Ark Volume 01 - Japtem

by Yoo Seong

  “It’s the Portable Tool Box.”

  At Ark’s reply, the young Lord soon put on a smooth smile.

  “Aah, what a relief. If it’s an item like that, I think I will be able to help.”

  “Huh? From the Lord?”

  “That’s right. There’s a Smithy in the castle, but it can’t make the Portable Tool Box. That’s why every time an expedition goes out, it’s an item we purchase separately. What good timing. Our stock has been falling, so I shall purchase them all. No, I may as well procure 100 each of the General and Deluxe. That way, your face will also stand out to the shopkeeper. The bill is of no consequence.”

  “If you do that, I would feel too sorry…”

  “Think not of it. Didn’t I say this? That I would help you anytime if you needed it.”

  “Thank you so much!”

  The young Lord immediately pulled out a check worth 2500 gold.

  A new stat he hadn’t even imagined formed along with cheerful music.

  A new stat has been formed.

  The Art of Communication (+5): You are able to achieve what you want with an ornate way of speech. The higher the skill, the easier you can persuade your target, and you can drag out an even greater benefit.

  Stat distribution is impossible, and will only increase when you have succeeded in a negotiation, a bargain, or a special deal.

  Ark, who received the check, was smiling from ear to ear.

  He’d thought it might be possible, but he hadn’t even imagined that the problem would work itself out.

  The discount he would receive at the Smithy was 5 percent. Simply buying the wares with 2500 gold and delivering them would yield 125 gold. It was like finding a pot of gold on a clear day.

  However, being satisfied with the gains in front of your eyes was something beginners do. The greater a profit you earn, the more profit you need to rake in.

  Ark found Norton and extended the check.

  “General and Deluxe, 100 of each. How long will it take?”

  “100 each? And the delivery is to the Lord’s castle?”

  “Yes. But if it’s this much, don’t you think you should give me a 10 percent cut?”

  Ark slowly began to make the arrangements for bargaining.

  “10 percent, you say! What nonsense! Then I’ll acquire a loss when I sell it. However, if you’re on familiar terms with the Lord, in consideration of the next deal, I can make up to a special 6 percent cut for you.”

  “Alright. 8 percent! If you sell 200 of them in one transaction, won’t a fair amount be left?”

  Ark suggested as he waved the check in front of Norton’s eyes. Norton, whose eyes moved to follow the check, finally blew out a sigh.

  “Alright. I’ll give you a discount of 7 percent. In exchange, I have two requests.”

  “What are they?”

  “One is that you have to take the discounted amount in merchandise rather than money, since the bill you’re paying with is a check. Of course you have to give in that much.”

  “I understand. And the other one?”

  “Actually… the materials for making the Tool Box have decreased, so I can’t deliver 200 of them right away. A special material to produce the Tool Box. I roughly have enough of the other materials, but I’m short on the material called Ailard. I’ll do it if you go acquire some of that.”

  “Where do I need to go to get it?”

  “Ailard is an item that only a capable Alchemist can make. The Alchemist who does business with us is Raymond. But because his health has fallen these days, so he told me he couldn’t go out and acquire the materials he needs for making the Ailard. He sent in a request to introduce him to a useful adventurer. So go find him first. He’ll know if you tell him that I sent you.”

  “I understand. But if I have to go acquire the material of the item I’m buying myself…”

  “What a vicious fellow you are. I lost, I’ve lost. I’ll give you 8 percent.”

  “Thank you very much. And I’m just saying this in case, but to the Lord…”

  “I’m a shopkeeper too. Don’t worry about that.”

  Ark, who received Norton’s assurance, went looking for Raymond. Just as he’d heard, Raymond greeted Ark with a haggard and pale face.

  “You said Norton sent you? Although he acted like he hadn’t heard until now… well, it’s about time that the Ailard has dwindled.”

  After explaining his personal musings, Raymond nodded.

  “The material you need to find is a mineral that looks like a red mushroom. It can only be acquired in a cave located deep within the Gran Swamp. You’ll probably have to go all the way to the end. But keep one thing in mind. That is an extremely precious mineral. You must keep all information concerning the mineral a secret from other people. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  *Thu-thu-thump*

  A quest information window came pouring in like the flow of a tide.

  Alchemist Raymond’s Request

  Alchemist Raymond of Jackson is producing Ailard for the Smithy.

  However, he cannot acquire the necessary material because he has fallen ill, so he has requested for you do the job.

  Raymond has urged you multiple times to not disclose any information regarding the mineral to anyone.

  As per Raymond’s request, you must guard the secret until the completion of the quest. You cannot be in a party.

  Difficulty: F

  ‘So a quest can show up like this, too!’

  Who would’ve known that his plan to get the Tool Box for free would have been connected to a quest!

  ‘Is it a quest that’s only given to a person who orders several hundred of the Tool Box by himself? Then there probably aren’t many people who have done this quest in the early stage.’

  Catching the mice after getting behind was no different.

  If it was difficulty F, it seemed it’d be possible to manage it himself.

  Ark agreed to the quest without hesitation. If just this quest was taken care of, he could cut 8 percent off the Tool Box price. The money alone that would fall into his hands was a whopping 200 gold! Since he’d get 10 Tool Boxes of Magic for free, there was no reason to decline.

  Ark received a mark on his map and received a recovery potion and wheat bread, as well as 2 Deluxe Tool Boxes through his eloquent way of speaking, as advance payment. After packing them, he headed towards the Cave of the Gran Swamp.

  « o »

  “Bat, go survey the inside of the cave and come back.”

  “I got it, Master.”

  At Ark’s words, the Bat flapped as it flew into the cave.

  When he passed through the Gran Swamp, Ark was level 32.

  The Gran Swamp was a day away from Jackson and was a place inhabited by all kinds of swamp monsters. Even so, it wasn’t difficult because he’d raised his level quite a lot in the Shadow Forest, but the Slime was still a fatiguing opponent. Its body was made of acidic phlegm, so every time he fought it, his equipment durability dropped bit by bit. If he hadn’t come with the Tool Box packed, he would have had to go in and out of the village countless times.

  ‘Dammit, though one Tool Box is that expensive…’

  If a battle broke out with a Slime, he worried more about the repair fee than his Health.

  ‘Anyways, it looks like I wasn’t the first to discover this dungeon,’ Ark muttered regretfully.

  An explanation about the cave had popped up, but a bonus didn’t come in.

  Even a dungeon was cleared out once, monsters and item were likely to spawn again when time passed. But if you were unlucky, you might not be able to fish out anything. However, Ark didn’t worry that much about it, since his most important goal was to finish the quest anyways.

  ‘Since it’s a job worth 200 gold, I can’t be too cheap.’

  Just then, the Bat came out of the cave.

  “Master. There’s 1 person."

  “A person? You mean a stranger?"

  “Yeah. He’s co
ming out this way.”

  Wariness settled in Ark’s eyes.

  You had to be more wary of a user than a monster. The saying that mankind’s natural enemy was himself didn’t just apply in reality. It was more so particularly in a remote place like this. In a place where there was no one to help, if he got caught in a high level’s PK ambush, he’d suffer without a squirm and that would be that.

  Ark waited with a tense face and soon someone walked out of the cave.

  As Ark confirmed the face of the other person, his eyes widened.

  “… You—you are?”

  The other person also recoiled as he took one step backwards.

  The Warrior wearing plate armor was Andel.

  The name he’d screamed countless times as he ground his teeth!

  Andel must have recognized Ark because he stepped back as he winced. Then, as if he was thinking of something, his eyes rolled back and forth. He was deliberating on how he should respond. After a long time, Andel must have decided because he furtively raised the corners of his mouth and began speaking.

  “Ah, I thought you were someone I’ve seen somewhere. You’re the person I partied with before. Did you say your name is Ark?”

  Ark silently nodded his head.

  He wouldn’t be satisfied even if he could immediately beat the shit out of this bastard. Well, how long had he actually waited to do just that?

  However, Ark suppressed his anger and endured it for now.

  He hadn’t checked how strong the guy had become yet. If he thoughtlessly followed his emotions, he could be the one to suffer instead. He also wanted to see how Andel would approach him.

  “You were Andel, right?"

  “So you do remember.”

  ‘Would you be able to forget if it were you?’

  Ark barely managed to swallow back the curses that surged up.

  “That’s good— I wanted to meet you once again."

  “Me…?”

  “Yes, because it looks like I’ve made a big mistake. Who would’ve known your stats would decrease every time you die? After hearing about it, I went to Harun Village because I wanted to apologize. But you weren’t there. I worried that you might’ve given up on the game, but since you’re all the way here, looks like you’ve raised your level quite a lot?”

  ‘You didn’t know? Apologize? You will soon, you damn bastard!’

  In the end, what Andel was curious about was Ark’s level. It wasn’t possible to tell how his attitude would transform if he decided Ark’s level was lower than his own. Ark answered vaguely.

  “Well, just leave it at that. To be sure, I was extremely upset at that time. I even thought about whether I should really quit the game. But there’s a circumstance that makes it so I can’t quit, so I’m doing whatever I can.”

  “You haven’t been misunderstanding it, right?”

  “Huh? Misunderstanding what?” Ark feigned innocence as if he didn’t know what Andel was talking about.

  Andel scanned Ark up and down with a somewhat relief expression.

  With the Black Bear Mouse’s Leather Armor, Cat Paws, and the frayed helmet and shoes he’d picked up in the Shadow Forest, no matter what his ability was, as far as outside appearances went, he looked no different than a beggar.

  The only thing worth considering was the Blood-red Mantle flapping behind his back!

  Due to the enormous penalty from the Mantle, he couldn’t wear it while hunting, but he’d equipped it just in case after hearing the Bat’s words that a user was coming out.

  Nevertheless, he wasn’t at that great a level. The Andel’s eyes, who’d made that judgement, glinted slyly.

  “Ark-nim, if you have time, would you perhaps like to enter the dungeon with me?”

  “The dungeon?”

  “I discovered this dungeon as I was passing by, but it’s a little difficult alone, so I was going to come later with a person I know, but since Ark-nim is here, I think it’ll work even if we go in. How about it?”

  “I wonder.”

  As Ark purposely pretended like he couldn’t decide, Andel spoke up quickly.

  “If an okay item comes out in the dungeon, I’ll give it to Ark-nim.”

  “If you do that, I’ll be sorry.”

  “No, let’s do it like that since there’s the happening from last time. Yes?”

  “Well, if you put it that way, then…”

  Ark nodded. He couldn’t known what Andel was secretly plotting, but Ark didn’t want to let the bastard go. Even if he couldn’t win by any chance, if he couldn’t at least cut a knife scar in Andel’s side after seeing the opportunity, it was obvious he wouldn’t even be able to sleep.

  For that, it’d be difficult if he made a party with him. There was the quest condition as well…

  “Going in together is good, but to be honest I don’t want to make a party.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  Andel accepted readily.

  When Ark finished his negotiation, he look a step and entered the cave, and a read suddenly enveloped his body. Just as Ark raised his head with an alarmed expression, Andel scratched his head with a sheepish expression.

  “Ah, were you surprised? It’s just that I was only checking your status window. Since we haven’t formed a party, I can only assist properly after finding out Ark-nim’s status in advance.”

  ‘Does this little shit really think I’m a pushover?’

  Sparks flew from Ark’s eyes.

  It was common sense to use the [Detect] function, which allows to check another user’s status window, after receiving permission beforehand. If they used the command without permission, one couldn’t help but think that there was an ulterior motive. No, it was nothing new, but what definitely showed up were just Health and the main stats.

  The Blood-red Mantle of Dreams was an item that decreased all stats by -15.

  Andel must have thought that Ark’s stats were low considering he was a level 32. In addition, there was no doubt Andel had judged that even his abilities and skills were also just as low. It didn’t feel good to appear weak, but if it was a wary opponent, it was better to let them underestimate.

  As expected, Andel showed a relieved expression.

  “It looks like you weren’t able to restore all the stats you lost in the beginning.”

  “I just leveled up without knowing. Although I’ve already changed my profession, I’m in this state.”

  “What did you do as your job-change?”

  “It is Thief-related.”

  “Ah, so that’s why your Agility and Luck are high. Since I changed my profession to a Warrior, I will take the lead.”

  Andel pulled out a longsword and raised his shield, and gallantly moved to the front. Showing his back like it was nothing was a sign of his confidence that he could win even if he was ambushed.

  It was proof he had completely lowered his guard concerning Ark.

  ‘Hmph, just wait and see. You’ll come to regret your judgement.’

  Just when Ark was having thoughts like that:

  “Master, I don’t like that human.”

  He heard a displeased voice from his shoulder. It was the Bat. Ark had put the Bat on his shoulder, and left the Skull hanging on his side. Since Andel didn’t ask, it seemed he thought they were ornaments.

  In any case, Ark felt affection towards the Bat for the first time.

  An ally he could believe no matter the situation— meeting Andel again made him realize anew how precious its existence was.

  Ark exclaimed to the Andel who was showing off his equipment, “Wow, looks like you’ve raised yourself a lot in the meantime.”

  “It’s nothing special. I’m only level 35 now, jeez.”

  Andel sprang into the cave with an arrogant expression.

  There were enormous numbers of monsters gathered within the cave. The Lizardmen or Goblins he’d seen in the Gran Swamp charged at them in swarms. If it were Ark, he would have fought by hiding his body and luring o
ne or two each time, but Andel set his shield in front and rushed in without care.

  Andel, who defeated two of them in an instant, immediately drank a restoration potion and defeated the rest of them as well.

  ‘Hmm, you say that’s level 35?’

  “Eyes of the Cat!”

  Ark activated the skill towards Andel while pretending to use it on a monster. As he expected, the level of Andel, who’d job-changed to Fighter, was a staggering 43.

  On top of that, his defense was enormous because he was equipped with a plated armor and a shield. In actuality, even when he fought three or four monsters, his Health didn’t decrease by much.

  What was more surprising was that Andel’s name was marked in red.

  Chaotic character— in other words, it meant he had a history of having PKed.

  Though well, if it was Andel, it wasn’t something that surprising.

  ‘It was good that I didn’t thoughtlessly attack him after all.’

  However, it was too early to relax. Andel’s ploy was too obvious.

  It was a ploy to use Ark in a dungeon that was difficult to penetrate alone. Saying he would give the decent items to Ark if one ever dropped, was the same as meaning of him saying he would kill him if a decent item showed up.

  ‘Even so, I can’t withdraw here. So I have carefully look at the way he is fighting. The only way I can win against an opponent with an over 10 level difference is by planning a good strategy.’

  Ark meticulously inspected Andel’s movements while fighting halfheartedly.

  Once he saw Ark panting with one monster as an opponent, Andel became even more triumphant and sprang forward wildly.

  It was the typical Warrior’s fighting method of pushing forward with Strength, Stamina, and defense. That was the reason why he couldn’t break through this level of dungeon even though he was a level 43.

  Instead of setting a strategy and handling them one by one like Ark, he set his attack power and defense in front and charged in extravagantly.

  ‘That way might be the answer if it was another game, but this is New World. You still don’t really know New World’s combat. That is my key point of winning.’