It was bright and early with the sun’s rays peeking over the horizon.
"...This is the place?"
Fang Raon stood at the entrance of an alleyway that led to a shady-looking building.
It seemed like a place where drug dealers would be lurking, but since this was Black Online, he doubted there were actually those sorts of people here.
"Well... Machary told me to come here, so..."
He gathered his courage and entered the alleyway and arrived at the building at the end of the dirty alleyway.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
He knocked thrice with his knuckles and waited for someone to answer the door.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Heavy boots stomped closer to the door, then it creaked open slowly, and a long-bearded man peered out suspiciously.
This man looked like a Viking with an axe slung across his back, and he had a braided beard that reached his chest.
"...Who are you?"
The man asked coldly.
"...My name is Fang Raon. Is there a dumbass named Machary inside by any chance?"
He asked with a twitching lip, and if Machary gave him the wrong address, he was going to beat his ass.
"...Fang Raon? Oh, leader, welcome, welcome!"
In that moment, the man’s attitude completely changed, and he humbly opened the door with a smile on his face.
That simple smile made the man look much more approachable despite the scary Viking look that he was giving off.
’Leader?’
Fang Raon raised an eyebrow, and entered the building, and soon saw Machary and Abigail sitting on the living room.
"You’re finally here!"
Machary said and put the cup of tea down.
They had been waiting for a while for him, but Fang Raon couldn’t come any earlier.
"My bad... and this is?"
Fang Raon turned behind to look at the scary-looking man, who was both tall and muscular. It was like he was looking at a mountain.
"This guy here is Ragnar, and he is the Tank I recruited. That guy is a powerhouse, I am telling you. I found him at a wood-chopping competition!"
Machary said with a grin.
"Wood... chopping competition?"
Fang Raon frowned.
"I am the 5-time champion of the 6th floor’s wood-chopping competition. There is nobody that can chop wood better than I!"
Ragnar said proudly.
"...Alright."
Fang Raon wryly smiled, sat down on the couch, and asked, "How strong is he, though?" and Machary smirked.
"I witnessed his strength firsthand. It looks like some locals take the wood-chopping competition quite seriously, and they attacked Ragnar here!
"With a single swing of his axe, Ragnar defeated them all. I’ve never seen something as crazy before!"
Machary said excitedly.
"...It was pretty insane."
Abigail added.
"Oh, that’s good... Then, why have you decided to join us, Mister Ragnar?"
Fang Raon asked curiously.
"I am tired of 6th floor. There is just not enough competition for me. I heard there is a crazy Festival of Wood on the 20th floor that hosts the tower’s biggest wood-chopping competition.
"I’ve already been planning to leave for a while, and Machary was the first one to invite me to a party, so I might as well join!"
Ragnar said.
’There sure are some strange people in the world.’
Fang Raon lampooned to himself.
"Ragnar also has the level 3 Tank’s Taunt skill. I think he can attract aggro better than anyone else on this floor!"
Machary said excitedly.
"...Level 3? Wow, how did you manage to level up that skill? It’s not like it is a physical skill that you can train till you level up?"
Fang Raon asked curiously.
"I am also a professional trash talker. I talk shit to my opponents, and it somehow helped me to increase the level!"
Ragnar said.
’...I can see now why the locals attacked you.’
Fang Raon wryly smiled.
"We only need Helper anymore, Fang Raon. It’s your turn, but I must warn you, it won’t be easy, as I witnessed firsthand yesterday.
"They think they are such big shots that I can’t stand those arrogant fuckers!"
Machary gritted his teeth.
"...Most players would prefer to choose a class that specializes in attacking, as, for many, a support class might seem boring.
"Which is why there aren’t many Helpers, but that’s why the Helper class also pays a lot, and every party needs Helpers.
"I guess that made Helpers feel quite... wanted, which is why they also have quite big heads now."
Abigail said.
"Helpers I’ve met seemed all quite normal, though."
Fang Raon said.
"Just wait until you meet Helpers that have been longer in the tower. Since we’re looking for level 2 Helpers, they’ve already been in the tower for long enough for them to become so arrogantly self-important!"
Machary gritted his teeth.
It was obvious whatever happened yesterday made him extremely bitter and hateful towards Helpers.
Abigail just sighed and wryly smiled.
’I guess all Helpers I’ve met have been very new to the tower.’
Fang Raon thought.
"I’ll get a boat ready for once you’ve found Helper. If we’re lucky, we can leave this floor today already."
Machary said.
"What about the Tower Key?"
Fang Raon asked.
"I know of a location that will give us one. We’ll go get that, and since that place is close to the Boss Tower, we’ll be there in no time!"
Machary said.
"...Ok, and I’ll try to find us a Helper."
Fang Raon stood up, said, "See you later," to them, and left the house.
When he was leaving the house, he turned around to look at the building and thought for a moment.
’I guess that’s Ragnar’s own house. Those wood-chopping competitions must be paying a hefty sum for him to afford an actual place here.’
Fang Raon then thought for a moment about where he could find good Helpers, and thought about the Adventurer’s Guild for a moment.
’...No, I won’t be able to recruit anyone there. Recruit Board maybe, but if Helpers are actually so big headed, they might want people to actually approach them to join.
’I also always hear players shouting, ’Looking for Helpers,’ all day, every day over there, so I doubt that will be an effective strategy.
’Where would Helpers be...’