Chapter 4
Sanctuary of Martial Artists.
Temple of Martial Arts.
[If you chose Martial Artist despite all the warnings, go straight here.]
- Complete quests at the Temple of Martial Arts to receive Martial Artist-exclusive skills and quickly level up!
Choosing the Martial Artist class was a pretty foolish decision, but if you've decided to walk the path of a Martial Artist, at least grow efficiently.
The Temple of Martial Arts was essential for early, rapid growth of Martial Artists. Thus, most beginners who chose this class inevitably visited the temple.
However, Jeong-hoon didn't head to the Temple of Martial Arts.
Although it was the standard route at this point in time, it wouldn't be in the future.
[Abandoned Dojo with No Master]
Currently, it was an abandoned dojo where no one entered.
Dust covered the wooden floor, and cobwebs hung thick from the ceiling and windows.
The windows were broken, and the wallpaper was yellowed and peeling.
"Found it."
Jeong-hoon's lips curled into a smile he couldn't suppress.
The fact that it was this dirty meant he was the first to visit this dojo.
"Time to clean up."
Jeong-hoon headed out to the store.
To clean, he needed tools.
An abandoned dojo wouldn't have decent cleaning supplies.
There was a general store in the marketplace that sold cleaning tools.
"Welcome!"
The store owner greeted Jeong-hoon warmly.
A light bulb icon blinked above the owner's head, indicating he was an NPC who gave out quests to beginners.
But quests weren't Jeong-hoon's priority at the moment.
"I'd like to buy some cleaning tools."
"Oh, yes, yes. The tools are on the second floor!"
The general store was three stories tall, the largest in the marketplace, with an extensive inventory, including snacks from around the world.
New World accurately recreated the taste of snacks, providing slight health recovery instead of filling hunger—essentially, a type of potion.
Unlike other games, health and mana could be restored through food.
Buying snacks was always a good idea.
"Since they're potion substitutes, I should stock up."
Jeong-hoon grabbed a basket and filled it with snacks, drinks, and cleaning supplies.
With the gold he received as a tutorial reward, he had plenty of money.
"Yes, that'll be 1 silver and 6 pennies."
Even with so many items, it only cost 1 silver and 6 pennies.
Jeong-hoon handed over a gold coin.
The store owner looked back and forth between the gold coin and Jeong-hoon in surprise.
It was rare to see gold used in the starting village, so the owner's reaction was understandable.
"Please wait a moment."
The owner apologized and fetched more silver and pennies from the safe.
In New World's currency system, 1 gold equals 20 silver, which equals 240 pennies.
In other words, 1 gold equals 20 silver, and 1 silver equals 12 pennies.
So, Jeong-hoon would get 18 silver and 6 pennies as change.
"Thank you."
"Please come again!"
After confirming the 18 silver and 6 pennies in his inventory, Jeong-hoon left the store.
He hurried back to the dojo.
Given its state, it might take a whole day to clean.
Maybe even two days.
'Jeong-hoon, want to know how I got this?'
'Not really.'
'Oh, come on, just listen.'
Even if he didn't want to hear it, the guy would brag about how he obtained an item when drunk.
He boasted to Jeong-hoon, who had also visited the dojo.
Upon arriving, Jeong-hoon started mopping the floor.
He planned to remove the dust and mop the wooden floor several times.
After about 30 minutes of mopping, he sensed someone behind him.
Jeong-hoon turned to see two players checking out the dojo.
"What's this place? It's so dirty."
"Wow, didn't know there was a place like this."
Jeong-hoon stopped mopping and looked at them.
This was unusual.
Beginners typically wouldn't visit such a place.
[Checking user information.]
[Player Information]
- Nickname: NewbieKiller1
- Level: 31
- Class: Low-tier Warrior (1st Job Change)
At the start, only the nickname, level, and class are publicly visible. The rest is set to private by default.
Users can later adjust the options to reveal detailed stats and skills, but most leave only the level and class visible.
These users were no exception.
Jeong-hoon checked the information of the player behind him as well.
[Player Information]
- Nickname: NewbieKiller2
- Level: 36
- Class: Low-tier Mage (1st Job Change)
Their levels were significantly high for the starting village.
Jeong-hoon's mind quickly processed the situation.
'They must have seen me use gold.'
Typically, clearing the first stage of the tutorial rewards 10 silver.
Jeong-hoon, however, received 10 gold for clearing all five stages.
These guys were following him to steal his money.
"What brings you here?"
Jeong-hoon put on a friendly smile, as if he were the dojo's owner.
"Nothing much. Come over here for a second."
The level 31 warrior beckoned him with a finger, exuding confidence.
[Player Information]
- Nickname: Hoon
- Level: 11
- Class: Martial Artist
Jeong-hoon's information made him look like easy prey.
"Is this about money?"
"You're pretty sharp."
"Hand over everything you've got, and we'll let you go. Or we can PVP if you prefer."
The two laughed mockingly.
In New World, players must accept a PVP request to fight.
Refusing would cancel the duel, but these guys were trash who preyed on beginners.
If he refused, they would persistently harass him.
"No thanks."
Handing over his money wouldn't end it.
These guys would continue to torment him until he quit the game.
They had already marked him as a target.
"Are you insane? Accept the PVP, or you're dead."
"We'll make you quit New World."
Their faces twisted into menacing expressions.
[PVP request received. Do you accept?]
The warrior initiated the PVP.
Jeong-hoon accepted without hesitation.
[PVP starting.]
[Battle duration: 30 minutes.]
As the PVP began, the warrior charged at Jeong-hoon with a sword.
With a 20-level difference, the warrior's movements were hard to read.
Despite this, Jeong-hoon remained calm.
He had the experience to cover the level gap.
Whoosh!
The warrior swung his sword.
'Left.'
Jeong-hoon predicted the sword's path from the warrior's subtle movements and dodged.
The warrior's face showed surprise as Jeong-hoon flawlessly evaded the attack.
How could a level 11 Martial Artist dodge a level 31 sword strike?
It was supposed to be impossible.
"An opening."
Jeong-hoon kicked the warrior's wrist, causing him to drop the sword.
Jeong-hoon swiftly grabbed it.
"Take this."
He plunged the sword into the warrior's neck.
[Critical hit.]
[Instant kill.]
['NewbieKiller1' has died. PVP penalty applied.]
"Guh, gah!"
The warrior's body shook and disappeared.
He was forcefully logged out.
Losing in PVP meant a 24-hour ban from the game.
"What the...?"
The mage stared in disbelief at the spot where his comrade had vanished.
"Want to go next?"
Jeong-hoon pointed the sword at the mage.
"I-I'm sorry!"
The mage apologized and ran away.
Jeong-hoon smirked at the fleeing figure.
They were cowards who preyed on beginners.
He didn't expect the mage to have the guts to fight after witnessing the PVP.
"What a joke."
Annoyed that his cleaning rhythm was interrupted, Jeong-hoon resumed mopping.
[Oh, a promising young man has arrived.]
An old man suddenly appeared on the previously empty floor, looking at Jeong-hoon.
'Oh? Here already?'
Jeong-hoon was surprised.
He planned to clean the dojo thoroughly to meet this old man.
[Mysterious Old Man]
A red question mark floated above the old man.
'Guess I didn't need to clean.'
Jeong-hoon put down the mop and approached the old man.
Seoul, Bangbae-dong Apartment
[You lost the PVP.]
[Penalty applied.]
[23 hours and 59 minutes until reconnect.]
Pssshk—
The capsule opened, and Cheol-min emerged, swearing.
"Damn it!"
Still fuming, his clenched fist trembled.
"How did I lose?"
He couldn't understand.
He was level 30, having completed his first job change.
Yet he lost to a level 11 Martial Artist.
Cheol-min called his friend, the novice mage, Han Deok-gu, who witnessed the PVP.
[Hey, I just logged out too.]
Deok-gu answered as if expecting the call.
"Shit. What trick did that bastard use?"
He couldn't accept the defeat without an explanation.
[I don't know...]
But Deok-gu also failed to identify the Martial Artist's trick.
"You don't know? How could you not know?"
Deok-gu was a level 36 mage, stronger than Cheol-min.
[All I saw was you dropping your sword and getting your neck sliced.]
"Damn it, I know that."
[Let's not mess with him. Something's off.]
The level 11 Martial Artist killed the level 31 warrior in less than a minute.
There was something unseen at play.
They should have been cautious when they saw him with gold.
"Weren't you a beginner? Want to die?"
[Why is this my fault? I just said he had gold. You're the one who decided to follow him.]
"Don't bullshit me. You coaxed me into it by saying he looked rich."
[Wow, blaming me now?]
"Just fix it! How am I supposed to wait 24 hours?"
Cheol-min lamented.
He was so addicted to New World that a 24-hour ban was unbearable.