Once the other players heard that the person had a level 4 elite friend, the mood among them shifted to boot-licking.
"Oh, you're so powerful!" a young woman exclaimed, her eyes practically sparkling as she clasped her hands in admiration. "I knew you looked strong the moment I saw you."
"You're not just strong, you've got connections too," another chimed in, nodding vigorously. "That's what you call a real man—someone who can lead and protect!"
"Wow, I bet your friend is a true legend," someone else added, their tone dripping with envy. "It must be amazing to have a level 4 elite player as your backup."
The player had a smug look on his face, as he basked in their praise, puffing out his chest even more as he crossed his arms.
"Well, you know," he said, his tone oozing with fake humility. "It's not just about connections. You have to earn the respect of people like my buddy. Not just anyone can call on someone that powerful."
"Oh, of course, of course!" another agreed. "It takes a special kind of person to get that kind of respect. I bet you're super strong yourself!"
Arthur, who had been quietly listening from the sidelines, resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 'This guy's ego is inflating faster than the US dollars during the great inflation period.'
The compliments kept coming.
"Honestly, we're lucky you're here," another player said, practically gushing. "Who knows what could've happened to that poor girl if you weren't around to call for help?"
Arthur slowed his steps, a dry chuckle escaping him. 'Of course. A bunch of busybodies standing around doing absolutely nothing but talking like they're heroes.'
Arthur muttered under his breath, "Yeah because standing around and talking about your friend saving the day is so heroic."
The smug player, oblivious to Arthur's disdain, grinned even wider. "Don't worry, everyone. Once my friend gets here, we'll sort out this whole situation. Stick with me, and you'll be safe."
"Then I will be in your care, big brother," A woman said, acting coquettishly with him.
Arthur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'These people are unbelievable.'
The players continued their chatter, oblivious to Arthur approaching through the shadows of the forest. "Man," the first guy said, shaking his head sadly. "That boar's so lucky. If I were just one more level up, it'd be a whole different story."
"Yeah, yeah," another chimed in. "And it's not just a boar—it's a perverted boar."
The young woman gasped dramatically. "What if... what if she's a princess in disguise? And that boar is trying to—"
"Enough!" Arthur's voice cut through the air like a blade, startling the group. He stepped into the clearing, his face a mix of irritation and disbelief.
"Who are you?" the smug one asked, squinting at Arthur suspiciously.
"I'm the owner of that perverted boar, I'm a summoner" Arthur snapped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
He pointed at Borak, who stood guard over the unconscious girl, looking more confused than threatening. "And he's not abducting her—he's protecting her."
The players stared at him, clearly not convinced. "Uh, sure," the level 2 guy said, folding his arms. "That's exactly what someone with a perverted boar would say."
Arthur rolled his eyes, walking over to Borak and the girl. "Borak," he muttered, placing a hand on the boar's head. "You're doing great. Well done for ignoring these idiots, and not shoving your tusks up where the sun don't shine."
Borak snorted in agreement, casting a disdainful glance at the crowd of players.
"Wait," the smug one interjected, narrowing his eyes. "How do we know you're not lying? Maybe you're the one who—"
Arthur raised a hand, cutting him off. "Look, if your elite player friend shows up and starts swinging, he'll end up in the respawn zone. I don't have time for this nonsense."
The young woman gasped again, whispering loudly to her companions. "He's threatening us! Do you think he's a bandit?"
Arthur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, I'm a beta player trying to save this girl. Can I get back to doing that without you idiots making up weird fanfiction about my boar?"
The smug player's mouth opened to argue, but a low growl from Borak silenced him. Arthur smirked. "That's what I thought."
He turned to Borak and the unconscious girl on top of him. "Alright, let's move," he muttered, leading them away as the players stared in stunned silence. Behind him, he could still hear their murmurs.
"...Do you think we just met a villain?"
As Arthur walked away from the scene, the smug player suddenly shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "He's here! My friend is here!"
"Hehe, that arrogant summoner of the perverted boar is about to get his ass whooped," one player snickered.
"Finally, some justice for the poor girl!" another chimed in, their tone filled with righteousness
The smug player sprinted toward the level 4 elite player who had just arrived, his face flushed with excitement.
The new player that just arrived was tall, he had an imposing figure clad in armour, his sharp eyes scanning the area as he approached.
"Where is the girl?" the level 4 player asked in a calm, commanding tone.
The smug player's heart raced, his mind working overtime. 'This idiot better not be lying to me,' he thought. 'If there's actually a quest here, I need to activate it before anyone else!'
"The girl? Someone took her!" the smug player exclaimed, pointing dramatically in Arthur's direction. "It's that guy over there!"
The level 4 player's eyes narrowed, his gaze following the outstretched finger to Arthur, who was walking away with Borak and the unconscious girl in tow.
"Took the girl?" the level 4 player muttered, his expression hardening as he watched Arthur. His hand instinctively moved to rest on the hilt of his weapon, suspicion creeping into his eyes.
Arthur, sensing the attention, slowed his steps slightly. He could feel them staring at him, he could also hear what was happening behind him, he wasn't far. 'Here we go,' he thought, suppressing a sigh. 'This is exactly why I try to avoid crowds.'