If not now, Grid didn’t know when he would be able to join a Guardian of the Forest raid party in the future.

“Please let me join the party.”

He would join the party, survive until the Guardian of the Forest died, and pick up all the blue orichalcum that dropped. It didn’t matter if the other party members died. 

‘Anyway, my experience can’t drop if I die!’ 

If he were really unlucky, then he might drop Mamon’s Greatsword or Mengel’s Plate Armor, which made up his entire fortune. Still, if he took the risk, he might be able to obtain blue orichalcum. He expressed his strong emotions when he gazed at Toban. 

Was Grid too brazen? Did he have any sense of shame? Grid looked up to see Toban looking at him with a perplexed expression.

“What is your level?”

“What? Didn’t you say that level and class don’t matter?”

“I did say that at first, but... unexpected party members arrived, so I am now looking for those who are over level 120, preferably those with divine magic or magician professions. As you may know, the Guardian of the Forest is a monster whose body is made of minerals, so physical attacks won’t work on it.”

Toban stared at Grid’s greatsword with an unconvinced look—a gaze that strongly conveyed that he didn’t want to accept Grid into the party.

‘Then this guy shouldn’t have said that he would take any level or class,’ Grid grumbled inwardly.

Should Grid give up? No, he couldn’t give up when thinking about the blue orichalcum. He would join the party no matter what.

“Please accept me. I won’t hold you back.”

“What is your level?”

Grid was currently level -3, but due to Mamon’s Greatsword and Mengel's Plate Armor, his actual combat ability was above level 30. If he confessed that he was level 30... he would be kicked out straight away.

“30... no, minus... no, plus 100.”

“30 minus, plus 100?”

“No~ no. Just 100.”

Grid was currently level -3, but he would’ve been close to level 100 if it weren’t for Ashur’s quest. So he decided to try it once. When he actually entered the party, he didn’t intend to fight. Instead, he would follow like he was a dead mouse.

‘If I’m careful, they won’t notice that I deceived them about my level.’

Toban had a worried expression on his face. “Your weapon is a greatsword? Isn’t it around level 65? Even if your item has an epic rating, claiming to be level 100... Are you really level 100?”

“Of course, I am. My Mamon’s Greatsword has been strengthened to +5, so I can still use it.” Grid’s face was still.

Obviously, he was just bluffing. He exploited the fact that items enhanced below +5 wouldn’t have a change in appearance, so he lied that the +0 Mamon’s Greatsword was actually +5.

However, Toban wasn’t easy to fool. “Even if Mamon’s Greatsword is +5, to still use it at level 100 is... In addition, your armor isn’t as good as the equipment that level 100 users can wear. Besides, where are your boots, gauntlets, and accessories?”

Toban’s evaluation was accurate. Mengel’s Plate Armor, which Grid was currently wearing, was only level 60. Additionally, Grid’s helmet, boots, gauntlets, and accessories were all lost by the end of the three months quest... 

‘Items that are like my blood...’

In the case of the boots and gauntlets, they were destroyed because he hadn’t managed the durability. He had managed the durability of his helmet and accessories, but it was unfortunate that he dropped them when he died.

As Grid recalled his hellish past, Toban looked at him suspiciously.

Grid said, “The only people who don’t need armor and accessories are those with excellent control over their weapons, like me. In fact, I remove this armor whenever I hunt. I only arm myself with the greatsword on hunts.”

Control was a word that didn’t apply to him, as he drank potions like he drank water whenever he hunted. When he watched the hunters on TV, he saw them exquisitely take advantage of the monsters’ gaps, firing off powerful skills as they avoided the attacks of monsters. Meanwhile, he just took random potshots and drank potions whenever his health was low. That was his hunting method. 

Nevertheless, right now, Grid needed to bluff to enter the raid party. Therefore, he quoted the remark he had heard about control. However, that was a big mistake as Toban’s body was fully armed with heavy armor and a shield.

“Hoh... So people who wear armor aren’t skilled?” Toban was smiling, but his eyes were cold. He was seriously angry. 

The problem was that the other party members around were also filled with righteous indignation.

“You make it sound like wearing armor and accessories is a bad thing.”

“Listen to him. He never wears armor.”

“Those who wear armor and accessories aren’t authentic? If we don’t want to be ignored, we should take it off...”

Grid tried to calm down the angry people who were talking sarcastically. “That’s too much. I didn’t mean anything bad. I was just explaining why I am less dependent on defense.”

“Anyway, that means that I shouldn’t be armed! Your level is lower than mine!” A wild-looking, hairy middle-aged man interrupted with a shout. He was equipped with two shining axes, armor, and gorgeous ornaments, looking completely like a high-level user. This person looked angrier than all the others. “Grid? This is the first time I’ve seen you. You, have you done any hunting at the hunting grounds around here? I know how powerful the monsters in this area are. You sure must be confident if you’re bragging about hunting them without armor.”

The other party members nodded.

“Based on his words, he must be a newbie to this area.”

“Have you ever seen someone called Grid?”

“I’ve never seen him at a nearby hunting ground. How about you?”

“Honestly, it sounds like crap... I think he is actually lower than level 100.”

“Looking at him now, it seems like he died and dropped his items on a lone hunt. Maybe his intentions to enter the party are impure. He already has nothing to lose so...”

The atmosphere was getting worse.

‘Sharp people... What now? Should I give up on the party?’

As Grid was feeling confused... a blond-haired man with an exposed upper body appeared and intervened. “Everybody stop.”

The party members became excited at the man’s appearance.

“First place in the martial artist rankings, Regas.”

“The equipment items requirements are so severe that raising the level is difficult, yet he is already over level 180.”

“His nickname is Taekwon Master, Taekwon Master. Is it true that a mob will melt when hit by his fists?”

“Wow~! He really came! I did well to join this party! Martial artists ignore defense to attack the weak point. Can’t this technique inflict huge damage to the Guardian of the Forest?”

Regas caught Grid’s eye and approached him. “A greatsword is very slow and has wide movements, so it isn’t easy to take evasive actions during battle. Therefore, it is amazing that you are hunting without wearing armor.” 

Regas was good looking, slim, and had ideal muscles. Due to the nature of his class, he was popular with women because he didn’t wear any tops. In fact, when Grid took a closer look at Regas, he saw that Regas was, in fact, very handsome. Grid felt like a squid standing next to him. 

As Grid instinctively hated handsome people, he replied bluntly, “It isn’t a big deal.”

“Hoh, it isn’t a big deal... My expectations about your skills have increased. I would love to directly see your amazing abilities,” Regas said. Then he told the others, “This guy will also join the party. Originally, it was a party that had no limits on class or level. Some of the party members are below level 90, so I don’t think there’s a problem in accepting one more level 100 user.”

“But...”

The other members still responded poorly, so Regas added, “As you know, only level 170 or higher users can hit the Guardian of the Forest properly. Nevertheless, the reason why I gathered as many people as possible without a level limit is that people are needed to mark the golems constantly summoned by the Guardian of the Forest. The Guardian of the Forest will be dealt with by my 17 guild members, including Toban and Vantner. We want people to tie up the feet of the crystal golems while we focus on the Guardian of the Forest. I think that Grid’s skills are sufficient for our wishes.” 

“......”

“He wants to join the party, so I don’t know why we should refuse. I can understand you doubting his actions, but why do you doubt people beforehand?”

The remarks of a strong person were reputable. Once Regas spoke, the party members had an atmosphere like they would accept Grid into the party, but they actually had impure intentions.

“Let’s see how well his control is.”

“Watch him fight... We will see if he’s a braggart or not.”

“He said that he fights with his armor off? Then he can’t wear his armor on this raid.”

“I will watch him closely.”

It was a party filled with intense hostility! This wasn’t a Guardian of the Forest raid party but a Grid raid party.

‘I can’t join this party.’

If Grid joined the party now, he would have to fight in front of them. As a level -3 player, he would surely die quickly and not even see the Guardian of the Forest, let alone see the blue orichalcum. It would also come with extra embarrassment involved.

“It’s okay. I won’t join the party,” Grid said and stepped back.

This caused the middle-aged man to laugh. “Were you just bluffing?”

It was an attitude that ignored people! Nonetheless, Grid didn’t get angry because the man’s words were true.

Grid replied coldly, “It isn’t a good idea to join a party with people who don’t trust me.”

Originally, party members should be able to trust each other with their backs. However, everyone here doubted him.

Knowing this, the party members were forced to accept his words.

“Well... that is true.” 

“Come to think of it, we were so excited that we drove him to the other end.” 

“I agree. I didn’t know if it was the truth, so I should’ve just stayed silent.”

“That’s right. Actually, weren’t we the ones who committed the sin? I feel bad now.”

Grid didn’t hold onto the party members any longer and left this place, but Regas followed him.

“What is it?” Grid’s attitude was cold.

However, Regas just asked for a handshake with a gentle smile. “I hope to see you again next time, Greatsword warrior who doesn’t use armor. As a person who walks along the path of a martial artist, I am very interested in you.”

Grid didn’t doubt that Regas was interested in him. He didn’t think it was a bluff as he gazed into Regas’ honest eyes.

He shook hands with Regas and thought, ‘Why is he so naive?’

Regas was a good person. If Grid had a chance someday, he would make Regas a friend that he could borrow money from.

“Then I’ll see you again.”

...To take money from him later... No, Grid owed him. Therefore, Grid said goodbye to Regas with a big smile and headed straight to the smithy.