Chapter 898

I chose to be a supporter.

[Me] I'll play as a supporter.

[Do Si-hoo] Wow, I wanted to play as a dealer! In that case, I'll go for the ADC.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] I’ll tank, so it’s possible to go with no support.

[Jang Nam-uk] Won't that put too much pressure on Sang-hoon? You said a supporter is necessary for the stability of the party.

While it’s theoretically possible to have one tank and three dealers, if we tried that, the tank would die quickly, and the dealers would have a tough time.

It’s like when Yoo Sang-hoon fought alone against the Floor Master in the trailer and nearly died.

For someone who knows that well to say something like that, it feels like he wanted me to play as a dealer.

But my priority was still being a supporter.

‘If Jang Nam-uk had chosen supporter, he was thinking of going for a ranged dealer, which worked out well. Supporters have a wider view of the map and can easily observe teammates’ movements.’

For tanks and melee dealers, you have to focus on the front line based on the enemy’s movements, so you can’t pay much attention to anything else.

In contrast, supporters and ranged dealers fight by using the positioning of teammates and terrain advantages, which gives them a broader perspective.

Since I wanted to see how my teammates moved during the game, I chose a role that would allow me to observe more.

[Do Si-hoo] Choose a magic class.

[Jang Nam-uk] Are you going to pick an electric mage? Since Si-hoo uses electricity, you’ll be able to adapt to it faster.

[Do Si-hoo] No, I’ll pick something else! I want to do something I can’t do in real life since it’s a game. Hehe.

[Do Si-hoo] (Photo)

[Do Si-hoo] I’ll go with this!

The screenshot Si-hoo posted showed a heavy-looking "Dark Sorcerer" dressed in a dark robe.

I had heard that among the starting classes, this one had the hardest progression and low defense, making it easy to die. Was he confident in his gameplay?

Generally, ranged dealers have longer attack ranges but weaker defenses and health, so they have to position themselves well using terrain and teammates as shields while attacking.

If he chose Dark Sorcerer, he’d have to be extra careful because even one hit could end him.

Supporters, in a different way, need to be observant of their surroundings.

‘Unlike ranged dealers, supporters need to watch carefully to keep their teammates alive, not just to survive.’

A supporter provides buffs, removes debuffs, heals, and sometimes takes hits in place of their teammates to protect the dealers.

If only the dealers are left, they might be able to take down the enemy, but if only the supporter is left, it’s hard to expect a victory.

Unless the supporter has high hybrid stats or the ability to resurrect teammates, or if the stage involves mechanics where survival and long defense matter, it’s better for the supporter to sacrifice themselves for the dealer.

I chose supporter because I wanted to protect my teammates and take responsibility for their survival.

‘One day, I might have to fight alongside Jang Nam-uk, Yoo Sang-hoon, and Do Si-hoo. It’s better to observe their fighting styles and be prepared for that.’

There’s a saying that you can see a person’s personality through their gameplay.

When playing these kinds of games, a player’s habits during fights often show.

Though I’d rather not watch the combat directly, it’s better than not watching at all.

While I don’t want to force them into fighting, if the situation arises, I’d like to have the best strategy.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] What class will you pick in the support role?

I had said I would be a supporter, but I hadn’t mentioned the specific class I chose yet.

I revealed my choice.

[Me] I chose Bard.

On my screen, a character holding a Celtic harp conjured by magic appeared.

I thought I had chosen a fairly standard supporter class, but suddenly Yoo Sang-hoon burst out laughing.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] Hahaha

[Do Si-hoo] Haha

[Jang Nam-uk] Like Si-hoo said, it’s better to try something you can’t do in real life. You won’t struggle as much when playing in the game.

Jang Nam-uk wasn’t teasing me but seemed genuinely sincere.

Instead of explaining why he laughed, Yoo Sang-hoon posted a video.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] (Video)

[Yoo Sang-hoon] I watch this sometimes. Hahaha, just play well in the game.

[Do Si-hoo] Looks like the “All-use” skill can’t be used to play instruments. Haha.

[Jang Nam-uk] "All-use" means you’re proficient with all weapons and armor. Even if it’s an instrument that can attack enemies, it’s still categorized as an instrument, so I guess it can’t be used for that.

The video showed me awkwardly playing a triangle at last year’s festival, with a stiff posture.

Did Yoo Sang-hoon still have that video?

I hadn’t chosen Bard because I had any particular passion for music or wanted to become a master musician.

I just picked Bard because I wanted to unlock the second exclusive job, "Legendary Jester," once I leveled up, and I wanted to use a broad range of insight-based skills and buffs.

But Yoo Sang-hoon wasn’t interested in my excuses; he just laughed until I decided on my Gwangrim.

He was truly a guy who’d only be satisfied once every character was completed.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] If you’re done making characters, let’s go clear the prologue.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] Once we clear it and get to the “Starting Plains,” I’ll send out party invites.

After finishing character creation, the prologue/tutorial began.

In the prologue, the setting of “Players arriving in another world” seemed to be designed to immerse us, and other players were not visible.

Through a short story, the prologue helped us learn about the world of Zeta and taught us the controls.

‘Yoo Sang-hoon said the tutorial wasn’t as fun compared to the main game... but this is fun.’

It was a huge contrast to the "Nameless Supporting Role’s Tutorial," which tossed you into a disadvantageous battlefield and let you die without teaching the controls.

This was a well-made tutorial; it was enjoyable.

I remembered the struggles I went through in Plamago when I first played and felt frustrated.

It was frustrating enough that I didn’t think I’d dive as deeply into Plamago as I had before.

But the others didn’t have this frustration, so they were just enjoying the game.

[Do Si-hoo] Nam-uk almost cried. Haha.

[Jang Nam-uk] I was really moved when the player successfully opened the door to Zeta, and the trapped people were freed. When the door opened and I got rewarded with the Zeta alignment as “The One Who Opened the Door,” I really felt like I had entered another world.

Jang Nam-uk seemed to be fully immersed in the story after clearing the prologue.

Yoo Sang-hoon, who had recommended the game, wasn’t as focused on the story or setting. He dove straight into combat.

In contrast, Do Si-hoo seemed to be enjoying the game atmosphere along with the gameplay.

There was no need to compare who was enjoying the game the most.

A well-made game is enjoyable in various ways.

[Yoo Sang-hoon] Are you here? We can start party quests now.

[Jang Nam-uk] Let’s go quickly! The sage in the “Plains of the Beginning” knows about the “Door.”

Following the eager duo, we started the first main story quest.

As we followed the quest, time passed quickly.

Do Si-hoo, who was surprisingly good at controlling his character, almost died in the first battle, but Yoo Sang-hoon kept saving him.

Also, while Yoo Sang-hoon was protecting Do Si-hoo, I hit Jang Nam-uk with a hammer to snap him out of his confusion.

By the time we stopped the sage’s plot to summon the Demon King in the Starting Plains, it was almost dawn.

[Do Si-hoo] Wow, the sun’s coming up.

[Jang Nam-uk] What?

Jang Nam-uk was stunned by Do Si-hoo’s words.

Because Yoo Sang-hoon’s fast movement cut down travel and battle times, none of us had noticed how much time had passed, and I was a little surprised too.

[Jang Nam-uk] The sun’s really up. No way. Let’s go to sleep, guys!

[Yoo Sang-hoon] Doesn’t matter if we sleep a little or not.

[Jang Nam-uk] It does matter! Sang-hoon, you have morning training. Let’s log out now. I’m going straight to bed.

Jang Nam-uk insisted on getting some sleep and logged out.

Though Yoo Sang-hoon looked like he wanted to keep playing, he reluctantly agreed to follow the others’ pace in the game.

I decided to sleep for a bit and then finish the article, just as Jang Nam-uk suggested.

“Jo Eui-shin, I have something to discuss.”

As soon as I reached the school, Hwang Ji-ho called me.

I had expected Yoo Sang-hoon to catch me first to talk about the game all day, but Hwang Ji-ho beat him to it.

It wasn’t surprising that Hwang Ji-ho appeared early in the morning, but something about him seemed different.

‘We moved to a deserted classroom, and the barrier around it is thicker than usual.’

After setting up the barrier, Hwang Ji-ho’s expression noticeably darkened.

It seemed like he had been hiding his feelings outside.

“Eunho obtained important information from Unsa. Apparently, Cheongho’s body is in the hands of the enemy.”

It was indeed news that would make Hwang Ji-ho act like this.

To remain calm when hearing that a long-lost friend had become human and that their body was now in the hands of a shadowy figure was impressive.

‘Cheongho didn’t just become human.’

Baekho had learned about Cheongho and Shin-in’s whereabouts after fighting the mimic, the leader of the Beasts.

The Beasts knew that Cheongho and Shin-in had become human, but they didn’t know their true identities as Han Yi and Gong Cheong-hyeon.

If they had known, those two wouldn’t have been attending Yeonggwang High.

“Hana said Unsa hadn’t heard anything about Shin-in. If Shin-in’s body was in the hands of the enemy, it would have been an easy way to manipulate Unsa.”

I shared Hwang Ji-ho’s thoughts.

To mentally pressure Unsa, it would have been more effective to mention Shin-in than Cheongho.

It was assumed that the enemy had secured only Cheongho’s body.

‘If Cheongho’s body is in their hands, then what about Han Yi?’

When Hwang Ji-ho learned that Cheongho and Shin-in had become human, he said:

—The half-human Shin-in might have become human more easily, but what did Cheongho have to sacrifice? Humans and the True Dragons are fundamentally different.

Had Cheongho and Shin-in each become human in different ways?

Perhaps Cheongho’s body remained here, and Han Yi paid a higher price than Gong Cheong-hyeon to become human.

I also recalled the failed attempt to find Han Yi’s family using Hwang Myeong-ho’s power.

“Eunho also mentioned that he’s worried about something he heard from Unsa regarding Cheongho and Shin-in.”

Eunho and Unsa had the following conversation.

To get Unsa to speak, Eunho had intentionally leaked information he didn’t mind being heard.

—So, Cheongho wasn’t captured in battle? He just disappeared? With Shin-in?

—Yes, before he disappeared, Cheongho said he wanted to fulfill Shin-in’s wish.

It sounded like Cheongho and Shin-in had abandoned everything to fulfill a wish.

Since they had become human, we had no choice but to accept that.

Eunho had kept the fact that they had become human a secret, which made it hard for Unsa to believe it.

—Shin-in valued the aristocracy and humans deeply. He wouldn’t prioritize a wish over his responsibilities.

Unsa’s words, trusting Pungbaek and Woosa, lacked credibility, but Eunho must have agreed with that statement, which is why he passed it on to Hwang Ji-ho.

When I heard the word "wish," I thought of what happened in the Dragon Palace.

The priestesses betrayed the dragon race, tried to destroy the Dragon Palace, erode the Azure Dragon’s scales with the Imugi’s venom, summon monsters, and ally with the shadowy figure.

There were many actions, but the priestesses' ultimate goal wasn’t the destruction of the dragons; it was immortality.

What seemed to be the goal turned out to be just a means.

‘Perhaps becoming human was just a means, and their real wish was something else.’

Cheongho and Shin-in might have had a wish and a responsibility they couldn’t fulfill unless they became human.