The God of Liar

”This is Odie, she’s a healer. Roth and I are both DPS. I’m an archer, and Roth is a warlock.”

”That’ll do. Let’s get started.”

”…Okay. Draw their attention and we’ll hit ’em.”

Seojin walked off the moment that Haydall finished his brief introduction. Haydall simply stared at his back before turning to Odie, their party leader.

”What were you thinking?”

”I was intrigued, did you see how confident he was?”

”Maybe he’s just an idiot.”

”We’ve got nothing to lose.”

”That’s true, but…”

Time was also a valuable asset. Haydall swallowed the end of his sentence as there was no reason for him to go against Odie.

’Well, it won’t take that long.’

He’d last a few minutes at most. If he died, that was it. And if he really had some trick up his sleeve, they just had to beat the living shit out of the crabs.

The very next moment…

”…What?”

”Stay still. Calm down. There you go!”

Haydall frowned at the absurd scene in front of him.

”He wasn’t joking?”

Seojin was holding on to the top of a crab as if it was a rodeo bull, which was understandable, but the fierce crab suddenly became obedient.

”What are you doing? Draw your bow.”

”Oh, right.”

Haydall came to his senses as Odie gave her orders. He had gotten it all wrong.

’I didn’t know he’d really make it. If he can do that, he’s better than most tanks.’

No matter how confident a player was, killing monsters before they drop the tank wasn’t a piece of cake. Using monsters as a meat shield would definitely be more forgiving in that sense.

’Things have become much more forgiving for us DPS.’

Haydall checked the party status screen with an absurd laugh.

Seojin - Hunter: Lv 50

’He’s definitely only Level 50.’

Then, he paused. Odie was a bit faster than Haydall at identifying something strange.

”He’s… a hunter.”

”…He is.”

”Focus on damage first, I bet he can’t tame another one yet.”

”Oh, yeah.”

The identity of their new party member was the least of their concerns. Haydall picked up his bow and aimed at the crab. Bang! The crab stumbled greatly with a tremendous boom.

”Nice.”

It was a perfect shot. Haydall decided to think about what the hell a hunter was once the fight was over.

* * *

Acquired: Coconut.

Acquired:…

…

’They’re pretty skilled.’

Seojin thought to himself, picking up the loot that the last crab dropped. Those guys were a bit cheeky, but they could afford to act like that with the skills they had.

’Those DPS did more than three men’s work. The healer was on time too.’

Seojin could steamroll the entire hunting ground if he wanted to. Of course, there would be gaps after using all three skills, but that was enough to put him leagues above others.

Nevertheless, Seojin couldn’t do that.

’Gotta take a beating to look more humane, right?’

Of course, the crab’s most gentle touch would one-shot Seojin. So, he chose to stab himself with a dagger.

’I gotta be careful not to get caught.’

The healer was right there every time Seojin’s health bar dropped, and it didn’t take an expert to notice that the HP was considerable.

’They could easily form a regular party with that level of skill. Maybe their tank is AFK or something…’

”Come on, let’s go! Be gentle… yes, good boy.”

Seojin was on autopilot like a machine, even while thinking to himself. The moment his crab showed signs of low health, he jumped to the next one and nested himself on it. He only had to confront the monster with his own skills while his party members butchered the monster with their overwhelming firepower.

’Damn, there’s a lot.’

Kenzie had asked for eight coconuts. Since there were four of them, they would have to kill a total of thirty-two crabs. The other players started to gather around as they watched Seojin ride the beasts.

”Wow, look at them.”

”That easily…? Is it because of the DPS?”

”Are you blind? That guy’s carrying the whole group. Even we could kill them easily if someone locked them down like that.”

That was true. The problem was the lack of tanks, not DPS.

Five Level 50 players could easily crush a Level 55 monster if they could only focus on dealing damage. But the damage wasn’t the problem, it was tanking. Otherwise, any one of them would be able to clear the quest easily.

’My pride is hurt.’

Odie Park also felt like Seojin was now carrying the party. Of course she had something to say, as her party would have cleared the quest with a lesser tank. However, their outstanding firepower was overshadowed by the skillful ’tank.’

”Wow, he’s great. I feel sorry for ignoring him before.”

”Shut up.”

”Okay.”

Did they not have any pride? Odie Park frowned at Haydall’s attitude.

’Know some shame. How much money do you think I put into you to bring you up to that level?’

She invested a lot of money, so she expected them to do as much as she invested. And by her standards, what she wanted in return for her investment was not for them to have good skills, but to show off to the others so that she could attract attention.

Bang, bang, bang!

Haydall shot his arrows quickly and accurately, while Roth calmly hit the crabs with his entry-level black magic. Odie murmured in annoyance.

”Haydall.”

”Yes?”

”Use more mana. You too, Roth. Why are you only sending low-level ghosts when you can use Area of Effect?”

”Because I don’t have to.”

”That’s right, it’s better to use consecutive shots to….”

Odie scowled to shut them up.

”Use it.”

”Yes, ma’am.

The atmosphere changed at once as the two men ditched efficiency and used spectacular, eye-catching skills.

’I’m sure people will think differently.’

Odie began eavesdropping on what people were saying, skills were indeed awe-worthy in her own eyes.

”What’s wrong with them all of a sudden?”

”Dunno… Shit, I can’t hear what he’s saying. He’s muttering something every time he tames one.”

”Those attention seekers… sigh, what does the community page say?”

”They’re saying there’s a hunter class that can tame monsters…”

The crease between Odie’s eyebrows grew even deeper.

’Why?! Why the hell are they only interested in him?!’

He could only tame monsters, that was all. Why was that so special?

”I want something fancier.”

”Roger.”

”Here goes something fancier!”

The two knew very well why Odie was acting like that. A black thunderbolt the crab at the same moment a golden beam of light pierced it horizontally. It was the most flamboyant skill they could pull off. The damage was also great, causing the crab to fall to the ground with a thud.

”I’m out of mana.”

”Me too.”

”I’ll fill you up, hold on a sec…”

’…until I hear what people are saying.’

Odie swallowed the end of her sentence and listened to the other players again.

”Damn, those guys are… I’ll just ask him once he’s done hunting. ”

It was way beyond her expectations.

”Why on earth…?”

”Huh? What?”

”I need mana… cough!”

Roth coughed in shock. It was a good thing that his mana had been fully refilled, but the way in which Odie did so was too violent. Roth turned a blind eye to Odie’s grim expression and pointed his staff at the monster again.

-I think we shouldn’t talk to her right now.

-Agreed.

They came to an agreement through DMs

* * *

Acquired: Churai’s Specialty Coconut (1)

The final crab that Seojin rode collapsed, and he stepped on the ground for the first time in a while.

’It’s finally over.’

Gathering all thirty-two coconuts took longer than Seojin thought. It was frustrating that they had to collect four people’s worth, but thanks to that, the players seemed to view Seojin as a mysterious and rare hunter.

’It was a good thing that I only tamed them one by one.’

However, for some reason, his party members looked off. The woman, to be precise, was looking at Seojin in annoyance, and two men were busily checking her mood.

’Why is she staring at me like that?’

Seojin couldn’t figure it out. While his methods were a bit unique, he had done his part as a tank.

’Well, it doesn’t matter, it’s not like I’m going to see her again.’

Seojin forgot about the woman’s bad mood and approached the party as he gathered the coconuts.

”Thanks for your hard work.”

”Well, you did all th… yeah, we worked hard too. Weren’t our skills cool?”

The man, Haydall, changed his tune after the woman glared at him.

’What the…?’

Seojin had no idea what was going on and simply decided not to give a damn about it.

”It was cool, though I was surprised. Here are the coconuts for the three of you.”

”Oh, thank you. There’s twenty-four exactly.”

”Well, I’ll take my…”

”Wait a minute.”

Seojin was about to turn around when Odie stopped him.

”What is it?”

”I didn’t notice at first, but you’re a Hunter class.”

”I am.”

”You’re hiding your class, aren’t you?”

”I could be.”

Seojin’s confidence caught Odie off guard as she didn’t expect that kind of reaction. Nevertheless, she wore a triumphant look on her face once more.

”…You’re a hidden class, aren’t you?”

’Let’s see if he can remain calm about this.’

”Yes.”

”…Yes?”

’How could he admit that so easily?’

”You’re right. I’ll take my leave, then.”

”W-wait a minute!”

”What is it this time?”

”That, hidden… uh…”

Odie had nothing to say. She had called him back as a reflex since the entire situation was so absurd, but what now?

’I’m offended that you took everyone’s attention. Why are you telling me that you’re a hidden class so easily? What am I, a thirteen-year-old?’

”Don’t you have anything to say?”

”H-how about joining our team? Until we complete this island…”

”No, thank you, bye.”

Seojin cut her off cleanly and turned around as her jaw dropped.

”…He kicked me.”

Just one phrase. The two men spoke in a hurry, turning pale.

”He didn’t kick you… he just had more urgent things to do… I guess.”

”Well, yeah. It’s not at all…”

”He rejected me… Does he even know who I am? I’m Kim Hy-mph!”

”No, no. It’s not like that.”

Haydall covered his boss’ mouth in panic. It was a difficult situation. What were they supposed to do when this happened…?

”Roth.”

”Yes, bro.”

”Go out and turn the connection off. Now.”

”Aye, sir.”

They were going to shut Odie’s console off from the outside. Roth disappeared before Odie, who was still struggling, quickly faded away too.

”The president’s so harsh on us. It’s so hard to look after a kid. Haa…”

Haydall sighed, his feelings were complicated.