MONSTER MMORPG: Mayhem Online

Walking past the busy markets filled with vendors and customers, I made my way to the city square.

Reaching the big and symbolic fountain, I looked around, searching for Gomchul and Nameless. As I darted my eyes here and there, I saw the beggar who had run away with my gold coin last time.

If it were the previous me, I would have gone and asked for the coin that I had previously given to him, just because he had cursed me, but right now, I couldn't even bother.

I finally spotted the Nameless due to his symbolic redhead, but I couldn't see Gomchul around him. Instead, Nameless was standing with someone else. Walking near Nameless, I put my hand on his shoulder.

"WHO THE FOoo….uukk?"

Surprised, Nameless cursed out loud as he turned back while cursing, his curse halting midair after looking at me.

"Is that you, Shura?"

He asked, and I nodded my head. Then, circling around me once, while looking me up and down, he couldn't help raise his eyebrows.

"You really went ahead and did a whole make-over? The coat is really cool, and what's with the mask? I almost didn't recognise you!"

"That's kinda the whole point?"

I said in a weird tone, and the dark blonde-haired guy with Nameless chuckled.

"Hello, Shura. It's really nice to meet you again. The last time I saw you, you were in tattered clothes. You sure changed a lot, huh? Who would have thought you were friends with a guy like Nameless."

I obviously recognised the guy. He was one of those people trying to poach me last time. Not to mention, there would rarely be people who wouldn't recognise the number one fire magician, Lynch.

"Oh, hello."

The disguise would wear off to people I talked to, so it wasn't surprising that Lynch recognised me immediately.

"Where's Gomchul?"

I asked. I didn't want to chit-chat in the main city square where there were many people.

"He is waiting at the portal. Even though this is a multicultural continent, some races are still discriminated against due to their activities. Southern orcs have always been at odds with the people of Crisedia, so the residents gave him hostile looks. He said he would wait near the portal and go with us as soon as we arrived."

Nameless explained. It was like any other place. Even in the real world, there were laws, and people had come a long way. But things like embezzlement, corruption, discrimination, etc. don't die easily, no matter how much people or the law advances.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and meet up with him. See ya next time, Lynch."

Lynch's eyes clearly widened when I spoke his name. Maybe he was surprised I knew it? But doesn't everyone know too?

Ignoring him, I walked toward the portal and gestured for Nameless to follow me.

"Uhm, Shura. As you already know, I am Lynch, the top fire mage, the leader of Chrysanthemum and a friend of Nameless. It's very nice to meet you."

Lynch hurriedly followed after Nameless and me.

'Nice try, but I already have plans.'

"As you can see, we have somewhere urgent to be right now. So let's talk some other time?"

I tried to give him a clear signal to buzz off, but he seemed to have become like that puppy who wouldn't leave you even if you threw a bone at him.

"No, no, hear me out first… no, never mind that. Don't, hear me out. I heard from Nameless that he is going to the Dukedom of Wenselm. Are you going there too?"

"Yes."

We reached the big portal and finally found our orc buddy, Gomchul, standing near the portal with an upright posture.

"My guild's base is located at Wenselm too, and we have some influence there. So, if you need any help, you can ask us without worry."

Lynch still went on with his pitch, sounding like a salesman trying to sell off his products.

"Thank you. I'll ask you for help when I need it. But for now, I'll be going."

"What did I just say? My guild's base is in Wenselm too. My job here is done too, so let me tag along."

Ugh. This guy was way too persistent. But there was no harm in making him tag along since he would follow even if I said no.

"Sure, do whatever. Hey, Gomchul, did you wait for a long time?"

"Actually, yes. I almost felt like going back to the forest."

Gomchul said in a mocking tone, sulking.

'My new life's beautiful start doesn't start with romance with a tsundere orc, right?'

I chuckled inwardly.

"Anyways, let's go."

I said as we all climbed up on the portal.

[Where do you want to travel?]

There were two ways to travel from one portal to another one. The first way was the normal one, where someone entered a destination and had to pay gold coins accordingly to reach that place. But this only worked from portal to portal.

The second method was to have teleportation scrolls with fixed coordinates. It was one that had a majority of uses, and there were all types of scrolls. From fixed city scrolls that took you to the city, the scroll was made for to save point scrolls, which would take you to the last portal you have been to.

This type of teleportation didn't require a portal, and the scroll can be used anywhere to teleport. Obviously, these types were costlier and had their own drawbacks too. For example, these scrolls can't be used as an immediate retreat item in case of boss monster encounters, and they had a limit to the number of people that could teleport together, with most scrolls being for a single person.

"To the Brinkest, the capital city of Wenselm Dukedom."

I replied to the screen, and another screen popped up.

[It would cost 330 gold coins per person.]

[From: Crisedia Royal Capital (Kashan Empire) → To: Brinkest, Wenselm Dukedom (Sahhan Empire)]

[Additional 10% tax will be applied as a fee to enter Sahhan Empire.]

"....Gomchul, do you have money?"

I suddenly started feeling a pain in my heart, which originated from my pockets. Gomchul looked a bit confused at my question, then shook his head.

"I don't need money."

'I am asking if you have money, not if you want money!'

I felt like cursing, but I had to bear with it. I would gain a valuable ally if I could coax Gomchul to join me.

Suddenly, I felt a nudge on my shoulders.

"What?"

I asked Nameless, who looked at me with guilty eyes.

"Brother, our journey together shall end here. I am but a penniless apostle. My pockets cry tears of loneliness."

"Just say you don't have money. Fuck, I'll pay for you too. How come you even carry around that expensive-looking sword and armour?"

I felt another pang in my pockets, but since I had decided to be generous to Gomchul, I had to suck it up and pay for Nameless too. After all, Nameless was a player and carried a higher potential than an NPC in the long run, so if I managed to coax him, it would be a great add-on.

'Look at me trying to coax people to join my non-existing guild.'

I sighed. And just when I thought it was all over, I felt another nudge.

"What now?"

I asked with an annoyed voice. No matter how much of a saint I was trying to become, even a Buddha statue would be annoyed if it got poked like this again and again.

"Since you are paying for everyone… Why don't you pay for me too? To form a greater bond."

"Fuck off! Greater bond my ass! Pay your own travelling fees. Aren't you a top player? How stingy."

I snapped at Lynch, who asked for me to pay his fee. His face immediately turned a bit red as he got embarrassed. Then, without waiting for anyone to talk, I entered Gomchul and Nameless' names in the list of people travelling, and soon, a glitching white light engulfed us.

My insides felt all wobbly from the experience as the atmosphere around me kept tilting. In a split second, the white glitching light subsided, and we appeared at a totally different location.

[Welcome to the Dukedom of Wenselm.]

[You have entered the territory of the Sahhan Empire.]

[Many eyes have fallen on you.]

I felt shivers run down my spine reading that notification.

'Just how many voyeurs are even surveying me?'

I couldn't help but feel that till now, the one thing that the legendary class has given me in abundance is unnecessary attention from unnecessary people.

Whew!

'Let's just go with it for now.'

I looked to my sides, and Gomchul and Nameless appeared, Lynch following them after three seconds.

Uwak!

Gomchul immediately ran out of the portal's podium and started vomiting.

'I get it, bro. The teleportation experience can give anyone motion sickness.'

Players and NPCs started noticing Gomchul as some people backed off upon seeing him vomiting.

As soon as the filth from his mouth reached the ground, it started disappearing due to the cleaning magic installed in the city.

My eyes swept through the crowd and buildings, and there were noticeable differences between the royal capital of Crisedia and Brinkest City.

'This is way, way better.'

Those were my thoughts after taking a look through my surroundings. I felt like I had entered a mediaeval yet magically advanced England.

"Well, well, well. Welcome to Wenselm."

I heard a voice from the crowd and was surprised to see the person who had just appeared.

...

//DreamNote//

Bonus Chapter incoming! Please vote with your power stones and golden tickets :)