Tag: I Never Run Out of Mana

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35. Exp Continues to Rise (2)

“Kya… Min-Cheol.”

“Again. Why?”

“Touch it over here. Doesn’t it feel a lot harder than before?”

“Why are doing this. Ew! Won’t you go away? Shoo! Shoo!”

“Ha…. You’re something else. Hyung’s mood is something else right now. Wow… My eyes have opened to a new world.”

If people only heard what was happening, they would definitely misunderstand this conversation.

The trade business ended earlier than expected.

There was still 9 hours left before the dinner with mother.

Recently, she has become friendly with the residents of the safe house and for the first time ever, decided to go watch a musical.

Mother was finally hanging out with people her age, and was enjoying life to the fullest now.

“It’s been a week since we went on a date together. I’m so sorry. But let’s have a nice dinner at least.”

That’s what she told me as she put on makeup.

Musical.

If you think about it, it’s not a big deal.

Looking so excited like a young lady, I couldn’t help but think that it was cute.

With this situation in mind, the two solo ¹ Awakened ended up at the level 18 dungeon after finishing the business exchange.

Without anywhere to go, where else would we end up at.

And now, with two level ups, Jong Ho was really hyped.

It was because he experienced hunting on another level unlike anything he did, speed hunting.

Putting 10 points into strength, he showed off his biceps and told me to touch them.

Looking at the childlike happiness Jong Ho had, my heart felt as ease thinking that I had paid off even a little bit of the debt I owed to him.

Before entering, he was rejecting the offer.

Honestly, he was probably half afraid and half sorry for me.

It was only a month ago when I was beating down the succubi, and now going to a level 18 dungeon.

Just the two of us to boot.

I think it took at least 20 minutes to convince him.

‘Sigh.  And too nice as well?’

His type was the type that refuses to cause trouble for others, so he kept making excuses.

At one point, Jong Ho declined it like this.

Guess trying the clear the dungeon sounded very dangerous.

To reassure him, I said that I will clear the dungeon in 20 minutes by myself and pulled out my identification license.

It was to show that I could clear the level 18 dungeon, so I can calm him down.

I was about to have the identification license scanned.

Then.

“Hey. Min-Cheol, don’t do it! It’s too much! Too much!”

“Why are you doing this! I clear this dungeon like I live here.”

“No way! No way! Are you struggling with something? Let’s talk this out with hyung. You have to think about your mother at home!”

“Ha…..”

‘You sweet potato like person…..” ²

It was like eating three cold sweet potatoes in a row without any kimchi. ³

Jong Ho saw that I was trying to go in and was stopping me with everything he had.

There were no words for what was happening, and I felt that Jong Ho cared for me a lot more than I thought of Jong Ho.

Considering his pleading, I put away my Awakened license.

And then grabbed his hands.

“Yes. Min-Cheol. Good decision. Let’s go talk by the bench over there.”

“Hello.”

No matter how much he clings onto me, physically I was a lot stronger than him.

Holding onto his hand, I threw him far.

Even if he was thrown, Jong Ho was an Awakened. He shouldn’t be hurt.

As he flew, he cried my name with a tearful face.

Even now, if I think of him crying out, I could only snicker.

“Min. Cheol!”

“Yes. Yes. Min-Cheol isn’t dead.”

* * *

Noon, in the midst of hunting with Jong Ho…

A line of luxurious black sedans were driving in.

Jong Ho, who was looking at his status window with glee looked towards it.

“Some young master is going around it seems.”

“Young master?”

A girl left the car.

She seemed to my age.

Two men stood by, one each to her sides.

Her armor and a staff in hand did not seem that luxurious.

It probably wasn’t made by a blacksmith.

Those two weren’t the only bodyguards.

Around the dungeon, many people with black suits were stationed.

All were highly alert, maintaining their distance.

Looking at this absurd situation, Jong Ho spoke.

“I heard Ilseong CEO’s granddaughter had Awakened. Looks like that’s her?”

“Are you talking about that huge company Ilseong? TV. Air conditioner?”

“Yeah. Korea’s third biggest company. That’s right.”

“But why would the granddaughter be sent to the dungeon then?”

“Min-Cheol. Do you see the Awakened around her? And the others around her.”

“Yes. I see. There are a lot.”

“I don’t know about the person on the right, but the one on the left. The person who has half his face covered with a mask is ‘Yoon Jong-sun’. A ranker who’s one of the top magicians in Korea.”

“Oho. He looks like your average neighbor… but he’s famous.”

“When the explosion took place in the central plant center, he’s one of the ones who prevented the damage from extending further.”

“Then why is someone so important next to a kid like her? Do they know each other?”

“That kid just wants to go around sightseeing the different levels of the dungeons. Otherwise why would they come here? Yoon Jong-sun is probably being supported by the company, as no matter how much money you have, you can’t always get Awakened essences and rare items. ‘You lend the company power, and in return be rewarded with tremendous rewards’ is what I’m saying.”

“I see. Still, the granddaughter of that CEO is just a little kid.”

“Kid? It looks like there only is a year or two differences? Why are you cosplaying as an elder!”

“I’m jealous. No need to worry about money, and born into a family where your grandpa is a CEO. And Awakened on top of that? I’m here struggling because buying a weapon seems wasteful… After the dungeon tour is over, maybe I should ask to be carried to a level 26 dungeon.”

“Don’t even look at them, just think of them as people who were on another level since birth. What can you do. Ah! And don’t forget. I’m someone who was happy about buying an armor that costed me 4 billion!”

Laughing at each other’s poor jokes, we continued the battle of the poor Awakened.

Well, we’re not really poor since we’re Awakened.

The conversation continued for a while, but we watched them the entire time.

Until they entered the dungeon and disappeared from our sights.

Comparing myself to those who were geared, I looked pathetic.

Unlike others, I had infinite mana.

With this ability, I was able to grow at rate 10’s of times faster.

But what if I was able to get items on top of this ability? Wouldn’t something amazing occur?

I couldn’t help but be greedy.

One of the reasons why I thought this way was due to the ‘Louver’s Bracelet’.

I needed equipment that wouldn’t just raise stats, but ones that give special abilities.

That’s why I was planning to obtain the Louver set from the level 18 dungeon.

With the original goal of an M/A rank weapon as well.

I heard the abilities of Louver’s ring and necklace from Jong Ho on the way back.

The ring synergized incredibly well with the bracelet.

When attacked by magic, it could absorb the magic energy.

Naturally, that absorbed power would go straight to the bracelet.

It had quite the synergizing effect.

The necklace on the other hand, it a completely different effect.

It had chance for any skill casted to ignore the target’s defense and magic resist.

If that’s the case, a magician could hunt where magic attacks do not work.

How convenient it would be. I wouldn’t even have to expend any effort in getting a strength based weapon.

But due to the fact that the percentage for it occurring was so low, it was gear that wasn’t used that often.

What I was looking for was the set effect from wearing all three.

The ‘Louver’s Protection’.

When wearing all the named items, a set effect occurs.

From the level 18 dungeon I could clear and onwards, named monsters start to appear from time to time.

Out of the set effects, Louver’s Protection was a decent one.

If you stand in the aura that spread from the wearer’s feet, you could absorb monster souls like the reaper Louver did.

Unlike Louver who turned the absorbed soul’s abilities as his own, it became a shield that covered the weaknesses of those affected.

Everyone in a party, including myself, could receive this effect, but that factor did not concern me.

If I could obtain this set, I would not have to cast shields in dungeons that I can clear swiftly.

It was a set effect only for hunting.

What item is better than letting me hunt safely and quickly?

* * *

Making Jong Ho wait at the entrance, I pulled all the mobs recklessly.

After moving past his field of vision, I slaughtered them all.

Showing Jong Ho my abilities made me a little uneasy, but the real reason was this.

The two main skills I used were the Gravity Laser and Fire Shock.

Both skills could not select targets.

Even if you wait at the entrance, the experience you get is the same.

There was no need to stay close.

It would only increase the risks.

Especially since both skills were Awakened, if it hit Jong Ho who was in his early level 60’s, it would result in a fatal injury.

After killing the last mob Louver, I headed towards the center of the dungeon.

Since 20 min has passed, Jong Ho should me coming to the center as well.

I saw Jong Ho far away in the dark dungeon.

“Hm?”

But something was off.

If I met Jong Ho, that means this is the center of the dungeon, but an exit hadn’t appeared.

“What. Why is there no exist? Did I miss one? That shouldn’t be.”

“Aren’t you done killing Louver?”

“Yeah. I finished and headed this way.”

“Killing the boss and Louver who appeared last, why isn’t the exit appearing?”

“Hm, that’s odd. I’ll go look around once more.”

“Wait. Maybe…..”

“Hm? What is it? Do you have an idea?”

Instead of answering, he turned back towards the way he came from, and started to swing wildly with his sword.

---

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34. Exp Continues to Rise

Look at this nonsensical growth.

It takes 20 minutes to clear the dungeon.

But the experience I gained from it was 2 to 2.5 million.

With only 10 days of hunting, my level had risen from 108 to 124.

I was able to raise 1 to 2 levels each day.

If you think about it, it was only natural.

I did not have to wait to recharge my mana, and was taking the experience that would normally be shared across 5 to 6 people.

Rather than the boss, the hidden boss had a higher chance of dropping the Awakened Essence.

Thanks to the appearance of ‘Gwidon’, I was able to obtain another Awakened Essence.

As soon as I got the essence, I Awakened Fire Shock.

At least until level 150 to 170, I was planning to continue hunting here.

After that, I was planning to Awaken a physical attack skill.

Other items dropped other than the Awakened Essence, but they were all useless compared to the items dropped on the first clear.

Three footwear dropped, but all of them raised mana.

Why are only mana items dropping…

Thanksfully though, I was able to obtain a skill book I was going to buy, ‘Flash’.

Soon as I exited the dungeon, I learned it.

It was a skill that would let me teleport 5m.

However the real prize was this.

The bracelet that Louver dropped!

It was on a dimension of its own, nothing like the regular equipment.

It was a ‘named equipment’, one that would only drop from Louver.

Not just the bracelet, but a ring and a necklace exists, each with their own abilities.

If you equip all three, you even get a set bonus effect.

‘Louver’s Bracelet’ had a simple ability.

It didn’t raise your stats, or your defense.

[After absorbing a certain amount of magical energy and using a skill with the hand that has the bracelet equipped, the skill casted will be more than twice as powerful.]

It was a simple description, but an incredible item.

The bracelet’s effect also showed an incredible destructive force.

After casting a certain amount of skills and killing monsters, the silver bracelet starts to glow blue.

Then.

The next skill used would be vastly strengthened.

Currently this item was not found on the auction house.

Even the history of this item showed that it was rarely auctioned.

‘Those who will succeed can do whatever they want.’

Recently, I’ve been thinking that this saying fits me perfectly.

Honestly, when the bracelet dropped…

I was hoping for equipment that raised strength or stamina stats.

I was just hoping for something that didn’t raise the mana stat.

But instead of indulging in my small wish, it gave me this wonderful boon instead.

‘Gold axe or silver axe. My choice is the steel axe.’

It was like the story of the lumberjack who lost his axe in the lake.

Previously, the 5% drop rate on the blood stone had increased to a reasonable level.

Perhaps it was due to the low number of monsters?

The amount of stone earned was similar with places where lots of monsters appeared.

Of course there was the huge difference in price of B rank stones dropping instead of C.

I think I got the hang of leveling up my skills to 100.

If only Awakened Essences dropped more, but that’s just wishful thinking.

I was planning to save money to purchase ‘Glacial Field’.

Currently one of the most powerful magic out there.

I needed Magma Pool and Meteor Call as well, but I picked a frost type spell because the first spell I obtained was the Frost Orb spell.

* * *

In the taxi after finishing the day’s hunt and heading back home…

The 30 minute travel time was also a time for me to plan ahead and sort out my thoughts.

Sometimes, this is where I’d have a call with mother or Jong Ho as well.

There were times when calls would come from Sang-min, but after leaving the guild, there was a unexplainable distance formed between us, and I was no longer glad to talk to him anymore.

-Riiiiiiiing.

‘If you talk about a tiger, it will come.’ Jong Ho’s calling.

I was grateful to this hyung for many reasons.

Other than the internet, it was my only route for obtaining information. Not only that, but there was much to learn from him, excluding the fashion sense.

During the meal we had to celebrate the purchase of the house, mother seemed to be very fond of him as well.

“Yes. The world’s best Kim Min-Cheol speaking.”

“It’s commander Lee Jong Ho.”

“Hail! What is it?”

“Uh. You’re working hard. It’s nothing much, just this. I was hoping to meet with you this weekend.”

“No worries, commander. Would you like to have dinner with my mother as well?”

“Oho. That’s good. Then let’s meet after taking care of business.”

I can’t believe that we match this well.

Perhaps I should ask mother seriously if there was a long lost hyung?

“But what is it? It’s the first time hyung has asked me to meet first?”

“Nothing important, just wanted you to come somewhere with me.”

“Okay. Understood. See you tomorrow, hyung.”

“Oh yes. I’m grateful.”

* * *

“Min-Cheol. I’m in front of the house. But due to the guards preventing me from even entering the residential area, I just parked the car at the entrance.”

“Yes. I just got on the elevator. I’ll be there soon.”

“Oka-”

I could see Jong Ho waiting at the entrance.

I’ve known him for over two months now, but this was the first time he asked to meet me first.

Without even telling me the details to boot.

I saw Jong Ho purchasing something at a corner.

“What’s up? You called me up to meet first.”

“It’s nothing much. Kind of embarrassing to say.”

“What is it? Making me curious.”

“Hyung is going to go purchase armor with the money he’s saved up, but a bit nervous since I’ll be meeting up in person to do a trade directly.”

“What… I’m a body guard?”

“Sorry. I couldn’t ask anyone else because that’d be embarrassing. Let’s buy this first and let’s go.”

“What? Beansprouts?”

“Yes. Sweet potatoes and spinach too.”

“Eh?”

I noticed Jong Ho receiving a black envelop.

Paying for my share, and obtaining the change from the grandma…

I noticed Jong Ho sliding a few C rank stones into the herb basket.

Looking at Jong Ho, I asked by mouthing the words silently.

‘What. Is. It?’

To my question, he put his index finger on his lips in a shushing gesture and nodded his head.

‘Is he paying me because he is guilty? I feel like a bad person now.’

After finishing the purchase, Jong Ho scratched his head while laughing.

“You’ll come with, right?”

He’s been helping me so much until now, but for something simple as this, he was feeling guilty and sorry for me, and I found it cute.

Despite him being a hyung and all.

Today’s the day we take a break, once a week. There’s the dinner with Jong Ho and mother, and when else would I be able to help this hyung out, I felt proud.

However, if it went like this, it won’t be fun.

“Ah. What are you doing, hyung. Calling someone busy like me for something like this.”

“Uh… uh? Ah. I’m sorry. I thought it’d be okay since I heard you are resting today.”

“Ah… Jeez.”

Yes. I have to tease him like this for fun. Right when his red embarrassed face was about to explode…

“Pfft. Teasing you is the best.”

“What? You… Are you going or not?”

“Of course I’ll go. Why are you asking something like that. And because it’s cold today, you even wore a windbreaker?”

“Yeah. I thought you’d be embarrassed, so I wore it one purpose. Why?”

“Then we must go for sure. Let’s go.”

* * *

A small park near the market.

This is the area Jong Ho planned to have the trade.

After calling the seller, Jong Ho spoke.

“3 min and they’ll be here.”

“We’ll only have to wait a bit. But what armor did you buy?”

“Yes. B rank armor, but it’s used so it is cheap. It was being re-evaluated as a half A rank.”

“Aha. How much?”

“Cost?”

Hearing my question, he smiled while raising four fingers.

“4 million? Is it usually that expensive? From what I hear, it’s about 1 million. There’s no helmet included, right?”

“No. No.”

“Hyung, you don’t like me, right?”

“$400,000! Super cheap, right? ‘Opportunities come to someone who lives righteously.’ But it has to be all cash.”

“Wow. No matter it being a used item, it’s that cheap? That’s really good. But let me go use the bathroom real quick.”

Needed to go quick, but I did not see a single open stall.

I had to go to the cafe and buy a drink to be able to use the bathroom.

Returning to the park. I saw Jong Ho and the vendor from afar.

‘Hm? Why does he look familiar?’ was what I thought.

As I got closer, I heard the conversation.

“Since we need to check the armor’s ability, should we go into a dungeon?”

“Yes. But my sibling has gone to the bathroom. Let’s wait a bit.”

“Eh. It’ll be over real quick. Let’s go already.”

Who’s this. The one who tried to scam me out, trying to buy the ‘Magician’s Insight Bracelet’ from me.

Guess he didn’t change his ways.

“Oh boy. You’re still alive?”

“Hwuhh!”

“You really give your all to living.”

Remembering the past, he started to tremble like a leaf when he saw me.

Even stuttering his words too.

“You suffered that much last time. Why did you not learn.”

“… Th-that’s… because…..”

“You’ll confirm it at the dungeon? Let’s go then.”

I flicked the armor he was holding on with my finger, and he just collapsed on the ground.

“You know him?”

“Hyung. I think you saved $400,000 today?”

“What do you mean?”

“This guy is a scammer. Remember how I told you about the time I beat the shit out of the person who tried to buy the Magician’s Insight Bracelet?”

“Yeah, you did.”

Instead of answering, I pointed at him.

Realizing the situation now, Jong Ho gave a hollow laugh.

However, Jong Ho was still handing over the envelope with the money inside to him.

‘Kind to the point of bothersome. So frustrating.’

“What are you doing hyung? You can just take it you know?”

“…..”

After handing the money, Jong Ho turned around and headed towards the car in silence.

I was able to learn that there was a side to him other than the joking one, a side that was very different from me.

It’s not just pocket change, but $400,000.

For a level 60 like Jong Ho, it would take months, if not a year to get that much money saved up without a doubt.

But here he is, walking on his own path with the armor in silence.

He was someone I could never understand.

“Let’s go together, hyung!”

* * *

We headed towards Jong Ho’s car.

He sat at the driver’s seat with a neutral expression.

I quietly got onboard the car.

“Yeah! Min-Cheol. Doesn’t this armor look killer?”

“Hyung…..?”

“It’s not a joke. I smell the sweat of a hard, honest veteran’s work.”

I didn’t say anything more about the scammer.

Just kept joking around with him like usual while we moved.

“Then we should probably check out the armor’s ability, no?”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go!”

---

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33. My Way (5)

After leaving the dungeon, I grabbed a taxi.

By doing this, I was able to level up, but I was not able to obtain the weapon I wanted.

And the B rank stones, even though I was investing time, I was not able to take them back since I couldn’t clear the dungeon.

It cannot go on like this.

“Thank you. Take care.”

The place I arrived at was the Awakened market near the level 18 hunting grounds.

After leaving the taxi, I went to the biggest market there.

It was because I was buying a high class item.

In the store, there were many customers present.

While I was wandering aimlessly, a 20 year old female store employee came towards me.

The average male would not want any employee to come and help them.

I felt like there was no point in coming to the large market.

The employee was someone who spoke business like.

“Welcome.”

“Yes. Hello.”

“Is there something you are looking for?”

“Trying to purchase a Necromancer skill book.”

Yes. High ranking magic attacks have anti healing properties, like a rice cake painting.

It was something that I couldn’t even dream about with the money I had.

That’s why I was planning to buy the cheaper alternative, a debuff skill.

It had the same effect, but no one but the Necromancer could use it, since there would be a 10 times the mana cost penalty.

“Necromancer skill book. Please come this way?”

Following the guidance of the employee, we headed towards the corner of the store.

Unlike the small markets near home, there were many guards looking over the place.

Each armed to the teeth, that is.

The inside of the market was divided like a bookstore, and none of the actual items were on display, as only pictures of them were hung up.

Even the half A rank weapon I used was hung up as picture in a corner.

“This is where the necro skill books are, but what are you looking for specifically?”

“‘Lower Resist’ and “Un-Recoverable’ please.”

“Understood. Lower Resist is over here, and you said Un-Recoverable?”

She turned towards me to confirm.

“Yes.”

“But why are you saying it in such a difficult terminology. You can just call it anti healing skill. That’s what everyone calls it. It’s not like there is another ‘anti healing’ magic found in any other schools of magic.”

“Ah….. I just memorized it the way the encyclopedia had it written…”

“Guess it hasn’t been long since you became an Awakened.”

“Yes.”

The employee smirked and spoke.

After picking up the two skill books, she continued.

“Did you need anything else?”

“Healer class attack power buff skill book as well.”

“Yes. Understood.”

As soon as I finished talking, two guards by the wall headed towards me and the employee.

‘Oh? What the.’

Without thinking, strength went into both my arms.

Looking at my eyes that went wide, she plastered on a fake smile and spoke.

“Out of all the items at our store, the skill books are considered one of the most prized possessions. That’s why there are guards that come along when we bring them out. Sorry if it surprised you.”

“Ah… Yes…..”

I guess it made sense since the Necromancer debuff skill book alone was $60,000 ¹, and then to buy the attack buff skill as well.

It didn’t take long for me and the employee to arrive at the counter.

With the two guards at each side, just like the time with the midgets and the goons.

‘This type of situation…. I dislike it for some reason.’ was my thought process.

Finishing the transaction, I boarded the taxi.

Learning all three skill books, the taxi was slowly heading back.

It was annoying to have to raise the level of the skills each time I obtain one.

However, only by raising the levels of the skills do their true values show, so there was no other way.

I had to hit the most amount of monsters possible to level them up quickly.

Back to the manticore dungeon. It was like a training room to me now.

* * *

After investing three hours to raise the skill levels up somewhat…

I was in front of the level 18 dungeon once more.

Half the time for hunting was wasted.

It was because I had wasted half the time set aside for hunting on a dungeon that didn’t return much.

But it was for the perfect clear on the level 18 dungeon today.

The dungeon was pitch black.

I was sure, but just in case, I pulled two mobs first.

Then I casted Lower Resist and Anti Healing on them.

On their chests, an inversed triangle and x shape formed one after another.

With this, debuffs are complete.

Quickly casting the attack buff on myself, I casted Gravity Laser.

With incredible thickness, it penetrated their bodies.²

Riddled with gaping holes, red blood sprayed everywhere.

It didn’t heal. The debuffs were showing definitive effect.

After confirming the effects of the debuff, I casted my shields and ran towards them.

And just like the griffon’s final attack, I aimed to use my Fire Shock to finish them in one go.

Below me was a sea of flames.

The griffon’s sharp feathers became imbedded in the shield, but they were merely ashes slowly cooling.

“Good.”

Other than the poison spit attack from the naga, nothing could approach me without dying.

The only thing I’d have to worry about when pulling a vast amount of mobs is the griffon’s attack.

Pulling all the monsters in the dungeon, I casted Frozen Shield and Spirit Armor.

Frozen Shield shatters after taking a strong attack.

Previously, it shattered from the kelvacore’s brace attack in one go.

That’s why I casted Spirit Armor over the Frozen Shield for additional safety.

Then the debuffs, followed by Fire Shocks to those that cannot recover.

Meanwhile casting Gravity Laser to torment them in between.

Out of all my defensive skills, Reflect Shield provided the most reliable protection.

That’s why I left it in case the hidden boss appeared, as well as for Louver.

If there was no cooldown, there would be no need for this.

With my perfect plan, I was able to annihilate them cleanly.

Other than the time it took to take down the two, it only took 10 min.

All the fallen’s soul was absorbed by Louver.

It was about time that it showed its face.

However, it went back to hiding in the center of the dungeon.

-SQUEEEAL!

I heard the sound of a pig.

The boss had appeared.

To think that a hidden boss would appear on my first clear of the level 18 dungeon.

There was no way to hide the excitement on my face.

If I was lucky, I’d be able to obtain the weapon I want in a single day.

With that in mind, I ran towards the center of the dungeon.

“Wow…. Chicken, snake soup, and now pork?”

The pig was about 5m in size.

It was a bipedal pig, carrying a mace the size of its head.

With its other hand, it held onto a circular wooden box.

Its attack power was low, but the item in its left hand was dangerous.

You could think of it as a bomb that caused a massive explosion.

If I was able to avoid that one attack, I could probably beat it up without any problems.

“However, that guy hiding over there bothers me. Just you wait.”

Only for a moment did the stare down with Louver went.

‘Gwidon’ started to charge at an incredible speed with its head nearly touching the floor.

When it came close to me, I casted the debuff and self buff at the same time.

The noise it made as its body crashed with the ground. The ground shook and I could feel the pressure from it.

The mace was raised above its head and came crashing down towards me.

But thanks to its large body, there was no way such a slow attack would hit me.

It swung through thin air and embedded the mace into the ground, it immediately tried to raise it again.

I ran behind it, and got on its back.

Holding onto its hide, I began to cast all my skills with reckless abandon.

From experience, at close range the Lightning Spray is a lot more effective than the Gravity Laser.

Through hunting, I knew it would do massive amounts of damage to its internals.

Even if Gravity Laser was an A rank skill while Lightning Spray is a C rank, depending on the situation, it could be super effective.

The flames from Fire Shock flew about, its back becoming charred black.

From its nose, mouth, and ears, black smoke came out.

It was obvious that it had suffered terrible internal injuries.

Even while casting the spells, my mind was focused on its left hand.

The mace was in its right hand. With its short hand, it could not hit me while I was on it.

It seemed that it has decided on something, as it raised its left hand up and tossed the bomb in the air.

‘Reflect Shield.’

Instead of just going down like this, it seemed to have wanted to get me off even if it meant taking damage as well.

-BOOM!

The wooden container that left its hand exploded with a deafening noise.

At the same time, it knelt down and lost the life in its eyes.

It didn’t die just because of the damage from the explosion.

The boss wasn’t stupid enough to suicide.

It was because of the damage reflected by the shield.

Since the Reflect Shield had reached level 100, the reflect chance was 30%, while the damage returned was 60%.

It had reflected more than half of the immense amount of explosive damage.

Even if the shield didn’t reflect, it was going to die anyways.

But this makes it a lot easier.

While I was trying to loot the drops floating above ‘Gwidon’….

Reaper Louver became a solid form and started to move.

This was the second time I entered this dungeon, but I was already beginning to grow tired of it.

It has not even been 20 minutes yet, but being stared at by those eyes that keeps following me…

Didn’t feel like 20 minutes, but over 2 hours.

* * *

Using the attack skills of the monsters it absorbed.

And it even absorbed the soul of Gwidon.

It wasn’t an easy fight.

That’s what I thought as I looked at its ethereal corpse embedded into the ground.

Investing $100,000, I had only learned 3 new skills.

But thanks to those skills, I was able to clear it for less than half the time it would’ve taken me.

A dungeon that required the skills of 5 to 6 different classes.

But I found a way to solo it.

I went next to Gwidon’s corpse.

Looking it over, I could not see any weapons.

However, like a hidden boss, it dropped a huge B ranking bloodstone and a skill book.

It should have a huge price differential compared to the C rank stone.

Taking all the loot, I went to the corpse of Louver.

It did not drop any stones, skills books, or even weapons.

But I saw a shiny bracelet floating above its corpse.

“Ara ara.”

With the skill book, bracelet, and a fortune, I immediately exited the dungeon.

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32. My Way (4)

The laser indiscriminately pierced through the monsters, ripping them to shreds.

However, the wounds, as they received damage, seemed to heal at the same time.

It wasn’t perfect, but bleeding stopped quickly, and something seemed to fill the empty holes in their bodies.

“It would be great if I had a skill to prevent their regeneration.”

Most high ranking magic had some kind of ability that prevented enemy from recovering.

It had incredibly high damage output, as well as preventing recovery. It wasn’t just called a high ranking skill for nothing.

They also sported an incredible price matching that.

Putting aside my disappointment, I looked at them.

‘Griffon.’

With the head and wings of an eagle, and sharp talons.

It was a giant monster with the body and hind legs of a lion.

The moment it came within my sights, it flew towards me with incredible speeds.

From its beak to wings, it came at me like an arrow.

From what I found out, until its life was extinguished, it would attack like this.

However, when its fire of life was about to be extinguished, it would attack as if its life is on the line.

The last final attack.

Its body glanced the shield casted around me.

Due to the incredible amount of speed and power, the Reflect Shield seemed to waver a bit.

It was a shield that had reached lv 100. It seemed that I didn’t give enough credit for its attack power.

Until it turned its direction to head back towards me, the shield recovered its form and I finished preparing to receive its attack.

With its multiple attacks, the Reflect Shield was countering by reflecting the attack back at it.

Then.

While I was focused solely on its attacks, the ‘Poison Naga’ continued to spray sticky vomit around me.

The vomit it spewed all over to floor started to boil like hydrochloric acid on metal.

Soon, a foul smoke began to permeate.

If I make a mistake and step on it without my shield, it wouldn’t end with just losing my boots and armor.

The vile poison would instantly seep into the foot of the Awakened.

If that happens, there is only one solution. Without a single bit of hesitation, to amputate from the calf down.

If you try to pathetically save one’s foot with an ‘Antidote’ spell, you’d lose your life within a minute.

The one thing that made me shudder was for the high stamina tank type Awakened.

Due to the defense capabilities from their stamina stat, no magicians that would normally enter a level 18 dungeon would be able to amputate. Thus only the poisoned member themselves could, and would have to cut off their own limb.

Even if you were an Awakened with 100 stamina and 10 strength, you were able to hurt yourself as if your body was that of a normal person.

As if a scene from the movie “Saw.”

Of course high ranking healers could regenerate the lost foot.

You’d have to pay an incredible sum of money though.

A monster with the body and tail of a snake, a halfling.

From the waist up, the hands each held a sword thin as paper.

After spitting out venom repeatedly, it flicked its tongue, getting closer.

It could slide quickly on the areas the venom it spat out landed.

“A chicken and a bowl of snake soup. I’m blessed with food.”

Time for the griffon to attack again.

I casted Fire Shock.

In a radius of 15m around me, the dark dungeon was bathed in bright red.

It was a skill with only a duration of 10 seconds, so I had to hold them in place as long as possible.

The moment they were in my sights, I used Bind to root them.

The level 21 bind would only last for 1 to 2 seconds, but I just need to keep casting is all.

The moment when the griffon was caught by its hind legs and flapped its wings desperately to struggle free…

I casted Hold on the naga that was swinging its sword at me.

It was obvious that its sword attacks would be all blocked by my shield.

However, I knew that the constant attacks would slowly eat away at the duration of the shields.

The flames from the Fire Shock meeting with the venom caused the dungeon to become a gas chamber.

If my shields gave out right now, and I was to inhale this smoke…..

Since I did not raise my agility stat, I was weak towards status changes. It was obvious that a tragedy would occur.

A skill that did not take account for the surroundings, truly for those who play solo.

It’s a hunting method that a hunting party cannot even dream about.

Without being able to move, they could only get hit by the Fire Shock head on.

10 seconds.

It was the time left before I casted Gravity Laser again since casting Hold and Bind with both my hands prevented me from casting it.

Until then I had to focus only on halting their movements.

I noticed that their ability to recover had been reduced drastically.

As the sea of red ended, stopping the cast of Hold and Bind, I continued to spam Gravity Laser.

After Bind being undone, the griffon that was flying at me continuously suddenly stopped 3m above my head.

His life force must be nearly extinguished. The only thing left must be his last resort attack.

Despite the laser penetrating and ripping its entire body apart, it spread its wings and continued to flap its way towards me.

But that was for a brief moment.

As it stopped its wings, the feathers from the inside of its wings began to pour down.

The small black red shards were like sharp assassin weapons, resembling that of an assassin’s ‘Weapon Throw’.

The shape was different, but it wasn’t just an attack. It was truly a final attack.

Feather that came pouring like rain. Just in case, I had even casted Spirit Armor.

Due to the attack above me, my vision was nearly blocked due to all the feathers being imbedded in the shield.

As if from the battles with Guseon ¹ where all those arrows and explosives were embedded on it.

Even on the naga who was nearly dead, there were hundreds, if not thousands of featheres embedded on it.

The destroyed body that struggled till its last fell to the ground.

[100,000 Experience Obtained]

[100,000 Experience Obtained]

For killing one, the experience I gained was 100k!

Level 18 dungeons were different from the manticore and succubus dungeons.

Unlike those dungeons where hundreds of monsters appeared, there were only 20 to 25 monsters.

But even those few, if I could get them all I could obtain a minimum experience of 2 million.

Unlike the 800k experience I received form the succubus dungeon, the experience I gained rose over 2.5 times from before.

In order for a level 108 to increase his or her lv by 1, the experience required was 60 million.

After lv 30, the required experience began to exponentially increase, and now has become 60 million.

To take down both these two, it had taken only 2 minutes.

But thinking about the 3 minutes cooldown time of Fire Shock…

I realized that it would take roughly 1 hour to take them all down.

“This isn’t going to work out.”

Thought for a brief moment…

The collapsed bodies gave off a green ‘demonic fire’ along with the blood stone.

The light was absorbed by a monster far away who was merely watching the fight.

“I forgot about him. Ah. I have a headache. One hour probably isn’t enough?”

The one who absorbed the light, its form became a little less ethereal than before.

Its name is ‘Reaper Louver ‘.

From the dungeon entrance onwards, this place looked like a road to guide the dead to the underworld.

To match that, a reaper that guides all the monsters’ soul in the dungeon had appeared.

“Passing the summer, they’re filming ‘Legend of the Homeland’.”

As our eyes met, it turned its back on me and disappeared into the darkness.

It wouldn’t attack right now.

Maybe when all the monsters here have died. If the hidden boss appeared, it would probably absorb its soul and then fight.

The boss itself was a mid-tier boss, but if it absorbed the soul of the hidden boss, I heard it would become incredibly strong.

I didn’t have time for this.

I gave my all and charged forward.

Continued to take down the enemies.

Hunting by grouping only 2~3 of them at a time. And they kept recovering.

And the 3 minutes cooldown of Fire Shock.

The result was going overtime on the dungeon’s time limit.

All the monsters that fired magic gleefully disappeared, and the exit opened in the center of the dungeon.

“Damn it.”

And that’s how I tasted my first defeat as an Awakened.

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31. My Way (3)

I had decided on my current goal.

I needed an M/B or M/A ranking weapon.

The reason I needed a weapon was for the dungeons that were resistant to magic.

For mana stat, no matter how much you raised it, it wouldn’t affect the magic’s damage.

Only the total mana and the recovery rate.

Even the Awakened’s level did not affect the skill’s damage.

No matter how high leveled you were.

If you had the same skill and skill level, you’d do the same damage.

If there is a difference between a low level Awakened and higher leveled Awakened…

Increasing the mana stat to improve your overall mana pool and mana regen, allowing you to continuously cast the strongest skills.

Thus, the important thing to a magician class is the ‘skill level’.

That’s why they would be entering the level 18 dungeon.

If you think about it, it’s a hunt for weapons, but I’m skipping from the level 13 dungeon to the level 18 dungeon all at once.

For the average Awakened, the level 13 dungeon’s requirements was a 5 to 6 man party of level 65 minimum.

However, for the level 18 dungeon, you’d have to be a party of 5 to 6 members, all 85 levels higher than before, a group of lv 150s.

It took a minimum of 4 to 5 years of effort to make it possible.

And if you take account of the experience points and equipment befitting these members, there was a huge gap between me and them.

The amount of experience points you could earn would be on a different level.

The experience you could earn from the manticore dungeon would be 12 million or so.

By clearing the succubi dungeon once, you could receive up to 80 million experience. Just by the dungeon level increasing by 1, there was this much of a difference.

Of course, it’s biased since I was able to defeat the revival succubi as well in the level 13 dungeon.

My current level is 95.

I was able to achieve what would’ve taken others 3 years in only 3 months.

Roughly speaking, I had 12 times the growth speed of others.

A regular Awakened’s year would be only a month to me. But this isn’t the end.

Because the gap will only increase from here on out.

The skill and level growth rate only being 12 times higher?

No. I was sure that at the minimum, it would be 50 times.

It was like hitting the cheat key in BattleNet and casting ‘Psionic Storm’ that a ‘High Templar’ uses?

I didn’t think of stupid thoughts like ‘I’ll go to the level 18 dungeon when my level meets the requirements.’

Raising my main attack skill and shield to level 100! That was my requirement for entering the level 18 dungeon.

***

It was the time of year that nights became longer than day, and cold winds from morning till evening blew.

Time had passed to the point where I had to flip the calendar past October.

The safe house Jong Ho and I looked for before, we were able to match the timing of moving in with her birthday.

After the move, I went around to my neighbors to giving welcoming rice cakes around, and most reacted like this. ¹

‘There are people who still do this?’ or ‘They are coming in because they won the lottery,’ was the general response.

I was a little disappointed.

But I really liked the home that was going to give peace and reassurance to my mother and my heart.

Since I was earning a lot more than what I thought, it was time for me to whip myself back into shape from a period of relaxation.

Happiness I obtained through difficulties.

I cannot have it stolen.

I cannot have it crushed.

I only hope that it’ll stay this way.

Finally today. I was able to reach level 100 in all skills with the exception of ‘Frost Orb’, ‘Heal’, ‘Hold’, and ‘Bind’.

For ‘Eye of the Storm’, since the increase in level didn’t do much, I leveled it up on to 70 and stopped it there.

I only hunted to level my skills, but ended up naturally leveling to 108.

If Jong Ho heard about this, he would probably fall over backwards and faint.

The only reason I was able to achieve such a satisfying result was diligence.

I could get rid of fatigue and physical wounds with Heal.

However, there was the hindrance known as ‘sleep’.

This was something that Heal couldn’t cure.

But I found even time used for sleep a waste. I wanted to grow even quicker.

I even searched for magic that would get rid of sleep.

The time I allowed myself was 6 hours.

This period of time did not only include sleep, but also for eating and taking care of myself.

Other than that, I only focused on hunting. 18 hours a day succubi hunting.

It was a brutal training. However on Sundays, I would take a break no matter what happened.

I was growing stronger for happiness, so I wouldn’t skip time with my mother.

Returning from the hunting grounds, I opened a safe in the corner of my room to retrieve the Awakened Essence.

And without hesitation, Awakened Gravity Laser.

I held the skill book against my chest and thought about Awakening the Gravity Laser.

Then.

[Would you like to Awaken Gravity Laser?]

Look at this kind narration provided by this noona.

I know this would be impossible, but I wanted to meet her someday and take her out for dinner.

“This is great.”

After Awakening the spell, the status window that showed Gravity Laser had a star in front of it, and the skill’s level became 1.

The required experience to level was 98 million.

Before Awakening, the experience required to level up the skill from level 1 was 100. It felt like the difference was too steep.

Finishing the Awakening, all preparations to enter the level 18 dungeon was perfect.

***

I arrived in front of the dungeon entrance, located in Nowon. ²

Guri, where I was currently living at, was 30 min away from the entrance. ³

Since I could not find any level 18 dungeons nearby, I was forced to waste 1 hour a day traversing.

Preparation was complete, and I could see the dungeon entrance before my eyes.

“Is there a need to hesitate?”

Dungeon is being activated.

The interior of the dungeon was something completely different from what I’ve seen so far.

A narrow rural road of 5m wide.

Each side of the road was accompanied by darkness that seemed to swallow light itself, which I found to be cliffs.

If felt as though if I fell, I would go straight down to hell.

Not only were the cliffs, but the ceiling and everywhere else was covered in complete darkness.

The only thing that had color in my sights was the rural road.

‘If there was a road the grim reaper would guide people through, would it be like this?’ was what I was considering.

Sightseeing ends here.

Without hesitation, I started to run.

I wonder how much time has passed.

When the entrance seemed smaller than a fingernail.

I heard the cries of the monsters ahead.

When I looked at where the sound came from, the first one I noticed was the ‘Poison Naga.’

The owner of the sharp piercing cry was the ‘Griffon.’

And next to it, there was a ghastly faded form.

It was exactly as I learned.

Until now, all dungeons had a single type of monster.

However, from level 16 and beyond had 2 to 5 different types of monsters mixed in.

For the level 18 dungeon that I’ve entered, it featured 3 different types of monsters.

If the variety of monsters increase, the different defense and attack become difficult to deal with.

Melee and ranged monsters, as well as monsters that use special abilities.

The reason why 5 to 6 members enter together as a party was to execute the correct strategies that work against the different monsters.

Even if physical attacks didn’t work, this was why tanks such as Paladins and Dragonite Warriors are needed. ⁴

Amongst the warrior class, the tank was treated like royalty.

Without being carried, it could keep growing.

But is that really important.

‘Even today, I’ll do it by myself!’

As the Griffons Fear ⁵ rang out, I casted the ‘Awakened Gravity Laser’ to max range and ran full speed.

It was an attack skill that attacked anything within 100m without discrimination, regardless of what monsters and life forms they were.

The attack had begun the moment I could tell their shapes clearly.

All lasers within range were firing out in all directions.

I could not help but be surprised as I closed the distance between me and them.

“Huh? What the?”

Awakened Gravity Laser had a different thickness and color.

The thickness and clearness could not be compared to the previous version before Awakening.

Even when it got near level 100, it never showed crushing force like this.

It was as 3 times as thick, a mixture of red and blue powerful laser that poured out.

Through Awakening, the skill’s increase in power had increased to eye opening levels.

“Guess this is the reason why everyone focuses so much on money. Let’s kill!”

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30. My Way (2)

The last night of August.

It was the last day of attending school.

The next 3 months! I could focus completely on hunting.

Starting with a month of summer break, and 2 months of hunting in between schooling was what it took to achieve growth like this.

Looking at the full moon of the night sky, it felt like it was foreshadowing that my growth would raise leaps and beyond.

After quitting the guild, different from the usual, I continued to hunt.

I informed Jong Ho about the situation.

At this moment, all my doubts about him vanished, as if all the worrying was a waste of time.

For many days, we met and shared many conversations.

Jong Ho focused mostly on the topic of ‘taking care of oneself’.

His argument was this.

Since it has only been a few days since you left the guild, if they attacked me now, the blame would natural shift to the Noblesse guild. So for now, they were lying in wait.

It could be that we’re suspecting them without any solid evidence. ¹

But better safe than sorry. I obtained the habit of keep my shields up by rotating through cooldowns after leaving the guild.

‘For joining the wrong guild once, I might develop a phobia.’

In front of the relator building Jong Ho decided to meet at, I gave a call.

It was to find out about the contract involving the safe house.

I was going to reveal the surprise present to mother in 5 days.

“Hyung. Where are you?”

“I’m waiting for the left turn signal. Wait a bit.”

“Okay.”

It didn’t take long for Jong Ho to arrive, sporting a fashion that made me astonished once more.

“Wow….. Even today hyung, that’s something.”

“Since I was coming back from an important meeting, I took the extra effort.”

“Perhaps you do cosplay? You went to a meeting with these clothes? I know I say this constantly, but please stop wearing tight white shirts that stick to your body! Hyung, you look like a raisin… Ha….. Let’s just go.”

“What are you saying kid. White shirts and blue jeans are the symbol of manliness.”

‘If it’s only the white shirt, I’d leave it alone, but what are you going to do about the skull ring on your finger and the chain shackles on your jeans. Sigh.’ I tightly kept a hold of these words and resisted the urge to blurt it out.

Inside the relator building, I checked at the office if there are any listed for sale.

Thankfully there was one that was at an affordable price, near the current location we lived at.

For now, I left after informing them that I will be contacting them within a week.

“Hyung. Did you know I’ve been hunting with a rose knife for almost a week?”

“Right. You said that as you left there, you returned the sword?”

“Yes. Now I’m left with one jewel that was embedded before. Hyung, since we’re here together already, can you come along and help me select a good weapon?”

“Weapon? If that’s the case… allow me the white shirt!”

‘Are you trying to repeat the disaster once more!’ With a straight face, I turned around and waved at him.

“Be careful on the way back hyung. See you later!”

“That’s cruel! How much are you willing to spend?”

“Since I’m buying a new house, the leftover money I have is 200,000 or so. Ah! With the Manticore’s Soulstone, it should be 300,000.”

“Oho, hey. With that much, it won’t be as good as your previous sword, but you should be able to get something usable? 100 strength stat ones should be possible.”

“Is there any weapons or armor that gives me cooldown reduction?”

“Are you playing an online game? Is being an Awakened a joke to you! Argh!?”

Who can stop this energetic man.

As if he saw it from a movie, or perhaps from a trend, he yelled at me with an ugly and awkward expression.

“That expression!”

“Let’s just go for now.”

“But it’s seems really wasteful to buy a sword when I was using one for free. Feels like I’m wasting money.”

“If it seems that wasteful, you can make it all up with hunting.”

“Is there a sword that can match up to Heugdo?”

“Plenty! Swords that cannot even be compared to man stat wise, as well as the shapes that are just killer. But the prices are just too much. They do drop from higher level dungeons though.”

“How much does the decent strength increasing weapons cost? If you say it’s 10 or 20 million, I will punch you in the gut.”

Hearing my words, Jong Ho tried to contain his smile and spoke.

“Million? … You know that the limit of mankind for crafting is an S rank? A sword of that stat can be bought with money. But weapons and items dropped form monsters have an M in front of the rank. An abbreviation for monster. Thus a monster drop M/S weapon cannot be bought even with millions. Even I wouldn’t sell it.”

Previously, I went to the store in front of the manticore dungeon and purchased SA ranking goods.

One of them was the ‘Lich King’s Staff’. The staff that I was holding onto despite being at death’s door.

If the mana stat was replaced with strength, it was a weapon similar to Heugdo.

It was only an M/B ranking weapon, but the prices were from millions to tens of millions.

The Heugdo that I returned as I left the guild probably had the same price.

‘Damn it… Why did I listen to Jong Ho hyung. Even if a widow bought land, it wouldn’t give me this much of a stomache.’ (TL: Expression for complaint of waste of money.)

Throwing away my regrets with resolve, I asked Jong Ho.

“Where does M/B and M/A rank weapons drop?”

“Level 18 dungeons, but not from ordinary mobs. If you defeat the hidden boss, there is a small drop rate.”

‘What?’

Lv18 dungeons can be easily conquered by someone like me.

But hidden bosses similar to the ‘kelvacore’, and the drop rate is low?

Picking up the regret I’ve tossed away, I wanted to shout ‘Judge….. Please return my Dark Sword. I’m without blame.’

It was almost to the point where I even had stupid thoughts like ‘Park Hyun was really a good person…..’

Picking up my broken mental resolve, I asked more seriously.

“Lv 18 dungeons, the required entry level is 150, right?”

“Of course. Above level 150, and 5 to 6 people. What? Why are you so serious. Are you planning to go there now or something. Hurry up and let’s go buy C or M/D ranking weapons with that 300k.”

“For now, let’s hold off on that. I’ll go first. Hyun! Let’s go have dinner with my mother sometime at a nice restaurant sometime. My treat.”

“Hey. Min-Cheol. I’m saying this just in case, but don’t think about going there recklessly. Do take care.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Level 18 dungeon.

Level 13 to 15 dungeons are immune to magic attacks. Level 16 to 18 dungeons are immune to physical attacks.

Thus, what I need to do now is…

The money that I was going to spend on weapons must be invested in skill books.

With infinite mana, I could cast spells without limit, so my skill levels would probably rise insanely?

My main offensive spells ‘Gravity Laser’ and the ‘Fire Shock’ I ordered from the midget a couple days ago, I planned to Awaken both skills and destroy the level 18 dungeon.

That was the gist of it.

It was fortunate that I did not use the Awakened Essence on Piercing Sword.

A skill that I had #1 priority to Awaken, but to go to the level 18 dungeon where physical attacks do not work, Gravity Laser rose past the ranks of importance.

Maybe I’ll be lucky and get the M/B weapon Jong Ho was talking about.

The rose knife that I thought I would be holding on for the last time, I tightened my grip around it.

‘At least for a week….. I don’t think you’ll be cutting carrots. Sorry.’

The goal is the level 18 dungeon. And to Awaken two magic skills!

“It won’t take long. Let’s go!”

* * *

From the small fry, I obtained Bind and Fire Shock spell books.

The three couldn’t look at me in the eyes till the end, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

In the future, if I had more uses for using the underground channels, I’m sure I’ll see them again.

[Will you obtain the Fire Shock skill?]

The sound of narration always excited me.

Without hesitation, I used all the skill books in my hand.

“Hm…. Bind and Hold, I’ll raise later. For now, it’s Fire Shock!”

Fire Shock send out massive amounts of flames around me.

It wasn’t a skill that continuously used up mana. Thus, it had a cooldown.

A whole 3 minutes.

It could be considered exaggerating to call 3 minutes that.

However, the skill’s duration was only 10 seconds. Waiting 3 min for 10 seconds, it was a skill far less efficient than Eye of the Storm.

And even if the skill level rises, the duration did not. Only the damage did.

Of course, you really can’t compare a main offensive skill and a support skill.

Range was 15 meters from the caster. Both range and duration was pathetic for the price.

So why did I purchase such a trash-like skill, paying with all that money?

The answer to that is the massive increase of damage as it gets closer to lv 100.

There is almost nobody who would spend the time and effort to raise a skill like this.

After casting, Fire Shock spewed out enough flames to melt all opponents nearby within 10 seconds.

There was no shape to the flames.

As if from ‘Love and Soul’, the dead’s soul piercing through a person.

The flames would flow deep into the target’s bodies, causing severe lethal harm internally.

Unfortunately, it didn’t reach a satisfying amount of damage until it reaches near lv 100, so most didn’t attempt to raise it. And the skill book didn’t drop easily either. It was a ghost like skill. (TL: Pipe dream. Raise the unraisable, do the impossible, row row fight the power!)

I was planning to Awaken this ghost like skill as well!

“Seems I’ll need a lot of Awakened Essences….. Guess I’ll be seeing the midget and two goons often?”

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29. My Way

After three months of being an Awakened, I felt like I accomplished something.

I wondered if I ever came back home brimming with this much confidence before.

Within seconds of ringing the bell, mother opened the door hastily.

Guess she was worried for her one and only son.

“I’m back.”

“… Are you okay, son?”

With a look of worry, she checked for injuries.

You wouldn’t know how touched I was from her expression of worry.

I purposefully raised my tone of voice and answered.

“Mrs. Bak. Have you forgotten our promise at the hospital? That I will not get hurt or die.”

“Thank you. Thank you.”

“It’s all over now. That entire headache inducing interest and even the original debt is gone from this time onward. Before when you were dealing with those three goons, you were amazing. Pulling up your sleeves! Looking straight at them.”

“What are you saying. When did I do that.”

“It was the most beautiful side of you that I have seen. It all starts from here. I’ll get you all the money in the world! Let’s spend lots of money! How about we change our family motto to ‘splurging and living!’ How about it?”

With my expression and tone filled with playfulness, mother smiled brightly.

Her eyes were wet, not with sadness and despair like before, but with happiness and affection.

‘Yes. This is what I wanted most after becoming Awakened.’

A young age of 18.

The Awakened status that found me. And the incredible ability of having infinite mana.

If I put in the effort, no one could stand against me.

I dare anyone to block my path.

I’ll give you the answer to if the afterlife exists or not.

 

* * *

There was only one hour left before I had to attend school. After eating breakfast with mother, I quickly went to my room.

It wasn’t because I was looking forward to the skill books in the shoulder bag. ¹

The kelvacore dropped the decent Eye of the Storm support skill last time.

Repressing my expectations, I scanned the skill book.

Personally, I was hoping for an attack skill A rank or above.

After the scan finished, the skill information popped up on the phone.

-Reflect Shield-

Usable Class: Bagi Warrior. Paladin. (If obtained by other classes, mana cost increases ten fold.)

Mana Cost: 200 (For every 10 skill levels, mana cost increases by 10%.)

Skill Introduction:

* After casting, you are protected by an invisible shield.

* Absorbs physical attacks aimed at the caster.

* With a 10% chance, returns 50% of the damage taken. (For every 10 skill levels, reflection chance increases by 2%, and reflected damage by 1%.)

Cooldown: 30 min.

Duration: 5 min. (For every 10 skill levels, duration increases by 10%.)

Additional Explanation: Can be used simultaneously with other shields.

Skill Book Price: 3.5 million.

I thought it wasn’t a bad skill.

With this, I had 3 defensive shields.

Unlike other shields, Reflect Shield had the ability to deflect damage.

A skill like this compliments a tank class.

To tanks that had a low attack capability, it was skill that allowed a chance to reflect physical attacks back to the monsters at a fixed rate.

No matter what, I was going to Awaken all shield type spells, but I was not fan of how the level of the skill affected the reflect chance as well as the amount of damage reflected.

If I was able to master it after Awakening it, the reflection chance would increase by 50%. It was a spell that only reflected physical attacks, but this made me realize there must be skills out there that protect me against magic attacks.

If it wasn’t anything that raised my mana stats, whether equipment or skill, I thought it was the correct decision to obtain it.

As my skill rose, I became more disappointed of the higher ups.

Anyone who had fun leveling would know.

With quick leveling and physical growth as my basis, I thought that I could clear the level 28 dungeon in a single attempt for the first time like ‘Choi So-Hyeon’, the one Tae-Seong could not stop fanboying about.

As if to laugh at all the decades of effort they showed.

My interest for the skill book was brief.

I was distressed about Noblesse Park Hyun’s text message.

Today at 6, round two of the guild war would began against Empire.

I planned to head to the Noblesse guild’s building today.

* * *

In the building of Noblesse, 60th floor where Park Hyun’s office room was located, there I was.

5 in the afternoon. Roughly 1 hour before the guild war began.

With the guidance from the intern secretary, I entered the office and dropped the Dark Sword on the conference table.

Wondering what my actions meant, with a small nod, Park Hyun sent all the secretaries out and asked me a question.

“Mr. Min-Cheol. What is it? I was about to move because the guild war was about to begin.”

“I think it’s time to return this sword.”

Hearing my words, she could not hide her confusion any longer and spoke.

“What are you saying…? Do you not like the weapon?”

“No.”

Taking a moment to relax my breathing, I continued.

“I’m quitting the guild.”

“…..”

As I finished my sentence, Park Hyun’s face became cold for a split second.

But she changed her expression again, and in silence, fiddled her thumbs about.

Contemplating for a while, she opened her mouth.

“Hm….. What is it? Is it the requirement to join the guild war?”

“There is no reason. I’m losing my own time.”

“If that’s the reason, instead of making a hasty decision, we can solve it by talking…”

In the middle of her sentence, I cut her off.

And after bowing politely, I spoke.

“I am very thankful that you saved me. I feel a gratitude that I cannot forget for the rest of my life. However, I don’t think that Noblesse is where I belong.”

“You won’t even tell me the reason?”

“…..”

She looked straight at me, who remained silent, and asked.

“Is there a scouting offer from another guild? What deal are they offering?”

“No. I just dislike situations where I am underneath another, being ordered around.”

Park Hyun. She was a guild master, taking command over hundreds of Awakened.

It was an incredible display of a poker face.

She was a woman who became scarier the more you learned about her.

My prediction stated that she was going to cling onto me till the end.

But I could not help but be surprised at her next words.

“Well… Okay, sure. Looking at your expression, I don’t think I can hold you no matter what I say. If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. Contracts are contracts. According to the contract we’ve created before, you are free to leave. Without any penalties of course.”

With her words, I could not help but be confused.

“…Yes. I am aware since I searched thoroughly in the contract.”

“If you do not need a guild, then do as you please. But you don’t know how life will turn out. If we meet again and you return, then I sincerely hope that we are together once more.”

Her cryptic words ended, and I was left with both relief and yet felt unsettled.

Was it because my weapon was gone? No.

It must be the doubt I feel towards Park Hyun.

The feeling of confusion was brief. With that, I left the Noblesse guild.

“Must I raise my rose knife again?” ²

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28. Growth. Revenge. (4)

How long has it been?

My gaze shifted towards my watch.

There was only about 20 minutes left before the dungeon closes.

The guys that became ragged like a bunch of dirty washcloth after 30 minutes of lesson were tossed into the corner of the dungeon.

To leave the dungeon, I had to clear all the monsters.

Within 10 minutes, the dungeon center was filled with manticores’ red bloodstones.

Thinking that the exit would open, I turned around.

Suddenly, in the level 12^th dungeon that I visited after two months, a kelvecore appeared.

‘Aah, if I knew this would happen, I would have beaten those two son of bitches a little less.’

Ten minutes left.

With the growth I’ve achieved, I should be able to take care of it easily.

Hunting the kelvecore last time, I was able to obtain a bloodstone, a soulstone, a jewel and a skillbook.

I was looking towards to the rare drops again.

Its powerful breath and poison sting that once put me in danger no longer affected me.

Not giving it any space and attacking it at close range while circling around it, I did not allow it to show off its main range attacks.

It didn’t take long for it to die, accompanied by a howl that was always awful to hear.

The blood stone that floated above it gave a magnificent glow like always.

Without a doubt, the skillbook and soul stone dropped.

Matching the title of hidden boss, it seemed to be very polite. ¹

‘Okay. Seems like I got some spending money.’

Since there was not much time until the dungeon closed, I put off checking the skillbook and picked up the drops, walking towards the two guys on the floor.

After healing them completely, we headed toward the exit at the center of the dungeon.

To the guys who are keeping their distance without a word, I asked them a question.

Of course, I didn’t forget to keep my shields up.

“Was it a good time?”

“…..”

“…..”

With a smile, I asked them while looking at that straight in the eyes, and they reacted naturally with fear, looking down at the ground.

I was someone who had witnessed succubi murdering people.

I will not kill these people today.

But all the wrongdoings they committed cannot be repaid in a single hour.

Quickly arriving at the exit, I stopped them and asked.

“Hey. How much did you say I owe?”

“…..”

“Ha…. Please don’t make me ask twice, hurry up and answer.”

“Yes… Yes! The leftover debt is 4.1 billion.”

“4.1 billion? Wow, you people sure are something. The original debt was 200 million won, but now it’s 4.1 billion? The midget outside, he’s the CEO?

“Yes….”

“Even if I don’t pay the debt, there’s not big issue, right?”

“T-that’s…”

From the hand that held my sword, the sound of my knuckles popping could be heard as I waited for their answer.

Hearing that, they were shaking in fear.

“Alright, I want to go out there and bring that midget to near death. But that guy isn’t an Awakened, so heal doesn’t work on him. If I even hit him a little, he’ll die quickly. What do you suggest?”

“What are you saying.”

“What am I saying? There is 4 minutes before the dungeon closes, so are you going to give me an answer I like so you can go through the exit and survive, or will you perish with the dungeon is what I’m asking!”

Then the smaller warrior class goon quickly opened his mouth.

“W-we’ll take care of everything. Please spare our lives.”

“It’s an answer that I like, but you guys aren’t the CEO. He’s the owner, right? To be honest, I was going to pay back the original amount due to my conscience. That is until you all came and threw quite a fit.”

“… Honestly speaking, our boss can’t do anything either.”

“Ah, is that so. Then please be a CEO in the next life.”

I casted Piercing Sword.

The swords surrounded the two.

Since it was a skill that followed my will, it did not attack them.

“Take care.”

With those words, I tried to turn around, looking cool.

Then.

“N-no! That’s not it. We’ll take care of it.”

To the fools who were flailing about in panic, I gave them an offer.

“Then let’s do this.”

“Eh?”

“Hold, Bind, and Fire Shock.”

“… What are you saying?”

“There is 50 million won left on the original amount I owe. For beating the hell out of you today, I’ll give you 500 million won. These three skill books plus forgoing the rest of the debt, how about it?” Since the skill books will cost only 400 million won, it works out fine, right? You’re slow to answer… Do I need to cast Meteor’s Call so you’ll answer?”

“That’s not it! I’ll obtain all three skill books for you.”

“Of course you will. We have come to an agreement on the trade, but if your boss shows his ugly mug again near my house… You know what happens then, right?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please obtain them within a week. Then we’ll be leaving now.”

Out of the three skill books, Hold and Bind wasn’t very expensive.

But they were almost never sold. A skill book with an incredibly low rate of dropping.

If there is a lack of supply, the price will naturally rise.

But for the effect the skill provided, the mana cost was too high and the duration was too low, so it was rated as a weak skill.

From what I’ve searched online, the official site did not have any up for trade.

However, I thought if they tried obtaining it from the underground market, it was possible.

Bind roots the target to the ground.

A stone golem’s hand shoots out from the ground, grabbing onto the target’s legs.

As the skill level rises, the duration and strength of the root increases, and it could bind a greater number of targets.

Second spell is Hold. It’s a skill that lives up to its name, preventing the opponent from moving their body.

Similar to bind, the duration increases depending on the skill level and the target’s level, but what if I crushed them with an incredibly high skill level?

Tying their feet with Bind, then using Hold to prevent them from moving their hands. I could put them in stasis like living dolls, leaving only the functioning of breathing intact.

Both skill was for the priest class.

Priests were in between tanks and healers, a defending and supporting class.

Since the class focused on health and agility, Hold and Bind were inefficient skills.

* * *

We exited the dungeon. The CEO was asleep in the car.

“Please bring that bastard over here.”

Instead of answering, they hurriedly ran towards the car.

About two minutes had passed?

Suddenly the CEO struck one of them on the cheek.

But before he could slap the other guy…

The one who was slapped grabbed him by the thigh and slammed him to the ground.

“Oho?”

The boss was dragged in front of me by his underlings.

“You heard, right?”

“…..”

“You still don’t get what’s happening? Whatever, just hand over the charter.”

“…..”

The boss was silent for a bit, pulling out the charter from his pockets with shaking hands.

Snatching the charter from his hands, I threw it into the air and casted Piercing Sword, shredding it apart until it became dust.

Seeing my skill, his eyes grew wide.

“There should be paperwork stating that I paid off my debt, right? So that you can’t say otherwise behind my back.”

“Yes…..”

“But since I learned that honor that you guys always talk about, I could not avoid paying you the original amount of debt.”

“…..”

“Is something wrong? Your facial expression doesn’t look very good.”

“That’s not it… That’s not it at all.”

“Then let’s get that paperwork done immediately. Ah! Since I’m asking for the skill books as a special request, get them to me fast as possible, okay?”

* * *

A few moments later.

Shoulders sagging, they disappeared.

Finally, I was able to solve this headache inducing debt issue.

I gave the two goons a stern talking to make sure the CEO couldn’t do anything rash.

Ah, by talking I mean physical harm of course.

While riding the taxi back home, I organized my thoughts.

You couldn’t do anything without power.

But with power, I could take care of these pieces of trash so easily.

I had to get stronger.

Get stronger, and become tougher.

I had no intentions of becoming an ally of justice.

It’s busy enough trying to eat and live well by myself in this world.

* * *

“Thank you very much.”

Arriving in front of the house, I left the taxi.

While basking in the rays of the morning sun, I headed home.

It was then.

[Guild Announcement]

2^nd round with guild Empire.

Time: xxxx year xx month xx day

All guild members must attend.

A message from the Noblesse guild.

“Round two with Empire? This has to be a joke.”

I was sticking with this shady guild because of this one sword I obtained from them.

With the money I have, I should have enough and leftovers after purchasing a sword of this level.

Even if I purchased a lower rank sword considering the amount I had to spend to move to the safe house, for someone like me who has an incredible amount of skill points, it wasn’t going to make much of a difference.

Looking at the text, I was reminded of another problem I had to solve.

To Heugdo attached at my waist, I mumbled.

“Guess this is the end between you and me.”

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27. Growth. Revenge. (3)

The dungeon formed.

With the hooligans, I showed my Awakened ID for verification.

Only the two hooligans and I entered the dungeon since the midget was not an Awakened and was thus unable to enter the dungeon.

The midget who was taking a smoke break next to his car parked near the entrance of the dungeon smirked and said.

“Farewell, kid.”

‘A-ha. So you were planning to send me off like that? Did you need fresh organs or something? It wouldn’t be a funny story if I was done in like this. I’m planning to rewrite the ending of this story. So please wait a little and die afterwards.’

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

With those last words, I entered the dungeon.

Throughout the dungeon, I could hear the snarling of the manticores.

It was a noise that I’ve grown tired of, but today, it sounded different.

Right now I was wondering how those two would act.

Would they bring the monsters to me?

Or would they attack me even before hunting?

My curiosity was answered before ten seconds passed.

“This little kid, didn’t you have quite the mouth?”

“Acting all mighty! If it wasn’t for the boss, I would have killed you on the spot.”

It appears what I said to those two back at the house wasn’t so lightly taken.

Each of them saying what they wanted to say, they showed their true colors.

One of them pulled out a dagger that was hidden behind his back.

The other one pulled out knuckles with sharp blades and equipped them.

‘Assassin and warrior huh.’

“Oh, why are the hyungs so angry at me?”

“Shut up, you haughty son of a bitch. Why’d you let your mouth run, all you had to do was pay off your debt quietly! You dug your own grave, don’t blame me too much.”

“Blame the fact that you were born in the age of criminals.”

“Pfft, so you want to 2v1 me right now?”

As soon as my words fell, I quickly casted a shield just in case of a sudden attack.

Looking at the opaque Frozen Shield being formed around my body, they laughed out at me.

“Puhahaha! You’re really going to try to block me with that?”

“Aah, what’s up with the sword in your hand? Seeing that you’re casting Frozen Shield, you must be a magician. Did you bring the sword to play war?”

They laughed at me who was a magician holding onto a black sword.

Without changing my expression, I spoke with boldness.

“Aah, you’re talking too much. I won’t let you die so easily, it’ll be difficult, but enjoy yourselves.”

“I’ll stab my sword through that skull of yours!”

With a dash, at the same time as his words ended, he casted Dagger Throw and threw his dagger with great speed.

His short sword against my level 66 Frozen Shield broke apart pathetically similar to rotten wood being struck with metal. ¹

The other small fry who saw this occur must have panicked because he rushed at me desperately while casting Enchant on his knuckles.

“Yaaa!”

His fists which were red with trails of fire made an incredible noise each time it flew through the air.

As his knuckles struck against my Frozen Shield, it created steam and the shield was chipped.

“Oh-ho? So you can throw some decent punches? But did you turn the fire off at your house? You should save energy.”

‘Lightning Spray!’

Condensed lightning on each of my hands shot out towards them.

“Ahh!”

The whites of their eyes were showing and they were shaking uncontrollably.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re going to die from just this.”

Was it because of the Lightning Spray skill level?

The two of them were easily rendered half unconscious.

This occurred with just one cast.

While they were losing their consciousness, I stabbed Heugdo into one of their arms. ²

“Ku… ku-ahh!”

With the hand that was holding onto the sword, I condensed lightning, and the other hand casted Heal.

It was only a level 1 Heal, but since the skill had no cooldown, I could infinitely heal him.

As his eyes became focused, I casted Heal on the other guy to have him conscious again.

I was almost surprised that there was this sort of cruelty inside of me.

But after my father’s death, these were the guys that tortured me and my mother for years.

They were disgusting faces that had made me suffer being poor and helpless.

Their faces, I remembered them one by one, and with the revenge I took, these were the unfortunate victims.

I did not want to give them an easy death.

I wanted them to feel the pain that my mother and I felt.

“Are you two awake now?”

“This… Son of a bitch…”

“I guess the rag that was in your mouth hasn’t been spat out yet.” ³

As he regained his consciousness, the warrior reequipped on his knuckles and spat out curses.

Through Heugdo that was embedded in the assassin’s arm, I casted Lightning Spray, the assassin was once again knocked out.

Their only attacks were only generic strikes with the edges of their sword. ⁴

His attacks were all being absorbed completely.

“Since you might die while I’m electrocuting you as if lighting a street lamp, I’ll keep healing you, here you go.”

Watching the horrific display occurring before him, as soon as my words finished, he realized that something was very wrong.

Receiving the lightning throughout his entire body, he was frothing at the mouth and there was no movement.

He’s probably not dead yet, though.

My gaze shifted to the warrior.

“S-spare me…!”

“Of course, of course, I’ll let you live, that’s why I’m giving you heal, to let you live on.”

“Waaah! Please!”

I didn’t attack him with anything else but Lightning Spray, but he looked like he lost his mind looking at his partner pathetically defeated on the ground.

Thinking of the level of Piercing Sword and Gravity Laser, if I casted those on them, they’d die instantly.

It was disappointing that I didn’t learn more skills beforehand.

There was not much of a level difference between me and them.

But look at the results, they couldn’t even attack once properly and were on the floor begging to be spared.

A result from just the skill level!

Different from how regular Awakened could raise their skill level with their limited mana, I was on a whole different dimension when it came to abilities.

In the future, I’ll obtain Meteor Call, Magma Pool and other high ranking spells.

I was almost scared of myself.

“Hey, there’s still 50 minutes left, your friend is sleeping so peacefully, but you’re still so lively. Why are you sweating so much? Does your stomach hurt? Are you uncomfortable?”

He couldn’t even look at me in the eyes, kneeling on the ground and biting his nails.

‘If he’s sweating because it’s hot, let’s treat him to some shaved ice.’

Towards his upper and lower body as well as all his joints, I casted Frost Orb.

To the pain that he was receiving from his joints being frozen over, he could not even let out a squeak.

But I was absolutely not going to kill him or cripple him.

They were an Awakened like me.

They must have strengthened their bodies with points in stamina and agility.

The effect that you would receive from agility wasn’t only dodge ability.

It also increases status debuff resistance.

Over time, that level of frost bite would be cured.

The reason why I did not raise any points in agility was because I was able to cast all sorts of shields at my pleasure.

If that was the case, then a situation where I would get hurt wouldn’t exist in the first place.

If I was able to use a shield that used up 10 times the mana of other shields, even if there was a cooldown?

I would never be done in by anyone.

“While ahjussi eats the shaved ice, I should probably wake up the other guy sprawled on the ground over here. There’s good news. My Heal level is rising, thus the next 50 minutes can feel like 50 years to you guys.”

While I was glaring at the guy who was frozen, both of my hands were continuously casting Heal on the collapsed goon.

“St-stop!! Gaaah!”

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Ch 26. Growth. Revenge. (2)

With an anxious heart, I headed in.

Without fail, my intuition for misfortune was spot on.

There were three pairs of shoes at the entrance.

I recalled the hooligans from before.

The midget and his goon were sitting in the living room. ¹

They sat there with their feet up as if owning the place.

One thing that put my mind at ease was that my mother was standing tall and proud without fear in front of those hooligans.

It was something so incredibly different from what it was like two months ago.

I could no longer see my mother bowing her head in apology.

It was a welcoming sight to see.

It was then while I saw the situation unfold before me.

The small fry lean his head forward and told my mother.

“Hey. Mrs. Pak Se-Ran. If you had the money to buy a house like this, shouldn’t you be paying off the debt to us? Since it looks like your son is an Awakened and is able to earn money.”

“Huh? Honored? Why are thieves talking about honor?” ²

“What? Since I’m saying this nicely, are you looking down on me?”

The small fry pulled out an envelope from his breast pocket and raised his voice.

“Look at this. It’s the loan agreement with your name on it! I helped you following the law! I have the right to receive my money.”

“I heard that my son gave you 1 million. And before that, he even gave you 10 million won. We already paid off more than half of it before that. So why are you barging in at another person’s house this early in the morning, you thug?” ³

“Do you think this is a charity? Even banks have interests on loans. Do you think that I am digging the ground to earn money? Are my words not getting through to you, bitch?”

It wasn’t a time for me to just stand still.

I couldn’t help but move the moment he said ‘bitch.’

Instead of saying that, he should have said, ‘Pak Se-Ran, Pak Se-Ran banzai! Please show us mercy.’

Tossing my luggage at the entrance with a ‘took’, I walked towards the midget and the hooligans.

When my mother saw me, she gave me a small but strong smile.

“So you guys came back again? I didn’t drag my feet and gave you the money, why are you coming back and bothering us?”

“Haah. You don’t have any manners. Did you win the lottery? Aren’t you acting a little bit crazy? Kid, do you not see the adults behind me? It looks like you’re not afraid of anything just because you’re Awakened. But, if you don’t want to end up in a cold coffin like your father, then shut up and give me the money!” ⁴

As soon as his words ended, the two goons who were only watching cracked their necks and stared at me.

Thinking back, when I was helpless and couldn’t do anything before, my rage boiled over.

If the anger was directed at myself previously, now it became anger that made me question how to crush these bastards.

And then.

The anger that I had towards them changed to a feeling of superiority and bemusement.

The guys that I couldn’t even approach before now were below me.

Clearing my thoughts, I gave out a fake laughter.

“Ha! Are you a bunch of thugs? How much money do you get a month doing this? Why don’t you use this time to hunt instead of sucking this midget’s ass hole?”

“Haah…”

One of the two gave a fake laughter back as it didn’t make any sense to him.

I was always ready to fight.

‘Come here, you bitches, are you weak? Guess I’ll have to teach you a lesson.’

“Ah, does it not make sense that a child is talking like an adult? I’m right. Looking at you two, it looks like you’re level 60-70 Awakened and can earn over 1 million won even if you can’t hunt very well. Isn’t it true? Or did I overestimate you all?”

“Do you want to die, bitch?!”

Looks like those two became angry at what I said for they walked towards me with their arms folded.

‘Okay.’

Without a hitch, they moved as I predicted.

But then.

“Wait.”

The midget stopped the angry goons.

“If Awakened fight in a household like this, it’ll cause big problems. We are pure, innocent people who follow the law dutifully.”

With a smile that could sicken the heaven and earth, he looked towards me and my mother.

“Oh, isn’t your son so brave! Isn’t he, mother Pak Se-Ran? You must be so happy to have a son like this. As the senior to life, I should have a quiet conversation with your son. What do you say, child?”

I could tell what he was thinking, it was obvious.

This was a household in the center of the city and it involved my mother who wasn’t an Awakened.

If we made a ruckus in a situation like this, then the Awakened clean-up task force will be dispatched and would cause more complication.

He was probably trying to set this up because he was afraid that the ‘legal’ acts they were doing would be exposed.

It was obvious that he was trying to take me to a dungeon or someplace shady like that to dispose of me.

‘It’s a situation I can’t even laugh about. Yeah! If I killed them here, then it would become complicated. Let’s go somewhere nicer. It wasn’t that long ago that I bought the sofa and the television.’

Even though I was thinking about how I would convince these guys to go to the dungeon so I could dispose of them, they already did the work for me.

“Sure.”

“I’m glad that you’re brave, let’s go.”

Hearing my answer, my mother showed nervousness on her face.

She knew about my growth, but was uncomfortable about how I was being dragged along by vile villains.

Instead of answering or giving her an explanation, I gave her a wink.

Looking at my cheesy expression, she smiled as if her heart was reassured.

She looked at the window without a word.

***

I entered the car owned by the midget that was parked in the parking lot in front of the house.

Similar to a criminal having been caught by the police, the shorter goon sat in the driver seat while the taller goon and the midget sandwiched me in the rear seats.

Since they could attack me at any time, I didn’t let down my guard.

Since the Heugdo was a sword that the blacksmith made, it was impossible for them to know the abilities of my sword.

As we drove through the streets for a long time, the midget that was sitting on my left opened his mouth.

“How long have you been Awakened for?”

“Three months or so?”

“Kukuku, three months? Have you heard about the manticore? We’re going to the level 11^th dungeon. Since you’ll have to become stronger in order to pay off the debt quicker, right?”

‘…Haah. This doesn’t make any sense. It’s like promising an elementary kid that you’ll buy them pork cutlets but finding out that they were taking them to the hospital instead. Are you really trying to bait me with something like candy?’

Thinking about what would happen afterwards, I wanted to laugh whole heartedly but held it all in and pretended to know nothing.

“Oh yes, are you trying to helping me out?”

“Of course! That’s what we’re trying to do.”

After all the driving, we reached in front of the level 12^th dungeon. ⁵

It wasn’t like the dungeon that I ran as if eating meals, but instead was a dungeon in a place far away from civilization in the middle of a forest path.

Saying that they would take a quick smoke break, they headed towards the corner.

Of course, they were probably discussing how to get rid of me.

I was unable to hear what they said.

While I was waiting for them, one word I recalled the midget said was the ‘refrigerator.’

I thought that the rotten bastards were not only doing illegal loans but were also involved in murder.

How far did these guys fall to give fear to people in similar situation like mine, or perhaps to do something even more sinister.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

The only thing in my head was that while we’re here at an isolated place like this, then it was a chance for me to not only dispose of the midget but also the other two hooligans.

After throwing down the cigarette and extinguishing it by stepping on it, they yelled at me.

“Alright, let’s go in!”

“Of course, let’s go. Let’s go.”

‘I struggled to think of how to raise my Heal skill level, so until I go to school, I guess I’ll perform nightingale bing-ui.’ ⁶

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