptly transformed into one of awkwardness.

A brief, uncomfortable silence hung in the air before Migafen slowly stepped back and spoke.

“I… I apologize. Enjoy the game.”

“You too.”

* * *

Surprisingly, Digtanus wasn’t the only guild to approach Aile.

Cloud, Omtic, Liquid.

All were guilds with a foothold in the area, and they approached Aile as he left the hunting grounds to return to the city.

It seemed that players confident in their abilities would venture to the Horned Rabbit hunting grounds early on, and guilds were dispatching scouts to observe and recruit promising individuals.

As the Warlord market expanded, guild competition intensified, making the recruitment of both new and skilled players a fiercely contested endeavor.

*So what? I belong to the Order.*

Moreover, his class was a dedicated one, only accessible to those who adhered to a specific faith, leaving him with limited options.

While believers could technically join guilds, any guild of significant size generally avoided recruiting them.

This was due to the frequent restrictions imposed by deity-related events or favor requirements, which significantly hampered guild activities like base battles and raids.

Furthermore, being a believer of Ru, a goddess known for her eccentricities, made him even less desirable.

*If one of the Big 6 Guilds scouted me, I’d abandon my faith and class and sprint to them barefoot… but they don’t need to recruit newbies in a place like this.*

The six guilds that held sway over the entire landscape of Warlord.

Collectively known as the Big 6 Guilds, they combined immense capital, overwhelming skill, and the fame and popularity that came with it.

They directly and indirectly controlled most of the territory on the continent, and their members were essentially ranked masters, an untouchable force.

As far as he recalled, the metropolis of Dubel was under the control of ‘Nightmare,’ one of the Big 6 Guilds, but they didn’t station members in low-level hunting grounds or actively recruit there.

Since their ranks were already filled with the best players, there was no need to seek out lagging newcomers.

*Well, whatever. I didn’t expect anything in the first place.*

Aile shook his head and entered the city gate.

The main street beyond the gate teemed with players and NPCs [Non-Player Characters], and he navigated through the throng into a narrow alley.

Given the game’s single-server architecture and massive player base, the city was enormous.

Just as he was about to exit the northern commercial district, lined with various establishments, he heard a commotion nearby.

People had gathered to watch something, and Aile, curious, joined the crowd.

“Hey! Stop it, you idiot!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! No matter what you say, I’ll never give up! I still have tens of thousands of attempts left!”

Two men were arguing, and one of them, wielding a sword, was relentlessly striking a straw scarecrow.

“What is that person doing…?”

“I don’t know. He’s been hitting the same practice scarecrow in that spot for days. He says he won’t stop until he’s hit it ten thousand times, but he ignores everyone who tries to dissuade him. He claims he’s trying to unlock a hidden class…”

“Get lost, you damn bastards! Once I get power, I’ll kill all the guys who laughed at me. Then I’ll destroy all the giant guilds that ignored me!”

The man striking the scarecrow clenched his fists and erupted in a fit of vengeful rage.

*Th-that guy.*

Aile’s eyes widened as if struck by a revelation.

He could sense the unwavering will, undeterred by the ridicule and discouragement of others.

The patience to stand in the same spot, relentlessly striking the scarecrow; the belief that his chosen path was the right one, even if it seemed foolish; and the conviction.

Aile, momentarily stunned by the sight, slowly spoke, offering his assessment of the man.

“He’s crazy.”

Aile scoffed and turned away.

He had wasted his time on a pointless spectacle.

Logically speaking, unless the game company was deliberately trying to fail, there was no way they would create a hidden class, especially one with overpowered stats, in a popular MMORPG [Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game].

Even if everyone started on equal footing, many would become envious. If one person was fortunate enough to acquire an overpowered class and dominate the game, the vast majority of players who had diligently worked hard would not simply applaud and cheer.

The developers would face such intense backlash that the official website would crash, and within a month, the game would be labeled a failure.

Regardless of how free-spirited a game claimed to be, no game would implement such a system.

The same held true for Warlord, and the man’s actions could be simply described as a monumental waste of time.

“It’s the end of the world, the end of the world.”

It was an incomprehensible act for Aile, who possessed a pragmatic gamer mindset.

Clicking his tongue, Aile quickened his pace and soon arrived at an alchemy shop tucked away in a secluded back alley.

“Welcome!”

As he opened the door and entered, the female owner, engrossed in something, hurriedly turned to greet him.

Aile sold his junk items to clear his inventory, and once the transaction was complete, he subtly inquired about quests.

“I need to head out hunting again, but I’m not sure what to do… Is there any work available around here?”

“Oh, really? Could you do me a favor?”

The female owner clapped her hands together, as if delighted.

“Do you have any tasks you could entrust to me?”

“Well… I’m currently running the store, but I’m actually very passionate about alchemy. Even though my teacher kicked me out for lacking talent, I’m determined to become an alchemist someday. Through self-study! Of course, to do that, I need rare materials that are difficult to obtain. There’s a material called ‘Magic-Infused Red Eyeball’…”

“Red Eyeball, you mean this?”

“Yes, that… Ah?”

Aile produced an item from his pocket as if by a miraculous coincidence, startling her and causing her eyes to widen.

*I never thought that collecting information as a stress reliever would be so helpful…*

Aile knew all the useful low-level repeatable quests in the city, even those he hadn’t personally undertaken, making situations like this possible.

In Warlord, where NPCs with advanced AI [Artificial Intelligence] created quests dynamically, quests often disappeared after completion, but there were also numerous repeatable quests that could be completed by all players without limit.

*Usually, the rewards for normal quests are much better… but not this quest.*

– Acquired item!

[Red-Tinted Magic Explosion Crystal x 6]

[Red-Tinted Divine Explosion Crystal x 6]

“Thank you so much. I never thought I’d obtain the materials I needed so quickly. These are the results of my recent research. They’re powerful crystals containing healing magic that can mend the wounds of those around you, so I believe they’ll be very useful for adventurers.”

Upon completing the quest, she retrieved a box of crystals from beneath the counter and handed them over.

And Aile’s empty experience bar filled.

[Quest completed!]

[Level up!]

[Level 5 has been reached! One basic class skill is activated. Please select a skill to learn.]

[Sanctification (Basic)]

[Blade of Hatred (Basic)]

[Fanatical Martyr (Basic)]