Chapter 80: El Quero (2)

"Then, could I take part in the party?"

"Hmm? HwaYeon, you want to participate?"

Baek HwaYeon nodded.

"Well... It was me who let an outsider use the sparring room, so I also have a bit of responsibility. If possible, I wanted us to share the repair cost."

"HwaYeon..."

Moved, Chae YeonJoo grabbed HwaYeon's hands.

"HwaYeon... You're definitely different from that human trash!"

"How can you say that so loudly?"

"You're nice, comprehensive, and know how to take responsibility... Yeah, this is what I call a decent human being."

"Uhm. Excuse me?"

"Thanks. Now that I know you're participating, I'm sure we'll be able to hunt it."

"..."

KangWoo remained silent. He thought that the situation was unfair.

'But it was a fair trade.'

He turned his head around, thinking of something that would make Chae YeonJoo go crazy.

He looked at Baek HwaYeon, who had a sword that was almost two meters long.

'A close-range player...'

The type that people said was the most useless for hunting El Quero.

It was understandable that people thought that since most people that fought at close range couldn't move freely in the water.

'But...'

KangWoo's eyes shone.

To use the strategy he was thinking of, they needed someone that could fight at close range.

Baek HwaYeon was going to be of great help.

'Should I call this a blessing in disguise?'

He had unintentionally destroyed the sparring room that would cost millions to repair, but thanks to that, he got Chae YeonJoo and Baek HwaYeon to accompany him to hunt El Quero.

He didn't care about money in the first place. What he needed was stuff that money couldn't buy.

Even if you had millions to spend, you wouldn't be able to buy legendary-rank equipment.

There was none for sale, so there was no way that you would be able to buy it.

It was the same in terms of leveling up.

You couldn't lift the restriction by spending money.

'You can't buy power with money.'

It wasn't like a mobile game where you could pay to win—there was a limit in terms of what you could do with money.

He needed other things besides money to recover his old strength and become even stronger than before.

"With Ms. HwaYeon, we'll have four people."

"Four? Who's the other one?"

"Echidna. You've seen her before."

"Oh, that's right. You have a summoned monster."

Nothing surprised them anymore.

KangWoo nodded.

If it was Echidna, she was probably going to be able to play a huge role.

"Then are we going to try it in a group of four?"

"Hmm..."

KangWoo thought about it for a while.

He wanted to let Kim ShiHoon's party participate, but the risk was too huge.

'It's too early for them.'

It was true that they were talented players...

Especially Kim ShiHoon. If KangWoo weren't there, he probably would've become a heroic player that grew at an unprecedented pace.

But for the moment, their average level was low.

He couldn't bring them to hunt an S-rank monster.

'If there are too many people, it could hinder us rather than help.'

According to the plan he was thinking of, having too many people could make things more difficult. While hunting a boss monster, it was important to grab its attention, having a lot of people could make things more difficult rather than easier.

"Two, no, it would be great if we could get one more person."

"Long-range or a healer?"

"I think that a close-range would be of great help."

"Another close-range? To hunt El Quero? Why?"

Chae YeonJoo looked at him, confused.

It was common knowledge that close-range players were useless against El Quero.

Maybe tankers that could block ranged attacks could be of great help.

"I have a plan. It will be successful only if we have close-range players."

Chae YeonJoo fell into her thoughts.

The Red Rose Guild members were all good, and among them, there were a few that were close to a ranker in terms of strength.

But the opponent wasn't an average monster...

It was El Quero.

He couldn't think of any player that could fight an S-rank monster.

"How about Goo HyunMo?"

"Ah, the Hwarang Second Squad leader?"

Goo HyunMo...

He had short, blond hair and had been wearing sunglasses. Although he'd looked like a third-rate gangster, he was definitely good.

"Oh."

KangWoo nodded at Baek HwaYeon's suggestion.

By how he fought against Oriax, he seemed like someone that could be of help.

'Although it's too bad that his main stat isn't strength.'

Goo HyunMo was a warrior that dual-wielded swords, and his main stat was agility.

He had different specs than what KangWoo wanted, but he was close-range class and was strong enough to become the leader of the Second Squad, so he was probably someone very capable.

"I know him a bit, so I don't think it will be hard to get him to join us."

"I think that he will be of great help."

"Okay. Wait a bit."

Baek HwaYeon took out her smartphone and made a call.

[Ehem! D-did something happen, Ms. Baek HwaYeon?]

You could hear Go HyunMo's flustered voice through the phone.

It seemed like he wasn't expecting HwaYeon to call him.

"There's something I wanted to ask you."

[Hahaha! I'll do anything if it's a favor for Ms. HwaYeon!]

'It doesn't seem to be just that.'

Goo HyunMo's voice was trembling a bit. KangWoo smirked at his obvious reaction.

[Leader! You did it!!]

[Are you finally going to stop being single?!]

[Shut up!]

* * *

They could hear the voices of Go HyunMo and the other members on the phone.

It was a conversation that was hard to believe was between a leader and his squad members.

Go HyunMo coughed and then kept talking.

[Wh-what was it that you wanted to ask? If it's for dinner, I know an incredible—]

"No, it's not a dinner proposal."

[Ah... Yes, I understand.]

He sounded disappointed.

Baek HwaYeon explained the situation and told him that she wanted to receive help in hunting El Quero.

[El Quero...]

"If you feel it's too much, I can ask someone—"

[N-no! It's a favor of Ms. HwaYeon! I'll help you no matter what! Hahaha! I wanted to hunt El Quero at least once!]

"That's good to hear."

[I'll take a helicopter and go right now!]

"No. There's no need—"

[Hahaha! Maybe we could have dinner while looking around Seoul if I arrive too early!]

"I need to make a report about the sparring room that was destroyed, so I think that's going to be a bit hard."

[Ah... Yes. I see. Ms. HwaYeon is probably really busy, after all...]

"Then give me a call when you're about to arrive in Seoul. A member of the Third Squad will go and greet you."

[Yes... I'll give you a call.]

The call ended.

"Hmm... Leader Goo HyunMo suddenly sounded disappointed. Did something happen?"

Baek HwaYeon didn't seem able to understand Goo HyunMo's reaction.

"..."

KangWoo and Chae YeonJoo looked at her silently.

It was as if they were asking, 'Do you really not know why he acted that way?'

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"That..."

"Hmm. Leaving that aside, I wasn't expecting him to excitedly accept participating in the hunt for El Quero. I'm glad I'm not bothering him."

"Wow."

"Yeah, she really isn't aware."

"Hmm? Did something happen?" Baek HwaYeon asked while looking at both of them, who were looking at her in disbelief.

KangWoo and Chae YeonJoo looked at each other.

"Let's leave it like this."

"Yes. If we try to explain it, things will get bothersome."

An alliance was formed.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"It's nothing."

"Then, when are we going?"

Chae YeonJoo changed the topic.

"I want to go as soon as possible."

"I have some stuff to tell the guild members, and I need to organize a few things... So it will probably take three days.

"It will take me a few days to write the report. Regarding the sparring room, I'll give them a reason that doesn't negatively affect either of you."

"Then let's go in three days. I'll give you details about the plan after I think on it more carefully."

After nodding, KangWoo turned around.

He had three days.

He had to create the strategy and also take care of a few other things.

'First, I'll reach level 59.'

He was currently at level 54.

He still hadn't reached the Ultimate Effort.

To know if hunting El Quero would allow him to pass it or not, he had to reach level 59 first.

"Let's meet at 14:00 in three days in front of the gate."

Baek HwaYeon and Chae YeonJoo nodded at KangWoo's words.

* * *

[You've successfully killed an S-rank normal monster, Giant Ogre.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You've reached level 59. Your level is restricted. All experience gained from now on will be saved up and applied all at once when the restriction is lifted.]

"Hmm. In the end, my level was restricted."

KangWoo clicked his tongue while reading the blue message window.

Talented players had a higher chance of overcoming the restriction.

In that sense, KangWoo's 'talent' was beyond other people's, so he thought that maybe his level wouldn't be restricted.

But not everything goes according to your plans in life.

KangWoo closed the message window and turned around.

"KangWoo, it's time."

"You came just in time. Let's go to the entrance."

"Are we going to kill the monster you told me about?"

"Yes."

"I'll do my best to be of help to you."

Echidna, who had been helping him hunt for the past three days, clenched her fists.

KangWoo smirked and patted her head.

Echidna grabbed his hand and rubbed her cheeks against it.

"I trust you."

"If everything goes well, will you give me a reward?"

Echidna looked at him expectantly.

KangWoo nodded.

"Of course."

"Hng! Hang! I'll do my best."

Accompanied by the full of energy Echidna, KangWoo walked out of the gate.

Chae YeonJoo, Baek HwaYeon, and Goo HyunMo were already waiting in front of the gate.

"Huh? Were you already inside?"

"Yes. I've been hunting a bit."

"Didn't you use stamina uselessly before hunting the boss monster?"

"Don't worry. I already thought of that."

After Chae YeonJoo, KangWoo greeted Goo HyunMo and Baek HwaYeon.

"Then I'll explain today's plan."

While hunting for the past three days, he'd thought of a plan to hunt El Quero.

"The core of today's plan is..."