Stalkerizing

“Oh.”

That looks really convenient. So that’s another way to use macros.

Of course, there were other things to learn as well, but in places like this, experiencing it firsthand was a hundred times better than reading an explanation. Considering that, the Guardian’s explanation was like a top-tier tutor’s pinpoint summary.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: Wow, Guardian, I thought you were an AI lol

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: How to make the most out of macros

Players primarily used macros to switch equipment sets. Sometimes, they were also used to print messages when activating certain skills or as a kind of shortcut for issuing quick commands during combat.

[Party] Chasa: This is the first time I’ve seen someone register a guide in their macros lol

[Party] Driver: It makes things easier like this haha

It did look convenient. Just how much explaining had he needed to do…? Sa-yoon looked at the Guardian, burdened with a lance, with sympathy.

It reminded him of his younger sibling, who had started working part-time at a convenience store and kept mistakenly greeting people with “Welcome!” every time they entered somewhere.

[Party] Driver: If you look outside now, you’ll see a sandstorm passing, right? Just be careful since visibility gets really bad then.

Like an experienced guide, the Guardian explained the mechanics of the zone boss while also adding details about the current map . BeginningAndEnd bounced excitedly toward the entrance.

Between two half-destroyed pillars, a thin barrier prevented them from passing until the battle began.

Beyond that, there were, as expected, numerous low stone buildings, all in a state of disrepair.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: Hey, is this map at least easy?

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: I just went into the underground sewers and got super lost T_T such a shitty map T_T

[Party] Driver: Yeah, that place is a maze, so it’s a bit tricky T_T

It wasn’t just complex in its layout—it was also vast. Beginners and players who were naturally bad with directions especially struggled there.

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: The alleys here are kinda confusing too T_T

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: But at least there’s no lava, thank god

[Party] Driver: Coming back mid-season makes climbing the ranks tough

[Party] SteelBarsOfThePoliceStation: Can I just follow along?

Even amid the scattered conversations, the dialogue somehow flowed.

The “lava” that Barcode mentioned referred to Blazing Altar, a lava-zone map where continuous fire-attribute damage was inflicted. The other map was Cursed Temple, a dense jungle area.

While the party members discussed the maps, the Temporary Nick remained completely silent.

Did they go AFK again? No way, they weren’t going to stay idle even during combat, right?

Regardless of personal feelings, the trust between the two was razor-thin.

Just as Sa-yoon was about to send a whisper—

[Party] a10235044: So, who’s carrying?

At the same time as the silent placeholder spoke, a voting window popped up.

[Choose the Crown Bearer!]

Once decided, the Crown Bearer couldn’t be changed. That’s why it was an unspoken rule to discuss and vote beforehand.

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: Isn’t it better if the tank carries?

[Party] Driver: I don’t mind doing it.

[Party] a10235044: Nah, better for the warlock.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: The enemy will probably focus their first kill on the warlock.

[Party] Driver: Then how about the hunter instead?

For a team of six randomly matched players, three minutes wasn’t long to settle on a strategy.

At last, they got to the main topic.

[Party] a10235044: Warlock is 100% the best choice.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: Uh, Warlock. They’re gonna focus you first. Is this your first time in the battlefield?

[Party] a10235044: Just don’t die.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: It’s not like things always go the way you want.

Despite the mixed opinions, Temporary Nick kept insisting that the warlock was the best pick, with no reasoning whatsoever.

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: Warlock, what do you think?

The hardest argument to win was one without logic.

Since ignoring him might turn him into a landmine at any moment, the party members showed a clear willingness to resolve things through words.

Exhausted by the warlock parrot, the healer directed the question to Chasa. It was a passive-aggressive attack, as if saying, You deal with this.

The role of the carrier in King’s Crown was simple. Three minutes after the battle started, a named monster would spawn. After killing it, the party had to take the dropped crown and place it on the throne inside the king’s chamber.

The crown was the summoning catalyst for the king and the most crucial item on the battlefield.

The problem was that if the crown carrier died, the crown would drop. If they got all the way to the king’s chamber just to lose it at the last moment, it was no different from handing victory to the enemy.

On top of that, if the carrier died while holding the crown, the team would lose twice as many points. Even if an enemy dropped the crown, if the carrier was dead, no one on their team could pick it up.

It was a heavy, annoying, and easy-to-criticize role.

Since survival was key, it was usually handled by a sturdy tank or a class with a lot of mobility skills. But there were always ways to shake up expectations.

[Party] Driver: Warlock, your opinion is important here.

The tank subtly sided with the healer.

Sa-yoon hadn’t said a word since they started choosing the carrier. It had been two years since he lost his voice in party discussions after picking the wrong class.

Normally, he wouldn’t volunteer for this troublesome role. Normally.

[Party] Chasa: I’ll show my record.

No one believed the warlock could handle it properly anyway.

Still, it was rare to meet someone who actually trusted a “trash class.” Wouldn’t it be right to repay such trust?

Without another word, Sa-yoon switched his previously private 1v1 battlefield ranking to public.

[Top 1% | Rank 39 | Chasa | Warlock]

Silence filled the party chat as they checked his stats.

[Party] Chasa: I’ll take the carrier role.

This time, no one objected.

Rants about “trash classes” or “bad matchups” meant nothing in front of a high-ranked player.

[Party] Driver: Wow, an esteemed guest in our humble party. Lol

[Party] Driver: Looking forward to working with you.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: You should’ve said you were ranked earlier.

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: This match is gonna be a breeze. lol

Driver, who was on the verge of dropping below the 1,000th rank, was the first to speak up, and the rest of the party quickly followed suit.

Sa-yoon clicked his tongue at the instant shift in attitude.

“Should’ve raised my King’s Crown ranking earlier.”

He had heard that 1v1 rankings, which relied purely on luck and skill, were valued more than 6v6 team matches where you could get carried. But experiencing it firsthand was something else.

[Party] Driver: Popping buffs now.

[Party] SteelBarsOfThePoliceStation: Got it.

At the tank’s cue, everyone used their buffs, then started running in place, their heads pressed against the closed gate—just like Koreans getting ready to bolt out of an airplane before it even landed.

[Battle is starting. Seize the crown!]

With a tense BGM playing, the transparent barrier vanished. The party members dashed through the ruins all at once.

[Party] Driver: Almost a mirror matchup.

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: Who do you think their carrier is?

[Party] Driver: Probably Guardian or Spearmaster?

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: Or maybe they’ll go for a surprise pick like us and use a Black Mage?

[Party] Driver: Chasa, what do you think?

The Guardian asked for his opinion. People were so transparent. Just a minute ago, they were arguing with Temporary Nick about how a Warlock couldn’t be the carrier.

If he hadn’t revealed his ranking, they wouldn’t even be asking. Years of playing a “trash class” had left Sa-yoon too jaded to take their question at face value.

Still, it was something they needed to check. He pressed Tab to analyze the enemy team composition: Guardian, Spearmaster, Sharpshooter, Demon Hunter, Priest, and Black Mage.

[Party] Chasa: No idea.

They had mentioned a mirror matchup, but Warlocks and Black Mages were completely different classes—Warlocks had summoned demons, effectively giving them extra lives, while Black Mages did not. So, Black Mage was out. He also ruled out the healer and the Sharpshooter.

That left three candidates.

The fastest way to find out? Kill all three and see who lost the most points. Whoever lost the most was the carrier.

[Party] Chasa: Let’s kill them one by one.

[Party] Driver: They only have one healer, so let’s take out the Priest first, then the Hunter as second target.

Ding!
Ding!

The moment they entered the city from the sandy outskirts, a sound effect rang out—monsters had detected the players.

Two bipedal lizards emerged from the rubble of a collapsed building.

The Ancient City map itself wasn’t particularly difficult, but ruined houses and alleyways concealed monsters, making it an annoying battlefield.

[Party] Driver: Clearing the fastest path before Kirash spawns!