《The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream》 Chapter 0 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 0 "Shit, I can''t fucking do this anymore." A pure white room where nothing exists. Kang Hanbit, the man sprawled on the floor, cursed. It was because of the damn hologram screen that appeared before his eyes. [Regression: 31 times] [Possession: 17 times] [Reincarnation: 7 times] Regression, possession, reincarnation. These weremon elements often seen in novels or webtoons. At least, they were before he ended up like this. "This time it was quite long." A mysterious voice came from beside his head. Slightly raising his head, he saw a woman in tinum clothes standing there. "Long? Is that all you have to say?" "It''s true. Looking at the average duration so far, this round..." "Ah, I don''t want to hear that shit!" Kang Hanbit abruptly sat up and raised his voice. That expressionless person was a Goddess. It was an absurd story, but she really was a Goddess. "Ha." With a short sigh, he recalled his memories. A very long time ago, he was kidnapped by this Goddess. He couldn''t even tell how much time had passed since his sense of time had long disappeared. The number of times he had been abruptly thrown into some world to save it had now reached 55. "Goddess or whatever, I really can''t do it anymore. You go find Erport yourself, whether you do or not!" The condition for saving the world was simple. To find an unknown existence called ''Erport''. However, even after all that time struggling to death in those worlds, he hadn''t even seen their face. "It is impossible for me. If I do that, the world will be destroyed." "No, I''ll be destroyed before that. Don''t you know I''ve be a lump of PTSD?" "Treatment of your mind and body is being applied as usual. You don''t have to worry about that part." "Oh, for fuck''s sake..." There was no falsehood in the dry reply. In reality, no matter what kind of pain and hardship he went through, when he returned to this space, everything waspletely healed. Only the memories remained vivid, and Hanbit hated that disparity, hated himself for bing numb to it all. "Shall we prepare for the next round then?" "Fuck you. Didn''t I say I won''t do it?" "For now, this body''s biological sex is also female. Therefore, that suggestion..." "Aaagh!" He ruffled his hair and spat out his frustration. No matter what insults and usations he threw, the Goddess always answered sincerely. It wasn''t even fun; the conversation itself was worse than an NPC in a game. But today was different. "I''m just kidding." "...What?" Kidding? That one word bewildered Kang Hanbit. As he wore a dumbfounded expression, the Goddess continued. "You have fulfilled your assigned role sufficiently. You are certainly qualified to return to your original world." "W-Wait a minute. It''s over? What about the world? Didn''t I fail to save it 55 times?" "The process is more important than the result. You don''t need to worry about it." "But, what..." Kang Hanbit couldn''t even react properly. After all this, it''s suddenly over? It was an iprehensible situation. "Then I''ll open the door right away." sh! A shining portal appeared with a wave of the goddess''s hand. Before Kang Hanbit could even voice his questions, his body was pulled towards the light. "You have been of great help. Everything you have built up will lead to great power." "Wait..." The Goddess spoke, her face still expressionless. Just as Kang Hanbit''s vision was almostpletely obscured by the light, herst words echoed in his ears. "I have expectations from you there as well." [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 1 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 1 "Kang Hanbit! I¡¯m leaving!" "Ugh..." He opened his eyes to the loud voice. Hot sunlight was pouring through the thin curtains of the window. "Ugh, I feel sick." Kang Hanbit, clutching his head from the hangover, got out of bed. Silence flowed as he opened the door. His mother had already left for work. Gurgle- Hanbit poured water into a cup and sat down at the table. His military uniformy crumpled in theundry basket in front of the veranda. "Because of that damn goddess..." Two years ago. Hanbit, sucked into the light, returned to the exact day he was kidnapped. His family, friends, and everything else were the same, and the world was as peaceful as he remembered. Except for one thing. It was the day after his discharge. "How many times do I have to go to the army?" Out of dozens of regressions, possessions, and reincarnations, he had been a soldier five times. Including this time, Hanbit had served in the military six times. It was even more frustrating because he enlisted at the age of 25. It was all because of that damn goddess. "Ah." Hanbit, soothing his queasy stomach, slumped back in his chair. He had somehow managed toplete his military service. Perhaps thanks to his experiences in the other worlds, he was able to get through his military life without any major issues. Now there was only one immediate problem. "I''m worried about getting a job." Hanbit had countless experiences that others couldn''t even imagine. The problem was that they were a bit ambiguous to use in this ordinary Earth. After all, those were worlds where swordsmanship, magic, and monsters existed. The knowledge from his college major, which had flown to the back of his mind, was difficult to regain even if he put in the time. Perhaps the only thing he gained was building up his physique in the army. Bzzt- A vibration sounded from his room. Hanbit, who was nkly staring at the ceiling, lifted his heavy body and went to get his smartphone. "Joo Yeonwoo" "Hyung, let''s drink again today?" A short message popped up on the screen. His junior by four months in the military and five years in age. It had been 10 hours since they had been drinking like crazy to celebrate Hanbit''s discharge. "You crazy bastard. I''m old and frail." Hanbit typed a casual reply and flopped onto the bed. The vibration rang at the same time. Bzzt- Bzzt- "What, is that all you got?" "Are you scared?" "Scared?" "Ahh." The constant vibrations and the iing text messages didn''t stop. He was quite a mischievous guy, but Hanbit was incredibly grateful to him. The sense of detachment and emotional problems stemming from his return from the other world... Thanks to Yeonwoo, he was able to enjoy his military life quite a bit despite being thrown into that chaos. Bzzt- Just as Hanbit''s worries were starting to prolong... The vibration rang again. "I was kidding about the drinks. I have a discharge celebration gift for you. Aren''t you curious what it is?" "A gift?" His eyebrows rose slightly at the wee word. Hanbit grabbed his smartphone and sent a reply. "Where are we meeting?" * * * "Hyung!" A cafe in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon. Hanbit, arriving by bus, spotted Joo Yeonwoo''s face. "Why a cafe? You don''t even like coffee." "This ce has delicious chocte parfaits. I ordered one for you too." Yeonwoo grinned, seemingly pleased with himself. Considering he hadn''t lost that smile throughout his entire military service, Hanbit was used to it by now. Even if the parfait was melting into a gooey mess. "How early did you get here?" "Oh? It melted a lot. I''ll order a new one." "It''s fine. I can eat it like this." Hanbit pushed Yeonwoo back down onto his seat as he was about to get up. Looking at the soggy chocte parfait, he took a sip and asked. "So, what''s the gift?" "Wow, you''re talking about the gift right away? I''m hurt." "Then I''m going home." "Ah, wait, wait. Okay, okay." Yeonwoo grabbed Hanbit''s sleeve and hurriedly changed his words. He knew Hanbit''s personality too well ¨C he always meant what he said. "Here it is." Yeonwoo took out a white card from the bag he had brought. The words ''Lv.2'' were engraved on it. "What is this?" "Didn''t I tell you? There''s this really fun game." "That RP thing?" "As expected, you remembered." Record Project. Commonly called RP, it was a virtual reality game released right after Hanbit enlisted. He had heard about it from Yeonwoo, of course, but also from news and articles. Chairman of Tenta, the world''s No. 1pany by market capitalization, Michael Welton. His hidden legacy, which was revealed to the world five years after his death. The development team ''Zero'', who created the game Record Project, posted an announcement on their website at midnight yesterday. The announcement revealed the will of Michael Welton, who founded the gamepany, and the shocking details of the game... The virtual reality game secretly created by the billionaire caused a shock. Keywords like ''divine technology'', ''scientific revolution'', and ''new era'' were thrown around. The world''s first and only perfect virtual reality game became the talk of the town. "So what does this have to do with RP?" "This is a card that lets you get an RP Gear." "Gear? You mean that expensive thing?" A special device was required to ess Record Project. Since there were performance differences depending on the price range, Hanbit had seen news about quite a few privatepanies popping up. They were supposedly making gear based on the core technology released by the gamepany. "It''s level 2, so with various discounts, it''s about 5 million won. It''s a gift, so please ept it without feeling burdened." Yeonwoo''s expression as he continued his exnation was nonchnt. Of course it was, because the young man in front of him was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He lived in a different world from Hanbit, who had to worry about ordering even a single chicken. "Doesn''t your house need a security guard? Give me a job." "Oh? Will you reallye? We have plenty of empty rooms." "..." A sincere answer to a yful question. It seemed like he would actually pay him a sry, but this wouldn''t do. He returned the card and said. "No, it''s okay. You just want to y the game together, right? I don''t have time. I''m starting an internship right away." The mountain of debt inherited from his father, who had passed away... It took his mother a full 20 years to pay it all off alone. But even in those hellish circumstances, she raised her only son with all her might. Hanbit wanted to repay that sacrifice as quickly as possible. "No, when did you get that? What about the interview?" "There was only one thing I could do during myst vacation. It''s an experiential internship, but I need to add another line to my resume." "Wow, hyung, you''re really... amazing." Yeonwoo was at a loss for words after hearing the story. He recalled the things Hanbit had done during his military service. "What''s so amazing? Job seekers are always in a hurry and busy." "You always went out and worked part-time during vacations and off-base leaves. And you sent all that money to your mother." "It''s better than just ying around. But I couldn''t have done it without thepanymander." Very few people in the unit knew about Hanbit''s situation. It was partly thanks to being in a remote, independentpany, but it was also possible because thepanymander was such a good person. He even went as far as to introduce Hanbit to jobs in the vicinity through his acquaintances. "But what was your mother''s reaction? If it were my mom, she would have cried." "...Reaction aside, she didn''t use a single won. She created a separate ount and saved it all there." "Wow... It''s like a family from a drama." Hanbit''s efforts during his military service had note to fruition. He had roughly exined it as his remaining sry, but his mother had noticed something was strange. In the end, all that money was being kept safe in a brand new bank ount. "Anyway, the game is a no-go. I need to work harder now." "To work harder than this, wouldn''t you need a clone or something?" "I wish I had one. I have to go to school once in a while too." "Hyung, you''ve already filled all your graduation credits, you just have to show your face there. RP is really fun, can''t you y with me even just on weekends?" Yeonwoo, who saw right through Hanbit''s situation, didn''t back down easily. It wasn''t just about having fun; the game RP was too special. "I''ll sell it second-hand and turn it all into chicken? Just take it, quickly." Hanbit forcibly handed the card to Yeonwoo. With a gloomy face, Yeonwoo let out a deep sigh and said. "You really won''t regret this..." "Will the game feed me, will it earn me money? This hyung needs to focus on Earth Online. Got it?" "So, you''re saying it''s okay as long as you can make money, right?" Yeonwoo, who had been listening to the nagging, suddenly grinned and raised his head. Hanbit knew that the gloomy look was an act, but he was curious about what was going on. "Of course you can. If you do that with a thousand won, ten thousand won, I''ll hit you." "Hey, even an elementary school kid would be disappointed with that amount." "...Let me hit you just once." "Huh? No, wait. Why!" Hanbit got up and grabbed Yeonwoo''s head, shaking it. Returning to his seat, he continued the conversation. "So, you''re saying I can really make money?" "Ouch, I''m dizzy. Then it''s real. If you''re lucky, you can earn a few hundred million... no, maybe even a few billion?" "... Billion?" The dizzying amount banished even the remnants of Hanbit''s hangover. Even though his young junior was yful, he wasn''t the type to spout nonsense. Straightening his posture, he asked with a serious face. "Tell me more, Sergeant Joo Yeonwoo." "Shall I, Corporal Kang Hanbit?" Grinning, Yeonwoo took out his smartphone and ced it on the table. An app was open on the lit screen. "It''s called RP Trader, a trading app dedicated to Record Project." "Trading? You mean selling items?" "Anything. Items, information, recruitment, you can buy and sell anything you need." The screen swiped with the continued exnation. There were so many words, the screen was filled with dense lists. Of course, what caught his eye the most were the amounts written at the end. Just as Yeonwoo had said, there were quite a few items that reached hundreds of millions of won. "Are all these real transactions?" "Why do you think they call it a revolution? RP is on a different level." "Huh." Hanbit let out a sigh, unable to take his eyes off the screen. After observing for a while, he asked, as if he couldn''t understand. "Why would anyone spend this much money on a game?" "The number of registered users exceeds 300 million, andpanies and celebrities are flocking to it. It was only natural for a huge market to be created." "What do you meanpanies are involved? It''s a game, right?" "You know how influential RP is worldwide. Getting on the rankings is publicity in itself. And the most important thing is this." Yeonwoo touched the screen and flipped through the pages. Then, a notice from the Record Project homepage appeared. ording to the will of founder Michael Welton, the full ownership of this game will be transferred to the first yer who clears Record Project. The scope of ownership includes copyrights and intellectual property rights, trademarks, licenses, code and technology, rted services and operating rights, etc. This is concluded as a legal contract with the yer''s consent upon creation of a game ount. This is guaranteed by the three international arbitration bodies indicated in the contract. "...Is this real? They''re giving away the whole game?" Hanbit was dumbfounded, recalling the news he had heard somewhere. Giving away ownership of the game just for winning it. He couldn''t even imagine the value of the game with hundreds of millions of users. "Isn''t this nonsense? It could be a publicity stunt." "The authenticity has already been confirmed. Legal experts have confirmed it, and the arbitration bodies have also released a guarantee." "This is ridiculous." He still couldn''t grasp it, but it didn''t seem like a lie. Anyway, the important thing was that a solid market had been formed. Ultimately, if it was an environment where he can make money, it was a different story. "Okay. I''ll give it a try." "Really?" "I have nothing to lose, right? Since you even gave me this." "I knew you''d join me." Yeonwoo smiled at the long-awaited answer. He had wanted to y the game with Hanbit ever since he was in the military. Yeonwoo, who liked fantasy elements, would casually bring up topics like magic and swordsmanship. But the only one who truly engaged with him in those conversations was his senior standing before him. No, to be honest, he was surprised by the amount of knowledge Hanbit had, which he had no idea where he learned it from. "I think this game needs an expert like you, hyung." "I told you I''m not one." "It''s easier to just ept it." Yeonwoo grinned and sucked up the rest of his chocte parfait. Getting up from his seat, he picked up his bag and said. "Shall we go then?" * * * The two left the cafe and took a taxi to Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. They arrived in front of a unique building made of blue ss. At the top, the name Record Shop was prominently embedded. "What is this ce?" "It''s a ce where you buy and sell things rted to RP." "Things?" "There are official materials released by thepany, and goods made by yers." Yeonwoo went up the stairs of the building first. Hanbit also followed, examining the unique structure. "Why is it so big?" "You''d faint if you saw the US branch. Western geeks are really intense." "Really?" He had heard somewhere about the passion of the so-called Western geeks. It was hard to fully understand, but considering the market size of the game, it wasn''t strange. If he were to get an item worth hundreds of millions, he would probably sing praises too. Swish- Yeonwoo quickly moved forward, breaking through the enormous crowd. He moved through the vast building as if he had memorized it, without hesitation. "Here it is." The ce he arrived at following Yeonwoo was a space filled with books. "Books?" "You can think of them as guidebooks." The shelves right in front were filled with rows and rows of the same book. Hanbit picked up a copy and looked at the author on the cover. "Who is Adventurer A?" "He''s like the father of newbies. A lot of them would have quit if it weren''t for this guidebook." Joo Yeonwoo exined in an excited voice. If he was this knowledgeable about the game, he could have gotten ahead on his own. Hanbit was impressed. Though he wanted to nitpick a bit about the naming sense. "He''s an amazing person." "Right? Take a look. It''s organized neatly. It''s perfectly organized by the world..." "Okay, okay, hold on." Hanbit suppressed the excited Yeonwoo and opened the book. The page started with a clean background illustration. Next to it was a concise table of contents. Flip- Turning the page, a map appeared along with the world''s terrain. But then. "Huh?" Hanbit''s expression turned strange for some reason. "Hyung, what''s wrong?" "No..." Even at Yeonwoo''s question, he couldn''t speak properly. The shapes of the continents and seas were too familiar to be seen for the first time. Even the ce names written here and there were all things he knew. "...Erport?" As Hanbit turned the pages, an unforgettable name caught his eye. The unknown existence he had to find ording to the Goddess''s will. It was definitely that name, the one he hadn''t even seen the face of. "Shit, what is this?" Hanbit, frantically searching through the guidebook, let out a curse. Countless contents that matched his still vivid memories. As unbelievable as it was, he couldn''t help but realize. This game. The Record Project was the same world where he had repeated his regression. [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 2 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 2 "Hyung, what''s wrong?" Yeonwoo shook Hanbit''s rigid shoulder. But Hanbit had no room to react. ''That damn Goddess, what is she doing?'' The moment doubt turned into certainty, his temper red. Even on that day two years ago when he returned to reality. Even now, clenching his teeth, he harbored doubts in a corner of his heart. Because the timing and reason why the Goddess let him go were too unclear. Moreover, he vividly remembered thest words he heard. ''I expect it there too.'' Expect. It was what the Goddess always said when sending Hanbit to that problematic world. He never dreamed that those irresponsible words would continue on Earth, in this form of all things. "Hyung..." At the sound of the voice again, Hanbit raised his head. The guidebook in his hand was crumpled up. Immediatelyposing himself, he asked his junior, who had a worried expression on his face. "The developers who made this game, it was a team called Zero, right?" "Yes. But they''ve never revealed themselves." "Never?" "External activities are handled by the CEO of Record Project. I think it''s Michael Walton''s youngest daughter or something." Yeonwoo noted that no one even knew how many members were on the Zero development team. A bizarre structure that naturally raised suspicions. He was sure it had something to do with that damn Goddess. The founder Michael Walton and his daughter, the current CEO, must also be hiding something. ''But why a game?'' Hanbit fell into a fundamental dilemma. The world he was sent to by the Goddess wasn''t some game. All the physical and mental pain and emotional turmoil he experienced there couldn''t have been virtual. The unpleasant sensation of killing someone for the first time. The terrible sensation of dying himself for the first time. The hot blood running down his cheeks, the rage, the despair, were all still vivid. Then why, on this Earth, did it suddenly appear in the form of a game? The release timing also unpleasantly coincided with right after his discharge. ''First, I need to see it for myself.'' Immediately concluding, Hanbit took out the card he received from Yeonwoo. "You said I can get the gear with this? How long does it take?" "These days, it takes less than 2 hours I think? It''s shipped immediately." "Really? Where do I do it?" "You just need to download an app. Can I see your phone?" He took Hanbit''s smartphone and quickly proceeded with the process. The task waspleted in less than a minute. "I think it''ll arrive right when you get home." "It''s good that it''s fast. You were already ying, right?" "I started, but I''m not that great. If you''re going right away, shall we buy that first?" "Ah." Yeonwoo pointed at the crumpled guidebook. Embarrassedly smoothing out the cover, Hanbit paid for the book at the counter. "Please contact me as soon as you create an ount. I''ll be waiting." Yeonwoo left for home as soon as they left the store. Hanbit also immediately headed for the subway station. * * * "...It''s really here." Arriving home, Hanbit found a box in front of the door. Is it okay to leave a 5 million won item like this? "It''s light." The box, neither big nor small, was lighter than he expected. He opened the door and immediately came in to unseal the tape. "Hmm." Excluding the charger, theponents were simple. A headgear to wear on the head and four white rings. Looking at the manual, they were items to be worn on the wrists and ankles. "This is worth 5 million?" Sighing at the expensive items, Hanbit took the equipment and went into his room. There was still quite a bit of time left before his mother came home, but he didn''t want to be caught looking like this. Click- He locked the door and connected the charger. As he put on the rings and headgear, his vision went ck. Hanbity down on the bed very slowly. Wooo- After a few seconds, along with the sound of the device activating, light flickered in his vision. [Scanning biometric information.] The short message that appeared before his eyes was familiar. Because it was simr to the hologram that showed the cumtive number of returns and regressions. [Scanning brainwaves.] ''...Brain? Isn''t this dangerous?'' Hanbit, who didn''t know much about the gear, became a little anxious. He hadn''t heard anything about it digging into his head. Ding- As if to make a mockery of his worries, the scan ended quickly. The next message popped up immediately. [Starting link.] Swoosh- A strange sensation enveloped his body as the letters disappeared. When he opened his eyes, Hanbit was standing in a pure white space. "Oh." Looking down, he wiggled his fingers and toes. It felt like he was moving his real body. Although he looked like a mannequin now, he could move. Was the slightly heavy feeling a limitation of the gear? [Creating character.] [Moving to customization screen.] Arge mirror and a message appeared in front of him. Yeonwoo had exined that it was okay to freely customize the appearance. He said that the scanned information was well-corrected in many ways. Except for the fact that the only race was human, the freedom of appearance was quite high. "...Why isn''t it showing up?" Hanbit, waiting for the screen to appear, wondered. It had already been 5 minutes since the message appeared. "Is it a bug?" Errors weren''t particrly new, considering it was a machine. Sighing, Hanbit tried to press the exit button in the right corner. But then. [Failed to create character.] [Applying existing character.] Suddenly, the screen started flickering with a strange message. "Existing character? What''s that..." He had never yed this game before. But he could guess the reason, even if he didn''t like it. "Is this your doing as well?" A dumbfounded question thrown at the Goddess. Even if he wanted to go find her and argue right now, he couldn''t. Swoosh- The screen changed as his entire vision went dark. When the light returned, Hanbit was standing in a harbor with a blue sea in view. ''It''s... Edlen.'' The harbor city of Edlen, designed in a semicircr shape, was all too familiar. The first city he arrived at when he was sent to the other world. A city he had experienced hundreds of times during 55 regressions, possessions, and reincarnations. "Oh, this is awesome." "Hey guys, where do we go?" "Is there no tutorial?" Other new yers were looking around. ''It''s empty.'' He had some expectations for the so-called existing character. But there was nothing, not even a single item, let alone progress. Sighing, Hanbit approached a mirror installed next to him. "...Huh?" He was flustered by his clearly reflected appearance. Because a person exactly like his real self appeared in front of him. Moreover, this body. It was the one used in thest round of regression. "Ha..." He had a lot of choice words to say, but he didn''t bother to utter them. The damn Goddess''s words and actions always went beyond his expectations. Sighing, Hanbit turned his attention. ''Was Yeonwoo''s nickname Roper?'' Yeonwoo''s nickname, which he received via message. There were 10 reminders to add him as a friend as soon as he logged in. "Hyung?" While he was figuring out the controls, he heard a voice from behind. Turning his head, there was a neat human standing there. "...Are you Yeonwoo?" "Yes, it''s me! But hyung, why did you customize your character like that? Almost no one uses their real appearance." The word ''Roper'' appeared above the character. He could tell it was Yeonwoo just from his speech and behavior. "Just... It happened like this." "It''s kind of like you, which is nice... But your naming sense is even more amazing." "Naming sense?" "Your nickname, hyung. Look at the character information window in the top right corner." At the somewhat strange reaction, Hanbit opened the character information window as instructed. And when he saw the nickname written above, he couldn''t hold back the words that burst out. "No, shit." [ck Dragon - Lv.1] [Title: None] Strength: 4 Agility: 4 Intelligence: 4 Stamina: 4 A strange nickname with no rtion to his regressions whatsoever. Cursing was only natural. ¡°Can¡¯t I change this?¡± ¡°Why? It¡¯s fun! I don¡¯t think anyone will forget it once they see it.¡± Yeonwoo was already bursting intoughter, enjoying himself. Hanbit approached him and grabbed his head, turning it forcefully. ¡°Can you change it or not?¡± ¡°Of course not. Wasn¡¯t there a warning message at the beginning? It said the nickname is permanently engraved on your biometric information.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± He was shocked by those despairing words. To y the game with this kind of nickname¡­ It made him feel dizzy. ¡°This is crazy, really.¡± Ding- Just as a deep sigh followed, an rm sound rang in his ears. [The y screen will be simultaneously broadcast on Roper¡¯s stream.] [Do you agree? (Yes/No)] "What the... what¡¯s this now?" Hanbit asked, staring at Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo, who was manipting something in the air, grinned and said. "I''m streaming. I''m still a small-timer, but it''s more fun than I thought." "Streaming? You mean like, inte broadcasting?" "Yeah. There''s a tform called ''Recorder'' supported by RP. Oh, it looks good." Yeonwoo took his hand away from the air and came closer to me. He was looking at a point marked in the air, trying to get the right angle. "Hey, hyung, I''m about to start the stream. Can you click ''yes'' for me?" "Click ''yes''? Why would I do a streaming?" "I''ll be the one streaming, hyung. You just have to y the game. And we''ll split the profits 50/50. Guess who gets the bigger 5." "... 50/50?" Hanbit''s yful banter was overshadowed by the mention of splitting the profits. If all he had to do was y the game, there was no reason to refuse. Whether it was 500 won or 1,000 won, it was practically free money for Hanbit. "So, what do you think? Good deal, right? If the stream goes well, I''ll even give you a bigger cut." "It''s your stream, why would you give me more? Half is enough. You already gave me expensive gear." "That just means I have high expectations. Anyway, I''ll make sure you''re taken care of. So, will you click ''yes'' now?" "... Fine." Click- Having already made up his mind, Hanbit clicked the ''yes'' button. The message disappeared and Yeonwoo''s voice boomed out. "Hello everyone! This is Roper!" "Damn it, you scared me!" Hanbit pretended to be startled by Yeonwoo''s unusually high energy. In the upper right corner of the screen, a small window appeared, showing both of their faces and a chat window. -Why are there two of you? -Who is that? Chat messages slowly trickled in. Despite the dry response, Yeonwoo remained unfazed. "The person next to me is my hyung, who will be ying the game with me from today. You see his nickname, right?" -ck Dragon? -Is he a chuunibyou? [Tl/N: ¡°Chuunibyou¡± refers to "eighth-grader syndrome," a ng term for adolescents who have delusions of grandeur and believe they have special powers.] -Typical small-timer, has zero sense. "...What?" Hanbit''s fists clenched at the ruthless chat messages. Yeonwoo, who had already anticipated this, said in a low voice. "Hyung, if you get angry, they''ll only try to provoke you more. Our goal is to make money, right?" "Aren''t they just trolls? Can you actually make money from this?" "That''s why we need to show them the results. For now, please just focus on the game." -Daddy''s not sleeping, you bastards. -Small-time streamer trying to filter out hatements? -Gonna learn your lesson when you have 1 viewer, huh? -Want to see what real hatements look like? As if they could hear the conversation, sharp, hostile messages popped up in the chat. Hanbit sighed, watching Yeonwoo''s eyes sparkle with excitement. "So, what do I need to do now?" "Since it''s the starting city, we need to clear the quests first. We can get the most important skills in this game and other rewards too. After that, we move on to the main quest." "Starting? Are there other cities?" "There''s one more. You have no idea how relieved I am that you chose Edlen. I forgot to mention it." "Yeah, great job." Hanbit roughly understood the exnation. All the skills and techniques he had learned and mastered over 55 ythroughs... if they were reproduced in the same way as skills in this game, there was nothing he didn''t know. "How many types of skills are there?" "Tons. But in the long run, it''s best to focus on mastering one skill tree." "Just one?" "You see the rmended skills in the guide, right? That''s based on electrical signals... brainwaves, I think? Anyway, it''s the result of scanning all sorts of things. It probably shows up to three icons, right?" "Hold on." Hanbit pressed the guide button at the top of the screen. "Is it this one?" The rmended skill button was blinking in the list. He was curious about the results derived from scanning him. Click- A new window popped up. But then... Scroll, scroll, scroll-! The list that was supposed to be just ''rmendations'' kept going and going without end. [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 3 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 3 -What the...? -Is this a bug? -Is he hacking? The chat sped up, filled with questions. The window that had popped up for rmendations was overflowing with icons. Hanbit, looking at Yeonwoo''s gaping mouth, asked, "It''s not just three?" "No, hyung, how did you do that?" "I don''t know." -Don''t know? -Is this some new type of bragging? -Reporting him. Good luck. -Reportplete. The viewers reacted as if he was trying to deceive them. "Huh?" Suddenly, Yeonwoo leaned close to the screen. He stuttered, his voice rising in pitch, "H-H-Hidden! Hidden skills!" "Hidden?" "The shining icons! These are hidden skills!" Surprised by Yeonwoo''s intense reaction, Hanbit examined the list. Shining icons appeared at the bottom of the list. And there weren''t just one or two. -Holy crap. LOL -Has anyone ever seen hidden skills in the rmendations? -This is a real bug. -But what''s the point of hidden skills appearing? He can''t even get them. -The fact that the list popped up is the problem, you game noob. The chat window erupted in chaos as viewers began to argue. It seemed that these "hidden skills" were quite valuable. "Hyung, if you get these, we''ll totally blow up!" "They''re just rmendations." "They''re not just rmendations! Look how many icons there are!" Yeonwoo enthusiastically pumped his fist. Ignoring him, Hanbit turned his attention back to the list. ''They really drew them well.'' Even though the icons were simple, he could guess what each skill was. Fortunately, they seemed to correspond with the techniques from his otherworldly experiences. ''The ones obtainable in Edlen are... about this many, huh?'' Hanbit scanned the icons and quickly made a decision. Past experiences aside, this was his first step into this particr game world. What was the same and what was different from the worlds he had experienced before? What was the Goddess up to? How could he make a lot of money? To reach the answers to these various questions, a solid foundation for growth was important. "Let''s start with fire magic. Where do I get the quest?" "Huh? You''re going with magic?" "Why? Is it bad?" "No, it''s not bad, but..." -Magic? -Maaaagic? -Is he a romantic? Unexpected reactions popped up in the chat. Seeing Hanbit''s puzzled expression, Yeonwoo scratched his head and said, "In this game, proficiency is as important as skills. And building proficiency in magic is insanely difficult." "Proficiency?" "It''s like experience points that you umte by using skills. You need to umte a certain amount to move on to the next skill. The problem is, there''s no way to know how much proficiency you''ve umted." "What? Then how do you know when you''ve reached the required amount?" "When you¡¯ve maxed out the proficiency, an asterisk appears next to the skill name. Only then do you know it''s full." -Basically, he''s gonna be grinding forever~ -Respect if ck Dragon uses the same magic for 2 months. -He''ll probably be crying and switching skills in a few weeks. LOL "Hmm." Observing the atmosphere, Hanbit roughly understood the situation. "Is this realistic?" "Realistic?" "...No, I mean, it makes sense." Any kind of skill requires effort to master. Hanbit''s experiences and memories of relentless training were proof of that. ''It took me a while in the beginning too.'' It was natural that talent and effort were needed to learn something. However, with magic, who you learned from was even more important. "Who''s the teacher? Can I choose?" "Teacher?" "You have to learn magic directly. There has to be someone to teach it." -What? -New pattern; -First ever magic written/practical exam in RP. -He''ll be getting private tutoringter. LOL "Why are they being sarcastic again?" "Hyung!" Yeonwoo hurriedly stopped Hanbit from pointing at the mocking chat window. He brought up the map and checked the NPC list. "The NPCs have crazy good AI, but they don''t teach skills. Usually, you get skill books bypleting quests and achievements. You can use them naturally just by equipping them." "...Is that so?" Acquiring skills was so much easier herepared to the other world. He almost blurted out, "It wasn''t like this in my day." If it had been implemented the same way here, most people would have given up. "Anyway, let''s go. We''re going to the general store, right?" "Huh? How did you know? You can get fire magic from Julio, the general store owner." "...Julio? Why would we go to him?" "Because he gives the magic book quest?" The two looked at each other with puzzled faces. Hanbit said in a bewildered voice, "Isn''t he just a scammer?" "...A scammer?" "That bastard is pure evil. The magic book and everything else is probably fake." -Julio sobbing. LOL -He does look shady, but no nder -Scammer NPC (not a scammer) -Provides magic book (actually gives it) Mockingments popped up again in response to Hanbit''s firm usation. [Julio has donated 1,000 won.] [I''m suing you for whatever crime this is.] "Thank you for the 1,000 won donation!" Yeonwoo immediately reacted to the brightly shing chat message. "What? Did you just make money?" "That''s right. There''s amission, but anyway, you earned about 500 won." "Oh..." -Oh, here we go. LOL -So cute. -The amount will be different when you hit it big with hidden skills. -That was just a bug; -It''s not even his stream in the first ce? The number of viewers increased slightly to 30. Hanbit was impressed. ''He''s actually making money.'' He had earned 500 won just by idly chatting and doing nothing. This fact was incredibly fascinating to Hanbit. Although he still didn''t quite understand how it all worked. "But you said 1,000 won is nothing to you?" "Eh, business is different. It''s good for you to change your perspective too, hyung. That''s how you achieve great things, you know?" He had tried to gauge the mindset of this silver-spooner, and the answer he got was "business." But Hanbit had no intention of changing his perspective. "I''ve always valued every penny. If you and 1,000 won fell into the water, I''d save the 1,000 won first." "Isn''t that a bit harsh?" -LOL -Roper < 1,000 won -Could easily assassinate Roper for that money. Yeonwoo couldn''t help but chuckle at the absurd answer. Of course, such conversations were all too familiar to them. Pointing at the map again, he changed the subject. "Anyway, Julio is the only one who gives the fire magic quest. Let''s go quickly, even if you don''t like him." "No, wait a minute." Hanbit pushed Yeonwoo''s face away as he tried to pull his arm. Then he started examining the NPC list on the still-open map. Scroll- Edlen was a big city with many NPCs. Scrolling down the list, Hanbit stopped at the bottom. [Artsvel] "Found it." "Found what?" "The magic teacher." "..." Yeonwoo was speechless at Hanbit''s confident deration. Looking at the chat window, which was now filled withughter, he leaned closer and whispered, "Hyung, that setup isn''t bad, but if you keep it up, people will start calling it repetitive." "Don''t talk nonsense about setups." Pushing Yeonwoo''s face away again, Hanbit turned his gaze to the familiar streets. The map in his head was more detailed and urate than the one on the screen. "If you don''t believe me, fine. I''ll show you with results." "Well, I''d be happy if you did, but are you really looking for a magic teacher?" "Of course." -Look at his stubbornness; -Looks like he needs to find a game teacher first. LOL -LOL Roper teaching someone something. The chat window was still filled with mockery and criticism. Among them, thest chat caught Hanbit''s eye. -Spoiler) He''s going to struggle like hell and then end up going to Julio anyway. After a moment of contemtion, he looked at the camera and said, "Shall we go to Julio first then?" "Huh? Really?" "I said I''d show you with results. We can just prove he''s a scammer. You guys will acknowledge it then, right?" -Oh. LOL -Plus one point for not chickening out. -500 points for the training camp meta. -I''ll give you 10,000 won if he''s really a scammer. "Is that for real? 10,000 won?" Hanbit specifically picked out thest chat. [?? has donated 1,000 won.] [?? I''ll really give it to you. But if he''s not a scammer, you have to do a girl group dance.] "I''m fine with that." Even with the condition of dancing, Hanbit readily nodded. There was no reason to refuse when someone was offering him 10,000 won for free. "This is going to be fun." Yeonwoo was already imagining Hanbit dancing. He wanted to clip it and tease him with it every day. "So, we''re going to Julio''s, right? I''ll lead the way..." "Forget it, just follow me." Hanbit ruffled Yeonwoo''s hair and walked ahead. His steps were light, as if he was walking down the streets of his hometown. "Huh? We''re going this way?" Yeonwoo asked as Hanbit abruptly turned into an alley. "Juste." Hanbit continued through the maze of alleys. A short whileter, they arrived at a general store located on the main street. ''...Wow, it''s exactly the same.'' The store was recreated with an absurd level of uracy. Through the window, he could see the store owner inside. [Julio, the General Store Owner] He focused on the owner''s appearance more than the name floating above his head. The greedy face and the gems stered all over his clothes. It was an exact match to the first time he saw Julio in the other world. Crack- Seeing that face, his fist clenched reflexively. The day he was imprisoned for the first time in his life. He couldn''t forget the horrible memory of falling into that bastard''s trap. "How''s the interaction in this game?" "Interaction?" "You know, in games, there are things you can''t do, like messing with NPCs." "Ah, if you''re talking about freedom, don''t worry. It''s faster to find things you can''t do than things you can. But if it affects the game progress, it''s your loss." "Is that so?" -The freedom level is insane. -Freedomes with responsibility. -For real, some people got banned. -Lots of people got thrown in jail too. LOL -There are quite a few cases where people''s quests gotpletely blocked. Looking at the viewers'' chat, he got the gist. In short, it was like they were saying, "If you think you can do it, go ahead." Hanbit opened the shop door and walked in. "Wee." The owner, Julio, rose from his seat politely. Even his fake smile was disgustingly urate to the original. "You''re still doing this here? You piece of trash." "Excuse me? How could you say such a thing..." -Crazy. LOL -Surprise attack with insults; -Is the AI glitching out? LOL Julio was flustered by the sudden outburst of profanity. The artificial intelligence given to the NPCs... Hanbit didn''t know much about it, but he had heard that its performance was quite good. If they had brought that other world here as it was, then Julio''s personality and tendencies would be the same too. "You''re the one who gives the magic book?" "Ah, you need a magic book." At the mention of magic books, Julio''s expression returned to normal. He looked over the shelves and continued speaking with a regretful look. "I''m so sorry. It seems thest one was just sold." He took a step closer to Hanbit and said with a smile, "It''s not much of a substitute, but I can give you a tour of the store. In return, would you do me a favor?" "A favor?" "Yes. While I was dozing off, a thief broke in. Judging from this, it seems to be the work of my rival, Artsvel. I''d like you to help me catch him." Julio took out a small brooch. On the back of it was a symbol that looked like a signature. Ding-! At the same time, an rm rang in his ears. Then, a holographic window appeared, disying lines of text. [Quest] Julio''s money bag has been stolen. Use the discovered evidence to catch the culprit. [Objective: Apprehend Artsvel, the General Store Owner. Reward: 100 gold, Introduction to Fireball Magic Book (1st Rank-Normal), 50 experience points Time Limit: None] [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 4 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 4 -Where''d the dragon who was calling him a scammer go? -Guess he has to dance now? -Pink Day it is -I''m craving some twerking. With a normal quest window appearing, the chat window began its assault. Hanbit''s brow furrowed deeply. ''He''s giving a quest based on that lie?'' He let out a sigh. Julio was trying to frame someone with fabricated evidence. And the target was his rival, Artsvel. To Hanbit, Artsvel was his true magic teacher and benefactor. Hanbit turned his head to look at Yeonwoo. "He gives you the magic book if youplete the quest?" "There are about three linked quests. If youplete those two achievements, you can get the magic book." "What about the thief? What happened to him?" "He appears briefly in a cutscene, getting arrested and thrown in jail." -That''s cruel, ck Dragon. -Even if you change the subject, you still have to dance~ -Newbie dance with a side of rice, please. Ignoring the iing chat messages, Hanbit recalled his memories. In the first ythrough of the other world, he was falsely used of being a thief and imprisoned. The reason? Simply because he was working under Artsvel, the owner of the rival general store. That was it. ''You''ve be Artsvel''s dog, so all you''ve learned is how to steal?'' Hanbit, who had stopped by Julio''s store for a delivery, was suddenly used of being a thief. Fabricated evidence and soldiers bribed with money. He tried his best to defend himself, but of course, it had no effect. ''Your crime will also stain Artsvel. The future of her store... isn''t it obvious?'' Julio''s mocking words made his blood boil. But at that time, he was too foolish and powerless, so he was dragged away and imprisoned. ''Thinking about it again makes me so pissed.'' Even though he immediately took revenge in the next ythrough, his anger never subsided. Although they were in the same business, Julio always felt inferior to Artsvel. He was ipetent from the start, so he had to resort to fraud to barely keep his business afloat. And now, even in this world where Hanbit didn''t exist, he was trying to frame Artsvel herself. Recalling the dirty past, Hanbit walked over to the disy shelf. "Will you do me this favor?" "Shut up, you scammer." "...Did you just call me a scammer?" Julio''s expression changed drastically at the word "scammer." As he was observing Julio''s face... Ding-! An rm rang, and a holographic window appeared. [Quest] Find the money bag that Julio hid. Reward: 500 gold, Quest unlocked -Huh? -What? -Is he really a scammer? "Huh?" The chat exploded with confused viewers, and Yeonwoo''s eyes widened in surprise. Hanbit walked further inside. Thud-! tter-! Hanbit started rummaging through the piled-up goods with his foot. Seeing this, Julio approached in a fluster. "Hey, hey, you can''t do that! Don''t mess up the store!" Even as Julio clung to him, Hanbit didn''t stop. He continued towards the corner in the back, and then something caught his foot. Thud ''It''s so identical, it''s ridiculous.'' The money bag hidden under the box, the same one Julio had used to frame him as a thief. The location and size were exactly the same, making Hanbit scoff. The same item was probably hidden in Artsvel''s shop, the one Julio had used of the theft. He bent down and pulled the bag out from under the messily piled boxes. "You said you were robbed?" "..." When Hanbit questioned Julio, his expression hardened. Then, with a frown, he said. "You''re a quick one, aren''t you?" -Holy shit. -This bastard was actually a scammer? What did I even get into? -Can''t you reset the quest? -Getting hit by a truck would totally enable a reset. -Ah, we''re screwed, for real. The viewers were shocked by the unfolding truth. They never expected to be deceived by an NPC. Julio pointed at Hanbit and raised his voice. "I have nothing to sell to you, so get the hell out!" "Screw you." Bam-! "Ugh!" Hanbit kicked Julio in the chest. The shocked man crashed into the shelves. "What''s going on here!" A voice came from behind. Hanbit turned his head to see a soldier holding a spear. [Cutscene Transition] Swoosh- As the message appeared, the scene in front of him changed. From a slightly distanced perspective, he saw Julio with his hands cuffed behind his back. "I didn''t do anything!" "Shut up! We already have witnesses and evidence of your fraud!" The soldier dragged Julio away. The screen flickered again, and Julio appeared, imprisoned in a jail cell. Swoosh- With that scene, the screen returned to normal. Julio, who had been standing in front of him, was gone. ''There are cutscenes too, huh?'' Normally, he would have to fight his way through the bribed guards and hand Julio over to someone trustworthy. But the cutscene had suddenly appeared,showing the soldier he was looking for. If that soldier had arrested Julio, the situation would be resolved for sure. It was a fascinating mechanism that reminded him that this was indeed a game. Ding-! An rm rang, and the screen was updated. A series of new messages appeared. [Questplete.] [You have received 500 gold.] [Quest opened.] [A quest will be given when you move to Artsvel''s General Store.] -No way, what the... -How is this real? -Reset the quest, you sons of bitches! -That trap was dirty. The chat window descended into chaos as the truth was revealed. Hanbit, who knew the whole story, also had mixed feelings. ''...They connected it so well.'' After putting Julio in jail, the game guided them to Artsvel. It was as if the game had been waiting for this to happen. Could this really be just a coincidence? "Hyung!" Yeonwoo, who had been watching the streamed footage, approached with wide eyes. He practically shouted in a hushed voice. "What is this? How did you really know?" "Well..." Hanbit started to speak but then stopped. Come to think of it, how could he exin this? Such knowledge was impossible in a game he was ying for the first time. ''Ah.'' Racking his brain, Hanbit came up with a usible excuse. Even if they didn''t believe him, he could tell them the truthter. Having made up his mind, he said to Yeonwoo, "There was this web novel I used to read. It''spletely gone now, but the setting seems simr." "Web novel?" -Web novel? -What''s this all of a sudden? -Stop whispering. The viewers also reacted to their lowered voices. Since this was a necessary step anyway, Hanbit scratched his head and said, "You might not believe me, but I used to read a lot of fantasy books. It''s really hard to believe, but I''m kind of an expert in that area..." "Ah, I understand." Yeonwoo agreed before Hanbit could even finish his sentence. Considering all the fantasy knowledge Hanbit had shown during their military service, it was only natural for him to have read books andics. "You believe that? Why?" "It''s not strange to make a game based on an original IP, right? That author could be the RP story writer. But what was the title?" "...I think it was Erport?" "Wow, that''s the title? The goal of the RP story is to find Erport." -How is the title Erport -ck Dragon, you like that kind of stuff? -Should we talk more about this? -But I''ve never heard of that title. -It must be some crappy novel. I could probably write better. LOL -Just had that delusion. Yeonwoo and the viewerspletely epted his exnation. Hanbit felt a bitplicated, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Ding-! [?? has donated 10,000 won.] "Oh! Thank you for the 10,000 won donation!" Yeonwoo''s voice boomed. The reward for winning the bet had definitelye through. Since the viewer had kept their promise, Hanbit also spoke up. "You really gave it to me? Thank you." -But how did you really know? -His ount is brand new -Was the web novel thing true? -I''m going to look it up. Confused, the viewers started making their own spections. The ount creation date disyed on Hanbit''s character information window was indeed today. There couldn''t be another ount with the same name unless he had cloned himself. In other words, aside from the name "ck Dragon" and the automatic customization, the ount waspletely new in the system. Of course, this was the result of the Goddess or her aplice tampering with it. "My hyung is naturally mysterious and entric," Yeonwoo stepped forward and began his defense. "If Julio wasn''t a scammer, he probably would have made him one." "What? Make him one? What are you talking about?" "See these fists? The culprit is capable of physical manufacturing!" -Culprit (custom-made) -Physical therapy, I agree. -I won''t mess with him. Despite the absurd turn of events, the chat window reacted with amusement. ''...Is this what streaming is like?'' The world of streaming was not easy to adapt to. He could just leave the difficult stuff to Yeonwoo. Hanbit was a person who focused on what he was good at. "Let''s go to Artsvel now." "She¡¯s not a thief... anymore. Don''t tell me that NPC is the magic teacher?" "That''s right. Though I don''t know how it''ll y out here." Yeonwoo quickly followed after Hanbit, who had started walking. He readjusted the camera angle and said, "I didn''t know it would connect to Artsvel like this. I never saw her after the thief quest." "What? She''s not on your map?" "Of course not. She was taken to jail after being caught." - Come to think of it, she''s not on mine either. - I tried all the skill quests. - It was a really good quest, so I just did it. - She''s on mine. LOL I skipped magic. - Yeah, she''s on mine too. Only a minority of viewers said they still had Artsvel on their map. Apart from focusing on one skill, there were no restrictions on trying out different things. Considering the rewards, it was natural to trypleting easy quests. ''Artsvel must be so frustrated.'' He could clearly imagine her reaction to this absurd situation. Countless yers had progressed through the game without ever meeting Artsvel, simply because Hanbit had eliminated Julio in his past ythroughs. Thud- Hanbit, who was walking through the alley again, stopped. The building had a slightly shabbier impressionpared to Julio''s shop, but it had a much more stable atmosphere. "Whew." Hanbit was a little nervous. Unlike Julio, Artsvel was someone he had truly been close to. She was a benefactor to whom no amount of gratitude could ever be enough. ''What? Why are you asking me for work? Get out.'' Their first meeting was extremely prickly. However, as he showed his face more often, her reaction softened. ''...Just move the stuff over there for now. Don''t even think about freeloading.'' ''Combat skills? What makes you think you can... Ah. Why don''t you learn magic from me instead?'' ''Didn''t I tell you to be careful? Don''t you know you''ll be the one who suffers if you get hurt?'' ''If you''re not going to spend your whole life moving things, study. You need to know the basics, don''t you?'' Despite initially rejecting him, she took good care of Hanbit. He had received so much from her, including a job, magic lessons, and information necessary for survival in this world. Even when the atmosphere turned strange due to the false usation against him, Artsvel remained the same. ''Your fault? Don''t give me that nonsense. I won''t let that rat Julio get away with this.'' She had visited him in prison and left with those determined words. A few dayster, the news reached him in prison that Artsvel had been burned to death. Creak- Hanbit carefully opened the door and walked inside. [Artsvel, the General Store Owner] A young woman with blonde hair was resting her chin on her hand at the counter. Hanbit softly spoke her name. "Artsvel." [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 5 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 5 "Huh?" Artsvel looked up with her cat-like eyes at the sound of her name. After confirming Hanbit''s identity, she reacted with a slight frown. "Who are you? I''ve never seen you before." Her voice and tone were exactly the same as he remembered. Her saying she''d never seen him before wasn''t shocking at all. He had experienced this every time he went through regression, possession, and reincarnation. ''Whew.'' Even with that familiarity, his heart was heavy. After a brief pause, Hanbit collected his thoughts as he looked at Artsvel. ''Now I know the timeline for sure.'' It was a crucial matter to know which point in time this game was based on. If it was a timeline he hadn''t experienced, the information would be distorted. Fortunately, this ce was exactly the same as when Hanbit first set foot in this world. Memories, so familiar and somewhat nostalgic, flooded his mind. Ending the short silence, Hanbit rearranged his expression. "Of course it''s my first time here. More importantly, I''d like to learn some magic." "Magic? Why would I teach you?" -Cut. -Still prickly; -I got cursed at so much during the thief capture quest. -But she got caught, right? -Yeah, it was a false usation. Hanbit wasn''t interested in the chat window, which had started arguing again. Artsvel''s refusal was only natural. However, he had already taken care of the solution to this problem. "Wait... Don''t tell me you''re ck Dragon?" Artsvel''s expression gradually changed as she quietly examined Hanbit.This was due to the events omitted from the cutscene. The guards must have investigated Artsvel''s store and gathered various testimonies and evidence. "That''s right. Julio tried to frame you as a thief." "That trashy bastard... I knew he would do something like that someday." She gritted her teeth and let out a sigh. She had constantly felt the malice emanating from Julio all this time. Running a hand through her hair, her expression shifted to that of relief. "Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I didn''t have to see that disgusting sight." "I hate that guy too." A light conversation exchanged with a shrug. It was enough of a reward for catching Julio. It was important to get a little closer to Artsvel. "So, you said you''re looking for a magic book? But this..." "Wait a minute." Hanbit interrupted her attempt to steer the conversation back. This level of distance wasn''t enough to learn real magic. He needed to take a big step closer. "What? What''s wrong?" Artsvel looked at Hanbit with a puzzled expression. After a brief pause, he casually asked. "You''re looking for a cure, aren''t you?" "...How did you know that?" "It''s obvious from what''s on your desk." Artsvel''s desk was piled with books on medicine and herbs. The worn spines and covers clearly showed they weren''t for sale. "...Tsk." Artsvel, who was about to cover her desk with her hand, looked up. With a slight frown, she asked Hanbit. "Do you know a lot about medicine?" "I do." "You''re full of confidence. Then tell me, what causes blue-tinted pupils, dizziness, and vomiting?" She asked in a slightly sharper voice, her eyes narrowed. Hanbit, meeting her gaze directly, asked a different question. "Who''s suffering from it?" "...My mother." "Is that so? Then I''ll get you the cure." "The cure? Really?" Artsvel took a step closer with a drastically changed expression. However, her emotions quickly subsided. "Are you just saying that? Do you know how many times I''ve been deceived?" Past memories surfaced for Artsvel. The treatments attempted by self-proimed experts and the subsequent failures. The money, time, and effort wasted were immeasurable. It didn''t take long for her to realize that hope could be poison. Hanbit, who knew her past well, brought up another piece of information. "She doesn''t feel hungry either, right? And potions or healing magic don''t work at all." "How did you..." Artsvel''s eyes widened at the mention of symptoms she hadn''t revealed. Her reaction alone showed her desperation. He had never met anyone like her before. "Do you know what the disease is?" "It doesn''t have a name. I only know how to cure it." "..." Confused, she tapped her finger on the desk. Silence followed as she pondered. And a momentter, she looked at Hanbit with determination. "Fine. If you can help me, I''ll reward you properly." Ding! [Quest] You have discovered the worries Artsvel is facing. Find a way to cure the disease afflicting her mother. Perhaps something can be obtained near Edlen? Objective: Obtain the correct cure. Reward: 2,000 gold, Artsvel''s Fireball Magic Book (1st Rank - Hero), 3 stat points, 500 experience points -Hero? -Hero rank confirmed? -Holy crap. LOL -Julio, you bastard! -Turning the game on right now. -Me too. The chat window instantly exploded. Judging from their reaction, it seemed like this quest was appearing for the first time. The number of viewers, which had been gradually increasing, had now surpassed 50. If Artsvel was still on their maps, they would be eligible to try this quest. Click- Hanbit pressed the ept button and looked at Artsvel. "I''ll get it for you." "...Okay." She had always tried to save her mother. At first, it was difficult, but after he learned how, he helped her in every ythrough. That''s why he knew how important this was to Artsvel. "Ah, it can''t really be confirmed Hero rank!" Yeonwoo said with a mournful face as they left the store. If they had alreadypleted the thief capture quest, there was nothing they could do. "What''s this ''Hero'' thing anyway? There''s also this ''rank'' next to it." Hanbit checked the notation on the quest window again. [Artsvel''s Fireball Magic Book (1st Rank - Hero)] This was a game element different from what he knew in the other world. Skills were simply divided into 1st grade, 2nd grade, and so on, so this was a bit unfamiliar to him. "Rank is the stage interval, and hero is the grade that indicates rarity and performance. Items, skills, and everything else are divided into the same system." "So the same magic book can have different performance?" "Of course! That''s why people go crazy trying to get higher grades." The rank, divided into intervals, was simr to the stages used in the other world. The difference was the grade. ording to Yeonwoo''s exnation, the grades were as follows: [Normal - Advanced - Rare - Hero - Unique - Epic - Legendary - Mythical] The 8 grades were amon ssification used in games. Although it was a concept that didn''t exist in the other world, it was easy to understand. "How good is Hero?" "It''s incredibly good. I didn''t even know there was a Hero grade at Rank 1. And it''s guaranteed! It''s unbelievable!" The skills at the starting point of the skill tree were Rank 1. No matter how much effort one puts in, the highest they could achieve in this stage was Rare. He would have to use it himself to get a sense of how good it actually was. "If it''s good, then it''s good. Let''s go." "For the cure, we need to find something like herbs, right?" "That''s..." Thump! Thump! At that moment, a noise that shook his body rang in Hanbit''s ears. And then, his mother''s urgent voice followed. "Hanbit! Why is the door locked? Hanbit!" "...Ah." He hadpletely forgotten about his mother''s return from work. He said to Yeonwoo, "Mom''s home. Just a minute." "Huh? Hyung, suddenly..." Click- With that notice, he logged out of the game. He took off the equipment and quickly unlocked the door. "Mom, you''re home?" "Whew..." Seeing her son''s face, his mother let out a deep sigh. For a moment, her mind had gone nk, wondering what had happened. "Why was the door locked! You''ve never done that before." "Well... I received a gift." "A gift?" "You know Yeonwoo? He gave me a gaming console as a discharge gift." He pointed his finger towards the bed, and his mother''s gaze followed. The helmet-like device and charger were lying scattered around. Rings were attached to his wrists and ankles. "Is it that ''Recorder'' thing?" "What? You know about it, Mom?" "It''s often in the news." His mother''s bag was still slung over her shoulder. Hanbit took it off and ced it on the dining table. "I''m just going to y lightly when I have free time. My internship starts tomorrow." "Internship? You''re really doing that?" "I need to add more lines to my resume. The internship period is short, so I can prepare for job hunting at the same time..." p! His mother''s hand flew towards Hanbit''s back. "Ow, Mom!" He winced and looked at his mother, who was frowning. But her hand flew towards him once more. Thwack! "Blocked it, didn''t you?" "Block what!" p! He caught one hand, but his mother''s other hand was faster. It reminded him of the time he fought against a master of martial arts. "Why are you doing this when I said I''m preparing for job hunting?" Hanbit asked in a puzzled tone, rubbing his back. Sighing, his mother looked at his military uniform in theundry basket. "How can a mother talk about her son getting a job when he was just discharged? And on top of that, an internship starting tomorrow? Does that make any sense?" "Mom, I''m in myst semester. I need to get a job quickly while I''m still a student... Ow!" Whoosh! His mother, about to hit his back again, stopped her hand in mid-air. She knew very well how tough the job market was, having heard about it through various media. Knowing her son had matured so quickly, she had fully expected him to pour all his effort into everything without taking a break. However, she wished that her son, who had always strived so hard, would act a little spoiled for once. It was a selfish desire that was impossible under ipetent parents, but still... "Ah." His mother let out a deep sigh at the harsh reality. If she forced him to quit, he would just work hard somewhere out of her sight. She felt more at ease cheering him on from the sidelines. "You said thepany is in Songdo, right? What time will you wake up?" "Uh... There''s a direct bus, so 7:30 should be fine," Hanbit, wary of another p, nodded and answered. His mother looked at the clock and walked to the refrigerator, opening the door. "Wake up at 7. It''s your first day, so you should go 30 minutes early." "Okay." "And don''t even think about skipping breakfast because you''re tired. I told you that eating is the most important thing." "I won''t skip it, Mom. It''s be a habit in the military." "Habit, my foot! Do you think I don''t know you didn''t eat today?" Their conversation continuedfortably as they returned to their daily routine. A short whileter, after finishing tidying up, his mother took her bag and went into her room. "Whew." Hanbit breathed a sigh of relief that the storm had passed. It wasn''t that he didn''t understand his mother''s feelings, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had to get a job to make a decent living. "I should go to bed early." Checking the time, Hanbit quickly made up his mind. He wanted to explore the world of RP further, but tomorrow was his first day of internship. Reality wasn''t generous enough to allow him to cut back on sleep. "Come to think of it, I was in the middle of streaming." The flow had been abruptly cut off before he could properly start the quest. Even though there weren''t many viewers, he was worried about Yeonwoo being left alone. "It''ll be even more awkward if I go in now." If he started helping Artsvel in earnest, he wouldn''t be able to stop in the middle. It would be better to properly proceed tomorrow. As for the viewers who had to wait a day, he could just give them something to pass the time with. Having finished his thoughts, Hanbit quickly began writing a message to send to Yeonwoo. [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 6 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 6 The onlinemunity "RPG (Record Project Gamers)" was, as its name suggested, the representative space for RP. In that ce, where various topics were always trending, a post that caught people''s attention appeared. A chuunibyou newbie showed up, and this guy is totally bugged. He had dozens of rmended skills and even multiple hidden skills. The guaranteed Hero quest is the route to get fire magic from Artsvel, check out the screenshot. If you''re curious, go to Roper''s stream. -? What is this? -Your photo editing skills are the ones that are bugged? -Hahaha Look at the blurry text. -Who''s Roper? Stop with the small streamer promotion. -This is real. Watch the stream. -Ban this advertisement; Skills and skill trees were the most important elements in RP. And during the two years that countless yers had dedicated to the game, the number of hidden skills that had been discovered was extremely small. They didn''t even know of the existence of another route for the normal skill, fire magic. That''s how unbelievable the contents of the post were. "This is ridiculous." Kim Jaeha, a man browsing on his tablet, let out a hollowugh. He was an employee working in the RP department of hispany. It was natural for him to reach for anything that could be profitable, including items, information, and so on. He had seen this kind of absurd attention-grabbing post countless times. "And who is this Roper?" He had never heard of this streamer before. He was definitely an unpopr streamer, the kind called a "small fry," but Jaeha was a little curious. It was purely out of simple curiosity. Click- When he searched for the name "Roper," quite a few posts appeared. 99% of them were about monster "slowpers." [TL/N: "Slowper" is a ng term in Korean gamingmunities for someone who kills monsters slowly or inefficiently.] "The streamer posts... are all from today." Among them were several posts focused on today''s date. The titles all included words like "hidden" and "Hero." "ck Dragon?" The nickname "ck Dragon" appeared in every post about this Roper. Thement that mentioned "chuunibyou" must have been referring to this person. "Eomk? Is he a student?" [TL/N: "Eom-keu" is short for "mom''s card", a ng term for someone who spends their parents'' money, often implying they are young.] Keywords like "ck Dragon" and "Eomk" appeared more frequently in the newer posts. Although RP required parental consent, it wasn''t a game that minors couldn''t y. "Huh?" Kim Jaeha, who was leisurely browsing through the list, started to be intrigued. Every time he refreshed, the keyword "quest" appeared more and more. The problem was that evidence was piling up that someone had actually received that quest. "...No way." Sensing something unusual, Kim Jaeha quickly put on his gaming gear. His other hand was busy searching for the streamer Roper''s channel. * * * Yeonwoo, left alone, froze in ce. Hanbit had dropped the bomb of a guaranteed Hero quest and disappeared. -Eomk legend. Hahaha. -How old is ck Dragon? -Look at his nickname. Lol, he''s just a kid. -I have a feeling he''s a robust unemployed young man? "Huh?" Yeonwoo, who had been racking his brains, fixed his gaze on the viewer count. The number, which had been around 50, was now 800. "...Ah." The bizarre things Hanbit had shown in that short time were unprecedented in the history of RP. If this spread tomunities like RPG, it would be the most powerful publicity imaginable. "Wee! Please wait a little bit, ck Dragon hyung will be here soon!" Even while speaking with a smile, his hands were moving frantically. He was diligently sending messages through the linked smartphone messenger. ''Please, hyung. Please.'' Even if they streamed tomorrow, many people woulde, but there would still be many viewers who were skeptical. He had to solidify their interest now, somehow. Ding! Just then, the message alert linked to his smartphone rang. Hanbit''s name appeared at the top. He quickly checked the message. ¡¸Hanbit¡¹ ¡¸I''ve to leave. I''ll be back tomorrow evening, so see you then.¡¹ ''...I''m doomed.'' His heart sank at the word "tomorrow." The main character wasn''ting back in this situation? He felt threatened by the ever-increasing number of viewers. -When is ck Dragoning? -Bring him back before I start cursing. -Why are there so many people in this channel? -Aren''t these viewbots? -I like that no one here uses 0?0. [TL/N: "0?0" is an emoticon used to express innocence or cluelessness, sometimes used sarcastically.] The rapidly chaotic chat window became almost impossible to read. Yeonwoo, concentrating all his mental energy on thinking of a solution, finally reached a difficult decision. "Whew." Taking a deep breath, he looked at the camera with a smile. The number of viewers had already exceeded a thousand. He wanted to be calm, but until recently, he was a small-time streamer with only a handful of viewers. "I''m sorry. ck Dragon hyung has an urgent matter to attend to. It seems we''ll have to continue the stream tomorrow." -? -What nonsense. -Was he really using his mom''s credit card? -This is ridiculous. -He just attracted a bunch of attention and left. -Typical of small-time streamers. Hahaha Sharp criticism poured in like artillery fire. Yeonwoo had no way to calm them down. Ding! Just then, he heard the notification sound again. It was another message from Hanbit. ¡¸ck Dragon¡¹ For some reason, the sender''s name had changed to the character name. Yeonwoo, sensing something strange, quickly checked the message. "Ah." A sigh escaped his lips as he read the short message. His stiff expression was now reced with a smile. "Alright, viewers. Calm down for a moment. ck Dragon hyung left a gift for you." -Gift? -Don''t bullshit us -Are you two in this together? -Let''s just hear him out. -Agreed At the mention of a gift, the heated chat window began to cool down. Some aggressive chat messages were quickly buried. "There are probably some of you who want to start the Artsvel quest right away, right? But you probably can''t guess how to get the cure." Having regained hisposure, Yeonwoo spoke as if taking the initiative. The guaranteed Hero grade skill quest. This alone was enough to make yers go wild. "So, ck Dragon hyung left a way to get that cure beforehand. Curious about what it is?" -? -He told you how to get it? -No way? -This is bait; -Even my dog wouldn''t fall for this. The shocking news that he had given away the method, not just a hint. Naturally, the viewers couldn''t fully believe it. However, even their doubts were enough to buy him time until tomorrow evening. "Well, it''s up to you whether you believe it or not. I''ll post the message in the channel notice. Then, I''ll end the stream and see you all tomorrow!" With that, Yeonwoo immediately ended the stream. Then he posted the screenshot of Hanbit''s message as a notice. ¡¸ck Dragon¡¹ ¡¸The cure for the quest can be obtained from ''Bomb Slime.'' If anyone clears it before Ie back, I''ll give you special information.¡¹ * * * The next morning. Hanbit woke up early, finished the breakfast his mother had prepared, and left the house. He boarded the bus that arrived just in time and headed to his destination, Songdo. "Whew." Aplex, spread out like a vige, was located a little distance away from the city center. The name "Entec Technology" was engraved on the top of the main building. It was a well-known mid-sizedpany, even among semiconductorpanies. ''I did pass the interview quite easily, though.'' Even though it was an experiential internship, there was a set recruitment process. The problem was the strangely simple interview. It was practically just reciting what was written on his resume. ''Let''s go in.'' Hanbit adjusted his clothes and stepped into the building. When he arrived at the assigned design department, people were already busy working. "What? You haven''t revised this yet?" "Huh? The team leader told me to look at this circuit first." "Hey, who went to theb yesterday?" "..." There was no room to interrupt the scene that resembled a battlefield. However, if he just waited, it seemed like no one would notice him. After a brief moment of contemtion, Hanbit decided to greet everyone. "Hello. I''m Kang Hanbit, and I''ll be working as an intern starting today." "...?" All eyes turned to the unfamiliar voice that echoed through the office. An awkward silence followed the strange atmosphere. The first one to speak was a man sitting in the back. "Ah, was the intern supposed toe today? Why didn''t the HR team inform us properly?" "Well... it was in the meeting notes." "Really?" the man responded halfheartedly to his subordinate''s exnation. Then, turning his gaze back to his documents, he continued, "Lee Minho will be his mentor. Take him and set up the meeting room now." "Alright." An employee sitting near the entrance got up from his seat. He approached Hanbit and greeted him with a tired face. "I''m Lee Minho, and I''ll be your mentor. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions." "Okay, thank you." "You can use this desk, and I''ll guide you through the contract and paperworkter. We don''t have time now, so just put your things down and let''s move." Hanbit put down his bag and went to the meeting room with Minho. Inside, small pieces of trash and documents were scattered about. "I had a field visit yesterday, so I couldn''t stop by the office. I''ll clean the table, so Hanbit, could you please tidy up the whiteboard?" "Was everyone else out on a field visit too?" "No. It''s just my task." "...I''ll clean it up quickly." Sensing a deeper meaning in Minho''s reply, Hanbit immediately started working. After a while of busily cleaning the meeting room... "What? Why are there two of you today?" A middle-aged man holding a coffee cup appeared. "Hello, team leader. The intern I reported to you a few days ago started work today, so we were cleaning up together." "Ah, right, there was that." The team leader sipped his coffee and scanned Hanbit from head to toe. Then, clicking his tongue, he sat down at the head of the table. "Where do you go to school? In Seoul?" "I go to Yeonju University in Incheon." "Ah, Incheon?" The team leader, who checked the university before even asking his name, seemed to have lost most of his interest. "What do your parents do?" "My father passed away, and my mother works at a restaurant." "Is that so?" Completely losing interest, he turned his attention to the meeting materials on the desk. The team leader''s attitude was blunt, but it didn''t faze Hanbit at all. "I haven''t introduced myself yet. I''m Kang Hanbit. I''ll work hard during my internship, observing and learning." "You don''t have to work hard. Throw away your passion and just do what you''re told." "...?" The remark about not working hard was strange. The team leader, sensing his confusion, sighed and exined, "Experiential internships are just for show. It''s a system where thepany loses more the more they teach, so don''t try to learn anything." The team leader''s exnation was as follows: The mandatory selection of interns was pushed as part of the youth employment rate policy. Companies of a certain size were assigned a minimum number of interns and were advised to take them on. "Team leader, even so, I can help the interns learn the basics of the areas they can experience..." "Hey, Lee Minho. If you have time to worry about the intern, worry about yourself first. You need to bepetent to act like a senior." "...Yes. I apologize." Lee Minho lowered his head at the sharp criticism. The team leader, still dissatisfied, simply shook his head and sighed. "Oh? Team leader, you came straight here?" "Good morning, team leader!" "As expected of our team leader. Everyone acknowledges your diligence." Just then, other employees entered the meeting room. Seeing them add ttery to their greetings, Hanbit could roughly grasp the dynamics of this department. "What are you doing? If you''re done cleaning, get out." "Okay." Following the team leader''s curt order, Hanbit left the meeting room. Returning to his seat at the end of the office, he leaned back in his chair. ''I can already see the future.'' He knew very well that experiential internships were closer to part-time jobs. He had applied with the intention of adding at least one more line to his resume. The problem was, he had a strong feeling that he wouldn''t even be able to gain the proper experience needed for that one line. ''I''ll have to learn on my own.'' Even if no one taught him, his eyes and ears were open. Compared to gathering information at the risk of his life in the other world, this ce was a joke. A bit of defiance rising within him, Hanbit slowly began to organize his thoughts in the quiet office. [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 7 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 7 That evening. Hanbit, having returned home from work, plopped down onto the chair in front of his desk. ¡°What a long day.¡± Most of what he did at the office today was snooping around. The problem was that even if he looked at the blueprints they were working on or listened to their conversations mixed with technical terms, it was difficult to understand. Thankfully, thanks to his mentor, Lee Minho, secretly giving him the data he had organized, he didn''te up empty-handed. ¡°Why are there so many?¡± He was so busy from the morning that he was only now checking his smartphone. However, there were over 100 messages piled up from Yeonwoo. Giving up on reading them, Hanbit quickly finished showering and eating. ¡°I''m logging in.¡± After sending the message, he closed the door to his room and headed to his bed. Still wearing the awkward gear, hey downfortably and turned on the power. ¡°Oh, it''s on.¡± The loading finished quickly, and his vision changed. The sensations within the game were still amazing. ¡°Hyung!¡± Yeonwoo, who had already logged in, approached him with a raised voice. He had a very urgent look on his face. ¡°Sorry. I didn''t see any of your messages. I was really busy today.¡± ¡°That''s okay, but first, look at the number of viewers!¡± ¡°Viewers? You''re already streaming?¡± -Oh, is he the ck Dragon? -When will he find the hidden skill? -How do you clear the Artsvel quest? -Exin the bomb slime bluff. -Please hurry up and clear the main quest too. I''m getting dizzy; -Take a seat. This is just a normal newbie ry broadcast. The number 5,512 was disyed at the bottom of the chat window. As the number of viewers increased, the chat became much faster. Since there were so many people who came with curiosity, the expectations were also high. ¡°What? Why has it increased so much?¡± ¡°A lot of posts were uploaded to themunity during the day. I mostly ignore troll posts, but it seems like the hidden skill and the Artsvel quest were well-received.¡± ¡°Why the hidden skill? It just appeared on the rmendation list.¡± ¡°Its existence itself is amazing! Nobody knows what kind of hidden skill it is! Just looking at the icon is driving everyone crazy!¡± ¡°...Really?¡± Hanbit was surprised by the unexpected good fortune. Just showing some rmended skills and receiving one quest caused this much of a reaction. He hadn''t even cleared it yet. -True -They''re all icons I''ve never seen before. lol -So how do you clear the Artsvel quest? -What''s with the bomb slime? -I can''t even get it because of that trash Julio. -Absolute trash. ''Are they a bit shocked?'' For those who started in Edlen, Julio was a friendly NPC, and Artsvel was a thief. Hanbit''s development overturned that textbook-like stereotype. In the end, the yers were also deceived by Julio. ''He''s a nuisance even in this world.'' Even if there are people who have solved it well, there are tons of victims. Shaking his head in dismay, Hanbit opened the quest window again. [Quest] You have discovered the worries Artsvel is facing. Find a way to cure the disease afflicting her mother. Perhaps something can be obtained near Edlen? Goal: Obtain the correct cure. Reward: 2,000 gold, Artsvel''s Fireball Magic Book (1st rank - Hero), 3 stat points, 500 experience points Although it is a very simple and clear goal, finding information about the medicine is quite difficult. Knowing that fact well, Hanbit spread the information about the cure yesterday. "No one has cleared the quest yet, right?" "That''s why I kept sending you messages. Although there were more reactions that it was bait in the first ce." -Yeah, I didn''t believe it. -It''s obviously a lie. lol -I needlessly touched the bomb slime for nothing. -Really exin. The information about the cure was not fully epted by everyone. Hanbit had expected that as well, but he also had a small sense of anticipation. "Weren''t there any unusual attempts?" "Unusual attempts?" "There are a lot of creative people. It seems like they would have tried twisting it in various ways." "...Is there anything to twist in monster hunting?" [Inner Thoughts Viin has donated 1,000 won.] [Roper: What is this kid talking about?] -But really, what is he talking about? -The information and everything is a lie. -Look at him stalling. lol -If he''s a ck Dragon who wants to run away, give him a thumbs up. People gradually leaned towards the opinion that the information was false. Hanbit, who was watching it all in amusement, smiled and said, "Then I''ll show you how I get it." * * * Hanbit headed straight for the main gate of Edlen''s wall. As the crowd gradually grew, Yeonwoo, who was walking with him, came closer and said, "Hyung, it''s going to get a bit annoying." "What is?" "Look over there." He gestured towards a group of people gathered on one side. Several groups were divided there, engaged in heated discussions. "Isn''t this quest like trying to break a rock with your head?" "There''s only the information spread by that ck Dragon guy. No one has cleared it in a day, though." "Why would you believe the nonsense spewed by a newbie? What can you get from a bomb slime?" Countless people rushed to the quest after seeing the broadcast andmunity posts. As seen in the chat window, it seemed like quite a few yers hadn''t learned fire skill magic. "Hey, isn''t that a Ranger?" "Ranger? What nonsense are you talking about?" "Huh? It''s real!" The eyes of the noisy people turned towards the entrance. A crowd of dozens of people were entering the city together. -Is that really a Ranger? -Crazy. lol Why is the advance party here? -They moved because of the Artsvel quest? -Hmm, is it that important? -It is that important, idiot. "...It''s really a Ranger? Hyung, the advance party is here." Yeonwoo, who was looking at the chat window, turned his gaze away in surprise. It was a word Hanbit was hearing for the first time. "What''s the advance party?" "They''re the top 10,000 ranked yers. It''s officially disyed on the system,bining level and story progress." "Ten thousand? Isn''t that too many?" "Ten thousand out of 300 million yers worldwide is an incredibly small number. There are less than 500 in Korea, you know?" Yeonwoo shook his head firmly in denial. Certainly, if you take the whole world as a standard, the perception changes. He had also seen articles saying that there were tens of millions of concurrent users. "That kind of person hasn''t learned magic?" "I guess they skipped it because of magic proficiency. They focused on their main skills to quickly push through the main story." At the forefront of the crowd was a man equipped with gleaming gear. The golden bow on his back stood out. ''It''s the Golden Bird Bow.'' Hanbit also knew well the image of the brave bird carved like a sculpture on the bow. It was the work of a craftsman with decent skills. "That person hasn''t cleared the quest yet either, right?" "I think he just arrived in Edlen? The advance party is extremely busy. Many of them are affiliated withpanies." "Affiliated?" "They sign contracts withpanies aiming for RP clear and receive full support. In return, they have to put a tremendous amount of effort into story strategy." -If you clear it, it''s a real life turnaround. -Real one-shot business. -The top advance party gets paid a fortune just to show up. -They''re on a another level; Since the gamepany offered ownership of the RP as a reward, the value of the advance party is immeasurable. It''s only natural that there would be amotion if one of those figures came down here. Thud- The Ranger''s group disappeared into the city along the main road. They seemed ustomed to the attention of the yers. "Hey, did ck Dragone?" "Didn''t he turn on his stream? He was saying he''d show himself clearing the quest a little while ago." "What confidence." After the advance party disappeared, people''s attention shifted to Hanbit. Apparently, there were quite a fewpetitors among the viewers trying to dig out information. "Then, shall we follow them?" "Ah, it''s a lie. Discovering the quest was pure luck. Don''t waste your time and just follow me." "Well, a newbie can only bluff so much." Most yers left, expressing disbelief. The remaining people were busy discussing among themselves. It seemed like almost no one would follow Hanbit. "It doesn''t seem like it''ll be much of a bother." "...I guess so." Yeonwoo scratched his head as he watched the yers disappear. Of course, some people would actually follow them, but that wasn''t a big problem. Hanbit, looking around, said to him, "Let''s go." "Ah, yes. You''re going to the forest, right?" "Nope, I''m going to the sea. I need a fishing rod." "...A fishing rod?" -The sea? -What about the Bomb Slime? -Isn''t fishing a life skill content? Why do it? -Fishing is no fun; Everyone was confused. It was ck Dragon himself who said to catch the Bomb Slime and get the cure. But suddenly, fishing? It was natural that they didn''t understand. [Julio has donated 1,000 won.] [Everyone, don''t believe him. This guy hits people''s heads with a fishing rod.] -You just shut up. -Go to jail. -Sentenced to 20 years of death. -I couldn''t get the Artsvel quest because of that trash. -F*cking bastard. -May all your hair fall out in jail. "Pfft." The fake Julio started getting cursed like crazy. The sight made himugh. That guy deserves to suffer in any way possible. "Hyung, so what about the fishing rod? You know Bomb Slimes aren''t in the sea, right?" "Oh, really? They''re not in the sea?" "Hyung!" Yeonwoo''s face fell at Hanbit''s yful question. If the information about the Bomb Slime was fake, he would have to quit streaming. Reading his worry, Hanbit leisurely stretched. "Just kidding, kidding. I''ll just get a fishing rod and go to the forest." "...You''re not going to use it as a weapon, are you? Even if you go for entertainment, you have to clear the quest. I have a level 1 sword, so please use this at least." "Well, about that..." Continuing his words, Hanbit nced at the chat window. Then he approached Yeonwoo and spoke in a low voice, "It''s kind of like a weapon. I have to fish for the Bomb Slime." "What do you mean?" -What are you whispering about again? -This is officially a viewer-bullying stream. ?? Viewersined about the inaudible voices. The core of this quest lies in the secret hidden within the Bomb Slime, but obviously, he had no intention of revealing it. If he had, someone would have already cleared it. Besides, deceiving the viewers was more fun than he thought. Smiling mischievously, Hanbit started walking and said, "Let''s go. To the harbor." [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 8 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 8 "There are more people here." Arriving at the harbor, Hanbit looked at the bustling crowd. The crowd was several timesrger than when he first logged in. "I told you, it spread all over themunity in a day. There will probably be even more people." -RP rted businesses are flocking here. -It''s annoying to see them swarming around; -But no one has cleared it yet. lol The viewers'' chats were sharp. Businesses that make money with all kinds of things rted to RP. It was because their perception was not good in many ways. Hanbit, looking around, asked Yeonwoo, "Do you have some gold?" "I do, a little. I even made some microtransactions." "Really? Then are you strong?" "Nah, not even close. There''s a limit even if you spend money." Since cash transactions were active in RP, the currency was also fluid. Of course, does that mean you can be incredibly strong by pouring money into it? That wasn''t the case either. "You''re saying it''s no use even with high-rank items?" "Item rank is important, but rank is absolute. To ovee this difference, you need to have at least Hero-rank or higher." Level and stats are basically involved in the criteria for equipping items. No matter how much money you spend, you can''t go beyond the current level of rank. "How much is Hero-rank?" "Looking at recent transactions... a rank 5 Hero sword was sold for 100 million won." "...100 million?" His eyes widened at the unbelievable price. Hanbit recalled the item grade exnation again. [Normal-Advanced-Rare-Hero-Unique-Epic-Legendary-Mythical] ''It''s the fourth one, and it''s 100 million won?'' Even though it''s rank 5, the grade was closer to the middle. It was too surprising that such an item was traded for a huge amount of 100 million won. Questions about other grades sprang up in Hanbit''s mind. "How much is Unique grade and above?" "There are no items for sale there. It''s better for the advanced party to use them themselves." Unique, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical ranks higher than Heroic. As the names were unusual, they seemed to be quite precious. Recalling the treasures in his memory, Hanbit asked another question. "Are there no sses?" "There is no ss system, and usually people are ssified ording to their skills. Weapons are also worn ordingly." -Are you really a newbie? lol -You''re so bad at living up to your nickname; -There''s no ss system, but we just call ourselves that. lol -So I''m a warrior, but I carry a staff. It''s so much fun to only use basic attacks. -Are you a pervert? This system was somewhat simr to the world in his memory. Even there, it felt like sses were divided ording to detailed skills. The difference was that you could use weapons rtively freely. Although it wasn''t easy to use archery with a sword. "Anyway, you have some to spare, right? Can you lend me 70,000 gold?" "Of course, but does a fishing rod cost 70,000 gold?" "It''s worth the price." "...I don''t know what it is, but I''ll give it to you for now." [yer Roper has requested a trade.] [Do you ept? (Yes/No)] Hanbit immediately pressed ''Yes'' on the trade window that appeared. It was a typical game-like system, so it was strangely refreshing. Tring- [You have received 70,000 gold.] ''This should be enough.'' The currency unit in this different world game. Hanbit, who asionally nced around, checked the prices of items sold in stores and stalls in the city. Fortunately, the value of the goods had not changed, so it was not difficult to convert the currency. "I''ll pay you back soon." "Eh, it''s fine." The two of them continued walking while conversing. Soon they arrived at a low cliff on the outskirts of the harbor. There, a fisherman was looking out at the sea. [Fisherman Eldrock] A familiar name appeared above his head. Hanbit approached and spoke to him. "Old man." "Hmm?" The old man opened his eyes slightly. Next to the mat he was sitting on, there were over 10 fishing rodsid out. "I want to buy one of these." "What? There was an ident?" "I know you can hear me. I''ll give you 50,000 gold, so please sell me one." -ck Dragon... -Attacking the elderly. -He said he can''t hear well; -This is a bit... Perhaps it seemed rude, as viewers started throwing out criticisms one by one. However, the old man''s expression changed in an instant. "50,000 gold? No way. You have to give me 100,000." -Old man? -We were fooled; The viewers were taken aback when he revealed his true self. Fisherman Eldrock. Hanbit knew how much this old man loved money. "100,000 won''t do. Let''s make it 60,000." "That''s not even the cost price. Make it 90,000." "Then let''s make it 50,000." "This kid? Does he think I''m an old man who can''t even count!" The price war that started proceeded at a rapid pace. In the end, Hanbit was the victor. "Here''s 70,000 gold." "This youngd is sly..." The old man''s appearance as he shook his head as if he was fed up was exactly the same as he remembered. Back then, they had even exchanged insults while learning to fish. "Take it quickly and get the hell out!" "Yes, thank you. I''lle again." "Don''te!" Leaving the old man who was throwing a tantrum behind, Hanbit left. In his hand was an iron fishing rod. [Modified Fishing Rod] Rank: 1 Grade: Advanced Description: A fishing rod that has been modified by adding a special device. It''s uncertain whether the condition of the fish caught will be good. Briefly summarized item information. Yeonwoo, who was looking at it, asked, "What is this? A modified fishing rod?" "It has one added function. That old man from earlier is really serious about fishing." The job of the old man who made this was, after all, fishing. It was an item he made out of frustration with fish that wouldn''t get caught. "So you''re saying you''re going to catch the Bomb Slime with this?" "To be precise, I''m going to fish it." Turning his head, Hanbit looked in the direction where the forest was visible. Then, shouldering the fishing rod, he said. "Let''s go." * * * "No matter how much I think about it, I think I brought you along for good reason." The mountain near Edlen. Yeonwoo, climbing the sloped path, nodded his head and spoke to himself. "What are you talking about out of the blue?" "Where else would there be someone who fishes monsters in the forest with a fishing rod? You''re fully qualified to be a clown. You''re perfect for streaming." "..." -Kekekekeke -Passing the clown audition. -Passing from the nickname alone. -Failing with the face. -He''s needlessly handsome for the character, really. -Let''s change it to an orc. -That''s a bit much; Viewers agreed with Yeonwoo''s opinion. Hanbit didn''t agree with the clown part, but the steam itself was more interesting than he had thought. Perhaps it was because he didn''t have the weight of responsibility yet. ''It should be visible soon.'' Shaking off his distracting thoughts, Hanbit carefully examined the forest. When he walked a little further, he came to a cliff where the mountain path abruptly ended. ''This is perfect.'' Hanbit nodded his head in satisfaction after examining the terrain. "Is this the ce?" Yeonwoo, who was following behind, asked, looking around. Quickly pulling his arm, Hanbit said quietly, "Don''t raise your voice. It might run away." "Hyung, you know what a Bomb Slime is, right? Running away isn''t the problem." -Lol fr -Should just call it a bomb, excluding the slime part. -It explodes even if you touch it from afar. -No, it explodes even if you make eye contact with it. -A real tofu minded monster. -A useless goat that gives neither materials nor experience points. [Bomb Slime has donated 1,000 won.] [Yeah, it''s over when I explode~] Perhaps because the monster was infamous even among the viewers, the chat window sped up. The Bomb Slime, which explodes no matter how carefully you try to catch it. Indeed, its unique characteristic seemed to be the same here as well. "I know. It''s a tricky one." "It''s beyond tricky; you can''t even get materials from it. That''s why no one has been able to clear the quest yet." "That''s because the hunting method is unique. If you catch it properly, ites out." "But..." Yeonwoo tried to say something but closed his mouth. Come to think of it, there was no need to question Hanbit''s actions. He was a person who would sometimes say silly things, but he was different here. Should he say that whatever he said, it wasn''t nonsense and he showed results? Aside from reading web novels, he was originally a person who was well-versed in unusual things. "Okay. I''ll quietly focus on filming. Show me something interesting." "What fun." Hanbit gave a hollowugh at the strange expectation. He didn''t have any talent in that area, after all. Right now, he was just focused on the goal at hand. "Hmm." Hanbit approached the cliff and looked down. The height was about 4 meters. It was the perfect spot for fishing. "Found it." [Bomb Slime (Lv.1)] He spied a single dark brown slime a little distance away. Seeing it like this made him feel a bit pleased. Whirr- Hanbit lightly wound and unwound the fishing rod''s line. It explodes just by looking at it, explodes even if you touch it, and has the entric characteristic of not even leaving behind materials. However, there was a small error in that information. Slide- The slime started moving slowly. Another Bomb Slime wriggled around it. Hanbit moved his position little by little, waiting for them to gather together. ''...I need to get used to the sensitivity.'' Even though virtual reality is a scientific revolution, it is different from the actual body. That sense of incongruity hindered detailed movements. ''But it''s like this because it''s level 2.'' He could guess the reason. The 1 million won level 1 gear and the 5 million won level 2 gear. Just by looking at the price, he could feel the difference in performance. He was just grateful to Yeonwoo for giving him such an expensive gift. Tring- [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Breaking news. Those bastards with no conscience are entering the forest.] The content of the message popped up with the rm. Yeonwoo, who was concentrating with him, frowned as if on guard. ''They came at a good time.'' Hanbit, who had anticipated this early on, wasn''t fazed at all. He had noticed the group following from afar since they left the city. Since the stream was on, it wouldn''t have been strange for a few people to be attached to them. "Hyung, what are you going to do? It doesn''t seem like there are only one or two." "Yeah, that''s a big deal," Hanbit, replying soullessly, turned his gaze to the forest. Bushes rustling here and there. Among them, one group was quite fast. Rustle- The footsteps of those ahead slowed down little by little. Perhaps they were trying to observe the situation through the stream. ''Should I surprise them a bit?'' A fun thought suddenly urred to Hanbit. He moved his finger to the system window and said, "I''ll turn off the stream for a moment." [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 9 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 9 - Huh? - Why all of a sudden? - Is it because of those guys? - Ah, get lost! - Scumbags. The moment Hanbit''s screen disappeared, the viewers reacted with outrage. Now, only Yeonwoo''s stream remained visible. Swish- At the same time, the yers'' movementspletely stopped. They couldn''t get the information they wanted from Yeonwoo''s screen alone. Their bewilderment was palpable even without seeing their faces. ''I can see right through them.'' From anyone''s perspective, Hanbit looked like he was aiming for the slime at the bottom of the cliff. Thus, they didn''t have many options. They couldn''t just sit back and observe the situation, as they had to be mindful of otherpetitors. Taking the slime first was the most logical choice. Rustle- As expected, the yers didn''t take long to make their decision. They quickly approached, concealing themselves in the bushes and trees. Whirr- Hanbit, who had been observing the distance, slowly began to release the fishing line. The hook attached to the end was the old man''s special creation. It was a device that, when the button was pressed, shot thin needles in all directions. It was like turning the catch into a hedgehog. ''They don''t seem likeplete beginners.'' The intruders got closer, muffling their sounds as much as possible. However, their attempts topletely conceal their presence were far from sufficient. Whirr- Hanbit''s fishing line slowly descended down the cliff. It was now almost halfway down. ''I see them.'' Hanbit, who had been scanning the forest, made eye contact with the intruders who had revealed themselves. Three men and women equipped with gear. Judging from their different weapons, they seemed to have been a party from the beginning. Swish- Hanbit turned on the stream again and turned towards the intruders. Then, he raised his hand and slowly waved it. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± The three, taken aback, stared at him nkly. - Oh, he turned his screen back on. - Why is he waving? - Out of the blue? - The viewers were also dumbfounded by his strange behavior. However, Hanbit''s greeting had a slightly different meaning. Whirr- Suddenly, the loosened fishing line rapidly descended. Before the three could react, the hook reached the bomb slime. Snap-! As he pressed the button, the needles extended radially with a swoosh. The impact immediately triggered the slime''s explosion. Kaboom-! The bomb slime''s body exploded spectacrly with a loud noise. The impact was several times stronger because other slimes were clustered together. And that explosion was just the beginning. Bang-! Kaboom-! The nearby bomb slimes, triggered by the noise, started to explode. This led to a chain reaction of explosions from their brethren in the forest. ¡°Uwaaagh!¡± ¡°Uaagh!¡± ¡°Up! Go up!¡± The three intruders in the forest tried to escape quickly. However, the slimes weren''t just on the ground. Thud- Plop- Above their heads, where they were standing. Dark brown slimes poured down from the lushly stretched branches. Unable to react in time, the three were swallowed by the explosion. Kaboom-! ¡°I was waving goodbye.¡± Hanbit calmly waved his hand as he watched them die. Even if they were weak monsters, a chain attack of that magnitude was hard to withstand. - Holy shit lolololol - Is this guy crazy? lolololol - If I can''t have it, I''ll blow it up. - He did greet them, right? - Yeah, he greeted them with an explosion lol - Trying to freeload, huh? lol The chat window, filled withughter, scrolled upwards rapidly. Hanbit, looking down, reeled in the fishing rod and changed the hook. ''There it is.'' A space remained silent even during the chain explosions. It was the gap between the cliff and the ground. Gurgle- A dark brown lump slowly emerged from within. Hanbit used to call it a "dud" in the past, and as the word suggests, it was one that didn''t explode. Whirr- As he moved his hand, the fishing line quickly descended again. When the glistening hook pierced the soft slime''s body, he pressed the button. Thwack-! The slime didn''t explode even with the radially extending needles. Hanbit leisurely reeled in the line and put the slime, still alive, into the pouch he had brought. - Huh? - Why didn''t it explode? - Is it a dud? ¡°Oh, it does feel like a dud. These guys don''t explode, and they grow by eating their own kind.¡± Hanbit nodded at the perfectly timed chat. - No way, how did you know that? - Just say you saw it in a web novel lol. - This guy is no newbie. - Someone check if he''s been hit by a truck. - Is he really living his second life? ¡°¡­I''m not? I''m really not.¡± - Is he for real? - Of course not, lol. - He must be immersed in fantasy. - He''s kinda cute; His reaction, which had been somewhat prickly, was taken yfully. As he inwardly sighed, Yeonwoo approached him cautiously. ¡°Wow, there was even a gimmick like this. But is it okay to share that information?¡± ¡°What information? About the dud?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you clear the quest with this, everyone will really try to copy you, right?¡± He pointed to the bomb slimes in the sack. But Hanbit chuckled and said, ¡°Let them try all they want.¡± * * * ''That was close.'' yer Kim Jaeha, standing at the edge of the forest, cursed inwardly. Just moments ago, he had witnessed three yers explode along with the bomb slimes. Even at a high level, it was difficult to predict the damage from such a chain explosion. Moreover, if he were discovered, he wouldpletely antagonize ck Dragon and Roper. "Whew." He had hurriedly logged in to RP, putting aside all other matters. He had been skeptical, but after watching Roper''s stream, he ended up receiving the Artsvel quest. And he had kept that stream open from the beginning until now. ''Those idiots. There''s no way that guy is just a newbie.'' Most of the yers who received the quest set out to find their own methods. This was due to the shortsighted belief that they were better than ck Dragon, the beginner who first discovered the quest. It was the delusion of those who truly knew nothing. ''Those damn corporations. As if they weren''t already pulling ahead¡­'' Kim Jaeha was certain. That yer called ck Dragon was nted by arge corporation with an advance team. He must have obtained information about the hidden skill and the Artsvel quest beforehand and then revealed it. ''What''s their purpose?'' The reason for deliberately teaming up with a streamer and disclosing the information. If they were using a hero-grade magic book as bait, it meant there was some bigger information at y. ''Could something have happened to the advance team?'' The top advance teams were currently blocked, in many ways. If they had found some breakthrough there, diverting the attention ofpetitors and public opinion would be a natural choice. ''Anyway, let''s clear the quest.'' Since he had logged in withpany gear, he had to produce results quickly. He didn''t care about the advance party, which was out of reach for small to medium-sized enterprises like his. If he dawdled, he would surely be ripped apart by his department head. Step- Kim Jaeha, ncing at ck Dragon''s screen, stepped into the forest. However, he never managed to obtain the bomb slime material. * * * ¡°You brought this as medicine? It''s disgusting just to look at. I''m an idiot for expecting anything.¡± Hanbit, arriving at Artsvel''s shop, was being scolded. On the table between the two was the bomb slime material, which had turned into a mushy liquid. Unlike its dark brown surface, the inside emitted a golden light. - The verbal abuse is kinda hot - Noona¡­ - Today''s humiliation¡­ I won''t forget. - I''m on my way to clear the quest right now. The crazed viewers were smitten with Artsvel. Considering her beautiful appearance, it was understandable. Though he couldn''t understand why people liked being verbally abused. ¡°I''llpensate you for Julio with money, so take it and get lost. I don''t deal with people who y with others'' lives.¡± Despite having helped capture Julio, her reaction was cold. Her mother''s condition was worsening and reaching its limit. She had secretly harbored hope, so her disappointment was immense. Hanbit, well aware of this, asked her, ¡°Aren''t you even going to try? The situation isn''t good right now.¡± ¡°How dare you say that? After bringing this disgusting thing here?¡± Artsvel was furious, her face looking as if she would draw a weapon at any moment. This was a conversation they had had several times in this other world, so he was used to how to deal with it. Hanbit scooped up the golden jelly with the spoon he had brought. ¡°Look at this. Doesn''t it look like pudding?¡± ¡°Don''t talk nonsense about pudding. You want to give that to my mother¡­!¡± Thump-! Suddenly, the spoon was thrust into Artsvel''s mouth. Unable to react, her eyes widened. And then. ¡°Ugh!¡± She suddenly covered her mouth with both hands and ran to the bathroom. Ssh-! After a brief moment of screams and the sound of water. ¡°What is this!¡± Artsvel, her anger reaching its peak, quickly returned. She grabbed the dagger on the table and strode towards him. ¡°Do you want to die? What did you feed me? Disgusting seeds came out mixed with it!¡± ¡°That''s the cause of the illness you and your mother have been experiencing.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You''ve been sick too, haven''t you? You must have been suffering alone.¡± ¡°How did you¡­?¡± Artsvel, who had been hiding simr symptoms to her mother, was flustered. She had been trying her best to appear as healthy as possible. ''I can''t even call her foolish.'' To avoid worrying her mother. To avoid being exploited by people like Julio. Even in such a situation, Artsvel hid her pain to continue her livelihood. Even now, he thought it was impossible with ordinary mental strength. ¡°What you ate is a parasitic seed. It causes trouble inside the body.¡± ¡°Parasitic seed?¡± Parasitic seeds were rarely seen in the southernmost region. They attached themselves to the stomach and grew, and only the mucus of bomb slimes could remove them. This had happened because they had gotten mixed into food ingredients during the trading process. ¡°You''re saying it''s not an illness, but because of the seeds?¡± ¡°Once you vomit the parasitic seeds, that''s the end of it. It''s not even a disease.¡± "If I vomit it out..." Artsvel''s eyes suddenly changed. Gathering the golden material, she quickly left the shop. [Cutscene transition] Slide- The screen changed with a message, and there was Artsvel holding the golden jelly. She stood in front of her mother with a determined look. ¡°Mom, I brought the medicine.¡± Artsvel, perched on the bed, propped up her unconscious mother''s upper body. A spoonful of the golden, lumpy liquid. After a moment of hesitation, she poured the liquid into her mother''s mouth. The change happened immediately. Gulp- ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Her mother''s eyes shot open after a single swallow. Covering her mouth with her hand, she stumbled towards the bathroom. Slide- The screen returned after that scene. The expression on Artsvel''s face, now standing before him, was noticeably brighter. [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 10 [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 10 "When Mom vomited, these huge seeds came pouring out! We kept using all those useless medicines because of those quack doctors!" She exined the situation excitedly. She was overjoyed, having been troubled by this for a long time. It had been quite a while since Artsvel had smiled like this. - This Noona could smile? - I thought it wasn''t in the NPC''s settings; - That''s because you guys threw her in jail; - lol real talk, that''s a hell of a turnaround. The chat window became noisy at this unfamiliar sight. They would never have seen her smile without solving that problem. It was only natural. ¡°Ah, I''ve been rambling on too much.¡± Artsvel, who had been excitedly talking, scratched her cheek and calmed herself down. But her joy was still evident in her expression. ¡°Mom and I are alive thanks to you. It''s not much, but please ept this.¡± She picked up a sack and handed it over. Then, along with an rm sound, messages popped up. Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Due to the first clear, the reward will be adjusted to the maximum amount.] [2,000 gold ? Increased to 4,000 gold.] [Artsvel''s Fireball Magic Book (1st rank - Hero) ? Upgraded to (1st rank - Unique).] [Stat points increased from 3 ? 5.] [Experience points increased from 500 ? 700.] [Level increased by 5.] [5 stat points awarded.] [Basic wand awarded.] - Amazing.. - Insane. - Unique? - Unique grade? - What the heck, there was no mention of a first clear reward. - Can''t you clear it again after killing Julio? - No, how do you even catch the bomb slime? - No one except ck Dragon has caught it yet lol. "Huh?" "...?" First clear. Neither Yeonwoo nor Hanbit expected this phrase. And it was even Unique grade. "Take this too." Suddenly, Artsvel took out something else. In her hand was a rolled-up parchment. Ding-! [Achievement: Artsvel''s First Savior achieved.] [Artsvel''s Letter of Introduction awarded as a reward.] [1 stat point awarded.] A message popped up as he received the parchment. It seemed like there was another reward for the first clear. "What is this?" "It''s a letter of introduction to the cksmith. If you need a weapon, go visit him. He''ll take good care of you." "...Ah." Hanbit immediately checked the contents and found the familiar name of the cksmith. He returned the parchment and put it in his inventory. "Thank you. I''ll put it to good use." "I''m the one who''s grateful. I''ll never forget this. If you need any help,e anytime." Her expression of gratitude was a little different from his memories of the past. Seeing Artsvel''s smile, he felt a strange mix of emotions. Perhaps it was because his past memories kept ovepping with the present. "I''lle again." Leaving his final farewell, Hanbit left the shop. Ding-! [PreferenceRespect has donated 50,000 won.] [I wanted to see her get angry...] "PreferenceRespect 50,000 won! Thank you for the 50,000 won donation!" Yeonwoo''s voice rose at the suddenrge donation. Hanbit''s eyes also widened slightly. "Oh, thank you. I made 25,000 won." - Quick calction lol. - He''s so excited, it''s cute lol. - ck Dragon''s 50:50 ratio - But Roper was the one who suggested the ratio first lol. It was enough to buy fried chicken and a 1.5-liter c. There was no way he wouldn''t be happy. But it didn''t end there. [Artsvel''sve has donated 10,000 won.] [Is this for real?;] [?? has donated 50,000 won.] [Rank 1 Unique is insane;] [mingCharisma has donated 100,000 won.] [As expected, fire is the best.] "100,000 won! 100,000 won! It''s really 100,000 won! mingCharisma!" "Whoa." Yeonwoo and Hanbit''s eyes widened simultaneously at the changed unit. There were even so many donations under 10,000 won that it was difficult to even read them all. [Viewers: 8,170] The number of viewers increased dramatically as soon as they cleared the quest. Even if it was temporary, what mattered was the present. "Thank you for all the 10,000 won, 50,000 won donations! Thank you so much to those who are donating even 1,000 won!" "Thank you..." Hanbit, expressing his gratitude along with Yeonwoo, was a little flustered. ''How much did I earn now?'' Just from what he could read, it was already 500,000 won. He didn''t know aboutmissions and all that, but with a simple calction, he had 250,000 won in his hands. He couldn''t help but feel anticipation for how much it would be by the time the stream ended. ''I should work hard.'' Even if he had participated half-heartedly, this reality changed things. How much greater would the response be if he actually acquired a hidden skill? It was a fun scene to imagine. ''...Was I this kind of person?'' His train of thought drifted towards self-discovery. The thought of simply earning money to give to his mother. Besides that, he just found the viewers'' reactions amusing. Was he really cut out for streaming? "Hyung, Unique grade is insane! Try using the magic book quickly!" At that moment, Yeonwoo rushed over and urged him. "Ah, right." Hanbit took out a red book from the sack and flipped the cover. A small hologram button appeared on the book. [Would you like to use it? (Yes/No)] Click- Without hesitation, he touched the ''Yes'' button, and the hologram disappeared. Poof-! At the same time, the book turned into smoke. Before he knew it, ''Fireball'' was registered in his skill list. "This is ridiculously easy." - Ridiculously easy (Unique grade) - First time with a one-click skill book? - It''s probably because he didn''t take the magic writing/practical exam. - Let''s ask Artsvel to do it. - She''ll probably re at us with cold eyes? - Even better. Regardless of the chat, Hanbit''s feelings wereplicated. Unlike his initial lighthearted thoughts, he felt a bit aggrieved. The magic he had learned through all that hardship... Could it really be used just by moving a finger? "Hyung, how is it? Amazing, right?" "Is it really over just like that?" "It was really strange for me at first too. It''s like the instructions on how to use it just pop into your head?" "...That''s not the case for me?" "Huh?" The two looked at each other, their conversation not aligning. However, there was no change in Hanbit''s mind. Even if he already knew everything, shouldn''t the game system still apply normally? ''...Could this be what it means to be an existing character?'' The character creation screen shed in his mind. He didn''t understand the whole body scan and brainwave stuff, but there was a high probability that the Goddess was behind this. Just like with the rmended skills, anything could happen. Rather, it was strange that he had been reincarnated 55 times. ''It''s been a while.'' Hanbit had already mastered most of the skills in this world, including Fireball. His experiences and memories were still vivid. Hanbit raised his hand and concentrated. "Fireball." Whoosh-! With the incantation, a fireball formed and shot up into the sky. Although itspletion was stillcking, he could certainly use it. "Whoa, insane." - What did I just see? - Is that size for real? - That''s rank 1? - Damn it, I want it too. Yeonwoo and the viewers were amazed by the magic. Ding-! Suddenly, a notification sound rang out, and a message popped up. Hanbit''s eyes widened as he read the message. [New effect of the title: 55 Time Recorder unlocked.] ''Title?'' A memory surfaced at that word. Titles were a system where you increased the effects you possessed by collecting them. His character information window clearly stated ''None''. Hanbit quickly moved his hand and checked the title list. [55 Times Recorder] The Recorder''s umted experience is unlocked. The proficiency of all experienced skills increases extremely quickly. Performance is enhanced based on the degree of experience. Unopened (Keyword: Spirit) ''...I''ve done all sorts of things.'' He had no questions about the content. 55 times. The number of times he had experienced regression, possession, and reincarnation. That number was etched in Hanbit''s mind. Moreover, he vividly remembered the words the goddess had said. ''Everything you have umted will lead to great power.'' At the time, he had interpreted it as simply meaning good life experiences. Because that was the extent of his imagination. ''...But to think it meant this.'' The unopened list in number 2. Furthermore, the keyword ''Spirit'' was a crucial element for Hanbit. If this existed, there was a high possibility that other elements existed as well. "Ah." Various questions arose, but there were no immediate answers. Worrying would only lead him into a quagmire. Anyway, it was a good thing that what he had umted had not gone to waste. "Hyung?" Yeonwoo spoke up. He was looking back and forth between the screen and Hanbit''s face. "Why did you suddenly open the title list?" "What do you mean why? I''m looking at the titles." "There''s nothing there, what are you looking at?" "...You can''t see it?" "What is there to see?" - ? - He''s already seeing things. ?? - Games are this dangerous. The questions and reactions werepletely off. Hanbit immediately realized that only he could see this title and its contents. "Hyung, are you tired?" "...No, I must have seen it wrong. Are titles difficult to obtain?" "It depends on the type, but many are difficult. Some have incredibly good additional effects. You have to grab them whenever you can." Yeonwoo stressed the importance of titles several times. However, it was clear that the 55 Times Recorder wouldn''t fall into the category he was talking about. Even with only one effect unlocked, it already surpassedmon sense. If others could see it, wouldn''t other yers be desperately searching for it? "Fireball." Whoosh-! He cast the magic again, and the fireball shot into the air. Even if it didn''t feelpletely natural, he had no trouble using it. "Wow, but isn''t it too much, even for Unique grade?" Yeonwoo, who had been staring intently at the magic, asked. "Too much?" "Look at mine. Fireball." Flicker- When Yeonwoo chanted, a small me appeared. It wasn''t even a fireball, just a crude lump a little bigger than a fist. Seeing the result, Hanbit couldn''t help but let out a dumbfounded voice. "Are you kidding me? You call that a Fireball?" [Trantor - Jjescus] [Proofreader - Starfall] Chapter 11 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 11 "Why are you looking at me like that? You''re hurting my feelings." Yeonwoo made a tearful face at his reaction. This was because he had put a lot of effort into magic, especially in the beginning. "What do you mean, hurt? That''s not even close to being called magic." "This is normal. I haven''t built up my proficiency yet, but it''s a normal grade magic spell anyway. But a Unique grade spell being that strong from the start... isn''t that too broken? You''re not even using the wand you received!" -Totally broken. -I can''t sleep because it''s so unfair. -I''m going to tear Julio apart. Yeonwoo and the viewers were genuinely upset. However, the effort and time Hanbit had invested in magic were monstrous. The title only brought the fruits of all those experiences into this game. ''Even so, such a difference....'' Yeonwoo''s magic was wed from its very structure. While it was possible that Julio was to me, he needed to look at a more fundamental problem. Even if it was an absolute difference in grade, Yeonwoo''s attitude towards magic needed to be changed. "Isn''t your method wrong? Magic isn''t originally supposed to be done with a click." "Hyung, did you forget that you created your character yesterday?" "What I mean is that you need to have knowledge. Magic is mathematics. Even if you don''t touch the magic circle, you have to calcte the incantation and mana operation meticulously." "Uh...." -? -The theory is crazy. lol -The magic written exam was real. -He knows a lot about magic -His chuunibyou is acting up again... -Oh, just admit it. Despite the sincere exnation, the viewers teased him yfully. Hanbit sighed and shook his head. "Let''s just say that the Unique grade is good. And I won''t be using the wand for a while." "Why? Even standard weapons are valuable for main skills." "It''s not my main skill, and with magic, higher convenience is better." Magic weapons like wands greatly influenced the power of magic. However, considering thebat Hanbit was ustomed to, bare hands were morefortable. "...You''re not going to use a Unique grade skill as your main?" Yeonwoo was fixated on the statement that it wasn''t his main skill. With a dumbfounded expression, he continued, trying to persuade him. "Hyung, I really don''t rmend magic, okay? But Unique grade is different. You have to push through with that." -I agree. -He''s still clueless. -He doesn''t know the game. -Where did the magic expert go? lol [LittleSorcerer has donated 1,000 won.] [If you don''t know magic, shut up and use it.] The viewers were diligently poking fun at him through the chat. Seeing Hanbit''s expression change, Yeonwoo hurriedly intervened. "Hey everyone, this is all just content for the stream. Right, hyung?" "It''s not content for the stream, those people are just treating me like a chuunibyou. They don''t even know about magic." He meant it. He felt like grabbing them and exining the theory all day long. However, the viewers became even more fired up. -As expected, he knows a lot about magic. lolololol -Official) The viewers don''t know about magic. -I apologize, but I''m getting a sense of superiority. -As expected, an expert is different. Did you learn that from web novels? -Wasn''t there anything about Unique grade being good? Click- Hanbit, who had been quietly watching, turned off the stream. "Turn off your camera too." -Ah. -Sorry sorry -We''re sorry; -Is he sulking? lol -It''s that guy. That guy is wrong. -Yeah, he''s wrong. The viewers, who had been teasing him, changed their attitude in an instant. [SmallSpender has donated 77,777 won.] [Sorry.] Then came arge donation. Hanbit paused for a moment, then deliberately let out a loud sigh. "I''ll let it slide this time." -lolololololol -7 jackpot is legit. -Information) Financial treatment is a traditional healing method. Turning the stream back on, Hanbit inwardly marveled. ''So this is how it works?'' It was a rebellion with a cause, but the results were too good. To think he could receive donations this way. Ding-! Just then, another donation popped up with a notification. [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Breaking news) Turf war breaks out in the field because of the bomb slime.] "...Turf war?" -There are so many people that there''s no space in the forest. -At 30 years old, fighting over hunting grounds. -No, seriously, this is ridiculous. -I died 3 times trying to get to the bottom of the cliff. -ck Dragon, how do you get it? -Any tips? As soon as the bomb slime was mentioned, inquiries flooded the chat. Since he had already cleared the quest, there was no problem in telling them. "Hyung, wait a moment." Just before he could speak, Yeonwoo grabbed his arm and looked at the camera. "You may not know, but ck Dragon hyung is a true fantasy nerd. He''s extremely knowledgeable about RP, except for the game system. From the worldview to monster ecology, and everything else." -A nerd with that face? -Show them what a real nerd is? -Stop obsessing over the character''s face; -There are quite a few people who enjoy RP for the fantasy, not just the game. -It''s true, if you delve deep into it, it''s madness itself. -But isn''t he like that because he read the original web novel? -The fact that he read it in the first ce... The viewers'' perception quickly shifted due to Yeonwoo''s appeal. Hanbit grabbed his neck and gritted his teeth. "Are you trying to brand me as an expert?" "Wait, hyung. We have to seize this opportunity." Yeonwoo whispered, pping his hands. He quickly pulled away and continued speaking to the camera. "The bottom line is, you can''t get it for free. This is the result of how hard my hyung has worked. Revealing the Artsvel route was free, but asking for the strategy to be released immediately is too much." -That''s true. -Companies sell high-level information for hundreds of millions of won. -Since it guarantees a Hero grade item, the price will probably be quite high, right? -Not that much since it''s a rank 1 skill. -Yeah, hidden skills are the expensive ones. -You think Hero grade is nothing? Hanbit looked at the various opinions and asked Yeonwoo, "How much do hidden skills go for?" "Depending on the type, the price can be whatever you ask for. They''re rarely revealed in the first ce." "Is that so?" He thought of the hidden skills he saw in the rmendation list. There were some that made him wonder ''why this?'', but the important thing was that he knew them all. ''It''s tricky to sell.'' He could sell them immediately, but the order was wrong. Since there was such a thing as a first clear reward, wouldn''t the order be important for hidden skills too? Considering that, he had to obtain them himself first. Ding-! [Newbie has donated 1,000 won.] [Please;] [NoEnding has donated 9,900 won.] [Is there no special sale?] Yeonwoo''s lead worked perfectly. Donations were pouring in at the right time. [mingCharisma has donated 100,000 won.] [Showing my sincerity. Fire magic please.] "mingCharisma! Thank you again for the 100,000 won donation!" "Oh, you''re very generous. Thank you." Another 100,000 won donation was impressive. Yeonwoo, who was doing his reaction, approached Hanbit stealthily. "Hyung, I''m going to reply to some messages." "Messages?" "Yes. I''m getting some messages from other streamers andpanies. But they''re all scoundrels, so I''ll just act as a bridge." Whispering, Yeonwoo started moving his hands hastily. Hanbit turned his attention to the chat window. "You''ve given me so much. I have to give you a hint now." The 100,000 won donation was nice, but the small donations that piled up were also significant. If he added up the amounts he kept checking, it amounted to several hundred thousand won. -Hurry hurry -Waiting in the forest. -There are 10 people next to me; -Everyone¡¯s watching this stream. lol -I feel dizzy. Hanbit briefly checked the viewers'' chats. He looked at the camera and asked, "You''re not still in that forest, are you?" -? -Isn''t that obvious? -You caught it there; "That''s right. I was just asking." -Whew. -You bastard, I almost cursed; -He held back really well. -You crazy bastard... The viewers'' reactions fluctuated with his every word. Hanbit, watching with amusement, continued his exnation. "As you saw earlier, there are some that don''t explode. But they''re timid, so they don''te out easily once things get noisy. It might be better to look for them tomorrow." -Tomorrow? -I don''t see a single one right now. -I''ll buy a fishing rod first. Ding-! [?? has donated 1,000 won.] [But if we don''t clear this quickly, won''t they stop giving out the Hero grade reward?] -? -Huh? -What nonsense. The chat window was in an uproar at the sudden donation. Hanbit, not understanding, looked at Yeonwoo. "Is that true?" "Uh... Wait a moment." He moved his hands and quickly started searching. And a momentter. Yeonwoo smiled as he looked at the chat window with interest. "It would be good if you clear this quickly." -For real? -Is it true? -No lies The viewers expressed their doubts at the unfavorable news. Hanbit was also curious, so he asked Yeonwoo. "What is it? Is there a precedent?" "There was a quest where the rewards were consumed like a firste, first-served basis." "Firste, first-served?" "They say that if you''rete, there''s either no reward at all, or the quality gradually decreases. Looking at the Artsvel quest... wouldn''t it be possible for it to drop to normal grade in the end?" -Shit. -We''re screwed. -I''m just going to stay up all night. -I''m skipping work tomorrow. -Please use your vacation days. The viewers became busy as if a fire had been lit under their feet. It was a usible story, so they must have felt a sense of crisis. Anyway, it was out of Hanbit''s hands now. "Excuse me for a moment." Hanbit briefly took off his headgear. He was told that it would enter standby mode in this state. "The skills are... here." He grabbed the guidebook on the desk and checked the skill strategy page. There were four general skills that could be learned in Edlen. The attack skills were fire magic, archery, and swordsmanship. The auxiliary skill was swiftness. "This is the same, but..." The beginning of swordsmanship and archery was passive skills. Active skills only appeared at rank 3. It was natural, as they emphasized the basics in reality as well. "Hmm." There were parts that were the same as his memory and parts that were different. After quickly checking the first part, he went back to bed and put on his headgear. When the screen came back on, he looked at the camera. "I''m back. Shall we go get some other skills then?" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 12 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 12 -Oh. -Let''s go quickly. -Sweet. -Stream until the slime appears. The viewers who weren''t rted to the Artsvel quest reacted enthusiastically. Hanbit turned his gaze to Yeonwoo. ¡°Let''s go. Just ignore unnecessary messages.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. But aren''t you going to continue the main story? You know I left it to do with that guy, right?¡± ¡°That''s forter. We''re going to get the skill first.¡± ¡°Ah, wait a minute! Let''s go together!¡± As soon as he started walking, Yeonwoo hurriedly followed behind. ¡®¡­A lot have followed.¡¯ Hanbit, walking through the city, noticed yers following him from afar. There were quite a few people who had been in the party. ¡®It''s been a while since I''ve been here as well.¡¯ Heading towards the entrance, Hanbit stood in front of arge house made of wood. ¡°Is the archery NPC the same?¡± ¡°The rest are the same too. In the end, it''s all proven by skill.¡± Creak- Hanbit opened the door and went inside. The spacious interior was divided into two parts. One side was full of monster materials. The other was a living space. ¡°What, are you a customer?¡± [Hunter Rikner] The muscr, rugged teacher looked exactly the same as he remembered. Standing in front of him, Hanbit said confidently, ¡°I came to learn some archery.¡± ¡°Is that so? Do you have the guts?¡± -Guts-obsessed guy has appeared. -Intestinal worm. -Say "I don''t have any" and then he kicks you out. -I really shot a lot of arrows. Viewers poured out their own experiences. ¡°I have the guts. But skill is more important, right?¡± ¡°You speak well.¡± The hunter chuckled as if amused. ¡°The test is simple.¡± Ding-! [Quest] You must pass the test to learn archery. Try to achieve the conditions set by Hunter Rikner. Goal: Obtain a score above the standard. Reward: 500 gold, Basic Archery Training Manual (1st Rank-?), 1 Stat Point, 100 Experience Points A message popped up along with the hunter''s words. Hanbit immediately epted and listened to the following exnation. ¡°Shoot the target in the backyard and get a score. You have 30 chances. A perfect score by my standards is 200 points.¡± ¡°So 10 points per chance, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. Choose a bow you like from over there and follow me.¡± Pointing his finger at the wall, he disappeared into the backyard. Where Hanbit turned his head, all sorts of simr-looking bows were hanging in two rows. -Fourth from the top left, go for it. -Sixth from the bottom right. -Information) These guys are picking out crappy bows for him. -They have no sense¡­ -You can''t get over 100 points even with the best one. lol -Real talk, the difficulty is unnecessarily high. ¡°You can''t get over 100 points? I can get over that even with a cheap one.¡± -? -That statement. -Are you picking a fight with the archers? -He started it first, right? Some viewers'' eyes widened at the provocation. Ding-! [The National Archers Association has registered a 100,000 won challenge mission.] [If you get over 100 points with the second bow from the bottom left, you win.] -The National Archers Association is so evil. lol -Look at the state of that bow. lol -Even the advance party would shake their heads. -Just a cheapskate. ¡°Oh, how did you know I wanted a challenge mission? Thank you for the first challenge mission!¡± A challenge mission, one of the streaming system''s features. It seems Yeonwoo added something. [Hwarang has donated 10,000 won for the challenge mission.] [Ah lol do it.] [JooMong has donated 20,000 won for the challenge mission.] [If you fail, how about getting the reward and going to karaoke?] ¡°Oh, thank you all!¡± The amount of money gradually umted in the registered challenge mission. When the flow subsided, the mary unit had changed. [Challenge Mission] [If you get over 100 points with the second bow from the bottom left, you win.] [Prize Money: 335,000 won] ¡°Wow, it''s over 300,000 won!¡± -Whoa -Spending 300,000 on archery? -The National Archers Association is profitable. -So how do you get over 100 points? lol ¡®Are they all rich?¡¯ Hanbit let out a hollowugh as he looked at the amount. Of course, most of the viewers seemed convinced that he would fail the mission. ¡°Thank you. I can use this, right?¡± Hanbit picked up the second bow from the bottom left. It was cracked in ces, and the bowstring was frayed as if someone had gnawed on it. -Are you really going to do it? -If you screw up your score, do they give you a normal one? -Those National Archers Association bastards -The ck Dragon has been screwed. The chat window was already shifting to a mood of mourning. Hanbit examined the bow and immediately made a decision. ¡®It''s not so bad that I can''t shoot it.¡¯ Objectively, it was true that the bow was in poor condition. But Hanbit had used worse bows. On countless battlefields, he had to tie up even a broken bow and use it somehow. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Taking the bow and quiver, Hanbit moved to the backyard. Yeonwoo followed behind and asked casually. ¡°Hyung, can you really do it? 100 points is tough even with a good bow.¡± ¡°I have to do it no matter what. Look how much that is.¡± Hanbit was serious. Not only was this an unfamiliar environment in a game, but there were also limitations to the effects of the title unless he learned the skill. Topare it to this situation, he had to go back to his very first memory. Back then, he couldn''t even pull the bowstring properly. ¡°It''s really far even when I see it again.¡± A long path that seemed to be 50 meters. At the end of it stood a familiar target. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The hunter, with his arms crossed, took on a teacher¡¯s air. Hanbit took his stance and immediately nocked an arrow. ¡°Oh? Aren''t you going to add points to Agility? You have stat points left.¡± ¡°I won''t use them now.¡± Zwooosh- Answering appropriately, Hanbit slowly pulled the nocked arrow. He was experiencing this feeling after a long time. The heavy tension was too well implemented. He could even feel the deficient state of the bowpletely. Ping-! As he let go, the arrow flew quickly. It grazed the corner of the target and stuck in the dirt. [0 points] ¡°Hyung?¡± -? -Huh? -0 points. LOL -1 win for the National Archers Association. The score appeared small in the air. The viewers were flustered by the absurd result. ¡°Focus! Your posture is good, but your aim is off!¡± The hunter also chimed in with a loud voice. Ping-! [0 points] The arrow he shot once again missed the target. ¡°Don''t give up! Show your guts!¡± -Pathetic -He was a one-trick pony with magic. lol -He''s pitiful, let''s stop watching. The mocking chat window was outside Hanbit''s view. He just focused on the necessary senses. Ping-! Once again, the arrow flew quickly. It struck a spot off-center. [7 points] -Oh? -Oh? -Yeah, it''s a fluke. ¡°Yes, that''s the spirit! Pull it up more!¡± The viewers didn''t notice the subtle change in Hanbit''s movements. Concentrating intensely, Hanbit shot the arrow once more. Ping-! A little sharper and more precise than before. Hanbit was convinced. And. Thwack-! The arrow finally hit the exact spot. [10 points] * * * Thwack-! [10 points] ¡°Perfect!¡± Thwack-! [10 points] ¡°Excellent!¡± The following 26 attempts all hit the very center of the target. [Total Score: 277 points] -Huh? -What am I seeing? -Wait, wasn''t the mission 100 points? -Even the hunter said 200 points was a perfect score -OK, looks like he found a bug. -He just broke through the ceiling -I give up thinking at this point. ¡°Veeeery good!¡± The hunter patted Hanbit''s shoulder with a booming voice. His expression contained a happiness that was hard to put into words. He handed Hanbit a light green book. Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Depending on the exceeding score, the reward will be adjusted to the maximum amount.] [500 gold ? Increased to 3,000 gold.] [Basic Archery Training Manual (1st Rank-Unique).] [Stat points increased from 1 ? 5.] [Experience points increased from 100 ? 700.] [Level increased by 2.] [2 stat points awarded.] [Standard bow and arrows awarded.] -No, holy sh*t -Unique again? -Is it really 1st rank? -It''sing¡­ the mental breakdown¡­ ising. -What gear is ck Dragon using? Is he level 4? ¡°Ah, Brother ck Dragon is currently using level 2 gear!¡± -Level 2? -But he''s doing that? -Don''t f*cking joke with me. -Let''s just kill Roper. The viewers'' chat, unable to ept it, gradually heated up. But Yeonwoo just smiled. ¡°I don''t know why you''re doing this to me¡­ but! Challenge mission sessful!¡± [You have seeded in the challenge mission.] [You have received 419,000 won in prize money.] [The National Archers Association has donated 10,000 won.] [I entrust the future of the National Archers Association to you.] -Congrats congrats congrats -It piled up even more while he was shooting -The era of the great archer ¡°Thank you all!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Hanbit conveyed his sincere gratitude to the viewers. Just how much was this? ¡°Ah, hyung. The prize money is yours, so I''ll give it all to you.¡± ¡°What? No, we¡¯ll split it in half.¡± ¡°No way, that''s the national rule for prize money.¡± -I agree. -I acknowledge and give you a thumbs up. -Roper knows what''s up. The viewers also agreed with Yeonwoo''s opinion. Hanbit could only scratch his head, a little embarrassed. ¡°ck Dragon!¡± Suddenly, the hunter''s voice suddenly boomed. His eyes were sparkling intensely. ¡°Ah, I won''t work under you.¡± ¡°What¡­!¡± A rejection spat out before he could even finish his sentence. The hunter''s eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping. This man''s eyes would go wild whenever he saw someone with talent in archery. A quick refusal was always the answer. ¡°See youter then.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ ck Dragon! If you work with me, meat is free! Leather too¡­¡± The hunter''s pitiful voice gradually faded away. When he disappeared from sight, Hanbit turned over the cover of the book in his hand. [Would you like to use it? (Yes/No)] Poof-! As he pressed the button, the book disappeared with a puff of smoke. ''Basic Archery'' was registered in the skill list. ¡°See? It''s not much different, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean see¡­ The results arepletely different.¡± -The reality check is harsh. -Why the reality check? Just think of it as a different game. -Real talk lol, it''s just a different world. -At this point, I''m just curious about what''s next. -Fast progress, go go The stirred-up public sentiment led to urging. ¡°Then let''s go right away.¡± Hanbit also had no intention of dying. He started walking towards the opposite outskirts of the city. ¡°Now you''re going to learn swordsmanship, right?¡± ¡°No? There''s Swiftness.¡± ¡°You''re going to learn that? It''s not really useful.¡± -Really the most useless, tier 1. -The ultimate ''move a little faster''. -There''s no skill tree either. -I''d rather just get a mountter. As expected, the reviews for the Swiftness skill were harsh. Even if you build up proficiency, the effect is minimal, and there''s no follow-up skill. While that perception wasn''t entirely wrong, the necessity of this skilly elsewhere entirely. ¡°It''s absolutely necessary before learning swordsmanship.¡± ¡°Swordsmanship?¡± ¡°You''ll see when we get there. Let''s go.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so¡­ It sounds interesting?¡± Yeonwoo, who knew the quest content, quickly changed his attitude. And for good reason, because what was needed this time was tag. ¡°But it''s impossible to achieve the conditions for this. It''s tag, but you can''t catch him.¡± Yeonwoo emphasized that the difficulty was absurd. Knowing this better than anyone, Hanbit just smiled and moved on. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 13 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 13 "You want to learn how to move fast?" The scene unfolds in a shabby, rundown district on the outskirts of town. Hanbit, seeking out a thieves'' den in the slums, came face to face with a young, blond-haired girl. [Lia] Lia the pickpocket. A name quite infamous in the back alleys of Edlen. Not just amon thief, she fancied herself something of a Robin Hood. "Hmm." Brushing off her shorts as she got up, she eyed Hanbit from head to toe. In that instant... Whoosh-! With a sudden gust of wind, Lia vanished into thin air. Thud-! "Too slow." Reappearing before Hanbit''s eyes, Lia held a small pouch in her hand. "That''ll be 5,000 gold for the lesson. Pretty cheap, right?" [You have lost 5,000 gold.] Just as the system message indicated, 5,000 gold disappeared from his inventory. This all-too-familiar scene brings back a flood of old memories. "What? No reaction?" "You said it was for the lesson, right? And you''re actually going to teach me?" "...Of course. I don''t lie," Lia replied, pouting her lips. Stuffing the money into her bag, she turned her back. "First, try to catch me. You can use any means necessary, but if you can''t catch me, it''s void, okay?" Thud-! With those words, the girl disappeared in the blink of an eye. A message immediately popped up. Ding-! [Quest] Lia, who promised to teach you a skill, has run away. Search Edlen to find her. Objective: Catch Lia. Reward: Lia''s Swiftness Skillbook (1st Rank-?), 1 Stat Point, 100 Experience Points Time Limit: 3 hours -She ran off right away, huh? -She''lle back automatically when the time limit is up. -Has anyone ever caught her within the time limit? -It''s more advantageous to wait here. -Yeah, she justes back home. lol Advice from experienced yers poured in. However, Hanbit leisurely started walking. "Huh? Are you leaving? Even if you find her by some miracle, you''ll never catch her." "I know." "Then what are you going to do? If the time limit runs out, it''ll be fixed at the normal rank." Yeonwoo raised a valid question. The answer was incredibly simple. "I''ll ask someone who can catch her." * * * "I need your help catching Lia." The peaceful atmosphere of Artsvel''s general store shattered as Hanbit abruptly burst in. "All of a sudden?" Artsvel, who had been in the middle of smiling at Hanbit in greeting, now wore a dumbfounded expression. Her incredibly lifelike reaction set the chat aze. -The AI is insane, lol -What kind of game IS RP, seriously? -The girl who never smiled at me is smiling at ck Dragon. -Wait for me! I''ming too! -Breaking news: Bomb Slime still not found. -Keep waiting until tomorrow~ "But how do you even know Lia?" "You two are like sisters, aren''t you? It''s pretty well-known around the slums." "...Don''t tell me you got pickpocketed?" Having experienced simr situations a few times, Artsvel asked with a slight frown. Hanbit shook his head and replied, "No, we''re ying tag." "What''s that supposed to mean?" This time, her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "So, will you help me?" "Ah..." Artsvel heaved a deep sigh and got up from her seat. "Alright. Let me lock up." Leaving the store, the two stepped out onto the street. After briefly surveying the surroundings, Artsvel started walking. She seemed to know exactly where the girl might be. "So, is she going to give you something if you catch her?" "I''m trying to learn how to move swiftly." "Ah, that''s what this is about." She nodded in understanding. Artsvel and Lia the pickpocket. The rtionship between these two well-known figures in the slums was more like that of a guardian and her ward. Having looked after Lia for over seven years, Artsvel was practically like an older sister to her. Perhaps this was just a phase of teenage rebellion. Meow. Purr. Walking deeper into the alleyways, the two stopped. On a small set of stairs, bathed in the only patch of sunlight, a young girl was ying with some cats. "Lia." "Huh?" Lia''s eyes widened at the familiar voice. "I''m busy, so stop ying tag." "How did you...?" Lia stared nkly back and forth between Hanbit and Artsvel. Then, realizing something, she yelled. "That''s not fair! Why did you bring Artsvel?! And how do you two even know each other?" Visibly flustered, Lia put on an aggrieved expression. "You said I could use any method to catch you, didn''t you?" "But..." Lia was left speechless at this irrefutable logic. The most effective way to deal with Lia? It¡¯s Artsvel. "Just teach him quickly. And Lia, youe to the store. You know what''ll happen if you don''t, right?" "...Okay." Lia''s shoulders slumped at the warning. "Alright then? I''m leaving." "Thank you." "Don''t mention it." Artsvel said with a chuckle as she headed back to the store. Hanbit approached Lia and lightly tapped her on the shoulder. 20 minutes. That''s all it took to catch the pickpocket. "Want to do this again?" "No way!" Shaking off his arm, Lia red at Hanbit with a frown. Then, she pulled a blue book from her bag and tossed it to him. "Proper movement starts with proper footwork. Got it?" Ding-! [Questplete.] [Reward grade has been adjusted to the maximum amount based on clear time.] [Lia''s Swiftness Skillbook (1st Rank - Unique).] [Stat Points increased from 1 ? 3.] [Experience Points increased from 100 ? 500.] [Level Up!] [1 Stat Point awarded.] -This is how it goes, huh? -Another Unique item?! -How was I supposed to know Artsvel and Lia were like sisters? -At this point, isn''t the web novel the problem? -Release the original work, seriously. -What if ck Dragon is actually the author? -Reasonable deduction, I agree. The chat exploded again, but Hanbit had achieved his goal. "I''m outta here!" Stamping her foot, the girl disappeared from sight in an instant. Hanbit immediately used the book in his hand. Poof-! The book disappeared, and "Swiftness" was registered in his skill tree. Watching this, Yeonwoo asked with a bewildered expression, "Is that really the end?" "It''s a heartwarming ending where she goes to visit the store of the woman who raised her like a sister." "...It is heartwarming, huh?" -Heart...warming? -That kid didn''t look happy though. -I bet Artsvel is terrifying when she''s angry. Yeonwoo and the viewers didn¡¯t seem particrly interested in the unusual rtionship between the two. They simply viewed Artsvel and Lia as NPCs necessary for acquiring a skill. ''...I guess it can''t be helped.'' yers hadn''t been able to form a proper rtionship with Artsvel. Since everyone ended up sending her to jail, it must have be impossible to even have a conversation with her. They were just diligently following the guidebook, so it was an irreversible oue. "Not all people follow the guidebook, do they?" "I guess not? There are so many solo yers, and not everyone shares information with themunity." Even if most people followed the guidebook, there must be some who forged their own path. However, since this was the first time Artsvel''s quest had appeared, it meant no one had found the correct approach. Naturally, Lia had also remained an obscure NPC. ''So there''s another reason why the main story is a mess.'' Hanbit recalled the Edlen storyline from the guidebook. Artsvel and Lia never appeared in it. Considering the snowball effect triggered by Julio''s deception, it truly was a nonsensical story. "Let''s go. We need to learn the next skill." "Ah, thest one is swordsmanship, right? I''m actually the senior here." -He''s going to get wreckedter. -Real talk lol -Thumbs up if Roper quits from shame. Finally, iit was time for Swordsmanship. Although Yeonwoo imed that it was his main skill, the viewers were already teasing him. "Hey, I got a rank 2, you know? I worked really hard." "What''s the grade?" "...Advanced." -Oh, you too? -Me too, haha -Average viewer lol The second skill in the swordsmanship tree is "Proficient Swordsmanship." It was a passive skill that simply enhanced the basic swordsmanship skill. "You learned that from the guidebook too, right?" "There wasn''t really anythingplicated about it in the first ce. You just have to swing a wooden sword for about an hour and do some simple sparring." "That''s nice. Guess swordsmanship isn''t for you." "...That doesn''t make sense. You''re not going to get a Unique grade for this one too, are you?" -No way. -This can''t be happening. -Tell me it isn''t so. -FYI: In RP, most people go for the swordsmanship skill tree. -That''s me right here. Viewers who had already learned swordsmanship cried out in despair. But it couldn''t be helped. "Let''s go." The two headed straight into the forest. They climbed a low mountain along a winding path. Continuing along the path, they spotted a small hut near the summit. [Balder the Swordsman] A middle-aged man sat at a table in front of the door, a liquor jug in his hand. "I''vee to learn some swordsmanship." In response to the question, the swordsman took a few swigs of his drink. Then, ncing sideways, he said, "Swing the wooden sword. Until I tell you to stop." Ding! [Quest] Learn swordsmanship from Balder the Swordsman. If you pass his test, you will be able to learn swordsmanship suitable for your level. Objective: Swing the wooden sword until Balder instructs you to stop. Reward: Unlocks the next quest in the chain. epting the quest, Hanbit picked up a wooden sword ced on one side. The atmosphere in the chat changed slightly. -It took me an hour and a half. -Don''t you think there''s a minimum number of swings? -Nope, posture is important. You just have to endure to the end. -Did you forget how ck Dragon did in archery? 30-minute clear. -Don''t be ridiculous lol. The fastest time ever is 28 minutes. -Themunity isn''t everything. -Still, let''s not get too hyped up..." All sorts of advice and spection poured in from viewers who had already experienced this. The consensus was that no matter how fast he is, it will take more than 40 minutes. Reading through the chat, Hanbit had an idea. "Want to make a bet? Will I finish within 30 minutes or not?" "Oh, I like that!" Yeonwoo quickly chimed in with enthusiasm. -30 minutes lol -Can he do it? -Is there no Sword Saint Association? [Sword God has registered a 200,000 won challenge mission.] [Sess ifpleted within 25 minutes. If you fail, you get no money and have to bungee jump off a cliff.] -Sword God, lol -Reduced the time by 5 minutes like a rat. lol -That penalty is harsh. -If he doesn''t even get the money, that''s worse than the Phone Scam Association... ¡°25 minutes? No way, that''s ridiculous!¡± Yeonwoo was the first to react to the increased difficulty. Seeing this, Hanbit feigned surprise and said, "25 minutes? Hmm..." "That''s too difficult, isn''t it?" "Well, let''s give it a try." -He''s actually doing it lol -Isn''t this bullying at this point? -If you''re feeling wronged, then seed. -I''d bet a thousand won at 25 minutes. -If he fails, it''s 0 won lol" [Kitchen Knife has donated 20,000 won to the challenge mission.] [25 minutes. LOLOLOLOL] [Sword Mister has donated 70,000 won to the challenge mission.] [Still, 25 minutes is a bit...] ¡­¡­. "Wow! 800,000 won! Thank you!" [Prize Money: 807,000 won] As Yeonwoo''s said, the prize money surpassed 800,000 won. ''800,000 won?'' Hanbit''s eyes widened at the amount, twice as much as the archery bet. He''d heard swordsmanship was popr, but he didn''t expect it to be this much. "Whew." Exhaling briefly, Hanbit gripped the wooden sword with both hands and closed his eyes. -Pretending to be a master lol -Chunnibyo ON -He''s an emotional guy lol Completely focused, Hanbit''s body didn''t move an inch. The viewersughed and mocked him at this unfamiliar sight. But the swordsman reacted differently. "...?" He stopped drinking. An eerie atmosphere fills the air, silencing everyone. Before anyone can grasp what''s happening, ck Dragon swung the wooden sword. Whoosh-! A single movement cut through the wind. The swordsman dropped his liquor jug and eximed, "Stop. That''s enough." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 14 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 14 -...? -Huh? -He swung just once, though? -Is it a bug? -Looks like a dialogue error? -Can we get an NPC change? "Woah...." The viewers were bewildered, and Yeonwoo was dumbfounded. Hanbit slowly let go of his focused mind. "Whew." He never wished for absolute perfection. He just tried to put everything he had into a single movement. He was sure that Swordsman Balder would notice the difference. He had that conviction in his heart. Swoosh-! Balder put down the barrel and rose from his seat, grabbing the wooden sword on the table. When he stood in front of Hanbit, a message popped up. Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Chain quest unlocked.] [Quest] Spar with Swordsman Balder. The difficulty is adjusted ording to the yer''s level and stats. Objective: Win the spar. Reward: 500 gold, Basic Swordsmanship Training Manual (1st rank - ? grade), 1 stat point, 200 experience points -No fucking way lol -You''re saying it really ended with one swing? -This game''s broken. -So it''s not a bug The quest that popped up proved that it wasn''t a system error. The swordsman standing before him had a serious look on his face, the drunkennesspletely gone. "This time, it''s a spar. I''ll adjust to your level, but you''ll have your hands full just blocking my sword." "Okay." -Not gonna be okay for long. -It''s stat correction, but you''ll get fucked up. -If you try to block until the end, he gives you a high-grade reward. -If you twist your whole body and graze him once, he gives you a rare reward. -I got a high-grade reward by blocking with my head. -We''ve agreed to call that getting hit. The spar was quite infamous, but the reward standards were generous. It was just that the perception that it was difficult to block even one of the swordsman''s attacks was too strong. "Ah, the prize money!" At that moment, Yeonwoo, who was in a daze, came to his senses. But then a message popped up with a notification sound. [Sword God has donated 10,000 won.] [Double or nothing? Sessfully block two attacks with the wooden sword. Mission is void if you fail.] -How pathetic -Two times, my ass. lol -Look how desperate he is. -Double or nothing? (Please do it) -No way. You can''t even block one attack -An NPC isn''t the same as a target. lol -A moving hiiigh-grade target. ¡°Huh? A double-or-nothing?¡± Yeonwoo scratched his cheek and looked at the challenge mission. [Sess ifpleted within 25 minutes. If you fail, you get no money and bungee jump off a cliff.] [Prize money: 975,000 won] The increased amount was almost 1 million won. This was, of course, due to the overwhelming number of swordsmanship yers. ¡°Hyung, what are you going to do? But honestly, blocking the attacks is really tough.¡± ¡°...If it''s doubled, it''s 200, right?¡± Hanbit''s eyes widened at the enormous amount. ¡®If it''s blocking two attacks¡­¡¯ Moving as a game character required quite a lot of thought. The more precision required, the greater the disconnect between mind and body. ¡®I have to seed at this no matter what.¡¯ Even with those limitations, Hanbit was confident. Mental strength and concentration were things that many peoplemonly talked about. In reality, this made more things possible than one might think. His experience of surviving countless times in the line of fire proved that. ¡°Okay. Let''s give it a try.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± -He''s not backing down from this -Just take the money, man. -Yeah, this is a real no-no. -Poor ck Dragon, about to get wrecked. ?? -Looks like he''s about to lose the 1 million won he originally won; The surprised viewers were mostly in a mood of mourning. However. Ding-! A message from the viewer ''Sword God'' changed the flow. [Sword God has donated 1,000,000 won to the challenge mission.] -Are you really insane? -You didn''t bet your entire fortune, did you? -He can''t clear it. (Please) -Is this really a safe asset? -You never know with ck Dragon. -Only you don''t know. lol The motivation was now sufficient. Hanbit, more serious than ever, adjusted his grip on the wooden sword. ¡°... .¡± The two men, swords drawn, were silent. Their gazes met, as if searching each other''s hearts. It was the swordsman who made the first move. Thud-! With just a light hop, he closed the distance in an instant. Whoosh-! An attack flew in from below, his visionpletely blocked. Having read the trajectory in advance, Hanbit twisted his upper body and tried to pull the wooden sword towards his body. However, the character''s reaction was a little slow. Swish-! The swordsman''s wooden sword grazed past the hair on his forehead. Hanbit kicked off the ground and retreated backward. -Wow, I thought he was going to block it right away -No way. -Does the swordsman look like a pushover to you? -But wasn''t he about to block it? -Nope, not even close. The swordsman was moving ording to Hanbit''s level and stats. So, reading the attack with his eyes was easy. The problem was implementing that response with the character''s body. To make this possible, he had to move as if he had anticipated it. ¡®It''s a good thing I learned Swiftness.¡¯ The Swiftness skill he learned from Lia created a very slight increase in speed. But that small difference was very important to Hanbit. It was like adding a screw to his misaligned senses. Hanbit took a deep breath and focused on the swordsman''s body. His arms and legs, the hand and fingers holding the wooden sword. The amount of force put into his steps when he kicked off the ground. The time it took from the twisting of his upper body to the preliminary motion. With only his eyes and mind working properly, he had to see everything. ¡°You seem to be doing a lot of thinking.¡± The swordsman, who had been observing him, spoke quietly. ¡°You seem to be doing a lot of thinking too.¡± ¡°...That leisure will soon disappear.¡± Thud-! The swordsman closed the distance again. Whoosh-! This time, too, he used his narrowed vision to attack from below. But Hanbit, who had concentrated all his mental strength, was certain. That''s a feint. Swish-! As he raised his wooden sword to the right, the swordsman''s attack immediately flew in. ck-! A clear sound rang out. Hanbit had seeded in his first block. -Wow. -Is this guy really crazy? -He didn''t fall for that fake; -I went in after looking at the guide, but I just couldn¡¯t distinguish the fakes. -So, even if you know, you''re supposed to get hit no matter what ¡°... .¡± The swordsman, his attack blocked, stepped back with wide eyes. His slightly furrowed brows revealed his displeasure. Of course, Hanbit, who had seeded in defending, wasn''t satisfied either. Thud-! The swordsman kicked off the ground again. Whoosh-! The sword that flew in this time was a little faster than before. Hanbit raised his concentration ordingly. Hook-! Swish-! The sound of the sword cutting through the wind reced the silence. The swordsman''s movements deliberately avoided the shing of wooden swords. The speed of the attacks also kept increasing. ¡®He must be getting impatient.¡¯ The swordsman in front of him had a strong sense of pride and self-esteem. And to that extent, he was quite strict with himself. This situation, where he couldn''t overwhelm with pure skill, would be a great stress for him. Swish-!* Hook-! The iing attacks gradually focused on power and speed. Adjusting to his level, stat correction. These words no longer had any meaning. Now, he had to ovee not only the swordsman''s skill, but also the difference in physical ability. ¡®Just a little more.¡¯ In this situation, he needed an opportunity. An opportunity to turn the tables and catch him off guard. He waited for that one moment. Hook-! At that moment, the swordsman,pletely immersed in the fight, tried to thrust his sword toward his neck. He read the prelude to that movement. ¡®Now!¡¯ Thud-! Hanbit kicked off the ground and charged forward. Caught off guard, the swordsman instinctively moved his wooden sword. It ended up looking like an awkward defensive stance. ck-! The wooden swords naturally shed against each other, making a loud sound. But then. Whirl-! Suddenly, the swordsman spun around andunched a counterattack with a murderous glint in his eyes as if he were holding a real sword. That tant emotion made it easier to read his movements. Swish-! It was clear where the tip of his sword would reach. Slightly leaning his upper body back, Hanbit immediately swung his wooden sword horizontally. Whack-! The two swords collided, making a loud sound. And Hanbit''s wooden sword, unable to withstand the force, was flung far away. At the same time, the swordsman''s eyes changed. ¡°Ugh¡­ .¡± The swordsman, his face contorted in a grimace, seemed to finally realize what he had done. In the end, it was the result of being overwhelmed not by skill, but by physical ability. Self-disgust, anger, and humiliation were clearly visible on his face. Hanbit let out a short sigh and looked at the chat window. ¡°Two blocks. That''s a sess, right?¡± -Uh¡­ what? -Wait, didn''t he not learn swordsmanship yet? -More importantly, where did the stat correction go? -The swordsman''s eyes flipped the moment ck Dragon blocked the first attack. -But he seeded in the mission in that state? -ck Dragon, first, tell us your real-life job. We''ll even understand if you''re a contract killer. -Is that what an expert looks like when pushed to the extreme¡­? ¡°Hyung, have you really worked with a sword before or something?¡± The viewers and Yeonwoo were simply astonished. However, for Hanbit, it was an opportunity to realize many things in many ways. Ding-! [Sword God has donated 100,000 won.] [Mission sess, congrats. When does the tutoring start?] -Oh. -Tutoring. lol -The man who teaches Sword God. -2 million won prize victor. -He deserves this. -Beyond envy, this is just fucking amazing ¡°Thank you for the 100,000 won donation! I''ll take the prize money right away!¡± Excited, Yeonwoo quickly moved his hands. [You have seeded in the challenge mission.] [You have received 2,253,000 won in prize money.] -?? -Amazing. -Wasn''t ck Dragon on day two? -And it''s not even his own stream. lol -Don''t worry. The mission prize money all goes to ck Dragon~ ¡°Crazy¡­¡± ¡°Thank you all! And to Sword God, who made the biggest donation! Please visit us often!¡± Hanbit was genuinely impressed, and Yeonwoo repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Hanbit, who checked the amount several times, spoke to the viewers. ¡°Thank you. But the tutoring¡­ how do I even do that?¡± -Why are you so serious? lol -It''s a joke, a joke. -Looking at the nickname, it seems like he really wants to learn. [Sword God has donated 10,000 won.] [Just use the sword a lot. So I can learn by watching.] The person involved, who appeared immediately, added those words. His request wasn''t difficult at all. Because the sword was Hanbit''s favorite weapon. ¡°I''ll use it often. To do that, first¡­ I need to finish this.¡± Hanbit turned his gaze to the swordsman, whom he had forgotten for a moment. ¡®I need to get him going quickly.¡¯ Perhaps his mind was veryplicated, as his body was trembling. That personality, where emotions were clearly visible on the outside. It was a weakness as a swordsman, but he was a man who silently walked his own path. Perhaps he would try to train right away. ¡°The spar is over, right?¡± ¡°...Yes. Wait a moment.¡± The swordsman went into the hut with a heavy reply. When he came back out, he was holding a yellow book in his hand. ¡°Take it.¡± Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Based on Balder''s evaluation, the reward has been adjusted to the maximum.] [500 gold ¡ú Increased to 3,000 gold.] [Basic Swordsmanship Training Manual (1st rank - Unique) has been awarded.] [Stat points increased from 1 ¡ú 5.] [Experience points increased from 200 ¡ú 700.] [Level up!] [1 stat point awarded.] [Standard-issue sword awarded.] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 15 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 15 -Holy shit hahahahaha -4 Unique achievements. -Themunity strategy posts are going to explode. -How can anyone follow that? -Watch the video and follow along~ -It''s easy, right? [Sword King has donated 50,000 won.] [I want some tutoring too;] ¡°Thank you for the 50,000 won donation!¡± While Yeonwoo was interacting, Hanbit epted the training manual. Poof-! ¡®Basic Swordsmanship¡¯ was registered as he used it. He had obtained all the skills disclosed in the guidebook. Now it was time to move on to whaty beyond that. ¡°That won''t be enough for you.¡± The swordsman, who had been standing silently, met his eyes and spoke. -? -What do you mean, not enough? The viewers were the first to react to the unfamiliar situation. Hanbit, who had already anticipated it, nodded. ¡°It''s not enough. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°I hear that my master hase to Edlen. If you meet him, you might receive apletely different kind of teaching.¡± He held out a piece of cloth with a green sword pattern drawn on it. As he received it, a message popped up. [Quest] You have heard news of Swordsman Balder''s master. If you gain his recognition, you might be able to learn a very special skill. Objective: Find the Swordsman of the Wind in the Edlen region. Reward: Chain quest unlocked -A special skill? -Is this a hidden skill? -Swordsman of the Wind ?? -Isn''t it just another 2nd rank skill? -What hidden skill in the starting zone; -Stop with the delusions. lol The emphasized words sparked a fight in the chat window. ¡®It is a hidden skill.¡¯ The rmended skills that Hanbit had seen. Several nk spaces among them shone particrly brightly. One of them was the hidden skill that could be obtained in Edlen. ¡°Thank you. I''ll meet him.¡± ¡°Find the ce where the wind gathers. If you show this cloth to my master, perhaps¡­ he will grant you an audience.¡± After finishing his words, the swordsman disappeared behind the cabin with his real sword. ¡®The ce where the wind gathers¡­¡¯ There was nothing more to add to the urate description. Ordinary yers wouldn''t even have a clue. ¡°What is this? A special skill?¡± ¡°Well. I''m sure it''s something good.¡± ¡°Ah, hyung! You know!¡± The two went down the mountain path. Immediately after entering the city again, an rm rang. Ding-! [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Hundreds of people are moving to the hut. The swordsman is scheduled for overtime.] -LOL -Aren''t they mostly newbies? lol -ck Dragon has released a poison. -What if there''s a national swordsmanship representative there? -Even then, it would be tough, wouldn''t it? -Wouldn''t it be possible if they''re a national representative? -What if they''re a capsule owner? -Well, you can''t buy that even if you have money~ Hanbit, who was reading the chat, also had a question. ¡®Is it possible if you''re a real genius?¡¯ Hanbit didn''t think he had talent. It was just that the depth of his training and actualbat experience was overwhelming. Could there be someone with enough talent to close that gap? ¡°But why did youe back to Edlen? What about your master?¡± ¡°Ah, that. I''ll look for him tomorrow.¡± -? -Don''t cross the line. -Everyone, it''ste at night. -I sleep at 10 am? -Anyway, don''t go; Despite thete hour, the viewers were trying to hold onto him somehow. Hanbit answered firmly. ¡°Have you forgotten that I''m only on day two today? If you''re curious about what kind of skill it is,e back tomorrow.¡± -Ah. -Come to think of it, it is day two; -I thought it was year two? -If you''re still in Edlen after two years, aren''t you a pervert? -That''s just my preference. The viewers who had truly forgotten reacted. Yeonwoo, watching the situation, raised his voice. ¡°Ah, you''re definitely right. We''ve aplished a lot.¡± ¡°Then I''ll be going. See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, go on in.¡± -See ya -See you tomorrow. -Please no tomorrow -Dragon bye. -Dragon bye. lol Click- The game ended with the viewers'' farewells. ¡°Whew.¡± Hanbit, taking off the gear, let out a sigh. ¡°Ugh, it''s hot.¡± His hair and back were soaked with sweat. It seemed he wouldn''t be able to sleep without taking a shower. Hanbit grabbed a towel and was about to leave the room. Bzzz- At that moment, a vibration suddenly went off. He picked up his smartphone and his eyes widened. ¡¸Joo Yeonwoo¡¹ ¡¸Hyung, I sent the donations and prize money to your ount. I''m going to sleep now~¡¹ ¡°...Already?¡± He had thought he would have to wait a few days for the payment. Surprised, Hanbit quickly opened his banking app. ¡°How much was it? How much will it be?¡± His eyes were glued to the screen with happy anticipation There was no need to go into the transfer details. There hadn''t even been 10,000 won in this ount in the first ce. But now it was filled with an absurd amount of money. [3,113,000 won] ¡°Crazy.¡± He couldn''t believe his eyes. He was surprised that Yeonwoo had really given him all of the prize money from the challenge mission, but there was more. He must have received a tremendous amount of donations. ¡°Is this for real?¡± Despite thete hour, he was wide awake. To think he had earned more than his intern sry in just two days. Moreover, the actual ytime was only about 10 hours. ¡°Ha¡­¡± He couldn''t help but sigh at the unrealistic gap. His internship, where he was tied to his desk, spying on those around him, and the old memories¡­ Compared to that, this was a game he enjoyed ying. It was a world he knew, but the streaming and viewers had doubled the fun and the money. ¡°...Should I skip work?¡± The thought of going to work in the morning made him say those words. But he knew it was impossible. The cold reality wasn''t easy enough to change with 3 million won. ¡°Let''s wash up first.¡± Hanbit sighed and left the room with a towel. His mother was asleep in the big room with the door open. ¡®I should hold back from being a hotshot son.¡¯ He wanted to wake her up right away and tell her about the 3 million won. But he couldn''t disturb his mother''s sleep before work. Tap- Hanbit opened the banking app and immediately transferred the money. ¡®Done.¡¯ Hanbit, who had sent 3 million won to his mother, nodded with satisfaction. He quickly finished showering and returned to his room. ¡®So what''s going to happen?¡¯ Hanbity in bed, staring nkly at the dark ceiling. As expected, RP was the world he had been actively involved in. It felt like he was doing his 56th challenge again, just in apletely different way. ¡®Can I get there this time?¡¯ Achieving the goal he had failed to achieve in 55 attempts. He was honestly frustrated that he hadn''t even seen Erport''s face. Could he reach it this time, with the changed environment? There was also the possibility of meeting the goddess again after everything was over. ¡®Come to think of it, the identity of the developers, Zero¡­¡¯ His train of thought gradually faded. Perhaps he was more tired than he thought, as he fell asleep quickly. * * * The next morning. ¡°Kang Hanbit!¡± Hanbit abruptly sat up at the thunderous roar. His forearm was burning hot, as if it had been through hellfire. ¡°Mom?¡± His mother''s face came into view through his half-opened eyes. Her enraged expression and the smartphone in her hand gradually became clear. At the same time, he noticed the stinging in his arm. ¡°My arm!¡± His forearm, where his mother had struck him, was left with a red mark. Hanbit, feeling truly wronged, yelled, ¡°Why did you hit me?!¡± ¡°Tell me the truth.¡± His pleas fell on deaf ears. His mother shoved the smartphone screen in his face and asked, ¡°Where did this moneye from? You took it from that ount, didn''t you?¡± The ount where he had deposited all the money he had sent during his military service. He had said it was his remaining sry, but it wasn''t an amount that could be exined by that, so he never touched it. The money his son had worked hard to save should be used for his son. He thought she would be really angry if he had withdrawn money from there. ¡°What ount? I earned this from a game.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her son''s answer, as he rubbed his arm, was absurd. He had said he was ying RP, but how could he earn 3 million won in two days? It was a ridiculous story. ¡°You know what happens if you lie, right?¡± ¡°Why would I lie? I received it while helping Yeonwoo with his game stream.¡± ¡°Stream? Yeonwoo is doing a game stream?¡± His mother was also well aware of game streaming. This was also because it was a hot topic in the news. Half of it was sensational stories linked to social issues. ¡°Isn''t that dangerous?¡± ¡°What''s dangerous? It''s just that I''m so good at the game that I earned money. People give donations as a way of support.¡± ¡°... .¡± Despite her lingering surprise, his mother knew well that her son would never do anything bad. The biggest trouble he had ever caused was when he secretly dropped out of high school and tried to get a job. So she was always worried about this side of him. ¡°Ha¡­¡± ncing at her watch, his mother put her smartphone in her bag. ¡°Let''s talk about this again when I get back. You get ready for work too.¡± ¡°No, I''m telling you the truth!¡± The aggrieved Hanbit chased after his mother who was heading for the front door. She said as she put on her shoes, ¡°Who said it''s a lie? I''m worried because it seems like you''re working as hard as you would at a job. Does 3 million won make sense?¡± ¡°No, it''s not work¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve somewhere to stop by, so I''m in a hurry! Eat your breakfast and get ready for work!¡± Thud-! Hanbit stared nkly at the closed door. He grumbled, but he knew his mother''s heart well. No matter how much he said he grew up withoutcking anything, that was only his perspective as a child. His mother, who had been fighting debt for 20 years, always felt sorry for her son. Perhaps his attempt to drop out of high school was the biggest trigger. ¡°Ah...¡± He sat down on a chair at the dining table and let out a sigh. It didn''t matter if gaming and streaming became his second job. That''s how much Hanbit wanted to give his mother afortable life as soon as possible. He couldn''t make up for the past 20 years, but it was his duty as a son. ¡°Let''s get ready for work.¡± Cutting off his thoughts, Hanbit finished getting ready and left the house. Sitting on the bus, he took out the guidebook he had brought in his bag. ¡®What I need is game progress and money¡­¡¯ The worries from before he fell asleep continued. There were two main goals. One was to progress quickly in the game and head beyond where he couldn''t reach before. The other was to earn money through streaming or in-game elements. ¡®With 3 million won¡­ it really wouldn''t look ordinary.¡¯ Looking at it again now, it was a strange amount. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn''t an amount he could earn in two days. Of course, yesterday was a special case. Since it was the first time, the viewers must have been greatly stimted. If he was confident that he could consistently earn that much, it wouldn''t be strange for his life n to change. ¡®Do I need a bigger stimulus?¡¯ Yesterday''s stream was all about acquiring basic skills. Today''s agenda was acquiring the first hidden skill. As it was known to be very rare, a good response was expected. ¡®Things that make money¡­ are about this much.¡¯ Currently, he was thinking of three main sources of ie. Donations, items, and information. In particr, the timing of selling information was the most important. Most of it would have to be after Hanbit used it. ¡®Should I make them wait a bit?¡¯ He was familiar with the act of buying and selling. In fact, he had even possessed a loan shark before. Both items and information tended to increase in value the more anxious the buyer became. ¡®I need a reputation too.¡¯ A thought suddenly came to mind. Hanbit took out his smartphone, searched for themunity RPG, and logged in. ¡°Huh?¡± The list of popr posts caught his eye the most. It was hard to miss any of the titles lined up. ¡®This is working.¡¯ He stared wide-eyed at the stories, all rted to him. The number of views for each post reached hundreds of thousands. As he was looking through them, Hanbit found a particrly provocative title. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 16 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 16 "Identity?" The title was an irresistible clickbait. Hanbit''s finger moved on its own, clicking the link. I''ve been watching Roper''s streams and it finally hit me. It has to be one of these: RP Developer (Team Zero) Probably a former employee. Based on his knowledge and gamey, it''s definitely possible. Special Forces Veteran working for a Corporation As you know, corporations rarely disclose information. They''re probably trying to train the ultimate advance team with all the intel they''ve gathered. Author of the Original Novel This is the most likely. ck Dragon mentioned reading a web novel called "Erport" on stream. The title and the circumstances make it almost certain. (Though I couldn''t find it.) -What a load of crap; -If he was a former developer, the admins would''ve already banned him, idiot. -Special Forces my ass lol -He''s not Special Forces, he''s a hitman. -©¸ LOL for real -Is that web novel even real? Is this a joke? ''Their effort ismendable, but...'' Hanbit, the person in question, scratched his head. It was obvious that if he suddenly started talking about regression, possession, and reincarnation, people would think he was crazy. In the end, it was easier to let them specte. A web novel that didn''t exist in this world would never be found. Bzzt- Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a call from Yeonwoo. ¡°Hyung!¡± A loud voice boomed as soon as he answered. Hanbit slightly pulled the phone away from his ear and lowered his voice. "That ¡®hyung¡¯ is dead." ¡°Okay, okay, just go to the RPGmunity forum! Everyone''s talking about you!¡± Yeonwoo easily brushed off the familiar joke, still excited. "I already saw it. Are you getting more viewers today?" ¡°Of course! We''re definitely hitting five digits!¡± "My ears are ringing." He chuckled at the sheer excitement in Yeonwoo''s voice. It was understandable for him to be happy, considering his channel was indeed growing. ¡°Oh, hyung. Do you want to meet up after work? I have something to talk about.¡± It was a sudden suggestion, but Yeonwoo wouldn''t bring it up without a reason. "Talk about what?" ¡°I''ll tell you when we meet. Want to grab dinner together?¡± "Where should we meet?" * * * "Good morning." Hanbit arrived at the office, mumbled a greeting, and promptly buried himself in his work. His supervisor, Lee Minho, had left a message saying he was visiting the R&D department. In other words, there was no one to talk to. Flip- Hanbit secretly pulled out the documents Minho had given him and started reading. The content wasplex, but thanks to Minho''s meticulous organization, he could understand it well enough. "Hey." A voice suddenly called out from a distance. It was the team leader, his brow furrowed in displeasure. "You, intern! Get over here, now!" He seemed to be in a foul mood. Hanbit rose from his seat, hid the documents, and walked over. "Yes, Team Leader?" "Why are you so slow? Do you think this is a school?" "I apologize." There was no point in expecting reason from the team leader when he was simply venting his frustration. After apologizing and waiting for a moment, the team leader tossed a card at him. "Go downstairs and buy some coffee." It was a simple enough errand. Hanbit picked up the card and, met the team leader''s gaze, and asked, "What kind of coffee should I get?" "Everyone here drinks iced Americano. Didn''t Minho tell you?" "...I apologize. I forgot. I''ll get it right away." Sensing a threat to his supervisor, Hanbit quickly apologized again and turned to leave. "Tsk." He heard the team leader click his tongue and felt his burning gaze on his back. This childish and tant disy of displeasure was actually easier to deal with. People who were difficult to read were far more troublesome. Ding-! Hanbit bought the coffee at the cafe on the first floor and returned to the office in the elevator. But then... "Just do it, you idiot!" For some reason, the team leader was yelling at Minho. "Team Leader, with my current workload, I don''t have the time..." "Hey, when I was your age, I worked many times harder. I barely got an hour of sleep a week. Don''t me yourck of dedication on your workload." "..." Minho remained silent in the face of the one-sided scolding. The team leader, looking at him with disdain, threw a stack of papers onto the desk. However, he threw them with too much force, scattering them across the floor. "Forget it. Organize this and submit a report by the day after tomorrow. Got it?" "...Got it." Minho bowed his head and bent down to gather the scattered papers. Hanbit quickly rushed over, put down the card and coffee, and started helping him. "It''s okay. I''ll do it." "It''ll be faster if we do it together." Despite Minho''s protests, Hanbit moved his hands quickly. The team leader, looking down at them, scoffed and said, "Bunch of idiots." He took his coffee out of the holder, stood up, and left the office. The other employees didn''t show even a hint of interest, seemingly ustomed to such scenes. "All done." "Thank you." Having finished organizing the documents, they returned to their seats. "..." Lee Minho sat beside him, staring nkly at his turned-off monitor. His face was clouded with thoughts. Seeing this, Hanbit subtly shifted his gaze to the stack of documents. ''It definitely said "Record Project,"'' he thought. He had seen "RP" countless times on the papers scattered across the floor. Based on this fragmented information, it seemed thepany was involved in development rted to the Record Project. Tick-tock- Time passed silently, and soon it was lunchtime. Everyone except Hanbit and Minho had already left the office. Confirming they were alone, Hanbit spoke first. "Mr. Lee, is the task the team leader assigned you rted to RP?" "What? How did you...?" Minho, who had been absorbed in his work, reacted with surprise. "I apologize. I think I caught a glimpse of it while helping you organize the documents earlier. I thought thispany wasn''t involved with RP?" "...It wasn¡¯t, but things have changed. They''ve decided to try developing RP gear." "Gear?" Entec Technology, a manufacturer of semiconductorponents, had no direct connection to games. However, it was only natural for them to be interested in the massive cash cow that was RP. In fact, they were quitetepared to otherpanies. ''It''s difficult to jump into clearing the game now.'' Clearing RP granted ownership of the game, but they would be two years behind otherpetitors. Therefore, investing in gear with a focus on the future could be a wise choice. "But isn''t it too early to assign tasks to the design department? Shouldn''t R&D finish their work first?" "The directive was given to all departments, including ours. We''re supposed to actually y RP and find technical improvements and solutions that align with our department''s expertise." "...Find improvements?" The idea was so absurd that it felt unreal. Modern science hadn''t yet fully deciphered the principles and technology behind RP gear. Yet, they were asking each department to find improvements? It was apletely nonsensical order. "I''m so busy these days that I don''t have time... This is difficult. I''m sorry, but it seems like it''ll be harder for me to help you in the future." Minho let out a deep sigh, genuinely apologetic. Seeing his despairing expression, a question suddenly popped into Hanbit''s mind. ''Could there be something in the gear as well?'' The secrets of RP couldn''t be limited to just one or two things. If there was something hidden within the mysterious device called "gear," wouldn''t this be an opportunity? After all, ordinary people wouldn''t be able to tamper with the technical aspects. Having made up his mind, Hanbit looked at his dejected supervisor and said, "How about I help you with that?" * * * After leaving work, Hanbit took the bus back to his neighborhood. His destination was the pork cutlet restaurant in front of his house. "Hyung!" Yeonwoo had already arrived and was seated in a private room. Hanbit sat across from him and ced their order. "What''s wrong? You look like you haven''t slept." "I got four hours. More importantly, take a look at this." Yeonwoo, with a tired face, ced his smartphone on the table. The screen disyed a call log filled with unknown names. "Is this what it''s like to be a streamer and apany?" "Exactly. There are also high-ranking yers who operate independently, but anyway, I got a ton of inquiries," Yeonwoo continued his exnation while scrolling through the list, his eyes sparkling. Hanbit looked away from the unfamiliar names and took a sip of water. "Is it really necessary to go this far?" "Of course. Anyone with a bit of foresight would try to buy low, right? You''re at your cheapest right now." "Cheapest? What are you talking about?" Despite the absurd expression, Hanbit understood the meaning perfectly. The people who contacted him were different from those in the onlinemunity. They weren''t driven by interest but solely by profit. "By the way, there was even a contact from a scout at a major corporation." "A major corporation?" The words "major corporation" caught his attention. Seeing this, Yeonwoo chuckled and continued, "It''s apany called Yeonhwa Gaming. They have two advance teams. Even as a newbie, your starting sry would probably be 100 million won." "... That''s a lot." 100 million won in annual sry. In a way, it was a symbolic number. But to offer such a sry to a neer... it was beyond the level of an ordinary corporation. "Are they scouting only me? Or both of us?" "Come on, of course, it''s only you, hyung. I don''t even expect that. Anyway, let me tell you a bit about Yeonhwa Group. Yeonhwa Electronics is the most famous, but they''re also investing heavily in RP..." Hanbit watched Yeonwoo as he eagerly continued his exnation. There was something strangely awkward about his tone and demeanor. It was a sincere rmendation, but he was hiding something. Screech- Hanbit got up from his seat and approached Yeonwoo. "Huh? Hyung, what are you doing? Wait a minute." Yeonwoo, flustered by the strange atmosphere, backed away. But Hanbit caught him first. Grab-! "Ugh!" As Hanbit wrapped his arms around Yeonwoo''s torso, a scream erupted. It might have looked like wrestling, but it was a technique he had learned from an expert in the other world. An incredibly painful stretching technique, one might say. "Joo Yeonwoo." "Hyung! Let go of me and we can talk, let go!" "Do you think I''ve only known you for a day or two? Tell me what''s going on, right now!" "Okay! Okay, I''ll tell you, just..." Click- Just then, the door suddenly opened. The employee who had brought the trolley stood frozen, staring at the two of them. "Uh... I''lle backter." Click- Having witnessed the wrestling match, the employee quietly closed the door. "Wait a minute!" Hanbit quickly released his hold and chased after the employee. After clearing up the misunderstanding and having their food served, the conversation resumed. "Enough with the build-up. Get to the point." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 17 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 17 "Well, the thing is..." Yeonwoo fidgeted with his uncut pork cutlet, avoiding Hanbit''s gaze. Seeing right through him, Hanbit sighed. "Just tell me what you want, whether it''s a favor or something else. We''re close enough for that, aren''t we? Or do you really want me to join Yeonhwa Gaming?" "...That''s why I''m doing this. Even for argepany, it''s rare to offer this much for a starting sry." Yeonwoo''s words were sincere. He knew how much Hanbit had been stressing about getting a job, even back in the military. He was particrly interested in a high sry. "Wait a minute." Hanbit took out his smartphone. Scrolling through the onlinemunity, he pulled up a post and ced the phone on the table. "I saw this yesterday." "What is it?" "Internal expos¨¦." "Huh?" Yeonwoo, with a puzzled expression, turned his gaze to the phone screen. It disyed a post that seemed to have been shared from amunity of office workers. Let me get straight to the point. Don''t go unless you want to be a real ve. Here are a few basic rules: Company-sponsored advance teams are kings. Don''t ask questions, just memorize it. The advance team is the king, and the advance team''sckeys are nobles. At least up to the department head level, you¡¯ll just be bowing down to the advance team. All the gold, items, and information you acquire belong to the advance team. To be precise, it goes into the palms of the advance team or theirckeys. Incentives? Even if you find a hidden skill, it will be recorded as an achievement for the advance team. By the way, you''re being monitored even when you''re logged in at home, so don''t even try anything funny. Synchronization of game and reality Including what''s written in rule number 2, you have to live as a ve to the advance team in reality as well. From trivial errands to being an emotional trash can, you will be a perfect ve. By the way, being an emotional trash can is the most important task. ... -What is this? -Is this for real? -I won''t believe it without proof. -©¸ You need an employee ID to join thatmunity. -There''s a lot more crap besides what''s written in the post. -©¸ LOL for real -©¸ Noment. -©¸ Scared? -©¸ To be honest, defamation is scary. -There''s a reason they pay a lot of money. -Isn''t this personality erasure? -But it is too much money to run away from. "..." Yeonwoo was speechless after reading the post. Even though he already knew about this, it was difficult to tell Hanbit. "What do you think? Does this seem real?" "...Certainly, there are manypanies with this kind of atmosphere, but Yeonhwa Gaming is different. The advance team here isn''t authoritarian. Especially since you''re being scouted." "But it''s not like I can immediately rece the advanced yers, right? Or are you saying I should try to be a goodckey?" "Oh, hyung!" Yeonwoo raised his voice as if he was feeling wronged when Hanbit jokingly taunted him. Watching him with amusement, Hanbit finally revealed his thoughts. "I''m not going to a bigpany. I don''t want them interfering with my gaming." "What? But the annual sry is 100 million won!" "I don''t care. If I said no, then it''s no." Seeing Hanbit''s stubborn refusal, Yeonwoo closed his mouth and stared at him. Then, nodding to himself, he said, "As expected, hyung, you''re an inspiration to all gamers." "What nonsense are you spouting now?" "Choosing the dream of fantasy over a stable job... I''ll write your biography when you die, hyung. ''The Legend of the RP Expert.''" "Should I just kill you now?" Hanbit raised his fork with a piece of pork cutlet impaled on it. Even amidst this yful banter, he thought to himself, ''Expendable? No way.'' A life burdened with corporate restrictions, where everything he gains is taken away. He would never ept such an offer, no matter how many times they proposed it. Just thinking about his current internship made him feel disgusted. ''Besides, it''s still too early,'' he thought. The 3 million won he earned from gaming and streaming held significant meaning. The fact that he couldn''t make a decision right away meant that the expected value of further consideration was also high. The value of the experience and knowledge he had yet to utilize was unimaginable. It was wiser to postpone deciding on his career path for a bit longer. ''To do that, I need to move quickly.'' High-value items and information are obtained as one progresses through the game. However, he couldn''t be sure if the information and items would be implemented exactly as they were in the other world. The best option here was to reach that point and confirm it himself. For now, he had to use what he had gained to advance quickly. Reaching the point he couldn''t reach in the other world. Improving his and his mother''s lives. All of this was a series of steps towards those goals. "So, what about you? You want to start apany, right?" "...How did you know?" Yeonwoo''s eyes widened at the casually thrown question. Hanbit, chewing on his pork cutlet, answered nonchntly, "You said it in the military. That you wanted to move out and start apany." "Are you talking about what I said during training? That was only once!" "What does it matter if it was only once?" "Well..." Yeonwoo recalled an incident that happened when he was a Private First ss. It was during his first winter training exercise at a guard post. He and Hanbit, who were assigned together, had many conversations. Honestly, most of it was nonsense, so the talk about starting apany was barely a passing remark. "How is your memory so good?" "I don''t know. Anyway, what kind ofpany?" "Hmm." At that question, Yeonwoo put down his spoon and sat up straight. Then, clearing his throat, he said, "I''m going to build a streamer-based group. It''s more like a guild thatbines reality and gaming than a rigidpany." "What''s that?" Hanbit was puzzled. He hadn''t expected Yeonwoo to start an ordinarypany, but this was too unfamiliar. "But didn''t you enjoy game streaming? How are you going to manage both running apany and streaming?" "Of course I enjoy it, but I actually prefer watching games. I''m not really cut out to be a yer." Yeonwoo had always felt a sense of dissonance while ying games. He felt a greater thrill from watching other advance teams or streamers doing extraordinary things. The reason he brought Hanbit in was because he expected him to enjoy the game. Although what he saw yesterday was entertaining in apletely different way. "I''m still in the nning stages, but my dream is to create a family-like atmosphere." "Isn''t that the motto of a typical exploitativepany?" "Come on, do I look like I would exploit anyone? Besides, it''d be way more fun if everyone actually wanted to be there." "That''s true." "...Why are you agreeing so easily?" Yeonwoo asked, dumbfounded. No matter how much Hanbit imagined it, he couldn''t picture his junior running an exploitativepany. "So, what do you do in this family-like atmosphere?" "We stream together and y games together. The streamer will keep all the donations and in-game profits. But we''ll share information first." "Then what about your money? Are your ancestors going to earn it for you? How are you going to run apany?" "I''ve thought about that too." Yeonwoo grinned and touched the screen of his smartphone. An image appeared on the disy. "A video?" The screen showed the main site of the streaming tform, "Recorder." Below it were numerous edited videos of various streamers. "This is your source of ie?" "The feature hasn''t been around for long, but the ad revenue is higher than expected. Thepany handles all the editing and uploading, and the profits are shared with the streamer. They also coordinate coborations." "Really?" It felt simr to watching the old Xtube, but all the videos were about RP. The most popr video, based on recent views, was titled "Frontline: Large-Scale Mob Hunting." It was around 10 minutes long, and there were many other videos, including short clips and longer videos exceeding several hours. "Wouldn''t it be good to create a channel and grow it steadily?" "I don''t know. If that''s what you think, then it must be right." "Oh, I don''t mind the unwavering trust." Contrary to his outward appearance, Yeonwoo was a smart kid. He was not only good at studying and quick-witted, but he also had a broad perspective and thought deeply. If Hanbit had to choose the person he trusted most besides his mother, it would undoubtedly be his junior sitting in front of him. "Let me know when you start yourpany. I''ll help you with anything. I''ll be appearing on your channel anyway, right?" "You should start your own channel soon, hyung. Oh, and I''m not thinking of tying you down with a job. Unless you want to be a co-CEO." "Co-CEO? Forget it. Just tell me what you need. You made an investment, didn¡¯t you?" He remembered the RP gear sitting at the foot of his bed. It was worth 5 million won, more expensive than any other appliance in Hanbit''s house. "Oh,e on, an investment? That was really a gift." "I know, you punk." Yeonwoo''s lies were really easy to see through. Hanbit could sense the awkwardness just by listening to his voice. That''s why he knew the following words were sincere. "Anyway, hyung, think about it a bit more. Don''t think too negatively aboutrgepanies either." "Why? I told you I don''t like those kinds ofpanies." "If you stream for a few more days, the offer might change drastically. You never know what might happen,¡± he dered in a firm voice. In this state, he wouldn''t back down. Hanbit sighed. "Okay, okay. Nothing''s going to change tomorrow anyway." "Right?" The two chuckled and tried to resume their meal. Bzzt- Just then, Yeonwoo''s smartphone on the table vibrated. They looked at each other in sync. < Yeonhwa Gaming - Kim Sohwa > "Ah, it''s just in time. I''ll put you on speakerphone, so at least listen to what they have to say." "Okay." Yeonwoo answered the call and put it on speaker. Hanbit turned his attention back to his pork cutlet. But then... "What?" Yeonwoo''s reaction to the call was strange. "Why?" Hanbit looked at him with a puzzled expression, sensing the shock creeping onto Yeonwoo''s face. "That''s absolutely not true! If that were the case, I wouldn''t have even started streaming..." Yeonwoo, raising his voice, stopped mid-sentence with a dumbfounded look. The call had been disconnected. "What''s wrong? What happened?" "...Hyung, do you remember the advance party Ranger?" "Yeah, the one with the golden bow, right?" Yeonwoo nodded at Hanbit''s answer, then said with a bewildered expression, "The Artsvel quest. That corporation dered they''re monopolizing it." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 18 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 18 "Monopolized?" Hanbit was puzzled by this unexpected news. Was that even possible in this game? "What did they do?" "I''m not sure. They said they suddenly cleared it all at once a little while ago... Let me take a look." Yeonwoo quickly logged into the RPGmunity forum. His expression hardened instantly. "What, are there insults or something?" "It''d be faster to find posts without insults." Yeonwoo put his smartphone back on the table. Hanbit clicked on a post and let out a hollowugh. "It''s on fire." < They swept all the Hero rewards in Rashtan. > It was a firste, first-served reward. Limited to 100 Hero skills. Now, if you get the quest from Artsvel, the reward will show up as Rare grade. It might drop to Advanced or Normal if you''re eventer. Those bastards. -This sucks. ck Dragon, Roper, you bastards! -No wonder I couldn''t find a single Bomb Slime. Damn it. -I wasted my time for nothing. -So, in the end, Rashtan''sckeys manipted it? -Bomb Slimes still aren''t spawning. -©¸ Bow down to Rashtan. -©¸ I have to buy monsters now, not hunt them. Lol -Those corporate trash. -21 hours of grinding... I''m feeling empty. -I was imagining getting rich by being the second to clear it; -So, when are Roper and ck Dragon going live? Tell me, seriously. Thements were clearly divided into two categories. Half were curses andmentations directed at thepany, while the other half were criticisms aimed at ck Dragon and Roper. The atmosphere was already convinced that the two were in cahoots with thepany. "There were only 100 Hero grade skills." "Yeah. Ah, this is really messed up." The reward of Hero grade skills was a huge motivator for yers. If onepany had swept them all, especially through maniption rather than skill, the sense of deprivation would be immense. "We need to start the stream quickly. I don''t care if I get cursed at, but you shouldn''t, hyung." "What, are you going to manage it for me?" "It''s not right for them to criticize you based on spection. They were all praising you when they were getting information." Yeonwoo expressed his displeasure with a frown. Hanbit chuckled and said, "Why are you getting so worked up? We can just tell them it''s not true." "They obviously won''t listen to just words. There will be a lot of trollsing in just to stir up trouble." "Really?" Yeonwoo shook his head as if he could already see the future. Were there really that many people who would cause amotion just for fun? He was a bit curious. "More importantly, what about the corporation that monopolized the rewards? Anything about them?" "It''s a Germanpany called Rashtan... They only posted a statement on their website. Saying they took all the Artsvel quest rewards." A very simple announcement was indeed posted on Rashtan''s website. < We are the true conquerors of the Artsvel quest. Don''t even think about following us. > "What kind of chuunibyou is this? They''re ridiculous." Hanbit scoffed at the automatically tranted announcement. The word "true" ced before "conquerors" was clearly meant to mock him. "An advanced team? How sessful is thispany?" "Their Ranger is a mid-9,000s advanced yer, so they''re on the weaker side among thepetitors. They might have tried to boost morale with this incident." "Hmm." Thepetitive rtionships betweenpanies were outside of Hanbit''s interest. However, thispany, Rashtan, had provoked him first. Even if he released information, they would probably try to monopolize it to death. Hanbit was not the type to be taken advantage of, nor the type to just let it slide. It was only right to pay them back. "What about your stream? Are you going to keep streaming for the time being?" "Until I finalize mypany ns, I''m going to be your manager and cameraman, hyung. Especially today, since the trolls will be going crazy." "That''s fine. It''s not like there''s no way to deal with them." "...You''re thinking of a proper method, right?" Yeonwoo saw the look on Hanbit''s face that suggested he was about to do something again. Since he had already shaken the RP world on his first day, Yeonwoo felt both anticipation and worry. "Come to think of it, I should tell you a bit about streaming." "Streaming?" "First, it''s important to increase your regr viewers. When you start streaming yourself, there will be things to consider, like reactions and other stuff..." Yeonwoo began to recite the necessary advice. Hanbit, who initially intended to do whatever he wanted, listened quite seriously. "Do you get the general idea?" "Yeah,¡± Hanbit, who had been listening quietly, nodded. He then said in a confident voice, "I''ll still do whatever I want." * * * Returning home, Hanbit immediately delved into the guidebook he had purchased. By the time he checked the information he wanted and the things he would needter, quite a bit of time had passed. Ding-! [Hyung, you''rete?] As soon as he logged into RP, Yeonwoo''s message popped up. Several hours had passed since they parted ways. Hanbit looked around and walked into the forest as he replied. [I was looking through the guidebook. Is that adventurer A who wrote it an advanced yer? What about theirpany affiliation?] [They are an advanced yer, but they haven''t revealed their level. Affiliation... solo, maybe? I''m not sure about that either. But why do you ask?] [Just curious. I need to check something, so I''ll contact youter. Let''s start the stream then.] [Okay. I''ll be working on some things, so call me when you''re ready.] With that reply, Yeonwoo''s online status disappeared. Hanbit closed the window and walked deeper into the forest. ''It''s quiet.'' As he went further, he arrived at the cliff where he had caught the Bomb Slimes. Due to the news of the monopoly, there were few yers exploring the area. He went down and examined the crevices of the cliff. ''No slimes either.'' At least a few should have spawned by mid-morning. It was strange that even ordinary Bomb Slimes were nowhere to be seen. Hanbit started running along the cliff. After about 10 minutes, something caught his eye. ''Found it.'' A tree hidden within the thick bushes, almost impossible to reach. There was a hole under the gap covered with roots. Click- Hanbit hid all UI and information and pressed the record button. Lowering his stance, he squeezed his body and went inside. It was a narrow passage, just enough for one person to barely pass through. Following the dim path, he came across arge cavity. ''As expected.'' What came into view was a dark brown mucus. Next to it, and behind it, more of the same creatures were gathering in one spot. Even in the darkness, it was clear they were Bomb Slimes. Gurgle- Something was moving in the spot where the swarming slimes were converging. It looked like the wall was wriggling, but it was actually a massive body undting. [Elite: Bomb Slime King (Lv.7)] ''That''s impressive.'' The monster called Bomb Slime King. It was the king of the slimes, growing its size by attracting ordinary Bomb Slimes. Given its preference forrge trees, it shouldn''t have been in a ce like this. Crackle-! Just then, a small spark flew from the slime king. Hanbit zoomed in with the camera and focused on the ceiling above it. A ck disc with some kind of mark engraved on it was embedded there. ''...A monster attractant?'' It was a single-use item that could be obtained from a dungeon in the north. As the name suggested, it had the effect of attracting nearby monsters. ''I get it now.'' Someone lured this Bomb Slime King here and used the attractant. This caused the slime king''s inherent trait and the monster attractant''s ability to ovep explosively in this space. No wonder all the Bomb Slimes in the area had gathered here. If someone had monopolized this, the culprit was obvious. ''It even has the Rashtan logo.'' Hanbit zoomed in further and examined the mark engraved on the attractant. It was the logo he had seen on Rashtan''s website, stered right there on the attractant. Did it have to be engraved on the item, or were they confident they wouldn''t get caught? Either way, leaving it there was foolish. Click- Hanbit stopped recording and raised his hand. "Fireball." Whoosh! A red fireball flew towards the giant slime. Hanbit quickly hid behind a low mound of dirt. Boom-! True to their name, the Bomb Slimes exploded spectacrly when hit with fire. Peeking out, he saw that they had all disappeared. As expected, they were too easy to kill if that was all he focused on. Ding-! [Experience increased by 7,720.] [Level increased by 4.] [4 Stat Points awarded.] ''Just how many were clustered together?'' Unlike ordinary Bomb Slimes, which didn''t give anything, the Bomb Slime King yielded arge amount of experience. He thought it was just a bit big, but there were far more slimes than what he could see. It must have continued to gather even after Rashtan left. Ding-! Just as he was about to leave, more messages popped up. Hanbit looked and found new notifications. [Title: "Adversary of Bomb Slimes" added to the list.] [Achievement: "Elite Monster Subjugation" achieved.] [1 Stat Point awarded.] "It gives rewards here too." [Adversary of Bomb Slimes] Increases damage dealt to Slime monsters by 5%. Unlike the 55th recorder, this was his first title earned through gamey. Since its effect applied just by having it, it would be good to collect as many as possible. Thud- Hanbit pushed through the debris and headed out of the cave. The important thing now was the Rashtan Corporation''s monopoly incident. "No matter how I think about it, it doesn''t make sense." Sitting at the base of a tree, he organized his thoughts. The guidebook didn''t mention this hidden space. However, Adventurer A must have known about this ce. [Gentromber] Gentromber, the NPC mentioned in the guidebook, was a miner who had personally excavated this ce long ago. If Hanbit hadn''t met him living alone on a mountaintop in another region, he wouldn''t have even known his name. In other words, Adventurer A didn''t disclose all the information. ''Yeonwoo said that user was solo... Does he have information that he sells separately, not included in the guidebook?'' There was no need to disclose everything in a guidebook. The key was the level of knowledge Adventurer A possessed. The strangely abundant information, the ambiguous uracy, and even thepletely wrong parts all bothered him. It would be even stranger if it wasn''t intentional. Click- He opened his friend list and sent a message and the recorded video to Yeonwoo. [Come to Artsvel''s general store in an hour. Upload the video I''m sending you now anonymously to themunity site.] * * * "Hyung, I was really surprised. I didn''t know there was such a ce." In front of Artsvel''s general store, Hanbit and Yeonwoo had their characters standing there while talking on the phone in real life. It was a simple matter of just putting their gear into sleep mode. "The reaction was quite something, huh?" "Of course, seeing that, they can''t help but curse Rashtan. Their website probably crashed, too." A post containing the recorded video had been uploaded to the RPGmunity forum. < Where did all those Bomb Slimes disappear to? > Whose doing is it? You decide. -? Why are they there? -Info) Bomb Slime King only spawns in the shade of the central giant tree. -Info2) Slime King attracts and absorbs other Bomb Slimes. -Isn''t that monster attractant the Rashtan logo? -They deliberately dragged it all the way there and set it up? -That''s some dedication; -How did they even put it in there? -???: We are the true conquerors of the Artsvel quest. -©¸This was aimed at ck Dragon. Lol -©¸Creepy bastards; -Didn''t I tell you? Roper and ck Dragon have nothing to do with it. -Look at them changing their tune after using innocent people. Lol The post exploded with views and an endless stream ofments. The heated atmosphere showed no signs of dying down. Of course, to Hanbit, watching from afar, it was an amusingedy. "So, the misunderstanding is cleared up. Now all that''s left is to learn the next fire spell." "...What?" Yeonwoo''s voice changed at Hanbit''s casual remark. "What do you mean? What about the proficiency?" He reacted as if he had heard something truly absurd. Hanbit replied nonchntly, "I filled it all up." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 19 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 19 "...Hey, don''t lie about this. You''re really hurting my feelings," Yeonwoo''s sounded dejected as he spoke pitifully. But the truth is the truth. "I really did max them out. They were all the lowest rank, rank 1, to begin with, weren¡¯t they?" "Of course it''s going to be hell further up. But any magic takes at least a month, doesn''t it?" "Isn''t it like that because it''s fake?" "Real or fake, you can''t finish any skill in a day!" His words, though filled with frustration, were sincere. Hanbit opened his skill list and disyed it on the screen. "See?" [Fireball (Rank 1 - Unique)]¡ï [Basic Archery (Rank 1 - Unique)]¡ï [Basic Swordsmanship (Rank 1 - Unique)]¡ï [Swiftness (Rank 1 - Unique)]¡ï "What the... How is this possible? No, really, this is a bug, right? It has to be a bug, right?" Yeonwoo looked genuinely bewildered. One of the conditions for obtaining a Rank 2 skill is proficiency. The proficiency of all his skills had already exceeded the standard. It was due to the power of the 55th Recorder but because no one knows of its existence, it really did look like a bug. ''No, I wonder if the administrators are watching?'' Hanbit stared nkly into the air as a sudden question arose in his mind. The developers, Team ''Zero'', and the gamepany must have some connection to the Goddess. If so, it wouldn''t be strange if they were watching him. Though their intentions remain unknown. "Hey, earth to, hyung. What about the skills?" Yeonwoo, watching him, shook his arm and pressed him for an answer. Hanbit shrugged, putting his thoughts aside. "It just happened. Oh, and don''t mention the proficiency thing on the stream yet." "Just happened...? But why not mention this? It''ll draw crazy attention." "It''s like a smokescreen. I need other people to mistakenly think I haven''t filled up the proficiency." To maximize the information gap, the opponent''s misconception and carelessness are crucial. Especially if you''re aiming to screw someone over. "More than that, you saw it earlier, right? There were people who were only wary of us." "It didn''t seem like they were trying to hide it much. Actually, I have a recording that someone took, so I''ve already checked out all the characters." A video surfaced on an RPG site. It was a scene of a group of yers talking to Artsvel and receiving rewards. Apparently, a yer who fell asleep while recording identally captured it. "Looking at it, they were all from Rashtan." "That''s good. They are my goal anyway." "...Goal?" Yeonwoo, feeling a sense of unease, hesitated. "They picked a fight first, didn¡¯t they? So I''m going to show them something interesting." "No, show them what? They''re a major corporation with an advance team! If we confront them, we''ll be the only ones who lose!" "Just listen." Hanbit ryed the n he had in mind. Yeonwoo''s eyes widened as he listened. "Is that for real?" "It''s real. So lighten up." "Of course. If this works, we can screw Rashtan over without any risk. I''m d you''re drawing the line, though." Yeonwoo breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. Regardless of right or wrong, it''s absurd for a newbie who''s just starting out to make enemies with a major corporation. However, if the proposal Hanbit brought was true, they could achieve the best possible oue. "Then I''ll start the stream now." "Don''t get nervous, just rx." "Don''t worry. I''m good at this kind of thing." He ended the call with a cheerful voice. Hanbit put his headgear back on. Pop-! The screen flickered back on, revealing Yeonwoo right beside him. A camera and a streaming screen materialized in the air. As he epted the prompt to start streaming, the viewer count began to climb rapidly, quickly reaching five digits. -Why are you turning it on now? -So freakingte. -Shut up and exin. -Anyone here not seen the video? -Do some research, noobs; The chat window, overflowing with messages, was still a chaotic mess. Yeonwoo, after briefly skimming through thements, started with a greeting. "Hello everyone, this is Roper. And as you all know, ck Dragon is right here beside me.¡± -How can his name actually be ck Dragon; -He totally tricked everyone, so I guess it fits the ck Dragon ss. -Uh, it was Rashtan who got tricked. -Those greedy bastards. -Real rats, lol. The unfiltered stream ofments gradually shifted towards criticism of Rashtan. Many people were finally confirming the truth for themselves. "First of all, everyone, please calm down. We also needed some time to figure out what had happened. To put it simply, we have no connection with Rashtan. If we were going to collude and monopolize everything, we wouldn''t have revealed it in the first ce." -Honestly, I believed you. -Yeah, he was the one who was suspicious. -Well, I wasn''t. -No connection at all? -Alright, let''s do this. -What are we doing now? -Today''s goal: Find the sword master~ -No turning off the stream until we find him~ The power of the recorded video was strong. Those who tried to muddy the waters were swiftly buried in the flood ofments. "Ah, before we look for the sword master, there''s something I need to do." -Need to do? -What is it? -I''ll allow it even if you curse out the Rashtan CEO -But why are you at Artsvel¡¯s shop again? -Gotta do your daily face check-in. Hanbit entered Artsvel¡¯s General Store. She had her back turned to him, but soon noticed him. "ck Dragon?" Artsvel, who was writing in a ledger, stopped what she was doing. Her face lit up with a clear expression of delight. "Lia ran away again. She''s so disobedient." The role-ying was steadily building a narrative between the yer and the NPC. It felt incredibly real. "Hopefully we can live together soon." "...I hope so." Artsvel nodded, her eyes tinged with a hint of sadness. She rose from her chair and asked, her expression brightening again, "So, what brings you here today? Anything else I can help you with?" "I''d like to learn the next magic spell. Is that okay?" "The next spell? Of course, you can." -? -Wait, why can he do that? -He''s going straight to Rank 2? -What about proficiency? -Those trolls broke ck Dragon''s mind; A straightforward answer and the chat screen with excitement. The viewers were in shock and confusion. However, Hanbit was well aware of how risky this conversation was. Whoosh- Artsvel pulled a box from the back towards the counter, opened the lid, and said, "Here, this is the second magic book." Ding-! [Quest] Learn the second magic spell from Artsvel. The book''s lock will be released after 5 minutes. Objective: Use Artsvel''s spellbook Reward: 10,000 gold, Fire Burst (2nd rank - Hero), 3 stat points, 3,000 experience points -Hero rank again? -Firste, first-served again? -Definitely. -Then Rashtan will take it all. Damn it. -Are these guys really not in cahoots? ''So this is how it works.'' Hanbit nodded as he checked the quest details. The concept of "using" a magic book in the game was different from the other worlds he had been in, but it was ultimately a matter of method. The 5-minute grace period created by deliberately adding a lock. Itpletely embodied Artsvel''s intentions. "Take your time, think carefully, and then take it. So that you don''t regret it." "Okay." Despite her warning, Hanbit epted the quest. He approached the box and took out a book. A small keyhole was carved in the center of the hard cover. ''Yeah, they must be curious.'' Hanbit nced outside the shop. The crowd, evenrger than before, was undoubtedly made up of people from the Rashtan corporation. They were probably waiting to see who would use the magic book first. "..." Artsvel remained silent, simply watching Hanbit holding the magic book. Click- After 5 minutes passed, a sound came from the keyhole. Hanbit turned the cover as if it were the most natural thing in the world. [Would you like to use it? (Yes/No)] A familiar hologram appeared. Without hesitation, he touched the ''Yes'' button, and the book vanished with a puff of smoke. ''Fire Burst'' was registered in his skill list. [Questpleted.] [Due to the first clear, the reward will be adjusted to the maximum.] [10,000 gold ? Increased to 20,000 gold.] [Fire Burst (2nd rank - Hero) ? Upgraded to (2nd rank - Unique).] [Stat points increased from 3 ? 6.] [Experience points increased from 3,000 ? 7,000.] [Level increased by 2.] [2 stat points awarded.] "Done." -Done my ass -First again? Unique again? -It actually worked? -This is so disheartening; -Rashtan must be pissed. -We''re gonna DDOS their website, for real. -Let''s go after Julio first. Unable to contain themselves, the viewers erupted in fury. The reappearance of the "first clear" and "Unique" rank. It was no wonder they felt disheartened. "If you hit a wall, try visiting the Magic Research Institute in the city of Ifrit. You might find a way there," Artsvel offered. "Thank you. I''lle again." After bidding farewell to Artsvel, Hanbit immediately left the shop. At the same time, a swarm of people began pouring in. 132 people in total. They were all members of Rashtan, the ones who had monopolized the previous quest. 100 of them would have the Hero rank, and the rest would likely have the Rare rank. ''There''s a Ranger too.'' The Ranger from the advance team, equipped with a golden bow, picked up a magic book from the box. Following suit, the rest of the people also held red books in their hands. And after 5 minutes. Click- With a cheerful sound, the locks on all the books were released. Exchanging nces, they simultaneously flipped the covers. At that moment. Whoosh- Their books burst into mes. "Huh?" "What the hell!" "My magic book!" Thanks to the automatic trantion, the conversation was crystal clear. The startled Rashtan employees frantically tried to extinguish the mes. But the zing fire fiercely consumed the books. "Do something!" "It won''t go out!" "Damn it!" -? -Why did they catch fire? -I don''t know, but they''re burning well. lol -As expected, nothing beats watching a fire show. -Hey, Rashtan, try that again. -???: Something about a true conqueror. People were causing amotion inside the cramped general shop. It was quite amusing to watch from afar. "Everyone, get out!" The Ranger, who was part of the advance team, was in the same predicament. He threw the magic book on the floor and grabbed a handful of gray powder from his inventory. Swoosh- He sprinkled the powder over the zing books. But it had absolutely no effect. "Wow, they''re all going to burn. Such a waste, such a waste." -Mr. ck Dragon, you have no soul. -It is a waste, lol -But really, why did it only work for ck Dragon? -No presents for bad kids. -Seriously, they should have lived a good life. lol Hanbit continued to watch leisurely. He only wished he had some popcorn in hand. "The box! Is it still open?" "It''s closed!" "Let''s try talking to her again!" The Rashtan members gave up on the hopeless magic books. But the tightly closed box showed no signs of opening. No matter how much they tried to talk to Artsvel, the result was the same. "Check the people who haven''t received the quest yet!" "Yes!" At the Ranger''smand, the employees who were standing back rushed into action. However, their faces were filled with bewilderment as they checked the quest. "The, the reward magic has changed to Rare rank!" "What?" Surprised by the unexpected report, the Ranger quickly checked the employees'' screens. [Quest] Learn the second magic spell from Artsvel. The book''s lock will be released after 5 minutes. Objective: Use Artsvel''s spellbook Reward: 5,000 gold, Fire Burst (2nd rank - Rare), 1 stat point, 1,000 experience points The reward information was lowered overall, including the skill rank. After confirming that it wasn''t a lie, the Ranger looked around and shouted. "Is there anyone who seeded in the quest!" "That... There''s no one." There were 50 people who epted the quest along with the Ranger. Bizarrely, just by failing to clear it, all the chances for the firste, first-served rewards were exhausted. The Hero rank magic that no one obtained hadpletely disappeared, along with the opportunity to acquire it. Whirl- The Ranger abruptly turned his head towards the outside of the shop. With angry strides, he approached Hanbit. "Let''s have a little chat." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 20 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 20 The Ranger standing before him had a rather unpleasant expression. Perhaps his face revealed his personality. Hanbit calmly responded in a casual tone, "What''s up?" "That quest you justpleted. Howe you were the only one who seeded?" "How would a newbie like me know? A veteran like you should be the one to figure it out." "Don''t give me that bullshit... Do you think this situation is a joke?" -Yeah, your face is. -They''re the ones who copied and now they''reining. -Seriously, no shame. At the casual response, the Ranger furrowed his brows. His face was practically an insult in itself. "Including myself, all 50 of us who tried first failed. Moreover, the mere act of failing consumed the chance to obtain the Hero rank. Do you think it''s a coincidence that you''re the only one who learned the skill properly?" "It''s not a coincidence, it''s skill. If you failed, go back to Artsvel. And stop bothering an innocent newbie." "We''re already checking. But she won''t say anything other than greetings." "Well then, I guess she''s just being friendly." -Yeah, just say hello. lol -It''s something that she even greets you. lol -But he''s persistently asking, though; -That Ranger has quite the personality. -I heard he insults your family with his facial expressions. -Really, just look at him now. At my response, the Ranger''s facepletely crumpled. "Hey! Say something!" Yeonwoo whispered, nudging him in the side. He seemed to want to avoid making an enemy of the Ranger, but things had gone wrong from the start. Hanbit, who had been provoked first, was simply responding to the fight. ''Well, shall I tell him the answer?'' The difference between the Rashtan members and Hanbit was crystal clear. The proficiency in Fireball, the Rank 1 skill. It was just a matter of maxing it out. "Did you max out your proficiency?" "Proficiency?" "Fireball. You have to master itpletely to move on to the next one, don¡¯t you?" "That''s the same condition for everyone. You couldn''t have maxed out your proficiency either." "But I did." "...What?" At the blunt remark, the Ranger''s expression turned strange. Hanbit opened the skill window and disyed it on the screen. "Look at the stream." "Hold on." He was already watching Hanbit''s stream and shifted his gaze. His face was quickly painted with shock. "...You really maxed out your proficiency? How is that even possible!" -? -He maxed it out? -He maxed out all the other skills too? -Why are there stars on everything; -Report this hacker. -You can''t hack in RP. It''s never been done~ -And ck Dragon is the one who does it. Not only the Ranger, but the viewers also showed surprised reactions. Since he had achieved his initial goal, there was no need to hide it anymore. "I told you, it''s skill. And if you''re going to use the information I revealed,pete fairly. You''re from a major corporation with an advance team, aren''t you?" Hanbit rebuked him with a hint of disdain. The Ranger narrowed his eyes and said, "That''s impossible. Aren''t you just trying to dress up luck as skill?" "Well, then luck is a skill too. Or do youck both?" "Such childish provocation." "I do have a baby face." "..." -Baby face. LOL -Info) The Ranger is 30 years old. -Info) His character looks simr to him in real life. -Isn''t he mid-40s? -The advance team is fighting against time; Gnash- As if he was watching the stream, the sound of the Ranger grinding his teeth could be heard. The harshments from the enraged viewers were his own doing. The Ranger red at Hanbit and said in a low voice, "We''ll definitely meet again soon." Whirl- The Ranger swirled his shimmering cape and entered Artsvel''s General Store. Then, seemingly venting out his frustration, he yelled, "Don''t just stand there dumbfounded, keep talking to her! Don''t miss any possibility!" A pitiful instruction given to his employees. Hanbit let out a chuckle. ''Try all you want.'' Artsvel was someone who wouldn''t budge an inch when it came to magic education. Effort, effort, and more effort. She was a teacher who wanted her students to gain qualifications by steadily building their skills without greed. She once said that she had seen many people die trying to get ahead of themselves. ''You want to learn the next magic quickly? I''ll give you a chance, but keep in mind. If your practice isn''t up to par, I''ll never teach you again.'' When he learned magic for the second time, he was driven by greed and heard these words. Of course, it was premature, and she truly never taught him magic again. In that ythrough, he had no choice but to quickly learn other skills. ''The historical uracy is amazing.'' Even with the game system involved, Artsvel was still Artsvel. No matter how much Rashtan struggled, this fact would never change. Rather, the more they tried, the more her likability for them would plummet. "Hey, that was too harsh!" Yeonwoo said with a sullen face, as they moved a bit away from the shop. Hanbit simply patted him on the shoulder. "Cheer up. I''m rooting for you." "But I wasn''t the one fighting?" -LOL -Official) Streamer Roper deres Rashtan as his main enemy. -But he really seemed really pissed off, lol [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Breaking news) 6 Rashtan members kicked out by Artsvel. lol] -Look at them clinging on. lol -They must have had pretty high likability for helping her mom. lol -Artsvel''s expression was getting more and more grave. -Typical of them) They even went for the fourth and fifth time. The unfortunate news wasn''t even worth paying attention to. Looking around, he said to Yeonwoo, "Let''s stop by somewhere for a bit." "Huh? Aren''t we looking for the Swordsman of the Wind?" "There''s something I need to get before that. Follow me." The two walked along the main road. And when they reached the central za, Yeonwoo, who was following behind, stopped. "Huh?" His gaze was fixed on the front of the Adventurers'' Guild. A sizable crowd was gathered there, buzzing with excitement. "Why are there so many people here?" "Ah, right. You wouldn''t know, would you?" "Know what?" "That person over there in the green robe. She''s an advance yer named Raphina, one of the few Elementalists." -Oh? -Why is Raphina here? -There are two advance yers; -Look how pretty she is. -She''s also famous for having a good personality. -Ranger, reflect on yourself. A female human was visible where Yeonwoo pointed. As the viewers said, a gentle aura emanated from her as she smiled at the people around her. Hanbit nced at her, then turned his head and asked "You said there are only a few Elementalists?" "That''s right. Only a select few can use spirits." -It''s famous for being super hard content. -It''s an ordeal just to meet a spirit. -You really need to connect with them to use them. -I still can''t do it after 2 years. lol -It''s better to just learn regr skills. -Don''t you use no mana when using spirit skills? -Yeah, that''s what makes it so OP. The viewers poured out the information they knew. A bit more than what was written in the guidebook. But there was a fundamental problem with their understanding. ''...To use spirits.'' If he had to pick the most important element in this world, it would undoubtedly be the spirits. Hanbit himself had invested a lot of time and effort to interact with them. Not to use their power, but to borrow even a little bit of it. The overwhelming feeling he experienced when he first connected with a high-ranking spirit was still vivid in his memory. "You said her name is Raphina? How strong is she?" "She''s an advance yer in the 4,000s, specializing in water magic." "Magic? I thought she was an Elementalist?" "I heard she hit a wall with the Elementalist skills at Rank 3. Of course, they''re good, but the Elementalist title is more of an honorary title. There aren''t even 100 yers who can handle spirits in the first ce." -It''s rare, but you can''t use Elementalist skills as your main. -Yeah, it can''t be helped since it''s still a low-rank spirit. -But it''s Hero rank, so isn''t it pretty good? -It''sparable to a Rank 4 regr skill. -So what. Raphina uses Rank 6 magic. -Let''s keep it for show. -Elementalist skill effects are pretty, though. 100 people out of hundreds of millions of yers. The extremely small number proved the rarity of spirits. ''So Rank 3 is a low-rank spirit?'' What was directly connected to a spirit''s power was its rank. Low-ranking meant it was still in its infancy. Even a mid-rank spirit could show quite satisfactory power. Of course, it might be a different story if the skill rank was extremely high. "Are you interested in spirits too, hyung?" Yeonwoo cautiously asked while he was lost in thought. The power of spirits wasn''t just something to be interested in, but something to strive for with all your might. Only Hanbit knew that the first step towards that would soon be taken. "Of course. It would be nice to have the power of spirits, wouldn''t it?" "It would be nice, but... this ispletely different from magic. It''s a game, but it applies the theory of innate talent?" Yeonwoo emphasized the importance of innate talent once again. Even in this world, spirits were beings with extremely high barriers to entry, so there was nothing new about that. "What about her? Is she one of those who benefited from this innate talent theory?" Hanbit asked while looking at Raphina, the advance yer. Yeonwoo followed his gaze and nodded in response. "She''s incredibly blessed. She connected with spirits of two attributes." "Two attributes?" "Yes. Water and wind, and it took less than six months for both. Other Elementalists take at least a year for one, so it''s really amazing." "That is amazing." Connecting with spirits of multiple attributes isn''t easy. Because of their distinct tendencies and personalities, it''s difficult to borrow their power simultaneously. Moreover, to have moved the hearts of two spirits in just six months was a truly remarkable achievement. Even Hanbit took quite a long time to sessfully connect with all attributes. "You said she couldn''t get to the next rank? How long has she been stuck?" "Uh... about 10 months, I think. It seems she hasn''t maxed out her proficiency yet." "Hmm." Yeonwoo focused on the skill proficiency. But Hanbit''s thoughts were a little different. ''It''s probably not a matter of proficiency.'' Spirits are veryplex and unpredictable beings. It''s highly unlikely that a spirit of the next rank would readily lend its power just because you''ve umted proficiency like with normal skills. In other words, it means you have to be closer to the spirit itself. "Is she the number one Elementalist?" "As far as we know, yes. The top-tier advance yers strictly filter the information they release to the public." Only one yer will clear the RP and gain ownership. In a situation with a multitude ofpetitors, information bes a well-honed weapon. He suddenly became curious about their thoroughly hidden world. What kind of people were the top-tier advance yers? Perhaps someone among them had found even a small clue about Erport. A hope arose within him. "Ah, she''s leaving now." Seemingly done with her business, Raphina, who had been conversing with others, moved to another location. If she''s an Elementalist, there might be a chance to talk to her someday. If needed, it might be good to trade information with her then. After all, there''s a strange sense of camaraderie with someone who can connect with spirits. "Let''s go too." "Come to think of it, you said we were stopping by somewhere?" "We''re going to the grocery store, and then we''re going to search the forest for a bit. It''ll take about 30 minutes." "Huh? Are you looking for something?" Yeonwoo expressed his curiosity at the mention of searching the forest. Recalling old memories, the corners of Hanbit¡¯s lips curled as he said, "I need ingredients to make alcohol." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 21 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 21 At the northwestern edge of Edlen City, Hanbit and Yeonwoo, having finished their business in the forest, arrived at a cliff overlooking a canyon. It was so deep that the flowing river looked like a mere thread. -That''s freaking scary; -Living up to the name "Swordsman of the Wind" lol -I''m ashamed to admit it, but I peed a little. -There was a ce like this? -Perverts are good at finding ces like this. lol The dizzying height was well conveyed to the viewers. Yeonwoo just stood there with his mouth agape. [Quest] You heard news about the master of Swordsman Balder. If you earn his recognition, you might be able to learn a very special skill. Objective: Find the Swordsman of the Wind in Edlen Forest. Reward: Unlocks a chain quest The Swordsman of the Wind, mentioned in the quest. As the viewers said, this ce truly lived up to his name. "Is this really the right ce? Please tell me it''s not." "This is just the entrance. We have to move further along the path." "Oh, there was a path?" Yeonwoo breathed a sigh of relief. Hanbit bent his knees and looked down, saying, "If you''re scared of heights, you can stay in the city." "S-scared? I''m not scared at all. Really." -He''s totally scared. lol -Not scared (Help me) -But where''s the path? -Isn''t it down the cliff? -Isn''t that considered exploration? The viewers tried to find the continuing path. Of course, there was no way such a thing existed. ''A lot of them came.'' ncing back, he saw arge crowd in the forest. They were the people who had been following him since he left Edlen. Ding-! [SafetyFirst has registered a 10,000 won challenge mission.] [Bungee jump without a rope lol] Just then, a message announcing a challenge mission popped up. "Hey, that''s just a mission to die. Hey, skip this one." Yeonwoo shook his head in disbelief after checking the contents. And another message popped up. Ding-! [?? (Anonymous) has registered a 30,000 won challenge mission.] [Jump with Roper lol] "What? Don''t joke around! I''ll never... Hey? Why are you making that face?" Yeonwoo, genuinely flustered, looked at Hanbit''s face. That look in his eyes and that smile meant he was about to do something. "Wait. Wait a minute. That''s not it, really. If we fall from here... Ugh!" Thud- Hanbit grabbed Yeonwoo''s arm and kicked off the cliff. Naturally, they plummeted down. "Waaaaaaaaaah!" -Crazy. LOL -He was a good streamer. -They''re falling so fast. lol Whoosh- The two continued to fall. "Heeeeeey!" Yeonwoo, screaming next to him, was practically crying. ''Almost there.'' Hanbit continued to check their altitude while facing the wind. And right before they hit the ground. Ripple- Suddenly, the surrounding scenery changed. "Ugh... Huh?" Yeonwoo, who thought he was dead for sure, looked around while lying face down on the ground. It was a huge cave-like structure with sunlight shining through in ces. A thin, stone tower-like object stood tall in front of them. A spiral path stretched from the bottom all the way around it. -? -What is this? -Why didn''t they die? -Where are they? -What''s that? The startled viewers also struggled to grasp the situation. Hanbit, calmly getting to his feet, looked at the chat window and said, "Mission sess, right?" "...Ah." Yeonwoo, who was in a daze, came to his senses. Then, looking at Hanbit, he yelled, "Hey! I thought I was going to die!" "But you''re alive, aren''t you? Just take the prize money." "...Alright." Yeonwoo sighed and immediatelypleted the challenge mission. Ding-! [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Those who were secretly following are jumping off the cliff. Over 300 people now.] -It''s real. lol -Are they crazy? -So many came. -But why are they dying? -Exnation-guy ck Dragon, please make an appearance. A donation message ryed the situation outside. It seemed the yers who were following also jumped off the cliff after Hanbit. "It''s probably because they don''t have this." Hanbit showed the camera a piece of cloth with a green sword pattern drawn on it. It was an item he received from the swordsman. "Wasn''t that just a piece of cloth?" Yeonwoo asked curiously. Hanbit shook his head and said, "This is like a spirit realm, and this is the entry ticket." "...A spirit?" "You''ll see. Let''s go meet the Master first." "Where is he?" "He''s right there." Hanbit pointed his finger at the top of the stone tower. A small human figure was visible at the very top. "That''s the Swordsman of the Wind? So we just have to climb that path and we''re done?" "We''re done once we climb it. Let''s go." "...Huh?" -That''s it? -Then it''s a noob skill, isn¡¯t it? -He was going on about a spirit realm and all that. -Is he serious? lol Doubts arose at the overly simple method. Yeonwoo followed behind Hanbit, who was walking ahead. "Hey, it''s not someme skill, is it?" "Why? Does it look too easy? You were screaming like you were dying earlier." "Oh,e on, that''s different. If the condition is just to follow the path, isn''t it easier than other skills?" Yeonwoo, who had high expectations for the skill, couldn''t hide his disappointment. It seemed he was hoping for something more spectacr. Hanbit stopped in front of the entrance and asked, "Do you want to go first?" "...Why suddenly?" "It''s quite a spectacle when you see it from the inside. It''ll be captured better if you film it yourself." "Really?" Tempted, Yeonwoo stepped forward with a slightly brighter face. He took a few steps. Whoosh- Something grazed his cheek. "...Huh?" Yeonwoo, frozen stiff, turned his head with a creak. An iron arrow was embedded in the opposite wall. "Eek!" A beatter, the startled Yeonwoo quickly returned. Standing behind Hanbit, he shouted in frustration, "Hey! What was that!" "You said we just have to follow the path, right? Isn''t it easy?" "Oh,e on! You knew, didn''t you?" -Damn, it was a trap. lmao -???: It''s easier than other skills. -Ah lol Easy to die. -Can''t you just see it and dodge? -No, just get hit lightly. Hanbit, looking at the chat window, took out a bow from his inventory. "Why the bow?" -A head-on fight lmao -Is he going to shoot the master and make him fall? -Crazy. lol Stretch- Hanbit silently nocked an arrow and drew the string. Ping- As he let go, the arrow flew at high speed. It struck the wall of the spiral path. Ping- Ping- "...What are you doing?" "Let''s go. Follow along." "Huh?" After shooting a few arrows, Hanbit calmly started walking. He had already passed the path where Yeonwoo was standing. "Did you¡­ disable the traps?" "Follow me closely. If you fall, you can''te back up." "What does that even... Hey! Look out!" Rumble- A huge boulder rolled in from the front. Hanbit raised his hand and shouted while looking at the ground "Fire Burst!" Boom- The stone floor crumbled with arge explosion. Thud- The rolling boulder fell right into the hole. -That''s awesome for a Rank 2; -Ah, damn Rashtan -Info) Rashtan employees also jumped off the cliff to get here. -Isn''t that obsession at this point? The news about Rashtan particrly caught his eye. It seemed they were all kicked out by Aitzbel in the end. "Let''s go." Thud- Hanbit jumped over the copsed path and started climbing again. Yeonwoo nced down, gulped, and followed behind. Ping- Boom- He continued to use his bow and magic to ovee the traps. After using up all his arrows, he just moved forward with his sword drawn. Whoosh- ng- Flying arrows, iron maces, and harpoons couldn''t reach Hanbit. He dodged them all with minimal movements. Yeonwoo, following from a distance, asked with a bewildered expression, "Hey, did you memorize everything? Is that in the novel?" "How can I memorize all that? I just dodge when I think I''m screwed." "No way..." -Sense of impending doom lmao -Can you even see and dodge that? -Is his dynamic vision that of a cat''s? -As expected of the king cat. -If he was a puppy, he would have already cleared the path. He responded yfully, but he actually did memorize everything. Or rather, it was impossible not to know. Crash- As he passed thest boulder trap, he finally reached the end of the path. "That was long." With a leisurelyint, Hanbit stepped onto the top of the stone tower. In the center, an old man with white hair was meditating with his back to them. [A, the Swordsman of the Wind] "Don''te any closer." A low voice was heard before he could even move. Hanbit simply sat down where he was. "Hey?" "You sit too." -Waiting game ON -He''s prickly; -Even just looking at his back, he''s a total master. -Let''s rebel. -Time to use your chuunibyou. Yeonwoo, after observing the situation, also sat down on the floor. "I think we''ve finished the test you prepared." "..." Despite Hanbit''s words, the swordsman didn''t answer. ''We really went through a lot, didn''t we?'' That man, A, had a social phobia. Forcing his way closer would only result in being expelled from this ce. When he didn''t know the circumstances and the solution, he was banished for almost a month and barely managed to learn the skill. And after 10 more ythroughs, he possessed A''s body. ''I know what''s inside you best.'' Possession inherits all the thoughts and experiences of the original owner of the body. Although it was apanied by immense confusion, humans were adaptable creatures. Enough to grasp the design and location of all the hundreds of traps. Whoosh- Hanbit took out a bottle from his inventory. And he wrapped it with the cloth the swordsman had given him. He lightly pushed the bottle, making it roll. The bottle, spinning round and round, bumped into the old man''s hand. "Alcohol?" The old man, ncing down, recognized the contents. He stared at the bottle for a moment, then said in a cold voice, "Take it away. I don''t drink alcohol anymore." "Then roll it back this way." "..." -? -Why isn''t he answering? -He told him to roll it back? Despite Hanbit''s words, he remained silent. And as if he hadn''t heard, he looked away. ''A dog would sooner quit pooping.'' He started drinking under the pretense of oveing his social phobia. But he had no intention of fixing his drinking, which had be almost an addiction. That old man simply liked alcohol. It was his disciple, Swordsman Balder, who was greatly affected by it. "Aren''t you going to drink it?" "Hmph. Do you think my will would be broken by such a thing as alcohol?" "You''re going to drink again in the evening anyway." "...Ahem." -LMAO -Busted. -Abstinence (3 hours) His fingertips, as he cleared his throat, were still touching the bottle of alcohol. Hanbit took out another bottle and rolled it towards the old man. "Try it. It''s probably all alcohol you''ve never tasted before." "I''ve tasted all the alcohol in the world. A fledgling like you couldn''t possibly satisfy me." "Just try it. If you don''t like it, I''ll leave." "..." At the persistent insistence, the old man''s fingers twitched. ncing at it, he said as if he had no choice, "Fine. If I don''t like it, get lost." Pop- The old man snatched a bottle and pulled out the cork. "Hmm." His back twitched as he smelled the aroma. The old man slowly brought the bottle to his mouth. A cautious first sip soon went down his throat. Gulp- "...!" Suddenly, he jolted. The old man, holding the bottle in his arms, quickly picked up another one from the floor. -Old man? -It''s hrious how he''s hugging the bottle. lol -???: Take it away. -???: I don''t drink alcohol anymore. The viewers startedughing at his actions contradicting his words. The old man, oblivious to such things, focused solely on the alcohol. Gulp- "...!" The old man''s back trembled even more violently as he tasted the other drink. Gulp- Gulp- He started chugging the alcohol, switching between bottles. And when all the bottles were empty, he slightly turned his body. "...Don''t you have any more?" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 22 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 22 Gulp- Gulp- The only sound echoing at the top of the stone tower was the old man drinking. Around him, 20 empty bottles were neatly arranged. "Hey, are you sure he''s okay? He drank all that?" "Leave him be. He''s always like that." -The old man can really hold his liquor; -Is it non-alcoholic? -Even 20 bottles of water would do me in. -Seriously, I''d be full. Yeonwoo was watching with concern, but the old man remained unfazed. If someone were to attack him now, he would react instantly. "Ah!" Finally, the old man wiped his mouth after emptying thest bottle. He stood up and turned around. "That wasn''t bad alcohol." Despite the casual evaluation, his face showed immense satisfaction. Hanbit knew well that this was the highest praise. ''I worked so hard to make it.'' After seeing the Elementalist in the city, Hanbit went around gathering ingredients to make this special alcohol. It was a method he learned from a small ethnic group he encountered by chance at the edge of the world during his 7th ythrough. "I''m d you liked it. Can we talk now?" "...So, you brought this." The old man held up the cloth that was tied to the bottle. He examined the emblem with the green sword and said, "Huh. Did that Balder really send you?" Surprise mixed with a short sigh. The old man knew Swordsman Balder''s pride best. To think that his disciple, whom he acknowledged, had sent someone... it was hard to simply ept. "What did Balder say?" "He said I could gain apletely different kind of teaching." "Indeed." The old man chuckled and tucked the cloth into his waistband. Then, he said in a cold voice, "Go back. You cannot ept my sword." "Why? Because none of your disciples seeded in learning it?" "...You''re perceptive." The Swordsman of the Wind had quite a few disciples. But none of them seeded in embodying his swordsmanship. When hisst disciple, Balder, who showed promise, also failed, he gave up and quietly disappeared. "The talent required for my sword is not simple. It''s meaningless to simply be good at wielding a sword," the old man muttered quietly and slowly raised his hand. The wind blowing around intertwined with his hand. It felt as if it was moving with a will of its own. "That talent is about affinity with spirits, isn''t it?" "...It seems Balder said something unnecessary." The old man mistook it for something Hanbit had heard from his disciple. But Hanbit was someone who had experienced the importance of talent firsthand. -Is that really a spirit? -This is where ites in. -One point for the spirit innate talent theory. If it were a disciple for ordinary swordsmanship, he would have been the first to reach out, so outstanding was his talent. That is, if it were for ordinary swordsmanship. "Go back. I have nothing to teach you." The old man, resigned to his solitude, turned his back with a bitter voice. And then, a message popped up along with an rm. Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Chain quest unlocked.] [Hidden Quest] Persuade A and learn the skill. First, you need to change his mind. Objective: Choose the best option. Prove your swordsmanship skills? Persuade him with words? Somehow be close to a spirit? Reward: 100,000 gold, A''s Secret Manual, 10 stat points, 10,000 experience points -Whoa. -Holy shit, a hidden quest appeared. -This is how it appears? -What about the skill? Is that hidden? -Still suspicious. -The rewards are insane. lol [?? (XX) has donated 10,000 won.] [Is it really hidden?] [ (Bug) has donated 20,000 won.] [It''s a bug.] The chat exploded with the sudden appearance of the hidden quest. "Whoa." Yeonwoo''s eyes widened in surprise as well. ''So this is how it appears.'' Even the message window for the hidden quest was different. It was adorned with a luxurious golden border. Hanbit re-examined the objective written in the quest description. Prove your swordsmanship skills? Persuade him with words? Somehow be close to a spirit? A had no intention of teaching the skill. This was a quest to find the best way to change his mind. ''No need to choose.'' Hanbit reached out and immediately pressed number 3. His action caused others to gasp. "...Hey, did you just choose number 3?" -He''s finally gone crazy. -Is he giving up the hidden skill? -Do we have to camp here now? -Even if we camp, it probably won''t work. lol -I believe in ck Dragon. -Yeah, no way. Amidst the questions and confusion, Whoosh- The blowing wind gently brushed his cheek. ''It''s here.'' This was how a spirit expressed its curiosity. This sensation, which he had felt countless times, was incredibly familiar. And he knew very well who this spirit was. Rustle- The whispering wind gradually grew stronger. It had a very clear will. A yful, child-like spirit. Hanbit closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and muttered in a low voice, "Sylph." Whoosh- Sylph, the low-ranking wind spirit. As he uttered its name, the wind raged fiercely. And a message popped up along with an rm. [Title: A new effect of the 55 Times Recorder is unlocked.] ''...! '' Hanbit reacted immediately and quickly opened his title information. [55 Times Recorder] The Recorder''s umted experience is unlocked. The proficiency of all experienced skills increases extremely quickly. The performance is adjusted upward depending on the degree of experience. Spirit affinity is activated for all, and the effect on the spirit''s power increases dramatically. Unopened (Keyword: Item) ''I did it!'' Hanbit clenched his fist as he saw the contents. When he first obtained the 55 Times Recorder, the second item on the list was unopened. The keyword written there was ¡®spirit¡¯. Hanbit, who had been trying to obtain the Wind Sword skill early on, had anticipated this moment in his mind. The moment he first connected with a spirit and called its name. ''Now the question is how it will be implemented.'' Spirits don''t approach humans easily. Moreover, their affinity can''t be measured numerically. How are spirits implemented in the game system? Is the way tomunicate with them the same as in his memories? These questions kept swirling in his mind. Whoosh- The wind gently wrapped around Hanbit''s hand. At that moment, a new message popped up with an rm. Ding-! [The wind spirit Sylph feels a strong curiosity towards you.] -Did a spirit message just pop up? -So all you had to do was call its name. -If that''s all it takes, no one would struggle. -How did he really do it? -Raphina crying. -Advance party Elementalist <<<<< ck Dragon There was no need to interpret the message. Hanbit smiled and said to the old man, "I just have to prove my affinity with spirits, right?" "That''s not something you can prove easily. If you incur their wrath, they might even send you far away..." The old man''s words, as he slightly turned his head, trailed off. "Huh." His gaze was fixed, frozen stiff. Before he knew it, more and more wind was gathering around Hanbit. ''It''s working.'' The sensation of the gentle wind was vivid. No, strictly speaking, it was a little different from his memories. It was probably one of the limitations of the Level 2 gear, but there was no problem. Now was the time to wee the spirit. Whoosh- Hanbit gently raised his hand and moved it slowly, as if embracing the wind. Spirits were simr to animals in that they liked this kind of interaction. Ding-! [The wind spirit Sylphughs in amused.] [The wind spirit Sylph shows more interest in you.] [The wind spirit Sylph expresses surprise at your high affinity.] ... The wind intensified as the messages continued to appear. After a little more time, itpletely enveloped Hanbit. "...Oh spirit." The old man understood the wind spirit deeply. That''s how much he realized how absurd this situation was. Whoosh- The swirling wind seemed to engulf everything around it. Hanbit, standing in the center, felt the wind with his whole body. And the moment a cozy sensation embraced him, [The wind spirit Sylph wants to be with you.] The spirit''s will appeared as a message. Rustle- Beyond the shimmering letters, the wind gradually took shape. It gradually formed an outline and then transformed into a bird-like figure. Chirp- About the size of a human hand. Its translucent appearance fully disyed the mystique of the spirit. [Low-ranking wind spirit Sylph] p- The small bird with spread wingsnded on Hanbit''s shoulder. The rm rang again. Ding-! [Title: ''Friend of Spirits'' added to the list.] [Friend of Spirits] Increases the effect of all skills based on the power of spirits by 20%. -It even gives a title. -Isn''t 20% too OP? -How are they already friends? -Spirits are easy; -I''m going to go make friends with one right now. -Breaking news) People are still falling off the cliff. -That entrance is brutal. lol ''Already a friend?'' An incredible result achieved by skipping several steps. Being a ''Friend of Spirits'' held that much significance. For them to manifest like this, despite rarely revealing themselves... Hanbit carefully stroked the spirit''s head with his finger. The spirit pped its wings as if pleased. "..." The old man, watching the scene nkly, was speechless. Hanbit walked right up to him and asked with a grin, "You''ll teach me now, right?" "...Keuk." The old man made a strange noise at the confidently asked question. And then he suddenly burst intoughter. "Hahahaha!" His heartyughter contained a myriad of emotions. Afterughing for a while, he looked at the small bird perched on Hanbit''s shoulder. "Haven''t you waited long enough?" The muttered words were directed at the spirit. Turning his head, he took out a green book from his pocket and handed it to Hanbit. "From now on, you are my disciple." Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 23 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 23 [Questpleted.] [Received 100,000 gold.] [Received A''s Secret Manual.] [10 stat points awarded.] [Experience points increased by 10,000.] [Level increased by 1.] [1 stat point awarded.] -Holy shit, he actually cleared it. -Quickly check the skill. -Is it really hidden? -Use it quickly. -Please. Urged by the viewers, Hanbit epted the green book. As he turned the cover, a hologram window with a gold border appeared. [Would you like to use it? (Yes/No)] Click- As soon as he touched the ''Yes'' button, the hologram disappeared. Poof- The book vanished into smoke. A message appeared. [Skill ¡®Swiftness(1st Rank - Unique)'' deleted.] [Skill ''Basic Swordsmanship (1st Rank - Unique)'' deleted.] [Hidden spirit skill ''Wind Movement (1st Rank - Epic)'' added.] [Hidden spirit skill ''Wind Swordsmanship (2nd Rank - Epic)'' added.] -Whoa. -It really appeared. -Hidden + Spirit + Epic grade, holy shit lol -It gives two skills? -Sacrifices normal skills. -So ¡®Swiftness¡¯ had a use after all; ¡®Themunity is going to explode. lol [SmallSpender has donated 50,000 won.] [No way, seriously.] [?? (XX) has donated 70,000 won.] [Is this for real;] ''This is new.'' The ''Basic Swordsmanship'' and ¡®Swiftness¡¯ skills disappeared. Both were necessary abilities for this moment. In reality, since skills were learned through physical training, there was nothing to disappear. Rather, seeing it this way, it felt like things were being clearly organized. "This is unbelievable..." Yeonwoo, muttering to himself, couldn''t hide his shock. His mind couldn''t keep up with the words ''hidden'', ''spirit'', and ''epic''. Ding-! [SwordGod has donated 200,000 won.] [Show us lol] Just then, a message with arge donation appeared. Its content also stirred the chat. -Hurry hurry -Hidden spirit sword skill ? Unpredictable -Holy shit, it probably doesn''t even use mana. -Quickly, master. "Thank you for the donation! Hey, use it quickly!" Yeonwoo, snapping back to reality at the donation, reacted immediately. ''Swordsmanship had active skills starting from Rank 3, right?'' The viewers had various thoughts, but he understood. Skills like swordsmanship and archery, excluding magic, were ssified as passive until Rank 2. As such, there was a longing for active skills and a certain pride in them. Swish- Hanbit, holding his sword, turned towards the empty air. His past memories were vivid. The feeling of the spirit''s power dwelling within him was also incredibly well implemented. ''Is it because of ''Wind Movement''?'' Hanbit noticed the change in his body movements. The clunky feeling he always had seemed to be alleviated to a noticeable degree. It was even more satisfying than when the ¡®Swiftness¡¯ skill was applied. He hadn''t tried using more expensive gear, but at least this could close the gap by one level. Chirp- As he took his stance, the spirit Sylph on his shoulder dispersed. Immediately after, wind began to gather around his sword. Whoosh- The intensifying wind condensed like a small vortex. And the moment the surging flow calmed down, Hanbit swung his sword down. Whoosh- The sword drew a diagonal line with a sharp sound. Its trajectory became a crescent-shaped wind that extended forward. Crash- The wind, hitting the cave wall, quickly dispersed. In its ce, a long, straight groove was carved. "...Active? Hey, did you just use an active skill?" -LMAO Seriously, what the hell. -Not just any active skill, holy shit, it would even beat a Rank 4; -I''m quitting RP. -Why quit? You have to get that. -Balder is the gatekeeper. -I''m going to sign up for kendo sses today. -35 years old (white belt) The swordsmanship that unleashed wind gave the viewers a strong shock. Those who hadn''t obtained active skills yet, and those who already had, were all the same. "How could you get it before me!" Yeonwoo''s genuine frustration erupted. It seemed half-acted, but he appeared a little upset. "Since it''s a spirit skill, it really doesn''t use mana? Then you can use it infinitely?" "It doesn''t use mana, but it''s not infinite. At the current level, it needs preparation time." "That''s still OP..." Pure spirit power doesn''t consume mana. However, unless it''s in a ce filled with spirit power like this, the process of gathering wind is necessary. Though it''s not a big riskpared to its advantages. ''There are those who use it strangely.'' The existence of spirits leaves traces all over the world. Therefore, there were also those who chose danger, deviating from the orthodox method. Forcibly using the power of spirits by consuming their own mana and life force, so to speak. Although rare, he would encounter a user like that in Edlen''s story soon. Ding-! [OtherworldSwordman has donated 10,000 won.] [Any hints?] -Oh. -If you give a hint, I''ll bark like a dog. -Woof! Grrrr... Woof! -He hasn''t given it yet; The word ''hint'' reignited the chat. Their desperate desire to try this skill was palpable. Hanbit decided to tell a little lie. "A hint? This is a hidden skill, so I was thinking about selling it..." He spoke in a voice filled with genuine contemtion. Naturally, the bait was very sweet. [SwordMister has donated 100,000 won.] [Please.] [SwordEmperor has donated 150,000 won.] [Are you abandoning us? It''s the end of the month, so our budgets are tight;] [SwordGod has donated 200,000 won.] [How much will it take?] The viewers reacted by pouring in donations. He was originally nning to reveal the information on the stream anyway, but the flow was too good. ''How much should I reveal?'' Actually, even if he gave hints about spirits, it would only be obvious things. After all, if they didn''t have the skill themselves, they would never be able to obtain it. However, even this fundamental information was desperately wanted by the yers. Ding-! As he was pondering, a louder rm rang. Hanbit turned his gaze and froze. [Avantgarde has donated 1,000,000 won.] [Hello, ck Dragon. I''m streamer Avantgarde. Would it be possible to talk for a moment?] "Oh, it''s really Avantgarde?" -? -Is it really him? -Yeah, that idiot Bang Ga has been recording since yesterday. -Bang Ga, go farming. Judging from Yeonwoo and the viewers'' reactions, he seemed to be quite a famous streamer. ''1 million won?'' Naturally, Hanbit''s attention was first drawn to the amount. 1 million won. That was the number contained in a single donation. But his surprise didn''tst long. [PowerBridge Corp. has donated 2,000,000 won.] [Hello. This is Kim Jooho from the RP dedicated team at PowerBridge Corp. I''d like to inquire about purchasing information on the hidden skill.] -Whoa, PowerBridge? -Aren''t they a mid-sizedpany? -Don''t they have a semi-advance team? -Even corporations are joining in. Holy shit lol The appearance of a fairlyrgepany. Surprisingly, that was just the beginning. [Taesung Corp. has donated 3,000,000 won.] [MOKA has donated 3,000,000 won.] [Yeonhwa Gaming has donated 5,000,000 won.] ... The number ofpanies and the amount of donations gradually increased. Hanbit couldn''t help but stare intently at the umting messages. * * * "The spirit will always be with you. Always connect deeply with your heart, and bnce the growth of your body..." A''s advice continued for quite some time. It stemmed from his gratitude and sincerity towards the spirit. "Thank you. Then I''ll be on my way." "Yes. Oh, this is just out of concern." Just as he was about to turn away, A raised his hand and stopped him. Then, with a slightly darkened expression, he continued, "If you''re staying in Edlen, it would be wise to be careful." "Careful? About what?" "An unsettling energy of unknown origin has been appearing and disappearing intermittently. I couldn''t find it in the forest, but it''s possible that something exists within the city." A added that he had been thoroughly searching the surroundings since yesterday. Hanbit, who knew its identity well, nodded. "I understand. I''ll be careful." "It could be an existence that can harm the spirit. Always be on your guard." With that conversation concluded, Hanbit and Yeonwoo moved outside. It was thanks to the exit created by the power of the wind. "Hey, there they are." "Shit, can''t we grab them and get something?" "Don''t act rashly and wait. He said he''ll release the information." On the way to the city, the eyes of all sorts of yers were focused on them. They didn''t seem to want to hide what they desired. ''Just how much is umting?'' The donations that had been pouring in since earlier were still continuing. Even considering only the amounts in the millions, it had already exceeded 20 million won. He had an expected donation amount in mind, but even that seemed to have been a conservative estimate. ''Hidden skills are really something else.'' There were two main reasons why he revealed the process of obtaining this skill on the stream. One. To build a foundation for solo streaming someday. Two. To check people''s reactions to the hidden skill and the resulting profit. He would have to continue working on the streaming part, but he had more or less finished assessing the hidden skill. ''Selling it is a bit iffy.'' Once he started trading information, responsibility would follow as the seller. It was virtually impossible to fully convey his own experiences umted through 55 ythroughs. Especially when it came to powers rted to spirits, things were even more ambiguous. Just the thought of a buyer filing aint because they couldn''t get the skill gave him a headache. Although he had information and items to sell in mind, he needed to be cautious. "I should organize this before we go." Hanbit stopped and looked at the camera. "Since everyone has donated, I''ll just reveal the information about this hidden skill." Hanbit spoke with a nuance of having contemted it. Yeonwoo wasn''t surprised because he had been told beforehand. -He''s really giving it away? -Is this what it means to be rich; -Wouldn''t it be at least hundreds of millions if he sold it? -I don''t think it''s a matter of hundreds of millions. -Everyone shut up and worship him. [SwordGod has donated 100,000 won.] [He''s actually doing it.] [Avantgarde has donated 200,000 won.] [ck Dragon? Excuse me, but could you unlock your message settings?] -Bang Ga, read the room. -Shut up. Streamer Avantgarde subtly made a request through a donation. In this game, you could block messages from yers not on your friend list. Although it could be adjusted in the settings, if he unlocked it, he would be bombarded with messages. Considering Rashtan, contact with the outside wasn''t very appealing. "Please contact this person." Hanbit patted his junior''s shoulder, who was standing next to him. Yeonwoo, who was already checking the messages, nodded. "You can simply organize and send us any proposals or whatnot. We''ll consider them with an open mind depending on the content." He continued to give various exnations while looking at the camera. When he was mostly done organizing, Hanbit said, "I''ll post the information in writing after today''s stream. It''s not that great, but it''s better than nothing." -I''llp up anything like a dog. -I already saw it live, so it''s okay. -Anything is good. The viewers, who needed any information they could get, were positive. ''Since the donation amount is what it is, should I give more detailed information?'' The umted donation amount touched Hanbit''s heart. Even if the information was going to be released to the world, he didn''t intend to give out meaningless things. Even if he exined everything from A to Z, they wouldn''t be able to replicate it anyway. "Hey, but if you tell them, won''t they monopolize it again?" Yeonwoo voiced his concern, recalling Rashtan. The possibility of Rashtan''s tyranny repeating itself. It was a natural concern, but this time it was different. "No, there''s no way they can monopolize it." "There are cases where they establish a position and control other yers. Ah, would that turn into a war?" -If they control, it''s war. -Will we see an Advance Party war this time? -It''ll be total chaos lol. -Betrayal of betrayal of betrayal of betrayal. -Well, the winner is already decided. There''s nopany that wouldn''t jump at a hidden skill. If even the advance parties were mixed in andpeted for monopoly, it would be a mess. But a simpler oue was drawn in Hanbit''s mind. "If they try anything like that in front of A, they''ll be kicked out. They''ll be ignored by the spirit in the first ce anyway." "Really?" "The spirit sees a lot of things." Chirp- As if reacting to its mention, the spirit, which had returned to its bird form, made a clear sound. There is no falsehood or injustice in front of a spirit. It was a phrase like a proverb spread throughout this world. If they tried anything foolish, they would have to bear the consequences themselves. "Let''s go." Hanbit, recalling scenes from his memory, started walking towards the city. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 24 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 24 "You''re calling that crap a report?" "I apologize." 4th floor of an old building in Jongno, Seoul. In the corner of the meeting room, Kim Jaeha stood with his head low. "Apologize my ass. I told you to do at least one thing right, and you can''t even do that." Standing before him, spewing curses, was Division Manager Hojung Lee, someone the CEO personally brought in. He was a college junior who had worked for a gamepany for quite a long time. "You should have been fired and left back then. Do you know how much damage you''ve caused thepany?" "...I apologize." "Aren''t you tired of saying sorry? You only know how to cause trouble, you''re no help at all." 4 years ago. Kim Jaeha, who joined this small tradingpany, was full of passion. After 2 years, a game called RP was released, and it wasn''t long before the CEO made a decision. "We''re going to start working on RP too, so for now, just three people join in. Kim Jaeha, you''re definitely in." Kim Jaeha, who had been talking about RP since it came out, started his new task. Thanks to the team working better than expected, they were able to generate profits in various ways. But the joy didn''tst long. "What? Dwarven Metallurgy? Isn''t that hidden?" Kim Jaeha, who was exploring the snowy fields, identally discovered an achievement and reported it to the division manager. The name and content of the achievement clearly seemed different from ordinary metallurgy. "Yes. But there''s a lot of uncertainty with this, and it could be a long-term project. Selling this information to anotherpany would be much better..." "Why are you so scared, man! If we get this right, ourpany''s name will be known to the world!" The division manager, making the decision alone, quickly reported it to the CEO. He didn''t know what the report said, but changes happened immediately. "Gather as many people as possible and put them all on this!" At the CEO''s order, the employees started the hidden skill project with one heart and one mind. If they really obtained it, this skill alone would surely put them on the road to sess. "Competitors are joining in! Dig up all the other routes again!" But reality was harsh. The search for the hidden skill repeatedly turned up empty. In the end, as all sorts ofpanies caught wind of it, their position as the first discoverers gradually faded. "Everyone, hands off." The project, which had been dragging on for about 3 months, ended with a single word from the CEO. Because they didn''t gain any profit, all the effort and investment disappeared into thin air. The ridiculous thing was that none of the otherpetitors got the hidden skill either. "You were so sure! Do you know how much money we lost?" The CEO, throwing the documents on the floor, red at Kim Jaeha while fuming. He was flustered and couldn''t say anything, but the Division Manager stepped forward. "I apologize. I should have coordinated things better, but Jaeha was so sure it would work out..." "What? Manager, what are you..." "Why aren''t you being quiet? What did you do so well to raise your voice like that! The CEO trusted you so much and supported you!" Kim Jaeha perfectly understood the situation. That the manager had been shifting all the me onto him all this time. Kim Jaeha instinctively realized the reality he was in. "...I apologize." All he could do was apologize. If only he hadn''t discovered the achievement. If only he had reported directly to the CEO from the beginning. If only he had somehow stopped the division manager''s reckless actions. The situation could definitely have been different. The endless guilt settled in a corner of his heart. "Hey, what are you spacing out for?" The division manager''s irritated voice woke Kim Jaeha from his recollection. He wanted to punch him once and then quit, but the weight on his shoulders as the breadwinner was heavy. "What happened with that ck Dragon and Roper? Did you at least exchange some words? They''re the guys who even even the hidden skill!" "It''s still difficult, but I''ve organized the methods for contact in the report. Please review it." "Review my ass. Is giving awaypany money on a stream for free a method?" The report in his hand was already crumpled beyond recognition. The division manager''s expression looked at him as if he was a disgusting bug. Kim Jaeha, suppressing his anger, said, "It''s not free, it''s an investment. ck Dragon probably has more information." "Investment, my ass, you need to bring something in hand for it to be an investment. You want to spend 1 million won just to send a message?" "Otherpanies are already donating, and ck Dragon seemed interested in watching. If we miss this opportunity..." "Hey, Kim Jaeha." The division manager cut him off mid-exnation. He approached him and poked Jaeha''s stomach with the report, saying, "Stop with the nonsense and go make contact yourself. Dance, put on a show, use your body. Got it?" "...I understand." "You''re damn good at answering." Thud- Annoyed, he threw the paper on the floor. "You idiot." With that, the division manager left the meeting room. Kim Jaeha, who had been looking down, could only clench his trembling fists. * * * "There are still so many." Hanbit, returning to Edlen, sighed at the sight of the still-swarming yers. Seeing them all turn their gazes towards him, it seemed they had been watching the stream. "Hey, are you going to do the main quest now?" Yeonwoo, who was walking next to him, asked with anticipation in his eyes. The viewers were also curious. -Will he cheat on the main quest too? -Yeah, no way. -Even if you know the whole story, you still have to do it step by step. -Still, the Bales bus was sweet, right? -That Bales is actually... -Oh, no spoilers. The chat was filled with talk about the story. The name that kept appearing there, Bales. He had so much to say about that man, but he had no intention of entering the story yet. "Let''s do the story tomorrow." "Huh? Why?" "I have to go to work." "Ah." -It''s 2 AM already; -Time flew by. -Why go to work? -One point for the unemployed. -My work day is screwed now. Yeonwoo and the viewers, checking the time, couldn''t refute him. The schedule that started after work and continued until the hidden skill had somehow reached dawn. The time wasted because of Rashtan''s selfishness felt especially regrettable. "Can''t be helped. Are you going to log out now?" "No, I''m going to allocate some stat points." "Huh? Really?" Yeonwoo''s face lit up at the wee news. He had been inwardly waiting for the moment Hanbit would allocate his stat points. "How many points do you have? A lot, right?" "Hold on." Hanbit immediately disyed his character information. [ck Dragon - Lv.16] [Title: None] Strength: 4 Agility: 4 Intelligence: 4 Stamina: 4 Remaining Stat Points: 51 "...No, looking at it like this, it''s really unbelievable. Why are the numbers like this?" -Level 16 with 51 points. lol -Isn''t it crazy that he''s already level 16? lol -Isn''t it from the hunting he did off-screen? -No, the quest rewards were just insane. [Factory has donated 1,000 won.] [This is a bit...] The viewers were astonished by the marvelous numbers. Yeonwoo, who had his mouth agape, quickly changed his expression. "But why did you keep saving them? It would have been easier to clear the skill quests if you had allocated some stat points." "Just... thinking about where to use them," Hanbit gave a suitable answer but the essence of it was quiteplicated. ''I don''t gamble unnecessarily.'' The 4 skills learned in Edlen. This was the first step towards adaptation. Recalling the past senses of mastering skills with the weakest body, so to speak. Since stats affect physical abilities, he had to avoid allocating them, at least in the initial stages. Besides, there was one more important thing. ''The data collection is almostplete.'' The task regarding RP gear that Minho Lee had taken on. Hanbit, who offered to help him, received a USB from him. It contained a special program developed by the research and development department. Apparently, detailed data was automatically recorded ording to the actions of the RP yer. And one of the elements that needed to be checked was the change in movement ording to stat allocation. "It''s a relief that it went well... Well, anyway, wouldn''t it be amazing to put everything into one stat? Is it agility for the wind spirit? Should we look into it?" Yeonwoo''s interest shifted in a different direction. Hanbit, who was checking his stats, moved his finger towards the + button next to strength. Click- The number went up as he pressed the button. Strength was now changed to 5. "No, hey! Why did you allocate it right away!" -LOL -Noob alert. -Brainless issue. -But isn''t agility really the right choice? -Agreed Yeonwoo and the viewers were convinced it was the wrong choice. However, there were things he had to check, also for the sake of data recording. "Wait a minute." Squeeze- Hanbit had been gripping the sword''s hilt for a while now He focused on the sensation and nodded. ''This is it.'' The grip strength that changed the moment had increased by 1. Most yers wouldn''t be able to detect that subtle difference, but Hanbit was different. How many times had he swung a sword in 55 ythroughs? Compared to the daily physical training and growth he underwent, this could be considered a drastic change. Click- Click- Hanbit invested one point in each of the other stats and checked the differences. Agility, intelligence, stamina, all were enough to confirm the subtle differences. ''...This might be possible?'' The peak of his prime that he reached in the other world. In reality, it would take at least decades to build that kind of physique. But in this game, where changes were made through stats, it could be drastically shortened. No, perhaps he could even reach a higher level than that. "Hey! Wait a minute!" As he touched all the stats, Yeonwoo tried to stop him in a fluster. It seemed he was quite eager to see him invest all the points in one stat. "Aren''t there people who distribute their points evenly?" "Of course there are. But you acquired a hidden skill, so you have to match it!" Yeonwoo''s pleading voice echoed pathetically. But Hanbit knew the most about Wind Swordsmanship. Of course, showing it once was better than exining it a hundred times. "I''ll show you. See for yourself." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 25 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 25 Swish- Whoosh- The de of the wind cut through the air in an arc. Hanbit allocated points to all stats except stamina and continued to use the skill every time the wind was charged. Yeonwoo, who was staring nkly at the sight, finally realized something towards the end. All three stats with different characteristics affected the skill. "It''s really an all-stat skill?" "Stamina is irrelevant, but that''s how the power of spirits is. It''s different from other skills." Chirp- The little bird listening to the conversation chirped as if in agreement. -This is real. -Cute. -If all spirit skills are all-stat, isn''t that crazy difficult? -Elementalists are crying. The spirit''s response was very persuasive. Hanbit reached out and gently stroked the bird. "We borrow the power of spirits. We need to be qualified by having various abilities to support it." "Still, isn''t it too difficult to require three types of stats?" "Think of it as a minimum requirement, not a demand. It''s meaningless if you don''t appeal to the spirit¡¯s heart." -It''s not easy for a baby. -Baby spirit (5,000 years old) -Is it possible topromise by increasing intelligence? -Okay, I''m going all-in on intelligence. -Wouldn''t it be faster to just rece your head? Anyway, regardless of the yful reactions, the power of spirits is that difficult to handle perfectly. It''s rather kind that the aspects you have to grasp through senses are disyed as stats. "But then, are you going to continue as an Elementalist? The efficiency of other skills won''t be that good." "It depends on how you use them. How you use them is more important than efficiency." There are always preferred skills, but this is just a starting point. Depending on the situation, there would be many cases where various skills are used together. Of course, it was clear that he would continue to receive a lot of help from spirits. ''This should be enough.'' Hanbit finished allocating his stats andpleted the necessary data collection. He moved his finger and turned his gaze to the information window. [ck Dragon - Lv.16] [Title: None] Strength: 20 Agility: 20 Intelligence: 20 Stamina: 7 Remaining Stat Points: 0 "Ha." Yeonwoo, staring nkly, let out a sigh, "Why again?" "Look at this," he said as he opened his character information window. [Roper - Lv.25] [Title: Explorer of the Forest] Strength: 23 Agility: 6 Intelligence: 5 Stamina: 11 Hanbit turned his gaze to the screen. Then, with a puzzled look, he asked, "...Why are you like this?" "You got too many stat points. I''m the normal one," Yeonwoo replied in disbelief. Hanbit checked his information window again. [Roper - Lv.25] [Title: Explorer of the Forest] Strength: 23 Agility: 6 Intelligence: 5 Stamina: 11 Hanbit''s total stats were 67. Yeonwoo''s total stats were 45. Considering the level difference and ytime, it was an absurd difference. "This is normal? Did you not try hard enough?" "The only thing I didn''t do was the story! Compared to you, who''s only been ying for a few days, this is ridiculous!" -Roper''s gonna cry; -Really, this is normal. -Isn''t this a private server, seriously? -Does clearing the story give you like 15 stat points? -If you''re really good, you can get up to 17. His genuinely frustrated expression made it hard to even tease him. Yeonwoo, sighing once again, turned his gaze to Hanbit''s stats. Then, as if he had remembered something, he asked, "But are you really okay with that much stamina? I know from experience that there are many cases where you get one-shotted by monsters." One of the reasons RP is difficult is that stamina isn''t visible. A system that doesn''t disy the character''s or the monster''s stamina. Because of this, it seemed that there were quite a few people who invested a certain amount in stamina for stable gamey. At least for ordinary yers, that is. "That''s solved by just not getting hit." "...Huh?" -LOL -Look at his confidence. -Everyone has a n until they get punched in the face. -Really, you won''t know until you get one-shotted. His seemingly boastful remark drewughter mixed with ridicule from the viewers. To avoid getting hit, dodge the attack. It was a very simple truth, but not everyone could do it. However, Hanbit, who had learned it by risking his life for many years, did not fall into the category of "everyone." Hanbit closed the character information window and turned his gaze to the camera. "This is where I''ll end the stream." "Oh, are you leaving already?" -What, why is he leaving? -Is he sulking? -Sorry. The viewers changed their attitude at the news of the stream ending. They were always funny to watch. "I have to go to work. I''ll start the main story tomorrow, so pleasee back in the evening." Click- Hanbit pressed the logout button and took off the gear he was wearing. "Whew." He swept back his sweat-soaked hair and went out to the living room. His mother was already asleep, so Hanbit finished showering as quietly as possible. Bzz- As he returned to his room, his phone vibrated. "Hey, I''ll give you all the donations and prize money I received today. It''s a total of 31,392,000 won, but it''ll take about 30 minutes because of app maintenance." "What are you talking about?" The promise to split the donations 50/50 was still valid. He had no intention of being blinded by therge amount. Hanbit opened the messenger chatroom. Kang Hanbit: Stop talking nonsense and split the donations exactly in half. Joo Yeonwoo: No, it''s only right that you take it all. It''s the same context as the prize money." Kang Hanbit: I wouldn''t have had this opportunity without you. We earned this together, so stop talking. I''m going to sleep. Thud- After sending his reply, Hanbit ced his phone face down on the desk. He threw himself onto the bed, listening to the vibrations, and couldn''t fall asleep... "Ah." Remembering something he had to do, Hanbit got up again. He turned on theputer, sat in the chair, and pulled the keyboard closer. "I have to do as much as I received." The hint about the hidden skill that he promised the viewers. After checking the amount himself, he couldn''t just brush it off. After all, there were expectations in the tens of millions. "...Where should I write it?" It would be best to ask Yeonwoo, but his phone was still vibrating. Giving up, Hanbit entered the RPGmunity. "Login... and non-login, both are here." Posts written with verified ounts and posts written anonymously. It seemed that Yeonwoo uploaded the video anonymously. "Let''s see..." Hanbit brought the headgear and entered the ount identification number on the login screen. As if that alone was enough for verification, the registration process wasplete. "Should I write them one by one?" He pressed the write button and started to release the hints in the order he had decided. But the work didn''tst even 10 minutes. "Wow, this is difficult." He had more than enough experience and knowledge. The problem was that putting it into writing was difficult in many ways. "I need to write this in an easy-to-understand way." The people who would read this post were ordinary yers, in other words, beginners. That meant he needed to organize what was in his head as intuitively as possible. ck- ck- Hanbit''s fingers, slightly spurred by a sense of challenge, moved busily. It was a few hourster that he finished the work. * * * The next morning, Hanbit woke up early and stretched. "Ugh." Even though movements in the game stemmed from the mind, the fatigue wasn''t insignificant. The more he concentrated, the more he felt it. Of course, it was also because he stayed upte. "When did this guy even sleep?" He grabbed his phone and opened the chat window with Yeonwoo again. Over 10 messages had piled up since hisst reply. Fortunately, it seemed like Yeonwoo would follow Hanbit''s opinion in the end. "20 million won..." An unbelievable amount that felt unreal. It seemed like he sent a bit more than half. He let out a chuckle at hisst bit of stubbornness. Bzz- Just as he was looking at the amount again, his phone vibrated. It was a call from Yeonwoo. "At this hour?" The early morning call was strange. With that question in mind, Hanbit pressed the ept button. "What''s up this early..." ¡°Is this really what you wrote?¡± A rushed voice came before he could even finish his sentence. He really had no idea what was going on. "What are you talking about all of a sudden?" ¡°The post on RPG! Did you really post that?¡± His intense reaction was strange. Hanbit turned on hisputer and went straight to the RPGmunity. And he was met with thousands ofment notifications popping up at the top. "...?" Puzzled, Hanbit clicked on the notification and moved to the post. The content was about the hint he wrote yesterday. I''m leaving a hint as promised. I''ve briefly summarized it in the order of swordsmanship, sparring, and spirit, so please refer to it. Swordsmanship Balder''s first test is purely about posture and attitude. Before you receive the quest, make sure to swing your sword at least 50,000 times beforehand. Sparring Balder shows very subtle signs right before attacking. The basic framework can be distinguished in advance by changes in his eyes, hands, feet, waist, etc. First, I''ll tell you about the 15 basic movements, 21 linking movements, and 26 advanced movements. I wrote it from the yer''s perspective, so it should be easy to understand. Right downward sh Gaze is forward, right wrist moves 2 centimeters in the 1 o''clock direction, left foot moves 1.5 centimeters in the 7 o''clock direction, waist is about 10 degrees to the right based on the center seam... The content of the post that Hanbit diligently wrote was quite long. However, those who saw the hint were confused. - W-what is this... - Hint (Introduction) - Professor, the pace is strange. - No, how can you follow this; - He wants us to read those signs? - You''d need to train your dynamic vision for 20 years. - ©¸ Do you think 20 years would be enough? - ©¸ It''d be faster to be reborn. - I think I''m going crazy. - Okay, I''ll try it head-on. - ©¸ You''ll crack your head open. - He should have uploaded a video or something; - ©¸ Excuse me, but do you have no conscience, sir? The ensuingments were practically a chaotic mess. ¡°This isn''t a hint, it''s a full-blown guide!¡± Amidst these reactions, Yeonwoo thought the information was too excessive. Hanbit, after reading through thements, let out a short sigh. "As expected, there are a lot of reactions saying it''s difficult." ¡°As expected?¡± "Can you follow this as it is?" ¡°Well¡­¡± Yeonwoo''s voice trailed off as he was about to answer. It seemed he was re-examining the content of the post, having been focused on themunity''s reaction. And after a while, a bewildered voice was heard. ¡°No, how can anyone follow this?¡± [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 26 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 26 "Right?" ¡°Not just ''right,'' hyung, you''ve been doing this this whole time?¡± "I didn''t write it exactly as is. It''d be a loss for me if I revealed everything." There were no lies in the writing he had produced after much deliberation. However, it was difficult to exin the experience he had umted over an incredibly long time. It was extremely difficult to put abstract and vague content into writing. In particr, the part about spirits was a headache to write. 3. Spirits Honestly, spirits are indeed in the realm of talent. There''s no guarantee of results even with effort. Still, the wind spirit Sylph is a yful friend, so try to creatively attract its attention over time. The rmended location is the cliff outside Edlen. The methods are listed below. y the flute while falling off a cliff (the more unique the music, the better.) Dance and sing while falling off a cliff (doing both at the same time is good.) Collect unique winds while falling off a cliff (use Caliburn''s ss bottle) Send toys to Sylph (pinwheels, gs, paper airnes, etc.)¡­¡­. -This is insane, really. -Why do you keep falling off a cliff? -Is this really about RP? -Isn''t Caliburn''s ss bottle super expensive? -Isn''t this just extreme trolling instead of getting attention? -Summary) Be a clown. The methods listed were not easily epted. It was natural for people to think it was absurd. But surprisingly, in Hanbit''s experience, these were the easiest and most effective methods. ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± Yeonwoo, who was reading the article, groaned. After a while, he spoke in a slightly anxious voice,¡¯ ¡°I understand it''s really difficult, but isn''t it a bit dangerous? What if someone actually tries to follow all of this?¡± "Well, there might be a genius. This is also in the realm of talent.¡± Combat and skills are also greatly influenced by talent. Even in the past world, he had seen a fewsome people who showed remarkable talent in certain areas. Even they couldn''t reach Hanbit''s overwhelming experience. Especially in the game, with the added effect of titles, it''s like an invisible wall has been erected. ¡®Still, maybe¡­ it¡¯s possible.¡¯ Aside from the spirits, the swordsmanship wasn''t a bad strategy. If there was someone with a budding talent, wouldn''t they be able to ovee a mountain of this level? "The advance party are basically talented people, right?" ¡°They are, but there are also some hidden masters. Many of them aren''t interested in the story, though.¡± Hundreds of millions of yers active in RP. Of those, only a small number are seen inmunities or streams. In his experience, there is no limit to the potential of those who are not revealed to the world. Everyone has different goals and talents, so it might be good to look forward to that. "Anyway, it doesn''t matter if someone follows it. No, rather, they should. It''ll increase the credibility of my information." ¡°Well, that''s true. If someone seeds, the atmosphere will change drastically.¡± What was important to Hanbit was increasing the value of the information. One of the essential elements that contributes to that value is trust. Information that no one can benefit from has a high risk of bing ambiguous. This is especially true when ites to areas that involve individual capabilities. "...But is it really okay? It''ll be a problem if no one can follow it." Hanbit, looking at the content again, suddenly became worried. Even when he recalled his old memories, education was a really difficult task. Could he really rely on a gem appearing from somewhere? Should he give a little more hints? His head gradually became clouded... ¡°Hyung, it hasn''t even been a day since you posted the article,¡± Yeonwoo''s voice cut off his train of thought. He continued speaking, still looking over the content of the article, ¡°I understand it''s part of the business. So let''s wait a few weeks and think about it then.¡± "A few weeks?" ¡°Hyung, you need to realize the weight of hidden skills first. For the time being, everyone will be crazy about it, so think of it as umting data.¡± Yeonwoo''s exnation was clear. Now that they had entered the realm of business, his perspective was definitely different. "And starting today, it would be good for you to start streaming yourself. The protagonist of hidden skills appearing on someone else''s stream doesn''t look good." "Me? Isn''t it too early?" "It''s no different from what you''ve been doing for the past 3 days. Honestly, the viewers like it no matter what you do." "Really?" "Definitely. You can just do whatever you want. I''ll be by your side, so I''ll help you with anything you need.¡± Yeonwoo added that he had nothing to worry about. Although the distribution of donations was still on his mind, Hanbit also thought it would be good to adapt to streaming quickly for the future. "Okay. But the viewers don''t know, do they?" "I''m going to write an announcement, so it''s fine. Ah, the way to turn on the stream is¡­¡­." Yeonwoo went on to exin the technical aspects. It was quite simple, so it wasn''t difficult to understand. "Easy. Then see you tonight." * * * "...What is this?" Hanbit, who hung up the phone, immediately went to find his mother. On the smartphone screen between them was an ount bnce of over 20 million won. "Look at this too." Hanbit yed the stream recording he had saved on his smartphone. A way to clearly resolve the misunderstanding that he had vaguely exined yesterday. Just showing his mother the donations shown on the stream. "¡­¡­." His mother, watching the video, closed her mouth with aplicated expression. That look on her face appeared when she was surprised and when something was difficult to understand. "They give you this much money? People who don''t even know your face?" "It''s the same as selling things. I''m telling them information I know, so they donate money." "There''s a lot more than that. Oh my, oh my, how can they just take out 100,000 won like it''s pocket change¡­¡­" His mother watched the video with all sorts of reactions. She had aplicated expression on her face mixed with wonder and bewilderment. It was a sight too far removed from working in reality. He had only been an intern for a day or two, so the gap his mother felt must be much greater. "Whew." As the yback ended, his mother let out a deep sigh. Lost in thought for a moment, she took her eyes off the screen. "So, why did you show me this?" "You were surprised by the 3 million won, right? I wanted to show you how I earned it." "Besides that. You have more to say, don''t you?" ¡°¡­¡­.¡± His true intentions seen through, Hanbit closed his mouth. Scratching his head, he continued with the main point. "Till now, I was appearing on Yeonwoo''s stream. But it seems like I''ll be doing it myself from today." "Yourself? You''re going to stream? Alone?" "No, Yeonwoo will be there to help. But the name, the donations, and the prize money distribution..." Hanbit went on to exin various things, borrowing the words Yeonwoo had told him. His mother asked worriedly, "But is streaming really okay? I heard there are a lot of insults in the chat window, or whatever it''s called." "There are very few cases of actual insults. Most of them are exmations." "Exmations?" His mother looked dubious at his slightly embellished exnation. Even if there was a difference in interpretation, it wasn''t entirely a lie. "It''s true. You saw how many donations they give." "That''s true, but..." People really don''t want to give even 100 won to someone they truly dislike. His mother couldn''t deny that obvious truth. Rewinding the recorded video, she moved on to another worry. "What about thepany you''re working at now? Won''t it be too tiring if you stream as well?" "It''s just for a few hours after work, so it won''t be much different from now." "At first, you''ll be busy learning and everything. Are the people at thepany teaching you well? They''re not making things difficult for you, are they?" His breath hitched at thest question. The faces of the team leader and a few others shed through his mind, but he concentrated on the kind memory of Lee Minho as much as possible. "Everyone is treating me well. It''s an experiential internship, so I''m just watching and learning." "That''s a relief. These days, because of all thepany absurdities..." Just then, his mother''s expression hardened as she continued speaking while watching the recording. He instinctively felt a sense of crisis. Hanbit gulped nervously. "You." His mother, taking her eyes off the screen, looked into her son''s eyes. And pointing at the ''ck Dragon'' that appeared on the screen, she said, "What''s with this face?" "Face?" "Your face in the game is aplete replica of this. Did you do this on purpose?" "Ah." He was at a loss for words at the fact he had forgotten for a moment. Saying it was the Goddess''s doing would obviously make the situation moreplicated. "When I was creating the character, a mirror came to mind first. I made it simr based on that. No one can recognize me outside anyway. The atmosphere ispletely different because of the clothes and weapons." "No one can recognize you? What about me then?" "You''re my mom, of course you can. And if you look closely, it''s a bit different." "Hmm..." His mother narrowed her eyes and examined the ck Dragon character again. Watching her, Hanbit emphasized once more, "Really, absolutely no one will recognize me." * * * "Isn''t this you Mr. Hanbit?" "..." Hanbit, who was cleaning the meeting room, was flustered. The ck Dragon character appeared on the smartphone screen that Lee Minho showed him. As Lee Minho looked back and forth between the character and him, he became speechless. ''I was nning to reveal it soon anyway.'' The reason he was helping Lee Minho with his RP-rted work was clear. The circumstances that led to the other world appearing as a game. The Goddess''s intentions, hidden secrets, and clues. Because if he found even a small trace of anything, it would be a big gain. In the process, as he followed the shared data and opinions, it was only a matter of time before his identity as ck Dragon was revealed. If he had already noticed, it would be better to just reveal it. "How did you know?" "Just the appearance and atmosphere are simr. I didn''t know you were a streamer." "Ah, is having a side job prohibited?" "In principle, yes, but since you are on a fixed-term contract, it should be fine. Still, it''s better to keep it a secret. The team leader will definitely make a fuss..." Lee Minho looked at the team leader visible beyond the window blinds. He was frowning with his forehead furrowed, as if something was bothering him again. "Ah, please take this for now." Hanbit took out the USB he had put in his pocket and handed it over. Lee Minho, receiving it, asked in surprise, "You''ve already finished?" "I happened to have a good situation for data measurement. If you need anything else, please let me know." "Thank you. I''ve done quite a bit of research on RP, but I have no talent for games at all, so it would have taken me much longer. Thanks to you, I''ve saved a lot of time." Lee Minho looked genuinely relieved. It''s too harsh to be forced to y games on top of the insane workload and schedule. "How are you going to analyze the data? It seems like you don''t have any time at all." "There''s a problem with one of the projects, so it seems like it''ll be stopped for a while. I have to finish it this weekend." Lee Minho added that he was really lucky. Watching him, Hanbit casually threw out a question. "Can I join you in that?" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 27 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 27 Hanbit returned home, finished his meal, and went into his room. Wearing his gear, hey down on the bed and immediately logged into the game. Whirr- The screen loaded, followed by a mechanical sound. When the screen settled, the scenery of Edlen appeared. ''Streaming is... here.'' Hanbit opened the system window and finished setting up as he had learned. Ding- [The stream has started.] The stream started as he pressed the button. But the number of viewers increased faster than expected. -Dragon, hello. -Hi hi -I came after seeing Roper''s notice. -Exin the hint first. -Really can''t follow it. Due to the notice Yeonwoo had posted, it already exceeded several thousand viewers. There were also a considerable number of people who came because of the hint post. "Hello. This is ck Dragon. I''ll be hosting the stream from today, so please take good care of me." -Nice to meet you. -Okay, let''s do well. -Just exin the hint. -No strategy guide part 2? The interest was focused on the hint rather than the start of his first stream. It was an obvious reaction, but part 2 was too much for them. "It''ll be harder if I write it in more detail, should I do it? But there will be no hints or strategies for a while." -More detailed than that? -St... Stop. -He''s crazy. -Nowes the micro-unit movement. -Get out, the guy asking for strategy part 2. The viewers agreed to refuse the second hint. "Hyung!" While exchanging yful words like that, Yeonwoo, who had just logged in, appeared next to him. "I was a littlete because of some work. Did you finish greeting everyone?" "Yeah. I was persuading them because they wanted more hints." "There are people who want more of that?" Yeonwoo looked at the chat window, dumbfounded. The viewers who had finished the agreement were all posting ''NNN'' (no no no). "Isn''t the situation already over?" "Yeah, it''s over. Let''s go do the story." "Let''s go!" Hanbit, already ahead, walked towards the destination. Yeonwoo, who quickly followed, looked around and said, "They''re staring openly now." "Don''t mind them. Just do what you have to do." Hanbit, who was moving forward indifferently, stopped walking after a while. "This is where it starts." The ce they arrived at was in front of the Adventurer''s Guild building. The start of the main quest, shining in the quest window. That''s because this was the ce. "Wow, you''re finally doing the story. Do you know how long I''ve been waiting?" "Didn''t you just not clear it because you werezy?" "Hey, I was waiting to do it with you, hyung." Yeonwoo chuckled yfully. He seemed to be looking forward to it quite a bit. "You said Episode 1 takes about two weeks, right?" "If you follow the guidebook exactly, yes." He roughly grasped the information about the main story from the guidebook. Since everything was twisted starting with Artsvel, both the process and the result werepletely wrong. The key was how quickly he could proceed with his own method. Considering the degree of freedom he had so far, his expectations were high. ''The normal route is out of the question.'' Just recalling memories and experiences was not enough. He needed to shorten the time, not just by a few steps, but by cutting it down significantly. "Hyung, aren''t you going in?" Yeonwoo asked cautiously as he stopped for a while. Perhaps because he seemed to be deep in thought, even the viewers intervened. -No way he doesn''t know? -Is he really scared? -Just trust Barres. -LOL for real -Let''s break through the front and catch Brook. -Damn, half of this is spoilers. Themonly known content of Episode 1 is very simple. Brook Norton, who framed his brother and killed him to be the mayor of Edlen. The yer, with the help of his confidant Barres, brings Brook to justice. However, this was just an empty shell with all the substance removed. "Since it''s a party, we''re proceeding together, right?" "The progress is made by the party leader''s decision, but I''ll just focus on filming. Even if I can''t fill the contribution level, most of the progress itself is possible." "Is that okay?" "Of course. This is more fun for me." The party that had been formed before falling into the canyon and has been maintained ever since. It was said that the main quest often takes ce in a dedicated field, so it was essential to act together. "Does it start as soon as we enter?" "Yes. A cutscene ys right away, but I hear it''s not very long." "Really?" The two moved their feet and headed inside the guild building. The moment they stepped inside, the screen changed immediately. [Cutscene Transition.] Swoosh- A blue line was drawn in front of their eyes along with shimmering fog. A voice immediately followed. "At the center of the Great Ocean, on the giant World Tree that supports the sky, a single sentence is inscribed." Before they knew it, a World Tree sorge that they couldn''t see the end of it was drawn in front of their eyes. The golden letters embedded at the bottom of its trunk shed. [The one who finds the unknown existence, Erport, shall gain the right to face the truth.] The purpose for which the Goddess sent Hanbit to the world. However, that goal was also recognized by the members of the world. Thanks to the letters inscribed on the World Tree. "The ancestors were convinced that this sentence was the will of the Creator. With a sense of mission, they set out to find Erport, and that will is passed down to future generations in various forms." Swoosh- The screen returned as the voice faded away. People busily moving around were visible in front of their eyes. Ding-! [Episode I: The Secret of Edlen] [Main Quest #1: Start] Go find Miel at the Adventurer''s Guild. Objective: Talk to Miel Reward: 500 gold, 100 experience points *Current progress: 0 percent The quest that appeared immediately was simple. But Yeonwoo came up to him and asked, "Hyung, Miel was in the novel too, right? She''ll take up a lot of time." "Come here for now." Hanbit headed straight to the reception desk with Yeonwoo. There was a young female employee there, fixing her eye makeup. "Miel." "Ah, just a moment." Even with Hanbit''s greeting, the employee, Miel, did not put down her makeup. -LOL the first wall appears. -Blocked right away, huh? -Ah lmao Miel won''t give you information. -Please wait~ -Information) Even after she finishes her makeup, she won''t give you information. [Guidebook has donated 1,000 won.] [This will continue to happen.] ''She''s the same here.'' She was also someone who clearly existed in Hanbit''s memory. She was a verypetent employee, except for herck of passion for work. "When will you be done?" "In a moment," a dry reply came as she changed her makeup. Hanbit, staring at her face, pointed to a small ss bottle with his finger. "You don''t like this perfume, do you?" "...So?" Miel said, ncing away at his question. Hanbit, tapping on the reception desk, immediately got to the point. "I have something that has a really nice scent. I''ll give it to you, so let''s talk about work." "You think I''ll fall for it just because you say it has a nice scent?" -Not easy, is it? -It''s a new pattern though; -No, there were people who tried to seduce her. -No way lol Miel scoffed and continued applying her makeup. Yeonwoo, who was watching, asked cautiously, "Hyung, can''t you use Charm or something?" "Charm, my foot." Swoosh- Pushing his head away, Hanbit took out a blue flower from his inventory. "How about making perfume with this?" "...?" Miel, once again, only shifted her gaze. But it wasn''t long before her eyes widened. "What''s this! It''s a Firefly Flower!" Miel moved her hand, trying to snatch it. Hanbit quickly pulled it back and showed the flower, swaying it gently. "So what are you going to do?" "How did you get this? Give it to me quickly!" "I''ll give you the flower when the work is done." "...If even a single petal is damaged, just you wait." -? -Miel is working right away? -A new route pioneered; -No, what''s a Firefly Flower? "Huh?" Everyone was surprised by Miel''s unfamiliar behavior. The Firefly Flower, which is said to have a heavenly scent. Although there was no information about it in the guidebook, it was known to be quite difficult to obtain in this world. ''No wonder.'' The Firefly Flower has unique ecological characteristics. It only grows in ces that are not only suitable in terms of time and terrain but also full of spiritual energy. And there is only one ce in Edlen that meets all the conditions. It was A''s testing ground, where he faced the wind spirit. Thud-! Miel ced a thick stack of documents on the counter. Then she opened the cover and said, "Here, Edlen is a port city of the Raven Kingdom. You know that finding Erport is themon goal of the world, right?" "I know. Raven is a hardliner nation hostile to Erport, right?" "That''s right. So the Adventurer''s Guild is also moving towards that goal." The interpretation of and attitude towards Erport gradually diverged over time. It is nowrgely ssified into three categories. One. Hardliners who believe that Erport is an enemy. Two. Moderates who believe that its identity should be identified and dialogue should be prioritized. Three. The Holy Nation that worships Erport as a sacred being, having received an oracle from the Creator God. Their purposes are different, but their goal is the same. To find Erport. "Raven is looking for candidates for an investigation team to represent the kingdom. The Adventurer''s Guild is also participating in the process of recruiting those talents." The investigation team. A group of the world''s strongest gathered to find Erport. Candidates from each country are vetted by them, and if they pass the procedure, they be official members of the investigation team. The country that produces talent gains both various benefits and a position of power. It''s like a nuclear power in reality. "So in the end, it''s about proving your skills, right?" "That''s right. As you solve one request after another, high-ranking people will alsoe looking for you. Whether you catch their eye then or not is up to you." Miel''s gaze, as she continued speaking, was still fixed on the flower. It was even more intense than a beast aiming for its prey. Ding-! [Main Quest #1pleted.] [500 gold received.] [Experience points increased by 100.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #2: Proof of Skill] You learned about the investigation team. First, you need to prove your skills. Objective: Choose andplete one request. Reward: 500 gold, 200 experience points *Current Progress: 1 percent A message popped up as the brief exnation ended. Hanbit asked Miel, "Can I choose the request myself?" "Yes, yes. Go over there and look." She pointed to the bulletin board on the right with her finger. Hanbit walked over there and carefully examined the requests pinned with pins. "Hyung, which request are you going to choose? It''s good to build achievements through monster subjugation." "Hmm." Yeonwoo''s rmendation made sense. It would be closer to the standard to raise achievements bypleting easy and quick requests. If he were an ordinary yer, Hanbit would definitely have chosen that path as well. ''Found it.'' Scanning the bulletin board, he found the request he wanted. [Request Form] Difficulty: F~A Client: Guild Objective: Investigate the interior of the dungeon that has appeared around Edlen and eliminate the danger. Reward: Varies depending on the dungeon difficulty "Hyung! That''s..." -Dungeon? -You''re going to start with this? -Look at his spirit. -As expected of ck Dragon. Yeonwoo, who had checked the content, tried to stop him by raising his hand. But Hanbit, who had already removed the request form, returned to where Miel was. "I''ll take this one." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 28 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 28 "You''re going with this?" Miel looked at the request form ced on the counter in disbelief. Even with the wide range of difficulty, it wasn''t a request that a rookie adventurer should touch. "Why? Can''t I?" "Of course not. I''d feel bad if a rookie adventurer died. Just start with this kind of request for now." She rummaged through the documents and pulled out a request form. It was the easiest and simplest request: gathering herbs. Hanbit shook the Firefly Flower in his hand and asked, "You didn''t forget about this, did you?" "Be careful! The petals are about to fall off!" Miel, who desperately wanted to have it, shouted in urgency and tried to grab it. Hanbit removed his hand and asked again, "Do you think a rookie adventurer can get this flower?" "Of course it''s difficult to get it yourself. Didn''t you buy it somewhere?" "If I had that kind of money, I would have hired a mercenary to bring it to me, even for a short time." "...." Miel pouted at his irrefutable logic. Knowing the ecology of the Firefly Flower, she couldn''t think of anything to refute him. But it was absurd that he wasn''t a rookie with such shabby equipment. "Ahh." Miel, taking a deep breath, looked between the flower, the documents, and Hanbit. Even with lingering doubts, the adventurer in front of her was different from ordinary neers. In other words, there was no reason not to give him the dungeon request. It wasn''t just because she wanted the Firefly Flower. "I''ll give you the request. But make sure you know your level. If something feels strange, run away immediately." "Okay. Here, take it." Hanbit received the request form and handed over the Firefly Flower. Miel, receiving it, very carefully moved it to an empty vase. "I didn''t know I''d ever have this... Thank you!" -Wow, Miel is saying that. -She told me not toe see her; -Really freaking annoying. The viewers were confused as she made a genuinely happy expression. "I''lle back when the request is over." "Yes! Be careful!" After a brief farewell, Hanbit immediately left the guild. Yeonwoo, who followed him, asked suspiciously, "Hyung, you do know the story, right?" "I know. It''s about revealing the crimes of the mayor of Edlen." "More than that, you have to gain the trust of the guild master first. If you waste time in the dungeon, the situation will worsen." From the moment the main quest begins, time flows fast. Even though there is plenty of time, if you miss the timing, the storypletely copses. Since there is no chance to retry, following the guidebook has now be thepletely established method. "That''s why I''m doing this." There were two reasons for choosing the dungeon request. One was to gain the trust of the guild master, who would be his helper, by proving his skills. The other was to proceed with the story in apletely different direction from the guidebook. It was a branching point that would allow him to jump right into the heart of the story while considering both. ''There are still many.'' Numerous yers were watching Hanbit as he came out of the guild. There seemed to be no one who would approach him like the Ranger. "What episode is the advanced team on now?" "Why are you suddenly asking about the advanced team?" "Just curious." "Hmm... ording to the information released, it''s Episode 8. The top advanced teams may have progressed further, though." "Really?" Each episode of RP mostly covers a city or a small country. To have reached the 8th episode in just two years is quite impressive. That is, from the perspective of those experiencing it for the first time. "At that rate, I''ll be able to catch up quickly." "...To the advanced teams?" -Deration to catch up to the advanced teams rofl -ck Dragon really does it. -Just you wait. -But is it physically possible? -I don''t know. Let''s get on board for now. [Julio has donated 1,000 won.] [Hmm... is that all it takes?] -This guy is still here; -Guess prison isfortable lol -Die. If an ordinary yer dered that they would catch up to the pioneers, it would end in ridicule. However, Hanbit''s actions so far were enough to raise expectations. -"Where is Episode 8?" -"It''s an ind called Feria, west of the Central Continent. The advanced teams arepeting with each other, so there''s not much information known." "Ah, that''s where it is." He nodded at the all too familiar name. He roughly understood where the progress was blocked, but there was no need to worry about it now. For now, the goal was to clear Episode 1 as quickly as possible. "Hyung, I''ll look for the easiest dungeon for now. I think what I organizedst time is probably... huh?" Yeonwoo, who was speaking, suddenly made a flustered expression. "What''s wrong?" "Just a moment. It''s a call from my father, so I''ll go take it and be back." Leaving those words, he immediately disappeared from sight. It seemed to be an important conversation for Yeonwoo to leave during the stream. -This time it''s dad? -Arc is understandable. -Let''s go to the dungeon for now. -Abandon Roper? -That''s right for Roper. Regardless of Yeonwoo''s situation, the viewers started urging him. If he walked slowly, there would be no problem following him, right? "Okay. I''ll move for now." Hanbit walked out of the city. The yers following from afar were not a problem at all. Ding-! [?? has donated 1,000 won.] [But which dungeon are you going to?] As he stepped into the forest, a donation message popped up. Before Hanbit could even answer, the chat window became noisy. -Isn''t the spider one the most manageable? -Yeah, it''s just tutorial level. -Still tough for a newbie. -Did you forget his stat level? -Spider dungeon, go go The viewers'' opinions gradually converged on the spider dungeon. Then the donation rm popped up again. [Lucifer has donated 10,000 won.] [Challenge Dungeon TOP 10 mission go?] "Challenge Dungeon?" He became curious about the name he was hearing for the first time. Moreover, if it was a mission, he was already anticipating the prize money. -Challenge? -Top 10 lmao -Living up to his nickname. -How is his nickname Lucifer GOAT -I''ll take the mission, but I won''t give you the prize money. -This is going to be fun. -If you''re a streamer, you have to go. lol Judging by the viewers¡¯ heated reactions, it seemed to be a quite famous dungeon. "What''s a Challenge Dungeon?" -A dungeon where youpete for clear time. -If it''s Edlen, only those under level 30 can enter. -Is the 10th ce cut-off 20 minutes? -Is it possible? -Will it be possible? You devilish bastards. Hanbit nodded as he listened to the exnation that followed. It was a simple structure where he just had to clear it quickly. There was no reason to refuse. "Where is it?" -Straight in the 12 o''clock direction. -You have to go almost to the cliff. -Open the map. As soon as he asked the question, the answer came right back. ''12 o''clock?'' After checking the chat, Hanbit quickly opened the map. Thanks to the viewers'' exnation, it was quick to find the exact location. ''So this is how it is.'' Hanbitughed in vain. The dungeon he was nning to stop by for the story. Itpletely ovepped with the location of the Challenge Dungeon. In that case, there was no reason to refuse the mission. "Alright. I just need to be in the top 10, right?" -lol can you do it? -There are a lot of speedrun perverts. -I''m telling you, he can do it. -Ban all the guys who say he can do it. -Let''s just wait and see; The reaction was more scathing than when he obtained the skill. Still, thanks to what he had shown, there were many people who supported him. Ding-! [Lucifer has donated 10,000 won.] [What will you do if you fail?] "If I fail?" A pledge that always follows a challenge mission. Hanbit, looking through the chat window, said as something came to mind, "Ah, should I write one more strategy guide like the one I posted yesterday? I''ll try to be more detailed." -NNNNNN -Professor, please no. -I can''t understand what you''re saying now. -Is it a thesis?; -We''ll try our best. The viewers showed a strong rejection when he mentioned the strategy guide. Hanbit thought the first strategy guide was insufficient, but if they didn''t like it, there was nothing he could do. After a moment of consideration, Hanbit threw out another suggestion, "Hmm, then should I choose one person and watch them directly for a day? Is there a lottery function?" -Huh? -? -Really? -There''s a function to draw lots for donors. -You''re going to do this? The reactionpletely flipped at his casual remark. No, it was more than just flipping, it was burning uncontrobly. "If there is a function, it would be possible. Then shall we go with this?" Ding-! [Lucifer has registered a 1,000,000 won challenge mission.] [Sess if you are in the TOP 10 of the Challenge Dungeon.] [Sword God has donated 1,000,000 won to the challenge mission.] [Please exclude me from the lottery.] [Avantgarde has donated 2,000,000 won to the challenge mission.] [Please let me be chosen.] -This crazy guy is back again lol -You''re not going to be chosen, like a dog. Donations were pouring in, perhaps because of the failure pledge. It wasn''t limited to yers. [Hanasaki Productions has donated 5,000,000 won.] [Golden Shark has donated 5,000,000 won.] [Yeonhwa Gaming has donated 7,000,000 won.] All kinds ofpanies were showing their names through general donations. The amount had also increased significantlypared to before. As Yeonwoo said, did his value increase because he obtained the hidden skill? ''How much is this?'' Hanbit, nkly looking at the umting messages, came to his senses. It was time to move. "Then I''ll go to the dungeon." Hanbit left the entrance and entered the forest path. The path to the dungeon, which was his destination, was not rough, so there was no difficulty in reaching it. ''Why are there so many?'' The entrance to the dungeon, made of stone walls, was crowded with yers. Seeing them all turn their eyes towards Hanbit, it seemed they were watching the stream. "Hyung!" At that moment, an urgent voice came from behind. Turning his head, he saw Yeonwoo running from afar. "You found your way here well?" "Finding my way here isn''t the problem...!" He quickly approached, continuing his words. And lowering his voice, he whispered, "Why did youe here? You even epted such an absurd mission!" "Why? It''s just a dungeon where you have to clear it quickly." "That''s what I''m saying! How much time do you have to spend to be in the rankings! You need a lot of consumable items too!" Yeonwoo grabbed Hanbit''s shoulders and shook him, pouring out his frustration. As it was a dungeon that had existed since the early days, the basic strategy had been thoroughly studied from start to finish. Therefore, in order to clear it faster than otherpetitors, countless challenges and efforts were needed. Actions and judgments to reduce the time even by one second were created through trial and error and experience. All kinds of consumable items on the market were also essential, so there was a lot of preparation involved. "Besides, what''s with the failure pledge? Even bigpanies can''t get one-on-one feedback with you!" "I''ll just watch them to the extent of what''s in the strategy guide. And if the mission seeds, I won''t have to do it, right?" "That''s what I''m saying, it''s hard! Now is the time to only show that you¡¯re doing well!" -It''s freaking loud lol -ASMR is awesome. -You can''t back down now that you''ve promised, right? -Let''s get ck Dragon to 500th ce. -500th my ass lol I''m seeing 1,000th ce. The viewers started teasing him as his voice got louder. It was a natural reaction since the prevailing opinion was that the mission was impossible from the beginning. Hanbit turned towards Yeonwoo, who was about to argue with the viewers. "Why are you so worried? We haven''t even tried it yet." "The top rankers all ran the dungeon at the highest level, 30. Most of them have poured weeks, months into speedrunning!" Listening to him, Yeonwoo''s worries became understandable. The record holders were 14 levels higher than Hanbit, who was level 16. Moreover, they invested a tremendous amount of time and effort to reduce the clear time. Oveing thatplex gap was usually impossible. That is, for ordinary people. "What''s the reward? If it''s a clear timepetition, is it differential payment?" "Differential payment is for the first clear reward, which is the boss loot and stat points. The main reason people aim for first ce is because of the challenge reward." "Challenge reward?" "You pay an entrance fee to enter the Challenge Dungeon, and the first ce winner takes all of that entrance fee every week. It''s a ce you have to clear before you exceed level 30, so the amount is significant." "Really?" A strange system where the first ce winner takes all the entrance fees. He didn''t know how much it would be, but even in the game, the more money you have, the wider your options be. He had one more reason to achieve the best results. He didn''t expect to gain so much profit from a dungeon he had to go to anyway. "So, how about negotiating with the viewers? Instead of ranking, how about setting a clear time? Yeonwoo lowered his voice and asked again. No matter how much he thought about it, the recordpetition with the top-ranking yers felt like a wall too high to ovee. However, Hanbit, with a clear goal in mind, walked towards the dungeon entrance and said, "Wait and see. I''ll show you how to get first ce." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 29 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 29 "Get first ce? Is he crazy?" "He got the hidden skill. He must be blind with ambition." "You don''t realize you''re trash until you hit your head against the wall." The murmuring voices of the people around the dungeon entrance could be heard. Half of them didn''t even bother to lower their voices. "The reaction is too heated." -LMAO -That''s a normal reaction. -Do you think ck Dragon is a joke? -Yes. -10th ce is a bit... Despite witnessing Hanbit''s achievements, people''s opinions were still negative. Ignoring their reactions, Hanbit stepped closer to the entrance. Ding-! [Challenge Dungeon] This dungeon requires an entrance fee of 500 gold. Records are updated immediately upon achievement, and the umted entrance fee is paid to the 1st ce yer every Monday. Level Limit: Below Lv.30 *Ranking 1st ce: Kim Han-seop (19 minutes 25 seconds) 2nd ce: Nowaki (19 minutes 38 seconds) 3rd ce: Odin (19 minutes 41 seconds) ....... -Information) The 1st ce record hasn''t been broken for a year. -Time attack ''devil'' -He was once a promising GOAT. -I thought he would join the advanced teams. -Odin, who took 3rd ce, joined the advanced teams lol -Odin is just a talented guy. ''The first ce is indeed unrivaled.'' The difference between 1st and 2nd ce was 13 seconds. Seeing that most of the differences were within 5 seconds, it was indeed impressive. It was surprising that the record hadn''t been broken for a year, but it was also unexpected that the record holder wasn''t an advanced yer. "How many advanced yers are in the rankings?" "Almost none. It was in the early days of the server, and those people would have focused on the story and internal affairs rather than spending time on this." Yeonwoo''s exnation made sense. There was no need for advanced yers to spend an excessive amount of time on such records. Moreover, in the early days of the server, when there weren''t even any guides, it would have been a far cry from setting records. "Then what about the person named Odin in 3rd ce? The chat window said he''s an advanced yer?" "Odin is a special case. He set that record on his first try and joined the advanced team six monthster." "He just went without aiming for 1st ce?" "That''s how difficult it is. How much effort is needed to reduce even 1 second. Of course, Odin himself has never stated the reason." -But Odin is really talented. -Started a year ago and now he''s a mid-ranking advanced yer lol -Is he the fastest climber among users who didn''t start in the early days? -Isn''t Luna the fastest? -Blood was fast too. The names of various advanced yers appeared in the chat window. It seemed to be quite a hot topic that someone who didn''t y RP from the beginning became an advanced team. Anyway, what was important now was the dungeon record. [10th ce: 20 minutes 03 seconds] The 10th ce record, which was the standard for the mission, was about 20 minutes. Of course, Hanbit, aiming for1st ce, only had eyes for the top record. "I''m going in alone, right?" "Challenge is always solo. I''ll be watching through the stream, so you just have to proceed." "Hmm, are all the guides for this ce public?" "A lot of them have been released. There will be a lot of articles on RPG..." Yeonwoo quickly started searching for information. It didn''t take even a minute for the results toe out. "I sent you the link." Hanbit essed the link in the message he sent. The bulletin board post linked to themunity listed photos and strategies of the inside of the dungeon. ''Exactly the same.'' He checked just in case, but as expected, it was exactly the same dungeon that Hanbit knew. Traps lined up from the beginning and aplex maze. Even the structure of every nook and cranny that wasn''t in the photos was clearly drawn in his head. "Hyung, and ignore the quest in the middle." "Quest?" "There''s an NPC named Flona in the dungeon. The difficulty is extremely hard, but the rewards are so poor that it''s standard to ignore it." -It''s really freaking hard. -Abandon Flona? -You can''t clear it if you don''t abandon her. -Are there even 5 people who cleared it with her? -Maybe the advanced yers tried it? As Yeonwoo said, the quest was written in the middle of the strategy guide. The condition forpletion was to clear the dungeon while saving a girl named Flona who had been kidnapped by monsters. However, thebination of extremely high difficulty and useless rewards did not appeal to yers. "Are there people who have cleared the quest?" "There are some cases. But they barely cleared it by throwing all sorts of items at it. It took them over an hour." "So? After rescuing her?" "What happens next? You clear the dungeon, get the reward, and that''s it. Some cheap herbs and a little experience." "...And that''s it?" Hanbit''s voice was filled with disbelief. This was because Flona''s rescue had a huge impact on the early story progression. To think they didn''t take advantage of the opportunity at all after clearing such a difficult quest. He felt like confronting those people directly. "But you''re really okay, right? If you fail the mission, you have to spend a whole day teaching viewers." Yeonwoo asked worriedly, looking at Hanbit who was focused on the post. Did he think he could solve it with ast-minute strategy? -lol toote -It''s meaningless even if you look at it. -It''s okay if ck Dragon panicster -I''ll give you a lot of backseat gaming. -He''s going to do it, he''s going to do it The viewers were already getting ready. He didn''t mind if they backseat gamed or whatever. That is, if he had the time. "It''s fine, so just watch. I''ll be back." Hanbit turned his gaze and stepped inside the entrance. Ding-! [500 gold will be consumed as an entrance fee.] The scenery changed as the entrance fee was automatically deducted. Inside, a cave passage with luminous objects embedded in it unfolded. [00:02] The timer disyed at the top of the screen. Although he had an estimated arrival time, there was no harm in hurrying. Thud-! Hanbit immediately kicked off and ran straight ahead. Thanks to his increased speed, it didn''t take long to reach the first checkpoint. -1st checkpoint appeared. -Actually, it''s the 0th checkpoint. -Newbie entrance cut-off section. At first nce, it looked like an ordinary passage. However, various traps were hidden on the ceiling, walls, and floor. Although there were quite a few in number and variety, he had to save a lot of time here. Shing-! Hanbit drew his sword and lowered his upper body, taking a stance. Chirp-! Perhaps sensing his intentions, the wind spirit Sylph made a sound. Then, the wind slowly gathered around his legs. It was a change brought about by the hidden skill, Wind Movement. Basically, it was a passive skill that enhanced physical abilities, but the power of the spirit was also added. Thud- Putting force on his hind legs, he focused his gaze on the front. And he kicked off the ground towards the center path. Thud-! His body sprang forward at an amazing speed. At the same time, he swung the sword in his right hand diagonally. Wheek-! ng-! A cheerful noise apanied the trajectory that drew an arc. Three arrows, their heads deflected, scattered in the air. Whoosh-! Iron thorns sprang up from the floor as if to signal the beginning. However, Hanbit''s legs had already passed that section. Whoosh-! The next trap was sharp spears protruding from the ceiling and walls. The attack, which seemed to be designed to pierce his body at once, was threatening, but if he knew the exactunch location and timing, he could avoid it sufficiently. Whoosh-! Whoosh-! Hanbit dodged the spears, moving his head and body from side to side. Even while doing so, his running speed hardly decreased. -? -What kind of bug is this? -Did he dodge it, or did it just not hit him? -Seems like he memorized all the trap locations? -Don''t be ridiculous -Didn''t you see A''s test? This guy is a trap master. -It''s just a bug, you game noobs. The chat window was a mix of confusion and awe. Amidst theplex reactions, Hanbit continued forward. And it wasn''t long before he reached his target spot. Sniffle- A small side path connected to one side of the corner. At the entrance, a red-haired girl was hugging her knees and crying. [Flona] The name and face that appeared above her head were all too familiar. Hanbit approached and lowered his body. "Are you okay?" "...Huh?" Flona, who looked up at the sound of footsteps, met Hanbit''s gaze. Her eyes widened immediately. "Ah...!" Her face was a mixture of surprise, faint relief, and extreme fear. She realized that he was an adventurer, but she couldn''t bring herself to speak. She just fumbled with her hands, as if unsure whether she could ask for help. "I''m the adventurer ck Dragon. Who are you?" "My name is... Flona." "How did you get into the dungeon?" "I came out to get some herbs...and I ran into a monster..." When he asked the question, tears welled up in the girl''s eyes. Her intermittent answers, when put together, were simple. Flona, who lived in the slums, had secretly left the city to find herbs for her injured friend. In the process, she encountered a monster, and while running away, she fell into this side path of the dungeon. -???? -This won''t do. Let''s save her. -You all abandoned her though; -It couldn''t be helped. -The quest is too hard. The viewers who had experienced the dungeon had passed by Flona, ignoring her. They only felt a very slight sense of guilt for ying the game that way. It was just a matter of abandoning a quest with a bad reward. ''I don''t even want to think about it.'' The consequences of not saving Flona here were terrible. If they knew how tragically the girl in front of him would die, and what kind of absurd tragedy would follow... No one would be able to pass by this girl. ''Let''s get out of here as soon as possible.'' Hanbit, remembering the past, strengthened his resolve. Although Flona would ask for help after a little more time passed, returning to the city quickly was also for her sake. "Let''s go. We have to clear the dungeon to get out of here." "Are you... helping me? But I don''t have any money..." She sniffled and trailed off hesitantly. Children living in slums knew their situation all too well. Therefore, they didn''t think they could easily receive help. Especially since adventurers were mostly driven by money. "You don''t have to give me anything. I''m Lia¡¯s friend." "Huh? Lia?" Lia, a celebrity in the slums. When he mentioned her name, Flona''s expression brightened noticeably. -Lia all of a sudden? -They are close. -There''s also a cleaning quest. -It was so cute watching them y with the cat lol -Please say it''s meow-cute. It was widely known that the two were close. Perhaps if you looked around the slums a bit, you could see them ying together. "Really... are you sure you don''t need anything?" "It''s okay. I''m helping you out because it''s on the way." "But..." Flona pondered over his words that he didn''t need anything in return. "Ah!" After racking her brains for a while, she rummaged through her bag as if she had remembered something. And then she took out a red leaf and said, "I''ll give you this!" It was a Red Herb, a verymon and cheap medicinal herb. Of course, it was a very precious item for a slum girl. "Then I''ll take it after we get out of the dungeon. Is that okay?" "Yes!" Ding-! [Quest] Flona, a girl unexpectedly caught up in the dungeon. Take the frightened girl outside. Objective: Clear the dungeon while protecting Flona Reward: Red Herb, 500 experience points Time Limit: None A quest message popped up along with her bright reply. Hanbit closed the window and turned his gaze to the timer. [05:31] The time roughly matched his expectations. But the real challenge started now. "I''ll have to carry you." "Huh? Uh...!" Hanbit lifted Flona into his arms. Securing the startled girl in his arms, he immediately kicked off the ground towards the path. "Hold on tight. Let''s go." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 30 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 30 Thud-! Hanbit, holding Flona, quickly traversed the safe zone. "Whoa!" The girl was surprised, her eyes widening at the unfamiliar experience. Meanwhile, Hanbit concentrated on the wind gathering around his sword. ''Let''s go safely.'' The most dangerous trap-filled passage, with one section left. He couldn''t guarantee Flona''s safety if he went through it like before. Swoosh- As the end of the safe zone came into view, Hanbit focused on the sword in his right hand. What was important now was the urate trajectory. He had to neutralize the traps while maintaining the shape of the passage at least. Thud-! Stopping his feet, he turned his body and took a stance. And as force was applied to his sword-wielding hand. Wheek-! The sword swung in an arc. Kwa-kwa-kwa-! The wind, flying in a clear form, swept through the cave violently. The ceiling and walls copsed and fell along the trajectory of the wind. All that remained was a newly created space, tilted and on the verge of copsing. "I''m going to run a little faster. Is that okay?" "It''s okay! I''ll hold on tight...!" Whoosh-! He sprang forward before she could even finish her sentence. The unexpected speed involuntarily drew a scream from timid Flona''s mouth. "Waaaaaaaah!" Wheek-! Hanbit used Wind Movement to increase his speed to the extent. The reason for this appeared from behind the passage he had just passed. Thud-! Kwa-deuk-! A rusty spear de popped out from the ceiling and plunged down to the floor with a creak. Some traps couldn''t be destroyed by external attacks. However, thanks to the copsed passage hindering it, he was able to ovee it with speed alone. "Be-behind...! Kyaaaaaaaa!" Flona, whose gaze was fixed behind, screamed at the falling trap. The viewers watching the scene were equally flustered. -No way lol -He''s getting past the trap section like this? -Could this be solved by destroying it? -No, many people tried to destroy it, but the passagepletely copsed. -But what is this now? -This is crazy. The solution, which was far from their expectations, threw the chat window into chaos. Thud-! Hanbit, focused only on the front, didn''t stop running. And after tens of seconds, which felt long to those watching, he reached the exit of the passage. Kieek-! Rusty des flew in from both sides with a grotesque sound. Hanbit ducked down sharply. ng-! The two des collided and crossed in the air above his head. "Ahh!" Flona, who had been caught up in the impact of the high speed, gasped at the sudden situation. But Hanbit, who had already changed direction, kicked off the ground and thrust his sword upwards to the right. Puck-! The de pierced through leather. Keuk-! The goblin, who hadunched the surprise attack, couldn''t understand the situation. This was because his neck was pierced at the same time heunched his attack. His own weapon was just cutting through the air. Chaak-! Hanbit pulled out his sword and turned his body to look to the left. [Goblin (Lv.24)] Kieeeeek-! Another goblin rushed in, screaming at the futile death of hisrade. Hanbit, reading the simple trajectory of the sword, lightly turned his body with one foot as the axis. Whoosh-! The goblin''s attack, which was full of force, faltered and was directed downwards. When its center of gravity copsed, Hanbit''s sword shed across the enemy''s neck. Chaak-! The goblin copsed to the floor, blood sttering in the air. This scene, which unfolded in such a short time, was shocking to everyone except Hanbit. "Uh...?" -Holy shit. -I was counting on the surprise attack. -What''s with his reaction speed? -The goblin is level 24 lol -It ends with a single stab? -Instant death judgment lol Flona blinked nkly, and the viewers reacted with bewilderment. The reason the goblin died in a single blow was simple. The damage dealt, based on the point of impact, was maximized by piercing a vital spot. It was a natural hunting method for Hanbit, who had spent a long time immersed in battle. "Hold on tight. We''re going right away." "Ah... yes! I''ll hold on tight...!" Thud-! Once again, he sprang forward before she could finish her sentence. The newly revealed space was a huge area with walls reaching the ceiling, intricately connected. It was a structuremonly called a maze. -But there''s the maze master. -If ck Dragon wastes all his time here, it''ll be awesome. -Really, even if you look at the guide, it takes a long time. -It''s so damn confusing lol The viewers'' mood changed once again, as this ce also seemed to be notorious. What they expected was ck Dragon screaming every time he reached a dead end. Rumble- The passage behind them closed as they crossed the boundary. Hanbit, without looking back, moved forward without any hesitation. Thud-! Before him, several passages were visible. The uneven floor leading to them looked suspicious at first nce. -Uh oh, he''s running. -Didn''t this guy look at the guide? -lol 3 seconds until death. -Goodbye~ Countless traps wereid out in that area. Seeing Hanbit continuing to run, the viewers expected a tragedy to unfold. However, Hanbit''s actions deviated from their expectations. Thud-! He jumped high and stepped on the nearby wall with his foot. Just before his body was pulled downwards, Hanbit put force into his foot and jumped again. "Euaah!" Flona cried out in surprise at his entric act of jumping from wall to wall. Her arms, which were wrapped around Hanbit''s neck, tightened involuntarily. -? -What is this? -He''s even running on the walls lol -This solution is crazy [Trap has donated 1,000 won.] [Damn it,e down.] Whoosh-! Amidst all sorts of reactions pouring in, Hanbit continued to jump across the walls. Despite the winding andplex structure, his movement speed gradually increased. The numerous trapsid out on the floor justy dormant in silence. ''There it is.'' After jumping over a few more walls, he spotted a gap between the passages on the right. A smooth floor where the bumpy terrain ended. Thud-! With a powerful thrust, he propelled himself across the open space, his body suspended in flight. Flona had her eyes tightly shut the whole time she was being held. Thud-! Reaching his destination, Hanbitnded lightly on the floor. Right in front of him was the bumpy trap zone. The section that was long and difficult for others was concluded so simply. Naturally, the viewers'' reactions were heated. -Wow, this bes a shortcut; -This is really crazy lol -The guys who were casting voodoo spells are shutting up. -Did he memorize the whole path? -No, even I can memorize the beginning. -He''ll be blocked soon. -He can''t do that anymore. -This is a ''dungeon''. The viewers assumed that he had only memorized the beginning of the maze. That prediction waspletely wrong, but Hanbit was also well aware of the warning that this was a ''dungeon''. Creak-! A sound came from nearby. As he climbed over one of the walls, three goblins appeared in the narrowed passage. [Goblin Archer (Lv.25)] [Goblin Archer (Lv.25)] [Goblin Warrior (Lv.26)] Kik-! The goblins, having spotted their prey, moved towards them. At the forefront was a warrior with an axe. In the rear, two archers were aiming at Hanbit with their bows drawn. Zuwook-! The archers were the first to pull their bowstrings and aim towards them. Hanbit, without slowing down, instantly closed in on the warrior at the front. Whoosh-! At that moment, the warrior swung his axe widely. ng-! Hanbit, twisting the trajectory with minimal force, slipped between the warrior''s arms. Puck-! Kieek-! The warrior, pierced through the center of his chest, dropped his axe with wide eyes. "Eek!" Flona, who was in Hanbit''s arms, now had both eyes covered. She was only grasping the situation through sound. Zuwook-! The two goblin archers had been aiming their bows for a while. However, because their piercedrade was blocking the enemy, it was difficult to release the drawn bowstring. Swoosh- The flustered goblins exchanged nces and tried to create an angle for each other. At that moment, Hanbit reached out towards the side of the warrior goblin. "Fire Burst." Hwaak-! Arge fireball shot out and surged towards the goblins at tremendous speed. By the time the goblins spotted the shing me, it was already toote. Peobeong-! Kieeek-! The two goblins caught in the explosion screamed and twisted their bodies. Hanbit, without even watching their demise, kicked off the ground again. Chak-! Peobeong-! The goblins that continued to appear were swept away by his sword and magic. Although the wind was gathering around his sword, it wasn''t the power he would use now. "Eueuu..." Flona buried her face in his chest, holding Hanbit tightly. Even if she was scared, she had no choice but to endure it. -No way, he''s really not blocked even once? -Why are the goblins melting away so easily? -He''s not even getting hit lol -Could Flona be saved? -Isn''t he already more than halfway through? -He''s over 70%. -Him carrying Flona is crazy The speed of his sprint and the goblins dying in an instant. The repetition of this situation threw the viewers into confusion. He should have been constantly blocked in the maze and engaged in a bloody battle with the growing horde of goblins. It was a notorious section, as even the yers who brought Flona out ofpassion mostly failed here. Chaak-! Hanbit''s speed, even with the girl in his arms, didn''t slow down. It was also thanks to Wind Movement that he overcame the limitations of his stamina. ''This is thest one.'' Hanbit''s gaze, as he moved forward,nded on thest passage. [Goblin Gatekeeper (Lv.28)] [Goblin Gatekeeper (Lv.29)] Two goblins guarding the exit. Their size,rge weapons, and thick armor alone showed that they were different from the previous ones. However, their dull appearance itself was the key to the strategy. Swoosh- Hanbit hid his body against the wall and slowly moved closer. And the moment he reached the corner nearby. Thud-! He kicked off the ground and closed the distance to the goblins in an instant. Kkeuk-! The goblins, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, faltered and took their stances. The two gatekeepers, their reactions dyed, swung their weapons a beatte. But that one beat made the difference between life and death. Chaak-! A swift sword strike before their weapons could even draw a proper trajectory. Kkeuk-! With blood gushing from their necks, the two goblins copsed with a grotesque sound. Hanbit stepped over the fallen goblins and towards the exit. He nced at the time disyed above. [18:10] ''It''s a bit longer than expected.'' Carrying Flona had dyed him a little more than he anticipated. He had to eliminate all the goblins he encountered, as even a grazing blow could be fatal to her. And now, the only remaining challenge was the boss. -Huh? -It took longer than expected? -It''s a good thing he took care of all the monsters. -Failure, yay -I was trusting you. -1st ce? Even 10th ce is impossible lol The viewers, checking the time, were convinced of his mission failure. It was impossible to kill the boss in two minutes. "Um... are we okay now?" Flona, who was in his arms, asked cautiously. "It''s okay now. I''ll put you down." Hanbit put the girl, who had opened her eyes, down on the floor and looked at therge door in front of him. Inside was the Elder Goblin. It was the boss of this dungeon, wielding powerful area-of-effect magic. ''This should be enough.'' Hanbit checked the wind gathering on his sword. This power, which he had continuously umted from the maze, was a little different from before. Whoosh-! Sylph, the wind spirit who knew Hanbit''s intentions, was holding his wind as ifpressing it. It was helping the wind stay close to the surface of the de. It would have been better if it were a sword with high spirit affinity, but this was enough. "Wait here for a moment." "Ah, yes!" Flona, who had been looking at the maze they had passed through with wonder, turned her head and replied. Whoosh-! He felt the intense wind from the sword in his hand. [19:17] The viewers'' eyes now busily darted between the screen and the time. Rumble- The door opened automatically with a sound as he touched it. Immediately taking his stance, Hanbit put force into his legs. And the moment the Elder Goblin appeared from within. Thud-! He surged towards the goblin with tremendous speed. [Boss: Elder Goblin (Lv.30)] "Hmm." The Elder Goblin had sensed the enemy through the boundary at the entrance. He leisurely raised his hand holding the staff. [19:19] "Dirty intruder, you shall suffer a painful death..." Whoosh-! Suddenly, his warning stopped. The intruder had reached him in the blink of an eye. That speed was marvelous. But that wasn''t the important thing. [19:21] Crack-! The mana shield protecting the Elder Goblin. Originally, it was a skill he would only release after covering this space with area-of-effect skills. But for some reason, the intruder''s sword had already perfectly split his shield. [19:22] ng-! "Wait...!" The boss''s startled voice was drowned out by the sound of shattering ss. "Die." Puck-! The de, enveloped in a strong wind, pierced the goblin''s head. [19:24] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 31 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 31 [Challenge Dungeon Cleared.] [Final Record: 19 minutes 24 seconds] [1st ce Ranking Updated.] Messages popped up in session as the boss died. 1st ce. He had achieved the record, unbroken for a year, in just a single attempt. The viewers'' reactions to the shocking result poured in like waves. -LOL -Doubters destroyed. -It''s broken, holy shit lmao -Information) This guy started the game 4 days ago. -1st try clear with Flona is insane -How did he really do it? -2nd ce Kim Han-seop is crying. -Yeah, you can''t even try again, can you? -Must be pissed after grinding his life away lol The topic of the previous 1st ce holder naturally arose. It was said to be a result achieved after tremendous time and effort, so it wasn''t strange that he must be shocked. Ding-! [First clear rewards will be distributed ording to ranking.] [Received 300,000 gold.] [Goblin''s Spirit Ne (3rd rank - Unique) awarded.] [10 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 50,300.] [Level increased by 5.] [5 stat points awarded.] A message listing the rewards popped up. Considering the level of the monsters that appeared and the difficulty of the dungeon, it was an obvious result. "Mission sess, right? I''ll press it." Hanbit, finally releasing the tension from his body, pressed the mission sess button. [You have seeded in the challenge mission.] [Received 10,393,000 won in prize money.] "Wow, that''s a lot." -LOL -The safe betters are destroyed. -It seems like a lot of people were aiming for the one-on-one lesson? -That person is me. -Burp ending. A tremendous amount of prize money had umted, perhaps because they thought it was a safe bet. Considering the share of thepanies that had donated, it already exceeded 30 million won. "Huh." The memory of his internship shed through his mind once again, and heughed in vain. Would he ever get used to this unrealistic profit structure? It was a future he couldn''t imagine right now. "Flona, you cane now." Hanbit turned his gaze towards the entrance and called out to Flona, who was watching with her mouth agape. "Ah, yes!" The girl, reacting btedly, came running with small steps. "It was so pretty!" "Pretty?" "Yes! The wind was fluttering... It was warm and cool, and it felt so good!" "...Ah." Hanbit, realizing the reason, raised a hand and extended a single finger. The wind that had gathered around the sword dispersed and began to converge on his fingertip. Chirp-! Having fulfilled its role, the wind spirit Sylph returned to its bird form. Even the little girl could see it now. "A bird!" Chirp-! Flona squealed and held out her hands. Sylph flew over and settled on them. Hanbit turned his gaze away from the two and walked towards the spot where the boss had died. -Chest dopamine iing. -Dgdgd -Please be trash loot. -It''s trash even without praying. -Spoiler) Goblin Warrior''s Bone. -Fr, only bonese out. Another purpose of running the dungeon: the treasure chest that could be opened after defeating the boss. Looking at the chat window, it was hard to expect even a decent reward, but even misceneous items had their uses. Slide- Approaching the wall, Hanbit stood before the wooden chest ced on the floor. He stretched out his hand and slowly opened the lid. Creak- The inside of the chest was revealed along with the sound of wood. At that moment, an intense golden light burst forth. sh-! Unprepared, Hanbit instinctively stepped back. When he fixed his gaze forward cautiously, something floating above the open chest caught his eye. -Woah. -Golden light? -No way. -Please, fuck -Don''t do this, really. The chat window heated up at the seemingly predictable oue. ''That''s...'' A round object enveloped in golden light. Looking at its shape, Hanbit recalled something. He stepped closer and reached out to grab the object. Ding-! [You have acquired the Essence of Earth (3rd rank- Unique).] [You have acquired Spirit Stone (3rd rank- Epic).] -Wow, f*ck. -Rank 3 Essence of Earth? -No, why is there a Spirit Stone? -Epic legend. lol -Where did the Rank 2 Fine Bone go? -This is crazy, really. The two items that appeared from the treasure chest caused a stir. This was because they were not items one could expect as rewards from this dungeon. Compared to the Rank 2 Fine misceneous items that 99% of yers obtained, this was a truly shocking oue. ''I didn''t expect to get this here.'' Hanbit looked at the translucent round gem in his hand. A Spirit Stone, rarely created by the umtion of the remnants of spiritual power. It was smaller than the palm of his hand, but judging by its transparency and shape, it was of quite good quality. Examining its condition, Hanbit nced at the chat window and casually spoke. "A Spirit Stone is a good thing, right?" -? -You''re asking because you actually don''t know? -He''s showing off. -I''m suing you. -Does attribute enhancement look like a joke to you? -That''s over 3,000. -If it''s Epic grade, it goes for hundreds of millions; -I''m so jealous; The responses to his casual question were as expected. A Spirit Stone, used to utilize the power of spirits more fully. Like the ordinary adventurers of the past, yers simply used it as an attribute enhancement material. However, it was not an item whose value ended there. ''The Essence of Earth is good too, though.'' The Essence of Earth, a material used to craft armor. Since he wasn''t nning on using it right away, he might consider selling it. After all, if it had the Unique grade attached to it, the minimum price would be guaranteed. Ding-! [Cuckoo has donated 1,000 won.] [Sudden surge of challengers for the Challenge Dungeon.] -Wow, that''s a lot. Lol -Entrance fee doormats are amazing. At that news, Hanbit turned his attention to the RPGmunity and logged in. Looking at thetest posts, his dungeon strategy had already been ryed in all sorts of ways. ''3 days left.'' The umted entrance fees for one week, given to the 1st ce challenger. The settlement would take ce next Monday. Since it was a dungeon that many people sought out in the first ce, wouldn''t the added attention result in more umted entrance fees? With such anticipation, Hanbit walked towards where Flona was. "Shall we go now?" "Ah, yes! And I''ll give you this!" The girl replied brightly and rummaged through her bag to take something out. "Thank you for saving me!" A medicinal herb with red leaves was held in her small hand. As he received it, a message popped up. [Questpleted.] [You have acquired Red Herb (1st rank - Normal).] [Experience increased by 500.] The quest to clear the dungeon while protecting Flona. Throughout the process, the girl didn''t suffer a single scratch. And that perfect achievement manifested in another form. Ding-! [Achievement: Perfect Protector achieved.] [Chain quest unlocked.] [Quest] You have sessfully rescued Flona. Return to the Adventurers'' Guild with her. Objective: Visit the Adventurers'' Guild Reward: Sub quest unlocked "Sub quest?" -? -Why is there a sub quest? -Does it lead to the story? -What''s this again? He had read about the concept of sub quests in the guidebook. Unique elements that enriched the main quest. Although very rare, they could sometimes change the course of the story depending on the yer''s progress. Most of them had no impact at all, though. ''They''ve designed it really well.'' Rescuing Flona and stopping by the guild was the n from the beginning. This was because it was an important branching point in the story going forward. If it appeared in the form of a quest, it was likely the direction the developers intended. Perhaps it was even the will of the Goddess behind it. "Let''s go." "Yes!" Shaking off his thoughts, Hanbit moved out of the dungeon with Flona. * * * "He''s out!" "Is he really in first ce?" "Look here!" The entrance was still swarming with yers. Although many had already left for the dungeon, there were still a considerable number waiting for the person called ck Dragon to emerge. "Hyung!" Yeonwoo, who had been watching the stream, came running in a hurry. Full of excitement, he pointed at the holographic screen in the air with his finger and said, "This is insane! How did you get first ce?" Ranking 1st: ck Dragon (19 minutes 24 seconds) 2nd: Kim Han-seop (19 minutes 25 seconds) 3rd: Nowaki (19 minutes 38 seconds) ....... The updated ranking was properly applied. It felt new to see it like this in person. -He''s insane, really. -A talent exceeding even Odin has appeared; -He even rescued Flona. lol -ck Dragon was already on another level just based on his skills. -Kim Han-seop wanting a rematch is funny. -Yeah, you can''t because your level is too high, right? [Ttalggak has donated 1,000 won.] [One try clear.] The viewers who checked the record with their own eyes were even more fired up. Half of thements wereparisons to the advanced yer, Odin. The rest were teasing Kim Han-seop, who had dropped to 2nd ce. "I told you I''d get first ce." "This isn''t just getting first ce! Forget Kim Han-seop, you did something even Odin couldn''t do! My message window and phone are about to explode right now!" Yeonwoo added that he was being flooded with calls from many people, includingrge corporations. Seeing Odin mentioned constantly, it seemed he was quite a talented yer. "You take care of that. Let''s go to Edlen for now. I''ll send you a party invite." "Ah, there was a sub quest too, right?" Nodding, Yeonwoo epted the party request. Flona, who had left the dungeon with him, had disappeared. It seemed to be a system where she reappeared upon returning to the vige. Checking the hologram screen once more, Hanbit turned towards the city. "Let''s go." * * * "Ugh..." Immediately after entering Edlen, Flona appeared beside Hanbit. "What''s wrong?" "Ah, it''s nothing." The timid girl shook her head, clutching her bag strap tightly. He knew the reason for her anxious expression all too well. ''Discrimination is severe here too.'' People living in the slums were treated like outcasts. This was because not only the nobles but even the ordinarymoners considered the slum dwellers to be somewhere around the level of livestock. And it was the slum dwellers like Flona who knew this fact best. "It''s okay." Hanbit gently took her hand as he said those words. Chirp-! Sylph, sensing the mood, also pped its wings yfully. Fortunately, Flona quietly nodded with a more rxed expression. "Hyung, is that some kind of gimmick too?" Yeonwoo, who was standing a little behind, asked, approaching cautiously. "What are you talking about?" "I''ve never seen anyone act like that towards an NPC. Isn''t it like a hidden quest gimmick?" -Really seems like there''s something. -Be suspicious of everything. -He''s practically a walking strategy guide. -I just ripped up my guidebook while screaming. -Adventurer A sobbing. -But seriously, what is it? Is the guidebook all wrong? -You guys were praising the guidebook just before, and now this sudden change lol The absurd suspicion even spread to doubts about the guidebook''s author. This was because Hanbit''s actions, starting with Artsvel''s magic, hadpletely deviated from the contents of the guidebook. Even the results showed an extreme difference, so it was natural for them to feel something was strange. ''They''re not wrong, though.'' The information recorded in the guidebook by Adventurer A had far more inuracies. The sheer volume of information was so vast that it made one wonder about their true identity. He wanted to meet them someday and have a conversation. "Why aren''t you answering? Is it really a gimmick?" "Don''t talk nonsense about gimmicks. We''re almost there." While they were having this conversation, the three of them arrived at the entrance of the Adventurers'' Guild. "Let''s go in." "...Yes." Flona, standing next to him, still had a tense expression. Holding her small hand tightly, Hanbit slowly stepped inside. At that moment. [Cutscene transition.] Along with the message, his vision went dark. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 32 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 32 "I''m telling you, my friend has disappeared!" At the reception desk of the Adventurers'' Guild, a blond-haired girl, Lia, was shouting urgently. "I''m not saying you''re lying, but the guild is a ce to take on requests, right? You need to tell me the reward and the details of the request urately so I can inform the adventurers." "I told you I''d prepare itter somehow! Can''t the guild amodate that much?" "That authority lies with the Guild Master, and he''s not here right now." "Then at least tell me where the Guild Master is! I''ll go meet him myself!" "Ahh." Miel, the guild staff member listening to the girl''s plea, sighed. Then, pointing to the adventurers talking at a table in the corner, she said, "I don''t know the Guild Master''s location. If you''re really in a hurry, try asking them yourself." "What?" An adventurer with a harsh face who seemed quite irritable. With him looking half-drunk, it was daunting to even approach him. It was questionable whether he could even properly answer a question in the first ce. "Those people won''t do. Any other adventurer..." "Ah, you want to make a request? Where are the documents?" Lia looked at Miel again, but she had started attending to another customer. She didn''t even nce in her direction. "Ugh." ring at the uncaring staff member, Lia bit her lip. Flona, who had left a note saying she was going to gather herbs, had disappeared. She had searched the forest, but it was swarming with monsters, making it difficult to thoroughly investigate. "My sister isn''t here right now either..." Her sworn sister, Artsvel, was away. She would be back in a few hours, but there was no guarantee that Flona would be safe during that time. "Ahh." Taking a deep breath, Lia steeled her resolve. She approached the rough-looking adventurers sitting in the corner. "All those nobles and whatnot are a bunch of bastards! Those guys would die with a flick of my finger!" Bang-! The drunken adventurer mmed his fist on the table and fumed. The man sitting across from him chuckled and said, "Do you want to get arrested? Mayor Brook severely punishes those who insult nobles." "Screw the mayor! He''s a good-for-nothing who got lucky and snatched the position..." "Wait a minute." Lia suddenly cut into their conversation. The two adventurers'' gazes shifted simultaneously towards the girl who had appeared out of nowhere. "What?" The man reacted irritably, frowning. But the other one noticed something. "Isn''t this a slum rat? I think I''ve seen her before." "..." Despite the blunt insult, Lia suppressed her anger. Now was not the time to react. "I want to make a request." "A request?" "What?" As soon as she got to the point, the two men reacted simultaneously. Their expressions were strange, not quite like interest. "My friend disappeared after going into the forest. If you help me search for her, I''ll reward you within a few days. The amount will be as much as I can possibly get..." Bang-! Before she could even finish her sentence, a deafening roar filled her ears. It was the sound of one of the adventurers kicking his chair. "Now a slum brat is spouting about requests. Do we look easy to you?" The man frowned, seemingly genuinely offended. It was due to his inferiorityplex stemming from the nobles'' contempt. "...You don''t look easy. It''s just that my friend might be in danger." "Oh really? And you''re in a hurry?" The fellow adventurer, who had been watching from the side, joined the conversation. Tapping the table with his finger, he said with a nasty grin, "5 million gold." "What?" "Give us 5 million gold. Then we''ll go find her for you." "..." Lia was speechless at the utterly absurd amount. Seeing this, the man asked in an amused tone, "Why? Is it too much? Should I give you a discount?" "...What do I have to do?" "Even a beggar is quick-witted." He ced a dagger from his waist onto the table. "Take this and go to the noble we mention." "A noble? You want me to kill a noble?" "Kill? Who said anything about killing? Just give them a little scare. If you say it was a childish prank, they probably won''t execute you. A story even more absurd than the 5 million gold. If she did such a thing to a noble, she would be severely punished. There was no way they would go easy on her just because she was a child. Moreover, if she was a slum child, the value of her life was meaningless. "..." Lia, well aware of this fact, was in a state of turmoil. The difference between nobles andmoners,moners and the lowborn, was evident even in the punishment for crimes. However, if it involved another noble, the story would bepletely different. Lia, whose mind was filled with worry for Flona''s safety, spoke with clouded judgment, "If I do as you say, you''ll ept the request?" "Of course." The man nodded, assuring her that he wasn''t lying. "This guy''s really crazy." Hispanion, standing next to him, chuckled and watched their conversation. "Hoo." Taking a short, deep breath, Lia reached out for the dagger on the table. At that moment. Thud- A hand suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed her arm. "You don''t have to do that." Lia turned around at the voice. ck Dragon, the adventurer, was standing there. "...Huh?" And a small girl was holding his right hand. It was Flona, whom she had been desperately searching for. "Flona!" Letting go of ck Dragon''s hand, Flona quickly ran and hugged Lia. Finally grasping the situation, Lia let out a sigh, trying to support her weakened legs. "Thank goodness..." * * * "That would''ve been fun." "Tsk." The two adventurers who had tried to harass Lia left the guild. Even if it was just a twisted form of amusement, they would haveughed gleefully if Lia had actually died. -Those bastards are crazy; -Why are they doing that to Lia? -Can''t you teach them a lesson? -How can you teach them a lesson? lol -Re-evaluating Julio, who got kicked. -That''s a bit much; The viewers who had been watching together poured out criticism towards the two adventurers. Although they were just passing NPCs, it didn''t mean there wouldn''t be a chance to meet them again. At that time, their necks probably wouldn''t be attached to their bodies. Hanbit turned his gaze to the two girls clinging to each other. "Let''s go. I''ll take you back." "...Okay." "Yes!" Hanbit went outside with the two of them. As they headed towards the slum area, he told Lia what had happened. "That was too dangerous..." Lia''s face darkened as she learned of the situation Flona had been in, and she lowered her gaze. "I''m okay! He was super fast and amazing!" Flona smiled brightly. As they moved away from the city center, she seemed to gradually regain some of her energy. "Don''t ever go out alone again. You can ask me for any herbs you need." "But then you''ll have a hard time!" "It''s not hard at all! I..." Lia, who was about to get angry, couldn''t continue her sentence. Biting her lip, she tightened her grip on Flona''s hand and moved forward. "Thank you. Thanks to you, Flona is safe." When they arrived inside the slum area, Lia expressed her sincere gratitude in politenguage. Chuckling at the sight, Hanbit went in front of Flona and lowered himself to her level. "Don''t go outside alone next time. I don''t want to hear that awkward formal speech again." "Okay!" "Oh,e on...! Let''s go quickly! We''re leaving too!" At the yful response, Lia turned her back in anger, her face flushed. Flona, still holding her hand, waved her other hand goodbye to Hanbit. And then, along with an rm, a message followed. Ding-! [Questpleted.] [Sub quest unlocked.] [Sub Quest #1] You have greatly helped Lia, who was desperately searching for Flona. It seems she cannot forget this kindness. Objective: Wait for the next meeting. Reward: Sub Quest #2 unlock. -? -Is that it? -When is the next time? -Should I just push the main quest then? The sub quest ended somewhat vaguely. However, he had no intention of touching the main quest. Now was the time to wait for the next meeting, just as the objective stated. Rushing things recklessly would only worsen the oue. "You seem busy?" Hanbit turned his attention to Yeonwoo, who was busily moving his hands. Hearing the question, Yeonwoo asked with a bewildered expression, "You know who''s responsible for this, right? Just making a list will take forever!" Even while filming, Yeonwoo was organizing the pouring inquiries and proposals. It seemed like he had received a lot more contact than expected. "Turn off the game and do it. I''m going to end the stream anyway." "You''re leaving already?" -Leaving this early? -Leaving? Where''s he going? -Are you abandoning us? -Don¡¯t -Go -Don¡¯t -Go The chat window started to burn with the news of the stream ending. It was certainly a short day, but there was a reason for his early departure. He had an appointment with his mentor, Lee Minho, tomorrow. ''They''re quite passionate.'' Hanbit pondered for a moment, watching the endless stream of chats. Considering the amount of donations and prize money he received today, it wasn''t aint he could simply ignore. The problem was that he didn''t have any content to proceed with right away... "Ah." At that moment, something came to Hanbit''s mind. A way to satisfy the viewers while also positively influencing the sub quest. Looking at the chat window, he voiced his brilliant idea. "Alright. Then, I''ll do a brief one-on-one lecture, that I¡¯d promised as the penalty for failing the mission. About an hour should do it." -Whoa. -You''re doing it even though you seeded the mission? -The Great ck Dragon -We worship you. -Please pick me. -I''m betting all my life''s luck on this. -Hand -Hand -Foot The surprised viewers each desperately wished to be chosen. However, the condition was clear. They had to be someone who had donated, even just 1 won, whether for the challenge mission or general donations. "Hyung, you''re really doing this?" Yeonwoo, who had been observing the situation, approached cautiously and asked in a low voice. It seemed that a one-on-one meeting with ck Dragon had be even more valuable. "It''s just for an hour. How do we do this lottery?" "Ahh... Just a moment." Realizing that he couldn''t stop him, Yeonwoo exined step by step. Thanks to the lottery function in the streaming system, setting it up didn''t take long. [Lottery targets have been set.] The number of viewers who met the condition was in the thousands. Looking at the chat window, Hanbit pressed the "Start Lottery" button. Whirr- Along with the start, the name tags spun like a roulette wheel. The viewers began to focus, holding their breath. -DGDG (Korean ng for excited anticipation) -Please, really. -Turning my life around with 1 hour. -Let''s goooo. -Please let me be chosen. Whirr- As time passed, the spinning wheel gradually slowed down. And the moment the rotation came to aplete stop. Ding-! [Kim Jaeha] The lottery wasplete, disying his nickname tag. * * * "Whoa, holy shit!" Kim Jaeha, who had been watching the stream with his hands sped together, jumped up from his seat, spitting out a curse. This was because his nickname, ''Kim Jaeha,'' was clearly disyed as the winner of ck Dragon''s lottery. It was a dreamlike result achieved thanks to the 100,000 won, his hard-earned money, to the challenge mission. [Kim Jaeha, congrattions. Pleasee here right away. If you can''te to Edlen, please send a message to Roper.] -Damn, I''m jealous. -Ah. -Life sucks. -This game is all about luck. -Life is all about luck too. -But who is he? -He''s a viewer, who else would he be? Other viewers were envious, watching his victory. Overwhelmed by a strange sense of superiority, Kim Jaeha quickly put on the gear on his bed. "Woah." Though his heart was filled with joy, this was ultimately an extension of his work. He always had to stay calm for business. Whir- As hey down on the bed, the gear''s operating sound followed. Pulling himself together once more, Kim Jaeha moved into the world of RP. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 33 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 33 "Hello! I am Kim Jaeha from Taeyul Corporation!" Hanbit, who was waiting at the meeting ce, turned his gaze at the loud voice. There, a human male was standing at attention and bowing. "Hello. You''re from apany, I see." "That''s right! Thanks to this great opportunity, I was able toe and meet you!" -Hmm... -He''s from apany? -Like Rashtan, it''s the corporations that are the problem. -They haven''t done anything here yet, lol -But haven''t we heard of Taeyul somewhere? -Smallpany names are all the same. -There''s also Taewool Corporation lol Perhaps because he revealed hispany affiliation first, the viewers'' reactions weren''t very positive. This was because the negative memory of Rashtan was still fresh in their minds. "Taeyul? I think I''ve heard of it somewhere..." Yeonwoo, who was working a little distance away, muttered to himself. He wasn''t sure how famous thepany was, but it wasn''t very important right now. "What do you want to learn? I think it would be better to do practical training rather than theory." "Anything is fine with me!" "Anything?" At the vague answer, Hanbit thought for a moment. What was currently possible in the form of practical training was archery and swordsmanship. Most people wanted to go the hidden route, so swordsmanship would be better, right? "Then let''s do swordsmanship. Did you learn magic from Julio?" "No, I skipped magic!" "Good. Shall we go to a ce where we can practice?" "Yes!" With Kim Jaeha''s enthusiastic response, the three of them moved along the road. It didn''t take long to reach their destination. "Hyung, isn''t this the general store? You said you were going to teach swordsmanship?" Yeonwoo, seeing the familiar ce, stopped and asked. This was because it was Artsvel''s shop. "That''s right." Nodding, Hanbit opened the door and went inside. The shop owner was organizing the goods on the shelves. "Artsvel." "Huh?" Called by her name, the blonde woman turned her head. Upon discovering Hanbit, Artsvel gave a faint smile. "ck Dragon? What brings you here?" "Lia isn''t here yet, is she?" "Why Lia?" Artsvel, still unaware of the situation, asked in a puzzled tone. Shaking his head, Hanbit pointed beyond the window and said, "Lia wille and tell youter. More importantly, can I use the backyard for a bit?" "The backyard?" "I need a training ground, and there''s no suitable ce. It''s swordsmanship, so it won''t get messy." "The backyard is a bit cramped because of the boxes... If you don''t mind, feel free to use it. Just be careful with the boxes." "Thank you." Having received permission, Hanbit went out to the backyard with Kim Jaeha. It was indeed crammed with wooden boxes, leaving little space to move freely. "You''ve learned swordsmanship, right? Take out any sword." "Yes!" With a spirited shout, Kim Jaeha took out a sword from his inventory. It was of better quality than expected. "What''s your level?" "52!" "Quite high, isn''t it?" "Oh, no. It''s actually quite low considering I''ve been ying since the first day ofunch." -He was a starting yer? -But 52? -You''re forcing yourself to y the game. -Forced RP detected. He waved his hand and shook his head. It was certainly a low level for an early yer. "We''ll do this for an hour from now. I''ve written the theory in the strategy post, so let''s focus entirely on practice. Take your stance." "Yes!" Kim Jaeha took his stance, gripping the sword with both hands. However, there was something clumsy about his posture, more awkward than other yers. "Is the sword not your main weapon?" "Well... I use a hammer. It''s kind of a romantic thing..." He said, scratching his head. He wasn''t sure what kind of romantic notion it was, but it seemed like teaching him swordsmanship wouldn''t be easy. "It''s better to hold the sword like this." Hanbit stepped closer and personally corrected Kim Jaeha''s posture. When that was done, he stepped back again. "The reason I chose a narrow ce is to restrict movement. Try to move delicately so you don''t touch your surroundings." "Understood!" "Then let''s begin." Thud- Lightly kicking off the ground, Hanbit closed the distance in an instant. Kim Jaeha''s reaction was dyed by the speed, which felt even faster than it looked on the stream. "Ugh!" The attack rushed in before he could even move properly. By the time he tried to swing his sword a beatte, the tip of Hanbit''s sword was already pointed at his neck. "This means you''re dead. Balder''s stats are adjusted to the yer, so he''ll be faster than this. You need to read his movements in advance." "...Understood." Nodding, Kim Jaeha gripped his sword again. He had a certain amount of pride in the two years he had spent immersed in RP. Because of that, he couldn''t imagine himself being unable to do anything like this. "Please, again." "Yes. I''ll start with a downward sh to the right." Thud- Kim Jaeha was noticeably more serious than before. As Hanbit gradually adjusted his attack speed, he nced inside the shop. ''She''s here now.'' Lia''s face was visible through the window. She hade to talk to Artsvel and was ncing at the training scene. It wouldn''t seem special to anyone else, but Hanbit had chosen the backyard of the general store as the location in anticipation of this situation. As Lia''s interest and curiosity grew, this episode would unfold in apletely different way. "I''ll try going a little faster." "...Yes!" Hanbit continued the training, pretending not to notice her gaze. Focused on the onught of attacks, Kim Jaeha didn''t notice the spectator who hade secretly. * * * "..." 50 minutester. Kim Jaeha, having dropped his sword, stared nkly at his hand. Out of the hundreds of ck Dragon''s attacks, the number he had sessfully blocked was zero. There was no other way to put it, it was truly zero. Clench- His initial purpose foring, which was for business, had somehow faded into the back of his mind. He hadn''t checked the chat window for a while now. It was obvious that they would be making fun of him, bringing up his title as an early yer. "What''s wrong?" "...It''s nothing." Shaking his head at ck Dragon''s question, Kim Jaeha lowered his posture. Just before picking up the sword that had fallen to the ground, words suddenly came out of his mouth. "Would it be alright if I tried using a hammer?" "A hammer? Hmm." ck Dragon fell into thought for a moment. However, it didn''t seem to be a big problem, as he nodded. "It wouldn''t be bad to experience the remaining time with an unfamiliar weapon. You can use it." "Thank you." Putting the sword back into his inventory, Kim Jaeha took out his main weapon. A bronze hammer with a long handle. It was an item he had personally crafted with great care. "Can we try it in duel mode?" "Duel mode?" -Oh. -Hammer Man is pissed. lol -Sryman''s Fury. -It''s frustrating to not be able to do anything for 50 minutes. -Really show him what an early yer is all about. RP basically imposes penalties on PVP. There were two ways to avoid this. One was to allow the opponent to attack first. The other was to use duel mode for mutually agreed PVP. "Alright. Let''s spar for the remaining time." "Thank you." Ding-! [Kim Jaeha has requested a duel.] [Do you ept? (Yes/No)] The message arrived immediately. As he pressed the ''Yes'' button, his opponent''s nickname turned orange. Taking his stance, Hanbit said leisurely, "You cane at me anytime." "Then... excuse me!" Thud- Kicking off the ground, Kim Jaeha leaped upwards. Clenching his teeth, he brought the hammer held in both hands down forcefully. Crash-! With a powerful impact, the hammer head struck the ground. However, ck Dragon was no longer there. Thud-! "...!" A sword, thrust from behind his head, appeared in his vision. His eyes widening, Kim Jaeha swung his hammer again. Whoosh- The arc drawn towards the empty air hit nothing. ck Dragon had reappeared in front of him once more. "When facing a fast opponent with a hammer, it''s better to change your grip. If you have a secondary weapon, you can also use the hammer as a decoy." "I''ll prove it with my own method!" Thud- Kim Jaeha kicked off the ground again. His hammer was enveloped in a yellow light. Whir- With a resonating sound, the hammer was swung with great force. And the moment Hanbit stepped back. Bang-! A fierce attack struck the spot where he had been standing. Rumble- The ground shook with tremendous vibrations. The impact spread to the surroundings. Crash-! Kim Jaeha''s attack shattered the numerous boxes, making a mess. It was an active skill he had unleashed as ast resort, having been continuously pushed back. Unfortunately, it didn''t inflict even the slightest damage on Hanbit. "Hmm." Looking at the chaotic surroundings, Hanbit scratched his head. And then he voiced what he had been thinking. "Do you perhaps have littlebat experience? Or maybe you''re not suited for it..." "No, wouldn''t anyone be the same in this situation?!" Kim Jaeha yelled in frustration at the implication in his voice. "I''m not trying to imply anything, just expressing my concern. It''s better to use your time efficiently. How are you with other things besidesbat?" "From the beginning..." He clenched his fists, his voice trembling. Unable to hear him clearly, Hanbit took a step closer. Then, Kim Jaeha abruptly lifted his head and cried out. "From the beginning, I''m a cksmith!" "...Yes?" -Huh? -Oh. -He was a cksmith? -Why didn''t you say so; -You''ve been through a lot. lol The viewers were also taken aback by the shocking confession. cksmithing, one of the main life professions. Although minimal hunting was necessary,bat was by no means an important skill for them. "You should have said something earlier. I just thought you were an early yer and went harder on you." "I thought I''d be okay... Talk about a frog in a well." The seemingly lost 2 years of ytime made him gloomy. While he was contemting whether constion was needed, an rm sound rang in his ears. Ding-! [Seolmyeongchung has donated 1,000 won.] [Information) Taeyul Corporation is the firstpany to find the Dwarven Metallurgy skill route. Of course, they failed miserably in obtaining it.] -Ah, that''s right. -That was Taeyul Corporation? -I remember now that I hear it. -It was a hidden skill, so it was a shame. -Yeah, no chance, right? "Dwarven Metallurgy?" The name of a skill that Hanbit also knew well came up. He had seen it in the rmended skills, but he couldn''t obtain it right away. "Ah, I remember now. It was before I started ying the game, but themunity was quite noisy about it,¡± Yeonwoo also added, nodding his head. "If they found the route, does that mean they found the quest?" "To be precise, it was a rted achievement. Finding the hidden skill quest with that is apletely different matter. Even with all thepetitors jumping in, no one could find it in the end." "Really?" He didn''t know what kind of achievement it was, but he roughly understood. Recalling old memories, Hanbit looked at Kim Jaeha. "Was it thepany that was looking for Dwarven Metallurgy?" "...Yes, that''s right. Although it''s all in the past now." He nodded, as if there was nothing to hide. His expression became even more gloomy, stirring Hanbit''s interest. "If you''re an employee, then you must have been looking for it back then, Mr. Kim Jaeha?" "Ah, yes. Actually, I was the one who first discovered it..." "The first?" That word couldn''t be missed. Dwarven Metallurgy was a highly valuable skill in many ways. This was because the condition of being ''first'' yed a big role in obtaining it. "I''ll send you a friend request, ept it." ] "Yes?" "If you''re from apany, you came here to make connections anyway, right? Or do you need more one-on-one training?" "No, that''s not it." Kim Jaeha shook his head firmly. He looked so genuinely innocent that Hanbit almostughed. He sent a friend request to Kim Jaeha''s nickname. Ding-! The name was immediately added to the list. Kim Jaeha just stared nkly, seemingly unable to believe the situation. ¡®Lia is gone.'' Lia was no longer visible through the window. Instead, the shop owner was standing there with a cold smile. "Ah." Looking at the wrecked backyard, Hanbit sensed danger. He pulled the dazed Kim Jaeha back into the shop. "Sorry. This guy willpensate for everything." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 34 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 34 After returning home, Hanbit logged into the game after dinner. Whir- The data collection program, which he had asked Lee Minho to give him again, was working properly. There was a good chance he could find something else depending on the results. Since they had promised to gather more information together, he needed to make good use of this weekend. ''Let''s turn on the stream first.'' Hanbit turned on the system and immediately started streaming. "Ah, can you hear me?" -Oh. -Dragon, hi. -Why is the stream starting so early today? -Please write a notice. -The unemployed are on standby 24/7. -Is this guy the Edlen Challenge 1st ce winner? -Give us some strategy tips. The chat window was filling up even faster than usual. Hanbit''s eyes widened as he checked the number of viewers. [Viewers: 31,446] ''...A lot of people came.'' The impact of breaking the challenge record was intense. There were people asking for strategy tips, but this time, he was done after leaving the video. The rest would be up to individual ability. "Hello. Today, we''ll be focusing on the main quest. Since it''s Saturday, we might be able to stream for a bit longer." -Oh. -Awesome. -All-nighter possible. -24-hour non-stop streaming, huh. The viewers weed the good news with open arms. They must have been disappointed with the short weekday streaming hours. "Hyung!" While he was talking, Yeonwoo logged in. He appeared less than 3 minutes after sending a message saying he would log in. "Aren''t you busy? You have a lot to prepare." "This is also part of the preparation. Ah, hello to the viewers as well." He had heard that Yeonwoo''spany startup preparations were going well. He was grateful that Yeonwoo was helping with the broadcast despite being busy. "But when are you going to report the dungeon clear?" Yeonwoo, checking the stream, asked, recalling yesterday''s events. The reason they had changed their direction to dungeon content in the first ce was because of the main quest. [Main Quest #2: Proof of Ability] You have learned about the investigation team. First, you need to prove your ability. Objective: Choose andplete one request. Reward: 500 gold, 200 experience Hanbit, who had chosen the dungeon request form, had already fulfilled the condition. If he showed the Elder Goblin mateLials to the guild, the main quest would bepleted. But right now, there was something he had to do first. "Wait a minute." Hanbit turned around and looked behind him. A blonde girl was approaching from beyond the screen. It was Lia, who had been watching them from earlier. -? -Wee, Lia. -Didn''t she have a quest too? -Yeah, a sub quest. -She was supposed toe today. Her appearance wasn''t sudden for the viewers either. This was because it had already been foreshadowed in the sub quest. [Sub Quest #1] You have greatly helped Lia, who was desperately searching for Flona. It seems she cannot forget this kindness. Objective: Wait for the next meeting. Reward: Sub Quest #2 unlocked. The sub quest that had appeared when they parted ways in the slum area. Originally, it should have taken a bit more time, but thanks to the training in Artsvel''s backyard, he was able to advance the timing. "...Follow me for a moment." The girl, stopping a few steps away, spoke with a slightly embarrassed expression. Hanbit, amused by this, asked on purpose, "Why? I''m very busy right now." "You''re not doing anything right now! Just follow me!" Lia, her face flushed, pulled Hanbit''s arm. He thought about teasing her a bit more, but considering her cat-like personality, it could backfire. "Alright." Nodding, Hanbit followed Lia. Her grip on his arm remained firm. "Are you going to keep doing this?" "...It would be troublesome if you ran away." "That doesn''t seem like something you should be saying." "..." -Hahaha -Speechless. -Facts are banned. Hitting a nerve, Lia shut her mouth. Nevertheless, she stubbornly continued forward, holding onto his arm. "Brother, where are we going?" "You''ll see when we get there." Yeonwoo approached and asked. However, Hanbit had no intention of spoiling anything. "We''re almost there." Entering the slum area, Lia continued forward. She stopped in front of an old building at the end of the alley. Knock knock- She knocked on the dpidated wooden door. "I brought him." After speaking to the other side of the door, Lia waited for a moment. But there was no response. "...?" Thump- Thump- Sensing something strange, Lia pounded on the door with her fist. Again, there was no response. "Flona! Open the door!" Her voice grew increasingly urgent. After watching for a while, Hanbit reached out and pulled the doorknob. "The door was open." Whoosh- As if she hadn''t heard him, Lia rushed inside. "Ugh...!" No one was visible in the small space inside. Hanbit turned his gaze and approached the wooden table with an overturned cup and spilled liquid. "It''s still warm. She hasn''t been gone long." "Flona was preparing food to give to you! She said she couldn''t leave until it was finished! This is a kidnapping!" -Whoa; -Was this Flona''s house? -Let the girl be happy. -Story developers confirmed psychopaths. The reason Lia hade to get Hanbit was Flona''s wish to treat him to a meal as a way to express her gratitude. ''...It''s natural for her to think it''s a kidnapping.'' The security system didn''t function properly in the slum area. Even if a human trafficker kidnapped and sold a child, as long as they weren''t caught, that was the end of it. However, this situation was different. "Calm down. If it was a kidnapping, this ce would be more of a mess." "Do you think Flona would leave the table like that? We need to quickly find traces of the kidnapper and chase after..." "Ruby!" Just then, a youthful voice suddenly came from outside. Thud- Unable to mistake the voice, Lia hurriedly dashed outside. Following behind her, Hanbit found a red-haired girl running with all her might. "Ruby!" A cat was running far off in the distance. It was so fast that it had already disappeared from sight. "Ruby... Huff, huff..." Flona, the girl who had reached her physical limit, was breathing heavily with her hands on her knees. "Ha..." Lia, who had witnessed the situation with him, copsed as if her strength had given out. But only for a moment. She soon regained herposure and stood up. "Please look after Flona." Thud- Kicking off the ground again, Lia ran towards where the cat had disappeared. "Lia!" Flona, watching her retreating figure, shouted her name, but Lia was already far away. Hanbit slowly walked over and helped the girl up. "It''s okay." "Adventurer..." Flona''s eyes welled up with tears when she saw Hanbit. It didn''t take long for those tears to spill. -???? -ck Dragon made her cry. -Boohoo, you trash. -He''s trash. -Find Ruby. Seeing the crying child, the viewers poured out yful criticism. Even amidst this, Flona showed no sign of stopping her tears. Chirp-! Just then, the little bird on his shoulder chirped. It pped its wings and flew towards Flona. "Huh?" The girl lifted her head at the feeling of a gentle breeze brushing her cheek. "You''re..." Flona remembered the bird she had met in the dungeon. Reaching out her hand, the girl carefully cupped the bird. "...Ruby." Remembering her lost cat, Flona softly called out its name. Anyone could tell that it was a precious pet and friend to her. Although tears were still falling like raindrops, she had calmed down to some extent. -Whoa. -Even babysitting skills. -This is what a spirit is. Sylph''s power was potent in many ways. Even searching through his old memories, there weren''t many beings who could offer betterfort than Sylph. "Let''s go inside the house for now." Hanbit first led Flona back into her house. Gently sitting her down on a chair, he looked into her eyes and stroked her head. "Lia and I will find the cat. Lock the door and wait here." "...Really? Can you find her?" "I found Lia in one go, remember? Don''t worry." Chirp-! The spirit drew attention again at that moment. Flona gave a faint smile at the sight of it pping its small wings. Then, getting up, she bowed her head. "I''m being shameless, but I beg you. Please... find Ruby." Ding-! At that moment, an rm sounded along with Flona''s voice. A message appeared before his eyes. [Sub Quest #1pleted.] [Sub Quest #2 unlocked.] [Sub Quest #2] Flona has lost her cat. Follow Lia, who left earlier. Objective: Find the cat, Ruby. Reward: Sub Quest #3 unlock. The quest was simple. Stroking Flona''s head once more, Hanbit left the house. Yeonwoo was quietly continuing to film. "Let''s go." The two of them started walking and left the slum area. Passing through theplicated alleyways, Hanbit arrived in front of an abandoned building piled with junk. "Where did she really go?" The blonde girl was there, searching through the small gaps. Approaching quietly, Hanbit called her name. "Lia." Thud- Startled by the sudden voice, Lia jumped back. She was holding an old dagger in her hand. Whoosh- Lia turned around, on high alert. Seeing his face, she let out a short breath. "Ha, why did you follow me here? I told you to stay with Flona." Lia, who had been extremely tense, spoke as she put away the dagger. Hanbit approached the abandoned building she had been searching. "Flona is fine. Even if a kidnapperes, he''ll be blown away by the wind." "What are you talking about now?" -What the... -Wind (real spirit) -Auto defense is awesome. Lia, unaware of the situation, sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead. She was starting to remind him of her sworn sister, Artsvel. "Forget it, just go back to Flona. I can handle this alone." "But you haven''t even found a trace yet, have you?" "Stop picking a fight and go! I know Ruby better than you do!" Lia, ring up, turned sharply towards the main street. However, if she went in that direction, she wouldn''t be able to find the cat even if she searched for days. Hanbit spoke towards her retreating figure. "I know where she went." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 35 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 34 The tavern "Morning Dew" in the Edlen shopping district. All sorts of conversations were exchanged in the crowded space. "City development fund? What city development fund!" "What else would it be? It''s just a way for the nobles to line their pockets. Don''t you feel it''s gotten worse since Brook became mayor?" "There were even rumors that the guy was a puppet. It was better when Mayor William was around..." "Can''t we escape to the Holy Kingdom? We could live a prosperous life in such a powerful nation." Words spoken without restraint while downing drinks. They were quite dangerous topics formoners to discuss. "Was there a ce like this? I vaguely remember it." "It''s probably because it''s not a particrly meaningful space. This is my first time here since 2 years ago." Yeonwoo and Kim Jaeha, sitting at a corner table, shared their brief impressions. After showering Artsvel with apologies andpensation, the three of them moved to this ce for a conversation. They were able to arrive quickly as it was the closest tavern to the shop. "By the way, what should I call you? Isn''t Kim Jaeha your real name?" "I''m used to it because of thepany. You don''t have to worry about it." -?? -An office worker''s name is indeed public property. -It''s a relief that at least their faces are different. -Who uses their real face in the game, lol -Ranger:? -Avantgarde:?? -There are more crazy people than you''d think. "..." Hanbit, suddenlybeled a crazy person, closed his mouth. Was it fortunate that there were at least some streamers who used their real appearance? "Then, Mr. Kim Jaeha, let''s continue our talk about the hidden skill." "Ah, yes!" Kim Jaeha stiffened at the mention of Dwarven Metallurgy. He was d that ck Dragon was showing interest, but the information he had was meager. "You said the first discovery was an achievement, can you tell me more about it?" "To be precise, it wasn''t an achievement, but a small metal te that looked like a military ID tag. It had the same words written on it as the achievement description." "A military ID tag? Do you happen to have it with you now?" "Of course." Nodding, Kim Jaeha took something out of his inventory. A thin metal te about the size of two fingers was ced on the table. Threaded with a thin string, it resembled a military ID tag. Hanbit grabbed it and grinned. [Heard the cry of iron in the snow.] A familiar texture and a sentence vividly etched in his memory. There was no need for doubt. This metal te was definitely the key to learning Dwarven Metallurgy. "Where did you find it?" "It was halfway up a snowy mountain in the northern part of Ifrit." "That snowy mountain, the one with a lot of mineral veins? With many mine entrances?" "...How did you know that?" Kim Jaeha''s eyes widened at the question. It was Yeonwoo who answered instead. "ck Dragon hyung is very knowledgeable about this world. He''s memorized an entire web novel." "I saw it on the stream, but... is that really possible?" "I find it amazing too." -lmao -Basic qualities of a pro. -The bar has been raised; -Actually, maybe pros are the popr ones. -You popr guys, don''t touch this. He was used to the stereotypes that were arbitrarily piled on him. Anyway, the important thing was that Kim Jaeha was the first discoverer. "Dwarven Metallurgy. You said you ultimately failed to find it, right? Did you miss anything?" "...I believe we did our best. Not only my colleagues and I, but countless otherpetitors were also involved." "If it was apany-wide effort, then the search must have been conducted by dividing the area, right? Did everyone get that achievement?" "Yes. Everyone achieved the same achievement, but... there were no results. However, this item didn''t appear for anyone else." Kim Jaeha touched the metal te on the table with a gloomy expression. It seemed like he had been through a lot. ''No wonder they couldn''t find it.'' The process of obtaining Dwarven Metallurgy wasn''t easy. However, the reason why the yers of the past, including Kim Jaeha, had failed was simple. It was only possible if he, the first discoverer, moved along the correct path. "Shall we travel together for a while?" "Yes?" "You came to us because you want something, right? Since there has to be a benefit for me as well, let''s take some time to decide." "Uh..." -Surprise scouting, huh. -Taeyul Corporation 1 win. -I bet Avantgarde is crying right now. -He''ll probably kick him out if he''s not helpful. -Really lol Kim Jaeha froze at the sudden offer. But he soon brightened up and his voice pitched high. "Alright! I''m a fairly early yer, so I''ll be able to help even if it''s just a little!" "Yes, I look forward to working with you. Roper, are you okay with this?" "I''m okay with it. I can confirm what kind of person he is with my own eyes." Yeonwoo also agreed, nodding his head. Moving his fingers, Hanbit invited Kim Jaeha to the party. "Ah, you''ve already cleared the Edlen episode, right?" "Unfortunately, I''ve onlypleted the Edlen main quest. But I can still spectate, so if there''s any information I can share, I''ll contact you through party chat or messages." Kim Jaeha added a clear exnation. As the situation was roughly organized, Hanbit got up from his seat and said, "Then I''ll see you tomorrow. I''ll contact you before logging in." * * * The next morning. Hanbit left the house and boarded the bus heading towards thepany. This was because the meeting ce was his mentor Lee Minho''s house. ''It feels like I''m going to work on the weekend.'' The scenery passing by outside the window was the same as yesterday. To think he woulde to dislike thepany so much after just a few days of internship. He felt a newfound respect for office workers. "Hey, did you see this?" While he was lost in thought, he overheard the conversation of the people sitting next to him. Two men who looked like college students were talking while looking at their smartphones. "Challenge dungeon? I watched it live." "It took me over an hour even after watching the strategy guide. I got hit with a serious reality check." "You need to have a sense of reality to get a reality check. This guy is just insane." Their words caught his attention. It became clear from the following conversation that they were talking about RP. "But I can''t believe an S-ss nickname like that was still avable. Did no one think of ck Dragon?" "There are rumors that it''s a developer''s super ount. They probably locked the nickname creation." "If it was a super ount, there would have been an uproar by now. Do you think the advanced yers would stay still?" "Then how do you exin this? There''s no way a talent greater than Odin could appear." He didn''t expect to hear about RP, let alone the nickname ck Dragon, in real life. Suddenly curious about the reactions, Hanbit turned on his smartphone and essed the RPGmunity. The top of the home screen was filled with popr posts about the challenge dungeon. ck Dragon, who found the hidden route, cleared it in one try and took 1st ce. What''s really crazy is that he broke the record while also doing the Flona quest. I''vepiled this together with a link to the ck Dragon channel video. -Damn lmao -ck Dragon, is that him again...? -Kim Han-seop crying. -Odin, the all-time talent, was just an ordinary person, lol -I''m reporting this guy for bug abuse. ©¸I also sent an inquiry, and the administrator said it wasn''t a bug or a hack? ©¸OK, with things like this, we fight with propaganda and fabrication. -I yed along while watching, but I spent more than 20 minutes on the traps alone. -Is clearing the maze in one go even possible for an AI? -Will he answer if I go to the stream and donate? ©¸He will if he''s in a good mood. ©¸If the challenge mission and donation amount increase, he does something big. The various reactions of the yers that followed were intense. And ament posted near the end caught Hanbit''s eye. -There are over 20,000 challengers now lol ©¸It''ll probably be 40,000 when the weekendes? ©¸I think it''ll exceed 50,000. ©¸The entrance fee is 500 gold, so everyone and their dog is re-challenging. ©¸I''m so envious of ck Dragon; ©¸Kim Han-seop really sobbing. ''...50,000 people?'' His eyes widened at the figure the yers were predicting. The entrance fee for a week was given to the 1st ce record holder. If more than 50,000 people really challenged it, the minimum amount would be 25 million gold. If the record continued to hold, wouldn''t it be like a vault that generated gold infinitely? "Is there no reaction from Kim Han-seop? He must be shocked that he lost 1st ce." "He lost his honey pot, so he''s falling into the abyss. He spent a crazy amount of gold to be an advanced yer, but now he can''t even do that." The people next to him were still talking about the challenge dungeon. Kim Han-seop, who had monopolized the rewards for a year. It wouldn''t be strange at all if he felt hostile towards Hanbit for snatching that position away. Since he seemed to be trying hard to be an advanced yer, there was a chance they might encounter each other someday. Beep- Getting off at his destination, Hanbit went up the visible slope. A neighborhood lined with one-room vis. As he walked a little further, an old building came into view. Passing through the open entrance, Hanbit went up to the 4th floor. Buzz- An odd buzzing sound rang out as he pressed the doorbell of room 402. It seemed to be broken. Click- Creak- Following the sound of the door opening, Lee Minho appeared. His face was filled with exhaustion. "Hello. You''re early." "Hello. Did you not get any sleep?" "I found something that''s giving me a headache. Come in for now." Leaving those meaningful words, he led Hanbit inside. Passing through the narrow entrance, a space of around 230 sq ft came into view. It was filled with all sorts of drawings, tools, and deviceponents, yet everything was clearly organized. "Sorry about the small space. It''s difficult to take the equipment outside..." "Not at all. More importantly, you said you found something that''s giving you a headache. What is it?" "It would be better to see it yourself. Just a moment." Lee Minho picked up aponent that looked like a semiconductor chip and a drawing. Pointing at them one by one with his finger, he continued, "This is one of the parts that came out after disassembling the level 1 Gear, and this is the blueprint. As expected of technology ahead of its time, it''s quite difficult to understand everything." He exined how amazing the device''s structure was, asionally mixing in technical terms. Seeing him a little excited, it seemed like he was a man of great curiosity, even though this was an extension of the work he had been forced to take on. Of course, Hanbit''s expertise was far from sufficient to have a discussion about this issue. "I don''t really understand even if I see it. Was there anything unusual?" "That''s what was bothering me. To be precise, it was because of what was inside this chip." Lee Minho held up the small chip with his finger. Then, he brought over a household microscope that was nearby. "Take a look. There''s a small grain with a strange pattern engraved inside." "A strange pattern?" "It''s something that''s already known, but it strangely looks like a lock. I couldn''t physically separate it even with equipment." "Hmm, let me see." Hanbit brought his eye to the eyepiece of the microscope. The internal structure of the chip immediately came into view. As he examined theplex circuit lines, he saw a tiny sphere in the center. It was shaped like a fruit wrapped in a shell. ''Is this it?'' Examining the surface, Hanbit found the pattern that Lee Minho had mentioned. Linear patterns that were visible here and there, obscured by the external structure. It felt like an ancient script. ''Is this perhaps...'' A thought shed through his mind, and a memory surfaced. Hanbit asked Lee Minho, who was gathering data next to him, "Did you perhaps find anything else?" "It''s not so much a discovery as something strange. Do you remember the program the research and development team gave us?" "Yes. Didn''t I collect data and give it to you?" "That''s right. But after hearing what they had to say, it looks that the framework of that program was provided by the RP gamepany. As if they wanted us to dig into thepany''s secrets." "That''s... strange." This wasn''t the first time the RP gamepany had made a move that was difficult to understand. From Hanbit''s perspective, it felt like the shadow of the Goddess. And this time, that feeling turned into certainty with Lee Minho''s next words. "This is the important part. When I used the data you collected, Hanbit, a strange pattern was found in the code. It was something that didn''t appear in the data from other departments." "A pattern?" "Take a look at this." Lee Minho spread out a document filled withplex programmingnguage on the floor. He pointed at one section with his finger and said, "The other code wasn''t at a level I couldn''t understand. But I couldn''t even understand the meaning of this pattern that keeps appearing, even though it''s unnecessary code." "...Wait a moment." Hanbit focused his attention on the spot he was pointing at. Code that was difficult to discern with just an undergraduate¡¯s knowledge. As he frowned, Lee Minho held out another piece of paper. "Look at this too. I''ve gathered the patterns that are spread throughout the code." Hanbit shifted his gaze and examined the new data. At that moment, something urred to him. ''...Is this perhaps...'' Having discovered something, Hanbit gradually moved his gaze further away. Then, theplex code began to appear in a different form. Rustle- Hanbit busily looked around, examining the pattern with a wider field of view. Up close, it was aplex programmingnguage, but to his eyes, a different outline was faintly taking shape. It was like solving a puzzle with lines and patterns hidden everywhere. ''...They really went to all this trouble.'' Reaching a conclusion, Hanbit let out a sigh. The identity of the strange pattern Lee Minho had discovered was thenguage of the other world. They had hidden a single word within thisplex and vast pattern. Taking his eyes off the data, Hanbit looked at Lee Minho and said, "There''s a word hidden in this pattern." "A word?" "Yes. It''s a character used in the game world. It was in the appendix of the original web novel... that I read. I can''t see it now because it''s disappeared from the inte." "...?" Lee Minho had a dumbfounded expression, but he soon turned his gaze back to the pattern. After concentrating for a while with a frown, he raised his head. "If it was in the appendix, it must be difficult to remember... Do you happen to know what the word is?" A question that seemed to contain a bit of hope. It was an obvious concern, but Hanbit had spent far more time using thenguage of the other world than his native tongue. "Fortunately, I remember." Recalling old memories, he nodded. After checking the pattern once more, he said, "The word written is Edlen. A city in the Raven Kingdom." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 36 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 36 "...What?" Lia stopped and turned her head slightly. She red at Hanbit for a moment, then asked with a slight frown, "Is that really true?" "If you don''t believe me, you can go alone. But you won''t find her even if you search all day." "..." Hanbit shrugged, implying she could do as she pleased, and Lia fell into thought. As much as she wanted to find Ruby on her own, the reality was daunting. The area outside the slums was vast. And because she knew cats so well, this fact hit her even harder. "Ugh, seriously!" Frustrated with theck of solutions, Lia ruffled her hair wildly. Then she sighed and approached him. "Hurry up and lead the way. Ruby has fast feet and will quickly go somewhere else." "There''s no need to rush. I saw her enter the underground waterway." "Waterway? Ruby went there?" Lia''s eyes widened in surprise at his words. The waterway that ran through the underground of Edlen. It was no longer in use, but the water level was high, making it a dangerous ce. "Ah, shit! Why didn''t you say so earlier!" Lia immediately kicked off the ground without hesitation. As Hanbit also started running, Yeonwoo, who was following behind, asked from a distance, "Hyung! Are we really going to the underground waterway?" -Is the cat there? -No, there''s nothing there. -Just a useless map. The existence of the underground waterway wasmonly known even among yers. However, there was nothing to gainpared to the effort of exploring its interior. This was the very brief information listed in the guidebook. "Have you been to the waterway?" "I''ve been there, but the map itself is worthless. The stench is so realistically implemented that you don''t even want to go near it,¡± Yeonwoo answered with a disgusted expression. Certainly, if the smell was that vividly implemented, it would be difficult to enter easily. However, the statement that it was worthless waspletely wrong. If someone had discovered the importance of the underground waterway, the strategy would have beenpletely different. Thud- After a brief conversation while running, the two arrived at a sunken area below the outer wall. Lia, who had gone ahead, was already out of sight. "I guess she went inside?" Yeonwoo said, looking at the half-open iron gate. Looking around, Hanbit pushed the gate open. "Let''s go." * * * Drip- Drip- Inside the dark underground waterway, emitting a musty stench. The two were moving along the path illuminated by sparsely ced candles. "Hyung, how far are we going? I''m telling you, this isn''t a ce where a cat would be." Yeonwoo, who was walking a little behind, asked while covering his nose. He wanted to let him experience what a real stench was, but it wasn''t time yet. "Seeing as you''re so sure, I guess you''ve searched the whole ce?" "Even if I haven''t, many people havee here. If anyone had found anything, word would have gotten around." "Even so, it only went as far as the guidebook level, right?" "That''s normal. The underground waterway is just a small appendix written in the corner of a page in the guidebook, to begin with. Who would bother to check it meticulously if they weren''t a nerd like you?" -Ahem. -Fighting dirty with facts; -With things like this, I''ll show you the real deal. -Teachers, pleasee forward. [Seolmyeongchung has donated 5,000 won.] [Edlen''s Underground Waterway: ording to the architect Irteloger, who designed the waterway 100 years ago...] -Yes, thank you for the information~ -Longment cut. -He actually did it lmao The perception of the underground waterway was evident just by looking at the chat window. Continuing to add to the conversation would only be detrimental at this point. Giving up on exining, Hanbit increased his speed and moved forward. "Ha..." A dead end was reached after following the winding path. Lia was standing there with her hands on her hips. "Did you find anything?" Hanbit approached and stood beside her. Lia, who had been staring straight ahead, lowered her gaze and replied, "Ruby was here." In her hand was a bright red string. It was the ribbon tied to Ruby, the cat''s leg. "I need to find other traces." With a serious expression, Lia tried to turn back. Hanbit moved before she could and blocked her way. "What?" "Look up there." "Up?" Lia followed his finger as he pointed upward. It didn''t take long for her, frowning in concentration, to find something. "Ah!" A faint hole was visible at the top of the wall. It seemed even smaller because there was no light, but it wasrge enough for a cat to easily pass through. "She went that way! But the path that follows..." Unlike the flexible cat, it was a size that humans couldn''t pass through. The problem was that Lia, who knew the structure of this underground waterway, couldn''t think of any path that followed. "Wait a minute." Knowing her thoughts, Hanbit passed Lia and knelt in front of the dead-end wall. ''It''s just as I remember.'' A crack extended from the gap between the wall and the floor. The bottom, visible through the gap, was in an even worse state. "Come here for a second." Getting up, Hanbit grabbed Lia''s arm and stepped back. "What? What are you doing?" Lia asked, sensing something strange. But Hanbit had already extended his hand, and an incantation flowed from his mouth. "Fire Burst." Boom-! The ejected fireball exploded, and the floor copsed with a rumble. The bottom of the wall, which had been blocked, was transformed into an unstable passage. "Are you crazy?" Lia had a dumbfounded expression at the simple and violent solution. After all, this was also a public area of Edlen. If they made an issue of it, they could be punished. "We just need to be quiet. Let''s find Ruby first." "But..." With a casual reply, Hanbit moved forward first. Lowering his stance and passing under the wall, he looked at Lia. "Aren''t youing?" "...Who said I wasn''ting?" At Hanbit''s nonchnt attitude, Lia scratched her head and moved her feet. And the moment she bent down and entered. Crackle- A strong spark flew from her bag. "Ouch!" Surprised, Lia quickly threw her bag on the floor. Something rolled out from the open gap. Thud- A ring with a red jewel embedded in ity alone on the floor. The gold band was engraved with what seemed to be a family crest. sh- Light emanated from the jewel of the ring. Lia had an expression mixed with curiosity and fear as she saw the sight. "Ugh..." Whoosh- As if to protect her frozen body, the wind gathered like a shield. An rm sound followed. Ding-! [The wind spirit Sylph expresses anger.] -Huh? -Wasn''t it ying with Flona? -But why is it angry? -Who did it? Viewers expressed their questions at Sylph''s appearance. Sylph''s existence, ying with Flona, was also valid here. It was a story that applied anywhere in the world. ''The spirit''s anger...'' Although spirits were usually like children, their anger was not to be taken lightly. Depending on the situation, it could even cause heaven and earth to be overturned. That''s how great and fearsome spirits were. "...Wind?" Lia let out a puzzled voice at the cozy feeling enveloping her body. But that was only for a moment. Quickly picking up the ring and her bag, she looked at the dark path. After a moment of silence, she said to Hanbit, "I have a bad feeling about this." "A feeling? Is it because of the ring from earlier?" "...I don''t know. Anyway, it''s dangerous further inside." Lia warned him without taking a single step forward. It wasn''t a lie, it was a judgment made from a truly instinctive feeling. ''She has no choice but to have good instincts.'' A keen sense that could detect danger even with little information. There was only one reason why someone would develop such a talent at a young age. They were constantly exposed to life-threatening situations while growing up. Like a survivor of a rebel family living in hiding. Whoosh- As they conversed, the wind of the spirit spread, enveloping the space. "Going ahead?" "No, wait...!" As Hanbit stepped forward into the path, Lia grabbed his sleeve. Then, as if a little embarrassed, she avoided his gaze and said, "You can''t go. If you die, my sister and Flona will be sad." -Cute. -Her likeability has increased a lot. Whoa. -God Artsvel. Lia had also heard in detail the story of how Artsvel''s mother was freed from her pain. Having witnessed firsthand how desperate that situation was, her evaluation of Hanbit had changed long ago. Her sister''s benefactor was also her benefactor. Moreover, she had no intention of letting him, who had also saved Flona, die. "It''s okay. I won''t die." "...The people who say that are always the ones who die." "No, look at that." Hanbit pointed to the path that stretched inwards. A small silhouette could be seen approaching in the darkness. Meow- "Ruby?" Lia had a puzzled expression at the nonchnt meow. This was because whenever they tried to find her, she would hide deeper. Whoosh- The spirit''s wind, which had not yet returned, fluttered faintly around them. No one would know that Sylph had helped lure the cat. "Why did you run so far away?" Lia let out a sigh of relief as she picked Ruby up. Although the cat often caused trouble, she had never gone outside the slum area before. "Huh?" Examining the cat''s condition up close, Lia discovered something. Bringing Ruby closer, she slowly pulled out a piece of white cloth the cat was holding in its mouth. "...The Holy Kingdom?" A cloth with a unique texture, never seen before in Edlen. The end of it was embroidered with the g of the Holy Kingdom. Lia''s expression darkened instantly upon discovering it. -The Holy Kingdom? -Why is there a clue about the Holy Kingdom here? -Is this really connected to the main story? -We won''t know until we see the sub quest settlement. -Yeah, a lot of them turned out to be meaningless in the end. The viewers started discussing the mention of the Holy Kingdom. Sub quests that enriched the main story. Naturally, the impact varied depending on the process and results. "Let me see." Hanbit reached out and received the cloth. At that moment, a message popped up along with an rm. Ding-! [Sub Quest #2pleted.] [Sub Quest #3 unlocked.] [Sub Quest #3] Ruby the cat, found in the underground waterway, had a strange item. Why does a cloth with the Holy Kingdom''s g exist in a ce like this? It seems like you need information. Objective: Report the traces to the Guild Master. Reward: Sub quest settlement -Meeting the Guild Master already? -Is this really opening up a new route? -It''s been years lol -Who knows. -Yeah, Cowen isn''t easy. The Guild Master, one of the key figures in Edlen. Moreover, an objective to meet him appeared at the same time as a clue about the Holy Kingdom. Since both elements were directly linked to the main quest, the viewers'' expectations and suspicions about a new story route intensified. "Lia, you take Ruby back to Flona." "...What are you going to do with that?" "I''m going to visit the Guild Master. It''s strange that something from the Holy Kingdom was found here." "..." Lia closed her mouth at Hanbit''s answer. After pondering for a moment, she spoke quietly. "Okay. I''ll go to Flona for now." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 37 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 37 Leaving the underground waterway, Hanbit headed straight for the guild. Lia, who headed for the slums, didn''t say anything when they parted. "But you''re sure Lia can see me, right?" Hanbit asked Yeonwoo, who was filming, as they walked. Understanding the intention behind the question, Yeonwoo nodded. "She can see you, but you won''t have a presence. The story progresses entirely from your perspective, as the party leader. But since I''m not involved, my contribution is also close to zero." "...Can the main quest be cleared in that state?" "It can be cleared, even if there''s almost no reward. But it''s a method that people would normally never choose." Yeonwoo wasn''t very interested in the growth of his game character. His mind was already filled with thoughts of thepany, Hanbit''s stream, filming, and so on. "Well, it''s fine if you''re okay with it." "Of course I''m okay with it. You wouldn''t know how much fun it is to watch from the sidelines. If I edit this well, the number of views will be enormous..." Yeonwoo chattered in an excited voice. It seemed like he was enjoying the current situation more than expected. "Let''s go in." Arriving at the guild, Hanbit stepped inside. Miel at the reception desk was filing her nails as usual. "Miel." "Ah, just a moment." After finishing her grooming, she turned her gaze towards him. Thanks to the Firefly Flower he had given her, her response was quick. "You''re here to change the request, right? This time, take the one I rmend." Miel, without even asking why he hade, had already made up her mind. She thought he was giving up on the difficult request of the dungeon strategy. "I finished the request. Check it." Thud- Hanbit ced the item he had obtained from the Elder Goblin on the table. It was the Goblin''s Spirit Ne, a Rank 3 Unique grade item. "...?" Miel, momentarily frozen, slowly lowered her gaze. She widened her eyes as she recognized the item at a nce. "What''s this? Why do you have the Elder Goblin''s spoils of war?" "The request was to clear the dungeon. The boss of the ce I went to was the Elder Goblin." "But that dungeon is a Rank 4 solo dungeon! I repeatedly emphasized that you should avoid dangerous ces!" Miel shouted in a voice mixed with bewilderment and anger. Even with skills unbefitting a novice adventurer, a Rank 4 solo dungeon was out of the question. This was because the brutal condition of having to enter alone made it extremely difficult to clear. It was a ce where if you died inside, you couldn''t even retrieve your body. "But I cleared it without dying. Anyway, the request was a sess, right?" "Well, yes, but..." There was no need to question the sess of the request. The Goblin''s Spirit Ne, which could only be obtained by someone who had personally killed the Elder Goblin was proof enough. It couldn''t be bought, and there was no other way to obtain it. "Ah, and this." Hanbit handed her the piece of white cloth he had obtained from the underground waterway. "...And what''s this? It has the Holy Kingdom''s g on it." "Show it to the Guild Master. He''s upstairs, right?" "He is, but it''s difficult for me if you speak as if you''re telling me to show it to some neighborhood uncle. He''s the Guild Master, for goodness sake." Miel, unaware of the situation, reacted naturally. The Guild Master, was someone who even the city''s mayor couldn''t easily sway. Even having a simple conversation with him wasn''t easy. Slide- Hanbit took out another Firefly Flower from his inventory. "It''s difficult for you to assess my adventurer rank anyway. While you''re reporting, just show him this. You don''t have to say anything, just show it to him." "...I guess I have no choice. This is the only time." Snatching the flower, Miel let out a deep sigh. She got up, took the piece of cloth, and went up the stairs at the back. A momentter, she came down with a sturdy human male. "Are you the one who brought this?" He asked, looking at Hanbit. His deep baritone brought back nostalgic memories. ''It''s been a while, Cowen.'' Hanbit called the man''s name in his mind. Cowen, the Guild Master of Edlen. Hanbit had joined forces with him quite a few times during his 55 regressions. The trials and tribtions he had gone through while solving the problems of Edlen were diverse, to say the least. "Yes, I brought it." "...Hmm." Cowen, standing in front of him, focused his gaze as if trying to see through him. He was holding the piece of white cloth. "I heard you picked this up from the underground waterway. Why did you go there?" "A little girl''s cat ran off there. You wouldn''t know them even if I said their names were Flona and Lia. Anyway, it''s a matter of the slums." "..." As he mentioned the names of the two children, Cowen tapped his finger on the reception desk. This was a small habit of his when he was troubled withplicated thoughts. After a moment of silence, he took something out. "Put your hand on this." A silver card was ced on the reception desk. As Hanbit ced his hand on it, it emitted a soft light. "From now on, you are an adventurer of the guild. Requests or achievements aplished through the guild will be visible on this card at any guild in othernds. Your adventurer rank... will be D-rank." -Starting with D-rank? -Why am I F-rank? -I was also F-rank; -Newbies, jump right into the challenge. -New despair section ON Adventurer ranks started from F-rank. Hanbit knew from experience that clearing the challenge dungeon immediately promoted him to D-rank. It was a useful identification card to keep. Ding-! [Main Quest #2pleted.] [500 gold received.] [Experience increased by 200.] [Progress increased.] The main quest was finallypleted. It felt like he had taken a long detour, but the results and settlement of the sub quest still remained. "Follow me." With a low voice, Cowen went up to the second floor. Hanbit followed behind him with Yeonwoo. "Meeting the Guild Master this early... Is this right?" Yeonwoo was surprised by the early appearance of the Guild Master. It was a natural reaction, as in the original main story, you had to umte quite a few requests before meeting him. Click- Cowen entered the innermost room of the hallway. Hanbit also stepped inside. "Sit down." At Cowen''s gesture, he sat down on the chair in front of him. It always had the atmosphere of an interrogation room. "Are you curious why we moved locations?" "It''s obvious, isn''t it? It''s because of a conversation that''s not suitable for others to hear." "An unsuitable conversation... Indeed." He lowered his gaze slightly and fell silent for a moment. Then, he met Hanbit''s eyes again. "You know this is an item from the Holy Kingdom, right?" "I know. It''s the cloth used to make the uniforms of their soldiers. The problem is that it''s not something that should be found within Edlen." "Hmm." Cowen pondered, stroking his chin, as Hanbit gave a more detailed answer. However, it wasn''t enough to reveal the main point he was hiding. "Why did you ask for it to be shown to me? Was there something you wanted?" "Because you''re one of the people most sensitive to danger in Edlen. I want to protect the people I''vee to know here, at the very least." "People you''vee to know?" "The younger ones like Lia and Flona from the slums that I mentioned earlier. Friends like Artsvel, the general store owner. We''ve be close because I had the chance to help them a few times." "..." He listed the names of the people with sincerity. Cowen remained silent with an expressionless face, but he couldn''t fool Hanbit''s eyes. His eyes wavered the most when Lia''s name came up. "How about it? It seems too suspicious to just leave it alone." "...Of course, if the Holy Kingdom''sbat personnel have infiltrated, it''s difficult to gauge the level of danger. So we need to confirm further." Cowen''s demeanor changed as he continued speaking. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said, looking into Hanbit¡¯s eyes, "Adventurer ck Dragon, I''m issuing you a request. The objective is to infiltrate the underground waterway and find any suspicious evidence. This will only be given verbally." Ding-! [Sub Quest #3pleted.] [Sub quest settlementplete.] [Received 250,000 gold.] [8 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 20,000.] [Level increased by 1.] [1 stat point awarded.] [Main quest branch point reset.] [Overall main quest reward adjusted to the maximum.] [Progress adjusted to the maximum.] [Main Quest #3: Trust] You have discovered the possibility of infiltration by Holy Kingdombatants. You must carry out the request to gain Cowen''s trust. Objective: Search the interior of the underground waterway and collect evidence. Reward: 80,000 gold, 40,000 experience points, 4 stat points *Current progress: 28 percent -Whoa; -28 percent on the third main quest? -Are those rewards for real? -What''s a branch reset? -A new route really appeared; -The existing strategies are nowpletely useless. -Damn, I''m losing my mind. The viewers were in chaos along with the flurry of messages. Hanbit, who had nned for rapid progress, inwardly nodded in satisfaction. ''It''s important from here on out too.'' Many things were contained within Cowen''s request. Beyond simply finding evidence well, he had to instill in Cowen the trust that they were on the same side. Getting up from his seat, Hanbit said to Cowen, "Okay. I''ll leave right away." * * * Leaving the guild, Hanbit stopped on a deserted street. This was because Yeonwoo had urgently gone to the bathroom. ''The weapon is a bit of a problem.'' The standard-issue sword he had obtained when he learned swordsmanship had been fine so far, but itsck of performance couldn''t be helped. Perhaps he could buy equipment from yers when he received the gold on Monday. Of course, the estimate would change depending on the umted entrance fees. ''Should I check the situation?'' Curious about the number of challengers in the challenge dungeon, Hanbit tried to ess themunity. Just as he moved his fingers with anticipation. Slide- Arge shadow suddenly appeared on the ground. Reacting instinctively, Hanbit drew his sword and took a defensive stance. ng- A sharp metallic sound. Behind him stood a giant of a man with a greatsword. -? -Holy shit, that scared me. -Who is that? -What the... "Hmph!" The man grabbed Hanbit''s arm and began to push him with all his might. Screech- His attempt to resist was easily thwarted. He could feel the clear difference in stats. Whoosh- Gradually increasing his speed, the man pushed Hanbit into a corner alleyway. While minimizing damage and enduring the attack, Hanbit reached out his hand towards the giant''s face. "Fire Burst!" Boom- "Ugh!" The man instinctively let go of Hanbit''s arm as mes engulfed his vision. Hanbit immediately jumped towards the roof. Whoosh- A sharp metal object flew towards him mid-air. Twisting his body, he narrowly dodged it. ng- It was an arrow that crashed into the wall with a crisp sound. Looking at the tip, it was coated with a blue liquid. "Whoa, holy shit, he dodged that?" A human male with short hair stood on the roof of another house. His nickname, floating above his head, read ''Trigger.'' "What is that?" Looking closely, there were 2 small red lines drawn next to his nickname. The same was true for the man wielding the greatsword. It definitely didn''t feel like anything good. -Those guys are from the Nesto Guild; -Why is a PK guild here? -Information) If you keep PK-ing, red lines umte. -2 lines mean they''re not named, but they''re all crazy. The viewers'' chat messages poured in immediately. At the absurd content, Hanbit''s voice came out involuntarily. "PK guild?" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 38 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 38 PK wasn''t an unfamiliar term at all. However, he couldn''t understand why they would form a guild for it. Did they ignore the penalties imposed on forced PVP? "Do the penalties get stronger as the red lines umte?" -Is the value doubled? -Yeah, experience loss, gold loss, criminal status duration, all doubled. -Criminal status (can be attacked by anyone, unable to trade, etc.) -Can''t even enter viges freely. -After a while, you get chased by guards lol -But they''re good at hiding and moving around. [Seolmyeongchung has donated 5,000 won.] [Information: Depending on the number of lines, there are more restrictions within viges and fields. The Nesto vice guild master has 6. The guild master is unknown.] "Thank you for the information." Thanks to the viewers, he got the information he needed right away. The problem was why this crazy guild was targeting him. Thud- Just then, a sound came from below, behind him. Hanbit, who had sensed the presence beforehand, jumped far to the side. "Trigger, you said he was around level 20, right?" A female human with gauntlets on both hands frowned slightly. A red nickname was clearly visible above her head. "You''ll know if you be a loyal viewer. That''s no ordinary yer." Trigger grinned yfully. Hanbit looked at his enemies and asked, "Who sent you guys?" "I''m your fan. I came to meet you, and this just happened." "So someone did put you up to this?" "My fan spirit is stronger, though. So I''ll just kill you 50 times." -I''m a fan; -They''re really crazy lol -Wasn''t it Ranger who sent them? -Or Kim Han-seop? -Someone must have been pissed and requested it? -That''s so pathetic; -Give me your SNS address. -Ignore them and force quit. -If you force quit, they''lle and harass you every time you log in. -It might be better to just die. -Yeah, that''s better. Perhaps because it was a notorious guild, the viewers'' opinions were divided. There wasn''t a single yer in sight, either. ''Was it really one of those two who sent them?'' As mentioned in the chat, there was reason to suspect them. Regardless of right or wrong, both Ranger and Kim Han-seop had their own reasons to be angry. Of course, he had no intention of letting them have their way. Click- Opening the information window, Hanbit allocated his stat points. [ck Dragon - Lv.22] [Title: None] Strength: 25 Agility: 31 Intelligence: 25 Stamina: 10 Remaining stat points: 0 Stats invested in a slightly different form than before. The reason for raising agility was to ovee the current situation. ''Three people...'' It was difficult to gauge their level without seeing it. However, he was unfortunately familiar with fighting people. Whoosh- [The wind spirit Sylph shows hostility.] An rm popped up along with the gentle breeze around him. Sylph, who had materialized earlier, was moving with Hanbit. "Since I was attacked first, it''s okay to kill them, right?" -Yeah, it''s okay to kill them. -You can kill them anyway if they have a red bar. -There are ces in cities or guilds that put bounties on them. -But are you really going to fight? -They''re not named, though. -But they''re probably over level 60? It''s okay to kill them. That answer was enough. It was only to his own disadvantage if the progress got messed up. ''The sword''s condition isn''t good.'' The sword was cracked all over from the earlier shock. Even if it was a swordsmanship that used wind, the sword itself still had to be intact. ''Would this be good for umting data?'' The y data was continuously being measured through the program. It was difficult to create an opportunity to obtain indicators from one-versus-many interpersonalbat. Since the situation hade to this, it would be best to extract as much profit as possible. With that thought in mind, Hanbit reached out his hand towards the enemy. "Ah, this is going to be troublesome." Contrary to his words, Trigger''s lips curled upwards. Even in the world he had regressed through, he had seen countless screw-loose individuals. There were self-proimed murderers in every city. He was all too familiar with such people. "I''ll hide the screen for a moment." Hanbit pressed a button and turned the streampletely ck. Extending his hand, he chanted. "Fire Burst!" Whoosh- Theunched fireball flew forward. Simultaneously, the three people kicked off the ground. Thud- Trigger was the fastest. Hanbit, who had already surveyed the terrain, threw himself into theplex alleyway. Swish- Even while moving and using the blind spots, Trigger followed with incredible speed. If it weren''t for his familiarity with the terrain, it would have been difficult to maintain distance. ''Did he invest almost everything in agility?'' The difference in speed was noticeable just by watching him. If it weren''t for the wind''s movement, it wouldn''t have been strange if he had been caught already. Whoosh- Wind was slowly gathering around the sword in his hand. He had already decided who to take out first. Thud- Hanbit, who had been running, changed direction into a side street. There was a pile of fine dirt there. "Fire Burst!" Boom- An explosion urred along with theunched fireball. The caught-up dirt scattered in all directions. "ying dirty, huh?" Trigger, who had been following, stopped at the loss of vision. Whoosh- Several daggers flew in, piercing through the dust cloud. However, Hanbit had already escaped through a hidden side path in the wall. "It ends faster if we fight. Don''t you think?" Trigger didn''t move, twirling a dagger in his hand. He was clearly trying to detect Hanbit''s movements by sound. ''Keep doing that.'' There were also skills for hiding one''s presence. However, by using the movement of the wind, imitation was possible. Rustle- Hanbit moved through the side path he knew like the back of his hand. ''Found him.'' After passing through theplex alleyways, he spotted the giant wandering around with his greatsword. "Tsk, like a pesky fly." The man, frowning and muttering to himself, didn''t even notice Hanbit looking at him. He seemed to have no sense of danger whatsoever. ''Let''s end this in one go.'' Hanbit descended to a nearby wall and held his breath. The man''s strength was menacingly powerful. His reaction itself was slow, as if he had minimal investment in agility. Whoosh- The wind that had been gathering was now emitting a clear green light. Thump- Thump- The giant moved forward with leisurely steps. Hanbit, standing in the gap of a shabby wooden fence, took his stance. The moment the man''srge body appeared, he swung the sharp wind sword. Swish- "Gah!" The attack, which urately struck his neck, led to the giant''s death throes. Thud- The greatsword fell from the man''s wide-open hand. He twitched for a moment, and then his body became blurry. It was only a moment before his formpletely disappeared. Ding-! [Experience increased by 5,000.] "Experience points?" For some reason, he received experience points after defeating the yer. Finding it strange, Hanbit pressed the stream button. Click- The moment the dark screen brightened, the chat window started scrolling like crazy. -Oh. -Here ites. -It''s like a horror movie since we could only hear the sounds; -What happened? -Whose scream was that just now? -Huh? Isn''t that greatsword from that bear-like guy earlier? -He defeated him? The viewers, who had been making inferences from the sounds, grasped the situation after seeing the greatsword lying there alone. Unlike the surprised viewers, Hanbit quietly looked at his own hand. ''It held up for a long time.'' The standard-issue sword he had been using waspletely broken. This was because the sword couldn''t withstand the unique recoil created by the power of the wind. Hanbit asked the viewers, "I got experience points for defeating him, is this a bug?" -You''re the bug; -You originally get experience points for defeating those with red bars. -He feels like a monster in disguise. -He''s not human. -Isn''t there a limit on the number of times? -Yeah, they blocked level grinding. The chat window was overflowing with all sorts of information. ''He really is like a monster.'' The unexpected gain wasn''t bad at all. As expected, choosing to kill them all was the right answer. "Wow, you killed him in that short amount of time?" Just then, a man with short hair appeared on the roof in front of him. It was Trigger, who had lost track of Hanbit. "That''s why I told you to strategize, you idiot." Following that, his female colleague appeared behind him. She also seemed annoyed, as if she had been searching for Hanbit. -Ganging up is unfair; -I''m going to help right now. -Believe in us. -Already on my way. Chat messages saying they would help had been appearing since earlier. However, no one actually came. At least, not among the viewers. "Hyung!" A familiar voice came from behind the woman. Yeonwoo was rushing over with a sword in hand. "I''ll help you!" -Roper returns. -Roper who went to the bathroom is different. -Reliable? Reliable. -Judging by his looks, he''llst 2 seconds. -ck Dragon hyung "Do it for me" "That guy''s already here?" The woman turned her head and reacted as if it was bothersome. Then, twirling her gauntleted hand, she walked towards Yeonwoo. "Trigger, you take care of ck Dragon." "Don''t finish too quickly. I want to y a bit too." With just a brief conversation, they decided who to take on. "Come at me!" Yeonwoo bravely raised his weapon. His courage wasmendable, but the oue was predictable. ''I won''t be able to drag this out for long.'' Judging from her movements earlier, the woman wasn''t ordinary either. It would be a tough fight for Yeonwoo, whocked experience in humanbat. "Trying to help? It''ll be tough." Trigger, standing leisurely, smirked. "I''ll help too!" At that moment a man appeared on the roof. "Oh!" Above the head of the man whonded in front of Yeonwoo, the nickname ''Kim Jaeha'' was floating. -Oh. -He came to help. -Hammer Man ?? -Reliable. -But won''t he be targeted by the Nesto Guild? -This is loyalty. Kim Jaeha''s appearance was quite surprising even to Hanbit. It seemed most yers avoided PK guilds as much as possible. Did that mean his connection with Kim Jaeha was that much more important? ''Anyway, this is good.'' Kim Jaeha''sbat abilities weren''t that great. However, he was someone with excellent level, stats, and fighting spirit. If he could just buy some time, it would be easier to handle things on this side. Slide- Hanbit threw away the broken standard-issue sword. And lowering his stance, he reached for the greatsword that had fallen to the ground. "Are you really a newbie? It''ll be meaningless with your strength stat,¡± Trigger said in a condescending tone. Ignoring his words, Hanbit grabbed the hilt of the greatsword. -? -What are you doing? -That''s Rank 3, so you need at least 50 strength, right? -Yeah, the damage won''t be applied properly. -Throw it away, quickly; The viewers also seemed flustered and tried to stop him. This was because if you equipped an item that didn''t meet the stat requirements, its performance would be drastically reduced. Hanbit was also well aware of this penalty, but he was aiming for something else. Ding-! Just then, an rm rang out that only Hanbit could hear. Turning his gaze, he looked at the single line of message that appeared. [Title: 55 Times Recorder new effect is unlocked.] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 39 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 39 Hanbit immediately opened the title list. One more line had been added under the 55 Times Recorder title. [55 Times Recorder] The experiences umted by the Record Holder are unlocked. The proficiency of all experienced skills increases extremely quickly. Performance is adjusted upwards depending on the level of experience. Spirit affinity is activated for all spirits, and the effects of spirit power are dramatically increased. Freed from the equipping and usage conditions of all items with usage experience. (However, performance degradation due to stat differences is maintained, and the value is minimized.) Unopened (Keyword: NPC) Considering what had happened so far, he could guess what was possible. ''Item'' was written in the unopened keyword of the title. Considering his long life of repeating 55 times, it was more difficult to find items he hadn''t used. He also knew the craftsman''s mark engraved on the hilt of this greatsword all too well. ''The weight is just right, too.'' He had heard that when forcibly equipping a strength-based weapon, there was also a weight penalty. However, Hanbit''s titlepletely nullified that penalty. Now, even if the performance decreased, it wouldn''t be a problem. As long as he could hold and swing it, that was enough. Whoosh- [The wind spirit Sylph shows curiosity.] A message appeared along with the wind gathering towards the greatsword. Hanbit took his stance, holding the greatsword with both hands. "I don''t want it to end boringly." Trigger let out a short sigh. He spun the dagger and asked condescendingly, "Should I give you a cheap sword? Do you want to fight with that?" "Why is your tongue so long? Shut up ande at me." "Ha, so you''re the type to get cocky." Trigger sighed, seemingly genuinely disappointed. Then, he straightened his dagger and said, "It''s not fun anymore. Just die." Thud- He dashed forward, closing the distance in an instant. Thwack- Watching his movement, Hanbit thrust the greatsword into a crack in the ground. Using the hilt as support, he jumped upwards. Swish- Trigger''s dagger grazed him by a hair''s breadth. Using his speed, he stepped on the wall and followed. Hanbit''s chant was uttered simultaneously. "Fire Burst!" Bang-! The fireball that flew forward exploded immediately. However, Trigger blocked it by crossing his two daggers. ''He''s using something pretty good.'' A good weapon could also be used for defense. Especially the blue light emanating from the dagger reminded him of a certain material. Magic Enhancement Stone, which increased mana conductivity. It was something Hanbit needed. "That wasn''t bad." Trigger''s passion, which had cooled, red up again. He seemed to be seeking only the joy of battle, rather than the request he had received. Such blind emotions were perfect to exploit. Creak- Hanbit pulled out the greatsword embedded in the ground. He could feel the sensation of the wind enveloping him. "You can''t use that, you know? It''ll break even with my daggers." "You don''t know until you try." Ignoring the warning, Hanbit stepped back and took his stance. This was to prevent him from noticing the gathering wind. "Alright. First, I''ll break that." Giving up on persuasion, Trigger nodded. His conclusion was that he had to destroy the greatsword for the sake of amusement. Slide- Changing his stance, he put pressure into his back foot.he kicked off the ground, dashing forward in a straight line. Unlike his previous attacks, this movement was focused solely on power. Hanbit, reading the timing, kicked off the ground forward. Thud- "That won''t work!" Trigger scoffed at the sight of Hanbit switching to offense with the greatsword. Putting his strength into the swing as he rotated his body, he forcefully shed horizontally with the daggers in both hands. ng- The attacks, aimed at each other''s des, shed with a sharp sound. Screech- An unpleasant scraping sound arose as the twin daggers and the greatsword rubbed against each other. A momentary struggle of strength. Trigger pushed his opponent back with a strong force, a look of interest on his face. Thud- Hanbit retreated, using that force. It didn''t take long for Trigger to close in again. ng-! The two swung daggers flew in with intersecting trajectories and rapid speed. At first nce, Hanbit seemed to be on the defensive. However, his eyes were calm. Thud- Every time Trigger''s twin swords attacked, Hanbit deliberately stepped back as if being pushed. The distance was precariously maintained as he received the attacks with precise timing. The battle, which seemed like it would be one-sided, wasn''t easily settled. -The attack speed is insane lol -But how is he blocking it? -ck Dragon, you''ll be sliced if you slip up. -How is he using the greatsword properly in the first ce? -Huh? -It''s a bug. ''What did he do?'' Trigger thought as he continued his onught. This was because the greatsword, which should have been easily broken, didn''t even have a crack in it. Moreover, his own flurry of attacks strangely failed tond a decisive blow. Whoosh- As the exchange continued, the wind around the greatsword in Hanbit''s hand grew stronger. Trigger, who was close by, also sensed the change. "You think I''ll let you use it?" Thud- As if trying to gain the upper hand, he dashed forward, closing in. Whoosh- Waiting for this, Hanbit stepped forward and swung the greatsword upwards with great force. "Ugh!" Trigger twisted his body to avoid the suddenrge movement. But then. Whoosh- The greatsword in Hanbit''s hand was flung into the air. "...?" Trigger faltered at the unexpected action. Meanwhile, Hanbit had closed in right in front of him. "It''s useless!" Trigger thrust his daggers with rapid speed. Having read his movements in advance, Hanbit lightly tilted his head to avoid the attack, and grabbing his arm and shoulder, he kicked off the ground. Thud- It happened in an instant, too fast to react to. Trigger btedly followed Hanbit, who had jumped up using him as a support, with his eyes. Thud- Hanbit grabbed the hilt of the falling greatsword with both hands. Taking his stance, he struck the sword downwards. "Crazy...!" It was toote to dodge. His eyes widening, Trigger hurriedly crossed his two daggers and took a defensive stance. ng- A tremendous roar echoed from the shing des. Whoosh- A tremendous gust of wind engulfed Trigger''s body. "Ugh!" He was pushed back by the tremendous force pressing down on his body. In the process, Trigger lost his grip on the weapon in his left hand. "It''s good, as expected." Hanbit''s voice could be heard, havingnded on the ground at some point. Looking up, Trigger saw his own dagger in Hanbit''s hand. He had switched it with the greatsword he had been wielding. "...You''re holding a bound weapon?" Trigger''s eyes widened at the iprehensible situation. The dagger, crafted through a quest, was bound to him. It shouldn''t have been possible for another yer to even hold it, let alone use it. -? -Bound? -How is he holding it? -This is a bug. -Really lol this has to be a bug. -Everyone, quickly praise Sylph too. -So cute. -Spirits are really OP. The equally surprised viewers were convinced that this time it really was a bug. It was an unavoidable reaction for those who didn''t know the effect of the title. "So the spirit has something to do with it?" After pondering, Trigger reached a conclusion. An attack that ignored the stat penalty. The wind''s intervention in that wasn''t a coincidence. The wind spirit skill ck Dragon had obtained negated the stat penalty of the equipment. If it was the power of a spirit, which wasn''t yet fully understood, it was possible that it could also affect the binding condition. "That''s totally OP." Heughed, amused and dumbfounded by the situation. Then, he took his stance again. "I don''t know what else you''re hiding... but let''s keep going!" Bang- ck smoke billowed around Hanbit along with the explosive sound. Slide- Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him. Simultaneously, Trigger appeared from within the smoke. Swish- Hanbit, who had been concentrating on his senses, tilted his body slightly backward. Trigger''s dagger cut through the air in front of him. He passed by in an instant and disappeared back into the smoke. -Rank 4 skill, huh. -He''s so fast. -That''s so overpowered. -As expected of an assassination skill. -I''m going to unlock the route right now. ''It''s a troublesome skill.'' The skill Trigger was using was tricky to deal with. This was because a single mistake could lead to death. Swish- Whoosh- Trigger continued to attack from within the smoke. However, his attacks didn''t even graze Hanbit''s clothes. -? -How is he dodging? -He''s not getting hit even once; The viewers were surprised that he was dodging the attacks. ''A few years isn''t enough.'' Assassination required perfectly concealing both presence and killing intent. However, Trigger hadn''t met those conditions. Even if he had learned the skill through the game system, he probably didn''t have enough time to reach that level of mastery. Swish- Whoosh- Despite the situation not going as nned, he silently continued his attacks. An ordinary person would have let out a small sound of frustration. Judging from his appearance and movements, he must have put a lot of thought and training into it. Thud- Footsteps were heard again. Reacting immediately, Hanbit adjusted his grip on the dagger. The moment Trigger''s body emerged from the smoke, he swung the dagger downwards with all his might. Crack- "Ugh!" The attack urately struck his right shoulder. The shock he received from his own dagger wasn''t light. It was a weapon he had spent a lot of time and money crafting. Slide- The smoke, its effect worn off, began to clear. Trigger, who had quickly retreated, was standing there holding only one dagger. ''He''s not even drinking a potion.'' His pierced shoulder hadn''t healed. This was because the mes of confidence in his eyes hadn''t faded yet. "This is fun." Despite the overwhelming odds against him, Trigger smiled, his lips curling upwards. -? -He''s trying to act cool; -This is fun (while getting wrecked) -He''s a crazy bastard, so it is fun lol The viewers scoffed at his reaction, which didn''t fit the situation. However, Trigger genuinely seemed to be having fun. "Let''s do it again!" Thud- He dashed forward again, closing the distance with a dagger in his left hand. A ck aura flickered around his body. Whirl- He spun, putting more power into his attack. Hanbit read the trajectory and deflected the dagger in ce. Screech- The shing des let out a sharp sound. Hanbit''s twisted dagger slid towards the hollow of his left shoulder. Pierce- "...!" Trigger''s left shoulder was pierced through. Without letting go of the dagger, Hanbit pushed with all his might. Thud- Trigger was pushed back and crashed against the nearby wall. "Who the hell are you?" He didn''t seem flustered. It just seemed like a genuine question. "Who else would I be? A yer." "Well, I guess you wouldn''t reveal it." At the casual answer, Trigger closed and opened his eyes. He nced at the embedded dagger and said, "You know what''s good about the game? You don''t feel pain." Crack- With an unpleasant sound, Trigger twisted his body. In an instant, his left shoulder was severed and he jumped back. Gulp- Taking out a potion from his inventory, Trigger quickly swallowed the liquid. His right shoulder, which had been rtively lightly injured, seemed to be recovering. "Let''s do it again." Thud- Trigger, holding his dagger, dashed forward again. A swift attack aimed at the neck. However, his right hand alone was far from enough to deal with Hanbit. Whirl- Lightly dodging the attack, Hanbit slipped under Trigger''s left shoulder. Twisting his body, he thrust the dagger straight into his chest. Pierce- "Crazy..." Trigger''s eyes widened as his heart was pierced. Slide- With those short words, Trigger''s body began to fade. Just before hepletely disappeared, Hanbit saw his expression. He was wearing a smile, even more amused than before. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 40 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 40 Ding-! [Experience increased by 8,800.] After Trigger died, he received experience points again. -Wow. -He actually won; -As expected of a professional assassin, huh. -Did you see Triggerughing at the end? -What else can he do butugh? -Really lol [Sword King has donated 50,000 won.] [Just a Sword Master;] [?? has donated 100,000 won.] [Cutting down those crazy wannabes.] The viewers poured out donations at the quickly concluded battle. ''It seems like he put a lot of effort into it.'' Hanbit examined the dagger in his hand and nodded in satisfaction. Putting it away in his inventory, he turned towards thest enemy. But then. "Hmph!" "Haaa!" Somehow, the war situation was going well. "Ugh!" The woman was engaged in a back-and-forth exchange while stepping around. The problem was that Kim Jaeha''s strength, resilience, and tenacity were too strong. Crash-! Enduring the attack with his body, he swung therge hammer down. Crackle- The ground vibrated, emitting electricity. It wasn''t a simple blunt attack, so the woman had no choice but to focus on evasion. -Hammer Master, huh. -Information) It''s a Rank 4 skill. -Reliable. -Roper is fighting better than expected lol Whoosh- Kim Jaeha''s strength was impressive, but Yeonwoo was also unexpected. He seemed to understand the flow of battle better than expected. Of course, the difference in skill was too great for him tond a decisive blow. Pull- Hanbit took out his bow and pulled the string. The three of them were too focused on their own fight to notice. Crash-! Just then, Kim Jaeha''s hammer mmed into the ground again. Simultaneously, Yeonwoo''s sword shed. "Ugh!" The woman, who had to dodge both attacks, jumped back a long distance. Whoosh- The arrow flew with rapid speed. Its target was the center of her forehead. Thwack- The woman''s eyes widened at the unexpected attack. The arrow, which urately pierced her vital point, led to an instant death. Slide- The woman''s form disappeared without even a death rattle. Unfortunately, there were no weapons or anything left behind. Ding-! [Experience increased by 5,100.] [Title: Neighborhood Watch added to the list.] [Achievement: Murderer''s Scream achieved.] -He got that title; -PK counterattack lol -The bow ending was nice. -Can''t he do a one-man show with just the bow? -Sylph is crying. -Wind is the best. -Really, how can you resist shooting wind with a sword? ¡°Hyung! We won!¡± Yeonwoo ran over with a joyful face. Kim Jaeha, with his hammer on his shoulder, also followed, looking around. "Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, it ended cleanly." "No, not at all. I just swung my hammer around." He waved his hand at the greeting. However, Hanbit had already reevaluated Kim Jaeha''s abilities in his mind. Hanbit turned his gaze to the title list. [Neighborhood Watch] When facing habitual PKers, all stats increase by 10%. ¡®That''s incredibly good.¡¯ He was inwardly surprised by the better-than-expected effect. Habitual PKers could be identified by the red bar, right? "But why is it so quiet? Aren''t those dead guysing back?" Hanbit, filled with questions, asked. Yeonwoo shook his head and answered. "Habitual PKers go to jail after they die. They won''t be able to get out for at least a few days." "There''s something like that?" "It''s simr to the punishment for criminals in the real world." Even though it was a game system, the penalty was strangely realistic. It felt like they were trying to prevent PKing as much as possible. "Ah, but what if the Nesto Guild makes a move? They''ll have quite a few elites up there,¡± Yeonwoo suddenly expressed his worry. It was Kim Jaeha who answered. "It''s alright. The Nesto Guild is individualistic; they have almost no sense of camaraderie." "Is that so?" "Yes. I heard that even contract requests are received individually. They form small teams like this, though." Hanbit nodded at the exnation. Even if those guys came back, the result would be the same. By the time they were released, his own growth would have progressed considerably. "Ugh... how did you lift this?" Yeonwoo, squatting down, struggled with the greatsword stuck in the ground. -But really, how did he lift it? -Wasn''t it the wind spirit that helped? -Simply the GOAT. -Is it you again...? Since opinions were already gathering, Hanbit didn''t bother to answer. He looked at the sword fragments scattered on the ground. ''...A weapones first.'' He had no lingering attachment to the cheap sword he had been using. Considering the PK incident and the future, he needed a good weapon. "If you need a weapon, how about going to a cksmith I know?" Kim Jaeha, who was watching the situation, cautiously offered his opinion. He said his profession here was a cksmith, right? "You don''t craft it yourself?" "All the materials I have are owned by thepany... It would be better to leave it to a cksmith who is far superior to me. He''s an NPC, but I can guarantee his skills. I''m sure he''s the best in Edlen." He added that the cksmith was the master from whom he learned metallurgy. A rmendation overflowing with such confidence was worth listening to. "What cksmith is it?" "It''s a ce called the Water Drop cksmith." "Water Drop cksmith?" He was a little surprised when Kim Jaeha mentioned the name. Thud- Hanbit opened his inventory and took out a rolled-up parchment. "Oh? Isn''t that what you received from Artsvel?" Yeonwoo, recalling the memory, got up. The cksmith''s letter of introduction he received after helping Artsvel¡¯s mother. That ce was the Water Drop cksmith. "Such a coincidence... That''s amazing." Kim Jaeha also showed a surprised reaction at the ovepping destination. It was no coincidence that the owner of the Water Drop cksmith was the most skilled artisan in Edlen. Artsvel simply knew that fact. Swoosh- Hanbit put the greatsword into his inventory and turned around. "Let''s move." * * * The three of them walked to the outskirts of the city. When they entered the wide street, the air changed drastically. ng-! ng-! The artisan''s district, called cksmith Street. True to its name, the sound of hammering could be heard from the entrance. "Every time Ie here, it feels kind of... gloomy." "The ahjusshis would cry if they heard you." (TL/N: Ahjussi is a Korean term of respect for a man significantly older than the speaker. Often tranted as "mister" or "sir," but it carries a more familiar and sometimes yful connotation.) "...I feel a bit guilty." -?? -So Jaeha-hyung is an ahjussi. -Don''t do that to the ahjussi... There are many artisans working in this street. With their burly bodies and gangster-like appearances, they exude all sorts of intimidating auras, but surprisingly, many of them are softhearted ahjusshis. They followed Kim Jaeha, who was leading the way, and stepped into the street. While moving to the end of the street, Hanbit was immersed in past sentiments. ¡®It''s exactly the same.¡¯ He was quite close to the cksmiths. This was due to the ordersing in from Artsvel''s general store, and also because he needed a lot of things for battle. Among them, the one he frequented the most was the craftsman of the Water Drop cksmith. "This is it." The very end of the street. They stood in front of a signboard so clean it sparkled. Yeonwoo, who was quietly observing, asked, "Is this a new shop?" "No, it''s over 20 years old." ¡ªThe maintenance is amazing. ¡ªHe''s a beta male; ¡ªA real alpha male would break the signboard and still be open for business. ¡ªlol He probably has a pretty boy face. Viewers began making strange spections about the un-cksmith-like appearance. As if he was watching it, Kim Jaeha smiled. "You can look forward to his face." He immediately understood why Kim Jaeha was reacting like that. "Let''s go in for now." He led the way and opened the door to the cksmith''s workshop. Drip- Drip- The sound of water droplets echoed as they passed the entrance. There was no one in sight inside the neatly organized space. Thump- At that moment, a vibration echoed from the stairs leading down. A momentter, the owner of the cksmith appeared. "Who is it?" "¡­Huh?" Yeonwoo, who met his eyes, froze in ce. A long,rge scar across his rugged face. His massive body, which seemed to be at least two meters tall, and his muscles made him look like a gruff bear. ¡ªNo, why is there a bear here; ¡ªPlease don''t hit me, sir. ¡ªThe ultimate gentle giant; ¡ªI could really cry if I saw him in person. ¡ªI went there, and got kicked out in 3 seconds. [Alpha Male has donated 5,000 won.] [I''msorryI''msorryI''msorryI''msorry.] The viewers who were making spections and mockery crumbled at once. There were also a few yers who had already visited this ce. Of course, they would have been kicked out. "Did you bring them?" The owner''s gaze fell on Kim Jaeha. ustomed to his master''s harsh expression, he nodded. "Yes, that''s right. But I don''t need to introduce you to them." "What do you mean?" The owner frowned slightly at his disciple''s words. Hanbit, watching him, stepped forward with the letter of introduction. "I was referred by Artsvel." "Artsvel?" When he handed over the parchment, the owner snatched it roughly. After reading the contents, he turned his gaze and said, "Since it''s that friend''s request, I''ll sell you the item. What do you need?" "Rather than buying, I''d like to request a custom order." "Custom order?" The owner''s eyebrows twitched at the main point that was brought up immediately. His expression soon turned grim. "What custom order for a nobody. If you have nothing to buy, get out." The owner tly refused and turned his back. At that obvious reaction, Hanbit took out a white gem from his pocket. It was the spirit stone he had obtained from the challenge dungeon. "I''m going to make it with this." "The materials that newbies bring in are all the same. Nothing changes just because you''re confident." The owner, expressing his annoyance, sighed and nced back. His reaction changed quickly. "¡­Is that a spirit stone?" The owner, recognizing the item, became interested. He approached slowly and bent down to examine the spirit stone. "How is it?" "Don''t get cocky. Although spirit stones are precious, an empty shell is just...." Suddenly, the owner''s face hardened as he was speaking. And then his eyes widened rmingly. "Th, this is....!" The owner fixed his gaze on the inside of the white gem. A small green light swirling inside the gem. It was the power directly contained by the wind spirit. Recognizing its identity, the owner¡¯s eyes widened and he said in a high pitched voice, "Please, let me make a weapon with this!" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 41 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 41 ¡®He''s reacting right away.¡¯ It was natural for the owner to suddenly show enthusiasm. This was because the opportunity to forge a weapon with the power of a real spirit didn''te often. Swoosh- The work of imbuing the spirit stone with wind had been in progress since right after the ambush. It''s not easy to fill an empty spirit stone with the power of a spirit. If it hadn''t been for Sylph''s favor, it might have taken a few more days. ¡®I need to think long-term.¡¯ If he sold the spirit stone, he could make a lot of money right away. But right now, he needed a weapon to support his strength. He would be able to obtain things worth money in the future anyway. "Why aren''t you answering? If it''s because of the materials, I can make do with what I have. How about it?" ¡ªHe''s gone crazy. ¡ªHuff huff; ¡ªWow, but that spirit stone is such a waste. ¡ªFor real, it''ll probably go for hundreds of millions because there''s no supply; ¡ªDon''t doubt it. The owner exhaled heavily with ragged breaths while looking at the spirit stone. It''s no wonder, that man is only interested in improving his skills. The creation of this cksmith workshop was just one part of that goal. "Use this too." Thump- Hanbit took out the greatsword and dagger from his inventory and ced them on one of the workbenches. The owner quickly approached and examined the condition of the swords. "This¡­ uses Magangseok. This is also quite a good item. Usually, it''s too much to use as a material, but this time it''s different." "That''s why I''m giving it to you. Here, take this too." "Ah, carefully¡­" When he handed over the spirit stone, the owner epted it with gentle hands. Hanbit grabbed one of the ordinary swords ced around him. "This shape is fine, just melt the spirit stone well. Pay attention to the sword''s durability and weight too." "Don''t worry. I''ll make it perfect." The owner, already burning with passion, seemed to want to go down to the basement workshop right away. "Ah, how much will it cost?" "I won''t take any money. I won''t let something like money taint my challenge." ¡ªHe''s doing this for free; ¡ªHe''s crazy ¡ªWas that ahjussi always like this? ¡ªI''m sorry for bringing only trash materials. ¡ªThere was a reason he was cutting people off; Afterpleting his words, the owner gathered everything and started to move. "Wait a minute, Master!" Before he could go down the stairs, Kim Jaeha raised his hand and stopped his master. Then, with a slightly excited expression, he said, "Can I watch the work?" * * * The three of them moved to the basement with the owner''s permission. He was in a good mood, so he said they could watchfortably. Whoosh- The owner trimmed the dagger and greatsword and put them into the hot furnace. The equipment installed with magic tools quickly turned the metal into a red liquid. "Phew." After a while the work was done. Adding a few auxiliary materials, the owner picked up the spirit stone. And then, as if handling a child, he carefully put it into the furnace. sh- At that moment, the wind surged, emitting light. "Oh¡­" The owner, in admiration, regained hisposure and concentrated on his work. He seemed determined not to tolerate even the smallest mistake. "I never thought you would actually use a spirit stone in a weapon,¡± Kim Jaeha, who was next to him, suddenly eximed in admiration. His gaze was firmly fixed on the work process. "Are you interested?" "Huh?" "In cksmithing. You also have skills in that area, and weren''t you originally interested in it?" "Ah¡­" At that question, Kim Jaeha scratched his cheek, looking a bit sheepish. He nodded and continued speaking. "Actually, my grandfather and father were cksmiths. I grew up watching it, so it was only natural." "Is that so?" ¡ªA family of artisans ¡ªcksmithing has been precious for generations. ¡ªWhy didn''t he inherit it? ¡ªIt''splicated. Discovering the metallurgy achievement for the first time and being interested in cksmithing are different things. But he didn''t know that his family itself was in the cksmithing business. ¡®I need to think about this.¡¯ He needed Kim Jaeha to obtain the hidden skill, Dwarven Metallurgy. The problem was that it was likely to be bound to him. As someone who belonged to apany, not an individual, it was clear that the interests involved would beplicated. ¡®Recruiting¡­ is a bit much, isn''t it?¡¯ Although matters concerning employees were Yeonwoo''s domain, this was a matter of a person''s life. He wouldn''t suddenly quit thepany he was working for, right? "This is a great cksmith workshop, no matter how many times I see it. My father would be envious if he saw this." Kim Jaeha admired the work as he watched. There was bound to be a big difference if hepared this ce to a cksmith workshop in real life. Because this ce was full of not only magic tools, but also materials that only existed in imagination. Depending on the choices made, this was also a world suitable for realizing a cksmith''s fantasy. ¡®He seems like a good person.¡¯ In the countless past timelines, he had been with countless people. It was only natural that his eye for people gradually improved. And Kim Jaeha''s character and trustworthiness were evident to some extent, even without considering the interests involved. Hanbit, after thinking for a moment, asked in a small voice, "How is working at thepany?" "Yes?" Kim Jaeha was a little flustered by the sudden question. Hanbit immediately added a usible reason. "I''m doing an internship these days, and it''s not easy. Since you''re a senior inpany life, I was curious about how it is." "Ah." Understanding, Kim Jaeha nodded. Then, with a somewhat distant expression, he continued, "Thepany¡­ is difficult to describe. It''s a ce where you experience both good and bad things." "Is it because of your boss?" "¡­Most ces have a vertical structure. There are times when you have to endure unreasonable things. I might have quit if I didn''t have a family." Hanbit didn''t miss thest mutterings uttered with a bitter expression. ¡®There must be something going on.¡¯ A person''s inner thoughts oftene out suddenly. And if he made that kind of expression, it wasn''t something that could be simply expressed as ''difficult''. If he had a family to support, he was probably enduring it forcibly, right? It was also quite possible that he was being treated unfairly like his mentor, Lee Minho. Chiik- After a little time passed, the artisan, who had transferred the liquid to the mold, used magic tools to cool it down. Around the time he took it out and continued reheating it, the hammering finally began. ng-! A cheerful sound echoing through the quiet basement. An ordinary person might not feel anything special if they saw it. But Hanbit and Kim Jaeha could notice the change in the flow of air. ng-! The hammer struck down without the slightest tremor. The power, subtly different depending on the forging area, was extremely precise. "Wow¡­" Kim Jaeha¡¯ eyes were sparkling like a child''s. He lookedpletely different from the person who was talking bitterly about thepany. ¡®He wasn''t just interested.¡¯ If he had such an unguarded look in his eyes, his inner thoughts were clear. He must be hoping to achieve his lost dream here, a dream crushed by reality. Seeing his enthusiastic face, it reminded him of his mentor, Lee Minho. ng-! Dozens of hammer strikes created an even more precise and strong structure. Looking at the gradually refined sword, Hanbit solidified his thoughts about recruitment. And when a little more time passed, the sword was finallypleted. "This is the masterpiece of my life!" A beautiful blue-white sword was held in his hand, as he gasped for breath. The owner, puffing out his chest, continued in an excited voice, "The de that won''t dull under any extreme conditions, and toughness that can withstand any impact! Versatility with high conductivity not only for mana, but also for natural forces like spirits! It''s ready to bepleted as the best sword that can cut down any strong enemy with a single strike¡­!" ¡ª? ¡ªReady? ¡ªComplete (Iplete) ¡ªWhere is there a sword like that; ¡ªIs it possible if you use a superconductor? ¡ªHe''s scientifically illiterate. Doesn''t he know thew of universal gravitation? ¡ªIt''s thew of inertia; ¡ªNewton is sobbing. Viewers scoffed at the seemingly exaggerated performance. But surprisingly, it wasn''t a lie. Although it would be quite a long way to reach that goal. "Take it! I poured everything I had into it!" Hanbit received the blue-white sword and scabbard that the owner handed him. "Thank you. I''ll use it well." "Haha! Those are my words! If you get any good materials, bring them to me anytime!" He answered cheerfully and strode upstairs. His expression contained indescribable joy. Hanbit turned his attention to the weapon''s information. [Famous Sword - Soul of Fl¨¹ger] Rank: 3 Grade: Epic Wearing Restriction: Bound to Owner Options: Strength 32 Skill Efficiency 30 Mana Conductivity 35 Spirit Sensitivity 57 All Stats +5% Refinement Growth Possible Rank and Grade Evolution Possible Description: An iplete sword that cksmith Fl¨¹ger poured everything into. Not only were the spirit stone containing the power of wind and Magangseok used, but also a small amount of Mithril that he cherished. If it is grown using a special skill, its true abilities can be brought out. ¡ªDamn lol ¡ªThe options are insane; ¡ªGrowth items are super expensive. ¡ªIf you raise the rank all the way, isn''t this a lifetime weapon? ¡ªThere''s no wearing restriction. lol ¡ªIt''s actually safer because it''s bound. ¡ªSpecial skill ? will be super hard to get. ¡ªThen you can''t evolve it; ¡ªck Dragon will probably do it himself. lol [Yageum Yageumsul-nim has donated 20,000 won.] [Could an NPC make something like this?] "Thank you for the donation. It''s notmon, but if you look closely, there are quite a few." Whoosh-! The sword, lightly swung, briskly cut through the air. The gentle flow of wind gathering around it became even more refined. ¡®It''s better than I expected.¡¯ Perhaps thanks to the materials, the result was excellent. Not only the spirit stone, but also the weapons taken from the Nesto Guild members were put to very good use. He had never experienced obtaining a weapon of this level so quickly, even in the past. "Wow¡­" Kim Jaeha admired the sword. He must be thinking that he wants to forge a sword like this too. ¡®I can''t miss this after all.¡¯ Special skill. This refers to the Dwarven Metallurgy. To grow this sword, to obtain that skill, he needed Kim Jaeha. To recruit him, he would have toy the foundation as soon as possible. Shing- Hanbit sheathed the sword and attached it to his waist. "Now let''s move to the waterway." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 42 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 42 "Why are you sote?" Arriving at the underground waterway, Hanbit faced Lia standing at the entrance. -Oh. -Lia hi -Lia. -Is she going too? Viewers showed a weing reaction to her sudden appearance. Hanbit, who had already expected this, pretended not to know and asked, "Are you going in too?" "How can I just leave after seeing something like that? Ruby might run away again, and if children like Flona get lost..." Lia added various reasons and tried to join the investigation. Her efforts to persuade him looked just like her age. "It will be dangerous inside." "I know. It felt like monsters or people could pop out at any moment." She answered while touching the dagger attached to her waist. Her appearance, as if she was ready to fight at any moment, wasn''t just a bluff. Although Lia herself would be more wary of people than monsters. "Okay. But don''t suddenly run off." "What am I, a cat?" Lia made a dumbfounded expression, but there were quite a few precedents. At least it would be a little less now that they had trust in each other. "I''ll wait here." Around the time the conversation ended, Kim Jaeha spoke up. Since he had already cleared Episode 1, spectator mode was his limit. "You can log out. I''ll contact you if anything urgentes up." "Ah, then I''ll finish up the work I was doing. I''ll be watching the stream, so please speakfortably." Kim Jaeha epted the offer, saying that he was taking care ofpany work. The fatigue seemed to be emanating from the side profile of the character logging out of the game. It was a shame that today was Saturday. "Let''s go." After Kim Jaeha left, Hanbit stepped into the waterway with the remaining two. At that moment, a message popped up with an rm. Ding-! [Entering the quest field.] "That''s a relief. I was worried that other yers might interfere." Yeonwoo, checking the message, breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently, only party members who are progressing through the quest can enter this ce. It would certainly be convenient if there were no distractions. Drip¡ª Drip¡ª The stench wafting along with the sound of dripping water. The darkened atmosphere naturally put them on guard. "Hyung, what''s inside that waterway? It''s not a dungeon, is it?" Yeonwoo, who was following behind, asked cautiously while looking around. "It''s not a dungeon. It''s like a secret space." "A secret space?" ¡ªWhat is it? ¡ªAre there monsters? ¡ªIt seems like Lia knows something too. ¡ªYeah, I saw the summary post too. The viewers, continuing their spection, mentioned Lia. It all started with a post on themunity. When he was opening the new map in the waterway, Lia copsed and something like a ring fell out of her bag. I zoomed in on this, and it looks simr to the Noston family crest? Check it out even if the quality is a bit broken I also uploaded a short clip. ¡ªHuh? ¡ªIsn''t Noston the family of Mayor Brook? ¡ªIt''s simr, but isn''t it a bit ambiguous? ¡ªIs she Brook''s hidden daughter? ¡ªOr maybe she''s the daughter of the former head of the family? ¡ªNo way? ¡ª©¸All of his rtives were executed. ¡ª©¸This satanic bastard seems to know. ¡ªPotato quality; ¡ªI think she just stole it. ¡ª©¸If that were the case, she would have sold it on the ck market. yers analyzed the captured data and discussed all sorts of opinions. Most concluded that it would be unrted to the Noston family. Since Lia was known as a resident of the slums and a pickpocket, it was natural to think that she had stolen it. "It''s still the same." Lia, who was walking ahead, stopped in front of the copsed wall. It was the space where they had discovered the cat, Ruby. Shing- Hanbit drew his sword and checked the result once again. Even though it was still iplete, it was indeed a magnificent object. "I''ll take the lead, so follow behind me. If you run off, the waterway investigation is over." "...Okay." Lia nodded, clutching the bag containing the ring tightly. It was because she remembered the spark that had suddenly erupted when they first came here. Hanbit, watching her, stepped beyond the copsed wall. "Let''s go." Passing through the copsed wall, Hanbit walked ahead. It was a path not much different from the waterway they had walked through. "It''s not much, is it?" Yeonwoo, who was following behind, said in a puzzled tone. He had expected the environment to be harsher the deeper they went. -Hmm. -Maybe there''s nothing to investigate? -Yeah, there are many quests where you just go to the end of the map and go back. Viewers spected that it would be one of those meaningless ces. But the real deal started now. Swoosh- As Hanbit stretched out his hand, Lia and Yeonwoo stopped. Crack- An unpleasant sound came from the dark path inside. What appeared next was a pitch-ck skeletal monster. [Enhanced ck Skeleton (Lv.32)] Three skeletons with swords and shields in their hands approached, creaking. The viewers who saw them were puzzled. -Level 32? -Is this really Episode 1? -ck Skeletons are originally just level 25; -Look at how good their weapons and shields are. -Enhanced (quite a bit) -I think you took a wrong turn. This situation was too abnormal. The average level of ck Skeletons was 25. But with the modifier ''Enhanced'', it became 32. Moreover, since the appropriate level for Episode 1 was known to be around 15 to 20, they weren''t even supposed to appear in the first ce. Creak- "Eek!" While they were wary of the front, a skeleton also appeared from behind. Yeonwoo, who was close by, was startled and raised his weapon. The skeleton rushed towards him, its eyes shing. ng-! Yeonwoo hurriedly raised his sword and blocked the sudden attack. The impact was much stronger than expected. Creeeak-! "No¡­!" Despite his strength-focused stats, his feet were gradually pushed back. It was difficult to be on the offensive. Its strength far surpassed that of an ordinary ck Skeleton. "This is crazy!" Thud-! Yeonwoo, gritting his teeth, raised his foot and struck the skeleton''s shield. Creating distance with the recoil, he raised his sword once again. ¡®I can leave him be for now.¡¯ As he had shown in the fight with the Nesto Guild, Yeonwoo''sbat sense was decent. Even if he couldn''t win, he would be able to hold out. Creak- At that moment, the skeletons in front also started to move. It wasn''t Hanbit who responded to their attack first. Thud- Lia approached the back of one of them in an instant. The dagger in her hand was thrust into its chest without hesitation. But the attack didn''tnd properly. ng-! The dagger bounced off with a sharp sound. "Ugh!" Lia grabbed her wrist at the impact and stepped back. Crack- The attacked skeleton turned around, its red eyes shing. Its movements were faster than expected. Whoosh-! The skeleton swung its sword at Lia. She watched the attack until the very end and dodged it by lowering her body. Then, she dug in again and thrust her dagger. ng- "Tsk!" The attack, carried out while mitigating the impact, didn''t work this time either. Lia bit her lip in frustration. Whoosh- Then, another skeleton rushed in. Even in a battle that was close to a melee, Lia dodged the attacks with quick speed. ¡ªWhoa ¡ªLia fights well too. ¡ªShe''s really fast. ¡ªIf only she had a bit more strength. ¡ªIt would be broken if she had strength on top of that speed; Viewers poured out praise for her fighting, which they were seeing for the first time. As her movements were honed for survival, she was able to cope with any situation. Swoosh- A faint wind flickered on the blue-white de in Hanbit''s hand. Thanks to the melted spirit stone, a portion of Sylph''s power was continuously maintained. ¡®Shall I give it a try?¡¯ The weapon was made with specs far better than expected. Hanbit had the confidence to bring out its maximum performance. Thud- Kicking off the ground, he approached one of the skeletons fighting Lia. He swung his sword towards the monster''s shield. Swish- A line drawn widely from left to right. Creak- The attacked skeleton tried to turn its head and counterattack. At that moment. Slice- Suddenly, a long horizontal line appeared on the shield the monster was holding, and it split apart. Crack- Despite sensing something strange, the skeleton tried to rush in, its red eyes shing. But its action couldn''t continue. Tilt- Its upper body tilted forward before it could even take a step. Soon, its body separated and fell to the floor. ¡ª? ¡ªCrazy. lmao ¡ªHe sliced it along with the shield? ¡ªIs that even possible? ¡ªThe sword is amazing. ¡ªWater Drop cksmith is the future. The chat window became chaotic at the unexpected result. Hanbit approached the upper body of the skeleton that had fallen to the floor. Stab- Holding his sword upright, he plunged it towards the skeleton''s chest. Crack- The tip of the sword pierced through the spine and lodged itself. The red core inside easily cracked and was destroyed. [Experience has increased by 1,000.] ¡®¡­This is too good.¡¯ Hanbit pulled out his sword and admired it. If he had only used the spirit stone, he would have needed to grow and reinforce it a bit more to achieve this kind of performance. Indeed, using the greatsword and dagger of the Nesto Guild member as materials was a good decision. Crack- At that moment, the two skeletons, sensing the death of theirrade, moved. It was because they felt more danger from Hanbit than from Lia, who they were fighting. Thud- Regaining his stance, he kicked off the ground towards the charging enemies. Swish- Slice- The sword was drawn in just two motions. This time, it pierced through the skeletons'' chests, causing them to lose power instantly. "So easily...?" Lia stared nkly at the enemies that had fallen to the ground. The dagger in her hand was lost for direction. "Hyung, do something here too!" Hanbit turned his gaze at the urgent voice. He saw Yeonwoo, struggling against the two skeletons that had now appeared. "Hang in there." "I''ve already used all my strength! Hurry up and help!" ¡ªHahaha ¡ªGood luck ¡ªYou can do it, Roper. ¡ªIt seems like they''ll win soon (the skeletons) ¡ªGo for it! (Skeletons!) He waved his hand and cheered, and the viewers joined in. He wanted to tease him more, but Yeonwoo was reaching his limit. Whoosh- At that moment, a skeleton approached Yeonwoo''s blind spot while he was asking for help. The moment its sword struck down towards his neck. Thud- Hanbit immediately kicked off the ground and approached. "Ugh!" As he pulled on the neck of his armor, Yeonwoo lost his bnce and fell backward. At the same time, Hanbit drew his sword sharply. Slice- Once again, the skeleton''s red core was sliced along with its shield. Changing direction, Hanbit thrust his sword towards the remaining one. Crack- The skeleton, about to strike down with its sword, had its core destroyed before it could even react. Confirming their deaths, Hanbit turned his attention to Yeonwoo, who was lying on the ground. "Get up quickly. We have to go further." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 43 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 43 "Isn''t that sword too overpowered? It''s even a growth item!" As they started walking again, Yeonwoo''s voice pitched high in excitement. He had already forgotten all about being knocked backwards. "The sword itself is good, but it''s also enhanced with Sylph''s power." -Spirits are so OP; ¡ªAnyone who hasn''t passed the Balder test yet, thumbs up. ¡ªOkay ¡ªLet''s just give up. ¡ªWhat about aiming for other attributes? ¡ªWould that work? There were still many who wished for the high performance of spirits. Of course, other attributes of spirits also existed, but wouldn''t those be even more difficult? "..." Lia was still wary of her surroundings, holding her dagger. Monsters appeared once again, but there was no need for her to step forward. Whoosh- Slice- The skeletons that continued to appear were helplessly sliced down by Hanbit''s sword. Thanks to dealing with them with minimal movement, he didn''t feel any fatigue. [Level increased by 3.] [3 stat points have been awarded.] Dozens of skeletons were defeated while navigating theplex passage. Since their levels were high, he gained an astonishing amount of experience. ¡ªHe''s getting so much experience. ¡ªNewbies pushing through the story must be happy. ¡ªBut the mob level is 32? ¡ªWhy are there so many newbie death zones; Viewers, tempted by the experience, poured out words. However, wouldn''t it be almost impossible for a beginner who just started to reach this ce? "That must be it." Finally, when they reached the end of the path, a unique space appeared. Yeonwoo, who arrived after them, looked around with curiosity. "What is this ce?" A spacious area surrounded by blue barriers. Despite the sight, Lia lowered her posture and remained vignt. "There''s something here." Swoosh- Along with her voice, a green light flickered from the wall inside. When everyone''s eyes were drawn to it, something appeared. Screech- A body with the upper half of a human and the lower half of a bird. The face that screamed at them was grotesquely distorted. [Elite: Mutated Wind Harpy (Lv.37)] ¡ªElite mob ¡ªIt looks freaking scary. ¡ªWhy are all the monsters like this? ¡ªIt feels like a gatekeeper. ¡ªIsn''t there some kind of facility inside? "Hyung, what is this ce?" Yeonwoo also noticed something strange with the appearance of the high-ranking monster. But it was still too early to answer that question. "That''s dangerous,¡± Lia, holding her dagger, said while taking a stance. The harpy emitted an unsettling aura. Her instincts were warning of danger. "It''s okay." Hanbit shrugged and walked forward. Mutated Wind Harpy. As its name suggests, it was a being that used the power of wind. And right now, the wind spirit was present beside Hanbit. Whoosh- He could feel a triumphant aura from the wind enveloping his body. Hanbit gripped his sword and immediately kicked off the ground. Thud- p- The harpy reacted simultaneously, spreading its green wings and taking flight. Whoosh- The harpy, circling in the air, watched Hanbit. At the same time, it changed the shape of its wings, and sharp green des wereunched. Swish- The attack flew quickly, cutting through the air. The momentum, as if to tear apart its opponent, was threatening. Thud- Despite the onught, Hanbit kicked off the ground towards the iing des. Swoosh- The wind swirled violently around the blue-white sword held in both hands. Feeling that sensation, Hanbit swung his sword. And the moment it collided with the harpy''s attack. Whoosh- Sylph''s wind swallowed the monster''s green des. Screech- The harpy frowned as its technique disappeared without a trace. pping its wings, it tried to continue its attack. But Hanbit''s assault was faster. Whoosh- He dashed forward in a straight line and thrust his sword towards the monster''s chest. The harpy quickly raised its ws, but it was already toote. Stab- The tip of the blue-white sword pierced precisely into its heart. The light faded from the harpy''s wide-open eyes. Its body instantly turned into ck dust and scattered. [Experience increased by 25,000.] [Level increased.] [1 stat point awarded.] ¡ªWhoa ¡ªInstant kill; ¡ªDid you see the harpy''s skill disappear? ¡ªHe''s chewing it up even though there''s a level difference of over 10. lol ¡ªSo OP. Thud- Landing on the ground, Hanbit stroked the wind that was still swirling violently. "I don''t think there are any others." Lia, watching him, approached while looking around. Hanbit nodded and pointed to the wall. "That must be the entrance." Rumble- The blue barrier slowly began to split apart with a vibration. sh- The pure white light that erupted from the gap felt sacred. The gradually revealing interior first drew a reaction from the yers. ¡ª? ¡ªWhoa. ¡ªIs that a temple? ¡ªIt''s the Erport Temple. ¡ªWhy is a Holy Nation facility here? The Holy Nation''s g was embedded in the blindingly white building and pirs. It was a temple that revered their creator god and Erport. "Whoa." "Why is this here..." The two surprised people were speechless. Lia seemed to be in shock, but they had to hurry now. "There''s no time. Let''s quickly look around and get out." Hanbit was the first to step inside the opened barrier. Lia and Yeonwoo followed behind him btedly. ¡®They put a lot of effort into this.¡¯ The interior, exactly the same as in his memory, led to simr thoughts. It was because the temple had an excessively borate structure, no matter how many times he saw it. "Wow, isn''t this as good as the ones in the Holy Nation?" Yeonwoo also seemed surprised as he looked around the exterior of the temple. Temples rarely existed outside the Holy Nation. But to think that there was such a high-level facility in the hardliner Raven Kingdom, it was logically impossible. "Let''s go in." Hanbit immediately stepped into the entrance of the temple. The interior was so quiet, without even the slightest noise. Walking straight ahead, Hanbit moved to the altar at the very back. "This is even crazier,¡± Yeonwoo, looking at the inside of the altar, said in disbelief. With the statue of the god, the pure white vestments hanging on one side, and even the holy book containing the doctrines, it was theplete form of a temple. "Let''s split up and see what''s here. Lia, you check the back of the altar." "Okay." At his instruction, Lia, who was warily looking around, nodded and moved. "Hyung, what about me?" Yeonwoo approached and asked quietly. But further instructions weren''t needed. "You can just pretend to look for something. You can look around." "Huh? What about the investigation?" "There''s enough evidence that this is a temple. Now only Lia remains." "What does that..." Rumble- At that moment, a sound came from behind the altar. Turning his head, he saw Lia with a flustered expression. "...What is this?" She stepped backwards, clutching the bag tightly with both hands. On the wall that Lia was looking at, a space like a basement was slowly opening on the floor. "Let''s go." Hanbit took a step forward and was the first to step down. Lia, flustered, also moved forward, clutching her dagger tightly. "What is this ce? Is it some kind of secret space?" Yeonwoo, following behind, looked around the dark staircase and said. There was no reason for such a space to exist behind the altar of the temple. "..." Lia kept her mouth shut and remained vignt. It was partly due to the unknown danger, but also because of the strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu she kept feeling. Thud- Hanbit, who was going down first, stopped at the end of the stairs. There, a wall full of scribbles was blocking the way. "Huh? There''s nothing here?" Yeonwoo, who came to his side, said while knocking on the wall. He seemed a bit disappointed because he expected something to be there. -Is it a bait map? -There are so many scribbles on the wall. ¡ªThe brutality of young believers. ¡ªKids'' zone The viewers also looked at the messy wall and guessed it was a meaningless space. But thoseplicated scribbles were a very important clue. "Huh?" At that moment, Lia, who had been silent, spoke up. "Wait a minute." She slowly approached and stood in front of the wall, looking at the scribbles. Lia tilted her head and fell into thought. And a momentter, she said in a bewildered voice, "...I think I drew this?" ¡ª? ¡ªSo it was you, little kid. ¡ªWhat, was Lia a believer? ¡ªPromising child The chat window became noisy at the unexpected remark. Hanbit, who knew this fact, pretended not to know and asked, "You drew this?" "It looks kind of simr¡­ No, I just drew it. I was told that I''m the only one who draws cats like this. Although it was when I was very young." Lia pointed to one of the scribbles with her finger. It was a drawing that looked more like a slime with whiskers than a cat. ¡ªA cat? ¡ªI thought it was an unknown creature; ¡ªLet''s just say she has a unique style. ¡ªEveryone draws like that when they''re young. ¡ªFact) She draws better than me. Her unusual drawing skills were surprising in many ways. For something drawn by a five-year-old, it left a strong impression that was hard to forget. "So, do you understand anything? It''s strange that your drawing is here." "That''s true, but..." Lia frowned slightly and examined the drawing more closely. Countless scribbles of hers were randomly spread out. It was quite difficult to find clues there. Originally, it would take quite a while, so Hanbit decided to give her a hint. "What''s this? A tree?" "What?" When he pointed to a scribble with his finger, Lia turned her gaze. After checking the drawing, she said in a dumbfounded voice, "What tree? It''s obviously a person." "It''s a person only in your eyes. Then what''s this? A crown?" "It''s not a crown, it''s a ring. Who would wear a crown on their finger...?" Suddenly, Lia''s expression changed as she was speaking. "...No way." As if something came to mind, she reached for her bag. She hesitated for a moment and looked at Hanbit, but then she continued with her actions as if she had made up her mind. Swoosh- What Lia took out of her bag was a ring. The ring with the red gem embedded in it, the one she had dropped on the floor when she came to find Ruby. The design, like a family crest engraved on the gold band, was also well known to the viewers. ¡ªHuh? ¡ªIt''s the one we saw in the RPG. ¡ªThey say it''s the Noston family crest. ¡ªThere''s a chance she''s Brook''s illegitimate child. ¡ªBullshit, she just stole it. ¡ªWasn''t there also a theory that she''s the previous lord''s daughter? ¡ªlol If she''s the previous lord''s daughter, I''ll sell tteokbokki in front of Gwanghwamun. The discussion about Lia''s ring was heated in themunity. Since any oue would be a new shock to the yers, all sorts of spections were rampant. The mainstream opinion was that Lia had stolen the ring. The idea that she was the previous lord''s daughter waspletely ignored. "Phew." Lia took a deep breath and put the ring on her finger. The moment she slowly spread her palm and brought it close to the wall. sh- Light erupted from the gaps in the scribbles. "Eek!" Surprised, Lia hurriedly took her hand away and stepped back. Immediately after, a vibration began to echo. Rumble- The trembling wall gradually split to the side. It was a simr to the structure they had entered the temple through. "Ah..." Lia, who was close by, was the first to witness the sight that unfolded inside. A cozy space filled with toys and dolls. It looked just like a children''s yroom. "Wow, what is this? Was it really a yground?" ¡ªWhat the heck. ¡ªThere''s a yground in the basement of the temple; ¡ªBut why was Lia''s ring needed? ¡ªNo idea As the real children''s space appeared, people''s questions amplified. One of the answers was revealed in Lia''s voice. "This is my room..." A forgotten memory washed over her. This ce was a perfect replica of the room Lia used as a child. It was so identical that it brought tears to her eyes. "Let''s go in." "...Okay." When Hanbit patted her shoulder, Lia nodded with a sniffle. Carefully stepping inside, she turned her gaze to a nearby doll. He wanted to let her look around leisurely, but the situation wasn''t good. ¡®There it is.¡¯ Hanbit immediately approached a small shelf inside. There were two small notebooks ced there. [Liventia''s Diary (Do Not Read)] [Atonement and Records] One of the important pieces of evidence that summarized the events of the past. That was ''Atonement and Records'' ced on the right. Hanbit picked up the notebook and slowly turned the cover. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 44 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 44 [This journal tells the story of my time as Camon. I intend to bury my regrettable life and name within this record and fulfill my responsibility. I pray that I can achieve my goal, even if it means bing an anonymous corpse.] ¡ªWhoa ¡ªAnonymous corpse; ¡ªWho is Camon? ¡ªIs he part of Lia''s family? ¡ªThere were more NPCs in Edlen than I thought; The first page of the notebook began with a heavy and solemn introduction. Hanbit slowly turned the next page. Rustle- [The man named Camon was an unfortunate human being. A hideous face, a hunched back, skin covered in burn scars. Adults and children alike avoided him with looks of disgust. This was his unchanging life for over 60 years.] [One day, a person appeared who did not hate Camon. A little girl with blonde hair who happened to meet his eyes. Their first encounter was in the alley where his workshop was located, as she was sneaking around. The child, with not a shred of disgust in her gaze, introduced herself as Lia.] [Lia visited him every day, saying she was being chased by a man named Cowen. Camon was bewildered, not knowing what to do, but as time passed, he found greatfort in her. It had been decades since he had such a conversation with anyone. Camon, with a grateful heart, presented the girl with a toy doll he had crafted with care.] [One day, the child visited Camon with a man named William. He introduced himself as the girl''s father and the mayor of Edlen. Their family name was Norton. The child''s name was Liventia.] ¡ªLiventia? ¡ªLia is Liventia? ¡ªDidn''t she say this was her room when she came in? ¡ªYeah, and ¡®Liventia''s Diary¡¯ is right next to her. ¡ªThen she''s really from the Norton family? ¡ªAnd even the former mayor''s daughter. lol ¡ªGwanghwamun tteokbokki is here lol Viewers reacted with surprise at the confirmed identity of Lia. Hanbit turned his gaze to the back. "Lia,e and look at this." "...Okay." Lia, who was fiddling with a toy, slowly got up. "What is it?" She stood next to Hanbit and looked at the two notebooks on the table. And when she saw the titles, Lia''s eyes widened. "Huh...?" Flustered, she quickly opened ''Liventia''s Diary (Do Not Read)''. [Today, I sneaked out to y in the streets. I liked that people gave me a lot of snacks. But I got caught by Cowen and had to go home early.] [I met a grandpa named Camon who diligently hides his face. Is he shy? He was about to cry, so I shared one of my snacks with him.] [Grandpa Camon is a good listener. But why does he keep saying thank you? He''s so different from Cowen, it''s funny.] [I received so many birthday presents. There were a lot of toys, but the doll Grandpa Camon gave me was the prettiest. I should show it off to Dad. Oh, Cowen gave me a wooden sword as a present, so I''m a little upset.] [Today, I went to see Grandpa Camon with Dad. It seemed like he wanted him to make something for our house. I hope we get a yground.] ¡ªSo cute. ¡ªBut Cowen knew Lia? ¡ªIs it a person with the same name? ¡ªDidn''t they look for the guild leader when Flona disappeared? ¡ªDo they even know that Lia is alive? The childish diary entries continued. And then, after a few years worth of entries, the atmosphere changed. [Dad fought with Uncle Brook. My uncle is scary when he shouts. I wish he wouldn''te to our house.] [Uncle Brook came to visit again. I asked Cowen to take me outside.] [I went to y at Camon''s workshop with Dad. But he kicked me out, saying he had something to talk about. I was a little sad that they were talking without me.] "..." The diary ended on that page. Lia didn''t say anything for a while. Only her hands holding the notebook were trembling slightly. "Look at this too. It''s written by the person named Camon." "...Camon?" Hanbit handed over Camon''s notebook. Lia received it and looked at the contents with a somewhat puzzled expression. [When I came to my senses, I, Camon, was in charge of renovating the Norton family mansion. It was the first time I had received such argemission, so I was flustered. However, I was d to be able to express my gratitude to the Norton mother and daughter, who treated me like a human being. Was their request to create a secret passage for their daughter''s amusement?] [Shortly after the mansion''s renovation waspleted, the Nortons visited my workshop. Mr. William sent Miss Liventia outside. Then, with a darkened face, he made a request. He asked me to create a space to preserve his daughter''s memories, a ce where no one could find. The sorrowful expression on the mayor''s face was difficult to describe. I nodded, epting the order.] [A few dayster, an official document was issued stating that William Norton and his rtives would be executed. The charge was subversion and treason. It was absurd. Shocked, I ran barefoot to the Norton mansion. But it was already toote.] [I copsed on the ground and wept. I truly loathed myself for not being able to do anything. At least I could have willingly given up this insignificant life. At that moment, a man named Barres approached.] -Barres? -Why are you here? -Backstabbing GOAT -We should have killed this bastard first. Viewers expressed their anger at the appearance of Barres. He was a powerful ally in the Edlen episode, butter bes a viin who continuously hinders the yers. Despite this known information, the yers had no choice but to follow Barres¡¯s words. No one had found evidence that he was the mastermind at this point. "Barres...!" The trembling in Lia ''s hand intensified. Clenching her teeth, she turned the page, trying to control her anger. [Barres, who took me somewhere, introduced himself as a confidant of the new mayor, Brook. But for some reason, he ryed an order to build a temple of the Holy Nation in the underground waterway. Detailed blueprints were also included.] [A simple threat to kill me if I didn''tply. I didn''t value my own life. My only regret was not being able to help the Nortons. Even though it was toote, I had to fulfill the mayor''s request.] [The construction, which began that day, involved some dolls. Apparently, they wereborers created with the Holy Nation''s technology. Although absurd, it was better for my n to have no people involved.] [There was no secret space in Edlen. In that case, the best option was to hide it within a new space. A space to preserve Miss Liventia''s memories. It was the room in the mansion where she spent the most time.] [The structure of all the rooms I had examined during the mansion renovation was vivid in my mind. Moreover, I also had the reference mateLials provided by the mayor. The key was the magic tool ring, one of the Norton family heirlooms. It was crucial to include an authentication process using it. It was an extremelyplex object, but I managed to decipher it by obtaining ancient books from overseas.] [And so, I created the space beneath the temple altar. I did my best to match every detail. I decorated the entrance wall with the youngdy''s yful doodles and ced an identical replica of the toy doll I had given her. And finally, I carefully ced Miss Liventia''s diary, given to me by the mayor, on the table, along with this note containing my own story.] [If anyone reaches this space through the ring, they must be someone rted to the Norton family who followed the mayor. If you want to know the truth, if you want to judge the vile and filthy Brook and Barres, go to my workshop.] The record, written from the author''s perspective, ended there. What remained was a hidden message on the back of thest page. [Now, I leave these words from a father that will never reach his daughter.] "...?" Seeing that sentence, Lia slowly lowered her gaze. There, in apletely different handwriting from the record, words were inscribed. [To Liventia] I''m so sorry this birthday present iste. You can me your ipetent father, and cry as much as you want. My beloved daughter, Liventia. May happy days be with you. "Ah..." Lia caressed her father''s dearly missed handwriting. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. Her silent weeping spoke volumes about the life she had lived. -??? -Brook, that bastard. -Barres is the mastermind. -They''re all the same. -ck Dragon, let''s kill them all. -This was the real main story all along; -There''s a yer who progressed through the story without the main character? -It''s all Adventurer A''s fault. -I agree. Viewers, empathizing with the situation, began to express their indignation. The Edlen episode they experienced was only a small part of the whole story. It was absurd to proceed without Lia in the first ce. "Was this the real story?" Yeonwoo, who had progressed the same way as other yers, also had a bewildered reaction. However, this was a ce anyone could reach if they put in the time and effort. Ding-! [Main Quest #3 Completed.] [Received 80,000 gold.] [4 Stat Points awarded.] [Experience increased by 40,000.] [Level increased by 1.] [1 Stat Point awarded.] [Progress significantly increased.] [Main Quest #4: Evidence] You have discovered the Holy Nation''s temple in the underground waterway and Liventia''s hidden room within. The name Cowen appeared in the diary and Camon''s records. He might know something. Objective: Talk to Guild Master Cowen. Reward: None *Current Progress: 43 percent -Is that progress for real? lol -It increased by like 15 percent. -It takes like 16 main quests to get to 40 percent. -It''s my fault for trusting the guidebook and themunity. -Newbies are not at fault. Regardless of the familiar reactions from viewers, the ythrough progressed quickly. Hanbit turned his gaze to Lia, who was silently crying. "Lia, let''s go outside for now. There might be Holy Nation guys around." "...Okay." Lia, wiping her tears with her sleeve, nodded. They took the notes and went outside, closing the secret room behind them before heading out of the waterway. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 45 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 45 ''It''s about time for Barres to appear.'' Heading towards Edlen, Hanbit recalled the main viin of this episode. Barres Loberger. Outwardly, he was Brook''s confidant, but he was the mastermind and the root cause of all the incidents that had happened in the past. Even now, he reigned as the person in power, so he could be considered the main enemy. ''The man himself is disgusting.'' Barres was like the embodiment of the word "corrupt official." His hair parted neatly down the middle, snake-like eyes under thick eyebrows,ovepping chins, and a protruding belly that wobbled with every move was hard to stomach for long. Of course, thanks to his numerous experiences, Hanbit had reached the level where he could make fun of him. "..." Arriving at the guild, the three immediately met with Guild Master Cowen. His gaze was fixed on the blond-haired girl. "...It''s not my fault,¡± Lia muttered, avoiding Cowen''s eyes. It was an atmosphere that anyone could tell they already knew each other. -? -They knew each other? -Were they pretending not to know each other? -If they acknowledged each other, they''d be caught by Brook and Barres. -Her avoiding eye contact is cute. lol Viewers watching the situation also roughly grasped the situation. Hanbit decided to tell him about what happened in the waterway first. "There''s a temple inside the waterway... This is too careless." Cowen''s expression darkened at the situation that defiedmon sense. No matter how out-of-reach the information was, it was ultimately his fault. "Look at this too." Hanbit handed over Camon''s note. "What''s this?" "There was a hidden room under the temple altar. I found this note written by someone named Camon there." "...Camon?" Cowen''s eyes widened, and he immediately snatched the note. Lia, sitting next to him, fidgeted and hid her diary deep inside her bag. "Ahh." After quickly checking the contents, Cowen rubbed his face with his hand. He said with a distant look in his eyes, "...So he took such measures. Or rather, was he that wary of Barres?" After a moment of silence, Cowen looked up at Hanbit. "What is your purpose? If you''re an outsider, you wouldn''t want to get involved inplicated matters." "If that were the case, I would have just been hunting monsters. And it''s not strange to help a friend, is it?" "It wouldn''t be strange under normal circumstances. But the darkness rooted in Norton runs deep. It''s better for both of us to be clear about our purposes." "Hmm." At Cowen''s firm words, Hanbit pretended to ponder for a moment and remained silent. Of course, the best answer to give in this situation was the same as it had always been. "Then write me a letter of rmendation for the Investigation Corps. You have the authority as a Guild Master, right?" "The Investigation Corps... I see. If you''re thinking about a letter of rmendation, the current mayor and Barres have more influence." "Well, wouldn''t catching a Holy Nation follower be a bigger achievement? The tragedy that befell the Norton family will alsoe to light." "...Indeed." The Investigation Corps, a group of experts from around the world searching for the existence of Erport. Most adventurers dream of bing a member of the Investigation Corps. It is a position that can bring wealth, honor, and fame. This was true not only for ordinary yers but also for the most advanced yers. "I understand your purpose. It''s certainly a dream that an adventurer would aim for. However, the story isn''t over yet." Cowen closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and looked at Lia. "Mydy, do you trust this adventurer?" "Huh?" She was taken aback by the sudden question. ncing at Hanbit, Lia scratched her head. "Well... He doesn''t seem like a bad person, does he?" "That answer is far from sufficient. If you''re off by even a bit, your life could be in danger, mydy. If you''re unsure, I believe it would be wiser to eliminate the adventurer ck Dragon here and now." -Excuse me? -Did I hear that right? -You heard correctly. -He''s saying this right in front of him. lol -This is bad. Let''s hand over Roper and escape. A murder n unfolding right in front of the person involved. However, if Cowen had truly intended to kill, he would have already acted on it. The fact that Hanbit was still sitting there unharmed meant that Cowen had other intentions. "Eliminating him is the wise decision?" Lia asked, furrowing her brows. Her voice sounded slightly angry. "I have a duty to protect you, mydy. I believe it is right to eradicate even the slightest possibility of danger." "If you were so worried, you should have taken me out of Edlen through the secret passage that day! The reason I live in the slums is to avoid Uncle Brook and Barres!" "It''s for the future. In any case, we cannot leave someone who knows your identity unchecked. It requires absolute trust. I will not disregard the will of Mr. William, who wished to protect you." Shing-! Cowen rose from his seat and drew the sword from his waist. He aimed it at Hanbit''s neck. -Uh oh, he''s gonna die. -Who''s going to stream for us now? -Thank you for loving ck Dragon until now. -Stream -END- "Cowen!" Surprised, Lia also jumped up and tried to stop Cowen. However, Hanbit, the person involved, calmly turned his gaze. "Lia... No, should I say Lady Liventia? I suppose you were her escort." "I was the shadow knight of the Norton family. Following my lord''s orders, I escaped with the youngdy and avoided execution." Before William''s execution took ce, Cowen escaped with Reventia through the secret passage. Even though it was an order, his heart was torn and shattered as he abandoned his lord and fled. "Although I am a knight who failed to fulfill his role, I have the power to cut off the ominous bud here. Do not resent me; you were simply unlucky." "What will change if you cut off the bud? Lia will still have to live in hiding, escaping pursuit for the rest of her life." "The opportunity to punish Brook and Barres will surelye. It seems Camon has prepared something, so with that added to the equation, there might be a possibility. His sacrifice was also for the sake of the future,¡± Cowen, responding in a solemn voice, brought the sword closer. "I said wait!" Just before the cold de touched his skin Lia stepped between the two. "It''s dangerous. Please step aside." "You''re the one in danger right now!" -Hahaha -Truth bomb from LiTube. -She is in danger. -Let''s just trust Lia. -''Do it for me'' Lia spread her arms wide seemingly to protect Hanbit. Seeing this, Cowen moved his sword away so as not to hurt her. "This is strange. You gave a lukewarm response to my question about whether you trust this fellow." "Do I really have to say it out loud?" "Yes. Trust is that important in this matter. Please tell me clearly. I will not put down my sword until I am certain." "Ah..." Lia sighed at his embarrassing coercion. However, knowing Cowen''s personality well, she had no other choice. She said in a tiny, almost inaudible voice, "...I trust him." "I can''t hear you." "Oh, really! I said I trust him! He''s the one who helped Artsvel, Phlone, and Ruby! Besides, this guy is super strong..." Her true feelings, pouring out along with her frustration, continued for a long while. Cowen listened silently, then slowly nodded. "I see. I fully understand how you feel about this fellow, mydy. I had no hostility towards him from the beginning, so you don''t have to worry. I have already finished my investigation." "...Huh?" The sword was already in its scabbard. Lia realized it was just a trick to confirm her feelings. "Cowen...!" -Hahaha -Cute. -Have you been deceiving her all this time? -Let''s have a drink because it was cute. -But her likeability is maxed out. lol -Artsvel?Phlone?Ruby route confirmed Lia''s face turned bright red, and she trembled with her fists clenched. "There''s nothing you can do even if you re at me like that. Your true intentions are the most important to me, and I trust your feelings that much." "Why couldn''t you have said that from the beginning!" "You''ve be too ustomed to hiding your feelings, mydy. I would prefer it if you acted a little more your age." "Ha." Lia was speechless at his confident attitude. Hanbit lightly pulled her arm to make her sit on the chair. "It can''t be helped that he''s concerned about personnel selection. Even from my perspective as an outsider, you''re in a dangerous position." "I know that, but..." Lia pouted as Hanbit soothed her and defended Cowen. Hanbit, watching this with amusement, turned his gaze away. "So, what''s the n? We''re going to Camon''s mansion first, right?" "Of course, that''s the top priority. I''d like to check the temple in the waterway as well, but it would be dangerous now. It''s quite possible the enemy has noticed it." Since they had rummaged through the waterway, it wouldn''t be strange if anyone had noticed. Whether it was the Holy Nation''s followers, Brook, or Barres was unknown. "Ah, right." Remembering something, Hanbit took out a ne from his inventory. It was the Goblin''s Spirit Ne he had obtained from the challenge dungeon. [Goblin''s Spirit Ne] Rank: 3 Grade: Unique Description: A trophy obtained from the Elder Goblin. Deploys a mana shield ording to the owner''s will. "Here, you wear this." "A ne?" Lia received the silver ne with a jewel embedded in it. "A trophy from the Elder Goblin. It''s quite high quality,¡± Cowen, who recognized the item, said in a fascinated tone. Then, stroking his chin, he asked, "You anticipate an attack, given that you need a protective magic tool?" "What I found in the waterway at first was a piece of cloth used in the Holy Nation''sbat uniforms. It wouldn''t be strange if a battle broke out at any moment. Something strange happened to Lia too." "Something strange?" Hearing this for the first time, Cowen looked at Lia. The blond-haired girl then took out a ring from her bag. "Something shed and sparked at the entrance to the secret passage. It felt really ominous." "...That''s unusual." Cowen also frowned, as if he didn''t quite understand. Watching the situation, Hanbit feigned ignorance and asked, "What''s that ring? Is it some kind of Norton family heirloom?" "It''s an heirloom and an identity that must not be lost. Very few families bear the mark of the Spirit King." -The Spirit King? -What''s this now? -Was that a manifestation of it? -Hmm. If it''s just a trace, isn''t it trash? -Does the Spirit King look like a joke to you? [Exnation Guy has donated 1,000 won.] [RP Setting: The Spirit King is an ancient spirit strong enough to cause damage across the entire country. There are almost noplete records of it...] -Thank you for your hard work, Exnation Guy. -I''ve seen him on other streams too. lol -Activity GOAT The chat window became chaotic as the term Spirit King appeared. [Lower Spirit - Intermediate Spirit - Higher Spirit - Highest Spirit - Spirit King] The ranks of spirits are clearly distinguished. The Spirit King was four levels higher than the lower spirit, Sylph. Even Hanbit himself, despite his long hours of effort, was limited to borrowing the power of the highest-ranked spirits. That''s how much of an unknown realm the Spirit King''s existence was. [Norton''s Ring] Rank: ? Grade: ? Description: A ring imbued with traces of the Spirit King, Sallion. It has been passed down as an heirloom ording to the will of the first Norton. ''No wonder that they''re after this ring.'' The massacre of the Spirit Summoners that took ce about 100 years ago from the current time. The power of spirits, already rare, mostly disappeared after that incident. In such a situation, a part of the Spirit King, which held tremendous potential even in its mere traces, was enough to be a target. ''They''re a bunch of clowns.'' The culprit behind the Spirit Summoner massacre was the Holy Nation. And those same people were now after this ring, seeking its power for their technology. The strange reaction that appeared on Lia''s ring was one of their search techniques. In other words, their pursuit and attack were imminent. "So we''re going to Camon''s workshop now?" "No, we''re going to the house of someone named Harpen." "Harpen?" When Hanbit repeated the name, Cowen nodded. Then, walking towards the exit, he said, "We don''t have time, so let''s hurry." Ding-! [Main Quest #4 Completed.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #5: Infiltration] You have learned more about Lia''s situation. To reveal the truth and set her free, you need a way to prove Brook and Barres'' crimes. Head to Camon''s workshop, as mentioned in his note. ''Camon''s Workshop'' is located inside a sealing stone kept in the mansion of the city noble, ''Harpen.'' Objective: Secretly infiltrate the mansion and steal the sealing stone. Reward: 100,000 gold, 50,000 experience, 5 Stat Points *Current progress: 45 percent [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 46 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 46 West of the noble district in Edlen. Avoiding the eyes of the people, the four of them hid themselves against a shadowed wall. ¡°That¡¯s Harpen¡¯s mansion. One of the humans following Barres,¡± Cowen said, looking at the mansion across the street. The front door was tightly closed, and sharp iron bars were spread across the top of the wall. Through the gap, he could see two guards in the front yard. Hanbit checked the message that had just popped up. [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #5: Infiltration] You have learned more about Lia''s situation. To reveal the truth and set her free, you need a way to prove Brook and Barres'' crimes. Head to Camon''s workshop, as mentioned in his note. ''Camon''s Workshop'' is located inside a sealing stone kept in the mansion of the city noble, ''Harpen.'' Objective: Secretly infiltrate the mansion and steal the sealing stone. Reward: 100,000 gold, 50,000 experience, 5 Stat Points *Current progress: 45 percent The Sealing Stone theft designated as the main quest. Sealing Stones were magical tools used against monsters, cursed objects, and the like. Sealing a building beyond that scale required a considerably high level of technology. ¡°There will be troops inside as well. It was a Sealing Stone that Barres himself was investigating, so he wouldn''t have left it unattended,¡± Cowen warned, noting the danger. ¡°If Barres investigated it, does that mean he already checked the workshop?¡± ¡°No, that''s not it. For some reason, he couldn''t unseal it or destroy it. If it''s a defense Camon prepared, I think your ring will be the key.¡± Little was known about the Sealing Stone. The guess was that it was a device Camon had prepared before he died. It had such aplex structure that even after passing through the hands of many technicians, they couldn''t figure out its principles or how to unseal it. ¡°I''ll go,¡± Lia said, stepping forward while observing the situation. But Cowen immediately blocked her way and shook his head. ¡°It''s too dangerous for you to move, mydy. I''ll go, since I know the interior.¡± ¡°Just tell me the location. If it''s just bringing the item, it''s right for me to go.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± ¡°I''m confident!¡± ¡°No.¡± -LOL -Spear VS Shield -But the shield is a bit big in this situation. -I think Lia would do well. -She''ll really do it like King Nyaang. The viewers watching their argument sided with Lia. In a way, she was the most suitable person, but it was dangerous to go now. ¡°I''ll go,¡± Hanbit stepped forward and stood between the two. From the beginning, he hadn''t even considered anything other than going himself. ¡°What, you don''t trust me either, Oppa?¡± Lia pouted and grumbled. ¡°It''s not that I don''t trust you, it''s that you''re in the most danger here. If your face is revealed, even for a moment, it''ll be out of our hands. I''m an outsider, remember?¡± ¡°That''s true, but¡­¡± When he presented a logical argument, Lia couldn''t say anything more. Cowen, who was watching, thought for a moment and spoke. ¡°Originally, I was going to aim for the guards'' shift change time.¡± ¡°Even if we aim for that, it''s obvious there will be amotion. In the first ce, your physique, Cowen, isn''tmon.¡± ¡°¡­I have nothing to refute.¡± A person''s characteristics are not limited to their facial features. Cowen''s physique was one of the best in Edlen. In other words, it meant that even if he wrapped himself up tightly, it would be meaningless. ¡°Then what are you thinking of doing? Do you have a good n?¡± ¡°It''s not really a good n. We just need to make sure there''s nomotion.¡± Hanbit pulled the scabbard from his waist. Then he tapped it on his palm and nodded. ¡°This should be enough.¡± ¡°¡­What are you going to do with that?¡± ¡°Use it as a weapon.¡± -¡­? -Being a pain in the ass again. -Will it even do any damage? -Since it''s a normal attack, it¡¯ll do damage equal to his stats. -Can¡¯t he just kill them? Everyone had questions, but the n remained unchanged. Hanbit adjusted his scabbard and leisurely started walking. ¡°I''ll be back.¡± * * * ¡°Ugh, I feel like I''m going to puke.¡± ¡°That''s why I told you to stop drinking so much.¡± In the front yard of Harpen''s mansion two soldiers guarding the main gate were talking. ¡°What does it matter? We don¡¯t have anything to do here anyway. Lord Harpen is always at his vi, right?¡± ¡°If you keep that up and something happens, you¡¯re done for. There are even rumors that there''s something really important in this house.¡± ¡°Oh,e on, nothing''s going to happen. What crazy person would rob a judge''s mansion? Important or not, no one''s going toe here to steal it.¡± Their mission was to guard the mansion, but there was a rumor going around. Something hidden inside the mansion of Judge Harpen. Even if they didn''t know the truth, seeing that there were guards even inside the house, it didn''t feel like just a baseless rumor. ¡°My stomach hurts. I''m going to go to the bathroom.¡± ¡°Seriously¡­¡± ¡°I can''t just poop here.¡± The soldier waved his hand and walked to the back of the building. ¡°Ugh.¡± He shook his dizzy head as he approached the bathroom in the corner. And the moment he stumbled and stepped into the entrance¡­ Whack-! A tremendous shock hit the back of his neck. Thud- His vision blurred as he lost consciousness. Hanbit, who had caught his falling body, quietlyid him down on the floor so as not to make a sound. -Instant kill; -But wasn¡¯t he trying to go to the bathroom? -Ah¡­ -R.I.P -The ck Dragon is truly wicked; ¡°Ah.¡± It wasn''t easy to knock someone unconscious with a scabbard in one shot. If the point of impact was even slightly off, it would fail. Unfortunately, he missed the soldier''s situation, but it couldn''t be helped. Swoosh- Hanbit tied up the soldier and moved him inside the bathroom. Now there was only one soldier left outside. He seemed to have no openings as he diligently guarded the surroundings. Thud- Hanbit, clinging to the wall, grabbed the window frame and climbed up. Using the momentum, he moved to the railing above the soldier''s head. Because he didn''t make a sound, no one noticed. ¡°Why are you sote?¡± the soldier said in a dissatisfied voice, without changing his posture. ¡°Tsk.¡± Unable to endure it any longer, he slightly turned his head to look towards the bathroom. At that moment, a shadow fell over the soldier''s head. ¡°Huh?¡± Whack-! The impact came at the same time he shifted his gaze. Unable to resist, the soldier immediately lost consciousness. Thud- Hanbit caught his falling body and tied him up behind a pir shrouded in shadow. Now all that was left were the guards inside the mansion. Swoosh- Moving to the opposite wall, Hanbit climbed through an open window and went inside. The structure of the mansion and the movements of the soldiers were vividly drawn in his mind. Creak- He opened the door, went out into the hallway, and moved to the central corridor. There, a soldier was yawning and looking at a closed door. Rustle- Hanbit muffled his footsteps and approached the soldier from behind. And grabbing both ends of the scabbard, he attacked. ¡°Gah!¡± Surprised by the sudden pressure on his neck, the soldier struggled and twisted his body. Hanbit slowly pulled him up the stairs. Thump- Thump- Unable to breathe, the soldier''s feet pounded hard on the floor. ¡°What''s that sound?¡± One of the soldiers on the second floor heard the sound. Crack-! Hearing the approaching footsteps, Hanbit put more strength into his grip and knocked the soldier unconscious. Then he hung from the staircase railing and hid himself. "Peter?" The soldiering down from the second floor found his fallenrade. "An enemy¡­!" Judging that there was an intruder, he raised his spear and looked down the stairs. At that moment, Hanbit jumped over the railing. Whack-! The end of the scabbard, swung with all his might, hit the soldier''s neck. It didn''t take long for his body to fall forward. -One shot, one kill -The uracy is insane; -Maybe the scabbard meta is good? -We can''t do that; The viewers expressed surprise at how easily things were going. ''Now there''s only one left.'' There were five guards in the mansion. He had knocked out four, so all that remained was the knight guarding the room on the second floor. "What''s going on!" As expected, a shout came from above, as if aware of themotion. He knew the guy''s armor without even seeing it. The cautious knight was wearing full te armor. This time, he had to neutralize that. Whirr- The wind swirled around the scabbard, following its shape. He couldn''t fully use the spirit''s power, but that much was enough. "Is anyone there! Answer me!" The knight came running towards the stairs with his sword drawn. Hanbit, who was in his blind spot, gauged the approaching distance by sound alone. And the moment the knight stepped forward¡­ Whoosh-! He swung the scabbard, imbued with the power of the wind, strongly upwards. ng-! "Ugh!" The scabbard, striking the lower part of the helmet, hit the joint of the full te armor. The impact, delivered with pinpoint uracy, shattered the tightly fastened lock. Crack-! The knight''s helmet was torn away from the armor. Seizing that moment, Hanbit quickly closed in and turned around. Jumping lightly, he wrapped both arms around the knight''s neck and held on tight. "Gah-!" In the agonizing pain of suffocation, the knight desperately tried to push Hanbit''s arms away. But Hanbit''s technique followed immediately. Crack-! With the sound of something breaking, the knight''s neck bone twisted. It didn''t take long for the struggling knight''s limbs to go limp. -Assassination, amazing; -As expected of a veteran; -This is a new pattern, lol. -Rmend this if you¡¯re a Nesto Guild member who wants to learn the technique. -No, go back. Swoosh- Leaving the fallen knight behind, Hanbit moved to the room at the back of the second floor. A small box was ced in the corner. Inside, there was a uniquely shaped red stone. [Modified Sealing Stone] Rank: 4 Grade: Hero Description: A special Sealing Stone modified with Dwarven technology. Camon''s workshop space is sealed inside, and a special item is required to unseal it. The item message that popped up was clear. Hanbit picked it up and threw himself out the window. Ding-! [Main Quest #5pleted.] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 47 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 47 ¡°What? You finished already?¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± As Hanbit returned to the alleyway entrance, Lia and Cowen approached him with surprised faces. ¡°I got the Sealing Stone,¡± Hanbit said, showing them the red stone in his hand. He checked the message that had just popped up. [Main Quest #5pleted.] [Received 100,000 gold.] [5 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 50,000.] [Level increased by 1.] [1 stat point awarded.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #6: Camon''s Workshop] You have obtained the Sealing Stone from Harpen''s mansion. Unseal it and enter the workshop. Will you be able to find evidence about the incident that urred in the Norton family? Objective: Check the important evidence in the workshop. Reward: 50,000 gold, 15,000 experience points, 2 stat points *Current progress: 50 percent -50 percent on the 6th quest, lol. -Not only that, but the reward amount is insanely high. -The guidebook is losing again and again; -Adventurer A is sobbing. -Why is he being treated so well when he didn''t do anything right? -LOL The story was progressing twice as fast as the strategy in the guidebook, which had been solidified as the standard. On top of that, the rewards were excellent, so the viewers continued to express their regret. There was no way to reverse the episodes they had already cleared. ¡°Let''s move right away. I knocked them unconscious, but someone might find them,¡± Hanbit said. ¡°There''s a safe ce. I''ll guide you.¡± Cowen nodded and immediately started walking. He didn''t forget to carefully choose the path so as not to be noticed by others. ¡°Hyung, if you''ve already progressed halfway, will it end in a few days? Thetter part isplicated, so will it take about a week?¡± Yeonwoo, who was following behind, came up and asked. The first episode took two weeks from start to finish. Even if it took another week from now, Hanbit would finish the story in 10 days. ¡°A week?¡± However, Hanbit''s prediction waspletely different. This was because he had no intention of dragging out the Edlen storyline. ¡°I''ll finish it faster than that.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°Well, it might be finished tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah, that''s a bit¡­¡± -Don''t cross the line. -A 3-day clear is a bit much; -You''ll find out once you get hit by Barres anyway. -Really, feel it with your body. -Is it possible if he takes off Barres'' head right away? -Yeah, he''ll get cut by the captain of the guard. Three days was too fast to finish one episode. Moreover, since the main viin, Barres, hadn''t even appeared yet, negative opinions were overwhelming. ''It''ll be over tomorrow.'' Thetter part of the story was already organized in Hanbit''s mind. The preliminary preparations were also proceeding step by step, so it was a usible story. ¡°This way.¡± Without saying anything, Hanbit continued to follow Cowen. Before they knew it, they had arrived near the border of the slum district. Cowen went deep into theplex alleyways. ¡°You were still using this ce?¡± Lia asked in a puzzled voice, recognizing their destination. ¡°I haven''t been here since that day. I didn''t want to risk being caught.¡± Cowen, who had been moving forward, stopped in front of an old building. Its exterior was not only worn out but also broken in many ces. No matter how you looked at it, it didn''t seem like a proper building. ¡°Let''s go in.¡± Cowen opened the creaking door and went inside. Hanbit followed him. ¡°¡­This ce is usable, right?¡± Yeonwoo asked incredulously, looking at the shabby interior. Aside from everything else, there wasn''t even a proper ce to talk. "Come this way." At that moment, Lia grabbed Hanbit''s arm and led him. She approached the floor where wooden nks were patched together. "What is it?" Hanbit, approaching, feigned ignorance and asked a question. Lia, without answering, stretched out her hand wearing the ring and brought it to the floor. At that moment... Swoosh- A faint light began to leak from the gap in the nks. Creak- With the following sound, the floor slid sideways. It was a structure simr to what he had seen in the temple, but there were no stairs. "Let''s go in." Lia led Hanbit into the revealed underground space. Following her down, he found himself in a ce the size of arge room with several smaller rooms attached. "Wow, this is apletely different space." Yeonwoo marveled at therge interior in fascination. There was even a table and chairs, decorated like a resting area. It was a very different sight from the shabby ground level. "This ce was also created by Camon''s design, but... it has changed a lot. Mydy, please have a seat." After the opened floor closed automatically, Cowen pulled out a chair and seated Lia first. Hanbit, looking around, saw several doors installed here and there and said, "Where do these lead? There are five of them." "The door in the center is the entrance to the secret passage leading to the Norton mansion. The rest... those weren''t there originally." At that question, Cowen approached the doors and began to examine them carefully. A momentter, he continued in a surprised voice. "This is... a magical tool that can be used like teleportation. Seeing as it''s structured to be destroyed upon use, it seems he created escape routes all over the city. Camon must have put in the effort." -Teleportation? -High quality; -Camon is really talented. -Let''s just open one for the heck of it. -???: Our cat pressed it. Magical tools that can transfer to specific locations are not easy to obtain. If he went to the trouble of installing them here, his intention is clear. He must have thought that a helper would appear to reveal Brook and Barres'' crimes. "Camon..." Lia''s expression darkened a little as she listened to the story. Liventia herself hade to this ce, but the task at hand remained the same. Hanbit carefully ced the red stone on the floor. "First, let''s unseal the Sealing Stone. We need to check the workshop to find out anything." "The problem starts now. That Sealing Stone is a tricky object to handle. Even Barres gave up on it. If you touch it wrong, there''s a chance it could bepletely destroyed," Cowen warned, as he looked at the red stone. It was an obvious thought, but preparations to unseal the Sealing Stone were alreadyplete. "First, it would be good to test the Norton family ring, as we guessed. Mydy, would it be alright if we used the ring for a moment?" "I''ll do it myself." Lia nodded and got up from her chair. Cowen blocked her way and said, "No. It could be dangerous." "Only the owner can use it anyway. Then there''s no way Camon would have made it dangerous." The two exchanged nces and disagreed. Seeing this, Hanbit intervened to mediate. "The ne I gave you will block most damage. I''ll watch over you too." "That..." The Goblin Spirit Ne that Lia was wearing. When he pointed that out, Cowen fell into thought. After a moment of silence, he nodded as if there was nothing he could do. "Alright. Mydy, but if you feel anything strange, you must step back immediately." "I know. I''m not going to die stupidly." With a firm answer, Lia slowly moved her hand wearing the ring. The Sealing Stone was getting closer. It didn''t take long for her outstretched fingertip to touch the surface of the red stone. "...?" Lia, who had been nervous, was a little flustered. Moving her hand more boldly, she then firmly grasped the Sealing Stone. However, no change urred. "...I don''t think this is it." Lia was a little embarrassed, having expected something to happen. This was because they were somewhat certain that the Norton ring would be the key this time as well. "If it''s not the ring... we''re in trouble." Cowen''s expression also darkened. It wouldn''t be easy to find another possibility now. There wasn''t anything that came to mind immediately. Hanbit, who was watching from the side, spoke to the two. "If Camon sealed his own workshop himself, there''s probably something prepared." "Prepared, what do you mean?" "This space itself is a ce Camon newly worked on, right? He might have wanted his helper toe here." "...That''s usible." Cowen nodded in agreement. "Prepared..." Lia, who was listening to the conversation, looked around. After ncing around for a moment, she walked towards the wide space and began to search the surroundings. "Come here!" A momentter Lia shouted. At her urgent call, everyone moved to where she was. "Did you find something?" "This. Doesn''t it look simr to the Sealing Stone?" At Cowen''s question, Lia pointed her finger at the floor. There was an unevenly carved groove. "Wait a minute." Hanbit quickly returned with the red stone. Lowering his posture, he carefully ced the Sealing Stone on top of the groove. Click- The red stone fit into the groove on the floor like a glove. sh-! An intense light engulfed the space at that moment. "Ugh!" "Mydy!" Surprised by the sudden situation, Cowen took a defensive stance, shielding Lia. Hanbit, who had been standing leisurely, simply focused on the changes around him. "No need to be on guard. It seems the seal has been released." "...?" As Hanbit spoke, the vision of the two slowly returned. "...Ah." Lia let out a short sigh at the familiar sight that unfolded around her. An old memory she couldn''t forget. Camon''s workshop, which she had visited countless times like a yground. It was a little different from back then, but it was the same vivid ce. "This is... amazing." The process of the sealed ce being released was also a first for Cowen. This workshop remained in his memory as well, so he was equally surprised. "There''s no need to look further." Hanbit pointed to the translucent crystal ball and parchment ced on the workbench. There was a note next to it. "What the...!" Cowen''s eyes widened as he checked the contents. "What''s wrong?" "Doesn''t it say it''s a projection magical tool that recorded the inside of the temple! If there''s even an image of Brook and Barres, it will be crucial evidence!" Unlike his usual calm demeanor, his voice pitched high in excitement. -Projection magical tool? -This is appearing in Edlen, lol. -There was evidence like this? -Everyone, what kind of fight did you have? -Julio''s snowball is rolling this far; The appearance of evidence that no one knew about made the viewers despair. Meanwhile, Cowen quickly picked up the translucent crystal ball and injected mana into it. At that moment. Swoosh- The light emitted from the crystal ball clearly depicted the appearance of the temple. [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 48 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 48 "Hmm." A man stood at the altar, dressed in ceremonial robes. Cowen gritted his teeth as he recognized the parted hair and snake-like eyes beneath the thick eyebrows. "As expected, it''s you, Barres..." -Damn, lol. -The main viin appears. -He looks like a total JOAT no matter when you see him; -But even with evidence... -LOL They had suspected early on that Barres had some connection to the Holy Kingdom. However, due to theck of even the smallest piece of evidence, even the covert investigation had not progressed for a long time. In such a frustrating situation, the scene shown in this magical tool was enough to break through the blockage. "You''vee early." At that moment, another man appeared in the depicted scene. The star emblem on his shoulder indicated that he was a bishop of the Holy Kingdom. "It''s been a while. Did the Archbishop have something to say?" "He said that if the n proceeds well, a suitable position will be prepared. How are the preparations going?" "You don''t have to worry." Barres nodded, his jowls shaking. And then he spoke of the crucial ''n''. "When the war begins, Edlen will be a forward base for the great Holy Kingdom. I will dedicate my life to returning the Raven Kingdom to the embrace of God." "A forward base...?" Cowen''s expression was filled with shock at Barres'' shocking statement. He had expected that Barres might be connected to the Holy Kingdom, but the realm of war was beyondmon sense. The scene reflected in the crystal ball continued. "Excellent mindset. When I said we would frame Mayor William as a spy for the Holy Kingdom, I was a little concerned, but fortunately, it''s proceeding smoothly." "Thanks to Brook, who has an inferiorityplex towards his brother, things have worked out easily. He will be a puppet and keep his position until the n is executed." "Good. An expendable pawn is always necessary." The bishop slowly nodded with a benevolent expression. Staring at the altar for a moment, he continued with a faint smile. "By the way, I received a report yesterday. Is it true that William''s daughter escaped from Edlen?" The bishop, with narrowed eyes, was still smiling. Barres, meeting his gaze, answered without hesitation. "Yes. But that was also part of the n. If we had tried to touch his daughter as well, William would have fought to the end, giving up on the future of the city." "You mean he epted it, knowing his future?" "William is a wise man. He knew early on that if he didn''t sacrifice himself, the entire city would be in danger. But for that man, the safety of the city is nothingpared to his daughter''s life." -??; -There was a story like this; -Simply the GOAT. -City or whatever, you have to protect your daughter. -Will-father, I now realize. Chats quickly popped up about the unrevealed truth. The bishop, who was listening to the story, closed and opened his eyes for a moment and said, "...That''s an insane paternal love. I understand the situation at the time, but what do you n to do if that child interferes with our n?" "When that timees, all the ns will have already been executed. If she''s William''s daughter, she wouldn''t be stupid enough to dare bare her teeth at the Holy Kingdom. She''ll live quietly in a foreignnd." Whether considering the past, present, or future, the Holy Kingdom was the world''s greatest power. As the daughter of a fallen family who has lost all of its foundation, she wouldn''t be able to dream of revenge. No matter how you think about it, it''s a foolish judgment. The bishop, closing and opening his eyes for a moment, turned his back and said, "This n is important for the future of the Holy Kingdom. His Holiness the Pope is also watching, so keep in mind that it must not fail." Leaving those words behind, the bishop left the altar. Barres, left alone, slowly raised his bowed head and quietly muttered, "I can''t hand it over to a mere bishop." He slowly stroked the altar with his hand and let out a sneer. And then he looked up into the air and said, "I will definitely get my hands on the traces of the Spirit King." Swoosh- The light faded along with thest voice. Everyone who was watching the scene fell silent. Only the viewers were busy chatting. -So Barres knew about the Norton ring; -But why hasn''t he targeted Lia yet? -Does he not know she''s in Edlen? -No, judging by the fact that he lied about her escaping, he knows. -It''s like he just doesn''t know Lia is Liventia? -Does he have a problem with facial recognition? -Kids grow up fast; -In the first ce, how would he know if she''s living in the slums, lol. The chat window was chaotic with all sorts of spection flying around. Meanwhile, a message popped up in front of his eyes. [Main Quest #6pleted.] [Received 50,000 gold.] [2 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 15,000.] [Progress increased significantly.] [Main Quest #7: Consolidation] You discovered the projection magical tool inside the workshop. It is crucial evidence containing Barres'' crimes, his connection to the Holy Kingdom, and his future ns. How can this be used? Objective: Talk with Cowen and Lia. Reward: None *Current progress: 60 percent ''60 percent.'' Thanks to obtaining the crucial evidence, the progress increased by 10 percent. The important thing was the simple objective: talk with Cowen and Lia. It was clear that how he continued this story would have a big impact on the progress. "Phew." Cowen, lost in thought, let out a deep sigh. Then, with a heavy expression, he said, "The situation is worse than I expected. I didn''t know Barres was after the Norton ring." He had already figured out that Barres was tracking down Liventia''s whereabouts. But he had assumed that the reason was simply to eliminate the remaining bloodline. He hadn''t even imagined that Barres would be aiming for the power of the Spirit King. "The information about that ring isn''t known at all, right?" "Even Brook doesn''t know. It''s originally something passed down orally only to the head of the family. How he found out... I have no idea." William didn''t open his mouth until the moment of his execution. He only left behind the words that the executioner had worked hard. In other words, Brook, who inherited the position of the head of the family, did not receive any information about the family. "But really, how did he find out? No one told Uncle Brook. Dad emphasized it many times," Lia also expressed her doubts. Even if it was a childhood memory, the story about the ring was very vivid. Along with it was her father''s request not to tell anyone, especially her uncle. "The records about the Spirit King are torn apart like fragments. Unbelievable records appear inpletely unexpected ces. You can''t even ignore a diary written by a coincidental witness." "Indeed... That''s quite possible." Cowen stroked his chin and agreed with Hanbit''s opinion. In fact, the material from which Barres obtained the information was a diary of an adventurer collected from the ck market. The time he acquired it was the day after William''s execution. That''s when he began to secretly track down the ring and Liventia''s whereabouts. ''He knew she was in Edlen.'' Barres had recorded all the people entering and leaving Edlen even before the execution was carried out. Although he wasn''t targeting Liventia, it eventually became a stepping stone for his goal. There was one reason why he hadn''t conducted a radical investigation until now. It was to avoid stimting the traces of the Spirit King, who might go berserk. "So, if we use this evidence, can we make my uncle and Barres get punished?" Lia asked, staring at the magical tool. After a moment of contemtion, Cowen slowly shook his head. "It''s strong evidence, but it''s not conclusive on its own. We need evidence that records what n they made and how they executed it." "Where do we get that?" "I have an idea..." He turned his gaze to the blueprint that was ced next to the projection magical tool. The newly renovated Norton mansion and Barres'' mansion. It was so detailed that the structure was clearly drawn in his mind. "What''s this red part?" Lia, who was looking at the blueprint together, pointed to a peculiarly marked part with her finger. It was in the form of O''s and X''s written in red at several locations in the Norton mansion. "I think it probably indicates the location of the safe." "A safe?" "Yes. This is something I heard from an acquaintance, but the location of Brook''s safe changes daily for security purposes. I think it might be some kind of magical tool." "...That''s really suspicious." Excessive caution that anyone would find suspicious. It was natural to think that the contents of the safe were not mere gold bars. Hanbit continued the conversation with a question. "You''re saying there might be other evidence in there?" "It''s quite possible. Considering Brook''s suspicious and greedy personality, he would have prepared to betray Barres. It''s about time he started wanting to make Edlen his own city." It was publicly known that Barres was the one in power in Edlen. Whatever their past rtionship, Brook was the one currently in the mayor''s seat. Naturally, he would want to monopolize power. It wouldn''t be strange at all if he had been secretly preparing for this from the past. "Wouldn''t Barres have noticed?" "This is just spection, but Barres'' perception of Brook is worse than that of a scarecrow. In that case, there are two possible thoughts he could have. Either he thinks Brook doesn''t have the guts to betray him, or he''s confident he can crush him even if he does betray him." It had been quite a while since Barres appeared in front of Brook. The rtionship and perception that had been fixed since then wouldn''t change easily. That''s how insignificant Brook was to him. "In the end, we just need to steal what''s inside this safe, right? I''ll do it." As the objective appeared, Lia stepped forward first. She thought her abilities were sufficient for the task, but Cowen thought differently. He shook his head and said firmly, "Mydy, I think it would be best if you moved outside of Edlen. No, you must go." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 49 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 49 "What?" Lia frowned at the nearmand. "You want me to run away without doing anything?" "Yes. Now that Barreshas information about the Spirit King''s traces, it wouldn''t be strange if something happened at any moment." "But we have evidence! If we steal what my uncle has, can''t we reveal his crimes?" "Even so, the feasibility is unclear. The city''s officials have already been reced to Barres'' liking." -Agreed. -Yeah, the judges are all on Barres'' side. -101 percent chance the evidence will be covered up. -But then what do we do? -Don''t know. It was natural to reveal the crimes with clear evidence. However, the people involved in the investigation and tLial were all Barres'' forces. Rather, if they presented the evidence now, there was a high possibility that it would disappear neatly. Hanbit, listening to the conversation, decided to address the viewers'' questions first. "Does Barresnot know Lia''s face?" "Very few people know your face, Mydy. Besides Brook, there are almost no people in City Hall who know you now." "Then it''s fine! The pursuers we''ve seen so far weren''t exactly targeting me!" Lia interjected, raising her voice. Although it seemed agreeable at first nce, Cowen only shook his head. "They were eliminating targets one by one by looking at their faces. If Brook''s exnation is added, the pursuers will gradually get closer to you, mydy." "I can just cover my face!" "...The abnormal reaction that appeared in the ring. That might be the influence of a magical tool that tracks the power of spirits. There was information that the Holy Kingdom''s technology could achieve this, so it wouldn''t be strange for Barresto use it. Can you hide this as well, mydy?" "Ugh..." -That''s scary; -The obsession is insane. -It''s understandable if it''s the Spirit King''s trace. -Can''t ck Dragon use it? -Would that work? -It would be really awesome if he could use it, lol. -Sylph is crying. The viewers began to pay attention to the power of the Spirit King''s trace. However, Lia was just trembling with her fists clenched. "It can''t be helped even if you''re stubborn. I''ll prepare a ce for you to stay right away, so please prepare to leave. I will take charge of the fight using this evidence," Cowen continued his firm deration. "But..." Lia murmured, her head bowed. It was hard to hear, so the moment Cowen took a step closer... "I said I don''t want to!" She shouted and jumped upwards. "Mydy!" Lia disappeared upstairs with an incredibly quick movement. Cowen, who had reached out his hand, couldn''t chase after her. However, Hanbit kicked off the ground in a panic. "Follow me quickly!" He went upstairs without even waiting for Cowen''s reply. Lia was nowhere to be seen in the shabby space. "What''s going on?!" Cowen, who had followed him upstairs, expressed his confusion. Without even a moment to answer, Hanbit immediately kicked open the door and went outside. ''Where is she?'' An unexpected, sudden action. Lia, who was incredibly fast, could easily disappear from sight in a short amount of time. Thud-! Hanbit quickly climbed onto the roof using the gaps in the building''s walls. Because of theplex alleyways, he couldn''t see the surroundings at a nce, but there was no other choice. ''...There she is!'' The blonde girl caught Hanbit''s eye as he focused all his senses. Whoosh- As if sensing something, the spirit''s wind enveloped his body. Immediately drawing his sword, Hanbit kicked off the ground towards where Lia was. Swish-! Thanks to the power of the wind, his body gained speed and moved quickly. And the moment Lia''s back was right in front of him, he swung his sword with all his might. ng-! "...Huh?" A sharp noise rang out along with her bewildered voice. "Ugh!" The tremendous shock of hitting something pushed Hanbit back. But he couldn''t back down. Thud-! "Whoa!" He grabbed Lia''s hand and pulled her hard. When she was pulled back by his force, Hanbit steadied himself and looked ahead cautiously. "You were able to read that?" Standing before him was someone dressed in ck and white clothes. A bizarre voice that didn''t even reveal their gender. In their hand, they held a very thin and sharp sword. -Who is that? -Did Barres send them? -Isn''t that the Holy Kingdom? -They look really strong; As some viewers predicted, that person was an assassin from the Holy Kingdom. A group that handled all sorts of things in the shadows, you could say. Naturally, each and every one of them was incredibly skilled. "Mydy!" At that moment, Cowen, who had startedte, arrived. "Are you alright?!" "Huh? Uh..." Lia, still unable to grasp the situation, slowly nodded. Cowen, holding his sword, turned his gaze to the unknown enemy. "Who sent you?" At his question, the assassin pointed their sword and said, "Leave that child and disappear. Once the objective is achieved, meaningless sacrifices are unnecessary. That is God''s mercy." "It is the Holy Kingdom, huh? What''s your objective?" "To seize the ring passed down through the Norton family and eliminate its owner. That is all that is needed." "...There''s no need to hear any more." Cowen gritted his teeth and took a stance. However, he wasn''t foolish enough to misjudge the enemy''s level. "ck Dragon, take the youngdy and escape from Edlen." "Cowen!" "Mydy, I will take care of that guy and follow you. Please leave first." "No!" -Ah; -g ON. -Is he going to lose? -He''s going to lose. A conversation that felt like a final farewell. Although he didn''t know their feelings, choosing that option was impossible in itself. "In the end, innocent blood must be shed." The temperature in the assassin''s voice dropped even further. And the moment the direction of the sword in their hand shifted slightly... Swish-! The assassin lunged forward. "You think I''ll just let you do that!" Cowen, who had been on guard, swung his sword powerfully. It was an agile movement that didn''t match his physique. However, the enemy was skilled beyond ordinary standards. Swoosh- Twisting their body in the middle of the charge, the assassin easily dodged Cowen''s attack. Their undiminished speed was carried into the next attack. Hook-! The sword flew towards his neck with incredible speed. Cowen, already in an attack stance, couldn''t dodge it. "Cowen!" Lia''s scream rang out. At that moment. ng-! Hanbit, who had slipped between the two, forcefully deflected the assassin''s sword. Whirl- Switching their grip on the deflected sword, the assassin immediately struck down towards Hanbit. It was Cowen who reacted to that attack. "Ha!" Choosing his hand instead of the sword, he threw a punch towards the assassin''s face. However, the assassin raised their hand and blocked the attack. "Did I seem that weak to you?" Clench- Strong force was exerted by the hand gripping his fist. "Ugh!" With the excruciating pain that felt like it was crushing his hand, Cowen pushed it away and stepped back. Swoosh- At that moment, a faint white glow enveloped the assassin''s body. Hanbit quickly grabbed Cowen''s shoulder. "Get away!" Whoosh- Simultaneously, the assassin''s sword charged again. Gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands, Hanbit gathered the surging wind into the blue-white de. "Haa!" Hanbit threw himself forward, swinging his sword downwards as if to cleave the assassin in two. And the moment their swords shed... Boom-! A huge shockwave spread through the surroundings. "Ugh!" "Mydy!" Cowen caught Lia just before she was blown away, shielding her with his body. As he looked up, all he could see was the assassin. "Shit..." Hanbit, flung backwards, crashed straight into the wall. There was no pain. However, the overwhelming difference in power he felt for the first time in a long time stirred up vivid memories. -Whoa; -Is he really losing? -ck Dragon is being defeated like this; -How can he win against that? -The story is -over- Thud- Hanbit pulled himself out of the wall and regained his stance. Perhaps due to the tremendous damage he had received, his movements had be extremely sluggish. "What a peculiar power," the assassin muttered, looking at Hanbit''s sword. However, they didn''t think it was the power of a spirit. The Spirit User massacre that took ce 100 years ago had nearly erased the true power of spirits from people''s memory. "You won''t be able to withstand it twice." The assassin, lowering their sword, slowly started walking. Seeing this, Cowen kicked off the ground. "You think I''ll just watch?!" He swung the sword he held in both hands with all his might. However, the assassin simply moved their hand without even turning their head. Bang-! A sound that was impossible to believe came from swords shing. "Ugh!" Cowen, thrown back by the impact, fell to the floor. The sword in his hand was broken exactly in half. "Ah..." Lia, who had been watching the situation with a hardened expression, let out a short sigh. Trying to regain her senses, she shook her head and gripped her dagger. "You are all so foolish." The assassin''s gaze shifted to Lia. "Mydy...! Run away!" Cowen desperately tried to get up. However, the pain resonating throughout his body showed no signs of subsiding. "Ha..." Hanbit, who could at least move his legs, slowly moved to Lia''s side. "ck Dragon..." Lia choked out his name, tears welling up in her eyes. The assassin approached, sword in hand. If that arm moved, the two of them would die. Even with the spirit ne, it would only be a momentary reprieve. The obvious, desperate oue crashed over Lia¡¯s mind. That emotion finally turned into rage. "Because of you...!" Her father''s false usation and death. Even if it was her uncle and Barres''s scheme, the Holy Kingdom was behind it. She felt nothing but anger towards those who tried to ruin her past and present. "It''s okay." Hanbit, who knew her heart well, stood firm in front of Lia. Even with his immobile body, he gripped his sword. He had experienced countless situations like this. "I bear no ill will towards you. God will watch over you, so abandon your wicked emotions and die." The assassin, lowering their sword, kicked off the ground. And the moment that cold de was about to reach their necks... Boom! An intense wind descended. "Ugh!" The assassin was thrown back by a gust of windpletely different from before. "I told you to be careful." A familiar voice came from within the wind. Hanbit raised his head at the voice he had been waiting for. "Master." "Focus on healing your wounds. I cannot lose the disciple I gained after decades," the white-haired old man said with sincerity. The one who appeared at the critical moment was A, the Swordmaster of Wind. Hanbit''s master and the most skilled person in Edlen. -Whoa. -Why is A here? -Master ??? -That''s so reassuring; -He hit him. -Teacher, please kill him. "You are..." The assassin, correcting their posture, red at A cautiously. The old man, meeting their gaze leisurely, raised his sword and said, "Come. I shall cut you down along with your twisted faith." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 50 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 50 ng-! Whoosh-! The battle between A and the assassin was swift and decisive. The sharp gust of wind and the unknown white radiance. Both powers were formidable, but the spirit techniques honed over a long period were on a different level. Whirl-! The white-haired old man moved with an agility that defied his age. It was partly thanks to the wind, but fundamentally, their skill levels were worlds apart. "Ugh!" The assassin''s previousposure was nowhere to be found. They realized that in terms of strength, speed, and experience, they couldn''t surpass the opponent in front of them. Swish-! ng-! A relentlessly attacked. The assassin had no respite. He looked at the assassin, who was desperately blocking his attacks with all their might, and said, "Why don''t you pray to your God?" "Shut up!" Thud-! Pushing the sword away, the assassin retreated. The white radiance that had been shining from their body had diminished considerably. "You are using power that is beyond your grasp. Unstable and bizarre, just like your God." "How dare you... spheme God!" The assassin gritted their teeth in anger at A''s provocation. However, in this situation, there was no way to ovee the old man in front of them. "I will kill you for sure." Bang-! Light erupted explosively along with the assassin''s voice. The sh of light that engulfed their vision blinded everyone. Swish-! At that moment, the sound of wind cut through the light with a sharp cry. "Ugh!" The assassin cried out once more. The blinding light disappeared immediately after. "...Huh?" Lia, her vision restored, looked straight ahead and froze. The assassin, who had been there just moments before, was gone. All that remained was blood scattered on the floor. -He ran away, lol. -???: How dare you spheme God! -???: I will kill you for sure! -He even got hit once before leaving, rofl. "Hmm." A, who had sent the wind de flying, only rxed his stance after a little more time had passed. He sheathed his sword and turned around, only to freeze in ce. "..." His eyes met with the four people who were staring at him. A hesitated and eventually turned his head away. "...There are too many people here. I feel sick." "There are only two new people. Please stay a little longer," Hanbit said, grabbing his master who was about to leave. He couldn''t help his social phobia, but they needed to sort out the situation. "The technique of borrowing the power of spirits?" "Could it be... that this person is a Spirit User?" He introduced A to Cowen and Lia. They seemed more surprised by the story about the power of spirits than the fact that he was ck Dragon''s master. A himself had his back turned, pretending to be wary of the alleyway entrance. The two approached him. "Thank you for your help." "I didn''t know there was such a strong person like you in Edlen. It is an honor to meet you." "..." A didn''t respond to their gratitude. Hanbit, who had followed them, added an exnation instead. "Please understand. He''s a bit wary of people. If there was alcohol, it might be a different story." "Alcohol?" Cowen reacted to that word. "He denies it, but he''s a heavy drinker." "...Didn''t I say I quit drinking?" "You drank 20 bottles in one sitting." "..." -Fact bomb. LOL -Facts are on DragonTube. -It''s hrious how he''s avoiding eye contact. LOL A coughed awkwardly and turned his eyes to the alley. Cowen, watching the exchange, cautiously said, "I have some precious alcohol. Would it be alright if I offered it to you as a gift?" "Precious alcohol?" "Yes. It''s alcohol made with ingredients gathered from the Night Garden. I''m sure you''ll like it." "Hmm." At his suggestion, A pretended to contemte and hesitated. Then, he slightly turned his head and said, "...How many bottles do you have?" * * * "Ah..." In the secret space beneath the old building, A, taking his lips away from the bottle, let out a satisfied sigh. Five empty bottles were already piled up around him. "I''m d you like it." Cowen, who had brought the alcohol from his room, was still on guard, still protecting Lia. Even though it was a safe ce, they was no room forcency now. "If you keep doing that, you''ll wear yourself out. Rx while I''m here." "...Thank you." -Don''t say cool things while holding a bottle of alcohol; -The taste is reliable. -But isn''t this ce inessible? -Maybe not 100 percent? -It must be safer than outside, though. The entrance to this space was only opened by the Norton ring. However, the earlier attack made them realize they couldn''t let their guard down even for a moment. Chirp-! A bird''s chirp rang out in the tense atmosphere. Lia, sitting next to Hanbit, was stroking Sylph. It seemed she had developed a sense of closeness after learning that Sylph was a wind spirit. "So, how did you get here earlier? It was just at the critical moment," Hanbit asked, recalling the attack. He knew A would appear soon, but he didn''t expect such dramatic timing. "I continued to look around Edlen even after warning you. Then I detected a strange reaction twice." "Twice?" "One was that child''s ring, which I felt near the waterway, and the other was the power used by the Holy Kingdom''s assassin. I was able to reach where you were by sensing those reactions,¡± A took a few sips of alcohol as he exined. Few people would have noticed, but he was ready to grab his sword at any moment. He was on such high alert that if the assassin attacked, their head would be blown off immediately. "Thanks to you, we were able to survive. Thank you once again." "I was only trying to save my disciple. But... I cannot ignore the traces left by the Spirit King." A''s gaze was directed at Lia, who looked a little depressed. She had run away, refusing to leave Edlen, but she had faced reality all too quickly. It would be difficult to stubbornly insist on staying if she thought such attacks would continue. "Lia, you can stay in Edlen." "...Huh?" "ck Dragon?" At his sudden words, Lia and Cowen turned their gazes at the same time. Sensing their confusion, Hanbit asked A, "You''ll stay with us until this is over, right?" "My purpose is only to protect you and eliminate the unstable elements that harm the spirits. I don''t care about the conflicts between humans." "The person at the center of that conflict, Barres, is after the Spirit King''s traces. If it falls into his hands, things will definitely get messy." "Hmm." A stroked his chin as he listened to the situation. This was a very simple problem for him. "Then can''t we just kill this Barres guy?" "If killing him would end it, we would have done it already. And that ring is a treasure that the Spirit King Sallion himself empowered. It means he has the will to protect the Norton family." "..." A pondered seriously when the Spirit King''s name was mentioned. After a moment of silence, he approached Lia. "Would it be alright if I take a look?" "Uh... yes." Lia nced at Hanbit and nodded, holding out the ring. And the moment A carefully received it... Whoosh-! A gust of hot wind erupted. "Ugh!" "Mydy!" Surprised, Lia and Cowen hurriedly moved to take a defensive stance. However, A lightly raised his hand to stop them. "Don''t make a fuss. It''s disrespectful to the spirit." At his scolding tone, the two stopped moving. Silence descended once again, and only the wind could be felt. A opened and closed his eyes, then exhaled a sigh. His gaze fell on Hanbit. "Alright. I will protect that child until this is over. However, if your life is in danger, I will prioritize you." -His love for his disciple is crazy; -If I had a disciple after decades, I''d go crazy too. -This is totally like a professor. -???: Do you want to study a little more? -Another innocent college student lost today. A''s strong will left no room for negotiation. Anyway, now that he had be their ally, it was safe to say they had ovee a huge obstacle. He could protect Lia and even disrupt the tracking of the ring with the power of the spirit. "Thank you. It''s incredibly reassuring to have you help us." "Protect yourself. And bring me some more alcoholter." "Yes, of course." Cowen nodded with a faint smile. Now that Lia''s safety, the most important thing, had been secured, it was time to act. "We can''t just sit back and take this," Cowen said with a determined expression. Regardless of the rtionship between the Holy Kingdom''s assassin and Barres, the important thing was that the enemy had started their attack. They had to prepare a counterattack as soon as possible. "You know, right? If all the officials in Edlen are on Barres'' side, all that''s left is the royal family." "Yes." Cowen nodded at Hanbit''s question. As it was the only method they had been considering, he continued without hesitation. "We will ask the Royal Guards, the King''s Swords, for help. Their judgment will be sufficient to punish those who try to overthrow the nation." -Whoa; -The Royal Guards are appearing here; -Those who want to see Leon, hit rmend. -Already being scolded in front of our eyes. -I couldn''t see it properly because the story went awry; -You''ve missed half your life, lol. The Royal Guards, called the King''s Swords. As the group was mentioned, the viewers shouted someone''s name. ''She''s really popr.'' Leon, the vice-captain of the Royal Guards. Considering her beautiful appearance and personality, it was natural for the viewers to like her. They were the kind of people who would be thrilled even after being criticized by Artsvel. Since Leon would be the knighting to Edlen, the reaction would be quite heated. "The Royal Guards areing here? Aren''t they people who only move under the King''s orders?" "Crimes that shake the nation are also reported to the King. The content contained in this projection magical tool is enough to summon a member of the Royal Guards to Edlen," Cowen exined, nodding at Lia''s question. It would be nice to have a little more time to prepare, but every second was precious now. It was crucial to bring the Royal Guards here somehow. "First, I will gather signatures from various figures and nobles for a petition." "Nobles? Aren''t they all under Barres'' control?" "On the surface, yes, but there are still people like me. That''s how good of an influence Lord William was to many people." Cowen lowered his gaze and quietly reminisced. Then, he looked at Lia and continued, "Let''s go meet your father''s... Lord William''s former vassals." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 51 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 51 -They''re gone? -That happened? -They left William to die? -Ah lol they had to save themselves first. -Really, it''s f*cked up if you try to help for no reason. The viewers'' questions were natural. William''s former vassals. Those who worked faithfully under him, the mayor. From another person''s point of view, it was no different from just watching the execution. "Are you talking about Uncle Henry and the others?" Lia also knew about the vassals. Even though she had rarely met them, William often told her stories about them. "That''s right. They have all resigned from their positions at the time, but they are still working for Edlen." "...Was that Father''s order too?" "Yes. They also did not speak out about the past incident under Lord William''s orders. It was his judgment that... if everyone was purged, the future of the city would be obvious." Cowen recalled the day he fled the mansion with Lia. Although it was an order, the guilt embedded in his heart did not easily disappear. It was the same for the former vassals. "Can we trust those guys?" A, who was listening to the story, asked with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean?" "Betrayal is human nature. They often give up many things for their own safety. You can''t even trust your family, so isn''t it a natural doubt?" "...." -That''s a fact. -Brook sniping; -Family is the most dangerous. -Really, I skipped school for a week and got hit on the back. -You should get hit. Anyway, the viewers aside, Cowen couldn''t easily refute it. In fact, immediately after he ran away with Lia, he also had no choice but to doubt the vassals. In the first ce, Cowen, who was a shadow knight, only knew the vassals through information. "...I have been observing them for a long time. I had to figure out what actions they were taking after Lord William''s execution and whether they were being influenced by Barres." "You weren''t just naive. So, what was the result?" "They were all absorbed in their work. Like dolls with dark expressions, they were only focused on their work. As if it was difficult to hold on otherwise." "Who do they interact with?" "The vassals avoided meeting each other and only went back and forth between home and work every day." "...What a fleeting life." A clicked his tongue and shook his head. However, it was also a life distorted enough to be unquestionable of betrayal. "How is Uncle Henry?" Lia, who was listening to the conversation, asked. Henry, who worked as a finance officer under William, was a good-natured person who often yed with Lia. She had vivid good memories of him because he always had a smiling face. "...Henry is the most absorbed in his work. After losing his wife and daughter to the gue, he doesn''t even go home much." "That...." The tragic situation left her speechless. It was even more shocking because it was in stark contrast to her old memories. "If you are ufortable, you don''t have to meet them. We can persuade them using the ring and magic tools." Cowen, seeing Lia''s downcast gaze, spoke with concern. However, after a moment of silence, Lia raised her head with a determined look. "I want to meet them. Uncle Henry is the only one I know... but I still want to see them." "...I understand." Seeing her expression, Cowen nodded silently. Rising to his feet, he said courteously, "I will arrange a meeting immediately. It will take some time, but Bares'' forces will never notice." Ding-! [Main Quest #7 Completed.] [Progress increases.] [Main Quest #8: Assembly] With A''s help, you have prevented the attack of the Holy Kingdom''s assassins. To judge the sins of Barres and Brook, you need the power of the King''s Sword, the Royal Knights. Meet with William''s former vassals summoned by Cowen and gather their support. Goal: Make a n with William''s vassals. Reward: 50,000 gold, 15,000 experience points, 2 stat points *Current progress: 66 percent *This quest can be progressed in 12 hours. The message appeared along with Cowen''s words. Hanbit, who had gotten up from his seat, looked at Lia and said, "Shall I bring Flona here too? Isn''t it unsettling to leave her alone?" "Huh? Really?" As if she had been thinking about it, she quickly raised her head. Her eyes were pleading with him to bring Flona along. "One more ising? Are you nning to use your master as a babysitter?" A, who foresaw the future, frowned slightly. "Can''t we bring Artsvel too? She knows about the situation too." "...Two more areing?" -ROFL -Sword of the Wind (shelter) -It is boring to be alone. -But Artsvel knew too; -I¡¯ll say this again. Julio is a f*cking dog. When Lia added her request, the old man''s wrinkles deepened. "It''s okay to have that much. I''ll trust only Master." "No..." Hanbit, who did not listen to the answer, moved upstairs with Cowen. He left immediately for the summons, so Hanbit also moved quickly. "Oh? Adventurer!" "ck Dragon?" There was no need to persuade the two. They were people who would nod their heads whenever Lia''s name was mentioned. Especially Artsvel''s reaction, who knew the situation, was extraordinary. "What? You''re helping with that? Lia? Is Lia okay?" She poured out questions in surprise after hearing about what had happened. Other than saying she was okay, it would be better to leave the detailed exnation to the person involved. "Uh... can Rubye with us too?" "Of course." A cat was added, but it was no problem. It will only increase A''s work. Thus, Hanbit, who hid everyone''s appearance with robes, moved to an old building. It was a careful move so that no one would notice. "Flona! Artsvel!" The sight of the three reuniting in the basement was heartwarming to anyone. Although the old man standing behind was staring at his disciple. "Then I''ll go and take care of some things too. Master, please." "..." Hanbit, who ran outside again, quickly moved to the street. He needed more preparation, but it wasn''t something he had to do today. "12 hours is quite a long time. You''re going to turn off the stream soon, right?" Yeonwoo asked, checking the time. "It''s dawn, so I should turn it off soon. I have to go out tomorrow." "Ah, please spare some time for me too." "Why you?" "I have something to tell you." -Are you abandoning us? -Let''s watch together. -A gathering is not bad. -Already on my way. -But where do we meet? -Come to my house. The viewers rushed in to join the two''s meeting. Just thinking about a gathering was a dizzying image. "You guys have fun meeting up. I''ll get going. I''ll continue the story tomorrow. Let''s contact each other separately." -Bye -Send me a message. -Dragon bye. -See you tomorrow. Bye -See you tomorrow. Click- The game ended with thest chat. Hanbit, who took off his gear, quickly finished showering. More tired than he thought, he fell asleep as soon as hey down on the bed. * * * The next morning. "Yeonwoo asked to see you?" His mother, sitting across from him at the dining table, asked in wonder. "He said he had something to say. I told him I had an appointment with you, so I asked him toe over." "Really? Well, I like it. It''s been a while since I''ve seen Yeonwoo." Thest day of the weekend, Sunday. Today''s schedule was to go to the department store with his mother. That was also the reason why he had the money he had recently earned. "But are you really going to the department store? It''s just expensive and there''s nothing to buy." "That''s already been decided. I''m definitely going to change my bag and wallet." "...Ah, you''re so stubborn. Fine." The repeated squabble finally ended with Hanbit''s victory. He couldn''t bear to see his mother''s 20-year-old bag and worn-out wallet any longer. After finishing their meal, the two got ready and left the house. "Please go to AG Department Store." It felt new to take a taxi to their destination. He didn''t usually use it because of the cost. "Thank you." Arriving in front of the department store, Hanbit and his mother stood in front of therge building. The streets were crowded, as expected on a Sunday. There were many people who looked rxed, but Hanbit''s bank ount was also full. "Let''s go." He led his mother into the department store. The first floor, filled with the smell of cosmetics and perfume, felt quite unfamiliar. "You want to go in here?" Arriving in front of the luxury store, his mother showed reluctance. "Looking around is free." "That''s true, but..." "Just look." Hanbit grabbed his hesitant mother''s hand and entered the store. His mother was flustered by the staff''s kind guidance, but that didn''tst long. "This product looks so good on you, ma''am. The sophisticated design and bright colors are perfect." "Really? I''m fine as long as it''sfortable..." "Then how about this line? It''s a new product, but it''s easy to match in various ways, so it''s a popr product these days..." The staff''s professionalism was amazing. Her ability to change his mother''s hesitant atmosphere was admirable. "I''ll help you with the payment of 3.58 million won." Surprisingly, after looking around a few more stores, they returned to the first store and made a decision. An expensive luxury bag and wallet that they hadn''t even thought of. Of course, it was apanied by Hanbit''s long persuasion, but he finally seeded in purchasing them. "Thank you." The two proudly exited the store with exclusive shopping bags. A new bag was already on his mother''s shoulder. This was also a rmendation from the staff. "Is it really okay?" His mother, touching the smooth leather strap, asked worriedly. Seeing her slightly excited expression, it seemed like she had chosen something she really liked. "Your son makes a lot of money. We''re going to move soon, so keep that in mind." "Oh my, it''s good just to hear that." When he brought up the story of moving, his mother took it as a joke. Considering that it would require hundreds of millions of won, it was a natural reaction. However, Hanbit was serious. ''After finishing the episode is important.'' Donations continued toe in while progressing through the story. Especially sincepanies were constantly throwing money at him with love calls, he was starting to get nervous. The important thing is after the Edlen story is over. Depending on his decision, there were ways to generaterge profits. ''Items are neat, though.'' With information or education, you have to care about the buyer''s results. On the other hand, with items, you just have to worry about the quality and sell them. Wouldn''t it be best to aim for this? "We''re going to see Yeonwoo at lunch, so let''s look around some more. We have to buy clothes and shoes too." "What? You''re going to buy more here?" "Let''s just look around." Hanbit started moving again, leading his mother by the hand. After about two hours of wandering around the store, having various squabbles and conversations, his mother, leaving the department store, had changed from head to toe. "Is it too much?" His mother asked with a worried look at her awkward appearance. "What''s too much? It''s perfect." There was no lie in his words. Rather, he wanted to shop even more extravagantly. But today was only the beginning, and there would be many more opportunities in the future. "The restaurant is... here." The meeting ce was near the department store, so they arrived quickly on foot. It was a course meal restaurant that looked expensive at first nce. "...Is this the right ce?" "Yes, let''s go in." The two stepped into the antique store. Following the staff''s guidance, they saw a separate room. "Aunty!" Yeonwoo, who had been waiting, ran to them as soon as he saw them. He approached his mother and greeted her affectionately, rather than Hanbit, whom he saw every day in the game. "How have you been? I almost didn''t recognize you because you''ve changed from head to toe. It really suits you." "You won''t get anything by ttering me. But haven''t you lost some weight? You should eat well." "As expected, I can''t fool a mother''s eyes. I''ve been a bit busytely... Ah, please have a seat first. You too, hyung." Following his words, Hanbit and his mother sat down in the prepared seats. Yeonwoo, sitting opposite them, definitely looked a bit tired. "You didn''t sleep again?" "Whose fault is that...?" Yeonwoo responded to the casual question as if he was dumbfounded. Then, he took out a folder from the bag next to him and ced it on the table. "What''s this?" The sudden appearance of a business item raised questions. Yeonwoo slowly opened the file folder and said, "These are all the recruitment offers that came for you, hyung." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 52 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 52 "...Recruitment offer?" He had expected Yeonwoo to bring it up eventually. The problem was the number. "These are all recruitment offers? Aren¡¯t these too many?" "Look back at what you did, hyung. Even after filtering as much as possible, there are 100 left. If I reduce it any further, I will have to removerge corporations." Yeonwoo expressed his frustration, saying he did his best. His mother, who was watching the two, asked, "What is this all about?" "Ah, Mom, this is..." "I''ll exin it to you. Hyung, please check it out quickly." Yeonwoo, interrupting, started exining the situation to his mother. Hanbit, watching this absurdly, pulled the documents towards himself. ''There are so many.'' A list of corporations, streamers, and individual yers lined up. The conditions offered by each were neatly organized. Even the important parts were highlighted in different colors withments attached. ''What a mother hen.'' He could feel Yeonwoo''sst bit of stubbornness in this document. Obviously, the conditions offered byrger corporations were better than those of the newpany Yeonwoo was going to establish. Of course, Yeonwoo wanted to take Hanbit, but his thoughts must have changed while watching Hanbit y. It was an unbusinesslike thought to let him go to a bigger stage. It was so like Joo Yeonwoo that heughed hollowly. "This is why they want to take you, hyung. In sports terms, you are a very promising yer." Meanwhile, Yeonwoo''s enthusiastic exnation came to an end. His mother, who had been silent for a while, turned her gaze to the documents and said, "So, are these all people who want to recruit Hanbit?" "Yes. There are even cases where offers ovepped from onepany. They seem to really want to have hyung." "...Really?" His mother, too, carefully examined the documents in this unfamiliar situation. The content was difficult to understand due to the mixed gaming terms. However, what caught her eye was also clear. "100 million with 150 million? What is this?" The amounts attached to the back of the offer from apany called Geumjo. Since there were no other notes written, it was difficult for his mother to understand. "It means the signing bonus is 100 million, and the annual sry is 150 million. What is attached at the back is the incentive use... Simply put, it is the ratio of sharing the treasure Hanbit hyung finds with thepany. Butpared to other ces, it isn''t a good term." "...?" What intuitively came to mind from Yeonwoo''s exnation was, of course, the signing bonus and annual sry. However, she was momentarily confused because it didn''t feel real. "Aunty, I checked everything one by one and only selected soundpanies. You saw many familiar names here, right?" Knowing her concern, Yeonwoo pointed to a few items on the list with his finger. There were names of famous domestic corporations and even celebrities. However, because they were too well-known names, various worries arose, but Yeonwoo read her mind. "For reference, the contract would be conducted officially within thepany building. For those who work individually, the contract would be made fairly so that there are no legal problems, so you don''t have to worry too much. For now, since I am from a legal family, I will take responsibility and connect you." The thorough exnation gradually eased his mother''s worries. Yeonwoo''s parents were the representative couple of one of the top threew firms in Korea. Although he himself did not follow the path of awyer, as the youngest, he was able to draw a rtively free future for himself. nk- In the meantime, course meals were brought in one by one. Hanbit slowly savored the food while perusing the documents. ''Yeonhwa is here too.'' Before the Rashtan monopoly incident urred, thepany that most actively expressed its intention to recruit was Yeonhwa Gaming. While suspicious of Hanbit and Yeonwoo, the offer went awry, but after realizing it was a misunderstanding, they poured out millions of won in donations. The conditions offered now amounted to a signing bonus of 200 million won. "How is it? There are some conditions that really stand out, like Yeonhwa, right? To be exact, we need to see the results of the episode, but that could be included in the contract use retroactively,¡± Yeonwoo said, emphasizing the conditions. Hanbit, looking through the list, asked, "Why isn''t yourpany here?" "Oh, I haven''t properly established it yet. Hyung, you just have to choose based on the conditions here. I have excluded ckpanies as much as possible, so don''t worry." "Could you really filter out ckpanies by excluding them?" It must be the result of his own research, but the inside story of apany is difficult to know from the outside. Even if there are stories circting in the employeemunity, there arepanies that managed even that. "Yeonwoo is starting apany?" His mother, who was eating and looking at the documents, spoke up. Yeonwoo, who was at the receiving end of her gaze, scratched his head and replied, "It''s nothing big. It''s like gathering people who do game streams and forming a team together. Of course, we''ll be able to make a decent profit." "Really?" His mother, listening to the exnation, fell into thought. Meanwhile, Hanbit, who had finished checking the list, closed the folder. "I''ve decided." "Oh, already? Where are you going?" "I''m not going anywhere." "...Huh?" Yeonwoo''s movements stopped at the absurd answer. Wondering if he had heard correctly, he asked again, "You''re not going anywhere?" "Why are you surprised? I told you before." "No, it''s different now! With all these optionsid out! Do you know how difficult it was to organize this?¡± Yeonwoo appealed, raising his voice as if he was wronged. But nothing changed. He never wanted to be influenced by outside forces within RP. "You can use this information well. And prepare yourpany quickly. I''ll do as I please there." "Woah, really? Did you think I would say thank you so much? Aunty, aunty, you also want hyung to get a good job, right?¡± Yeonwoo quickly asked his mother, who was eating, looking for reinforcement. "Job?" His mother, hearing the question, turned her head to look at her son''s face. The list ofpanies and the incredible conditions written in the documents. Naturally, thinking about her son''s stable future, choosing the best ce here should be the right answer. However, the answer to this concern had been decided since the day Hanbit was born. "Why, do you want me to choose one from here? Hanbit casually asked his mother, who seemed lost in thought. His mother, reminiscing about old memories, turned her gaze to the food and said calmly, "Do what you want to do. That which makes you happiest. If you''re with Yeonwoo, I won''t worry either." "That''s my mom." "Aunty!" Hanbit and Yeonwoo''s reactions werepletely opposite. It wasn''t a surprising answer to Hanbit, who already knew his mother''s heart. However, Yeonwoo only had a bewildered expression. "Anyone would think I rejected yourpany." "Hyung, you don''t know how I feel. The burden on my shoulders is so heavy that it''s scary." He had refused good conditions and chosen his newpany. If he didn''t produce satisfactory results, it would be entirely his fault. That thought naturally came to mind. "So, do you hate it?" "...There''s no way I could hate it." Even with that burden, his anticipation swelled. In the first ce, the list and conditions organized in the documents were offers given to Hanbit until yesterday. After today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, a week, a monthter, what kind of situation would unfold? Seeing his fresh and stimting y style, it was unimaginable. "Thank you. I''ll work hard and make you and aunty rich, hyung." "Thank you for saying that." His mother chuckled at his solemn determination. Yeonwoo was only thinking of sincerely achieving it. "How much longer until you''re ready? It''ll take a little longer, right?" "I''ve finished preparing the corporation, but there are some minor decisions left. I''m getting help from my father with this." Even if he was a beloved youngest child, business and personal matters had to be separated. That was also Yeonwoo''s father''s iron rule. He was now on trial, awaiting judgment. "Anyway, since you said you''ll join me, hyung, I''ll try to connect you to work right away. I was already preparing to grow the channel." "Preparing to grow?" "Editing clips, or refining the information you disclosed on themunity, hyung, and uploading it to the channel. I''ll show you this gradually." Yeonwoo went on to exin several ns. The meal continued with a changed atmosphere and ended satisfactorily. "I ate well. Thanks to Yeonwoo, I was treated well." "I''ll treat you to something more delicious next time." The greetings exchanged as they left the restaurant were no less than those between a mother and her second son. "Hyung, you''re going to take aunty sightseeing, right?" "I''m going to look at some RP gear. There¡¯s a pretty big store in the department store, right?" "Gear? Are you going to use the next level already?" Yeonwoo''s question was natural. It had been less than a week of ytime. For Hanbit, who was already using Level 2 gear, considering the next level gear was objectively early. "I need it for the remaining main quest. You want toe too?" "Huh? Is that okay?" "Of course it is. Let''s go." Hanbit moved to the RP corner of the department store with the two. Amidst all sorts of goods, he saw a disy stand lined with gear. "Wee. Is this your first time with RP?" A female employee quickly approached and greeted them. She was ncing at Hanbit''s face, but he didn''t pay much attention to it. "No. I''m looking for some Level 3 gear." "Ah, I see. Level 3 gear is in the second block. Would you like toe this way?" The employee kindly led the way and guided them to the location. Inside the ss disy case that followed, various forms of gear were disyed. "As you know, RP gear has different characteristics depending on the manufacturer. We can rmend the right product for you based on your desired detailed requirements, such as vision, hearing, smell, movement, and sensitivity." The core technology of the gear disclosed by the gamepany. Various manufacturers added their own unique renewals based on that. It was a structure where one manufacturer could sweep away money depending on thepetitiveness of the product. It was natural for Hanbit''spany to be interested. "Whichpany''s gear is the best overall?" "Products from Cores have the best overall efficiency. The price is in the 30 million won range." Hanbit, listening to the exnation, looked at Yeonwoo. Confirming his queation, Yeonwoo nodded and said, "There is nopany that makes better gear than Cores. They have the number one market share in the world." Unlike Yeonwoo, who didn''t pay much attention to ying, Hanbit was properly utilizing even the smallest movements. In that case, improving the gear''s performance was not much different from raising the specs of a game character. "Then I''ll take this." "Ah, yes! I''ll help you with the payment right away!" The employee, who was looking at Hanbit, answered a beatte and guided him to the checkout counter. Yeonwoo was looking around the disy stand, saying he wanted to exin this and that to his mother. "..." The employee checking the gear nced at Hanbit''s face several times before finishing the task. And when the payment process waspleted, she casually asked, "By any chance... are you streamer ck Dragon?" "...Yes?" At first, he thought he had misheard. Even if he was caught by Lee Minho, it was embarrassing for this situation to happen at a department store. "ck Dragon?" At that moment, a strange man''s voice came from behind. Turning his head, he met the gaze of a tall man in a suit. Immediately after, the other person''s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? That face...! Are you really ck Dragon!" The man who called out in a loud voice strode towards him. He continued in an excited voice, "You set your appearance to be the same as in reality! No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity!" Despite his overly friendly attitude, they were definitely meeting for the first time. Hanbit, who had instinctively taken a defensive stance, asked warily, "Who are you?" "Ah, I''m sorry. I got too excited." The man rummaged through his suit pocket. Then, he handed out a sophisticated business card and continued, "It''s an honor to meet you. I''m streamer Avantgarde!" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 53 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 53 ¡°Avantgarde?¡± A familiar name. Hanbit searched his memory. Several donations and viewer reactions shed through his mind. ¡°Ah, you''re the one who frequently donates, right?¡± "You remember me! I''m Avantgarde!" he eximed with a booming voice, naturally drawing the attention of those around them. ¡°Could you please lower your voice a little? I don''t want to advertise that I''m a streamer.¡± "Ah, I apologize. I got a little carried away," Avantgarde scratched his head apologetically. "Here again today?" the employee greeted him casually, indicating that he was a regr at the store. ¡°Of course! I even have the good fortune of meeting the ck Dragon himself!¡± Avantgarde''s voice grew louder as his excitement bubbled over. Hanbit quickly put his card back in his wallet and said, ¡°We''re done here, right?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! The product will be delivered to your home at your convenience.¡± "Then please schedule it for 3 p.m." ¡°Understood. And also¡­¡± The clerk, who was quickly taking notes, pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from somewhere. In a small voice, she asked, "If it''s not too much trouble, could I get your autograph?" ¡°¡­An autograph?¡± The unexpected request was bewildering. He wasn''t a celebrity, nor was he famous enough to give autographs. ¡°I''ve been watching you since you got your hidden skill. I''m a real fan, is it¡­ Would it be difficult?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± He couldn''t refuse such a sincere request. The problem was that Hanbit didn''t have a signature. ¡®Should I just write something?¡¯ After a moment of contemtion, he recalled a memory. A signature he consistently used in the other world, where regression, possession, and reincarnation repeated. The characters themselves were from that world, but it wouldn''t be a problem if no one could recognize them. Rather, it might be a good choice since it wouldn''t ovep with anyone else''s. ¡°I''ll do it.¡± ¡°Really? Thank you!¡± As he grabbed the pen, the employee expressed her gratitude in a delighted voice. Hanbit drew the familiar signature on the paper with practiced ease. "Wow, is this ck Dragon-nim''s signature? It''s so unique," the employee remarked, her eyes sparkling as she watched. Since it was practically a symbol rather than a letter, it was bound to be fascinating to others. ¡°Hyung, what''s going on?¡± At that moment, Yeonwoo and his mother, who had been looking at the gears, approached the counter. Their eyes fell on the signature on the paper. ¡°Huh? What''s this?¡± ¡°Did you write this?¡± Yeonwoo simply expressed curiosity, while his mother recognized her son''s handwriting. His habit of drawing circle-like patterns hadn''t changed, even in that other world. Hanbit decided to get out of there quickly. ¡°Then, we''ll be going. Please send the item properly.¡± ¡°Of course! Good luck with your stream today! I''ll be looking forward to it!¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Hearing a viewer''s support in reality gave him a strange feeling. Were all those people causing amotion in the chat window ordinary outside? "So, what was that all about?" Yeonwoo asked again when they were out of the store. Avoiding his gaze, Hanbit replied awkwardly, "...The employee recognized me as ck Dragon and asked for my autograph." ¡°Didn''t I tell you? That it would definitely happen. How could you not get caught with a face like that?¡± his mother narrowed her eyes, saying she had expected it. She sighed, but seeing her son giving an autograph made her feel amused. ¡°Haha, as expected of a star. My presence is fading away.¡± Just then, a man''s voice was heard from behind. Avantgarde was standing there with a smile, drawing everyone''s attention. ¡°Oh? Avantgarde¡­¡± Yeonwoo immediately recognized him when he saw his face. He was also someone who had set his character''s appearance identical to his real-life self. ¡°Your way of speaking is exactly like Roper. Nice to meet you!¡± Avantgarde, who also recognized Yeonwoo, took out a business card and handed it to him. Then, he pulled out another card and turned his attention to Hanbit''s mother. "Hello, ma¡¯am. My name is Avantgarde, and I''m an RP game streamer. You could say I''m a colleague of ck Dragon, in a broad sense." "Oh my, hello. You''re such a polite young man." Avantgarde''s affable nature led the conversation. Hanbit, watching the scene in bewilderment, decided to get to the point. Avantgarde had been donating in his streams and asking to get in touch, so he must have wanted something. At least, that''s what Hanbit thought. "Well, now that I''ve introduced myself, I''ll be on my way." "...Yes?" Contrary to expectations, Avantgarde was about to leave immediately. Reading Hanbit''s puzzled expression, he gave a good-natured smile and said, "I shouldn''t disturb you any further while you''re spending the holiday with your mother. I''ll see you again if there''s another chance." With that, Avantgarde disappeared into the distance. Watching his retreating figure, Hanbit asked Yeonwoo, "Didn''t he have any kind of proposal?" Avantgarde''s name hadn''t appeared among the nearly 100 names on the list. Perhaps his offer wasn''t as good as the otherpetitors, but Hanbit felt he wasn''t the business type. "He just said, ''Please contact me once, I''d really like to talk.'' That was about it." "Really? What kind of streams does he do in RP? Story walkthroughs?" "No. It''s more like traveling around the map, exploring different ces, rather than focusing on the main quest." Avantgarde seemed to be a person who wanted to see various things rather than just progress forward. Perhaps his desire to meet and talk with Hanbit was rted to that tendency. "If he wants to talk, why don''t you just talk to him? He seems like a nice person," Hanbit''s mother chimed in, suggesting it wasn''t a difficult request. Looking at the business card in his hand, Hanbit slowly shifted his gaze. "I''ll think about it." * * * After an hour or so of looking around the area, Hanbit returned home with his mother. The Level 3 gear he had purchased arrived almost at the same time. "Such a small thing is so expensive," his mothermented in wonder as she watched from the side. Theponents were a bitrger and moreplex than his old gear, but they seemed insignificantpared to the price of 30 million won. "That''s why I thought Mom would try to stop me." Before going to the RP store, Hanbit had told his mother that he wanted to buy expensive gear. After hearing that it was an investment, his mother readily agreed, saying it was good to be prepared. Even now, her thoughts remained unchanged. "Why would I interfere with the money you earned? And the donations people gave you? You should use that money well for your streams too." His mother dismissed his concerns, saying it was only natural. The money her son earned through his own efforts and abilities belonged entirely to him. She had no intention of influencing him just because she was his parent. She was surprised by gifts like today''s, but she knew he wasn''t the type to waste money. "You''re going to stream now, right? I''ll leave dinner in the refrigerator so you can heat it up right away, make sure to eat." "Okay, I''ll eat even if it''ste." Having observed him for the past few days, his mother understood that he didn''t even have time to eat. Although she was worried, she was relieved that he was enjoying himself, immersed in the game and streaming. "Whew." Entering his room, Hanbitid out the new gear on his bed. As expected of its high price, the condition of each part was incredibly impressive. "What should I do with the one I was using before?" He had bought new gear, but the Level 2 gear Yeonwoo had given him was also worth 5 million won. Perhaps there would be a more meaningful use for it than just selling it second-hand. Whir- Settling onto the bed, Hanbit activated the gear. His vision darkened with the mechanical sound, and soon the scenery inside Edlen appeared with the iing light. Hanbit slowly clenched and unclenched his fist. He moved his body this way and that, changing to various motions and observing the changes. The result was astonishing. ''The sensation is this good?'' The performance of the upgraded gear showed a clear difference. Compared to Level 2, it felt like he had taken off several sandbags. Even the subtleties of his movements were different, as if he were gradually approaching the ideal. ''If I go all the way, I might even surpass that.'' The next level of gear was Level 4, thest one avable for purchase on the market. It seemed that capsule-type equipment could only be used by the vanguard or those with a simr level of fame. "Hyung!" While Hanbit was moving his body a bit more, Yeonwoo logged in. Hanbit immediately pressed the stream start button. "Ah, hello. Can you hear me?" -Dragon hi. -Hi hi -Waited so long; -Let''s go main quest~ -Are you finishing the story today? -You think so? Viewers poured in, quickly bing boisterous. Hanbit brought up the quest details to focus their attention. [Main Quest #8: Assembly] With A''s help, you have prevented the attack of the Holy Kingdom''s assassins. To judge the sins of Barres and Brook, you need the power of the King''s Sword, the Royal Knights. Meet with William''s former vassals gathered by Cowen and gather your intentions. Goal: Make a n with William''s vassals. Reward: 50,000 gold, 15,000 experience points, 2 stat points *Current progress: 66 percent *This quest can be progressed in 12 hours. The story, heading towards thetter half of the first episode, had three objectives: One. To clear William and Lia''s names and restore their status by judging Barres and Brook''s crimes. Two. To protect Lia from Barres and the Holy Kingdom''s assassins. Three. To prevent the traces of the Spirit King Sallion contained within Norton''s Ring from falling into enemy hands. If even one of these objectives went awry, the episode would not reach a proper conclusion. Especially since Barres and the Holy Kingdom werepeting for the traces of the Spirit King, Lia was in even greater danger. That''s why A''s existence was so crucial in this episode. "But can''t we just keep Lia in that secret room until the story is over? No one will find her," Yeonwoo asked, looking at the quest details. It was an obvious suggestion, but things didn''t flow that smoothly. "That ce isn''tpletely safe. Since a battle with the assassins took ce there, they''ll tear down the whole area once they''re ready." "Then you can keep the ring, hyung. Or give it to A." "The ring returns to Lia when it''s too far away. It''s an object engraved in blood." -Tough; -Nothing''s going right. -Can''t we lure them with the ring and have A kill them all? -What if there are multiple assassins from the Holy Kingdom? -Then just give them what they want. -Cut our losses; Viewers poured out various spections and opinions. However, all their thoughts fell within the trial and error that Hanbit had experienced in the past. He didn''t im to have all the answers, but experience didn''t lie. "I''ll be going now." Hanbit moved to a dpidated building in the alley. And as he stood before the secret underground space, a message popped up. [Cutscene Transition.] [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 54 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 54 "Thank you all for gathering." In the secret space beneath the old building, Cowen began, addressing the ten nobles. He hadn''t brought all the former vassals to avoid Barres''s eyes. "I still find it hard to believe. Does a way to reveal their crimes truly exist?" Henry, a middle-aged man sitting closest, said, rubbing his brow. The secret letter Cowen had sent stated that the time hade to clear William''s name. "Yes. We discovered a temple of the Holy Kingdom in the underground waterway." "A temple?" "A temple, you say?" "How is that possible!" The shocking news raised a mor of surprised voices. Henry, with a grave expression, asked again, "Was it truly a temple?" "Yes. It was a temple of considerable size. I heard that Camon was forced to lead the construction due to Barres''s threats." "...Camon? Are you referring to the Camon I know?" "Yes. The craftsman who was in charge of renovating Lord William''s mansion. Only you, Henry, would know that he was also a friend of Lady Liventia... But first, please take a look at this." Cowen took out a crystal ball and ced it on the table. As he activated it, it emitted light and began to project a scene. "What is this...!?" "An outpost? How is that possible!" "And what''s this about traces of the Spirit King?" The conversation between the bishop and Barres echoed from the projection magic tool. Those watching the contents couldn''t help but be astonished. And when the light from the crystal ball faded, Henry clenched his fist. "...So it was all Barres''s doing after all." Even though he had expected it, hearing the truth directly from the viin''s mouth made him grind his teeth. William, whom they had lost so helplessly and powerlessly... His past self, who couldn''t do anything to protect his lord and friend, had always been pathetic and shameful, even though William had asked him to protect the city. "As you can see, the tragedy that befell Lord William was a scheme by Barres and the Holy Kingdom. If it weren''t for this magic tool, it would have been extremely difficult to reach the truth." "Is it something Camon left behind?" "Yes. But it wasn''t me who found it, but an adventurer from abroad. ck Dragon,e in." With those words, the viewpoint shifted back to Hanbit. He flung open the installed curtain and stepped inside. "Greetings. I am the adventurer ck Dragon." -Lol the entrance. -So natural. -But why that expression? -How is his name ck Dragon? lol -Let''s meet the real ck Dragon and have a nickname battle. As he greeted them, everyone''s gaze focused on Hanbit. Their expressions were a mixture of suspicion, apprehension, confusion, and expectation. "Could you exin the circumstances under which you found that object?" Henry asked politely. It waspletely different from how ordinary nobles treated adventurers. However, his sharp gaze, as if peering into one''s soul, exuded an air of intimidation. "A cat named Ruby ran away in the slums. While chasing after it with a child named Lia who lives there, I discovered a secret passage in the waterway. That''s where I found the temple." "...Slums?" The sudden mention of the slums was puzzling. Seeing their faces, Hanbit continued his exnation. "There was a ce in the basement of the temple that was an exact replica of Lady Liventia''s room. It was a space created by Camon." "Why is Liventia''s name being mentioned?" Suddenly, Henry''s voice turned cold. William''s only daughter, sacrificed to Barres''s dirty scheme... The memory of her bright smile flickered, causing pain and despair to wash over him once again. "You''ll understand if you see this." Hanbit took out Camon''s notebook and handed it to him. After a moment of scrutiny, Henry epted the notebook and opened it. "..." A heavy silence fell as he checked the contents. The other former vassals present also wanted to understand the situation, but they waited silently for Henry to speak. This was because, after William''s execution, Henry had be their center, keeping them together while they were adrift. "Whew." After a little more time passed, Henry looked up from the notebook. Then, with a distant gaze, he murmured, "William went so far as to..." In a way, it was a meaningless endeavor. Even if he created this space to preserve his daughter''s memories, the people involved in those memories no longer existed. Even if former vassals like himself visited this ce, it would only bring sorrow. However, what Camon left behind ultimately became immensely meaningful to those who survived. "As written in this notebook, we found Camon''s workshop. That''s where we discovered the projection magic tool." "By workshop, do you mean the sealing stone kept in Harpen''s mansion? You obtained that?" "We had a feeling there might be crucial evidence there. Although we used forceful methods, we didn''t reveal our faces." "...Amazing initiative. Or am I simply ipetent?" -Why is his mentality like this; -Self-reflection is for HenryTube. -Has anyone seen this NPC before? -You pass by him once in a while if you go to the market. -He''s so blunt and looks tired. Henry let out a sigh mixed with self-deprecation. This alone significantly raised his evaluation of Hanbit, even though there were still bigger things to do. "Isn''t it about time they came in?" "...Indeed." Cowen, meeting Hanbit''s gaze, slowly nodded. Then, looking at the former vassals, he said, "There''s someone I''d like to introduce." "Introduce? Is there another helper?" Henry imagined someone simr to Hanbit. Cowen didn''t answer but slowly approached the curtain and flung it open. "Did you really have to install this?" A blonde girl grumbled as she walked in. Her face was slightly tense. Behind her was an old man with a sword at his waist. "...?" Henry''s expression turned strange when he saw Lia. A feeling of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before, or rather, a longing as if he couldn''t forget her¡­But no matter how he thought about it, it was impossible. "This is really awkward." Lia also spotted the only familiar face. Amidst the confusion, Henry, after repeatedly revising his thoughts, uttered the unbelievable name. "...Liventia?" "It''s been a while, uncle." Lia calmly greeted him in response to his cautious words. Her words shook Henry to his core. "No, how is this...? Is this a dream? Or my delusion? How can Liventia be..." Henry was lost in turmoil, unable to even reach out. Meeting his gaze, Lia recalled an old memory and said, "Remember that small harp you gave me as a birthday present? The one I broke right in front of you? The three of us tried to fix it, but it ended uppletely ruined." "Ah..." Henry let out a low sigh. A secret story that only he would know now that William was dead, echoed vividly. A mirage. Or a ghost appearing to punish his powerless, guilty self. Even if he were to die because of it, he would ept it silently. However... "Liven...tia." The girl before his eyes truly existed. She didn''t disappear even when he cautiously reached out and stroked her hair like he used to. Only Liventia''s emerald eyes gazed at him with a hint of sadness. "Why are you crying? You''re alive and well." He didn''t even notice the tears flowing silently down his own face. He simply couldn''t believe this miraculous situation. -??? -That bastard Barres. -Let''s go crack his head open right now? -Ah, I really want to rey the story. -Looking for Han River reincarnation party (1/100) "Lady Liventia?" "Is it true!" "I can''t believe she survived..." The vassals who hadn''t seen her face were also surprised and moved by Liventia''s survival. The legitimate bloodline of Norton, which he thought was lost forever... His emotions swirled as memories of William and the despair that had continued to this day intertwined. "It was Lord William''s order to take the youngdy and flee," Cowen, who had been quietly watching the reunion, spoke up. He exined what had happened in the past and the circumstances that followed. "...So that''s how it was. As expected of William." He could sense the anguish of William Norton, the lord and father. The decision he made in a situation where he could trust no one... He had to protect both Edlen and the future of his daughter, Liventia. That''s why he left each of his vassals, including Cowen, Camon, and Henry, with their respective duties, so that even if one side failed, the others wouldn''t crumble. "..." Henry looked at Liventia, who had survived. Even while considering the worst-case scenario, William hadn''t allowed for failure. There was an underlying, unspoken trust that his vassals andrades would seed. All of this was preparation for the time when Liventia would reim her rightful ce. "He was the epitome of a doting father." When that thought reached him, a wryugh escaped his lips. He could vividly picture William boasting about his daughter every day. "Are you alright? You''reughing and crying at the same time." Seeing her confused uncle, Lia asked with concern. Henry stroked her head and turned his gaze to Cowen. "What''s the current situation? Has there been any pursuit from Barres?" "Assassins from the Holy Kingdom attacked first. It seems they''ve developed a technique to detect the traces of the Spirit King contained within the ring." "...The traces of the Spirit King are in that ring?" He looked at the ring on Lia''s finger. The same ring that William had worn was vivid in his memory. Although he hadn''t heard anything about its background, he could guess the reason. Just knowing about the immense power of the Spirit King''s traces could put one in danger. Indeed, seeing how Barres and the Holy Kingdom were after it, knowledge was poison. "Who is that gentleman?" Henry''s gaze shifted to the white-haired old man. He looked somewhat unwell, but his eyes were sharp like a keen wind, alert to his surroundings. "He is my teacher. A Spirit Master and a swordsman. He is currently in charge of Lady Liventia''s escort." "...A Spirit Master?" Henry''s eyes widened at the introduction. A being whose rumors were barely even heard of in this era... And if he was his teacher, then the adventurer ck Dragon could also be considered part of the Spirit Master lineage. To think that such individuals were by Liventia''s side... It was incredibly reassuring. Henry turned his gaze back to Cowen. "Do you have a concrete n? As you know, it''s difficult to utilize Edlen''sws." "Yes. That''s why we intend to borrow the power of the Royal Knights. Although it will be difficult to meet them face-to-face, if we show them this projection magic tool as evidence, they will be moved to action." "The Royal Knights... I see. Was this also destined?" Henry, listening to the story, closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. He continued with a resolute expression. "I have a promise from Vice-Captain Leon. I''ll try to arrange a meeting with that." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 55 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 55 "...Did you just say Vice-Captain?" -Huh? -Leon noona? -Is this for real? -From today onwards, I consider Henry''s enemies my enemies. Mentioning Vice-Captain Leon''s name was a shock to everyone. Hanbit, on behalf of everyone who was speechless, asked, "I understand that the Royal Knights are one of the top powers in the Raven Kingdom. You have a promise from their Vice-Captain?" "When William''s execution was carried out, the Royal Knights also came to Edlen. And at that time, Leon, who was a low-ranking knight, was the only one who expressed doubts." The usation that the lord of a city was a coborator with the Holy Kingdom was a matter of national security. It was natural for the Royal Knights to investigate under the king''s order. "Leon doubted the circumstances, testimonies, and evidence, which all fit together too perfectly. Even though she wasn''t in a position to lend weight to her words, she continued to raise objections to her superiors until she was punished for insubordination." -As expected of Leon. -Sense of justice GOAT -FYI: She''s insanely strong. -She went up against her superiors and became Vice-Captain with her skills. lol Leon''s character could be described in a single word: Justice. She neverpromised her beliefs, no matter the situation, even if the opponent was the king. For example, even at the moment of her execution for defending a falsely used rebel army, Leon''s eyes shone with unwavering conviction. That''s why she was also one of the most trustworthy figures in this world. "What kind of promise did you receive?" "A month after William was executed, Leon, disguised as an adventurer, came to me. She asked me to contact her whenever any suspicious circumstances arose." "...And she rose to the position of Vice-Captain in that time?" Cowen said with admiration in his voice. The position of Vice-Captain required at least 20 years of experience. To achieve that in less than seven years meant she was no ordinary individual. "She will be a great help to us. With this evidence, it will even be reported to the royal court." Henry waspletely different from how he was at the beginning. Clearing William''s name and returning the surviving Liventia to her rightful ce... In the process, the punishment of Barres and Brook would naturally follow. "Liventia, what is it that you desire?" Henry lowered his posture and met Lia''s eyes. He wanted to fulfill his own wishes and William''s will, but the most important thing was the will of the girl who had survived until now. "I..." Lia looked down at her ring. A momentter, she raised her head and said with a determined expression, "I want to prove that Dad didn''tmit any crimes." "...Is that so." No further words were needed. Henry nodded and turned his gaze to everyone. "I will go to the royal capital. I happen to have business there, so I won''t be suspected immediately." "Will you be alright?" "Whether I''m alright or not isn''t important. We need to deploy people in the right ces at the right time. You all, write a petition regarding William''s case right now." At Henry''s instruction, the former vassals took the parchment and quill pens that were set aside and began to write. Clearing their unjustly used lord''s name was their lifelong wish, so their sincerity was poured into the petition. "Understood. I have a magic tool for transportation, so I''ll try to reduce the travel time to the royal capital as much as possible. We will stay here and obtain the remaining evidence." "Remaining evidence? You mean there''s more?" "There was this note along with the blueprints in the workshop." Cowen handed over the rest of the materials from the workshop. Henry, receiving them, immediately checked the contents of the note. "...Camon put in so much effort." He could sense a myriad of emotions in the forcefully written letters. Henry, expressing his respect, turned his gaze to the blueprints. "I have no clue about Barres''s mansion. Considering his personality, he wouldn''t keep anything dangerous there." The colors marked on only a few passages were unclear in their meaning. Since Barres wasn''t the type to reveal anything rted to his safety, it was highly likely that even his close aides were unaware. "The markings on Norton''s... Is that Brook''s vault?" Henry also knew about the rumors surrounding Norton''s mansion, specifically that the location of Brook''s vault changed daily. Even without knowing what was inside, there was no way Camon would have left the blueprint without a reason. "Likely, it''s a seed prepared for betrayal. Brook must also be feeling uneasy, so he would have prepared something to use against Barres." "Yes. That''s why we n to infiltrate using the secret passage connected to Norton''s mansion. We intend to seize the vault entirely if possible, but we are also considering destroying it depending on the situation." "Hmm." Henry pondered for a moment as he listened to the n. Then, looking at the mansion''s blueprint, he said, "There''s no way Barres wouldn''t know about the rumors of this vault. The suspicious man would have checked what''s inside by any means necessary." There could be no mistakes, no failures. Therefore, they had to consider every possibility. "Considering when this blueprint was drawn, there''s a good chance there have been changes. He wouldn''t let rumors of crucial evidence spread." Even if Brook was an ipetent puppet mayor, he would use his head to protect himself. He would definitely have hidden the evidence in a different ce that only he knew. "Then let''s kidnap Brook." Hanbit casually threw in his opinion as he listened to the conversation. His voice was calm, but the content was shockingly radical. -?? -Kidnap the mayor lol -He''s crazy. -But fun, right? "...Did you just say kidnap?" Henry asked, dumbfounded. The feasibility of kidnapping aside, the aftermath was obvious. It wouldn''t be strange for Barres, upon grasping the situation, to take any countermeasure. "Yes. To eliminate variables, it''s best to obtain the evidence directly from him. The purpose of infiltrating the mansion is to act before Barres does." "If Barres finds out that Brook has been kidnapped, the city will be locked down. And he''ll use all his forces to turn Edlen upside down." "It''s alright. We''ll induce the city lockdown first." "...?" A look of questioning appeared on Henry''s face. Hanbit, reading his unspoken thoughts as if they were audible, turned his gaze to everyone and said, "Let''s reveal the temple in the underground waterway to everyone." * * * Edlen''s central street. Among the bustling crowd, amon topic of conversation emerged. "I heard something was discovered in the underground waterway? ck Dragon? That adventurer found it, they say." "A Holy Kingdom temple? No way." "The guild already confirmed it! The Holy Kingdom has been infiltrating Edlen from early on!" Early that morning, the guild officially announced the discovery of the Holy Kingdom temple in the underground waterway. The news spread through the adventurers, and even now, in the afternoon, the streets were abuzz. "So, hyung, you were hoping for this situation?" Yeonwoo asked from beside him, observing the changes in the NPCs. Hanbit, walking along the road, nodded. "Well, our goal is to kidnap Brook. This level of chaos is perfect." The reason for revealing the temple to the public was simple: to cause chaos within Edlen and, in that atmosphere, induce heightened fear in Brook. "But what about the quest? Do we just keep watching?" "Hmm." Hanbit brought up the message that had appeared in the secret space. [Main Quest #8 Completed.] [Received 50,000 gold.] [2 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 15,000.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #9: Execute the n] You have met with the former vassals and devised a n to expose the crimes of Brook and Barres. You must each move to fulfill your roles, but it''s still too early to kidnap Brook. First, you must change the atmosphere in Edlen by revealing information about the temple. Objective: Observe the situation on the streets of Edlen. Reward: None *Current Progress: 70 percent As stated in the quest, everyone who had gathered in the secret space started working on their respective tasks. And now, all that remained was to wait for a single contact on this street. Yeonwoo spoke up again. "We were supposed to watch the situation, so why don''t we go somewhere else? Something might happen." -Roper, are you bored? -Give me a thumbs up if Roper is nervous because there''s no streaming content. -I am bored. -FYI: It''s been 3 minutes since we switched to the cutscene. Yeonwoo seemed worried about the static situation. Indeed, for the sake of the stream, it would be good to have something going on, but they would be moving soon anyway. Someone was already approaching them. "ck Dragon!" A familiar woman came running, her voice urgent. It was Miel, the guild employee. -? -Why is she here? -Could Miel leave the guild? -She wasn''t a bound spirit after all; "Huff, huff..." She stopped in front of Hanbit, panting. "What''s going on? You''re evening outside." "Just... a moment." Miel continued gasping for breath, her hands on her knees. It was a while before she could speak in a normal voice. "Whew. I feel like I''ve run a whole year''s worth, really." She said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. It was extremely rare for her to run with all her might like that. "So what''s the matter?" "First, let''s go to the guild together. Someone is looking for you, ck Dragon." "Looking for me?" "Let''s get going!" Miel, as if there was no time for conversation, grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Hanbit, already aware of the situation, moved his feet. "Huh? Why are you out here?" Miel said in surprise as the guild building came into view. Knights and soldiers in full armor were standing near the entrance. "They''reing." Recognizing Miel and Hanbit, they approached. Thud- A few steps away, they stopped in front of Hanbit. "Are you the adventurer ck Dragon?" the knight at the very front spoke first. Unlike the others, his particrly gleaming armor and weapons stood out. "That''s correct. Why are you looking for me?" "I am a knight from City Hall. I heard you found a temple of the Holy Kingdom in the underground waterway. Is that true?" "I am the first discoverer." "Hmm." At his unreserved acknowledgement, the knight slowly examined Hanbit''s appearance from head to toe. Then he immediately got to the point. "Mayor Brook wishes to invite you tomend you for your achievement. Let''s go to City Hall together." [Main Quest #9pleted.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #10: Invitation] You have received an invitation from Brook, who is conscious of public opinion. It may be Barres''s order, but this would be a good opportunity to assess the situation. It seems worthwhile to ept their invitation. Objective: Go to City Hall and have a conversation with the enemies. Reward: None *Current progress: 74 percent [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 56 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 56 "Is this really happening?" Yeonwoo asked cautiously, deep in enemy territory. "Don''t worry. They won''t arrest you here." "That''s not the point. Brook and Barres know you found the temple, right? Aren''t there going to be more assassins?" "They won''t send anyone right away. As long as the citizens know me, it''ll cause a stir if I''m suddenly killed. It''s more problematic if I die." Barres''s use of this ce as a forward base was a story for another time. Until then, he had to lead the city and aim for a central advance, so he couldn''t arouse unnecessary suspicion. "This way." The knight led them to arge central room on the second floor. At first nce, it looked like a royal audience chamber. It was a space that had been remodeled at Brook''s request after he became mayor. "Your Honor, the adventurer ck Dragon has arrived." "Let them in." A reply came immediately from inside, as the knight reported. "Follow the red line." Following the knight''s instructions, Hanbit stepped inside. Since he''d stored his weapon in his inventory, he wasn''t stopped. "So, you''re... ck Dragon?" A voice came as he reached the end of the red line. A gaunt man sat on a chair a few steps up. [Edlen Mayor Brook Norton] The first appearance of Edlen''s mayor from Hanbit''s perspective. However, the important thing was the man standing next to him. [Barres Loberger] "Hmm." The same snake-like eyes under the parted hair and thick eyebrows. The double chin and the way his protruding belly swayed were exactly as he remembered. And that unpleasant gaze scanning him. "I am the adventurer ck Dragon. It''s an honor to meet you." -Honor? -Looks like shit as always. -If only it weren''t for that guy; -ck Dragon, pull out your sword and kill him now. -This is your chance. The chat window erupted with the appearance of the enemies. Hanbit wanted nothing more than to kill them, but the only thing he''d gain was emotional satisfaction. "... I heard you found a temple in the underground waterway. Why did you go there?" Brook got straight to the point. His hollow eyes were desperately trying to gauge his opponent. "Your Honor, isn''t exploring the terrain the top priority for adventurers? Especially for outsiders, Edlen would be a novelty. They would want to check every corner." "T-that''s right." Barres, stepping forward a little, met his gaze and said, "I heard the temple is quiterge. You''ve done a great service to the city. It''s something we missed." "Yes. I was surprised when I saw it myself. I didn''t know those trashy Holy Kingdom bastards had infiltrated Edlen. If I find any hidden spies, I''ll twist their necks for the sake of Edlen and the kingdom." "... Your loyalty to the kingdom is admirable." -lol -Saying this to his face -Let''s hear a five-minute tirade of insults -He''ll probably cry if you insult his parents [KindWordsGoodWords donated 5,000 won.] [10-year veteran ofmunity lurking] When he expressed strong hostility, Barres'' expression darkened slightly. However, he soon continued as if nothing had happened. "Did you find anything inside the temple?" "I didn''t find anything special. Oh, I did find a piece of a uniform." "A uniform?" "It was a piece of cloth from a uniform used by the Holy Kingdom. Judging by the degree of wear, it seemed to have been left recently." "...?" Barres couldn''tpletely hide his surprise. If a Holy Kingdom uniform was found in Edlen, there was a high probability that they were those who operated in the shadows. It was unusual for such a being to infiltrate without his knowledge. "Since this involves a foreign country, we''ll have the city take over the investigation. As for your contribution, you''ll be rewarded." "No, I can''t just ignore it because I am the one who found it." "You could lose your life. Isn''t that too much for an adventurer to risk?" Barres furrowed his brow slightly at the firm reply. Hanbit responded with a confident expression. "I''m aiming for the Investigation Corps. If I catch the Holy Kingdom''s spies, there''s no better contribution than that. I need to secure a nomination from a country first." "...Investigation Corps?" The Investigation Corps, an organization that gathers the world''s strongest individuals to find Erport. Candidates are nominated by each country''s king and then go through a verification process before officially joining the Corps. Barres, who knew the detailed structure, smiled and said, "I''ll write the rmendation myself. There''s no need to risk your life for nothing." "This contribution isn''t enough. I''ll definitely catch the spies and get concrete results." "I said it''s okay. His Honor thinks so too, right?" "Uh, yeah, yeah..." Brook, who had been listening to the conversation, was startled and responded btedly. He was looking at Hanbit with an uneasy gaze. "An adventurer''s beliefs are important. Even if I''m cut in half and be a corpse, I will bring all the Holy Kingdom spies before you two." "Hic!" When Hanbit expressed his fierce determination with a direct gaze, the startled Brook pulled back his chair and stood up. His expression was full of fear. -lol -Startled. -Folks, this is what happens when youmit a crime. -Brook is really transparent. -If it weren''t for Barres, he would have been caught nning his scheme. lol It was a reaction that even the viewers could easily understand. Barres, who looked at Brook disdainfully, stepped forward, pointing at him. "I understand your enthusiasm. How about we share information? It''s better for Edlen to catch those guys quickly." "I''ll consider it. Adventurers are greedy creatures by nature. Don''t expect too much." Creak- A sound like grinding teeth echoed through the quiet room. Watching the amusing scene, Hanbit greeted them with appropLiate manners. "Then I''ll take my leave. Let''s receive the reward all at once." "...Fine, just don''t get your hopes up." Barres was fuming, and Brook was trembling. After seeing that scene, Hanbit left the room. The rm sounded immediately afterward. Ding-! [Main Quest #10pleted.] [Progress increases.] [Main Quest #11: Kidnapping] The confrontation with Brook and Barres has ended. Since you rejected all their offers, their vignce seems to have increased significantly. There''s no time to waste. Execute the n immediately. Objective: Infiltrate Norton Manor and kidnap Brook. Reward: 150,000 gold, 50,000 experience points, 7 stat points *Current progress: 76 percent * * * "Oh? You''re back already?" "Adventurer!" In the basement of an old building, Lia and Flona, who were inspecting Camon''s workshop, weed Hanbit. "It wasn''t going to take long. Why are you checking the workshop?" "I was wondering if there was anything that could be helpful." Lia was also joining the uing kidnapping mission as the hidden passage connected to the manor can only be opened with Norton''s ring. "ck Dragon." At that moment, a voice came from behind. Turning his head, he saw Artsvel standing there with a strange smile. -?? -She''s so scary when she smiles like that; -I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry... -Let''s just bow our heads first. "...Ah." He could quickly figure out the reason for the unusual atmosphere. This was because they hadn''t had a proper conversation since he had given her a brief exnation when he brought her here. "Ahem." The white-haired old man coughed and took a few more steps back. He was very good at reading the atmosphere, knowing that it could be ufortable at the slightest provocation. "I''ll be right back." Hanbit headed towards the exit where Artsvel was. She seemed to be examining a teleportation-type magical artifact. "...How far have you gotten with the exnation?" Hanbit asked casually as he approached. Perhaps it was too cautious, because Artsvel chuckled. "Lia told me everything. And it was a good thing you didn''t tell me right away." She added that she had seen people under Barres''mand frequently on the streets since yesterday. Considering the current situation, it wasn''t good for Lia and Hanbit to be seen together. Especially with Holy Kingdom assassins involved. "Thank you for protecting Lia. I couldn''t have done it with my abilities." "...I could do it because I have a master. The Holy Kingdom assassins are on a whole different level." "Come to think of it, I heard he''s a spirit mage, right? I thought they had disappeared from history." Artsvel looked at the white-haired old man who was avoiding their gaze from a distance. Naturally, they had hardly spoken to each other. "Most of them have hidden themselves, but spirit mages exist all over the world. My master is one of them." "So, you''re a spirit mage too?" "In a way. I''m just starting." The conversation continued in a rxed atmosphere. Hanbit decided to bring up an old story. "When did you find out that Lia was from the Norton family?" "I knew from the beginning. I caught her when she was trying to go to the Norton manor alone." When she was younger, Artsvel had found a child awkwardly hiding and trying to move forward while cleaning in front of her shop. Thinking she was lost, she had stopped her, and the ring on the child''s finger had caught her eye. "Uncle William is a benefactor to our family. I never thought he would die so unjustly, nor did I think he would have a daughter." The gang that had ruined Artsvel''s family had been banished from the city by William. Since then, he had helped her set up a general store, and she felt deeply indebted to him. That''s why when she heard that William had been executed on charges of being a spy for the Holy Kingdom, it was as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer. "But is it okay to kidnap him? Lia said she has to go with you too." "Don''t worry, I''ll be with Master. And it won''t take long." He understood Artsvel''s concerns, but the kidnapping n was already well-established. Since he had scared Brook so much, he would choose to iste himself. It was a moment when his distrustful nature would shine. "I see you''ve already arrived." At that moment, Cowen appeared at the entrance. Hanbit, who was with Artsvel, asked him, "How are the preparations?" "I''ve created my alibi, and I''ve induced as many people who work at the manor at night to leave their posts." The old retainers participated in the n in various ways. After all, having worked in Edlen for so long, they were more than qualified to be helpers. "Artsvel, stay with Flona." "Okay,¡± Artsvel patted Flona''s head beside her and replied. Hanbit turned his gaze to the entrance of the passage connected to the manor. "Then let''s enter at midnight." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 57 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 57 Two guards were slowly walking, patrolling the area. ¡°Come to think of it, the mayor seemed a bit off today, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Today?¡± The other guard pondered. He nodded as if something hade to mind. ¡°It¡¯s true he did avoid people¡¯s gazes. But he does that sometimes, doesn''t he?¡± ¡°No, today he was really trembling, you know? Did he get a scolding from Barres?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. Maybe he¡¯s just feeling under the weather.¡± It was a rather disrespectful conversation for the manor guards. However, it was amon sight in the Norton manor. Sasak- Hanbit''s group, who had been observing them, moved, hiding behind the soldiers. Yeonwoo and Cowen were with him. Lia and A were waiting near the secret passage. -This is really an infiltration; -I want to snap their necks. -Why isn''t he killing them? -Didn''t you see the meeting? -Leave the room alone. The viewers started arguing as usual. Not subduing the enemies was part of the pre-nned strategy for the infiltration. ¡°There¡¯s no need to subdue the guards protecting the manor. We just need to do the kidnapping.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too dangerous? If we¡¯re discovered, there will be an uproar immediately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll avoid arousing their attention.¡± The goal of this n was not simply to kidnap Brook. The key was to do it without anyone noticing. As long as everyone in the manor remained calm as usual, it would be sufficient. Shuk- Hanbit¡¯s group, moving behind the guards, entered a room with an open door. They then exited through the balcony and jumped up. Thud-! Grabbing onto a protruding structure, he began to quietly climb the wall. There were countless windows on the exterior wall of the Norton manor. The decorations around them were perfect to use as handholds. Shuk- In an instant, Hanbit reached the top and, pointing to the roof below, motioned to the two people who followed him. Then, he carefully lifted the tile with force. Tuk-! With a slight sound, the separated structure revealed an empty attic-like space below. Swoosh- Taking out a rope and tying it, Hanbit slowly descended. A faint light was shining on the wooden floor. ¡°Damn it¡­ ¡± A small voice could be heard faintly. Peering through the gap, he saw Brook huddled in a corner. Wrapped in a nket, only his face was visible. ¡°Suddenly looking for Holy Kingdom spies? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°Did I kill my brother? No, I didn¡¯t even think about killing him. It¡¯s all Barres¡¯ fault.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a victim too. Yes, I¡¯m a victim.¡± Brook was mumbling to himself, biting his nails. He was trembling, showing that his anxiety had reached its peak. Swoosh- Hanbit gestured to Cowen, and he nodded, taking out a vial containing a purple liquid. He poured it onto the spot Hanbit had indicated. Swoosh- The liquid was quickly absorbed by the wooden board, gradually dissolving it. Taking out his dagger, Hanbit sliced through the board, which split apart like paper. Tying the rope again, Hanbit slowly descended through the newly created hole. ¡°Damn adventurer. Should I catch him first?¡± Brook was still trembling, mumbling to himself. Meanwhile, Hanbit was gradually getting closer to his head. ¡°Yes. If we say that ck Dragon is a spy of the Holy Kingdom, it would be believable. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if another crazy fanatic appeared. With Barres¡¯ help¡­¡± ¡°Me? A fanatic?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± For a moment, Brook''s gaze, pulled from his reverie, met Hanbit''s, who had arrived right in front of him. Brook was so startled that he forgot to breathe. "Wh... what..." He tried to get up, floundering. But Hanbit''s arms were already around Brook''s neck. "Wait a minute..." Crunch- Before he could finish his sentence, a sound echoed. Brook lost consciousness without putting up much of a fight. * * * Hanbit, having kidnapped Brook, returned to the secret underground space. He changed into the white robe he had taken from the temple. The veil covering his face, the scripture held in his arms, and the star symbol on his shoulder made him look like a perfect Holy Kingdom priest. -The yer dresses up so well, it''s suspicious. -Is he experienced in this? -Offline pro?? -ck Dragon Cult; Behind the screen, Lia and the others were watching the situation. "Hyung, I''m getting nervous," Yeonwoo, dressed in a simr priestly robe, whispered. His role was simple, just standing there. ''Now is the important part.'' Brook was tied to a chair in front of him. The reason for disguising himself as a Holy Kingdom priest was simple. Brook feared the Holy Kingdom more than Barres. "Let''s begin." nk- Hanbit took a bucket full of ice water and stepped forward. He poured it directly over Brook''s unconscious face. Ssh-! "Ugh!" Startled by the sudden cold, Brook regained consciousness immediately. His bewildered gazended on Hanbit standing in front of him. "......!" Brook''s eyes widened. The face he had seen just before he fainted. It was definitely the adventurer, ck Dragon, whom he had invited earlier. But his outfit was strange. "How did you get that... " The priest''s robe with a unique star symbol on the shoulder. He couldn''t understand why the adventurer was wearing those clothes. Nevertheless, an instinctive fear of high-ranking priests rose from within him. Whoosh-! Moreover, the strange wind blowing around him. Since he couldn''t see any magic circles or magical tools, he could only think of it as an unknown power. That thought filled Brook''s mind with terror once more. Waiting for the delusion to continue, Hanbit spoke softly in a solemn voice. "Don''t make a sound. You will be punished." -?? -Is his tone really different?; -He''s acting so suspiciously well... -He really is a pro. "Hic!" The sharp warning dispelled all doubts. All he could think about was surviving. The first thing he chose was to nod. Seeing his obedient response, Hanbit spoke in a low voice. "By the order of the High Priest, I infiltrated as an adventurer. Even for a great cause, it pained my heart to nder the Holy Kingdom and our people. Even the morning confession was insufficient." "Y-yes..." Brook, his voice trembling, recalled their meeting at the city hall. The adventurer ck Dragon''s hostility towards the Holy Kingdom. For a normal believer, even that would be a sin, but for a priest, it was a different story. If he had received orders from the High Priest, he had a pardon. "So, do you know your sins?" "Y-yes?" Brook blurted out in confusion, surprised by the sudden question. Hanbit, holding the scripture, frowned slightly and said, "Do you think your sins will disappear just because you put on such a brazen face?" "No, no! But I don''t know what sin Imitted..." No matter how hard he tried to remember, he hadn''t done anything to sin against the Holy Kingdom. He had tried so hard not to get involved with them since his brother''s execution. "Ah!" He remembered what had happened just before he fainted. And then, he bowed his head deeply, raising his voice. "I apologize! I didn''t know you were a priest and made the sphemous remark of calling you a fanatic! I never imagined you would infiltrate disguised as an adventurer!" Thanks to his survival instinct, his mind somehow managed to work. He was certain this was the right answer. However, the reaction he received was different from what he expected. "Do you really think that''s all?" "Ah..." He was wrong. That thought filled his head with terror once more. Trembling, he managed to squeeze out, "I, I apologize. Please, won''t you tell me what sins I''vemitted?" "Huu." Hanbit sighed, looking at Brook''s pleading eyes. Then, with a firmer grip on the scripture in his arms, he spoke. "Chapter 8, verse 5. A heart of betrayal is like a thousand swords, so guard your sheath tightly." "Chapter 16, verse 9. Those who choose betrayal over death shall cross the river of the end. Their souls shall not be imed by God." "Chapter 31, verse 2..." -? -Did he memorize all of this? -Is he crazy? -Is this guy really a Holy Kingdom priest? -I knew it, ck Dragon. He recited several verses without opening the scripture. As Brook listened, his expression gradually turned to bewilderment. "Why are you saying those things to me..." "How dare you, who has betrayed God for your own selfish desires! You have the audacity to lie?" Hanbit shouted, seeing Brook''s confused reaction. Whoosh-! The strong wind that apanied his voice made Brook''s eyes widen. "I''m sorry! I have no intention of lying! Please tell me what sins I''vemitted and I''ll tell you everything without hiding anything!" Brook, bound hand and foot, tried to bow as much as he could. Seeing the desired reaction, Hanbit took a deep breath and said, "Then I shall ask. Why did you and Barres try to betray us?" "...Yes?" Brook''s thoughts paused when he heard Barres'' name. He searched his memory and asked again. "Did you say Barres... betrayed us?" "Yes. The ring that has been passed down through the Norton family. The Spirit King Sallion''s essence is embedded in it. You tried to deceive the Holy Kingdom and secretly take it for yourselves." "......?" The information, which he had never heard before, overwhelmed him. He had never heard this information from the previous head of the family, William, or from Barres, from whom he had obtained information on the ck market. There was no way Brook could have known. "Don''t pretend not to know. You were sharing information with Barres even before your brother was executed, weren''t you?" "No, no! I was just... a mere... I really don''t know anything!" "Do you think you can be forgiven simply by iming ignorance? If there is no evidence of Barres'' treachery, I will punish you as well." "But..." In a desperate situation, Brook racked his brain again. Focusing so hard that his mind was dizzy, he finally remembered something. "I have something!" Brook raised his head and shouted. Hanbit, watching his expression, said softly, "Exin." "Yes!" Brook sensed a slight change in the atmosphere. Then, wriggling his bound body, he cried out desperately. "There are records of all of Barres'' ns in the manor! Please check them!" [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 58 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 58 "Hyung, what acting school did you go to?" Yeonwoo asked quietly, approaching Hanbit. "What are you talking about?" Hanbit replied, slightly amused. "Your priest act. You even memorized scriptures and acted like apletely different person. Were you preparing to be an actor or something?" -I agree. -I thought he was crazy. -You have to be this good to be a streamer. -All those streamers who just eat and y games should quit. -Real talk. Hanbit''s brief but powerful performance as a priest left asting impression. However, having spent a significant amount of time roleying as a priest in the other world, it felt natural to him. "I don''t know about acting. There were a lot of scriptures in the novel." "I really want to read that web novel. How many chapters were there? Did it have content like that?" "...Around 2,000 chapters, I think?" "Wow, that''s a lot. No wonder it had all sorts of stuff in it." Yeonwoo nodded, epting Hanbit''s vague exnation. Since the web novel didn''t exist, its authenticity would never be verified. "Just wait a minute!" Brook was busy searching his room. A safe within a safe. A hiddenpartment. A unique box folded multiple times. A quill diligently copying the recorded contents. The number of pieces of evidence he pulled out from various magical tools was extraordinary. "There''s this much evidence? But why did he stay silent in other people''s stories?" Yeonwoo asked, puzzled, looking at Brook. Most yers had the help of Barres and sentenced Brook. However, with so much evidence, it seemed unnatural for Brook to ept the situation so calmly. "That''s because Barres was still alive. He wanted to see how Barres would help him and then expose the evidence. He would have been killed anyway." "What? Barres killed Brook?" "He would have eliminated him as an obstacle. It''s easy to hire bandits to do it." -No way. -Come to think of it, we never heard about him after the trial. -It''s not surprising for Barres to do that. -He''s totally capable of it. Brook never trusted anyone easily. However, since Barres was still alive, he wanted to see at least how he would react. "Then why is he doing this now? Barres is still alive." "He''s convinced that the Holy Kingdom thinks of them as traitors. Since a priest even came here, Barres'' future is over." No matter how much power Barres had umted, the Holy Kingdom was a force far greater. It was impossible for an individual like him to resist. "I''ve gathered everything!" Brook stopped, having searched everywhere. Hanbit looked at the pile of evidence and changed his tone. "Is that really everything?" "Yes?" "I asked if that''s everything. Is this enough to prove your innocence and Barres'' guilt to God?" "That..." Brook hesitated, struck by the question. After countless thoughts racing through his mind, he finally made a decision. He reached into his pocket and took out a pendant around his neck. "May I make a request?" "God will not ignore your efforts. Speak." "...This also contains evidence of my betrayal of my family. Although I have deviated from God''s teachings, if my innocence is proven, could I receive the Holy Kingdom''s protection and continue to run Edlen?" "Hmm." Brook seemed to be scared after recalling the scripture verses Hanbit had recited. However, the scriptures were only concerned with protecting God and his followers. They didn''t care about the affairs of other countries. Of course, Hanbit wasn''t a believer of the Holy Kingdom. "Very well. I will speak to the High Priest directly." "The High Priest...! Thank you! I''ll release you right away!" Brook''s eyes widened in joy at the mention of the high-ranking figure. He pricked his finger on the sharp end of the pendant. A drop of blood appeared and was quickly absorbed. Click- There was a sound as if something unlocked within the faintly glowing pendant. After checking the pendant, Brook handed it over and said, "Please take it. It''s a magical artifact that records voices." "Voices?" "Yes! It contains all the details of the ns I discussed with Barres and even his private remarks!" "Hmm." Hanbit, having obtained the desired evidence, deliberately hesitated. Then, he slowly nodded and looked at Brook. "Very well. Until we can bring Barres to justice, you will act natural. If you ruin anything, the next people you''ll meet will be the Holy Kingdom''s knights." "Y-yes, I will!" Slightly intimidated, Brook bowed deeply. Although he looked foolish, he was someone who would do anything to save his own life. He wouldn''t risk revealing anything to Barres. Gathering all the evidence, Hanbit spoke again in a solemn voice. "I''m leaving. No matter what happens, hold onto your faith in God." "Yes!" With those words, Hanbit and Yeonwoo left the room. When they reached the secret passage where theirpanions were waiting, an rm sounded. Ding-! [Main Quest #11pleted.] [Received 150,000 gold.] [7 stat points awarded.] [Experience increased by 50,000.] [Level up!] [1 stat point awarded.] [Progress increased.] [Main Quest #12: Cleanup] You have sessfully obtained numerous pieces of evidence from Brook using your wit. Discuss with yourpanions and make the next n. Objective: Return to the gathering point. Reward: None *Current progress: 81% "Is this all the evidence?" "...I can''t believe it." In the secret underground space, which had be their meeting spot, people looked dumbfounded at the evidence piled on the table. Some of the information contained in the evidence was enough to be a decisive blow. "With this, neither Barres nor Brook will be able to deny it. If the Royal Knightse, we can definitely finish them off." "Finally, Lord William''s dishonor will be cleared!" The vassals shouted in joy. Seeing their reaction, Hanbit spoke to them. "First, I n to hold a formal trial." "Hold a trial?" "Haven''t you heard? Barres has the entire legal system of Edlen in his grasp." When Hanbit mentioned a trial, the vassals, who were well aware of the dark inner workings, expressed their concerns. However, that was exactly what he wanted. "Barres will also realize that something is amiss. I''ve already made it public that I''m investigating the Holy Kingdom, and Edlen is effectively sealed off. So, we need to buy some time until the Royal Knights arrive." "You mean to say you want to keep him guessing?" Cowen asked, stroking his chin. Hanbit nodded. "That''s right. We just need to make him believe that the trial is our best option. We can select the most crucial evidence and use it." "That makes sense..." "It could be an effective way to deal with him." The vassals agreed with his n. When the atmosphere was settled, Hanbit outlined a detailed n. "You allpare this evidence with the actual written records and organize them. There are also exchanged secret letters, so we need witnesses and testimonies. I want everything to be official by the time the trial begins." "There are many oveps with what we''ve already been investigating. Since it''s all within Edlen, it won''t take long." "We can''t give Barres and Brook any time." The vassals¡¯s eyes lit up with determination and zeal. It was a mixture of guilt, longing, and anger, condensed into a single hope. "Then please do your best." With the evidence in hand, the vassals quickly left the ce. With their determination, they would surely finish the task in less than a day. "So, what are you guys up to?" Hanbit asked, turning his attention to a corner of the room. Lia and Flona were examining Camon''s workshop. "I was just seeing if there''s anything helpful," Lia replied, looking a bit troubled. She seemed to feel helpless, unable to find anything she could do. "So, did you find anything?" "No, not really." Lia''s voice was a little downcast. She wanted to help, but there wasn''t a suitable role for her at the moment. With enemies on the lookout, even under A''s protection, her options were limited. "Ugh..." Flona, squatting beside Lia, was poking at a small toy-like piece of paper. "What''s wrong?" "There''s a gap here... but it won''t fit," she replied, her lips pursed in concentration. Watching their efforts, Hanbit felt a bit sorry for them. There was nothing more to find in this ce. "Don''t strain yourself too much. Everything is going ording to n." "Yes..." The viewers felt the same way. -Aww, she looks so sad. -Cute. -Give her something to do. -Sylph, we''re counting on you. Hanbit turned to organize the remaining evidence. "Ouch!" Suddenly, Lia''s voice came from behind. He turned his head quickly, and an unexpected scene unfolded. Pop-! "...?" A dark blue light was emanating from a small toy at Lia''s feet near a corner of the workshop. "Hmm." A, who had been half-drawing his sword, sheathed it again. This meant there was no immediate danger. "Oh?" Lia crouched down, seeming to have discovered something. She pointed to a wooden box hidden under the toy Flona had been fiddling with and looked at Hanbit. "...There''s another note here." [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter 59 [Trantor - Jjescus ] [Proofreader - Starfall ] Chapter: 59 "I don''t remember this situation." Hanbit approached Lia immediately. The box beneath her feet looked like a cleanly cut piece of wood. "What happened?" "...While I was looking at you and Flona, something came to mind." "Something came to mind?" "When I was little, Cowen gave me a white wooden sword. I spent a lot of time poking it into gaps in the wood, especially in this workshop. Camon justughed." Lia pointed to the sword at Hanbit''s waist. Suddenly, his confused thoughts cleared up. ''So, this is how variables arise.'' This was vastly different from the countless experiences he had repeated in the past. It was the newly created sword. Without intending to, the mere existence of the sword seemed to have triggered Lia''s hidden memories. "Can I see it?" "Sure." Lia handed the note to Hanbit. Thin sheets of paper wereyered together. The first page contained words offort and profound meaning. Hanbit flipped through theyered pages.