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#18 Chapter Developer’s Game Strategy (2)

Bus. In other words, boosting.

It refers to a play style where high-level and powerful players help relatively lower-level and weaker characters grow by fighting alongside them.

To be honest, from the administration’s perspective, this is not a very desirable phenomenon.

This is because, if boosting becomes commonplace, a significant portion of the game’s content would become useless.

For example, let’s assume Player A attempts a dungeon with a recommended level of 10.

A has matched their character level to 10, but failed to clear the dungeon. This is because they were still using equipment from level 5.

Realizing that their character specs were insufficient, A replaced their equipment with level 10 gear and cleared the dungeon easily this time.

Next, A approached a recommended level 20 dungeon from the start, equipping everything optimally. However, they failed to clear it. A was clumsy in utilizing skills effectively.

Feeling lacking in self-control, A repeatedly attempted the same dungeon, honing their control until they eventually succeeded in clearing it.

If character specs are lacking, they raise them by upgrading equipment or levels, and if control is lacking, they refine their control. This process is repeated as both the character and player gradually level up. This act itself is the content of RPGs.

However, the moment boosting is involved, the above cycle is instantly broken.

When a high-level character bulldozes through enemies like a bulldozer, the low-level character doesn’t need to frequently change equipment. They don’t need to improve their control either.

They receive only the ‘result’ of having gained levels, skipping all the intermediate processes. Then they lament that there’s nothing left to do in the game.

This is only the case when receiving free boosts; the detriments of paid boosts are several times worse. It’s even possible for the game itself to collapse because of this.

Naturally, Ryu Inseo, who obsessively focuses on the completeness of the game he created, wouldn’t leave this aspect unattended.

Thus, the contribution system was introduced.

The more damage dealers deal damage, the more tanks can withstand enemy attacks, and the more supporters can use heals and buffs, the more experience and rewards they earn.

This system blocks the most common form of boosting, where high-level players massacre enemies in front while low-level players stand by watching from behind.

Supporter-type characters have it somewhat easier.

If they buff a high-level ally who then defeats an enemy, they can earn some experience.

However, Erin’s chosen Black Knight is fundamentally close to a pure damage dealer.

Even if she uses the strongest attack magic available to her at level 1, it barely makes a dent against average level 30 monsters appearing in the Black Wind Forest.

At best, she chips away 1-2% of their health, and the experience she gains from that is ultimately less than that from consistently taking down appropriately leveled monsters.

So, her plan to receive boosts from NPCs here was originally futile.

[‘Erin’s level has increased.]

[‘Erin’s level has increased.]

[‘Erin’s level has increased.]

However, wasn’t it said that the ones who know how to kill are doctors?

Ignoring all the above premises, Yerin was leveling up without any issues.

And at a speed close to cheating, at that.

The reason this was possible was incredibly simple.

“O Seer, your skill in completely severing the enemies’ breaths is remarkable.”

“You all have caught them; I’m just finishing them off.”

Last hit.

The player who lands the final blow on the monster always receives a guaranteed amount of experience.

Originally, the experience gained from chipping away 1-2% health of an ordinary monster, let alone a raid boss, is minuscule, but that changes if it’s the final blow.

The rewards for landing the finishing blow vary by monster, but for the main monster of this place, the ‘Donkey-Eared Monkey,’ it’s about 20% of the total experience.

20% sounds small, but when comparing 100% from a level 1 monster to 20% from a level 30 monster, the latter is overwhelmingly larger.

Of course, smoothly picking only the last hits during a fierce battle isn’t easy, but when it comes to the ‘Donkey-Eared Monkey,’ it wasn’t that difficult.

The skill ‘Wild Tenacity’ that the Donkey-Eared Monkey possesses allows it to survive with 1 health when taking lethal damage while at full health.

When Aurelia, a warrior at level 43, swings her spear, even a full-health monkey receives lethal damage, leaving it with only 1 health.

Then, what Erin had to do was straightforward. She simply needed to launch her attack magic about half a beat late on the monkeys blocking Aurelia’s path.

However, just because the action is simple doesn’t mean anyone can do it.

One must accurately understand the game’s experience distribution system, command NPCs who are vastly stronger than players like subordinates, and know the types and positions of monsters that can be effectively used by those subordinates for this to be possible.

Most importantly, even this experience gain was merely part of Erin’s grand plan.

【You have entered ‘King Midas’s Golden Warehouse.’】

“I can’t believe there’s such a place…”

In the heart of the Black Wind Forest.

Aurelia and the soldiers, who were astonished when Erin said they had to go through the waterfall there, turned their shock into amazement upon discovering the hidden cave beyond the waterfall. Their amazement turned to admiration after seeing the mountain of gold deep within the cave.

Erin said,

“Don’t touch the gold yet. If you take the gold before defeating the guardian, the one who touches it will turn to gold as well. It’s okay to touch it briefly, but don’t shrink away during combat.”

At her words, the soldiers, who almost touched the pile of gold, quickly withdrew.

Then, they looked around, horror-struck expressions on their faces.

Golden statues in the shape of humans were scattered throughout the golden pile like ornaments.

They realized what those were.

At that moment, laughter echoed through the air.

[Hehe. What a girl loaded with unnecessary knowledge. If you had fallen for it, I would have simply made you part of my treasure!]

With a serious expression, the soldiers looked up at the ceiling as if to say, “Is this an apparent claim that I’m the boss here?”

“‘Spear of the Heavenly Army’”

Having heard this voice beforehand from Erin, Aurelia ignored it completely and struck a golden statue in the left corner with her special move.

[Urgh!]

The golden statue resembling a middle-aged man with a bushy beard moved as if alive, clutching its chest where Aurelia had punched it painfully.

[How do you know my true identity…!]

Truly, this was King Midas, the real boss of this hidden dungeon.

Meanwhile, a heavy golden armor crashed to the ground from the ceiling, breaking apart as it fell without maintaining its form.

The reason was that King Midas lost focus while having to control his armor, leading to it breaking apart without even getting a chance to fight properly.

After engaging in the first battle against the fallen golden guardian, the second battle begins as King Midas, who had been hiding his identity, ambushes them. This is the standard pattern of this dungeon.

But knowing this fact, Erin didn’t follow that pattern blindly. Instead, she directly attacked King Midas and skipped the phase. Time was precious.

Even if they fought head-on, King Midas, ambushed and fighting against someone stronger like Aurelia, wouldn’t stand a chance. With the support of Erin and the other soldiers added in, the boss of the hidden dungeon met a swift and humble end.

Left in King Midas’s place were a pair of gloves, and where the golden knight had been, there lay a single sword.

+++

【Artifact: Deception of the Golden King】

【Description】

An item in glove form. When touching another object while wearing it and infusing magic power, it curses the target into gold.

This was originally a force within Midas’s own body, but with his death, its form changed, and various restrictions arose.

However, it might actually be more convenient to handle in this form.

【Notes】

The man desired gold.

He thought that if he possessed that which symbolizes wealth, he could obtain anything, and made a deal he shouldn’t have with the devil.

When even food, clothing, and his beloved daughter turned to gold, he realized his own foolishness.

But what was done could not be undone.

So, the king decided to deceive himself that this was exactly what he wanted.

+++

+++

【Artifact: Golden Sword of Frigia】

【Description】

A sword with a beautiful appearance.

The more affluent the user is, the greater power it grants.

【Notes】

The knight who served the king was disappointed by his lord’s degeneration.

However, unable to completely abandon the loyalty remaining in his heart, he left with his regrets and power residing in his armor and sword.

+++

The item descriptions were quite uniquely worded.

There were no numerical stats like attack power or grade that should normally be listed for equipment in the game.

Of course, while internal stats existed, they were not directly verifiable by players.

Players could only assess them by using them directly and comparing the damage dealt to monsters, or asking an expert to gauge the approximate stats.

It was intended for players to infer their contents based on the strength of the enemy that dropped the items and the text written on the items.

After confirming that the descriptions and notes of both pieces of equipment matched what she knew, Erin handed them both over to Aurelia.

“All these and the treasures here are yours, along with Arkeia.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Indeed, the legendary seer is special. Your vessel is different from those of other foreigners.”

The soldiers were genuinely amazed, but Aurelia showed a perplexed expression.

“Seer, it was you who revealed this place and the secrets of the enemies. How can you not receive any compensation?”

“I told you, I came here to give you power.”

Erin continued with an indifferent demeanor.

“Use the wealth here to strengthen Arkeia. A great calamity will soon befall, so prepare for it.”

“…I understand. I will relay this to the soldiers, so if you ever need my assistance, please come to me anytime.”

“That’s enough.”

Aurelia and the soldiers then focused on recovering the treasures, and after bidding them farewell, Erin left.

Alone, separated from everyone, Erin checked her status window and chuckled.

‘No compensation? This level is already compensation.’

After investing about half a day’s worth of time, Erin’s current level was 36.

Considering the tightly packed experience table of Beyond Elysion, it’s likely that even those who thoroughly farmed efficiently rarely reached level 10, making this growth speed suspiciously close to a bug or cheat.

However, Erin did not let her guard down.

While her game knowledge was abundant, the present Beyond Elysion was under the control of thieves.

According to Older Brother Guy, direct disadvantages inflicted upon specific users are something Nebula would refuse to implement themselves, but there were certainly many ways to indirectly screw them over.

Thus, she needed to gather as much as possible while her opponent was complacent.

Erin summoned the quest window and mailbox she had previously closed during combat, sweeping up all the level-up rewards.

Then, she pulled out one of the obtained items and held it in her hand.

A pet summoning ticket obtained as a reward for reaching level 10.

It looked like a plastic fortune cookie, and when she bit into it and broke it apart, a ‘pet’ popped out with a rainbow-colored flash.

It had a body resembling a rugby ball. It seemed reminiscent of a rabbit in length, but the triangular sharp ears made it confusing.

It had a face that would suit emoticon-style displays perfectly, something that would seem more fitting for a supporting role in a sci-fi series, hence clashing with the fantasy world.

Staring blankly at the pet, Erin muttered,

“They always complain about historical accuracy, yet they don’t even try to mimic fantasy nowadays. How do they think that’s good?”

“I’ve never put in a pet like this! Those thieves just added it whimsically!”

The pet, or rather Older Brother Guy, flailed about, displaying a ヽ(*｀Д´)ﾉ expression on its black face.

It was a quick reunion, about a day after parting in reality. It was fast but not particularly moving, which was the problem.