MONSTER MMORPG: Mayhem Online

It has been a week of in-game time since we started our hunt at the Graveyard of Vengeful howl, and I had only managed to refine about 270 monster souls. The quest was much harder than it seemed on the surface.

Not to mention, unlike the abyss, players here exhausted their health and mana pretty fast, and the recovery rate was really slow. The low-grade potions had a cooldown too. So we had to take breaks in between for everyone to recover their spirits.

The one who was most affected by this was Gomchul. He was tanking at the front since the best that Drew was able to do was to take a single hit. Gomchul got tired really fast as he was practically the lowest level here if we didn't count the anomaly called Drew.

But after some time, he had successfully managed to level up to a hundred and it felt like he had been reborn. He had much better vitality and defence than before, and even if sometimes the archer and mages were resting, he was able to do damage equal to Nameless and provide for both as a damage dealer and a tanker.

On the other hand, Drew had crossed level 60 too. Although the speed at which he levelled up was visibly slower. I didn't know if it was just the case with him or if all pet monsters gained so little experience in a party. But still, the overall situation was looking good.

The other guys had managed to level up, too, along with getting a few drops that were handed to whoever got it.

Unlike other traditional games, where a monster only dropped an item as a reward for its death, Mayhem had another drop system. It was to break parts of the monster that started glowing during a fight. If someone immediately deals a decent amount of damage to the glowing part, the monster would drop items called 'break drops'.

At the end of the 7th day's hunting.

"Good work, everyone."

I commented as everyone was ready to either log out or go back to the guild house.

"Good work to you too. I have never seen an alchemist continuously succeeding in anything!"

Shielder said in admiration. Apparently, his best friend was also an alchemist and he knew how hard alchemy was.

'Although, it's not really that hard for me.'

I gulped my words in case I end up offending the alchemy fan.

"We'll be taking a break from this quest from now on since I have other matters to attend to. I'll tell everyone whenever we are regrouping, so stay in touch."

"Bye, take care, Shura."

"Bye."

As so, everyone apart from Lynch, Nameless and Gomchul was gone.

"So. it's already time for that, huh?"

"Yeah. This was the time that I had agreed upon."

I said as I rubbed the back of my head. We were currently talking about my engagement with Ena. Without me realising, it had turned into a world-level event that a lot of people paid attention to.

Not like them paying attention will get them inside the Duke's castle.

"Have you gotten the clothes yet? …I don't think they'll have something matching your physique ready-made."

Lynch said as he unconsciously glanced at the thick metallic tail wiggling behind me.

"Harold has already ordered clothes after taking my sizes. But I am uncomfortable about something else…"

I couldn't help but say slowly. It was one thing that was burdening me.

"Is it about Jezebeth?"

"Um… yeah."

"Well, didn't you say that she agreed to this and will never talk to you if you break Ena's heart after all this?"

"Yes, but still…"

I had already had a talk with Jeze back when Ena had rushed out of the hut when I had woken up. She had told me that she knew my situation with Ena and that if  I broke her heart, she'd never talk to me.

"Don't you like her?"

"I do, but. I like Jeze much more, much differently. You can't just expect me to suddenly start loving Ena."

I refuted Lynch's comment in annoyance. I felt really shitty about whatever was happening. But I still didn't wish to break Ena's heart. Not to mention, I really liked her and she was a really good girl.

I felt like banging my head against a wall and opening my head to see what was going on inside it.

'Am I some kind of playboy?'

~~Aha! So you finally understand?~~

"....."

I didn't know if Prolus just said it as a joke or if he actually meant it.

"Dude, I know you don't like it when someone says they're just NPCs. But think of it this way. In this world, or even in the real world, polygamy is legal and very common. It's as natural as breathing air. Just imagine, did you ever feel bad about breathing air? Take it like that. You can get a lot of benefits by getting engaged to an aristocrat. And many big shots of the empire will come to your engagement. If you end up forming some good connections, our whole guild will benefit from it."

"That's true."

I couldn't refute his argument. As he said, polygamy was legal in this world and the only thing that actually mattered to the woman of this world was their position. Who becomes the first lady of the house was what really mattered and not that their husband has married multiple women.

Heck, the emperor of the Sahhan empire had married 12 women. 3 of them were his official wives while the rest were his concubines.

'Still, it's really not that comforting. I am the type who believes in true love.'

It was said that a century ago, polygamy wasn't legal. It became legal after the man-to-woman ratio kept declining. Even a century back, in the year 2021, there were 68 men for every 100 women. After the great war with Russia, America and such, the male ratio dwindled even further and hence the newly formed United Countries organisations made it legal to marry multiple women.

"Anyways, I will take my leave. I have been invited to the Duke's daughter's wedding too, as the former guild leader of Chrysanthemum, err— I mean Eclipse."

Lynch corrected himself midsentence. Yes, I had finally changed the name of the guild and the new name was Eclipse. It was something that represented me, and it was suggested by everyone since my Blade's name was Eclipse too.

'I still don't know what is wrong with these people, naming a guild after someone's skills or weapons.'

"My liege."

Gomchul said with a hand on his chest and his head respectfully bowed down.

"I told you, it's fine to not be so formal."

"I don't dare, lest heaven's wrath befalls me."

Gomchul was hell-bent on continuing with his formal tone. It was still okay since he was my knight and I was his lord but…

"Why the fuck are you following after him?"

I looked at Nameless who was acting like he was also my knight.

"You have blessed me with a supreme weapon, and I have dedicated my whole life to you. Even if you are not my lord, you're still like an elder brother to me!"

"What elder brother? I am just 22 you know? Just 22! You are at least 24 years old! How dare you call me elder brother?"

I felt like I would go insane if I talked to him any longer, so I just decided to leave for Wenselm Castle.

Of course, my newly appointed knight and my self-proclaimed little brother followed after me.

***

Reaching Wenselm castle, I couldn't help but be taken aback.

Although the castle was already as beautiful as we can see in those princess movies, it was now decorated so beautifully that one would be at a loss for words to admire the scene.

"Earl Shura, the duke has been waiting for your arrival. Please follow me."

As soon as I reached the castle, Harold's personal knight immediately came to escort me.

'Now this is embarrassing.'

After using the teleportation scroll to come to the Brinkest City, I walked my way to the castle. Now it seemed like I was lowering the duke's dignity by not bringing at least a horse.

'I should really consider getting some sort of ride.'

"Shura! You're here! Normally, the man getting engaged directly has to come to the function. But since you don't have any official property yet, you'll be getting ready here and everything will take place directly here. I have organised an etiquette teacher for you so that the other nobles can't make fun of you later on. Ignore most of them. Just be sure to be respectful to the princes and princesses."

Harold said as he directed me towards my room.

There, an elegant-looking middle-aged man with grey hair was waiting for us.

"My name is Joseph Roberto. I'll be guiding you for today's function."

Joseph bowed a bit curtly and said.

...

//DreamNote// (5 September)

I have an exam tomorrow, the second chapter is not yet started I might write and upload it in morning if I get a chance, or it will be uploaded tomorrow evening when I return home.