***
The Next Day.
Nile City.
Unlike the quiet night before, Ethan saw many players gathering in the city center. There were no tournaments or battles—everyone was staring at the mission bulletin board.
Ethan had just left his inn, curious about the crowd. Slowly, he followed them until he reached the city square, standing in front of the mission board filled with players.
"What's going on?"
A player turned to him, looking nervous. He explained that there was a second Red Notice posted on the mission board, besides Ethan's own.
Ethan squinted in surprise. He couldn't help wondering who the second Red Notice belonged to, and why it was exciting everyone so much.
They couldn't beat EthanArk—that much was obvious. But at least they now had a chance to hunt down another killer.
Ethan felt disappointed. The appearance of a second Red Notice meant someone else had murdered another player.
His own reason for killing had been desperation. If he failed his Talent Quest, he would've died. But this new killer…
Maybe he kills just for fun.
Several players began leaving the board—some went solo, others formed parties. Their goal was clear: find and capture the second murderer.
"Hey, you and him are both killers. I hate to ask this, but if you were him, where would you go?" one player asked.
It wasn't just one person—five or more players gathered around, asking the same thing: where might the killer be hiding?
"The Red Notice was spread across the three southern cities. It's unlikely he's still inside one," Ethan said.
"The forest is his best bet—monsters there are high-level. He'd use the harsh environment to protect himself."
"If that's the case, then he's probably stronger than you all."
"Really?" one player asked.
"Yeah," Ethan replied. "But there's also a chance he's hiding in a small village."
The player nodded, thinking Ethan's explanation made more sense than his own guesswork.
"If I were you, I'd form a temporary guild and gather players who want to find him," Ethan said firmly.
"That way, you can split up and still communicate effectively."
"Huh?"
"I thought you were a bad guy."
"If you try to kill me, I can turn bad anytime you want," Ethan said flatly.
The player froze, stepping back in fear. After talking it over with his friends, he decided to form a hunter guild to track the murderer.
He even sent Ethan a guild invitation.
"Join us. With your help, we could take that killer down easily," the man said.
Ethan sighed and pressed [Refuse], declining politely. It clearly shocked them.
"Why?"
"The reward's too small—way less than the Team Battles. You guys handle it yourselves," Ethan answered.
The player looked disappointed, but he couldn't force Ethan. With twenty players total, they split into small squads of three to search in different directions.
Soon, the area around the bulletin board grew quiet again. Ethan stepped forward and looked at the second Red Notice. The name listed was: RuskStephen13.
RuskStephen13? Must be a beginner. What made him bold enough to kill someone and get a Red Notice?
"That's not my problem," Ethan muttered.
He scanned through the mission panels one by one, but nothing caught his attention.
Most were simple monster hunts or material collection. The harder ones involved finding treasure chests.
"Nothing interesting for me."
He turned away, but as he did, he accidentally bumped into a woman.
She nearly fell, but Ethan caught her hand and pulled her up.
"Are you—"
"Don't touch me, murderer!" she yelled.
She yanked her hand away and fell to the ground. Her younger brother ran up to help her.
Ethan recognized them—the same woman he had saved last night from three drunk thugs, and her little brother.
"Are you two taking a mission?" Ethan asked.
"That's none of your business!" the woman snapped.
What the hell's her problem? If I hadn't stepped in, she'd have been raped all night.
The woman brushed past him, bumping his shoulder. Unlike her, her brother looked more polite.
He bowed slightly in apology and explained why his sister was acting that way.
"My sister broke up with her boyfriend. He just left her," the boy said quietly.
"Love problems… she shouldn't take it out on everyone she meets," Ethan muttered.
"They broke up inside this game. They got trapped here together. He promised to protect her, but since she's not good at gaming, he said she was a burden."
Ethan froze and glanced at the woman again. She stood near the bulletin board, pretending to study missions.
He didn't need to be in love to understand how painful that must've been—to be abandoned by someone who swore to protect you.
No experience, no one to rely on… she must feel crushed by all this.
"Juno! Get over here and stop talking to that murderer!" the woman shouted.
Not wanting to upset her, the boy—Juno—nodded and left Ethan's side.
Ethan didn't take any missions and had no plans to hunt monsters. He noticed their levels were only around 10 or 11—clearly beginners.
He watched as the siblings walked away from the mission board, likely after accepting a quest suited to them.
I don't want to get involved with them.
He turned back toward the inn. But as he reached the door, Juno looked back at him—just for a second. There was a flicker of hope in his eyes, as if he wanted Ethan to follow.
Ethan stood still by the doorway, watching the siblings disappear into the distance.
"The game world isn't kinder than the real one. You can die here," he murmured.
Elsewhere, Juno and his sister Eve arrived at an open field filled with level 7 monsters. Eve was a mage; Juno, an archer. A good ranged combo.
"Do it like usual. I'll attack first, then you finish them," Eve said, her long black-and-red hair swaying.
"Got it," Juno replied.
Eve raised her staff and unleashed a magic attack toward a group of rat monsters. The area-of-effect spell hit several at once.
Juno followed up with a few well-aimed arrows, finishing the wounded monsters. Their combo worked perfectly.
"This is easier now," Juno said.
"We leveled up, of course it's easier," Eve replied.
But with their guard down, they accidentally hit a pack of level 13 snake monsters nearby.
Aggressive-type monsters always attacked in groups. Once one was hit, the entire pack joined in.
"Eve! You hit those snakes over there!" Juno shouted.
"Damn it! I can't control my spell power!" Eve cried.
Panic spread quickly. Two kinds of monsters, higher-level than them, were charging. They tried to run, but their escape route was blocked.
"Eve! What do we do?" Juno shouted.
Eve froze, terrified. All she could do was fight back, throwing desperate spells hoping to kill some.
But her MP ran out too fast. She couldn't chant anymore. Juno's arrows weren't enough either.
"It looks like… we're going to die here," Eve whispered, collapsing to her knees.
Just when all hope seemed lost, a crimson slash cut across the battlefield.
A man appeared from behind, swinging his Flamefang sword and unleashing a single devastating strike—11,709 damage in one blow.
The monsters were destroyed instantly.
Ethan landed in front of Eve. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, realizing who had saved her—for the second time.
"E-Ethan?"
"I'll help you beat the crap out of your ex-boyfriend," Ethan said.
He handed them HP and MP potions. Juno and Eve drank them right away.
"H-How did you…?"
"Juno?! Did you tell him?!" Eve shouted.
"I've saved you twice already," Ethan said calmly. "I think I've earned the right to know what's going on."
"You two are weak, scared, and inexperienced."
"That's fine," he added.
"I can help you become stronger players—stronger than your ex, Eve."