Chapter 4
The Sanctuary of Martial Artists
The Hall of Martial Arts
[You chose to be a Martial Artist despite all warnings? Then head straight here.]
Go to the Hall of Martial Arts, receive and complete quests to get martial artist-exclusive skills and level up quickly!
Choosing to be a martial artist is honestly a dumb decision... but if you’re set on this path, you should at least grow efficiently, right?
A place essential for the rapid initial growth of martial artists. Due to these guides, all the few novice martial artists would visit the Hall of Martial Arts. However, the place Jung-hoon entered was not the Hall of Martial Arts. At this time, going to the Hall of Martial Arts was the obvious choice, but it wouldn’t be in the future.
[Abandoned Dojo]
Currently, this dojo was unoccupied, and no one entered it. The floor was covered in dust, and cobwebs hung thickly from the ceiling and windows. The windows were broken, and the wallpaper had yellowed and decayed.
"I found it exactly."
Jung-hoon’s lips curled up in an irrepressible smile. The fact that it was this dirty meant he was the first visitor.
"Let's start with cleaning."
Jung-hoon headed outside towards the shop. He needed tools for cleaning. There was no way a nearly collapsed dojo would have decent cleaning supplies. The marketplace had a general store selling cleaning tools.
"Welcome!"
The shopkeeper greeted Jung-hoon warmly. An icon blinked above his head, indicating he was an NPC who gave quests to beginners. But for Jung-hoon, the immediate priority wasn’t that quest.
"I’d like to buy cleaning tools."
"Ah, yes. The tools are on the second floor!"
The general store had three floors. It was the largest general store in the marketplace, carrying almost everything, including snacks from around the world. New World had perfectly replicated the taste of snacks, though they only slightly restored the character’s health instead of providing actual satiety.
These were essentially potions. Unlike other games, in New World, you could restore health and mana through food. So, buying snacks wasn't a bad idea.
"They can be used as potions, so let’s buy some."
Jung-hoon picked up a basket and bought snacks, drinks, and the necessary cleaning tools. The gold he received as a reward for completing the tutorial was enough.
"That will be 1 silver and 6 pennies."
Even after buying so much, it only cost 1 silver and 6 pennies. Jung-hoon handed over 1 gold coin. The shopkeeper, startled, looked back and forth between the gold coin and Jung-hoon. It was rare for gold to be used in the Beginner Village, so his reaction was understandable.
"Please wait a moment."
The shopkeeper excused himself and fetched more silver and pennies from the safe. In New World, 1 gold was equivalent to 20 silver. One silver was equal to 12 pennies. Therefore, the change he received was 18 silver and 6 pennies.
"Thank you."
"Please come again!"
Jung-hoon confirmed the 18 silver and 6 pennies in his inventory and left the store. He hurried back to the dojo. Judging by its condition, even spending a whole day might not be enough to finish cleaning. It might take two days.
‘Jung-hoon, want to know how I got this?’
‘Not really.’
‘Oh, come on, just listen.’
A guy who, whether anyone wanted to hear it or not, would brag about how he got his items when drunk. The only reason he boasted to Jung-hoon was that Jung-hoon had also visited this dojo.
Upon arriving at the dojo, Jung-hoon started by mopping. He needed to clear the dust first, then rinse the mop and repeatedly clean the wooden floor. After about 30 minutes of mopping, he felt someone’s presence behind him. He turned towards the entrance.
"What’s this? Why is it so dirty?"
"Oh, there’s a place like this here?"
Two users were inspecting the dojo. Jung-hoon stopped mopping and looked at them. It was odd. Usually, novice users wouldn’t visit such a place.
[Checking user information.]
[Player Information]
Nickname: BeginnerKiller1
Level: 31
Class: Lower-tier Warrior (1st job advancement)
When first starting, only a user's nickname, level, and class are publicly visible. Everything else is set to private by default. Later, users can choose to reveal detailed stats and skills in the options, but most just leave the default settings. These users were the same. Jung-hoon checked the information of the other user behind them.
[Player Information]
Nickname: BeginnerKiller2
Level: 36
Class: Lower-tier Mage (1st job advancement)
These guys had high levels to be lurking in the Beginner Village. Jung-hoon’s mind raced.
‘They must have seen me pay with 1 gold coin.’
Typically, finishing the first stage of the tutorial rewarded 10 silver. Jung-hoon, having cleared all five stages, received 10 gold. These guys were probably following him to extort money.
"Do you need something?"
Jung-hoon forced a friendly smile, as if he were the dojo’s owner.
"Oh, nothing much, just come over here."
The level 31 lower-tier warrior beckoned with a finger. He seemed confident after checking Jung-hoon’s information.
[Player Information]
Nickname: Hoon
Level: 11
Class: Martial Artist
No wonder he saw Jung-hoon as easy prey.
"Hmm, is this about money?"
"Sharp, aren’t you?"
"Hand over everything you’ve got, and we’ll let you go quietly. If not, we can have a PvP."
The two sneered. To engage in combat with other users in New World, you had to initiate a PvP. If one side declined, the fight wouldn’t happen. However, these guys were trash who specifically targeted beginners. If refused, they would persistently harass you.
"No thanks."
Even handing over his money wouldn’t end it with these guys. Once they marked someone as a sucker, they would harass them until they quit the game. They had marked Jung-hoon as a sucker.
"Crazy? Accept the PvP unless you want to die."
"You’re dead. We’ll make you quit New World."
Their faces twisted menacingly.
[A PvP request has been made. Do you accept?]
The lower-tier warrior initiated the PvP. Without hesitation, Jung-hoon accepted the request.
[Starting PvP.]
[The battle will last for 30 minutes.]
The PvP began, and the lower-tier warrior charged at Jung-hoon with a sword. With a 20-level difference, it was hard to read his movements. Yet, Jung-hoon wasn’t the least bit tense. His experience more than made up for the level gap.
The guy swung his sword.
'Left.'
Jung-hoon predicted the sword's trajectory from the subtle movements and dodged. As Jung-hoon perfectly evaded the sword, a look of bewilderment crossed the lower-tier warrior’s face.
What’s going on?
How did a level 11 martial artist evade the strike of a level 31 warrior?
It was impossible.
"An opening."
Jung-hoon kicked up at the lower-tier warrior’s wrist.
"Ugh!"
The startled warrior accidentally dropped his sword. The sword quickly fell into Jung-hoon’s hand.
"Take this."
Jung-hoon thrust the sword straight into the warrior's neck.
[You hit a critical point precisely.]
[PVP instant death judgment is activated.]
['BeginnerKiller1' has died. A penalty will be applied for losing the PVP.]
"Cough, cough!"
The lower-tier warrior, whose neck had been pierced, trembled violently before disappearing. He was forcibly logged out. If you lose in PVP, you can’t log into the game for 24 hours due to the penalty.
"Wha-what?"
The apprentice mage, shocked by his comrade’s defeat, stared dumbfounded at the spot where the lower-tier warrior had vanished.
"Are you going to fight too?"
Jung-hoon asked, pointing the sword at the mage.
"I-I'm sorry!"
The apprentice mage stammered an apology and ran away in a panic. Watching him flee with his tail between his legs, Jung-hoon sneered. They were the type to bully beginners. Despite seeing the recent PVP, they didn’t have the guts to challenge him again and quickly backed off.
"Pathetic bastards."
Jung-hoon was enjoying cleaning, but these interruptions ruined his rhythm. He picked up the mop again to continue cleaning.
[Oh, a friend I like has arrived.]
An old man suddenly appeared on the once-empty wooden floor, staring at Jung-hoon.
'Huh? He’s here already?'
Jung-hoon was inwardly surprised. He had been cleaning the dojo diligently to meet this old man.
[Mysterious Old Man]
A red question mark floated above the old man’s head.
'Do I... not need to clean?'
Jung-hoon put down the mop and slowly approached the old man.
***
Buzz!
The guy swung his sword.
'Left.'
Jung-hoon predicted the sword's trajectory from the subtle movements and dodged. As Jung-hoon perfectly evaded the sword, a look of bewilderment crossed the lower-tier warrior’s face.
What’s going on?
How did a level 11 martial artist evade the strike of a level 31 warrior?
It was impossible.
"An opening."
Jung-hoon kicked up at the lower-tier warrior’s wrist.
"Ugh!"
The startled warrior accidentally dropped his sword. The sword quickly fell into Jung-hoon’s hand.
"Take this."
Jung-hoon thrust the sword straight into the warrior's neck.
[You hit a critical point precisely.]
[PVP instant death judgment is activated.]
['BeginnerKiller1' has died. A penalty will be applied for losing the PVP.]
"Cough, cough!"
The lower-tier warrior, whose neck had been pierced, trembled violently before disappearing. He was forcibly logged out. If you lose in PVP, you can’t log into the game for 24 hours due to the penalty.
"Wha-what?"
The apprentice mage, shocked by his comrade’s defeat, stared dumbfounded at the spot where the lower-tier warrior had vanished.
"Are you going to fight too?"
Jung-hoon asked, pointing the sword at the mage.
"I-I'm sorry!"
The apprentice mage stammered an apology and ran away in a panic. Watching him flee with his tail between his legs, Jung-hoon sneered. They were the type to bully beginners.
Despite seeing the recent PVP, they didn’t have the guts to challenge him again and quickly backed off.
"Pathetic bastards."
Jung-hoon was enjoying cleaning, but these interruptions ruined his rhythm. He picked up the mop again to continue cleaning.
[Oh, a friend I like has arrived.]
An old man suddenly appeared on the once-empty wooden floor, staring at Jung-hoon.
'Huh? He’s here already?'
Jung-hoon was inwardly surprised. He had been cleaning the dojo diligently to meet this old man.
[Mysterious Old Man]
A red question mark floated above the old man’s head.
'Do I... not need to clean?'
Jung-hoon put down the mop and slowly approached the old man.
In an apartment in Bangbae-dong, Seoul.
[You lost in PVP.]
[A penalty will be applied.]
[You cannot log in for 23 hours and 59 minutes.]
With a whoosh, the capsule opened, forcefully logging out the player who lost in PVP.
"Damn it!"
Cheol-min cursed as he emerged from the capsule, his fist trembling with frustration.
"Why did I lose?"
He couldn’t understand. He was level 30 and had completed his first job advancement. Yet, he suffered the humiliation of losing a PVP to a mere level 11 martial artist. Cheol-min immediately called his friend, the apprentice mage Duk-goo, who had witnessed the PVP.
[Yeah, I just logged out too.]
Duk-goo anticipated the call and had already logged out.
"Shit... what trick did that bastard use?"
Cheol-min couldn’t accept that he lost without some sort of trick.
[I don’t know...]
Even Duk-goo couldn’t figure out the martial artist’s trick.
"You don’t know? How can you not know?"
Duk-goo had also completed his first job advancement and was even five levels higher than Cheol-min.
[What I saw was... you got disarmed and had your neck cut.]
"Shit, I know that."
[Anyway, let’s not mess with that guy. Something’s off.]
It didn’t even take a minute for the level 11 martial artist to kill a level 31 first-job warrior. Something unseen was at play. They should have realized it when they saw a level 11 with gold...
"Ha... you said he was a beginner? You asshole. Do you want to die?"
[How is this my fault? I only said he had gold. You’re the one who decided to follow him.]
"Don’t bullshit me. If you hadn’t hinted he might be rich, we wouldn’t have bothered."
[Wow, listen to this crazy bastard blaming me?]
"Anyway, you better take responsibility! How am I supposed to wait 24 hours, damn it!"
Cheol-min lamented. Being deeply engrossed in New World, a 24-hour ban was a painfully severe penalty for him.
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