Just as the angel had said, the quest was simple.
No sub-quest, and it ended the moment you killed a single boss.
But because they'd been burned before, the players didn't take the angel's words at face value.
"Easy quest, my ass!"
"You think they call it a boss for nothing? You just know it's gonna be hard as fuck."
Once the angel disappeared, they let loose a stream of curses.
By now, everyone knew.
That angels couldn't hear them swear once they were gone.
That aside from the start and the end, the angel wouldn't show up again.
[Time remaining until Round ends: 05:59:53]
As if to signal the start of the quest, the timer in the progress window began to tick down.
If they didn't form a team and kill a boss within the time limit, they would die.
Just then, a message popped up in front of everyone's eyes.
[From now on, form a five-person party.]
[If five people hold hands and chant the key phrase "Party Formation" at the same time, you can form a party.]
[Note that if you do not form a party, killing a boss will not be counted.]
It was a message explaining how to form a party.
"We need to form a party first, don't we?"
"Yeah, it won't count even if we kill a boss otherwise."
"Excuse me, want to party with me?"
"What level are you?"
"I'm a level 20 Warrior! Anyone want to party with me?"
People raised their hands and started looking for a party.
In an instant, the place turned noisy like a chaotic street market.
In the middle of it all, An Sang-cheol clicked his tongue in awe at Ryu Min's prophecy.
'Everything is exactly like the Prophet said. Round 6 really is a quest where you have to form a five-person party.'
He sneaked a glance at Black Scythe.
He was glad he'd stuck to Black Scythe after hearing the prophecy.
"Black Scythe-nim. Shouldn't we form our party too…?"
"Wait. It's a five-person party; we'll need to find one more."
To form a party, all five had to be holding hands at the same time.
Right now, the people gathered were four: Ryu Min, Seo Arin, An Sang-cheol, and Min Juri.
They were one person short.
"Hmm, who should we pick for the last spot?"
"Since Black Scythe-nim is the strongest among us, I think he should decide."
Everyone nodded in agreement and turned their attention to Ryu Min.
"Hm…"
He pretended to think it over, but he already had a candidate in mind.
Someone he absolutely wanted in this party.
'I hope he's nearby… that way I can pretend I just picked a random person and naturally bring him in.'
As Ryu Min scanned the area, several players mustered the courage to approach.
"G-good afternoon, Black Scythe-nim."
"Would you consider partying with us…?"
"No. Beat it."
"Ah… y-yes."
At his flat refusal, the players slunk away, looking dejected.
-He didn't even hesitate. That's humiliating.
-Damn it, I wanted to leech off Black Scythe…
-Whoever ends up in Black Scythe's party is gonna hit the jackpot.
Their thoughts came through, but Ryu Min had no interest in these random nobodies.
He already had a candidate in mind anyway.
'In the previous regression, I would've taken whoever. I was the one doing the hunting, after all.'
He wasn't looking for comrades to hunt with.
'I just need warm bodies to fill the quota.'
But in this regression, he had chosen specific people to stick with.
Rather than complete strangers, it was better to nurture people who would be useful to his future plans.
'They're all connections I didn't have before, too.'
Originally, at this point in time, there was no one who had any connection with him.
Not Min Juri, not Seo Arin, not An Sang-cheol.
He only got to know them later; in the original timeline, they were complete strangers right now.
'Back then, I took anyone I could just to fill the roster…'
He didn't have to do that anymore.
He had people he needed to grow together with.
'Still, then and now, I sure do attract flies.'
Just like before, Black Scythe was always popular whenever people needed parties.
No matter how intimidating he acted or how cold-blooded he seemed, there were always people who dared to approach.
Players swarmed like flies, each risking it to get their hands on the "blue-chip" that was Black Scythe.
After all, if you partied with Black Scythe, your survival was practically guaranteed.
"Black Scythe-nim…"
"Go away."
"Please, just hear me ou—"
"Not interested. Leave."
He turned down every party invitation that came his way.
After watching the people in front of them get rejected over and over, others stopped trying.
-Fucking hell, you lose nothing by letting someone into your party.
-What a stingy bastard. At least listen to them before you say no!
-Screw this. I'll just find a better party.
-Wait, are those guys next to him people he's already promised to party with?
-They're lucky as hell. They're basically confirmed survivors.
Disappointed, the players drifted further away from Black Scythe.
Those who'd witnessed his cold rejections backed off on their own, not even considering asking.
At that point, Ryu Min's party members started getting curious.
'Who in the world is he saving that last spot for…?'
An Sang-cheol felt curious, but also a bit regretful.
'If only the boss were here… If Ma-representative-nim were in this zone, I'd recommend him with everything I've got…'
Min Juri had similar thoughts.
'If Ryu Min were here, I'd beg Black Scythe-nim to put him in the last empty seat…'
Each of them had someone they wanted in that final spot, but they were in different zones, so there was nothing they could do.
Just then, a group approached Ryu Min.
His party members assumed they were more randoms, but they weren't.
"Black Scythe-nim. It's good to see you."
The man greeting him with an outstretched hand was a familiar face.
'Jo Yong-ho?'
Ryu Min gripped Jo Yong-ho's hand lightly.
"Seeing you here is a pleasant surprise. I thought you might drop out in Round 5."
"Eh? Haha, aren't you underestimating me a bit? Three hundred Orcs are nothing."
It wasn't just empty bluster.
Among the 1,211 players who cleared Round 5, Jo Yong-ho ranked 125th—well within the safety margin.
"After seeing your fight, I got fired up and sped through the hunt."
"Is that so?"
"Either way, thank you. Thanks to you, this guy survived too. Man-gi."
When Jo Yong-ho stepped aside, another man shuffled forward.
It was Choi Man-gi, the one who'd received First Aid from Black Scythe.
"Black Scythe-nim! Thank you for treating my shoulder back then! Thanks to you, I'm still alive!"
"You still managed to hit 300 kills with that body of yours."
"It's all thanks to you, Black Scythe-nim. You're my lifesaver!"
Choi Man-gi kept bowing, and there was nothing insincere about it.
In a friendly tone, Jo Yong-ho spoke to Ryu Min.
"Are you looking for a party?"
"Yes."
"I see four already. So you only need one more?"
Ryu Min nodded.
From his tone, it didn't sound like he was trying to get into the party.
Sure enough—
"Ah, I'm not asking you to let us in, so please don't misunderstand. We've already finished forming our party."
"I didn't."
He already knew they had.
Golden chains formed of glowing letters circled the wrists of Jo Yong-ho and his mercenaries, proof of their bond.
'Five of them, perfect headcount. They must've formed a party right away.'
If they weren't here to join his party, then why?
He cut straight to the point.
"If you're not looking to join, why did you come find me?"
"Ah, partly to say hello, because I was glad to see you, and partly to make you an offer."
"An offer?"
"How about an alliance between our party and yours?"
He read what Jo Yong-ho meant by "alliance."
'He's not trying to leech off me; he really wants to help, even if only a little.'
Grateful that Black Scythe had saved Man-gi, Jo Yong-ho wanted to return the favor somehow.
"I won't ask you to let us into your party. We won't covet your items or EXP either. If we see a boss, we'll give you priority."
"…"
"Really, we only want to help. There's no need to be so wary of us. I mean it."
Since he stayed silent, Jo Yong-ho must have mistaken it for suspicion.
To clear that up, Ryu Min finally spoke.
"I refuse."
"Eh? Why… Is it because you think we'll get in the way? You don't have to worry about that. We absolutely won't be a burden. If it ever feels like we're in the way, we'll at least… draw aggro in front of the boss—"
"That's not it. I just don't like things getting too crowded. I appreciate the gesture, but I'll pass."
"Ah… I see. That's a shame. I really wanted to help…"
He smacked his lips in regret, and Ryu Min quietly added:
"I'll ask for your help when I really need it."
"Ah! You will?"
The gloom on Jo Yong-ho's face vanished in an instant.
He'd gladly wait for a chance to repay his debt.
"Then if there ever comes a time you need us, you have to tell me, alright?"
"I will."
"You promise?"
"I said I will."
With that confirmation, Jo Yong-ho grinned.
"Now that I've got your word, I'll take my leave. I hope we run into each other again. Call on us anytime you need help! See you."
Bowing as a group, Jo Yong-ho and his party strolled off to hunt bosses.
"Black Scythe-nim. We should decide soon. Who are you putting in that last spot…?"
"I've decided."
Ryu Min pointed in one direction.
All of their gazes followed his finger.
"You there."
The person he pointed at flinched.
"Come here."
When he beckoned, the man hesitated and then walked over.
Small build, hunched shoulders, hollow eyes.
A scrawny young man with nothing about him that looked strong.
"You've been watching me for a while, haven't you?"
"Ah… y-yes…"
"Why?"
"B-because…"
He fidgeted, unable to answer right away.
Ryu Min already knew the reason, but he waited in silence.
"B-b… because I… I w-wanted to p-party… with you, B-Black Scythe-nim…"
He stammered so badly there was no confidence in his tone.
By the time he finished, his voice had trailed off to the point it was barely audible.
"What's your level and class?"
"L-level 23, Dark Mage."
"Doesn't really matter either way."
Speaking as if it were no big deal, Ryu Min casually announced:
"He's taking the last spot."
"Eh?"
An Sang-cheol and the others all stared in surprise.
After rejecting so many others, he'd chosen… this completely unimpressive player?
But no one was more shocked than the man himself.
-B-Black Scythe-nim w-wants me… in his party?
His face looked like he might burst into tears any second.
Seeing that, An Sang-cheol clicked his tongue inwardly, but Ryu Min was quite satisfied.
Because this young man would one day become the leader of a religion that worshipped Black Scythe like a god.
'If I form a connection now with this guy who'll become my fervent follower, it'll help in all sorts of ways.'
Ryu Min reached out his hand to the future cult leader, NopainNogay (노폐인노게이).
"Let's form the party, then. Everyone, hold hands."
The five of them formed a circle and joined hands.
When they silently chanted "Party Formation" in their heads, golden rings made of glowing letters formed around their wrists.
Black Scythe's party had been formed.