Closed Beta That Only I Played

Chapter 44: Stop Scorpion King (1)

So, I decided to move to the Desert Scorpion Forest where the monster called Scorpion showed up. It was the same desert, but it was located in a very far place. But the real reason I chose it was because it was not popular.

As a result, I could see monsters on the hunting ground everywhere. Besides, the monsters here were the same 400 Level monsters like the Salamander Habitat, so it was perfect for me.

I fully enjoyed the drive hunt there after a long time when it soon appeared. It was none other than the Safety Zone of the Desert Scorpion Forest.

Clamorous noise sounded here and there. Contrary to my expectations, it was very crowded and noisy, so much so that it was rowdier than the Salamander Habitat.

And then a message rang.

[You’ve joined the 79th Defense Unit for the following quest: ‘Stop the Scorpion King.’]

***

“?”

I was embarrassed by the clamorous atmosphere of the safety zone, which was clearly different from what I was used to, but I was even more embarrassed by the quest before my eyes.

And my embarrassment subsided a bit when I heard the conversation among the users there.

“All of them failed last month, right?”

“Yep. At that time, Level 200 beginners, not to mention Level 300, all participated and failed.”

“Then, this time we can expect those close to Level 400, right?”

“I guess so. Aside from Level 300 players who can participate in the regular quest available for up to Level 400, even Level 200 users participated in the quest, but it ended up in a great fiasco.”

‘Regular quest?’

As always, I got information about the Desert Scorpion Forest on the bulletin about hunting grounds on the Revival Legend. But there was no mention at all about this Desert Scorpion Forest’s quest. There were only things like, ‘It’s just a hunting ground for Level 400s,’ ‘There is a huge number of monsters,’ and ‘It’s not popular at all.’ Besides, the modifier ‘regular’ before the quest meant that the quest recurred on a regular basis.

‘Damn it. I wish they mentioned even a single line on it.’

Level 400? How ridiculous. That’s why I came here even though I was Level 131.

[79th Defense Unit.

-1st Participating user 1 (ID not disclosed): Level 400.

-Melon: Level 387.

-Lonely Warrior: Level 395.

-4th Participating user (ID not disclosed): Level 377.

-Makta is mine: Level 384.

:

-30th Participating user (ID not disclosed): Level 131.]

I showed up as the 30th user. The 79th Defense Unit was comprised of a total of 30 people.

And among those 30 was a number in dark red that referred to me. Namely, as a user who registered as the 30th user at Level 131.

Hearing the users’ conversation, I discovered that Level 400 was the maximum, so the regular quest was intended for those users striving to level up to 400.

But last month there was none who succeeded because Level 200, not Level 300 users, mainly participated in it.

However, I was sure that I could do better than anybody else. The problem was, others didn’t know it because the barometer of strength here was based on one’s level. The higher the level, the more various items you can wear. The higher the level, the more stat points you have, let alone skills.

So, there was nothing that clearly revealed one’s strength more clearly than the level.

In this regard, I had nothing to say even if the 29 members of the 79th Defense Unit hurled abuses at me for my low level. In fact, they did.

[Lonely warrior: Damn it. Level 131? Are you kidding?]

[27th Participant (ID not disclosed): He is crazy.]

[Breath: Who the hell is that guy? He has no conscience.]

[BIG: He’s causing trouble for us, man.]

The lowest of the 29 except for me was Level 364.

Of course I had something to respond to their complaints: “Don’t worry.”

I wanted to tell them that even though I didn’t know what quest this was, I was confident of leveling up to 400 or more.

But I know that even if I say that, they won’t believe me, for my level was too low for me to promise it proudly. So, I responded like this.

[30th Participating user (ID not disclosed): Sorry. I’m in the wrong place here in the Desert Scorpion Forest. I will exit immediately.]

I didn’t have any intention of participating despite their complaints. And I was not so desperate as to participate in this quest.

[13th Participant (ID not disclosed): Oh my God! This guy has come to the wrong place without knowing anything.]

[LIGHT: Excuse me. 30th Participant, can you log out first? You probably can’t. You know why they failed last time? Because 200 Level users could not log out even if they wanted to, so they reluctantly participated and failed after all.]

I didn’t know it at all. On one hand, I felt sorry about it because if this was the kind of quest that forced even first-time users like me to participate without offering any exit, the host should have posted a notice on this to potential participants, or should have stopped those below Level 300 from using this Safety Zone at least during the regular quest, ‘Stop Scorpion King.’

However, they let anyone participate in the regular quest without any restrictions, then shifted the responsibility to the participants. I was annoyed by this kind of practice.

I tried to log out, but couldn’t.

[Currently, the quest ‘Stop the Scorpion King’ is still ongoing.

-You can log out when the quest ends.]

Honestly, this was ridiculous because the participants were forced to remain regardless of their will. As far as I know, there has never been anything like this, including games and VR applications.

But I gave it a pass because this was not a normal game. Even if somebody took issue with it, it would not be disclosed openly anyway.

[30th Participant (ID not disclosed): Got it. I’m really sorry.]

So I posted a comment expressing my regret in the conversation window of the party.

I don’t know if I could cause trouble to other participants, but right now they were troubled by the fact that I was only Level 131. But I was willing to show them how brilliantly I could perform soon.

At that moment a message appeared.

[Quest ‘Stop the Scorpion King’ starts in 10 minutes.]

Then there were more comments in the party message window.

[1st Participant (ID not disclosed): Please be prepared, everybody.]

[LIGHT: Yes.]

[Slaughterer: I’m ready.]

The 1st user was the only Level 400 player in the 79th Defense Unit. So, other users responded quickly.

Of course, I also got ready by wearing the Enhancement 3 Cydin robe over my head and tightening it. And I also put on the prepared mask, which was literally useless unless I raised the stat points for defense power.

If my level had not been revealed, nobody would have doubted me even if I pretended to be Level 100. Rather they would have examined me closely without doubting me at all, wondering how I could have put on such excellent items.

Of course, I would not have cared at all even if they had discovered my identity because I had a very strong supporter: Myongjin Group. Of course, I didn’t have any intention of revealing it.

Just like I decided on it from the beginning, I planned to hide my identity for as long as I could.

Of course, I could not help it at all if they found out at the end of the day.

‘Good. Anyway, my sister and my father also asked me to solve it if I had a quest, and so I’d still go for it even if I didn’t find one.’

At that moment a message rang.

[Regular quest ‘Stop the Scorpion King’ has now begun.

-Each defense unit will move to their own defensive position, and if at least half of the total members are successful in blocking the Scorpion King’s troops until for a total of 6 rounds, everyone participating in the quest will win.]

[79th Defense Unit will be located on the No. 12 defense line in Region C.]