SRPG | Chapter 1.2

Hwanyoung scrolled down a bit more. Then, a new character who seemed to know Gudok well appeared.
Hyoppang: Gudok?? Are you in your right mind? Releasing all your slaves without consulting?
Hyoppang: It’s war next week, have you gone madㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ? How are we supposed to recruit and train mercenaries in just a weekㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Hyoppang: Does Gudok have cream instead of a brain? Is that why you can’t think when it gets warm?
Hyoppang: Gudok?
Hyoppang: Answer.
Hyoppang: Ignoring my messages?

Hyoppang: Do you want to see me seriously mad, Gudok?
└CCVPopcorn: Hyoppang is pissedㅋㅋㅋㅋ next week’s war is going to be epicㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└EcoCupDiscount300: Please exclude me, guild master, I opposed this till the end, I am your loyal vassal, guild master, please just me

‘This might be worth a try.’ Hwanyoung immediately sent a private message to Gudok.

[Whisper] lIlllIIl: Hello, Mr. Gudok
[Whisper] Gudok: Yep yep yep!

The response came immediately. Even Hwanyoung, a veteran of Aeer Online, was surprised by the swift response.

‘He must really enjoy the attention, to respond this quickly.’

Hwanyoung quickly got to the point.

[Whisper] Gudok: Applicant for slave bread? (✧∇✧)
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: I would like to apply for slave bread

The chats went up almost simultaneously. Hwanyoung hastily replied, worried the messages might get mixed up.

[Whisper] lIlllIIl: Yes
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: I want it
[Whisper] Gudok: Gudok? (/ω＼)
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: No, the slave bread

The conversation was a bit odd, but Hwanyoung decided not to mind it. After all, he had come wanting to be Gudok’s slave.

[Whisper] Gudok: Ah but!
[Whisper] Gudok: Barcode-nim doesn’t seem to be max level! (›´-`‹ )
[Whisper] Gudok: The chat keeps showing ‘This character was created less than a week ago!’ (;° ロ°)
[Whisper] Gudok: Low levels have too high a risk of ghosting!
[Whisper] Gudok: Gudok doesn’t just take anyone as a slave! He’s not that easy! (・_・)!

Hwanyoung somewhat expected this response. It was strange to trust a new and low-level account at first sight.

Hwanyoung himself had experienced being ditched by a partner who changed his nickname and even transferred servers to escape.

[Whisper] lIlllIIl: I understand
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: I did want to duel with you though
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: It’s a shame
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: But thank you for responding kindly
[Whisper] lIlllIIl: You seem to be a gentler master than I expected…

That’s when it happened.

Ding! A friend request came in.

It was from Gudok.

‘So sudden?’

Hesitating for a moment, Hwanyoung eventually accepted Gudok’s friend request.

If things get weird, I can always block him. But just in case, I should record this…

Soon after, a one-on-one chat window that only friends can use popped up.

Gudok: This way, it’s easier to talk secretly! (˶˙ᵕ˙˶)
lIlllIIl: Ah…

Why do we need to have a secret conversation…?

Hwanyoung regretted it. Even if it was a joke, he shouldn’t have said things like ‘gentle master type’. Surely he’s not really a pervert?

Hwanyoung set his guard high and stared at the chat window.

Gudok: What’s your job, Nimnim? (/ω＼)
lIlllIIl: I work in educational planning
Gudok: No, I mean in the game

“Ah.”

lIlllIIl: Shadow Sorcerer
lIlllIIl: Apprentice
Gudok: Haven’t even done your second job change yet? (;° ロ°)
lIlllIIl: Yes
Gudok: Hmm (›´-`‹ )
Gudok: Gudok doesn’t usually fight with non-max level babies!
Gudok: Because Gudok has to protect the weak baby-jobber! (๑>ω<๑)
Gudok: Gudok is Aeer’s Protector! (✧∇✧)

How can ‘baby’ and ‘jobber’ be combined into one word? And what’s this about being Aeer’s Protector….

‘That’s why he gets cursed. Not a bad person, but the persona is toxic….’

Lost in thought over the harsh words, another message from Gudok popped up.

Gudok: But since Barcode Jo-bbab shared such important >personal information< about his job!
Gudok: There’s something called information value in the world!
Gudok: Therefore, Gudok must do something for Barcode Jo-bbab! (✧∇✧)
lIlllIIl: Ah… I see…

Having nothing else to say, Hwanyoung just vaguely responded. After all, ‘Ah’, ‘Yes!’, and ‘Understood!’ are often enough to suffice.

Gudok: So, Gudok will fight you for free this time!
Gudok: Normally, I’d ask for KakaoTalk or Discord IDs, but not this time!
Gudok: Gudok is kind! (/ω＼)
lIlllIIl: Ah… yes…
Gudok: A chance to subscribe to Gudok for free! (/ω＼)
Gudok: I hope Barcode Jo-bbab grabs this opportunity!
lIlllIIl: Yes… thank you

Having encountered all sorts of characters, Gudok’s persona was particularly manic. That’s why Hwanyoung casually skimmed through Gudok’s chat.

‘Anyway, the important thing is that he agreed to the slave bread.’

lIlllIIl: I’ll be at the arena first
Gudok: Gudok is on the way! (✧∇✧)

Hwanyoung went through the village’s arena manager to head to the arena.

Swoosh.

A brief sound of wind passed through the speaker. Soon after, the screen switched to the arena lobby. Then, a majestic BGM started playing.

Gudok: Gudok has arrived! (๑ᵔ⩊ᵔ๑)

In the lobby of the battle arena, a small boy character appeared with a bounce. Lee Hwanyoung, as usual, quickly scanned Gudok’s character from head to toe.

Gudok’s character was a boy with light wheat-colored hair, sporting round brown ears on his head and a chubby tail at his waist. He was dressed in a cute-looking raincoat.

Since Lee Hwanyoung didn’t recognize the avatar, it seemed to be a newly released one during his absence.

‘Raccoon beastman. Job: magician.’

Years of accumulated knowledge about Aeer Online unfurled in Lee Hwanyoung’s mind.

The magician was a job known for its flashy and tricky skills. It was capable of handling both one-on-one and multiple opponent battles efficiently, but it was a high-difficulty job that heavily depended on the user’s skill.

The game operators had even said that only those with quick hands should attempt it.

“Hmm…”

Choosing a magician as a main character and going around as a slave-bread suggested that Gudok was very confident in his abilities. At that moment, Lee Hwanyoung’s heart pounded.

“Glad I asked to fight.”

‘I should’ve struggled and reached the second job change if I knew it would be like this. It’s frustrating that I only have my first job change skills unlocked.’

Gudok: Baby vampire!
lIlllIIl: …Me?

‘Baby,’ huh… Lee Hwanyoung’s vision went dark for a moment at a nickname he’d never heard even in his youth.

Gudok: There’s a big level difference between Gudok and the baby vampire!
Gudok: So, Gudok has decided to take a self-imposed penalty! (✧∇✧)

Really? Lee Hwanyoung replied.

lIlllIIl: Since the arena adjusts stats anyway
lIlllIIl: There’s no need for a penalty
lIlllIIl: You can fight fair and square

Unlike field PvP and sieges where level and gear differences were fully impactful, duels in the arena received stat adjustments. This made it possible to have a fair fight regardless of level or gear differences.

Gudok: No no! Can’t do that! (>д<)
Gudok: Stats might be the same but
Gudok: There’s a difference in skills!!
Gudok: It’s not a fair fight! Gudok doesn’t want an unfair fight! (ꐦ ¯−¯)

Gudok was oddly fussy for someone who craved attention. Typically, attention-seekers should be thrilled at any opportunity to shine and readily agree to anything.

Lee Hwanyoung typed with a cooled gaze.

lIlllIIl: Then do as you please
Gudok: Got it! Gudok will handle it!

Gudok’s raccoon character bounced in place excitedly. Every jump made the thin raincoat flutter.

Gudok: Gudok won’t use second job change skills either! (๑ᵔ⩊ᵔ๑)
Gudok: Because the baby vampire hasn’t reached second job change yet!
Gudok: This makes the fight between baby vampire and Gudok a fair fight! (˶˙ᵕ˙˶)
lIlllIIl: Yes… That makes sense…

As soon as Lee Hwanyoung joined the party, Gudok’s small character bounced toward the battle arena manager.

“From the way he’s running, it looks like he took the speed passive…” Lee Hwanyoung gleaned as much information as possible from Gudok’s movements.

‘Since he said he won’t use second skills. It’s likely going to be a purely physical fight.’

Both Gudok and Lee Hwanyoung mostly had non-target skills, meaning there weren’t any significant targeting skills to deal meaningful damage.

This meant physical ability, intuition, and luck were crucial. It was what you might call the ‘Pray Meta.’

‘I’m excited.’

PvP in Aeer Online usually involved figuring out how to combine and counter skills strategically. So, a purely physical fight like this was a rarity. A battle fraught with non-target skills using only first job change skills.

The heart raced.

Lee Hwanyoung checked his skill settings one last time and grabbed his mouse. The battle arena had transformed into a giant sports field.

Gudok: Added the Sandstorm option! (˶˙ᵕ˙˶)
Gudok: Don’t be too shocked if a sandstorm suddenly starts!
lIlllIIl: Noted

<Battle Arena Manager: Victory is determined solely by skill.>

<Battle Arena Manager: After the outcome is decided, wash away any grudges and be reborn as good comrades.>

<Battle Arena Manager: If you understand my words, face each other.>

The wheat-haired beastman boy and the dark, slender vampire faced each other.

<Battle Arena Manager: I will count down from 5.>

Lee Hwanyoung took a deep breath. He had already decided on his first move.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The countdown ended, and Lee Hwanyoung stood still without making a move.

Whoosh.

A moment later, a card thudded into the ground to Lee Hwanyoung’s right. It was Gudok’s anticipatory shot, expecting him to move.

‘First turn prediction shots are luck for both sides.’

With Gudok’s prediction missing, it was now Lee Hwanyoung’s turn. He used Shadow Throw.

Thud. The vampire character’s thrown shadow made a sticky sound as it flew towards Gudok.

Boom! Gudok dodged it by transforming into a Surprise Box. The sticky shadow grazed the box and stuck heavily to the ground.

Both Card Throwing and Surprise Box were on cooldown. Soon, Paralysis Poison Rose would be coming.

Lee Hwanyoung used a Blood Barrier. It was a skill that boosted resistance to status ailments for 8 seconds.

Gudok: ㅎ

As if he had anticipated it, Gudok saved his Paralysis Poison Rose. Instead, he swung a basic attack into thin air, retreating backward. It was a move to prevent Lee Hwanyoung’s vampire from closing in on the magician.

“Hmm.”

It was a moment of decision. Either let Gudok go or follow him at a loss.

‘Dragging this out won’t do me any favors.’

It was obvious who would be at a disadvantage the longer the duel lasted—Lee Hwanyoung, who had only been playing a vampire for a few days, versus Gudok, who had been a magician for at least half a year.

“The new character strategy should always be to hit them from behind.”

Lee Hwanyoung used a mobility skill. The vampire transformed into a bat, flapping noisily as it shot like an arrow toward the raccoon beastman.

A beat later, Gudok’s Paralysis Poison Rose flew toward Lee Hwanyoung.

Lee Hwanyoung stopped as if he had been waiting. The magician’s rose thudded uselessly just in front of the bat.

‘Starting with that, he has a habit of only making prediction shots.’

Gudok: ㅠ?
Gudok: My prediction shot missed again?

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Lee Hwanyoung’s character closed the gap to Gudok’s character. He immediately reverted from bat form and used a Blood Spear.

Gudok wasn’t dumb enough to just take the hit. His magician hurled a Knife Throwing skill at Lee Hwanyoung.

The knife, though slower than the Paralysis Poison Rose, dealt significantly more damage.

Crack! Thud!

The raccoon character was pierced by the Blood Spear, and the vampire was stabbed by the knife.