episode_0020

020

Catch the Free Riders

A week has passed since entering Stage 3.

During that time, I succeeded in building a very excellent system.

A gym bustling with healthy zombies.

I repeated weighted squats, savoring the stimulation in my lower body.

Hoo-wook – Hoo-wook –

The feeling of my muscles being tightly pulled.

This is the sensation of growth.

At that moment, a message from Cat appeared before my eyes.

[Wha, what is all this?]

I replied briefly and continued exercising.

“Wait a moment. Two sets left.”

I finished the remaining reps and accepted the water given by the zombie standing beside me.

[Are you done now?]

“No. Wait.”

While I took deep breaths and meditated, the zombie next to me counted the numbers in a low voice.

“Gge-rook. Gge-rok. Gge-rook. Gge-rok.”

Its role was to assist me in taking a break for the designated time.

No need to use a phone timer.

Because all the zombies had been trained to count one second correctly.

“Ggae-kekkekke!”

A signal indicating the break was over arrived.

I proceeded with the next set.

Hoo-wook – Hoo-wook –

[What the heck is this…]

In the gym, countless zombies are exercising in pairs like me.

It is truly a beautiful sight.

After a moment, all sets were finished.

The next menu item is already decided, but Cat is an important guest, so I need to make time.

“I will talk to Cat for a moment. Go to the reserve area and find a new partner.”

The zombie nodded at my words.

Cat realized it was finally their turn and sent a message.

[What is this?]

“Hmm? You mean the zombies? The zombies work in three shifts. Cooking, exercising, assisting. It’s a perfect balance. Anyway, what’s going on? Wasn’t the next sponsorship after Stage 4?”

[Nya ha ha… I came to give a reward.]

“What reward? Wasn’t everything paid out already?”

[It seems the company is competing with another company… They are giving out a lot to Stage 3 Summoners these days. And there’s a lot of urging to raise the stage too…]

‘Ah. Is it that content?’

I’d seen something about it in the community.

Everyone knows about the ‘Rescue Team’ sponsors giving out rewards in Stage 3.

And side effects from that are also occurring.

So-called ‘free riders’ are appearing – those who only receive rewards and don’t battle.

‘No, wait… then am I a free rider too?’

I scratched my head.

But exercising is an act for battle safety, so it would be unfair to call me a free rider.

“What is it… Did you come to urge me?”

[Nya ha ha. No. As I said, I came because a reward came out and I wanted to deliver it. You won’t be penalized as long as you do it within a month. Probably?]

“It’s good if you give me a reward, but it’s sudden.”

[Actually, there was an announcement a week ago, but I forgot! Instead, as promised, I adjusted it into one good item!]

Tuk –

A thumb-sized green whistle fell from thin air.

I picked up the whistle.

[Whistle of Calling]

[If you blow the whistle while thinking of a target, the target will hear the sound regardless of distance. The target can know the location of the whistle’s owner.]

It seems quite useful.

[This only applies to beings in the same space, so if you blow it, I cannot hear it. So don’t call me!]

I had no intention of calling.

“Understood. Is there anything else I need to know?”

[No. Well then, I’ll be going.]

Having finished their business, Cat left immediately.

‘What’s what…’

I, too, returned to my business.

***

And another week later.

Cat came to visit again.

“What is it? I was planning to challenge soon. Is the urging perhaps so severe that I’m about to be penalized?”

[No. I didn’t come because of that. Or did I? Is it because of the urging? I don’t know. My head hurts.]

My head hurts more.

“…Just state your business.”

[Recently, there have been too many Summoners who only receive rewards and don’t battle, so a special directive has come down from the headquarters.]

It seems the free riders have finally crossed the line.

Actually, I knew it would explode someday.

Looking at the community, there are all sorts of posts titled ‘How to be Saved’, but there are hardly any 인증글 (verification posts) from people who actually raised their stage.

“Then are you collecting the rewards?”

This part I looked forward to a little.

Since that day, the whistle has been hung around Bangnae’s neck.

The problem is that she blows the whistle whenever she has a chance, so the sound ‘Whee-ri-ri’ keeps reaching my ears.

In fact, I can hear it even now.

Whee-ri-ri-ri –

I don’t know what’s so fun about it, but she blows the whistle once and then giggles, repeating the action.

Only I am troubled because a strange toy has appeared.

However, contrary to my expectations, they weren’t talking about collecting the rewards.

[A tournament has been planned among Stage 3 Summoners who received sponsorship. Participation is mandatory.]

“Tournament?”

[Yes. Still, if you achieve a high rank, you’ll receive a performance bonus! But if your rank is low, you’ll receive a penalty…]

‘Don’t they usually tell me what I’m getting…’

I feel it every time, but Cat’s information delivery ability is significantly lacking.

“Is there perhaps an announcement or something?”

[Ah, here it is.]

A single sheet of paper fluttered down before me.

Checking the rules, I smiled.

‘Something quite interesting is happening, huh?’

“I’ll participate. No, participation is mandatory anyway. Whatever it is, it will be a good stimulus.”

***

The thought that struck me while reading the announcement was that the tournament planner was seriously angry.

It’s just blatant.

This tournament is structured as a competition among the free riders, consolidating the already received rewards and redistributing them.

And afterwards, when I received the participant list, I was shocked.

‘My god… Are all these guys free riders?’

There were over 3000 users on the list.

There might be some among them who are truly innocent, but the organizers’ anger is understandable.

However, reading the detailed rules, it seems the tournament has another purpose.

‘Dividing the 3000 into 200 leagues again… Then about 15 people per league. Is it closer to the goal of finding useful individuals rather than retaliation?’

There is even a special clause that says summoned creatures will be revived even if they die.

‘Indeed, it’s too generous to be called retaliation.’

But does it matter whether there is a hidden purpose or not?

The core part is that our kids can participate and sweep up the rewards.

Bangnae was already whining lately about wanting to battle.

Just before going to the boss battle, a perfect event for a warm-up occurred.

***

News spread to the community, and it was chaos.

Stage 3 users were crying out, claiming it was unfair, and higher-level users were busy mocking them, saying it was a fight among nerds.

Those accustomed to blood-splattering real combat were already annoyed by the guys resting in the lower levels anyway.

They criticized them even more scathingly because of the perception that they were stubbornly holding out in Stage 3 even while receiving greater rewards than they themselves had received.

Eventually, somehow, live battle video broadcasts were even secured.

“It’s chaotic.”

I read the community posts while putting the [Fugitive’s Cloak] on Bangnae’s head.

The cloak was too long, so if Bangnae wore it normally, it would drag on the floor.

Therefore, I put it on her head and tied the neck part, making her wear it like a hoodie.

It suits her somewhat.

The tournament rule is 3 summoned creatures.

Besides Bangnae, the other two were selected: the big guy who recently joined and the one who acted as the leader among the dogs.

But I don’t know if they’ll even get a chance.

“Well then, go and come back.”

“Arr-ight.”

With a buzzing sound, the selected zombies disappeared before my eyes.

Looking at the phone screen, Bangnae can be seen in the waiting room.

There are no fancy stages in the tournament.

It’s simply battling for items on a random battlefield, and that’s the end of it.

Most of the items Bangnae was wearing, including the [Whistle of Calling], were displayed on my reward board.

Soon, the opponent’s items also appeared.

Needless to say, these items are not delivered to me.

Just as what was given to me were items for zombies, items for other Summoners are useless to me.

The loser loses items, and their value is converted into tokens.

The winner rolls the dice again with the accumulated tokens to receive items.

‘Meaning, this is a golden opportunity to get a Soul Imprint.’

The battle is 3 vs 3.

But there’s no problem summoning them separately.

As agreed upon beforehand, I only summoned Bangnae.

Bangnae slowly appeared on the wide prairie.

Spectator chat is visible beside the screen.

[Oh? A Dwarf?]

[Is there a Dwarf Summoner? Those guys that appear below Stage 3?]

[There’s no reason why not.]

[Hooeeeeee I am a small Dwarwie. Dwarves I slaughtered dozens of!!! Die! Die! Die!]

[ㄴ This guy got trashed by a Bandit Dwarf and is residing in Stage 2.]

[ㅗ ㅇㅅㅇ ㅗ]

There were about 10 viewers.

Most of the spectators went to watch the battles of other users who were causing a stir in the community.

The guys who entered this room just clicked on any room.

After a moment, a rat about the same size as Bangnae appeared in the enemy formation.

And one more of the same guy.

Finally, a Ratman, a head taller than them, was summoned.

[Rat Summoner?]

[Dwarf vs Rat, the battle of the century.]

[The fact that there’s only one Beastkin level is just a punchline. As I say, there’s a reason why Stage 3 guys are Stage 3.]

[Idiot fight! Start!]

[But why is there only one Dwarf? Did they all die already?]

Contrary to the lively chat window, I clicked my tongue.

‘At this rate…’

As expected, Bangnae stomped the ground.

She seemed angry.

Ding –

The notification announcing the start of battle rang.

The transparent barrier separating the two formations disappeared.

Bangnae drew her sword from her waist and shot forward just like that.

Two giant rats sprang forward, and the Ratman drew an arrow.

But Bangnae was already within striking distance of them.

Seo-geok – Seo-geok –

The rats were sliced in half and rolled on the floor.

The panicked Ratman quickly pulled out a dagger, but Bangnae cut off that arm too.

Pook –

The sword lodged in the Ratman’s head.

Bangnae cut off the Ratkin’s head.

And bit into the head to taste it. Munch munch.

“Doesn’t taste good! Doesn’t taste good!”

Bangnae threw the rat head to the floor.

‘Oh dear… I convinced her to go by saying we were going to a buffet, but only junk food came out.’

Bangnae has become grumpy lately because of the healthy food.

Still, I couldn’t make something tasty with precious ingredients.

Then, upon hearing about this tournament, I cheered.

If the opponent is revived even if they die, doesn’t that mean I can feed them without worry?

But the first course of the buffet was rat meat.

Bangnae stabs the Ratman wildly with a knife, saying she was tricked.

The comment section quickly scrolls up.

[What is it?]

[?]

[A Dwarf…?]

[Why is a Dwarf eating rats? No, before that, why is it so strong?]

[Actually, Dwarves are very powerful beings. They spared you, which is why you could go to Stage 4; if you had seen the true skill of a Dwarf, all of you would be residing in Stage 2.]

[ㄴ Isn’t this guy really in Stage 2?]

[But did she say it didn’t taste good?]

[It does look like it wouldn’t taste good.]

Bangnae’s spectacular debut began.