Player with Maxed-Out Talent

Chapter 6

Level 8 in Reality

I was well-versed in the strategies for the tutorial. No, that’s an understatement. I had all the history beyond the tutorial and the entire game practically memorized, having committed it to memory over three years. “I know this field better than anyone.”

I didn’t have time, leisure, or money to spare. Hobbies were a luxury for me, but still, there was one thing I enjoyed. Sitting in front of my decade-old computer in a semi-basement room, I would watch YouTube videos with the quality turned down as low as possible.

“Theoretically, I’m way better than an average player.”

I lacked talent, or so I was told. In a world like Player’s World that valued talent above all, “no talent” implied that effort alone couldn’t take you to the top. Devoid of such talent, I could only watch dungeon strategy videos on YouTube and let my imagination soar.

“Even if it’s a baby goblin, it’s very difficult to catch with Level 1 abilities.”

That statement meant nothing to me. Though plain hunting might be difficult, I knew their weakness. “Goblin’s weakness.” As expected of a low-level monster, goblins have a vulnerability that makes them easy to defeat.

Kyik! Kikikyik!

The baby goblin was still focused on slicing at the ankle of a young girl. “Nape.” I took a deep breath. “The center of the nape.” There was a big black spot in the center. If hit correctly, it could kill a goblin in one shot. In essence, goblins are easy to conquer if you know their weakness. It’s their numbers due to their tendency to flock that poses the real problem.

“Inventory.” A faint light appeared from my hand, and an item materialized in my grasp. The spectacle was not surprising to me. [You have equipped a Rusty Sword.] I crept up behind the baby goblin. “Stab.”

For someone who struggled to kill a large cockroach, this required gritting my teeth. “Die!” I thrust the rusty sword forcefully into the back of the baby goblin’s neck.

Puwook!

Through the tip of the blade, through the handle of the sword, and through my hand, I felt a chilling sensation as the blade penetrated the flesh. “Done, it’s done.” He was killed in one blow.

Puwak!

Blood splattered, some of it reaching my clothes, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t have the luxury to care. [You have hunted a baby goblin.] [You have gained experience points.] Though invisible to the eye, I could sense the experience bar filling. It’s just a sensation that automatically appears in my mind. About a third of the experience bar filled up.

“I really caught it.” And in one hit no less. Even for a baby goblin, to kill it in one hit implies a stroke of luck that’s hard to put into words. “Lucky.”

For a complete beginner, and regardless of how high the initial stats are, it’s exceptionally rare to kill a monster in one hit. “Or... is it luck?” I’m not sure. It seems right to regard it as luck, but... “Why is it so easy?” It was oddly easy. Too easy to just chalk up to “having good luck.” It felt as though my hands were accustomed to this, as if I had been playing all along.

BJ (Broadcast Jockey) Senia seemed equally surprised by the situation. Her lips moved slightly, whispering softly, probably broadcasting this to the Guardians. [A Level 1 player has instantly killed a baby goblin with a single attack.] Though she spoke calmly, her wing tips were trembling—a characteristic of angelic BJs, who show tremors in their wings when emotionally stirred.

For now, I decided to focus on the pressing matters before me. “Get up.” The girl’s eyes were unfocused. “Snap out of it. If you don’t follow me properly, I’ll leave you behind.” The threat of being “left behind” seemed to jolt her back to awareness. “I-I’ll follow.”

I moved first. Time was of the essence. Soon, a second wave of attacks would start.

***

I entered a convenience store. Glancing over, the girl had managed to follow despite being half out of it. I locked the door. Senia, amidst a horde of goblins, stood regally alone, capturing the scene. She seemed to have designated me as her main target, staying not too far from my vicinity.

“Don’t open this door no matter what happens.” “......” “Did you get that?”

I could tell the girl was profoundly shocked. However, there’s no room for coddling in the tutorial field, where 145,000 out of 150,000 people die. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to risk my own life just to take care of a child. “Answer me. Do you understand?” The girl nodded.

After about six hours since the second attack started, things became relatively quiet. That meant there were not many survivors left around us.

“Thank you for saving me. I didn’t even thank you properly because I was so scared...” She spoke with welled-up eyes, evidently still shaken by the ordeal. That’s to be expected, though she was quite composed on the outside.

“Meeting you was really a blessing.” “...” “Thank you so much.” “...”

The conversation flowed unusually.

“Please don’t abandon me. I’m really good. I can wash dishes, clean, and organize clothes well.” “...Oh, is that so?”

It was a strange thing for a 14-year-old girl to say. Typically, you don’t just ask someone not to abandon you. Given the situation, maybe she’s terrified of it? I didn’t know what to say in response.

I did save her, but I had my reasons. It wasn’t purely out of kindness. “Forget it. Put away your thanks. We don’t know if we’ll survive to the end.”

“But...” “If needed, I’ll throw you as bait and run away.”

Seon-hwa’s face turned ashen. I wanted to be absolutely clear with her. Another six hours passed, and Seon-hwa seemed to grow more comfortable with me.

“I feel like I can survive with you. It’s still very scary, but...”

Kang Seon-hwa managed a bright smile, trying to appear strong. ‘Cute.’ Her display was quite endearing. This isn’t about appearance. It’s simply cute. Of course, I don’t mean this in a romantic way. Like a niece, perhaps.

“You look so strong.” “If I were strong, I’d be out there killing those bastards by now.”

I pointed outside the window towards goblins staring back and laughing maniacally, smacking the glass as if mocking us. Seon-hwa gasped in fear and, in her seated position, scooted back to hide behind me. She was quite small.

“Aren’t you scared?” “Well...”

I was scared, but my anger and frustration at being helpless were stronger. ‘After the second attack...’

Hiding was the strategy up until the second goblin attack, but it would be different afterward. “I might not be able to keep you safe throughout the 7-day tutorial.” “...”

“I can’t take full responsibility for you either.”

After all, I need to look out for myself. “But I won’t abandon you first. Sleep for now.”

Seon-hwa looked at me with teary eyes, likely thinking I would leave her once she fell asleep. “Hey. I won’t. Unless my life is in immediate danger, trust me and sleep.”

“Really? Can I trust you?” She’s afraid of being left behind. Slightly annoyed, I replied. “Trust me. And what can you do if you don’t?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Kang Seon-hwa was deflated. “So sleep for now. You need to conserve energy.”

“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”

After the second attack, I had to make my way through the littered bodies on the street to a key location. Coincidentally, it was the ‘Gwanghwamun D Tower,’ the same place no one else heard about in the ‘safe zone setting.’@@@@