chapter 14

Why couldn’t I select a class? What was this message in front of me and why should I suffer through this ordeal? I had no doubts. I had no doubt that I would kick the asses of the guys hovering around my granddaughter. I had done so. However…

[System: An error has occurred. You can’t change to that class.]

“What the…?”

I wanted to let out curses at this moment, but I was patient. It was because there was Sujeong beside me.

Beep-

[System: An error has occurred. You can’t change to that class.]

Beep beep-

[System: An error has occurred. You can’t change to that class.]

[System: An error has occurred. You can’t change to that class.]

…It was bullshit. Why was this game doing this to me? It was the same when I first did the tutorial and still the same now. I wondered if I was hated by the developers here. Additionally…

[The apostle ‘Fire Thief Looking Ahead’ is laughing at you.]

This bastard. I got a sudden headache and raised a hand to my temple.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t change classes.”

“Huh…? How can that be??” Sujeong’s eyes were wide open. She had a disbelieving expression on her face. I couldn’t believe it, so why should she?

She suggested, “There is an option that allows you to contact the developers. Why don’t you use it?”

Contacting the developers? There was a flash of light in my head. If there were such a method, then my problem could be solved. I urged her, “How do I do it?”

“First, go to the settings window.”

I opened the settings window straight away.

“Do you see the image of a letter? You can click on that.”

It was easier than I thought. I pressed the letter-shaped button, and a window appeared in front of me. A virtual keyboard and a white sheet of paper were floating in the air. I started to slowly read the text on the screen.

[If you have anything to say to the Arcstar development team or have any questions, then please write to us at any time. If you find a bug and report it, you will be rewarded accordingly.

– Union Strategic Planning Officer -]

“What is a bug?”

“A bug is something like an error in the game.”

This was what a bug meant. Was my situation buggy right now? I raised my index finger and started tapping with difficulty.

30 minutes passed…

[The apostle ‘Fire Thief Looking Ahead’ is making a bored yawn.]

The post was completed along with the fire thief’s yawn, and I pressed the send button. The message ‘sending in progress’ briefly appeared, then it told me the transfer was completed. I let out a small sigh.

…It was hard to type.

“Are you done?” Sujeong couldn’t say she was bored, so she was hitting a scarecrow with the wooden sword she received from Kunta. She could’ve complained that she was bored, but she didn’t. So I thought she was a really good-natured child.

“Have you been waiting for a long time?”

“No. My stats increase from hitting the scarecrow, so it is good!”

I inwardly thought, ‘As expected of my prospective daughter-in-law,’ but didn’t say it in case she would get offended. By the way, what now? I decided to make a final attempt at a class change. This time, I pressed the ‘assassin’ class.

Beep-

[System: An error has occurred. You can’t change to that class.]

…Shit. Yes, let’s give up. I’ve sent in the report, so it should be resolved by tomorrow. I could see my satiety dropping. It would be nice to find a restaurant. I asked Sujeong with a smile, “Do you want to eat something delicious?”

“Good!”

Thus, I started looking at Mulan’s restaurants.

* * *

Before we went to eat dinner, we took a moment to climb Mount Smir. It was to meet Chen.

Knock knock!

“……”

There was no response. My eyes met Sujeong’s eyes at the same time.

“Do you think no one is home?”

“No way.”

I put my ear to the door and listened for sounds. Then I could hear a light hammering sound. We opened the door without knocking and found Chen hammering hard inside. He must be so focused that he didn’t know someone was in front of him. His enthusiastic hammer-wielding seemed to relieve his stress. Chen finally looked up after a long period of hammering when he sensed someone’s gaze on him.

“Huh…? Well, if it isn’t Jackson! Oh, I’m sorry. I was so focused I didn’t know someone had come. Keke.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“It is easy to talk to you. Perhaps because you and I are from the same generation. Hahaha,” Chen chuckled at his own words.

I was reminded of my close friend, Park Muyeol, and laughed unknowingly. “I understand. By the way, didn’t you say you were going to give me something?”

“Yes. However, I am making it right now. It is a weapon for you.”

Oh, he wasn’t giving it to me but making it…? I remembered it instantly. Yes, he said he would make it for me. Damn.

“I must’ve been mistaken. I thought you were giving it to me,” I said, hinting to Chen that I wanted a weapon now.

Unfortunately, the answer was resolute. “Hahaha, please wait a bit. I gained a good wolf’s bone this time. You can look forward to it.”

This blind fellow.

[The apostle ‘Fire Thief Looking Ahead’ is holding back a laugh.]

“Hello, I’m Crystal.”

“Oh, who is this young lady? Huhuhu. You are a considerable beauty.”

I could see Sujeong’s cheeks turn red as she was called a beauty.

Don’t tell me…? No…

“Kuek. She is my daughter.”

I was too bothered to explain it, so I just said she was my daughter. For a moment, the expression in Chen’s eyes seemed nostalgic. Kim Sujeong looked at me with a surprised expression before turning her head and blushing again. The sense of shyness was still the same.

“…I see. In any case, it is nice to meet you. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No, next time. I have to go and fill my stomach.”

“Yes, I think it’ll be complete by tomorrow, so stop by again.”

“I will do so.”

We turned around and tried to leave the building. However, something caught my attention. I asked Chen, “What is this?”

“Ah~ This? It is a mask that has been passed down from generation to generation through our family. Under the light of the full moon, the people in my family will wear the White Tiger Mask and start blacksmithing.”

“It is a rare tradition.”

“Why? Do you want to have it?”

“Forget it. It is a family heirloom.”

“Take it. There is another gift.”

“Eh?”

An heirloom was given away so easily…? I had a blank expression on my face as Chen came up to me and placed the mask in my hand. “Take it. This mask would be very happy to meet a hero like you.”

[The White Tiger Mask has been acquired.]

I had a dazed look on my face. I hadn’t expected to get this. Still, I soon gave him a smile.

“Thank you, my friend.”

* * *

Mulan was covered in darkness. We showed up in the city, and I was wearing the White Tiger Mask. There was just a slight problem.

“Kikik… What is with that person? It’s funny.”

The users around me started laughing at me. In fact, I wanted a mask due to the NPCs’ reactions. Perhaps it was due to the title of Mulan’s Hero, but they were constantly aware of me and would greet me. However, wearing the mask did the opposite. The NPCs were indifferent, but the users would take my photos and cause me to be surrounded by people.

“Wow, it is amazing. The tiger is so cute.”

“Boo! A tiger came out!”

“Excuse me, can I take a photo?”

Chen, that bastard. The mask made me needlessly cute.

I sighed and said, “Kimchi~” [1]

“Kimchi~”

Click!

Then I heard Sujeong’s laughter.

“Kukuk. Aren’t you a completely popular star?”

“I don’t like this attention.”

“Is it necessary for you to like it?”

“What…?”

Kim Sujeong smiled and walked ahead of me. Her shoulders were moving slightly like she was holding back her laughter.

[The apostle ‘Fire Thief Looking Ahead’ is about to burst out laughing.]

“This jerk…”

[The apostle ‘Fire Thief Looking Ahead’ is whistling while pretending not to know anything.]

“Hah… I have to put up with it.”

I started to look for restaurants again.

* * *

Finding a restaurant didn’t go smoothly. Suddenly, the fire thief said to follow him. He would lead the way. The more we walked, the shabbier the area became. We walked until we were on the brink of starvation. Damn guide. Where on earth was he guiding me to?

Then Crystal pointed somewhere. “Isn’t that Masis?”

Masis? I turned my head in the direction she was indicating. Masis really was standing there.

“Is he going somewhere?”

“Let’s follow him.”

We followed him into a store. When we entered the store, we saw Masis standing at the counter.

“Welcome… Huh?” Masis looked bewildered when a masked man entered the store. Then his eyes grew bigger at the sight of Sujeong. I quickly unmasked so he would understand.

“Elder!”

“Keke. Yes. Is your body okay?”

“It is much better thanks to your concern. Oh, thank you once again for saving me.” Masis bowed his head with deep respect.

“You are truly a man. Haha. By the way, I heard you’re a guard. Why are you working here?”

“The guard captain gave a holiday to all the soldiers who came back alive.”

“Um… I see. What are you doing here then if you’re on a break?”

“My grandfather was feeling a bit uncomfortable. I told him to take care of himself, so I’m running the store now.”

“Uh, really?”

I could somehow relate. It was clear that one day, I would also become weak. Then wouldn’t my grandchildren be like Masis? I had such a thought. I was contemplating this when someone showed up.

“Cough! Did a guest come?” An old gentleman dressed in colorful clothing descended the stairs. He was dressed in strange clothing and kept coughing.

Masis cried out, “Grandfather! I told you not to cook. You can’t overdo it.”

“Groan, I’m still okay! I’m still young!”

The old man, who seemed to be Masis’ grandfather, had dark spots on his face. Masis’ grandfather continued to cough, but Masis couldn’t help giving in to the old man’s stubbornness.

Masis introduced me, “Grandfather. This is Jackson who saved me.”

“Huh? This is the hero who defeated so many goblins by himself?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Ohh…! It is nice to meet you. I wanted to meet you at least once. I am called Zalmergus.”

[1] Korean’s say this instead of ‘cheese’ when taking photos.