The Grand Duelist

[Quest CSP:MGD01 has been activated.]

A mechanical voice rang out within the headquarters of the P.H Works. Every employee within the floor where the Supercomputer Noah resided jolted in shock and doubted their ears.

"It said, CSP:MGD01?!"

"Yeah, there's no mistaking it!"

"In that case, come. Let's go to Central Control."

Each and every one of them couldn't help but cry out in surprise when they realized what happened. But of course, after their initial shock.

They all went towards the room where the Supercomputer Noah was located.

"CSP:MGD01... He started it faster than expected."

Ray Gabriel who was the first to hear the notification of the Supercomputer Noah bitterly smiled.

Elizabeth that stood behind Ray Gabriel couldn't help but ask: "Faster than expected? They weren't supposed to meet at that restaurant?" Elizabeth knew what happened back at the restaurant where the Great Wandering Bard bragged about the new Grand Duelist's exploits.

"Yeah, they are not supposed to meet at that restaurant..."

"But now that something like this happened. The Bard realized that what he saw in his visions was Joseph."

"But he isn't willing to recognize Joseph as the Grand Duelist for he's currently too weak, and that divine aura within him is too inhibited which is quite understandable. But right now, he's only about Level 9. That leveling speed is really too slow for someone of the mythical class."

Ray Gabriel shook his head in disappointment.

Elizabeth's figure trembled for a moment before she said: "He's only Level 9? Wasn't CSP:MGD01 a quest that should only appear when the Grand Duelist user is at Level 50?"

"Yeah, and that quest should only appear when the user is at the Underground Penitentiary of the Kingdom of Nether..."

"In that case... you're saying that..." Elizabeth couldn't finish her sentence due to shock.

"Yes, he will have to fight such a monster with the stats of a Level 9." Ray Gabriel took the words out of her mouth, but then. A mechanical voice interrupted them.

[Correction: The Grand Duelist's current stats are that of a Level 1. He still hasn't distributed his stat points.]

"What did you say?! That retard didn't distribute his stat points, yet?" Ray Gabriel almost jumped from his seat and he even cursed at Joseph when he heard what the Supercomputer Noah said.

[Yes, he currently has about 40 stat points available for distribution.]

The Supercomputer Noah's reply further exacerbated the shock that they felt. But before they could even continue their talk. The door of the Central Control Room where they were in, burst open and their fellow scientists came inside in droves.

Ray Gabriel turned to look at them in a serious manner.

"Ermmm... What's wrong, boss?"

A scientist asked in a hesitant manner.

"Buy some chips first, there's a good show that will happen. Buy me a Piatos." Ray Gabriel ordered.

Elizabeth stepped forward and handed over a card towards the scientist that asked: "I'll have a nova."

The silence broke, and that scientist awkwardly scratched his head as his comrades rushed at him with their orders.

"Get me a chippy, with mountain dew."

"I'll have some coke, don't bother with the chips."

"Fetch me an Ice Tea, the one with the Ice feeling flavor."

A bunch of orders came to him and when he realized what was happening. He now had about dozens of credit cards in his hands.

"Will you bastards cut it out! I'm a proper employee here, not an intern!" He cried out in protest.

In the end, everyone. Including Ray Gabriel and Elizabeth fetched their own food and rushed back at the Central Control Room.

Even Elizabeth who took care of her image in front of her co-workers threw all pretenses away as she ran and slid herself inside the dedicated elevator for the Central Control Room.

Back in Victory...

Joseph stared at his opponent who calmly stared at him in return.

[Title Generated Skill: Character Scrutinize has been activated!]

[Name: ???(The Great Wandering Bard)

Age: ??? Gender: Male

Class: Bard

Title: The Great Wandering Bard

Level: ???

Health: ???/??? Mana: ???/???

Strength: ???? Dexterity: ???

Intelligence: ??? Stamina: ???

Leadership: ??? Storytelling: ???

Skills: Storytelling(A), ???(A), ???(S), ???(S+), ???(SS+)

You are currently in a class-specific quest. Further information can only be unlocked once the quest is finished.]

"Goddamned it, the Character Scrutinize became useless!" Joseph inwardly cursed. He thought that he could have more information about his enemy through his Character Scrutinize skill, but he found that his skill was rendered useless.

"The quest is given to me so abruptly. I haven't even distributed my stat points, and I haven't even carefully read my newly-gained skills yet." Sweat formed on Joseph's forehead as a crooked smile appeared on his lips.

How could he fight a monster when he didn't even have any information about how strong he was?

Fighting against a monster without knowing one's strength equaled to suicide.

Joseph must first know about his skills before he could possibly use it against his enemies. But would the Great Wandering Bard even give him a chance for that? It was highly unlikely...

Even now, before Joseph could stall for some time. The Great Wandering Bard raised his hand and struck at his ukulele.

The very air itself vibrated and Joseph, who had his instincts honed from the Festival of Battles subconsciously ducked his head as he felt something brush against his hair.

Bang!

An explosion rang out, Joseph turned to look behind him and found that a palm-sized hole was now on the wall.

"Shit... It's impossible to see his attacks since he's using sound waves to attack. How could I possibly fight against a monster like that without suffering any damage?" Joseph inwardly cursed. He glanced at the bandits who were currently on the ground.

The Quest said that if Joseph wanted to qualify for the incredibly precious reward. He must not suffer any damage from the Great Wandering Bard.

Thankfully, suffering damage didn't outright mean quest failure.

Else, Joseph would've logged-out due to frustration and pure rage.

In the face of such a monstrous NPC that could attack using sound waves, whose stats couldn't be seen by Joseph. Could Joseph even manage on not suffering any damage against this NPC?

Joseph gulped a mouthful of saliva. He could feel his entire body trembling in nervousness. A bitter smile spread on his lips when he realized that this was the first time that he felt such an adrenaline rush.

He couldn't feel this much pressure back at the Festival of Battles since fights at that place had Equipment Disparity Compensation.

Not only that. But as a Level 1...

Joseph technically had nothing to lose apart from some coins that he used as an Entrance Fee.

Recently, when he fought against the Apostle of the God of Darkness.

There was also an Equipment Disparity Compensation. Although the God of Darkness cheated and returned his Apostle's capabilities on using high-leveled spells.

At that time, Joseph won in the end...

But in fact, Joseph himself didn't even know how he managed on winning against that opponent.

His Victory against the Great Magician Lilibeth and Abyssal Flame Master gave Joseph some confidence when it came to battles for as long as the Equipment Disparity Compensation was in effect.

But against the Great Wandering Bard whose stats, skills, and levels were unknown along with some really damaging quest failure punishment?

Joseph couldn't say that he could still be confident anymore. But since there was no use crying over spilled milk and the rice was cooked already.

Joseph could only forcefully suppress his trembling knees and nerves as he glanced at the bandits before saying...

"Can you guys buy me some time?" He asked them in a bitter manner.

But the bandits looked confused as they thought: "Wasn't this guy supposed to be our savior?"

"Why does he want us to buy some time?"

Joseph awkwardly scratched his head.

He ducked once again, letting an attack from the Great Wandering Bard pass by him as he continued: "I need to look-up some guides on the Internet." He explained, but this further exacerbated the confusion of the bandit NPCs who didn't understand what he was talking about.

"I'll do it..." The bandit who had his back on the wall at the distance suddenly spoke up. He struggled to stand up and when he did manage to stand up. He quickly rolled on the ground, evading an attack from the Great Wandering Bard before he turned to look at Joseph and said.

"I'll buy you some time... But three minutes is my limit. That's the most that I can do against that monster." That bandit spoke with a determined expression and Joseph was shocked to find that the icon floating above the bandit's head was a green diamond marker...

NPCs have an Inverted Triangle symbol floating above their heads, while every player has Green Diamond Marker floating on top of their heads.

It was evident that the bandit in front of Joseph was a player.

"Wait, you're a player?" Joseph couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah, what about it? Can't a player be a bandit?" The bandit-player shook his head.

The two suddenly dodged to the side before they continued their talking.

"Why would a player like you willingly become a bandit?" Joseph couldn't suppress his curiosity.

The bandit-player shrugged and he took a step to the side as he once again dodged an attack from the Great Wandering Bard.

The bandits that laid on the ground stared at them helplessly. 'Guys... There's a monster in here, yet the two of you are talking as if you're in your backyards? Come on guys, take this seriously...'

The Great Wandering Bard realized what was happening, and anger filled his eyes: "How dare you ignore my presence and talk so calmly while being attacked by me!" He raised his hand once again and repeatedly struck his ukulele.

A bunch of invisible sound waves simultaneously came out. Some of them went towards Joseph and the bandit-player. But most of them flew towards the injured bandits on the ground.

"Despicable!"

"What a bastard!"

The bandit-player cried out along with Joseph. The two of them hurriedly rushed at the side of the other bandits, but Joseph went first and rushed at the front lines before absorbing every sound wave with just a single word from his mouth.

"Parry..."

Every sound wave that came flying towards them disappeared when they arrived in front of Joseph.

The battlefield turned silent, the Great Wandering Bard's figure trembled for a moment and he couldn't help but repeatedly blink his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he had seen.

However, before he could say anything...

Joseph pointed at him and said: "Discharge."

In an instant, all sound waves that Joseph absorbed came hurling towards the Great Wandering Bard.

"???" The Great Wandering Bard reacted a step too late, yet he still managed on erecting a barrier that protected him against his own attacks.

Peng! Peng! Peng!

Crisp ringing sounds rang out as cracks spread on the Great Wandering Bard's barrier.

Bang!

In the end, the barrier shattered and along with a dull explosion. Dust swept up and covered the Great Wandering Bard from everyone's sight.

"Did I get him?"

Joseph thought to himself.

"No, that's impossible. I don't think that a class-specific quest would be so easy that a single parry could complete it. Not only that, I didn't get any system notification saying that I inflicted any damage."

He suspected, and...

Joseph was right.

When the dust that filled the air receded. The image of the Great Wandering Bard could still be seen standing tall amidst all the attacks that rained on him.

"To think that I would feel some itch..."

"As expected of my own attacks." The Great Wandering Bard said in a calm and leisurely voice.

When his eyes laid on everyone before him once again...

All of them found that the Great Wandering Bard's eyes, now shone in a crimson glint.

"Mo... monster..."

Everyone thought to themselves.